| Note: This is what Pat Flora told me about what | | | | (5) God is not like a fast food restaurant. His |
| she has gone through and what she has learned. I | | | | timing is different and better than ours. |
| promised Pat I would help her tell her story to | | | | (6) In his time, God will answer our prayers. |
| others, so,please read on: | | | | (7) The storms were so bad that at times, I was |
| "I have set the Lord always before me. Because | | | | not able to pray. That is when I learned the Holy |
| he is at my right hand,I will not be shaken."(Psalm | | | | Spirit interceded for me with his own prayers to |
| 16:8) | | | | the Father for my family and me. |
| When God breaks into our lives with "storms of | | | | (8)The emotional stress and grief of all of these |
| trouble" he points us toward his greatness, glory | | | | storms gave me an overwhelming desire to do |
| and power. In this way God gave my life a firm | | | | nothing but sit and feel depressed. A friend called. |
| foundation of hope. | | | | She heard me sobbing and was at my house |
| I now step confidently toward whatever he has | | | | within an hour. She put me to work dusting the |
| for me in the future. My life is quite normal; in | | | | upstairs of the house while she did the downstairs. |
| fact, I had many good things come my way. But | | | | In short, she knew she had to get me out of my |
| I've also had a share of trials and troubles - | | | | semi-robotic state of mind and what she did |
| storms I call them. | | | | demonstrated to me that - after all - life goes on. |
| After 20 years of marriage, 4 children a divorce, | | | | (9) The Bible tells us: "it came to pass." When in |
| a bankruptcy, two broken vertebrae in my back, | | | | the midst of these storms I felt they would |
| 2 car wrecks, family problems with the children, | | | | never end. They have passed, but the scars |
| not enough money - just your normal everyday | | | | remain: Mike's way of walking may never be |
| events. Hard as it was I prayerfully coped with all | | | | perfect. Tony's body has many scars, aches and |
| of it and moved on. | | | | pains. Todd's paralysis may never go away. Even |
| Storm #1: After re-marriage, and a move from | | | | so, we don't know what God will do or how long |
| Illinois to New Jersey the storm clouds appeared. | | | | he will take to do it. |
| My son Mike wrecked his pick-up truck. Before I | | | | (10) Now, my whole family is counting blessing, |
| left New Jersey I called every prayer warrior I | | | | blessing we know came from God. |
| knew. Mike was flown to a St. Louis hospital in | | | | (11) With each passing storm, we learn and |
| critical condition and in a coma. I flew to Illinois. | | | | mature. |
| Days dragged by for 28 days. Mike, still in a | | | | (12) After the storms, life is different, we walk |
| coma, developed: pneumonia, a blood clot, broken | | | | different paths. Different friends take the place of |
| bones and severed basil nerves. Doctors said | | | | old friends. Because of God's love he gives us |
| there was no hope. Family agreed to disconnect | | | | new beginnings, new challenges to help us as we |
| all life support. I called every prayer warrior I | | | | pass through this life toward our eternal life with |
| knew (nationwide) asked them to pray for a | | | | him in Heaven. |
| miracle for Mike. A nurse checked Mike a few | | | | (13) I've stopped being the kind of person who |
| days later and he opened his eyes, turned his | | | | worries about: replacing things in my house; |
| head said: "Hi, I'mMike." God had performed a | | | | wondering about how much taxes will go up; how |
| miracle and brought Mile back to life with no | | | | I'm going to lose my excess weight; how to fix |
| medical assistance. Today, Mike is walking, talking | | | | other people; my house; my car and myself. |
| and thinking and otherwise recovering. | | | | (14) I count my blessings and thank God for all |
| Storm #2: While tending to Mike, my 79 year old | | | | that he has given me. |
| husband, Tony, fell off a roof and was told he | | | | (15) In short, I have stopped being the kind of |
| might never walk again. I called my prayers | | | | person who says: " I want it right now!" I have a |
| warriors again for their support. The doctors did | | | | kind of clarity of thinking and appreciation for just |
| surgery, installed metal rods. Tony is walking again. | | | | being alive that I did not have before I went |
| He is also slowly going blind. Then one day, while | | | | through all of those life shaking, life-changing |
| clearing snow off our driveway Tony was hit by | | | | storms. |
| a passing car, broke his shoulder, was hospitalized | | | | (16) Finally, I have a story to tell. I need to tell |
| again. I called the prayers warriors yet again. | | | | others what I have learned while becoming a |
| Storm # 3: Less than two years after Mike's | | | | survivor of life's storms. I know I have a |
| miraculous revival, My 49 year old son Todd, while | | | | testimony for others to hear. I can stand and |
| chopping down a tree for his sick father's | | | | speak with the confidence and assurance of an |
| fireplace, (Bill had cancer) Todd was knocked | | | | eyewitness to all who will listen. |
| down by part of the falling tree. I called my | | | | It is important to bury your roots of faith and |
| prayerwarriors again. Todd was taken to a | | | | trust deep in Christ. We know injuries, pain and |
| Springfield (IL) hospital; he was paralyzed with two | | | | even death can occur during life's storms. When |
| broken vertebrae in his neck. Then, after going | | | | big storms come, you may bend and sway like a |
| home from the hospital in a wheelchair, his closest | | | | tree and perhaps even touch the ground. But, |
| caregiver developed a problem with alcohol and so | | | | after the storm passes, you will have survived |
| was often unable to help him with his daily needs. | | | | and then you will slowly straighten and once again |
| Later, Todd developed blood clots and has since | | | | stand tall. |
| been moved to Veterans Hospital in St. Louis (IL) | | | | I know God is the giver of hope. Without hope |
| for treatment and rehabilitation. Today Todd is still | | | | we are all lost. Always keep God at your right |
| in a wheel chair and paralyzed from chest to toes | | | | hand, remember to call for the help of your |
| but is beginning to get some feeling in some parts | | | | prayer warriors, and you will never be |
| of his lower body. Praise God. | | | | permanently shaken by any storm. |
| Storm #3: While Todd was in the hospital, his | | | | SUMMARY: |
| father (my ex-husband) died of cancer, causing | | | | I sometimes feel like Job. God has, because of his |
| even more grief and stress in our family. | | | | trust in my faith in him, allowed storm after |
| Lessons learned during the storms: | | | | storm to happen in my life. Through it all, God has |
| (1) Pray! Call up the reserves. Ask your prayer | | | | answered my prayers and the prayers of my |
| warriors to get on their knees and report for | | | | family and our faithful prayer warriors. As |
| duty! The storms were spiritually and physically | | | | survivors of these storms, all in my family are |
| difficult for all of us. We could never relax. We | | | | stronger, wiser and more trusting in God and his |
| have learned much about trusting in and having | | | | ability to do modern miracles than ever before. In |
| faith in God. Without these tragic storms, we | | | | addition, we all pray God will accept our unanimous |
| could have breezed along: self-centered, | | | | nomination of our steadfast, ever-faithful prayer |
| dependent on our intellect and money and never | | | | warriors to his: Prayer Warriors Hall Of Fame. |
| thinking about God and his love for us. | | | | Note: Pat Flora of Freehold, NJ Cell:(732-688-6181) |
| (2) With God all things are possible. | | | | Home: (732-462-6937) |
| (3) You have not because you ask not. | | | | Email: Pat, who is an experienced public speaker, is |
| (4) It is not easy to pray and see no immediate | | | | available for speaking engagements. Please call. |
| results. | | | | |