(Note added 1/21: I have no idea what happened to the formatting on this thing. I tried and tried to fix it, but alas, I'm flummuxed. What shall we do?! Enjoy it anyway!)
We had dinner with some friends last night and had a great time getting to know each other better. At the end we prayed together and Doug shared this verse with us, regarding our wait for Pence to come home. He also prayed that Pence would be home in one month! Weehaw--that would be an adventure in last-minute preparations!

Romans 15:13 "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as
you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the
Holy Spirit."

Isa 58:6-8 “Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:
to loose the chains of injustice
and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free
and break every yoke?
Is this the kind of fast I have chosen,
only a day for a man to humble himself?
Is it only for bowing one's head like a reed
and for lying on sackcloth and ashes?
Is that what you call a fast,
a day acceptable to the Lord? Then your light will break forth like the dawn,
and your healing will quickly appear;
then your righteousness will go before you,
and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard."

Psalm 40:1-4, 11, 13-17
I waited patiently for the Lord;
he turned to me and heard my cry.
He lifted me out of the slimy pit,
out of the mud and mire;
he set my feet on a rock
and gave me a firm place to stand.
He put a new song in my mouth,
a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear
and put their trust in the Lord.
Blessed is the man
who makes the Lord his trust,
who does not look to the proud,
to those who turn aside to false gods.
Do not withhold your mercy from me, O Lord;
may your love and your truth always protect me.
Be pleased, O Lord, to save me;
O Lord, come quickly to help me.
May all who seek to take my life
be put to shame and confusion;
may all who desire my ruin be
turned back in disgrace.
May those who say to me, “Aha! Aha!”
be appalled at their own shame.
But may all who seek you
rejoice and be glad in you;
may those who love your salvation always
say, “The Lord be exalted!” Yet I am poor and needy;
may the Lord think of me.
You are my help and my deliverer;
O my God, do not delay.