Greetings from Embrace!
Thanks to everyone who prayed for the Hand family during Paul’s recent surgery. Everything went well other than some post-operative discomforts. He’s doing well and returning to his normal activities slowly but surely. Please continue to pray for the general health of Embrace. Each of the three families has experienced illness recently but the Lord is providing healing. He is so good!
Family is such a vital part of our lives here on earth. Our spouses, parents, siblings, and our own children are among the greatest gifts that God gives to humanity. As our pastor reminded us in a recent sermon, God created us to live in relationship with others. The link that exists between family members is vital in helping us realize the plans that God has for us.
A precious friend of ours recently preached at our church about family. He asked the question, “What kind of legacy are you leaving for your children?” He spoke of the importance of a father’s love and of the impact that a father of integrity has on his family. Finally he began to share a story, the story of someone he knew personally.
He told of this man who was born in the 1910’s. At the age of seven, this boy’s parents divorced—a strict social taboo at the time, and how this boy was instantly a social outcast. He lived with his mother and when the Great Depression struck, he was forced to live on the street because there was no money for food. Alone, he was kicked from pillar to post and eventually was allowed to live with his aunt. Upon his arrival in her home he was taken into a bedroom where there was a soft bed with clean sheets. The aunt told him he could sleep in the room but that she didn’t like things messy so he would have to sleep on the floor. In time the boy went to live with his father, a severe alcoholic, and his stepmother. While there he became gravely ill with a mysterious set of symptoms. The doctors concluded that the boy’s stepmother had been poisoning him. This episode that nearly cost him his life put him in the hospital for a year and resulted in agonizing physical rehabilitation. Finally, this boy grew into a man and went away to war. He had married just before he left and while overseas he received a letter. In the letter his bride told of the loss of her younger sister. The younger sister was a Christian and her witness as she lay dying had led to the salvation of the entire family. Although skeptical, this young man agreed to accompany his wife to church upon his return home. Eventually he came to Christ himself and chose to live whole-heartedly for the Savior.
Our dear friend began to weep as he told that this man had been father to two sons, one a faithful minister and the other an evangelist who had led thousands all over the world to Christ. This man has several granddaughters who are all married to godly men and serving in their local churches and then, our friend said, “He has one grandson—me.”
We all began to weep as we realized he spoke of his own dear grandfather lovingly know as “Bud”. This man’s family had touched almost every family present that night in some capacity. When all those that had been ministered to in some way by this family were asked to stand, hundreds of people stood in that one room alone. Countless thousands could have stood the world over.
This one man had chosen to break the chains of his past and place himself in the loving care of the Savior. His faithfulness had resulted in innumerable lives being changed for all time and eternity. What a legacy!
My seven-year-old son and I were talking recently about heaven. His dad had the privilege of leading him to Christ a little over a year ago and Stephen is very curious about how things will be in eternity. He had asked many of the usual questions a child asks. Suddenly he became very serious and looked like he might cry. He asked me with deepest earnestness, “With so many people there, how will I find you?”
My eyes filled with tears and I told him what I felt the Holy Spirit had whispered to my heart, “When it’s time, I’ll know you’re coming and I’ll be waiting. You won’t have to find me; I’ll find you!’ He was satisfied.
I would challenge any one who is not living in a vital relationship with Christ to think about their family. I urge you to think about the legacy you are leaving to your children. What will you say when they ask, “How will I find you?”
God bless you—
Embrace
Nora Truhett
http://www.embraceministry.com
Author: AGM
| Author's Website: http://absolutelygospel.com/
Written: 03/01/2006
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Category: Embrace
Comments: 2
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WOW! that almost brought tears to my eyes. thanks so much for sharing it!!
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