19 August A.D. 2006
Room 438
Medical Center East

You may recall that in the last Sunday bulletin, I requested your prayers on my behalf as I was to have a cardiac catheterization on Monday to determine my health problem. I went in at 6 A.M. and by noon, I was told I needed four bypasses in my heart and a replacement of my aorta valve. That meant two major operations in one! The heart surgeon said that he could do it in two weeks or three weeks or in the morning, but either way, it has got to be done. He added, "I have not yet made up my list for in the morning, but if you want it tomorrow, I will put you at the top of my list."

My soul has been greatly touched by the report of so many of my flock and of my Christian friends fervently praying on my behalf. The Word of God says in James 5:14-15: "Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him."

How wonderful are the promises of God's Word. Thank you, each one, who prayed and are continuing to pray for me. I am exceedingly weak of body. The walk down the hallway requires all the strength I can muster. Although I have not had the revelations that Paul speaks of in II Corinthians 12:1-7, I know a little bit about a "thorn in the flesh" (verse 7). I take verses in verses 9-10 and pray that as I am weak , I may, by the Lord's grace be strong in Him:

"And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake, for when I am weak, then am I strong."

A thousand years or so before God inspired Paul to write II Corinthians, He inspired David to write Psalm 27:13-14 concerning the spiritual heart. It is a special promise that I have enjoyed in the past couple of years.

"I had fainted unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say on the LORD."