I know that it's hard to stomach a long blog, but hey I'm entitled to at least one a year. So here it is:

We have recently started this thing called "Hold On" stories. Basically a "Hold On" story is a story of God's unimaginable faithfulness. When you feel like giving up and cursing God; when things get SO bad that you ask: "why me?" You say: "If God existed then He wouldn't let this happen."
You know what, God is SO faithful that He loves you the same through all of that, and He is there the whole time. And your every heartfelt prayer is like beautiful music to His ears.

Here is a story from a real person that offered to share about God's awesomeness. It has been unbelievably encouraging to me:

Josie posted on September 06, 2008:
" When I was six years old I was diagnosed with Type One diabetes. I was in the first grade. It was so hard trying to ajust to pricking my finger more than four times daily and taking a shot every time I ate something. I stayed in the hospital for about six weeks, I think. As soon as I was able to come home, I learned that my parents were going to get a divorce. It wasn't that much of a shock since they always fought at home, but I didn't want it to happen and I took it really hard. I have two sisters who were 11 and 7 at the time. We ALL took it really hard."

"Not soon after my parents serperated, I got a really bad stomach virus. It turned out to be the symptoms of guillian barre syndrome. That means that I was paralyzed, from head to toe. I stayed in the hospital for another six weeks. Going through therapy and taking all sorts of medication. While I was in the hospital I turned seven. It was probably the worst birthday ever. Even though I had tons of people come visit me and bringing me things, I couldn't help but think that I would never get better and maybe even die. I knew it had to be hard on my mom. She stayed at the hospital with me, sleeping on the uncomfortable couch beside my bed, getting up several times a night to check on me or help me reposition myself since I wasn't able to do it myself. My sisters moved around from reletive to reletive staying with different family members since my dad was gone and my mom with me. "

"I couldn't help but think "Why Me". I would cry, A LOT. But after staying in the hospital and recovering, I am now able to walk again. I don't have to use a wheel chair or a cain. I'm a regular teenage girl. With hopes and dreams. and I think if you were to see me today, you would never guess that I wasn't able to walk at a time. Now that I am 14, instead of thinking "why me", I think "why not me". Maybe God will use me in the future to speak to others about him and his unwavering love for me, how he showed me mercy in giving me my legs to walk and play my favorite sports. I'm going to try my best to live for him, since he died for me."

That is awesome. I hope that you guys get a chance to post your own stories and please is you found this as encouraging as I have, then please feel free to share this blog post in a bulletin. I know that this story can minister to a lot of people like it did me. Go and share your own: "Hold On" stories

Thanks Josie for sharing,
DDB
Derek