His Perfect Providence
I had been looking for a Bible study option for quite some time.
As a stay at home mom to three young children, the typical mid-week studies at our church were not feasible for me. A friend and I had been getting together to do some studies, but I always felt like something was missing. Then she introduced me to Love God Greatly. We decided to do the Intentionally Focused study, even though we were a few weeks behind. The format was a perfect fit. I had even begun thinking about starting up a small group and facilitating but wanted to participate in a live study first to see how it all flowed. I got that opportunity with the Why Easter Matters study. What I didn’t know is just how God was going to use this in depth look at the Easter holiday to re-ignite a fire within me.
In January 2013 my Father had been diagnosed with Stage 4 colon cancer and began chemotherapy treatments, and in January of 2014 my Mom and I began to notice a decline in him. By the time Why Easter Matters began in mid-March, the Oncologist had taken Dad off the original chemo treatment and was working to get him onto a new regiment of medications. They were running into issues with his insurance coverage and getting him the medications he needed.
That first week we focused on why the Last Supper is so important.
The challenge was to write a list of the things that I was tempted to rely on others for instead of God; number one of my list, dad’s cancer. At the end of March dad was in the hospital due to his liver shutting down. On April 4, 2014 we got the news that there was nothing that could be done. For the next 13 days I was at my parents’ house daily helping mom in any way I could. As we looked at the Crucifixion, Resurrection and my response to it all, Easter had a deeper, more personal meaning in my life than ever before. I did as well as I could to keep up with the study. Looking back now, I know God’s words were carrying me through; however, because of time constraints, I was often doing two days’ readings in one while I stayed with Dad. This was the case during week three when we looked specifically at the Resurrection. It was Tuesday, and I was getting caught up on the Monday blog and daily readings. I was so moved by the video for that day that I wrote a comment and said that I was experiencing my father’s final days on Earth and how much the message touched me. Because I was a day late, I didn’t expect my comment to be read, so I didn’t bother to check back.
My father went home to be with our Lord.
It was on Thursday, April 17, 2014 at around 9:30 in the morning that dad passed. As I spoke with my friend later, she shared with me that she had been asked to open the Bible study at our church with prayer on Thursday morning. She began by praying for my family and me; the study begins at 9:30. At the very moment mom and I were saying goodbye to my dad and he was entering eternity, we were being lifted up in prayer! Later that day my aunt, who lives several hundred miles away, walked through the door. She just happened to be about four hours away at a conference for work and felt that she couldn’t be that close without coming up to be with mom. When she made that decision dad was still alive, and she could not have known mom would need her that day. A day or so later I went onto the Love God Greatly website to look at Monday’s blog post again. As I scrolled down I noticed someone had replied to my comment. The lady said she was praying for my family and me and her reply had been posted at the same time my aunt was walking through the door.
God is so good! He provides exactly what we need, when we need it.
In the summer of 2014 I started facilitating a Love God Greatly group, and I haven’t looked back since. I can’t begin to describe the growth that has occurred within me spiritually. Dad’s death, while delivering a painful blow, has resulted in me finding my voice and the confidence to share my faith and God’s love with others, especially in my role as wife and mother.
“Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he dies, yet he shall live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die…” John 11:25-26
Kirsten Brann, Maine
Story written by Joan, LGG Leadership Team Member
Thank you for sharing this testimony. The power of prayer is amazing and gives me goosebumps and tears whenever I hear or see the Holy Spirit at work within us.
I don’t normally comment on here not because of any particular reason. But a few moments ago I was praying with a friend about God’s love letter of the Cross to us and afterwards saw this on my email. I always read them all this life story speaks to me so much to how I should never underestimate his power and presence in any given situation.
Wonderful testimony! I have also been spoken to and shown by God how He wants to use me during this last study on prayer. I have been on the receiving end of prayer many, many times during that study and have therefore realized just how much more powerful it is to actually see a prayer written for you and not just be told “I’ll pray”. This has since gotten me out of my comfort zone and I am now typing out prayers for everyone who sends a prayer through my email on our Church prayer chain. I know how much it encouraged me and I want to do the same and thus use one of the gifts that God has given me which is to encourage. God bless you and your family Kirsten!
So great to see God at work in our lives-may we all have eyes to see!
Happy Easter everyone….He is risen…He has risen indeed!
In less than an hour it will be Easter. We do so much busy work to get ready for Easter that we don’t become still and wait for the message God is wanting us to know. This Easter I want to be where God wants me to be. As I see pictures of Jesus and all the pain he went through for me I know my worship will never be enough to cover it. He’s always there for me and anyone who wants Him in their lives I worry about small stuff like illness, finances and what to eat. Today I got a prayer request that was sent to our church about a preacher and his family that are over in India. They were tortured trying to get the word out about Jesus and their nightmare isn’t over yet. I can’t compare by life to one that lives on the battle front everyday but I can pray for all the people out there that work so hard to get His message out. Thanks Kirsten for sharing your story. Have a Blessed Easter. God is Good.
Thank you for sharing that amazing testimony. Our family lost my grandfather almost 3 years ago and after he had passed I was so … shocked but happy. It was unexpected but there was such a calming peace over everything. He died on Friday evening and my church family had been praying for us and our pastors, who are like mom and dad to me had been checking in on us alot. That Sunday morning at church, I was singing on the worship team and our Pastor’s wife starting singing, ” He’s already provided, He’s already provided, Everything you need He’s already provided. Just ask it in His name, everything you need HE’S ALREADY PROVIDED.” In that moment, I fell to my knees with tears in my eyes, I knew that in the midst of my earthly pain, healing had taken place in my grandfather and God was in control. God Bless
Please pray for my friend’s Dad – Bill Schoenleber- he is on dialysis 3 times a week and has developed a serious blood infection and pneumonia.
Thank you.
These Bible studies are such a blessing.
Thank you for sharing. It is nice to have a helpful reminder of Gods loving hand moving in our lives. Happy Easter!
Where can I find links to the Intentionally Focused study? I tried looking all over this site and on Google, but it directs me to Women Living Well’s website, but it isn’t there either. Anyone know where I can find it?
Thanks!
After reading “His Perfect Providence” today, I immediately went to that place in my life when we said “goodbye” to my own father on March 9, 2013. It was truly a paralyzing moment when I wanted someone to scream and holler and hold on to Dad and not let him go, but then I realized that Dad knew where he was going because he did not resist. He uttered his last breath after a bit and we held on and loved him through his final moments (and continue to love and hold him close in our hearts and memories). Thank you for sharing your story, Joan….
Thank you for sharing your story and reminding us of God’s promises and faithfulness when we need Him most. While reading your story, it made me think of my small group leader who just lost her father to stage 4 cancer in February of this year. Praise God she is saved and has been able to lean on Him and others throughout this difficult time and its been so inspiring to see her faith and trust that is bearing witness to how much she truly loves God. Please keep her and her family in your prayers (the Stripling family)…Thank you so much!!! God bless you and all the women in this ministry…Your testimonies are such a blessing to all of us and help us in so many ways!!
Thank you for sharing your story. God is faithful and in return we are thankful. I actually cried reading this testimony, but I realised that these were tears of sadness which then turned into joy at knowing how God sustained you through this difficult time. Also, through the sharing of this story, I realised that sharing our story whenever we get the opportunity is never about us, but ALL ABOUT GOD’S OVERFLOWING GOODNESS.
God Bless you and your family Kirsten ?