Thanks for the info C. J. I love when people are wise enough to listen to the Lord and reap the many blessing from the obediance. Praise his Holy name.
--
Can you imagine what a scarcity of news there would be If everybody obeyed
> the Ten Commandments?
I would rather live my life as if there is a God, and die to find out there isn't, than live my life as if there isn't, and die to find out there is
IN GOD WE TRUST
Karen Carter '74
-KC- Ministries
-------------- Original message ----------------------
From: CJ Daniel <[log in to unmask]>
> 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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