Daily Devotional for Tuesday March 8, 2005

Epilogue to the Terri Shiavo Devotional

(Romans 14:8)

Rarely in the past 67 months of writing this Devotional every morning, do I ever follow up with a Devotional on a previous Devotional. However, this is one of those rare occasions when after much prayer I feel it is necessary. With over 2 million people worldwide who subscribe to the Daily Devotional, the fact that through forwards, hundreds of websites we have given permission to post it on, and various message boards and blogs people post it to, well over 1 million more read it each day.

Since I deal most days with issues many refuse to deal with, I know there will always be a percentage of people who don?t agree with what I share for a variety of reasons and that is fine. Even if you don?t agree with what you read, I pray it will open your heart and mind to think about the issues that are raised and how they relate to your own life. My ultimate goal each day is to share with those who read the Daily Devotional the real life issues we all face during our journey through life in the context of the truth of God?s Word, encouraging and challenging those who know the Lord to be all God has called them to be, while pointing the lost and hurting to the hope and love we have in Jesus Christ.

I knew in trying to bring balance to the sad, emotionally charged story of Terri Schiavo while it was still unfolding, it would upset many due to the incredible amount of misinformation that is being circulated by numerous organizations who started using this tragedy as their ?cause? once it became a hot national story this past year, even though it has been going on for over 15 years. Many people who have never read anything I have written in the past, people who don?t know me or this ministry, have partially read Friday?s Devotional and are circulating emails labeling me ?Hitler,? ?an angel of death,? accusing me of being paid by Terri?s estranged husband and his attorney, being an advocate of her death, as well as the fact I will be personally responsible for her death when she does die.

They obviously did not carefully read the entire Devotional and totally missed the key points that were made. Sadly, they have become part of the mob mentality this tragic story has created, and if anyone is not in lockstep with them, you will be personally attacked and slimed. To those who have slandered my good name and the great work God is doing here at Liveprayer I can only say, ?I forgive you.?

My friend, nobody is more pro-life than myself and anyone who has read what I write over any length of time would know that. Those who are using this case to talk of euthanasia are in error. The Schiavo case is RARE and UNIQUE and has nothing to do with the issue of euthanasia. This would never even have been an issue only a few years ago since before artificial life support, people like Terri were simply allowed to die a peaceful death. I did my best to dispel some of the false information that so many who have never taken the time to do any legitimate homework on the facts have been led to believe.

As I stated, if you are really interested in this issue, start back in 1990 and do your own research into what has really happened as opposed to the stories various websites put out, especially the first 3 years when she was seen by all of the top specialists available who did their best to treat her (they all concluded nothing could be done for Terri, and 15 years later they have been proven to be correct), as well as the court records of the malpractice suits. Sadly, those who have been brainwashed already through what they have read seem to have no desire to know what really happened, instead have been whipped into an emotional frenzy by those who have a vested interest in this tragic case.

One point nobody seems to want to address. EVERY COURT has ruled that her wishes were to never be kept alive by artificial means. Why is that so hard to believe that in fact this was her wish? I can assure you that in my Living Will, if something tragic happened to me and I was in such a state I will be allowed to die naturally and go be with Jesus. As a matter of fact, I have yet to talk to one person who would want to be kept alive by artificial means with no hope of ever recovering. Who would? Yet those who claim to defend Terri, have never spoken to her, want to deny her wishes.

As a side note. Pinellas-Pasco Circuit Judge George W. Greer who has had to rule on many of the legal issues involved in the Terri Schiavo case is a Republican, born-again Believer, and member of Calvary Baptist Church, one of the great Southern Baptist churches in Clearwater, Florida. This man has done his best to make his rulings based on the evidence and LAW, not half truths, unsubstantiated rumors, and raw emotions. The hate-filled attack letters and emails that he has received from ?Christians? for simply doing his job is sad. This is a brother in Christ who loves the Lord and has to travel with security to be protected from CHRISTIANS! Those personally attacking Judge Greer should be ashamed and I can guarantee you that you are NOT representing the Lord for doing this.

For those who did read all that I wrote, you know my main focus was on 3 issues that stem from this tragedy. To encourage those who are in bondage to an eating disorder like Terri was to look to the Lord for deliverance, the need to have a Living Will so that if you are ever incapacitated your wishes will be carried out and your family does not have to make those choices for you, and not playing games with salvation. We were blessed that this has caused many in bondage to an eating disorder to seek the Lord for the strength to find victory over that bondage. Also, from the invitation at the end of the Devotional to know Christ, to date we have seen over 300 people we know of come to know Christ as their Savior. God can use even sad tragedies for His glory!

I love you and care about you so much. I will continue to do my very best each day to bring the truth of God?s Word and the hope and love of Jesus into your life, while dealing with the difficult issues of this life we all face. The reality of this life is that one day we will all die, and at that moment, the only thing that matters is do we know Jesus. As I concluded and was obviously many missed by some, Terri Schiavo is in the Lord?s hands. As I have done for 15 years since this tragic case became public, I will continue to leave this in God?s hands, knowing He will have the final word. In the meantime, I will keep praying for Terri and for all involved and encourage you to do the same.