Serving Others While You Hurt

God continues to hear your prayers. Although we received some grim news Sunday night with the possibility of a heart transplant, my brother was sitting up in ICU Monday laughing and joking around with his wife and others who were allowed to come back and see him. The fluid is still coming off his heart and his heart rate remains steady. His breathing is still a bit labored, which concerns the doctors, but he is making strides in all areas. Two of my hometown's pastors visited him yesterday and both laid hands on him and prayed. My mother said she could feel the Holy Spirit fill his room and what an awesome feeling it was. Shortly thereafter, the doctor told us he plans to implant the heart defibrillator this Thursday. What wonderful news! It seems Doug has stabilized to the point that he can handle the surgery. However, the doctor said that could change if Doug begins to worsen.

Although my parents have obviously been grieved and have worried so much over the last few days, the ICU waiting room has been filled with families awaiting news on their loved ones. It has been so uplifting to watch my parents sit and talk with other people they don't know, ask them how they are doing, love them, and run errands for them. Even though mom and dad are hurting, they are finding a way to minister to other people. I believe God blesses us when we do that. When we are going through tests and trials, God sees what we're made of when we give of ourselves to others. God sees we're serious about our relationship with Him, He sees our commitment to following Him (no matter what), and He sees His son Jesus in us.

So in the midst of whatever you are facing today, find a moment to serve someone else...even if it's just a compliment, lending a hand, or asking what you can do to make someone's day alittle easier. God will see your heart and will honor that.

Today, we are specifically praying for my brother Doug to continue improvement from the weening off the medications so the defibrillator can be implanted Thursday and we pray that others are seeing Jesus through us.

"I am sticking with God. I say it over and over again--He's all I've got left. He proves to be good to me and to all who passionately wait and diligently seek him. It's a good thing to quietly hope for help from God." Lamentations 3:24-26