A Faithful Family

A Faithful Family

Joann Darville

Through my eyes as a child:

            At the age of seven I was the oldest of five children.  It was then that my youngest brother Bert was born.  He was premature and very tiny.  Once he was brought home, my whole family prayed for him around his bassinet.             

            One morning I noticed that Bert had turned blue. It really scared me! He was raced to the hospital immediately.  While there, it was touch-and-go for several days.  I heard the priest tell my father that if my brother were to suddenly get worse before he could return, he (my father) could baptize him.  Even though I was a child, hearing this relieved me greatly! I then knew if my new little brother were to die, he would go to heaven. 

            A few weeks after Bert came home, he was able to be baptized in the church.

Through my eyes as an adult:

            Looking back at the influence of my faithful family, I now realize as an adult the impact it has had on me:  experiencing God's loving care, knowing the value of prayer, and having God utmost in my life.

A Truly Joyful Noise

A Truly Joyful Noise

Dari van Hissenhoven

            My sweet 7-year old daughter, Analise, is known as the "hugger", the most enthusiastic singer of the “Holy, Holy, Holy” and the bearer of the cross that’s twice her size at the Church of the Good Shepherd in Maitland, FL.  This is her story and mine as well.  It's a testimony of walking in trust and obedience to God.

            For years my husband and I considered adoption.  Although we had our own children, we saw much need in the world.  We prayed that if we were to adopt a child, God would provide the way. 

            We had long discussions with my friend Susana who is a social worker for an international adoption agency.  She has three internationally adopted children of her own. Then one day, she told me about a 7-month old deaf Guatemalan girl with other medical issues who was in need of a family. In that moment, my soul was filled with a resounding --YES!  God himself was whispering in my ear.  My dear friend probably thought I had become delusional when I told her this was the child we had been waiting for.  Yet never before had I been so absolutely certain of anything.  My husband also knew wholeheartedly that God was leading us.

            Anyone who has ever gone through the adoption process knows what a frustrating and expensive paper chase it can be. Among our other concerns were a political storm about the ethics of international adoption and a treaty about the rights of children that might sideline the entire process. To further complicate the situation was a misspelled email address that was our only contact with the U.S. State Department.  

            You would think that I would be just…well…anxious.  However, I, who am almost always anxious about everything on some level, was nothing but certain that everything would be fine even though it took ten months.  How could my God, who was orchestrating each step, not bring it to a joyful completion?  I had been obedient, and now it was the time to be faithful. Over and over again, I told myself to be still. Be still and know that He is God and that is sufficient.

            During the time we had to wait for the paperwork to be completed, we made a big decision to go live in Guatemala so we could become acquainted with our new daughter in her environment.  Before leaving Florida our entire family prepared for Analise's arrival to her new home. Medical experts were consulted. We began to learn sign language. We bought a bigger car.

            Then the day came when we were packing our bags to go to Guatemala to meet this little person who was our daughter and to celebrate her very first birthday. Well, let’s just say that it was love at first sight. We had found our daughter, AND SHE WAS PERFECT IN EVERY WAY.

            Once there we met Analise's foster mother, Lidia, who had been praying all along that this sweet child would find a family despite how dire the medical predictions were for her. A woman of faith, Lidia, too, knew somehow this baby she loved so dearly would find a family. This frail child was beginning to grow and thrive under her care. This little deaf girl was now starting to repeat sounds and speak words.  When we showed her the picture of our German Shepherd, she cheerfully pointed and said, “puppy!” After just a few days, we decided to abandon our original plans to stay since we could see how God was using this saintly woman to heal this little girl. Now it was time for us to be obedient, faithful, and very, very patient. Analise stayed, and we returned home to wait some more. It was hard to be separated, but we knew this was how it was meant to be.

            More weeks passed. The political situation was getting unstable and was becoming unpredictable. We knew nothing about how a change in government would affect our process. Susana, my dear friend who had become a catalyst for all of this, was heartbroken at the thought of perhaps having to tell us that the adoption would not be possible.  However she was a woman of prayer and knew the power of hope and had faith that God would overcome the obstacles.

            At last... on Easter weekend we flew to bring our baby home. All the idiotic workings of man could not and did not overcome the will of God. The rest is history. Analise is now singing with absolute joy in our congregation…. seeing her makes one smile and know that all things are possible with God.

An Angel on Assignment

An Angel on Assignment

Keith Anderson

            My family was raised in the Badlands of North Dakota. Early in their lives both of my parents were free spirits. At the age of 15 my father started breaking wild horses for the United States Army.  My mother played several instruments in a lively western dance band.  When I was a small child, I didn't go to Sunday school, and I had never heard Jesus's name - except as a curse word.  Our family was on a one-way street with God - He loved us, but we didn't love Him.  If any family needed God's love, it was ours.

            Then one day God sent an angel to the Anderson family who didn't really deserve it.  On that day my folks decided to go to a carnival in a little valley outside of Zap, North Dakota where we lived.  They had parked their 1933 Whippet at the top of a butte which could not be seen by those who were attending the carnival down in the valley.

            Back in those days when you locked the doors from the outside of the car, they could not be opened from the inside.  My mother and dad decided to lock my brother (who was 4) and me (who was 1) in the car while they walked around at the carnival.

            While there, a lady tapped my mother on the shoulder.  Mother turned to see a woman standing there in a white dress, a white head wrap and white shoes.  My mother was stunned by her appearance because NO ONE wore white garments, especially white shoes, in this area because of the red scoria dust which covers the ground. Mother also took special note of the fact there wasn't even any dust on her shoes. 

            The woman looked at my mother and only said, "Your car is on fire." 

            With that mom and dad took off running up the hill.  There was no one else up there -- just the cars.  They immediately saw smoke coming out from underneath their hood.    

            [In this model car the gas tank was located under the hood near the firewall which is next to the cabin.  The battery was located beside the gas tank.]

            When Dad raised the hood, he could see that the battery had shorted out causing sparks which could have easily ignited the gasoline.  With his bare hands, my dad ripped the cable off the battery saving the lives of us two boys.

            Afterwards, my mother ran down to the fairway to thank the lady.  She knew she could find her because there wasn't that big a crowd.  She asked people if they had seen a lady dressed all in white - even her shoes.  They all laughed at her.  Looking for a woman dressed in all white.  Who would be dressed in such a way here?  Impossible! 

            There was no doubt God had been merciful and sent an angel because He loved the Andersons.  Later on this family gave their lives to Jesus.  As a result, my brother even pioneered eleven churches in his lifetime.  

Choices

Choices

 Evelyn Falco

            I was asked to speak about "choices" at a special women's Kairos retreat. [Kairos is an international prison ministry.  The retreat was being held for family or friends of those who were or had been incarcerated.]  This invitation was now presenting me with a choice to make.   I prayed and accepted. Now it was up to me to choose the words to say -- the ideas to present.   Here are some of the thoughts I shared that day:

****

            Everyday we each face choices -- some trivial, some critical and even life changing.  We are free to make good or bad decisions.  As a mother, wife, grandmother, and great-grandmother, my choices are often not made in my best personal interest, but are frequently made with my family in mind.

            Sometimes our choices can be supportive and encouraging; other times they can be destructive or harmful.  Often my decisions have been made as a result of choices that were previously made by others.  Simply put, our actions are often connected to ones made by others.  And our decisions can affect the lives of others as well. Some choices made by individual family members can even affect the entire family.

            For some of us the choice to be here at this retreat came through divine intervention.  By this, I mean the Holy Spirit has moved in us to become a part of this ministry.  For others, myself included, we are not only here because of such divine inspiration, but we are also responding to the actions of our loved ones.

            As mothers and wives some of us have a built-in, instinctive mechanism in our decision making process which continuously considers the impact our choices will have on our families.  For example, how we decide to budget our income will impact everyone we care for financially. On the other hand, some of us may have been self-centered in some of our choices.

            Personally, I have had to make some choices as a result of my son's bad choices.  My son and I were closely bonded from day one.  Despite all of my advice and encouragement as well as that of others, he made some very poor decisions that affected our whole family.  As a result, he is now serving a repeated offender sentence that carries a minimum sentence of 25 years.  With each incarceration leading up to this last one, I was faced the option to encourage him or to give up on him.  I decided to continue the encouragement. 

            As a result of his decisions, our whole family suffered consequences. He lost his own family.  While in prison, his wife died, and the custody of his two children was given to his wife's sister.  Also his father and I spent countless hours and money attempting to remain part of the children's lives.  We travelled to Louisiana to visit them, as well as paid attorney fees in an attempt to have the ignored court-ordered visitations enforced. We have never given up hope on him.  We continue to visit him in prison.  We send him money, write letters and accept phone calls from him. 

            No matter what, we must never give up on those who have not made good choices.  We must continue to pray for them and to live a godly life that demonstrates our faith.  We need to ask God to guide and direct us when we have to make decisions that concern us and our families. 

            God always allows us to choose.  At times, it may seem as though our choices are limited because of our circumstances.  However, the awesome gift that we have is that -- the rest of our lives begins at this very moment.  How we proceed in life is determined by the choices we will make from now on.

****

            Having a passion to become more obedient and stronger in my faith, I am thankful I was presented with this opportunity to address the women at the Kairos retreat.   It gave me a chance to give more of myself to Christ and to share my love with others.  I am glad I made my choice to speak that day.

God Shows Up

God Shows Up

Gordon Sims

            While motorcycling down twisty mountain roads near Franklin, North Carolina, my transmission started slipping. I nursed it for a few miles until I got to a main road.  After pulling into a church parking lot, I got out my plethora of tools and opened the primary chain access cover. I could tell something was seriously wrong.  When I tried to restart the bike, the engine would not connect to the transmission.   

            Practicing my spiritual principals, I said the SERENITY PRAYER:

                        God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; the courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference.

   Then I asked GOD for guidance.

            Looking around I noticed a gentleman mowing the grounds of the churchyard.  I also noticed there was a trailer for his mower attached to his new Dodge Ram pickup truck. I walked over to him and explained my problem.   He introduced himself as Landy and offered to "trailer" me into Franklin.  He even called a local motorcycle shop to advise them we were “coming in.”

            During the 10 mile ride into town, Landy, a fit and alert 78 year old man, explained that he was helping his church with the grounds maintenance, because the grounds keeper had cancer. We continued our conversation talking about life:  how short it can be and how God is in our lives.

            Once we arrived at the motorcycle repair shop, I quickly unloaded my bike, thanked Landy, and offered to pay him for his efforts. Smiling, he refused my offer and wished me good luck before driving off.

            I explained to Justin, the owner of the repair shop, the problems I was having with my bike. Justin said, "It sounds like the compensator bolt came loose." He moved my bike into his shop and put it up on the lift.   He quickly removed the cover and confirmed the compensator bolt had backed out.  Repairs were made in 45 minutes and only cost $100.00.   I was ready to RIDE once again! 

            Just before I left Justin asked me if Landy took any money for the tow. I explained that I tried, but Landy refused. Justin laughed and said, "He is a multi-millionaire!"

            This whole problem had only taken two hours out of my day.  How awesome it is to realize the miracles that GOD provided me that day.  And I was so thankful for the people that he put into my life.  However, I decided not to chance any further problems and headed straight back to Florida cutting my trip short by two days.

                        My whole excursion covered more than 3,000 miles through Georgia, North Carolina and Tennessee.  I was really glad to be within 20 miles of home. Suddenly as I was getting off the Florida Turnpike, I saw a Harley-Davidson motorcycle crashed into the guard rail.  I stopped and looked for the riders.  About three hundred feet away I saw a female sitting alone in the grass. I ran as fast as I could to check on her condition. She had some road rash and complained of her wrist hurting.  I asked her if she was riding with anyone. She said, "Yes!"   Then I spied a man about 50 feet away.  He was lying face down under the guard rail.  I went to check on the downed rider.  Being the first person to arrive at the scene, I checked the man’s condition.  Another person arrived to assist. He called 911 while I checked the victim's pulse. He was alive.  JUST BARELY.   His body was broken and bleeding beyond description. I held his hand letting him know that his passenger was OK.  Then I said a prayer.  I let him know that he is not alone; GOD was here with us! Some time passed and then the First Responders started to arrive. I cleared out of the way and made my way back to the female passenger. I let her know that the paramedics were here and that her male riding friend knew she was OK.  I slowly walked back to my bike.

            My life was forever changed!  I knew that God had been with me in the mountains and had sent me to be with this dying man.  I experienced His care and witnessed His provision. How confident I am now knowing:  For where two or three are gathered together in His name, there He is in the midst of them.  (Matthew 18:20)

The Lord Watches Over His Word to Perform It

The Last Flight

Jim Sutton

            The church was filled by friends and loved ones gathered to honor the life of Jim Burgess and to celebrate his home-going.  Jim passed away in his 90's and had lived a life of unselfish devotion to family, friends and country.  He loved God and served the Church of the Good Shepherd faithfully for many years.

            During his funeral service, Jim's brother-in-law ­­­­­Robert recounted some of the memorable events of Jim’s life.  Among the highlights mentioned was Jim’s service in the Army Air Corps in Europe during WWII.  Jim flew reconnaissance flights in an unarmed P-38 fighter over enemy territory.  As a result he received the Silver Star for his bravery. The Silver Star is the third-highest military combat decoration that can be awarded to a member of the United States Armed Forces. It is awarded for gallantry in action. 

            Robert also recalled a later time in Jim's life when he was forced to land his private plane in Tampa Bay. As he was standing on the floating fuselage, he promised God that if he was saved, he would serve Him for the rest of his life. He fulfilled his promise.

            Following the church service Jim’s ashes were interred in the Memorial Garden behind the Good Shepherd Chapel that he loved.  Just as the U.S. Air Force Honor Guard was playing taps, a small single-engine plane flew directly over the memorial garden and the small group of family and friends assembled there.  The plane’s direction was not the normal flight pattern for aircraft in the Orlando area.

            Members of the congregation who stood outside in the nearby courtyard wondered whether Jim’s wife, Irene, had asked a friend to perform this fitting final salute.  When asked about it later, Irene said she knew nothing about it. 

            As I thought about the courtyard event, I realized that what had happened was God's way of welcoming Jim into the heavenly realms.  After this occurrence I recalled a poem written during World War II by a young pilot, John Magee, Jr., shortly before his death in combat, --

"Oh, I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth,

And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;

Sunward I've climbed and joined the tumbling mirth of sun-split clouds -

and done a hundred things You have not dreamed of -

wheeled and soared and swung high in the sunlit silence.

 Hovering there, I’ve chased the shouting wind along,

 and flung my eager craft through footless halls of air.

"Up, up the long delirious burning blue

I've topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace,

where never lark, or even eagle, flew;

and, while with silent, lifting mind I've trod

the high untrespassed sanctity of space,

put out my hand and touched the face of God."

God's Providential Care

God’s Providential Care

Rev. Sarah Bronos

            A couple of years ago after a wonderful healing mission with Pastor Sharon Lewis and her team from Amazing Love Healing Ministry, I was driving home.  It was fairly late at night, around 10:00 p.m., and I was tired.  Pastor Sharon and her team were following behind my car, as they were to stay at my house that evening.

            I stopped at a red light underneath an I-4 overpass waiting to turn left onto the ramp for the expressway.  As the light turned green, I looked behind me to make sure again that they were ready to follow. Then I moved into the intersection slowly so as not to lose them.  I briefly looked to my right at the traffic stopped at the light. Suddenly I realized that there was a car that was running the red light and rapidly approaching the intersection headed directly for my passenger side door.  I felt glued in place and could neither move nor react.  I don’t remember much of anything except the sound of the crash and a severe jolt to my car.  After my car stopped moving, I pulled forward a little onto the ramp and stopped as far off to the side as I could.  Pastor Sharon pulled up behind.  Shaking but unhurt, I got out to look at the damage. We had to look really hard to see any at all–there was no immediate sign of the impact. One of Pastor Sharon’s team said, “We all saw him coming right at you and then it seemed like your car was moved out of the way.” 

            Later, we discovered a small scratch on the rear right side of the back bumper.  I have never had the rear bumper repaired. This scratch is there as reminder to me of God’s providential care.

I'm here to Tell You About It!

I'm Here to Tell You About It! 

 Sandy Giles

            On a nice Florida day my friend Mary Jo and I were enjoying being outside.  I was up on the porch watering my flowers when suddenly something caused me to fall off and briefly lose consciousness.  When I awoke, I felt that my face was a bloody, swollen mess! I had a deep gash between my eyebrows. Mary Jo called her son to come - he said that I needed to go to the hospital immediately.

            Once there I found out that I had broken my nose in 3 places and the hole in my face needed to have 10 stitches.  The ER doctor said it should be performed by a plastic surgeon.  I told him I could not afford to do that.  He consented to do the work himself but insisted I should still see a plastic surgeon to be sure it had been stitched correctly.  He also advised me that in order to make any claim regarding the accident I would need to see him within seven days. 

            While at the hospital, Rev. Sarah came and said a healing prayer for me.

            I decided not to bother going to a plastic surgeon right away.

            However, on the seventh day after my fall I did go to a plastic surgeon.  After examining my wound, he said it was fine and removed my stitches.

            A few days later, on the following Sunday, I went to church.   When I went to the altar for prayers, Rev. Sarah was amazed to see I had been COMPLETELY HEALED.   There weren't any signs of my injury.  Even the black and blue had gone away!

            God can do miraculous things!   And I'm here to tell you about it!  

My Journey for a Diagnosis

My Journey for a Diagnosis

Barbara Campanaro

            In early 2006 I started to experience severe pain in my back along my spine.   Each day the pain became more severe, especially at bedtime.   Sleep was impossible –even after taking various pain pills.  I went from doctor to doctor and could not get a definite diagnosis. One said I had a spinal condition; another said it was a gynecological problem. Yet another one said I needed to get a series of epidermal injections to clear up an “unknown condition.”

            On many nights, my husband Richard had to rush me to the emergency room of Florida Hospital so that they could “put me out.”  It was horrible! Nothing worked! We tried everything including a chiropractor and a Chinese doctor of acupuncture.  But no one could determine the right diagnosis nor rid me of the pain.  We were at “wits end.”  One day, my husband heard about a different doctor so we made an appointment.  We showed up on the day of my appointment only to hear that the doctor had an emergency and could not see us.  We were told there was a “fill in” doctor who could examine me.  At first, I was reluctant and angry, but my husband convinced me to give the man a try. 

            After some preliminary talk about my problem, Dr. Simon Isaac said he would examine me only if we agreed to let him do it his way.  We were a bit puzzled, but we agreed.  He said I needed to strip down to my underwear.  During the examination, he stood behind me and began moving his hands down my body - starting at my head and moving very slowly down the rest of my body.  During this time my husband sat facing me and could see the doctor's face as he proceeded with the examination. Suddenly Dr. Isaac's hands stopped when he reached the section of my body near my navel.   Instantly my husband noticed a change in doctor's facial expression.  Right away the doctor exclaimed, "YOU HAVE A MASS!"  He told me to get dressed and go directly to the emergency room as he handed me a note with a diagnosis.   

            Shortly later we arrived at the South Seminole Hospital Emergency Room.  At first the ER doctor said the diagnosis was incorrect.   However, after my husband exchanged some “words” with him, they ran some tests.  As a result, they did find a mass and transported me to Orlando Health Downtown, so that I could be examined by a vascular surgeon as well as a general surgeon.   To make a long story short – Yes, I did have two malignant cancerous masses and indeed the diagnosis by Dr. Isaac was right.  

            Immediately after my surgery while I was still in recovery, my husband and my children gave Dr. Isaac a call to thank him and tell him I had come through the surgery just fine.  He responded, "I know. " My husband was astonished.  How could he have known??

            Later Richard tried calling Dr. Isaac again using the same number he had given him.  This time he got the message, "This number is no longer in service."  Our search continued.   Although we could find other "Dr. Simon Isaac's" in our search both locally and online, none was this Dr. Simon Isaac.  This one mysteriously disappeared.  Even though we are still continuing our search, I wonder if this special "fill in" doctor could have been an angel.  Regardless, my husband and I have no doubt that God had His hand in my healing.

My Prodigal Son

My Prodigal Son

Valerie Welch

            One month after my son Mark was born he began experiencing lungs problems. He was hospitalized 15 times in his first year. Several times he nearly died. When he was 18 months old, he almost drowned in the neighbor's pool. These were the first times his life would be spared.   

            Two days before Mark's 15^th birthday he climbed out of his bedroom window at 12:30 a.m. and took his father’s new Camaro for a joyride.  When a deputy tried to pull him over, he fled and crashed the car. Amazingly his life was spared; he wasn’t even hurt.   However, my son was arrested and charged with attempted murder with a deadly weapon, the car being the deadly weapon. As a result, Mark spent 5 months in the juvenile detention center. I went to visit him several times a week, and he called on the phone every night. 

            That was the beginning of 17 years of hell. During those years he became involved with drugs and hung out with a very bad group of kids. He was incarcerated so many times I lost track. By the time he was 18 years old, we were  $25,000 in debt. Every time he was arrested he promised that he would never get into any more trouble if... I would just help him one more time. And each time I did.  I spent every weekend driving to wherever in Florida he was located, because that’s what a caring mother is supposed to do - or so I thought.

            Finally, when Mark was 29, he was home and doing better.  He had a steady job and seemed to be happy. One day he told me he was taking a trip to Georgia with his friend Mike, a troublemaker. I told him, "If you do this and get into trouble, I will not help you.  I can’t go through this anymore." Of course, he promised to behave. However, after that promise I got a call that they had wrecked into a bridge.  Once again my son was not hurt.  Drugs were found in their car, so they were both arrested in Georgia. That night Mark called asking for money to buy snacks and shoes, and he wanted me to get him a lawyer.  For the first time... I told him NO - he would have to eat what was given to him and wear whatever shoes he was given.  I also replied that I would not get him a lawyer.

            After talking to my son on the phone that night, I reflected on happenings in his life -- once again realizing how he had recently survived yet another close call and also how he still hadn’t learned from past mistakes. I found myself sitting on the floor sobbing and praying.  I finally pleaded,  "Jesus, I can’t do this anymore.  I am giving you my son Mark." I decided to drive to Georgia.  Although I had not never ever driven that far by myself nor had I stayed in a hotel by myself, I knew this was something I had to do.  While there, I told Mark this was the only visit I would be making. I also told him he could only call once a month, and I would only be sending him money on his birthday and Christmas. That was the last time I saw Mark for 13 months. That was one of the hardest times I ever experienced.

            Mark's friend Mike had only been sentenced to 3 months in jail. During Mark's imprisonment in Georgia, Mike was killed in a bad vehicle accident. If Mark had not been in prison, he would have probably been in Mike's truck and also been killed.

            After finally being released Mark came home.   When he was 31, Mark met a wonderful girl. A year later they had a son who is the joy of his life. He has not been in trouble again. He works hard, supports his family, and is a devoted father.

            Two years ago I was called for jury duty. The judge asked if anyone had a family member convicted of a felony, I raised my hand. He asked me who it was, and I told him it was my son.  He came down from the bench, stood right in front of me and asked, "Do you think he was treated fairly?  Do you think his sentence was fair?" The judge was shocked when he heard my response.  I told him if my son had not been in prison, he probably would be dead now; I would no longer have a son. I told him I didn't feel that way years ago. But now I'd come to realize, I couldn’t help him anymore, and he had to stay in prison until he could learn to make better choices. The judge said in all his years no one had ever said something like that to him.

            You see... when I finally turned Mark over to Jesus, his healing began. I still continue to pray for him daily asking God to guide and protect him. 

Our Butterfly Day

Our Butterfly Day

by Joy Sutton

The last truly fun adventure I had with my sister Joan was during the summer before her death. She and her husband Victor, and my husband Jim and I drove to find a remote place in the northeastern mountains of Georgia, along the Appalachian Trail. Being trail maintainers the guys needed to locate in advance the entrance on the trail before the day of their next hike. We decided to combine their business with a family outing. Joan had undergone recent surgery for liver cancer and thought it had been successful. She was ready now for a relaxing get-away in nature. It was a hopeful and carefree day!

We finally found the trail entry. Once there we had the choice of returning the way we had come or of taking a very risky alternative -- down a primitive road that would require us to ford a stream and a river in the car. Since we were in a new SUV, we decided to take the adventurous way home. The backwoods dirt road had deep ruts and lots of rocks - some quite large. The first stream we had to ford was fairly deep. Water reached the bottom of the car doors. At the very end of the primitive road we had to cross the Tallulah River. It required us to drive about a 100 feet down the twisting river before we reached the exit on the other side. Once across the river we got out of the car to take in the beauty of this lovely place.

Although there were some anxious moments traveling along that road, we had fun nevertheless. We were also relieved to have completed this treacherous part of our journey with us and the car still intact! From here we were able to take a good road home.

Regretfully, my sister's health deteriorated shortly after that day. Joan died that October.

The next summer Victor, Jim and I returned via the good road to that memorable place along the Tallulah River --the spot where we had forded the river. We were in for an awesome sight. Hundreds, if not thousands, of gorgeous butterflies were flying back and forth along the river’s edge. It was the only place along the river where we saw that spectacle that day. It was as though the Holy Spirit was orchestrating something beautiful in this special place and in this unique way! The spot where my sister and I had stood the summer before and had reveled in nature's loveliness.

I’ve returned there several times since then, but I have never seen the butterflies in great numbers like we did that day which I now call "Our Butterfly Day."

Why ask for proof that soul lives on

When body dies;

Do caterpillars recognize their angel-selves

In butterflies?

                                                            (poem by Don Blanding)

The Awesome Power of God

The Awesome Power of God

Elizabeth Gardner

            Many of us have experienced profound times with God.  I want to share with you one such time I had years ago at a healing service at All Saints Church in Winter Park, Florida - before we had such services at the Church of the Good Shepherd in Maitland.

            Several years ago in June I found a lump in my left hand.  My orthopedic surgeon said it was a tumor that should be excised.  I didn't want to have the surgery since my hand would need to be in a cast for a period of time which would make my life difficult.

            My first thought was to go quietly to our chapel at Good Shepherd to seek God's guidance.  But I decided instead to go to All Saints on that next Wednesday when there would be Holy Eucharist coupled with a healing service. 

            While kneeling at the altar preparing to take communion, I looked down at my hands which formed a cross, ready to receive the sacred host.  Thoughts began to race in my mind.  "How much closer can I be to Jesus than at this moment?" I asked myself as I received the small piece of unleavened bread.  At that moment I was grateful that the piece of bread became Living Bread, wherein His mysteries entered time and space to strengthen and refresh my soul.  It was here that I asked for His healing.

            A couple of months passed by - and the tumor was still present.

            Then in August of that same summer, I suddenly realized the tumor had disappeared.  I was elated!  Though I had to wait, my loving Jesus had given me a special gift.  Many times in the past He had offered me His love and caring -- and now he had given me healing in my left hand.

            Jesus is so precious!  What He did for this child, He can do for you.

            Praise be to our Living Savior.  I have a heart full of thanksgiving.

The Flower

The Flower

Meg Folsom

            This day started out as a routine one at the prenatal office where I work. It was what we call a "non-clinic day" - a day for paper work, phone calls and such. We see patients only as needed.

            That morning I received a call from a patient who was 25 weeks pregnant.  She hadn’t felt her baby move in several hours. We instruct our patients that their baby should move at least 10 times in a 2 hour period. If they don’t feel movement, they are to drink and eat something sweet, sit down, wake the baby with gentle pressure and get those 10 counts. If they don’t, they are to call the office right away. The mother stated she had done all these things with no result. I suggested she come into the office to be monitored.

            When she arrived she stated she had eaten and had a protein shake. I listened for the baby’s heartbeat on our fetal monitor and heard nothing, not even the swish of amniotic fluid that the trained ear can notice.  I felt certain something was wrong but wanted to confirm it with an ultrasound.  Before I made the appointment for the ultrasound, I asked her if she wanted to wait for her husband.  I was trying to sound very upbeat. She said he was out of town training for a new job. She said she was fine to go alone.

            When making the appointment, I instructed the office person to please call me if there was a fetal demise, to not tell the patient and to send her back to us. I received the call a short time later that in fact the baby had passed. 

            It hit me so hard to have to be telling this young mother that her little girl had died in vitro.  When she got back to the office, I could tell she had figured out something was wrong.  The midwife and I talked to her.  Then we called some of her friends to come be with her.

            I prayed to God that He give me the strength to be there for her. For to be honest... I was feeling angry about what happened.  I just wanted to have anyone else but me make the phone calls necessary to arrange for the delivery of her baby. I closed my office door and started to cry. One of my favorites songs by Casting Crowns came on the radio--

"I'll Praise You In This Storm"

I was sure by now

God You would have reached down

And wiped our tears away

Stepped in and saved the day

But once again, I say "Amen", and it's still raining

As the thunder rolls

I barely hear Your whisper through the rain

"I'm with you"

And as Your mercy falls

I raise my hands and praise the God who gives

 And takes away

As I continued to listen to more words of the song, God gave me the strength I had just prayed for.  I made the arrangements with the doctors and the hospital. 

            Then I prayed again for the right words to say to this mother.  By now her friends who were also patients of ours were with her.  Knowing she was part of a strong church family, I went in, gave her a big hug and prayed with her.  I told her about the arrangements we had made and told her she could wait until the next day when her husband would be home.  She decided to wait.

            After she left I still had to finish the day. I felt so emotionally drained.  I just wanted to leave. I also remembered I had to teach a breastfeeding and infant care class that night. Again I just asked God to show me the way and give me the strength to finish the day.

            My boss and the midwife called me later asking if I wanted to meet them at the Wine Room on Park Ave after I finished teaching.  Since I don't drink, I started to say no, but then I thought, “Yes, I need to be with the people who understand how I’m feeling."

After talking with them for awhile, I left feeling a little better though I was still asking God to show me He was there and give me the strength to continue doing the job I love to do. 

            When I got to my car, there - right in the middle of my windshield - was the most beautiful flower ever! A flower I had never seen before - similar to a magnolia or the flowers I had seen in Hawaii. I looked around to see if any other cars had flowers on them, but none did. I looked up. I was under a tree. It had no such magnificent flowers on it.   I just chuckled and said, “Thank you, Lord.”  

The Last Flight

The Last Flight

Jim Sutton

            The church was filled by friends and loved ones gathered to honor the life of Jim Burgess and to celebrate his home-going.  Jim passed away in his 90's and had lived a life of unselfish devotion to family, friends and country.  He loved God and served the Church of the Good Shepherd faithfully for many years.

            During his funeral service, Jim's brother-in-law ­­­­­Robert recounted some of the memorable events of Jim’s life.  Among the highlights mentioned was Jim’s service in the Army Air Corps in Europe during WWII.  Jim flew reconnaissance flights in an unarmed P-38 fighter over enemy territory.  As a result he received the Silver Star for his bravery. The Silver Star is the third-highest military combat decoration that can be awarded to a member of the United States Armed Forces. It is awarded for gallantry in action. 

            Robert also recalled a later time in Jim's life when he was forced to land his private plane in Tampa Bay. As he was standing on the floating fuselage, he promised God that if he was saved, he would serve Him for the rest of his life. He fulfilled his promise.

            Following the church service Jim’s ashes were interred in the Memorial Garden behind the Good Shepherd Chapel that he loved.  Just as the U.S. Air Force Honor Guard was playing taps, a small single-engine plane flew directly over the memorial garden and the small group of family and friends assembled there.  The plane’s direction was not the normal flight pattern for aircraft in the Orlando area.

            Members of the congregation who stood outside in the nearby courtyard wondered whether Jim’s wife, Irene, had asked a friend to perform this fitting final salute.  When asked about it later, Irene said she knew nothing about it. 

            As I thought about the courtyard event, I realized that what had happened was God's way of welcoming Jim into the heavenly realms.  After this occurrence I recalled a poem written during World War II by a young pilot, John Magee, Jr., shortly before his death in combat, --

"Oh, I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth,

And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;

Sunward I've climbed and joined the tumbling mirth of sun-split clouds -

and done a hundred things You have not dreamed of -

wheeled and soared and swung high in the sunlit silence.

 Hovering there, I’ve chased the shouting wind along,

 and flung my eager craft through footless halls of air.

"Up, up the long delirious burning blue

I've topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace,

where never lark, or even eagle, flew;

and, while with silent, lifting mind I've trod

the high untrespassed sanctity of space,

put out my hand and touched the face of God."