By Faith...

“God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them…They went around in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated – the world was not worthy of them…these were commended for their faith…” Hebrews 11:16, 37-39.

This morning I read an article about Brenda Langley, a woman in Rock Hill who had just buried her murdered adult daughter on Monday. Taking her three small grandchildren under her wings to raise, they were victim of another tragedy. The Wed. night storm claimed her house as a huge tree fell upon the roof as she and her grandchildren slept in their bed. First thing in the morning she took the children to her other daughter’s home and went into work for her normal shift. The article writes of her response to these horrific circumstances which were nothing short of how those champion Christians from ages past responded. If the Bible were still being written today, Mrs. Langley’s name would be one listed in the honoring of great faith responses. Not only was her faith one to be exemplified but the response of her granddaughter in light of a deceased mommy and her new home demolished shows me that this family holds Christ at the center of their lives. Their faith is not based upon the circumstances – it is based upon their God. As we read the two responses of this grandmother and granddaughter we will be unable to wipe this from our mind…for a while…then life will return for us. I hope to never forget this story, their faith and the image of Mrs. Langley out in the street with her hands raised to God praising Him.

“Yet Brenda Langley was undaunted, somehow, on Thursday. Langley, her home in shambles and one daughter dead and her bankbook empty, went to work Thursday. She worked a full shift, from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Then, she came back to Cauthen Street and saw the carnage of her life. She hugged her granddaughter, 8-year-old Lizzie Ballard, the youngest of the three kids Langley is raising. The others are boys, ages 10 and 15.
‘The Lord shall provide,’ Langley said to that granddaughter, Lizzie, as she held the child's hand. ‘I know he will, and that Devil won't get us,’ said Lizzie, an orphan in the second grade, who somehow smiled as she looked at what was left of her house. She stood in the middle of Cauthen Street. She raised her eyes to the heavens that had seemed to crash down on her during the storm, and for days before, and she raised her hands. She said, ‘God, I believe in you.’ Then she left, to search for a place to live.”

‘By faith Abraham…by faith Abel…by faith Enoch…by faith Noah…by faith Isaac…by faith Jacob…by faith Joseph…by faith Moses. (Hebrews 11)…by faith Mrs. Langley.


Read more: http://www.heraldonline.com/2011/05/13/3065444/grandmother-raising-children-of.html?storylink=addthis#ixzz1MEocNfuh