Tuesday I got word that a woman was dying. She is a mother of 6 with 4 of them still dependent upon her. I prayed and asked God what He wanted me to do. I just somehow knew that I would know the next day.
The next day I found out that she had died at 9:25PM the night before. When I had prayed, she had already passed.
My wife came with these cool verses- 1 Corinthians 15:16a and 17b:
"If the dead rise not... your faith is vain..."
That and every other scripture where Christ raised the dead, I was ready for the dead to be raised. Thursday was the scheduled viewing, so Thursday was the day!
Thursday was quite a day to be sure! I started out of the house for work, and the only thought that was on my mind was seeing that lady raise from the dead... my feet carried me across the porch, everything went kind of gray, then my eyes opened. I was lying on the ground! Apparently there was some frost or ice on the porch and my feet never touched the steps! As far as I can tell, I bounced on my arm all the way down the steps.
The pain that I felt was not like anything I had felt in a long, long time. I cried out to God, and begged for help. The arm was obviously broken and the bones were rotated at least 45 degrees from where they were supposed to be.
I wasn't getting any relief and I was getting shocky fast. I didn't have anybody else to call, so I called John G Lake Ministries in Texas. The only way to get a human being to pray with was the "press X if you are going to die in the next 30 minutes". I wasn't in that bad of shape, but leaving a message wasn't good enough.
I spoke to Jonathon, and he prayed with me. The pain was right at the threshold of what I could handle, but the bones returned to their proper place and alignment.
[THANK YOU, LORD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!]
The pain persisted...
That evening we went to the "viewing" at the funeral home. I bent down and put my hand on the deceased's folded hands. I spoke quietly into her ear, "It is not your time yet. The scriptures say 70 and even 80 years, but you're not that old... You are a mother, and your children need you. This is your job by God's design... I speak LIFE into you in Jesus' name... Get up, get up NOW! in Jesus' name."
Nothing happened.
With the smell of formaldehyde still in my nostrils I sat down in the back with my wife. We watched and waited.
Nothing.
I know what God's Word says. Lay hands on the sick, raise the dead... I did my part and I believe God ALWAYS does His.
The next day her body was committed to the ground and she was buried.
???
I believe The Word; I believe God.
What happened?
My faith was shaken.
We went to the grave site this afternoon. I needed to inquire of God; I wanted to understand.
We knelt down under the canopy from the the grave site service. The fresh pile of dirt was like a stinging dull blade to the chest.
"Father, I believe You and I believe Your Word, but I don't understand this."
The answer was immediate and to the point.
"Get your armor on and wait for Me"
Armor is easy, right? Ephesians 6:10-18... and that's the typical answer, after all, we've heard it all before... right?!
We read without reading (Isaiah 6:9-10).
What is "truth"? "God's righteousness"? Peace, Faith, Salvation...
If God said get it on, it's time to get it on.
The latter part of the answer comes from Psalm 27:14 "...wait, wait I say on the Lord"; but back up one verse and read them together-
"Yet I am confident I will see the LORD's goodness while I am here in the land of the living. Wait patiently for the LORD. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the LORD." - Psalms 27:13-14 NLT
I am, I am confident that I indeed will see all the good things that God has planned...
... it's His plan; it will be accomplished.
It still hurts though. Signs, miracles, and wonders are supposed to follow those that believe. I believe...
"The LORD is there to rescue all who are discouraged and have given up hope." - Psalms 34:18 CEV
"The LORD is close to the brokenhearted; He rescues those whose spirits are crushed. The righteous person faces many troubles, but the LORD comes to the rescue each time. For the LORD protects the bones of the righteous; not one of them is broken! Calamity will surely overtake the wicked, and those who hate the righteous will be punished. But the LORD will redeem those who serve Him. No one who takes refuge in Him will be condemned." - Psalms 34:18-22 NLT
It's time to suit up. I'm going to put on the last suit I'm ever going to wear...
... and wait on the Lord.
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