In what seemed to be the quickest decisions we have ever made, life changed even quicker for us when we received some heart breaking news this past Thursday night. I didn't have time to call anyone, so I sent out emails between my 2 hours of sleep and packing my bag and loading the car and heading to the airport... These are the emails to show you what's happened.
1:08 AM, Friday, August 10th - Needing Prayers of Our Friends
Friends and Family,
As you may or may not know, my husband, Brian's grandfather has been ill for quite some time, but the Lord chose to ease his pain and take him home this evening. This is a wonderful thing because as the illness had overtaken Granddaddy's fragile body, he was unable to walk the way he once could, but we can now rejoice, as he is walking the streets of Heaven tonight.
I write you not because we are saddened but because we need the Lord's help in times like these. Brian left today for a mission trip to Alaska, knowing it was the Lord's will. Brian loved this man who encouraged him and taught him the Word of God, and at this moment in time (12:25 a.m. on Friday, August 10) Brian has not received word of Granddaddy's passing. Pray for comfort at the time of his hearing.
Also, arrangements have not yet been made. Brian wanted dearly to preach his grandfather's funeral, as to Brian, it would be and is a celebration. However, with Brian in Alaska, things may be difficult in planning. Please pray for the Lord's hand in the arrangements, in getting Brian home if HE wills it, and in safe travels.
Nonetheless, my greatest joy in writing each of you is knowing that one day I will see both Granddaddy and my Nana again. When we visited Granddaddy just a few weeks ago in the hospital on July 25 and after Brian had read Romans 8 and Granddaddy quoted almost every scripture, I heard him say one of the most wonderful things I've ever heard. As we got ready to leave, Brian leaned over and said, "I don't know if I'll get to see you again, but if I don't, I'll see you on the other side." Granddaddy grinned and replied, "We have a great hope, don't we, son?!" I pray that you have that same hope today.
Please pray for our family in the upcoming days...
"Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning." Psalm 30:5
In His Love,
Jenna
11:38 AM, Friday, August 10th - Update on Brian and Our Family
Friends and Family,
Please continue to keep us in your prayers.
Brian received word in Alaska last night around 1 a.m. Central Time. He then was able to change his flight for next Tuesday to this morning at approximately 2 a.m. Brian will be arriving in Nashville today at noon after having had no sleep since Wednesday night. Please pray for his being able to catch up on sleep considering the weekend he is about to have.
We will be heading to West Tennessee when I pick him up at the airport in just a few minutes. As of now, the arrangements for Brian's grandfather are as follows:
Dr. Bennie L. Johnson
Chase Funeral Home
Highway 70
Huntingdon, TNSaturday Visitation 2:00 - 8:00
Sunday Funeral 3:00
Off I-40 W, take exit 108. Turn right until you see exit sign towards Camden, veer right.
Get to first 4 way stop, turn left on Buena Vista Road. Funeral Home is on the right, but you are behind the funeral home in the parking lot.
Thank you for your calls, emails, and prayers. If you have any trouble finding us, call me at 615-300-7055.
Love and Blessings,
Jenna Johnson
I will let you know how blessed I feel and about God's timing tomorrow, rest is in order for now. We are home. Thank you for your prayers, and Lord, you are SO good.
Monday, August 13, 2007
Thursday, August 9, 2007
I Probably Wouldn't Be This Way...
It seems like an eternity ago that I was walking down the aisle saying "I do" to the rest of my life, and not one moment goes by that I don't think about that day and the commitment we made. It's strange how life now gets in the way and tries to distort your views and get into the center of your marriage where God should be. I've learned that things are always easier when you stay in His will, and we've found that the first year is much more of a blessing when you leave Him do His work.
But, times get hard. It's not always easy. It feels like ages ago that I held him. I remember about three weeks ago when he told me the burden that he had. I really didn't think it would hit me the way it has. Being as independent as I always have been, it couldn't be that big of deal if God had given him the burden to go on a mission trip. Besides, in February, right after we were engaged, he had gone on a 10-day mission trip to Jamaica, and though it was hard being away from him, it wasn't that difficult. God lightened the load.
This time is different... As the day of his departure approached, the heaviness inside of me grew, and I could tell it wasn't going to be easy this time. The separation was going to be harder than I could imagine. I read "The two shall be as one..." over and over in the Bible, and each time I read it, it cut even deeper. I have a deeper understanding and appreciation for my marriage now and for what God has put together. It is nothing good in me; it's what He has done in us.
Having him leave this morning changed something in me... Something about him not being here hurts more than I can put into words. The tears come without discussing it, the pain overcomes me at any given moment, and the emptiness I feel is so overwhelming. I know the Lord has called him to be in Alaska, telling the people of that beautiful state about his calling to do the Lord's work, and I firmly believe that should anything happen to him that I know I will see him again one day because he and I have a great hope in Jesus Christ as we both have a time and a place where we met Him. However, what I'm going through now is something I can't explain... I'm not certain if the Lord has something for me to do, other than pray, or if He is telling me something, or if this is just the heart of a woman...
My prayer is that I learn to be dependent on the Lord for strength, because though I am, this feeling of loss or emptiness is what the devil does to make me doubt what my Lord can do. Jesus is all I need. He is my everything, and though He has blessed me with an amazing husband, my thoughts should remain upward. Please help me pray for strength this week, until next Tuesday the 14th when Brian comes home. Also pray for Brian, for a safe and blessed trip, for the Lord's will to be done, and for his divine purpose in all of our lives to be fulfilled.
But, times get hard. It's not always easy. It feels like ages ago that I held him. I remember about three weeks ago when he told me the burden that he had. I really didn't think it would hit me the way it has. Being as independent as I always have been, it couldn't be that big of deal if God had given him the burden to go on a mission trip. Besides, in February, right after we were engaged, he had gone on a 10-day mission trip to Jamaica, and though it was hard being away from him, it wasn't that difficult. God lightened the load.
This time is different... As the day of his departure approached, the heaviness inside of me grew, and I could tell it wasn't going to be easy this time. The separation was going to be harder than I could imagine. I read "The two shall be as one..." over and over in the Bible, and each time I read it, it cut even deeper. I have a deeper understanding and appreciation for my marriage now and for what God has put together. It is nothing good in me; it's what He has done in us.
Having him leave this morning changed something in me... Something about him not being here hurts more than I can put into words. The tears come without discussing it, the pain overcomes me at any given moment, and the emptiness I feel is so overwhelming. I know the Lord has called him to be in Alaska, telling the people of that beautiful state about his calling to do the Lord's work, and I firmly believe that should anything happen to him that I know I will see him again one day because he and I have a great hope in Jesus Christ as we both have a time and a place where we met Him. However, what I'm going through now is something I can't explain... I'm not certain if the Lord has something for me to do, other than pray, or if He is telling me something, or if this is just the heart of a woman...
My prayer is that I learn to be dependent on the Lord for strength, because though I am, this feeling of loss or emptiness is what the devil does to make me doubt what my Lord can do. Jesus is all I need. He is my everything, and though He has blessed me with an amazing husband, my thoughts should remain upward. Please help me pray for strength this week, until next Tuesday the 14th when Brian comes home. Also pray for Brian, for a safe and blessed trip, for the Lord's will to be done, and for his divine purpose in all of our lives to be fulfilled.
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