Saying Goodbye!!!

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About four years ago, I posted the article below on another blog. I got one of those phone calls yesterday. A good friend of mine in my hometown called to ask me to pray for him. I had not seen Dave in months, and had not heard that he had been diagnosed with colon cancer late last fall. He’s had a couple of surgeries, but last week he had a scan that showed the cancer has metastasized to his liver. I assured him I would pray about his situation. But that was not enough, so I worked out my schedule and drove the hour or so to see Dave, and his wife Joann. As they have always been, they were models of faith and courage and personal strength. I came away feeling that I had received more than I gave. For example, I heard a new term from Joann. She told us they have decided to live by the Manna calendar. She meant that they are going to live one day at a time and rely on God for their sustenance through that day. The term is a reference to the book of Exodus in the Bible. After being brought out of Egyptian captivity by the wonders of God, the Isra were protected by God’s miracle of the Red Sea crossing. That record is in Exodus 14. The next chapter gives us the song of celebration of the people, but in chapter 16 the people are already complaining about the food. In response, God promised to provide manna every day. It was a type of bread, you can read the description in Exodus 16. He continued the gift for forty years! There were guidelines for the gathering of the manna. Each family was to collect only what would be consumed that day. The intention was apparently that the people learn to trust God to get them through every day. They were warned not to gather more than one day’s provision. If they did it would spoil, breed worms and stink. Dave and Joann once again inspired and motivated me. I am determined to try to live by the Manna Calendar! Exodus 16:31 “And the house of Israel called its name Manna. And it was like white coriander seed, and the taste of it was like wafers made with honey” I got another phone call last night, to let me know that David had completed his struggle in this world and has been released to the next one, the one for which he has been looking for his whole life. I grieve with his family for our loss, but rejoice that David has been victorious. 1 Corinthians 15:58 “Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.”