Wednesday, October 22, 2008

654

This week is Judgement House...perhaps the most stressful, tiring, frustrating, crazy, busy, wonderful, glorious week at Westside. Last night was only the dress rehearsal and I'm already worn out. We still have Wed-Sat to go. But it's always worth it. This year's script is called "59 Minutes... Eternity is Less Than An Hour Away."

Tomorrow night, however, is extra special. Tomorrow night at 6:54pm Rick and I will be touring Judgement House together. I went through the tour last night and cried through most of it. One of the characters in this year's script is married to a Christian woman, but he is not saved. He goes to church with her sometimes but most of the time he works. His wife and kids want him to go with them this paticular morning but he blows them off. He says "Tell the kids I'll hug them this afternoon." Those words penetrated my heart. Those are the words that Rick speaks over the phone most evenings when he tells the kids goodnight. I don't know how many times in the past 4 weeks I've said, "You can hug daddy tomorrow." Later, in another scene, this character suffers a massive heart attack. His wife and children are called in to say goodbye. Watching my friend Staci sit at her "husband's" hospital bedside was eerily familiar. Watching her cry was painful. Watching her "children" come in to say 'goodbye' was heartwrenching. But what was devestating was hearing her "daughter" say "But Mommy, Daddy said he was going to take me to the park." See... that's Rick thing. Since he moved out 4 weeks ago, he takes the kids to the park. I felt like I was watching me and my own children around Rick's bedside. Knowing that Rick is lost makes this week seem so much more urgent. None of us know when we'll be facing our last 59 minutes.

I would like to ask anyone reading this if they would please be praying for Rick as he goes through Judgement House tomorrow (Thursday) night. If you can, stop what you're doing at 6:54pm and pray that the Holy Spirit would move upon him like never before. Pray against distractions. Pray against anything that Satan could use to keep Rick from giving his heart to God. Rick knows that hell is real. He even played the part of a demon in a similar drama back in St Louis. But his heart is cold. He's like the character "Jake" in this year's script in the fact that he thinks he's so cool, hell won't touch him. But we all know that's not true. Please pray that this drama will make heaven and hell real to Rick. That he won't be able to push this decision off any longer. I cannot stress enough the urgency that is in my heart for him to be saved. I'm praying that tomorrow will be the night.

1 comment:

Sherry La said...

Heather: I have read all postings on your blog and my heart aches right along side you. I am especially relating to your first posting and the 'while I'm waiting' for Truth and Life to happen. I will commit to praying for tomorrow night and the Holy Spirit to hovver around Rick and lead him to salvation and true regeneration, that will become so very obvious to all and especially to himself.

I am praying that Chris and I will have a mutual participation in the things of God and the Holy Spirit. I pray that Chris will submit to the Holy Spirit's control over his life. He is a believer as far as I can discern, but unwilling to yield. Living a Spirit controlled life means being willing to submit certain things like his alcohol and anger. Living a Spirit-controlled life means sacrificing oneself for the one loved and dying to self. I have been praying and waiting for this for thirty-one years now. It is time for these strongholds to go. I am getting out of the way so God can have Chris all to his self. My heart aches to be together, but my heart aches more for him to be drawn by the One who knows how to draw him. Chris has always tried to overcome in his own strength but also thinks he needs me to recover and I have finally come to terms with the fact that He's on his own with God in this. I feel I'm hindering the process, so I'm content to be separated and alone now and waiting for God to do what only He can do. It is hard and in some ways it is easier because I stop trying. There is real freedom there and dignity that Chris is allowed responsibility to do what he is capable of in Christ's strength. Please pray for us Heather, as I will for the both of you.

I'm happy you had a great date and I hope he realizes what he's left and the void he has from not knowing our MIGHTY GOD!

Love, Sherry