Today I rolled out of bed then headed toward the bathroom for a long hot shower. Then I stumbled into the kitchen where I made a cup of coffee. I sat for a few minutes reading the book of Romans. Twenty minutes later I gently woke my wife to get ready for our dental appointment at eight o'clock.
Perhaps unspoken was a concern in the back of our minds about the discomfort in my mouth. My tongue felt parched so I made every attempt to drink more water. For several weeks my throat and the roof of my mouth burned and ached. My voice was hoarse and rough. There was tiny white patch in center of my tongue. No matter how much I flossed and brushed my teeth I couldn't escape the feeling that something was wrong.
Perhaps it started some weeks ago when reading a prayer request of a man who had oral cancer. He was told they were taking out his tongue. As someone who is in the ministry of interceding this frightened me though I know people can pray regardless of any speech impediment. And it made me angry thinking just how much the Devil would like to cut out my tongue or any number of saints who pray. So the pounding thought began that I might have oral cancer.
After my dental cleaning I walked to my office when my wife phone to say the doctor had stepped into the office would I come back for an examination? I agreed and pushed to my feet feeling a bit apprehensive. For several minutes the doctor examined my tongue and used a camera to capture a few images.
There followed a few seconds of silence.
"Your tongue is fine," he said but as he pointed to the images on the screen, "You have couple of cracked teeth that need a crown and cap." Apparently a blood vessel had broke near the tip of my tongue.
Later that night my wife and I walked home from the office. A storm had broke with the wind and rain slashing in all directions. She leaned in telling me how she was relived to hear the news from the doctor. The comfort of her presence and feeling her relief laid to rest my fears. We were thankful for God's care in our lives.
I'm reminded of the Scripture in Ecclesiastes 4:12. Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken (NIV).
We were married in Singapore in 1994. So begin a 21 year journey of walking together with God - a three strand cord - that has faced many challenges but always in the end God gave us victory and a deepening love for each other. A lasting love that moves past the temporal discomforts and the things in this life that fade so quickly for a love which God gives us eternally.
Beloved, God want us as the church, His bride, to walk together - being knitted in love (Colossians 2:2) - so no matter what we face our love for Him will outlast and outwit any scheme of the devil!
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