Hey girlfriends,
I have got to brag about our Jesus!! We had a packed-out audience last night at the "Create Hope for the Congo" benefit. 1200 people attended and gave beyond what we thought was possible. $32,000 was raised last night for the work on the other side of the ocean. We are stunned. Absolutely stunned. Economically depressed Michigan pulled out all the stops and praised the Great I Am through their generosity. It made me so proud of my home state.
Three generations of Laban and Marcella Smith's descendants were on stage last night relating, each in our own way, the story that God has been and is continuing to write in the lives of our family. I wish you could have all been there. We asked Jesus to show up and show off and He did--incredibly. His presence filled the entire sanctuary through music and testimony to His greatness. Greg and Nicol and Todd shared all that has happened since the deaths of their babies. There was not a dry eye in the audience. I am convinced that people left with a sense of hope. Our God makes all things new continually. Selah was amazing. Nicol and Todd sang "Hold On" as a duet and brought the house down. Jesus was there with us!!
Thank you so very much for your prayers. Your praying against the evil one allowed us to bask in God's presence. Eternity will show you all what those prayers did. Oh, can't you hardly wait to see it from that perspective???
Please pray for me as I finish this week's long stretch. I went to Grand Rapids to see the wonderful people at Family Bookstores. They were beyond amazing to my dad and me. I cannot wait to see what the Lord is going to do.
Please pray for tomorrow and the retreat on grace. With such busyness, it has been difficult to grab a spare moment to look at my notes. But when I am weak, then He is strong. I am counting on the truth of that promise for tomorrow. And I am so excited to hear what the Lord has to say to all of the ladies--including me!! Thank you again, my wonderful sisters, for all your prayer support.