The Storms Of Life

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GraftMeIn

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Something is pushing me on inside to write this. It's a testimony to how God carried me through one of lives storms. I'm not writting this so you can see the storm I went through, I'm writting it so you can see how God has the power to carry us through such storms. So I ask that when you read this that you don't feel sorry for me in any way. I look back at this with pure joy in my heart, because through it, all I can see is the power and the greatness of Gods love.

Before the storm hit I received this prayer from the Lord. I'm sure many here have already seen this prayer, as I had posted it here then.

Lord God Almighty,

I feel a storm moving in. It sits off on the horizon, as it gathers its forces to come up against me. I can hear the roar of the distant thunder, I can feel the turmoil of it's winds. As it builds up it's strength, and waits for the just the right moment to hit.

If it is within your will Lord, ease the strength of this storm, and keep it's powers at bay. Lord I ask that if this storm must hit, that it will bring healing within it's wings. Do not let it's power overtake me, do not let it's forces sweep me away, or cause me to fall from your kindness and mercy, or your love that I know so well.

Lord you will be my life raft, when the sea starts to churn up against me. You will be my stronghold when the winds try and cause me to fall. I will seek your shelter when the rain starts to fall down upon me. Only you Lord, have the power to rescue, and shelter me from the destructive nature of the storm that is gathering power, to come up against me.

Lord I also ask that if this storm must hit, that you will use me to help guide others into your shelter, so they can also make you their life raft. Do not let it drive them further away Lord, but let it bring them closer to you. Let them seek the same shelter I have found. Let me serve as a light house, a beacon of light, to guide others to the shelter and safety, that only you can offer when such storms come against us.

Above all else Father, I pray for your will to be done.

It was just after receiving this prayer that I wrote something else the Lord gave me. It was to comfort those who struggle with death. Little did I know at that point in time that the next day I would be needing that very same comfort. It was the day after I wrote it, that I found out my Dad had a mass in his lungs.

It's amazing how God can give us just what we need before we even know that we need it. How much he must love us to do such a thing.

I guess this would be a good time to point out that my Dad had MS and had suffered with it for well over 30 years. I also wrote a couple more things about how God doesn't always heal diseases but sometimes uses them so that His will can be worked through our lives. Those who are into WOF quickly came up against this. They also tried to point out that if someone is truly saved then they would never die. In other words with enough faith we will never perish from this world. Personally I don't think God would be so cruel as to make us remain in this world forever.

The cancer took over my Dads body extremely fast. I praise God that he didn't have to suffer long with it. Because of the MS he would have never been able to handle treatment for the cancer.

Just a couple weeks before he passed away God showed me something else that brought me more comfort. I sort of laugh when I think about it now because I think about being out my pond, wanting for a couple years to see a dragonfly grub come up out of the water, break out of it's shell and receive it's new body, and even praying for it. I remember asking God why wont you just let me see this! I know you can make one come out of the water any time you want. I see the empty shells all around, I just don't get why you wont let me see one. You know I just have to wonder what God was thinking at that time lol! Because He already knew how he was going to use it to show me his love, and bring me more comfort. He waited until just the right moment, a couple weeks before my Dads passing, and as I sat there and watched that dragonfly change before my eyes. God brought to my knowledge how it's life so closely relates to ours, and how we receive a new body when we pass away.

There's no love more amazing than one that will make you wait for just the right moment in time, to grant you a gift that brings you just what you need, when you need it the most.

Now with God pouring out all this love, and comfort upon me. Surely satan was right there saying you're building a hedge around her, let me go have some fun.

I was able to go visit my Dad a few times while he was in the hospital. He was happy to see me each time. The last time I saw him I told him that I would get in touch with my brother and get the address of the new house he just bought, and was going to be moving into (he was only going home for comfort care) He said that would be great. I knew very well each time I saw him, that it could be the last time I would. I gave him a hug and a kiss, told him I love him just as I have always done.

I called my brother and left a message on his answering machine asking him for the address, letting him know I was planning to be up there the next day. He called our younger brother and had him call me, and tell me that I couldn't have it. And accused me of trying to keep Dad in the hospital. The only reason my brother was under that impression was because I had tried to explain to him that the Doctor said in order for him to go home would depend on how much Hospice would be able to do for him. My brother tried to convince me that it was my Dad that didn't want to see me but I knew better and each time I discounted one of his lies about what happened he simply came up with another. My only concern was that Dad would be wherever he would be most comfortable.

I called Hospice and they promised to look into things for me. My younger brother called me the day I planned on visiting to tell me Dad had taken a turn for the worse and wasn't expected to make it through the day. He also told me the nurse had told our older brother that it wasn't right for him to keep me from seeing Dad, and that he agreed with her and although he didn't know the address he would have me follow him there. But Dad passed away before any of that could happen.

Needless to say I felt I had been robbed the right to see my Dad his last day here on earth. But God took and showed me something more. I have many wonderful memories of my Dads life. There were many times I did things with my Dad, helping him with projects etc... spending quality time with him. Most a result of my brother not having the time to help him with things. So while I had memories of my Dads life, and time spent together. My brother is stuck with the memory of his death. Not only that, no one could understand a word my Dad said that day, but I know what his last words were to me. They were I love you. So God allowed me to have only good memories of my Dads life. I simply feel sorry for my brother because his memories are not so good.

The day I returned home from his funeral, there was a single perfect red rose blooming on a rose bush that I haven't seen a rose on in over five years since the deer always eat every last one. It was as if God had reserved that one rose just for me, making it bloom that day, in order to tell me once again how much he loves me.

I wasn't sure where I should post this but decided maybe this is the best spot since many here were praying for me during this storm. It's been a little while but I thought it would be nice for those who prayed, and also those who may not have even been around at the time to see how God did hear and answer every one of those prayers. And I thank everyone for those prayers.

More than anything I want everyone to see and know that God is most faithful, and has the power to carry us through any storm that hits us. His love goes beyond measure. And it's all I see whenever I think back to this is how God carried me through one of lives many storms, and the greatness of his love.

Now I sit here in the midst of yet another storm. And all I can say is God will carry me through! There is no greater love than the love of God.

Romans 8:28
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
 

seangoh

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When i saw this post on the main with no replies yet, i just clicked on the thread to check it out (is my custom). Today is the day that i'm supposed to be happy and well but it seems terrible. I needed some form of encouragement and help and hope to lift me up this mess. Somehow i sensed that the first few sentences hinted that this post was meant for me. I'm going through a period of instability too, it's mainly my school work that's been piling up and i don't seem to be able to cope as well as last time. My exams are next week and i'm barely prepared as last time. This has affected my involvment with church activities definitely.

GraftMeIn, your sharing of your experience through the storm has really allowed me to look up to God and be more sensitive to His workings just as you were to the rose that seemed to have survived to give you love. I smiled when you were talking about the dragonfly and how much you wanted to see the transformation before your eyes and even prayed for it. It is just these types of testimonies that i love to hear and will lift up my spirits. Thank you so much.
 
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Blessed-one

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good to hear of your testimony GraftMeIn, thank you for sharing once again despite all the pain that this may bring you (but it looks like you've kind of overcome it) :). I imagine your seeing that dragonfly.. it's just amazing. God, is just amazing.

will pray for you and sean, May God put His healing hand on you, and continue to bring comfort and peace.
 
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GraftMeIn

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Yesterday at 03:15 AM seangoh said this in Post #2

When i saw this post on the main with no replies yet, i just clicked on the thread to check it out (is my custom). Today is the day that i'm supposed to be happy and well but it seems terrible. I needed some form of encouragement and help and hope to lift me up this mess. Somehow i sensed that the first few sentences hinted that this post was meant for me. I'm going through a period of instability too, it's mainly my school work that's been piling up and i don't seem to be able to cope as well as last time. My exams are next week and i'm barely prepared as last time. This has affected my involvment with church activities definitely.

GraftMeIn, your sharing of your experience through the storm has really allowed me to look up to God and be more sensitive to His workings just as you were to the rose that seemed to have survived to give you love. I smiled when you were talking about the dragonfly and how much you wanted to see the transformation before your eyes and even prayed for it. It is just these types of testimonies that i love to hear and will lift up my spirits. Thank you so much.


I will certainly pray for you. Always remember that God has a reason for everything. funny how everytime I think of that rose, and the dragonfly I just get a grin on my face. God certainly knows how to pour his love out upon us just when we need it :)
 
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GraftMeIn

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Yesterday at 10:20 PM Blessed-one said this in Post #3

good to hear of your testimony GraftMeIn, thank you for sharing once again despite all the pain that this may bring you (but it looks like you've kind of overcome it) :). I imagine your seeing that dragonfly.. it's just amazing. God, is just amazing.

will pray for you and sean, May God put His healing hand on you, and continue to bring comfort and peace.


We can overcome all things with Jesus :clap:

Thanks for the prayers :hug:
 
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GraftMeIn

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Today at 03:49 PM Jones said this in Post #4

God has blessed you sooo much, thank you for sharing!!!
You are a blessing!


We serve one Awesome God! Yes God has blessed me in so many ways it's hard to keep track of them all lol! I pray He blesses all of his children just as much, if not even more.
 
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