March 24, 2021, is a day that will remain in my memory banks for a long time to come. Allow me to take a moment to tell you why.
On Sunday, January 31, 2021, Odie and I tested positive for Covid in Bernice, Louisiana. By the end of that day, we were loaded up in the BoggsMobile and on our way home. We arrived home about noon on Tuesday and by Thursday I was as sick as I had ever been in my life.
By the seventh day, Saturday, February 6, 2021, I was beginning to believe that the extreme body temperature fluctuations would kill me. That night, Bro. John and Sis. Ann Gabbard called and prayed Heaven down on me. I will never forget that night either. I will explain in a moment.
By Wednesday, February 10, I could not absorb enough oxygen. It was pretty scary. Two preachers brought me supplemental oxygen about midnight in a snowstorm and saved my life.
From there, I started gaining. After three weeks or so, I was mostly using supplemental oxygen only at night. Soon, I was working in the barn and preaching single services here and there.
The truth is, I was probably overdoing it. I was trying to do the right thing by exercising my lungs and not sitting down, but I am pretty sure I was harming my lungs rather than helping.
On March 13, I began sliding backward in my ability to absorb oxygen and in a few days I was laboring to get my breath at all. On Wednesday morning, March 24, I was struggling to breathe and I told Kelly Jo that my lungs felt like they were almost full. I had no signs of pneumonia, but my lungs felt nearly full.
I suspected that once they were full, I would not be able to breathe. I could not keep my oxygen level in the mid 80's even with full supplemental oxygen. I was in a dangerous place.
A few minutes before 9:00 PM that Wednesday night, March 24, 2021, one year ago today, Pastor Mike Metzger called. He said "I am going to my knees to pray for you right now." AND pray he did!
He prayed for 20 solid minutes while we prayed with him and enjoyed the presence of the Lord in the BoggsMobile. I took off my oxygen and marched in place for several minutes expecting to be healed any moment. It was a glorious touch from the Lord.
After 20 minutes or so, Bro. Metzger said I am going to keep praying after we hang up. I do not know how long he prayed, but I suspect it was quite a long time. We rejoiced quite a long time in the Lord that night even though I was not completely healed in that moment.
I was not able to rest that night after the glorious experience, but each day after that, I felt a little bit stronger.
But I want you to know something. When Bro. and Sis. Gabbard prayed for me on February 6, the Holy Ghost fell on me and I felt the Lord every moment of every day for over three solid months.
When Bro. Metzger prayed for me one year ago on March 24, the presence of the Lord intensified on me and carried me through the valley of the shadow of death. Hallelujah!
I will never forget those prayers. I will never forget the closeness of the Lord. I will never forget how He walked with me and talked with me every single step of the way.
It was near the end of August before I was able to travel and preach anywhere near consistently. It was mid December before I set aside the portable oxygen machine. I am still pulling with all of my might, trying to be able to preach every night as I have for over nineteen years. I still need God's help.
However, I will never forget the Lord's presence that I felt more steady and strong than I have ever felt Him before. Hallelujah!
When I tell this story in a few years, I believe the main point in my mind
Will not be the sickness and suffocating, but the presence of the Savior!
The focus will not be disease and discomfort, but the Deliverer!
The focus will not be the hardship and heartache, but Heaven that rested on me
The focus will not be Covid, but Christ!
Hallelujah!!!
If the Lord does not come back for his church in the next several years, I will face death once again. Time will see to that. However, if the Lord will come near me like he did one year ago, I will be able to walk that lonesome valley.
Thank you for stopping by today.
Davy
