One Great God. One Big Test. One Brave Girl

Eleven years ago, our youngest daughter was diagnosed with scoliosis.  Our oldest has also dealt with this condition.  Seven years ago, our youngest began to wear a brace and that process lasted almost seven years.  A year and a half ago, it became obvious that surgery was extremely likely in her future.

The first miracle was to get her through her growth spurt, so that surgery would only have to happen once.  We are grateful for that miracle.  The second miracle happened last Friday.  After weeks of being scheduled and also timed following a piano guild annual evaluation, toward the end of school, and two months before her brother's wedding, the surgery took place.

Our family received tremendous support.  Family members travelled from afar, and church family surrounded us.  Five hours after taking her to the operating room, one of her surgeons came out and indicated that it was complete, and all went according to plan.  What we discovered later that day we will never forget.

Kathy was the first to see her and happened to see the X-ray from post-op.  God had worked a miracle in our daughter's back.  The results were exceptional.  He used two of the finest surgeons we've ever met.  They were humble, and strong.  The hospital staff was great.  Today we brought her home.  It is the greatest memorial day we have ever had.

To Dr. Stephen Albanese, who has cared for her for 11 years,  and Dr. William Lavelle, we say a sincere thanks.  To our family and friends, we are deeply indebted.  To our church family, we love you so much.  To all who prayed for her and for us through these days, we could never thank you enough.  It was indeed the greatest gift you gave us.

To our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, you are faithful.  Always.  To you be all the glory.  You are the one true living God.  You are great and you are good.  This was one big test.  You created one brave girl.  We are grateful.

Reflection

This morning I went to the gym.  That's not out of the ordinary.  I try to get there four or five days a week.  I call it temple maintenance.  The Bible reminds us that our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, and thought bodily exercise is not the most important thing in life, it is important.  For me it matters for my health and quality of life.

Today as I was working out on an elliptical machine, it appeared that it was lit up with green as I was looking at the data concerning my workout while I was working out. That was totally different from anything I had ever seen before and I've been on those machines many times.  The machine is sort of gray/black.  It has the data in color as you workout (red or orange I think) - but the whole thing looked green - like neon green.  Then it hit me - that was the color of my shirt and it was reflected on the machine off the sunlight through the front windows.

Instantly I thought of how I want my life this day and in the days ahead to reflect Christ as surely as my shirt was reflecting green from the sunlight back onto the machine.  It was a bit surreal.  Today may we reflect the love of Christ, His truth and grace in everything we do, all for His glory.

One More Trip To Liberty

In 2005, we took our son to college. He was a freshman at Liberty University. Our oldest daughter was a senior at Syracuse University. We were blessed to have her close to home and she graduated Syracuse Orange. Seems only appropriate for the oldest Aubrey kid in the family!  Number two headed to Liberty. Syracuse was right for Andrea and Liberty was right for Dave. In 2008 our second daughter joined her brother at Liberty. For seven years we travelled to Lynchburg and went to two graduations on that campus, as we celebrated David and Charity's degrees.

I graduated from high school 39 years ago. I headed to Roberts Wesleyan College and graduated with a B. A. In Religion and Philosophy. I headed to Memphis, Tennessee at the age of 22, to go to Mid-America Seminary. Three years later I graduated with my Master of Divinity. I was soon to be 25 and had been in school for 20 years of my life. By the 90's and into the 2000's I continued to have a passion to grow and learn. I found it significant and important for life and ministry. In December 2007, God made it clear to me from the book of Proverbs that He was leading me back to school. With the support of my family and church family, I enrolled in the Doctor of Ministry program at Liberty in 2008.

My course work was completed over the next three years. This blog came as a result of one course. The theme of the blog and ultimately my thesis title came out of my sixth class. Tonight my wife and I and our youngest daughter, Emily, are headed to Liberty for the third Aubrey graduation there. My degree was granted in December 2014. I get to walk this Saturday. To all who prayed for me, encouraged me and walked with me I say thank you. This was never simply for a degree but prayerfully more effective ministry. I'm grateful for the past and excited about the future.

My family has been amazing. Northside Church is very close to my heart. The ministry of the gospel is my life's calling. Who knows, we may come to Lynchburg from time to time in the future but for this weekend it's one more very special trip to a place where God has spoken to me many times. It will always be holy ground to me.