He is Able

I fold laundry and I pray. 

I pray over each sweet piece of fabric. 

Each shirt, pair of pants. 

I hold them close. 

I pray for this college girl who is home. 

Home to celebrate the life of her cousin. 

Taken too soon;

in our eyes. 

This college girl who has lost a brother too. 

And I make piles. 

Neat piles. 

I love to fold laundry. 

I love the smell. 

Shirts together. 

Pants together. 

Unmentionables together. 

Neat piles. 

Clean. 

Orderly. 

But I can't ever seem to to get the piles to their respective owners. 

Ever. 

Piles begat piles. 

And the orderly becomes chaos. 

Why is that? 

Why can't it ever be finished. 

It seems to be my albatross.

Is it that way with your faith. 

Are you able to get to a certain point. . .

And then all unravels. 

Doubt begats doubt. 

Am I really worthy enough? 

Can God really love me enough?

Do I really believe? 

And what do I really believe? 

As I put away the laundry and continue the cycle. 

I ponder these things. 

I pray for the ache in our hearts. 

I pray for the memories that were. . .

and those that will never be. 

I take the ache piled upon ache and lay it at the foot of the cross. 

I am not able to handle this alone. 

The weight too grand. 

As I put each pile away. 

I imagine physically handing my cares to God. 

I tuck them into the drawers. 

He is able. 

He is more than able. 

Ephesians 3:20

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,

Once again. 

None of this caught God by surprise. 

He is walking this journey with us. 

He will receive the glory and honor. 

His name will be praised. 

We will continue to stand on the rock that never moves. 

We will bend our knees and lift our hands high. 

2 Corninthians 4:8-9

We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair;  persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.

Until Then. . .

The world has stopped once again.

The memory of the deep searing ache prevalent. 

And now my farmer's sister knows that ache. 

Another cousin now resides in Glory. 

The boy who used my tapered candles as num chucks as he danced from one end of the couch to the other 
while watching Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. 

Perpetual Motion. 

Eyes sparkling with boundless energy. 

Curiosity oozing from every pore. 

Mischief; the ring leader of the pack of cousins. 

The first one to laugh. 

The first one to cry. 
The first one to repent. 
The first to offer a hug. 

Deep love running through his veins. 

 He lived and knew amazing grace. 

He worked hard. 
He loved hard. 
He now resides with Jesus. 

This big farm family is gathering together. 

We're wrapping our arms around each other. 

Pulling in tight. 

We're reaching deep. 

I Thessalonians 4:13-14
Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope.For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.

We grieve with hope. 
Hope in a future with our loved ones. 
Hope in a time when there will be no more tears. 
No more sorrow. 

Hold tight my friends. 
The time will come. 
Until then. 
We who are still here; we have work to do. 
Make each moment count. 
Bend that knee before the Almighty. 
Seek repentance and restoration. 

Through it all we are able to say;

It is well with our souls. 

Until we meet again Micah. 
You will be missed every moment of every day. 



Selah
You Raise Me Up


You raise me up to stand on mountains. 
You raise me up to walk on stormy seas. 
I am strong when I am on your shoulders. 
You raise me up to more than I can be.