October 17, 1991

[Rhoni]

Today I found myself sharing with a friend something that will forever be my "POINT of REFERENCE":

My Father died in the spring of 1991 after a long illness. He was the first person from our family of origin to die. As the eldest of 5 children I thought it my responsibility to give the eulogy at his funeral and keep my emotions in tact to comfort everyone else, especially my little sister Mona. My sister Mona and my brother Rich were young when my parents divorced. I was in Bible college at JCM, my sister Lana engaged to be married, and my sister Laurie young but almost raised. The two youngest rarely knew where home was and they were neglected. All my sister Mona felt she had was my Dad whom she cooked and cleaned house for while growing up isolated from a mother and siblings.

I said all that to say...I never truly got to grieve for my Dad and took it all out in being angry at my husband, God, and our church. During this time I did things that I never thought I would. I turned my back on ministry, husband, and our church.

During this time I excelled on my job and poured myself into other goals to run and hide from the things which had hurt me. On Oct. 17, 1991 while driving home to get my daughter to head to Ohio to go to my father's gravesite with my sister [it was my father's birthday]after lunch with my friend Vickie...I had a near fatal car accident that would forever alter my life.

While driving on HWY 69 between Muncie and Marion, Indiana I hit the back of a state vehicle painting the yellow lines in the highway [it was going approx. 15mph], and I was in a Crown Victoria [cruise control set on 65 mph]. I don't exactly know what happened but I know that my friend Vickie was following me and saw it all happen.

They cut me out of the car with Jaws of Life and air-lifted me to Ball Memorial Hospital in Muncie. Friends & family were called in to tell me good-by as the Physicians thought I was dying. But God's people were praying all across the United States.

When the Dr's realized I was going to live, they thought I would never again walk. When they realized that I was going to walk, they thought it would never be without leg braces. I refused to wear leg braces after a short time. I was in the hospital for approx 5 months, and then recovering at home for years.

During the recovery time I was handicapped, separated and then divorced from my husband, going to college, and working a job to support my two children who lived with me. As I was working at the same hospital a year later I was sent to deliver a message to the trauma unit Dr. Nicki Turner [all of what I am saying is recorded in miles of paperwork].

Dr. Turner just looked at me...up and down. It made me uncomfortable and I asked her what she was staring at. She began to explain: Rhonda when you were brought into the ER your back was bowed and we thought broken. I knew you were dying and I performed exploratory surgery and found a laceration on your spleen that was closed off. I had no reaction because I did not know what she was talking about. She said, the artery was closed off...arteries do not close off. She said that she could not explain why I was alive because it was not anything the Dr's had done...she looked me in the eye and said, "God must not be finished with you yet".

It is 16 years later; I have seen my children raised, educated, and married. I have seen two granddaughters born. I have earned two degrees, one in Social Work, and another in Marriage & Family Counseling, and have been a licensed professional for almost a decade.

In 2002, God brought healing to my mind and emotions when I forgave my ex-husband. In 2004, God gave healing to my mind, heart, and spirit when I forgave the UPCI and my absent friends. In 2005 Bro. Jon Suber, Dr. Gerald Jeffers, & Bro. Rashedi Collins gave me words of knowledge, and words of prophecy.

Like Sarah who laughed when God said she'd have a baby when she was post-menopausal, I have been guilty of doubting what was prophesied over me...then I remember that God honored the faith of Abraham because he trusted in the one who made the promise and it was accounted unto him for righteousness sake.

Encouraging my friend of these very things as it related to him...it made me think about all God has done for me and how could I doubt for one minute that God will not honor his promises to me.

I just wanted to share a bit of my life and what God has done for me...to encourage myself and maybe to encourage you.

Regardless...I want to say THANK YOU JESUS for covering my past with your mercy and my future by your grace.

Forever His,
Rhoni

[Elizabeth]

Thank you for sharing Rhoni, keep writing!

[CC1]

Cool. I enjoyed reading your testimony Rhoni. Thanks for sharing it. I hope it encourages some folks going through a valley right now.

[Blubayou]

Rhoni - Thanks for sharing - It is always encouraging to see what God has done in someone's life and know if He did it for you, He will do it for me. This is just one example of how God can be lifted up on a forum. He can use technology to minister to others.

[Sherri]

Rhoni--
Beautiful testimony! Thanks for sharing.

[James Griffin]

What a testimony Rhoni!!! The best is yet to come. Recently reconnecting with you has been such a joy! You are both blessed and a blessing.

Jim

[Rhoni]

Originally Posted by Jeanie

Thank you for sharing Rhoni, keep writing!

Thank-you Sis. The story is in there but God has the right words, attitude, and frame of mind.

Blessings, Rhoni

[Rhoni]

Originally Posted by CC1

Cool. I enjoyed reading your testimony Rhoni. Thanks for sharing it. I hope it encourages some folks going through a valley right now.

Sometimes that is the only reason that makes any of what I have been through worth it.

[Rhoni]

Originally Posted by Blubayou

Rhoni - Thanks for sharing - It is always encouraging to see what God has done in someone's life and know if He did it for you, He will do it for me. This is just one example of how God can be lifted up on a forum. He can use technology to minister to others.

Exactly!:sshhh

[Rhoni]

Originally Posted by Sherri

Rhoni--
Beautiful testimony! Thanks for sharing.

Sherri,
God has been so good to me, I really could never tell it all.