Glori & Matt – Your son has changed my life! He’s encouraged my husband’s faith too. My son who’s 24, in ministry, and hoping to interview Joe for his podcast in the future, has also been touched and my other son is going to read the book, too. I’ve sent one to my cousin and a friend. I gave my copy away, getting my hair done. I feel like this is such marvelous revelations, in a time of real spiritual battle and evil. What felt so profound to me, is to be reminded, God is always working behind the scenes in perfect harmony and in accordance with His plan. Whatever evil that causes the oppression of Humanity, God knows! Sometimes we feel He doesn’t care or He’s distant. It’s such a blessing to see the spiritual Kingdom thru your son’s eyes, to glean clarification and encouragement and hear how the Word comes to life, for these precious individuals. The Lord is ever present and involved in the details of His children’s lives. He makes provisions. We know this, but we need reminders, in these difficult days. The gift of being able to see into spiritual realms and interact with Jesus. How amazing is that! People who were discounted in the past have a deeper wisdom of God than most any of us. I love that, they are teaching us! This makes me so happy.
My sons teach me things too. I never expected that, as a mom. They bring me comfort and spiritual strength, especially since we lost my first born son, just over a year ago. He was hit by a car.
I would like to share a bit of personal testimony. It’s hard for me, because it feels selfish, to talk about myself. But I think it will help you understand why this means so much to me, personally. I know in my spirit so many will be profoundly touched, all for their own unique reasons. We are healed by the word of our testimony and I’ve been feeling convicted about that. I really relate to these kids. I grew up feeling like an outcast. Lord please give me the words. l really struggled with, “could God love me”, for years. Which is funny if you know me, because I have no problem believing Jesus loves absolutely, everyone else! It stems from a difficult childhood, where I was told no one who really knew me, would ever love me. That I was a god awful child. I never felt safe or lovable, yet the Lord has greatly blessed my life. I guess sometimes I have guilt that I rose above, when most don’t. I have felt responsible for my living relatives, not many because people die young in my family. So much oppression, addiction, mental illness. Strongholds that I took years to unload. Suicidal ideation returned with the loss of my son. I knew I was demonically oppressed, I just couldn’t break free. Sanctification is lifelong, from glory to glory. I love your name. . False beliefs are hard to overcome. I don’t blame my family. I just want people to be free and saved. I worked hard to overcome it. Christian and non Christian based therapies, lots of books and Bible studies. I even went through the Koinonia Institute. My mind needed renewing! I got a lot better. I was motivated by being a mom and wanting to give my children a safe, strong foundation. And I found I could mentor other young women who struggled in these ways, so God redeems things, we know this! I worked with an orphanage in Mexico for several years, but COVID put them out of business, after 35 years. Government corruption. Covid changed my life, rather abruptly and I realized a lot of my self-worth was in being productive. Also, I have some serious health issues. One is Lyme disease and I can’t do as much as I think I should. I feel like a burden sometimes. I relate to your boy’s frustration with his body, which is a much greater level than mine, I have so much compassion for and feel inspired by him. I was often in pain and never wanted meds, with my family history. Back when they were handing them out like candy, God protected me. I would burn myself and get hurt a lot, clutzy, because I was disconnecting from my body, without realizing. Doing it to myself! I’m much better but my son’s death brought my Lyme out of remission for the third time. I also got a severe case of Covid, that led to long Covid, before that which weakened my already sensitive immune system. I just got over an intestinal infection/virus and flu. I have people coming for Christmas and I couldn’t eat or drink for days. I was throwing up everything and running a high fever. My husband finally insisted last night, you are going to the ER! I only share because, then my son prayed over me and I thanked God in faith, not belief, a choice, for my healing. I didn’t really expect it to work. Within 30 min, I was a normal human being again! I know you see miracles all the time but this for me was so powerful and I wanted to give God the glory! I have prayed before\been prayed for with more belief and not had this type of outcome. What Cody did for me, what I’ve been trying so hard to accomplish since Covid really, and especially since losing my boy, is God used Him to miraculously restore hope in my heart, which I’d lost. With no hope, there can be no joy.
Thank you, Glori, for your obedient heart, for being a rock star, mama bear, and for co-creating a masterpiece, you and your husband, with The Most High as the designer of course. Still, isn’t it something, He lets women bring life into this world! He lets us participate, because He delights in us. Pretty special and humbling.