A story of divine purpose and a stark look at life
Published on Thu, May 20, 2010 by Rita BennettRead More Worship
Last week my story ended where the best Christian I had ever known, Gail Miller, finally witnessed to me after a year of living the Spirit-filled life before me. That day we ended up at a beautiful Florida beach where she “dropped the other shoe” or should I say, “sandal.”
She gave the Holy Spirit credit for the joy she had in her walk with God. It was the Holy Spirit, third person of the triune God, filling and strengthening her along the way. She was in love with God.
It’s like the Holy Spirit is the Matchmaker who was sent out by Father God to find a bride for His Son, Jesus. The Spirit was scouting for Gail to see if she would become a worthy bride. Yet we are all included here, for humanity has the potential of being part of that corporate, spiritual bride of Christ.
The Bible opened up to her and fed her spiritually. Her prayer life was energized. She talked to God as her best Friend. Sometimes she meditated on the Scripture and wrote in her journal. At times she simply praised God in her spirit and with her understanding also (I Corinthians 14:15).
A NEW KIND OF FRIEND
Needless to say I was impressed, as I had never had a friend who cared enough to speak to me like this. I was a 25-year old college graduate and teacher, a former university-band dancerette and “Miss Tampa” contestant. Gail was a different kind of friend.
One day shortly after our beach conversation, Gail told me she had sought guidance from her prayer group leader. After their prayer together, she felt drawn to return to North Carolina to the place where she had felt closest to God.
As time had gone by there were now four of us who had rented a house together. Three of us were going to have to say “Goodbye” to Gail. This was an unhappy farewell for me as she was the only one in the group who had a clear relationship with God.
A DREDDED PHONE CALL
Five or six months after our “goodbye’s,” I received a phone call from Gail’s aunt, whom I had never met. She said, “I hate to tell you this Rita, but Gail Miller is dead. She was on her lunch break and began to faint, then had presence of mind to give her name and address before a cerebral hemorrhage occurred. She never regained consciousness but died eight hours later.”
I was shocked and replied, “But I – I just got a letter from her and she was saying how right it was for her to have made the move.”
“I’m sorry Rita. The whole family is saddened by this. I want you to know that the funeral will be this Saturday at 2:00pm, at the Baptist Church on N. Florida Avenue.”
“Yes, I know where that is. Thank you so much for calling. Of course, I –will – be – there.”
I hung up the phone and sat in a stunned silence. I thought of Gail’s life and said to myself, “Of course I know for sure she was ready to meet her Maker. But, I’m not so sure that I am.”
WHY GOD?
I mused, “She had so much to live for. Why did God let this happen?”
Then I remembered how in her teenage years she was in a serious accident. Her parents were both killed but Gail lived. Her jaw was damaged so that she lost her lower teeth and had to have them replaced.
I then reasoned, “The effects of her head injury may have caused this hemorrhage 10 years later.”
“No, God did not do this, but how will this terrible event have any benefit?”
I questioned.
Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose” (NKJV Bible).
Next week I’ll tell you more.
She gave the Holy Spirit credit for the joy she had in her walk with God. It was the Holy Spirit, third person of the triune God, filling and strengthening her along the way. She was in love with God.
It’s like the Holy Spirit is the Matchmaker who was sent out by Father God to find a bride for His Son, Jesus. The Spirit was scouting for Gail to see if she would become a worthy bride. Yet we are all included here, for humanity has the potential of being part of that corporate, spiritual bride of Christ.
The Bible opened up to her and fed her spiritually. Her prayer life was energized. She talked to God as her best Friend. Sometimes she meditated on the Scripture and wrote in her journal. At times she simply praised God in her spirit and with her understanding also (I Corinthians 14:15).
A NEW KIND OF FRIEND
Needless to say I was impressed, as I had never had a friend who cared enough to speak to me like this. I was a 25-year old college graduate and teacher, a former university-band dancerette and “Miss Tampa” contestant. Gail was a different kind of friend.
One day shortly after our beach conversation, Gail told me she had sought guidance from her prayer group leader. After their prayer together, she felt drawn to return to North Carolina to the place where she had felt closest to God.
As time had gone by there were now four of us who had rented a house together. Three of us were going to have to say “Goodbye” to Gail. This was an unhappy farewell for me as she was the only one in the group who had a clear relationship with God.
A DREDDED PHONE CALL
Five or six months after our “goodbye’s,” I received a phone call from Gail’s aunt, whom I had never met. She said, “I hate to tell you this Rita, but Gail Miller is dead. She was on her lunch break and began to faint, then had presence of mind to give her name and address before a cerebral hemorrhage occurred. She never regained consciousness but died eight hours later.”
I was shocked and replied, “But I – I just got a letter from her and she was saying how right it was for her to have made the move.”
“I’m sorry Rita. The whole family is saddened by this. I want you to know that the funeral will be this Saturday at 2:00pm, at the Baptist Church on N. Florida Avenue.”
“Yes, I know where that is. Thank you so much for calling. Of course, I –will – be – there.”
I hung up the phone and sat in a stunned silence. I thought of Gail’s life and said to myself, “Of course I know for sure she was ready to meet her Maker. But, I’m not so sure that I am.”
WHY GOD?
I mused, “She had so much to live for. Why did God let this happen?”
Then I remembered how in her teenage years she was in a serious accident. Her parents were both killed but Gail lived. Her jaw was damaged so that she lost her lower teeth and had to have them replaced.
I then reasoned, “The effects of her head injury may have caused this hemorrhage 10 years later.”
“No, God did not do this, but how will this terrible event have any benefit?”
I questioned.
Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose” (NKJV Bible).
Next week I’ll tell you more.