A Knock On the Door

It’s been a long time since I’ve enjoyed writing a post.  On those rare occasions that I cannot sleep, I often feel the Lord impressing on me a story to share.  Tonight, for some reason, it is an old story that I have wanted to write, but never did find the time.

In the Fall of 2002, Mark and I lived in San Diego, California with our two young boys (Pierce – 2 ½; Jaden – 6 months).  Mark worked as an electrical engineer at Intel, and found himself at an interesting crossroads with his career.  When Mark was a bachelor, he put in long hours at work with little consequence.  Once we married, however, and especially after we started having children, the expectations grew to be unreasonable.  Mark’s work/life balance was painfully off-balance, to the tune of being expected to work 80 hours per week.  He began to seek the Lord constantly in prayer regarding the situation, and interestingly, things at work grew to be ridiculously painful.  It became clear to Mark that he was to quit.  Interesting, considering that his goal prior to this season in life was to work his way up the ladder to become a VP at Intel.

In December 2002, we visited friends of ours in Houston.  Knowing that Mark planned to quit in the Spring, they joked that we should move to Houston and purchase a lot in their neighborhood.  They recently built a new home on a golf course, and empty lots lined their street.  This joke held no temptation for Mark, but I actually found the idea rather appealing.  I spoke with him within the next couple of days regarding the many benefits to moving to Houston (cheaper cost of living, living near good friends, support with home schooling, etc.).  He was not impressed… at all.  But he said that he would pray about it, and he was open to my staying a bit longer in Houston to research building a home on a lot.  You could say he was humoring me  : )

Things seemed to fall easily into place regarding the home we would want built in Houston.  When Spring arrived, we had one foot invested in building a home on a lot across the street from our good friends.  It was a low risk to Mark, because pulling out meant little money lost.  He was happy living in our home in a beautiful valley in San Diego.  Moving to Houston still held little appeal, but he was faithful in prayer, asking for confirmation.  He planned to quit in April, as he felt the Lord was leading him clearly in that area, but he had no idea what was around the corner regarding career.  There was no reason – yet – to move.

One Saturday that Spring, Mark lined up a few different realtors to interview them regarding selling our home in San Diego.  Once again, he was just speculating – simply doing his research.  A heavy, closed door regarding moving to Houston would be a great relief to Mark.  But if the Lord knew better, Mark would certainly follow.

Mind you, our home was not on the market.  There was no ‘For Sale’ sign in the yard.  Mark was simply talking with three realtors, one interview lined up after another, at our kitchen table.  During one of the interviews, the realtor shared with Mark a story about a home in our neighborhood.  The home was not for sale, but someone knocked on the door asking to buy it, and the house ended up being sold to them.  In the midst of this story, exactly when the lady said the word “knocked,” there was a knock on our door.  Not the ringing of a door bell.  A knock.  Mark got up, answered the door, and was in shock to hear a man expressing interest in seeing our home -  to possibly purchase it.  Mark motioned to the lady at our kitchen table, to express that he was currently talking with a realtor and would have to get back with him.  The man expressed that he, himself, was a realtor.  He explained that he had a client that may be interested in our home.  And beyond that, he and his wife were interested personally. 

After viewing our home, his client was indeed interested, which irritated his wife because she was interested in our home!  Short story - a contract was signed within three days for them to purchase our home (wife won, client lost!).  No fees, mind you, because he was a realtor and took care of the paperwork himself.  Also, Mark asked that the sale of their home not be contingent, which the realtor had no qualms with.  Mark was blown away.

With little doubt that he was not only to quit his job, but also to move to Houston, Mark willingly went through the motions to move our family to a hot, humid, flat city with plenty of traffic.  Obedient to the promptings God gave us, his nervous stomach didn’t follow suit as easily, and he threw up that first night in our new home in Houston.  He laughs about that now, as we’ve been so incredibly blessed by God’s redirection in our lives.

In the Fall of 2003, fires tore through San Diego, burning down homes in our old area and altering the beautiful views of that valley that we lived in.  Mark pondered the sad timing of that tragedy with awe.  Looking back, we also wonder that if we had stayed in San Diego, Mark most likely would have taken another high-tech job (leading to more work/life imbalance) through connections with friends, rather than start the family business that the Lord led him to in Houston.  Not to mention, we couldn’t have afforded to survive financially in San Diego, with its cost of living, running our family business. 

The Lord works in mysterious ways.  We find that the directions He has us take often look ‘crazy’ to the world.  But if we follow, we find ourselves on a beautiful path.  We’re thankful that He intervened in the details of Mark’s career, which has altered the dynamics of our family dramatically for the better.  We marvel at the confirmations He gave us along the way, including that perfectly timed knock on the door.

The Cardinal

I'd like to share the Lord's involvement in our lives regarding our recent move.  It always amazes me how He works in the details of our lives -- in details that would seem to be trivial to the Creator of the universe, like moving from one home to another.  I'm thankful He loves us just that much.

When we moved to Houston in 2003, we moved across the street from good friends of ours, in a golf course subdivision. A few years later, our friends ended up moving to Colorado. Also, the backyard was small and we weren’t allowed to walk on the golf course. And if our trash can was in the wrong spot, we’d get a letter. J We longed for a home on some land in a country setting, so the children could play outside and dig in the dirt. But the years passed without our pursuing it, as we watched the economy slow down and homes sit in our neighborhood with ‘for sale’ signs in the yards.

Last November (a year ago), Mark and I were blessed to have some prophetic words spoken over us by an older couple that we’d never met before. They prayed over us and shared four things that they felt the Lord was impressing on them about us. They were all right on – concerning the baby we were expecting, a ministry the Lord had placed on both of our hearts, an upcoming time of confusion, and about our desire to move. Regarding that, they said, “we’re getting that you’d like to move to a new home. Not out of state or anything, but a different home. You’ve been cautious for a long time. The Lord wants you to know He’ll be in the details.” Wow, that was encouraging to hear! We had been cautious, so it was nice to have that invitation.

That week, I got online and set up a simple search on a real estate site. Not many homes came across my email, because I made the search pretty specific - over half an acre, one story (or no bedrooms upstairs), etc. In early March, a home came across that looked interesting. We called a real estate agent that friends of ours liked, and set an appointment to see the home that weekend. The night before, I prayed and asked the Lord for a confirmation. Knowing that we could love the house, but He could have a different home in mind for us, I wanted His guidance. I hadn’t thought about a specific confirmation, but a cardinal came to my mind when I paused in my prayer. So I prayed that while we viewed the home, we would see a cardinal if it was the right home for us. I hadn’t seen a cardinal in two years, and that was when we were out of town on a camping trip. So, that was my fleece (Judges 6).

The next day, we pulled up to the home and I joked with Mark as I got out of the car “let me know if you see a cardinal…” (I hadn’t mentioned my prayer to him yet). The house was just right as we walked through it. At one point, I looked out a back window, and a cardinal flew down and landed on a bird bath in the back yard. I called my son Pierce over to see it, and Mark as well. I shared my prayer with them – how exciting to have a confirmation!


We weren’t doing things in the typical order – but we hurriedly did months of house projects, decluttering and cleaning in about a week and put our home up for sale. Knowing that the Lord would be in the details, we figured a sale would be quick and easy. We decided it'd be best for me to take the children to my parents’ home in Louisiana for a few weeks, to allow the house to stay in order and sell. How funny to think that things would be quick & easy. If we’d really thought about it, we’d have known that things may just be very difficult and slow, because that builds character! Seven stressful months followed, with many house showings, while homeschooling five children and having a new baby. During that seven months, we faced very difficult times with our business. Three times stand out in our minds when buying a home looking downright impossible. By human wisdom, we would have taken the ‘for sale’ sign out of the front yard. Yet each time, we watched the Lord clear the obstacle. How sweet to have a confirmation in order to keep us on the path we were on.

All the while, it was amazing that the home we found didn’t sell out from under us. At one point, the owner (who was also a realtor) found that the agency that sets up showings was denying all showings on the home! Our realtor joked with her that her clients were really praying about the home, so we had a lot of power on our side. The other realtor joked back, “well, tell them to stop praying!”

Eventually we had a reasonable offer from a sweet family that wanted to buy our home, and we were able to close on both homes exactly 7 months after listing our home. Mark & I are still looking at each other in wonder – we can’t believe we’re here – in the ‘cardinal’ house! The Lord truly was in the details, and He used the slow, challenging process to build our faith and teach us more dependence on Him. He is faithful – always.

- Rebecca

Hearing from Him

I was so encouraged last week by something that happened - I've been emailing some about it.  I figure I should do some copying & pasting and get it here, because....  He Still Moves (and on a daily basis!)

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I'll share a neat story with you that just happened to me last week, regarding hearing from the Lord (which was 'outside of my box' until the last several years - but shouldn't His sheep hear His voice? - John 10). So, my friend Becky has a real passion for what she calls “Inner Healing” ministry. Basically, praying together, sharing your life story in detail, then your friends (who are there to minister to you) listen and share what they’re getting from the Lord, so He can reveal things to you for healing/transformation. Becky had been feeling the Lord telling her to offer that ministry to me, and I was thrilled. We did it Sept. 1st, and it was an amazing night. The Lord revealed so much to me - His plan for my life, and how Satan had an opposing plan. The Lord is setting me free from a lot of stuff that I didn't realize was weighing me down - yay!


Becky had encouraged me to pray the week leading up to it, for preparation - that the Lord would reveal things to me, etc. So, I did that. Then as I was driving to meet up with my three friends (including Becky) who were going to pray for me, a neat thing happened. On the way, this song played on the radio - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l1YLXWANhvI – which I’d heard many times before, but never paid attention to the words. At one point, the words became crystal clear to me and were spoken straight to me heart. I felt that the Lord was speaking that specific section of the song to me.

I arrived at my friend’s house, and we started the Inner Healing session. It was all very pertinent to what the Lord spoke to me through that song. So, at one point during our prayer/discussion, I shared that I felt the Lord speak something to me on the drive over which tied in to what was being revealed. They asked what, and I explained about the song, and I sang the section that the Lord spoke to me:

“..got a couple dents in my fender - a couple rips in my jeans. Try & fit the pieces together, but PERFECTION is my enemy. On my own I'm so clumsy, but on Your shoulders I can see, I'm FREE to be me.”

At that point, my friend Becky reached behind her and grabbed a sheet of paper. On her drive over (1 hour & 45 minutes in traffic!), she had heard the same song, and the Lord told her that the words were meant for me (that specific section that I had just sung!). There it was – scribbled on her paper (quite scribbled, because she wrote it while driving – ha!!)... the exact section of the song! How encouraging to have the Lord speak just what I needed to hear in preparation for our night. He is so good and faithful. : )

I'm a child in this journey, but I'm so glad that my ears are opening & I'm learning to recognize His voice. I hope this story speaks to you in some way!  He is VERY real - He is CRAZY about you - and He does still speak and move in powerful ways.

May the Lord bless you & keep you,
Rebecca

Trusting Jehovah Jireh

My wife and I sat in our bedroom staring at each other. Everything just seemed to continue to grow worse and worse. Money was getting way too tight and we had already cut the fat out of our spending. We had just purchased a new home by the skin of our teeth last month. While I had only been at my job for little less than a year, it was a company I enjoyed being at and was perfectly suited to my skill set. I was going to have to find a higher paying job. My wife worked at a company that she loved for the past three years, but if I wasn't able to move up in pay quickly she would have to leave it completely. We both sent out a multitude of resumes and applications. I quickly received a response for a position where I could make a lot more money than my current paycheck. I went in for an interview and found out it was a sales position with a very well established company. The thing is I’m not a sales man. I do tech support for an Internet hosting company. While I’ve tried in my past to do sales, it’s never worked out. The information I received about the company seemed like a great way to start a new path in my life and better provide for my family.

We were again at a place where we had we had no choice, but to trust whole-heartedly in God and His plans for our lives. We chose to fast for a day while we prayed for wisdom on what to do. Should I leave my current position that I’ve been at and well suited for or should my wife leave her job that she had been at for three years? There was so much that had happened in our life recently that it felt that God had really stripped us of everything that was not of him. We had been put on the burning alter multiple times to have the fat burned off only to leave an acceptable offering to Him. This had lead us to the place where we knew a decision was more about his wants for us than for what our simple wants and desires were.

The fast had begun and we had come to the day when it was time to tell my company I was leaving or turn down the new job. The plan was to wait until lunch and go talk to the people in HR, but strangely enough they called me in before I could get to them. As I entered the head of HR’s office I noticed my supervisor was in the room as well. It felt a bit like high school again, but unlike high school I couldn’t think of a reason I would be called in. They sat me down and began to inform me that the company I had applied for called to check my resume and references with my current position. I began to figure that I was going to be let go for looking for a new job and not informing them. They asked me why I was leaving and I honestly replied, “The money. I have a wife, two children and a new mortgage and I need to make more money. I really like what I do and this company, but the needs of my family have to take precedence.” They looked at each other, asked me to step outside, and after a brief pow-wow called me back in. I was beginning to assume that God had made his choice and that a new career was in my very new future, but historically speaking my ability to figure out God’s plans for my future are not too great. My supervisor began to tell me how I was a great asset to the company and that a promotion was already in the works for me, which would include a raise, and that my year review was coming up, in which my performance warranted another raise. They asked me if I would stay if they offered me both of those raises right away, as they would be mine if I stayed. There it was. God at work. I stepped outside, called my wife to let her know of the offer and confer with her which wasn’t a long call, then came back and accepted the 15% raise and coming promotion.

My wife and I had made a choice to put everything in God’s hands and then to simply follow the path he laid out. Sometimes it feels the road doesn’t appear until our feet hit the ground, which shouldn’t surprise us because He’s God. He is Jehovah Jireh. There is a song where the lyrics speak of birds singing of how not to worry and how everything would be okay. They may seem like ridiculous lyrics, but they’re so true. It’s a musical reference to Matthew 6:26:

“Look at the birds. They don't plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren't you far more valuable to Him than they are?”

Every day is a reminder of how we are to put everything we are in God’s hands and it is only by following His plan do we succeed and every now and then we get a few rewards along the way.

- David & Cindie

God Hears; God Heals

I recently got home from an unexpected trip to Colorado. Russ, my older brother, was on his way home to Amarillo with his family after visiting our parents in Evergreen. As they were driving through Colorado Springs, they had to stop due to traffic. Debris in the road caused a chain reaction of people hitting their breaks. As Russ checked his rear view mirror to be sure the cars behind him stopped, he saw a motor home veer out of traffic onto the right shoulder of the road. As the motor home came up on the shoulder next to Russ’s car, it hit a sign and burst into flames. Russ knew he had to do something. He pulled his car forward and out of traffic in front of the fiery vehicle and ran back to help the man as Tracy and the kids, still in their car, started to pray for protection. Tracy said Si, their oldest son, told her not to worry, that his dad would be alright.

Tracy and Si could see Russ as he ran into the fire at the driver’s door. He was not able to get the door open, but the window was open and Russ was able to grab the top of the door frame and peel it down and out to force it open. Fighting flames that were fueled by a gas tank in the motor home, Russ’s next obstacle was the seat belt. He was able to get the shoulder belt around to the back of the man, but the lap belt was still holding him in. Russ said he was unable to release the belt and was asking God for help. A police officer came in with a knife and cut the lap belt. Russ, along with others who had come to help, was able to pull the man to safety.

The chaos of the scene must have been amazing. Tracy talked about the sounds of cars hitting car parts flying. She thought something had hit them, but their car is undamaged. There were 6 other cars that were involved in accidents due to this one that was still burning. A police officer came and evacuated Tracy and the kids from their car in case the fire spread their way. They were pulled to safety away from where Russ was.

I can’t imagine the all of the events that unfolded during this time. Lots of very scary moments that must have happened so fast but felt like they would never end. Russ was with the man and did talk with him and was able to get a response, right after he was pulled out. At some point the firemen saw Russ and told him to sit down.

The paramedics and firemen were tending to the victims, Russ included. A fireman went to Tracy to tell her about Russ’s injuries and then talked to the kids about their daddy. Tracy said he was very kind, sensitive and straight with them. He told them that Russ had been burned on his face, arms, and hands and that they would be transporting him to the hospital. Tracy was to follow the ambulance to the hospital in Colorado Springs. (He was later transported to the burn unit at University of Colorado Hospital in Denver)

Tracy is an amazing woman. She gathered her children and prayed. She told the kids that God is a God of healing and would heal their dad. As they drove, Tracy had Breck start calling people and asking for prayers of healing.

News of Russ being injured with burns to his face, arms, and hands went out and people all over started to pray.

God hears prayers! God protects the righteous! God heals his children!

I arrived to the University of Colorado Burn Unit less than 24 hours after this all happened. The burns on Russ’s face were gone! The burns on his arms were gone! His eyes were fine & his lungs were clear! Praise God!

I believe firemen know what burns look like. I can’t believe a fireman would tell a family that their husband and father had burns that were not really there. I can believe that our God would use an ambulance ride to heal those burns. Whether He healed Russ in that ambulance or protected him in the fire (OR BOTH) I praise God for the miracles of the weekend.

I believe God used Russ to save this man, Jose Fernandez, from the fire. I believe God protected Russ from the chemicals and flames, and healed his burns on his face and arms. I know the burns on his hands will be used to testify to people of Jesus’ love for each of us.

I am so proud of each of my nieces and nephews. Brently, Breck, Si, Jake, Braid, and Asher, are all incredible young people. The events that took place in Colorado Springs on July 25^th were huge and each of these kids rose to the occasion with beautiful poise. Tracy is such a great example of a Godly woman, wife, and mother. Her strength and faith are immeasurable. Then there is Russ…of the burns, the blisters, the singed hair, the bandages, the stories and memories of the events…what sticks out to me right now as I write his name is his face…His expression of compassion, tenderness, grace, and love when he was asked what made him run to a burning car and he answered “because Jesus lives in my heart”

I would like to thank you for lifting Russ up in prayers. I ask that you continue to pray for healing for his hands. I would like to ask that you add Jose Fernandez and his family to your prayers. He is in stable but critical condition. He is 75 years old and burned on almost half of his body. He is in the Burn Unit at University of Colorado. He is surrounded with family who love him. A son and grandson came to visit with Russ in the hospital. They told Russ that he had accepted Christ about 3 months ago and was baptized. They are all very sweet, gracious people and need your prayers through this very difficult time. When I spoke to them on Monday, after the accident, they said that they are holding on to the idea of having him home for Thanksgiving to carve the turkey.

I would like to thank you for lifting Russ up in prayer. I ask that you continue to pray for healing for his hands and for God to be glorified through all of this.

Cheryl

A Love Note in the form of a Free Car

My faith in God started as a child, in Someone I couldn't see. This was important, because "...without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him" Hebrews 11:6.

But over the years, as my faith has grown and I have walked with Him, I've been blessed to see and experience things so that even by sight, there's no possibility of denying He's real. That's one of the reasons I started this blog. I so desire to share some of these stories from the past that have just blown me away, because He is so intimately and powerfully at work in the lives of those who are surrendered to Him. However, in this busy season of life I'm in, raising four children and expecting #5, I haven't been able to post many of the stories from the past that I'm itching to!

For now, I'd like to share a little story from this week (because I just can't keep it in!). Recently, I shared the story of our friend David, who has come out of a very troubled past. His transformation - out of drug use & selling and psychological struggles - has been radical. But accepting Christ does not bring about a rosy, trouble-free life, of course. Life is a battle - it's simply good to know where to draw your strength from for it. Lately, David has struggled with depression, as well as being out of work and the loss of their car.

David's father made an offer that he was willing to pay $3000 for a car. So, David and his wife, Cynthia, started searching for a used car, but $3000 still didn't seem to be enough to find anything except junk. And then there would be the issue of where to find the money to insure the car.

On Sunday (five days ago), I decided to post David & Cynthia's needs for jobs & a car on several local homeschooling loops I'm a part of. I didn't ask for a freebie, I simply mentioned that $3000 was what they could spend on a car. But I did pray and ask God, "Would you please just GIVE them a car?" What a great encouragement that would be to them!

We've received several good job leads. Then, Wednesday night, I received an email from a lady who is new to one of the homeschooling loops (I've never met her). It said:

"Hi Rebecca,We have a high mileage 1999 Camry that is in excellent mechanical condition (even new tires & will have a new battery) that my husband was contemplating selling because it wasn’t being used. We feel God has asked us to donate it to David & Cynthia. I think we could have it ready by Sunday if they are interested. You can email me back or call me at xxx-xxx-xxxx.Thanks, Xxxxxxx" - excuse the x's, I'm respecting their privacy : )

Because a car is being given to David & Cynthia, David's father is now willing to pay for 6 months of car insurance for them.

WOW! We're all feeling very thankful over here, and pondering the mystery of God, who hears our prayers and asks strangers on our behalf to do a good work for His glory. He is GOOD! He is good through the good and bad in life - by the way - He's just always good to walk through anything with!

David's Story - God at Work

I've been wanting to write the story of David for a year now. This is such an encouraging God story to me - I hope it blesses you as well. I'd like to warn you that it deals with subjects (demons, for example) that aren't accepted in our logical Western culture. But David can tell you that he has experienced satan and the work of his demons. Thankfully, he has also experienced the incredible mercy of God and the truth that God is more powerful than satan. I believe that satan knows that it's to his advantage to seem 'not real' to our Western minds, so he works powerfully 'behind the scenes' in our country. In other cultures where satan knows that his spiritual reality is known, he might as well work in more direct ways. And in those places, demonic activity is well known. Either way, we know that satan "comes only to steal and kill and destroy," but Jesus came that we "may have life, and have it to the full" (John 10:10).

For the 2005-06 school year, I was blessed to get to know a group of 11th grade girls at our church, as I served as one of their Sunday night group leaders. A very sad, memorable time of that year was when one of their friends, Arnold, passed away in October 2005. Involved in drugs, Arnold accidentally shot himself. I didn't know Arnold, but was saddened by this tragic loss, and felt for his family and friends.

Two years later, on February 10, 2008, I was sitting in our church building auditorium during Sunday morning worship. My baby girl was just a few months old, and I was accustomed to having to get up and walk outside of the auditorium when she started making too much noise. But on this day, she was perfectly content. Despite that, I had the weirdest "antsy" feeling... I just had to get up. It's not like me to just 'have to get up' from worship service, and walk out. In fact, it had never happened before. I didn't realize this was the Holy Spirit at work until later.

I walked out to the coffee bar area just outside of the auditorium, where there are several tables. A few minutes later, a young man walked in the front door of the church and sunk down at one of the tables near me. No one else was around. This young man, about 20 years old, was covered with a spirit of darkness. It was as if a cloud was upon him. Covered in tattoos, battered from life, and dressed in dark clothes, he simply sat with his head hanging down. I knew I needed to talk to him. I introduced myself, and he mumbled that his name was David. He would not make eye contact with me. I tried to converse with him, but his answers were short. After a couple of minutes, I asked what brought him here. He mumbled, "no where else to go." I felt the need to pray for him and asked if I could. He mumbled something, and shrugged. I asked if he would wait there while I got some others to pray for him, and he mumbled, unsure, to that. I ran to the side door of the auditorium, where I found my dear friends Bob & Alicia. They came with me, and Bob immediately recognized David, greeted him, and they sat down with him.

My baby now wanted me to walk her, so I could not stay by David and pray for him there, as much as I wanted to. Rather, I walked and prayed immediately, begging God to save David. It wasn't until early that afternoon that Bob called me from the hospital, where they had taken David because he was so agitated. I learned from Bob that David was Arnold's big brother. David had been with Arnold the night of his death, and was living a very troubled life. Later that night, I spoke with Bob and Alicia again. It turned out that when Alicia sat down and placed her hand on David's arm to pray for him, she got a picture which helped her know how to pray. Alicia could see demons clawing within David. With that, she prayed for David to be delivered from satan, his demons, and their work in his life. After praying, it was clear to Bob and Alicia through what David was feeling that he was suicidal. They got Angela, a professional counselor within the church body, to come over to help. She talked to David and recommended going to the hospital. Once at the hospital, they tried to calm David. He remained highly agitated, despite the drugs that were administered, which should have calmed anyone. Bob was so discouraged with how helpless they felt, ministering to David, yet feeling as if there was no breakthrough.

A few days later, Bob was surprised to get a call from David. It turned out that David was at a halfway house. His tone was entirely different than a few days before, and he was speaking clearly. He told Bob that he wanted to be baptized in front of everyone the next Sunday morning - he wanted to surrender his life to Jesus Christ. When Sunday morning arrived, he thanked everyone who had reached out to him the week before, and told them that they had saved his life. When he stood before the congregation to be immersed in Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection, he was asked first if he believed that Jesus was Lord. He boldly said, "Jesus is everyone's Lord, whether they like it or not!"

We have come to know David much better over the last year, as he comes to our home many Sunday nights, joining us and a few other families who are striving to draw closer to God and each other. It has been amazing to see the drastically different person that David is now compared to before he turned to Christ. Not perfect by any means (Who is? We're all on a journey...) but he's a whole new man. We've been sharing our stories, and it was intriguing to hear David's story several months ago. His past was very dark. He was medicated for years for Bipolar disorder (though he is now free of all medications), and felt that he slept much of his childhood away. He was active in using and selling drugs, and was scarred by the painful memories he has of his younger brother's death.

At one point in his story, David said that he used to be able to feel demons clawing inside of him, until that day when he was prayed over in February 2008. At that, I felt the hair stand up on the back of my neck, knowing how that fit with what God revealed to Alicia. After his story, I was able to share with David and the others the strange feeling I'd had sitting in the church that day - how I just had to get up. I also shared the picture that was revealed to Alicia when she prayed for him that day, regarding demonic activity. This was the first time David had been told about that, and it was incredible to realize just how God had delivered David, using many people as instruments. David also shared how much it meant to him that Bob had simply patted his back at the hospital and told him that he was going to be OK, and that Bob loved him. How encouraging to see how God turned a hopeless situation around, and used people (who even felt discouraged through the process) to powerfully transform a life. We were all thankful for the depth of God's love for David and how He pursued David and saved him.

David and his young wife, Cynthia, have many struggles to overcome as they strive to turn their lives around - not just for their sake, but also for their children. Satan is as active as ever, constantly throwing hardships their way and bringing up their past. Just a week ago, God spoke to me of how David may fall down, but he can get back up again. I wondered - has David gotten into drugs again, or what? My knee-jerk reaction was "Oh no!" - as if David had fallen off a cliff and the situation was hopeless. Immediately, I heard something different - God is not a control freak like we can be. God gave us the freedom to make terrible choices with terrible consequences, yet He acts redemptively through our mistakes if our hearts are turned to Him. I wondered at this random thought that came into my head about David falling down. Later that night, I learned of some serious hardships that David and Cynthia were facing due to some terrible choices they made. What would have normally thrown me for a loop did not. Rather, I was excited to realize that God's word to me was timely, true - and for my encouragement. God longs to give David hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11). He wants to redeem David's past and give him a crown of beauty instead of ashes (Isaiah 61:3). When you think of David, please pray for him, his wife Cynthia, and their children. Pray for perseverance and strength through this battle, that they will be transformed to experience the full life Christ has in mind for them.