CJ,
Thanks for that wonderful testimony. Glad to have you on the list.
As for being verbose, that's a common condition for Echurch members.
JulieMelton
visit me at
www.heart-and-music.com
Keep smiling!
>From: CJ Daniel <[log in to unmask]>
>Reply-To: The Electronic Church <[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Hello Everyone
>Date: Wed, 29 Mar 2006 00:39:18 -0700
>
>Hello,
>
>My name is C J Daniel & I'd like to thank everyone who has taken the time
>to welcome me to the list. It seems that taking a few minutes to post
>something about yourself, as a new subscriber, is traditional. So without
>more fanfare, I will attempt to do that, without taking up to much of your
>time, but in hopes of covering the most salient points of my walk with
>Jesus Christ.
>
>I, like Phil, was blinded @ the age of nine-years by retinal detachments in
>the early 70's. I will fast-forward through the next thirty-years, for
>which you can all be thankful, as there is not a lot that is holy or
>righteous to report on during this period. Generally speaking, I would say
>it was full of the normal amount of stupidity & sin that is found in the
>day-to-day life of the average back-sliding believer. But, there were more
>interesting "valleys of the Shadow" in my future.
>
>In 2001 shortly after 9-11, my 4-year-old daughter, Sarah, was diagnosed
>with trilateral retinal blastoma. For those of you who don't know, this is
>a form of the disease that spreads from the retinas to the pineal gland,
>which is located in the center of your brain. This form of the disease,
>unfortunately, has a nearly universal mortality rate.
>
>I will not detail the year that followed Sarah's diagnosis. I will simply
>say that in the midst of great anguish there can be great joy & laughter.
>In that year, I saw a little hero struggle bravely with her fate. She did,
>with dignity & courage, what I doubt I could accomplish with even half of
>the grace she displayed.
>
>The night before she died in our home, I prayed that the Lord would take
>her. She had already seen so very much, & we had been informed that her
>ending could be extremely uncomfortable. I didn't want to see her under-go
>anymore suffering.
>
>It was as if I felt a warm and golden light suddenly surround me as I
>prayed. And, a voice inside me seemed to say, "I've only waited for you to
>be able to let go." @ that place & time, & in that circumstance, I knew
>the peace that surpasses all understanding. The next day @ noon with her
>family around her bed, Sarah passed quietly to our Lord in heaven two-weeks
>in advance of all medical predictions. I learned, later that same day,
>that every adult present had been praying @ the same time as myself, all be
>it separately, for Sarah's release from her travail.
>
>Within months of that passing, our family was dealt another body blow.
>Sarah's mom, who had shared a milder form of the ailment, was diagnosed
>with a recurrence of the disease, after more than 30-years of remission.
>The disease led to major surgeries, chemotherapy, & many hospitalizations.
>But most insidious of all, it led to a general erosion of her personality,
>values, & faith. I learned later that this is not uncommon with cancer
>that effects the brain or, surprisingly, the liver. In the end she left
>myself & our two surviving children.
>
>I will not speculate overly much about her leaving. In fact, I believe
>that simply stated she had endured to much. Her own illness coupled with
>the loss of a much beloved daughter had taken its toll. Also, my belief is
>that it does, as the old saw says, take two to make a marriage. I confess,
>fully, that I bare a measure of the blame for her confusion &
>disillusionment.
>
>However, I bare witness that throughout the time since Sarah's passing &
>that prayer for her final deliverance, the Lord has comforted me. He has
>made his face to shine upon me. I have clung to him as a small child
>clings to his father. And in these last few years, he has blessed me. He
>has, indeed, led me beside still waters. He has made me to lie in green
>pastures. Like Jobe, he has restored me.
>
>A little more than a year ago, I met & married a woman who's first words to
>me were, "can we pray." We recently had a baby girl named, Juliana
>Katherine Daniel. Our blended family is a blessing to me each & everyday.
>The Lord continues to teach me through my little flock.
>
>But more importantly, he continues to walk & talk with me. He led me to
>leave my job as Director of Client Services @ a small guide dog school in
>southern California & move to Tucson, AZ. Both I & my children have
>benefited immensely, in ways I could have not predicted, by this God
>inspired move. He has recently opened doors that allow me to share the
>songs of worship that he has inspired me to write. In addition, I am soon
>to be a community group leader for my new church.
>
>I know that I have gone on overly long in writing this. But, I am so
>excited about what he has done for me that I just want to share my
>testimony with the world. Also, quite honestly, it is my way of sharing
>some of the things that I learned from Sarah's passing. I hope you all
>will forgive me for my verbosity. I trust, I will not be so lengthy in the
>future. I look forward to sharing with each of you the love of our Lord.
>
>In Him,
>
>C J Daniel
>
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