An article I wrote in a newsletter, while I had been an associate minister at, "Upper Room Ministries", of Mason City, Iowa.  It was published in the church monthly newsletter in the spring of 1998.

"TO EVERYTHING THERE IS A PURPOSE!"

As a former pastor's wife, I would like to share God's faithfulness.  (Psalm 36:5)  During my first pastorate, a car ran over my oldest daughter at the ripe old age of nine.  She was dragged over two blocks, because her jacket had caught under the man's car.  We drove her to Mayo Clinic of, Rochester, Minnesota.  Due to the seriousness of her injuries, she almost died so many times.  She wasn't expected to survive.  We saw God's miraculous power at work many times.  At the time of the original article, she was then 26 years old.  At the time of this posting, she is 41 years old with her husband and two children.

Many people found Jesus Christ as their personal Savior, were healed, delivered, and encouraged during the time of this entire accident experience.  (I Peter 4:12)

Another time our family was in an automobile accident after a night of church ministry visitation.  My husband was severely injured.  He had to begin using a cane to aid him in walking.  Our children and myself, were miraculously spared any injuries.

Shortly before the accident, we had had a house fire.  When people came to pray and encourage us, they in turn returned home being blessed themselves.  Our town rallied around us in prayer and kindnesses.  Satan was trying to kill the fire of God in us, but it burned ever more brighter.  As it is said in the Bible, "He is out to rob, kill, and destroy."  What satan meant to destroy our family and ministry, God turned it around for His glory.

After a few years, my husband and I accepted a different pastorate down south.  The people of that church enjoyed the moving of the Holy Spirit's gifts, but didn't practice what they heard preached and believed.  (Lev. 20:7)  We turned in our resignation exactly two years later.  We returned to our home, which we still owned.  We went back into evangelism.

Some time later, we started a church in another state from a home Bible study.  During this pastorate, my husband was injured in another automobile accident.  He was trying to save the other passengers in the car.  He was bed-ridden for almost two years.  He attended the services once every few weeks, being dressed and carried in his special wheelchair by the men of the church.  During his gradual recovery, my older daughter and I, were the substitute pastors.

His health began to decline once again, and he only preached occasionally.  He became legally blind from his diabetes.  We found our church another pastor, and we resigned this pastorate.  My husband, myself, and our three children, moved back to our home we still owned in Iowa.  He died only three days after we arrived.

I was invited to visit, "Upper Room Ministries", of, Mason City, Iowa, where Rev. Pam Runge-Stockman, was and still is the senior pastor and founder.  She operates in the five-fold ministry spoken about by the apostle Paul in the New Testament of the Bible.

She heard prophetically from the Holy Spirit exactly what I needed at this point of time in my life.  I attended her local church until I moved to Minnesota to live closer to my three adult children.  Not knowing at the time, that I later would be invited to be an associate pastor of this ministry.

My son was a drug and alcohol abuser during these years, because my deceased husband had abused him sexually, physically, emotionally, and verbally during his younger years.  He confessed, while at a re-had center, that this had aided him to be of the homosexual persuasion.  Needless to say, I was totally devastated, but I drew my daily strength from God.

Thanks to the prayers of my pastor, Rev. Pam Runge-Stockman, ministry friends, family, and other friends, I became an
overcomer during these trials.  In the book of Peter in the Holy Bible, (I Peter 5:7) , it speaks of how God cares.  There is a verse about fiery trials, also.  We are to grow from our trials, tribulations, or challenges we experience in our lives.

To everything there truly is a purpose for each one of us.  Joseph, in the Old Testament of the Bible, didn't know his true purpose of his being sold into slavery, until many years later, after he was promoted to Governor in Pharaoh's court.

Jesus Christ is our living water.  He will quench our spiritual thirst.  The key is, that we must look and seek Him.  Upper Room Ministries, is one of His fountains of hope, where anyone who experiences thirst, can and will have it quenched.  You can be filled; for all you have to do is ask, seek, and knock.  God is always only a breath or prayer away.

In closing:

The purpose of our life's trials and challenges, is to help us achieve our full potential in, with, and for Christ.  I would like to recommend a book for you.  "Your Best Life Now", by Pastor Joel Osteen, of Lakewood Church of, Houston, Texas.  Also, take the time to look up "Upper Room Ministries" of, Mason City, Iowa.  Rev. Pam Runge_Stockman, ministers to any and all who contact her via the postal service, internet, and the ministry telephone.  She has all of the needed information on her website.  She operates in all of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, and all of the prophetic words she has prayed and spoken over my life, have always been accurate.  Should you need direction or conformation to something God has laid on your heart, give her a call.  Just know that she is quite busy, because this is a worldwide ministry.  She will get back to you as soon as she is able.

God bless each and everyone who reads this Blog posting, because I have and always pray while typing them.  Sincerely a friend of Jesus' and yours, darlilnliz11