When two or more are gathered...

Yesterday was long. Everyone has those days, some longer, some more difficult. But in that moment, trying to keep my self together for a second, praying for some endurance, I checked my e-mail.

Well, I don't normally share everything I hear about but a certain e-mail from yesterday really struck a chord with me. From what I can tell, the sender sent this to someone else, who sent it to someone else, who sent it to my aunt, who sent it to me.

Confused yet?

I don't know all the details nor do I know her personally. It's about a young girl in her early 20's who is currently suffering from tremendous illnesses. She began with cancer in her jaw 5 years ago and after having many surgeries, going through remission, it continued to show up again.

It has spread to her brain.

She can no longer see and has lost her hearing because of the tumors.

Here is the e-mail I received with her mother sharing her heart and plead. You'll want to read this:

"L has her good days and bad days. Over all, she is much better than the first of December. Most of you know L is in hospice care and we are doing the care through our home. She does not fully understand the intention of this care. We recently decided to ask for an MRI, which usually means you have to come out of hospice care and can return back, but were able to do so without dropping out of hospice care. Friday afternoon she had her MRI and did very well staying still for it. This is the first time in a long time that she was able to stay still. [Her dad] received a call today to let us know that the tumor appears to be stable in some areas including the brain, but has small growth in another area. Considering L’s medical history the doctor’s do consider this to be tumor, but it could still be an issue caused from radiation/chemo treatment. The only way we would know is to biopsy, which cannot happen. We will continue as we have for the last couple of months.

We ask that you please pray for L and our family. I ask that you please pray for L, us to be able to accept whatever the outcome is in her life, and for God to give us (parents) the wisdom we need in her health care.

I would like to share something that L has felt and believed through this struggle over the last 5 years. Most of you know L has always kept a journal of her daily thought. She showed us her journal about a year after she was diagnosed with cancer. She had written in it that she had been praying for God to give her testimony, because she felt she did not have one to share. L felt that by growing up in a Christian Home and attending a Christian School that she just really did not have something to share with the lost. Boy, did she get one! She told [her dad] and me that one thing she wanted to see out of this experience with cancer, would be for lives to be changed and people to come and know the Lord. There are many family and friends that L had told us she was concerned about their Salvation and praying for them. Now, for the ones of you that do not know the Lord as your personal Savior, please do not think there is not a God in all of this who does not care. God has never left her or our side. The Bible says the just and unjust will all suffer. That means none of us are immune from suffering. Being a Christian does not mean you will not suffer or you will stop sinning. I often feel like the apostle Paul. He said he was the chief of sinners. Well, I believe I hold that title. Please do not look at my life and make a decision based on my daily living. I am just a sinner saved by God’s wonderful grace. Salvation gives you eternal life with Christ Jesus. You see, L wanted a testimony that she could share with the lost and lead them to the Lord. She wanted to see souls saved. I am not telling you anything she not has not told her family, friends, or church groups. With L not being in her right mind and able to share this, I want to share her message that she has shared with us. What ever happens in her life, God had a reason. He in control!

This is one of the hardest updates I have written! We want to share L’s testimony and her story, of what she wants told to all. Please feel free to share with others. This is L’s wish and what she would want to share with everyone hearing her story. She does a much better job at sharing it than me."

Um, this was terribly humbling to say the least. How awful to suffer such a painful and life changing illness and at such a young age. Talk about someone who needs to be lifted up in prayer, who needs endurance, and hope. Being in the same stage of life really made me think, 'what if that was me? I couldn't imagine what that would be like.' And it just simply places me right back in the place I need to be. Thankful.

Thankful that I have eyes to see, feet that can walk. Endurance to keep treading through life. Hope that never dissappoints. A peace that trancends all understanding. And moments like these that remind me how blessed I am, even in the really tough parts of life.

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Here's what I'm thinking. This blog averages about 120 visitors a week right now. Wow, I'm not complaining about that!!! Some of you are believers in Christ and some may not be. But for those of you who are willing, won't you join me in lifting this girl up in prayer?

Prayer is one of the most powerful of movements we can act on for one another. Lifting one another up through prayer, a bended knee. What if each of us, after reading this, prayed for her once. That would be at least 120 people this week. How wonderful.

I felt compelled to share this with you today. So much so that I hope my urge for prayer would stir in your heart so deep that what ever you're doing, you would be willing to stop life for a moment, and lift up our sister in Christ. She is hurting, she is weak, and she needs to see the power of prayer.

In Matthew 18:19-20 it says this, "Again I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it shall be done for them by My Father who is in heaven. "For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst."

Again, I know we aren't all together physically but....maybe you have someone who would pray alongside with you. I don't know. What do you think could happen? I, for one, know that my God is full of love, compassion, and healing. He is also just in every way, sovereign, and full of grace.

I know in the deepest depths of my soul that He hears me when I pray. I've seen it proven true time and time again.

So I urge you, only in a willing and compassionate heart, would you join me in praying for this girl?

Thank you so much for reading such a lengthy, probably repetitive, and probably confusing post.

I appreciate you so dearly.