The sun, the moon, the stars - all are hidden from my sight, the missing stars the worst of all. How many days since we fled? I cannot tell. They brought me here, roughly. They taunt me now, jeering at my God.
/Let your gentleness be known to everyone. - Paul

Alone, no better. The flesh and the devil mock. And worry - of pain, family, tenacity in faith. Fear eats and consumes. Gnaws the soul to bits in the quiet of solitude.
/Do not be anxious - present your requests with thanksgiving - and peace which passes understanding will guard you. – Paul

Peace that makes no sense when one considers the situation, what they've done to so many others. Brave souls gone before! And so many before them, countless thousands across the globe. The world not worthy of them. O to endure to the same end!
/We will close our eyes and it will only hurt for a moment; we shall awake on the other side. – Liena

I tremble. My mettle, not enough. I love the comforts of this earth too dearly - I fear the rooster shall crow for me! The pain, the separation - I recoil at the thought.
/It is nothing to die; it is frightful not to live. – Jean Valjean

His presence in the silence, in my doubting. His mercy and faithfulness! Freedom from sin brings freedom from fear, freedom from clinging to these earthly shadows - freedom from myself gives me Himself forever.
/There are far better things ahead than any we leave behind - Lewis
/Death is not a pit, but a tunnel – Ten Boom
/O death, where is thy sting? – Paul

The sun, it blinds. Blinder still, the eyes of their hearts. Somehow, a prayer for His mercy to them.
/Father, forgive them. – Jesus

Threats. Knives. Knots in the stomach. Rough hands again, rough voices with them. Claims it is for god. Claims of infidel. Claims He is not near. Not so, the Spirit says.
/No scheme of man can ever pluck me from His hand - Getty

Tremors. The worst they can do is harm the body. The soul is free.
/One with Himself I cannot die! - Charitie

A song on the lips. A song in their tongue, a song of my childhood and the Faithful One.
/Naseebi, huwa rabbu haakatha…” (my portion is the Lord…) – David

A mem’ry. My love. The child. My child. Our home – Farewell.
/Let goods and kindred go, this mortal life also, the body they may kill, Gods truth abideth still. – Martin

Cold brushes the skin. The other side is near. Pain rips through. Hold fast.
/Wait for the Lord, be strong and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord. – David

An instant. Transformation. Victory. Himself, my prize, my Savior.
/Conquer here and nothing can harm you for a million ages. - Piper
/We will not all sleep, but we shall all be changed. – Paul
/For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison – Paul