When There is Nothing Left....

I start typing tonight with a heavy heart that is somehow full of hope. Our dear friends, Tony and Rachel Cobb and their two children, Tobin who is five, and Caroline who is three, lost their home and everything in it today in an Oklahoma fire.
Rachel is a stay-at-home mom and Scentsy Superstar Consultant and Tony is the youth pastor at our church, Lifechurch.tv in Edmond.

My first reaction was utter disbelief. You just don't think anything like that is ever going to happen, especially to people you know and love.

But my second reaction was one of hope and faith. I know that the Lord has just been given the biggest opportunity to show off for this family. Their babies are going to see God do things that they may never have witnessed in a lifetime.

I think my heart of hope came from a beautiful prayer I read in my quiet time this morning. I'm studying the book of Nehemiah and have been struck by the beauty of this prayer of thanksgiving and reminders of the promises the Lord has made to us and all the great miracles He has performed for us. If you have a few minutes, click here to read it. It's not long. I promise. And it's beautiful.

The most beautiful part is that it's the Lord's promise to us as believers. No matter how far we stray. No matter what we do wrong, He is compassionate and merciful, and He will not forget us. He has proven that time and time again to us through our ancestors. He is always faithful to us.

Then the more I prayed for the Cobbs and their situation, the more the Lord continued to put this promise on my heart and mind:

But now, this is what the Lord says—
He who created you, Jacob,
He who formed you, Israel:
"Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
I have summoned you by name; you are mine.

2 When you pass through the waters,
I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
you will not be burned;
the flames will not set you ablaze.

3 For I am the Lord your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Savior;
I give Egypt for your ransom,
Cusht and Seba in your stead.

4 Since you are precious and honored in my sight,
and because I love you,
I will give people in exchange for you,
nations in exchange for your life.

5 Do not be afraid, for I am with you;
I will bring your children from the east
and gather you from the west.

6 I will say to the north, 'Give them up!'
and to the south, 'Do not hold them back.'
Bring My sons from afar
and My daughters from the ends of the earth—

7 everyone who is called by My name,
whom I created for My glory,
whom I formed and made. Isaiah 43:1-7

This is the Lord's promise not only for the Cobbs but for each of us as believers. You are His. His is with you! He loves you and He will defend you! 

Just as He will defend the Cobb family. 

This is a great opportunity for us to show this incredible family the love of Christ. If you can donate anything, it would be greatly appreciated. Money, clothes, resources, etc. They literally have nothing. 

Tobin, their son, wears a 5/6 and Caroline, their sweet princess, wears a 3T. I also know that Rachel and Tony will need clothes but I'm not sure what sizes they need. I'll update on Facebook as I learn more. 

If you live in the Oklahoma City area, there will be a group collecting donations on Saturday morning at 10:00 a.m. at the Stars and Stripes Park west of the baseball fields. Call or text 496-5891 if you can't find them. If you would like to send money or items via the mail, please email me at allisondalke@gmail.com. Anything or any amount will be a blessing to this family. 

Let's be the hands and feet of Christ. If you can't give in a monetary way or through donations, please consider sending the Cobbs a message of encouragement via facebook. 

Thankful for so much tonight.....

.....day 357 of a year of writing.....