The Longest Day of my Life

“Dave, wake up, mums not well and I need to go to the hospital, so pray now”

Those were the words that I was woken up to at 6.49am on the 17^th April 2011, and it is a day that I will never forget for the rest of my life. The day my Mum left me to go to glory.

For this post (of probably several about Mum) I just want to talk about how astounding God has been today (I wrote this on the 17^th but posted it later)

So after those words Dad woke me up to, I really did pray, for a lot of things, mainly that God would help us through whatever was coming along, obviously I prayed for mum too but part of me knew that it was the worst for some bizarre reason.

Then Dad came home and I heard him say ‘Hello’ in his typical happy voice, and I thought for a few seconds that everything was fine, but then he came into my room and said you need to come downstairs now.... So I threw on my clothes as quickly as I could and I was halfway down the stairs before I heard crying, that was when I knew she had gone. A lot of crying took place, but then we had a prayer time together, just asking for God’s grace, kindness and love to help us. Little did I know that we would be helped in a way I could never have imagined. We then had my minister come round and talk to us and pray with us, which was amazing, and then he read the following passage to help us:

Psalm 121: I lift up my eyes to the hills— where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip— he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord watches over you— the Lord is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all harm— he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and for evermore

We then went to the hospital to see her which was incredibly traumatic, but at the same time I am so pleased I did go as I was able to say goodbye. We had even more prayer time by her bedside just calling out to God for help and thanking him for Mum.

Once we had finished at the hospital we went home not quite knowing what to do with ourselves, my sister asked if she could watch TV only to find a minute later her turning it off in frustration as there was 'nothing to watch' (and we have Sky+ so there’s always something to watch!). So we were a bit lost on what to do with ourselves. My brother was very keen on going to church to be with our family there, I was sceptical at first but came round to the idea. And man alive am I glad I did!

So off we went, the 4 of us (which will take me ages to get used to say), not quite sure what to expect. We went in late so we could sit at the back, which we did. In the middle of the service in my church they play a music video so people can go and talk to people and encourage each other while collection is taken. During the video I must have had at least 20 hugs from different people, with a lot of tears thrown in too, I felt Gods love and comfort more than I can explain, I have without a doubt in my mind how real God is and how incredible he is.

The whole day then went on from there, with the Sermon being about how as a Church we need to be like Heaven on Earth, and for me, even with it being one of the worst days of my life, it was one of the best, as I felt a slice of Heaven today, I felt Gods presence in a profound way. We as a family were so blessed with all the love and affection we had from our Brothers and Sisters in Christ. So thank you Mount Pleasant Baptist Church, I really do love you all.

But above all I have had God’s peace and grace today, people have been asking me how I am so much today, and I feel a lot better than I think I should, but that is all down to God just being with me. The thing that has helped more than any other, is knowing that my Mum is in Heaven now, I know that with certainty, she knew and had a personal relationship with Jesus in a very real way, which is so comforting to know.

It is hard to explain, but God has been with me and my Family in such a real tangible way. I have quite simply seen my God at work today.

If you are reading this, please pray for us as a family of 4, there's Dad (49), Me (21), my brother James (17) and my very little sister Bethan (11). We need Gods help, and we have only got this far with the power of prayer. Also pray for our extended family too as they need Gods help as much as we do, if not more.

Love you Mum!!!

David

Only relationship that counts

The relationship between You and Jesus doesn't matter!!! Sorry.... What?!

That was my initial reaction to that line in a recent sermon I heard. I was starting to think whether my minister had lost it.... he hadn't ... as usual, he had a very valid point, I just needed keep on listening.

He went on to talk about with Christianity you shouldn't be worrying about your feelings and how 'close' to God you are feeling at every moment of every day. As we are humans, and quite weak beings at that, our emotions get the better of us far more than they should, so you can feel really on fire for God one day and feel like you are going to tell the whole world about Jesus and how he died on the cross. Then the next day you're feeling tired or let down by God for not doing some selfish thing you wanted him to do etc.

What the minister then went onto say was that the only relationship that really counts is the relationship between God the Father and Jesus (The Son) as it is only through that relationship that we can call ourselves Christians. As I am an incredible sinner (and I am becoming more aware of it the further into my walk with Jesus I go), I deserve nothing but punishment from God the Father. But through what Jesus did on the cross and saving me from my punishment, he fully became all my faults on that cross and God punished his own son for me.

That is the only relationship that matters the one between the Father and the Son as that is what makes me a Christian, and I just need to constantly remind myself of that truth, that covenant. That is what Christianity is based on.

David

Encouraging others

When I was seriously struggling and went very much off the path in terms of having a relationship with Jesus while I was at university I went along to a church one Sunday (mainly to keep my mum happy). I remember going in and being welcomed by a familiar face. Which was really nice and encouraging but I then sat down to wait for the service to start, and no one sat down around me or tried to talk to me which stupidly upset me and put me off from going back to that church (petty I know!). But right at the last minute, just before the service started another familiar face had seen that I was on my own and came and sat down next to me, I remember the overwhelming sense of emotion and gratitude I felt that someone had cared enough to come and make me feel more involved.

Now that I know and Love Jesus and I am getting more involved in Church and serving him. I have been convicted that I do sometimes stay to my self contained group of friends a little too much and I know that I need to make more of an effort to welcome others, especially on how much it meant to me when those two people did the same for me.

So I hope and pray that God will use me to encourage others for his Glory.


David