July 12, 2006
A few weeks ago, when Jeff started to have more troubles with his symptoms, my mom was spending a lot of time over at Jeff and Gwen's house helping to watch the kids, and just lending a hand where ever it was needed. My parents are two of the most selfless people I know. They will drop anything to help their children and their families. Anyhow, my mom watches my brother Tom's daughter, Olivia, while Tom and his wife Jenn are at work. She would bring Olivia over to Jeff and Gwen's house during this time to play with her cousins, Kaylee, Josh, and Nathan. On one particular day, my mom took Olivia with her to the store to get a few things Jeff and Gwen needed for their house. I'm sure my mom was very tired, but like I said, she will put anyone else before her. While the two of them were in the store together, Olivia started to sing the Veggie Tales song "God is bigger than the boogeyman!" as loud as she could. My mom said people in the store just kept laughing at this cute little 3 year old while she sang. And do you know what Olivia said to my mom next? In the middle of all the emotions and feelings my mom must have been going through praying for her son that was sick, Olivia said to her, " Don't worry, Grandma. God can handle it!" You can only imagine the feelings my mom must have felt when this little child looked at her and said such a powerful statement. It is so easy for a child to believe and have faith, why do we make it so much more complicated?
We have been praying for a time for Mike's Aunt Laura, her friend Shelley, and Laura's daughter Rebekah, to come and pray with Jeff and our family. I had a message on my answering machine last night that the three were able to come this morning. They arrived just before noon, and we had a wonderful time of prayer in Jeff's hospital room. Shelley brought her guitar, and we had a great time of singing and worship.. Jeff really enjoyed being able to sing again. Laura and Rebekah both read powerful scriptures of healing for Jeff. I don't know if all of you have been in a time of prayer when you really feel God's presence there. It is an awesome experience! We were able to take communion together, and just spend time in prayer. I believe God did something for Jeff today... we still believe that God wants healing for Jeff.
One thing that I have learned is that when people around us fall ill, it is so easy to say that it must be God's will or that it must be their time to go. It is not God's will for us to be sick. The Bible talks about Jesus healing all of our diseases, for by his stripes we are healed. God desires us to have fullness of days, and it is Satan that tries to steal, kill, and destroy. Satan will try anything he can to shorten our days, and God has given us the authority to stand against that. While we were praying this afternoon, I felt God giving me a verse he gave to my mom a few years ago when all this started. Over and over in my head kept repeating Psalm 66:12b " ... we went through fire and water, but you brought us to a place of abundance."
Music has always been important to me, and I know it is also to Jeff. Jeff has been involved with singing in the choir at his church, and also the occasional solo. It had been years since I had the opportunity to get up and sing at church, but I used to on a monthly basis when I was growing up. I had the privilege of singing with Jeff at his church in January. I am looking forward having that opportunity with him again. Anyhow, I really feel like God still speaks to me very strongly through songs. If you have read my other entries, you know I use the analogy of how it feels like it has been raining down on us, flooding higher and higher. You know, today, God whispered to me "Healing Rain". I know this is a song by Michael W. Smith, but I was not familiar with all the lyrics. I looked them up when I got home. I will share a few of them with you: " And only you, the Son of Man, can take a leper and let him stand. So lift your hands, they can be held by someone greater, the great I Am. Healing rain! Here comes a fire! So let it fall and take us higher. Healing rain, I'm not afraid to be washed in Heaven's rain!" I have faith that God broke through those flood waters today, and the rain we have now is Healing rain, and I won't be afraid to be washed in it.
On our way home from the hospital, God gave me yet another portion of a song. This time it was Casting Crowns, What if his people prayed, and I will share some of those lyrics.
Use the controls to listen to the song