On a Wednesday at the beginning of September, it was my Grandpa who had a couple of strokes in the night.
Being 7 hours ahead, I heard about it almost right away from my brother, because I was awake when the emails arrived! In fact, I was in my 8th grade art class at the time.
It woke up the Snoek family.
(Literally AND spiritually!)
At first I didn't know what to pray. What to say. "Your will be done," comes in handy at times like these. But when I found out that Grandpa wasn't ready to go Home yet, the prayers became a whole lot more specific :)
Grandpa is one of the most blessed and hardworking men that I know. In the 1950's, he and Grandma moved across the world away from their families, raised 8 children, send those 8 children to Christian school, and has served God faithfully in the church and schools ever since. He was even a member of the Stroke Support Group, ironically.
So when the strokes hit, we started praying. And praising. And fighting back. It's hard to be across the world when everyone is there, but it's nice to know that prayers don't have far to travel.
I just received an email today telling us that Grandpa can now walk without assistance!! Grandpa can do his crossword puzzles. He's got a long way to go, but he's working as hard as ever, and he's not going to give up until he's completely healed. And nothing is impossible with God.
On Wednesday of this past week, we found out that our beloved Pastor Jerry had a brain tumour.
It woke up the church. In staff devotions on Wednesday, we had a prayer time like we've never had before. We decided that we were NOT going to stand and watch, but we were going to fight!
By Friday, Pastor Jerry was in surgery to have the tumour removed. Yesterday. And if you know the Middle East, then you know that Friday is our day of worship. In every service, from 8 am to 7pm, we prayed for Pastor Jerry and Mrs. Jacque, we praised and worshipped God with all we had in us, and we (literally!!) shouted VICTORY!!
Last night, we found out that the surgery was successful, that some of the pastors visited Pastor Jerry and prayed with him, and that he is looking GOOD. We will find out this week whether the tumour is malignant or benign, but we're standing in faith that it's benign.
In Grade 5 Bible, we've just started learning about the book of Job. At the beginning, God praises Job, saying, "Look at my faithful servant. I'm so proud of him." And satan says to God, "Let me at him! You'll see what happens..." To sum it up? God wins. Of course. Job never gives up his faith and never curses God.
My friend Katie joked that satan said to God, "Let me at Pastor Jerry!" And God said, "You can try...but I don't think Kuwait will let you."
Never ever give up! God is good, all the time. Sometimes bad things happen, but although it seems bad in our eyes, God can and will use it for good. We've just got to fight! Wake up! Wake up before tragedy forces you to wake up!!
James 1:2-4 "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."
Romans 8:28 "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."
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