Sermon Illustrations

Let’s go back to Wednesday April 13th – I left after the scope with Dr. H. – I was in shock – I walked out to my truck into a severe storm – drove home in the storm! When I got home, I went and sat down in my chair in front of our bay window. I was looking at the raging storm as I sat there looking out the window – I started talking to the Lord about my cancer. As I started praying. I opened my eyes and I saw the dove, looking at me in the midst of the storm thru the window!

As I looked at the dove, I noticed the feathers of the dove were being blown around by the stormy winds, but it kept looking right at me. I watched the rain pellets hitting the dove and its eyes would close from the pounding rain. But they were open and looking at me again.

I know from Scripture doves are a sign of the Holy Spirit in Scripture. I felt the presence of the Holy Spirit in that moment! So, I prayed to the Lord, “Lord I need your help, with this cancer?” I felt the HS tell me that He would journey with me through the valley of the shadow of death! Then I felt the HS say: “I will be with you through the stormy journey, and you will come out the other end of the storm.”

The dove stayed around for about 5 minutes – then the phone rang, it was Tiffany my daughter calling me to see what they found in my scope.

When I turned around the dove was gone.

PSALM 23 has spoken to me since the day since that dove appeared to me in the storm!

Psalm 23: 1The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. 2He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, 3he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. 4Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 5You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

After reading this Psalm this thought spoke to me in my heart:

In reading this Psalm in this crisis moment - the phrase struck me – that I am just walking through the valley of shadows with the Lord by my side – Yes, the valley has the shadow of death lurking off in the distance, trying to torment me and wanting me to embrace it as if there was no hope. But with the Lord by my side all things are possible.

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