52 Fridays: Week 4

It is true that if you’re pursuing a godly life and a right relationship with Him, the evil one will come in and do anything and everything in his power to distract you; to turn your focus away from Him. Well, this week was one of those weeks.

My children are finally over the RSV (Praise the Lord!!), but now it’s my dad. Last week he went in for some pain and a cough. He came out with an antibiotic and some cough medicine. No biggie. He was doing really well through the weekend and then Monday the cough came back. And Tuesday, the pain had moved to his other side and up (around his heart). So, that night he ended up in the ER having a battery of tests run. Those tests showed he had a 30% collapsed lung and some nodules in his lung too. They admitted him to the hospital for observation. The next day he had some more tests run and awaited the doctor…we waited too. Thursday he underwent a biopsy and now we’re left waiting again. These are ALL tactics the evil one uses to his advantage. Or at least he tries! But, my dad is probably one of the most prayed over people!! He’s had 8 ordained ministers pray over him and with him, small groups, 3 different churches, numerous prayer groups, friends and family. It’s been amazing to see the outpouring of love from so many people – God’s people!

On Wednesday evening, another tragedy struck. A young lady who attends our church was tragically killed in a car crash. I was just walking out of our Women’s study when I saw the 2 OHP standing in the foyer with a set of parents. They were there to inform them of her death. Being married to an ordained minister, I know this will not be the last time I deal with death. But, as a mother, my heart broke in that instant as I watched the devastation sweep over her parents. I remember her smiling face and her sweet disposition. We sat next to each other for the past 3 years on the front row at Music Camp. She was our lead choreography teacher at Music Camp and the youngest sister of a friend from high school. She will be deeply missed.

Even though these two events have disrupted my calm, peaceful life I WILL NOT let the evil one win. He has been conquered by my Lord and Savior once and he WILL BE conquered again! Death has been overcome and I know that sweet Miranda is living out her eternal reward!! I am saddened as a mother for her parents, as a sister for her own sisters and as a friend, but I am so thankful that I will one day see her again!! Praise be to God!!! And for my dad…the nurses have noticed a difference when they walk in his room. There is peace. There is hope. There is LOVE!!

So, maybe I didn’t get to my kitchen this week. Maybe I didn’t keep up with the laundry as well as I would’ve liked. And maybe, just maybe there’s a pile of dishes in my sink. SO.WHAT?! They will be there tomorrow. (Or later today, since they are kinda driving me nuts already. lol) The point is…Live your FAITH out daily!!!! Share your love of Jesus with anyone and EVERYONE you meet! You never know what today may bring and tomorrow might be too late.

Blessings,

Annette

   “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

   “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”    

-Matthew 6:25-34 (NIV)




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