Mike L. is all smiles and hugs now...but earlier in his life he suffered an alcoholic addiction that nearly cost him everything. He applauds a moment of Divine Intervention that rescued him in more ways than one.
I asked Mike L. to share his story.
"I am a recovering alcoholic, sober almost 35 wonderful years.
Prior to getting sober, my life was in a spiral downward for many years. Depression was constant; all I had in life was alcohol. No girlfriend stayed with me more than 3 months due to my drinking. Loneliness and depression is not a good mixture and I sometimes would look in the mirror and hate what I saw to the point that I decided that I could not take it anymore and decided to end my life.
I walked to my nearest bridge during a mild snowstorm and stared at the rocks 75 feet below. After about 5 minutes of debate, I climbed over the rail. A car drove by and I heard him yell, “ Don’t do it, it’s not worth it.” I yelled back some nasty expletives and gave him that terrible middle finger.
I let go of the rail, felt a slight breeze and a thump. I was pretty drunk and I suppose I fell backwards to the sidewalk instead of the rocks below.
I cried all the way home because I was such a loser I couldn’t even kill myself. I felt like I had to live this miserable life forever.
When I got home I did something I NEVER did, got down on my knees and prayed. I remember asking God for help. I need someone in my life. I knew that he had a protective hand over me.
I put myself in a rehab hospital 4 months later.
What seemed to happen next was not immediate, but I found it easier for me to ask potential girlfriends out on dates. The last is still my wife and we just recently celebrated 35 years of marriage.
Now, I am still happy and still grateful for the Divine intervention that gave me a wonderful life."
- Mike L.
Mike shares a personal testament about how Divine Timing saved his life!
I asked Mike to share his story:
"Prior to moving to Florida and working for Disney, I worked for the Psychiatric Institute America at Brookside Hospital in Nashua N.H. as an alcohol and drug abuse counselor.
Working overnights, I lived about a one hour drive from my house to get to work and for the most part, the commute was very uneventful.
This one particular night there was a full moon and it was just barely over the horizon between two hills and there was two pencil thin clouds that cut dead center of the moon. It was absolutely beautiful.
I thought to myself, “ Lord, I don’t know how you do it but, you sure made my drive to work pleasant."
Now about half a minute later, I had this AWFUL feeling of doom. I’d never in my life felt like that. I looked at the road in front of me and realized that I only had my low beams on so I put on the high beams.
As soon as I did, there was a dear in my lane looking right at me.
I literally slammed on my breaks and came to a stop about 8 feet from that deer.
"WOW! That would have been disastrous,” I thought.
I traveled another maybe 3 miles down the road and in the distance there is a crossroad. My speed limit was 60 MPH and there was a stop sign. I saw this reckless driver blow through his stop sign at at least 50MPH.
I realized that if that deer was not in the road for me to stop for him it most likely would have put me in that intersection at the same time of the reckless driver OR, if I did hit the deer, it surely would have disabled my truck.
Either way, I was truly blessed that night."
- Mike L.
Does God answer prayer? D. James Benton was quick to answer a definitive: YES. He shares this act of terrorism which affected so many, including his daughters, Katie and Emily.
I asked D. James Benton to share this story in his own words.
"Does God answer prayer? Let us consider the facts in this case, as certified by Scotland Yard and the BBC… Katie and Emily were 10 feet from the bomb, which lifted the subway car they were sitting in off the tracks, blowing a hole in the ground beneath.
All the passengers around the girls were killed, including the woman sitting next to Katie.
The surgeon in London would not release the girls into the care of any doctor with whom she was not confident. Fortunately, Dr. Levin had just returned from a lecture tour in the UK and could take care of the girls.
Then, the girls' passports were in the evidence lockup at Scotland Yard. Fortunately again, Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, signed off on the paperwork so they could reenter the country.
Another setback. The air ambulance insisted on $150k cash up front. Answer to prayer, the payment was done by an Anonymous Donor.
Once again some turbulence... the unscheduled flight was refused clearance to land inside the USA by Homeland Security. Instead, Katie and Emily flew to Gander in Newfoundland, on to Toronto, switched planes, and then landed in Raleigh-Durham.
A dozen surgeries later, we see Katie and Emily in this picture.
Katie and Emily publicly forgave the terrorist, Germaine Lindsay, aged 19, who lived in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, with his pregnant wife and young son. He detonated his device on the number 311 train, killing 27 people, including himself."
- D. James Benton
Jessie J. applauds God's divine intervention in his life so that his family avoided being homeless after a traumatic tale of eviction and financial difficulties.
I asked Jessie to share his story:
"My family and I (my son, my daughter and my wife) were in dire economic stress.
I had just lost my job after I found out that my depression and anxiety were due to a medical condition.
We were deeply behind on rent and bills. The management put us up for eviction.
But Jesus was watching over us.
Three years ago, I had applied for section 8 housing at another apartment complex. The very same day that we received notice of court date for our eviction, we received in the mail our notice to report to San Antonio Housing Authority for our Section 8 housing vouchers. We brought in the proper paperwork and was approved that same day.
The good Lord intervened for us because we were having a hard time finding an apartment. My wife told me to call back this one place we were looking at and sure enough, they told us that a three-bedroom downstairs became available!
The very next day, I secured the apartment and we were moved in one week later. If it wasn't for Jesus Christ in our life we would have lost everything and had been homeless."
-Jessie J.
A Missionary in India wanted to share his personal Testimony to applaud the glory of God. *The name has been changed due to threats he receives in some places.
I asked *Ben to share his story.
"I accepted the Lord Christ as my personal Savior in 1990. At that time, I was working in a Government Defense company. I started sharing the Gospel with my friends and others. God called me for His work so I resigned at my job and came to work in full time Ministry.
After that I went through several problems, but I stand for the Truth. In March of 1998, I was married. God opened doors for me to preach in the Country of Sri Lanka and Nepal. I sold all my properties and went to Nepal and Sri Lanka as a Missionary. I have preached in North India and established 5 home churches there. God has given me an opportunity to preach the Gospel in south India and by the Grace of God I have established 5 churches in five villages.
I have been beaten and threatened several times while I am preaching the Gospel in forbidden areas. God strengthened me to stand and live for the Truth.
It is my passion to live for and show Christ through my deeds. I know hunger and sleeplessness, but I am enjoying doing His work and enjoying His presence. All glory to God alone. Amen!"
- *Ben
Mike opens up about a dream he once had that reinforced the idea that he is in good hands and that he can make it through the hard times!
I asked Mike to share his story:
"The first step in Alcoholics Anonymous is to admit that we a powerless over alcohol and a power greater than ourselves can restore us to sanity.
Well, during my early sobriety I was having doubts about this.
That same night, I had this dream where I was in a small plane flying way above the clouds with a parachute strapped to my back. The instructor yelled to me that I need to pull the rip-chord once I break through the clouds.
On his command I jumped, free-falling for what seemed like forever. I entered the thick clouds and after a brief period broke through and pulled the rip-chord.
As I was floating down, I was right in front of the statue of Christ in Brazil.
I knew at that time... I was going to make it!
I knew who my Higher Power was, and I knew I was in good hands.
Eleven days shy of 35 years sober and still counting!"
-Mike L.
Share Your Christian Testimony Here!
Martin Masson opens up about how God brought him through a difficult time in his life. He encourages those facing a hard time to reach out for help and to rely on the Almighty for provision.
I asked Martin to share his story:
"I was in a really bad place for a while. I was going through financial hardship and a failed relationship. It felt like things were just getting worse. I felt I was at the end of my rope, like I was drowning and I couldn’t breathe. I lost hope, I saw no light at the end of the tunnel. All I saw was total darkness. And even though I prayed to God every day and night and went to church and tried to keep the faith there was a moment when I felt like just giving up. I felt that God was not listening to me and that he had abandoned me, turned his back on me. Even though deep down I knew that wasn’t true, I still couldn't help feeling that way. I was in such a low place with such pain and hurt that I had thoughts of doing something really stupid. I had hit rock bottom! I had no one to turn to, no one to talk to. I didn’t want to bother anyone with my problems because everyone has their own demons to deal with.
But then one Sunday morning the pastor at my church gave a sermon that spoke to me. I mean I really felt like he was talking directly to me even though there were over a hundred other people in that church. He said that no matter what I was going through in my life and no matter how much despair I was feeling God NEVER abandons you! He has a plan and he will take care of you.
After that day I prayed to him and asked for forgiveness. I told him I would give myself to him, placed my life in his hands. That I trusted him no matter what happened.
Then it happened...... two things I had prayed for most happened. The first was going back to work at Disney as a cast member because working for Disney is when I was at my happiest. Then just two weeks later another amazing blessing that had me sobbing and on my knees. I received an envelope via FedEx and in that envelope was a check from a class action lawsuit I was a part of from 8 years ago! I had totally forgotten about it. That check has completely changed everything for me! I am able to pay of some debts and still have a good portion left over where I won’t have to worry about struggling anymore.
I can finally breathe again. I feel like he has lifted me up and and taken me in his arms. I have made a promise to make good with some of this money to pay it forward wherever I can and I’m going to keep that promise.
So my message to anyone who is struggling.... no matter what you are going through in your life, whatever despair you are going through DON’T EVER GIVE UP! Trust in the Lord! He will not fail you! He has your back! Trust him, pray to him, do good by him... he will get you through the roughest storms. There is hope and there is light in darkness."
- Martin Masson
Mike shares a personal testamony about how Divine Timing saved his life!
I asked Mike to share his story:
"Prior to moving to Florida and working for Disney, I worked for the Psychiatric Institute America at Brookside Hospital in Nashua N.H. as an alcohol and drug abuse counselor.
Working overnights, I lived about a one-hour drive from my house to get to work and for the most part, the commute was very uneventful.
This one particular night there was a full moon and it was just barely over the horizon between two hills and there was two pencil thin clouds that cut dead center of the moon. It was absolutely beautiful.
I thought to myself, “ Lord, I don’t know how you do it but, you sure made my drive to work pleasant."
Now about half a minute later, I had this AWFUL feeling of doom. I’d never in my life felt like that. I looked at the road in front of me and realized that I only had my low beams on so I put on the high beams.
As soon as I did, there was a dear in my lane looking right at me.
I literally slammed on my breaks and came to a stop about 8 feet from that deer.
"WOW! That would have been disastrous,” I thought.
I traveled another maybe 3 miles down the road and in the distance there is a crossroad. My speed limit was 60 MPH and there was a stop sign. I saw this reckless driver blow through his stop sign at at least 50MPH.
I realized that if that deer was not in the road for me to stop for him it most likely would have put me in that intersection at the same time of the reckless driver OR, if I did hit the deer, it surely would have disabled my truck.
Either way, I was truly blessed that night."
- Mike L.
Sheila J. has suffered tremendous loss and heartbreak but through it all, she never lost her faith. She says the book of Job really helped her during her most difficult times.
I asked Sheila to share her story.
"Life hasn't always been easy; I have dealt with a lot of loss and hardship.
My life took a turn for the worst when I turned 19 -years-old. I had just been accepted to my dream college when my mother was arrested. I wasn’t able to go away to school because I had to care for my younger brother. I worked long hours to care for him so I had to put off school and that made me very sad. Thank God I had my sister and my father to help me!
When my little brother graduated from kindergarten in 2006, my sister took him down to Florida with her for the summer. On July 4, 2006 I received the worst call ever! I was told my sister had died in her sleep. I had to fly to Florida, get my little brother and plan a funeral. My mother was still in prison. This was too much for me but my dad helped me out a lot!
But in 2018, I lost my dad and a week later my grandfather. Then the pandemic hit and my business was unable to grow. Bills weren’t being paid and I was falling behind... things were just getting worse and worse.
Through all of this, God would not let me give up. I lost family but God has kept me. God has helped me keep my home; He is giving me food to eat every night and my bills are getting paid. I know that if I keep my faith and put God first, things will turn around for the better. The book of Job has really helped me to keep the faith when things are not going well.
For those of you who are going through hard times, don’t give up! God has not forgotten you! God has brought me through and I know things will only get better from here."
- Sheila J.