Big Trials, Greater God

Just thought this might encourage someone.

-Andrew Ebenuwah

 

 

On a quiet Saturday evening a 26 year old man was invited to church by a close friend he hadn't seen in a while.

 

As the young man went to bed that evening, he found himself saying to himself, “how did my friend know that I needed to go to church? Perhaps my friend saw that I am going through a terrible time and I need some help.”  But somehow, he just could not wait for morning to come.

 

In church the next day, he accepted Christ into his life and the pastor said, "God is about to do great things in your new life as a Christian."

 

3 months after accepting God the young man got married and stopped "living in sin."

 

He felt as if God said to him, “Well done, Son! Daddy is proud of you!”

“So God, this is the great thing you promised to do in my life, WOW!” he said to God.

 

As the days passed by after his wedding, he felt free from sin and he thanked God as often as he could for his new wife and how wonderful married life was.

 

Then another "blessing" came his way.  Four months after his wedding, his young beautiful new wife was diagnosed with cancer. “WHAT?” he shouted at the doctor, “She is my new wife!”

 

As they walked out of the clinic, they held hands sobbing, emotions everywhere.

 

As soon as they got into their tiny flat, he went into the room and fell on his knees sobbing and praying.

 

“Father God are you there? I need to speak to You!  Why? You said blessings shall follow me from now on. God I am only a baby in your kingdom and I am not strong enough for this,” he said to God.

 

As time went on, accompanying his wife to the hospital for treatment, he found himself thanking God and asking God first for his wife to find God and her healing after.  Somehow he knew that if she found God all would be well.

 

But as he prayed, she got worse and he was spending a lot of time with her in the hospital. They shared jokes and tried as best as they could to live like a normal young couple. They drew closer to each other and he admitted to a friend, "I never knew I could love like this and cope."

 

20 months after his marriage, his wife passed away, and her dying words to him was, “You have loved me like I never expected to be loved.”

 

On the day of her funeral, one of the songs he chose was, “He Turned My Mourning Into Dancing.” On her gravestone, he wrote "In this the love of my God is made perfect."

 

Three years after her passing he summoned up the courage to start clearing out her things, he found her diary, and going through it, he found several pages that read "I Love you, Honey." and several pages that read "Went to church today, prayed to God to forgive me all my sins and heal me."

 

Four years on, truly the love of God is made perfect as he is now a steadfast member of a local church and pouring his life to the work of God and he is always smiling.

 

May the love of God be made perfect in our lives. Amen

 

In Loving Memory of Yvonne Ebenuwah

21/08/1969 - 20/05/1998

 

“And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” 2 Corinthians 12:9 

Keep My Thinking Right

Author: Pastor Tom Battle

 

Lord, as I lay on my bed at night

Help me to keep my thinking right.

 

Lord, as I arise in the morning bright

Help me to keep my thinking right.

 

Lord, as I go about my daily life

Help me to keep my mind from strife.

 

Lord, as I face friends, enemies, and peers

Please give my mind joy rather than tears.

 

As my thoughts travel through the years

May I look back and say I yielded not to fears.

 

May the thoughts in me not push and shove

Instead, may they be gentle like the Dove.

 

Lord, above all, give me thoughts of love.

May the mind in me be like Yours above.

 

In Jesus' name, Amen

 

AND

 

The Law of Love Supreme

Author: © Wanda LaCasse

 

The Spirit rules in heaven

The law of love supreme,

It's fruits down here developed

Completing heaven's theme.

 

Each trial that we go through

Be it yours or a brother,

Brings depth to God's commandment

That we love one another.

 

For only by being offended can

We "really" learn how to forgive,

And learning to love the unlovable,

Like our blessed Savior did.

 

In the world, yet not of the world,

Training for the judges we will be,

Heaven is our court house,

And earth our school you see.

 

All evidence in, and the defendant

Has surrendered his will it seems.

The verdict is fair, for the case is tried

Where the law of love is supreme.

 

“My son, keep thy father’s commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother:” Proverbs 6:20 

STEWARDSHIP!

 

Dear loved one,

Who is a Steward?
- someone who manages another's property or financial matters
- one who administers to attend to the concerns of others
- an employee who waits on others and is responsible for their comfort
- an attendant or someone charged to serve others.

Every dynamic organization has a defined Vision statement which paints the picture for the future on the canvass of time. It is the responsibility of employees to give credence to their roles as they fit into the work ethics of their organization.

Our lives must be well defined so we can live 'value adding' lives as we become embodiments of blessing in our generation. No one  should be complacent or live in ignorance as regards the subject of stewardship. Stewardship is a role to be occupied by all individuals under God in terms of laudable use of our talents, gifts, abilities, money, relationships, team efforts, synergy and time. No one should spend any of this but rather invest them at every given opportunity.

This week review the different roles you occupy as a business owner, employees, a parent, a student, a caretaker and other roles you fit in to see whether you have been a good steward of time. We won't have all the time forever, but it will forever be required in the acts of stewardship 'that a man be found faithful'. Have a great week ahead.  

Have a great week!

Shalom!

Submitting To One Another

Author: Unknown

 

Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. – Ephesians 5:21

Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. – Proverbs 31:11

Angie and I had been married three years. She was thirty-six; I was forty-five when we married. It was the most unlikely match, yet we knew without a doubt God brought us together to be married. We had both experienced a great deal of pain and hardship in our past relationships, but God used these hardships to bring us into an intimate relationship with Christ and each other. When we were married, we lived in my home that had been built in 1969. The heating system was no longer used in homes built today and the plumbing was a regular source of well-timed calamity, flooding our basement several times over. One time our septic tank backed up and we had to remove all the carpet from the basement. Not the mention the mildew that was a constant problem.

Shortly after marriage Angie was visiting her hairdresser who happened to say, “What has happened to your hair? It’s turning green!” Angie was obviously shocked and concerned. Her hairdresser inquired more and found that the well water in our house was reacting to her hair color. “You cannot shower and have your hair stay its correct color,” said her hairdresser. So, for the next two and a half years Angie began a routine that required her to wash her hair with bottled water in the kitchen sink. Now most women I know would have immediately said, “We are moving or do whatever it takes to solve this problem if you want me to live with you!” Finances were tight for us, which prevented us from investing in a water purification system. Angie became a real trouper. Every other week I would make my routine trip to the grocery story to fill up bottles of water, come home and Angie would place the water into a larger pan to heat before she used it. We often joked that Angie had always felt she was called to the mission field. We just didn’t think the bush conditions would be in our own home in north Atlanta.

Then one day our deliverance came. A commercial real estate company sold our property, and luckily for us, it did not matter what condition our house was in because the land was what the buyers wanted. It was a glorious day! We could now move! You can only imagine Angie’s excitement. She was a woman who looked forward to a simple hair washing in a shower.

So, our search began. We knew the Lord had a home just for us. For the next several months we looked at several houses. Finally, we found one that seemed great. I absolutely loved the house, even though it would require some work to be done. For some reason, Angie did not have a peace about the house. She saw my obvious enthusiasm for the home, but she was still troubled. I thought that if we could resolve her concerns, she would be ok with it. (Isn’t that like most of us men, we will fix the problem – her.) However, as we resolved each issue, she still did not have peace. She often felt I was pressuring her to make a decision for this home. Though not intentional, I was making it hard for her to be objective. One commitment I made in our marriage was that we would not make any major decisions that both of us did not have total peace about. I have learned that my wife does not have to have a good reason for her lack of peace about something. Sometimes God places a check in her spirit and it cannot be rationally explained. So, after some time we decided against this home, even though my heart was still very much in favor of it. I had to admit I was disappointed. It was all I wanted in a home.

One day I received a call from a friend of mine who was aware of a woman who had just lost her husband through a sudden death and was considering selling. My friend asked if I was interested in seeing her home. I went to see the home and initially liked what I saw. During the conversation with the woman I could see she was in a great deal of pain. The Lord told me (in a quiet voice inside) to offer to pray for her, not knowing anything about her beliefs. She accepted my offer and I prayed for God to bring comfort to her in her loss of her husband. I did not press any spiritual issues with her at the time, as God seemed to say I was to simply pray for her. The next day I brought Angie to see the home. She loved it. A few days later we placed an offer on the home and she accepted.

I made an appointment to sign a purchase agreement. As we began to talk more I asked her if she had made a total commitment to the Lord Jesus. She said she had made a commitment in her past, but probably needed to recommit her life to Christ. I asked her if she would like to do that right now. She said she did. So, we bowed our heads and she followed my prayer of rededication for her life to Jesus Christ. The following week Angie and I spent more time talking and sharing with the grieving lady who was questioning God’s love for her. We were able to assure her the loss of her husband was not due to anything she had done, but that each of us has a time when we are called home.

It was a spiritual conclusion to a journey that began as a physical need, but ended in a spiritual victory for someone who needed the Savior’s love. Friend, life is filled with divine appointments awaiting our involvement. The problem often comes when we become so self-focused and set in our ways that we miss the blessing that God wants to bring our way. Angie and I looked back at the various steps in this story and realized the key steps were our commitment to having total agreement about a major decision and our willingness to see where God might be working in a situation.

Do you and your spouse have a major decision to make? Has God brought a divine appointment in your life today? Remember these two principles; be in agreement with one another, and watch and pray. He wants to meet your needs and use you to impact someone for the Kingdom of God , perhaps even this very day.

 

“Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.” –Ephesians 5:33

A Friend On The Line

Written Down By: Jennings Michael Burch

 

Even before I finished dialing, I somehow knew I'd made a mistake. The phone rang once, twice - then someone picked it up.

 

"You got the wrong number!" a husky male voice snapped before the line went dead.  Mystified, I dialed again.

 

"I said you got the wrong number!" came the voice.  Once more the phone clicked in my ear. How could he possibly know I had a wrong number?

 

At that time, I worked for the New York City Police Department. A cop is trained to be curious - and concerned.  So I dialed a third time.

 

"Hey, c'mon," the man said.  "Is this you again?"

 

"Yeah, it's me," I answered.  "I was wondering how you knew I had the wrong number before I even said anything."

 

"You figure it out!"  The phone slammed down.

 

I sat there awhile, the receiver hanging loosely in my fingers. I called the man back.

 

"Did you figure it out yet?" he asked.

 

"The only thing I can think of is...nobody ever calls you."

 

"You got it!"  The phone went dead for the fourth time. Chuckling, I dialed the man back.

 

"What do you want now?" he asked.

 

"I thought I'd call...just to say hello."

 

"Hello?  Why?"

 

"Well, if nobody ever calls you, I thought maybe I should."

 

"Okay.  Hello. Who is this?"

 

At last I had gotten through. Now he was curious. I told him who I was and asked who he was.

 

"My name's Adolf Meth.  I'm 88 years old, and I haven't had this many wrong numbers in one day in 20 years!"  We both laughed.

 

We talked for 10 minutes. Adolf had no family, no friends. Everyone he had been close to had died. Then we discovered we had something in common: he'd worked for the New York City Police Department for nearly 40 years. Telling me about his days there as an elevator operator, he seemed interesting, even friendly. I asked if I could call him again.

 

"Why would you wanta do that?" he asked, surprised.

 

"Well, maybe we could be phone friends. You know, like pen pals."

 

He hesitated.  "I wouldn't mind... having a friend again."  His voice sounded a little tentative.

 

I called Adolf the following afternoon and several days after that. Easy to talk with, he related his memories of World Wars I and II, the Hindenburg disaster and other historic events. He was fascinating. I gave him my home and office numbers so he could call me. He did - almost every day.

 

I was not just being kind to a lonely old man. Talking with Adolf was important to me, because I, too, had a big gap in my life. Raised in orphanages and foster homes, I never had a father. Gradually, Adolf took on a kind of fatherly importance to me.

 

I talked about my job and college courses, which I attended at night. Adolf warmed to the role of counselor. While discussing a disagreement I'd had with a supervisor, I told my new friend, "I think I ought to have it out with him."

 

"What's the rush?" Adolf cautioned.  "Let things cool down. When you get as old as I am, you find out that time takes care of a lot.  If things get worse, then you can talk to him."

 

There was a long silence.  "You know," he said softly, "I'm talking to you just the way I'd talk to a boy of my own. I always wanted a family - and children.  You're too young to know how that feels."

 

No, I wasn't. I'd always wanted a family - and a father. But I didn't say anything; afraid I wouldn't be able to hold back the hurt I'd felt for so long.

 

One evening Adolf mentioned his 89th birthday was coming up. After buying a piece of fiberboard, I designed a 2' x 5' greeting card with a cake and 89 candles on it. I asked all the cops in my office and even the police commissioner to sign it. I gathered nearly a hundred signatures. Adolf would get a kick out of this, I knew.

 

We'd been talking on the phone for four months now, and I thought this would be a good time to meet face to face. So I decided to deliver the card by hand. I didn't tell Adolf I was coming; I just drove to his address one morning and parked the car up the street from his apartment house.

 

A postman was sorting mail in the hallway when I entered the building.  He nodded as I checked the mailboxes for Adolf's name. There it was. Apartment 1 H, some 20 feet from where I stood.

 

My heart pounded with excitement.  Would we have the same chemistry in person that we had on the phone?  I felt the first stab of doubt.  Maybe he would reject me the way my father rejected me when he went out of my life.

 

I tapped on Adolf's door. When there was no answer, I knocked harder. The postman looked up from his sorting.  "No one’s there," he said.

 

"Yeah," I said, feeling a little foolish.  "If he answers his door the way he answers his phone, this may take all day."

 

"You a relative or something?"

 

"No.  Just a friend."

 

"I'm really sorry," he said quietly, "but Mr. Meth died day before yesterday."

 

Died?  Adolf?  For a moment, I couldn't answer. I stood there in shock and disbelief. Then, pulling myself together, I thanked the postman and stepped into the late-morning sun.

 

I walked toward the car, misty-eyed. Then, rounding a corner, I saw a church, and a line from the Old Testament leaped to mind: A friend loveth at all times.  And especially in death, I realized. This brought a moment of recognition.

 

Often it takes some sudden and sad turn of events to awaken us to the beauty of a special presence in our lives. Now, for the first time, I sensed how very close Adolf and I had become. It had been easy, and I knew this would make it even easier the next time, with my next close friend.

 

Slowly, I felt warmth surging through me. I heard Adolf's growly voice shouting, "Wrong number!"  Then I heard him asking why I wanted to call again.

 

"Because you mattered, Adolf," I said aloud to no one.  "Because I was your friend."

 

I placed the unopened birthday card on the back seat of my car and got behind the wheel. Before starting the engine, I looked over my shoulder. "Adolf," I whispered, "I didn't get the wrong number at all.  I got you."

 

“A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.” - Proverbs 17:17

 

Be at Peace

Author: Unknown

 

Do not look forward in fear

To the changes of life

Rather, look forward with the knowledge,

That God will lead you through all things.

 

Don’t worry about what may happen tomorrow.

The same everlasting Father

Who cares for you today

Will care for you now and every day.

 

He will either shield you from suffering,

Or give you the strength to bear it.

And when you think you cannot stand it any more

He will carry you in His arms.

 

Therefore be at peace

Put aside all the anxious thoughts

Trust the Lord

And He will see you through.

 

“Praise ye the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power.” –Psalm 150:1

A very touching story

 

Hope u
will learn from it!!
He would buy a ring. The girl
thought & was very happy.
She
went to salon to have some make-
over to look beautiful on
her birthday.
She bought make-
ups,
new clothes & new shoes.
The night she’s been waiting for
arrived.
She looked elegant,
gorgeous..,the dream girl of every
man.
Everybody was focused on
her.
The party started when her
boyfriend arrived… with a
simple doll… The girl got mad at
her boyfriend,
she thought that he
would give her a diamond ring
instead of a doll,
she threw the doll
away,
the guy ran as fast as he
could to save the doll.
But a car hit him…he died in
hospital after a few hours.
The girl
felt very sorry,
she cried every
minute when she remembered
everything.
At the
burial the girl remembered the
good times they had… she hugged
the doll tightly..full of love &
regret… She was shocked when
the doll talked and said “ Happy
birthday baby,
will u marry me?
Then gets the ring on the doll’s
pocket,
hope you like it, I
LOVE YOU”.
The girl went outside
crying & shouted “I’ m sorry baby!
I didn’t know,
I love you too!” But
then the guy was gone 4ever.
Morals of the story:
We should learn to appreciate
what ever comes
our way because it might just take
us to our next level in life....Peace!!!

The Greatest College Basketball Coach - John Wooden

This message is about the life of the late Coach John Wooden (October 14, 1910 – June 4, 2010). It was written while Coach Wooden was still alive. His achievements and accolades are too many to list here. His life story is a testimony to a man who quietly walked according to his relationship with God and in so doing, guided and encouraged hundreds of young people to choose wisely in their own lives.

 

The Greatest College Basketball Coach – John Wooden

On the 21st of the month, the best man I know will do what he always does on the 21st of the month. He'll sit down and pen a love letter to his best girl. He'll say how much he misses her and loves her and can't wait to see her again.

Then he'll fold it once, slide it in a little envelope and walk into his bedroom. He'll go to the stack of love letters sitting there on her pillow, untie the yellow ribbon, place the new one on top and tie the ribbon again. The stack will be 180 letters high then, because the 21st will be 15 years to the day since Nellie, his beloved wife of 53 years, died.

In her memory, he sleeps only on his half of the bed, only on his pillow, only on top of the sheets, never between; with just the old bedspread they shared to keep him warm.

There's never been a finer man in American sports than John Wooden, or a finer coach. He won 10 NCAA basketball championships at UCLA, the last in 1975. Nobody has ever come within six of him.

He won 88 straight games between January 30, 1971, and January 17, 1974. Nobody has come within 42 since.

So, sometimes, when the Basketball Madness gets to be too much - too many players trying to make Sports Center, too few players trying to make assists, too few coaches willing to be mentors, too many freshmen with out-of-wedlock kids, too few freshmen who will stay in school long enough to become men - I like to go see Coach Wooden.

I visit him in his little condo in Encino, 20 minutes northwest of Los Angeles , and hear him say things like "Gracious sakes alive!" and tell stories about teaching "Lewis" the hook shot. Lewis Alcindor, that is... who became Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

There has never been another coach like Wooden, quiet as an April snow and square as a game of checkers; loyal to one woman, one school, one way; walking around campus in his sensible shoes and Jimmy Stewart morals.

He'd spend a half hour the first day of practice teaching his men how to put on a sock. "Wrinkles can lead to blisters," he'd warn. These huge players would sneak looks at one another and roll their eyes. Eventually, they'd do it right. "Good," he'd say. "And now for the other foot."

Of the 180 players who played for him, Wooden knows the whereabouts of 172. Of course, it's not hard when most of them call, checking on his health, secretly hoping to hear some of his simple life lessons so that they can write them on the lunch bags of their kids, who will roll their eyes.

"Discipline yourself, and others won't need to," Coach would say. "Never lie, never cheat, never steal," and "Earn the right to be proud and confident."

If you played for him, you played by his rules: Never score without acknowledging a teammate. One word of profanity and you're done for the day. Treat your opponent with respect.

He believed in hopelessly out-of-date stuff that never did anything but win championships. No dribbling behind the back or through the legs. "There's no need," he'd say.

No UCLA basketball number was retired under his watch. "What about the fellows who wore that number before? Didn't they contribute to the team?" he'd say.

No long hair, no facial hair. "They take too long to dry, and you could catch cold leaving the gym," he'd say. That one drove his players bonkers.

One day, All-America center Bill Walton showed up with a full beard. "It's my right," he insisted. Wooden asked if he believed that strongly. Walton said he did. "That's good, Bill," Coach said. "I admire people who have strong beliefs and stick by them, I really do. We're going to miss you." Walton shaved it right then and there. Now Walton calls once a week to tell Coach he loves him.

It's always too soon when you have to leave the condo and go back out into the real world, where the rules are so much grayer and the teams so much worse.

As Wooden shows you to the door, you take one last look around. The framed report cards of his great-grandkids, the boxes of jellybeans peeking out from under the favorite wooden chair, the dozens of pictures of Nellie.

He's almost 90 now. You think a little more hunched over than last time. Steps a little smaller. You hope it's not the last time you see him. He smiles. "I'm not afraid to die," he says. "Death is my only chance to be with her again."

Problem is… we still need him here.

"There is only one kind of a life that truly wins, and that is the one that places faith in the hands of the Savior. Until that is done, we are on an aimless course that runs in circles and goes nowhere. Material possessions, winning scores, and great reputations are meaningless in the eyes of the Lord, because He knows what we really are and that is all that matters." - John Wooden

 

 

“The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.”  - Psalm 19:7 

A Good Sermon

Author: Pastor James McDonald

 

Dear Saints,

I don’t know what your neighbors are like, but the family across the street from us are really wonderful people. They have three great kids and a friendly dog. They’re just about the nicest people you could meet.

But here’s the thing—if all they are is good and sincere people and have not received Jesus as the only hope of their salvation, then one moment after they die, they will be in hell.

I know that’s hard to hear. Popular is the notion that "being a good person" qualifies you for heaven. Most people believe that someday we’re going to stand before God and He’s going to set our whole life on the scales. If the good outweighs the bad then we go to heaven. If the bad outweighs the good then we go to hell.

You’ve heard that, right? Maybe there was a time in your life when you even believed that. Proverbs 14:12 says, "There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death."

Right now millions of people are racing toward eternity—not prepared, oblivious, and in for a shocking surprise that simply being good will never measure up to God’s requirements for heaven.

I thought of that as millions of people watched "The Passion"—the movie depicting the suffering of Jesus in the final twelve hours before the cross. Have you seen the movie yet? I wonder if the theater you were in was as intense as ours. People sat riveted to their seats, their eyes fixed on the screen. Some hid behind their hands, not wanting to see the horror but somehow not able to look away.

Yet, just think. If you and I could be good enough to get to heaven on our own, then all that Jesus suffered—everything about the cross of Christ—would be an agonized waste.

What exactly did Jesus die for anyway? To be a good role model? To be a starter ramp to God that we push ourselves up the rest of the way? That kind of thinking is a knife in the heart of Jesus. Galatians 2:21 says that if righteousness or perfection could be obtained by doing good, then Jesus died for nothing.

Jesus said in John 14:6, "I am the Way." He’s not one of the ways, or even the best way. Jesus is the only hope of salvation. And He willingly laid down His life for you. What seemed to be a tragedy born of hate was in fact, God’s greatest act of love (John 3:16).

Now forgive me if I’m preaching to the choir here. You say, "James, I already know this." I’m so glad! But have you ever been at a family reunion or been standing around at work when the subject of heaven comes up? Someone says, "I’m a nice person. Hey, I’ve never killed anyone. God’s gonna let me off the hook." What do you say to them? Does your heart break when you realize someone you care about has bought into such a tragic lie?

Pastor James McDonald

From Rejoice Sermons

 

“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” - John 14:6

Beach Encounter

Beach Encounter

Author: Mia Watkins 

 

One crisp, early November morning, I took a brisk walk on a beach near my home. Except for the gentle surf and some screeching seagulls, the beach was silent and deserted. Emotionally, I was reeling under the stress of a recent difficult divorce. How was it possible that a family like ours could totally disintegrate? We already had our two daughters when I was diagnosed with cancer.

Treatments followed with the usual sickness and loss of hair. They were unsuccessful, and eventually I had major surgery. Miraculously, I recovered from this ordeal and was given a clean bill of health.

During the following months I began to lose my balance and tire easily. After many doctors' appointments and tests, I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. My HMO offered no treatment or hope. I coped the best I could, had hand controls put in my car, used crutches on bad days and even a wheelchair at times. My husband was unable to cope with all these illnesses. He began to show symptoms of manic-depression and eventually became abusive, even to the point where he once beat me unconscious.

God had been my strength and anchor during these ordeals. I knew He was walking with me, that He would never leave me or forsake me, and knew all about my wounds and hurts. It was His peace that had carried me thus far. Some days, when my legs were strong enough to carry me unaided, I enjoyed my beach walks like on this crisp November morning.

In the distance, I spotted a man sitting quietly on the sand, gazing at the ocean. Yet, as I passed him from behind, I saw his shoulders shaking and realized that he was sobbing, apparently in great agony. Should I stop and talk with him? A perfect stranger? Who knew if he was a fugitive or an ax murderer? I walked on.

However, something about those agonizing sobs pulled me back. I slowly turned and walked toward him. He was still crying and hardly seemed to notice me. I took a closer look and saw a man in his forties, dressed in jeans and T-shirt, short hair and cleanly shaven. Certainly not a dangerous-looking man. Gently, I sat down beside him. For a moment, no one spoke, then I asked softly.

"Are you all right? Can I help you with something?" He kept staring at the ocean.

"I have melanoma," he said. "They are going to amputate my leg."

Taken aback, I was silent for a moment, then began to ask him general questions, hoping to calm him down and get his mind on something else. I learned that his name was John, he was single and alone in the world. I noticed a necklace he was wearing, made out of old string fashioned into a cross. Wanting to keep the conversation going, I asked him:

"Where did you get that, John?"

"I made it in Vietnam ," he began. "My buddies and I were in a foxhole. They all got killed, except me. The enemy was still around so I could not move or let them know I was alive. To get my mind off the danger, I took the strings of my buddies' gear and started to knot it into a necklace. I prayed for safety while I was doing this and put a cross at the end. I have never taken it off," he finished.

"When you were praying," I asked softly, "did you believe God heard you?"

"I don't know," he said, "my life was spared, but what for? Now I have a deadly disease. Look at all the thousands of people who were killed during the war. How can a good God allow all this?"

I explained as best as I could what the Bible has to say about good and evil, war and disease. As I spoke I was strangely aware that somehow these weren't my own words pouring out of my mouth. They came with a compassion and conviction that weren't my own. God was there with us, explaining His love and care to this desperate young man.

"John," I said gently, "you've been through a lot and you are facing a lot more. You need someone to lean on, to support you. You need Jesus as your friend. You can trust Him, and He loves you, John. God is there for you. Jesus, His son, died, so that we may have peace and eternal life. We need this peace to go through life," I stressed.

I told John a little about my own life's struggles and illnesses.

"I could not have made it without God's help and support. Even today, as I was walking on the beach, I felt His presence and his strength. Without Him, I could never have survived. But look, I'm still alive and I still have hope. You can too, John."

Our conversation continued. John had many questions. The gentle surf kept rolling toward us, and I knew God was at work in John's heart. Finally, I asked him if he wanted to pray. Slowly, he nodded his head.

Gently, I led him in a prayer of forgiveness and surrender to the Lord. We both wept, but this time John's tears were not tears of sorrow but tears of relief and peace. Deeply moved, I was amazed at this transformation and in awe that God had used me in this way so unexpectedly.

"John," I finally warned him, "you're going to have a hard time. You're a child of Christ now, and there are going to be some roadblocks ahead of you. It's very important that you find a good church, get a Bible and start reading it."

I suggested a local beach community church. "People dress informally there, John. You can come just as you are."

I got up to leave and rummaged through my bag for a business card but found none. Finally, I tore a deposit slip from my checkbook, wrote down my phone number and handed it to John.

"Call me," I said. "We'll talk and I can also get you a Bible."

Then I got up to continue my walk. I hadn't gone far, when he got up and ran after me, calling me back.

"You know," he said, when he caught up with me, "you are an angel who dropped in from heaven."

I smiled and said, "No, John, you've watched too much TV I'm not an angel." I turned away again, but he stopped me. Slowly he took his necklace off and handed it to me.

"I want you to have this," he said.

Tears came to my eyes again. Overwhelmed, I knew I couldn't refuse his gift, so I carefully accepted it and pulled it gently over my head.

When I returned home I hung John's necklace over my desk lamp. Every time I saw it there, I prayed that God would keep him safe and in the center of his will.

I did not hear from John again, but the following spring a letter arrived. There was no return address. Inside was a small card. Taped to it was a crumpled piece of paper from my checkbook with my address. On the back of the card was one sentence: John went to be with the Lord.

When I read it, I cried and removed John's necklace from my lamp and put it with other treasures in a safe place. I knew I would see John again in heaven. But the story did not end there. Three years later, last December, I received a mysterious Christmas card. Again, there was no return address. Inside was a handwritten note that said: “I'll be eternally grateful for my son's eternal life. I'm John's mother, and I now attend his church.”

A note from the author:

 

P.S. I'm glad to report that today my multiple sclerosis is in complete remission. I have given away my crutches and wheelchair and recently had the hand controls in my car removed. To God be the glory.

 

“A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;” - Ecclesiastes 3:4 

Confessions of a Married woman Part 2

A Confession of a Married Woman 2

Posted by Abby Fayokun on Saturday, November 26, 2011

http://www.circlesoflove.co.uk/blog/a-confession-of-a-married-woman-2  

 Deborah raced down to the hospital as fast as she could. She tried to control herself as fear weigh over her. 

“Oh God! Please.........” she kept saying all over again. “Please Lord........, what have I done?” She pulled her car to a stop in front of St Thomas and ran inside.

“Mr Adebanjo please” she asked the Nurse at the Reception.

“Excuse me, who? She asked trying to understand her

“My husband, I was called by one of your doctors he was rushed here yesterday, Please, where is he?” she said shivering.

“It's ok madam, I will take you right to his room’’ she said leading her to the ward

“Please, what happened? Is he ok?’’ she asked shaking all over

“I’m afraid I can’t tell you anything but would page the doctor in charge to come see you ASAP”, she said..

As the Nurse opened the door to Dewale’s room, flood of tears rushed to her as she saw her husband lying helplessly in strings of tubes all over him, she rushed to him, holding his hands.

“Honey, can you hear me’’ she said crying, touching his face. “Please honey, don’t leave me, I am so sorry” she whispered in tears. “Can you hear me dear.....?”

“Mrs Adebanjo” Dr Olamide went over to her.

“Will he be ok? What happened....” asking all questions at once.

“He was rushed here around 10:00pm yesterday after a collision with a drunk driver. He was hit badly in the head but we were able to stop the bleeding. Due to the extensive damage to the head, we had to induce him into coma”.

“Oh my God! Debby cried. “Will he be ok?”, she asked in tears

“We cannot say how much damage was done until he wakes up from the coma” Dr Olamide said

“When is that going to be? Debby asked

 “We can’t say but hopefully, very soon. We can only wait to see what happens” she said holding her hands to assure her and walked out of the room.

All alone again in the room, she looked at her husband and felt all strength drained out of her, she felt helpless and defeated.

“Honey, Please....., if you can hear me.....” tears running down her face. “I am so sorry......, Please honey, forgive me, I caused all these....I put you in this state.., Please” she cried out loud kneeing on the floor, “Please dear, I am sorry..... Oh God! Please help me, forgive me Lord and give me back my husband, please God....., Don’t punish him for my sins, I committed the offense, I sinned against you, don’t take him away......., she pleaded and begged. “I am sorry Lord......, please......, don’t take him away from me..... I am begging you Lord, please.....” she continued to cry.

At some point, she couldn’t even understand the words coming out of her mouth as her tears overwhelmed her, she held unto his hands and cried out to God. How has she fallen so low, so low for the devil to take advantage of? A broken vessel that only the Master would mend, ‘He that thinks he stands take heed lest he falls’, she knew this verse like no other and yet, she became a part of it. At this point, she had nowhere to go expect to her Maker, he can restore all things, he’s able to breath the breathe of life into dry bones, the giver of life, the righteous God, the mighty warrior, consuming fire, yet, the merciful God. Debby lay down on the floor and cried unto God, with every breath she had in her, she cried unto Him.

 .....................................

It’s been almost a week that Dewale had been in a coma; Deborah refused to leave his bed side until she was pressured by the teams of doctor to at least go home to change. During this time, she had called her parents to explain the situation but left the part of her adulterous act. Her parents helped to take care of Temidayo while she stayed with her husband; they visited her in the hospital and also urged her to go home to rest. After so much pressure, she decided to go home to clean herself up and change of clothe. Getting home to an empty house was most depressing, all she wanted to do is take a shower and get back to the hospital. As soon as she finished cleaning up, she left the house to go back to Dewale.

 “Mrs Adebanjo” she heard one of the Nurses calling after her. “I was about calling you on your mobile, your husband just woke up” she said excited.

 “My God!” Debby exclaimed and ran to his room. Her heart leap for joy, she wanted to run to him and hold him close but cautioned herself as she saw his doctor attending to him, so she stood aside as they attended to him.

 “We are so glad to have you back” she heard his Doctor saying to him. “You’ve been in a coma for a week now after the car accident you had, do you remember anything? She asked

 “Accident?”Dewale asked confused touching the bandage around his hand.

 “It’s ok’’ Doctor Olamide smiled at him. “I’m going to ask you series of question to determine how much damage was done, okay?” she said while Dewale just nodded.

 “Can you please tell me your full name” she asked

 “Adewale Adebanjo” he replied

 “Do you know what year it is?” she asked again

 Confused. “I think..., 2005” he said

 “What!” Debby said from where she was standing. “He said 2005, what does that mean?” she asked Doctor Olamide but before the Doctor could answer, she went to stand by Dewale’s side taking his hands.

 “Honey,” she looked into his eyes but Dewale withdrew his hands. Debby was close to tears at this. “Do you know who I am” she managed to ask.

 “I’m sorry” Dewale said confused. “I ...don’t know.........” he stammered.

 “It’s me, Deborah, your wife” searching into his eyes to see if he recognized her but she found nothing.

 “Oh God!” she said. “What’s happening to him” she asked the Doctor again, “my husband does not recognize me” she said in tears but Dewale was so confused at this scenario and unsure of what to say.

 “Madam, please” Doctor Olamide said taking her hands and lead her outside. Debby reluctantly followed her seeing how confused and stock Dewale was himself. Getting outside in the lobbying, she cried out......

 “What’s happening to him” she cried.

 “Mrs Adebanjo, you need to take things easy” she tried to assure her. "It is not uncommon for recovering coma patient to have memory loss. When people experience physical trauma, such as a head injury in a car accident, this can have effects on their brain”

“But He does remember who he is except from 2005 till date, he does not remember who I am which centres into his loss memory, How can that be?” Debby said confused.

 “We will have to conduct further tests to determine the extent of his memory loss. Sometimes, a trauma can cause a repressed memory loss on a patient. When an event is so traumatic, the memory has not forgotten in the traditional sense, but removed from the conscious mind, still present in the long-term memory but hidden from the patient’s knowledge”

 Fear gripped her hearing this information, she realized the event that happen at home may have caused him to forget all about her. She felt weak to the bone.

“Mrs Adebanjo” she heard Dr Olamide called as she was lost in her thought.

“I’m sorry” Debby said.

 “Is there anyone prior to 2005 you can call, someone he can trust to be with now” she asked

 “There’s no one” she said sadly, “His parents are gone dead and he’s an only child” Debby said.

 “It’s okay then, let me carry out these tests, then we can go from there, Mrs Adebanjo, you need to have faith, this is not permanent, okay? She assured her.

She watched as the Doctor went back in to attend to Dewale, this time, she could not get herself to go in, she stood there watching from the window.  She felt lost in herself, Dewale was not just her husband, he was her best friend, he is everything she has. She needed someone right now to talk to and her only companion does not even recognize her.

 After standing there for a while, she decided to walk away, just go anywhere. She got into her car and drove away; she had no destination in mind, just to drive. After several minutes driving aimlessly and in her thought, she felt the car behind her had been following her for quite sometimes, she took note of it and drove a little while and was sure it was definitely on her tail, then she noticed she recognized the car and then, she stomped on her brake to stop which made the other car to brake harshly too. She got out of the car and went straight to the other car opening the door to the driver side.

“Why on earth are you following me” she shouted at Tunde. “What is all these” she continued to shout.

 “I’m sorry Debby, I was just trying to get you to speak to me; I was worried after you left your house the other day, I have called your phone numerous time but no response, you’ve not been to work or even back home. I went by your house today again and saw you driving off so I followed you,  I couldn’t catch on with you when you drove into the hospital so I waited”.

“So, what are you? She shouted.  Why are you looking for me? Why are you following me? To see if your mission is completed? Isn’t it” She said furious. .

“No, no, I was just worried about you Deb” he said with a sorry face

 “Don’t you dare call me Deb, you lost the right to call me that long ago” she said.

 “I’m sorry Deborah, I know you are still angry with me, but really, I am very sorry. I didn’t plan for things to happen this way. I can’t stop thinking about you Debby”

 “Now, Tunde, I want you to stop right there. Don’t think about me. I am not interested in you and what happened between us was a great mistake and I regret it. I love my husband and that’s not going to change. Tunde, put yourself in His shoe, how would you feel? She asked searching his face but he was quiet. “I don’t know who you are anymore Tunde, I thought you are a Man of God, What happened to the man that so preaches against all these?” she said.

“Debby, I am first a Man before I became a Man of God, I have feelings, emotions and I loved you and still love you........, Debby, I can’t find myself without you.... please.....

 At that moment, Debby realized she was making another great mistake standing there, talking to him, she should be in the hospital now, by her husband’s side, either he remembers her or not, with that thought, she turned back, walking to her car..

 “Debby, please, don’t walk away from me...” he ran after her. But she just continued to walk, got into her car and raced back to the hospital.

 She was determine to work this through, in as much as she needed Dewale, she realized that Dewale also needs her, she was all that he’s got, she was his only family and she believes that is hidden somewhere in his memory and sooner, it will all come back to him.

..........................................

 

As she looked through the window to his room, she said a word of prayer, and then she walked in.....

 Dewale lifting up his head to look at her, and then, he tried to smile.

 “I am so sorry about the other time” he apologized, “guess I was still in a state of stock” he said looking at her.

 “It’s okay; it wasn’t your fault “she replied.

 “You know, waking up from a sleep and then you realized you’ve lost six years of good memory” he chuckled.

 “That sucks” Debby said smiling.”

 “Yea, real bad” he smiled. “I must have scared the hell out of you” he said with a look of concern on his face.

 “And to say I have this beautiful woman before me who is my wife, aren’t I the luckiest of men” he said smiling

 “Actually, I am the luckiest of all women” she laughed.

 “So tell me, what have I missed” he curiously asked.

 “Well” Debby smiled, “You have a beautiful daughter, and she’s two years old, she’s at my Mom’s now.

 “I am so blessed” Dewale said smiling.

 ....................................

 Dewale stayed in the hospital for one more week to monitor him after which his Doctor decided he was fit to go home. She advised that familiar places or things might help to jolt back his memory and she also booked him for weekly physiotherapy at the hospital. Debby was glad to have her husband back home, even if they still behave like strangers, it was better than losing him.

 Few days after getting home, Dewale went through the whole house to see if things would be familiar to him, especially when Temidayo was brought back to the house, as he held his daughter, he felt so much love within him, love that overweighs above his memory, he knew somewhere within him that she was his and wept quietly as he held her close. Debby longed to explain what happened before the accident to him but she was warned by the doctors to take things slow with him and not relate past trauma events to him yet.

Days turning into weeks, she tried to get Dewale to come sleep on their bed but she felt he was uncomfortable about this, sometimes, he sleeps for few hours but when she wakes up in the middle of the night, she finds him downstairs on the couch, other times, she hears him praying, even as she couldn’t hear the words, she knew he was distress in his spirit. With all these going on, she felt guilty about having these desire for her husband, she wanted to be touched by him, she wanted to sleep in his embrace all night long, kiss him so passionately to express how much she loves him, at the same time, she was unsure of how to come clean to him and felt deception about these. Sometimes, she wants to ask him what he does remember as things were beginning to come back to him, but the fear of what it might be scared her.

 Even with all these going on at home, she tried to keep Tunde off her back, although, she had quit her job, changed her mobile number but he keeps sending her all sort of letters at home, sometimes when she goes out, she sees his car stalking her, at times he approaches, other times, he just follows her. It was so bad that even when he wasn’t there, Debby felt like she was been watched by him. She stopped every confrontation with him as it was of no use. All she wants now is her husband back to her but she knew she had to trust God.

 After almost a month with these whole battle. One day, as she prepared to go to bed, Dewale offered to tuck in Temidayo while she went to take a shower. As she finished in the bathroom, she found Dewale in the room waiting there for her;

 “Is everything alright?” she asked looking at him

 “Yes” He said smiling. He took her into his arms and hugged her. They both stayed in each other arms for quite a while, then, he brought her facing him, kissed her softly, and stopped to look at her face. Debby was lost in all this, she was surprised in a good way, as she was about to speak, he kissed her again, this time, so passionately that she was lost of all words; she kissed him back too and held tightly unto him, ignoring her towel coming off from her, she held on so tightly while tears dropping off her eyes. She moved with him as he led her on the bed, she watched him as he came unto her, wrapped himself into her, and then, she found herself talking...

“Dewale, I have to talk to you” she said softly.

“Honey, I’m done talking” he answered back kissing her as he spoke.

 “It’s really important honey.....” she said

“We can talk after this dear”. Dewale said longing after her as he held her.

 “Please” She said stopping him. “I did something....., something very terrible.... and you don’t remember” she said as the tears kept rolling

“Hon”  he stopped and looked at her with a kind face. “I don’t want you to talk about anything dear, whatever you did, I forgive you” he said wiping the tears from her face. “I love you so much honey and I know you love me too, whatever it is dear, let’s forget it dear and move on with our lives”.

“But, don’t you want to know?” she asked.

 “I don’t want to hear it, honey” he said getting back to kissing her. She turned her face up to his,  her half-felt protest became a moan of surrender as he drove his mouth down on hers with a hungry kiss which splintered her. She felt love like never before.  As he touched her, she moved with him and enjoyed every step of it. This is what love making should be, a feeling of total love and surrender to your partner, not of condemnation, deceit or betrayal. She felt his forgiveness and love towards her. 

Although, unknown to Deborah, Dewale had recovered completely from his loss memory but thought that revisiting the past would not make things better between them, rather, he decided to deal with things in his own way. During those days of recovering, he spent time prayer and pondering over things. He prayed for the heart of forgiveness and restoration. He knew Deborah was sorry for her act and he needed something stronger to let go. After days of prayer and reflection, he had a peace beyond all comprehension within and knew God was working in him, he completely surrendered to him. He loved his wife and would do everything to make things work between them. 

 ...............................

 Tunde jumped to the sound of the door bell. Opening the door, he found an unfamiliar face standing before him.

 “Hello” He greeted. “Can I help you?” He asked questioning him.

 “Yes” Dewale said walking pass him into his house. “I think it's best we come inside to talk”

 Tunde was surprised at outburst of his guest.

 “My name is Dewale, I think you know my wife” He said looking at him. Tunde was taken back in fear as he realised who he is.

 “You actually haven’t met me before and yet, you have the gut to come into my home and defy my wife” Dewale said furiously, “even still, you want to keep coming back” standing up in his face. Tunde was motionless as he watched him speak; he wanted to say something but couldn’t find words.

“I want you to listen and listen carefully; my wife is my Jewel. I love her and would do anything to stay that way. Henceforth, I want you to stay away from my wife;  you don’t dare to call her, see her or even think about her” he said in a commanding tone, looking straight into his eyes while Tunde was taken back in fear.

 Then, Dewale stood a step backward, walking towards the couch “You know, when I first met my wife, before we actually started dating....” Dewale said sitting down, “all she did was to talk about you, mostly about how she admire your commitment to God, how you serve him and uphold your faith..., I never knew you then but I admired your commitment” he smiled to himself. “but now, I don’t know what happened to you but one thing I know is this, you are lost; for you to have the gut to come into another man’s home, eat his fruit and demand to take it away, then I am most certain that you are on a path to hell” Dewale said this looking straight at him which brought Tunde sit. Then, he became silence to what seems like eternity.

“I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of God. Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; obey it, and repent”. Dewale quoted.

“Revelation 3” Tunde said quietly to himself.

“I see you still know your bible” he said.

“You need to move on...” Dewale said in a gentle tone, “You need to let go...., move on”. At this time, he saw Tunde swell up in tears. He realized how much he had fallen, he thought it was Debby he needed but in the true sense, he needed his Lord and Saviour, he realized he had gone far away from his Maker. He tried to destroy another man’s home.........

Dewale seeing his reaction to his words stood up, walked over to him. “You need to go back home; you need to go back to the presence of God, you were a man with great vision, a purpose but you sold out to the devil, go home man”. He said and began to walk out.

 Tunde, who is swelled up in tears looked up at his guest leaving.

 “I am so....very sorry” Tunde spoke out in tears, “I am sorry, please, forgive me” he said after him. Dewale looked back at him seeing all distraught he was, nodded and walked out.

As Dewale got into his car, he sat down for few minutes pondering over all that went on in there. He realized that for him to have a better relationship with his wife and for them to move on past all these, he too had to let go, he had to forgive both of them and himself. Part of him blamed himself for allowing this to happen; a Man is supposed to hold his house together against all invaders. Someone once say that; ‘Marriage is the only institute you receive a certificate on the same day you begin the course, what you do with it lies in your hands’. Everyone has its test to pass, sometimes, you need to repeat a class, other times, you may need to retake another test but the most important things is thriving, working hard and not giving up. The love of God is able to conquer everything that life throws at us; we need the willingness and courage to give it our best. Your love for each other isn’t enough to hold through storming seas but the love of God can break through every pain, disappointment, betrayal, anything that comes between us

 

With these thought, he drove home to meet his love..........

 

The End.