Friday, July 4, 2008

New Lungs

David Gaines, a minister at our church, Biltmore Baptist in Arden, NC, was diagnosed in January 2007 with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis. The complete story is on David's caringbridge website. Over the months since his diagnosis, many people have prayed and asked God for intervention for David.

David is a wonderfully talented musician, playing several instruments; he is the director of our orchestra at church and arranger of LOTS of music that we use and that many churches across America uses. When you hear him play the piano, you know that he plays to an audience of One.

This week on Wednesday, I was sitting at my desk and decided to check my e-mail. The Exalt Ministry office at church had sent out an e-mail marked URGENT! As I read it, my tears came. New lungs were available for David!!! It is a wonderful feeling when you get such a visible answer to prayers that have been prayed for 18 months. When you read the caringbridge website, you can see from the guestbook that people all over the world have been lifting David to the Father. It is awesome to see God's hand at work in so many lives through what he has done for David and his family.

When David was first diagnosed, I sent a prayer request to Kristy (among others). Kristy forwarded it to other Campus Outreach staff in Brazil. It really is such a small world as another of the CO staff, Kent Bailey, recognized David's name as a friend he had grown up with in Nashville. Kent's dad was the pastor of the church where David and his family attended in Nashville and Kent and David were good friends. They had lost touch with each other over the years but have now reconnected because of Kristy sending out the prayer request.

I am continually amazed at what God desires to do in our life, whether it is through blessings or our dependence on Him through the trials of life. It is up to us to keep on singing and keep on trusting and keep on praising Him, just because He's God.


I Will Sing Praise
I will sing praise,
I will lift my voice,
I will sing praise,
I’ve made my choice.
I will sing praise in all I do.
I will sing praise to you.
No matter the storms that come my way,
No matter the trials I may face,
You promised that you would see me through.
So, I will trust in You.

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