"They will lay hands on the sick,
And they will recover.”
—Mark 16:18
This week, I shared an old but not forgotten Salvation Story with my son, who wasn’t born when this happened. I just wanted to make sure he’d heard it because it was so incredible and encouraging. I trust it will be for you as well. It still makes me laugh and always makes me smile long after I think about it.
Mark was married to a dear friend of mine whom I met while working in Prolife in Southeast Florida. At the time, she wasn’t married, but I knew she had given birth to a baby out of wedlock who was severely handicapped and was taken from her and put into care because she was a very young teenager.
We'd lost touch after I moved, but one day, Ariel showed up at the church we were attending in the Florida panhandle. It’s the same church that the dentist and his wife from Chapter 7, "My Boss & His Wife," were going to. When we met again, I was thrilled to see she had met a wonderful, loving, kind man who was not a believer. They’d had a little boy, and she was eager to tell me how Mark loved her daughter like she was his own. He'd applied to the courts to have her come and visit for weekends and loved caring for her. Naturally, I instantly fell in love with him as well because my sweet friend deserved such a kind husband.
On this particular day, Mark came over to our house after I called him about my van, which was not working. I described everything that it was doing, and he replied, “Erin, it doesn’t look good. Even though I haven’t seen it, I can tell you right now it’s the transmission that will need to be replaced.“ Mark then quoted me the approximate amount, which was thousands more than we had with four small children; one was our new baby girl.
Shortly after our conversation, one of his mechanics dropped Mark off so he could drive it to the station while the mechanic followed him in my van. What he didn’t know was that my van was anointed. It was a gift from my mother after I had cared for her when she had a severe fall while working. When she got the settlement, I was pregnant with my third son, and she bought the van for cash because she knew I wanted to fill it with children. And that's what I did—seven children and my mother spent many lovely times in this anointed gift!
Just as he was backing out, I called out, “Mark, stop!” He rolled down the window, and I said I needed to pray over the car that God would heal it. Mark laughed as always when I spoke like that and said calmly, “Erin, trust me. It’s a bit too late for God to heal it.” I assured him it never was too late. So I walked over and put my hands on the hood of the car as Mark sat there looking at me as I simply said, “God, please heal my car.“ Mark laughed again and then pulled away.
Less than an hour later, I got a phone call from Mark, who said, “So, something interesting…“ I shouted, “Oh my goodness, MARK!! GOD healed my car!! Right, isn’t that what you’re going to tell me?!” Mark stopped me and said, “No, no, God didn’t heal your car. Can you just let me finish?” I apologized and then listened, but I was giddy with excitement, knowing He had.
“So, as I was trying to say, when I asked our transmission mechanic to look at it, he agreed it needed a new transmission. But as I was walking away, he said, 'Mark, give me a second. I want to check something first.' A few minutes later, he came into the office and said it was fixed. The transmission mechanic said something told him "to check the brushings." The mechanic checked them, cleaned them, and then took it for another test drive and said, 'It’s running beautifully.'”
Again, I shouted, “MARK, God healed my car!!! You know He did!” But he kept explaining it away, and I sensed I needed to drop it. I’d played my small, insignificant role (because my Best Friend knows I love sitting in the front row and watching Him perform miracles). The next Sunday, I was literally seated in the front row, and when the altar call was given— I saw Mark walking down the aisle crying (and so was I)— especially after I turned around to see my sweet, dear friend, Ariel, weeping.
As with my dentist and his wife, that evening, shortly after the curtains opened, I saw Mark, dressed in a white gown, professing his faith as I watched him baptized.
UPDATE: Since this testimony was written GOD has done remarkable things in this young man’s life.
John married his pastor’s daughter and became a youth pastor. They had a beautiful daughter born followed by another daughter who they named Selah.
When I commented, “John, and Rachel, Selah is simply gorgeous, and her name is spectacular. CONGRATULATIONS!!
Years ago, I saw the word "Selah" defined throughout the AMPLIFIED Bible, which I wanted to share with you. Selah "pause and calmly think about that."
John replied by saying: “that’s exactly why we picked it! We thought this was a good time to pause and consider all that God has down for our family. We are truly blessed”
And I’m blessed to witness through this GOD’S ability to transform any life, John’s testimony that I draw upon very, very, very often and hope that you will too!
★★★★★ ~ Seeking the Salvation of a Loved One ~ Sara in Turkey
★★★★★ ~ Atarah in South Africa
I learned so many wonderful things from this Salvation Story and it has totally increased my faith in the Lord to save my brother at HIS APPOINTED TIME. I also learned that like Mary Magdalene that those who have been forgiven much are the ones that sit at His feet and are on fire for the Lord for how much and how far He went to save them.
I also loved the tip about if there is an upswing in my brother's life if things suddenly go well for him to keep my eyes on the Lord to finish what He started.
I love the title of this Salvation Story, it's called "My Brother John". My journal today is all about my brother too... There is so much in this Salvation Story about John which is similar to what my younger brother experienced in His life.
Recently my sister and I tried to set up a meeting with a man who overcame his own drug addiction and has started up his own ministry to help others. Unfortunately, before it could happen, my brother disappeared again. So HH has been showing us there is absolutely nothing we can do in our strength to save our brother. We have to "Let Go and Let God".
I learned that like John my brother also needs to hit rock bottom where my HH can pick him up! And also where he needs to get in order to be ready for HH makeover on His life. I have to believe that as radically as my HH changed Brother John he will do the same for my brother Heini.
I was so happy to read that there was nothing John's family (who were in ministry) could do to help him and that like John my brother needs to come to the APPOINTED TIME, the time my HH has set aside to turn his life around.
When I read this testimony I was firstly amazed at how similar John's situation was to my brother's life. I also love the testimony of the former drug addict who became a powerful evangelist after going down the wicked road for a time. My brother is no longer a teenager or a young man but actually a fully grown adult. So I am very encouraged by this testimony knowing that my HH is never too late but right on time!!
I will be living out these principles by sharing them with my sister and meditating on the scriptures and also speaking to my Love about it whenever I think of my brother or become worried or anxious for him as I have heard that he spent a night in jail and also that he has been seen standing on shop corners and it looks as if he is selling drugs, it has been hard on my sister as she drives past seeing him all the time and knowing there is nothing she can do. So I am encouraging her as well and will be sharing these scriptures with her. I am also fasting.
My dear wonderful and precious love. Forgive me for my unbelief. I have been trusting You for so many years for my brother to save him and transform him. Thank you that you have an appointed time for my brother and that your word says that you don't want anyone to perish but to have life and not just any life but an abundant life!
Dear Friend, like you I cannot WAIT for the day when I get to sit down and listen to the Salvation Story of a loved one, listen and hear how our wonderful Lord went about saving and transforming them :))
Then the Lord answered me and said,
“Record the vision
And inscribe it on tablets,
That [a]the one who reads it may run.
“For the vision is yet for the appointed time;
It hastens toward the goal and it will not fail.
Though it tarries, wait for it;
For it will certainly come, it will not delay.
God's appointed time to turn things around in my brother's life and to radically change him will come. I also love this version:
Habakkuk 2:2-3 New English Translation (NET Bible)
The Lord Assures Habakkuk
The Lord responded: Write down this message.
Record it legibly on tablets
so the one who announces it may read it easily.
For the message is a witness to what is decreed;
it gives reliable testimony about how matters will turn out.
Even if the message is not fulfilled right away, wait patiently; for it will certainly come to pass—it will not arrive late.
"And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death.”