pressed but not crushed

i remember writing back in june; about all the yuckiness going on in our family, and thinking if we could just get to July things would get easier...but they didnt....they got a little crazier.

autism?
more car repairs
another virus for the littlest one
and now; salmonella for jordan.

many times i found myself begging for relief or asking why. I've been so encouraged as so many times asah would quote II Corinthians 4, and it became our little mantra.

Pressed but not crushed! I've said it to myself over and over this summer, and have come to believe the sweet truth.

II Corinthians 4:7-9
But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed;

i love that the ESV (asah's preferred preachin' version of the Bible) uses "afflicted in every way" rather than pressed.

that's a description of this summer so far.

from broken A/C to various and sundry illnesses, 2 cars in the shop (including a breakdown on I-10 from GA), to a possibly life changing diagnosis for jordan (keep praying for Aug 5!)

so, there's a reason for not so many pictures and coupon links and general fun stuff....we've been walking through some difficult times this summer. and i'm ok with saying that it has NOT been fun, desireable, or easy. but we have hope in the fact that we know the One who holds us all together.

thanks for all the prayers. July's almost over....and I have some high hopes for August!

because we are here for his glory, and,
"to show that the all surpassing power belongs to him and not to us",

tara