" No in all these things we are more than conquers through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death no life, neither angels, no demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord"
So it's been a long time since I posted last. School has been busy with exams and getting ready for boards, and I've also had the opportunity to make a trip to our nation's capital. Today I write with a heavy heart. My last post was about a mentor and friend of mine Jackie Wilks. Jackie went to be with Jesus at 8:05 this morning. This afternoon while I grief the loss of Jackie in this earthly life I also rejoice in her entrance to the heavenly life. She is no longer in pain and has been fully healed.
A few weeks ago I had the wonderful honor of visiting with and ministering to Jackie along side another mentor of mine Rhonda Brister. Together these two women lead a freshmen women's bible study I was in at OBU. I greatly admire and appreciate the role that these women have played in my life. They have been instrumental in shaping my faith and helping me become the woman I am. I spent about 2.5 hours with Jackie and Ms. Rhonda. Jackie was in a lot of pain and it was a privilege to join hands with my fellow sisters in Christ and pray for the pain to go way. It was inspiring to see Jackie call on the Lord for her healing. She knew it is only through Christ that she is healed. Although we selfishly wanted a healing in this life God had better plans and has brought ultimate healing to Jackie's body today.
This week I have had the opportunity to read several stories of people who have been touched by Jackie. She gave of herself to anyone she came in contact with. This week when Jackie's family told us on the blog that it appeared the Lord would be calling her home soon they asked us to think about how she had touched our life and share that with others. The biggest thing that I can draw from Jackie is the power of prayer. I know this is something that we talk about a lot as Christians, but I have witnessed it in ways I have never seen. Walking with the Wilks over the past 16 months through prayer has shown me the Lord listens to our prayers. I think that as Christians we tend to overlook this aspect of our Christian life. We tend to minimize its importance until we need it. God has used Jackie to show me that He is more powerful than any medication, any surgery, and any doctor. He can work through anything and anyone. God answers prayers in powerful ways. God has allowed miracles during Jackie's battle with cancer. God even answered prayers of the last few days for Jackie to have peace. She never hesitated to share her faith with who ever she came in contact. In many visits I had with her she would ask me how she could pray for me. She wanted everyone to know that prayer is a powerful thing, but most of all that there is a God that loves you and me more than we could ever imagine.
Jackie also taught me how to live life. Jackie always had a smile on her face. She truly had joy in her life. This reminds me that as Christians we all have a reason to be joyful. The bible says that the joy of the Lord is our strength. Jackie lived her life like that everyday. I hope and pray that I will live my life with the joy that the Lord has given me. Hard times will come our way and the road my be difficult but we have something different. We have something that makes us want to fight for another day. It is my prayer that the Joy of Jesus will be over flowing in my life. So that all may see Christ in me.
Today as I rejoice, I also grief. Grief is a natural thing, we are human and God is okay with that. I think about when Lazarous died. We see the human side of Christ grieving His death. Sometimes in death we want to throw up our hands and say to the Lord why, if you had only been here. But the bible tells us that the Lord knows the number of our days. He knows when He will call us home and today he called Jackie home. I truly believe as Jackie smiled goodbye to her family today she was ushered in to heaven and greeted by the Lord who said "Well done my good and faithful servant". I look forward to the day that I will once again be reunited with Jackie. I look forward to meeting the people that will be in heaven because of her. Last night while texting Rhonda Brister we both said that we looked forward to hearing the stories of the people that are in heaven because of Jackie. She has touched thousands upon thousands of lives. There is no way that we can tell how many lives she has impacted.
So today. I choose to live a life of joy. A life that impacts the people that I come in contact with. To smile everyday, to believe in the power of prayer for anything. To recognize the Lord in the small things and to share his love with those who don't know Him.
"Live life, Don't take life for granted" ~~Jackie Wilks 1950-2011
Blessed Assurance
Franny Crosby
- Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine!Heir of salvation, purchase of God,Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.
- Refrain:This is my story, this is my song,Praising my Savior all the day long;This is my story, this is my song,Praising my Savior all the day long.
- Perfect submission, perfect delight,Visions of rapture now burst on my sight;Angels, descending, bring from aboveEchoes of mercy, whispers of love.
- Perfect submission, all is at rest,I in my Savior am happy and blest,Watching and waiting, looking above,Filled with His goodness, lost in His love.
