Stay right here
Final update:
Lindsey was released from his broken body on Saturday, March 29, 2014.
He is now completely healed and alive in a perfect new body. Thanks to all who prayed.
– March 31 2014
Update on Lindsey’s situation on Facebook here. He continues to decline and has no movement left in his body. Please keep praying.
– March 2014
She’s not crying as she tells me over the phone.
But I am.
I’m calling to see how she is. Her news is horrible. Her son’s doctor had that very day put out a death watch—four to six months. Her baby boy’s recent but aggressive ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease) diagnosis may take him before his 22nd birthday this fall. [Update: ALS was later ruled out and the diagnosis eventually changed to Progressive Muscular Atrophy.]
We’ve all got to go of something. I know that. I’m even thankful for that, truthfully. Please don’t make me hang out here forever when the best lies ahead.
Jesus keep me near the cross
There a precious fountain
But still it hurts to hear about someone getting ready to go.
And I’m hearing a lot about it lately.
About people fighting death like it’s the devil himself.
Or about people initiating it likes it’s some kind of escape hatch.
But also about people accepting it.
Free to all a healing stream
Flows from Calvary’s mountain
I say to my friend, “How can I pray for you? What should I ask God for?”
Her answer catches me off guard, “That I’ll stay near the cross.”
I say I will, as soon as I stop crying, but why wait even then.
In the cross in the cross
Be my glory ever
I search “cross” in eSword and copy the list. I mark off 1 Corinthians 1:18 as I write it on a card and stamp it full of prayers and Spirit from my mailbox to hers, my heart to hers.
Till my raptured soul shall find
Rest beyond the river
Stay near the cross; stay near the power of God; stay near Jesus. Remember he stays near you. In you.
In life. And through death. And forever on the eternal side.
I pray it for my friend and her boy.
I pray it for me and mine.
And I pray it for you and yours.
Stay near the cross.
Near the cross I’ll watch and wait
Hoping, trusting ever
Till I reach the golden strand
Just beyond the river
* * *
If you want to pray for healing, too—however the Lord wills to bring it—go to the cross and lift up Lindsey and his mom Linda. May God bless you also as you sit at his feet. Thank you.
This. Staying near the cross. That’s everything.
Thank you for reminding us of the most important thing in life: staying near Jesus.
Blessings!
Yes, it is the most important thing we can ever do, the most important place we can ever be.
Staying near the cross is the only place to be. I just prayed for Lindsey and his mom Linda. Amazing words to that rap.
Btw, the Brooklyn Tabernacle also has a prayer meeting every Tuesday evening. I don’t know if that would fit in with your plans but just a thought. I can’t wait to hear about your trip. I love NYC. My niece Katie lives in Brooklyn and works in a salon in NYC.
Blessings and love,
Debbie
Thank you for praying for them, Debbie. And the words to the rap were amazing to me, too. Our brother Jeremiah put that all together in such a great way.
Thanks for the BT tip. Tuesday night would be our only opportunity if our other plan for that night falls through. I’d love to be there for a Sunday service, but I’m sure the prayer services are equally inspiring. I have a niece in the area too! So we’ll be visiting her in Staten Island while we’re there.
Dear Lisa
I ask for the privilege of praying with you and your friend! Please, if something specific needs prayer, will you send me an email. My youngest son is going on 22 and my heartbreaks for your friend!
Much love XX
Mia
God bless you, Mia, for wanting to partner in prayer. With a son that age, I’m sure this hits close to home. I will make a note to send you an email as specific requests come up. My last update was that Lindsey was sent this weekend to the hospital in Vanderbilt.
He updated his Facebook status this morning to this:
“This is why we come together my friends. The devil wants to tell us that this is all bad. That this world is all bad. But I know better. Been up for 1hour and have already felt God’s presence. My story is just another bad day. But my testimony, that is what has captivated numerous Amounts of people. I live because Jesus died.”
I’m so sorry to hear about this young man and his hard diagnosis/prognosis, Lisa. I can’t imagine letting one of my sons, near Lindsey’s age, go. How heart-wrenching! But I will pray for them both. And I am resonating with your words because that is something I’ve been more intentional and aware of lately–that Christ is always with me and “in” me. It’s hard to wrap my brain around that comforting fact, but it makes all the difference in this messy, hurt-filled world. Beautiful post, as always, my friend!
Heart-wrenching is an apt way to put how we all feel. 🙁 It’s hard to grasp these tough things in life. Thank you for your prayers, Beth.
I’m tracking with you on being more intentionally aware about Christ “in” us. It sounds too good to be true, doesn’t it? But I know it is true, praise God.
Dear friend and sister, I am so grateful Linda has you to lean on. I don’t think an hour goes by that I am not lifting them all up in prayer. Thank you for your inspirational, Jesus-focused post. I will continue to pray our sister will stay near the cross. I can’t imagine being able to survive anywhere else. You always encourage me to stay near the cross – in good times and bad. Love and miss you.
You are such an awesome prayer warrior, Selwyn. I know the Lord will continue to hear about Lindsey and family over and over from you alone! You’re also one of the most Jesus-centered friends I’ve ever had. You influence me more than you’ll ever know. I miss you too! Love you.
What a wonderful friend you are to ask for such a specific prayer to minister to your friend! And her response is ministering to me and so many others! God is so good! Now I will be humming that hymn all day and praying for Linda and her son.
Linda is just that kind of person. We went to church together for years, and she called me up one day to see if I’d be her phone prayer partner for awhile. So for a season we would talk and pray most every morning on the phone around 7 a.m. I already loved her before then, but I really grew to love her even more through that.
That hymn got stuck in my mind too so now it’s your turn. At least it’s not a bad thing to have stuck there. 🙂 Thanks for praying for Linda and Lindsey.
What a powerful post and witness. “That I’ll stay near the cross.” good prayer for all of us, no matter our circumstances.
Exactly, Jean. No matter our circumstances, staying near the cross is the best thing we can do!
Oh man… The only chance of hope in any way, is the hope of the hand of God in our lives. My heart breaks for Lindsey and Linda… I’m praying for them.
I appreciate your prayers for them, Floyd. I know you’re a man of God and your voice will be heard in the heavenly realms. Thanks, brother.
Wow…I could “hear” the song as I read and tears streamed down my cheeks. Thank you for the encouragement to stay near the cross!!
Your tears are precious to me, Bobbi. And I’m glad the song was flowing through you as you read. That’s how I heard it as I wrote. Blessings to you, friend, as you stay near the cross, too.
I can’t imagine what Linda and Lindsey are going through. Yet their strong faith shines through, and his testimony – wow!
I will be praying for them both. We all need to remain close to the cross.
Thanks for your prayers, Nancy. I can’t really imagine all they’re feeling either; I just know it’s got to be incredibly hard. 🙁 And yet their faith does shine through–you are so right.
Lindsey posted a second status on FB today:
“And so we continue to wage war against the darkness that thought it owned my physical body! This supernatural battle will end with my God being praised!!! If you can feel his presence then shout amen!!!”
It makes me shout Amen too! Even with tears in my eyes…
This is just a gut-wrenchingly beautiful post. Oh, my heart is heavy for you, for Lindsey, for Linda. May He keep us close, all close, to the cross.
Isn’t it amazing that when one draws nearer to the cross, many others of us are drawn closer, too? I believe that’s how God wants it to be. So thankful to be there with sisters like you, Jen.
There is never anything else better to do. Than to stay; to hope in God alone; to cling and He keeps us because His steadfast love endures forever. What hope! What a promise!
I’m so very thankful we CAN hope in those promises, knowing that our God is always faithful to keep his word. I feel blessed by your comment, Rebekah. His steadfast love DOES endure forever.
I will put them on my post-it notes stick everywhere so I remember – and I will pray that things of God fill them, surround them, bless them – praying that the cross covers them!
That would be so wonderful! You’re a blessing. I’m constantly amazed at how the body of Christ supports each other even from a distance. God is so good to work his children in these ways.
This is such a moving post and my heart goes out to you, your friend and her son. It was such a wonderful example though of two ladies staying close to the Lord in the hardest of times and looking to His Word for comfort. Thanks so much for sharing. Linked here from The Wellspring. Blessings.
I appreciate your encouragement, Mel. We are all stronger when we stay tied together in the Lord, yes? He proves that to me over and over.
Lisa, what a precious gift it is to have friends like Linda who point you to Him!
Praying with you today.
Hugs
Yes, it is, Lyli. Linda is one of the most outspoken sisters for Jesus that I know, and her courage has emboldened me more than she will ever know.
Your friend’s faith is inspiring…praying for your friend …yes, staying near the cross…Thanks, Lisa, for the reminder.
It’s a reminder that’s good for all of us; we can all congregate together around the cross and the blood of Jesus. Thank you for praying for my friend, Dolly. I know God will hear.
Oh, my. Stay near the cross. What an amazing faith. A beautiful picture of what Love can do. I am praying for Lindsey and Linda. Praying. Oh, Lord, hold them close…
Thank you for praying, Laura. That’s another beautiful picture of what Love can do…
Beautiful and poignant post. I admire they way you interspersed the lyrics of the hymn. 🙂 May we ever stay near the cross!
When I kept hearing the song in my head anyway, I figured I might as well put it in the post. Sometimes I remember things better when I get a tune stuck in my head to accompany it. 🙂
Joining you and many others in praying for your friend. This was a beautiful and incredibly moving post. “Stay near the cross; stay near the power of God; stay near Jesus. Remember he stays near you. In you.” Those words will remain on my heart as reminder to stay near Him and to always remember He stays near us. Blessings to you.
Beth
Thank you for your prayers, Beth. I know God is faithful to hear the cries of his people and I appreciate you lifting yours up too. Blessings to you too!
What a tough situation! That hymn has been my earworm ever since I read this yesterday. I’m not complaining; it’s a good reminder to pray for them. May the Lord comfort and strengthen all who love this family. And yes, may He heal completely and miraculously as a testimony to His name if that will bring Him most glory.
I’ve not heard the phrase “my earworm” before, but I get it immediately. 🙂 Yes, that song was a good reminder to me too to pray. I really appreciate you praying for them, Christina, and also praying for those of us who love family. You always have such sweet blessings; I just soak them up. May the Lord ricochet the blessings back to you too.
Oh, Lisa, what beautiful faith your friend has. God bless her and keep her so near the cross. My heart aches for her, yet rejoices, for I know how the story ends. May He give her and the family strength! Thanks for sharing her story.
Knowing how the story ends…yes, that is the great victory that we all can ultimately rest in. Thanks, Nancy. I appreciate your tender heart.
It’s so heartbreaking when someone has a fatal disease so young. A good friend here just lost her first grandchild who had a heart problem and died in the womb: she spoke of holding him for the last time today. There is a quote in a book about Amy Carmichael when one of the children in her orphanage died that comforted her: it went something like “What she hath lost in time she hath gained in eternity.” That is a blessing in the long run, though parents’ and loved ones’ hearts still understandably ache and miss them.
That is sad for a grandmother to lose a grandbaby too. I remember how sad my own mother was when my Kali died because it was a double loss for her: she lost a granddaughter then had to see her own daughter in such pain. But it was actually a blessing to me to know she felt the loss deeply with me. There is comfort in knowing we’re not alone. My prayers are with your friend and her family.
Falling on my face in prayer that we would stay near the Cross.