"Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints" Psalm 116:15.
When death comes one is never fully prepared to handle the loss of a loved one. This past week has been a very trying week for me as a pastor. Even for a pastor we are never fully prepared on how to minister to a family. Everyone responds to death in different ways. Whether it be anger, cold-shoulder toward others, or just being quite. No two people that I have ever ministered to handles the death of a loved one the same.
This week the church at Pleasant Hill Baptist lost a dear saint who truly loved the Lord. It was a great joy to be able to pray with her and her husband, Wednesday before her surgery. As a pastor it brings peace to me when the person heading into surgery is trusting in God to bring glory to Himself through the situation, no matter what the turn out.Wednesday's surgery did not prove to be a success, humanly speaking. After complications, the surgeon had to go back in to find an infection that had attacked her body. On Friday at 1:00, we lost a saint of God, but He gained one!
It broke my heart as her husband of 42 years stood and watched his bride leave this walk of life. Nonetheless, as a pastor it was a privilege to be there with him and his family. It was a joy to know he wanted his pastor there at the very moment his wife went to be with the Lord. Even though I did not know what to say, just to be wanted was enough.
I have found it such a blessing to be allowed to shepherd God's people at Pleasant Hill Baptist church. God has been faithful to us at PHBC, pray for us as we continue striving to be a "church glorifying God in the truth."