It has been a tough week without a lot of answers on the epilepsy front (I will write another blog about that soon) . In the midst of the pain, this week has been filled with amazing blessings including friends bringing meals, trimming trees,offerings lots of love and family spending time with G so mommy and Daddy could get things done.
On Wednesday night I found my uttering many prayers of thanks. I sat in our church’s sanctuary at the National Worship Leaders Conference feeling God’s loving arms embracing me.
I was there with my dear friend Jamie. Jamie and I, along with several other amazing women have, been spiritual sisters for years. We have been through many of life’s ups and downs together. Two summers ago, Jamie and her family were struck by a tragic low, when her younger sister had complications after surgery and was without air for an extend period of time. Naomi was left in need of 24/7 care. Currently she is unable to communicate or do anything on her own.
Simply being able to spend time with Jamie was an amazing blessing. As I sat next her, I was thinking that she was the perfect person to be attending this concert with.
The music was amazing! We heard a group from Ireland called the Renfro collective (I think), then Paul Baloche (Amy Grant, Michael W Smith, etc have recorded his song…if you listen to Christian music you know his works even if you don’t know his name)……AMAZING!!!!
But for me at least the best part was between the sets. You know the time, when someone comes out, and talks a while so the stage can be reset? Normally, I would use this time to tune out, check my phone, or go to the bathroom. So glad I did not on Wednesday.
Our speaker recounted a story from a Christian event he had hosted years before. He was in the front row, next to a man and his teenage son. The son, who was in a wheelchair, had been injured in a football accident. He had lost his sight, his speech and almost all mobility, except for that in one arm.
Our speaker told of an entire crowd of men standing to sing “All Hail The Power of Jesus Name”. As the crowd sang, the father stood in front of his son, pulled him up into a hug and sang the words over his child. As he sang, the boy burst out in a huge smile and with much effort lifted his one working arm unto his father’s shoulder.
This story in and of it self was amazing! A picture of a fathers unconditional love, a child,who had survived tragedy, expressing joy in the presence of God. A picture of heaven when the boys body will longer limit him.
Then our conference speaker continued. He said the experience gave him a taste of heaven and reminded him of a bible verse. He opened his bible and began to read: Zephaniah 3:17
The Lord your God is with you,
the Mighty Warrior who saves.
He will take great delight in you;
He will quiet you with his love,
He will rejoice over you with singing.”
This is MY Favorite bible verse! It is one that Jamie and I (along with our other girls) had shared and prayed for each other for years! Needless to say, I was a great big sobbing baby.
I was thanking God for reminding me: 1. He loves me 2. He sees me. 3. HE is mighty to save 4. He delights in me (and my boy) and 5. He rejoices over me (and my boy) with singing!
My prayers for Naomi, remain unceasing, my hope is that she will be able to be complete again here on earth and that in meantime, in her healing process, that she will experience the JOY of the heavenly father singing over her.
My prayer for my own boy is that the seizures will cease and until, they do Chuck and I will embody God’s perfect love for him, as our family lives in God’s mighty power and grace.