Blessings

"The ability to find joy in the world of sorrow and hope at the edge of despair is a woman’s witness to the courage and her gift of new life to all”

~ Miriam Theresa Winter

This quote was included in my bible study time this morning. Today I read the first chapter in Ruth. The story of Ruth is by far my favorite book in the bible. I love to read about Ruth’s devotion and commitment to her mother in law Namoi. Ruth is a stout woman. She left the only home she ever knew, her friends, family and her own religion. She followed God’s will and she is now in Jesus’ genealogy.

Today’s devotion was just what I needed to hear from God. Although I shouldn’t I find it funny how God works that way. He seems to provide for us what we need to hear when we need Him the most or are struggling. Sometimes we don’t always realize that it was we need the most, but today was one of those days.

I first met Jackie Wilks when I was a freshmen at OBU in the fall of 2004. Along with Rhonda Brister, she lead our freshmen women’s bible study. I looked forward to this time each week. God continued to use these women to influence my life during college. They shared their faith stories, their triumphs and joys. Jackie loved horses. She used her horses to help children with disabilities. Each week students from OBU would come to her house to help run this ministry. They would tell the children bible stories, do crafts and then they would get to ride a horse. Jackie is always finding ways to minister to other people

In December 2009, Jackie was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer. Jackie and her husband Tom immediately left for South Korea where Tom had previously received treatment for Parkinson’s disease. Jackie was determined to fight. While in Korea not only did Jackie fight but she shared the gospel with those she came in contact with. One hotel employee even asked for a bible. One night Jackie passed out. She had a massive internal bleed. Jackie tells the story of how two women came in and saved her life. But these women were not alone they both saw another person in the room with them. They believe that the Lord sent an angel to watch over Jackie that night. Jackie was finally able to come home early this past summer. She began treatment at the Cancer Treatment Center here in Tulsa. As summer progressed her tumor makers dropped below normal and the scans showed that there was no tumor. It was determined that Jackie was now cancer free. Doctors stated that they had no explanation for Jackie’s healing except that it was a miracle from God. Jackie told her story to everyone. She gives glory to God for healing and wants to spread the gospel with everyone.

Tonight Jackie is in Cancer Treatment Center. This week they found numerous tumors in her lungs and abdomen. We pray for healing. We pray for miracles. God has already worked miracles in Jackie’s life and we pray that He will continue to work one in her tonight. We also pray knowing that God knows best. Jackie praises God no matter what her situation is. She fully trusts the Lord in every circumstance. When I read the quote above I immediately thought of Jackie. Jackie is one of the most joyful people that I know. The joy of her salvation overflows from her life and it challenges me to let the joy of the Lord overflow in my life. Jackie is a courageous woman. She has been through so much in the past 15 months. Jackie defines a stout woman. Strong, Courageous, Determined, and Brave. She continues to fight this battle as she has for the past 15 months and refuses to give up. She recognizes that her healing comes from the Lord.

Please join me tonight in praying for Jackie. She is fighting for her life and in tremendous pain. Pray that the Lord’s will is done in Jackie’s life. I know that true healing in this life or the next comes only from our Lord. In conclusion I would like to leave you with the lyrics from a song that I heard last night on the radio. It’s called Blessings and it is by Laura Story. The Lord has used this song as a comfort to me. It reminds me that many times we pray asking God for blessings, for healing and removal of pain. We get upset when the Lord doesn’t answer our prayers the way we would want Him to. I reminded through this song that sometimes God says no to our prayers because He knows what’s best for us because He loves us. I'm blessed to call Jackie not only mentor but friend. Tonight I praise God for the blessings He has given me. Even the ones that I didn't recognize were blessings at the time.

Father,

Be with my friend Jackie tonight. Watch over her. Keep her in your perfect peace. Heal her. Take her pain away. May your will be done. May you be praised in this situation. May people come to know you through Jackie.

Blessings

Laura Story

We pray for blessings

We pray for peace

Comfort for family, protection while we sleep

We pray for healing, for prosperity

We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering

All the while, You hear each spoken need

Yet love us way too much to give us lesser things

‘Cause what if your blessings come through raindrops

What if Your healing comes through tears

What if a thousand sleepless nights

Are what it takes to know You’re near

What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

We pray for wisdom

Your voice to hear

And we cry in anger when we cannot feel You near

We doubt Your goodness, we doubt Your love

As if every promise from Your Word is not enough

All the while, You hear each desperate plea

But long that we'd have the faith to believe

‘Cause what if your blessings come through raindrops

What if Your healing comes through tears

What if a thousand sleepless nights

Are what it takes to know You’re near

And what if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

When friends betray us

When darkness seems to win

We know the pain reminds this heart

That this is not, this is not our home,

‘Cause what if your blessings come through raindrops

What if Your healing comes through tears

And what if a thousand sleepless nights

Are what it takes to know You’re near

What if my greatest disappointments

Or the aching of this life

Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can’t satisfy

And what if trials of this life

The rain, the storms, the hardest nights

Are your mercies in disguise

This week I have decided to write about my grandmother Mary. This Wednesday my grandmother would have been 85. She was the oldest daughter in her family and helped her mother take care of the family. My grandmother would wake up early start the fire and cook breakfast for the family. Cooking was my grandmother's act of service and I believe I get my love of cooking from her. She spent several years of her life making delicious meals that were made with love. My grandmother would also spend countless hours each summer putting away vegetables and canning jellies and jams. She would work in her flower beds and in her garden. She enjoyed taking time to go fish in the pond and then making a southern fish fry dinner with the fish that were caught.

Many of the memories that I have of my grandmother are in the kitchen. I remember one time I was sitting in the living room and I heard a scream coming from the kitchen. Grandma had been boiling eggs for lunch and one didn't get done so she put it in the microwave. When she went to crack it it exploded. I ran into the kitchen to find egg everywhere. For those fish fry dinners on summer evenings she would make coleslaw I remember watching her cut the cabbage. It had to be done just perfectly. One day my uncle decided to help cut the cabbage and she took over because it wasn't cut right. She wanted everything to be perfect for us. When I would come to visit she would have roast beef, potatoes, onions and carrots, along with a chocolate cake for dessert. This was my favorite meal. She would call and ask me what I wanted and I would always tell her to cook what was easiest. It didn't matter what I said she would have it made.  If I were to look up the word hospitality in Webster's it would probably have my grandmother's name listed there. She taught us what it means to be the hostess. She taught me the value of serving others.

My grandmother was defiantly a stout woman. She was a hard worker who never gave up. She had her elbow replaced twice and worked hard through physical therapy each time. The last summer we had with her she instead on helping my mom and I in the kitchen. She wasn't happy when she couldn't sit around that table and work. It was what gave her joy. Her joy was found in her service to others. This is one of the greatest lessons that I learned from her. It is in service to others that you truly find joy. Stout women live selfless lives. They also persevere. This is the other lesson that I learned from my grandmother. I remember the summer that she passed. I was studying for my MCAT for entrance to medical school. I didn't know how I would do it and I felt like I should just cancel the exam because her death was so close my exam date. But I knew that I would not honor my grandmother's memory by doing that. So I choose to persevere. I choose to move own although times were tough. My grandma continues to inspire me to persevere even when times are difficult.

Most of all my grandma was a beautiful woman both inside and outside. Her smile is one of the most beautiful smiles I've ever seen. I enjoy looking at old pictures of her and my grandfather. Her smile lights up the room. I could go on about how she was beautiful on the inside but I think that I detailed that above.. I hope that I can be like her.  A determined woman, who serves others and is beautiful on the outside but more importantly on the inside.

Faith to Be Strong

Now that my tests are over with for a while, I decided to update the blog. I’m also going to deviate slightly from my Stout Women discussion. Today I’m going to write about my brother. I’m dedicating this blog post to him.

This coming Saturday March 12, marks the first anniversary of my brother’s accident. Many of you know that my brother Stephen was in a serious car accident on March 12, 2010. While he was driving to workout after work on that Friday afternoon, he ran into the back of a semi. The driver’s side of his car was underneath the backend of the semi.  When crews arrived on scene they told us that they were preparing for a fatality but when they go to his car they found that Stephen was still alive. The fire fighter’s had to use the jaws of life to cut him out of his car. Stephen was rushed to the emergency room. Upon his arrival, they found that Stephen only had a LaForte fracture of his face. He had no internal injuries and he had no brain damage.

I arrived at the hospital with some family friends. I couldn’t recognize my brother, they had placed a tube down his throat to help control his airway. I was overwhelmed and brought to tears. We immediately began activating our support system and praying. After they got Stephen a room in the neurotrauma ICU we meet Stephen’s doctors. They told us that in order for them to do the facial reconstruction surgery the swelling would have to go down. Because it was the weekend of spring break they could either do the surgery Sunday or Thursday. We began asking our friends and family to pray that the swelling would go down so they could do the surgery on Sunday. The Lord answered our prayers and Stephen had surgery on Sunday. This was the first of many answers to prayers that came in the coming weeks.

During this time the Lord showed my family the power of prayer and his providence and protection. We firmly believe that he Lord was with Stephen that Friday afternoon in his car. We found out this fall that he was inches away from the back the semi. The Lord sent an angel to stop his car. We realized that we could have lost my brother that day. I learned to appreciate how valuable our lives are.

Stephen was released from the hospital 1 week to the day of his accident. His jaw was wired shut and he was on a liquid diet for 8 weeks. We were so happy that we were able to bring Stephen home.  Stephen began a long recovery. I can’t imagine how hard these initial weeks were for Stephen.  But I saw my brother persevere and finding a new strength in the Lord. He has not allowed himself to be held back by his accident but has chosen to use it to witness to the power of God in our lives. I admire my big brother. He has been through a lot in the past year and hasn’t given up. He still is recovering from his accident. He is currently wearing braces. In the accident he lost five teeth. After the braces have correct the area he will then have implants to replace the teeth that he lost. He refuses to give up and continues to persevere. My big brother is an extra special person to me. He came to live with me when I needed a roommate. He is the best roommate I have ever had. I have enjoyed the past six months living with my brother and getting to know him better.

This week I think God for my brother. I think the Lord for his providence and protection. I think God for answered prayers. I realize that times in our lives we get frustrated because we think that God doesn’t answer our prayers. I firmly believe that our prayers don’t go under heard, but sometimes the Lord says wait. There is power in prayer and my family is living proof of that. The Lord promises to never give us more than we can handle. All though it seemed like it at the time the Lord made us a stronger family through that week we spent at St. John’s last March. I recently heard a song by Andrew Peterson on the radio. It’s called Faith to Be Strong. I feel that this song is a theme for my family of the past year whether we knew it or not, God knew it. God knew that only faith could bring us through this difficult time.

Give us faith to be strong

Father, we are so weak

Our bodies are fragile and weary

As we stagger and stumble to walk where you lead

Give us faith to be strong

Give us faith to be strong

Give us strength to be faithful

This life is not long, but it's hard

Give us grace to go on

Make us willing and able

Lord, give us faith to be strong

Give us peace when we're torn

Mend us up when we break

This flesh can be wounded and shaking

When there's much too much trouble for one heart to take

Give us peace when we're torn

Give us faith to be strong

Give us strength to be faithful

This life is not long, but it's hard

Give us grace to go on

Make us willing and able

Lord, give us faith to be strong

Give us hearts to find hope

Father, we cannot see

How the sorrow we feel can bring freedom

And as hard as we try, Lord, it's hard to believe

So, give us hearts to find hope

Give us faith to be strong

Give us strength to be faithful

This life is not long, but it's hard

Give us grace to go on

Make us willing and able

Lord, give us faith to be strong

Give us peace when we're torn

Give us faith, faith to be strong