Prayer and Praise

first prayer request: tomorrow is the court date for Mr. Rodriguez (the man who caused the car accident involving my Dad) at 1:30pm. please just pray for our family that the Lord will continue to help us not be bitter against this man. there are some that are really struggling with this more than others. it is a difficult thing. we trust in the sovereignty of God that He appointed that day for my Dad to leave this earth, but still feel like there should be justice for the man who's recklessness caused this. it's really a battle between the old and new man! we must take each unforgiving thought captive and confess it to the Lord. anyway, we will not be attending the hearing, but several friends will be there. pray for protection for them from anger and bitterness as well. it will be hard for them to listen to whatever testimony is presented...

second prayer request: my brother JR is in branson on a job. this is a marina that he and Dad spent many, many hours, days and months working on. now he is there alone and has been put in the same hotel room that he and Dad shared each time they were there. the grief is almost too much for him and he has asked for much prayer. he is not sure he can handle this job with all the memories and emotions it is bringing up. he does need the work though. it is a very difficult thing for him (obviously).

okay, now for the praise! today my Mom visited the social security office and the Lord provided more abundantly than we could have imagined. JC and my Mom will each receive the maximum benefit amount per month! PRAISE THE LORD FOR HIS PROVISION! i know that my Dad worked very hard and earned them the right to have this benefit, but it was the Lord that made it happen. the social security office is extremely difficult to deal with and most people have to fight a very lengthy battle to even get a small portion, but Mom had no difficulty whatsoever. it was a blessing just to not even have to hassel with them, but to get the maximum amount... i was just blown away!

this is obviously not the only issue in which the Lord has proved His graciousness. it would take me forever to list all the things He has done for us since 12/30/06. sometimes i feel so overwhelmed with grief. other times i feel so overwhelmed with all the Lord is doing in our lives. i guess i'm pretty much always overwhelmed with something! :o)