The Goodness of God:)

My last post sounded like such a downer, I decided I wanted to share, with all of you, some of the wonderful words of encouragement that we have received over the last few months. Of course, I could fill a blog w/the goodness of God, and His love being poured out to us through others, but for time sake (we are getting ready for church and time w/friends ~Happy New Year~), I'll just share a few highlights.


A consistent theme~

It seems everywhere I go, and nearly everyone I talk to, tells me the same verse: Jeremiah 29:11. In fact, just in this past 24 hours, two different friends (one from high school and one from WBU) have both told me to hold onto that scripture. The first person to tell me that scripture was an absolute stranger!! Yep...the day of Derek's PET Scan, an older woman and I began talking in the lobby. She left w/her elderly mother-in-law and grandson, and a few moments later she literally ran back into the lobby and blurted out, "Jeremiah 29:11!" and stood there looking at me for a moment. "Do you know what that says?" she asked. I sat there a bit blank for a moment and then it came to me! I had woken up a few days prior w/that very verse on my mind, but did not remember where it was located in the Bible. I had every intention of looking it up, but up until that point, I had not. I asked her, "Is it the one that says, "I know the plans I have for you" declares the Lord?" . She nodded as she finished the verse, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you HOPE and a future."



Isaiah 38~


On the way to Houston (the first time), we were passing through Dallas, it was still dark, as we left at about 5am. I was scared, very much in fear at what we might hear at MD Anderson (ps...a side note, I learned a very valuable lesson on that day, about not worrying about tomorrow;0) I wasted a whole night's sleep that night before we left, only to get to MD Anderson to find out that we needed more tests!!). Anyway, getting back to the original story that I wanted to share.... I was scared!! Derek began to tell me about reading a book by Kenneth Hagin. In the book Kenneth Hagin shares the story of Hezekiah. The real life story of King Hezekiah is in the book of Isaiah. The particular story that Kenneth Hagin was telling about is in chapter 38. Derek began to tell me that Isaiah, a prophet of the Lord, went to Hezekiah and told him that God said, "Set your house in order, for you shall die and not live." (Mercy!!) Anyway, when this word came to Hezekiah, he turned his face to the wall. Away from Isaiah, away from the bad report...he turned away, and began to pray and the Bible says he wept bitterly. It then says that the word of the Lord came to Isaiah, saying, "Go and tell Hezekiah, Thus says the Lord, the God of David your father: "I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears; surely I will add to your days fifteen years." Derek told me that if we received a bad report that he thought that is what he would do; turn his face to the wall and begin to pray. (He was giving me fair warning so that if it happened I would know, that he was ok, just praying;0) God bless him!) I told him, I'd do it w/him. We're in this thing together; I'll follow his lead and we can look crazy together. Well, we didn't hear a bad report, as I stated earlier, we needed more tests. So, we went through the tests, spent the night w/Derek's cousin, and drove home the next day. When we returned home, there was an envelope in the mail from a lady that neither, Derek nor I have ever met. It is a lady visiting her daughter in my home town, going to the church I grew up in and that my parents, aunt and uncle still attend (this is how she has heard about us). In her card she writes, "Friday past as I was studying God's word and meditating, I believe God gave me a word for you. Isaiah chapter 38." (Imagine that!!) and she goes on to tell more of the story. We felt that this was confirmation. We feel that God is telling us that he hears our prayers, he sees our tears, and that this thing will not take Derek's life, nor his leg...because we are praying against that as well.

So...I tell you those two stories to say this: God is good. In His word, He says that He will never leave us, and He hasn't. He is concerned. He hears our prayers. He sees our tears. He knows our fears and helps us through them. Imagine that!!! The God of the Universe thinks about ME!! He thinks enough about me (and us, and you!) to send sweet, willing people into our lives to encourage and bless (and He gave us His word!)!!

Well, I began this post before church. I had to wait until after church and after friends left to finish it!! I have other stories to tell, just like these, but it is (Oh my goodness!) 3:15 am (in the New Year~Happy New Year, everybody!!) By the way, church was really great tonight. I am hopeful that 2009 will bring great things for the Pressleys, and for all of your families, as well.

God bless,
Misty