There are a few things that have been too emotional for me to write about yet.  January was such a raw month.  The shock of hearing I may have cancer, followed by the positive biopsy results, the rush of scans to see if it had spread (and the interminable waiting to hear some news), a litany of doctors’ visits to quickly formulate a battle-plan, and then we were diving in to treatment (my port was placed on Feb 1^st).

In the midst of the storm in our hearts, God spoke such peace to us through our church family at Summit Church.  In God’s providence, a “Prayer & Praise night” was already on the calendar for January 24^th (we may have them two or three times a year?).  I reached out to our campus pastor, Derrick DeLain, to see if we could be prayed for.

One of our neighbors, who we love like a father, came simply to support us that evening.  Do you know how special it is when various parts of your world intersect?  To stand holding my husband’s hand and dear Richard’s hand, my mom and baby Kai nearby, surrounded by our church family, singing praise to our worthy God.  The world was right again in the midst of our turmoil.

We prayed for many things that evening.  We worshipped our infinitely worthy, unfathomable God.  And as the evening drew to a close, and our campus pastor was casting the vision for the upcoming year, I thought he’d decided that night was not a good night to pray for us.  Or perhaps, he preferred to have the church pray for us during a regular Saturday / Sunday worship service.  We had no idea what was in store.

Derrick finished casting the vision for the direction for our campus this year.  It was really powerful.  He then quickly filled our church family in on the little we knew of my diagnosis, and reminded us all of God’s power, and that this did not take Him by surprise, as it did us.  He asked Gabe and I if we would come down to the front.  Derrick then said he wanted to do something for the first time in our four years as a campus: he asked the whole church to stand and surround us.

Pastors, elders, our small group, our friends streamed forward to circle us.  And then we prayed together.  Hundreds of people desperately, boldly, trustingly petitioned our great God for my total healing, and for strength on this journey.  In my entire life, I have never felt more supported or encouraged.  Ever.  In a raw, chaotic time in our lives, the Body of Christ moved to surround us and bring us peace.

The picture above is the one we have of the evening.  I absolutely treasure it and am so thankful to have it.  (If anyone else has another one, I’d love it!).  I wish you could see the hundreds of people around us, but it will give you a glimpse.

1 Corinthians 12:24-27

But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.

27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.

Colossians 3:15

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.