Today, I have no news to report, just thankfulness to express to my family & friends! Like “streams in a desert” are your prayers for me and your messages to me: comments on this blog, email, text messages, phone calls, voice mail, snail mail, stuffed animals, and little gift bags left at my kitchen door! These gestures of friendship, concern, and care are what keep my spirits buoyant as I approach the day of surgery. Please continue to pray!
Today, I am meditating on this ancient hymn, pondering the depth and richness of the theological truths. I wish you could also hear the tune, which is as beautiful as the words:
“Let all mortal flesh keep silent, and with fear and trembling stand, ponder nothing earthly minded, for with blessing in his hand, Christ our God to earth descended, our full homage to demand.”
“King of kings, yet born of Mary, as of old on earth he stood, Lord of lord in human vesture, in the Body and the Blood, he will give to all the faithful, his own self for heavenly food.”
“Rank on rank the host of heaven, spreads its vanguard on the way, as the Light of light descendeth, from the realms of endless day, that the powers of hell may vanish, as the darkness clears away.”
“At his feet the six wing-ed seraph; cherubim with sleepless eye, veil their faces to the Presence, as with ceaseless voice they cry, ‘Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Lord Most High!’
Margot’s Corner 
Margo:
“The eternal God is your refuge and underneath are the everlasting arms”–Deuteronomy 33:27. That verse is the backbone of Elisabeth Eliot’s “Secure in the Everlasting Arms” and seems so reassuring, especially in seasons like these.
Please know that you, Steve, and the rest of the precious Payne family remain in our heart’s neighborhood and each evening, as we share family worship together, Nate specifically prays for his “Aunt” Margo.
We love you,
Tracie (for all the Barnard boys!)
I am loving the “ponder nothing earthly-minded” and the “darkness clears away” parts of this hymn. You are an encouragement, even if you don’t particularly feel so.
xo *M