I wish you all could have heard this morning's sermon. It was SO, SO, SO good. Pastor Matt Hagee preached today on "The Long Years".
He talked about how he watches people and listens to them when in a mall or a restaurant or wherever. I do that too, as I have often told you. I love to watch people. He was at a restaurant with his daughter and noticed two scenarios.
At one table which was decorated for a party, there was a family. A girl was celebrating her 10th birthday. Matt knew that because there was a birthday cake with a 10 on top of it.
The restaurant staff gathered around the table and the guests and they sang the restaurant birthday song.
Matt saw the Mother lean over to the Father and say, "WHERE did the years go?"
Children grow up so fast, and it seems every time you blink, you are in another season of their lives.
Then there was another table with another family. The Mother had her head covered with one of those hats that Chemotherapy patients wear. Her skin was pale and she didn't look well. You could see the heartache from torment and terror on the faces of the other family members.
In this family's world, it was a very loooooooong year.
That struck me as being SO TRUE as not very long ago, the weeks flew by so fast, I often forgot what day it was. But, now -- now that Jerry has suddenly become so ill -- and maybe more than we know -- the days just crawl along with every hour slowly stretching into the next as we wait, and we wait, and we wait some more.
If it wasn't for my faith in God, I would TOTALLY fall apart. I won't though -- not now -- not ever. I am MORE THAN A CONQUEROR through Christ who strengthens me! The Bible says so and that is where my faith comes from. Hebrews 13:5&6 says that God will NEVER leave me or forsake me -- or Jerry -- or you!
Matt said, "Adversity is the School of Greatness. God sends all his champions to it." There was Job, Abraham, Daniel, Joseph, Jeremiah, Shadrack, Meshak and Abednigo and, of course, Jesus. Esther, Ruth and Mary, and Paul and the disciples and on and on ......
DON'T GIVE UP
DON'T GIVE IN
BE PATIENT
JOY COMES IN THE MORNING!
And Joy will be GOING in the morning to see Jerry. I never left the house today because the roads were icy and Jerry asked me not to come. It was very hard to stay here all day. I would much rather have been with him. I will make up for it tomorrow though.
Both doctors visited him today. The surgeon told the nurse she could remove Jerry's bandage. Wish I had been there for that. He also got one of the IV lines out. He had two of them in. We talked on the phone 4 or 5 times today, and he sounded really good. He said he sat in the chair most of the day, and he finished reading the book Tammy took him.
Time for bed.
Tomorrow is a brand new day!
I shall REJOICE and be glad in it!
Hugs, Joy
You and Jerry are SO strong, and your faith in God is so obvious and strong! You inspire me to be a better person. Keeping you in my thoughts and prayers.
ReplyDeleteCheryl Sharp
Preach on, dear Sister. Amen and Amen.
ReplyDeleteLove you, Phylly
I wish you healing and peace. May the joy you spread return to you 100 times over and may you and Jerry return to the simple enjoyment of everyday life soon Melissa
ReplyDelete