Late Night Conversation
I ask my wife how the women's retreat went. Joy says, Remember the night you were reading
and the words, "God is really in you," and how you felt? (I had sat up straight. It was a
defining moment for me.)
"Imagine feeling like that for an entire weekend." she said. "I didn't want to go home."
"Were you afraid that you would be leaving God behind," I asked?
"Something like that," she whispers.
"Well you didn't, I offer, "God is never far away. We just need to say in touch."

"For indeed, the Kingdom  of God is within you." (Luke 17:21)

 

Unshakeable Faith

 

 Shortly after moving my family from the States  to Johannesburg, South Africa to work with Bibles For Africa, I woke up with pins and needles and a numbness in my left arm.

 

It was like when people would say, "my arm has fallen asleep." In my case my arm stayed asleep for three weeks and simple tasks were awkward and painful to perform.

 

I visited the Neurology Department  of an academic hospital in Pretoria. I was diagnosed with a pinched nerve in my cervical spine and referred to Radiology for x-rays.

 

The technician there reminded me that the nominal fee to enter the hospital entitled me to visit as many departments as there was time in that business day at no cost except for pharmaceuticals. I told her I had injured my lumbar spine several years ago. She took x-rays of my lumbar.

 

The government hospital did not have an MRI machine so I opted to see a radiologist in private practice. The radiologist who interpreted the MRI referred me to a local Neurosurgeon, who he highly recommended with the caution, "this guy likes to perform surgeries."

 

My visit to the Neurosurgeon confirmed I had a pinched nerve in the cervical spine but he was stunned when he looked at the lumbar x-rays.

 

"How do you walk," he asked?

 

I abruptly answered, "I put one foot in front of the other, same as you do."

 

He pointed to the x-ray which showed that the disc between the lowest two vertebrae had disintegrated. He predicted that if I didn't have corrective surgery I would likely be in a wheelchair in five years.

 

To treat the cervical spine issue he gave me two options. The first was to admit me to a hospital where I would be heavily sedated while in traction for a week. The second option, which the Neurosurgeon reluctantly mentioned, was a home traction kit which I could use over time, hopefully with success.

 

As I drove home I simply said to the Lord, "Father when Jesus was offered the vinegar to drink mingled with gall, (on the cross) he would not drink. Therefore I cannot subject myself to whatever is involved with a weeklong sedation." As for the home traction kit, I said to the Lord,  "at home I have a three-year old and a one-year-old. I would become a human gym set. This won't work either. I'm simply going to trust you and go back to work."

 

From that day the pins and needles went away and over the course of the next few weeks my hand became stronger and atrophy was overcome by the return of muscle tone.

 

This  happened 21 years ago. I'm back in America working without limitation or hindrance. Through the grace of God, I continue to put one foot in front of another.

 

Mark Walker

      Antwerp, OH

Beware of Angels

Shift Lanes

 

“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 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

Tracey CA.

Lori's Conversation with God

Lori's  first serious dating with a man lasted six and a half years. He proposed, she accepted and a wedding date was set. He cheated on her and that's when Lori moved from Wisconsin to Florida on what was supposed to be her wedding day.

Her second relationship with a man was more of a friendship but it ended tragically when he died of a diabetes complication.

Years passed as Lori  focused on a career as a certified hand therapist with a leading orthopedic practice. One day driving to work there was a particular beautiful sunrise. She was praising the Lord for this special moment and then audibly talked to God in her car.

Lori says her end of the conversation went something like this: "God it would be nice if you could provide me a husband who knows you, is six foot, about 200 pounds, has blue eyes and would be my protector, provider and make me his priority."  She doesn't know why but she added, "and it is ok Lord if he doesn't pickup after himself."

A few weeks later Lori met  Ryan  while working out in a gym.  He is a Godly man, 6'5", weighing 250 pounds and has blue eyes. After several weeks of casual conversations at the gym he asks her out.

They were married  two and a half  years later and as the saying goes the rest is history. Oh yes, he doesn't pickup after himself. (Be careful what you ask for in prayer)

 "He takes after his dad," Lori says, "but he is getting better, although I still keep the door to his office closed when we expect company."

Lori and Ryan happily celebrated their tenth anniversary in 2015 each surprising the other with a ring purchased from the same jeweler.

Lori  Frailing                                                                                                                               

Lakewood Ranch, Fl.

 

 

 

Dee's Scary Moment

 

It was a beautiful October morning as Dee left Bible study at church and headed to a luncheon for widows and widowers. Dee had lost her husband two years earlier.

 

Everything seemed normal as she neared the stop sign at the end of the street. Two teenage boys in hoodies approached her vehicle.. The younger of the two tapped on her window. She lowered the driver's side window an inch.

 

"May I borrow your cell phone to call my mom," he asked?

 

She said, "give me her number and I'll call for you."

 

She dialed the number and while it was connecting she asked, "what is your  mom's name?"

 

"Judith."

 

A woman answered the call and Dee asked, "Judith?"

 

"I 'm calling for your son and he wants to talk with you."

 

Dee passed the phone through the narrow opening to the

boy's waiting hand. He turned from the vehicle and said something in a low voice.

 

After ninety seconds  Dee said impatiently, "I have a doctor's appointment and I need to leave.(she lied).

 

The boy turned toward the window and seemed  to be having a hard time sliding it through the narrow opening. Feeling a little guilty for her behavior Dee lowered the window. Mistake.

 

The older teenager reached through the window putting a handgun to hear head.

 

"We want your car lady. Get out of the car."

 

"Oh my God,"  I thought, "I'm a dead woman like Andrea Crooker," (who had been killed in her car west of the city couple of weeks before.

 

At that moment the Spirit reminded me I had never taken my car out of gear. I slid my foot from the break to the gas pedal and  the car bolted forward.

 

The boys tried to run after me but they were no match for my Honda Pilot. When I was safely away I realized I was too shaken to go to my luncheon meeting.  I decided to return to my church for comfort and to call the police.

 

On the way a  truck forced me over. I was really afraid. A woman came to my car and said they had seen the whole thing and had followed the boys and called police. Later I  identified the boys for the police.

 

  In December I testified at the hearing for the 14 year- old who seemed remorseful. He was fined and given probation. In January the 15-year-old glared at me during his trial. He was put on house arrest and has to wear a bracelet. Police never found the gun.

 

God was truly with me though out all of this.

 

Dee Kendall

Omaha,NE.

Quote of the week:

"Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding,
but  whoever has a hasty temper exalts folly." Solomon

God know best 

I grew up in a community of 2500 located between Rapid City and Sioux Falls.                                     

I always dreamed of being  a nurse. I even prayed to be a nurse someday. After high school I went to nursing school in Sioux Falls.

While in school I received a call from a lady who was looking for an ultra sound technician. She said she had received my name from a friend.

 I told her I wasn't interested, that I wanted to be a nurse and would finish school in a few months.

She said why don't you come in for a talk so you can understand what you are declining. She sounded nice so I went and during my visit she made the statement that any working nineteen-year-old wants to hear.

"This position is less work and more pay. "

She told me to finish nursing school and come back and see her. That is exactly what I did.

I have been an Ultra Sound Tech for  the past  twenty years. I love what I do.

A funny thing happened during  the first few years I worked  as an Ultra Sound Tech at a hospital. I noticed that nurses take a lot of abuse. They are often yelled at or scolded by patients, the patient's friends and family  and even by sleep deprived stressed doctors.

 I'm a sensitive person and when I am yelled at, I want to assume the fetal position. I realized then that nursing would not have been a good fit for me.

 God knew all along and honored my desire to serve others in the medical field. I thank the Lord everyday for having that lady call me and explain the Ultra Sound Tech position.

 "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."(Jeremiah 29:11)

      Robyn Burns Brazelton                                                                                                                                      Winner, SD