deep FRYED

Forever Written in My Mind

There are many moments in my life that I don't think I will ever forget, and seeing my brother lying in a hospital bed, as I entered the ICU (3rd room on the left), greatly swollen and hooked up to all kinds of machines is one of them. My heart crushed as I see my brother, hero, and best friend helpless in front of me. This can't be reality I thought...but when I made eye contact with Jodie, Eric's wife I realized this was no dream or joke. Then I went over to his bedside and whispered with everything I had in me, "Hey bro, I am here." That has been my promise to my brother over the last couple of days. I am here to pray for you constantly, I am here to love on and encourage your wife, and I am here to walk beside your boys because I know to them I am the closest thing to YOU. This process has been hard for all of us, especially Jodie, as I watch her fight to be strong and trust the Lord, yet deal with the reality of experiencing one of her (or any wife's) greatest fear unfolding before her eyes. In these times is when you find out how strong your faith truly is...Is your faith merely head knowledge or is it a deep conviction? The thought of losing my brother at 33 years of age brings many tears to my eyes and causes my body to shake, but it also takes me to the foot of the Cross. At the Cross, is where the beauty and power of the Gospel humbles me, yet empowers me to embrace the promises of God. God I trust your character and I trust your ways!

"And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?...37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Romans 8:28-31, 37-39