ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, December 22, 1996 TAG: 9612240007
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 1 EDITION: METRO
When we asked readers last month to tell us about their favorite passages from the Bible or other sacred writings, we didn't anticipate the flood of more than 300 letters, faxes and e-mail messages that we got.
You told us stories of hope and help, support and endurance, courage and comfort. A panel of reporters and editors selected the following as representative of the moving and inspiring messages you shared.
We could have filled a fascinating book with all the responses we received, but unfortunately we simply don't have the space to print all of them. Nevertheless, we thank all of you who shared your heartfelt expressions of religious faith.
We trust you will find them as moving as we did, and an appropriate gift from your fellow readers to you in this season of giving. Where were you when I formed the Earth? - Job 38:4
By Dr. JANICE LUTH
"The Scripture goes on to extol God's wondrous power in the cosmos and throughout nature. The Lord's point is that Job has no business whining about his troubles or the `unfairness' of his lot (even though Job really had been remarkably patient) since he (or any of us) is unable to grasp even a tiny glimpse of God's vast creative power at work in our universe.
"The Scripture `came to life' for me the day our youngest daughter, Ariel, was born by emergency C-section. She had a cardiac arrest and was found to have Down syndrome. By a remarkable (I would say miraculous) set of coincidences, a superb team of nurses, anesthetists and physicians was able to resuscitate her, but she was on a ventilator and we feared she would be brain-dead, unable to swallow or even breathe. We were living every parent's worst nightmare and I was frightened and, yes, a bit angry. I sat alone that night in my hospital room and asked the Spirit to find me a scripture to help me; closed my eyes and opened the Bible. The first verse that struck my eye on that page was Job 38:4, which I'd never read before. Needless to say, the words were at first disturbing, but as I read on, I had no doubt (and have none today ) that I heard God's own voice speaking to me across thousands of years that night. I may grumble still sometimes, but I have total confidence in God's plan for the universe - and for me.
"By the way, our daughter is now a vibrant 6-year-old who not only swallows and breathes, but sings, dances, plays soccer, attends kindergarten and is the joy of many lives."
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea. Psalm 46:1-2
By AUTUMN GRIMES
"Being in the ninth grade, in my life, I sometimes face a lot of struggles. At school, I have friends who do not belong to churches, and to me, I know that since I am a Christian, it is my duty to introduce these people to the benefits of going to church and having a church family that is there to support you, and most important, having God there for you. And the only way that I am able to show these people the benefits is with God's help and encouragement.
"I know to adults, when they think of being in the ninth grade, they think, `Oh, well, that is a piece of cake compared to going to work every day,' But let me tell you, it is not. Being up doing homework for sometimes five, six hours is not at all fun. And then on top of that, I have some friends who are having some family problems, and me being a good friend, I try to always be there for them and let them know that if they ever need me, I am here. "All of these things that I need to be in control of sometimes become too much for me to handle, and I become overwhelmed. And when I do, the first person I turn to is God. I pray that he will give me the strength to continue and the courage to make it through. And eventually, I do. Things always turn out great. And I believe it is all because of God."
If you love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray to the Father, and he will give you another Counselor, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him; you know him for he dwells with you, and will be in you. John 14:15-17
By JEAN K. HORNE
"One Sunday when I was about 10 years old, my Sunday school teacher taught the above verse. She described the Holy Spirit (Counselor) as a spiritual Friend and Comforter. She said God sends the Holy Spirit to people to help them if they ask. Later that week, an unhappy incident in my family sent me crying to my room. I had never felt so alone. I remembered what my teacher had said, and I knelt beside my bedroom chair and prayed this prayer:
```Dear God, Mrs. Stanfield said that you would send me a Friend, a Comforter, to be with me if I asked for it. Well, I am asking you now. Please send someone to help me. I am waiting. Amen.'
And I stayed kneeling by my chair, crying, and for some reason I reached out my hand as if waiting to take someone's hand to hold. And Someone came! There was with me a sense of spiritual Presence which did comfort me, and quiet my crying. And from that day to this I can honestly say that I have never been alone. The Holy Spirit does come to us, and dwell with us, just as Jesus promised. God is for us and with us. We only have to ask and believe.
"This verse was my doorway into the Christian spiritual life. My spiritual journey has held many blessings and delights, but I will never forget how God answered a little girl's prayer, and came to comfort her."
No testing has overtaken you that is not common to everyone. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested beyond your strength, but with the testing he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it. 1 Corinthians 10:13 (New Revised Standard version)
"I have found in my struggle with self and sin this has definitely been a promise kept to me if only I would have stayed strong in my walk with the Lord. I asked the Lord this time, `What is it that starts my life of destruction every time I feel close with you?' It was revealed to me when I asked - my music. Then came the alcohol, clubs, bad taste [in] dress and men. All of these seemed to make me happy for a short while, until the next day. I know now to keep my [radio] channel on Spirit FM or nothing at all!! And believe me, I had to learn the hard way. The Lord saw fit for me to live through two overdoses and a lot of sad, lonely days and I am so thankful to him for saving my lost soul on Sept. 15, 1993. I still had to learn a few more lessons from going to the wrong places with the wrong faces since then. But every time I felt alone I now see he was still with me, which is such a sign of what a loving and forgiving God we have. He really knows how to keep a promise!!"
- Angela Michelle Simmons, former Miss Staunton River High, Vinton
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you. Isaiah 43:1-2
"My husband was a fireman. One day, he was trapped on the roof of a burning building. His only means of escape was to leap across to the next roof. As he hesitated, he felt strong arms lift him to safety on the next roof. When he got to the ground and looked at the collapsed building, [it was] a heap of smoking rubble. He thanked God for his life.
"The above verse inspired him with courage. Courage in fighting the destructive demon, `Fire.'
"To all who battle the deadly enemy fire for our benefit, we owe a salute and a deep debt of gratitude."
- Annette Goeghegan, Buena Vista
Trust the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Proverbs 2:5-6
"When I was 26, living on the island of Ibiza off the coast of Spain, I had a heart attack from years of drinking. God spoke to me in that small quiet voice with absolute authority to return to my brother's house (in Roanoke).
"A month or so after returning, I was sitting in my windowless apartment (I was still drinking) praying to God to help me change my life. It so happens I had a church card taped on the wall with directions on it. What seemed like a gust of wind blew it off the wall right between my feet. On the back of the card was a Scripture on it I hadn't seen. I claim it as my favorite Scripture. (Proverbs 2:5-6.)
"Now, at age 43, married with two children and alcohol-free by his grace and mercy, I thank God for his Word which delivers from the power of darkness into the kingdom of his dear son."
- Tom Provo, Callaway
I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go. I will guide thee with mine eye. Psalm 32:8
"It goes all the way back to World War II. I was serving in the U.S. Merchant Marine. Our ship had just left Europe, loaded with prisoners of war. I befriended many of the prisoners. One young fellow in his teens made a tremendous impression on me. I knew a little German; he knew a little English. He said to me, `Just three weeks ago I visited my parents in Germany. I am a Christian and I love the Bible.' He showed me this verse, and I never forgot the words `mit mein augen,' or `with mine eyes.' I sensed that he loved the message of the scriptural promise. I almost cried. He seemed so calm, smiling and even joyful! What a setting - a prisoner of war rejoicing!
- Gordon C. Langlie, pastor of Visitation Woodland Church, Troutville
I will walk in my house with a blameless heart. Psalm 101:2(b)
"After almost 30 years of marriage, two children and a grandchild, I was considering leaving my husband. We had grown apart over the years. After both children had graduated from college and moved to other states, there didn't seem enough to hold us together.
"As I pondered this thought I accepted a job in another city, but there were still questions bothering me. I had not told my husband how I felt or what I planned to do. I was a Christian and had asked God repeatedly what I should do.
"Late one evening as I began packing, I felt compelled to walk to a nearby parking lot. When I arrived, the lot was deserted. I began to walk back and forth talking to and trying to listen for God. `God,' I said, `please answer me. If you don't I may make the wrong decision. I will do what you say.' No answer! Slowly I walked home.
"That night as I read Psalms in my Bible, the words seemed to jump off the page. "I will walk in my house with a blameless heart." Was this God speaking to me? As I read and reread the words, I knew this was my answer. Peace came. `Thank you, God!'
"My attitude toward my husband changed, and strangely, I changed. God blessed our marriage, and we grew closer as the years went by. Following our 53rd anniversary my husband died, leaving me with many happy memories. God answered my prayer and changed my life."
- Hilda Morris, Covington
For God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7
"Twenty years ago I was shot in a hunting accident. For three years, I suffered from post-traumatic stress syndrome, which manifests itself in the form of severe nightmares, panic attacks and depression. After almost three years of suffering, I sought counsel with my pastor, who instructed me to carry this passage on a card in my pocket. Whenever I felt an attack of fear or panic, I would read this passage out loud over and over. In only a few weeks, my fear was gone. I experienced no more nightmares or panic attacks. I discovered that God's word works even today. That was nearly 20 years ago and it has never returned."
- Richard Kiser, Roanoke
I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me. 2 Samuel 12:23
"On Jan. 15, 1991, our beloved and long-anticipated first child, a son, was stillborn. My husband and I arrived at the hospital expecting to deliver a healthy and perfect little boy. Upon examination, my physician could not find a heartbeat. After a long and difficult labor, we delivered instead a perfect, but very still little boy. We took him home, not to his nursery, but to our family cemetery plot. My physical recovery was not speedy; our emotional recovery was nonexistent. Only because of our family's support did we get through those days. My Aunt Juanita in Grand Prairie, Texas, wrote us a letter of love and sympathy. She included the Bible verse 2 Samuel 12:23. Knowing our baby is in Heaven with all the people we have known and loved and who have gone on gives us peace. Knowing that at the end of our lives we will certainly see and hold him again gives us the strength to continue our lives here on earth."
- Donna Horn, New Castle
No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also that you may be able to endure it. 1 Corinthians 10:13 (New American Standard version)
Several years ago, I felt a very strong conviction to stop smoking, however, I was fighting a losing battle. Being very discouraged and very upset at myself for not being able to quite smoking, it became an obsession, the more I desired to stop, the more I craved cigarettes.
Early on a Saturday morning, sitting at the kitchen table, I told my wife how desperate I felt about not being able to stop smoking. I got up from the table, almost in tears and said, `Lord, if you want me to quit, give me the strength to do it.' Sitting back down at the table, I randomly opened our Bible and [1 Corinthians 10:13] jumped out at me.
This happened at 9:30 a.m. on the first Saturday of October 1977. I have not smoked a cigarette since that day and hour. God's promises are real. He took away a smoking addiction of over 20 years. Amazing!"
- Jim L. Conner, Salem
and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Matthew 28:20
"God was there through the death of my brother, my sister, then my father, my mother and two of my nephews I grew up with. I was losing my family and God and a wonderful husband helped me through all of it. I knew God was there but I couldn't understand why he was taking my loved ones away from me.
"Then sickness hit my husband, a sickness that just wouldn't go away. This turned out to be lung cancer. We didn't even find this out until he was in the last stages of cancer. He was in and out of the VA hospital from March until his death in June. We were told he had a year or a year and a half to live. He made it 90 days. How could I face this? This wonderful husband of mine was my whole life. He was what kept me going and I was losing him.
"I remember one day he told me he loved me and I told him I loved him more than anything. He said, `I hope you don't love me too much.' This puzzled me and I asked him what he meant. He said, `I hope you don't love me too much to let me go.'
"He still lingered on. I always did my crying when he slept because I tried not to let him see that I was dying along with him. It was getting harder and harder to watch him die. One day I didn't know how much more I could bear. I heard someone come in the room behind me. I heard the rustle of clothes, and I waited for the nurse to say it was time for his medicine. When she never spoke up I turned around to see what she wanted. There was no one there. No doctor. No nurse. No one. No one but God.
"Like always, he had been there for me all the time, even when I thought he had surely deserted me. God was true to his word.
"God gave me a wonderful father and mother, three sisters, two brothers, a wonderful husband, four kids and six grandchildren. He has been with me through breast cancer and radiation treatments.
"God has truly been good to me."
- Mary L. Hampton, Troutville
LENGTH: Long : 267 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: CINDY PINKSTON STAFF Dr. Janice Luth of Bedford and herby CNBdaughter, 6-year-old Ariel Goff. color
2. Autumn Grimes, 14, of Roanoke. color
3. Jean Horne at her home in Bedford. color