This past Sunday, the Holy Spirit was at work. No, there was no fire from heaven or anything like that, it was just how the service came together on a theme of God teaching us through suffering. It wasn't planned, at least not by us anyway.
You can listen to Bob S's message here where he talks about how God teaches us through suffering. He wonders if it weren't for the 3 children dropped into his life 4-5 years ago, if he would have made it. He felt in some way that he was saved by them, but it's been hard. Going from 2 older girls to 5 children from toddlers through middle school was challenging, but has taught him much. He asked James R. the same question; did he wonder sometimes if God gave him MS to save his soul.
But the most powerful part of the service was earlier, when Jess stood and shared about her time with Mat. She referenced Psalm 71:14-16:
But as for me, I will always have hope;
I will praise you more and more.My mouth will tell of your righteousness,
of your salvation all day long,
though I know not its measure.I will come and proclaim your mighty acts, O Sovereign LORD;
I will proclaim your righteousness, yours alone.
She shared how, from his ICU bed, Mat was boosting her sagging faith. "Don't be mad at Him.", he told her. His health situation has not changed, but he's telling the nurses about Jesus, and singing. Either Saturday night or Sunday morning, she left and he was singing "Hard Fighting Soldier.". So, after she shared, and thanked the church for what we are and how we've supported them, we sang it too.
I'm a hard fighting soldier, on the battlefield
I'm a hard fighting soldier, on the battlefield
I'm a hard fighting soldier, on the battlefield
I keep on bringin souls to Jesus
By the service that I yieldI've got a helmet on my head, in my hand a sword and shield
I've got a helmet on my head, in my hand a sword and shield
I've got a helmet on my head, in my hand a sword and shield
I keep on bringin souls to Jesus
By the service that I giveYou gotta walk right, talk right, sing right, pray right, on the battlefield
You gotta walk right, talk right, sing right, pray right, on the battlefield
You gotta walk right, talk right, sing right, pray right, on the battlefield
I keep on bringin souls to Jesus
By the service that I giveAnd when I die, let me die, in the service of the Lord
Oh when I die, let me die, in the service of the Lord
When I die, let me die, in the service of the Lord
I keep on bringin souls to Jesus
By the service that I give'Cause I'm a hard fighting soldier, on the battlefield
I'm a hard fighting soldier, on the battlefield
I'm a hard fighting soldier, on the battlefield
I keep on bringin souls to Jesus
By the service that I yield
I keep on bringin souls to Jesus
By the service that I yield
During the song, I'm up front, singing on the bass mic. From there, I can see what most people can't. That's Jess, in the front row, singing and weeping. Tears of sadness and grief, for sure, but I suspect, paradoxically, tears of joy as well. Joy of being in God's kingdom. Joy of having found one that, even in suffering, is pointing her to God.
God is moving here. Keep praying for Mat and Jess, if your heart is so moved. I know mine is.
If I take into consideration what Hebrews says about taking hard times as discipline, and the fact that God's legitimate children are disciplined, then I know that I am the real deal. In fact, I take great comfort in my validation as God's child through the hardships that I've been through. I think of Mat and James and a few others in your fellowship, I can only hope that they can be deeply, deeply encouraged by God's faith in them, and His love expressed so tremendously. It is an honor for God to bestow so much trust, not only in their faith, but the faith of their wives, and children. This also is a tremendous opportunity for the church to be edified. Together, ask God to glorify himself through these times, and to show the world what yo u all are made of.