Posted on 11/30/2003 4:09:05 AM PST by cyn
The intention of this thread is to gather the greetings, prayers, and well-wishes of all who share a concern and love for Terri Schindler-Schiavo. These can then be printed out to be given to Terri’s family. So many have posted here about Terri over the last several years! Please come back for a moment to ‘sign a card’ that will be given to Terri on her birthday Dec. 3 at the hospice in Pinellas Park. Leave a prayer or greeting if you’d like.
Thanks to all who have been concerned for Terri and have been motivated to act on her behalf regardless of their own limitations, sicknesses or problems. It has been awesome to know what some did or are doing while dealing with their own challenges. This is not limited to Free Republic -- at least one law firm a few years back closed to other business for a period of time to dedicate themselves to Terri’s situation, apparently pro-bono.
Looking into the dusty Free Republic archives reveals much about how you have affected others.
List of FR articles posted about you -- http://home.earthlink.net/~quickturn/terristhreadsonfreerepubliccom6nov20030213pst -- compiled by Freeper Robert Drobot.
Family Battles Over Comatose Woman -- http://www.freerepublic.com/forum/a388f4010506b.htm
Posted by winssmith54 On 01/26/2000 9:42 AM PST with 13 comments -- Possibly the oldest information posted.
General information about Terri’s birthday -- http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1026182/posts
WorldNetDaily story about Terri’s birthday -- http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1030924/posts
Happy 40th Birthday, Terri! We are here to wish you well on this very special day. You have been on our minds and hearts! We thank God for your life. We are glad to know of you, to know you through the remembrances we’ve read from your family and friends. You are precious to us, and we want to let you know that here.
Many people believe in Christ because of His miracles. We agree with Nicodemus who said, "No man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him" (John 3:2). Yet a lot of people try to explain away His miracles. Instead of feeding the five thousan they say He just got the people to divide up with each other.
Some believe that the sick were not really sick but just thought they were, that the storm would have stopped anyway. But three times Jesus brought the dead back to life and that is a miracle we cannot explain away. Let's look at one of the instances.
We are told that Jairus, "one of the rulers of the synagogue," came to Jesus seeking help for his little daughter who was about to die. That is a very significant happening. The ones most opposed to Christ were the established church leaders. They had become set in their ways and they resisted any person who was the least bit different from them. That is even the case today. We become so set in our thinking that we refuse fellowship with someone who is different. One of the great temptations of church people is to become narrow and prejudiced and against anyone who is not in their own denomination.
. No doubt this man, Jairus, had an open mind. Also, his child was sick and we never feel more desperately the need of help than when our children are in danger. Though Jairus was an outstanding leader, when he saw Christ "he fell at his feet." I like that. I know we can pray in any position, but I also know that we can pray best on our knees.
Jairus had the two things necessary to gain the power of God. First, he felt the need of help. As long as we feel sufficient unto ourselves, Christ will pass us by. "I can handle my life myself," we say. And as long as we say that, He will let us do it. When the boy wanted to leave his father's house and go to the far country, the father made no attempt to hold him. Christ does not force His way into any life. "Behold I stand at the door and knock," He says, but He waits for us to open the door. Through the sickness of his child Jairus became conscious of his need of Christ. Sometimes it is through some other need of life that we feel the need of help. But until we recognize the need for Him we will never have Him.
Second, Jairus had faith that Christ could do something about his need. He didn't say, "Come and try to heal my daughter." Christ has no time for triflers. He is not interested in one of us using Him as an experiment. He comes into our lives through the doorway of our belief. Jairus said, "I pray thee, come and lay thy hands on her, that she may be healed; and she shall live." That is faith; and when we believe, really believe that Christ can handle our situations, He will do it, but not before.
When Jairus, whose daughter was sick unto death, expressed his need of Christ and his faith in Christ's power, we read, "And Jesus went with him." It is hard to realize that the prayers of a man can change the plans of God, but such is the case. No doubt Jesus had other plans for that day, yet He changed those plans because of Jairus. Even our prayers today have the power to change the mind of God. Someone said, "Prayer changes things." There is no doubt about it. Prayer can even cause God to do things He would not have done without prayer. So Jesus turned aside to help this man who had come to him.
There is an important lesson to be learned right here. If God is willing to be interrupted, then we should not become bitter when our lives are interrupted. We remember that Job said, "My purposes are broken off" (Job 17:11).
As Jesus and Jairus made their way to the side of the sick child, there came messengers from the house saying, "Thy daughter is dead; why troublest thou the mas ter any further?" But Jesus turned to the father and said, "Be not afraid, only believe." Our Lord puts no limit on the power of belief. Even by the side of death, faith is stronger. With Christ no person is hopeless, no situation is impossible. We give up hope too easily and too quickly.
There were a number of people following the Lord, but he allowed only Peter, James and John to go in with Him. We remember that He took those three on the Mount of Transfiguration with Him. Also, He took the same three a little further with Him in the Garden of Gethsemane. The presence of others who have faith is always a support. I've seen many people make a deci sion in a church service which they had not been able to make by themselves. Praying in the company of others who have faith is a great help to us.
In the house where death had come the people "wept and wailed greatly." Jesus rather impatiently asked, "Why make ye this ado?" Certainly He understands our sorrows and He knows how a heart can be broken. Surely no normal person can realize that a dear one has died and not have tears come into his eyes. Of course death brings sorrow. We would not have it otherwise.
On the other hand, in the presence of death a Christian should experience more than a pagan darkness. There is the faith of a glorious resurrection. The Christian faith is never more triumphant than in the presence of death. We never become ready to part with our loved ones. On the other hand, we rejoice in the realization that one we love has entered into the Father's House.
When O. Henry was dying, he whispered, "Turn up the light. I don't want to go home in the dark" In the presence of death Jesus is the light.
When Jesus got to the home where the little girl had died He said, "The damsel is not dead, but .sleepeth." This is the same word he used in reference to Lazarus. Though he had been buried for four days, Jesus said, "Our friend Lazarus sleepeth" (John 11:11). What a marvelous light that throws on the matter of death. It is not the cessation of life at all. Death simply means that one is living in another place.
Some of those present laughed at Christ, and He "put them all out." God is never willing to demonstrate His power to the cynical and the scornful. We blind ourselves to the glory of God by our unbelief. Into the room with Him Jesus brought His three disciples and the father and the mother. Because of their faith He was willing to let them see the miracle. Maybe, also, He felt the need of the support of their faith.
It means everything to us to have someone with us who believes in us and is pulling for us. On his eightieth birthday Henry Ford paid a lovely tribute to his wife. He said, "As I look back on my life, the unbroken happiness of my home and the confidence of my wife give me much more personal satifaction than the building of a world-wide business organization. My wife believed in me so much that when many were doubting my early experiments, I called her 'The Believer'." It helps any of us to have with us a "believer." Even Christ needed it.
Standing by the side of that child who had died Jesus said, "Damsel, I say unto thee, rise." I have often wondered if people on the other side of life know anything that is happening on this side. I can't say, but I do know that Jesus could be heard by one on the other side. When I am out of town, I often take up a telephone and call my home and talk with those who are there. Jesus knew how to call His Father's House and talk with those there.
The girl who was dead came back to life. She arose and walked, to the astonishment of those present. Now notice what Jesus did. He commanded that she be given something to eat. There are three very important things to recognize here. First, her eating would serve as a supreme proof that she was living again. We remember that He ate after His resurrection.
Second, in recognizing her need of something to eat He is recognizing the fact that even though man cannot live by bread alone, still he does need bread. Jesus knows of our physical needs and is ever ready to help us.
Third, Jesus was wonderfully helping that mother and father when He commanded that the child be fed. They had been through a great emotional strain. Now, to help them, Jesus gave them something to do. Go in the kitchen, fix some food and bring it. There is no better medicine for our emotions and nerves than to get busy.
Jesus did raise a girl from the dead. But even more wonderful is the fact that He can still work His mighty miracles today to help those who believe in Him and will ask His help.
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Good night, Terri. You are always on our minds. We hope you are well tonight. We are concerned for your safety and well-being. May angels seen and unseen continue to guard, protect, and strengthen you -- God is able, El Shaddai.
May any and all who plan evil or harm against you be stopped; may God work change in their hearts and minds as only HE can. God bless you, Terri. We do what we can, what we see to do, and must leave the rest to your & our loving Father.
Hugs, and our cat sends kittie kisses to you. Would that we could all say these things to you ourselves! You have so many friends, as does your family -- they are not alone!
May you break free soon from the chains that hold you down.
~ Alan
You and your family are in our prayers. Through Christ ALL things are possible. God Bless!
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