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| Today is an "anniversary" ***Not for the weak stomached |
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Well today is a day I usually reflect a bit on my life and give thanks to God I have been blessed to live it. Twenty-six years ago I was struck by an oncoming car as I attempted to cross the street in front of the school bus. It was at a four way intersection and the car was traveling on the intersecting road. The man driving should have stopped because the school bus was there, but as we all have done, he was in his head and did not realize his mistake until much too late. I have been told the police record says the skidmarks estimate his speed between 50-55 mph.
I have a whole rant for people who say they'll get things right with God before they die because of this experience! I had grown up in a semi-Christian home and my last two words before the impact were not "Jesus, help" or "Jesus, forgive". They were "Oh, #@*^!!" When death is staring you in the eye in a portion of a second what is in your heart is what comes out.
Matt 12:34-37 NKJV
34 Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. 35 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. 36 But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. 37 For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned."
So if I, who had a knowledge of God did not turn to Him, in my foolishness at that moment, how foolish is it for those who have even less knowledge of God. Enough of that.
On with the story, I flew into the air and landed in the ditch on the side of the road. The man driving the car stopped, the bus driver stopped, and my mom arrived at the bus stop (2 miles from my home) in time to see my books and backpack sailing across the road. I don't remember anything until the ambulance crew was over me asking if this hurt or that hurt. My right leg was broken in three places, my left leg in one place, my pelvis in two places, my sacriliac, and my left arm. Three of the fractures were compound, the bones had broken through my skin (for you medical type folks both my femurs & my left ulna). When my left femur broke it sliced into my femoral artery so my blood was literally pouring out of my body. My spleen was also ruptured due to the impact, though the doctors did not determine this until almost two weeks later when I continued to run a fever without an obvious cause.
My life is a miracle in so many ways. I should have died that day. If I had been an inch shorter I would have died instantly because my spine would have been broken. If the ambulance crew had taken any longer to get there I would have bleed to death. At the hospital the doctors took my mom aside and told her to start making funeral arrangements, that I would not survive the night. Yet I did. They then told her I would not survive the weekend. Yet I did. Then they told her they may have to take my left leg because the damage to it was so extreme. I still have it. Next the doctors told her I would not walk without a pronounced limp. I do not. They told me I would never run again. I did, not as quickly, but I did. The doctors said I'd be in a wheel chair by the end of my 30's. I am not! Yes, I have a bit of a limp when I am tired and there are days my knees feel about 30 years older than the rest of me, but what the doctors have said all along has been WRONG.
I attribute every one of these miracles to the faithfulness of God in answering the prayers of his saints. My wonderful Baptist grandmother was praying for me, my church family was praying for me, the man who hit me was praying for me. Yes, the man who hit me is a Christian brother. I did not know the Lord then. I knew of Him, but I did not know Him. The man who hit me enlisted the prayers of his church family for my survival and healing. There was one elderly lady at his church, a woman of God who had this man's ear, and she told him it was not enough to pray for my physical life, but what was even more needful was to pray for my spiritual life. This man, whose path would probably have never crossed mine in a witnessing situation, helped pray me into the kingdom. I now have him to thank, in part, for my walk with our Lord.
After the accident no one would let him in to see me. His insurance company did not want him talking to me. He tried watching the paper for more information about my situation, but did not get anything past the week after the accident. Four years ago the Lord told me to call him and tell him I held no animosity against him and that I am fine. I found his name on some old paperwork and looked him up in the local phonebook. I knew he was from the next town over at the time of the accident. Well, there were three listings for three different people with the same first & last name, different middle initials. I told the Lord ( I can be kind of, uh, stubborn) that if He wanted me to call He had to tell me which number because I was only calling once and it had better be the right one. Well, God in His infinate mercy towards me gave me the right number to call the first time. I told him that the Lord had told me to call and what the Lord told me to tell him. The man broke up. You see, he had been carrying the guilt of the damage he had done to me all those years ago. Twenty-two years he was in bondage to that guilt. I realized after that conversation that the Lord so wants each one of us free from ALL that binds us. He so loves the man that hit me that He did not want him carrying the guilt of that mistake any longer.
I thank God that not one day have I ever been angry at the man who hit me. Even when I have related this story throughout my life I have always said I was hit by a car, almost as if no person were involved. I never held animosity in my heart against the man. I always knew it was an accident and was able to extend such mercy to him. I used to talk to my friends about how badly he must of felt. My best friend at the time I was hit saw the whole thing happen and we used to talk about how hard it would be to live with having damaged another human being the way I had been damaged. We decided that it would be a horrible thing to live with, just as much, or even more than living with our own parts of the accident.
This is a day I thank God for His grace and mercy, for His hand on my life, for His miracle working power alive in me, and for the effectual fervent prayers of the righteous that availed much in my life!
Here's my food from today:
Breakfast: 1 1/2 slices toast w/ 1 T almond butter
Lunch: Spicy Chicken sandwich w/o the bun & a small fry from Wendy's
Dinner: 2 1/2 c. mushroom potato soup
Snacks: Kashi bar, popcorn w/ 2 t. coconut oil |
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Kathy |
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October 09, 2007 at 9:54pm |
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| Hi Coreena! Thanks for sharing your story. Nice to meet you! |
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| Wow Coreena, that was simply amazing, on so many different levels! I have been enriched by reading this, I cannot thank you enough for sharing it. In the routine day to day, one can become lulled into the mundane. But reading this has shaken me. I'll be thinking about this (pink) post for a few days at least, let me tell you! May I share this with all of my friends? |
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Feel free to share it. :-)
For His Children,
~Coreena |
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Powerful, powerful testimony. Keep sharing and others will be set free as well.
Pastor Aminata |
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| Amazing,thanks for sharing. |
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| What a fabulous testimony! May the Lord continue to bless you and your family. Thanks! |
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Randy |
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October 10, 2007 at 9:58am |
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Coreena,
WOW what an amazing story. To be honest I am speechless.
Thank your for sharing,
Randy |
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| Powerful, and full of teaching for the learning ear. Thanks and God bless you. |
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JessIAm |
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October 10, 2007 at 11:38am |
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| Wow! Thanks for sharing Coreena. |
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Deb |
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October 10, 2007 at 11:51am |
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| This is an awesome testimony. It shows the power and love of our Lord, and He has worked in your life. What a miracle! Thank you for sharing your story. |
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Gene |
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October 10, 2007 at 12:02pm |
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| So, Ok. . . Wow! I am so impressed and lacking for original acclamation. What a witness to God's Grace. Thanks for sharing. |
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| That was an amazing testimony of God's miraculous power on so many levels. Blessings to you! |
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Glenn |
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October 10, 2007 at 12:31pm |
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What an amazing testimony to an AMAZING GOD! You are God's miracle and your story has touched many lives and will continue to shine His grace!
Thank you so much for sharing and allowing us to rejoice with you!.
By the way, please to meet you.
peace
Glenn |
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Thank you all for the wonderful comments!! To God be the glory! Glenn, I am pleased to meet you too! |
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| Thanks for the heads up Mike, thanks for the testimony Coreena, and thanks for the new friend Jesus. |
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| Wow what a powerful testimony. Thank you so much for sharing. |
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May God continue to bless you. A wonderful testimony - He indeed is glorious to save! |
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Ragland |
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October 10, 2007 at 10:14pm |
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| Forgiveness and love is a strong teaching of Christ. You have just done that. It requires courage to practise what Christ Commanded. God Bless you abundantly. I want to practise this in my life. |
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Brent |
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October 10, 2007 at 11:20pm |
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Coreena, you are already fulfilling your dream of preaching God's word by sharing this story. I can't imagine what the driver felt when you talked to him after all those years. God's forgiveness is so powerful, thanks for sharing. I was almost run over by an 18-wheeler when I was 17. We were hit in the back and the tractor crushed the trunk and then we somehow broke loose. We then were sliding sidewise and I was in the right passenger seat staring the MACK truck right in the face and I just knew we were going to die. Anyway, I share that with you to let you know that the 5 of us in that car were spared for some reason. It was overwhelming to think about. In the end, I know in a personal way that God has numbered our days and he knows when our time on this earth is done. Thanks for sharing that moving story!! Praise God for His Love and Forgiveness!! |
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Coreena |
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October 10, 2007 at 11:27pm |
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God is so very good! The five of you were certtainly spared for God's purposes! Thank you for your comment.
For His Children,
~Coreena |
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Sonji |
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October 10, 2007 at 11:35pm |
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| Coreena, I really enjoyed your story- I hope if I am every faced with such adversity- I will be as strong as you were. Continue to pass on your courage and love for God. |
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| Wow, what a story! I think God must look forward to this anniversary, to hear the beautiful way that you have turned a tragic incident into a stream of glorius praise and thanksgiving. Your story of forgiveness is inspiring. Thank you for sharing it! |
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Tracy |
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October 10, 2007 at 11:53pm |
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| I applaud you for sharing this very inspirational story of struggle and triumph. It just goes to show what the Lord can do if we just trust Him!! |
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Yep!!! Miracles are for today!!! Hallelujah!!!
Thank you for sharing this awesome and powerful testimony of God's power and human ability "through Christ" to forgive.
AWESOME!!!
Lourdes
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Hello! I must say, YOU have found the common denominator in us all! All of us here are in agreement concerning your story! What a BLAST of fresh air. Alot ppl get on here & wanna teach their personal beliefs concerning doctrine, which always starts a debate. But, your story is full the fruit of Holy Spirit! Thank you for sharing! You shall over come the enemy by the words of your testimony and by the blood of the Lamb!
I was curious if I missed something by you telling us your diet for today?????
Shannon |
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| I can sympathize with what you went through. I was in a few serious accidents. One time I was coming home from a second job at night time. I got on the off ramp exiting a highway to get onto a city road to head home. Someone was heading down that offramp the wrong way with no headlights on. His car caught fire and I was a mess; took me about a year to learn to walk without falling on my face. The car that hit me was a stolen car which was taken across state lines, and he was high. An open and shut case? No--he is related to a federal politician--I don't need to say anything more. |
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Mr. Coreena
Thanks for sharing you are a living miracle of our God |
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Brent |
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October 11, 2007 at 10:49pm |
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Coreena - yes, I have had a chance to be used in different small ways that unknown to me God was working until years later when someone made a comment. I don't try to understand why I lived and a lady died in a parkinglot accident the same week at about 15mph. Oh by the way a funny addition to my story was I had just gotten out of the hospital where they removed a pin from my femur (thigh bone). The driver of the MAC Truck was so shook up that he said to me, "Did I break your leg?" *smile* I think the bigger lesson we all get to learn from time to time is forgivness and trust. Oh that I would really trust him rather than worry in situations that are stressful to me! Grace & Peace! |
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| What an awesome story. Thanks so much for sharing your heart and how God has molded it. So many lessons in this story it is hard to grasp just one and say it is the most important. Thanks you so much for sharing. |
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maura |
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October 11, 2007 at 10:55pm |
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| WHAT SATAN MEANT FOR EVIL GOD MEANT FOR GOOD!!!!! MY LIFE WOULD HAVE A WHOLE IN IT IF NOT FOR YOU MY FRIEND. I LOVE YOU!!!! |
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Gene |
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October 12, 2007 at 2:16pm |
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To add to what Brent said, it would be interesting to see what seeds germinate and what fruit grows from your life. Just this bit has been an inspiration to those reading it and a blessing to the driver of the car, and to the doctors at the hospital, and to your friends, and to. . . Wow!
11:1 Put out your bread on the face of the waters; for after a long time it will come back to you again.
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Thank you, Gene. Wow! I had not thought of it the way you stated! Such a fulfillment of Ecc. 11:1. WOW!!!
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Robin |
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October 13, 2007 at 11:06am |
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| Wow, imagine for a minute of satan had won..... Where would Keith, Reba, Tabi, or Amanda be now? Not too mention all the rest of the people who know and love you. Just so yo can have an acurat check of impact, yes I cried. |
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Susan |
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October 14, 2007 at 4:56pm |
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| Praise God! You are a living miracle! Thanks for sharing that with us. |
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Kelly |
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October 17, 2007 at 5:22pm |
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This story brought back memories I haven't thought of in years... decades.
When I was in 2nd grade the school bus I was on ran over a fellow student. I watched him die on the road while waiting for an ambulance.
For years I was angry. Very angry.
Now as an adult, I think of it a little differently. The little boy, Daniel, must have had more important work in Heaven than on earth that God needed him for.
It is interesting how time, God and prayer changes thoughts.
When I hear this story, I think that YOU must have had more important work on earth and in Heaven to still complete that God needed you for.
Kelly :) |
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I have a relative who has refused to cooperate with the doctors' decrees of his impending death. :) I pray his story will include the same beautiful outcome, especially in regard to salvation, as you have had! |
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| Thank you everyone for your kind words! |
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| Calling him was a very "Godly" thing to do. My daughter died in an er and 6 years later, I was able to walk into that er and tell the staff that even though they probably weren't on duty, I forgave them. We all cried and prayed together. And I felt burden lifted from me just for saying those words... "I forgive you". Thankyou for sharing your story. |
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| WOW! What a sequence of events and powerful message you shared through this blog! It's all pretty incredible, as our amazing FATHER is--INCREDIBLE! You summed it up very well, "This is a day I thank God for His grace and mercy, for His hand on my life, for His miracle working power alive in me, and for the effectual fervent prayers of the righteous that availed much in my life! " Thank you for sharing a very inspiring blog! Thank you, Becky, for sending me the link to Corenna's blog! |
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Wow, I have no testimony like this and yet it makes me rethink my life. I have no mercy, I have no compassion, and I have no forgiveness when people do others wrong. Ok so maybe if I don't have it, one of the steps is going to the root of the problem in the first place and forgiving and asking forgiveness as well. Last nights sermon from Josh was so clear as day, I think it was like hearing God's voice for the first time ever to be honest even though I have heard it many times before. I think that this time not only did I HEAR god speak to me, I felt his presence right next to me last night. I can tell you that I felt so guilty sitting in church knowing what God knew and I had made a promise and not fulfilled it.
Your story speaks to so many in an abundance of ways and the thing that I can tell you has spoken to me was that my quarrel was far less important as your life and I should not take things for granted. Grace can be the best part of a persons life and your testimony proves this statement true. Thank you so much for directing me here! Please look for a blog posted by me soon about my Mom, I am hoping to find her soon! Thank you again!
Lisa |
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Joey |
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February 24, 2008 at 2:35pm |
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Bless you for being full of grace and mercy and being the person that you are. You are an inspiration to us all.
Love and blessings,
Joey |
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Coreena |
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February 24, 2008 at 5:07pm |
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| Thank you, Joey, for your kind words. |
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Coreena |
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February 24, 2008 at 6:44pm |
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| Thank you, woman of joy! |
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Coreena,
This made me think of several of the sadder stories we've had recently. It did my heart good to hear how God allowed you to offer forgiveness to this man. I also think He's given you a special gift to know how to pray for Gavin and the others involved in these things this week. I appreciate your heart and your testimony ! |
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