Praise God for His Angels of Protection
In the last few years, I have faced so many challenges, each one is a chapter within itself! We could go back as far as Hurricane Katriana (or farther), then Rita (or farther). but that gives you a general sense of life on the edge of how God's Grace has protected us. However, The date that stands out the most as a life changing event is December of 2006. After William and I were Hospitalized, my employer - LEHMAN Brothers, basically forced me on the FMLA to protect my job. At first, I had the typical human response and was hangry. Why? I had three weeks of unused vacation time! But, I soon realized that God was protecting me. Of course, I did not know from what or why. And, I might never know every thing. All I can say is Praise God for his Angels of Protection that Watch over us in our Times of Need! Relecting over the last eight months, my prayer life and been the most life changing experience of it all. In between my own physical health issues battling fatigue and other personal physical health problelms. I never lost faith that God would heal me. And, God never stopped assuring me that HE loved me and HE assured me that HE wold give me strength. But right before THE STORM, I was up early one morning, so fatigued - I was wondering how I would make it through the morning. I heard a voice, "Charleen, I Love You." It was profound. I stopped, looked around. On the counter top in my kitchen was a bible. I stopped what I was doing, picked it up, walked into the living room and began to read. Before, I could start the passage. The same profound voice said, "I WILL GIVE YOU STRENGTH." The holy spirit came upon me and gave me strength. It lasted a brief second, but I could feel strength. Praise God, I wish it would have lasted longer, but he knew exactly what I needed and he knew what I faced. I was believing that I was going to have the great summer ahead of me! I thought I was being rewarded and the best was yet to come. Little did I know, he was providing me, with what I needed to get through the hardest days of my life. He our Sovereign GOD, was preparing me for THE STORM.
In less than weeks, the hardest trials and tribulations began to rage through my life, like the wind bands of a hurricane. The first rains come, and the first gust and breeze start to blow, it's not that bad. Then the gust and bands become more difficult to bear and then the storm surges. I am comparing the last eight months to the hurricanes becuase the last eight of my months ended with the grand finale of Gustave and Ike. And the months before, were some of the most difficult months of my life. The difference between lossing my entire sales territory with Katriana, and evacuating Katriana and Rita with a infant, while having to leave my husband alone. was one solitary thing. My intimate relationship with Our Lord Jesus Christ. Over the last three years, our prayer life has improved tremedously. The difference, we stopped just praying. We surrendered our prayer life to God.
The Gust and Bands that Hit before the storm. In Febuary and April of 2008, my 83 year old mother had to have a VP Shunt Revision. She became non-ambulatory, so I had to leave behind my husband and two year old son and spend over three weeks in Houston to take care of her 24 hours a day. I was also battling my own health issues and seeing specialist in Houston while she was in the hospital. I had to depend on hired sitters, during the time I had to leave her. My husband was full time active duty military, so this was not easy on his part either. But, God provided. Mom was also diagnosed with Polymyalgia Rheumatica. It was at that point, that I learned to surrender my prayer life to God and give him absolute control. And Praise God, I saw miracle after miracle! Mother made a full recover. She celebrated Williams 3rd Birthday with us in April. She returned to her own home, and she had 24 hour care for safety reasons. On May 17, 2008 My husband left for 10 weeks with the military. I had planned on spending this time, focusing on my health and spending time with my son.
A sitter, took mother on an unathorized trip on May 18th. She didn't tell mother the trueth about where they were going. The sitter wasn't looking out for mother, but committed a very selfish negligent act and put mother in a dangerous situation. Mother was unable to walk, because it was too much on her fatigued body. As she tired to sit down, without assistance, the chair folder from underneath her. She broke her pelvis in three places.
One week later, While driving William to preschool, William and I were involved in a motor vehicle accident. It was not our fault. However, it was very traumatic. I had to be extrated from the vehicle. William sustained serious injuries to his back, shoulder, and neck. And, later we found out that I had sustained, six bulging disc, and two protruding disc. We are both in theraphy and still having to have medical treatment. The hand of God was upon us. My SUV was on empty... I was wondering if I could make it to the next fuel station. The car that hit me from behind, was traveling so fast - she damaged my fuel system. The entire system had to be replaced. Praise God for an empty Gas Tank! "His Mercy Endureath Forever." When, my husband recieved the call, he offered to quiet his military school." I refused, I said no. God has promised me that he would give me strength. And, if I can't make it through this, then how will I make it through a year in Bagdad?"
At this point, we were advised, that mother would have less than 12 months to live. My mother was the most precious Christian Woman that I had ever met in my life. And, a perfect example of Proverbs 31. As family members walked way from the situation and no longer agreed to help. Knowing that mother's quality of life was indeed limited. I made the decision that we would take her home. With the help of three devoted care givers and my three year old son, Mother was able to live out her last days in her own home. She actually walked again! And did an incredible job of it! I was so proud of her. She recovered so well, that I thought it was safe to go visit my husband. I took an entire week, preparing for me to leave mother. Then, I recieved the dreadful phone call, that mother had become ill very suddenly. I was devastated. I could not get a flight out for both my son and myself. I had to leave Will behind. Mother held on to say goodbye, until I arrived. Mother passed away on July 25, 2008. And her funeral services were held on July 27, 2008. While medically, I could not find resolution for the circumstances. I had felt lead to get the minister from her childhood church to participate in the service. The minister, Pastor Steve Montgomery has retired from over 54 years in foreign missions and had married her cousin. They lived just a few houses away. And, it turned out to be another confirmation from God that his timing is never wrong. Reverend Montgomery had found in the church records, that my mother had accepted Christ as her savior extactly 67 years to the date of hear death! What an anniversary! Mothers funeral service was held 67 years to the day of her baptism. What a testimony! While I will struggle with the loss of my mother, I know that she lived and she died, in the arms of Christ.
Through all of these storms God's faithfulness had carried us, when we needed him the most! And, he gives us the rest between the gust of bands. In the last eight months, he was preparing me to face the storm.
When we recieved notice that Gustav was facing our coast, my husband's job required him to make many preparations. We started our preparations with prayer. Each night, we prayed together. Praise God! We suffered no loss or damage. We prayed for God to Protect Him and his unit, their homes, families, and the aircraft. Our church dedicated our Sunday service for a special prayer service. Our hometown was hit hard! As the floodwaters appraoched our neighborhoods, I knew in my heart that I was protected! While my physical preparations were not as complete as my friends and families, my spiritual preparations were in place. I had spent an entire week, overseeing family support for my husbands unit. Which left little time for me to prepare. God provided. My nephew came over and helped me prepare the outside of my home. God knew my needs and he provided! Praise be the Name of the Lord!
God's Prayers of Protection for my husband were answered. He was the last man out and the first man In following Gustav. And, has been involved in the South Louisiana Assesments of Ike as well. Flying in those conditions are challenging. However, we have prayed for God to Place a Shield of Protection Around Him and He Has! I am just thankful, that God gave me the strength for my husband to finish that school, that gave him the knowledge and skills he needed to fly through the storm. "For All Things Work ToGether for the Good to Those Who Love the Lord and Who are Called According to His Purpose." Just as God Protected Me from the downfall of Lehman's and removed me from the situation by putting me on medical leave, he protected John through the Hurricanes. His Plan of Protection and Salvation for our Lives is So much bigger for us than we can ever imagine!
September 18, would have been my fathers 85th birthday. I went to my parents home. I needed some sacred time alone in prayer and I regain my strenght at the old home place. I had a challenging week to say the least. He died 13 years ago this week. I went by the cemetary to find that the Hurricane rains had caused serious damage at the country cemetary. So, I went my by husbands office. And asked to use his truck. I explained the situaiton. He called his boss and he requested off the rest of the afternoon. I know they most have wondered, how is a women with six bulging disc and two protruding one's going to restore this situaiton. So, they were gracious enough to give him the afternoon off. My husband was so wonderful about it. And, I was coming down ill with some type of sore throat. We drove back out to the country, by the time we came home, I was extremely ill. My husband tried to call the doctor. We could not reach them and no one returned the call. I showered, went to bed. I now had a high fever and couldn't talk, or swallow. I managed to go to sleep. I woke up and was praying. I started praying for protection for my son..and our home, then our son. I prayed over and over for our son.. All of a sudden, I thought I saw a visual for an angel painting. Then, my pain in my legs went away. I felt much better. I was still weak and a little ill, but I wasn't nearly as bad. I got up and walked into the living room. My husband said, I thought you were going to leave me. I said 'why," just a little while ago, I was replacing the dimmer switch on the electrical outlets. Will was watching Noggin, just right there on the coach. I walked into the other room (less than 5 feet to get a switch) Will, climbed up and had the screw driver and was touching the live electircal wires! I said, "Praise God for his Protection! I saw an Angel." I shared my experience with my husband. Before he told me about the experience, I thought it was just a visual for a painting. God is always there to protect us, and gives us intercessory and prepatory prayer
Have a Great and Blessed Day Everyone!
In less than weeks, the hardest trials and tribulations began to rage through my life, like the wind bands of a hurricane. The first rains come, and the first gust and breeze start to blow, it's not that bad. Then the gust and bands become more difficult to bear and then the storm surges. I am comparing the last eight months to the hurricanes becuase the last eight of my months ended with the grand finale of Gustave and Ike. And the months before, were some of the most difficult months of my life. The difference between lossing my entire sales territory with Katriana, and evacuating Katriana and Rita with a infant, while having to leave my husband alone. was one solitary thing. My intimate relationship with Our Lord Jesus Christ. Over the last three years, our prayer life has improved tremedously. The difference, we stopped just praying. We surrendered our prayer life to God.
The Gust and Bands that Hit before the storm. In Febuary and April of 2008, my 83 year old mother had to have a VP Shunt Revision. She became non-ambulatory, so I had to leave behind my husband and two year old son and spend over three weeks in Houston to take care of her 24 hours a day. I was also battling my own health issues and seeing specialist in Houston while she was in the hospital. I had to depend on hired sitters, during the time I had to leave her. My husband was full time active duty military, so this was not easy on his part either. But, God provided. Mom was also diagnosed with Polymyalgia Rheumatica. It was at that point, that I learned to surrender my prayer life to God and give him absolute control. And Praise God, I saw miracle after miracle! Mother made a full recover. She celebrated Williams 3rd Birthday with us in April. She returned to her own home, and she had 24 hour care for safety reasons. On May 17, 2008 My husband left for 10 weeks with the military. I had planned on spending this time, focusing on my health and spending time with my son.
A sitter, took mother on an unathorized trip on May 18th. She didn't tell mother the trueth about where they were going. The sitter wasn't looking out for mother, but committed a very selfish negligent act and put mother in a dangerous situation. Mother was unable to walk, because it was too much on her fatigued body. As she tired to sit down, without assistance, the chair folder from underneath her. She broke her pelvis in three places.
One week later, While driving William to preschool, William and I were involved in a motor vehicle accident. It was not our fault. However, it was very traumatic. I had to be extrated from the vehicle. William sustained serious injuries to his back, shoulder, and neck. And, later we found out that I had sustained, six bulging disc, and two protruding disc. We are both in theraphy and still having to have medical treatment. The hand of God was upon us. My SUV was on empty... I was wondering if I could make it to the next fuel station. The car that hit me from behind, was traveling so fast - she damaged my fuel system. The entire system had to be replaced. Praise God for an empty Gas Tank! "His Mercy Endureath Forever." When, my husband recieved the call, he offered to quiet his military school." I refused, I said no. God has promised me that he would give me strength. And, if I can't make it through this, then how will I make it through a year in Bagdad?"
At this point, we were advised, that mother would have less than 12 months to live. My mother was the most precious Christian Woman that I had ever met in my life. And, a perfect example of Proverbs 31. As family members walked way from the situation and no longer agreed to help. Knowing that mother's quality of life was indeed limited. I made the decision that we would take her home. With the help of three devoted care givers and my three year old son, Mother was able to live out her last days in her own home. She actually walked again! And did an incredible job of it! I was so proud of her. She recovered so well, that I thought it was safe to go visit my husband. I took an entire week, preparing for me to leave mother. Then, I recieved the dreadful phone call, that mother had become ill very suddenly. I was devastated. I could not get a flight out for both my son and myself. I had to leave Will behind. Mother held on to say goodbye, until I arrived. Mother passed away on July 25, 2008. And her funeral services were held on July 27, 2008. While medically, I could not find resolution for the circumstances. I had felt lead to get the minister from her childhood church to participate in the service. The minister, Pastor Steve Montgomery has retired from over 54 years in foreign missions and had married her cousin. They lived just a few houses away. And, it turned out to be another confirmation from God that his timing is never wrong. Reverend Montgomery had found in the church records, that my mother had accepted Christ as her savior extactly 67 years to the date of hear death! What an anniversary! Mothers funeral service was held 67 years to the day of her baptism. What a testimony! While I will struggle with the loss of my mother, I know that she lived and she died, in the arms of Christ.
Through all of these storms God's faithfulness had carried us, when we needed him the most! And, he gives us the rest between the gust of bands. In the last eight months, he was preparing me to face the storm.
When we recieved notice that Gustav was facing our coast, my husband's job required him to make many preparations. We started our preparations with prayer. Each night, we prayed together. Praise God! We suffered no loss or damage. We prayed for God to Protect Him and his unit, their homes, families, and the aircraft. Our church dedicated our Sunday service for a special prayer service. Our hometown was hit hard! As the floodwaters appraoched our neighborhoods, I knew in my heart that I was protected! While my physical preparations were not as complete as my friends and families, my spiritual preparations were in place. I had spent an entire week, overseeing family support for my husbands unit. Which left little time for me to prepare. God provided. My nephew came over and helped me prepare the outside of my home. God knew my needs and he provided! Praise be the Name of the Lord!
God's Prayers of Protection for my husband were answered. He was the last man out and the first man In following Gustav. And, has been involved in the South Louisiana Assesments of Ike as well. Flying in those conditions are challenging. However, we have prayed for God to Place a Shield of Protection Around Him and He Has! I am just thankful, that God gave me the strength for my husband to finish that school, that gave him the knowledge and skills he needed to fly through the storm. "For All Things Work ToGether for the Good to Those Who Love the Lord and Who are Called According to His Purpose." Just as God Protected Me from the downfall of Lehman's and removed me from the situation by putting me on medical leave, he protected John through the Hurricanes. His Plan of Protection and Salvation for our Lives is So much bigger for us than we can ever imagine!
September 18, would have been my fathers 85th birthday. I went to my parents home. I needed some sacred time alone in prayer and I regain my strenght at the old home place. I had a challenging week to say the least. He died 13 years ago this week. I went by the cemetary to find that the Hurricane rains had caused serious damage at the country cemetary. So, I went my by husbands office. And asked to use his truck. I explained the situaiton. He called his boss and he requested off the rest of the afternoon. I know they most have wondered, how is a women with six bulging disc and two protruding one's going to restore this situaiton. So, they were gracious enough to give him the afternoon off. My husband was so wonderful about it. And, I was coming down ill with some type of sore throat. We drove back out to the country, by the time we came home, I was extremely ill. My husband tried to call the doctor. We could not reach them and no one returned the call. I showered, went to bed. I now had a high fever and couldn't talk, or swallow. I managed to go to sleep. I woke up and was praying. I started praying for protection for my son..and our home, then our son. I prayed over and over for our son.. All of a sudden, I thought I saw a visual for an angel painting. Then, my pain in my legs went away. I felt much better. I was still weak and a little ill, but I wasn't nearly as bad. I got up and walked into the living room. My husband said, I thought you were going to leave me. I said 'why," just a little while ago, I was replacing the dimmer switch on the electrical outlets. Will was watching Noggin, just right there on the coach. I walked into the other room (less than 5 feet to get a switch) Will, climbed up and had the screw driver and was touching the live electircal wires! I said, "Praise God for his Protection! I saw an Angel." I shared my experience with my husband. Before he told me about the experience, I thought it was just a visual for a painting. God is always there to protect us, and gives us intercessory and prepatory prayer
Have a Great and Blessed Day Everyone!
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