"You carry me to the table...I'm carried to the table... The table of the Lord..."

These lyrics have been playing on Jamie's overhead sound system the past couple of days and describe beautifully how I keep seeing it play out in my head. I recieved a call late Sunday morning from my dad telling me that my paternal grandmother had a stroke. For those who don't know the background story, my paternal grandfather died of a stroke about 4 years ago. He had the stroke while at a Masonic function. Joined Masonry for me... Not that there is a co-relation there, but in my mind, well, let's just say it was hard to deal. Anyway, I was told to be in prayer and to be ready because I may need to fly out for my grandmother to Ohio. I activated my prayer warriors and we prayed. And kept praying. Recieved a call last night telling me to pack my bags and get out there ASAP. I had this crazy awesome peace.

That kind that comes when you KNOW it will be okay. You KNOW that you are in His hands and you KNOW that only good can come from the situation, because you are in His will and He is in control. It is the deep overwhelming and underlying peace that consumes. The joy that goes beyond being happy. It is beautiful. It is ONLY in Christ.

So, I started praying again. So did everyone else. And throwing clothes all over my bedroom in a vain attempt to start packing. And researching for plane tickets while praying for money to purchase said tickets. God provided all of the above. But... before actually purchasing any tickets or my paperwork going through for approved LOA from work, my dad called yet again. She has made a complete 180 degree turn-around. From life support ready to sitting up, talking, and coherently communicating.

AND... as a blessing or cool reminder for me, God gave me friends who were fantastic through the entire 36 hour ordeal through prayer and listening ears and star-gazing and hugs and offers to help out. Friends in multiple time zones and states all praying over the same issue to the same God. How fantastic is that?!?! Seriously... I LOVE reminders of how crazy He is.

GOD gets all the glory. It is so cool to me - sitting with Jamie, I prayed just that He would do His will and that there would be a miracle. Either God reaches my family with His love through all of this or He heals her body - either way, He would be honored. And He did. All of the above.

So grateful for the One that we serve. Carried to the table. When we can't walk because there is no strength... we are carried there and get to join in on the feast. And this time around, I was served peace.

Team of 49 coming in today - tonight, really. High school age mostly, from what I've heard. Should be a nice distraction and hopefully for them a chance to be blessed and be a blessing... they are headed out to learn more about the LDS and about the people here. Gonna be interesting...

I was off yesterday because I usually get one or two Sundays off a month on a semi-regular basis, and off today as a treat - because I worked the 4th of July and we are supposed to get a paid holiday for it... so they gave me mine a week late. Without my asking! Woot! I love that. Paid to sit here at the cafe and clean and hang out. :) And Tuesday are still a regular day off - so that equals a REAL WEEKEND! :) Woot. Gotta love that.

AND... I got my new cell phone. It is fantastic. Still learning the thing, though. Black ENv2 by Verizon. Same number. All good.

Pray pray pray for my grandmother. Dad's side. She had a stroke yesterday. Still waiting on more details. Just pray for now. (This is the side where my grandfather died of a stroke... ask me for more details.)

There is comfort in Him, in His words, in the night - His night - His cross... His love. And when it seems like it is all chaotic, remembering that night makes it all seem like somehow it can make sense. Friends, family, work, money, ministry - when it all seems like it is out of control or just too much to make sense of - He still and always makes sense. He is love. And that is enough. More than enough.

Beautiful Scandalous Night
Robbie Seay Band

go on up to the mountain of mercy
to the crimson perpetual tide
kneel down on the shore
be thirsty no more
go under and be purified

follow Christ to the Holy mountain
sinner, sorry and wrecked by the fall
cleanse your heart and your soul
in the fountain that flows
for you and for me and for all

Chorus
at the wonderful tragic mysterious tree
on that beautiful scandalous night you and me
were atoned by His blood and forever washed white
on that beautiful scandalous night

on the hillside you will be delivered
at the foot of the cross, justified
and your spirit restored
by the river that pours
from our blessed Saviour's side

- Chorus -

Bridge
you carry the sin of mankind on your back
and the sky went black
go on up to the mountain of mercy
go the crimson perpetual tide
kneel down on the shore
be thirsty no more
go under and be purified

- Chorus (2x) -
on that beautiful scandalous night
beautiful scandalous
miraculous nigh