Hey, my Darling Ones!
I’m sitting in the bed in my jammies with pillows propped up behind my back on a rare morning off. I’ve just finished my quiet time and on my second cup of coffee. (I’m obviously a little behind on the coffee.) Keith’s still sound asleep and the dogs are in the backyard playing in some fresh mud. Oh, what they have done to my beautiful garden yard! But that’s another story. My mind is full of other things and I know a few good friends who might help me process it.
It’s Good Friday. I tend to have lots of heavy thoughts around this day every year. I do love Christmas so very much but I am far more moved by the season of reflection on the Cross of Christ and the celebration of our only true hope: His glorious resurrection. We are obviously so much surer of the timing of His Passion than we are His birth. We really can say, “Approximately this many years ago, this happened right around this exact time.” Anniversaries are a powerful thing.
Yesterday I served at the memorial service of a fellow servant of Christ. She was just a few years older than me and her children, both boys, are the same ages of my girls. Belinda and I don’t really have a family history together, though. We have a shared history of faith. Years ago, I suppose somewhere around 1990, I started teaching my first ungraded women’s Sunday School class. I’d been teaching for years by that time but was a constant source of irritation to my department head because women came to the class who weren’t the right age and some of them were even “single!” (To be fair, it really was supposed to be a class of young marrieds from 29-32.) I’d finally even been reported to my pastor, Brother John Bisagno, who called me into his office, laughed his head off and said, “I’m about to set you free.” And Dayspring Class was born. Any woman of any age could come.
I cut my Biblical teeth on that class. I really did. I’ve told my beloved Curtis many times that there’s nothing like being thrown out there to teach week after week after week. (He’s doing that very thing, by the way.) Blowing it over and over then having the courage and the humility to get back up there again. It gets a communicator out of the habit of delivering a few overly-perfected speeches with just the right punch lines but a dwindling anointing – and pitches them out there into the world of high risk and steady criticism. Separates the men from the boys, so to speak. It is HARD WORK. Make no mistake. Don’t ever wish for it. Do it only if you must because it is your God-given gift and not to use it would be disobedience. It’s too hard otherwise and too much flesh can get tangled up in it. “Be ye not many teachers, because you will be more harshly judged,” James warned us. But back to Belinda.
Early on in our class, this darling, petite blonde (bleached, like yours truly) entered our ranks with a personality that stole the hearts of every person in the class. Or, then again, it was her story that stole our hearts. She became quite a center of attention because she’d battled breast cancer several years before and it had come back with a vengeance. By the time I got to know Belinda, the doctors had told her that cancer had spread to her bones all the way from her skull to her knees. She was covered. Almost hopeless. Only that wild woman absolutely refused to give up. Her boys were still young and she intended to see them to manhood.
I have no idea why things work the way they do. I’ve seen mothers just as determined to raise their children yet die of cancer in only a few months. These things are only for the fathomless mind of God. We can’t figure them out for the life of us. But if I were to offer a little conjecture, with His permission and patience, I’d tell you that maybe He gave Belinda those extra years (somewhat like Hezekiah) so that she could teach a tight-knit group of women how to put their faith where their big mouths were. She sought the Lord for Scriptures then told us what to pray for her and how to pray and that, if we were going to doubt, not to bother. And all of this in the most winsome way. She had the cutest personality ever. Several in our class nicknamed her Bubbles. I never could bring myself to do it. Too cool, maybe. But I tell you what I did call her. I called her a warrior. As I told them yesterday, I have never known a more courageous woman in all my life.
Some years later, I was asked to move to a different Sunday school hour to teach and I left my beloved Dayspring Class to the plans God had for them. Most of those women stayed intact and still study and worship together today. Belinda came to my new class many times but it was so large that it did not lend itself to the closeness we’d all enjoyed before. By this time, we no longer had the same need to pray for Belinda anyway. She was thriving. God had indeed given her what she’d so vehemently asked. There were others who moved to the top of our prayer lists.
Then about six months ago, at a Tuesday night Bible study, I saw Belinda at the altar weeping during praise and worship. (Our worship time is also an open-altar time and it is very, very special.) I went to her with haste and she looked up at me with an expression I’ll never forget. “Beth, it’s back. And if the Lord doesn’t heal me, I’m going to die.”
I felt it in my gut. I knew this time He was going to take her Home. That somehow her job was done. Though her assignment was undoubtedly much broader than this, God had used her to teach a group of women (of all ages, praise His Name!) how to pray with wild faith. Our lives had been changed forever. We’d seen first hand a little of what God could do.
Yesterday morning I grabbed my Bible, my black purse, and a prayer journal from 1994 that I’d taped a precious blonde woman’s picture on and headed to my church. We celebrated Belinda Edgerton’s life in a chapel packed full of people from all dimensions of her life. She’d made a mark on everybody from her coworkers at Shell Oil to her neighbors right there on her cul-de-sac. As I reflected on her life and thought about what I wanted to share, God brought the woman out of Luke 8 to my mind who pressed through the crowd to get to Jesus. She reached through the push-and-shove of public spectacle with the purity and simplicity of desperation. She somehow latched on to the hem of His garment and, let this fall afresh, she was healed.
We don’t hear any more about that woman. Lord have mercy, she must have told her story a jillion times to anybody who would listen. But somewhere over there in Israel, her body has turned to ashes just like all her friends. It occurred to me that, while we are here on earth in these flesh-and-blood mortal bodies, all we can hope for is a hem of healing. Even if Belinda had been completely healed of her cancer, she would still have gotten sinus infections, stomach viruses, bad knees, and, one day, her sons still would have gone to her funeral. She just might have been a tad older. These bodies of ours are fashioned for a flash of time on this planet. God has healed all of us of many things but, in His great purposes, we can only grab the hem. Even a miracle of instant restoration from a terminal disease is still just a hem of healing.
One day we will trade the hem for the real Him. No more pressing through the crowd wondering if we’re going to be among the few that see that kind of miracle. We will see Him. Jesus Christ, the risen King. We won’t just touch the edge of His cloak. We will touch the God-man Himself in His spectacular immortal body but, significantly, one still bearing the scars of His visitation here. His wholeness is so utterly complete and infinitely perfect that we, upon the very sight of Him, will be made whole as well.
This, Beloved, is what we live for. Not for just another day here. But for that very day there.
Several months ago, Melissa had insisted upon going with me to have a dye test to follow up a suspicious mammogram. (No rumors please. I do not have breast cancer. Because my mother died with it, however, I never get the luxury of drama-less annual check-ups.) We were sitting in the waiting room and a rack was within arms reach offering all manner of brochure on various cancers. Melissa took one out after another and glanced over them, shaking her head. She looked up at me with that classic expression of hers and said, “Life is brutal, man.”
I nodded.
We both sat silently for just a moment.
Then she said one of the most profound things I’ve ever heard.
“He knows it’s scary to be us.”
Yes, He does. Yes, He does. He does NOT take the fact lightly that we go through medical tests to see if we have a raging cancer. He does NOT take lightly that some of you are secretly fearing that the monster has come back. He does NOT take lightly that some of you are going through the cancer treatments of your own children. I had to pause and put my hand over my mouth on that one. Holding back the tears.
Son of David, have mercy on us! You know it’s scary to be us! It’s almost too much here, Lord. It’s almost too much.
And the thunder crashes in the heavens and the earth grows dark in the middle of the afternoon and a man, beaten to a bloody pulp, cries from a cross between two thieves, “It is finished!”
And death is overcome.
One day, Sweet Darling. ONE DAY. We will trade that hem for the real Him and there will be no more sickness. No more death. No more sadness. We will all be healed.
Bliss.
BLISS.
Thank you for sharing. I’m standing with a sweet and funny friend who is battling cancer and she is a warrior, also. May God give my sweet Lori the years to raise her children, too.
What a blessing it is to read the story of this warrior. To God be the glory.
Thank you for sharing this story. I dream of the day when there is no more hurt, pain, tears, heartache, trauma and the list goes on and on. I hold onto that day when we are all in heaven and rejoicing ALL THE TIME!! Having a daughter who is 9 years old who has a severe brain injury that she was not born with, this is what I hold onto. She will walk again, she will praise the name of Jesus, she will be WHOLE!! Your friend is whole and dancing in the streets of gold. What a party to be at.
Have a blessed Easter! He is risen and ALIVE!!
Tricia in Ky
What a wonderful tribute! Thank you for sharing it.
Thank you for not being disobedient when God called you to reach women.
I pray for a wild faith prayer life like Belinda – what a wonderful legacy she left behind.
Happy Easter!
Oh to be women who live such a life that we will leave a legacy of faith to the next generation, not for our glory or benefit mind you, but for HIS NAME to be glorified.
Lord let us not forget your sacrifice and your VICTORY over death.
“What a day that will be when MY Jesus I shall see, What a day glorious day that will be.”
Happy Easter Siestas!
Dearest Beth that was beautiful. I have no other words just beautiful God gave you those words I’m touched.
Oh, what beautiful thoughts. I can’t wait for no more sickness. My families had a virus all week that just won’t seem to go away. And now, I’m just weak. I can’t explain it. I just don’t feel right. Today and yesterday. And I have so much work to do!
Amen…Come Lord Jesus… come quickly for us… it is almost more than some of us can bear anymore.
Beth…thank you for sharing that…agree with anonymous who said that her mascara was not Beth-proof. I really needed that today.
I hope you and your family have a blessed Easter weekend!
Love you Mama Beth!
Nikki
Bethie,
Not only will my fibromyalgia and Rheumatoid Arthritis be gone but I suspect I will have a FULL HEAD OF THICK, LUSCIOUS, REAL (YES REAL) BLONDE HAY-ER! (hair for those who didn’t grow up in Texas)
What a great message for a Good Friday.
Happy Easter!
Jan
Thank you! I needed to hear that today. God is not finished using your friend to inspire and set an example. What a beautiful story of courage and great faith.
What an AWESOME GOd we have have!
Ok I thought I was ok but I am in a puddle of tears right now. MY beloved Mom went home to heaven a week ago today. She is celebrating this EAster with Jesus her savior. My Mom was a 17 year survivor of breast cancer and that is not what took her home. She fought that battle and won to God be the Glory. My mom’s final battle was just with a heart and a body that wore out. She went to sleep last Thursday night and after snoring her way through the night opened her eyes in heaven at 5 am Friday . My prayer for the last few years has been for her to be able to go home just like this. I so did not want my mom to suffer any more. I am going to miss her tremendously but I know that she is in heaven perfectly healed and thrilled to be with her Lord. Beth Thank you for your words they touched me tonight Patty pierce
Searcy ar
I am sitting here weeping my head off with tear of sadness mixed in with tears of joy and praise and not a tissue in sight. My goodness, Beth, can you give us a little warning like this post requires a tissue, maybe 2 tissue
or a box.
What a beautiful tribute. I can think of no greater way to be remembered than as a “Warrior”. One day I hope it will be said of me, thou I’ve long ways to go.
Angie says, Come, Lord Jesus, come.
Peace to her family. Thank you Beth for sharing. BLISS.
thank you
I too feel this day a little heavy. Not in sadness but in reverence, and I get so annoyed when my husband, only because he has to live with me, doesn’t feel every ounce of the same sentiment I do. I’m starting a tradition for our family too; we’re going to watch the Passion of the Christ every year, even if it’s me sitting there by myself, I’m leading by example. Somehow baking cookies while we watch isn’t appropriate either. It’s to remember what Jesus did for us and watch it, really watch it, if no other time of year we really sit still for 2 hours and FEEL it and be upset by it.
I also have to have that dye test next week-and God bless Him (God), I felt the same thing the other day Melissa did; I just got it-that He knows it’s tough being us sometimes. He’s such the epitome of looking you in the eyeball and saying “I know. I know.”
It was raining so hard here today that it was hailing and the sky was dark. It was about 4:30 in the afternoon and I couldn’t help but think that these might have been similar weather conditions from that fateful moment one Friday on Golgatha (sp?).
What if this Sunday was the day the Bridegroom came back for His bride? Oh glory!
Beautifully said…
Beautiful!
I am truly humbled on this day as well. Words can’t even express how I feel.
One day…
Wishing you a blessed Easter,
Anne in MO
Thank you, thank you for this.
Miss B, Just sobbing. Thank you for such an extraordinary reminder today. Those of us with sick children struggle to live in the NOW and not the what if. We are all terminal until we’re eternal. Thank you for reminding me that no matter what comes for my son this night…we’ll be together in eternity and his heart will be healed. Thank you God for Belinda…may her boys and family find comfort in all things eternal.
Beautiful words for our hearts today. I know so many people going through the greatest trials of their lives. Somehow your words say it all. You have a way with words like no other.
I love you dearly!
Teresa
Oh, Beth. I needed that. I lost a dear friend with small children to this exact kind of cancer a year and a half ago. I ask why all of the time. I never thought about it this way.
Thank you Jesus for loving us enough to speak to us in ways that we need to hear! We will trade the hem for the Him!!!!
Moved to tears. No words, just tears. I am undone. Blessed be the Name of Jesus…Blessed be His Glorious Name!!! Hallelujah!!!
Thank you, Beth. I was missing a Good Friday service tonight. That filled in quite nicely. Thank you for church at the computer.
I am sorry to hear about your friend – I have been thinking about what you wrote and I am reminded of the scripture that says we were fearfully and wonderfully made. We hear that verse alot. But it is a cool verse in that it says that we were made in fear. We were made wonderful and we were made in fear. Yes, He did know we would have bad days and He knew just how bad we would mess up our lives and He knew how hard we would hurt when we messed up and when friends are hurt and all the rest and yes He does know that it is scary to be us. I love that verse – He made us in fear but yet He made us! I am so glad He did. HE is a great example of not giving into fear. We would have missed you and me and everyone else if He had!! Ok the other thing you talked about that struck a cord with me was the Woman with the issue of blood. I wrote a poem/song after hearing a great sermon on it and it – the poem/song – is not the best written song and it needs help, but I love it and here it is, I konw you like poems – hope you like this one. Have a GREAT Easter with your babies! Remember to pray for missionaries who are over seas and for their Grandma’s who dont get to watch them find their eggs or dress up in their new Easter Focks and outfits. I am missing my 4 tonight – can you tell!! But I am thankful they will be home in about 50 days and then I will get all their sugar. You get lots this weekend. Praying for you and yours, Vicki
Changed by the Touch of His Garment
Vicki Sandifer
The crowd gathered around the Savior
Glad He was back in their town
A man cried out, Lord heal my daughter
A woman made her way, facedown.
Changed by the touch of Your garment
Cleansed by the blood of the Lamb
Jesus we come to you broken
And leave by the Grace of I AM.
Separated from the Lord by her weakness
In her body her sin was revealed
Kneeling she met with her Savior
Just one touch and the woman was healed.
Changed by the touch of Your garment
Cleansed by the blood of the Lamb
Jesus we come to you broken
And leave by the Grace of I AM.
Man is sick with out Jesus
Remember you can touch Him anytime
We all need to touch His garment
It was for us on the cross He did climb.
Changed by the touch of Your garment by
Cleansed the blood of the Lamb
Jesus we come to you broken
And leave by the Grace of I AM.
Lord we are found in this story
We bring our frailness and humanity
Please heal the sin in our body and soul
Oh Lord led us to Your beauty.
Changed by the touch of Your garment
Cleansed by the blood of the Lamb
Jesus we come to you broken
And leave by the Grace of I AM.
Oh Beth, I do love you.
Thank you for these words today. Thank you for the encouragement and hope they bring to me – and to us all.
My dear Sweet Beth, Once again the Lord has used you to put things in perspective for me. Mine is not one of cancer but one of a daily grind with Insulin Dependent Diabetes. Not only me, but my youngest daughter (11 diagnosed at age 3), too. My husband also has Diabetes but he does not have to take insulin. I can not begin to tell you of the frustration we have experienced at having to test our blood sugars through out the night or be in the middle of doing something and had to stop because of our blood sugars-high or low.
We pray for God to heal us. We pray for Him to take it away. We pray against the complications of blindness, kidney damage, neuropathy. We fear and dread the onset of any one of the complications listed above. Playing the balancing act is often elusive. To be just right is a rare moment of celebration and then it is back to the daily grind. To hear the words “For the rest of your life” is a tough pill to swallow. To realize that one day we will trade all of that for Him is joy unspeakable and full of glory. To be whole and healthy-wow-that is unfathomable to me. But oh my, it is BLISS. Nothing here could ever compare to my Jesus. There are no words to express what I am feeling inside. Oh what joy it is to be His child.
I did not know your beloved Belinda but I did have my own beloved prayer warrior, Emma. The last time I saw Emma, she was in hospice care. I knew that it was going to be the last time I would see her on earth. Before I left the hospice home, Emma and I did what had brought us together in the first place, we prayed together. I wept as we prayed. She went home to be with Jesus a month after that visit. She is there, with Him, waiting for me.
Kels
I am overcome…covered with goose bumps and shuddering with shivers. This, after an evening spent at our church for our Good Friday tenebrae service, where I wept and wept.
Thank you.
WendyBee
All I can say is Praise Jesus. Tonight & this weekend, my church is doing an Easter drama about the life, death and resurrection of Christ and PRAISE JESUS when it was done and the invitation was given…6 new family members came forward in confession. Even if one had come it would've been worth it but to have 6 new souls added to the Kingdom of our Lord and Savior is such a blessing.
And I know that I too look forward to the day our Beloved Jesus returns. What a joyous day it will be and until then, I pray that I can be a part of His Destiny to help others be added to HIS kingdom.
Thank you Beth for your passion and love for our Lord and Savior. It is contagious and I know it is the same at my blessed church and that is what makes me seek HIM even more.
God bless! I love you!
Christy
Oh what a Savior!
Our God is so awesome and I so needed to read your entry. I was sittiing at my computer sending out notices of a dear friend’s death that occurred suddenly just hours ago. I am numb and can’t imagine how life will be without our dear Hunter. My children call him Uncle Bubble and he has been my husband’s best friend since highschool. Oh Lord forgive me for not witnessing harder to him and always thinking there will be tomorrow. I don’t know how I will ever forgive myself without God’s amazing grace.
Thank you, Beth.
I’ve thought about Heaven and seeing Jesus in person a lot in the last month and a half. You see, my courageous beautiful 17-year old niece finally lost her battle with brain cancer. I loved her like I love my own two girls. Isn’t it funny how real Heaven becomes when you know someone who is there? Even in our grief, our family is able to rejoice that Hannah traded the hem for Him!
Thank you so much for this sweet Beth. I love it that you are always, always so real.
We have a genetic disease in our family that threatens three generations of us. To say that life can be hard doesn’t begin to describe it.
That said, it is the knowing that He knows, that He cares, that we can trust Him to be all that He has promised to be that brings us a peace and joy we never thought possible.
Bliss, yes, bliss.
Thank you for your love of God and sharing it with us.
Happy Easter! It is Friday, but Sunday is comeing!
It is finished. Hallelujia – it is finished. He did it!! Except for those that will be called to meet Him in the clouds, we will all fight death, whether it be a hard fight or a simple passing in the night, but praise God, we have already won!! Up from the grave He arose with a mighty triumph over His foe!!!
Tears fall from my eyes as I read this story . A story that right now is so close to my heart.
My sister in law was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer over a year ago. She's only 38 and they (my brother & her) have a one year old daughter. Cutest little thing you ever saw. They have only been married 2 years. She is riddled with tumors. And this week we found out that there are tumors in her lungs.
People ask me if she knows Jesus. She says she does but I can't really tell. I hope that doesn't sound judgemental. I really need to know without a shadow of a doubt that she knows Him. You know what I mean?
She's a strong girl. The kind that is capable of taking care of herself. It's hard for her to let down the walls.
Sometimes we guard our hearts from the very thing we need. We think we protect our hearts from pain but just the opposite is true. We protect our hearts right out of salvation, healing, love.
It's bad enough to have her dealing with cancer (according to the clinic in New York City, I cant remember the name, they only see 2 cases like hers a year) but I want her to KNOW Jesus, to KNOW He can heal her. And obviously to have her in heaven with the rest of my family.
tough times right now, tough times
I rarely ever leave comments here, but this time just felt the need to share something. One of my dearest friends was diagnosed with breast cancer just this week, and at first I was shocked and so saddened. But, then I remembered that we are to have an eternal perspective–we are only travelers here–our home is in heaven. As I prayed for her, for some reason, I was reminded of being back in school as a child, and always being so thrilled when we got to go home early–you know–unexpectedly shortened days, unexpected power outages, impending snowstorms, etc that would, on those rare occasions, allow us to pack up our stuff and go home early. Those days were always sweet. It was not that I did not like school, but learning the lessons were often grueling and tiresome and, well, hard. Anyway, as I was praying for my friend, the overwhelming thought came to my mind–“Does this mean that Kathy gets to go home EARLY”? Because even though, in earthly terms, that sounds bad, in reality, going home early can be an unexpected, unplanned for, blessing. No more hard lessons to learn, no more hard tests, no more earthly anything. Not that I want my friend to go home early, in fact, I pray fervently for her healing. But, in some kind of eternal way (not a death-wish way), I am envious of those who are going home early while the rest of us continue to learn the lessons. I think it is an eternal longing to see our Lord face to face that we all have inside us.
Blessings,
Lynda
Dear ” Anonymous Siesta” that wrote to me concerning having the thyroid biopsy next week…..THANK YOU! I don’t know if you will ever see this comment or not but maybe the Lord will lead you back so you can. I can’t tell you how your post touched me. I felt it was straight from the Hand of God! Thank you so much for your encouraging words! They were especially sweet knowing you had been through the exact same thing just last week! I wish you had left your name so we could correspond but I respect your wishes!
Beth, this post today has really helped so many! I don’t usually read a lot of the comments but just can’t stop reading these! A sweet, sweet siesta (above) came to my blog from here and left me the sweetest encouraging note! I know God put that on her heart. And it made me think about what Melissa said…that God knows how scared we get….and I think He used your blog to send someone to help me not be afraid!
May God bless you and give you a blessed Easter weekend!
Marilyn….in Mississippi
Belinda sounds like my good friend who was just diagnosed for the second time with cancer. The first time was breast cancer and she fought it with dignity and courage while the rest of us stood in awe of her as no matter how bad it got, she pushed on through. Three weeks ago, she found out it was back, and like Belinda she has two teenagers that she loves like no other. This woman never misses a ballgame, a wrestling match or anything else her kids do and always has her camera in her hand. She is the first to plan the sports banquets or church functions for the teens, or direct Bible School or you name it, this woman is there and in the middle of it and always with a smile on her face. Once again, she is determined to conquer this disease and we are all praying that God shines through her once again. The treatments this time are taking a huge toll on her and making her so sick. Please pray for her and her family as her sister passed away four years ago with cancer as well so it is especially hard on her mother to have to watch a second daughter go through this and face the possibility of losing her too. She truly is a Godly woman who has taught me so much about life just by how she lives her own.
Sweet Beth – there aren’t any words to respond to this beautiful tribute with. Such truth. Such reality.
Thanks for ALL you do in the name of the Lord.
Beth
Thank you for this post, Beth. I lost my husband in January – and you are right – sometimes it is almost too much. All I could do on this Good Friday is thank Jesus, over and over, for his death on the cross. Because of his death and resurrection – my husband’s life was redeemed and he was an amazing witness to what the power of God can do in a life. And I know that he is with Jesus now. And I know I WILL see him again. No more death, no more sadness – yes Beth, it will definitely be bliss.
Oh my, blessings and love
Very powerful tribute.
Pressing through the crowds to touch His hem for now …
No need to post this, but I sat on the phone with one friend today as she discussed where to bury her unborn infant who has a fatal abnormality and now am baby sitting 3 precious children for a friend whose marriage is collapsing, they are 5, 2 and 2 months… (these is a weird and rare day!) and all day I felt so far from Him and couldn’t figure out why but you have helped me to see. I was wishing these things weren’t so bad that I just wasn’t trusting Him with me! Oh for that Bliss!
I know how much I adore you guys with my “little” eyes, how much more our father must adore you three Himself 🙂
You would not believe how this message has touched me. For starters I recently turned 30 and have never been sick in my life. However for the past 2 weeks I have been really sick I have lost about 14 pounds and my Dr thinks I have had some virus. I still don’t feel 100% and I have worried myself to death thinking it could be something bad. I know this sounds crazy but at the same time it has brought me to a whole new level with Jesus. For the first time I have really had to trust in Him and he has shown me how I need to grow up! I have so many fears like praying out-loud, raising my hands, and being baptized simple thing like that and I know God is wanting me to step out of my comfort zone but I just can’t seem to, I do love Jesus so much more and appreciate what all he has done for me I never really understood the pain and the suffering he went through for me and it just about killed me when my eyes were opened to how things really are and how selfish I have been. I hope he knows how truly sorry I am and that I do love Him with a whole new love. I don’t think I had ever given Jesus all of me and I realize a part of me just won’t do. I have struggled with the whole Jesus thing “Is he really real” and I can’t help to think that this was God’s way to show himself to me. I have read so many scriptures in these past few days and I am believing that he is going to heal me from whatever has been making me sick and from all these fears and worries. So my sweet siesta mama I am asking you to please pray for me that God would heal me and get me back on my feet so I can be a better servant for Him. I am going to do better! I usually don’t write this much because I’m terrible at it and I am a horrible speller!!!! Thank you for everything you do for us you are soooo special to me and I love you more than pigs love slop!!!!!!!!!!
Kelly Jo
Albany Ky
Beth,
I am that mother you spoke of today. My sweet 8 year old, Tucker, is fighting his 3rd cancer.
Like you said, “It is almost too much”, but I know God loves him more than I do. I cling to that fact with all that I am.
Thank you for reminding me that He knows how scary it is.
Love,
Courtney Beam
http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/tuckerbeam
Beth, thank you for sharing! I can’t help but remember 1 year ago exactly. We had a dear friend dying from liver cancer and my husband had been sharing the good news with him for many days with no avail.
It was good Friday the day he chose to make his life altering decision to follow Jesus. I remember being at our Good Friday service that evening with tears streaming down my face as I thought about the angels singing because of our friend’s decision just hours earlier. And then…early Easter morning we got word that he had gone home to Jesus and what a day of rejoicing for our risen Savior and our friend basking in the love of his new Savior that was!
Oh, what a day that will be! He has risen indeed!!
NW mom- we look forward to seeing you in Portland next week Beth!
Very touching and humbling. Thank you for sharing with us.
One siesta mentioned her children being in God’s protective arms. I love feeling like I’m in the arms of God. When I’m scared or worried or sad or happy all the same. I just wish I felt that more often. I pray that we all feel like we’re being held tight in the arms of our wonderful Father this Resurrection weekend.
Lots of love to you all 🙂
A timely post for me. Went to a funeral this morning at our church of a 48 year old man from our church who died of a fast spreading melanoma. Having the funeral on Good Friday was special I think for this man of God who knew the end was coming soon and was ready to be with Jesus only being concerned about the wife and children and mother he was leaving behind. Today Hank is rejoicing in Heaven and no longer in pain.
Hallelujah! Jesus is risen!
Gail Jones
Decatur, TX