With Arms Wide Open

Brian was brought up in the church: he knew all the stories, he heard hundreds of
sermons. He knew "everything" there was to know about the Bible. As a teenager,
he heard about the military. It appealed to him, and as soon as he was old enough,
he decided to join. Brian's parents were shocked. No matter what they said or
tried they just could not sway him to change his mind: Brian stubbornly said he
was going o join and go, no matter what! His Pastor point-blank warned Brian, that
if he went, that he may lose his soul.

Determined to have it his way, Brian went and experienced many horrific things in
the first Gulf War (1990-1991)...so much so that Brian became very confused. He
began to doubt everything, and forgot the goodness of God.

But his Momma never stopped praying, and fasting for Brian.

During those four long years, every time Momma would talk to Brian, Brian was
verbally abusive toward her. "I don't want nothin' to do with your God!" he said,
slamming down the phone. In Momma's broken tears, she doggedly interceded for her
son.

She never, never gave up.

One desperate night, Momma changed her prayer. She prayed and asked God to "Do
whatever it takes to bring Brian home--and save his soul. If he's to become a
paraplegic, but have his soul saved, so be it. Don't bless him Lord, until he
looks to You, the One who blesses us!" She wrestled for hours, interceding,
weeping until she could no longer cry.

Miraculously, that same night, Brian came to himself, and asked, "What am I doing
here?" and repented.

Weeks later, when Brian returned home and to his Momma, he returned home to his
Heavenly Father, too--both were standing there, with arms wide open. It was a
tearful, joyful, thankful, victorious reunion!

Fifteen years later, Brian tells this story as a testimony as he is preaching to
lost souls in Detroit, Michigan. If Jesus could forgive Brian, he can forgive
anyone!

--bro. tim pickl
Thursday April 26, 2007 A.D.

also see:  http://www.faithwriters.com/wc-article-level1-previous.php?id=15402

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