Thank You

It’s awesome how kind people can be.   It just takes a tragedy to make one realise it.   We have been inundated with messages of support, condolences, prayers from wonderful people – some of whom I know only slightly.   The Biology department gave me a bunch of flowers and a beautiful statuette of an angel sitting next to an orb holding a candle.   I will treasure it and always remember Zachary when I see it. possibly light it every year on his birthday.

I got flowers from the Moll family and a beautiful golden potted rose from Lesley, my best friend.   She said pink was too girlish, white was too bland, red was more romantic love so yellow was golden and therefore something precious.   It will come with us to our new house and will also remind me of Zachary.

I got phone calls from the church, the prayer chain, one of the pastors.   Thank you to everybody who has supported us by messages, SMS’s, phone calls, gifts.   You might think they were insignificant and that nothing you can say can really help us but really it is just the accumulated love and support that is getting us through.

  Going to church this morning was a challenge.   I took tissues with me.   Couldn’t sing the first song.   It’s amazing how worship brings tears to the surface.

One of the ladies from the prayer team, Denise Law, who is very close to the Lord, said she had been praying a lot for Zach when she first got the message.   When she heard that he had died she questioned the Lord.   The answer she got was Zach’s little life would make a difference for the Kingdom.   It is David’s future, not his past.   Not quite sure how to interpret that but I know the Lord knows and I trust him even when I don’t understand.

The closing hymn was God’s word for me today.

"Be Still, My Soul"
by Catharina von Schlegel, 1697-?
Translated by Jane Borthwick, 1813-1897

1. Be still, my soul; the Lord is on thy side;
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain;
Leave to thy God to order and provide;
In every change He faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul; thy best, thy heavenly, Friend
Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.

2. Be still, my soul; thy God doth undertake
To guide the future as He has the past.
Thy hope, thy confidence, let nothing shake;
All now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul; the waves and winds still know
His voice who ruled them while He dwelt below.

3. Be still, my soul, though dearest friends depart
And all is darkened in the vale of tears;
Then shalt thou better know His love, His heart,
Who comes to soothe thy sorrows and thy fears.
Be still, my soul; thy Jesus can repay
From His own fulness all He takes away.

4. Be still, my soul; the hour is hastening on
When we shall be forever with the Lord,
When disappointment, grief, and fear are gone,
Sorrow forgot, love's purest joys restored.
Be still, my soul; when change and tears are past,
All safe and blessed we shall meet at last.

Hymn #651
The Lutheran Hymnal
Text: Psalm 46:10

Be Strong

“You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.”   The verse I got in my quiet time today from 2 Tim 2:1.

What does it mean to be strong?   I am reminded of that section in Joshua where the Lord tells Joshua to be strong and courageous 4 times.    (Josh 1)

Does it mean don’t cry at the funeral?   Don’t cry when people are kind and loving to you?   I don’t think so.   Jesus wept and He is the strongest man I know.

I think that being strong is set in the context of battle.   You either face the enemy or you run away.   There are many ways to run away.   Some people try drugs or alcohol because they can’t face the pain.   Some immerse themselves in something else to keep so busy that they keep pushing it to the outside.   But the brave thing to do, is to face the pain, recognise it, embrace it, go through it.

Who is the enemy in this battle?   It is the father of lies and his greatest weapons are lies.   Lies like:

“see, God doesn’t love you, look what he did to you” 

or “It is all you fault.   If only…”

or even “God is punishing you because you are not good enough.”

There are many lies in his arsenal.   Being strong is being able to discern the lies and to resist them.   To stay close to Jesus and to trust Him no matter what.  To use the word of God which is the truth against the lies.

Don’t try to do it on your own.   There are people all around willing and able to help you.   Counsellors, pastors, friends, doctors, professionals, even strangers if God chooses to use them.

And whatever you do, don’t go into battle without your armour.   (Eph 6)

Being strong is also being able to resist the temptation of looking inward.   When you are in pain it is easy to shut out the rest of the world and focus only on your own pain.   There are other people out there, many of them also in pain, many of them needing you to be strong for them.

Being strong is being able to cling tenaciously to Christ, the author and finisher of our faith.   Trust Him.   Stand on His promises.

…and the peace of God which passes all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.  (Phil 4:&)

I hope that I will be able to do this, to resist the lies, to look outwards and to cling to Christ.   “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”

A Father’s Love

Zachary lived only 12 hours but his father loves him intensely.   As his granny in another continent, I also love him.   I am devastated that he was taken from us and yet I have never seen him, never held him.   What did this little half a day old baby do to deserve all this love?   Was he good, was he smart?   Did he help others?

He did none of these things.   He was brain damaged at birth and could barely even breathe himself.   No, my son David loves him so much and always will, just because Zachary is his son.   We love him so much just because he is our grandson.

God is such a father to us.   We don’t earn His love.   He loves us just because we are His children.   There is nothing we can do to earn His love, to deserve his love.   We can’t do anything to cause Him to love us more or to love us less.   His desire is to be with us and love us just as Dave and Gayle delighted in each minute they got to spend with Zachary.   In fact God loves us so much that He gave his only begotten Son so that whoever believes in him will not die but will be with Him in heaven forever.   (John 3:16)   He wants us to be with Him always.

So Zachary, although you were only on this earth for 12 hours, you have enriched us.   You have taught me a little bit about the love of God.

I was inspired

I was inspired this morning by listening to the following. It does not apply to me but I would like it to. It is a great goal to strive towards.



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The Fellowship of the Unashamed


I am a part of the fellowship of the Unashamed. I have the Holy Spirit
Power. The die has been cast. I have stepped over the line. The decision has
been made. I am a disciple of Jesus Christ. I won't look back, let up, slow
down, back away, or be still. My past is redeemed, my present makes sense,
and my future is secure. I am finished and done with low living, sight
walking, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tame visions,
mundane talking, chintzy giving, and dwarfed goals.

I no longer need preeminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits, or
popularity. I don't have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised,
regarded, or rewarded. I now live by presence, learn by faith, love by
patience, lift by prayer, and labor by power.

My pace is set, my gait is fast, my goal is Heaven, my road is narrow, my
way is rough, my companions few, my Guide is reliable, my mission is clear.
I cannot be bought, compromised, deterred, lured away, turned back, diluted,
or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the
presence of adversity, negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the
pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of
mediocrity.

I won't give up, back up, let up, or shut up until I've preached up, prayed
up, paid up, stored up, and stayed up for the cause of Christ. I am a
disciple of Jesus Christ. I must go until He returns, give until I drop,
preach until all know, and work until He comes.

And when He comes to get His own, He will have no problem recognizing me. My
colors will be clear for "I am not ashamed of the Gospel, because it is the
power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes.." (Romans 1:16)

By Dr. Bob Moorehead



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