Saturday, July 31st Update from Joni:

Did you know that national spinal-cord injury statistics indicate that most spinal injuries occur on the last Saturday of July? Hey, that’s today! And it’s why whenever children tour our Joni and Friends International Disability Center, I remind them never to dive in shallow water (and always swim with a buddy). Let’s keep broken necks to a minimum :-)!

Yesterday, Ken and I welcomed to the Center, our good friends, Peggy Campbell from Ambassador Agency (they distribute the “Joni and Friends” radio program) and Nancy Leigh Demoss of Revive Our Hearts (in town for a visit). During our time of singing and prayer, Nancy Leigh asked that God might “sanctify the pain” when I start treatment next week — that’s something I’m treasuring and pondering in my heart. After lunch, when Nancy and Peggy left, I kept singing in my mind “Like a River Glorious.” If you don’t know the words, here they are (Julie Hines of Ohio jotted them in her note this week). If you know the hymn, harmonize with me, friend:

Hidden in the hollow of His blessed hand,
Never foe can follow, never traitor stand;
Not a surge of worry, not a shade of care,
Not a blast of hurry touch the spirit there.
 
Stayed up on Jehovah, hearts are fully blessed!
Finding as he promised, perfect peace and rest.
Every joy or trial falleth from above,
Traced upon our dial by the Sun of Love;
We may trust Him fully all for us to do.
They who trust Him wholly find Him wholly true.