As a new Christian, my heart filled gratitude and hope. I wanted to tell everybody about Jesus. I soon learned that nobody, in my world, really wanted to know or hear about Him. Not only were they not interested but many took offense when I tried to tell them.

I was only 15 years old when I came to know the Lord. I felt bewildered and confused at the reactions I was getting. I did not understand why people would not want to know about the one who created them and loved them so much. What caused this revulsion when I spoke the name of Jesus?

As I grew in my faith I began to understand that the enemy of God’s kids causes blindness and revulsion toward God’s son. I needed to talk less and pray more for those who turned deaf ears to the message of God’s love and Jesus sacrifice. There is power in prayer. Divine power from a God who hears and longs to answer our prayers of faith.

As a new believer, I was experiencing a deep peace and joy for the first time in my young life. My Family did not get it. In fact, some of them gave me a hard time. They made fun of me and called me a religious fanatic. They laughed at me when tears would burn my eyes because of their insults. Deep down I only wanted them to know Jesus like I did. I knew that their lives were just as empty and purposeless as mine had been.

Soon after I gave my life to Jesus, I led Aunt Cindy to understand the love of God and to accept His gift of salvation.

As you know, during my Senior Year God provided a way for me to attend a Christian College. When I left my family, to go to college, I was heavy-hearted and ached for them to know the peace I had found. Who would be there to live Jesus love before them?

I prayed consistently and urgently for my parents and brother. I was no longer at home, there was no more opportunity to convince them that God was real and that He loved them. Though I was three hours away from home I continued to pray for them with all my heart.

As I jumped into college life, fervently invested, I began receiving letters from my Dad. He was telling me some pretty remarkable stories. He said that the carpenter who was building our deck was a Christian. Dad told me that this man was continuing to visit even after his work was completed. Dad really liked him! Next came the plumber, the insurance man and the old friend who all shared their stories of personal faith in Jesus Christ.

Tell me do you see the miracle? I knew, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that all of these people were being sent by God to tell my family the good news. I have no doubt about it. In all of my years, before I heard the good news of God’s plan, I had never even met a person who shared the story of salvation. Christians were coming out of the woodwork and into my parent’s lives. Only God could do this.

As you know, your Dad and your Uncle Daniel went through a very long period of rebellion. During that time I thought my mother’s heart would literally break as I cried out to God time and time again. One of my constant prayers was that He would send believers into Daniels life. What happened, in answer to my prayers, is nothing short of astonishing; I kid you not …Christians followed Daniel everywhere he went. Believers spoke to him at work, in restaurants at the doctor’s office and in the most unusual places. They were all holding out hope to my son. I have told Daniel that I have never known anyone who was so chased by God. It was a miraculous answer to prayer which eventually led to your Dad and Uncle surrendering to God’s will.  JOY!!

Renee was growing up fast. She was very naïve and trusting. I was concerned about her because she was drawn to the bad boy type. I prayed for her and asked God to direct me in guiding this whimsical, fun-loving girl.

One night Papa and I attended a dinner and a concert at Gull Lake Bible Conference Center. We sat across from a Physician and his wife. As we were getting to know them, the Doctor pointed toward the banquet table at a handsome young man with a beautiful smile. The doctor beamed as he said, that’s my son. He spent quite a bit of time bragging about his son David. As he was talking I was sending up prayers. I prayed, “God, please send Renee a young man like David. She needs to understand what a ‘good guy’ looks like.”

About a year later a young man came to our Church as the leader of the college-aged youth group. As this young man got to know Renee and our family, he began hanging out with us. One night as he was cooking something up in the kitchen he started telling me about his family. He said that his father was a Doctor and his mom, a nurse. He told me where they lived and that they spent a lot of time at Gull Lake in the summer. I was stunned as the realization sank in. It was David, the doctor’s son I had met a year ago, and he was standing right there in my kitchen. God did not send me someone ‘like’ David, he sent me David! I told David that he was a direct answer to my prayer.  He looks confused but listened.  I told him the story of meeting his parent’s.  I said, “David, I don’t know what role you will take in my daughter’s life, but I do know God sent you.”

Two years later Dave and Renee were married. David does an incredible job of loving your mom, Aunt Renee, and providing the stabilizing effect on her life that she so needed.  Only God!

Prayers for my Youngest

This writing would not be complete without mentioning your mom and Aunt Christy. This, my youngest child, had a heart for God from the time she was little.  We did not have the struggles with her that we had with her siblings.

My prayers for Christy were answered as I watched her make hard choices, and even had a whole youth group come against her.  She did not budge from her conviction.

Though she too, was strong willed, she took her orders from her Loving Father and chose to follow in His footprints. Even at a very young age, she brought her friends to me so I could share Jesus with them.

I share these miracles of answered prayer, within our family because I want you to know how specifically and lovingly God has touched our lives.  You girls are blessed to be born into a family that pulls together to love you well.  It’s rare these days and I praise God for the blessing He has placed on our family.