Tonight at about 10:30 PM my brother passed from this life to the next. I did not hear the news till after 12:30 tonight and yet I was at total peace. I knew all week it was coming but I was not sure how I would handle it when it did. Well God is faithful to all of us and as I was sitting at my computer at 10:30 talking with friends online about the Lord, I felt an outpouring of the Holy Spirit and total and perfect peace come over me. I did not know why at that time but afterwards I realized it was the grace I would need to endure what I was about to hear.

      When the news came by phone I was very calm and very okay. That might sound strange to some but all week the Lord has been putting songs in my heart to carry me through. That was amazing to me, for as things began to fall apart around me and I felt like life was crashing in I would always hear a song inside of me. The song always pointed me to Jesus and the song always let me know He was right by my side.

      There were many other things going on this week, such as the attack on America, a physical illness I was dealing with and a daughter in her last month of pregnancy that was feeling some contractions on this same day. I felt like my world was spinning out of control and yet there was a song in my heart. I have always known that the Bible says "that the Lord's grace is sufficient for us" but I have not really had such a week like this is a long time and I did not really understand how He could give us peace in the midst of these storms. Tonight I learned. I learned that God was there with my brother at that exact moment and I learned that He was right there with me 1200 miles away pouring out His comfort and His grace into me.

     All week I struggled with why my brother was not being healed and the pain of him being in pain was almost unbearable. When it was over so was the struggle. As I sat here and prayed for others online the Spirit of the Living God poured out His mercy and grace and love. I didn't say anything to anyone as I was not sure what was going on at the moment but the power of God was so strong that when I did get the call about my brother one of the first questions I asked was what time did he die. My sister told me the time and it was the same exact time the presence of God flowed over me and in me.

     I don't begin to comprehend all of this but this I do know. God is so very faithful; no matter what we are walking through He is right there. He knows what we need and when exactly when we need it. I have learned tonight His grace is sufficient for it is still carrying me as I write this. Jesus never said this life would be easy but he did say to be of good cheer for he had overcome the world. When your life is in Christ, He is in you and His victory will live through you. He will never leave your side no matter what you are going through. I do not know why my brother died instead of lived but then again I don't know why all those people were killed on Tuesday, Sept. 11th either.

      The Word of God tells us in Proverbs 3:

"to lean not unto our own understanding but to acknowledge Him in all our ways and He will direct our paths."

     I only knew one thing through this whole week and that was God was still God and He was still on the throne. I knew He was my closest friend and now I have learned that He will comfort us beyond our understanding in our time of need.

     I thank all of you for your prayers this last year for my brother and for my family. He lived a lot longer than the doctors had said he would and in the end somehow his life was taken from us but we will prevail and I know the Lord will show Himself strong through all of this.

      I pray this one prayer, that if you have not received the love of Our Savior Jesus Christ, that you would call on His name today and let His peace, His awesome peace fill your heart and soul and mind from this day forth. God loves you and He will keep you through this life and bring you into eternal life as you continue to trust in His Son Jesus Christ. Lord I thank You this night for you faithfulness and for Your grace.