Let’s begin today with a little housekeeping, then end with the challenge. As time passes, it’s getting harder to be able to post about something new and “fresh” every day about us or Hannah, as has been the pattern for the last five weeks. This page began as a way to update friends and family on Hannah’s condition, but it seemed to quickly grow into something more than that. We have heard from many people around the world who have been blessed by the thoughts and encouragements that we have posted. We aren’t sure of the future of this page, but it doesn’t seem completely sustainable in this current format. Unfortunately, Hannah is gone now and although we are still going through many things, those things have been pretty much discussed already. I am not sure how much more there will be to mention along the way, and although we have daily reminders of our loss, we are reaching a point where I am not sure how I can avoid repeating myself, daily, again and again. Eventually, we will have more information on the progress of those who we were able to help through the organ donation process, but even that information will be limited at first, then the final details will be given sometime next summer, I believe.
For those who are new to Hannah’s page, please look back and read all the posts. You will see the process by which we have reached this point. For those who have kept up on these things, perhaps you too could see this coming. We were hoping that this page would grow into something larger and more helpful to people. We had even wondered if this would “take on a life of its own” and become some sort of ministry and dreamed that it could even become a “full time ministry” by which we could concentrate on it full time and receive an income from it in order to do so. It has continued to grow larger, and the feedback is good, but the direction and format for the future is not clear. Many times, in life, it seems like God does have a way of waiting until the “last minute” before He reveals the next step. One door must close before another one opens. The “fork in the road” where two options are present seems to be a less common occurrence. It is more like hitting a dead end, at first glance, then He provides an unseen solution. The parting of the Red Sea and Jordan River, providing water from a rock, manna in the wilderness, and even His own death seemed like the end, until He rose from the dead on that first Easter morning. So, we are in familiar waters, and we are waiting for the next step to be revealed.
As I was reading Romans 8 last night, the ending of that chapter became a real encouragement to me. It was written by the Apostle Paul, who knew firsthand what suffering was, and it was written to Christians in Rome, who too, knew very much what suffering meant, as they were under the oppression of the Roman emperor Nero. Romans 8:31-34 begins by saying, “If God be for us, who can be against us?” This is an obviously rhetorical question, implying that no one can. Then He says that if God would not even spare his own Son, Jesus for us, then what would He withhold from us? Again, a rhetorical nothing. Next, he goes on to ask, who then can “lay a charge”, (accusations seeking judgement) against God’s “elect”? (those for whom Jesus died and who have repented and accepted Hid gift of salvation)? Now we have a third rhetorical, no one! Because the Judge is God the Father, Who, again provided His Son as our substitute, and His Son Jesus is sitting on His right hand and He isn’t just the substitute, but He is now also our intercessor, rather than the prosecutor! So, then in verse 35 he asks another rhetorical question, “Who (or what) can separate us from the love of Christ”? Again, no one and nothing can. He goes on and specifically asks if tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, peril, or even sword can do this. Verse 36 reminds us that many were even put to death and considered to be nothing more than sheep for the slaughter. As bleak as this is, he moves on to say in verses 37-39, “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities (governments), nor powers (rulers), nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Having been reminded of these things, go throughout your day with a victorious mindset based on the love of God, Himself, for you, and actively serve Him wherever He has placed you.
We are blessed.
Hannah Helps 