Mom would often tell people, if they wanted to see her, they could find her at church. Whenever the doors were open and she had energy, she would take full opportunity to worship with our church family and be fed the word. Through this nourishment, she found strength to face chemo one more week.
"Great is the LORD and greatly to be praised in the city of our God! His holy mountain, beautiful in elevation is the joy of all the earth, Mount Zion, in the far north, the city of the great King. Within her citadels God has made himself known as a fortress. For behold, the kings assembled; they came on together. As soon as they saw it, they were astounded; they were in panic; they took to flight. Trembling took hold of them there, anguish as of a woman in labor. By the east wind you shattered the ships of Tarshish. As we have heard, so we have we seen in the city of the LORD of hosts, In the city of our God, which God will establish forever. We have thought on your steadfast love, O God, in the midst of your temple. As your name, O God, so your praise reaches to the ends of the earth. Your right hand is filled with righteousness. Let Mount Zion be glad! Let the daughters of Judah rejoice because of your judgments! Walk about Zion, go around her, number her towers, consider well her ramparts, go through her citadels, That you may tell the next generation that this is God, our God forever and ever. He will guide us forever." (Psalm 48)I can’t believe that this last week was a chemo week. Normally, I would start feeling well today, but I am thankful to say that I felt well so early, that I have been going strong since Saturday! Even the blood work last Friday post chemo was absolutely normal. Even my white blood cells! My oncologist told me that she is going to be giving me chemo treatments every 3 weeks instead of every 2 weeks for the next two months and see how my body does. Two weeks was just not enough for my body to recover. I am so thankful that I will be having an extra week of feeling well! The Lord is good.
The above Psalm reminds me how great our God is, how worthy He is of praise and what a mighty fortress He is. I’m thankful that He makes Himself known. I’m also awestruck of its meaning in the light of the revelation of scripture that the church (the earthly assembly of the saints) is the city of God (Galatians 4:26; Hebrews 12:18-28) and that the True Mount Zion is a heavenly reality that is known in the earthly assembly of the saints. What an amazing privilege it has been to be blessed of the Lord through this time to be able to worship corporately. Not only is it a command (just hear the imperatives of the Psalms), but it is a taste of eternity. Reread the above Psalm with the understanding of the church being the city of God and you will be blessed. Where is the Lord to be praised? In the City of our God. It’s beautiful and joyful and where the Lord reveals Himself. God Himself establishes it forever and we are to dwell there. We are to consider her why? That we may tell the next generation who God is. May we never forsake the assembling together of the saints less we raise a generation of biblically ignorant children that do not know the one, true, triune God.
May the Lord guide us forever.
Soli Deo Gloria,
Laurie Bigham
June 16, 2009