Ten years ago today...it doesn't seem possible. In some ways it seems like yesterday, and in others, it feels like decades. What a horrific day! When I think of what they went through that morning, I just have to shake my head and take a deep sigh!
I have been dreading this landmark anniversary. I began to write about it several times but I just had no words. I had thought about going to Missouri and visiting their graves. However, my church has really been moving in the Holy Spirit at an accelerated level the past several weeks so there was no way I would miss church today. Also, I was on the schedule to go to the jail this afternoon. I certainly did not want to miss that either.
I was fine all morning, talking to people before church, just visiting. The second song into the service was "See A Victory". One line in the song that is based on Genesis 50:20 says, "You take what the enemy meant for evil and You turn it for good. You turn it for good." This is repeated over and over again. My tears started flowing.
Sunday evening before Mom and Dad were killed early Monday morning, I taught at the jail. I talked about forgiveness and took them to Genesis 50:20 where Joseph was speaking to the brothers who had talked of killing him but instead sold him into slavery where he ended up imprisoned for 13 years through no fault of his own. Here is what he had to say to them years later:
Genesis 50:20 (New Living Translation)
"You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people."
When my brother, Dave, called me the next morning to tell me that Mom and Dad had been murdered, the very first thought I had was this will be a hard lesson in forgiveness. A week later I quoted this same verse as I spoke at their funeral.
I have stood on this verse ever since they died. So this morning as my tears were flowing and I felt my chest heaving, I thought I was going to loose it. I did my best not to break down totally and then the song was over. We began singing Let It Rain. As I stood there singing I felt God's peace and love cascade over me. It was so powerful!
As I was talking to my friend April after church. She said she describes it as a soothing balm. A major surgery left April with a huge scar. As the scar healed and would hurt and itch so badly, she would rub in some balm to ease the pain and the itching. That's exactly what it was like...a soothing balm.
I am so thankful to God for the gift of my Mom and Dad. They were ordinary people with an extraordinary faith. I am blessed to have grown up with the examples of faith that they lived out. When they died, I asked the Lord for the mantle of healing that was on Dad. When I talked to my brother Stephen just before the funeral, he said he had asked for a triple anointing. When I complained that it wasn't fair that he should get so much more, Stephen responded, "Ask for 10 times the anointing. There is no limit!"
How right Stephen is! We serve a no limit God! I will continue standing on the promise of God to bring good out of what was meant for evil. I have seen good things but I am expecting so much more!
My friend, if you are going through rough times, I want you to know that I am praying the prayer of Paul over you.
Ephesians 3:16-20 (The Passion Translation)
And I pray that He would unveil within you the unlimited riches of His glory and favor until supernatural strength floods your innermost being with His divine might and explosive power.
Then, by constantly using your faith, the life of Christ will be released deep inside you, and the resting place of His love will become the very source and root of your life. Then you will be empowered to discover what every holy one experiences - the great magnitude of the astonishing love of Christ in all its dimensions. How deeply intimate and far-reaching is His love! How enduring and inclusive it is! Endless love beyond measurement that transcends our understanding - this extravagant love pours into you until you are filled to overflowing with the fullness of God!
Never doubt God's might power to work in you and accomplish all this. He will achieve infinitely more than your greatest request, your most unbelievable dream, and exceed your wildest imagination! He will outdo them all, for His miraculous power constantly energizes you.
Yes, I can testify that He can and He will outdo them all! What a glorious God we serve!
