A LIFE DESTROYED AND REMADE

A testimony from the booklet “Friend in Jesus”  by David Heritage (A booklet of testimonies from ex-convicts)

TESTIMONEY OF DAVID HERITAGE:

I was born in Cape Town in 1970 and on my birth, I was left in the care of the hospital, as my mother died a few days after my birth and my father could not take care of me. I was adopted within a year of my birth but throughout my life was physically, emotionally and sexually abused. In 1985 I gave my life to God at the Kloof Methodist Church in Durban and tried my best to be a good, faithful Christian. However, in the army during 1990 I moved away from God and from there my life was on a rapid downhill.

I mixed with wrong friends and started yielding to Satan more and more. On the night of the 9th December, 1994 I shot and killed my adoptive parents. I was sentenced in 1996 to 25 years imprisonment where I find myself today.

In October,1996 I gave my life back to God- repenting and accepting Him into my life. Since that day I have not looked back!

I relate my story to that of Jonah. Just as Jonah went his own way, not listening to God, so did I. Just as Jonah, realising that he was wrong crawled back to God in the belly of the fish, so did I in my prison cell. As God heard Jonah and saved him so I believe God heard me and saved me!

Through my study of the book of Jonah I discovered a number of interesting points on backsliding which have been encouraging to me, as someone who did backslide and who found a way back to God.

My wish is that my testimony will serve as encouragement to those of you who have perhaps departed from God. Remember that if God could accept me back the He certainly will take you back! Praise God - how wonderful and gracious He is!

(Costa and I, Marge, were involved with David from the time of the murder of his parents till we left Johannesburg and were overjoyed to hear of his on-going work with ex-convicts. He was faithfully supported through his prison years by a member of the Bryanston Methodist Church)

Read more on Facebook:  NEW LIFE CITY CHURCH :    ‘In dialogue with David Heritage’

FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE

When Florence was sixteen years old her life was changed. God spoke to her and told her that she had a task that He wanted her to do. Whatever anyone would think of such an event, it was real to Florence. She now knew that her life had a purpose, and that whatever would happen would be in God's will and timing.

In a letter Florence wrote 'We have four miles of beds eighteen inches apart'. The situation was desperate and eventually the male army doctors gave a free hand to organize the hospital and she did. She changed the wards, the kitchens, and the bedding. She provided clean clothes for the soldiers, and even arranged for one derelict wing of the hospital to be rebuilt. It was during this time that Florence gained the nickname 'The Lady of the Lamp' because she was continually checking all parts of the hospital day and night and at night, she needed the lamp. In 1855 Queen Victoria wrote to Florence to thank her for all that she had done

Florence met Queen Victoria, and this resulted in a Royal Commission being set up under Sidney Herbert to make recommendations on hospital procedures and Florence did most of the work! Much of the report was implemented. Florence then set up the Nightingale school of Nursing in 1860. She produced a number of books on nursing.

In 1907 Florence Nightingale, now blind, received the Order of Merit award. In 1910 at the age of ninety she died, having completed all that God had requested from her in this world and was present with Him in the next.

Each one of us has a life-purpose. We are not all called to be the same, we are unique, and our purpose is unique. Some life-purposes are outstanding and make the historic records, others are seemingly mundane, yet have a positive impact. Let us take some time to reflect on whether we are fulfilling our purpose here on earth.

When Death Suddenly Comes

(An article given to me by a dear lady who wished to remain anonymous)

After celebrating our 50th wedding anniversary on the 11th November, 1991, my husband and I rejoiced at God’s goodness to us and our three married children and their children, all of whom love and serve the Lord Jesus Christ.

Six months after this happy event we were asked to stay at our daughter’s home for a couple of weeks while they were away on holiday. We moved in on Friday and early on Saturday morning the family left for their holiday.

That day we had two young great-grandchildren with us, and they enjoyed a day of fun with us. After they had gone home my husband remarked how he enjoyed walking around the garden with each child having a walk on grandpa’s’ shoulders.

When we eventually retired for the night, my husband complained that he could not go to sleep, and this continued till approximately 12.30 am when he asked for a Disprin which he thought might help.

In the meantime, a terrific South African ‘Highveld’ electric storm was building up with howling winds and breaking branches off trees and heavy rain. All of a sudden, I heard my husband gasp and then the terrible ‘death rattle’.

During those moments I actually heard the Lord’s voice say to me, “Do you remember Elijah and the chariot of fire and the whirlwind- the angels of the Lord have come to take God’s servant home.”

This, to me, was more that a Divine revelation – it has been a spiritual blessing through the years that God is love and is always with us.

The parting from a life partner is a most painful experience – it feels as though one has been ‘cut in half’ but faith in the knowledge of Jesus’ resurrection and the ministry of the Holy Spirit lifts the burden and gives inner peace.

Stepmother

This poem was written by the eldest of three sisters and read it was read at their

stepmother’s 75 th birthday. The three girls were 3,7 and 12 when their father remarried.

Their future stepmother was only nineteen years old at the time.

Perhaps a poem of encouragement to stepmothers?

Three little girls without a mother

All taking care of one another;

Along came Father, totally smitten;

Says “This is Shirley, my new sex kitten.”

A wicked stepmother? No! we cried

But Dad was determined to make her his bride.

What lay ahead for us? Who could tell?

Like Hansel and Gretel, our lives would be hell!

But Oh! Our dear friends, how wrong we were.

Our lives were far richer for having her.

Loving and caring, she feathered our nest

So today we can say “Thanks Ma, you’re the best.”

(Given to me by a friend, now deceased. Author unknown)

A WAR-TIME MIRACLE

“Did miracles still occur after Jesus ascended to heaven? Yes, I think so. My Dad was a living example that I was able to witness daily for the for 11years of my life. He was seriously wounded during the First World War. Machine gun bullets had penetrated both legs and one went right through a knee joint. During the 26 hours before he was taken to a field hospital outside Verdun, France, he made a vow with the Lord that he would become a missionary if he could ever walk again. He was due for a double amputation. When his time came in the open-air theatre the doctor said he was tired and went to have a cup of tea. On his return he skipped my Dad and carried on with his amputations. When an orderly reminded him that he had missed one patient, he replied that he would take a chance with him. My Dad recovered wonderfully and later walked up and down many mountains in Zululand as a missionary, without a limp and any physical support.”

Irmgard Mitchell (Sunshine Coast, Australia)