Coram Deo Merry Nell!

Tonight was Merry Nell's Celebration Service.  The Franciscan-esque Evangelical Free Church was packed to overflowing.  Lisa shared on behalf of all of those in our cancer support group that Merry Nell led.  Dr. Lisa has Stage 4 breast cancer metastasized to her liver, like Merry Nell.  They are both alive!  Lisa's with us and Merry Nell is Face-to-Face with Him.  I wept as Lisa's beautiful words on behalf of all of us flowed from such a good place in her heart.  She talked about the Hope we found in our darkest days.  And nothing, not even cancer, can take away that hope.  Rom 8:37-39.

Merry Nell's husband, Clif, spoke of his warrior wife who had battled breast cancer over the past three decades defying all odds to live.  And live she did---in His Presence here and now there!
She led well.
She lived well.
She loved well.
She suffered well.

At the Reception in the Community Hall, Clif came up and introduced himself to me and thanked me for coming to his wife's funeral.  Amazing.  He wanted to know how I knew the love of his life.  I told him about the first cancer support group meeting where I met Merry Nell.  I had started radiation the day before and was terrified of it.  One of the darkest times of my life to surrender to the 3-foot thick door that shut like the sound of thunder to me.  God gave me Exodus 14:14 that morning before I attended the group.  "The LORD will fight for you.  You need only be still!"  Then I met Merry Nell.  It was my turn to share my story.  When I finished, Merry Nell shared with a sparkle in her eye: God wants you to know Exodus 14:14 "The LORD will fight for you.  You need only be still."  Over 31,000 verses and God brings that one to her mind.  Merry Nell offered me hope that dark day as she brought that Word to me.  And as I came to know her through the group, her story gave me such courage to surrender in a very dark time for me.

Tonight, as I shared with Clif about his precious wife, he beat me to the punchline.  Clif said to me:  "There's a verse that you remind me of that meant a lot to Merry Nell that I want to share with you...Exodus 14:14. How did he know?  I had hours earlier written the verse in their guest book.  With tears streaming down my face, I thanked this new friend who just lost the love of his life.  He said they had shared a million moments of love.

Well Done, Merry Nell.  Enter the joy of your Master, Redeemer, King, Blessed Assurance, Rescuer, Healer.  Coram Deo!