Guiding Light!
The Ride! part 2
I am still in awe of God's wondrous works. Each day I come in contact with more and more people that have been praying for me, from my daughters teachers at the Junior High School to my youngest daughters teachers at the elementary school. From friends in town and from people I hardly know from out of state. From other local church's to out of town church's. It just amazes me how fast prayer travels through God's children. Not even Superman could keep up with the lightening speed at which it travels.
People do care, even if we don't hear them say it or even show it, they do care. Just let something happen that is life threatening and see who shines the most. It is usually the one you least expect to show up and shine through the gloom. Why is that do you suppose? I believe these people have it in there heart all the time but for some reason or other they have been suppressed or ignored and are afraid to show their inner feelings. When push comes to shove though they come out of the woodwork, there is no stopping them, they are true warriors for God.
I believe God wants us to recognize and appreciate everyone of His children, even the least ones. You would be surprised at the potential of some people with just a little encouragement to get them started. Encourage today, do it in action not in thought. Be the one who moves a nobody to a somebody. The day after my surgery when friends started coming to the hospital I was asked many questions about many subjects.
One in particular stood out to me and was asked by several people. The question was, "were you scared, scared of dying that is?" I didn't even have to think about this question as I already reflected on this earlier. I was never scared of dying or of anything else. We have talked about this in the past, God did not give us a heart of fear but of trust and faith.
Actually when the situation was the gloomiest I was at the most peace. I never, never viewed the situation from a human viewpoint, I always had God on my mind and His Kingdom. I must admit that in a selfish way I was really hoping that I would die, only because of the promises we have of what it will be like in the presence of God. But, this was not my choice and I am not the one in control. Obviously God has other plans for me.
Now I am even more excited to see this come to be, by these events and me still being here is a promise that God has work for me to do here. I eagerly await His calling to the front line. I cannot begin to know of all the good things that has come from this ordeal, I can only relate some of the personal contacts I have been involved in. I will attempt to relate them in chronological order for you; the para-medic on the way to the hospital, when he was giving me the news of how bad the situation was I kept assuring him that God was in control and not to worry.
In the emergency room at the hospital after all the commotion I asked the heart surgeon if he was a Christian and he said yes, I then asked him if he prayed before he went into surgery...with a grim look on his face he said, no I don't. To be honest with you I don't pray before I go to surgery, he seemed quite sad about his answer. I said to him, if you do my surgery I would like you to pray with me before surgery, he happily agreed. Will he pray before surgery from now on? I don't know, but God knows and that is all that matters.
I was transported Tuesday morning to a Boise hospital to have the stent installed in my main artery. The procedure went as planned with no complications and they shuttled me down to ccu (cardic care unit) at approximately noon. As part of this procedure they have you lay flat on your back for ten hours, you cannot move your legs or your head, just lay there flat for 10 hours. What a nightmare this was, especially for a person that can't sit still for two minutes. Well I was obedient to the doctors orders and to God's directions. Is God telling me to slow down and focus more on Him? Perhaps, I am seeking insight on this matter as we speak.
Our youth minister came to see me everyday, as did many others. I told Dave this is so different for me, I have always been the caller and not the callee, I wasn't liking this. In his wisdom he shared with me to relax and let others help me as I have helped them. God has been very clear in this matter also, Kenny, He says, let others minister and care for you, it will restore your strength to better serve me. I humbly agreed.
Tuesday night around 10:30 pm the night nurse came in to see how I was doing. In the cardic care unit there are two patients to one nurse, being her other patient was fast asleep she was able to share some time with me. We talked about the events that took place and I shared with her that what the para-medic and the cardiologist told me, that I was a lucky person to be alive and doing so well. When I told her that I was prepared to go home to be with my Heavenly Father I asked her a question to see what she believed about dying. I asked her that if she were to die tonight and stand before God and He asked her why should I let you into my Heaven, what would you say? She told me that she has been a good person. Such a typical answer, I told her that no matter how good we have been it wouldn't get us into Heaven. I then asked her if she would like to know how she can be sure she could get into Heaven, and she said YES!
I explained to her that salvation was a free gift from God and that all we had to do was to receive it freely. The Bible is very clear about this, we are to admit we are a sinner, confess our sins to God, and be baptized. As the Apostle Paul tells us in Romans 6:23; For the wages of sin is death; but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. So we see that sin brings eternal death and separation from God. Again Mark tells us in Mark 16:16; He that believes and is baptized shall be saved; but he that does not believe shall be condemned.
Once again in Acts the Apostle Peter tells us in Acts 2:38; And Peter said to them, Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of your sins' and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Hearing this she wept in tears because no one ever shared with her the gift God has to offer so freely. She told me she has repented and confessed her sins and was baptized but never knew for sure she would go to Heaven. Are you sure about your eternal life?
Sharing other truths like 1 John 5:13; I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life. Assuring her that we didn't have to hope or wonder if we will spend eternity with God she appeared to have an inner peace knowing that she would go to Heaven.
Did God place the two of us in this particular place and at this particular time? Yes I believe He did, I don't believe in coincidences, I believe in God's divine plan to convey His message to whom He desires and when He desires. Was this a part of my being in the hospital? Yes I believe it was a part, not the only reason though. I was blessed to be able to share with three other nurses about Jesus Christ's saving grace.
Looking back at the incident as a whole and spending time in prayer to understand God's plan for all of this, one thing stood out above and beyond everything else. "Corporate Prayer" I firmly believe the prayers of many of God's children praying for the same thing will have a dynamic outcome. According to medical science I should not of been alive or without major heart damage. But, by God's grace I am here today with very little heart damage and that will heal almost entirely. Can the doctors explain it? Not scientifically, but spiritually yes. It is nothing short of a miracle, yes God does still perform miracles today.
Prayer, it is our direct link to our Heavenly Father, anytime, anywhere, anyhow. I challenge you to look up these verses in the Bible to see what it says about prayer. Matthew 7:7-8, Matthew 21:22, Isaiah 30:19, 1 John 5:14-15, Isaiah 65:24, John 16: 23-24, James 5:16, Job 22:27, John 14:13-14, John 15:7, Matthew 6:6, Psalm 91:15, Proverbs 15:29, Psalm 65:2, Psalm 34:17, Matthew 7:11, Isaiah 58:9, Psalm 55:17, Psalm 145:18-19, Zechariah 13:9, Matthew 6:8, Jeremiah 29:12, and 1 John 3:22.
In closing I wish to thank all of those who so diligently prayed for my recovery and well being. I cannot thank you enough for your love for me by interceding in prayer. It worked! Thank you God for your awesome grace and love for us in hearing our prayers. Thank you Father for allowing each of us to be a part of your Kingdom work.
Heavenly Father I thank you for my Kingdom family and the love they showed me in my time of need. I thank you Father for your healing touch on me a sinner saved by grace. Words just cannot express my gratitude for your love for your children Lord. My actions will show you Father how much I love you by being obedient to your instructions, I am available to you now Father, use me as you desire to fulfill your plan. Praises and Honor to our Glorious Magnificent God!......in Jesus name we pray.....amen.
In Christ's Service,
Kenny Millhouse
kenny@guidinglightministry.com
http://guidinglightminstry.com
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