July 21, 2010

I will probably never meet little Ava, but her plight has captured the heart of many people, including mine. I only heard of her because of a local vendor. Her pastor is Dr. Joel Hunter,the lead pastor for the Northland Church, here in town, and Ava is his granddaughter. My doctor is another of his parishioner: “He will have to live what he believes, and what he has preached,” he reflected, after taking a deep breath.

I came accross a note Ava’s uncle wrote on a facebook page dedicated to her. He too is a clergyman, and he’s often asked if his niece’s illness has shaken his faith. Here is an excerpt of how he responds:

“However, not knowing everything doesn’t mean not knowing anything.
Here is what I know I believe: God loves Ava more than the rest of us could combined. (…) God can heal her immediately, and He promises to heal her ultimately. I believe “our God is an ever present help in our times of trouble.” And, when hell itself seems to have burst open and been poured out … I still believe all of this.”

I shared these words with the congregation last night as we prayed for Pastors Hunter’s family and for those among us who are experiencing what feels like hell bursting open into their lives.

Each person can become an extension of God’s heart during moments like these. A young woman named “Merce.” experienced God’s love last night. She expressed being overwhelmed by the response of many strangers who came up to give her a hug, a word of encouragement and a handshake. They gathered around her and covered her with a prayer quilt dedicated for her mother. We are praying for her mother who will have surgery on Thursday. The anxiety of a loving daughter was alleviated by the ministry of the people of H.o.P.E.

The world of another mother was turned upside down at the birth of her daughter eleven years ago. She was born wih a pletora of medical issues, due to a rare disorder. Taia was not expected to live, but she stood today as a testimony of her mother’s passionate faith. The eleven-year old was really shy standing in front of such a large group tonight and clung to her grandmother, Lucy who had requested special prayer for her. She was excited to see a pink prayer quilt just for her. Chaplain Marti Jones who is herself a mother and grandmotther said a prayer of thanksgiving and requested God’s guidance and power to be manifested in Taia’s life.

The girl’s quilt was flipped over so that everyone could see the other side of it. There was a delicately painted rose in the middle of the cloth. (See the picture below) Taia’s mother gasped with joy and surprise. The young mom had painted a rose on a cloth and had planned on giving it to Taia, but that cloth got misplaced. What she didn’t know is that Lucy had begun another image of a rose through the help of the Prayer&Square ministries, and had it sown unto the back of the child’s prayer quilt.

There is beauty among the thorns of this life, and we pause to acknowledge the good things happening lately: our song leader Bruce’s becoming a grandfather, John’s financial breaktrough and more.

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble
-Psalm 46:1

We will still believe, Lord, and by Your power, cling to Your promise for help in times of trouble.

Praying for our joy…and hope for the journey,
PastorSabine