Gift of Heaven
I have a wonderful Sanctuary Choir. I don't know if I've remarked on that often enough.
Oh, today started out humdrum enough. I awoke at about 10:00 after staying up past 3 AM last night ((or would that be this morning? Like I said previously, time has no meaning when it comes to exam study)). After a quick brunch at the Dining Hall, I headed over to the library study lounge and picked back up where I left off. Math is beginning to come together now. I've got a good study guide together, I've reviewed over all the theorems and every algorithm we've done in class, and breezed through the definitions as well as I can. I guess I'm starting to feel more confident about it now, although I wish I could track down a few more of my classmates. I've really grown to appreciate the value of group study at times like this. It tends to overwhelm individuals, you know?
I stopped by my apartment after 3:00 for a quick study break. I was on the verge of deciding how I would spend it when the phone rang. It was my father. He'd been trying to contact me for the past two days, and he had some troubling news. My mother had to be rushed to the hospital yesterday morning in order to have an appendectomy performed. Apparantly, she'd started having pain in there all day Friday, and the pain intensified while she and my father were at a Christmas party at his office. So, having a pretty good idea what was going on (he had his appendix removed when he was a teenager), he brought her to the emergency room, and they spent much of the day running tests and x-rays and such. Sigh. Ever heard of listening to the voice of experience? But anyway, they finally discerned the problem and did the operation. She spent the night in the hospital, and my dad brought her back home this afternoon. He'd stayed there the whole day while my siblings stayed at home.
I really felt terrible. Of course, I hated that this happened, but most of all, I hated not being there when my family needed me. I left my cell phone in my apartment so I wouldn't be disturbed while I was studying. I don't know, I just felt like I needed to be free of distractions and figured, who would want to call me anyway? Well, because of that, I only learned about my mother's condition this afternoon. After I hung up with my dad, my heart sank into the depths of my soul. How could I be so selfish and single-minded? I left my family with absolutely no way to get in touch with me, and any number of things could have happened without me knowing about it until after the fact. Even if I couldn't be there, if I'd had my phone with me, at least I'd have been informed. At least I could've offered my prayers before my mother went into the operation. Selfish and stupid. That's me.
Naturally, the worries settled in after the phone call. I got down on my knees and prayed that God would put His hand over my mother and comfort her during this time. And then I could distinctly hear God's voice in my mind. He had another answer for me. I believe it was something along the lines of, "Why are you worrying? Have you no faith? I think you need another reminder that I'm in control here and that everything is going to be all right." And then it hit me: my local church's Christmas musical program. It had been nestled in the back of my mind for quite a while now and got pushed back into the deepest recesess of my thoughts with the approach of the exams. I had just about resigned myself to missing it this year, and here God was bringing it back to the forefront again. I really do think He was telling me "You need to see this." So who am I to argue with God? Off I went to church.
The program's title theme was "The Gift of Heaven." After viewing the 4:00 performance, I have to say that now I can earnestly thank God (and the church) for giving me exactly what I needed to hear at a time like this. And what better way to send a message? The orchestra was marvelous, the choir's singing voices were in top form, the drama sequences were especially moving ... But most of all, I felt a distinct energy in the air. I don't even need to consider it because I know exactly what it was. That was the fire from Heaven. That fire filled my heart and gave me this uplifting reassurance that no matter what, God is still in control. We may be surprised by the various twists and turns that life throws us, but God is never caught off guard. He's still there, ready and willing to lead us and guide us in our daily walk with Him. It's amazing how often I need to be reminded of that truth.
I stayed around after the program for the brief reception in the fellowship hall. I didn't want to seem like I was keeping the choir members ((they had another show to do at 6:30, so they couldn't stay and eat for too long)). But several of them stopped to talk and catch up with me. More importantly, many of them came by to shake my hand and let me know that they were praying for my mother and my family. They'll never know how many ways they touched me tonight. Praise the Lord for giving us exactly what we need, when we need it.
I stopped off at home for about half an hour before heading back to Furman. My mother's really sore and tired right now, but the important thing is, the operation's over and she's fine. No doubt she'll be bedridden for a few weeks, and we have no idea how this is going to complicate her upcoming surgery in early January. But we're immensely thankful that we found the problem quickly and took care of it before it developed into something worse. Everyone in the family seems to be getting along okay. The house looks great all decorated.
As for me, I feel better now that I heeded God and listened to His message through my treasured friends in the Sanctuary Choir. I still hate that I didn't know about this sooner, but there's no point in beating myself up over it now. It's over now, and my mother will be fine. And now I've got another long night of exam study in store for me in the library lounge, with textbooks and spreadsheets and plenty of caffienated beverages at my side.
The one difference now is that my cell phone is lying neatly tucked away in my pocket. :)
Song of the Day: Camp Kirkland - "Jesus, Gift of Heaven"
Verse of the Day: "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you hope and a future." - Jeremiah 29:11
Oh, today started out humdrum enough. I awoke at about 10:00 after staying up past 3 AM last night ((or would that be this morning? Like I said previously, time has no meaning when it comes to exam study)). After a quick brunch at the Dining Hall, I headed over to the library study lounge and picked back up where I left off. Math is beginning to come together now. I've got a good study guide together, I've reviewed over all the theorems and every algorithm we've done in class, and breezed through the definitions as well as I can. I guess I'm starting to feel more confident about it now, although I wish I could track down a few more of my classmates. I've really grown to appreciate the value of group study at times like this. It tends to overwhelm individuals, you know?
I stopped by my apartment after 3:00 for a quick study break. I was on the verge of deciding how I would spend it when the phone rang. It was my father. He'd been trying to contact me for the past two days, and he had some troubling news. My mother had to be rushed to the hospital yesterday morning in order to have an appendectomy performed. Apparantly, she'd started having pain in there all day Friday, and the pain intensified while she and my father were at a Christmas party at his office. So, having a pretty good idea what was going on (he had his appendix removed when he was a teenager), he brought her to the emergency room, and they spent much of the day running tests and x-rays and such. Sigh. Ever heard of listening to the voice of experience? But anyway, they finally discerned the problem and did the operation. She spent the night in the hospital, and my dad brought her back home this afternoon. He'd stayed there the whole day while my siblings stayed at home.
I really felt terrible. Of course, I hated that this happened, but most of all, I hated not being there when my family needed me. I left my cell phone in my apartment so I wouldn't be disturbed while I was studying. I don't know, I just felt like I needed to be free of distractions and figured, who would want to call me anyway? Well, because of that, I only learned about my mother's condition this afternoon. After I hung up with my dad, my heart sank into the depths of my soul. How could I be so selfish and single-minded? I left my family with absolutely no way to get in touch with me, and any number of things could have happened without me knowing about it until after the fact. Even if I couldn't be there, if I'd had my phone with me, at least I'd have been informed. At least I could've offered my prayers before my mother went into the operation. Selfish and stupid. That's me.
Naturally, the worries settled in after the phone call. I got down on my knees and prayed that God would put His hand over my mother and comfort her during this time. And then I could distinctly hear God's voice in my mind. He had another answer for me. I believe it was something along the lines of, "Why are you worrying? Have you no faith? I think you need another reminder that I'm in control here and that everything is going to be all right." And then it hit me: my local church's Christmas musical program. It had been nestled in the back of my mind for quite a while now and got pushed back into the deepest recesess of my thoughts with the approach of the exams. I had just about resigned myself to missing it this year, and here God was bringing it back to the forefront again. I really do think He was telling me "You need to see this." So who am I to argue with God? Off I went to church.
The program's title theme was "The Gift of Heaven." After viewing the 4:00 performance, I have to say that now I can earnestly thank God (and the church) for giving me exactly what I needed to hear at a time like this. And what better way to send a message? The orchestra was marvelous, the choir's singing voices were in top form, the drama sequences were especially moving ... But most of all, I felt a distinct energy in the air. I don't even need to consider it because I know exactly what it was. That was the fire from Heaven. That fire filled my heart and gave me this uplifting reassurance that no matter what, God is still in control. We may be surprised by the various twists and turns that life throws us, but God is never caught off guard. He's still there, ready and willing to lead us and guide us in our daily walk with Him. It's amazing how often I need to be reminded of that truth.
I stayed around after the program for the brief reception in the fellowship hall. I didn't want to seem like I was keeping the choir members ((they had another show to do at 6:30, so they couldn't stay and eat for too long)). But several of them stopped to talk and catch up with me. More importantly, many of them came by to shake my hand and let me know that they were praying for my mother and my family. They'll never know how many ways they touched me tonight. Praise the Lord for giving us exactly what we need, when we need it.
I stopped off at home for about half an hour before heading back to Furman. My mother's really sore and tired right now, but the important thing is, the operation's over and she's fine. No doubt she'll be bedridden for a few weeks, and we have no idea how this is going to complicate her upcoming surgery in early January. But we're immensely thankful that we found the problem quickly and took care of it before it developed into something worse. Everyone in the family seems to be getting along okay. The house looks great all decorated.
As for me, I feel better now that I heeded God and listened to His message through my treasured friends in the Sanctuary Choir. I still hate that I didn't know about this sooner, but there's no point in beating myself up over it now. It's over now, and my mother will be fine. And now I've got another long night of exam study in store for me in the library lounge, with textbooks and spreadsheets and plenty of caffienated beverages at my side.
The one difference now is that my cell phone is lying neatly tucked away in my pocket. :)
Song of the Day: Camp Kirkland - "Jesus, Gift of Heaven"
Verse of the Day: "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you hope and a future." - Jeremiah 29:11
posted by david @ 6:11 PM
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