Next steps…
This week-end has been one of a lot of feelings and emotions. Friday was my (MM) birthday, and I realized so many things that day. First of all I have taken birthdays for granted…almost like I’ve been entitled to another year whereas really it is totally up to the Lord my time on this earth. I have had 29 years on this earth and what a privelege that has been! There are many who never make it to their 29th birthday and I feel richly blessed. Please know that I truly believe with all my heart that I have many, many birthdays ahead of me, but I will now celebrate them in a different frame of mind. They won’t be as much about me anymore…at least in my mind…they will be so much more about Him and His glory….I’m just in awe of the things He does through me that I’m so unworthy of…..being used by Christ to bring this world to Him is truly an honor for all Christians and how seriously we should take this calling. I’m sorry to ramble but just in the last week I look at things differently. From this moment on I want to live life intentional….I have a purpose…God’s given it to all His children and that is to show our world Him.
I have my next test on Monday. It is called an angiogram and it doesn’t sound like much fun :) The test will take about an hour and then I will be in recovery for 4-6 hours which then I will get to leave the hospital but will go home to rest for another 24 hours before resuming normal activities. I have been told that on Wed I should get a call from the Dr with the results from the test and he will better know what our next steps should be. We are not sure whether the Dr is God’s man for me but I am thankful that he has played a part in this journey and know that God has used him to reveal additional information for us. Please pray for specific direction for Eddie and I. God knows the exact team of doctors for me….may we trust Him 100% and be sensitive to His voice. We are already looking at some other options…like I said before, “doing nothing” is not an option and we believe that’s not God’s will in this…He wants to heal me and He’s going to….we just don’t know the when and how. Help us to be patient in finding those answers, because honestly I want to know NOW! God’s thoughts and ways are so much higher though and for that reason I’m ok with waiting..as long as He gives me the patience :) Please pray as well for me concerning the test on Monday. I have to be at the hospital by 7AM…I have to admit, I’m already nervous about it.
Thank you again for all your support….Eddie and I are truly humbled by the outpouring of this love and support….wow, it has been awesome to watch the Body of Christ come together in this! We have felt so loved by Christ through all of you…thank you for that rich blessing!
April 12th, 2008 at 3:19 pm
I hope you got my message on Friday. I was thinking about ya! I just wanted to rub in the fact you will always be a little older than me!
You will continue to be in our prayers. We love you!
April 12th, 2008 at 4:51 pm
Bless you, friends.
(MM, it is all about His glory. You are so right. Scott is at Passion in Atlanta right now, and I’m sure he’s getting filled up with thoughts similar to the ones you expressed. “…purpose…to show our world Him…” Amen. Amen. Amen.) We will be praying this weekend and especially on Monday. We love you so much, Steph
April 13th, 2008 at 5:50 am
Some of us are control freaks, others want to be touching the reins (just in case), but few of us, in good times or tough times are willing to allow God to have total control of our lives.
Since our first mission trip together I have been excited about your willingness to let God have the reins of your life. Today as you and Eddie walk the path laid before you, your willingness to submit to God’s will and timing is a testimony to the many who are watching and praying that y’all walk tall in God’s grace and mercy, that their faith may be strengthened. Your lives have been, are, and will continue to be a testimony to the power of God.
Shannon and I love you, pray for you, and are available to be of assistance should you need us.
April 13th, 2008 at 7:24 am
You continue to be in my prayers, and will be especially tomorrow. God bless you, sweet sister, with his peace, mercy, power, and healing.
April 13th, 2008 at 2:26 pm
Martha Marie and Eddie,
I haven’t posted in a few days because I really wanted to listen to what God might have me say to you. We’ll this keeps coming to mind so here goes.
God puts us in “the way” of each other sometimes. Even though you are just a friend of a friend of a friend and I don’t even know you, He has placed your burden on my heart. In a very good bible study called “The Mind of Christ” the author pointed out that it is much better to look to where God is working and then join in then to do something for God and say look at me.
Each morning I start the day with the prayer of Jabez and ask God to Expand my territory. I believe that God honors that prayer by placing people in my life to help.
So here is the thing. God placed you both in my life and because of my listening to Him I have grown closer to Him though you. We will probably never meet here, but someday soon I believe that our paths will cross and we will realize who we are and simply know each other from this involvement.
I will continue to pray for both of you and for wisdom in the minds of the doctors that you deal with. I pray that God will allow you to continue to touch people and lead them to Him for a long time using this experience to help you connect to people that you wouldn’t have otherwise been able to help.
Thank you for blessing me though all this …
Jim
April 13th, 2008 at 8:36 pm
Any time God can teach us to not take things for granted and to live intentionally, it’s worth it. Oh, that we could all learn that without having pain and heartache. This life is just preparing us for eternity and this is such an important part. I’m praying for you and love you.
April 14th, 2008 at 11:08 am
Our prayers are with you.
April 14th, 2008 at 11:23 am
Martha Marie:
Know that we and our church are praying for you.
April 14th, 2008 at 5:43 pm
Martha Marie and Eddie,
We sure have missed you guys and we wish you were still at Mt. Zion. God is in control and holds all the answers to our future. You are both wonderful people and we will continue to keep you in our prayers.
Greg & Kim Cline
April 14th, 2008 at 6:02 pm
martha marie,
i don’t have anything profound to say…God is supplying profound words through lots of other people though:) i just wanted you to know that you are on my mind a lot and i am praying for you–that God would guard your heart and mind and that even in the midst of all of this you would experience His “enoughness.” and i am also praying that He would lead you to the right doctor and that one day this will be healed.
you are a testimony to others–out of your trial others are being challenged and encouraged.