A Word of Introduction
Our Almighty God and Father has been so busy in our lives since the last issue of E-Clips came out in December that I can't think of anything more urgently in need of being shared with you, dear hearts. As He is my Witness, the following pieces speak of miracles of which I have personal knowledge. They are TRUE, and they are so incredibly to His glory that I present them to you here as a testimony to His all-powerful Love. Praise Him, all ye His saints... and call on Him in YOUR time of need. Read on.....
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Keep on raining --- I won't drown;
My feet are planted on higher ground.
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MIRACLE #1 - PETE: If I didn't know Pete's sister personally, it would be hard even for me to swallow - but it's TRUE, every word of it! I was there when she was choking back tears and half-frantic after hearing of Pete's "accident"; and I was there when she reported the almost unbelievable aftermath. To God be the glory!!! Here's the story:
Pete, age 29, was crossing a bridge in a busy city in Ontario, Canada on foot on the evening of December 13, 2001 when he was attacked by an unknown assailant and thrown headfirst off the bridge to the cement some 30 feet below. Video surveillance cameras on the bridge confirm this was an unprovoked attack, not a suicide attempt on Pete's part or a heated dispute gone bad. Pete didn't even speak to the man who whirled on him and clubbed him on the head for no apparent reason.
Pete was so badly injured on landing that he had to be identified by a large mole on one arm! Both hands were snapped clean off at the wrists. His face was unrecognizable. Skull fracture, nose mashed, eyes swollen due to internal hemorrhaging in his brain, lungs needing to be drained daily because of ongoing bleeding in his chest cavity, etc., etc., etc. FOR TWO DAYS PETE WAS CLINICALLY BRAIN-DEAD!!!
Despite all this, his spine was *not* broken. (At first it was believed it had been, because his injuries were so severe doctors couldn't do a CAT scan for fear of disturbing the various tubes projecting from his mangled body.) And by December 17th, when I first heard the story, the miracle had already progressed this far:
(1) Pete can recognize people (his mom's the only person he's been allowed
to hear speak yet because they don't want to elevate his blood pressure by
stimulating his brain, at least until they get the bleeding under better
control). He can hear, process requests to blink or whatever, and so on. In
other words, HIS BRAIN'S FUNCTIONING despite all of these horrific injuries!
What a mighty God we serve!!!
(2) He can move his leg(s?) when asked to try; and he was also able to move
his arm(s?) a little bit when his mom was there.
Is that incredible or what? But it's only the beginning! Here's the praise report dated January 9, 2002:
PETE TELEPHONED CAROLYN (his sister) THIS MORNING!! I'm not sure how the call was managed logistically, but one way or another it was made.
Here's a little more information:
* - His back/neck was NOT broken in the fall, praise the Lord. :-)
* - After *five* reconstructive surgeries on his face, he can see, smile, talk, remember; no brain damage! HALLELUJAH!!! :-)))
* - Both arms were snapped off at the wrists, as I understand Carolyn's report. His hands have been fitted with mechanical devices. Not sure exactly what's involved in this; my stomach gets queasy when medical details are discussed. (I completely turned off my psychological hearing aid when she was speaking of the damage to his head and face a few weeks ago.)
* - He has been able to WALK, with assistance!
* - He has been transferred from Intensive Care to the Trauma unit.
Video surveillance cameras on the bridge show a lone man approaching Pete, walking past him with no show of recognition on the part of either man - then turning and whamming the back of his skull with a heavy instrument of some kind. Sooo: badly damaged skull, completely smashed face, lung damage, snapped wrists, etc., etc., etc. - and a month later he's WALKING? WHAT A TESTIMONY!!!
Are you swimming in awe even now, just reading about this? There's more!!! A few weeks later Pete signed himself out of hospital... went home to complete his recovery... and (the metal pins having been removed from his fingers) - despite blindness presumably arising from his injuries - started practicing his beloved drums again. (He's a drummer with a small band evidently.) And guess what? He's booked his first post-accident gig for March 31st!
Father, words cannot express the immensity of our worship of Your wondrous power as evidenced by this. We know You have a purpose for Pete's life, and we praise You from the bottom of our hearts for the incredible testimony You have given Him to share to Your glory, that others may be encouraged despite the darkness of their personal situations. We thank You, Lord. Amen.
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Keep on raining --- I won't drown;
My feet are planted on higher ground.
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MIRACLE #2 - US (Archie and I):
You've probably noticed over the past year that I have been borderline frantic in some of my messages, despite my firm (I thought!) faith in the Lord. You may have recognized overtones of fear and trembling in my writing; and a strong sense of impending doom. Well, dear hearts, your assessment of my shortcomings would have been right - but no more, praise Him; no more. :-) Here's what has transpired in our lives since the last issue of E-Clips went out in early December. I call it a miracle; Archie calls it a miracle; and while it doesn't compare to Pete's for sheer dramatic value, to me it is even more encouraging than his story because it deals with day-to-day life. Read on [and when you've finished, read CHRISTmas AND 'STUFF' to take a look 18 months into the future. :*(]:
Early in December 2001 both Archie and I came to the end of our emotional tether and - for the umpteenth time - gave our circumstances to the Lord to take over and manage. We were in a major financial bind with no earthly (literally!) way out that we could see. We were worried sick, complete "basket cases", and the poorest specimens of born-again Christians you could ever hope to see. I didn't know that Archie had prayed for deliverance from our predicament earlier, but I *did* know that winning a big lottery on December 5th was our only way out - and when our numbers failed to materialize, I railed at God in no uncertain terms, thoroughly chewing Him out for letting us down. I ended my tantrum by telling Archie, "It's not even any use attempting suicide, because even THAT wouldn't get us out of this mess - and I'd probably botch the attempt anyway. It doesn't matter WHAT I do, it won't work." :-(
When I cooled down, I mumbled some half-baked prayer I don't even remember - but God heard, and honoured our combined submission to His will, and on DECEMBER 6TH - the very next morning! - everything started to fall into place. By January 6th we had remortgaged our farm, been incorporated as a numbered company, leased beautiful premises in the best location in town for a store Archie had been dreaming of starting, gotten all tax licences, taken possession of our new business premises - and were stocking shelves with row upon row of high-quality garments provided by an area charity with whom we had entered into a franchise agreement.
Yesterday (February 16th, 2002) marked the end of our first month in business. We rang up the first sale in our first-ever cash register on January 16th; opened officially on January 22nd; installed InterAC, VISA and MasterCard facilities on the 25th; saw our first small newspaper ad come out that same week. Our outdoor sign finally materialized on February 4th, with an article about us and a larger paid advertisement the 6th. We have had tremendous acceptance from the townspeople we're in business to serve, praise the Lord, and are thoroughly enjoying our days in the store... despite the fact that for the past decade both of us have led semi-reclusive existences by choice.
Needless to say, our daily prayer each morning continues to be a VERY fervent, "Lord, work Your perfect will in our lives this day, that in and through us and our store Thy Name may be glorified. In Jesus' precious Name we ask it. Amen."
"Thy Will be done." It's a prayer that cannot fail, when uttered in humble submission and grateful anticipation of His loving mercies.
What a mighty God we serve!!!
That's about it for now, folks. Sorry I don't have a selection of links for you this time, but I'm so sky-high happy and anxious to relay these wonderful testimonies that I can't think of anything else. Forgive me, please? God bless you and keep you, one and all!
Have a happy, dear ones, and remember...
BE NOT AFRAID - ONLY BELIEVE!
With God ALL things are possible. Ask Pete! Ask me!!! :-)))
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Keep on raining --- I won't drown;
My feet are planted on higher ground.
Keep on reigning; You're my Lord!
Sharpen my mind by Your Spirit's sword.
Compliments of NicksHumor.net
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(((HUGS))) and blessings to you all,
(Mrs.) Doris E. Howie <><
Editor, OHzone E-CLIPS
