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But on Thursday eve, April 11, just after 7:00 pm., one of our deacons, a churchman faithful and long-time friend, did call.  His cry was the cry of a Dad.  A plea, a fear, a reaching out, and my heart sank. We prayed briefly and I told him I would come. On my way to meet him and his wife at Parkland Hospital he asked if I might drive by the scene, to see what I might. When I did I was surprised that the care-flight helicopter was still there, and his baby, a 17 year-old Senior in High School, was being carefully, slowly, loaded in.  Eyeing careful the stretcher I could see some movement and my heart was hopeful. This pastor wanted to break the police barricade, but I knew I should not.  But,  by doing so just a little I received a certain degree of comfort as the policeman     replied to my query “she’ll be at Parkland in a few minutes, pastor, and her parents are there.” 

As I ran from the scene back to my car, I prayed, “O God, please!”   Not a long prayer. And certainly not one theologically complex, but one repeated at regular intervals all the way down the Tollway.  How often I have prayed this prayer and oh how often He has let me know He’s heard.  Not with a voice, but surely with His presence, His sense of warmth and His other worldly, uncanny way of saying to me, “I hear,” saying it over and over again until I listen. And I am reminded, once more, of prayers necessity and prayers joy. 

This father and I have visited many times since then. Both He and I, along with his precious wife and others from their school, Trinity Christian Academy, as well as this church here and our and community at large, have prayed together and separately.  That same night, the night of the accident, teenagers gathered under the bridge right at the scene and prayed – all under the watchful eye of a Plano police officer as he admiringly and carefully watched for their safety.  Yes this Dad and his family have felt the warmth and love of this church many times over.  They are trusting God, not just for life in general, but specifically for that road which will bring back to them their daughters health. And I am not surprised that they have exhibited the attitudes they have. For God is faithful to His children when they call upon Him.  For as this Dad said to me just last night, “pastor, we have felt the grace and the love of Christ a 100x over.” 

No, the Bible does not promise that our lives will be without difficult circumstance, but it does tell us that, as His children, God can use “all things” of our life to “work together for good.” And though the world hears this and wonders how?  When they see we Christians living this call and this way they are moved.  For really it is in those times that we call, even “O God, please,” and listen, and wait, and go on that the world takes heed. 

So pray on ParkwayHills and all who call the Lord their own. And let Him listen to your heart when words just aren’t enough.  Yes, let Him hear you pray, for He really, really, does! Even when all we can say is “O God, please!” 

Always till Sunday then, 
Pastor Sam

D. Samuel Dennis
Pastor of Parkway Hills Baptist Church 
2700 North Dallas Parkway
Plano, TX  75093
http://www.phbc.org

NOTE: 
Pastor Sam writes here about Lauren Billman, a senior at Trinity Christian Academy, who was seriously injured in a car accident on Thursday evening, April 11.  Her parents, Brad and Vicki Billman, and her brother, Brett, appreciate all prayers and expressions of love asking us to continue to do so.  For regular updates on Lauren’s progress, please log on to www.phbc.org/lauren.