Hosanna! Hosanna!

Let me introduce you if you don't already know them-- to the Boeschling family.

Marty, Jael, and Elijah. :)

{To read her blog click her name above.}

This wonderful family came to join our church body in August of last year... Marty joined our church staff

as our Worship Leader and Senior High pastor shortly after. In September of 2011 I asked Jael to become my mentor through a youth program at our church... and she said yes. We have absolutely loved getting to know them... as well as Mr. Elijah! :) In addition to them being all of these things to us they {for only a short time longer :( } also live right across the street from us :)

One day I walked over to have a little time to talk to Jael about Uganda... and walked back with wonderful news! In the middle of our discussion Marty came home from work and they told me they were expecting baby #2!! I was so thrilled and happy for them.

Last week we saw this beloved picture on Facebook of their 17 week old... which we found out to be a little girl.

Look at that perfectly formed hand.

In the midst of bedrest and a week of praying-- Jael delivered 17 week old Hosanna Joy. These are a few words from her post on Friday-- ''Our 17-week-old baby girl, Hosanna Joy, was saved out of this life on January 19 at 11:56 p.m. and is now being rocked in Jesus' arms in Heaven's nursery. Her tiny 'hello' in the sonogram picture taken on Monday was apparently also a good-bye. :(''

We have been praying for Marty and Jael whenever the Lord brought/brings them to mind. Our hearts are truly broken for them. We love them... and are continually lifting them up. I also pray that we will continue praying when it isn't so heavy on our hearts and minds as it has been lately. I encourage you to do the same.
So, because I have given you the background of the Boeschling's let me tell you what the Lord did today.

This morning we soon found out that Marty would indeed lead our congregation in worship. Since Friday morning {we woke up with the ''news''} we kept on saying over and over. And over. How is he ever going to sing Hosanna, Hosanna ever again?? 

Before the service I had talked with Marty to acknowledge that I was thinking about him-- especially today and that I was praying for him. So, when the time came he walked up to lead us... Everything goes as usual until this line...
Hosanna, Hosanna came up on the big screen. Imagine with me the Daddy of this sweet baby girl having to sing her name...over and over. And over-- after losing her {3 days prior}.

Anyone that knew the circumstance was crying-- including myself. I felt sorry for the visitors that didn't know why so many people were crying in this wonderful song in praise to Him... :)

But Marty-- Marty was smiling. It. Was. Priceless... Singing ''Hosanna... Hosanna...'' with nothing less than a grin from ear to ear. When he sang when we see you we find strength  to face the day I thought about how precious it was the strength the Lord gave him to minister to us this morning. I believe that it was a complete God-thing and an extreme ''faith challenger.'' I love how the Lord picked that song... knowing-- knowing how it would shift our hearts. THEN, Marty also said a few words about Hosanna and sang ''You Never Let Go.'' We were very sober during the rest of service. We appauld Pastor Grant because he delivered an awesome sermon... It's just that those words with the scene playing out before our eyes was so fresh on our minds... and being forever engraved on our hearts.

Hosanna means an {1} exclamation of praise, especially one to God and also {2} the act of crying "hosanna".  {I believe this is very appropriate :) }

[Old English osanna,  via Late Latin from Greek, from Hebrew hōshi `āh nnā  save now, we pray]

Save now we pray.

Save now... we pray...

                                 {hands together, praying.}

John 10:12

They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, “Hosanna! ” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Blessed is the King of Israel!”

Our sweet Jesus prepared a place for Hosanna. He greeted her-- by name. Hosanna!  She is now being held by Him... and will be waiting for her mommy, her daddy, and her big brother.

There is so much Scripture that goes beautifully with this... I am going to share this one:

1 Peter 1:6,8    ''In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials...... Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy,''

Our congregation was a witness of this beautiful ''inexpressible and glorious joy'' this morning while Marty sang praise and saw the hope that truly was rising. Be blessed this week, treasures. Thanks for letting me share :)

In Abba,
Emilee.