My hubs dad had double bypass surgery one week ago, and we know it was the hand of God that brought him through it. He is healing well, and still has some breathing problems, but it seems to be minor. The best news is he is a believer, and wants to attend church with us and become part of our church family. That is the mighty hand of God!
Our church family went out today and delivered 21 baskets of food to needy families, and extended the love of Jesus to them. How great is our God?!! Everything fell together so beautifully, and without much work….seems to me the meaning of “my yoke is easy and my burden is light”. So God was moving in our hearts today as well as the ones receiving the food. (not that HE is not always moving, but that we were very aware of it)
My toughest lesson of the week-my oldest daughter. Some back ground for those who do not understand… her father died when I was 6 months pregnant with her. And the short story is–she has become my “Isaac”. She and I have been through so many things together, and she has truly been my sunshine in some of the darkest places of my life. God was to be my sunshine in those dark places. HE has taught and showed me much through the years, and constantly telling me to lay my Isaac down, and give her to HIM. My mind wants to be obedient, and my heart picks her back up. We have been through cervical cancer together, pleading for God to spare her, and HE did. For sometime I have believed that God and I have come past this issue, which really is idolatry. But as she plans her wedding, feelings of wanting to hold her just a little longer have been overwhelming. My memories of her and I seem to flood me. So this week, in my early hours with my Father we have been discussing just what is my problem! I am so happy for her, and I love her hubs-to-be, and she is capable of standing on her own, I taught her the best I know how, and most of all God loves her even more than me, and holds her in HIS palm and orchestrated her days.
This is what it comes down to; I was not trusting God to know what is best for her, and not trusting HIM to take of her, and holding on to her was still part of my worshipping her. There was still a part of that whole issue that was unresolved, and if you know my Jesus you know, that HE will bring it to the surface and we will look straight at it. Love HIM, but HE is straight up! So after much back and forth between myself and the Lord, HE wins. (LOL you knew that huh?)
*There shall be no other god before me! *My God is a jealous God! *HE is capable and willing to keep that which I commit to HIM! * HE is totally trustworthy! * HE has a plan that I don’t see but HE is good! *The Lord gives and the Lord takes away, Blessed is the name of the Lord!
So once again I have laid my Isaac down, and praying this time my heart will not pick her back up. Wondering if you have an Isaac? If your heart has been introduced to the characteristic of God that has said “give that to me”? (all the while loving and compassionate, yet firm) We are blessed to know this side of God, it is very demonstrative to the love HE has for each one of us. It is also the way we become softer to HIM and therefore more usable for the task HE has planned for us. God is good all the time! I am so blockheaded sometimes, and I am thankful for HIS great patience with me.
ponderings of a princess... 
“So once again I have laid my Isaac down”
Wow Darla..I am just sitting here wiping my tears! This is beautiful! What a journey you are on! Thank you for being so transparent and real with us…and for sharing!
You constantly bring truth into light! I am always leaving here more enlightened – whether through humility or an “Ah-HA moment” – God speaks huge through you!
Praise HIM!
Darla,
I have had a season where I had to lay my “isaac” down and my Isaac was my precious Daddy. When he was diagnosed with metastatic colon cancer in 2002 my initial instinct was to “help” God deal with the problem. However, He and I had a long chat–the length of my drive from the hospital to home (about an hour ) and I came to the conclusion that God loved my Daddy far more than I ever could and God was more than able to deal with the issue without my “help”.
Once I was able to pry my fingers from the problem and lay it down before my Lord, I experienced peace unlike anything I have ever known. Ultimately my Daddy was called home to be with Jesus but I know that he is truly healed.
Jesus loves your baby far more than you do and He will do what is best for her and brings Himself the most glory. Pry loose those fingers, Princess, and let Him have your sweet girl. Hold her loosely, dear one, for she was never truly yours—just on loan from Him.
Leah
http://www.thepoint-leah.blogspot.com
song for my baby girl-
I pray that God fills your heart with dreams, and faith gives you the courage to dare to do great things. I am here for you whatever this life brings….May HIS love give you roots and help you find your wings…Its not living unless you reach for the sky, I will have tears as you take off, but I will cheer as you fly..
(wish I could remember who did this song…I would bet it is on youtube )
Hi Darla….thank you so much for your comments over at my blog. They mean everything. Isaac…yes I have one, His name is Steven…..in 2000 the Lord had to pry my fingers off of him and show me who was in control. The moment I laid him on the altar, the Lord healed him. Big lesson for me, one I carry with me today. We need it as we let our other Isaac go to Afghanistan. Every parent believes and hopes that they can protect their child from everything….but there will come a day when the Lord requires more…to let Him have total control. You have done that with grace…I know it doesn’t feel like it at the time…but you are such a roll model. Love you and constantly praying for you. 🙂
So glad your father in law is recovering!
I was so blessed by this post. In fact, I’m going to e-mail a link to this post to a family member who is struggling with laying down their Isaac. I think your words will minister to them. 🙂
Love you!
steph.
Hi Sister,
I believe every person has at least one Isaac to lay down. Mine is named Eric, my twin son who is not married yet. He’s 36 and spent the better part of 10 years heading down the wrong path in drugs, alcohol and partying. He was down on himself for prior mistakes he had made and this was his way to medicate it away. It broke my heart as I tried to fix
the problem 🙂 Hah! I picked it up, laid it down, up/down, up/down for the better part of that time. It was almost too painful to allow myself to love him for fear of losing him. I am so grateful that our Father is a patient and loving and understanding and compassionate Father God. I would have smacked me if I were Him. But I was robbing myself of the joy that He wanted me to have and He never stopped prying my fingers and fists off my son. The last few months have been such a blessing as God has showed me that He can bring Eric around “without my help” and I am seeing that I have such a long way to go in growing up my faith and trust. You are doing such a graceful job right now, even though it stings the heart of a mother so deep. I am inspired by you every time I leave here, forcing myself to dig beneath the surface when I find myself skimming along. Thank you for your precious heart that you so freely share with us here. You bless me.
Love you, Laurie
Leah – very similar events with My Dad – 2001 🙂
Darla – wonderfully put – This is simple but… If you love something – set it Free – if it comes back to you it’s yours. If it does not – it never truly was 🙂
love
oh girl do i know about an isaac! you have no idea how many times i have thought of this. whew
My oldest turns 18 in two weeks. I used to hold him. Now he can pick me up and carry me! He will be able to vote in the next presidential election. I don’t want to let go, but I have to also. I didnt think of him as an Isaac, but that’s what it is. Thanks for showing me. I confess with my mouth with all of you as my witnesses, that I release my son to the Lord. Now please pray that my heart lines up too. Thanks the sharpening. 🙂
Blessings in Christ–
Love you Princess! Hope you and yours are well today!