Praising God Even in Storms; Jacob Joyner

I was sure by now God You would have reached down And wiped our tears away Stepped in and saved the day. But once again, I say "Amen", and it's still raining. As the thunder rolls I barely hear Your whisper through the rain "I'm with you" And as Your mercy falls, I raise my hands and praise the God who gives And takes away...

I remember when I stumbled in the wind You heard my cry to you And you raised me up again. My strength is almost gone How can I carry on If I can't find You?

And I'll praise You in this storm And I will lift my hands For You are who You are No matter where I am And every tear I've cried You hold in Your hand You never left my side And though my heart is torn I WILL PRAISE YOU IN THE STORM           -- Casting Crowns--

Everytime I hear this song now, I think of the Joyner family. All of my family and friends should know who they are by now because of the posts dedicated to Jacob in facebook.


If you are reading this and you don't know Jacob, he is the youngest child of Daryl and Caroline Joyner, brother of Jade and Justin; He was called home by the Father Wednesday, March 2,2011. He was 11 years old.


Going past the hurt and grief of losing a beloved, it is amazing that at 11 years old, Jacob has completed God's purpose for him on earth. He is now praising God in heaven, singing of God's glory and might.

I started this post March 25th but after the above line, I began having 2nd thoughts, that I might be causing more hurt than help, and I think the enemy was planting negative thoughts in my mind about Jacob's whereabouts now.

This morning, we saw Caroline, Daryl and Jade back in the church for Sunday service. Everybody was so happy to see them. All of my kids love them. MJ chose to sit beside them, and Jonei and Peter did not want to leave without giving Ms. Caroline, Mr. Daryl and Jade a hug.

I don't know, but it was on the way home that I remembered I dreamt of Jacob last night. He was wearing shorts and a white shirt. I can't remember the exact dream anymore. I was telling John and the kids about my dream when Jonei blurted out "I dreamt of Jacob last night, Nanay". Thinking she was just copying me, I asked her what Jacob was doing in her dream. " He was with angels and they are singing and praising God", she replied. And that's when I knew I have to publish this..

Jacob has a facebook account. I went to his page and saw the following: that he has 7 fb friends namely, Robert Paugh, MJ Christelle Mendoza, Tulita Owen, Caroline Joyner, Danielle Melvin, Jade Joyner and Heather Wheeler; that I sent him a friend request the night he went to the hospital in Georgia; his favorite picture of himself wearing blue in his 4-wheeler; and that we have 4 friends in common: Caroline, MJ, Ms Tulita and Heather.

I've known Jacob for 5 years now and for the little that I really knew of him, I can say he has lived a fruitful life. He was a boy scout, a member of the his school's football team, a joy to his mother's heart, Jade's baby brother, Dary'ls little man and best friend, and a christian. He participated in a lot of events but one that stood out in my memory was the sharing they did for the Home of the Elders a few years ago. He knew the value of reaching out to others especially the ones who has very few who cared about, and are almost forgotten. My daughter MJ knew him better as she spent more time with them, for the Joyner family treats her as one of their own.

When I posted out prayer requests for Jacob in my circle of friends, he has touched a lot of lives. My friend Hazel in Canada told me upon learning of Jacob's passing away that "I never met Jacob but he has touched me and I feel as if I've known him for a long time. I will get to see him when I meet him in heaven".

Anything and everything happens for a purpose - God's.

An excerpt From God The Father - A Letter Given to Timothy, For All Those Who Have Ears to Hear

Tonight, let the truth be known in regards to those of innocence, My most precious gifts to the world, My beloved little ones... When one, such as these, has passed from your sight, grieve not, for they have returned home. Rather, grieve for yourself, for you have lost a part of you, and have become a little poorer in joy...

For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to all children...

And those from the Kingdom,
Who lived upon the earth for such a short time, and remain without blemish,
Return to Him, from whom they came...

They need not sleep in death, for the penalty of sin is death...

I have found no sin in them.

So again, I say, anyone who harms or causes one of these little ones to sin, it would have been better for them if they would have never been born... Indeed, they shall wear the millstone about their neck and be cast into the depths, for they have ripped My little ones from the Kingdom of The Most High, and torn their flesh. So too have they cast themselves into the pit, where their flesh shall be eaten and their bones broken, unless they repent, and repay ten-fold for what they have done, by way of their works. For no man, full of manly ways, may enter the Kingdom of Heaven. You men, so great in stature, how will you pass?... Bring yourself low, so you may enter. Wait not until that time when all are brought low, for that time is nearly upon you. Blessings be upon all those, who willingly kneel, lie down and press their faces in the dust before their God... For they shall be exalted. To those, who stand defiant before their Lord, they too shall be brought low... Kneeling, lying down with their faces in the dust... And to the dust shall they return.

My Kingdom comes... With it comes all who dwell there.

[And the angels sing]

Glory in the highest, to The Lord and to The Lamb, for the time has come!

Amen.

In this borrowed life, we always wonder why some live longer while some seemed to have just passed us by. I knew in my heart that I've seen a scriptural response to that somewhere and praise be to God for making me find it again....

Psalm 139

13 For You formed my inward parts;

     You covered me in my mother's womb.

14 I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made,

     Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well.

15 My frame was not hidden from You,

     When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.

16 Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed.

     And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me

    When as yet there were none of them

--that in all things God may be glorified--