Out of a Dream (Sandy Cove, #1)

by Rosemary Hines

Tim held onto her and kept repeating, “Oh, my God. Oh, my God.” All he could think of was how he had somehow let his father down again. Why hadn’t he searched the house earlier? If he had found the phone number yesterday instead of today, this never would have happened. But no, all he had been thinking about was getting away for the weekend with his buddies. Now his dad might die, and it would be his fault for not finding him sooner.

As they got into the backseat, Sheila’s head was spinning. Part of her wanted to know the extent of John’s injuries, and part of her wanted to run and hide. She felt so helpless and afraid. Then a thought came to her. She reached into her purse and pulled out her cell phone. “Call Grandpa,” she said to Tim. “Tell him to pray.”

“I know. All we can do right now is wait to hear back. In the meantime, let’s pray.”

Jeremiah 29:11,

“I know this sounds crazy, but when I heard he was in the hospital, I felt like I should come over and pray for him.” At that comment, the nurse smiled. “Sometimes God prompts us to do things we don’t fully understand. John Ackerman can use all the prayers he can get.”

Sylvia relaxed a little, realizing that she was in the company of another believer.

“Sometimes those impossible circumstances are the only things that can bring us to our knees,”

They asked for wisdom to comfort their daughter and grandchildren, and boldness to speak the truth in love. They prayed for John’s salvation first and foremost and for his complete physical healing as well.

Bring to his remembrance every word he has ever heard spoken about your Son. Take him to the foot of the cross and show him the way of salvation. Set him free to choose the path of life, and touch and heal the wounds in his body, mind, and spirit.”

A sense of peace flooded Sylvia, and she looked up at Nurse Vivian. Their eyes met and communicated an unspoken, shared experience. Though neither of them could see John or the tear that signaled his response, it seemed they both knew in their spirits that God was at work in that cubicle, and that John would never be the same again. In the spiritual battle for John’s soul, a significant victory had been won. His heart and spirit were opening to God.

“I’ll keep sending positive thoughts for you and your dad,” Trevor added. It sounded so hollow to Michelle. “Thanks, Trevor,” was all she could say in return.

As she absentmindedly paged through the glossy pages, she thought about her mom and what she must be going through. The daughter in her wanted to hurry up and get to the hospital, while another part wanted to run in the opposite direction. Could she bear to see her dad in this condition? Would she be able to keep it together for her mom or would she fall apart?

A picture of her father appeared on the screen of her mind. It was a memory from her wedding when he had presented her with a special wedding gift—a heart-shaped locket made of white gold. “In my heart, you will always be my little girl,” he’d said with a tear in his eye. “Don’t forget that, princess.”

It was almost like she had become two people. One reacting, the other observing from a distance.

Michelle sniffed and tried to dry her eyes with what was left of the tissue. Phil pulled a handkerchief out of his pocket and handed it to her. “These things still come in handy,” he said with a wink, and a nervous giggle escaped from Michelle. After she’d wiped her eyes and blown her nose, Grandpa Phil put his arm around her shoulder and led her out of the ICU.

“Sometimes it’s hard for an intellectual like your father to realize his own weaknesses and needs. Maybe the only way God could break through to him was to let this happen.” “You think so, Grandpa?” “It’s possible, honey. You know, God loves us enough to give us the free will to make our own choices. But ultimately, He yearns for us to choose Him—to choose the eternal life He designed for us.

“Who do you think Jesus is?” “Well, I used to think He was… like… a part of God. But now I wonder if He was really just another great teacher, like Buddha and Mohammed.” Her voice quivered, and she glanced downward again. “Maybe you should know what Jesus said about Himself,” her grandfather replied. “What did He say?” she asked looking up again. “He said that He was the Son of God and that He was the only way to the Father. That’s pretty serious stuff, honey. The Jewish religious leaders tried to stone Him for claiming to be deity. Once you’ve studied Jesus’ teachings and what He said about Himself, you realize either He really is God or He was a con artist or a deluded lunatic.”

“Unless you completely ignore what Jesus said, you can’t label Him as just a good teacher and put Him on the same level as Buddha or Mohammed.”

Her grandfather continued, “I know that New Age philosophy says all paths lead to God. But what did Jesus say about it, Michelle? He said,

‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except by Me.’”

“It just sounds so narrow, Grandpa,” she countered. “Yep. It does sound that way, because it is. Remember that ver...

‘the way is narrow that lead...

Anyone can have open access to God, just by recognizing and believing that Jesus’ death paid the penalty for sin.”

“Think it all through carefully, Michelle. There is no other path to the peace that God can offer. Real peace will come when you let the real God of the universe be the God of your life—when you take Him at His word and lean on Him for your strength and for guidance.”

Your grandfather has a strong faith that I’ve admired for as long as I can remember. He talks to God as if he could see Him face to face,” Sheila said, grasping for words.

Maybe you should start by spending some time alone praying.”

The presence of God was suddenly so powerful that she was afraid to open her eyes for fear of seeing Jesus Himself standing in front of her.

In that moment, Michelle’s heart was pierced with the truth. She knew to the very core of her soul that God Himself was present with her, and that He had come to meet her at this specific time and place. She sat silently, not moving a muscle, as she soaked in the words He’d spoken to her heart. Then a thought invaded her mind. This is not real, Michelle. You are only imagining it. Don’t be a fool.

As these thoughts swam in her head, two voices fought for control. One claimed to be the voice of reason, telling her to be wise and to recognize how much she was growing on her path to enlightenment. The other simply repeated the call, Come to me. I am real.

Now she thought aloud, “Maybe you do really understand all my confusion, God.” “He does, Michelle.” Michelle jumped, startled by the familiar voice. She turned and her mouth dropped open with shock and surprise. “Kristin!” was all she could manage.

as someone once said, nothing is wasted in God’s economy.

I lived my life independent from God, doing what was right in my own eyes and not concerning myself with Him. I

All of that ended in 1984, when my father chose the desperate act of suicide to escape a financial situation he feared would ruin his life. Rocked to the core of my being, I had nowhere solid to run, no God bigger than myself to help me process this horrific event. Suddenly all my “open-minded” beliefs dissolved like cotton candy. They had no substance to sustain me, no absolute wisdom to offer.

how easily one can be drawn into its enticing offer to basically become your own god.

I believe this story communicates the very real problem of suicide, how it can happen in any family, and how it does not always turn out the way the person committing it expects.

Give Jesus’ life and teachings serious consideration and decide whether or not you want to become a part of the family of God. He is ready to welcome you with open arms.