05/13/2019
God's Agenda
God is interested in our availability more than our ability. He already has all the ability we will ever need and he eagerly supplies what is needed to accomplish his plans.
In the Book of Mark, Chapter 5 we read how Jairus approached Jesus and asked him to heal his dying daughter. As Jesus was on the way to Jairus’ home, a woman who had suffered from bleeding for 12 years reached out, touched Jesus robe and was healed. Jesus stopped to comfort the healed woman. While interacting with the woman Jairus’ daughter dies. Not a problem for Jesus. He continues on his journey and raised Jairus’ little girl back to life.
As we walk along the road of life, we need to be flexible so we can respond to the moving of God’s Spirit. We make plans but God directs our path. Be flexible and open to what might seem like an interruption but is really part of God’s greater plan.
Approximately 12 years ago I was sitting in my office getting ready for a full day of work. As a ministry leader, my schedule was full of seemingly important, time sensitive tasks.
The phone rang. It was Sharon, the Administrative Assistant at church and she said, “Kirk, all the pastors are out. A family has called from Children’s Hospital and has requested that someone come and pray with them. Will you go?” My mind rolled through a list of excuses why I didn’t have time. I knew Sharon could find someone else. Then I heard the words come out of my mouth, “Sure. I’ll go.” Sharon instructed me to to get in the car and start heading downtown. Once I was on my way, call her and she would fill in the details.
“What’s up?” I asked once I was in route to the hospital. “You’re going to see Ken and Hollie. Their two year old son was climbing on some boxes, fell out of a second floor window and landed head first on the sidewalk 13 feet below. The boy, Carter, may not live,” Sharon said.
I was stunned. I’m not a pastor. I’m not trained for this. What God would soon teach me is that this experience had nothing to do with me, my training or abilities. This was about God’s abilities and his supernatural love for Carter.
When I reached the hospital I was ushered into a behind the scenes room where my police es**rt pointed to a door and said, “They are in there.” The officer then walked away. I opened the door to a small room where eight family members were packed into seats along the walls. They were all wailing, not just crying. Broken hearts pouring out through tears and moaning.
I asked Carter’s mom how I could be of service. “Pray that my son lives!” she pleaded through her tears. We prayed. Over the next few days, Carter teetered between life and death. They cut off his skull to relieve the pressure. For several days I returned to the hospital to sit with the family to be present and pray. Carter lived and eventually went home.
Since I was not a pastor serving 30 other families in need, the hidden blessing was my ability to focus on this one family. Our family took their family meals. I continued to write down prayers each week and mail them to Hollie and Ken.
Just this week, 12 years later, I receive an email from Hollie and the family who have since moved to another state. The lengthy message is one of the greatest treasures in my life and includes the line, “You were one of this points of light that helped show us the way out while witnessing the miracle of ‘Carter.’”
All I did was be available by saying “yes” to a phone call. In the process God gave me a front row seat to watch him work a miracle. Through the experience, God blessed me with a stronger faith and richer life that will always include Carter and his family.
