A friend remembered

Yesterday, July 1, 2013, we celebrated the life of my friend Alison.  Alison was and will continue to be an inspiration to everyone who knew her.  She lived her life as a devoted follower of Christ and committed prayer warrior who faithfully served in the prayer ministry at my church for over 15 years.  The service was beautiful and well attended because although Alison never married and had no children, she was loved not by her family and the hundreds of people who were blessed to call her friend. 



Alison was a remarkable lady who made a point of reaching for scripture as part of her habit of prayer.  Along with the order of worship that we received upon arriving at the memorial service, we received copy of a collection of scripture that Alison had compiled for herself.  She had taken the time to write out scripture that spoke to her concerning many of the things that she was asked to prayer about as part of her work in the prayer ministry.  For each burden that came to mind, each request she faithfully brought before His throne,  she found a scripture to comfort, encourage and heal. 

When I got home, I enjoyed reading through the scriptures that had meaning to my friend.  The exact scriptures that she treasured and considered sure comfort for those in need, are the ones that I am enjoying the most today. 

Right now I'm looking at a page just a few pages into Alison's book. 

Under the heading of Peace she has listed one of my favorites

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.  I do not give to you as the world gives.  Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."  John 14:27

Under the heading of physical sickness she has listed this verse which to me embodies the life that Alison lived most especially when she was sick.

"The Lord is faithful to all his promises and loving toward all he has made.  The Lord upholds all those who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down." Psalm 145: 13b-14

Some of her headings are more specific than others and one heading is cerebral palsy and  epilepsy which was something that she suffered with throughout her life.    For that specific need she listed one of my favorite verses which is;

"The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save.  He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.  Zephaniah 3:17

If you can't access the player, please feel free to go to this link to hear the song.

 Zephaniah 3:17 by Bonnie McSpadden

Where's My New Song?

I waited patiently for the Lord; 

he turned to me and heard my cry.

He lifted me out of the slimy pit, 

out of the mud and mire;

He set my feet on a rock 

and gave me a firm place to stand.

He put a new song in my mouth,

A hymn of praise to our God.

Many will see and fear the Lord 

and put their trust in him. 

Psalm 40: 1-3

When I was in college my roommate and I were sort of scripture memory buddies.  We would work on our selected passages and then we would meet and check to see how the other was doing on their memory work.  This passage was one that I chose and it has become "my verse" simply because as a believer in Christ this IS my testimony.....well, I don't know how patiently I wait.... but over and over again, no matter the circumstance the Lord has faithfully turned to me and He has heard my cry when I have been in need.  Through his redemption I have been lifted out of the slimy pit of sin and His word is a firm bedrock foundation upon which I can stand. 

Yet despite all that the Lord has done, I often find myself asking, where is my new song? Where is my hymn of praise?  Where is my heart filled with grateful worship?  Have I grown so entitled and unaware that I forget all that the Lord has done? Have I become too busy to notice? Sometimes.....I do forget.... and often I find myself to be too busy...Those times are usually accompanied by a time of self righteousness and exasperated impatience that God is not working according to my plans and on my time table.......

However, when I remember, when I am convicted to pray, when I wait patiently......which I wish were more often...... THEN my heart is filled with a new song and my soul is over-full with hymns of praise and I cannot keep from singing in worship.  I find it amazing and very true in my own life that when my heart is filled with a new song and a hymn of praise, others are persuaded to trust in the Lord.  As believers our praise is our very best testimony of who God is and our most convincing call to follow him.