Thoughts from a Sunday Afternoon

This past Sunday was a busy one! First, there was church and preaching. My topic was, "We live by faith, not by sight," taken from 2 Corinthians 5:7. It was nice because I felt I really did have the words God wanted me to say. Then, several church members and myself went to visit "Saakum." (Grandfather) He is the husband of one of the church members. (He is the one covered in a white cloth with his head hanging down.) He had been to the Lawra hospital and was referred to the Tamale Teaching Hospital. His condition was not good. So, we went to his house to pray for him. I took one look at him and thought, "He is going to die." Oh, he looked to be about 110 years old. He was too weak to hold his head up. He was all skin and bones. Samuel took the lead, speaking with Saakum's wife, to Saakum and leading in prayer. Atone point, Samuel asked for water, because, especially here, water is life. He gave some to Saakum on a spoon. Saakum could barely sip it. He mainly spilled it. AS I was watching events of the visit unfold, I was arguing with myself. "I just preached on living by faith, not by sight. And, I see the reality of this man's condition and think that he is going to die. Where is my faith? Aren't I supposed to believe in what I can't see? But, what is God's will for this man?" And on and on it went. I spoke with his wife before we left the house, encouraging her. As we left the house, I told Samuel, "We will be going to a funeral this week." Then, I told him about my struggles - what I see with my eyes vs. faith. Tough call! 

Tuesday I received word that Saakum had died. Was it lack of faith? Lack of medical care? Or was it the will of God...to give Saakum the ultimate healing? I doubt that Saakum was a believer. He was most likely a Traditionalist. Only God knows for sure. I pray that God would use this to draw Saakum's family to Himself. That God would comfort the mourning and give them peace. And that He would provide for the family.

Please pray for people like Saakum, who do not have access to proper medical care, who may not know the Lord. Pray that God would provide someone locally to minister to the people that He is calling to be His own.