be encouraged
in so many of Paul's letters to different peoples and churches he takes a moment to encourage because of the incredible testimonies that are being heard all over the world. his encouragement always stems from the work God is doing through His people. he uses words like, "I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you" or "I thank my God every time I remember you". the bottom line is, their faith and actions in the name of Jesus are being recorded and mentioned amongst a multitude of people and they are to be encouraged. We want to take a moment to see if we can encourage you through this post.
we often go through seasons where the difficult and awful things of this world consume us as we watch the news or receive prayer requests from friends and family. as you all know, my dad was diagnosed with inoperable and incurable brain tumors this May. it became easy for our hearts and minds to become focused on all of the other hardships that surrounded us (other family friends struggling with cancer, deaths of friends and family, desperate life situations in the Dominican and Haiti, financial hardships, crime, etc...) but, thankfully God is passionate about renewal, redemption and restoration!! he loves taking hard, difficult, dark situations and doing something so great so we can give Him the glory, honor and praise! I hope the following words encourage you as I briefly share how God has used our situation (dad's illness) to reveal Himself and show that He is doing a mighty work amidst a difficult situation.
there are several UPS pilots that attend our home church in Louisville. some of them have reported to us that as they fly all over the world, they stop and gather with others and pray for my dad. that means there are people all over the world praying for my father.
our oncologist is from Lebanon. he is one of 15 children and has an amazing story of how his parents raised him to know God. the most encouraging thing he told us throughout this whole process is that as doctors, they can only do so much to help cure my dad's illness, but the rest will be up to the "big man upstairs". when we asked him if he has seen God do miracles, he said, "you can't be a doctor and not believe that God does miracles...we have seen it before." this man has an opportunity to share this good news with many patients.
we receive at least 10 hand written cards from people all over the country every week encouraging my dad and the rest of our family to stay strong in our faith, hoping and believing that God can do all things. people still hand write cards and send them to the sick.
because of dad's gentle personality he has been a relationship builder his entire life. as I drove around town with him visiting his clients and banks, I saw people light up when he walked in the door. bankers and clients hugged him and expressed their concern and said they were praying for him. they said over and over how great it was to see him. when he wasn't able to go with me on these errands, he told me who I needed to visit and where...most of whom had nothing to do with his business. they were random employees in restaurants and banks that he shares a smile or a kind word with while he's on his daily routine. people still have face to face fellowship and don't just bank online or send business emails.
our Dominican and Haitian brothers and sisters were with us at a conference when we received the news that dad had a mass in his brain. as we have been back and forth between the states and the island, we have had countless people tell us they gather in prayer every week to pray for dad. people stop me in the street (some that I barely know) and ask me how dad is doing. people really do pray for one another when they say they are going to.
I could continue, but my point is this, I am encouraged by the testimonies that are being recorded all over the world that there are faithful Believers that are hurting and celebrating together as one body...just as Christ called us to. all of the sudden, when those dark feelings try to make their way into our day, I remember that God is alive and working through people all over His creation. thank you to all of you for your faithfulness and love for dad. if I were Paul, I would write a letter to all Believers saying this:
I think my God every time I remember you. The love of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior is being expressed through your actions and for this I am grateful. His Gospel is being preached through your cards, prayers, phone calls, meals, hugs, tears and smiles. God is blessing others through you and the central message of God's Word is manifesting itself in ways we never imagined. I praise God for our partnership in the Gospel and that He has the final word!
there are several UPS pilots that attend our home church in Louisville. some of them have reported to us that as they fly all over the world, they stop and gather with others and pray for my dad. that means there are people all over the world praying for my father.
our oncologist is from Lebanon. he is one of 15 children and has an amazing story of how his parents raised him to know God. the most encouraging thing he told us throughout this whole process is that as doctors, they can only do so much to help cure my dad's illness, but the rest will be up to the "big man upstairs". when we asked him if he has seen God do miracles, he said, "you can't be a doctor and not believe that God does miracles...we have seen it before." this man has an opportunity to share this good news with many patients.
we receive at least 10 hand written cards from people all over the country every week encouraging my dad and the rest of our family to stay strong in our faith, hoping and believing that God can do all things. people still hand write cards and send them to the sick.
because of dad's gentle personality he has been a relationship builder his entire life. as I drove around town with him visiting his clients and banks, I saw people light up when he walked in the door. bankers and clients hugged him and expressed their concern and said they were praying for him. they said over and over how great it was to see him. when he wasn't able to go with me on these errands, he told me who I needed to visit and where...most of whom had nothing to do with his business. they were random employees in restaurants and banks that he shares a smile or a kind word with while he's on his daily routine. people still have face to face fellowship and don't just bank online or send business emails.
our Dominican and Haitian brothers and sisters were with us at a conference when we received the news that dad had a mass in his brain. as we have been back and forth between the states and the island, we have had countless people tell us they gather in prayer every week to pray for dad. people stop me in the street (some that I barely know) and ask me how dad is doing. people really do pray for one another when they say they are going to.
I could continue, but my point is this, I am encouraged by the testimonies that are being recorded all over the world that there are faithful Believers that are hurting and celebrating together as one body...just as Christ called us to. all of the sudden, when those dark feelings try to make their way into our day, I remember that God is alive and working through people all over His creation. thank you to all of you for your faithfulness and love for dad. if I were Paul, I would write a letter to all Believers saying this:
I think my God every time I remember you. The love of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior is being expressed through your actions and for this I am grateful. His Gospel is being preached through your cards, prayers, phone calls, meals, hugs, tears and smiles. God is blessing others through you and the central message of God's Word is manifesting itself in ways we never imagined. I praise God for our partnership in the Gospel and that He has the final word!
(the photo above is of the GO Ministries Board visiting dad at the house and praying over him)
