Hello dear friends,

Hal went to get his chemo today and they had to postpone it because his blood counts were dangerously low. His neutrophil count (the cells that fight infection)was 700 (normal is 2000; 500 is time to be hospitalized). He is at serious and dangerous risk of infection. He already has a bad cold, too. Please pray that his body would recover and that the Lord would protect him from infection in the meantime.

Please especially pray during the next few days. We are speaking at a conference here in North Carolina this weekend. Our plan is for Hal to stay the entire time in the hotel room, except twice when he’s got to speak. It’s going to be challenging, though, getting to and from the room without a lot of exposure since Hal is the former president of NCHE and is very well-loved by the thousands of folks who will be there.

I so appreciate your prayers!!!!!!  Please also pray for our friend, Orilla Crider, who has been a tremendous encouragement and prayer warrior for us. She just found out this week that she has what seems to be very aggressive breast cancer.

I may have shared the hymn below before, I don’t have time to check, but it is the one resounding in my heart today.

With gratefulness,
Melanie

The Solid Rock

My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly trust in Jesus’ Name.

Refrain

On Christ the solid Rock I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand;
All other ground is sinking sand.

When darkness seems to hide His face,
I rest on His unchanging grace.
In every high and stormy gale,
My anchor holds within the veil.

Refrain

His oath, His covenant, His blood,
Support me in the whelming flood.
When all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my Hope and Stay.

Refrain

When He shall come with trumpet sound,
Oh may I then in Him be found.
Dressed in His righteousness alone,
Faultless to stand before the throne.