A MIRACLE HAPPENED ON WEDNESDAY

Milton, here for Kristy:

My mind is in a rush--a swirl. It is functioning slow and fast at the same time. Flashes of places, things, good times and tough times, joy and sadness, peace yet turmoil all happening at once while yet knowing and feeling His presence. There is a cloud of peace over me and a chair of strength under me. This isn't a contradiction, but a matter of passing through a tough and terrible storm.

I am on a brief sabbatical from my duties as a pastor. My precious congregation has stood so faithfully with me and our family. You see, Kristy grew up in this church. There are people who are active in our congregation who knew her as a little redheaded, freckle faced child and girl and then saw her first ministry as a teenager. They attended our wedding. They welcomed us as pastors and followed us. They attended her funeral. They are holding my hands. They are wonderful people who love God and His servant. But, I need to be away and let God give fresh anointing and healing in my body and mind and spirit.

When I left town on Monday, I gathered and packed all I needed and also put in my suitcase books to be mailed to those who won the drawing for the contest "Where Is Steinhatchee?" I planned on mailing them today.

I have been smarting over many issues which are obvious and some issues that no one knows. But one struggle has been that I did not have one signed copy of any of Kristy's books. Her GBM brain tumor and surgery and radiation treatments and the recovery happened so fast. We were not thinking about signatures. We were thinking about survival and life. But now she is gone and not having one signed copy of her books hurt.

Wednesday noon, I went to my suitcase to get the books I brought to mail. I reached in and pulled them out remembering I had brought extra copies for me to re-read. I actually brought two different books I planned on mailing to the winners. As I sorted the books, something caught my eye.

In the stack of books one of them had an "Autographed Copy" sticker on it. I was shocked and almost fell over in amazement. I opened the book and on the inside cover was written:

May God draw you

closer to Him.

Matt. 5:5

Kristy Dykes

Kristy dykes.blogspot.com

Read my unusual story.

christianlovestories.blogspot

.com

This was the last book she signed. To my knowledge this the last thing she ever wrote. I know because parts of it had white out in one place and lines scratched through some words. The first four lines had been written before the surgery with a clear and good signature, but the last four lines were in a hand writing of a woman who had a brain tumor and could not write very good.

I remember her attempting to write the last four lines and failing after she had recovered from brain surgery. She struggled to read or write. I thought she had discarded the book as she did with everything else that did not have immediate service or use for her. There are no junk or piles of anything in our house. Nothing ever piled up anywhere at any time when Kristy was around. This book could have easily disappeared in many ways, but no, it appeared in my hand from His hand.

Read two posts back and you will see how I was so hurt over not having a autographed copy. Now I have one. If you have a signed copy of her books, cherish it. Don't send it to me. Please don't. I have the only one I want.

A miracle of unusual mercy happened on Wednesday to bring comfort to my heart. Read what she signed again. It might be a miracle for you.

***

I will share soon about the family gift that they gave to Kristy on her birthday, August 2. It is amazing what they did to celebrate her life.

There are stories to tell about our walk, hand in hand, through small town America. I am trying to write them, but this christian love story is still happening. I can't digress just yet.

Thank you for your prayers. I feel them so strongly. How do people go through such a storm without Jesus and wonderful family and friends?

I called two pastors within the last days who are so discouraged they do not know what to do. Pray harder for your pastor. The devil wants her or him to fail. Make sure your prayers are lifting your pastor up. Pastors need people to pray for them. I know.

Please pray for two discouraged pastors for God's wisdom and strength.