Note: This is what Pat Flora told me (Terry Weber) about what she has gone through and what she has learned. I promised Pat I would help her tell her story to others, so,please read on:

I have set the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand,I will not be shaken."(Psalm 16:8) When God breaks into our lives with storms of trouble he points us toward his greatness, glory and power. In this way God gave my life a firm foundation of hope. I now step confidently toward whatever he has for me in the future. My life is quite normal; in fact, I had many good things come my way. But Ive also had a share of trials and troubles storms I call them.

After 20 years of marriage, 4 children a divorce, a bankruptcy, two broken vertebrae in my back, 2 car wrecks, family problems with the children, not enough money just your normal everyday events. Hard as it was I prayerfully coped with all of it and moved on.

Storm #1: After re-marriage, and a move from Illinois to New Jersey the storm clouds appeared. My son Mike wrecked his pick-up truck. Before I left New Jersey I called every prayer warrior I knew. Mike was flown to a St. Louis hospital in critical condition and in a coma. I flew to Illinois. Days dragged by for 28 days. Mike, still in a coma, developed: pneumonia, a blood clot, broken bones and severed basil nerves. Doctors said there was no hope. Family agreed to disconnect all life support. I called every prayer warrior I knew (nationwide) asked them to pray for a miracle for Mike. A nurse checked Mike a few days later and he opened his eyes, turned his head said: Hi, ImMike. God had performed a miracle and brought Mile back to life with no medical assistance. Today, Mike is walking, talking and thinking and otherwise recovering.

Storm #2: While tending to Mike, my 79 year old husband, Tony, fell off a roof and was told he might never walk again. I called my prayers warriors again for their support. The doctors did surgery, installed metal rods. Tony is walking again. He is also slowly going blind. Then one day, while clearing snow off our driveway Tony was hit by a passing car, broke his shoulder, was hospitalized again. I called the prayers warriors yet again.

Storm # 3: Less than two years after Mikes miraculous revival, My 49 year old son Todd, while chopping down a tree for his sick fathers fireplace, (Bill had cancer) Todd was knocked down by part of the falling tree. I called my prayerwarriors again. Todd was taken to a Springfield (IL) hospital; he was paralyzed with two broken vertebrae in his neck. Then, after going home from the hospital in a wheelchair, his closest caregiver developed a problem with alcohol and so was often unable to help him with his daily needs. Later, Todd developed blood clots and has since been moved to Veterans Hospital in St. Louis (IL) for treatment and rehabilitation. Today Todd is still in a wheel chair and paralyzed from chest to toes but is beginning to get some feeling in some parts of his lower body. Praise God.

Storm #3: While Todd was in the hospital, his father (my ex-husband) died of cancer, causing even more grief and stress in our family.

Lessons learned during the storms:

(1) Pray! Call up the reserves. Ask your prayer warriors to get on their knees and report for duty! The storms were spiritually and physically difficult for all of us. We could never relax. We have learned much about trusting in and having faith in God. Without these tragic storms, we could have breezed along: self-centered, dependent on our intellect and money and never thinking about God and his love for us.

(2) With God all things are possible.

(3) You have not because you ask not.

(4) It is not easy to pray and see no immediate results.

(5) God is not like a fast food restaurant. His timing is different and better than ours.

(6) In his time, God will answer our prayers.

(7) The storms were so bad that at times, I was not able to pray. That is when I learned the Holy Spirit interceded for me with his own prayers to the Father for my family and me.

(8)The emotional stress and grief of all of these storms gave me an overwhelming desire to do nothing but sit and feel depressed. A friend called. She heard me sobbing and was at my house within an hour. She put me to work dusting the upstairs of the house while she did the downstairs. In short, she knew she had to get me out of my semi-robotic state of mind and what she did demonstrated to me that after all life goes on.

(9) The Bible tells us: it came to pass. When in the midst of these storms I felt they would never end. They have passed, but the scars remain: Mikes way of walking may never be perfect. Tonys body has many scars, aches and pains. Todds paralysis may never go away. Even so, we dont know what God will do or how long he will take to do it.

(10) Now, my whole family is counting blessing, blessing we know came from God.

(11) With each passing storm, we learn and mature.

(12) After the storms, life is different, we walk different paths. Different friends take the place of old friends. Because of Gods love he gives us new beginnings, new challenges to help us as we pass through this life toward our eternal life with him in Heaven.

(13) Ive stopped being the kind of person who worries about: replacing things in my house; wondering about how much taxes will go up; how Im going to lose my excess weight; how to fix other people; my house; my car and myself.

(14) I count my blessings and thank God for all that he has given me.

(15) In short, I have stopped being the kind of person who says: I want it right now! I have a kind of clarity of thinking and appreciation for just being alive that I did not have before I went through all of those life shaking, life-changing storms.

(16) Finally, I have a story to tell. I need to tell others what I have learned while becoming a survivor of lifes storms. I know I have a testimony for others to hear. I can stand and speak with the confidence and assurance of an eyewitness to all who will listen.

It is important to bury your roots of faith and trust deep in Christ. We know injuries, pain and even death can occur during lifes storms. When big storms come, you may bend and sway like a tree and perhaps even touch the ground. But, after the storm passes, you will have survived and then you will slowly straighten and once again stand tall.

I know God is the giver of hope. Without hope we are all lost. Always keep God at your right hand, remember to call for the help of your prayer warriors, and you will never be permanently shaken by any storm.

SUMMARY:

I sometimes feel like Job. God has, because of his trust in my faith in him, allowed storm after storm to happen in my life. Through it all, God has answered my prayers and the prayers of my family and our faithful prayer warriors. As survivors of these storms, all in my family are stronger, wiser and more trusting in God and his ability to do modern miracles than ever before. In addition, we all pray God will accept our unanimous nomination of our steadfast, ever-faithful prayer warriors to his: Prayer Warriors Hall Of Fame.

Note: Pat Flora of Freehold, NJ Cell:(732-688-6181) Home: (732-462-6937)
Email: junipertd338@comcast.net
Pat, who is an experienced public speaker, is available for speaking engagements. Please call.