Tynsia Allen's "But God" Story:

I have had many But God moments in my life…Most people know me as a woman who lived on the streets as a prostitute and the fact that I’m here today, was my But God moment.  Or the fact that I have a incurable disease that has successfully been in remission for many years now…or that I am a single mother who has had the opportunity to do things with my children that most single mothers even dream of. Yes, these are all But God events in my life…these are the outward But God stories…the obvious ones.  But, I want to share about the ones that may not be so obvious to others, but they make it obvious the Lord lives in me.  These are the ones that allow me to smile and be secure in Him in every situation. One most recent that no one would ever know about unless I share it is this one:

It’s been two years since my children and I set out for California to attend a Celebrate Recovery workshop.  I was terrified and so were the kids.  I begged God all the way there to show me just how far the east is from the west because I felt so unworthy of the calling. I attended outside CR groups. I did the Step Studies and God has revealed Himself more in the last two years than in the 9 years of sobriety I’ve been walking. Through it all I was plagued by the idea that others thought I was not trustworthy, crazy, and just not fit to be apart of God’s work. At times it would become consuming. This past summer our family was struck but a tragedy that has been so completely devastating I was not sure I would be able to go on with CR or even to come back to church period. But God had given me a responsibility that I knew I must see it through. CR must go on so I did something I would have never done before…I asked for help.  I was very surprised when no one said no they wouldn’t come teach for me but I worried they would think I’m not strong and capable But God whispered in my ear, "It’s ok; watch and see what I have for you.”

What a relief to sit and allow someone to minister to me, I heard testimony of others who have let others in to help and through it all I’ve come to realize this: It was never them who thought me unfit, it was never them who didn’t trust me, and it was never them who shut me out.  Quite the contrary; They were waiting for me to let them in!! I was the one who did not trust, I was the one who thought ill of me and it was I who shut them out.  They always loved me right where I was.

Today, I still struggle with the death of my son-in-law but I walk in victory because I know the people at our church truly love me even when I’m at my most vulnerable.  I know the pastors of FBC Loganville have allowed God to use them to minister to me in a way I never thought possible. It was way easier for me to stop doing drugs than it is for me to let people in but knowing there are people who are waiting for me to do so makes it so much easier!!!

Thank You God!!!!!

[Submitted by Tynsia Allen]

[ Candi Long's "But God" Story ]

I had a very normal pregnancy with my 3rd child.  Nothing prepared me for what was to come:

Andrew Francis Long Jr. was born January 4, 2009 at 6:32am, 9lbs 1oz and 20" long.  He was perfect to the naked eye.  He had 10 fingers and 10 toes and a head full of hair.  He was everything I ever wanted in a son.

Having him so early in the morning we had visitors pretty quick.  People came and went all day.  To those of you who breastfed their children, you know how difficult it is especially with people around!  So I thought that Andrew was just feeling my stress and would not eat (or poop).  When all the visitors left we told the nurse about him not wanting to eat.  They tried giving him formula from a bottle but he refused (and still no poop).

I finally got Andrew to sleep when he started spitting up dark green bile (stomach acid).  We called the nurse in and they took him to the NICU for observation.  The next morning the NICU doctor told us that he may just have a meconium plug and that he would start eating when he passed it.

At this point I truly felt that there was NOTHING wrong.  I just knew I was going home with my baby.

BUT GOD had another plan... The doctor from the NICU came in and told us that they would need to transport Andrew to another hospital that their x-ray machines were not advanced enough to diagnose the "air pockets" they saw in his bowel.

So Angel II came and transported Andrew to Children's Healthcare of Atlanta (Elgelston). When we arrived at Egleston we were taken to a room where they sit you down and hand you a box of tissues. Dr. Helen Williams told us that Andrew had a disease called Necrotizing Enterocolitis which means Dead or Dying Intestines. X-rays were taken every 6 hours looking for any change in the bowel. When irrigating his colon they found that his symptoms got better and the x-rays were improving. His diagnosis changed from Necrotizing Enterocolitis to Hirschsprung's Disease or HD (which means there are no nerve cells in a portion of the intestine). He was scheduled for Surgery on Tuesday January 13th at 9am to remove the diseased portion of his large intestine (they were pretty sure they had pinpointed where the good nerve cells started).

During his surgery they took small biopsies until they found intestine with good nerve cells (each biopsy took 30 minutes).
They have a few phones in the waiting room for the nurses to call you with updates.  We had been told that Andrew may have to have an ostomy temporarily before they could reconnect his bowel to his rectum.  To me this was the worst that could happen!

But God... had different plans!  After 7 long hours, Andrew was left with 65cm of his intestines and an ileostomy on his right side (missing 75%).  Dr. Bhatia told us that for a good chance of survival Andrew needed 100 cm of small intestine and that he was not expected to make it... 


Andrew was taken back to the NICU.  Over the next 4 weeks we were informed of the ins and outs of his disease and that he would need IV nutrition called TPN to compensate for what Andrew could not absorb.  They placed a CVL in his chest (a permanent IV that ends right outside his heart aka his life line which he still has to this day). 

After 45 days in the hospital Andrew came home!!!  Although it was not just him.... He came with pumps for his IVs and nurses to help with his care.  My poor baby!!

Andrew has spent a total of 145 days in the hospital and many ER trips.  We have dealt with several life threatening infections with his line and countless hours of praying for relief.  He was never expected to live more than 3 months but God has decided otherwise!!  He will be 2 in January, a miracle in itself!

To leave you with a good note.  Andrew has done well enough to no longer need IV nutrition.  We have not had to use his line for anything in the past 8 weeks!!  And even better news, the doctors have decided to reconnect him and remove his CVL before Christmas!!  What a wonderful Christmas present!  I will finally have a true "cordless" baby.  All I can say is But God!

I know what you have read is a lot to take in but this has become my new normal.  I never thought I would be as strong as I am today.  But only God has that power to give you!

If you would like to follow Andrew's Amazing journey here is a link to his blog:

www.caringbridge.org/visit/andrewlong

[Submitted by Andy and Candi Long]

Patty Rasmussen's "But God" Story:

"...For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus..." Romans 3:23

Before God entered our lives we were all on a spiritual dead end road. You may have heard of that road; I believe it's paved with "good intentions." "There is a way which seems right to a man but its end is the way of death." (Proverbs 14:12)   Good intentions never saved anyone's soul.   There is just one way to righteousness and Jesus described it, saying, "I am the way, the truth, the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me." (John 14:6)

Don't like your options? Think it sounds harsh?

How's this for harsh...you create beings, give them everything they need to survive, a place to live, plentiful food, perfect climate, companionship, and a free will.   These beings you created show their gratitude by choosing to do the one thing you asked them not to do. You told them what would happen if they did the one thing and you are unable to go against your own word so you punish these beings. The beings know what they did was wrong but they did it anyway and know they have to be punished.   But you're really nice.   Yes, you punish, but you also give them a way to come back to you.   As with their disobedience, coming back has to be their decision but at least you're giving them an option.   So now who's being harsh?

How many second chances did you have before you came to know the Lord?   I dabbled around the edges for years, unwilling to give up my "freedom."   Finally I came to the end of myself.   I knew there was nothing I could do to work my way out of sin.   I had to lay my sin down before God because, as Creator, only He had the authority to absolve me of it. Romans 6:23 reads,"The wages of sin is death, but God's gift is eternal life."   Wages are something we earn, but a gift is freely given, no strings attached.   We either accept it or we don't.   I earned death, but God gave me life.

"For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works so that no one may boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9) Even the faith to accept the gift of saving grace comes from God! How much more merciful and gracious could He be?

When we leave our old lives, as Abraham did leaving Ur, as Paul did when he was knocked of his horse on the Damascus Road, as I did when I said, "Yes, I believe that Christ died for my sins and that I have new life in Him," we are made alive.

Have you ever had the flu? I mean the just-go-away-and-let-me-suffer-alone kind of flu?   I have and I remember that once I got well I realized just how sick I had been.   I encourage you to remember the joy of your salvation

Soon after I became a believer I learned this verse, 2 Corinthians 5:17, "If any man is in Christ he is a new creature, the old things have passed away, behold new things have come."  How I love and cling to that verse when my former self wants to rear its ugly, sinful head.  (And it still does though with less frequency.)  I am a new creature!   I am not that rebellious woman who seeks to have her own way.   I am filled with the Holy Spirit.   I am redeemed, loved, forgiven.   And as Sanctus Real sings in their fantastic song, "I'm Forgiven," I don't have to carry the weight of who I've been, 'cause I'm forgiven!

Lord, thank You for loving me so much that You gave Your life for me.   Thank You for placing me on the right road, for paying the toll, and giving me a life of purpose, hopes, joy, and love.   Give me the passion to share the same saving love with the people around me, in Your name and by Your grace, Amen.

[ Submitted by Patty Rasmussen ]

Bobbi Taylor's "But God" Story:

Prejudices are taught by parents, environment, friends, those in authority, and perhaps other sources.

I was born, raised, and educated in West Virginia; a mid-Atlantic state that existed under the black/white segregationist scenario.  We had separate schools, buses, restaurants, and other areas where we were separated by race.

It always bothered me but I complied.  I really had no choice.  Then came the 1954 Supreme Court ruling against segregation.  By 1955, all schools were opened to all races.  I was a 20 year old junior in college and I needed six extra semester hours because of changing my major. I was home for the summer and decided to take the opportunity to get my hours at the nearest college to my home.  I was enrolled as a full-time student at Marshall University with thousands of students - all white.  The college nearby was West Virginia State Teachers College - all black.

By the summer of 1955, schools were enrolling students of all races.  So I ventured onto a campus where 97% of students and all faculty were black.

In my 3% white minority, I was somewhat shaken.  I had never been a minority before.  I took two classes - one a United States History course which covered the Civil War period.  It was taught by a black professor with a marvelously sweet spirit - even as he taught what must have been a very painful era for him.  As I became acquainted with the school and its people, points of view, and general atmosphere, I grew more and more comfortable.

Upon my first visit to the Student Union, I was confronted with advertising posters - Marlboro cigarettes, Cokes, Music, etc.  But unlike my Student Union at Marshall, the models were all black.  It was quite startling.

As the days passed, I became at ease as a minority.  The sea of black faces on campus became my life and my friends.  With classes over daily, I would return home to a small vacation cabin on a West Virginia river, no neighbors, or friends - just my parents and the horses I cared for.  

When the time returned to resume my fall studies at Marshall, I arrived on campus and was totally in culture shock at the myriad of white faces.  But God, I felt, had made me black in my soul.  I am still in awe of this experience and am glad for it.  My heart will always be tender toward my fellow black friends and brothers and sisters in Christ.  I adore my three grandchildren, but, perhaps, Justin, age 11, is possibly my most revered.  He was adopted from the Atlanta Prison for Women, the son of two African Americans.  His father is unknown and his birth mother, too ill to keep him.  So at nine days of age, he came home with the Stephens and at age two, he was formally adopted.  He is a total joy, adding to my transplanted heart.

Ezekiel 11: 19, 20   "And I will give you one heart and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of your flesh, and give you a heart of flesh, that you may walk in my statutes, and keep my ordinances and do them, and you shall be my people and I will be your God."

May I share with you as a prayer a modern translation of Psalm 51:10 (Adapted by Rupp)

Create in me a clean heart, O God.  And put a new and right spirit within me.

Create in me a clear heart, open and receptive, so that I may embrace the many ways you choose to visit me today.

Create in me a clean heart; clear of the refuse of old battles with others and deadly opposition with myself.

Create in me a clear heart; purified through the daily disruptions and life encounters and takes me beyond my grasping control and egocenteredness.

Create in me a clean heart; freed from the clutter of cultural enticements, so that I can enjoy the beauty of life's simple things and relish the gifts I easily take for granted.

Create in me a clean heart, bathed from harsh thoughts, shame and perfectionist tendencies, warmly welcoming others with the embrace of non-judgmental acceptance.

Create in me a clean heart, brushed free of the frantic busyness so that I will have time to dwell with You in the listening space of solitude and silence.

Amen.

[ Submitted by:  Bobbi Taylor ]

Mildred Butler's "But God" story:

In 1985 my life changed.  I found a lump in my breast.  I had always done the right things to safeguard against getting breast cancer as one of my sisters had breast cancer, my mother had ovarian cancer and my other sister had ovarian cancer but was diagnosed in time to get all of it.  I just had a gut feeling that now it was happening to me.

I made an appointment with the doctor who set me up for a biopsy.  Before I went into surgery, the nurse told me that they would know right away if it was cancer.  I thought, good, no waiting for results.  After surgery and after I came to my senses, the doctor told me he wanted me to stay overnight.  My worst fears were realized.  I was diagnosed with breast cancer.  Nothing could have prepared me for that day when I heard the doctor say the dreaded C word.  I cried and all I could think about was how do I tell my kids, who were 8 and 13 at the time. 

I will never forget the feeling of loneliness and helplessness I felt at the hospital, even though I was surrounded by a lot of people.  After my family left for the night and I was alone, all the fears came back.  My kids.  Will I see them grow up, marry, have kids?  I struggled with the thought of leaving my husband, who was my rock.

As I lay in my bed crying, a nurse came in and sat by my bed.  She told me about her mother who had breast cancer years earlier and was fine now.  I was so depressed that I think if I could have gotten to the window I would have jumped out.  She must have sensed my desperation because as she was telling me about  her mother, she was slowly pulling up the railings on the sides of the bed.  

When I got home, my husband and I talked with the kids.  After we told them, the first words out of their mouth were, "Are you going to die?"  My husband and I cried some more.  Four years later, I went through another bout with breast cancer.  I remember days before I was schedule for surgery again, I was hysterical and could not stop crying.  I called the doctor and ask for some medication to calm me down.  He told me he was not going to treat me with drugs, which did not set well with me at the time. 

BUT GOD knew that I did not need drugs.  All I needed was to give it all to Him as He had everything under control.  I dumped everything at the feet of Jesus.  What a relief!  I felt like a different person.  One more bout (3rd time) being diagnosed with breast cancer.  This time I had a peace.  I knew that God had taken care of me 2 other times and he would do it again.  My last bout with cancer was 15 years ago.  Our kids are grown, married and have kids.  We are blessed with 6 wonderful grandkids!  God is so good!!  If the doctor had treated me with drugs, I never would have relied on our precious Savior to take care of me and know the  joy of feeling him in my presence.   

[ Submitted by Mildred Butler ]

Jennie & Jeff Jones' "But God" Story:

We had a plan.  Get married, enjoy 2 years of marriage before trying for children, have a boy then a girl hopefully by the time I was 30. . .

BUT GOD had a totally different one in mind.

We have now been married for 7 years and still no babies to fit in our empty arms. We did not know that 1 in 6 couples face infertility.  We just thought it would happen when we wanted it to.  We have seen doctors and tried the things they suggested . . .

BUT GOD had a different plan.  Month after month we cry and pray and wait.  Sometimes its not so bad, who and I kidding, its dreadful!  I would not wish "Unexplained Infertility" on anyone.  We watch all of our friends around us have beautiful babies and we smile and say congratulations, but oh the pain.  

I say all that to say that God has shown us trust, understanding, compassion and most of all patience. He has made us stronger. He has brought us closer as a couple and closer to him.  I don't yet know all of Gods mighty plan for us and this struggle we face each day. . .

BUT GOD does not disappoint. God will resolve our infertility one way or another in his perfect time.

May the God of hope full you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.  Romans 15:13

[ Submitted by Jennie & Jeff Jones ]

Mandy & Nate Young's "But God" Story:

A little over two years ago, our son, Tucker, entered the world in a way that we would have never imagined happening. Due to my elevated blood pressure, he was born 6 ½ weeks early via emergency C-section. He weighed 4 pounds  and was 16 inches long. Instead of being able to hold my son and enjoy his first moments in this world, he was whisked away to the NICU where he was hooked up to numerous machines. I did not get to hold him until he was almost a week old, and the entire experience was frightening.

Tucker encountered several issues in the NICU. He was always able to breathe without a ventilator, but he had to have supplementary oxygen and a feeding tube. He was jaundiced, so he had to go through phototherapy, and his tiny veins were so overworked that they eventually had to put in an IV through his forehead. Tucker was diagnosed with sleep apnea and had several episodes in the hospital where his heart rate plummeted. The alerting sounds of the numerous monitors are things we will never forget. Tucker was sent home with a heart monitor for a few months. Because of his prematurity, Tucker had a tough time eating, so he lost 1 ½ pounds while in the NICU. Normally, babies lose weight after being born, but when you only weigh 4 pounds to begin with, that’s a significant amount to lose.

As parents, we felt lost and helpless while our first child endured such a rough beginning in his life. We did not know anyone who had experienced something like this, so we had no one to talk to. We frequented the chapel inside the hospital and often asked God, “Why us?” But God had different plans for us. Of course, He knew that He was going to deliver us from this awful situation and that we would eventually be able to help others who experience similar situations. Just like in Ephesians 3:20, "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us," we knew that we had to rely on God because we couldn't get through this alone.

When Tucker was released two weeks later, we were excited and thankful for everything the hospital staff did to help Tucker progress. We sought out ways to give back, and I was put in contact with a woman who does a great deal of work with the March of Dimes. She helped us start Tucker’s Closet, a clothing closet for babies in the NICU so that they could have clothes to wear while they were in the hospital. 

We were also selected to be the local March of Dimes Ambassador Family for 2008-2009. We spoke at several public events and shared our experiences. We helped to encourage families who were going through similar situations. Our family team, Tucker’s Trekkers, helped raise thousands of dollars for the March of Dimes to help fund important research in the field of neonatology. Recently, a friend of ours had a scare in the hospital with their newborn. They immediately thought of us after their baby was taken to the NICU, and we were able to pray with them and counsel them while dealing with the scary situation they were facing.

All too often, we find ourselves in the midst of a crisis that we had never imagined would have happened, and we wonder why it had to happen to us. We start to feel lost and hopeless, but God delivers us from our fears. He wraps his arms around us comforts us if we trust in Him. Romans 8:28 states: "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." It's up to us to turn things over to God. James 1:2-4 reminds us to "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."

Today, Tucker is a happy, healthy two-year old. He has had a tough road with physical and developmental delays, but we are encouraged by the fact that he will be able to share his story with others in the future and let his experience serve as a reminder that God is in total control. 

[ Submitted by Mandy & Nate Young ]