Monday and Tuesday of this week I (Andrea) spent my days and night waiting in the ER and hospital. I have been having heart palpitations for a while now and they have been increasing. I told my pulmonologist in Granger, Indiana about them and he recommended that I go to the ER. The condition I was diagnosed with in October can go to the heart and that could be life threatening so I reluctantly and apprehensively went to the ER. I expected them to say it was nothing and let me go home. Instead the cardiologist admitted me for a 23 hour observation.
This was troublesome on several fronts; first, we were unable to fly out on Tuesday morning to speak at the Cedarville University chapel on Wednesday and Thursday. Secondly, we were unable represent Great Commission Collective and FamilyLife at dinner meetings and lunches that we had scheduled. Thirdly, we missed seeing our kids who had all made plans to be there with us.
As I struggled with the Lord over the timing of all of this He graciously reminded me of His goodness, sovereignty, kindness and of the fallenness of this world. I have deep longings to serve Him unhindered, but I live in a world that is broken. That brokenness includes the frailty of our human bodies. BUT JESUS, came and lived His perfect life in my place because I would never be able to live that out. He has provided the redemption and grace we need to live in the brokenness now.
Next stop: Indianapolis for a Weekend to Remember
On Thursday we fly to Indianapolis on to lead a FamilyLife Weekend to Remember. This one is special to us as many of our friends Gospel City Church are coming! they will be joined by 800 others seeking to grow in our marriages toward a Christ-centered oneness that impacts the world around us.
You can attend a Weekend to Remember at $100 off the registration price using the discount code "TeamGriffith" using the link below.
1 Thessalonians 1:2-5
We give thanks to God always for all of you constantly remembering you in our prayers, remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. For we know, brothers loved by God that he has chosen you because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power.
As I read these words, I couldn’t help but think of you! Trent and I give thanks to the Lord everyday for you. We see the work you do for the Lord and the faith you exercise as you support us and we are beyond grateful! The love you show to people inside and outside of the church is seen by the Lord and your hope in Him is evident. God has chosen you evidenced by the fact that your lives have been changed and that you are now living for and through the power of the gospel. We pray for the impact you are making there in your immediate corner of the world and are grateful for how you are enabling us to make an impact where God opens doors for us to walk through!
1 Thessalonians 1:10 says “(we are) waiting for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.”I’m not sure what area of waiting the Lord has you in but I know the wait is real! In many ways it is what we are called to. I keenly feel the heaviness of the wait.
I am waiting to see Jesus face to face.
I am waiting to be able to serve and worship him unhindered by physical, emotional and spiritual limitations that we face in the world we live in now.
I am waiting for wars and relational conflict on a global and personal scale to end.
I am waiting for the full and unhindered time of all wrongs being made right; of God’s will being done on earth as it is in heaven.
But until that time, we walk, serve and love in the hard of the wait.
Praise Jesus that He is walking beside us as the God of endurance and encouragement. My hospital wait ended on Tuesday night with nothing imminently found to be affecting the heart. Huge praise! But with more tests on the horizon.
As you are waiting, let us know how we can be praying for you.
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