Category: God’s Character

What a Savior!

On By CarmenIn God's Character, Salvation & Relationship with GodLeave a comment

Perhaps it would have been better for me to post this message as we prepared to celebrate the resurrection of our LORD and Savior Jesus Christ, but I believe that we should keep daily at the forefront of our thoughts the price that He paid for the whole world—past, present, and future.

Our family custom during this most holy of celebrations is to watch various series depicting the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ; so much so, that I purchased a DVD of The Passion of the Christ a few years ago to watch on Good Fridays.

Some would say that this movie is difficult to watch with the graphic illustration of Jesus’s beatings and crucifixion, and I agree.

However, I need to remind myself through these images the great price that my Savior paid for me personally.

In this post, I would like to share a few verses from the Bible regarding those three days of indescribable pain, sorrow, and then joy.

Good Friday:  The Cross

This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.

1 John 4:10

Jesus willingly went to the cross for you, me, and everyone else.

He could have said, “No, Father, they are too prideful, selfish, arrogant, vile. Let them have what they deserve.” (my thoughts)

But He did not.

He said, “Yes, I will go to the cross in obedience to You and because I love them despite their sin. I will take upon myself their consequences so that they can be with us in Heaven for eternity.” (my thoughts)

Jesus, the only perfect being ever on this earth, took upon Himself all our sins and suffered horrendously in our place.

He suffered indignation: He was lied about, spit upon, and stripped of his clothing; yet He did not defend His reputation and forgave. (Isaiah 53:7, Luke 23:34)

He was humiliated: He was hung on a cross, mocked, and tempted to show his power; yet He accepted this mistreatment and completed His mission. (Mark 15:29-32, John 19:28-30)

He physically bled for us: He was scourged, beaten unrecognizable with His flesh ripped open, and nailed in both hands and feet to a cross; yet He willingly suffered and died for all mankind. (Isaiah 52:14, Romans 3:25-26, Ephesians 1:7)

Jesus endured all of this for all of us. He gave His life as a ransom for ours. He suffered so we would not have to. He paid for our sins because He knew we could not.

Jesus knew that his mission was now finished, and to fulfill Scripture he said, “I am thirsty.” A jar of sour wine was sitting there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put it on a hyssop branch, and held it up to his lips. When Jesus had tasted it, he said, “It is finished!” Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

John 19:28-30

Good Friday symbolizes God’s love for the human race through the ultimate sacrifice of His Son. God’s grace is given for all who will accept it by surrendering to Jesus Christ.   

Holy Saturday: God Works through Silence

Jesus was laid to rest in haste after his death on Good Friday since the Sabbath was starting at sunset that same evening and preparations needed to be made for Passover.  

He was placed in a rich man’s tomb and His body wrapped in cloths waiting to be perfumed with spices.

The chief priests and Pharisees wanted to be done with Jesus and ordered his tomb sealed because they feared His followers would somehow steal His body to claim He had risen. Guards were also placed outside Jesus’s tomb to insure they could not steal His body.

Meanwhile, the apostles, Jesus’s followers, gathered together after having fled and deserted Him.

Apart from their sorrow, I am sure they were fearful, confused, and angry with themselves for deserting Him.

I imagine that they were meditating on and discussing what He said while He was with them about being God’s Son, the Messiah—the only Way, and His promise of coming back for them.  

The shock of it all was most likely laying heavy upon their hearts and minds of what they should do next.

How could they move on since Jesus was gone?

He healed others, why wouldn’t He save Himself?

How could this have happened? He promised a kingdom where He would rule righteously.

Broken hearts, misunderstanding, desperation was their lot.  

We may have silent days in our lives, but we should remember God’s promises and still our minds while waiting for His next move.

See, I am doing a new thing!
    Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the wilderness
    and streams in the wasteland.

Isaiah 43:19

Even though we may not see it, God is always working in the background, in our silent periods of waiting.

Jesus was on the move on the Sabbath after His death. He was not dead, but very much alive in the spirit and displayed His victory over death and evil.  

For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit. After being made alive, he went and made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits—to those who were disobedient long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built.

1 Peter 3:18-20a

Christ descended into the pit where the demons from Noah’s days were bound due to their wickedness against God. Jesus let them know that He was very much alive and had defeated them and death.

Jesus had the last say and put them on notice.

Let’s wait expectantly for God’s promises to us.

Resurrection Sunday: The Promise Fulfilled

Mary Magdalene and Mary (the mother of James) went early Sunday morning to Jesus’s tomb to prepare His body for burial with spices.

When they arrived, they saw that the tomb was open and an angel of the LORD began to speak with them. He informed them that Jesus was not in the tomb, but was alive.

The angel told them to go tell Jesus’s followers that Jesus is alive and to go to Galilee where He would meet them.

As they left filled with excitement, Jesus Himself appeared before them.

So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”

Matthew 28:8-10

As He promised, Jesus appeared to the apostles in Galilee, but they did not believe it was Jesus at first. Then, after speaking and eating with Him, they were overjoyed while He reminded them of what He had told them would happen to Him. (Luke 24:36-49)

Jesus gave them instructions (The Great Commission) to wait for the power of the Holy Spirit to come upon them and then to go into all the world to teach about His love and sacrifice for all mankind and obedience to the scriptures. (Matthew 28:16-20)

No matter the effort in trying to silence God’s truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ some 2000+ years later, the Great Commission is ever strong and will continue to be until the end of time.

I am certain of one thing—we will see all the promises that God has given to us through the Holy Scriptures in our lifetime and into eternity.

We only need to study His word, believe in Him, and abide in Him.

God has already done the difficult work for us through His Son Jesus Christ.

Thank You, LORD Jesus, for Your sacrifice!

May the song below bless you as you consider the gift of grace given to us by Jesus’s death and resurrection.

If you want to have a relationship with God and are not sure how or where to start, see my previous posts Relationship with God and Relationship with God – Part 2.

The LORD Will Provide

On By CarmenIn Faith & Trust, God's Character, Salvation & Relationship with God1 Comment

I feel compelled to write about how faithful our Heavenly Father is when we are affected by devastating news.

It could be any measure of disconcerting events that happen to us that leave us bewildered, angry, but most of all anxious about our future.

Lately, I have prayed for several people who have lost their jobs due to downsizing, poor economic conditions, or changes in company vision.

So, for this post, I’ll write about my similar experience of being laid off years ago along with where God has brought me to today.

I also want to share an inspiring story in the Bible of one of the most beloved kings chosen by God.

My Loss Led to Greater Faith in God

I want to share my experience of a layoff several years ago as a single woman, understanding what it is to overcome the fear of losing a consistent paycheck after many years of hard work, diligence, and settling into a certain lifestyle.

My first reaction apart from fear was “how unfair” and then “how will I make it?” Even with some savings and a severance package, I knew that I had to find another job that could pay the bills.

My second reaction was, “God, please help me!”

That should have been my first reaction.

God already knew what I would be facing at that moment in time, and He was working behind the scenes. I could not see it at the time, but I learned through this scary experience that He alone would help me.

My Jehovah Jireh. My Provider.

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

Isaiah 41:10

As time passed, I saw God work to provide everything I needed.

I did not miss a meal and I was able to keep my apartment and pay all my bills on time. I am grateful that I had some savings and I adjusted my spending.

I took odd jobs while networking and sending out resumes, until a better opportunity opened up with better pay.

I do remember along the way that I promised God that I would do whatever work He provided for me—and I did.

I was already a Christian seeking after God and reading His word daily. I attended church and volunteered in different capacities that He led me to.

I was His child and I understood that He would provide. I just needed to learn it from experience!

It was the only way that I could know for sure that He is who He says He is, and that He will do what He says He will do in His word.

This opportunity opened my eyes and helped my faith grow exponentially. It simply drew me nearer to God and prepared me for the next opportunity to grow in faith.

King David’s Experience of Faith in God

“I will remember the deeds of the Lord;
    yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago.
I will consider all your works
    and meditate on all your mighty deeds.”

Psalm 77:11-12

This Psalm was written by Asaph, King David’s music director. I encourage you to read the Psalm in its entirety.

It encourages us to remember the good God has already done to and for us—to remember how we struggled before and God saw us through it.

If nothing else, we should realize that as we were each once a newborn baby, God has brought us this far and we’re still breathing, even if we’ve had to face difficulties.

In my studies of the Bible, I love the story of how David rose to King as a shepherd boy.

This is not just a story—it is historical fact about the life of King David whom God said was a man after His own heart.

Although David was anointed king as a teenager, he had to wait several years until he was crowned king.

He faced many hardships and had to flee for his life from King Saul. He became a great warrior and although he had the opportunity, he never wronged or attacked King Saul.

David’s rise to kingship was not just happenstance. Nor was it due to David’s human ability, but to God’s divine providence.

It was God who destined David to be king.

It was God who showed Himself mightily to David by giving him the ability to kill a lion and a bear as a shepherd boy.

It was God who made David a great warrior.

It was God who supported David and defeated his enemies before him.

It was God who caused the Israelites to love David and accept him as King.

It was all God!

David just had to believe in God and believe that He was for him.

David had to want God in his life, seek after Him, and follow His ways.  

If you’ve read about King David, you know that he was not a perfect man, but he loved God and relied upon Him for his very existence.

When he was brought to reckon with his sin, he repented before God and was willing to accept God’s consequences for his sin. He acknowledged his sin and sought God for forgiveness.

The Bible tells us that in the future King David will rule with his descendant, our LORD and Savior Jesus Christ, during the Millennial Kingdom and throughout eternity.

My Life of Faith in God Today

I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart;
    I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.
I will be glad and rejoice in you;
    I will sing the praises of your name, O Most High.

Psalm 9:1-2

This psalm was written by King David and I have adopted it as my motto in life.

I will praise God continually for His goodness in my life. He has brought me from a struggling, seeking young woman of God to a seasoned, thankful servant of God.  

It’s been a few years since that layoff left me scared and falling on my knees before God, but I have chosen to continually walk in faith with Him.

There have been many blessings and lifestyle changes that give credence to God’s goodness in my life.  

One is the freedom to write this blog to tell of God’s goodness to any who is interested in reading it.

By freedom, I mean that this is my “job” now (I prefer to call it my service to the LORD Jesus), which was made possible by God’s blessing in my husband’s ability and work that provide an income that surpasses what he and I used to make together.

I remind myself and my husband daily that all our blessings come from God and that our security is in Him only.

We still have challenges along with goals that we’d like to achieve, but we keep our eyes on Jesus.

As my husband is now in sales, there is always the possibility of losing a customer that could upend our current living situation; so, the threat of a financial setback is consistent. But…  

We trust in God who has done great things for us.

We trust in His word and that He’ll do what He says He’ll do.

We trust that He is for us and not against us.

We trust that if He gave up His most prized possession, His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to die for us that there is no good thing that He will withhold from us.

We trust that we will be with Him in eternity because of the atoning work of Jesus on the cross.

We trust Him and submit to Him as our Savior.

He loves us and He loves you too!

I hope that this blog has and will continue to bless you as you seek after God and purpose to walk in His ways.

Enjoy this song below as you contemplate God’s goodness, power, and love for you.

It’s one of my favorites and has blessed me when walking through uncertain times.

If you want to have a relationship with God and are not sure how or where to start, see my previous posts Relationship with God and Relationship with God – Part 2.

Welcoming the New in Your Life

On By CarmenIn Christian Living, Faith & Trust, God's CharacterLeave a comment

When we enter the New Year, we plan to make some changes for the better in our lives. Many of our resolutions are made based on what we want to achieve for ourselves, whether it be for health or lifestyle improvements.

I wonder though if we have prayed and sought what God would like for us to do differently or work toward that would not only be good for us personally but would benefit others as well.

As we start this new year, let’s make room for the new developments that await us when we graciously accept what God has planned for us.

Accepting the New

I met a lady yesterday while shopping at Walmart who had the sweetest baby girl sleeping in her cart with all kinds of groceries stuffed in the cart. I was in the checkout line behind this woman who I assumed was her grandmother.

The baby was very small, so I asked her how old the baby was and she said that she was twelve weeks old and they had adopted her when she was eleven days old. She continued to tell me that this was her 15th child that she has fostered.

All I could say was God bless you for being such a wonderful person to foster such a sweet little being. She responded, “It’s not for the faint of heart, but it has been very rewarding.”

All I could think was WOW! How selfless! And she feels “how rewarding!”

This little baby girl is most definitely blessed to have such a kind-hearted woman to give her a good and loving start in life that her biological mother for whatever reason most likely cannot.

I wonder how her love and attention to all of these children she’s fostered has changed their lives for the better.

She has two biological children and has adopted two of her foster children. Her grocery bill was certainly in line with this 7th member of her current household!

I didn’t ask, but I am sure that when she first felt the call to foster children she was concerned about whether she and her husband could do it, afford it, have time for it, etc.

She said to me that without God, she could have never done it because He has always provided what they needed.

God provides for His call on your life!

God has and is still using a surrendered soul to bless so many lives. And He does the same for anyone who is willing to answer His call for their lives.

Now I would like to share with you what I feel God is leading me to change in my life and to develop with others in my community.

It is to focus less on my likes and desires and to spend more time with some of the women that God has placed in my life getting to know them better and developing stronger relationships.

I have had the privilege of knowing these women from my neighborhood and my church, but I have not really invested quality time with any of them other than briefly speaking to them on occasion as the opportunity presented.

I look forward to this new idea, pledge, beginning, because I am eager to see what God will do in the future through my simple obedience to His plan.

I don’t have any preconceived notions other than understanding their current life situations as well as their past—and future goals.

I know that God will make the way for His plans to unfold this year in my life and the future as I step out in obedience to Him.

His word tells us this exactly.  

“Remember not the former things,
    nor consider the things of old.
Behold, I am doing a new thing;
    now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?
I will make a way in the wilderness
    and rivers in the desert.

Isaiah 43:18-19

I know that I can put all my trust in God’s word, His truth written to and for us—because I have walked with Him in good times and bad.

God may be calling you to do something unique and different in your life this year. I encourage you to heed the call and submit to His plan for your life. I have a feeling that if you do, you too will feel far more rewarded than strained.

Letting Go of the Past

If you are experiencing difficult times now or have in the past, let me encourage you to let go and let God show you His love and His power in your life over all the adversities that you have gone through.

Simply trust Him and seek Him.

You may be saying to yourself, “Yes, but you don’t know what I have done to bring about all these terrible circumstances that I am suffering now.”

Friend, let me tell you that what you have done in your past is of no consequence to God’s love for you and His blessings over your future.

When we come to the end of ourselves and realize that nothing good comes from living our life without Him, our best option is to seek God and surrender to Him and His ways.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 

2 Corinthians 5:17-19

A few years ago, I came to this same conclusion and I am a living example of how God can transform a life going in the wrong direction to a stable and joyful existence looking forward to what He has planned for a life surrendered in obedience.

Leaning on God

Read again the last two lines above in Isaiah 43:18-19.

I will make a way in the wilderness
    and rivers in the desert.

God promises us that He will bring the change in our wild, barren, fruitless lives while at the same time refreshing our souls with His living water that nourishes, heals, and restores us.  

His living water is Jesus, our Savior.

When we surrender to Him, we are given new life.

When we seek Him, we are given a new understanding of this life.

When we abide in Him, we are given new purpose for this life.

When we obey Him, we are given new victories in this life.

I encourage you to step out of your routine and walk with Jesus because He alone brings change.

Get ready for new purpose and a new outlook that will help you stand through any storm or adversity.

God is for you and He wants a relationship with you.

Trust Him and seek Him for a better year and a better life.

Here’s to new beginnings.

May God bless you.

Enjoy the song below as you consider making a change for the better—God’s will for your life.

If you want to have a relationship with God and are not sure how or where to start, see my previous posts Relationship with God and Relationship with God – Part 2.

Hallelujah! Our Righteous King Has Come!

On By CarmenIn God's Character, Salvation & Relationship with GodLeave a comment

As we prepare for this Christmas season, let us not forget the true reason we celebrate Christmas.

Christmas is derived from the Old English Cristes mæsse meaning the “mass of Christ” or the church celebration of the birth of Christ.

The birth, life, and death of Jesus on earth is the greatest gift ever given, and not by any human, but by God the Father Himself.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 

John 3:16-17

I am so grateful that the LORD Jesus was willing to leave His throne in Heaven, come down to Earth, be born among mankind as an example of how we should live our lives, and take upon Himself the sins of the whole world. 

He was born as King—THE KING of kings—not in a palace with all the wealth and comforts of royalty at that time, but in the humblest of conditions in a manger with animals and their smell surrounding Him.

Jesus is the best gift we’ve ever been given!

His love, forgiveness, and self-sacrifice is better than any material thing we could desire.

…but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 6:23b

Without Jesus’ birth, death, and resurrection, we’d all be lost to eternal damnation.

This was God’s plan for the redemption of mankind from way back when Adam and Eve committed the first sin in the Garden of Eden.

We all need a Savior to rescue us from our sin nature. This Savior is Jesus Christ Himself—the perfect Lamb, the perfect Gift.

The Hope of all the world was born, completed His ministry by going to the cross, and resurrected to the Father where He lives seated at His right hand.

Our Savior is active on the throne of Heaven and is present in our everyday lives. He is alive and in command!

Let us not become complacent with such a majestic gift.

Today, we are blessed because we have the Bible, the Holy word of God, to teach us about God’s plan of salvation, our LORD Jesus Christ, and our future based on the choices we make, especially the most important choice we could ever make.

There was a time when Israel, God’s chosen people, was anticipating our Savior, expectantly hoping, and eagerly awaiting.

Life was difficult for them because they sinned against God and subjected themselves to all kinds of consequences that God had warned them about.

God had already spoken His plans through the prophets of old, and because Israel was under the rule of foreign nations, they were waiting on their Messiah to come rescue them.

They knew the Savior was promised by God and they had experienced the faithfulness of His word many times.

Finally, over 2000 years ago, Israel’s Savior, our Savior, was born in Bethlehem in God’s perfect timing when Rome ruled the world.

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

“Glory to God in the highest,
    and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

Luke 2:1-21

May we continually glorify and praise God as the angels did on the night of our Savior’s birth.

The gift of our LORD and Savior Jesus Christ is for everyone who is willing to accept Him in their hearts, invite Him into their lives, and follow Him in all His ways.

As the angels stated at Christ’s birth, those with whom He is pleased will have peace and joy today and forevermore. 

While we’re busy decorating our homes, shopping for gifts, and gathering with our families and friends, let’s remember that without Jesus Christ, there is no Christmas.

Let’s demonstrate the same excitement, wonder, and awe as the shepherds did who went to see Him that first Christmas night!

I wish you a Blessed and Merry Christmas.

Enjoy this song of praise to our Father in Heaven for our most wonderful gift. I have enjoyed this song over the years and hope the same for you.  

If you want to have a relationship with God and are not sure how or where to start, see my previous posts Relationship with God and Relationship with God – Part 2.

God Still Performs Miracles

On By CarmenIn Faith & Trust, God's Character2 Comments

Welcome!

My name is Carmen and my goal for this blog is to share stories in my life and the lives of others to praise our Lord and Savior and to encourage others who may be going through a difficult time that He is indeed almighty God and He is in control of all our situations.


Oh give thanks to the LORD; call upon his name;
make known his deeds among the peoples!
Sing to him, sing praises to him;
tell of all his wondrous works!

Psalm 105:1-2


Over the last couple of years, I have been seeking God’s will for my life, praying for and asking Him what’s next for this season of my life. It has recently become evident to me that I should start writing about the goodness of God after I witnessed a personal family miracle a little over a year ago.

I was called by my parents to inform me that my older brother was in the hospital in ICU and was severely brain impaired. My father told me that several doctors and nurses told him if my brother were to come out of the heavily sedated coma he was in, he would have less than 5% use of his brain. He would basically be a vegetable—he would not know who he was, who we were; he would not be able to speak or understand us; and he would not have control over bodily functions. He was basically brain dead. I immediately started clearing my schedule and trying to decide when I should leave to make the twelve-hour drive home. I called my nephew who is my brother’s only child and spoke with him about when I should go and what the doctors were saying about how much time he had to live. He told me that his dad was on life-support and he was going to sign a DNR for the medical team. He also told me that if I needed time to travel, he would hold off on disconnecting him from life support until I had a chance to see him.

I immediately began praying and contacted my prayer warrior friends all over the US to ask for prayer and God’s will (even though I understood it might not be what I personally wanted). Meanwhile, friends and family were praying here in the US and abroad.

I made the 12-hour trip in one day and went to see my brother the following morning with my father. He was intubated and hooked up to several monitors for his brain, heart, kidneys, and other vital functions. His eyes were closed and as I approached him in the ICU all I could do was pray. I prayed for his salvation mostly, but I also prayed that God would allow him to live as normal a life as possible. I knew that God could keep him from dying, but was not sure that He would. After all, my brother did this to himself.

While there, I spoke with the head nurse of the ICU and asked a lot of the same questions that my family had already asked. They wanted to give us hope, but their experience could only speak the hard facts that he would most likely not live or have a normal life. My nephew had signed the DNR and all we could do was pray and continue to visit him during visiting hours daily.

My mother came with us to see him that evening and I had already prepared to read him a scripture verse from the Bible. I asked God to show me which verse to read and I felt that Psalm 23 was the chosen one for that evening. I had predetermined that I didn’t care what my family thought of this as they are more private with their prayer and outward profession of faith. So, I read Psalm 23 at his bedside and we said goodnight telling him that we would be back in the morning. The next day we noticed that he was beginning to move his body some and trying to open his eyes. The nurses monitored him closely, and again we asked if there was any chance that he could come out of this. The nurse said yes, but most people in his condition don’t make it. My father told me that he spoke with a female nurse prior to me traveling there, and she said that she had seen a few people come back and get up and walk and talk again as if nothing had happened. She was telling him to not give up hope. Meanwhile, our family and friends kept praying and asking us how he was doing. We asked them to please keep praying.

     

“If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you,
you will ask what you desire, and it shall be
done for you.”

John 15:7

The third day, early in the morning around 6:00, the head nurse of the ICU called us and told us that my brother was staring at him intently as he was checking on him overnight. He went through a list of procedures of which I can’t recall now, but I do remember being filled with hope and praying to hear good news. I asked the nurse what he was trying to tell me and he replied that he wanted to give my brother more time. “It just so happened” that my nephew was ready to have the medical staff take him off life support this very day. We visited my brother as soon as visiting hours began and he was continuing to move and was opening his eyes a little. Later that evening, it seemed that he was trying to communicate with us, so I asked him to squeeze my hand if he understood me. I felt a slight motion and I told him that he needed to squeeze my hand harder—and he did! Not only was he starting to use his hands, he understood my requests! Thank you, Lord! Before we left, I led my family in prayer around him, holding his hands and asked God to heal him from the top of his head to the bottom of his feet.

I wrote “just so happened” because anyone who has experienced a miracle from God knows that it “didn’t just happen.”

It is God who brings the miracle and we should rightly give Him praise for it!



You are the God who works wonders; you have made
known your might among the peoples.

Psalm 77:14

We left the hospital that evening with renewed hope in our hearts and minds. The next morning, my father and I returned to the hospital ICU at the start of visiting hours and while we were walking in, the head nurse said to my father, “You are going to be very happy!” At the same time, I had glanced through the glass door into my brother’s room and he was reclining in his bed with most of the monitors taken off him. His eyes were open and he recognized me and started speaking faintly. He was his old cantankerous self! I am not much of a crier, but I can tell you that I shed some tears that morning. My father walked in with such a look of surprise on his face that was priceless. My nephew came in about five minutes later and his jaw had dropped in utter amazement. I texted my sister, “Your brother is back!” and she called immediately asking what I meant. I told her that he was alive and well. She was screaming and praising God so loudly that they had to close the door to his room. Soon after, a nephrologist came in to check on him and started asking him questions about who he was, and who my nephew, my dad, and I were. He answered all correctly! He even added that his other sister was on the phone with me. AMEN! AMEN! AMEN! To God be the glory!

The rest of the story:

My brother was moved to a regular room and stayed there for a couple of weeks before he was released. The hospital staff on that floor was glad to see him go. Did I mention that he was difficult? True to his personality, he refused all therapy and rehabilitation offered to him and was adamant about going home. After he was seen by the neurologist, he was finally released and was taken home. My concern was that he would not be able to take care of himself because he wasn’t walking when I left to go back home. A month or so went by and he showed up at my parents’ house to pick up his mail. He was walking without any aid!

I have experienced the Lord’s faithfulness in my life over the years and I can truly say that I have tasted and seen that the Lord is good!

God gave my brother another chance to live his life. Please pray with me that he will allow God to work in his life to let go of what put him near death. My prayer is that he would be fired up about overcoming his struggles and use his story as a testimony for the Lord.

I would like to end this post by linking a beautiful song that praises God for his goodness and faithfulness. May you be blessed.

“Goodness of God” – Bethel Music

If you want to have a relationship with God and are not sure how or where to start, see my posts Relationship with God and Relationship with God – Part 2.