Sometimes, victory - even answered prayer - mostly feels like surprise.

My friend Floyd, as you may recall, died of cancer on the afternoon of Sunday, February 5. He had, as the closing update in the "Threw a friend a lifeline" thread recounted, accepted Christ (reaffirming his baptismal vows) and received Holy Communion the Friday before he died.

I was sick as a dog and therefore missed church on Sunday the 12th. On the 19th, I was kneeling in my usual place during the prayers, which always include a prayer for those who do not know Christ, or who have fallen away from Him, asking that he bring them back to Himself. This was my first time in church since Floyd's death. As always, I whispered "Especially [Name] and [Name] and Floy - oh, wait. Huh. How about that. He's off the list." It took me a moment to realize that he was off the list because he has been redeemed, and whether it happened on the 5th or will happen at the end of days, Floyd has closed his eyes and will reopen them in glory.

Wow.

Quoted: Sometimes, victory - even answered prayer - mostly feels like surprise. My friend Floyd, as you may recall, died of cancer on the afternoon of Sunday, February 5. He had, as the closing update in the "Threw a friend a lifeline" thread recounted, accepted Christ (reaffirming his baptismal vows) and received Holy Communion the Friday before he died. I was sick as a dog and therefore missed church on Sunday the 12th. On the 19th, I was kneeling in my usual place during the prayers, which always include a prayer for those who do not know Christ, or who have fallen away from Him, asking that he bring them back to Himself. This was my first time in church since Floyd's death. As always, I whispered "Especially [Name] and [Name] and Floy - oh, wait. Huh. How about that. He's off the list." It took me a moment to realize that he was off the list because he has been redeemed, and whether it happened on the 5th or will happen at the end of days, Floyd has closed his eyes and will reopen them in glory. Wow.

Small suggestion... when praying for the lost, you might also pray for God to send laborers across their path.  
"Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into the harvest."
Matthew 9:38

May God bless you and your family.  Thank you for being a good friend to Floyd.

Quoted: Sometimes, victory - even answered prayer - mostly feels like surprise. My friend Floyd, as you may recall, died of cancer on the afternoon of Sunday, February 5. He had, as the closing update in the "Threw a friend a lifeline" thread recounted, accepted Christ (reaffirming his baptismal vows) and received Holy Communion the Friday before he died. I was sick as a dog and therefore missed church on Sunday the 12th. On the 19th, I was kneeling in my usual place during the prayers, which always include a prayer for those who do not know Christ, or who have fallen away from Him, asking that he bring them back to Himself. This was my first time in church since Floyd's death. As always, I whispered "Especially [Name] and [Name] and Floy - oh, wait. Huh. How about that. He's off the list." It took me a moment to realize that he was off the list because he has been redeemed, and whether it happened on the 5th or will happen at the end of days, Floyd has closed his eyes and will reopen them in glory. Wow.

__

May his memory always be a blessing to you and his family.

Best,

Ed