Vicki Dees

I woke up in Hot Springs this morning to my phone flooded with texts/missed calls/voicemails. I'll be honest, when this happens and I see such a congested screen, my heart has a tendency to plummet because 9/10 times it's bad news.

But this news turned out to be bittersweet...

A precious, dear friend - Vicki Dees went home to Jesus in the early morning hours after a 3 year battle with lung cancer.

This amazing warrior of Christ inspired me in tremendous ways I hope I was able to communicate at some points along our friendship, but I know in ways she will probably never even understand.

When Vicki was diagnosed with this serious form of cancer, she was given 3-6 months to live. But God used her for 3 years to do full-time women's ministry all around the nation, making disciples of Christ.

He had a different plan for her.

Throughout her cancer journey I often thought of how I would react in her shoes. Would I keep fighting? Would I have unwavering faith? Would I praise Jesus regardless my circumstances and pain? Would I do a 5th round of chemo? Would I remain joyful always or settle into my own depression? Would I push even harder in my ministries to other people or back away because I was "sick"?
I think the real question, though, is:
"Is my God bigger than me...bigger than sickness...bigger than the things of the earth...bigger than life itself in the sense that I need to make sure people know that during my short time on this earth.?"

Vicki Dees believed that. Her life embodied what it meant to live by the spirit.

This year, Jason and I have witnessed the heartache of three close families losing loved ones. I've written many a post this year about these times, about what God has been revealing to us, and about how deep the Father's love is for us.
Thank you, Jesus for revealing Yourself so powerfully through life, death, tragedy, and joy - for revealing that YOU are the only thing worth investing in...that You are Rescuer...that You are Eternal and life is fleeting...and that I, Your child, belong to You.