Redemption is when you stop coveting worldly goods and possessions and become liberated spiritually
Faith is when you put your complete trust in something or someone
Resilience is when you overcome struggles in life e.g. addiction
Gratitude is when you are thankful for and appreciate even the simplest things of life
Joy is when you feel fulfilled and content in life
This book exemplifies all of the above. This book is a testament of God’s glory in my life.
I felt in my spirit that God wanted me to write this book to encourage people to keep their hopes and trust in Jesus.
In this book you will read of how my husband and I have walked though many difficult challenging times. We have learned that when we put our trust in God we found him to be faithful in every circumstance. It is true what the Bible says…
“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.”
Romans 8:28
I am hoping that my story encourages you in your journey to trust the Lord in all things instead of leaning on your own understanding.
His ways are higher than ours. Our story isn’t finished, but He will finish the work He started when we surrender to Him. He is good in every circumstance, and He will never leave your side.
We have suffered a many losses in our life, but because of God’s goodness we were able to make it through these times. He carried us when we couldn’t walk in our own strength.
Excerpt from Unexpected And Undeserved: Guts For God’s Glory by Margo Kirkpatrick:
“My mom suffered from schizophrenia. A company that my dad wanted to work for in Edmonton required him to leave for training in the United States. While he was gone for a period of time, my mom almost starved my older brother as a baby. My grandmother showed up for a visit and was able to intervene. When my dad came home, it appeared that my mom had not fed my brother for the whole time he was gone. I have seen pictures of my brother from that time and he looked deathly. When my older brother was four, my mom hit him over the head with a glass pop bottle. These are the kinds of things she did.
…
It seemed as though my mom always said things to upset or hurt me when I would come in the door from school. One day, after coming home from school when I was 12, my mom threw a long serrated knife at me. It would have hit my heart if it had been a few inches closer to my chest.
Another incident happened when I was 13. Again, when I came home from school, my mom started saying things, trying to upset me. This time, I decided to walk away. As I walked away, she came behind me, pushed me into the wall, then ran into the bathroom, locking the door. I guess she knew she would get a reaction from me. I sadly admit, I lost it. I broke the door down and I found myself with my hands around her neck, choking her. Thankfully, I came to my senses and stopped. I was very upset that I could have killed her. Afterward, I called my dad who was at work, and told him all that had happened, and that I couldn’t take it anymore. Afterwards, I wanted to commit suicide to end the pain.
It seemed by then, my dad had already checked out from our family, because he had moved himself into a room in the basement. He worked shift work and wasn’t home much, anyway, so he could avoid my mom, thinking it was best not to divorce for the kids. A couple of years later she did end up in the psychiatric hospital. While in the hospital, she was diagnosed with schizophrenia. My parents eventually divorced when I was fourteen years old. I then took over the mother role and tried to make things run smoothly because my dad was not there.”
