Please pray for our brother Matt...
Matt Murray, one of our Southwood Ministry Partners just informed me that he has been diagnosed with melanoma cancer affecting his lymphnodes. This is an agressive form of cancer and so he left yesterday for 21 days of treatment in Toronto. Matt is a good friend who I have known since college (he and I are actuallly only one day apart in age!) and a faithful brother in Christ. My heart goes out to him as he struggles through this difficult sickness. I'm asking the church family to commit to praying for Matt that he would be healed and experience the presence of God in a special way during his time away. I personally have committed to walking with Matt by offering encouragement to him and rallying others to prayer. PLEASE USE THIS BLOG TO POST COMMENTS AND LEAVE MESSAGES FOR MATT TO READ. HE'LL BE CHECKING IN ON THE BLOG FROM TORONTO. Let's be the presence of Christ to Matt as he seeks healing.
And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up.
James 5:15
posted by Rev. Dr. Aaron Rock at
4/05/2007 11:29:00 a.m.
13 Comments:
Matt,
I have no idea what may be going through your head as you prepare for this but I am sure that you will have the oppurtunity to grow a deeper and fuller relationship with Jesus Christ. You are my brother and I will pray for your healing and for the Lord to use you to touch others for His sake.
12:03 p.m.
Matt,
Our prayers are with you now and throughout your treatment. My brother-in-law, Chris, went through this. His biggest source of strength and comfort came from his faith in Jesus Christ. There were many instances where doctors could not explain his longevity and triumphs. The only explaination was that God's hand was on Chris in response to his faith and all the people praying for him.
Hang in there. You are not alone in this!!
Jeff Burton
1:06 p.m.
Matt
So sorry to hear of your illness.Lora and I have never known you well but have witnessed your servitude and obiedience lived out on Sundays. Our prayers are with you, may God heal you and give you and your loved ones peace by His presence.
"In my anguish, I cried to the Lord and He answered by setting me free" Psalm 118:5
In Christian love; Thom and Lora
1:29 p.m.
Matt,
We have lost contact over the years, but have thought about you often when in the leamington area.
I was suprised to hear fo your illness and will commit to pray for you at this difficult time. I will get updates on your treatments from Aaron to help me to pray specifically.
Andrew Martin
1:59 p.m.
Matt,
Dave called me the other night to let me know what was happening. This has touched me deeply and my heart goes out to you. As a nurse, I am fully aware of what is ahead for you - a fight that with God in it, is not a losing one. I can imagine you are struggling with all the questions and the uncertainties. From my experience, it's okay to question, it's okay to have your doubts, it's okay to wonder what God is doing here. But I also know that even in the darkest times, when it feels like God is not there - He has NOT abandoned you. As Rich Mullins sang, "Hold on to Jesus, even when you're shaking like a leaf." I also know that it is less overwhelming to live each day at a time and to try not to get overwhelmed with the fears of the future. I pray for wisdom for the doctors. I pray continuously that you will know God's peace "Shalom" in your heart in a very real way, that you will rest each night in His arms and that His love and presence would be very real to you. I pray that He will bring glory to His name through the way you live through this. And most of all, I pray with faith and knowledge of His healing power and ask God to remove this sickness from you. Don't worry about missing out on my moving - God has already provided in the last two days in ways I could never expect! I am here for you.
Your sister in Christ, Lydia
2:22 p.m.
Matt,
Bruce and I will pray for you! I know we don't you know you that well, but you are our brother in Christ and that is bond that can never be broken.
We will pray for the doctors to have wisdom and guidance while you are in Toronto.
My cousin had the same kind of cancer and he went through treatment about 7 years ago and he came through it and he is cancer free. You can pray for my cousin as he does not know the Lord, his name is Ken and he lives in Michigan.
You are loved by Southwood and we are praying for you.
You will be missed!
Christ's blessings on you during this time.
Bruce and Carolyn Gailitis
2:52 p.m.
Hi Matt
Rob and I will certainly be praying for your speedy treatment and recovery. It is such a joy to see you at church every Sunday and we are looking forward to seeing you again soon. God Bless,
Carey and Robert Kern
2:53 p.m.
Hi Matt,
I don't know you, but I will be praying for you. God be with you and your family.
4:44 p.m.
Matt.
As you face this new challenge,we,
who have come to know and love you,
are standing with you in prayer.
Be encouraged in the knowledge that His strength is made perfect in {our}weakness,- and we are believing for a "good report" on your behalf!
In His Love,
Rodney & Rose Anne Richardson
6:23 p.m.
Hey Matt,
You are a special brother in Christ. I pray for God's presence and power to be so near to you at this time. May he strengthen and encourage you in ways that are inexpressible. I pray for healing so that you may glorify His name for many years ahead.
Susie
10:10 p.m.
Hi Matt, You realize Dave is going to win all the ping pong games now. You must tell us some of your secrets or he will get a big head and you don't want that for your brother in the Lord!
Remember you have friends in Windsor praying for you. I pray God will comfort you and give you strength and healing. I pray you will feel our prayers in your daily life. I pray that God will have the Christians around you bump into you so you'll know you have Christian family in Toronto too.
S. Hill
9:03 a.m.
And the prayer of faith WILL save the one who is sick, and the Lord WILL raise him up.
James 5:15
Matt, I found this story of Hezekiah as an example of the above verse. Hezekiah's victory will be your victory.
2 Kings 20:1-11 Hezekiah's Illness
"In those days Hezekiah became ill and was at the point of death. The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz went to him and said, "This is what the LORD says: Put your house in order, because you are going to die; you will not recover." Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD, "Remember, O LORD, how I have walked before you faithfully and with wholehearted devotion and have done what is good in your eyes." And Hezekiah wept bitterly. Before Isaiah had left the middle court, the word of the LORD came to him: "Go back and tell Hezekiah, the leader of my people, 'This is what the LORD, the God of your father David, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; I will heal you. On the third day from now you will go up to the temple of the LORD. I will add fifteen years to your life. And I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria. I will defend this city for my sake and for the sake of my servant David." Then Isaiah said, "Prepare a poultice of figs." They did so and applied it to the boil, and he recovered. Hezekiah had asked Isaiah, "What will be the sign that the LORD will heal me and that I will go up to the temple of the LORD on the third day from now?" Isaiah answered, "This is the LORD's sign to you that the LORD will do what he has promised: Shall the shadow go forward ten steps, or shall it go back ten steps?" "It is a simple matter for the shadow to go forward ten steps," said Hezekiah. "Rather, have it go back ten steps." Then the prophet Isaiah called upon the LORD, and the LORD made the shadow go back the ten steps it had gone down on the stairway of Ahaz.
AND
2 Kings 20:20 "As for the other events of Hezekiah's reign, all his achievements and how he made the pool and the tunnel by which he brought water into the city, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Judah?"
Here are a couple more verses to encourage you:
Psalm 125:1-2
“Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken but endures forever. As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the LORD surrounds his people both now and forevermore.”
1 Samuel 2: 1-2
“Then Hannah prayed and said: ‘My heart rejoices in the LORD; in the LORD my horn is lifted high. My mouth boasts over my enemies, for I delight in your deliverance. There is no one holy like the LORD; there is no one besides you; there is no Rock like our God.”
It is my constant prayer that you will be comforted, encouraged and healed to the glory of our Lord.
~love your sister in Christ,Wendy
10:21 p.m.
Aaron,
I am very sorry to hear about your brother. Let's remember that we have a God who can heal! We'll pray to that end.
If there is anything I can do, being here in Toronto, if you come up to visit Matt, please let me know. Our apartment is small, but are welcome if you need. Or if you just need a place to relax, or do sermon prep.
God bless,
Ian
8:18 p.m.
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