Monday, December 12, 2005
Pain and The Spirit
Good morning. Hope everyone had a great day of worship yesterday. Our church was getting "giggy" (Central Florida style) for Jesus yesterday. Good day.
Also, good to see Monie back.
I blogged about one of our members that passed away during our week of Bible Camp this past summer. Charles was blind and yet he could see "things" clearly. Charles needed encouraging as he was dying from cancer and yet you would walk away encouraged after visiting with Charles. I miss Charles and so does his sweet wife Lenoir.
This is the "Holiday Season" but it can also be a painful season for those (Greg - you're on my mind as well) who have lost loved ones. Lenoir came to church last night in pain. She had just visited Charles' grave and was in pain. I was in Don's office when Lenoir came in and collapsed in a wave of emotion. I held Lenoir and prayed with her. She asked for Don and I told her he was downstairs with our “Becoming One Class.” The class had started one hour early and was working on a workbook assignment.
Lenoir entered the classroom and collapsed again in a wave of emotion for Charles. As Don was ministering to a woman in pain, the Spirit began to use Lenoir's pain. There are 2 couples in this class who are not members of our church or any church. Don told me that for the most part, they haven't expressed any interest in God or knowing him. That was until the Holy Spirit began to use Lenoir's pain.
As Don was comforting Lenoir one of the wives said to her husband, "I've always wanted to be part of a group of people that cared when things were tough." Her husband concured and then she made a leap of faith by saying, "I'm coming to this church next Sunday. I want to be a part of these people!" Praise God! (sorry, my response) Her husband said he would be joining her and then the other non-believing couple said they were coming too!
Don and Lenoir were unaware of what had just transpired until one of our members that was at their table, relayed the incident to us in the parking lot after services last night. It was one of those rare occasions when we all broke out in spontaneous praise for the Lord. Some gasped, some of us gave a hardy “Yes!” to the Lord, and all of us had tears in our eyes as we realized two things:
1. The Holy Spirit had been with Lenoir all along through her pain and had used her pain to touch 4 unbelieving souls.
2. Even though Charles isn’t with us anymore, he is still ministering to folks that are blinder than he ever was.
Have a good day my blone family.
Also, good to see Monie back.
I blogged about one of our members that passed away during our week of Bible Camp this past summer. Charles was blind and yet he could see "things" clearly. Charles needed encouraging as he was dying from cancer and yet you would walk away encouraged after visiting with Charles. I miss Charles and so does his sweet wife Lenoir.
This is the "Holiday Season" but it can also be a painful season for those (Greg - you're on my mind as well) who have lost loved ones. Lenoir came to church last night in pain. She had just visited Charles' grave and was in pain. I was in Don's office when Lenoir came in and collapsed in a wave of emotion. I held Lenoir and prayed with her. She asked for Don and I told her he was downstairs with our “Becoming One Class.” The class had started one hour early and was working on a workbook assignment.
Lenoir entered the classroom and collapsed again in a wave of emotion for Charles. As Don was ministering to a woman in pain, the Spirit began to use Lenoir's pain. There are 2 couples in this class who are not members of our church or any church. Don told me that for the most part, they haven't expressed any interest in God or knowing him. That was until the Holy Spirit began to use Lenoir's pain.
As Don was comforting Lenoir one of the wives said to her husband, "I've always wanted to be part of a group of people that cared when things were tough." Her husband concured and then she made a leap of faith by saying, "I'm coming to this church next Sunday. I want to be a part of these people!" Praise God! (sorry, my response) Her husband said he would be joining her and then the other non-believing couple said they were coming too!
Don and Lenoir were unaware of what had just transpired until one of our members that was at their table, relayed the incident to us in the parking lot after services last night. It was one of those rare occasions when we all broke out in spontaneous praise for the Lord. Some gasped, some of us gave a hardy “Yes!” to the Lord, and all of us had tears in our eyes as we realized two things:
1. The Holy Spirit had been with Lenoir all along through her pain and had used her pain to touch 4 unbelieving souls.
2. Even though Charles isn’t with us anymore, he is still ministering to folks that are blinder than he ever was.
Have a good day my blone family.
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That's great stuff! It's an awesome thing to be open to the workings of the Spirit. It's even better to be aware of His movements and openly grateful for them as soon as they are seen. A great reminder for Monday bloggin'.
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