2 The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer,
my God, my rock in whom I take refuge,
my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
3 I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised;
so I shall be saved from my enemies.
4 The cords of death encompassed me;
the torrents of perdition assailed me;
5 the cords of Sheol entangled me;
the snares of death confronted me.
In my distress I called upon the Lord; to my God I cried for help. From his temple he heard my voice,
and my cry to him reached his ears.
7 Then the earth reeled and rocked; the foundations also of the mountains trembled and quaked, because he was angry. Smoke went up from his nostrils, and devouring fire from his mouth;
glowing coals flamed forth from him. He bowed the heavens, and came down; thick darkness was under his feet.
10 He rode on a cherub, and flew; he came swiftly upon the wings of the wind. He made darkness his covering around him, his canopy thick clouds dark with water. Out of the brightness before him
there broke through his clouds hailstones and coals of fire.
13 The Lord also thundered in the heavens, and the Most High uttered his voice.* And he sent out his arrows, and scattered them; he flashed forth lightnings, and routed them. Then the channels of the sea were seen, and the foundations of the world were laid bare at your rebuke, O Lord, at the blast of the breath of your nostrils.
16 He reached down from on high, he took me; he drew me out of mighty waters. He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from those who hated me; for they were too mighty for me. They confronted me in the day of my calamity; but the Lord was my support. He brought me out into a broad place;
he delivered me, because he delighted in me.
20 The Lord rewarded me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands he recompensed me. Psalm 18:1-20
Dear Auntie Elizabeth,
I heard the good news! Papa read us the letter at the table this noon. We all laughed and cried as we heard of John's birth and the restoration of Zechariah! What an amazing story! The Lord is so good, even when people and situations overwhelm us. You told me that all would be well, and yet it is hard to imagine the days ahead for us. Please keep up your prayers.
The cousins and extended family are arriving this afternoon and we will exchange our vows tomorrow. We have to keep everything quiet so that the town's people don't come and interrupt us. Papa thinks we will have to start packing for our trip after a few days. I am looking forward to seeing Ruth and Sarah. They have promised to stand with me and make the day very special. I have no idea what they are up to, but I am assuming no good. I need some fun and frivolity right now. Everything seems so serious and often scary.
Auntie, please take care of yourself and send me word of your life as a new mother. I cannot go and speak with the girls here who have married and given birth. They will not talk to me and when I approach in the market, they have turned their backs to me. I know the Lord is working good through all of this. I only wish my life could be a bit more normal. It is hard to be so very isolated and alone.
Mama is calling me to come get ready for our company!
Sending much love and happiness to you, Zechariah and baby John,
Mary
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