losing one of them would be like losing a part of my heart and soul.
entertaining those thoughts have brought me to tears many a time.
my kids each bring such a uniqueness and brilliant element to my life that if one were lost, the void would be too great to bear....alone.
meet the Cretzman family.
they are a young, vibrant, missionary family currently on deputation with the aspirations of serving the Lord in Cuba.their current goal is 75% met, and their vigor for the Lord is quite evident on their website and through their facebook page.
their story is heartbreaking, humbling, exciting, and unfolding as we speak.
as they buckled their kids into their car seats, for what i'm sure was a routine monday morning for them, everything was about to change.
while travelling on the interstate in N.C., enroute to a missionary conference in Ohio, their van hit black ice.
they collided with the interstate sign support on the passenger side, injuring mom, Lana, and the impact sent their three year old daughter, Azlynn, to be safe in the arms of her Heavenly Father.
she died in her daddy's arms.
please pray with me for this family as they go through this valley.
they have put their trust in the Lord, and have seen mighty things come out of this tragedy already.
it has been SO encouraging for me to follow.
God truly uses these trials put before us to reveal His bigger, better plan.
a plan that i believe entails one mission:
bringing hope to the hopeless and lost sinners to redemption.
if you follow this story too, i know you will be greatly encouraged.
while i ask the Lord for peace about what now seems to be such trivial things,
the Cretzmans are headed to pick out a casket for their baby girl.
a princess one, if they can find it.
but God deals in the affairs of all of His children, not esteeming any one more important than the other.
for that i am truly grateful!
while He walks with me and gives me patience not to yell at my kids, He holds up grieving parents and shines through them in their darkest hour.
He is hard at work in your life, too, seeking to win your heart and to answer your prayers.
isn't that totally amazing?!
seeing the Cretzman family deal with this, with such peace and grace, can only be the result of One thing.
Jesus Christ and Him alone.
they have a faith that saves, and they want everyone else to know that and have it as well.
they are fulfilling their calling as missionaries, right here on American soil.
Lana was able to lead one of her nurses to the Lord, and the outpouring of love from the community{none of whom they are really familiar with}has been enormous and overwhelming.
God always provides what we need.
i thought that maybe you would like to shout out to them, too.
let them know that you are praying for them, for they will truly need it in the days to come as they bury their precious jewel.
God is faithful.
a verse they have claimed...
"But as for you, you thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save many people alive."
Genesis 50:20
if you would like to follow this story, or just show your love and support via letter, email, facebook or financial donation, here's where to go.
xo,
mary
So heartbreaking. Sometimes it's hard to remember that through something as awful as this, God has a plan. I will surely include this family in my prayers. I hope you don't mind if I post this on my blog. I think it's great to get the word out so that others can be praying for this family's healing. Thank goodness she is safe in the arms of our Lord.
ReplyDeletei think it would be amazing if you shared it! :)
DeleteThank You Mary truly a blessing for you to post, and to watch their awesome testimony. Nothing is too big or too small fopr our Lord...
ReplyDeleteCheryl Haurik
Depew NY