Amazing

(click on the program to read it)
I don't think this post will ever do justice to the night we held Cohen's concert. It could not have been any more than it was. Chris and I are overwhelmed, not only from the support we received but for the peace that God gave us through it all and for the way that our God was worshiped that night. Sometimes in walking through this journey, I feel God so close and other times God feels very far away. Friday night, I believe I could have almost touched Him.

I first want to give an overview for people who prayed for us from afar and weren't able to be there. Chris really poured his heart into this and prayerfully made each small decision about how the night should go. Everything down to the trivial candles in the lobby came together in an unbelievable way.




We didn't count but by estimation and other people's opinion we believe there were around 150 to 200 people there. We were so touched by all who showed up to love on us, Cohen, and to worship God. Seven songs were played - here was the set list:

Rest For the Weary - Cool Hand Luke
Came to my Rescue - Hilllsong United
Lord Let Your Glory Fall - Matt Redman
Til I See You - Hillsong United
Wonderful King - passion
Always - Chris McGowan
Night Must End - Sleeping At Last

Chris carefully picked each song to play for God and for Cohen. It was important for us for people to understand that this was not an early memorial service. This was a celebration of Cohen's life, a celebration of our wonderful God, and a celebration of the gift of music that Chris wants to share with his children.







We played a video after the first song to introduce people to Cohen. We wanted people to meet who they were praying for. We wanted people to know he is already a blessing and a miracle. I will try to post it to the blog as soon as I can.

We had asked one of our pastors to speak on prayer for 5 - 10 minutes during the service. He did a wonderful job and so willingly allowed God to just use him to speak His truth.
He spoke from Romans 8: 18-28. The scriptures seemed to leap off the page and settle in our hearts.


We had some corporate prayer. During one song, a friend of ours led the crowd in some specific prayer requests we gave him and at another time we had a a time of "free" prayer where we just invited people to pray individually, in groups, or with us. It was amazing. I felt so blessed to have people who love the Lord genuinely praying over us and Cohen. We would love continued prayer and here are our prayer requests:

1) Pray that God would heal Cohen.
2) Pray that if it is not God’s intention to heal Cohen, that He would protect him through the rest of
pregnancy and birth, and that we would have the opportunity to hold him alive.
3) Pray that God would give us strength and protect our hearts as we walk through this time,
and that we would respond to God honestly and with trust regardless of God’s plan for Cohen’s life.
4)Pray that we would trust God and cling to Him even if we and others don’t understand His
full purpose in this.
5) Pray that Cohen’s life , our faith, and the faith of those supporting us would glorify
God and allow those who may not know God to see Him.
6) Pray that God’s power, love, and sovereignty would be evident to all who are involved in this difficult
time.

We also had Cohen's box there. It's a box Chris and I got for him when we first found out about his disorder to keep all of the cards, emails, and words of encouragement in. We brought the box and people wrote prayers and letters for Cohen.




God was with us that night. He was in that room and I hope He was pleased. Believers united in prayer and in worship of Him in a way that I have not experienced in a while.




Cohen loved it. He didn't stop moving to the music and would often kick the hands of people praying for him and praising God.

I was so pleased for Chris as he really poured his heart into this. I was so pleased that God allowed that night to be exactly as we hoped for and more.

We are so thankful to everyone who helped us make it happen. It meant so much to Chris to have the guys he had playing with him there for God and Cohen.

Chris and I left that night feeling a peace that I almost wasn't expecting. A peace that we serve such a powerful God and just as the song, Let your Glory Fall, says, "You(God ) are Good and Your love endures." And we left from that night, not sad that it was over, or afraid of what is coming, but knowing our God is good and he loves us. And that will be enough.