(Amber typing for Mom yet again.)

WAITING ON GOD: Its Certainty of Blessing (Day 22)
by Andrew Murray

'Thou shalt know that I am the Lord; for they shall not be ashamed that wait for Me.' Isa. 49: 23. 'Blessed are all they that wait for Him.' Isa. 30: 18.

What promises! How God seeks to draw us to waiting on Him by the most positive assurance that it never can be in vain: 'They shall not be ashamed that wait for Me.' How strange that, though we should so often have experienced it, we are yet so slow of learning that this blessed waiting must and can be as the very breath of our life, a continuous resting in God's presence and His love, an unceasing yielding of ourselves for Him to perfect His work in us. Let us once again listen and meditate, until our heart says with new conviction: 'Blessed are they that wait for Him!' Our sixth day's lesson we found in the prayer of Psalm 25: `Let none that wait on Thee be ashamed.' The very prayer shows how we fear lest it might be. Let us listen to God's answer, until every fear is banished, and we send back to heaven the words God speaks, Yes, Lord, we believe what You say: 'All they that wait for Me shall not be ashamed.' `Blessed are all they that wait for Him.'

The context of each of these two passages points us to times when God's Church was in great straits, and to human eye there was no possibility of deliverance. But God interposes with His word of promise, and pledges His Almighty Power for the deliverance of His people. And it is as the God who has Himself undertaken the work of their redemption, that He invites them to wait on Him, and assures them that disappointment is impossible. We, too, are living in days in which there is much in the state of the Church, with its profession and its formalism, that is indescribably sad. Amid all we praise God for, there is, alas, much to mourn over! Were it not for God's promises we might well despair. But in His promises the Living God has given and bound Himself to us. He calls us to wait on Him. He assures us we shall not be put to shame. Oh that our hearts might learn to wait before Him, until He Himself reveals to us what His promises mean, and in the promises reveals Himself in His hidden glory! We shall be irresistibly drawn to wait on Him alone. God increase the company of those who say, `Our soul waits for the Lord: He is our Help and our Shield.'

This waiting upon God on behalf of His Church and people will depend greatly upon the place that waiting on Him has taken in our personal life. The mind may often have beautiful visions of what God has promised to do, and the lips may speak of them in stirring words, but these are not really the measure of our faith or power. No; it is what we really know of God in our personal experience, conquering the enemies within, reigning and ruling, revealing Himself in His Holiness and Power in our inmost being, -- it is this will be the real measure of the spiritual blessing we expect from Him, and bring to our fellow men. It is as we know how blessed the waiting on God has become to our own souls, that we shall confidently hope in the blessing to come on the Church around us, and the key-word of all our expectations will be; He has said: `All they that wait on Me shall not be ashamed.' From what He has done in us, we shall trust Him to do mighty things around us.

`Blessed are all they that wait for Him.' Yes, blessed even now in the waiting. The promised blessings, for ourselves, or for others, may tarry; the unutterable blessedness of knowing and having Him who has promised, the Divine Blesser, the Living Fountain of the coming blessings, is even now ours. Do let this truth get full possession of your souls, that waiting on God is itself the highest privilege of the creature, the highest blessedness of His redeemed child.

Even as the sunshine enters with its light and warmth, with its beauty and blessing, into every little blade of grass that rises upward out of the cold earth, so the Everlasting God meets, in the greatness and the tenderness of His love, each waiting child, to shine in his heart `the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.' Read these words again, until your heart learns to know what God waits to do to you. Who can measure the difference between the great sun and that little blade of grass? And yet the grass has all of the sun it can need or hold. Do believe that in waiting on God, His greatness and your littleness suit and meet each other most wonderfully. Just how in emptiness and poverty and utter impotence, in humility and meekness and surrender to His will, before His great glory, and be still. As you wait on Him, God draws near. He will reveal Himself as the God who will fulfill mightily His every promise. And let your heart ever again take up the song: `Blessed are all they that wait for Him.'

'My soul, wait thou only upon God!'

These past couple of months have been especially filled with waiting upon God and finding Him so faithful to send us blessings pressed down and running over. In our daily fellowship, the cards in the mail, and brief visits have been such a blessing. Even though we see the obvious changes in my health, we long to fill each moment with joy and to savor the joy God gives us each day.

As we battle the fatigue and pain and nausea, it is very real, but God's grace has been sufficient. I'm thankful for all of the help there is available.

As the days go by, I may be less able to keep up with the blog or written correspondence, but please know how much they matter. I pray you will continue to stand by us in the weeks to come.

I would come to you this day for a little girl who was accidentally injured in a driveway car incident. She's either 3 or 4 years old. There are many whom we love who are battling with finances, serious health, or marriage issues. It is wondrous to know how our little prayers matter. The smallest hug or the sweetest, shortest note can make such a tremendous difference as they remind us to look up into our Father's eyes from whence our Help comes.

We love you all, dear friends, and we continue to give God thanks for you daily in our prayers.

With love and full hearts,
Colleen and the Moeller Family

(This is Amber: I'll try to post some pictures soon from the last few weeks for your enjoyment.)

Sorry for the long delay in updating! It's been a very full two weeks around the Moeller household. We've had quite a bit of out-of-town/state company the past two weekends, and I (Amber) have also been feeling under the weather this week with a flu-like bug/cold (thankfully not the stomach flu variety).

This evening marks the beginning of my dad's annual sibling reunion weekend. It is our family's year to host/plan it. We'll be enjoying a quiet weekend here in our own Mayberry--gathering at a hotel here in town, where most everyone will be staying, to enjoy lots of fun and fellowship. The aunt(s) graciously offered to take over preparing food for the weekend, which was such a blessing. Thanks, dearies!

Mom was able to come home from the hospital on Friday, June 27th. Her antibiotics for her pneumonia continued here at home until the following Thursday. Mom wasn't feeling the greatest last week, but after seeing her doctor on Monday and adjusting her medicines a bit, she has enjoyed feeling somewhat better this week.

We thank you so much for continuing to keep Mom in your prayers. I'm sure it is part of what has allowed her to have a better week this week.

We hope you all enjoyed a beautiful 4th of July weekend, and may this coming one be as lovely.

Love in Christ,
Amber

I just got back from a sweet afternoon (and cuddle) with my mom at the hospital. She told me a bit of news to pass along.

It looks like Mom doesn't have a staph infection after all. Turns out one of the four vials they used to grow her cultures must have been tainted, because the other three vials didn't grow a thing. We're so thankful! Please continue to pray for a hedge of protection from infections during the remainder of her stay in the hospital.

We're so grateful for our sovereign Lord who works all things for our good and His glory. There is a purpose for every season under heaven! He's ever faithful to impart His peace, mercy, and grace through all the seasons of life.

Thank you all for your continued love and prayers. God has blessed us mightily!

All glory be to the Father,
Amber

Just stopping in for a quick update.

Mom is still in the hospital. Saturday afternoon they released her, though she wasn't feeling much better than when she went in on Tuesday afternoon. By Sunday afternoon she was increasingly unwell again, so my dad took her to the ER. They discovered she has pneumonia, and admitted her once again. Then, Monday morning we found out she has another staph infection. The poor dear! She's also still dealing with nausea, vomiting, and fluctuations in her temperature.

We would covet your prayers as Mom's body works hard to recover from so many issues. She has been trying to get rest when she can, since she doesn't get much rest between nurse visits, finger pokes (to check her blood sugar levels), blood draws, breathing treatments, IV changes, pole beeps, and the other interruptions that occur while in the hospital.

While we are always so very blessed to have visits from our caring friends, I think Mom will need some time to get to feeling better before resuming visits. Thanks so much for your understanding!

I'm not often at the computer these days, but I'll do my best to keep you posted on how Mom's doing! Thank you again for your continued prayers for my dear momma and our family. It means more than we could ever say.

In Christ,
Amber

The seasons come and go so quickly. It's hard to imagine that it is summer once more. We are greatly enjoying the delights of the seasons with summer concerts resuming in the park, fellowship, grilling, and sweet memories. Two weeks ago we enjoyed the annual ICHE spring convention and filled our hug tanks and our hearts with the love of so many dear friends. We enjoyed a week-long visit from one of Amber's friends from Oregon, whom she had not met in person before this visit. What a treat to get to know her better, and have her sweet presence and help about the house. We've enjoyed various other afternoon and evening visits from golden friends across IL. What a blessing to have this treasured personal time with them, reflecting upon the goodness of the Lord.


Also stirring up in the midst of the joy was a bit of tummy trouble. As Amber sits by my side and we type this together, we do so to the whirring rhythm of the IV pole. Yes, I'm in the hospital...again! =)

Over the past weekend I began to feel quite unwell again, and Tuesday morning I visited Dr. Short. I had been attempting to avoid another hospital stay, but my tummy and labs had other things to say. So, I am re-hydrating, we are working on regulating pain medication that will work best at home; and, enjoying the blue sky from my window and afternoon snuggles with my Amber!

During our time in Chicago for the convention, I kept my scheduled appointment with my oncologist, Dr. Potkul. He is always so sweet, and given the nature of the news we so recently received, he gave us much undivided attention as he answered our many questions. He gave us information about the chemo options he had available for us to read at home. Based on our discussion and those drug sheets, we have come to the conclusion as a family that I will not pursue any more chemo. Based on Dr. Potkul's experience, his "optimistic" opinion was that I may perhaps enjoy another 6 months to a year (when I shared this with Dr. Short, her opinion was, "enjoy every day you have!"). Of course, the Lord ordained the exact day before time began. The quality of life on the suggested chemo drugs could greatly compromise our days together and we opted to spend them together feeling as well as possible. This is not giving up on life, it is choosing life.

Today's challenge is to coordinate medicines and nutrition that will afford me the best pain control and overall health. The last surgery compromised my ability to assimilate oral medicines at home. The ideal IV results at the hospital have been difficult to duplicate at home.

We have tremendous peace resting safely and sweetly in our Father's arms. We are enjoying every precious moment and filling our hours with love and joy.

We are so blessed by the depth of your heartfelt response to our recent news. What a gift to be on the journey toward Home together. Some of us just have a better idea of our arrival time to our Destination.

Humanly speaking, our hearts ache a bit for those things we had hoped to share together. But, we have already been given so much more than so many enjoy, and we bow in humility for this grace and mercy.

I would covet your prayers for Dick, and our children, and my parents. It is a bittersweet time for them. Each of us are enjoying each today while processing tomorrows.

Thank you for your love, cards, flowers, sacrificial gifts, hugs, laughter, and tears...all are priceless! Please forgive my tardy thank you notes; you have blessed us so deeply and I don't wish to neglect anyone.

Laugh deeply, love earnestly, forgive whole-heartedly, be filled with gratitude for the tiny, tiniest gifts of each new morning. Don't take one single day for granted.

God bless you, dear ones.

Gracious is the Lord, and righteous;
our God is merciful.

What shall I render to the Lord
for all his benefits to me?
I will lift up the cup of salvation
and call on the name of the Lord,
I will pay my vows to the Lord
in the presence of all his people.

Precious in the sight of the Lord
is the death of his saints.
O Lord, I am your servant;
I am your servant, the son of your maidservant.
You have loosed my bonds.
I will offer to you the sacrifice of thanksgiving
and call on the name of the Lord.
I will pay my vows to the Lord
in the presence of all his people,
in the courts of the house of the Lord,
in your midst, O Jerusalem.

Praise the Lord!

~ Psalm 116:1-2, 5, 12-19

Just wanted to give you a quick update. Mom was admitted to the Illini hospital, but it is possible she'll get to come home this weekend. Mom might need another blood transfusion tomorrow. It will all depend on what her blood work looks like in the morning.

We'll try to provide more details soon.

~ Amber