Today is Friday, January 25th, 2008; Karen's Korner #1235
We are back in Iowa and home after parts of twelve days away!
Before we left, our church family knew that our pastor Tim Platt was facing some heart surgery the following Wednesday. Doctors knew there was some artery blockage, so an angiogram was in the offing with whatever heart procedures were deemed necessary to follow.
On Sunday, January 13, after our worshp services, anyone who wanted to stay longer to pray with and for Tim was invited to do that. The brief celebration time attracted about 50 from our congregation. We had the opportunity to tell Tim what he meant to us, to use those words as a prayer of thanksgiving to God for Tim, and pray to for a few minutes that God would grant Tim a stint versus heart bypass, as the recovery time would be much easier and shorter
And on Wednesday that is what happened: Tim had a stint to eleviate his heart discomfort.
On Monday of this week, we had several emails from friends that Tim's parents were both killed in an auto accident not far from their home, where Tim's dad is also a pastor. One of two funeral services for Marvin and Lola are today.
Our church family thought we were praying for Tim for one thing, but in reality, we were praying for something even more and bigger than his heart problems.
I don't know much about the significance of numbers in the Bible. One, three, seven, ten, twelve, forty. But I have friends who study those things. Because this is 2008, I have been hearing the number eight being tossed around.
So I asked a friend for the Bible significance of eight. While she is not a Bible scholar, Chris studies a lot. According to Chris, eight is connected to new beginnings. There were eight people on the ark who were left to restart the world. On the eighth day, Jewish babies are circumcised, representing them as being set apart as one of God's chosen. David was the eighth son of Jesse. He was to begin the reign of a series of kings that would bring forth the King of Kings - Jesus!
The number of days between our church's prayers for Tim and the day that his parents were killed? Eight! The number of days for new beginnings; and 2008 the number of a year for new beginnings!! New beginnings for Marvin and Lola, as they begin their heavenly existence that they had taught and believed throughout their 50 years of marriage and ministry. New beginnings for Tim Platt and his two other brothers, who are also pastors; as well as for a sister who is a school teacher, and their families
New beginnings for all of us in 2008, if we but allow God to begin His work in us, one more time
Dear Father God, thank You that You know things that we do not. Thank You that You take care of things that we cannot. Thank You for Your love and care for the Platt family today; for our church family; and for every family who is a part of the Karen's Korner reading family. You are big enough to take care of each one of us today and for forever. In Jesus' name. Amen.
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