Posted October 21, 2007
1st posting from a friend of Pain2Sane Thx M.!
I had a cousin 8 years old shot and killed. My grandmother who I was very close to, died. My husband's sister became missing and found dead 3 weeks later. My husband's father comitted suicide and my father died of lung cancer. (all different years) So when October rolled around, I very much dreaded it so much! I became depressed, until GOD had me look at that month in a different light. You see, I had a grandaughter who was born in October and GOD delivered me from smoking 3 packs of cigarettes a day......I went to bed one night and woke up the next morning to be Free of that nasty habit! Never had a desire to have another cigarette again! So when October finally gets here, I will be celebrating "Life"..... 8 years of being smoke free and a Grandaughter's Birthday! Thank you Father God for letting me see the "Beauty" and not the death....Oh and by the way.... My dad died on the 16th of lung cancer and I was delivered from smoking on the 16th...now I call that a God Thing....
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New Beginnings
the
Story
of
August 11th, 2003
GOD KNOWS MY NAME P.O. BOX 42, HUTCHINSON, MINNESOTA 55350
STORY OF AUGUST 11TH, 2003
THE REVIVAL THAT WON’T HAPPEN TODAY,
IT IS NOT YET THE RIGHT “SEASON”
Author: My name is not important, God knows my name. Non-Fiction
On August 18th, 2003, I thought I should have a “gathering”; ….”fundraiser”…no maybe “celebration”…no wait, I know a “Good old fashion Southern Baptist style Revival” right here in rural Minnesota. Yes, a good old fashion revival (Not that I’ve ever attended one, or even know what characteristics go into
making one happen.)
Truthfully, the revival idea (thought) was mostly inspired by the awesome gathering I attended at the Hutchinson Event Center on Sunday morning, August 10, 2003. The music, the scripture readings, the bilingual messages, the PURE POWER of my Lord and Savior’s Spirit was an awesome experience for me. Personally, I WANTED MORE! RIGHT AWAY! I thought, “Let’s have an encore of that terrific service in my backyard on August 18th, 2003. Let’s see who God has in mind to invite and who will attend.”
On Monday night, August 11th, 2003, I had another wonderful worship experience. This time it was an invitation from a Pastor to “come and talk” with him during a break in a meeting that was to begin at 7 pm. The place was a basement of an old church in Minnesota.
Well, I really didn’t know exactly what I was walking into that night, and I can honestly say it will be an entrance that will impact my Christian walk with the Lord and Savior forever.
The “meeting” was, as I perceive it, like a Monday night worship service for Pastors, teachers of the Word, Ministers, and their families. We started with an introduction from the Pastor’s wife, which I was unable to hear because she had no microphone on, was soft spoken, and I didn’t have my left hearing aid in that evening. You see, I thought I would be meeting one-on-one with the Pastor to talk about thoughts on my mind.
We sang worship and praise songs, and soon proceeded to hear a message from another man after we listened to the scripture readings. Well, at least this guy (Dr. / Pastor? I didn’t know his name at the time), was sporting a microphone, and it was working pretty well. He went on and on about very interesting things to do with “Seasons”. He also went off on a few, what he called “rabbit trails” that were very timely for me to hear. Now, if you recall, I said this “meeting” started at 7 pm. It was after 8 pm and I got the impression that we were just beginning to touch on the subject matter Dr. Mike was interested in relaying to us.
My Mom had driven with me and she was still in the car in the parking lot reading books that my 8-year old daughter had received as a summer reading project. I was experiencing a bit of anxiety about the time and my Mothers understandable discomfort in the confines of a car in the Mid-August heat. Finally, the Pastor got Dr. Mike’s attention, and suggested a break. The Pastor invited me into his office for “our talk” which was the purpose of my attending the “meeting” in the first place.
We talked briefly about my family, and the medications that I was currently taking. He methodically wrote down the pertinent information, and then directed me back into the meeting with the instruction to go forward (as in …to the front) at the end of the meeting when the Pastor invites people up to pray. The Pastor told me that I should pray for direction. To pray about the Wellness Refuge, my families’ understanding, my ideas…all that very night when the time comes for the “Prayer call.” The Pastor said Dr. Mike would let us know when.
Well, I got back into my seat at the “meeting”, got my Jr. Legal Pad out, and discovered he was just now finishing point one of three. WOW! It’s like 8:30 or something, and we have two more points to go and only God knew how many “rabbit trails” we would cross since it was obvious to the “casual observer” that these “rabbit trails” were heaven sent. I’m thinking, “How long until the prayer call?” Don’t misunderstand, time was ticking faster, because Dr. Mike’s teachings were fascinating and pertinent to my personal needs in this particular “SEASON” of my journey with God. But...BUT…BUT, my Mother was waiting for me in a car in the parking lot for going on over 2 hours, and she is either, worried, angry, or something by now. Wait, I should say that I wasn’t sure how concerned she was about me or the time.
My Mom wasn’t my only point of anxiety. This going up in front to pray was also big time on my mind. You see I was brought up as a good conservative Missouri Synod Lutheran in small town in Minnesota. Going up in front of anything, let alone a meeting room I considered a church, was way out of my comfort zone.
Nevertheless, I needed to know. I was desperate to know, if this “thing” on my mind was something God really wanted me to do. Therefore, shortly after 9 pm., the Pastor FINALLY finished point three, and asked if anyone needed to come up for prayer.
Well I was doing all right up to about 8:50 or so. I had convinced myself that no one in that room had any idea who I was or where I was from, so maybe I could “risk it” and go up front at the appropriate time. Remember my Mom, in the parking lot, reading second grade reading material? Well, nature called, and she went hunting for a ladies room. Everything was locked up so, she found herself sitting right next to me in this “ meeting.”
We were both very uncomfortable by now. She for obvious reasons, and me for the fact that up to that point in time, I had mustered the courage to go up front, but now with my Mom sitting there, it wasn’t going to be easy. Well, sometimes “A MANS GOT TO DO WHAT A MAN’S GOT TO DO” and if you are a woman, you need to do it too!
So, I just did it! I stood up, moved past three sets of legs, and made my way up to the front, not having a clue what the proper etiquette was “UP THERE”. I stood there awkwardly, and within moments, the Pastor was talking to me. Dr. Mike was saying something to me, but I wasn’t making out what he was saying. (Remember, no hearing aids on board tonight.)
Being hard of hearing and having him talk privately in a low voice to me in this prayer setting, all I could do was ask, “What did you say?” Again, he said something quietly to me, and I had to explain. “I’m sorry, what did you say? I’m kind of hard of hearing and I didn’t catch what you asked me.”
Then he said something like, “Well, let’s take care of that for you right now.” He asked me which ear was worse. I thought he was going to talk louder so I could hear with my better ear, but instead he…
GRABBED BOTH MY EARS, AND THROUGH THE POWER OF THE ALMIGHTY GOD, HE MADE ME HEAR.
No “Shit-zu-poo” puppy doo doo!!!!! It was I N S T A N T !
I started hearing all this noise from what I thought were chairs moving, and people stirring, and whispers. I was so shocked!
I was so CONFUSED. I was so OVERWHELMED WITH JOY. ALL I COULD DO WAS LET MY TEARS OF JOY FLOW.
All these emotions were happening, and Dr. Mike had to test me. He told me to turn away from him, so that my back faced him. He said something to my back, and told me to repeat it to the sister in Christ before me.
I hear him in what seemed almost a shout say, “Jesus loves you!” Then he said, “Tell her what you just heard.”
The lady I was standing near accepted my words and I hugged her. My sister in Christ Jesus had just confirmed that what I just said was what Dr. Mike had said in a normal tone and volume. WOW! Holy smokes! Hallelujah! Praise my Lord and Savior!
I never “NOT Believed” in miracles; but I never thought God would perform a miracle of such magnitude on me. I’m nobody. WOW! Thank you, Jesus. Thank you for giving me, a very sinful, undeserving woman, this incredible miracle. WOW! Holy hot smoke! I started to cry tears of joy, beautiful tears of joy!
I’m writing this on Tuesday, August 12th, 2003, my husband’s 41st birthday, still in amazement that God gave me this miracle.
I believed in miracles; but I never thought such a significant, dramatic one would bless me, personally.
I know, I’m repeating myself…..but…WOW!! Thank-you Lord God Almighty…I need to tell people about this, so I am.
But my name (who I am) doesn’t matter. God knows my name. He knows my joys, sorrows, temptations, and fears. He knows it all. I know that He loves me, and His Son loved me so much that He saved me from death by giving up His own life on the cross for me many, many years ago. I’m confident my name is written in the Lamb’s book, and many more miracles await me in my future walk with my Lord and Savior.
So today is not the right “SEASON” for an old fashion Southern Revival in rural Minnesota. At least not one coordinated by me taking place in my backyard on August 18th, 2003.
However, I hope to send an invitation out to all of you soon, and it will be signed:
“GOD KNOWS MY NAME”.
Title: Fellow creation of God.
The invitation will be to all people of any eye color, or faith conviction. God wants us all to be under His care in eternal love, and happiness.
May God’s peace and comfort heal you of any pain you may suffer from, during your journey in this sinful world.
Sincerely with God’s Love,
Sister in Christ,
Child of God 08-13-03
P.S. “GO and Tell the World”
If the Spirit moves you, drop me an e-post card @ "Contact Us" (Button on this Site), with whatever information on it you feel I should know. Let me know if I could send you a personal invitation to the “Old Fashion Southern Baptist Style Revival” that will be held sometime in the future on a time which is still to be determined by my God.
God loves you, and I know that I will too.
In His peace, I say…“Hope to catch you later!”
☻Jesus loves you this I know!
☻There is only One God, and I’m not Him.
