He LOVES us...

A Few months back (after I didn't check my facebook for several days) I recieved a facebook message that my best friend from High School son had passed away and the funeral was that day. After reading the message and realizing that I was already late for the funeral, I rushed off to be with the family. Shannon, my best friend from high school, and I were extremely close during high school and his parents were like my mom and dad, but we had lost touch over the past few years...Needless to say, the day of the funeral was very difficult. I spent a few hours afterwards talking with the family and I was blown away when I was talking to his mom and she told me that her and her husband were now living in Newnan--right down the street from where we live AND that they had heard about our church and were planning a visit! She went on to tell me that through the death of this little boy, she had been looking for the why behind what God was doing and she told me that seeing me (reuniting with me) that day and finding out that I live in Newnan and that I work at the church they had been thinking about attending was part of the reason God allowed all this to happen. Over the last few weeks, we had exchanged facebook messages but I hadn't seen them at church--I had been busy with summer camps and vacation. This past Sunday I had the opportunity to preach for the first time in 'big church' at our new church. I had planned on making sure to invite them but it got lost in the hustle and bustle of getting ready for the weekend. Flash forward to Sunday morning and about 5 minutes before I go on stage to preach, I see them walk in the door and sit down. I ran over to them and they hugged my neck and they told me that they had been coming there for a few weeks. To say that my heart jumped for joy would be a HUGE understatement!

When I got home that day, I went to write her a message on facebook only to find that she had already posted the following note:

"What a great experience we had this morning worshiping our Lord, it continues to amaze me at how he never gives up on any of us and how much he loves us all. As many of you know on May 3rd we lost our precious grandson Will. The day of his funeral one of our children's dear friends (growing up he had spent alot of time at our house and playing sports with Shannon) just happened to see on facebook that the funeral was that morning and by some miracle he was able to be there with us. After the funeral we went to Susan's parents house and I walked up to speak with him (Daniel Hicks) and he told me he was now living in Newnan (where Tracy and I are now living) and told me he was the Middle School Minister at Crossroads Church. I was really taken back because we had been visiting around at churches to find a new church home since we had came to Newnan and we had talked about visiting Crossroad but just hadn't done it, he then gave me his card. I stayed with Shannon, Susan, and Nan for the next 3 weeks but the first Sunday we were back in Newnan we went to church at Crossroads. There was just something about how at home I felt at this church and how each week I was growing more and more in my walk with the Lord and how my healing began. Tracy on the other hand was struggling to find his way through this great loss and had not been as interested to go back to church (even though he had went with me every Sunday I was there except last Sunday). Yesterday he said I am going to church tomorrow and when we walked in and picked a place to stand (because they were already singing) out of no where came this smiling face Daniel, he hugged us and said I am delivering the message today - pray for me and we did. Oh what a message - God used this yound man today in a way I wish I could put into words it touched all of our hearts (Tracy, Pam, mine, and everyone in the room). On the ride home Tracy said I don't think I have heard a message that touched me like that in a long time. God was there, he is here and is always with us! I know God made it possible for Daniel to be there that sad sad day when we said Good Bye to Will and I am thankful for that."

It's amazing to see How good God is and how much He really cares about us. Please continue to pray for this family as they are still hurting after the loss of Will Boone.