By Lisa Ansay —
Guest Author – Rev. Russ Grigsby, Lebanon Lutheran Church
Hi Everyone,
Greetings from snowy Minneapolis where we are under a blizzard warning tonight! I guess we all suffer in our own way, right Taylor?
It has been such an honor and privilege for our little church in Minneapolis to get to petition heaven on Taylor’s behalf for almost two years now. We consider him one of our own. His victories have brought encouragement to our hearts and helped us walk through our own ups and downs.
One of the scriptures that has really been a guiding force for us has been Psalm 50:14-16, which I quote,“Sacrifice thank offerings to God, fulfill your vows to the Most High and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you and you will honor me.” In this sentence, the Psalmist is really prescribing a formula for prayer. Thank God for what He has done…commit your ways to Him…call on Him when in trouble…expect that He will deliver…and then honor Him by telling others how He delivered you. Then fulfill your vows… Do you see the cycle? Cool, huh?
Several years back I became convicted about how seldom I told others about what God had done for me. I was quick to ask for prayer, but slow to tell when those prayers were answered. And so, in a sense, I was disobeying Psalm 50. I was calling upon God in the day of my trouble and being delivered, but not honoring Him by telling others, and thus not offering up a ‘thank offering.’ So…I started a miracle log: a simple Excel spreadsheet where I would record the prayers that God had answered, and the miracles that occurred in my life.
When Lisa asked me if I would lead a call to prayer, I immediately thought of challenging everyone to pray for a successful surgery on Tuesday and for a quick recovery (as Taylor asked for). And that is good. We of course will be praying for that. But I wonder if God wants us to first give Him thanks for what He has already done?
So would you take a moment and reflect back on your own prayers for Taylor that God has already answered and thank God for those, publicly? I believe that when we do that, a blessing will open up from heaven. I will lead out.
God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, I thank you for rescuing my friend Taylor from death. I thank you for extending his life. And I thank you specifically for three miracles that I recount now before all of these witnesses:
June 25, 2012
I had been praying for T’s grandmother Kay, who was taking everything really hard. I was able to connect with her on the phone today regarding the trials of life and she even pointed out how God had made her daughter, Lisa, a stronger person after she was diagnosed with M.S., which prepared her for this trial with Taylor…that God has a reason for the pain we experience.
Oct 8, 2012
Lisa called me to ask what bible verse I could recommend for T’s bracelet. I asked what he wanted to convey and she said, “He wants to let other kids know that it doesn’t pay to be reckless and foolish.” My bible just happened to be open to 2 Timothy 2 and I glanced at verse 22 which says, “Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness…” She said,”Yes, that’s it!” I got to talk to T and he liked the verse as well. Thank you God for your directing Taylor and myself to what You wanted to mark on the bracelet for the world to see.
Dec 22, 2013
Taylor and company showed up at church as a reminder to the Bingman family (whose son has been diagnosed with stage 4 cancer) that God always has the last word.
Thank you God. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
