Miracle - God used my Grandpa (Melanie)
I was 29-years-old, a wife, the mother of a two-year old daughter and six months pregnant with my second. My marriage of 11 years was having some problems, but nothing that I believed we wouldn't be able to work through. My grandpa, who I was very close to, had been ill, but I had great hope he would recover just as he had so many times in the past. I had a nice home, a newer car, money in the bank, and the privilege of being a full-time stay-at-home mom. I was, for the most part, content.
One night I had a vivid dream. I was standing at the base of some mountains that resembled the Sierra Nevadas where I had lived as a child. My Grandpa was there, wearing his cowboy hat and holding the reigns of a horse. Ahead of me was a path that curved into one of the mountains. The path and the mountains seemed to go on forever. In my dream, I was terrified and said to my grandpa, "No, please, I can't do this alone." My grandpa sadly shook his head, but then sternly said, "You have to.” I asked him, “can't you go with me?" Again, my grandpa shook his head no, yet said, "I'll always be with you." I started to cry. Grandpa said, "I've already given you everything you need; remember what I've taught you." I turned to the trail ahead of me and knew that I had to travel down the path before me. The next day, my family and I found out that my grandpa had terminal lung cancer. Three months later, exactly one week after my baby girl was born, my grandpa died. In the course of the following year, my marriage disintegrated and my husband became obsessively controlling and abusive. My health deteriorated to the point of nearly crippling me. Shortly after my youngest daughter's first birthday, my husband filed for divorce. I felt alone and abandoned.
Though I believed in God and had accepted Christ as a child, I hadn't been to church in nearly 20 years and knew little about Jesus. However, at this rock bottom point in my life I found myself praying daily. I started attending a church, though not regularly. The next several years were some of the most difficult of my life. My ex continued to terrorize and harass me, often using our children to accomplish this (and hurting them in the process). I struggled to work, pay the bills, and eventually go to school, all while fighting legal battle after battle, dealing with the police, etc. Yet God worked miracle after miracle in my life. At first, I didn't recognize them for what they were, because I didn't know God, but as I learned more about Him, and started living by His Word, the more I loved and trusted in Him ... and the more He was able to work good in my life.
Not too long ago, I remembered the dream of my grandpa. I realized, finally, that the one who had spoken to me in my dream was not my beloved grandpa, but instead, it was God. God knew at that time in my life, I wouldn't have recognized Him - so He used the image of my grandpa -- an image that meant love, protection and wisdom to me. Even though I wasn't following Him at the time, God was watching over me! He led me down the path that led me to Him.
One night I had a vivid dream. I was standing at the base of some mountains that resembled the Sierra Nevadas where I had lived as a child. My Grandpa was there, wearing his cowboy hat and holding the reigns of a horse. Ahead of me was a path that curved into one of the mountains. The path and the mountains seemed to go on forever. In my dream, I was terrified and said to my grandpa, "No, please, I can't do this alone." My grandpa sadly shook his head, but then sternly said, "You have to.” I asked him, “can't you go with me?" Again, my grandpa shook his head no, yet said, "I'll always be with you." I started to cry. Grandpa said, "I've already given you everything you need; remember what I've taught you." I turned to the trail ahead of me and knew that I had to travel down the path before me. The next day, my family and I found out that my grandpa had terminal lung cancer. Three months later, exactly one week after my baby girl was born, my grandpa died. In the course of the following year, my marriage disintegrated and my husband became obsessively controlling and abusive. My health deteriorated to the point of nearly crippling me. Shortly after my youngest daughter's first birthday, my husband filed for divorce. I felt alone and abandoned.
Though I believed in God and had accepted Christ as a child, I hadn't been to church in nearly 20 years and knew little about Jesus. However, at this rock bottom point in my life I found myself praying daily. I started attending a church, though not regularly. The next several years were some of the most difficult of my life. My ex continued to terrorize and harass me, often using our children to accomplish this (and hurting them in the process). I struggled to work, pay the bills, and eventually go to school, all while fighting legal battle after battle, dealing with the police, etc. Yet God worked miracle after miracle in my life. At first, I didn't recognize them for what they were, because I didn't know God, but as I learned more about Him, and started living by His Word, the more I loved and trusted in Him ... and the more He was able to work good in my life.
Not too long ago, I remembered the dream of my grandpa. I realized, finally, that the one who had spoken to me in my dream was not my beloved grandpa, but instead, it was God. God knew at that time in my life, I wouldn't have recognized Him - so He used the image of my grandpa -- an image that meant love, protection and wisdom to me. Even though I wasn't following Him at the time, God was watching over me! He led me down the path that led me to Him.
Last night we were able to minister to at the Fresh Fire Youth ministry in Paramount, CA. I was able to make so many great relationships, but there was one in particular that I know will stick with me. I met Elizabeth before service, and she was amazing. So, of course, I found her after service as well to tell her that I would love to see her in our Masters Commission this next year.
