Angel on a Bridge

 

Week of August 24

 

“Occasionally I see reports of happenings that can not be humanly explained-of visitors unexpectedly appearing to assist in times of crisis, or warning of impending danger. These can only be explained as the Intervention of God’s angels.”

      Bill Graham, Hope For Each Day

 

When I was 19 years old I lived in Tracy, California, and had been out with some friends in Stockton, about 20 miles away.  I was driving home alone about 2 am on old Highway 50. The highway splits into two high narrow bridges over the San Joaquin River, one for north bound and one for south bound traffic. The bridges are steep so that you can’t see the other side until you get to the top. 

 

There was no traffic on the road at that hour and I was traveling the speed limit. I was in the left hand lane going up the south-bound bridge when, for some unexplained reason, I steered into the right hand lane. A moment later I was in the middle of the bridge when out of nowhere, a car came speeding the wrong way in the lane I had just left.

If I hadn’t changed lanes there would have been a head on collision in the middle of that high and narrow bridge. There was nowhere to go except over the edge into the river below.  I know that I would not have survived the crash or the river.

 

 Decades later I still shiver at the thought of what could have happened that night.  There was no reason for me to change lanes. I was saved by an angel that night, I’m absolutely sure. 

 

“For he shall give his angels charge over you,

to keep you in all your ways.” Psalm 91:11

 

Mary (Kiser) Bartlein

Panther Ridge, Florida

 

(Tracey California  where Mary grew up is

very close to the Earth Quake that devastated

the Nappa Valley Saturday.

God's Lessons from a Red Couch

 

Week of August 18,2014

 

Dean and I were trying to wait to buy a nice couch set once I got a full-time job. Our living room consisted of a huge pile of blankets and pillows on the floor. Since I was working from home and had to deal with no comfy place to sit all day, I talked Dean into considering second-hand couches on Craigslist that we could get right away. Our budget was $50, but I saw a red couch in great shape online for $75.

 

My husband agreed to go out with me to see it. Unfortunately, it had rained that day and the folks selling it had stored it outside under a ripped plastic tarp and it was pretty wet. Dean also noticed a stale smell.

 

I wanted a couch so badly that I was willing to overlook the smell and dampness. I thought we could just wash it! Dean was set  against it and I was really disappointed. We had an argument in which he said he thought God had something better in store for us. I told him that I thought he had just missed what God had for us and proceeded to walk off!

 

 Later that night, we both apologized and decided to go out to Goodwill stores the next day.

 

In the morning our cat, Billow, accidentally scratched my eyelid (ouch!), so we didn't head out until the afternoon and I was wearing an eye patch. Two Goodwill's later, It was ten minutes to 5 when a Goodwill employee told us to check out the Salvation Army around the corner.

 

Sure enough, a red, dry and nice-smelling couch in great condition was on sale for $50. The store was closing in 10 minutes and we agreed right away that it was the one! Everyone at the store was being very nice to me too, perhaps because of the eye patch. After a few minutes, a friend was able to drive over in her pick-up truck and help us take it home.

 

Lessons I learned: Be patient. Don't grasp so tightly to material things that I blow up at my husband (and look like a fool)! Trust God. I think He actually does care about the little things in my life too.

 

Jessica , Mcleod

Greensboro, North Carolina

A Boy Challenges God

Week of August 10, 2014

 

It started like any other day for Jay, a nine -year-old, but what happened next would change his life in an instant.

 

Jay’s parents had moved into a new subdivision in Woodhaven Woods, Michigan. The homes were new and had flat backyards with no fences. All the yards backed into a wood line fifty yards deep. It was a great place for a youngster to grow up and play.

 

Most of the trees were hardwoods, like oak and maple, tall and straight. That is all except one. As Jay remembers it, that tree was forked about four feet up. One side was badly decayed and hollow near its base while the other was solid and healthy.

 

Jay describes that afternoon as very windy with lots of threatening clouds but it wasn’t cold and it wasn’t raining. He was standing in his yard when he challenged God. He doesn’t know what prompted him. What goes through a nine-year-olds mind anyway?

 

“I saw the trees swaying and I said, ‘Ok God-You knock over a tree and I will never doubt you again.’

 

Within seconds there was a loud crack. Even though I was some distance away I could see it was the forked tree that had fallen.

Some adults gathered around the forked tree as I ran over to see. It was then I saw that it was the solid half of the forked tree that had cracked all the way to the ground. Surprisingly, the decayed half was still standing by itself. You could look right through and see light on the other side. I don’t know what was holding up that half of the decayed tree. It looked as if it would fall over at any minute so the parents were keeping the children at a safe distance.

 

I thought about it later. God knocked over the strong but held up the weak. You could read into that.

 

The weak half of that tree never did fall on its own. Some men cut it down later to insure it wouldn’t fall on anyone.

 

I didn’t tell a soul about what I had said for the longest time. I guess I thought this was between God and me.

 

Until now, decades later, I have only shared this experience with a few others for fear of being seen as bragging or worse.

 

But there is no doubt in my mind that God felled the strong half of that tree that day.”

 

Jay Hessler

Woodhaven Woods, Michigan

A Comfirmation

 Week of July 27th

          Like most empty-nesters, we had two cars:  A luxury sedan for Bill and a sporty SUV for me.  When Bill was diagnosed with brain cancer and had to be driven to chemo treatments, he became the passenger in the sedan because the smooth leather seats made it easy for him to pivot while getting in and out.  The cloth seats in my vehicle didn’t quite do the trick.  He just plain enjoyed being in that car!

            As Bill’s condition worsened, we realized that we no longer needed two cars, so our youngest son was given my little car.  When Bill entered hospice care at home, I drove the sedan on the days I was able to go to the office for part of the day and for all the errands.

            After Bill died, I tried hard to like his car as much as I had my “old” one.  It was a lovely automobile, and as much as I appreciated its features, it just didn’t please me.  Another son with two children needed to replace a troublesome car, so I knew I could pass the sedan along to him and keep it in the family.  I felt Bill would be pleased to have some grandchildren riding in it!

            So a trip to the dealer produced a sporty little red sedan that won my heart right away.  No trade, not much paperwork, and the car would be ready for pickup the following day.  That night, of course, doubt came to visit.  Had I been callous to Bill’s memory not to cherish his car?  Was it my duty to keep it spiffy and on the road for as long as it would last?  I decided to claim the new car.

            When I saw it sitting on the lot, all shiny and cute and waiting for me, I knew I’d been guided to the purchase and that all was well.  How did I know?  The numbers on MY (not Bill’s) car’s license plate had been 5603.  The brand new plates, supplied by the dealer, ended in 5604.  A most logical progression that my engineer husband would certainly have appreciated!

                                                                       

Rosemarie Seewagon
Hilton, New York

Lawn Sale

 

Week of July 20th

 

It wasn’t your typical yard sale. For me it was a desperation move. I was down to my last six dollars. I needed gas to get to work, the electric bill was overdue and my water would be shut off if I didn’t pay it by Monday. It would be six days before I received another paycheck and I was already one month behind in my rent as well as some smaller bills.

 

My wife and I were separated and I had recently been diagnosed with Hepatitis C. I had no money for medications. I really was at the end of my rope. I needed this yard sale to survive one more day.

 

A friend arrived for moral support and I asked him if he would pray with me. We stood together in my empty living room.

 

He prayed, “Lord bless my friend and help him though this situation. Without you we are nothing but with your blessing we know we can get through anything. You said Lord, ‘Come to me all you who are heavy laden and I will give you rest.’ We are here Lord and we need your help, Amen.”

 

Everything I owned was out on my lawn except my mattress, clothes and the computer on which I couldn’t make the payments.

 

During the first hour I sold $80 worth of furniture including my couch, end table and some lamps. The flow of potential buyers slowed considerably during the second hour and I took in just $20 more. During a lull the phone rang so I dashed into the house to answer it.

The lady on the phone said, “You gave me a quote to paint my house several months ago. Does your offer still stand?”

 

I could feel myself starting to shake but I managed to say calmly, “It sure does.”

 

“How soon can you start?“ “Lady I’ll be there this afternoon for the one third down payment so I can buy your paint.”

 

I rushed outside to retrieve my kitchen table and chairs from the lawn. Then I told my friend about the call. “I made a bid to paint a lady’s house six months ago and she calls me back today of all days. Go figure.”

 

My friend looked at me with a smile on his face and tears were forming in his eyes. He said softly, "That call was prompted by the Lord answering our prayer for help."

 

Patrick Lavilla

Kuntz,,Texas

God and my Cancer

Week of July 13

 

Facing your mortality at 45.

The disbelief- is this whole God thing a hoax? Is there really a heaven? When this cancer kills me, will I really be with God or is this just something we human make up to feel better?

Answer-forget the feelings, go with the FAITH, what you know about God, what His Word says, what He has done. He has been faithful in the little things and WILL be faithful in the big things.

I remember singing in a small weak, trembling, teary voice, “my hope is based on nothing less then Jesus’ love and righteousness.” Then a chorus of angels sang with me; “On Christ the solid rock I stand all other ground is sinking sand, all other ground is sinking sand.”

God knows about this cancer. He knew about it before I was born. He will use this for His glory and I will be ok, even when I die.

People’s reactions to my cancer varied. “Can I call a prayer meeting at your house and we will all pray for you?” (that was an awesome night)

“Though you slay me, yet I serve you,” quoted a friend.

“Wow are you lucky! God must have something really important in mind for you in this trial. He is preparing you for a mighty work.”

“I wish I could take your place. If I could I would. (my mom said this)

I kept track of God’s provision, protection, mercy and lessons in my cancer. God sent me a friend that had chemo, and one who was in healthcare so was not afraid of my cancer and was nonchalant. There were prayer warriors, card senders and one  who called every day to check on me and one who came on the darkest day I had and held me as a cried and when I was inconsolable, read scripture to me.

Friends brought me food, took me to chemo, even changed my kitty’s litter. One person asked me if she could see me without my hair and her love and concern was a source of comfort to me. (note: loosing my hair was devastating)

God kept providing and protecting me.

One night I was desperate, alone and scared. I called out to God the way He directs us to call Him in Psalm 50:15.( “Call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you…”) My fears and confusion were so overwhelming that all I could do was cry out to him like a child waking from a nightmare calls his parents. I cried out GO000D! 

Shortly after this the phone rang.  It was a dear sister in the Lord who was out of town but had been thinking of me all day. In the middle of a dinner party with friends, she could no longer resist God’s prompting in her heart, excused herself to call and check on me.

One night I was too sick to make something to eat or even know what I wanted to eat. I just told God ‘if you want me to eat you better bring it to my door or else I will just lie on this couch and not eat.’  Minutes later the phone rang. It was a friend and when she found out how I was feeling she said; “Its time for smoothies.”  That night she introduced me to smoothies, which are a must for anyone on chemo.

A week after my first chemo I started teaching a small (church) group. They did not know me before my cancer. They only knew me on chemo and without hair. They ministered to me, prayed over me, laid hands on me, gave me self worth and loved me. We even had a night when we tried on hats together. They were the first to see me when my hair started to grow back.

I knew the cancer was in the lymph nodes even when the doctors did not think so at first.

In the recovery room from my second surgery, the hospital chaplain asked me to pray for him. I spent the night in the hospital and the doctor brought all his students in several times. They referred to me as the ‘smiling patient.’

I felt the prayers of others that lifted me up especially when I was too sick and too tired to pray.

On the morning when I was going back to Moffit (Cancer Center) for my first follow-up, I asked God to send me a Christian woman  who lived in Sarasota and who had suffered with breast cancer to guide and comfort me. On the way home, my friend who had taken me to Moffit told me she ran into an old friend of hers while she was waiting for me and that this friend had just finished her treatment and was coming back for a check up. (Prayer answered)

Scriptures God sent me to (rhema)

Matthew 26:39 -Three times in the Garden Jesus asked for the cup be taken from Him.

John 17- the last prayer Jesus prayed was for us that we reflect His love, that  God protect us from Satan and that we know His love for us. He did not pray for good times and fun here on earth. He actually knew we would suffer because we follow him.

Isaiah 29:15- the pot can not ask the potter why he made the pot a certain way. I can’t ask God why I got cancer-He knows everything and I must respect His knowledge despite circumstances or my opinion of them.

2 Corinthians 1:2-5 God will comfort us in our pain and we in turn will comfort those in pain with the comfort God has shown us. I use what I learned in my cancer to comfort those in need.

 

(What she learned:)

freedom from worry, well almost ha ha;

a better focus on what is important-less time working, more time serving, loving and living;

it is ok to be weak, to let others know you are hurting, well almost ha ha;

surrender, surrender, SURRENDER! We really don’t have any power anyway, except through Christ.”

Sheree Motola                                                                                                                              

Printed with permission

 (We received this e-mail in 2001. Sheree left this world in June 2006-ed)

More than a Golf Story

 Week of July 6

Brad’s celebrity status is that he was the first golfer to lose a national title to Tiger Woods.

The year was 1991 and Brad Zwetschke was ranked number two behind Tiger in the U.S. Junior Amateur golf. In the championship match Brad was three up after five holes, and two up at the turn at Bay Hill in Orlando. It would be the first of many well publicized comebacks for Tiger who tied the match and defeated Brad on the first playoff hole.

“Coming out of school all I wanted to do was play golf and party. I lived the wild life.”  Along the way he met Christina Mauldin, a preacher’s daughter from the South side of Chicago. Brad is also from Chicago. Within a year and a half they were married. “She thought she was marrying a golf professional and I thought I was marrying an entertainer from Black Television.” (Christina had done a stint on the program Heart & Soul.)

“ My wife is a strong Christian and my loyal supporter. She accompanied me on tour, which was arduous, lots of travel and expensive. Sometimes we slept in our van because we couldn’t afford the hotel prices.

“In November 2001 we were touring in Australia and we went into a little church in Brisbane. The preacher’s message was based on John 21. The message spoke to me especially when Jesus asks Peter, ‘Do you love me as much as these’ (referring to the fish Peter and his friends had just caught).  I identified with Peter who was being asked to give up fishing. I felt I was being asked to put down my clubs.

Three months later I was driving to the Canadian Tour Qualifying Tournament when I heard a message on the radio quoting John 21. Again I felt the message speaking to me. I played in the tournament but I did not qualify. My heart wasn’t in the game anymore. I quit golf.

“With the encouragement of my father-in law I enrolled in New Orleans Theological Seminary.

  “He too had been called to the ministry by John 21.”

In August 2005, four months before Brad was to graduate, Katrina devastated New Orleans. With two children and Christina eight months pregnant, Brad borrowed a neighbor’s van and fled to Beatrice Alabama where they knew a pastor who took them in.

 “We lost everything as our apartment was completely flooded. But God had spared our family. Then another kind of flood hit.  I could not stop the flow of gifts of clothing, food and furniture that poured in on us. It still hasn’t subsided.

“When it was time for Christina to have our fourth child we moved to Bradenton , Florida to be close to the doctor who had delivered are other children. I took a job as student intern in evangelism and finished my final semester at the seminary on line. In December 2006 my classmates and I received our degrees. Later I became the voluntary chaplain to the Cincinnati Reds farm team then in Sarasota.

“God has used everything in my life for His purposes. Golf  had been my idol…now I’m pictured in golf magazines holding a Bible. It took a while for me to accept God’s forgiveness and to accept his grace. That has been huge for me.

“Tiger has become the king of golf. My notoriety as being the first to lose a national title to Tiger still brings invitations to speak at golf dinners and men’s retreats where I get to tell people about the King of Kings.”

 Brad Zwetschke

( Brad Zwetschke is now a U.S. Army Chaplain-Ed)

“Simon do you love Me more the these?”

“Yes Lord, You know that I love You.”

“Then feed My lambs.”  John21:l5