| Author |
Message |
Becky
Registered user
Username: Becky
Post Number: 34
Registered: 2-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 09, 2005 - 11:20 am: |     |
Hi All,
I wanted to share a powerful experience I had Thursday. As some of you may know, my cousin John (42) suffered a stroke two years ago - bottom line, it was cancer. He lost his battle with it July 26th. John walked with the Lord more than any person I've ever met, but his service caused all who attended to pause and reflect.
Over 300 people attended, but it wasn't so much that as who came and why. John was treated at Cedar Sanai Medical Center, and the staff came. One of the nurses spoke, he said, "I want you to know that John was special in a way I can't quite describe. We would go in his room to make him feel better, and he prayed for us. Every doctor, every nurse and every patient I think knew where John's room was. There were frequent caravans to see him. His love for Jesus he shared with all he came in contact with. Many, many leaving his room accepted the Lord either in the room or upon leaving. We have all been so blessed to have had him with us." Another man spoke who worked at Coco's, he said, "I didn't know John, but I would see him every Thursday morning. He would take a corner table and spread out his Bible, a laptop and several other books. I began to go talk with John, as did all of the other employees. I accepted the Lord after those talks as did quite a few of my co-workers." The stories went on and on - all saying similar things.
Seeing pictures of your loved one is always tough, but the last one will forever stick in my mind. It was John waving to the camera, the caption read, "I love you and will meet you at home. Love John"
My uncle said John left him a package. When he opened it he found a new Bible. Johnny had highlighted quite a bit, and the inscription read, "Happy Father's Day Dad. I love you." It was dated for Father's Day 2006. I will miss John tremendously, but what a powerful illustration of Jesus working through just one man.
Ashamedly, no one would say this about me at this point, but I have witnessed firsthand what can be worked through us if we let him. I hope to pick up the baton where John left it. I'm rambling I know, but I had to share that story.
May God Bless You |
Riverfonz
Registered user
Username: Riverfonz
Post Number: 628
Registered: 3-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 09, 2005 - 11:37 am: | |
Thanks Becky for sharing that powerful and very moving story.
Stan |
Jwd
Registered user
Username: Jwd
Post Number: 66
Registered: 4-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 09, 2005 - 1:12 pm: | |
Becky, Keep this thought in mind if you will: A witness testifies about something they personally have seen, heard, touched, known.
So once more I point to Jesus' Command to us, "Abide in me," "remain in Me," Keep our eyes upon Jesus. Focus upon knowing Him, that's far different from believing in Him. Even the devils believe and tremble.
If you are united with Jesus Christ, it is His responsibility as our LIFE to flow Himself out through us to touch others. "Float with Spirit's flow." We don't have to focus on methods or literature or the right words, but simply trust ourselves to the Spirit of Christ within us and "float with Spirit's flow." The Spirit of Christ is what convicts and draws. But
He can and often does do that through us.
If we are on fire with love for Christ, others will come to watch us burn.
It's not about you and me and others. It's all about me and Jesus and you and Jesus. It's ALL about abiding.........IN Christ.
Be of good cheer. Christ WILL speak through you,
often in ways you would never have dreamed of and possibly would never have chosen yourself.
I once smiled at a lady shopper in the parking lot as we both were about to get into our cars, and I gave her a PAGL* greeting. She stopped and began to cry. Once she composed herself, she said she had just come from a funeral where she buried a dear family member and my greeting had been just what her heart longed for. We never know.
May your week be filled with PAGL in Christ.
Jess
* Peace, Assurance, Gratitude and Love |
Dd
Registered user
Username: Dd
Post Number: 515
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 09, 2005 - 2:34 pm: | |
Becky,
I must disagree with you! I can say without any hesitancy that you have touched my life today because you took the time to share the story of your cousin. As Jess said, it's all about Jesus and your love and awe of Him impacted my day.
Thank you.
Denise |
Becky
Registered user
Username: Becky
Post Number: 35
Registered: 2-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 09, 2005 - 2:53 pm: | |
Thanks Stan and Denise. Jess, yes I agree with you - he wasn't peddling pamplets or anything just simply on fire for the Lord. You are right, people get curious.
I love this forum. Thanks for letting me share. |
Seekr777
Registered user
Username: Seekr777
Post Number: 234
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 09, 2005 - 3:10 pm: | |
Becky, thanks for your story. After reading it, I hope my Macintosh is "water" proof. 
I see another baton next to the one you picked up and would love to join you in keeping the flame alive. I usually feel I'm a fairly good witness but then I realize that I'm not really. It is 24/7.
Richard
rtruitt@mac.com
PS: I'm back from my traveling vacation north and it was for the most part fun and refreshing.
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Jwd
Registered user
Username: Jwd
Post Number: 67
Registered: 4-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 09, 2005 - 4:19 pm: | |
Richard,
Did your mom make you help with the dishes? :c)
Jess |
Seekr777
Registered user
Username: Seekr777
Post Number: 235
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 09, 2005 - 5:07 pm: | |
<grin> no but I at least cleared the table. We had a good time. I had a hard time not falling asleep in church, a habit I've been out of for some time since I changed churches. For me there was not a great sense of worship and adoration. Maybe I was there on the wrong day.
Richard
rtruitt@mac.com
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Ric_b
Registered user
Username: Ric_b
Post Number: 293
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 09, 2005 - 5:52 pm: | |
ROFL
quote:Maybe I was there on the wrong day.
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Seekr777
Registered user
Username: Seekr777
Post Number: 236
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 09, 2005 - 6:10 pm: | |
Ric, I was wondering if someone would pick up on the double meaning.
richard |
Flyinglady
Registered user
Username: Flyinglady
Post Number: 1763
Registered: 3-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 09, 2005 - 6:26 pm: | |
Becky,
Thanks for the story about your cousin, John. He was a powerful witness for Jesus and now he is home. I want to be like that also.
Richard,
I really like that "Maybe I was there on the wrong day". I am smiling about that one.
Let us all keep close to God so He can use us to help others.
God is so awesome.
Diana |
Cindy
Registered user
Username: Cindy
Post Number: 754
Registered: 7-2000
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 09, 2005 - 9:59 pm: | |
Becky, Thanks too, for telling us about John. I was wondering how old he was?
I'm supposing John would have been embarrassed at all the accolades at his funeral and just want to turn the subject back to the wonder and glory of Jesus!
grace,
cindy
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Wooliee
Registered user
Username: Wooliee
Post Number: 30
Registered: 6-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 10, 2005 - 5:31 am: | |
Becky,
Thank you so much for sharing your story about your cousin. What an amazing testimony, and his light continues to shine. I have goosebumps!
Julie |
Taybie
Registered user
Username: Taybie
Post Number: 41
Registered: 4-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 10, 2005 - 6:47 am: | |
Good morning all!!!
Becky, I read this just this morning and immediately, your story (and you) came to mind.
August 10
The Holy Suffering of the Saint
Let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good . . .
ó1 Peter 4:19
Choosing to suffer means that there must be something wrong with you, but choosing Godís willó even if it means you will sufferó is something very different. No normal, healthy saint ever chooses suffering; he simply chooses Godís will, just as Jesus did, whether it means suffering or not. And no saint should ever dare to interfere with the lesson of suffering being taught in another saintís life.
The saint who satisfies the heart of Jesus will make other saints strong and mature for God. But the people used to strengthen us are never those who sympathize with us; in fact, we are hindered by those who give us their sympathy, because sympathy only serves to weaken us. No one better understands a saint than the saint who is as close and as intimate with Jesus as possible. If we accept the sympathy of another saint, our spontaneous feeling is, "God is dealing too harshly with me and making my life too difficult." That is why Jesus said that self-pity was of the devil (see Matthew 16:21-23 ). We must be merciful to Godís reputation. It is easy for us to tarnish Godís character because He never argues back; He never tries to defend or vindicate Himself. Beware of thinking that Jesus needed sympathy during His life on earth. He refused the sympathy of people because in His great wisdom He knew that no one on earth understood His purpose (see Matthew 16:23 ). He accepted only the sympathy of His Father and the angels (see Luke 15:10 ).
Look at Godís incredible waste of His saints, according to the worldís judgment. God seems to plant His saints in the most useless places. And then we say, "God intends for me to be here because I am so useful to Him." Yet Jesus never measured His life by how or where He was of the greatest use. God places His saints where they will bring the most glory to Him, and we are totally incapable of judging where that may be.
What a blessing you are to the body of Christ!!!!!
Is NOT He is BEST??? God, I adore You!
Shontay |
Cindy
Registered user
Username: Cindy
Post Number: 756
Registered: 7-2000
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 10, 2005 - 7:10 am: | |
Shontay,
Thanks for your post; sounds like Oswald Chambers? His writings have been a real blessing to me for many years!
grace,
cindy |
Colleentinker
Registered user
Username: Colleentinker
Post Number: 2387
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 10, 2005 - 11:09 am: | |
Shontay, thanks for sharing that Chambers quote. (I'm sure I recognize it, as Cindy also mentioned!) I have found his insights about sympathy and trusting God to be very challenging and helpful.
Becky, thank you for sharing the story about John. What a wonderful testimony to Jesus. And as Jess said, Jesus takes responsibility for making His life known through you. When you surrender, He glorifies Himself through you.
We love you, and we feel for you in the aftermath of such a moving and close-to-your-heart funeral.
Colleen |
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