Speaking of family members...how's Val doing these days?

awww shelley, val is doing ok!!! I really love this thread. Its a great source of inspiration!

In the distance I can see the storm clouds coming my way,
And I need to find a shelter before it starts to rain,
So I turn and run to you, Lord,
You're the only place to go,
Where unfailing love surrounds me,
When I need it most.

You're my hiding place,
Safe in your embrace,
I'm protected from the storm that rages,
When the waters rise,
And I run to hide,
Lord in you I'll find my hiding place.

I'm not asking you to take away my troubles, Lord,
Cause it's through the stormy weather I'll learn to trust you more,
But I thank you for the promise,
And I have come to know,
Your unfailing love surrounds me,
When I need it most.

You're my hiding place,
Safe in your embrace,
I'm protected from the storm that rages.
When the waters rise,
And I run to hide,
Lord in you I'll find my hiding place.

So, let your people seek you,
While you may be found,
Cause you're our only refuge,
When the rain comes pouring down.

You're our hiding place,
Safe in your embrace,
We're protected from the storm that rages,
When the waters rise,
And we run to hide,
Lord, in you we find our hiding place...
Lord, in you we find our hiding place...

Heavenly Father,
There are so many that are in need of Your warm embrace. Many have suffered the loss of everything and search for the hope that they will pull through. Father show them that a brighter day is ahead. Be their hiding place Father. Comfort the many who are torn down in the wake of Katrina and help them to find shelter by means of Your amazing grace. We ask that You help our Nation to come together and give freely from their hearts. Oh Lord so many are displaced from their homes and have nothing but the shirt on their backs to start over again. Let us reach out with a heart of compassion. .let us be a voice that offers love and kindness to these people. Father if they feel so very much alone in this time of trial. .Lord let them know that You are near. Abba Father we know that with You all things can be made new. You lift us up when we stand in need. In our weakness You protect us and our hope is not lost. Restore to the people Lord the gift of hope. Send to them mercy and grace to face this time of need with courage and fill them up with love. In Your name and by Your grace Abba Father hear our prayers today.

Yes, Lord, let Your constant love surround us, for our hopes are in You alone. Psalm 33:22

Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, all you who hope in the Lord. Psalm 31:24

Amen....Meesh Thank you for that. Something that I've learned the last few days is how helpless people feel when something of this magnitude happens. The really unfortunate side of this is that people are saying things like, "I don't have much to give...what little I can do won't help" etc. I think we really need to encourage people that WHATEVER you can do to help is so greatly needed. Hardly any of us are capable of any grand gestures of fabulous cash donations ( I certainly know I'm not...) or even being blessed enough like Scott and Jill to have the wherewithal to open their home to their fellow man. But finding an extra $20 in our already stretched budgets, can be a tremendous help. Please don't let yourselves or anyone you know become discouraged at the massiveness of the need. We can do this....remember...His eye is on the sparrow...love you all, Shelley