I have been praying about sharing this. Feeling like the Lord has sent many gentle nudges that it would be okay, and maybe even more than that, possibly even helpful to share.
Just a few weeks ago, we passed the one year mark of our agonizing earthly separation from Todd. One year that has wrenched our hearts at the same time as it was binding them deeper together in our journey of loss. One year that we can only point to the strength from God as our source of hope.
As I look back over the year, there are moments that God took my heart from one point of grief and gently lifted it to a new level of managing, coping, and a place of knowledge that we were going to make it through our loss. Through this year, turning points in healing were marked by sometimes insignificant events and at other times profound moments.
The most recent moment is what I want to share. On March 25, our Pastor asked if I would share a testimony of our journey during his morning sermon, "The Road to Resurrection".
Below I have included the link to this sermon. If I may, I would encourage listening to the whole sermon. There is some music and singing in the beginning, then Pastor Sam starts to preach. About midway through, he calls me up to share.
What I share is a peek into how God sustained us, how He is using something I would describe as horrific and is turning it into good for the glory of His name.
The link to the sermons page is http://www.fbcgalax.org/sermons Then look down the list until you see:
3/25/2012 01_The_Road_to_Resurrection.m4a It takes awhile to load, and when it does it will just be audio.
After I spoke, Pastor Sam gave a truly unique invitation. As the last song plays through, the gentle step of healing is taking place for me. We are being hugged, cried with, and encouraged in abundance by dear hearts that God lead to our paths on that very special Sunday morning. The love of the congregation poured deeply into the recesses of my ache and filled them a little bit with healing.
Maybe God will take this hurt and turn it to good even still.
Beautiful Tara...thank you for sharing...I will listen tomorrow...I am so thankful that the Lord has lead you to the wonderful people in this congregation...I love when the Lord does something new in our lives through unexpected sources...it's like an exclamation point to His power in our lives, His provision, and His love for us! I'm so glad you allowed Him to use you in this way to touch the lives of others. None of us are immune to sorrow and grief in this life. To hear of, see the evidence of, and know the faithfulness of God in the lives of others brings hope and encouragement as we walk through our brush with death...our valley of the 'shadow' of death, our time of pain and need.
ReplyDeleteWe love you so much and continue to lift you up in prayer!