May 28, 2006 Praise and worship

28-May, 2006

 

Worship and Praise (testimony by Scott and Elizabeth Ruppert)

 

Agenda

 

1. During seating

• Power point showing picture of Elizabeth, Scott and family with list of thank-you’s and verse reading; Ecclesiastes 4:9a, 10 says “Two are better than one, if one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up.
• Praise Music playing during seating

2. Opening (15min)

• Song #1 led by worship team (Amazing Grace-3min)
• Chairman review service agenda/format and explain time of sharing (2min)
• open in prayer (2min)
• Song # 2 led by worship team (3min)
• Song #3 led by worship team (How Great Thou Art-3min)

 

3.   Scott and Elizabeth (20min)

I was thinking back to where we were with Elizabeth’s health one year ago and remembered that by the end of May 2005 that Elizabeth’s health had taken an upward turn. Perhaps it is fitting that we meet here to tonight praise God for the many miracles he has preformed in Elizabeth’s health. It was in the period of May 12 to late May that she experienced many ups and downs with her health. When Dan asked me to do a brief devotion my mind automatically skipped to certain passages and to the experiences of this past year. I do not want our story to be the focus but will use it to illustrate my point. Our devotional topic tonight is God working in us thru trials. Let’s start by having Reader #1 read Philippians 2: 1 to 11, which is a passage that I like to refer to as a goal for Christians:

Imitating Christ's Humility

¹If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, ²then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. ³Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. ⁴Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. ⁵Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: ⁶Who, being in very nature^[a] God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,  ⁷but made himself nothing,  taking the very nature^[b] of a servant, being made in human likeness. ⁸And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross ⁹Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, ¹⁰that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, ¹¹and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

I believe God desires us to have this same mind set and suggests it as a goal for Christians. Why does God allow us to experience trials; scripture suggests its purpose is to mold us so that we might be more Christ like. God does not want us to go thru these trials on our own, he experienced many himself while walking this earth and promises to walk with us thru each one we experience.

Reader #2

Readings:

Hebrews 4:14to16 says Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens,^[a] Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. ¹⁵For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. ¹⁶Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

James 1:2-4 reads ²Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, ³because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. ⁴Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

1 Peter 1:3-9 says “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade – kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith – of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire – may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honour when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.”

On May 12, 2005, my wife Elizabeth’s birthday, she was admitted to GRH. What was thought to be the flu was determined to be a bacterial flesh eating disease leading to a fight for her life and a recovery that is still in progress to this day. In the 2 weeks following Elizabeth endured cardiac arrests, 6 evasive surgeries, and significant concern regarding her major organs due to the disease and the cardiac arrests. In total she had 9 surgeries during her 8 week hospital stay. On May 13 when we were told that Elizabeth had gone into cardiac arrest we just reacted. Things happened so quickly that there was little time for it all to sink in. Pastor Dan and family were called to the hospital where we cried and prayed together, giving thanks when there was even a glimmer of hope and just pouring out our hearts to God. I remember feeling very helpless as I watched my wife, my best friend suffer and wondering how on my own I could possibly raise 2 children with a combined age of less then 2 years.

While living these experiences the following versus were comforting:

Reader #3

Readings:

Psalm 46:1 “God is our refuge and strength, an ever present help in trouble”.

Mathew 11:28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest”.

2 Corinthians 12:9a reads “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.

These versus suggest that we are not alone. When we feel that there is no hope, there always is in Christ. I experienced many lonely times during Elizabeth’s 8 week hospital stay, especially during the 1^st 4 weeks. The only way to hear her voice was to listen to it on our answering machine. Earlier I touched on the fact that God does not leave us alone when we endure trials. One of the ways we are ministered to and cared for is by fellow believers. The abundant support shown to us was greatly appreciated. Some of the acts of kindness that come to mind are:

Family being with me at the hospital when I was told that Elizabeth’s illness was life threatening

Church's brought meals to the house from mid May to mid August

Our work places bringing lunch meals to the hospital for the 1^st 4 weeks

Fellow believers bringing dinner meals to the hospital

Sister and family and Grandma Ru living at our house for 8 weeks and 4 months respectively and for their many visits

Elizabeth’s mom supporting Elizabeth and I at the hospital on a daily basis

Family's many visits and acts of kindness

Those who mowed our lawn for 2 months

Wood side small group who dressed up our gardens for the summer

Those of you who prayed and visited us

Guys who stayed with me at the hospital

I am sure I missed some, THANK-YOU ALL for your support

During these 1^st 4 weeks of Elizabeth’s hospital stay as she clung to life, as her vital signs and major organs were closely monitored to determine how they had been impacted, we found comfort in the following versus.

Readings

John 14:14 reads “You may ask for anything in my name, and I will do it.

1 John 5:14-15 reads “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us – whatever we ask – we know that we have what we asked of him.

Romans 8:28 reads “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him who have been called according to his purpose.

1 Thessalonians 5:17-18 reads ^“17pray continually; ¹⁸give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.”

Romans 5:1-4 reads “¹Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, ²through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. ³Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; ⁴perseverance, character; and character, hope.

I want to be clear that I do not interpret these versus as giving us want we want. I lost my father when I was 22 and would love to have him here. My heart goes out to people here and to the many I came in contact with at the hospital who have also lost loved ones. When I read these verse’s, phrases such as “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us”, stand out to me and again take me back to Philippians 2 or to the story of Abraham and Isaac. Is my will aligned with Christ’s. Am I willing to offer all that he has given me, which is all I am and have back to him for the furthering of his kingdom. I believe that God’s expectations are in accordance to what he has given us. I do not know why he allowed Elizabeth to live when others have passed on but believe firmly that I am called to be a good steward of what he has blessed me with.

When Elizabeth was discharged from GRH on July 6^th 2005 the initial joy of having her home was soon replaced with the realities of life, I need to support my family. I fretted over this and when I was at my end it seemed like God said will this do; he chose to answer our prayers by providing Elizabeth with short and long term disability insurance when the initial response from the insurance was not favourable to us. This enabled me to take a parental leave and focus our energies on reconnecting our family. During the summer and fall we got to renew our relationships. Our daughter was only 8 weeks old when Elizabeth was hospitalised and 2 plus months when Elizabeth was discharged. Coming home to an active baby when you are not feeling well is not easy. Another challenge facing Elizabeth and I was coming to grips with what happened. What did we do, what did she do to deserve this. During the late summer weeks her eyesight, which was and is still impacted by the illness was constantly on our minds. During this same time she also experienced considerable hair loss. Each time God has provided, not always as we thought, but he has always provided.

In closing when I think of this past years experiences and read, “James 1:2  Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds”, the obvious response is where is there any joy in some of these experiences. I think one of the interesting points of being a Christian is the less you do and the more you let God do the more you enjoy the ride. We are reminded that God is working in us, molding us and making us so that “more of Christ would be revealed thru us”. His goal for us is Philippians 2:2to6, which reads ²then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. ³Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. ⁴Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. ⁵Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: ⁶Who, being in very nature^[a] God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped. Going thru something like we did and continue to go thru has had many points where it is easy to say why me or no Lord I am doing this my way. We have experienced both and each time God welcomes us back. Our desire is that our lives will be dedicated to Christ. That does not mean will not stumble or even fall but if we did not know before we now know without doubt that God will wrap his loving arms around us and help us carry on. When a person is united with Christ and putting God first amazing things can happen. When a body of believers is united together in Christ it is an unstoppable force. Lets’ continue to praise our great God.

3. Song#4 led by worship team (I will never be the same again-3min)
4. Sharing open mic (how were you touched by Elizabeth’s experience-10min)
5. Sharing open mic (praise and worship-10min)
6. Song#5 led by worship team (3min)
7. Chairman close service (2min)