6 comments (Add your own)

1. Helen Licu wrote:

Being the Daughter of an Alchaholic has effected my life greatly...I gave myself to not so nice men to find love. Went to a singles bible study to find a date and found Jesus instead.

I longed for a Good husband and a family of my own that was not scared by alcaholism. I prayed, turned it over to God and god and got the nice husband, but no children, no home or house of my own, no high paying career...

the Lord almost took my husband on 10/11/01, but let me keep him and help me realize how blessed I am to have him. Thru the grace of the 12 steps and the Lord, 80 lbs were lifted from my body and I was a "Normal" size for the first time since I was 20...I was an athlete and blew out me knee and continued to struggle with weight gain ever since.

With my new healthy, thinner body, I was finally able to ride horses again, a great love of myne, and started the journey to work with animals, my true love in work.

11/04 I was thrown by an angry rental horse and my life was changed for ever. My thoracic spine was fractured.

I was a tainted healthcare worker who was now faced with chronic pain and the tables were turned. My job was unhealthy and very stressful and the Lord got me a new Job with less stress and better benefits, but less money, which was very scarry when you live pay check to paychek.

The new job is great, but I work daily with a very physically and emotionally sick woman who is a daily challenge.

In July 05, I stepped of a chair while reaching for a birthday gift for my sister and fell and dammaged my spine further. Had corrective surgery 12/05 and it did not take.

4/06 started the saga of my father's illness of Alzherimers and failing body, ugly dealings with Kaiser/HMO health care, Dad's reprehensible bad treatment from Kaiser.....in September-November 06 they finally diagnosed his colon cancer with mets to the Liver...and he passed on Christmas Day 06.

I lost my spirtual connection with God and my weight Loss and gained 55 lbs in 2 months. I could not deal with his death and went back to my Drug of choice "Food".

In 3/07 I was at a stoplite in Burbank going home from work and was rear-ended...and have ever further spinal dammage.

I saw my spinal MD this week and it shows on my bone density that in 2 years my spine had detereated severly from normal to osteopenia and I might have a metabolic disorder that needs to be diagnosed. My spinal MD, a good christian brother cannot explain why my spine will not heal.

The past 2.5 years not been easy, and I struggle to not be bitter and angry..but by the grace of God I am back on my food plan, loosing weight...and I thank God for my Husband Mario who holds me up daily, and my friends who love me anyway....

I pray that I can be of service somehow to someone, I have not found my nitch at church yet since the extreme gowth with so many new members with so many talents and more financial room to share.

Byron's medical tragedy and miricle has touched me deeply and is poof positive that there is a God our there that loves me and us.

Thank you again Dave for being transparent and real and making the Lord tangible. Thank you for the prayers this weekend and your sermon.

Many Thanks,

Helen Licu
Montrose Church Member of 9 years

June 23, 2007 @ 11:18 PM

2. Linda and Jessica Kirker wrote:

Dear Byron, Brenda and family,

Wow!! All Glory to God for answered prayers. He is so Faithful. We will all continue to pray for Healing and much needed Rest you all need at this time. Take comfort in knowing that your church family is here lifting you up in prayer and WE Love You.
God Bless,
Linda and Jessica Kirker

June 24, 2007 @ 10:13 PM

3. Cyndi Roberts wrote:

I was so moved in last night's service and again this morning to see how many people courageously stood up with honesty about living in the contradiction. And Helen, thank you for sharing the details of your journey of the past years. I've known about each of these things...but hadn't really put them all together to understand what you must be experiencing now. Thanks for sharing so that I can pray for you.

I want to thank Ron Sharp for the song he played in the background during part of the service. I was so impacted by the melody - even though I couldn't remember the song. Later tonight one line came to my mind and I realized why it was so significant: The line is "we are the broken, you are the healer." I googled the song and found that it's called "Be Unto Your Name." I then remembered that I first heard it last December while visiting the Brooklyn Tabernacle.

In the midst of my own seemingly trivial-contradictions...there's just something about that melody and lyric that is healing in and of itself. Ron, thank you for sharing it...and Dave, thank you for making it OK to honest about our stuff even when it seems so small compared to what other people are going through.

I think God is teaching me that his healing can't begin until I am completely honest with myself. That's a tough one to swallow.

"Be Unto Your Name"
by Lynn DeShazo & Gary Sadler

We are a moment, You are forever
Lord of the Ages, God before time
We are a vapor, You are eternal
Love everlasting, reigning on high

Holy, holy, Lord God Almighty
Worthy is the Lamb Who was slain
Highest praises, honor and glory
Be unto Your name, be unto Your name

We are the broken, You are the healer
Jesus, Redeemer, mighty to save
You are the love song we'll sing forever
Bowing before You, blessing Your name

June 24, 2007 @ 11:39 PM

4. Ron Sharp wrote:

On January 27, 2007 Mom was diagnosed with a recurrence of her breast cancer. I was shocked that it came back after 14 years. Brenda, Daniel, and I had a commitment that evening to attend a concert with some friends. Matt Redman and Chris Tomlin were featured. One of the songs became sort of my "theme song" as I prepared to journey with Mom through this diagnosis. Little did I realize then that in two weeks she would be dead. It was interesting to hear people share about Mom at the services - how she loved kids, how she loved her family, and how she loved Jesus. A friend of one of Mom's attending physicians the day she died told us that the doctor, who was a believer, did all he could. Then he said, it was as if God wanted her more...and she slipped away. It's hard to believe that it was over 4 months ago. Not a day goes by that I don't think of her. Playing the piano is sometimes really hard for me emotionally. When I played at church, she would always ask how it went, and if I played to honor the Lord. I talked to her every Sunday evening since Brenda and I moved here to CA in 1993. There is a huge hole in my Sunday evenings. I talk to Dad every Sunday night now. It is good for us to talk and to share about our weeks...some are better than others. But we know that we are prayed for and that God is faithful. It doesn't make our pain go away, but it does give us a perspective on it. I wanted to send the lyrics to the song that meant so much to me at the beginning of this year...when Mom was diagnosed...and when Mom died. The lyrics are from an old hymn, but were revised. It has ministered to me so much, and my prayer is that somehow it may minister to you as well.

"How Can I Keep From Singing"
by Chris Tomlin

There is an endless song
Echoes in my soul
I hear the music ring
And though the storms may come
I am holding on
To the rock I cling

How can I keep from singing Your praise
How can I ever say enough
How amazing is Your love
How can I keep from shouting Your name
I know I am loved by the King
And it makes my heart want to sing

I will lift my eyes
In the darkest night
For I know my Savior lives
And I will walk with You
Knowing You'll see me through
And sing the songs You give

I can sing in the troubled times
Sing when I win
I can sing when I lose my step
And fall down again
I can sing 'cause You pick me up
Sing 'cause You're there
I can sing 'cause You hear me, Lord
When I call to You in prayer
I can sing with my last breath
Sing for I know
That I'll sing with the angels
And the saints around the throne.

How can I keep from singing Your praise
How can I ever say enough
How amazing is Your love
How can I keep from shouting Your name
I know I am loved by the King
And it makes my heart want to sing

June 25, 2007 @ 12:18 AM

5. Julie Johnson wrote:

I will be honest, sunday's message was such a breath of fresh air for me. I needed to know that I am not alone, that my faith is not null and void because I struggle to talk to God when I'm hurting. When things are going my way, its easy, but when my heart is aching, and I can hardly say anything to Him, thank you for putting words to what I was feeling. I am still His. I needed to lean on your faith, Dave, Eric, Byron, cuz mine was so weak. Your testimonies about the week helped me to keep living in the contradiction, and know that He is still with me. The details of my pain aren't important any more, just that I hang on. I feel refreshed again, and ready to pray for you too. Thanks

June 25, 2007 @ 5:42 PM

6. Dave Roberts wrote:

Thanks to all of you who wrote to share your stories. The risk of sharing your personal journey has done more than any of you know. First, God's Word teaches that we are to be witnesses - and telling what you have seen ,heard and experienced is powerful fuel in His kingdom. Second, you have allowed me the privilege to pray especially and specifically for you. I know others have read your stories and shared in prayer for each of you. So thank you and know that God honors every story we tell and journey we share.

God bless,

Pastor Dave

July 7, 2007 @ 1:04 AM

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