My heart is heavy

This past week has been very hard for some friends of mine.  I can’t even begin to imagine what they are feeling and thinking right now. I’d probably be pretty ticked off, really sad, confused, wanting to cuss, scream, punch a wall, yell some more, question and then repeat it all again. This past week a friend from college and his wife lost all 6 of their babies in their 20th week of their term. Below is a copy of the blog post from their pastor and my friend Dustin. Please join me in praying for the Tippings and their family.  My prayer is that God will let them hear stories of how their faith through this changed someone’s life.  I pray for peace and the ability to sleep at night.  I pray for a huge impact on the Kingdom.  God please do something huge through this.  Please prove yourself faithful again through this tough time.  Allen and Courtney, you are in our prayers.

Here is what Dustin wrote. 

There have been very few times in my life that I have had the privilege of sitting on the front row of a concert or event. The few times I have though…I must say, it is AMAZING. From a distance it all seems fake and far off. From the front row you can see things play out, that unless you were sitting up close and personal you would never get the chance to experience and learn.

Over the last 9 days I have had the privilege of sitting on the front row of what has been the most amazing display of faith and trust I have ever seen. This week I watched as 2 of my best friends (Allen & Courtney Tipping) lost there 6 babies who were delivered preterm at 20 weeks. Now you may be thinking….How or why in the world would you call that a privilege? I think once you read what I saw from the front row…you will understand.

FROM THE FRONT ROW

FROM THE FRONT ROW…I heard Allen say over and over again…I love you Courtney. FROM THE FRONT ROW…I heard Courtney tell Allen over and over again…I love you Allen. FROM THE FRONT ROW…Courtney asked me to check on and take care of Allen. FROM THE FRONT ROW…I saw Allen massage Courtney’s feet. FROM THE FRONT ROW…I saw Allen taking a minute here and there to read the words of His Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. FROM THE FRONT ROW…I watched Courtney ask visitors to simply read her scripture. FROM THE FRONT ROW…I heard Allen say, “I don’t understand God, but I trust Him.” FROM THE FRONT ROW…I watched Courtney graciously thank Doctors and Nurses for helping her. FROM THE FRONT ROW…I watched Courtney take her hand from holding her tummy and point towards her heavenly Father and say, He is giving me strength. FROM THE FRONT ROW…I watched Allen kiss Courtney’s forehead over and over again. FROM THE FRONT ROW…I heard Courtney tell Allen that he needed to rest. FROM THE FRONT ROW…I would watch Allen and Courtney pray together. FROM THE FRONT ROW…I saw Allen molding into more and more of a man of God. FROM THE FRONT ROW…I saw Courtney’s love for Jesus grow. FROM THE FRONT ROW…I watched Courtney fight for her babies. FROM THE FRONT ROW…I watched as Allen didn’t sleep for 30 hours straight as he continued to rub Courtney’s forehead with a cold towel. FROM THE FRONT ROW…I watched as Allen took Blue Gatorade flavored ice chips and feed them to Courtney (Court loves blue Gatorade). FROM THE FRONT ROW…I watched Allen feed Courtney sweet potatoes. FROM THE FRONT ROW…I saw a couple trust God and His truth more than their own thoughts. FROM THE FRONT ROW…I saw a faith like I have never seen before. FROM THE FRONT ROW…I grew as a pastor because I saw what it really means to take care of someone. FROM THE FRONT ROW…I grew as a husband because I saw Allen serve His wife as Christ served the church. FROM THE FRONT ROW…I saw 2 parents love their children. FROM THE FRONT ROW…I saw God Glorified through Allen and Courtney and I am sure I will continue to see the name of Jesus lifted higher and higher through the lives of this amazing couple.

Allen…Courtney…. THANK YOU. You are both amazing and it is a blessing to get to walk through this life with you guys step by step. Renie and I both look forward to hanging out here on the front row as God continues to work in and through you. We get a unique perspective into your lives and I wish the world could see it as we see it…….because they would see an amazing picture of Jesus. It’s a privilege!