FULL CIRCLE: Lauren Daigle's upcoming performance of 'America the Beautiful' comes just a few years after the Democratic mayor of New Orleans called for her to be banned from performing during a nationally televised New Year's Eve event in 2020. https://t.co/HARhBDm4qU
The Lions win 10-2 against TR tonight to clinch a spot in the AAA District 4 championship against Palmetto tomorrow‼️
12 total hits:
- @chaneycrosby4 with 3 -@Allygracebatson with 3 & 4 RBIs -Maddie Iams with 2.
@Allygracebatson gets the W in the ⭕️ w/ 5K’s!! #TogetherWeClimb
I'm sharing this story with the blessing of both Teri Stanfield, Fred Stanfield and Matthew Gilstrap. If you don't believe in #God, have questions about Him, or wonder if the love of #Jesus is real, please read this long post:
Last week Angela and I listed an outdoor pool for sale on Facebook Marketplace. We got a number of inquiries, but only one from someone who was actually a Facebook friend. She Venmoed the money to us on Wednesday, and said her son-in-law would pick up the pool Friday.
Well, Friday morning Matthew showed up. Turns out he's a firefighter with the city of Travelers Rest. As we were loading the pool in his truck, he asked me if I did anything over at Furman (it was raining and I was wearing an FU hat). I told him about my job, and he paused for a moment.
Then he proceeded to tell me he was the first person on the scene to render aid to Bryce Stanfield.
He was choking back emotion as he told me about it, then he said that somehow - while he was working on Bryce - Bryce seemed to give him the sense that everything was okay because he knew where he was going.
I prayed with him before he left, and then sat down and wrote Teri a quick note. I didn't tell her the Matthew's name at first, but I told her about the conversation and what he had relayed to me about Bryce seemingly knowing he was okay.
About an hour later she messaged me back and thanked me for telling her, and asked if I thought Matthew would talk to her. She desparately wanted to hear about Bryce's last moments. So after talking to Matthew, I gave him her number. Then she messaged me this:
"You said there are no coincidences. I believe that too. I’m really struggling. I miss him so much. I’ve prayed for God to please let me feel Bryce’s presence. I know he is in Heaven, but I just need to God to reassure me that he is ok. Your message today is no coincidence. Thank you, Lord for this blessing."
A little while later Matthew called me and said they had spoken, and that they were going to get together this weekend to talk. He then shared with me some personal tragedies his family had gone through over the years, not to mention what he has seen in his job. And how much he was looking forward to talking to the Stanfield's.
Less than 30 minutes later, I got this message from Teri. And she has given me permission to share publicly:
"Fred and I are meeting Matthew either tonight or tomorrow! (They met on Saturday). I just need to hug him, thank him, and pray with him. I know how hard he worked to keep Bryce on this side of Heaven.
"I have to confess to you that Fred and I had a tough sleepless night last night. We cried so hard and prayed for God to tell us about Bryce’s final moments. What did he say, was he in pain, who was with him. So many questions. We prayed he didn’t suffer and that if he knew what was happening, that he felt comfort in knowing a place had been prepared for him Heaven.
"These are the specific answers we prayed for last night. I had a doctor’s appointment today - not shocking that I’m not coping well and need some help with anxiety and depression. I had JUST told the doctor that I’m not strong enough. I can’t do this. But I know I really don’t have another choice. I have to do this. I just don’t know how.
"And in that same exact moment, I received your message. It is so amazing how God works. His perfect timing."
I'm just blown away.
God orchestrated all this to give that mother and father peace, and answers to questions that had been haunting them since Bryce's passing.
All through selling a pool on Facebook.
Teri said to share the story. Hoping it will point people to Jesus. So I am.
Isaiah 55:8 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways,” says the LORD.
9 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways,
And My thoughts than your thoughts.
The Lions get a HUGE 2-1 region victory tonight in extras. Maddie Iams led the Lions off with a big RBI double to score 1. @chaneycrosby4 scored the 2nd run in the 9th. @Allygracebatson had a GREAT game only allowing 2 total hits with 11 K’s‼️ #TogetherWeClimb
Enjoyed watching all the girls working hard and learning at @FurmanSoftball camp. Got a five mile walk in on the beautiful campus that was at my back door growing up. 💜
Had a BLAST @FurmanSoftball camp! Special thanks to @jwint11@CoachAHayes@StaceyJW26 and their awesome players for pushing me and getting me better yesterday! Also spent the day with my teammate @MegGriffin_17 and new friends which was an added bonus! Back to work today 💜💪🏻
Season recap & honors below ⬇️⬇️
• Finished ranked #8 in the state of SC (@MaxPreps AAA)
• 2023 District 2 AAA Champions
• Overall Record: 17-11
• Competed against 3 AAAA & 3 AAAAA teams across the state.
@chaneycrosby4@Allygracebatson@KurtlynAlexand1@kinsley_dunn