My Personal Testimony of God's Greatness Pt. 4

April 4, 2011

Myself and my brother Don were distraught when Rick passed...it wasn't expected and it was very sudden. Knowing God and our hope has given me a great deal of comfort though it still hurt tremendously. Don on the other hand, hadn't been to church in over 20 years, had lots of skepticism about the existence of God and perhaps even some anger over Rick's sudden death. He's been content living without God for a very long time. He too has a great deal of brokenness in his family.  

Within a day or two of Rick's passing, Don began questioning God. Asking why and what happened to Rick after he died. What is the purpose of life? etc. He desperately wanted to know that Rick wasn't suffering in the torment he remembers being taught about. He wasn't as close to Rick (a huge regret to him now) as he could have been since Rick came home. And so he didn't really know if Rick believed in God or where Rick stood on issues of faith. Which of course compounded Don's concerns.  

During this time of questioning God, Don relates of an experience he had (I won't go into the details) where he was told very clearly and specifically that Rick was ok. It brought him great comfort and has given his heart peace.  Two years ago, while sitting in church, my pastor asked us to prayerfully take a moment to seek God on who He would like us to invite to church for the upcoming Easter service. I did. And as I was praying, God brought my brother Don to mind and I knew that I was supposed to invite him. I knew he wouldn't accept the invite and I wondered why God made it clear that I was to ask him? I didn't question Him though (I've seen too much LOL) and I invited Don to join us at the Easter service. Indeed he declined saying that church just wasn't for him.  

Throughout the last couple of years, I have on occasion, invited Don as well as other friends, family members, etc. and sometimes some of them accepted my invite and some didn't. Each time however, Don was quick to change the subject or to dismiss the invite. I didn't pressure him, I merely asked and allowed him to make his own decisions.  The day of Rick's burial, Rick's daughter and her husband (the one who had come to visit back in the summer also came to the funeral), and some of us gathered here at my home to comfort one another. That night, I was inspired to give Don a dvd which was recently made by my church titled "Can This Be Church?" He reluctantly took the dvd. I wasn't even sure he would watch it. But....he did.  

Don has been attending church service with me ever since...for the first time in decades. His daughter attends when she can. He son has come the last two weeks. Don's kids were involved some years ago in their mom's denomination/church but for whatever reason were not consistent or too involved. God has been and continues to pull Don and his children closer to Him and I'm amazed to see the changes that are already taking place in him!  Rick's children are now all in contact with us in various ways. His oldest son, came down and spent time with us all during the few days after Rick's death. He also was here for the funeral with his wife. His two daughters (one we have not met yet, nor have I spoken to her on the phone as she is still very bitter) have access to and have had some contact with all of Rick's family. Both of them are pregnant (Rick knew this before he passed and was so excited to be a grandfather!) and due in a few months. 

Rick may not have had the opportunity to be in his children's lives, but God has made sure that the rest of us have opportunities...and I pray that we don't squander them.  I shared my vision with my family at the funeral home. They may have thought I was nuts but I know some of them also see the greatness of God, to bring about reconciliation and healing where we as humans, cannot.

My Personal Testimony of God's Greatness Pt 3

April 3, 2011

A little background on my family history growing up.....     

My mom though a believer, was not a very religious woman nor did she teach us anything about God unless it pertained to His wrath against us when we misbehaved. It was what she was taught and it was how she viewed God so I understand it today. Not surprisingly we rarely ever went to church when I was a little girl. Major holidays until I was about 9 or so, I'd say. Then nothing. So it shouldn't come as a shock to know that I didn't come to know God when I was young. I have 3 brothers who I cannot say if they themselves came to know God back then or not. I simply don't know.  

Fast forward a bit till a year ago almost to the day. My oldest brother Rick who had lived a troubled life (not so much that he got into trouble but he was troubled, even tortured by injustices and sufferings) came to Michigan, homeless, desiring to be nearer to his family. A desire I shared greatly. I was very close with him and loved him very much! Of all my siblings, I was always the closest with him. He stayed with me for a few weeks and then went into a rotating homeless shelter during which time, I did everything I possibly could to help him. He suffered from Hepatitis C and had for a very long time. He was a drinker but had previously lived in a nursing home in Kentucky because he was homeless there as well (long story!). I helped him seek medical attention that he, for whatever reason, could not get in Kentucky. 

I helped him sign up for Medicaid, transfer his Social Security Disability, took him to the hospital when he was sick, search for an apartment and in about a month of being in the shelter, God provided him with a one bedroom, low income apartment a few blocks away from me. He knew that God had provided and he was thankful. And I knew that God was beginning to heal and bring my family closer as He had promised.

Rick had never met his father...ever. He finally found him 10 years ago and contacted him and his father denied him. Following in his own father's footsteps, Rick had several children from different marriages/relationships that he had had over the years and was estranged from all of his 4 children but 1. And that was a very shaky relationship. It wasn't necessarily Rick that caused the relationships to be severed...one of his ex's left the state they were living in with his daughters 14 years ago and Rick never knew where they went. He fell out of contact with his ex wife when he was in the service and they divorced and she remarried and had his son adopted so there was no contact. 

A little over 2 years ago now, Rick's son found his brother through a social network site and they were reunited through virtual communication. God used me as a mediator between the two as his son had a lot of confusion and some anger he needed to work through (understandably). A year ago, Rick's father was able to contact us through the tireless efforts of his nephew who also used the same social network site to search for Rick. Rick experienced a great deal of anger and bitterness toward his father for the decades of denial. Over that last year God privileged me with the honor of being a mediator between the two and a relationship, though terribly broken, did ensue. 

This past summer we found one of Rick's daughters once again through the internet site (she had JUST created a profile) and communication began between Rick and his daughters. One was extremely bitter, the other angry but open to learning more about why they were estranged. She came to Michigan and spent a few days with us getting to know her father after 14 years. He was SO happy to see her! We all were. Rick passed from death to life November 17, 2010. But not before God began to heal Rick's own broken heart and the hearts of his father and children. Rick's father passed from death to life a week ago yesterday. I believe they are finally, fully and completely healed and whole. 

I stand in awe of the wondrous ways in which God has been fulfilling the vision He gave me.

Sorry

I haven't blogged any updates in a while as I have been having some serious issues happening in real life. Back in April I managed to detach my Achilles Tendon from the bone while walking and I had to have surgery. At the moment, I'm healing very well but it's been a very humbling experience. I've had to rely on others for pretty much everything and for anyone who knows me, knows how difficult that is for me. But God provides for all my needs and I'm making it. I will have to have surgery on my other foot whenever my right foot heals. So for you praying folks, your prayers would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

And now I'll post another update about the greatness of God in another blog entry.

Linda