Sermon This is more of a tutorial and testimonial
In 1995 I went for a physical and the next day the doctor’s office called and said there was a problem with my blood sample. I went back and they took more blood, tested it and told me that I had Hepatitus C. The doctor said it was serious and that I could have life ending results. There was a new medication out that worked on 1 out of 100 people.
It was a series of shots and a horse pill everyday. On the way home I prayed and decided to try the medication. I came up to the church and talked to the Lord and worked out a plan. I wouldn’t give up. I would work through it. So for ¾ of a year I took the pill and gave myself a shot everyday. The medication was very serious and I, as a person, was very angry, but, in my mind I had to beat this. Down to 125 lbs and mean as a hornet, I finally found out my hepititus was dormant. I didn’t have to do the shots and pills anymore.
Mike Conklin called from the nominating committee looking for deacons and I’m not sure if I made a deal with the Lord, if I was healed or not, but I felt like I had to work with the Lord since He had taken care of me.
The second big one was starting my own business. After 17 years at my job, feeling like I wasn’t getting ahead and tired of someone telling me how to make a living, I decided to leave. I came up to the church, sat in my pew and talked to the Lord. I explained how hard it was to make a change. As I was sitting there it came to me that if I do the right thing it would all work out and He was correct. I never advertised. All of my work came from word of mouth. It’s not easy to run a business in a small town. One bad job or mistake and everyone knows and you are done.
I needed a van and prayed for it. I opened the paper and this van stood out. We went to look at it and it was nice but we couldn't afford it. I prayed for a way to get that van. The next day a credit card application came. $5000.00 and no interest for a year. We got the van. Our first company shirts said,
“My boss is a Jewish carpenter”.
The next big prayer concern was my Mom’s diagnosis with cancer. I prayed long and hard about Mom’s cancer. She lost her hand and then her forearm but her faith never waivered. So neither did mine. The cancer never came back and she lived to be 98 years old before she passed away.
Next, was my adventure with diverticulosis. I thought I had a stomachache. It went on for a few weeks. When the pain made me lay down, I figured I should go to the Dr. They found a hole in my stomach and an internal infection. They had to remove my stomach contents through my nose for 4 days. Once my stomach was empty, they could do the operation. They removed the bad part of my colon and sewed me back up. I spent another week in the hospital and then went home to heal. Praying along the way, I learned that the older you get, the more time it takes to heal. More prayer. Eventually everything was back to normal. I was back to work and I found myself praying for everything. I was talking to the Lord about everything. Can you pray too much??
I got to where I am today because of my relationship with the Lord. I still talk to him a lot and it helps me deal with whatever life brings.
My latest life event was Deb having a seizure in the back of my truck. I was getting in my truck after dropping off a check for my brick for the Village Veteran’s park. I looked in the back seat and to my surprise, I saw Deb with her head back, mouth wide open and arm out straight. I pulled out of the driveway and rushed to the Firehouse. As I pulled in there was a cop there. I told him Deb was having a medical emergency and to call for help. As I jumped out and ran to the back door of my truck I said, Lord, I am not ready to lose my princess. I took her out of the truck and layed her on the parking lot. She was fighting me and not being a very good patient. Help came in the form of an EMT and fireman. While wrestling with Deb, I was talking to the Lord. The ambulance finally arrived. Deb woke up and asked what was happening. I needed her to stand up so she could get on the gurney. She did and I told her she was having a medical event and they were going to take her to the hospital. They put her in the ambulance and took her to Garnet. I had the two dogs to take home before heading to the hospital.
On the way home, I stopped on the side of the road and prayed for the strength to get through this event.
Then I called Matt and my mother-in-law to let them know what was happening. I beat the ambulance to the hospital and saw them bringing Deb into the emergency room and met them there. I took her hand and prayed for her and the doctors and the nurses. I never felt the Lord would not hear my prayers. I was worried but very confident that my prayers were heard and He was with Deb and the Drs. They sedated her so she was in a coma-like state. They did all kinds of tests and poked and prodded her. After 4 days they started to wake her up. The first attempt didn’t go well. The medicine they had given her was taking too long to wake her up so they put her back to sleep with the plan to change the meds while she was sleeping. The next day they tried again. It was a struggle to get her to breathe on her own since she had an oxygen tube down her throat. More praying was my only option. She finally started to wake up and recognize people and started talking. After a few more days, she was able to come home. Once again, the Lord answered my prayers. We still have things to work out but life is getting back to normal or as close to normal as can be for the O’Connells.
So, as far as prayers go, I am a believer. Not everyone will have faith like mine, but I have been given the chance to see prayers in action and I am a true believer in the power of prayer. My faith and my church family are with me always and that is a blessing.
I am willing to share with all of you. There were times in my life when I prayed for my problems and my prayers were unanswered. This last experience taught me to trust.
Prayer works! I do it quite frequently, pray that is. Matthew 21-22 If you believe you will receive whatever you ask for. When I pray to the Lord, first I am thankful for all that I have, then we get to the good stuff. I speak to the Lord like I am talking to you now. I’m not big on speaking in front of a lot of people but all of the people who have preached have given me a small piece of themselves and our church is better because of that.
Jim’s songs touched my heart, Gerda’s sermon made me think.
I encourage you all to pray to the Lord. Thank him for all you have and all you are able to share. Confide in him your darkest fears and He will lead you on a path filled with adventure. If you follow that path your whole life, you will be welcomed into heaven and His holy presence.
My Mom said before she passed “I am going to meet Jesus”. I now know just how much that meant to her.
I am looking forward to meeting Him too but my work here is far from over.
Jeff Farley helped me find my job for the Lord and I plan to do it as long as I can. I’m a fixer. I’ve been working on this building for a long time.
I KNOW IT IS THE LORD’S HOUSE BUT I STILL LIKE TO CALL IT HOME!
Author: Kevin O'Connell