Monday, June 16, 2008

ALL THINGS POSSIBLE...

Psalm 37:4 Delight thyself also in the LORD: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.

It is July 1995 and we are awaiting the arrival of Kathryn and her family…to our home in America!

In all my prayers…this never came from my lips…but the hope and desire was always there.

"Oh if Kathryn could only come to America and visit with me in my home and meet my church family."

So many times we have these passing thoughts and yet we never think to pray and ASK…because we think it is too far fetched. We think, oh GOD isn’t interested in this selfish thinking. I mean what could be accomplished with her coming to America? Besides just making us happy to see each other once again. Of course we would never ever forget God’s goodness to us in the work done in our lives and hers. Year by year keeping in touch.

My children…now almost 10 years older than when she saw them last. Of course we’d exchanged photos. But to see them tall and grown is another sight!

Charlie was now 12 yrs. old!! So many years had passed.

But, here we found ourselves pacing the floor….

"Is it possible? Kathryn and her husband who is now a Christian coming to “fellowship” with us!!"

Oh what joy was bubbling up inside us all.

“Do you see them coming?.....Keep watching Charlie!”

“They’re here…they’re here!! …HURRY everybody!”


We all ran outside as we saw the rental car approaching our drive way. Kathryn’s smile could be seen as they drove in. Our arms were waving and the kids jumping!

This was our first meeting of her three children… the eldest Rebecca was 9…Chistopher-Phillip 7 and Kate 6. How precious they were as they spoke in their lovely British accents.

Very polite and excited to meet “Mummies” friends!

I had prepared little keepsake gifts for each of them…Christopher especially liked his Americana Bear I gave him with the miniature American Flag.

Her husband….smiling…shaking my husband’s hand…and hugging me!

I cannot put into words how I felt at that moment.

This man who opposed me as I witnessed to Kathryn. This man I prayed so earnestly to get saved…. Here at my home…with a warming hug of true Christian thankfulness.

He knew now the toils of the work God had been doing in Kathryn’s life that eventually led to his own salvation.

We spent 4 wonderful days of fellowship together. We had devotions, sang..ate American food!

The children snuggled up with mine in their rooms for sleeping. They had so much fun together. Little Kate we thought even had a crush on Charlie! Too cute!

One occasion Kathryn and I took a walk alone. I shared with her then the journal I had kept while living in Switzerland. She’d like to read it.

She took one evening a lone and read the journal…weeping.

She told me that she had no idea of all that had come to pass in the LORD’s work of her salvation. She felt very humbled and even more grateful for the good work of the LORD in both our lives. Now with her husband saved, we both knew that the work of the LORD is never finished. How joyous it was to know that we both shared a special bond in the marvelous purposes of GOD.

On Sunday…

Everyone at church came up to meet them. I stood back and watched in amazement.

“Kathryn…here…her family…at my church here in America!!”

I took a photo of them standing on the steps of the church before entering.

My family usually sat in the front row..so what better place for our special guest of the day!

During Sunday School…my Pastor mentioned several times as he always does..the importance of our confidence in the Scriptures. Knowing they are the pure words of GOD given to man.

Proverbs 30:5 Every word of God is pure….

As he began to read several verses…Kathryn’s husband looked over at her and pointed to the verse in his Bible that did not say the same thing. He understood what the entire lesson was on. The KJV was without error. His bible was also missing words or verses! He closed his bible and continued to read with Kathryn.

When I first met Kathryn in the hospital…on one of many visits with her, we discussed why I used the King James Version of the Bible. After her salvation, we had an in depth Bible study with her and she too was convinced this was the Bible GOD ordained for man.

Before the Sunday morning message …my Pastor introduced Kathryn and her family. Hearts were touched and smiles filled the auditorium, knowing how much this moment meant to us.

Kathryn and her family came up front to sing a special for the church. A song in English and then in French.

Tears filled my eyes and overwhelming joy in my heart.

“Oh…LORD… I never dreamed this day would be mine! I never thought I’d be back in this church in America and now here I am…

And Kathryn with her saved husband and sweet children singing!

at MY home church!

OH…thanks giving be to my GOD!"


How humbled I am to know he would look upon my life and bless me so!

A photo I cherish is of my husband and Kathryn’s standing together that morning after services in the living room of our home, with Bible in hand talking about the preservation of GOD’s perfect Word.

No this is not the END of the story….there is no end to the wondrous works of GOD…and there is no end to His love and mercy.

Kathryn a few years later….led her sister to the LORD as she suffered through Cancer. …and over the years she has had many opportunities to witness.

Kathryn’s family faithfully serve in their church and go on mission trips each year…their children have grown into wonderful young adults.

As I posted once before…this glorious song speaks to my heart of GOD’s worthy praises…

All creatures of our God and King…

Lift up your voice and with us sing… Alleluia..Alleluia

Thou burning sun with golden beam, Thou silver moon with softer gleam…

Alleluia…Alleluia.. O Praise Him..O Praise Him…Alleluia.

Let all things their Creator bless…And worship Him in humbleness

O Praise Him. Alleluia…Praise, praise the Father, Praise the Son

And praise the Spirit, Three in One…O Praise HIM…

O Praise Him…Alleluia!!


St. Matthew 10:31 Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows. Whosoever, therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess before my Father which is in heaven.

I John 5:13 These things have I written unto that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

I John 5:20 And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we my know him that is true.


II Peter 1-8 Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:
Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord.
According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
Whereby are given to us great and exceeding promises: that by these ye might be partakers of divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, and to virtue knowledge:
And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.


(there will be one more post in the story of my Swiss Journey of Hope)

6 comments:

Pam--in America said...

What an exciting time that must have been for you! I was excited with you just reading about it! Our God is so good; to give us the desires of our heart, without ever having uttered them. And as I've said before, to see the fruit of your labour... what a blessing!!

TO BECOME said...

The working of God is so great. Who would have ever thought that the plan of God would be like this. His way is always best and His thought are always higher than our thoughts. God is working even when we do not understand or know. Thank God! connie from Texas

Deborah said...

Amen! Our God is so good!

Heather said...

I am sure you discover more and more of how the Lord was working even as you write this! It is always a comfort to see how the Lord's plan unfolds in someones life...what an encouragement to me!

~~Deby said...

Wow, to see this all unfold and to see and hear of the way God used you and your family and circumstances. HE is so faithful.
This has been wonderful.
Deby

Joy said...

Isn't it amazing how after we are saved, we can look back and understand what God was doing in our life? How He was 'working things together' for this very outcome?