I
am not quite sure where to begin this... I have never typed a single letter on
a blog before! So whom can I think of better than my dear friend BG to begin to
share this first experience with!
I
had the privilege to be alongside BG this Monday, while she was handed her
diploma for completion of chemotherapy. I have never been so excited for
someone else's diploma before!
What a moment we shared, but I can only imagine how God felt sharing
that moment with us as well. I can say with confidence that after I found out
about BG’s diagnosis, this was the first time in my life that my prayers for
healing had been backed up by my faith that God could actually follow through
and heal!
"Jesus replied " Truly I
tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done
to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself
into the sea' and it will be done. If you believe, you will receive whatever
you ask for in prayer. "
Matthew 21:21-22
I had never believed these verses
before. If someone asked me now why my belief has changed I am not sure I can
find an answer yet. I can say that through the intimate relationship I have
been seeking with Christ, I know now my God is real, he is mighty, he is all
powerful and greater than my imagination can begin to envision! He is a loving
God and boy does he love his daughter BG. So today I thought, as both BG and I
had tears in our eyes as we read her well deserved diploma, “I wonder how God
feels!” I think he shed a few more tears than we did!
Now
I move to the next thing on my heart. I have had the privilege of knowing BG
for the past year. We met on an anniversary we now share that is approaching
quite soon. January 1st 2012! What a day, both BG and I were baptized by water
in the tank at GT. I had no idea this beautiful girl people called BG would
become such a prominent figure in my life. That was the beginning of such a
beautiful friendship. Through my love for snowboarding and BG's desire for
students to find Christ, the Lord united us in servanthood and friendship! To
which he is still writing our story.
Our
first project together was planning and executing snow trips up to
Mt.Washington with a bus full of people from the Adore/GT community. Upon the
first bus ride of the year for the snow club trips BG and I went deep! I
instantly developed a heart for this humble, passionate, caring, young daughter
of the most high king! And what a princess I see today!
It
struck me today to think back upon the day I found out BG had been diagnosed
with lymphoma. I had left for work at the beginning of July, Canada day long
weekend to be exact. I said goodbye to BG and planned to skype while I was
away. I was planning on helping BG with the Red Frogs ministry that she was
intending to start up this past September. To be honest living in camp with
terrible service and working 10+ hours/days for the whole month of July, did
not make it easy to skype anyone. The days began to meld together and before I
knew it I was heading home and feeling guilty for I did not have a single skype
date with BG.
My priority at the beginning of August
was to see BG as soon as I got home. As BG answered the door I instantly knew
something was up. Her hair had been cut short (not yet shaved, but short). This
was the first tip off something was up because her hair was long when I left.
The second was a look on her face that I could see right through. We sat down
and she told me the news, as well as why she did not tell me while I was away.
I was shocked! I had been away, praying about where my heart was with Red
Frog's and BG had been going through the realization and diagnosis of lymphoma.
She did not tell me because she did not want me to feel the need to return from
work early just for her. I would
love to say I had cried but (although it did break my heart) I didn’t. My tough
side rose up. My initial thought for the next few days, which I’m quite ashamed
to admit, were of pulling away! I have already gone through the despair of
losing one of my closest friends in life already, so I kept thinking to myself,
"we’re not that close, if I don’t get any closer, if I pull away, I won’t
go through the pain of loss again".
I
am so glad I did not let that thought or the enemy grip my heart any further
...instead I chose to pray, and believe that my God is more powerful than BG's
cancer, the pain in my heart, my fears of grief and loss, and basically
anything of this world! "In addition to all this, take up the shield of
faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil
one" Ephesians 6:16
I
am so grateful God reminded me of these truths. Because of his grace I have had
the privilege of walking alongside BG, my close dear friend, and learning more
than I imagined through a journey together with Christ at our centre!
I
have been learning some of God's promises during this time. I look to them often now,
believing that if I had rooted my faith in them 6 month's ago I would never
harbored the thought of running from BG's side. I am finding the need to share
a few of them with the hope that they might be of help to someone else as they
were a help me.
The
promise of peace- "Peace
I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives.
Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." John 14:27
The
promise of confidence- "And
we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who
have been called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28
The
promise of love- "For I
am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the
present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything
else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is
in Christ Jesus our Lord" Romans 8:38-39
The
promise of grace- " My
grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness" 2
Corinthians 12:9
The
promise of strength- " In
this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the
world." John 16:33
It
has been incredible to see this girl change in the last six months from the
girl I met merely six months prior.
It was definitely undeniable that a year ago BG was on fire for Christ.
But there is something significantly different now. She is sparkling with God's
glory and grace. She never once pulled away from God through this… yes she had
struggles, she could have said screw this, I’m done God with your plan...but
NO. She pressed in harder and
longer every time it got more difficult.
She trusted in God's word...." '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
Through
her passion for her king she is positively glowing! I have seen a maturity rise
up in the past few weeks far beyond her years. She is speaking the word of God
on a daily basis. Her life is operating minute by minute on a different level
and at a different depth...orchestrated by her King. She knows God has a plan for her and unless it is God
himself she will let nothing stand in her way!
So,
now I will repeat the powerful post by BG herself and say "screwtape you
better watch out"... cause you got something coming ! You ain't seen anything like her, she is magnificent,
our God spared no gift when he
made her, she is one of a kind, she is
the epitome of beauty itself, she is inspiring many, she is going to
fight you holding her King's hand till her very last breathe. She is rising up
out of the fire, molded and formed to do her God's will..."This third I
will bring into the fire; I will refine them like silver and test them like
gold. They will call on my name and I will answer them; I will say, "They
are my people" and they will say "The Lord is our God". Zechariah
13:9
She is a princess if I
have ever seen one before... and I am forever grateful God placed her in my
life to show me what it is to be Christ's beloved daughter, a devoted believer,
and my faithful friend!
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