No, this bit of writing is not about some sappy Country-music song at all! It's about a very special person in the lives of so many people. Her name is Terri.
To anyone who reads this blog, which I'm sure are only a limited few out there in cyberspace, you may not know about this special lady named Terri of whom I write about. She is my wife's aunt (mine too now) and she is indeed a very unique person that God has placed in the lives of people in the West Georgia area. I have known her for several years, even before me and my wife were married, through our church Faith Baptist. I didn't know her very well in 2004 when she had a terrible motorcycle accident that left her clinging for life and certain to never walk again (without a prosthesis). It would be through this that I began to learn of who she was and what she was all about. From the time of her accident to the time me and Holly began dating she, with the Lord's help and healing touch, proved all the doctor's wrong and recovered completely with barely any noticeable complications from a virtually severed foot and head trauma. As I became a part of my wife's family, I began to see even more closely what all she had gone through and see where God had brought her since the accident. God truly did a work and she didn't ever hesitate to give God the glory for what He had done in and through her life!
Fast forward to the early morning hours of May 2, 2013. Around 2:00 A.M. that morning she woke up with a terrible headache and loss of sight. Her husband rushed her to the E.R. where they originally thought she may be having a heart attack. All heart tests came back negative for heart issues so they began do other tests. Upon doing a CT scan, they found that she had bleeding on her brain. This of course is very serious. She was then rushed by ambulance to Emory in Atlanta where the have a unit completely dedicated for Neurological issues like bleeding, strokes, etc. Upon tests and procedures they did that day, the doctors walked in late the afternoon and told us some pretty tough news...that although she was bleeding they couldn't find out where and if they couldn't stop it then it would be fatal! Woah, to go from sitting in church the night before with seemingly nothing wrong to laying in a hospital in Atlanta hanging on to life by what seemed like a thread...no one was ready for that. We knew what the doctor's said but we were convinced, just as I know she would've been had she been sitting there with us, that God would do for her again what He'd done for her before...HEAL HER!
The reason that she is such a special lady was not because of what she been through physically but because of where she was spiritually...she was a rock! Aunt Terri (that's what she is to me) has such a sweet, loving spirit and God's grace just overflowed to those around her. She didn't have to know you to love you and you didn't have to know her to see very quickly that she was a special lady and child of God! There are countless stories and examples of her being Jesus to folks that needed a word of encouragement or love in some special way. She was consistent in her attitude about her family, her friends, her church and her Lord...she loved them all! There would never be a time if someone needed prayer or something done that she wasn't right there waiting to stand in the gap and make up the hedge. Whatever was needed of her, she did without prejudice or hesitation...no matter the cost to herself. She was always praying for folks and doing whatever she could do to be a blessing and point the praise and glory to the Father, never settling for accolades on this side of heaven. She is truly a great example of what Proverbs 31 describes as a "virtuous woman." She trusts in her Lord and it showed by how she lived her life and fought her battles. This battle is no different. She will fight, with the Lord's help, until the battle is won. She is a strong woman that is woven throughout that cord of love like most of us are not brave enough to have or strong enough to hold. She is special She is loved. She is faithful. She is fighting.
We are asking God for another miracle in her body and her life! We come before His throne boldly asking that He do for her what doctor's don't know what to do or how to do. I ask that you join the hundreds, possibly thousands of people praying for her that have in some way been touched by her over the years. She needs your prayers. We need your prayers. Pray, and may God get the glory once again for what He can and will do through her body and life! I love you Aunt Terri! See you soon! Hang on, DON'T LET GO!!!
2 Corinthians 12:9 "...My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness..."
Friday, May 3, 2013
Monday, April 22, 2013
Happy Anniversary!
Hello again! This will be my second overall blog post...we are truly off to a blazing start!
I just wanted to share a story that God allowed me to view unfold last week.
I was visiting a precious saint of God in the hospital in Atlanta, just checking up on her and praying that she would be getting out soon. I must mention how often she has had to make this SAME trip to this SAME hospital over the past few months...more than you or I could handle I'm sure! I got the word that she was up there so I began making my preparations to go see her and her loving husband, who is as equally precious as she. Rain was expected for that day so I had anticipated a slower, more cautious drive than normal (anyone knows Atlanta traffic needs no help, i.e. rain, to assist in it's frustrations). Well just as I anticipated, I became the helpless pawn in the game of interstate ping-pong between the giant 18-wheeler on my right and a company of cars on my left whose sole purpose was to see who could arrive at their destination the fastest! I driving my wife's Honda Civic which seems able enough until I am caught in the middle of "Come close and I'll spray 40 gallons per second on your windshield" and "Don't dare get in front of me unless you are prepared to go 35mph OVER the speed limit!" I normally do not drive with two hands on the wheel...this day it was both hands while singing "Jesus take the wheel..." I made it, finally...in one piece too! I had to park in the parking deck which was not a bad option for this rainy day. The only problem with my parking is I walked away and quickly found the way inside all the while making no mention of what deck I was on nor how I got to the main part of the hospital (which may seem insignificant unless you exit a completely different way than you enter the hospital).
I'm in the hospital and it is smooth sailing now. I get to her room and much to my surprise her husband has gathered their things as if they are preparing to leave shortly. Leaving would be a good thing for her, for she had spent way to much of her time lately in a hospital room. I would not have been upset one bit had I got to the room only to find a nurse or tech cleaning up after she had been discharged. She had not been released just yet, "shortly" her husband said hoping the doctor was on real people time not cable repairman time (you know, between 8AM-8PM). We began talking a little about how she felt and what the doctors had said about her when I asked a dumb question, "Did you rest good last night?" How has ever rested good in a hospital room overnight? For 15 minutes for that matter? As we were just talking and I tried to soak up some of the wisdom and love that these two had been given by Almighty God over the years, one of the doctors walked in. It was during this conversation my day, my week changed!
To put in perspective yet once more, this dear lady has been sick for a while now, has been in and out of the hospital countless time over the past few months, and is older in age...her and her husband deserve an "Atta-boy" and "Atta-girl" buttons for what they've been through. The husband is talking to the doc, the doc is making comments about the weather and meaningless stuff and he makes a comment with his voice cracking and lip beginning to quiver, "It's our Anniversary." I could visibly see he was upset but I felt I must ask "how long?" He replied, "62 years!" "62 YEARS?!!!" All I could think was "WOW!" My jubilation quickly turned to overwhelming humility as I sit in front of a Godly couple who said "I do" 62 YEARS ago and were still as committed to that vow today as they were 62 years ago! What a testimony! What a legacy! What a love! As I tried my best to champion their anniversary I was quickened by the Lord that all that frustration about driving in Atlanta in the rain was NOTHING! Here this saint of God lay, in a hospital bed on her 62nd wedding anniversary and I was complaining about traffic? "God help me" I thought. God had allowed me to be there at that place at that time for a reason. It wasn't to teach me a lesson, it wasn't to be a blessing to them, but it was so I could see Him get His glory! God called me to do something. I was doing it, albeit not getting there in the right attitude, and not because I chose it or asked for it but in spite of me altogether..."but by the grace of God I am what I am (1 Cor. 15:10)."God called me to preach and proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ. He called me to be a messenger. He called me to be a pastor. He called me to help folks. I am not good at any of those things. Maybe that's why He called me, cause He knew I would have to rely on Him to do those things through me cause I sure can't do them alone! So it was, I was there seeing and being a part of something so much bigger than me or anyone else at that hospital that day. I was a witness to a glimpse of the kind of love that God has for me! Laying on a hospital bed and sitting in the room were two people, no rocks of faith, that had made a commitment, a promise, to God and each other that they would love and stand by each other until death had parted them! I needed to see that. I'm thankful God let me!
In closing, and no most of the posts on here won't be near this lengthy, I want to re-emphasize the love and respect that has grown in my soul for these two people. I will not name them, but they are special to me. I was that day reminded also that as great a love as we can have on this earth for one another, nothing can compare for how and how much God loves us! This boy is learning more each day about HIS love! I do not deserve the love of my wife, much less do I deserve the love of my Heavenly Father! "BUT GOD commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us (Rom. 5:8)! Don't miss the things God has for you because you aren't sure you're able or good enough...after all we aren't what were are because of anything but the grace of GOD! I am thankful to have spent some time with this precious couple on that day. It is only my prayer that God will allow me to stand by my wife's side in 57 years with that kind of love, with that kind of testimony!
I just wanted to share a story that God allowed me to view unfold last week.
I was visiting a precious saint of God in the hospital in Atlanta, just checking up on her and praying that she would be getting out soon. I must mention how often she has had to make this SAME trip to this SAME hospital over the past few months...more than you or I could handle I'm sure! I got the word that she was up there so I began making my preparations to go see her and her loving husband, who is as equally precious as she. Rain was expected for that day so I had anticipated a slower, more cautious drive than normal (anyone knows Atlanta traffic needs no help, i.e. rain, to assist in it's frustrations). Well just as I anticipated, I became the helpless pawn in the game of interstate ping-pong between the giant 18-wheeler on my right and a company of cars on my left whose sole purpose was to see who could arrive at their destination the fastest! I driving my wife's Honda Civic which seems able enough until I am caught in the middle of "Come close and I'll spray 40 gallons per second on your windshield" and "Don't dare get in front of me unless you are prepared to go 35mph OVER the speed limit!" I normally do not drive with two hands on the wheel...this day it was both hands while singing "Jesus take the wheel..." I made it, finally...in one piece too! I had to park in the parking deck which was not a bad option for this rainy day. The only problem with my parking is I walked away and quickly found the way inside all the while making no mention of what deck I was on nor how I got to the main part of the hospital (which may seem insignificant unless you exit a completely different way than you enter the hospital).
I'm in the hospital and it is smooth sailing now. I get to her room and much to my surprise her husband has gathered their things as if they are preparing to leave shortly. Leaving would be a good thing for her, for she had spent way to much of her time lately in a hospital room. I would not have been upset one bit had I got to the room only to find a nurse or tech cleaning up after she had been discharged. She had not been released just yet, "shortly" her husband said hoping the doctor was on real people time not cable repairman time (you know, between 8AM-8PM). We began talking a little about how she felt and what the doctors had said about her when I asked a dumb question, "Did you rest good last night?" How has ever rested good in a hospital room overnight? For 15 minutes for that matter? As we were just talking and I tried to soak up some of the wisdom and love that these two had been given by Almighty God over the years, one of the doctors walked in. It was during this conversation my day, my week changed!
To put in perspective yet once more, this dear lady has been sick for a while now, has been in and out of the hospital countless time over the past few months, and is older in age...her and her husband deserve an "Atta-boy" and "Atta-girl" buttons for what they've been through. The husband is talking to the doc, the doc is making comments about the weather and meaningless stuff and he makes a comment with his voice cracking and lip beginning to quiver, "It's our Anniversary." I could visibly see he was upset but I felt I must ask "how long?" He replied, "62 years!" "62 YEARS?!!!" All I could think was "WOW!" My jubilation quickly turned to overwhelming humility as I sit in front of a Godly couple who said "I do" 62 YEARS ago and were still as committed to that vow today as they were 62 years ago! What a testimony! What a legacy! What a love! As I tried my best to champion their anniversary I was quickened by the Lord that all that frustration about driving in Atlanta in the rain was NOTHING! Here this saint of God lay, in a hospital bed on her 62nd wedding anniversary and I was complaining about traffic? "God help me" I thought. God had allowed me to be there at that place at that time for a reason. It wasn't to teach me a lesson, it wasn't to be a blessing to them, but it was so I could see Him get His glory! God called me to do something. I was doing it, albeit not getting there in the right attitude, and not because I chose it or asked for it but in spite of me altogether..."but by the grace of God I am what I am (1 Cor. 15:10)."God called me to preach and proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ. He called me to be a messenger. He called me to be a pastor. He called me to help folks. I am not good at any of those things. Maybe that's why He called me, cause He knew I would have to rely on Him to do those things through me cause I sure can't do them alone! So it was, I was there seeing and being a part of something so much bigger than me or anyone else at that hospital that day. I was a witness to a glimpse of the kind of love that God has for me! Laying on a hospital bed and sitting in the room were two people, no rocks of faith, that had made a commitment, a promise, to God and each other that they would love and stand by each other until death had parted them! I needed to see that. I'm thankful God let me!
In closing, and no most of the posts on here won't be near this lengthy, I want to re-emphasize the love and respect that has grown in my soul for these two people. I will not name them, but they are special to me. I was that day reminded also that as great a love as we can have on this earth for one another, nothing can compare for how and how much God loves us! This boy is learning more each day about HIS love! I do not deserve the love of my wife, much less do I deserve the love of my Heavenly Father! "BUT GOD commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us (Rom. 5:8)! Don't miss the things God has for you because you aren't sure you're able or good enough...after all we aren't what were are because of anything but the grace of GOD! I am thankful to have spent some time with this precious couple on that day. It is only my prayer that God will allow me to stand by my wife's side in 57 years with that kind of love, with that kind of testimony!
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Hello!
Well hello y'all! I want to begin my first official blog post by stating the intent of this blog: to share the everyday life of a believer and follower of Jesus Christ from the South! My goal is simple...to share my life and pray that someone may be blessed by it's content and the Lord Jesus receives glory, honor and praise for it all! I will not be posting everyday (at least not to start). I will quite certainly have some major oops along the way. Bear with me. Stay with me. Most of all, stick with Jesus every step of the way! "Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer" Ps.19:14.
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