Praise the Lord for this Friday, (It's Friday now but Sunday's coming . . .)A week ago today I was anxiously awaiting surgery. Now it is one week after, and I am looking back and praising the Lord for His faithfulness and steadfast love.
It was in 1976 that we visited a small chapel in the hill country of Texas near Kerrville. At the Sunday morning worship the preacher (a lay speaker) spoke from Lamentations 3 to the 30 or so who were in attendance. Lamentations 3 begins in agony and woe but concludes with a great sense of affirmation and faith. We have all been through those valleys of agony.Jeremiah, after his litany of lamentation, abruptly turns to the Lord and declares, "But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is thy faithfulness. "The Lord is my portion," says my soul, 'therefore I will hope in him.' The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul that seeks him. It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord."
Even one year ago, I never dreamed or thought that I would be in this place in my life. I never conceived of the thought of going for surgery, let alone going for surgery in Boston.The first time I ever came to Boston was in July, 1982, to attend a Billy Graham Crusade held at Knickerson Stadium of Boston University. The second time was July, 1993 to attend a conference on worship being held at Gordon Conwell Seminary, with the main speaker being Jack Hayford, the composer of "Majesty". (I had dinner with him there). The third visit was July of 1994, when Janice had sustained injury to her mouth and teeth (while with the Continentals). We drove her out to join her team at Logan Airport to fly overseas to minister and present "Dreamer" in England and the Netherlands. These 3 July dates were but the beginning.In 1997 we brought Sunita out to Boston's north shore to attend Gordon College in Wenham, Massachusetts. Over the next 3 years we made several trips out to that area, both transporting room essentials, visiting, or providing transportation over break. In 1999 Jeremy joined the Bostonians as he began to study at Gordon Conwell Seminary. Then, in 2000, he and Janice married. After Janice finished PA school, she began to work in the area, eventually landing her current job with Boston Healthcare for the Homeless. Jeremy began Law school at Boston University in 2005, Micah was born in 2006, and her little brother is due to arrive in July of 2007. Over the years we have visited many times and explored Boston and the surrounding area. In spite of all of this, I never in my wildest imaginations dreamed that I would have surgery in Boston.There is endless mystery in life, in general, and in suffering, in particular.
In Christ alone we catch a glimpse of true life and the meaning of suffering. He came to give us life, and that more abundantly. He came as a man of suffering, acquainted with our grief. "Man of sorrows, what a name for the Son of God who came, ruined sinners to reclaim. Hallelujah! What a Savior!"C. S. Lewis said that God whispers to us in our pleasures and shouts at us through a megaphone in our sufferings. Another of the Christian saints said that we are not to doubt in times of darkness that which God has revealed to us in the light.Praise the Lord for His nearness and faithfulness.
I have felt His very presence throughout these past days. He gives amazing peace in the midst of turmoil and pain.In Romans 5 we read, "we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." Jesus is the Prince of Peace. Through Him we have access to His amazing grace. In the midst of all, God pours His love into our hearts through the Holy Spirit.I thank the Lord for each of you, for your prayerful thoughts, your kindness, and your love manifested to me.Jesus is Lord! He is risen from the grave. He is upon the throne. He is real. All is well.
In Him,Brown
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3 comments:
Good morning, Brother Brown.
A little bird told me you are not in love with your catheter. I had almost forgotten my prostate surgery and my catheter. How I loathed that thing. it is supposed to be a tube but it felt like somebody shoved a telegraph pole up there. I measured all
time from the day they inserted it. Before was when I took everything for granted, including no catheter. After could not arrive soon enough. It made me think of the guy who was hitting himself on the head with a hammer and somebody asked him: "Why?" He said, "Because it feels so
good when I stop." Then one day they came in and took it out. O
my!!! I wanted to celebrate. Maybe with fireworks and a huge brass
band playing something jubilant like 76 Trombones and a great chorus singing over and over AMEN!. But , of course, I could not afford that.
So I just let myself be grateful all over, especially where the
catheter was. I promise to say a prayer today that the catheter will come out soon. And then you will have trouble recalling it like I do now. I would like to report when I went out to get the newspaper this morning I did not see an elepant. Come to think of it, we have lived in this house for 20 years and I have not seen an elephant. They tell me there was a guy who once was standing on the corner blowing a whistle over and over and over. Somebody asked him what he was doing.
He said, "I'm blowing my whistle." The other guy said, "I can see
that. But why?" The whistle guy said, "It keeps the elephants away."
The other guy said, "There are no elephants within three thousand miles of here." The whistle guy said, "See?" It works!" Have a
supercagifragilisticexpealidosis day like Mary Poppins says, Brother Brown. All things pass away, including, thank God, your catheter.
Your very old fan in the wilds of Vermont, Brother George.
Hi Brown and Alice,
We continue to pray for Brown's recovery and for you, Alice, as hs caregiver. Just enjoy the change of scenery and your quiet time.
It is cool, windy and misty here in Endicott. We've been trying to keep up with the yardwork and have decided we won't have a garden this year. Paul's back and my knees give us some limitations. So, we will raise grapes and red raspberries and maybe plant an apple tree where our little garden used to be. Have a wonderful week and rest. Love Paul and Barb.
Hey Pastor Brown! Thoughts and prayers from NC! Our church family at Providence is praying for your speedy recovery! I check your site daily! Wow! You're own website! Love the photos of Micah. She is adorable! And a brother in July! Wow! Bryson was born July 27 - he'll be 7 this summer! They grow fast! You are in our prayers! We love you!
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