Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you, wherever you go.—JOSHUA 1:9 (NLT)
Getting a good night’s sleep has always been difficult for me. It can be very discouraging to be wide awake in the wee hours when most of the rest of the world is fast asleep.
After my father passed away, I racked up even more sleepless nights than usual. I missed him so much. One night in particular, thoughts of my father kept crowding my brain. Those memories blocked any chance I had for falling asleep.
The silence of the night was broken by a strange noise. I jumped out of bed, concerned that someone had broken into the house. I checked the doors and windows, but everything was tightly locked up and I saw nothing out of place.
I returned to my bed and tried to fall asleep. Within minutes, the same sound came again. Finally, I figured out what was making the noise. My computer printer had turned on by itself, and a blank piece of paper had run through the printer.
The printer had been shut off for hours so I have no idea how or why it came on at that time. I like to think my dad was reaching out to me at that moment to let me know that he was nearby. After my heart stopped racing, I was finally able to fall into a deep and peaceful sleep.
Lord, give me the comfort of knowing that both you and my loved ones with you in heaven are watching over me.
So God created the great creatures of the sea and every living thing with which the water teems and that moves about in it, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.—Genesis 1:21 (NIV)
Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.—Colossians 3:23 (ESV)
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.—Romans 12:2 (ESV)
