Wow! Again?
Isn’t that how we all were after each hurricane kept spinning. After each earthquake kept shaking. After each fire kept blazing. Then the chaos of Las Vegas and now Sutherland Springs. And that was just the Western Hemisphere.
Focusing in and there were some “disasters” that were hitting a little closer to home. We found out our middle son needs some comprehensive testing to see if his struggles at school might be deeper than “he’s just a boy”. Words like “processing disorder”, “dyslexia”, and “learning disability” were thrown out to us. Our heads are spinning like the hurricane winds. A dear friend of mine called, weeping, and said “I think my marriage might be over.” And her world was breaking with earthquake strength. I received news that many loved ones of friends have been diagnosed with various cancers (I seem to be people’s first call these days). This epidemic of cancer continues to spread like a wild fire – it does not care who, when, or how.
It’s all just so…heavy. Like not able to lift it up heavy. Can’t get a hold of it heavy. Slipping out of my hands about to crash heavy. HEAVY! Heavy on my heart, my mind, and my thoughts. Not able to really understand the magnitude of all the damage. Of all the lives marked, changed…forever!
I know I have shared songs before (and if you can’t see the link or the video is not in the email please go directly to the post on http://ashleyjansen.com to be able to hear the song). I think the creativity of music is such a gift. Melodies stay with you. Lyrics can wreck you. They move you to dance, to cry, to worship, and to remember. And I’m not just talking about Christian worship songs. Theme songs from movies. The classic oldies. Commercial jingles. It’s all music that impacts.
This particular song that I have listened to SO loud in my car (like embarrassingly loud) will remind me of all these events whenever I hear it from now on.
It is from the Shane&Shane Psalms Live album. Psalm 46 (Lord Of Hosts). The chorus says:
Lord of Hosts, You’re with us
With us in the fire
With us as a shelter
With us in the storm
You will lead us
Through the fiercest battle
Oh where else would we go
But with the Lord of Hosts
So take a moment, maybe turn it up a little louder, and let it’s truth wash over you. May you scream with this song, as I have, ‘I know my God is in control’. Afterwards spend some time remembering and praying for:
- All the hurricane victims in Texas, Florida, Caribbean Islands, Turks & Caicos, and so many more
- All the earthquake victims in South America.
- All the wild fire victims in California.
- All the victims families that perished in Las Vegas & Sutherland Springs.
- Parents of children that have special needs.
- Your marriage and your friends and families marriages.
- The people in your life that have received the “it’s cancer” call.
Ashley Jansen 
So good. Thank you for sharing Ashley!!
Kindest regards,
Meriam R. Dolan, CPA Solid Oak Business Consulting, LLC Phone: (404) 441-6253 Fax: (678) 666-4596
*Office Hours* *Monday – Thursday 9 AM until 2 PM* ***I have limited availability on Fridays***
LikeLike
Ashley – powerful truth in this song! We know that worship is a weapon against despair and discouragement, especially worship involving music. I love what Dietrich Bonhoeffer said, “Music…will help dissolve your perplexities and purify your character and sensibilities, and in time of care and sorrow, will keep a fountain of joy alive in you.” I’ve found that to be true! Bill
LikeLike
Hi Ashley,
I love your posts. You really should write a book of devotionals.
I’m sorry about what you are hearing about precious Luke. I just wanted to let you know that having dyslexia is not the end of the world. I knew something was wrong with my oldest son in 1st grade because he was really struggling with reading. I was frustrated because I had taught children to read as a kindergarten teacher before having children. He repeated first grade because my husband was hoping it was just that he was one of the youngest. He was going to a small Christian school and God worked it out beautifully. His best buddies were also the youngest and they repeated too so Josh didn’t have to feel bad repeating.
Tim didn’t thing anything was really wrong with him so it wasn’t until the end of 4th grade that he was diagnosed with dyslexia. The educational psychologist in Atlanta that tested him recommended Syllables Learning Center in Alpharetta to us. God had the timing worked out. We had just moved from Lawrenceville to Cumming so we weren’t very far. We took him there twice a week during his 5th grade year. No two children are the same and each have unique needs, but for him, it was extremely beneficial. My husband didn’t want to have him labeled so we never told the schools so he never got extra help. He graduated with a 3.7 and is now studying industrial engineering at Southern Poly, now part of Kennesaw. I loved the program at Syllables so much that when my husband wanted me to make more money than just preschool I began to also work at Syllables. I love helping other children the way others helped my son.
I’ll be praying that God will help you find just the right thing to help Luke. He is so precious!
God bless you and your family, Marjorie
Sent from Mail for Windows 10
________________________________
LikeLike
Hi Ashley
I have gone through the same thing with people I love… Very hard..it may be the times we are living in before Christ returns…..my daughter struggled in school as well… Trust your heart for your child…I homeschooled her for 1 year …I wanted to hone in on what we needed to focus on….I knew her better then any and followed my mother instincts…. After the year I put her in another school….. She began to thrive and worked really hard…. She graduated with a masters degree and getting her counseling licence this month! If you want to get together for coffee be happy to share her story:). Kids learn differently and he will be just fine…God will give you the wisdom for him and lead you… He has everything inside him to do God’s will and purpose…;);)
Love your open 💓 you have encouraged and inspired me and many others.XXX
LikeLike