Good morning…
For nearly fifteen years, the members of Northside Church have been praying diligently for Audrey DeShetler, Sunday after Sunday. We have closely tracked her journey with a childhood cancer called neuroblastoma. Diagnosed at age five, Audrey has pushed through treatment after treatment, relapse after relapse, until now Audrey is a wise nineteen years old young woman.
At the very same time I was writing yesterday’s post, which highlighted a song about the great power of God’s love, Audrey’s mom Jennifer was texting our Fab Five friends about Audrey’s powerful experience with Jesus.
At 11:21 pm, Jennifer wrote us: “Last week Audrey’s Notre Dame friends sent her a bunch of texts/photos of what’s going on campus. She was feeling really sad and was in tears. She was sad about all the fun and the living she has missed because of her disease. She remembered a prayer Ben was telling her a couple days ago. So she read that prayer four times to get her mind off her situation.”
“Jesus came to her again,” Jennifer explained. “This time Jesus was surrounded by a bright light. Jesus came up to her and hugged her just like last time. He then bent down and washed Audrey’s feet. It was done very quickly. Audrey said Jesus is the purest form of love and she was in tears because she felt she was such a sinner and Jesus was washing away her sins. Then Jesus said to her, ‘Audrey, you are well.’ It’s the first time Jesus has ever spoken to her. Here is the prayer.”
“Wow, what a powerful, intimate experience for Audrey,” I texted back. “It reminds me of today’s post, The Lyrics Of Love, a post crafted at just the same time you were sharing with us Audrey’s experience with Jesus. How great is the love of God!”
At 7:57 pm, I texted again: “Good evening, everyone. I can’t stop thinking about Audrey’s experience with Jesus. ‘Audrey, you are well.’ What beautiful words to hear. Would Audrey like me to share her experience in a blog post? Let me know and I will share this text string if she would like me to.”
Jennifer replied at 11:29 pm: “Sue, I hope I recapped Audrey’s vision of Jesus correctly. It felt miraculous, that was why last time I feel like I needed to tell you her healing story in person. It is so much more than what my writing can possible do justice. I asked Audrey if it is ok. She said her vision is not just for her to keep. Please do share. There are a lot more things going on spiritually. Audrey, Ben, and I are overwhelmed. It completely turned our spiritual world upside down.”
Lyrics return to me now from last night’s song.
Though I try my mind can’t comprehend it
It’s so high, too marvelous for words
I could sing a million songs about it
And barely scratch the surface of Your worth
This all my life the banner I’ll be waving
My anthem cry no matter what may come
And when I rise to walk the streets of Heaven
I’ll still be singing this song
For everything that You’ve done
How great the love of God!
…when you see this, you will shout, “The Lord’s great reputation reaches beyond our borders” (Malachi 1:5, CEV).
…Sue…
