Lately I find myself worshiping and hearing homilies through the prism of our nephew Emmett's battle with cancer. Last week in North Carolina we heard about healing from a priest who had been diagnosed three years earlier with terminal bone cancer. While he didn't say that he was cancer free, he was indeed still here three years later, thankful for the power of the prayer offered by his friends and relatives.
Today in my home church in Columbia one of our favorite preachers - in the sense of one we like to hear preach - encouraged us to engage in persistent, passionate, and purposeful prayer. He led us through the following three utterances:
- My persistent prayer will be answered;
- My passionate prayer will be answered;
- My purposeful prayer will be answered.
Perhaps my mind is striving to see a connection between these two church experiences, a connection that speaks strongly to me of hope. I want to interpret this hope as God speaking to me about Emmett. As Emmett prepares to participate in a new treatment trial, I hope that this hope and he are connected, and not just in my mind.
2 comments:
Likewise . . .
We are hoping and praying that this trial will help in dfferent ways, but more than anything, just help rather intensely. It is comforting knowing you have so many praying for you, because after a while, my prayers feel hollow, or worn out . . .
I am greatly touched by your blog entry -- and by Emmett's comment.
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