pastorjfreeman

So far we are having as good of a time as possible in the beauty of God’s creation. Emily and I do not really have bad days, as a whole, just difficult moments throughout each day. It is still very unreal to us that our son is not here. I keep thinking I need to call and check on him; order food for him; tuck him in; pack his stuff; and on and on. I still feel he is very much with us. It’s an incredibly surreal feeling.

However, I’ve been immersing myself in a study of heaven and plan to begin preaching at the end of this month on the glories and realities of heaven. I will be putting our current study of Ephesians on hold and hopefully encouraging myself and our church as I preach about the new heavens and new earth that are to come. I will also be answering questions about eternity in this study…questions I have had myself.

Our kids are holding up okay as well. They are journaling everyday and writing down memories of Trey and how Trey’s legacy will live on through them. I put a picture of them at the bottom of this post. I’m so proud of them and how they are each handling this incredibly difficult time.

Emily is hanging in there as well. I see her getting stronger every day…but she, like me, has difficult moments each day. All it takes is one memory or thought of Trey to stir our emotions…but by the grace of God, we are holding each other up and making it each day so far. As I have posted before, the Puritan Proverb that speaks to us is: “Life is a little less sweet; death is a little less bitter; and heaven is a little more real.” We are experiencing the reality of that proverb every moment of every day.

Please keep us in your prayers. Also, feel free to send us messages as to how Trey’s life has impacted yours. We get messages daily and could never reply to them all…but each one blesses us, so keep them coming.

I think God for my son’s life. God used my 7 year old to CHANGE everything about my life. I would give anything to have him back and hold him again, but his life served an incredible purpose and now ALL THINGS have been made clear to him. Oh how I long to see what he sees.

I love you Trey and your life will live on through me. You remain the greatest influence in my life. Thank you for the way your trusted God and endured so faithfully. Thank you for finishing well. I only pray I can be as faithful as you. I love you buddy! You will forever be my hero!

I lift my eyes unto the hills, where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth…and the One holding my son right now!

We have had so many people ask us if we could put Trey’s Homegoing celebration service online…so we decided to do it. We haven’t even watched the service yet ourselves, but know that if even one life is changed from viewing the service, it is worth posting it.

At the service around 50 people indicated that they prayed to receive Christ! Trey’s little life has impacted so many eternally. I’m so grateful everyday for the 7 years God gave me with my son…I’m missing him like crazy now, but love knowing I get all of eternity with him!

Good lyrics from Matthew West’s song, The Reason for the World:

There are no words in times like these
When tears don’t hide the tragedies
And all you want is a reason for the world

No comfort in the greeting card
Cause God is good
But life’s still hard
and your heart just wants a reason for the world

Maybe the reason for the pain
Is so we would pray for strength
And maybe the reason for the strength
Is so that we would not lose hope
And maybe the reason for all hope
Is so that we could face the world
And the reason for the world
Is to make us long for home

For God so loved your broken heart
He sent his son to where you are
and he died
To give a reason for the world

So lift your sorrows to the one
Whose plan for you has just begun
And rests here in the hands that hold the world

Maybe the reason for the pain
Is so we would pray for strength
And maybe the reason for the strength
Is so that we would not lose hope
And maybe the reason for all hope
Is so that we could face the world
And the reason for the world
Is to make us long for home

Well I know your past the point of broken
Surrounded by your frea
i KNOW you’re faint and tired and lonely
from the road that you walked down here
But just keep your eyes on heaven
and know that you are not alone
remember the reason for the world

No ear has heard
No eye has seen
Not even in your wildest dreams
A beauty that awaits beyond this world
When you look into the eyes of grace
and hear the voice of mercy say
Child, welcome to the reason for the world

At Noon tomorrow (Sunday), Trey will have been with Jesus for one week. That’s just so hard to believe. This has been a hard day for Emily and I…and I’m dreading tomorrow. Even though we are so happy for Trey to be in heaven, our hearts still hurt so bad. We’ve been watching some old videos of Trey tonight and the fact that I’ll never hold him again on earth is heart wrenching. Knowing I’ll see him again in heaven brings tremendous comfort, but I still have to live on this earth without him…and that is hard.

I’m praying for extra grace tomorrow…especially for my wife. Some of you will read this on Sunday…it’s 11:40pm now, so tomorrow is 20 minutes away…so whenever you read it, please ask the Lord to comfort our hearts. We desperately need a touch from Him.

We continue to try and heal, but healing will have to be a complete work of the Lord. Right now, in my flesh, I just don’t even see how it’s possible to move on, but I know we will. I know God will see us through…I’m trusting Him for that. I also know God is using Trey’s life mightily, and will continue to do so…and for every soul saved and life touched, we rejoice, but at the end of the day, I just want to see my son and hold him right now!!! Oh God heal our hurting hearts…

He fought the good fight…finished the race…and kept the faith! Now he beholds his Savior and has received the crown of life. I love you Trey! Thank you for making me better in every way!!! I love you son and will see you again!

Trey will be forever in our hearts…and God used his life’s story to bring at least 50 people to a saving relationship with Jesus Christ today! Heaven is rejoicing and Trey is right in the middle of that party!

Here is the video from today’s service:

http://vimeo.com/m/73862474

It’s a weird feeling going to bed tonight knowing that I’m having a funeral for my son tomorrow. Every father thinks they will get to see their children grow up and outlive them…but this was not God’s plan for Trey. God called him home after running a tremendous 7 year race! Trey’s life counted in the most significant of all ways…he made an eternal difference in countless people’s lives. God used him to change my life the most!!! My son is my hero in every possible way.

I’m praying that souls will be won to Jesus Christ tomorrow through Trey’s story. I’m praying that Emily and I and our children will have the strength and grace needed to endure tomorrow. I’m praying that we will walk by faith and focus on the things unseen…the things that are eternal.

In our grief, here is a verse Emily and I are clinging to:

“For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known (1 Corinthians 13:12).”

One day…all things will be clear to us as they are to Trey now. Trey sees face to face…his faith has been made sight. I can’t wait to see him again and behold what he beholds.

Goodnight!

Emily and I now know what emotional agony is. I never knew the human heart could hurt like this…but in all of this, I’m reminded that my Savior is suffering along side of us. Truly…truly God’s grace is sustaining us literally moment by moment. He is giving us life and breath…and He will see us through these difficult days. I’m reminded of this passage tonight:

“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:15-16).”

Emily and I are looking forward to celebrating Trey’s life on Thursday. May God be glorified through our son’s testimony!

Here is the link to the obituary for Trey. This doesn’t even come close to describing the kind of hero Trey was, but it will give you a glimpse into the life of our son.

We hope you will be able to come and celebrate Trey’s life with us this Thursday. It will be an unforgettable service as we make much of Jesus through Trey’s heroic life.

http://wilsonlittle.com/mobile/obituaries-details.cfm?o_id=2214425&fh_id=14204#obituaries