hi everybody. i haven't posted in awhile. i come to you now to ask for prayer. my only brother died very unexpectedly one week ago tonight. we had a big family birthday party for him on august 7th when he turned 65. he did not have any pre-existing heart problems, and had never been on any type of medication. he lived in littleton, colorado and had been shoveling snow in the afternoon from his driveway and his neighbor's driveway. (i know that his type of heart attack happens more than we know after shoveling snow.) the emt's had to use the heart paddles on him at his house which brought him back long enough to get him into the ambulance. he died in the ambulance on the way to the hospital. my family had seen him just one month ago when he came back to austin (tx) because our momma had a mild heart attack. the last thing my brother told me, when he walked me through the parking lot to my car, late one night after being with our momma was "i love you claudia jean". i told him i loved him so much. as i turned around to see him walking back into the hospital, he was waving goodbye to me. i never in a million years would have thought that would be the last time i saw him alive.
i, and my family are heartbroken. that word doesn't really even begin to describe the pain we feel. my brother was the only boy among four girls. our father died on my brother's birthday ten years ago. i always thought the hardest thing i have ever done was to call him that day to tell him our daddy had died. i was wrong. the hardest thing i have ever done, so far, was to sit in front of our momma to tell her that her son had died. the look on her face, the sound of her deep, deep pain, which came out in a river of tears along with the saddest wail i have ever heard in my life, was almost too much to bear.
as i posted on facebook today, "i guess i should be glad that my brother is resting now, and his troubles and stress of this life are over, but dadgummit i want him HERE!" selfish? maybe. my brother was a strong man of God, with a wife and three wonderful children. he helped with a native american indian outreach program in arizona. he helped anyone, anywhere, who needed help. he was always my biggest cheerleader when i was weathering life's storms. especially during/after my divorce which was final sept. 3rd, and after our brother john chris' death. as my momma said through tears, "he was my boy, my only son, and he was such a good boy", i echo here that he was indeed such a good boy. and now he is gone...
prayer is much needed. my depression has become deeper and darker. i know all is of God. i know my brother (and john chris) are resting now in the sleep of death, i know i will one day see both of them again. but all the wonderful truths i have learned by the Spirit through the Scriptures, ray smith, and this forum, have not lessened the raw pain of their passing.
may God of mercy on everyone of us.
claudia
Hi Claudia,
I'm very sorry to hear about your dear brother. I will pray for God's peace to be with you and to wrap you in His arms.
I pray I am not overstepping my bounds with this post of scripture but its what came to mind when I was reading your post.
John 11
1 Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha.
2 (It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.)
3 Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick.
4 When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.
5 Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus.
6 When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was.
7 Then after that saith he to his disciples, Let us go into Judaea again.
8 His disciples say unto him, Master, the Jews of late sought to stone thee; and goest thou thither again?
9 Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world.
10 But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no light in him.
11 These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep.
12 Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well.
13 Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep.
14 Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.
15 And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him.
16 Then said Thomas, which is called Didymus, unto his fellowdisciples, Let us also go, that we may die with him.
17 Then when Jesus came, he found that he had lain in the grave four days already.
18 Now Bethany was nigh unto Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs off:
19 And many of the Jews came to Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother.
20 Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary sat still in the house.
21 Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.
22 But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee.
23 Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again.
24 Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.
25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?
27 She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.
28 And when she had so said, she went her way, and called Mary her sister secretly, saying, The Master is come, and calleth for thee.
29 As soon as she heard that, she arose quickly, and came unto him.
30 Now Jesus was not yet come into the town, but was in that place where Martha met him.
31 The Jews then which were with her in the house, and comforted her, when they saw Mary, that she rose up hastily and went out, followed her, saying, She goeth unto the grave to weep there.
32 Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.
33 When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her,
he groaned in the spirit, and
was troubled.
34 And said, Where have ye laid him? They said unto him, Lord, come and see.
35
Jesus wept.
Ray once said that God takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked, so how much more His beloved children?
Psalm 116:15 Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints.
God bless you dear sister.
With love,
Alex
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Topic: prayer (Read 6389 times)