Hold the Ropes

Wow - a whole bunch of you must've been praying last night b/c I got the best night's sleep I have had in a long time! And I am feeling MUCH better today (again- a whole bunch of you must have been/must be praying).

I'm kind of embarrassed to admit that I'm a little hesitant to post this. But I have noticed over the years that once people post the prayer is being effective, people stop praying. Isn't that weird (and kind of stupid)? You'd think, that seeing how God is answering and using prayer in His work in the situation that we would pray more- but we stop (and I do mean we- I'm as guilty of it as anybody).

Please don't stop praying- I, all of the students and especially all of us newbies, have been hit VERY hard over the last week. And we're fighting to keep our eyes on Jesus and to follow Him through all this mess but it is very, very hard. One of the harder things I've had to do so far in my life.

There's a ministry here called "Hold the Ropes" that God has blessed me incredibly to be a part of. Its from a poem that talks about the importance of praying for brothers and sisters overseas following Jesus through extreme difficulty. And since I know many of you are involved in this as well (or you probably wouldn't be reading all this) I thought it might encourage you as much as it encourage me. (and now if I say HTR - you'll know what I mean Hold the Ropes). So keep praying- I really can't thank you all enough!

"Hold The Ropes”
Down beneath the mighty ocean
Divers plunge for treasures rare.
But men hold the ropes above them
So they breathe the upper air.

Seeking pearls of richest value
Braver hearts have dared to go.
But our hands must every moment
Hold the ropes that reach below.

So amid the heathen darkness

There are heroes, true and brave,
Shrinking not from death or danger,
Bearing all to help and save.

But they cry, “Oh, do not leave us,
“Mid these dreadful depths to drown,
“Let us feel your prayers around us,
“Hold the ropes as we go down!”