Today I want to share a guest post from a faithful reader. She sent me an e-mail, and I asked permission to use it here. I’m very encouraged to hear testimonies of how the Lord continues to use Titus2 to inspire believers all over! — Sarah

Just heard my alarm go off here in what they call a “respite room” off the Neuro ICU. I thanked God for another day He’s given me and quickly checked my phone.

I found your Susannah birthday blog post. As I read through it, my mind went back to just 6-7 short days ago, before we landed ourselves here, how that 5:15am alarm would signify that it was time to get up and dress for my 6am 5k jog on the treadmill. Before heading to sweat and pant for 30 minutes, 🙂 my first stop was always the quiet, peaceful family room, where I spend my quiet time with the Lord. During those 30-40 minutes, which ALWAYS pass by all too fast, I get to draw closer to the One Who’s saved me, transformed me from the inside out, loves me, and is still renewing me day by day. He always has something to share with me through His Word and His Spirit, and I quickly jot down all I learn, knowing that when the hustle and bustle of the day begins, writing it down will help what I learned to “lock in” so I can remember it to guide me through the day, or use it help another along their way.

When that pre-alarm goes off on my phone saying “almost treadmill time!”, I feel like I’ve been interrupted and haven’t really finished, although I know He’s called me get up, take care of my body, and be the best wife/mother I can be for these gifts He’s placed in my life.

And so goes pretty much every weekday around here. Just a normal, ordinary routine.

That’s also how last Thursday began, same as usual. When my husband kissed me goodbye that morning to go to 3 pretty basic appointments, little did I know we’d be spending the following night together in the ER, in an ambulance with lights and sirens on, and pondering the words of the doctors’ initial report: “bleeding in the brain.”

Your blog post made me really ponder how important it is to spend time with the Lord every day because His Word indeed is bread to the eater. It feeds us and nourishes us and sustains us, and will be the only thing that carries us through when calamity hits.

But beyond that, it’s also seed to the sower. Our private times with Him will also give us something that we can give to someone else, whether it’s our children that we’ll be around most of the day, an ICU nurse that doesn’t know Him, or whoever God places across our path.

What came out of Nathan and Melanie (and the rest of you) as you walked through those days is STILL giving seed to the sower today! Encouraging others, fueling their faith, proclaiming his power, and spreading the truths of the peace only He can give. 11 years later! Wow.

If I had the platform of readers that y’all had, I’d encourage them to make daily Bible and prayer time with the Lord their #1 priority in life TODAY—during the routine, repetitive day to day lifestyle. NOT when tragedy comes. Time spent in His Word is time that you’ll never regret.

Marina

PS – the happy ending to this story is Marina’s husband is home and doing very well.

“How sweet are thy words unto my taste!
yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!”
Psalm 119:103