| |
|
|
"To obey is better than sacrifice" (I Samuel 15:22). Micah was a living
testimony to this scripture. You would not find Micah making righteous
looking sacrifices or doing religious looking acts. When God would tell
Micah to "go" or "speak" he would obey. His conversion was true and deep and
real and he cared not to impress God or man. He had a deep relationship with
the God who saved him and he had the boldness of his namesake, to proclaim
the Lord he loved. I remember Micah, as a young believer, coming by my house
one night. I invited him in and asked him what was on his mind. He broke
down weeping and said that he wanted his friends to know the Jesus he knew.
He said they needed Jesus and he needed prayer to tell them about Jesus.
There was a small group of believers at my house who gladly prayed for Micah
and encouraged him and sent him off to testify of the one who had changed
him.
I reflect back on Micah's life, and I remember him coming into the classroom with Jeremiah singing "Captain D's please!" I tried to keep them focused on geometry, but they would harmonize throughout the period. At least it wasn't a boring class. I was always amazed at Micah's reasoning and logic skills. Given a project, he could somehow manage to determine the outcome and it usually wasn't the way I had in mind, but his process was truly brilliant. After he left New Life, he came and told me how he was using what he learned in my geometry class to help his new teacher - I was so pleased to know he had learned. I also remember him standing on a chair in the lunchroom and speaking on the ills of drugs and proclaiming God's solution to the problem - Jesus. I miss Micah....
One of the sweetest pictures that is etched in my mind and on my heart is of your family taking communion at River of Life, Micah is there, of course, humble and intent, receiving of the Life that is in the Blood. What a picture you all make! Of all the families I witnessed, yours remains a strong memory, one that now testifies to me of the faith and security in Micah's heritage. Thank you for that testimony. It stands as a reminder of the depth and quality of love we have received; and are called to pass on to our children. I am profoundly grateful for your example.
Micah is a beautiful soul, he had
the ability to make you feel you were hugged without even touching you. He
radiated love and I was so glad to have met him, even though it was brief. A
little of Micah goes a long way. He gave so much. God is with you.
I'm especially grateful because I feel like I got to know Micah, and you and
Stephen, much better than I ever would have had I not seen you once a month.
Micah was always such a joy when he came into the office. He seemed to feel
"at home" and would clown around with us and with Stephen. It also gave me a
real insight into the deep love that he and Stephen shared for each other.
More than once, I heard Stephen say, "Hey Micah, what color o-rings do I
want today!" It was very obvious that Stephen loved and looked up to Micah,
and that Micah loved him right back ... One of the great goals of my life is
to instill that kind of relationship between my kids.
Micah achieved much by the time of his death, and the work he did continues
still in the hearts and in the deeds of those he touched. Micah lived up to
his name. Much like the prophet Micah warned of God's destruction on the
Lands of Judah and Samaria unless they otherwise turned to God and away from
their idolatry and sinful nature, Micah Giles realized that he too must tell
others that they must turn to God if they seek eternal life and happiness. I
believe Micah knew what the prophet Micah knew....
Micah brought a lot of joy into my life...Micah was a testimony to many
people and reached out to help when people needed it the most, I know this
because he helped me....
I remember the first time I saw Micah...He had such a big warm smile, as he
took my hand and said, "Nice to meet you." As the year passed I saw in Micah
his love for life and mankind. I also realized he walked his life to a
different beat, but one thing was certain, he knew the master drummer and
that was Jesus!
Micah was bold and bright and shared his feelings. He was very independent
of man and very dependent on Jesus...this I admired greatly...
I loved hearing Micah and Stephen share their hunting stories...they were
quite a team.
We witnessed some of the purposes God had for Micah. We watched Micah grow
into such a fine young man whose influence on many of us will be a lasting
testament to his life and his love for God and his family....
Micah was a great young mature man...A few years ago, after members of
Trinity church had returned from a short term missions trip to Jamaica, I
was asked to coordinate a Sunday Evening Service for those missionaries. I
can't remember whether or not Micah went on that trip, but I do recall
asking him to join David Bedsole in providing the music for the hour. Those
boys were so willing, so humble, and so doggoned talented! After the
service, an Elder told me that it was the best Missions Report he had ever
seen in all his years at Trinity. Micah played a part in leading him to that
conclusion....
The zeal of life was a great part of Micah and I will miss him. I sought the
Lord about Micah and He reminded me that Micah lived life to the fullest,
pushing the limits of restrain.
Sometimes it takes quite a while for us to see the good from the bad, that
Romans 8:28 speaks of, but I want you to know that good is already
occurring, I for one rededicated my walk. My sweetest memory of him was at a
Wednesday Night River of Life prayer meeting when he got up, led by the
spirit, and picked out by ear a praise song on the piano and softly began
singing. I remember once when we were without a pastor that someone had said
that the least expected may prophecy, a few weeks later Micah shared a word,
I knew that "least expected" word was fulfilled in Micah.
Micah's friend Katie Hughes had a dream in which Micah
was calling on a telephone: I had this dream that Micah called me from
Heaven. We had a nice conversation but I told him that I missed him. As I
cried to him, I kept asking him why God had to take him away so soon. I told
him that I never got to say good-bye to him or tell him how much he meant to
me. I told him that he was like a big brother to me. Micah assured me that
he was in a much better place. He told me how wonderful it was. I kept
asking him, "Why?" We continued talking and I cried to him and he told me
not to worry, that he would be here soon to take me back with him. And then
I woke up.
Very soon after the news of Micah, a member of our prayer group emailed
a request that we agree together that Micah be raised from the dead and
returned to you. As I joined in prayer, a brief glimpse of Heaven caused me
to write the prayer group and say I think Jesus will have a hard time
convincing Micah to come back.
I saw two young men, about the same age, sitting on the ground and
engaging in a very intense and delightful discussion. They were completely
healthy, happy, and obviously talking about something of special interest to
them both. They seemed to be drawing on the ground. One was Micah, the other
a young King David. The discussion was on the strategy of David's exploits
over wild beasts and giants. They were not as teacher and student, but
rather peers. The discussion involved give and take. Micah's contributions
were well received and appreciated by David. They had a friendship like
David had with Jonathan on this earth. This picture of Micah; totally
fulfilled, wonderfully happy, and excited in heavenly participation, led me
to thank God for His goodness and everlasting mercy.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
