Debra Moerke - Murder, Motherhood, and Miraculous Grace: A True Story

Once you start reading this book, you will be gripped by its powerful and, at times, unbelievable story; you will not be able to put it down. I couldnt. By the time you finish, you will be gripped by the powerful grace of God. Its a story only God could write.

RUTH GRAHAM

Author of Forgiving My Father, Forgiving Myself: An Invitation to the Miracle of Forgiveness

Deb and Al Moerke wisely built their house and life on the rock of Jesus Christ. If I had known them at the time, I might have expected God to spare them the steady rain, threatening floods, and repeated battering by the winds of tragedy. They were not spared. Their story rocked and inspired me. Murder, Motherhood, and Miraculous Grace is, at its foundation, a story of the undeniable, unexplainable, palpable presence of God who empowers radical obedience and provides miraculous heart-change even when the tragedy remains.

SHAUNA LETELLIER

Author of Remarkable Hope: When Jesus Revived Hope in Disappointed People

Murder, Motherhood, and Miraculous Grace is a shocking story of surrender and redemption that will impact the lives of everyone who reads it. Moerke proves herself to be a master storyteller as she causes the reader to fall in love with little Hannah, which creates an intense roller-coaster ride of emotion throughout the rest of the narrative. Prepare for life disruption because this book is impossible to put down once the front cover is cracked. A must-read for fans of redemptive true-crime memoirs.

DARCIE J. GUDGER

Author of the Guarded Trilogy: Spin, Toss, and Catch

Like a single flickering light in the vast darkness, grace is best seen in the most unexpected places. Debras story is not one of preservation, but of perseverance in the midst of unspeakable heartache a grace that only God can give and a story only God can write.

KYLE IDLEMAN

Senior pastor, Southeast Christian Church; author of Not a fan and Dont Give Up

A terrific story with surprising twists. You will not be able to put it down. It will both break your heart and mend it as you marvel at the power of love to overcome.

ANN SPANGLER

Author of Women of the Bible

What a powerful story that touched my heart deeply, moved me to tears, and enlarged my understanding of what surrender and Gods amazing grace in action looks like. Murder, Motherhood, and Miraculous Grace is a must-read for foster families, adoptive families, birth families, social workers, judicial workers, or anyone who has endured loss of any kind and desires God to transform their pain into purpose. Thank you, Debra Moerke, for your authentic sharing and for opening yourself up to be a willing vessel to be the hands and feet of Jesus to reflect his love, mercy, forgiveness, and grace.

KATHE WUNNENBERG

Author/speaker; president/founder of Hopelifters Unlimited in Phoenix, Arizona

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Murder, Motherhood, and Miraculous Grace: A True Story

Copyright 2019 by Debra Moerke. All rights reserved.

Cover photograph by Thom King. Copyright Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved.

Designed by Julie Chen

The author is represented by Ambassador Literary Agency, Nashville, TN.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version , NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

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ISBN 978-1-4964-3331-2 (hc)

ISBN 978-1-4964-3332-9 (sc)

Build: 2021-04-21 22:31:59 EPUB 3.0

In memory of my sister, Judy,

who not only led me to the Lord,

but was the first to encourage me to write this story.

Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.
James 1:12

T HE COVER OF THIS BOOK made my heart stand still. Almost twenty years ago my phone rang in the middle of the night. My only child, a US Naval Academy graduate with an impeccable record, had been arrested for the murder of his wifes first husband. I experienced the nausea, the inability to carry my own weight, and the disbelief that accompanies shocking, unexpected news. My head spun out of control with fear for my childs safety and the welfare of his wife and two stepdaughters. Questions about why a good God could allow such a horrific thing to happen, anxiety over how we would pay for his defense and make a living when the news became public, and sorrow for the family of the deceased surrounded me. One thing was certain: Life would never be the same.

There are defining markers in our lives that change everything. A shocking phone call. A baby by birth or adoption. An incident that requires a demonstration of character. A devastating personal choice that results in incarceration. An unexpected health problem that brings suffering to someone we love. A crisis of faith when God seems to allow evil to triumph. A soul-stirring decision to help someone who has betrayed us. A willingness to forgive the unforgiveable.

Everything comes to a screeching halt and we feel like an outsider someone living on the edge of reality, but not really being in it. Our thoughts are jumbled and conflicted:

Surely whats just happened isnt real.

I will wake up and find out this was just a bad dream.

If this is truly reality, what am I supposed to do about it?

Could I have done anything to stop this bad thingfrom happening?

Is God asking me to be personally involved?

How will this impact my family?

How will I be judged by other people?

It takes wisdom for us to fully understand what has taken place, what our role needs to be in the situation, and what God is prompting us to do that may be way outside our comfort zone or far removed from our human abilities.

Debra Moerke faced these challenges as she and her husband, Al, opened their home and their hearts to more than one hundred forty children over sixteen years. Believing she understood Gods call on her life, Debra gladly embraced the challenges and pain these wounded children brought with them. Then something unthinkable happened to a precious child they cared for and loved one they had hoped and prayed to protect.

The mystery of Gods ways seemed too incomprehensible to grasp as gut-wrenching tragedy struck this family so dedicated to sharing Gods love with powerless children. His ways became even more confounding for Debra when God called her to an even deeper obedience a sacrificial obedience that on a human level was impossible for her.