Thank you so much for praying for me concerning my recent episode with my heart. I have used Proverbs 21:1 quite often in praying for heart patients. The writer of Proverbs reminds us, The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes. God has certainly been gracious in allowing the issues to be treated with medication and not having to go through surgery. I trust with the goodness of the Lord and some lifestyle changes, I can continue to run the race the Lord has for me.
A friend in the ministry recently had a heart procedure and shared this post about the human heart. Do you know how amazing the human heart is? Your heart beats around 100,000 times a day. The sound you hear when it beats is actually the noise of the heart valve opening and closing. Your heart pumps 2,000 gallons of blood a day. That blood travels about 12,000 miles through your body each day, which is four times the size of the U.S. from coast to coast.
During your lifetime, you pump about one million barrels of blood. There are 60,000 miles of blood vessels in your body. If one of the vessels is damaged, it makes your heart have to work harder to pump your blood. Now a fact that I live by… Laughing really is good for your heart. Studies have shown that your blood vessels relax when you’re laughing, which sends 20% more blood through your body. Relaxed blood vessels mean your heart doesn’t have to work as hard. And now a fact that both shocked me and hit home… Heart attacks happen most often on Monday mornings. Stress hormones are higher in the mornings than at any other point during the day, and Mondays in particular seem to cause people more stress than other days of the week. A rise in blood pressure, plus an increase in heart rate and stress hormones can break pockets of plaque and cause a blockage to the heart. How well do almost all of us in ministry understand the stress of a Monday!
I hope you were able to hear Jennifer Howell share her heart in the morning worship service on April 25 about the leadership of the Holy Spirit in her life. I can remember lamenting to Joyce about finding the right person for the position of Children’s Director as the time drew closer for Bro. Kyle to depart. Joyce said, “Have you thought about Jennifer Howell serving as our Interim Children’s Director?” I had not, but as I prayed and discussed this with Bro. John and Jennifer, it became clear she was the one to serve in this capacity. I am even more convinced after observing her service as Interim Children’s Director. Jennifer brings a passion for Jesus Christ and a deep love for children that God will use to bring boys and girls to Jesus. We will vote in the morning worship service on May 9 to call her as our full-time Children’s Director.
I love you and thank God for the privilege of serving you.
Devotedly yours,
Bro. Tommy