Happy Thanksgiving: Calm In the Midst of the Storm
"My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness."
2 Corinthians 12:9
Two weeks ago today, when I was working in Dallas, Texas for Medtronic on a research and development initiative I received an unexpected text from my sister Rachel to let me know that our sister Janice was found in a car slumped over and now was at the hospital in critical condition due to a rare disease order of the blood called Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) with the following symptoms: kidney failure, 10 to 14 seizures, anemia, low platelet count (purpura). The doctors in Corpus Christi, Texas said if she did not get a blood transfusion by 2:00am she would die and that hospital could not do it so she had to be transferred to a hospital that could. I immediately prayed for God's grace to remove this mountain of difficulty in our lives and especially to heal my sister Janice and save her life. I asked him not to take her now. Then I booked my flight and hopped on a plane to Houston, Texas and when I arrived, my sister Cheryl and my brother Carl, picked me up from the airport and we headed to the Methodist Hospital where Janice was in Critical Care. Immediately, I knew God's grace was surrounding us. The peace of God was overwhelming in that waiting room. Carl said, "Patricia I have God's perfect peace in this." I told him, I did also. It seemed as though God had given us a sign that everything would be alright even though we were in the midst of the storm. I told him how God spoke to my heart that this sickness was not unto death, and as Momma taught us, "Jesus has the Last Word"
My family never expected that this difficulty would come to one of our sweetest sister. If you know Janice, you know that she is a kind, sweet and a very generous person. She often puts others before herself. She is a minister of music and a worship leader, who truly worships and love God. She has a powerful beautiful voice that have moved the heart of some of the worst sinners. She is indeed gifted! So when I heard this news, I of course wondered why her, Lord? And the Father spoke to my heart, my Grace is sufficient!
His grace is sufficient indeed. Many of you prayed for my sister and we are thankful this Thanksgiving for your love and support!
In 2 Chronicles 20:21 Jehoshaphat appointed the musicians of the Lord to praise the beauty of God holiness and go before the army. Just as the musician went before the army to defeat Jehoshaphat enemies, through the prayers of the Saints, an army of the Lord went before the physician's hands and helped Janice through this. Janice went from a 97% chance of dying to alive and well today! She has no more seizures, her blood platelet count has returned to normal, her kidneys are now functioning (completely off of dialysis) and she may go home this Thanksgiving Weekend!
So my friends and blog sisters I want you to know that we indeed serve a God who told the Mountain to move and it moved! We serve a God who spoke, "Peace Be Still", and the Storm of our life calmed down.
Whatever difficulty you may be faced with today, it too shall pass, but remember to stay calm in the midst of the storm, because His Grace is sufficient for you. You will come out of this. You will see the goodness of God. He will see you through! Just ask Janice! :-)
Love and For Him Only,
Pastor Patricia
2 Corinthians 12:9
Two weeks ago today, when I was working in Dallas, Texas for Medtronic on a research and development initiative I received an unexpected text from my sister Rachel to let me know that our sister Janice was found in a car slumped over and now was at the hospital in critical condition due to a rare disease order of the blood called Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) with the following symptoms: kidney failure, 10 to 14 seizures, anemia, low platelet count (purpura). The doctors in Corpus Christi, Texas said if she did not get a blood transfusion by 2:00am she would die and that hospital could not do it so she had to be transferred to a hospital that could. I immediately prayed for God's grace to remove this mountain of difficulty in our lives and especially to heal my sister Janice and save her life. I asked him not to take her now. Then I booked my flight and hopped on a plane to Houston, Texas and when I arrived, my sister Cheryl and my brother Carl, picked me up from the airport and we headed to the Methodist Hospital where Janice was in Critical Care. Immediately, I knew God's grace was surrounding us. The peace of God was overwhelming in that waiting room. Carl said, "Patricia I have God's perfect peace in this." I told him, I did also. It seemed as though God had given us a sign that everything would be alright even though we were in the midst of the storm. I told him how God spoke to my heart that this sickness was not unto death, and as Momma taught us, "Jesus has the Last Word"
My family never expected that this difficulty would come to one of our sweetest sister. If you know Janice, you know that she is a kind, sweet and a very generous person. She often puts others before herself. She is a minister of music and a worship leader, who truly worships and love God. She has a powerful beautiful voice that have moved the heart of some of the worst sinners. She is indeed gifted! So when I heard this news, I of course wondered why her, Lord? And the Father spoke to my heart, my Grace is sufficient!
His grace is sufficient indeed. Many of you prayed for my sister and we are thankful this Thanksgiving for your love and support!
In 2 Chronicles 20:21 Jehoshaphat appointed the musicians of the Lord to praise the beauty of God holiness and go before the army. Just as the musician went before the army to defeat Jehoshaphat enemies, through the prayers of the Saints, an army of the Lord went before the physician's hands and helped Janice through this. Janice went from a 97% chance of dying to alive and well today! She has no more seizures, her blood platelet count has returned to normal, her kidneys are now functioning (completely off of dialysis) and she may go home this Thanksgiving Weekend!
So my friends and blog sisters I want you to know that we indeed serve a God who told the Mountain to move and it moved! We serve a God who spoke, "Peace Be Still", and the Storm of our life calmed down.
Whatever difficulty you may be faced with today, it too shall pass, but remember to stay calm in the midst of the storm, because His Grace is sufficient for you. You will come out of this. You will see the goodness of God. He will see you through! Just ask Janice! :-)
Love and For Him Only,
Pastor Patricia
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