Isaiah 58:8 Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.

Isaiah 58 is a passage we frequently visit, for our own encouragement, and for the encouragement of the various teams we have come through Newark.

But if you had asked me three weeks ago about this passage, I would have told you “ in my head I know its true because God said it, but my heart says “yah, right” “.  I would have also told you that the “spending” part that precedes this promised healing and light is almost not worth it….but that was because I was still in the “wounding and injuring” phase of the Job 5:8 description.  After a month of feeling so wounded and raw, I am finally be bandaged up by our Savior. These are some of the “bandages” that the Lord has provided…

**On Saturday, my older brother Ken, came into town (which is SUCH a treat!) and took my sister and myself into NYC for my birthday celebration.  I was telling Ken all about our trials and tribulations and the people across from me finally interjected -”wow, thats amazing what you guys are doing! we’re Christians, too, and that really inspires me to really get out there and actually DO something”

**Danny has showered me with gifts and sweet messages and has done so many things in the past two weeks to show me that I am his first priority (besides the Lord) and that what matters to me, matters to him.  This has been a sweet and healing balm on my storm-raged heart and mind.

**The church consistory has set up some “rules” for us Iversons to protect us and keep us sane. At first I felt that some of it was unnecessary, but we wanted to submit (Listen to advice and accept instruction, and in the end you will be wise. Pr. 19:20) and I feel incredibly loved and cared for by these “rules” and discipline to protect our family.

**It has been a WHOLE lot more CALM around here, as all the school kids and teens are back in school instead of at our house or knocking on the door for potty breaks and drinks of water.

**On Sunday, during children’s church, I was teaching the kids about Moses and how God called him to lead the Israelites.  He made up all kinds of excuses and didn’t want to do it, but God said “I will be with you”.  It hit me that I was preaching about myself…not wanting the role, but God promising to provide and go with those He calls to leadership.

**Sunday night, one of our friends organized a little birthday party for me at a restaurant, and had each person in attendance write a memory that had of me, and then what they liked about me.  Those cards touched me sooo deeply.  I would like to here interject a story…We were all piling in the car to go to the restaurant, when two teen guys from the ministry came buy and Danny was like “hey boys, you want to go?” and of course in my sinful and selfish mind, I am thinking “Thats another $30 that we’re going to have to pay for…” and Danny was like “it’ll be O.K”.  Having them there ended up making it really fun, AND they wrote some of the messages that have touched me the most deeply.  It was all a sweet gift from the Lord, as if to say “Your labor is not in vain. These guys ARE watching and are being touched by your example”.  (not that I set all that great of an example most of the time-but people recognize real love and genuine compassion when they see it).  Their letters made me think of our welcome in to heaven.  When we get there, any suffering and trials we have faced will seem as nothing in light of our Father’s love and approval through our Savior Jesus.

These are only a few of the ways that God has blessed me and refreshed me after a dark season of my heart.  What a merciful and gracious God we have-instead of punishing me for my pity party, the Lord has lovingly lifted me out of it.  What a patient Father we have!!