Again, I apologize for the delay in updating, but lately I have struggled to find the words to use: I am overwhelmed by God’s kindness and generosity. I am overjoyed by answered prayers. I believe God performed a miracle in healing my dad. When he left St. Mary’s to go to Moss on September 9th, he could barely say a few words. He had only been able to stand with assistance, and had not yet walked. We did not even know if he recognized us. Based off initial medical updates, his progress and hope for the future was grim. After the arrival at Moss and over the next few days, God performed a miracle in my Dad’s recovery.

Now, seven weeks following his event, Dad is fully functioning and has been discharged from Moss. He is moving around so well on his own that he no longer requires physical therapy. He speaks without any challenges, and his memory has returned (except for those couple of weeks at St. Mary's). He is the Dad I know and love. He still cannot drive yet, but hopefully with occupational assistance, he can work on getting this back in the next six months. He has his cell phone back, and you can contact him directly – but be patient as it may take him some time to get back to you.

Through this experience, my faith has increased and strengthened. I truly believe that Dad was healed by God due to the faithful prayers of the hundreds who took time to pray for him. With that said: I feel like I would be dishonoring God if I do not share HIS story. Understand, these are my beliefs and not my father’s.

God did not come to make bad people good; He came to make dead people alive. I believe God created the universe, and He created us to worship Him. God is all-loving, all-merciful, gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in love. God is HOLY and perfect in all of His ways. Because God is Holy, He cannot tolerate sin, and because He is Just he cannot leave sin unpunished. Unfortunately, all mankind is in the state of sin. We have failed to worship our creator, we have rejected the one Holy Triune God and chose to indulge in our sinful desires rather than follow the one who made us. Even on my best day, I fall short of the glory of God.

But God, in His faithfulness, never asked us to EARN our own salvation. In fact, I cannot do anything to earn my own salvation. I am in a helpless state and cannot help myself. Instead, God sent his perfect son, Jesus Christ, a sinless savior, to die on the cross for our sins. Jesus is the only one who has been tempted as we have but lived the perfect and sinless life. Jesus was the complete substitute for our sin and paid the infinite payment. He was crucified, died, and rose again defeating death. Because of Christ's sacrifice we can stand redeemed and reconciled before our Holy God. God requires us to repent and believe, to acknowledge our sinful state and need for a Savior through faith.  Jesus Christ isn’t simply a way amongst many ways to heaven: He is the ONLY way to heaven.

“Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, "Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame."”

Romans 10:9-11

What do you believe about the Gospel today?

God loved me when I was unlovable. If you ever want to talk about Jesus or hear more about He changed my life, I would love to talk to you.