We should be grateful to the Lord for the good times in our life and be 
quick to seek the Lord when tough times come our way. In good and in bad
we must be in communion with the Lord. We should not seek the Lord only 
when bad things happen, but rather we are to give God praise and thanks in
the good times and realize that we are blessed beyond compare. The Bible
declares in Psalm 34:1 “I will bless the LORD at all times: His praise 
shall continually be in my mouth.” The Lord is good and deserving of our
praise. He answers us when we call upon Him and He gives us peace to know
that all will be well. Be encouraged to trust that God will be with you 
all the days of your life and will make all things to work for your good 
because you love Him. (1 Thessalonians 5:18) (Isaiah 26:3) (Romans 11:33-36)

I hope this message encourages your heart to trust and depend on the Lord
when tough times come your way. Have faith that God has not left your 
side, but is right there working all things to your benefit.


DADDY HANDS

I awoke in the night to find my husband, Marty, gently rocking our baby 
son, Noah. I stood for a moment in the doorway; watching this amazing man,
with whom I was so blessed to share my life, lovingly stroke Noah's fat 
pink cheeks in an effort to comfort him. I felt in my heart that something
was seriously wrong with Noah. This was one of several nights Noah had been
up, burning with a high fever.

Tears filled my eyes as I watched my beautiful husband move Noah's little
cheek up against his own chest, so that Noah could feel the vibrations of
his voice. Noah is deaf. Learning to comfort him has brought on a whole new
way of thinking for us. We relied on our voices, a soothing lullaby, audio
toys, and music to comfort our other children. But with Noah, we need to 
use touch, his soft blankie, sight, the feel of our voices, and most 
importantly, the use of sign language to communicate emotions and a sense
of comfort to him.

My husband made the sign for “I love you” with his hand and I saw a tear 
roll down his cheek as he placed Noah's tiny, weak hand on top of his.

We had taken Noah to the doctor more times than I can remember. It had been
a week and a half and Noah's fever remained very high and very dangerous,
despite everything the doctor or we had tried. I knew in my soul the way 
only a mother can know, that Noah was in trouble.

I gently touched my husband's shoulder and we looked into each other's eyes
with the same fear and knowledge that Noah's wasn't getting any better. I
offered to take over for him, but he shook his head, and once again, I was
amazed at this wonderful man who is the father of my children. When many 
fathers would have gladly handed over the parenting duties for some much 
needed sleep, my husband stayed stubbornly and resolutely with our child.

When morning finally came, we called the doctor and were told to bring him
in again. We already knew that he would probably put Noah in the hospital.
So, we made arrangements for the other children, packed bags for all three
of us, and tearfully drove to the doctor's office once again. Our hearts 
filled with dread, we waited in a small room, different from the usual 
examining room we had become used to. Our doctor finally came in, looked 
Noah over, and told us the news we expected. Noah had to be admitted to the
hospital. Now.

The drive to the hospital in a neighboring town seemed surreal. I couldn't
focus on anything, couldn't think, and couldn’t stop crying. My husband 
reassured me that he felt in his heart that Noah would be okay. We admitted
Noah and were taken to his room right away. It was a tortuous night, filled
with horrible tests that made my son's tiny little voice echo though the 
halls as he screamed over and over.

I felt as if I were shattering from the inside out. My husband never 
wavered in his faith. He comforted me and Noah, and everyone who called to
check on Noah. He was a rock.

When the first batch of tests were done, the nurse informed us that a 
spinal tap would be performed soon. Meningitis was suspected. Marty and I
had prayer together with Noah. Our hands intertwined, we held our son and
the love of my life lifted his voice to the Lord, telling him how grateful
we were for this awesome little spirit with whom he had entrusted us. With
tears streaming down his face, he humbly asked the Lord to heal our son. My
heart filled with comfort and gratitude.

A short time later, the resident doctor came in. He told us that Noah's 
first results were back, and that he had Influenza A. No spinal tap was 
needed! Noah would recover and soon be back to his zesty, tornado little 
self. And Noah was already standing up in the hospital crib, bouncing like
he was on a trampoline. My husband's talk with the Lord was already being
answered.

Marty and I grinned at each other through our tears, and waited for Noah to
be released from the hospital. Finally, in the middle of the night, our own
doctor came in and told us that it was fine to take Noah home. We couldn't
pack fast enough!

A few days later, I was cooking dinner. Noah was healing, slowly but 
surely. I felt at peace and knew my husband was the greatest father I could
ever want for my children. I peeked around the corner into the living room,
and chuckled at the picture I saw. There was my husband, sitting in his 
“daddy chair”, Noah in his lap. 

They were reading a book, dad taking Noah's teeny hands to help him form 
the signs for the words in the book. They both looked up and caught me 
watching them, and my husband and I simultaneously signed “I love you” to 
each other, then to Noah. And then Noah put his little arm up, trying to 
shape his chubby hand in his own effort to sign “I love you” to his daddy. 
I watched with tears as my husband carefully helped him form his tiny 
fingers into the sign with his own gentle hands. Daddy hands.

By Susan Fahncke


Read and meditate on these scriptures:

Romans 11:33-36 “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge 
of God! how unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out! 
For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been His counsellor? 
Or who hath first given to Him, and it shall be recompensed unto Him again? 
For of Him, and through Him, and to Him, are all things: to whom be glory 
for ever. Amen.”

Psalm 147:3-7 “He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.
He telleth the number of the stars; He calleth them all by their names. 
Great is our Lord, and of great power: His understanding is infinite. The
LORD lifteth up the meek: He casteth the wicked down to the ground. Sing
unto the LORD with thanksgiving; sing praise upon the harp unto our God.”

Philippians 4:4-7 “Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. 
Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Be careful
for nothing but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving
let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which
passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ
Jesus.”

Hebrews 13:5 “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content
with such things as ye have: for He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor
forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will
not fear what man shall do unto me.”

All of these scriptures can be found in the King James Version Bible.


Today’s Selected Poem: I AM NOT ALONE
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/enpoem124.htm

Today’s Selected Testimony: GOD SAVED MY DAD
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/testimony144.htm


In Christ’s Service,

Dwayne Savaya
God’s Work Ministry