Dave Hess - Hope Beyond Reason: Embraced by Gods Presence in the Toughest of Times

Copyright 2008 Dave Hess

All rights reserved. This book is protected by the copyright laws of the United States of America. This book may not be copied or reprinted for commercial gain or profit. The use of short quotations or occasional page copying for personal or group study is permitted and encouraged. Permission will be granted upon request. Unless otherwise identified, Scripture quotations are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked NKJV are taken from the New King James Version. Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scriptures marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois. All rights reserved. Scriptures marked NASB are taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE, copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. Scriptures marked AMP are taken from the Amplified Bible, Copyright 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. Scripture quotations marked KJV are taken from the King James Version. Emphasis within Scripture is the authors own. Please note that Destiny Images publishing style capitalizes certain pronouns in Scripture that refer to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and may differ from some publishers styles. Take note that the name satan and related names are not capitalized. We choose not to acknowledge him, even to the point of violating grammatical rules.

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ISBN 10: 0-7684-2697-9

ISBN 13: 978-0-7684-2697-7

For Worldwide Distribution, Printed in the U.S.A.

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My heart is filled with gratitude for so many wonderful people who have touched my life with Jesus love. Many of them are mentioned in the pages of this book.

I want to honor those who have helped to make the writing of this story a reality:

Thom GardnerGood friend, author, coach, and encourager. You lit a fire in my spirit. You fanned the flames of that fire. Then you held my feet to that same fire until I crawled my way to the laptop. I appreciate you!

Elise JacksonWith your red pen and your amazing gift with words, you inspired me. I look forward to the day when your heart touches the hearts of many through the pages of your books.

Todra PayneThank you for your insights, straightforward critiques, and tons of encouragement!

Debra BenedictYour prayers, your promptings, and your passion for correct grammar are hugely appreciated!

Tim SpirkYou gave much time and energy to help me put my heart on a page.

Tom and Heidi RyanWhat a creative team you are! Your ability to communicate the Fathers heart is exhilarating!

Parke and Betsy AdamsYou spent most of your vacation refining the final edit!?! My gratitude for you goes beyond words.

Karen GierhartDetails, details, details! You are an amazing assistant, servant of the Lord, and friend. Sheri and I think the world of you!

A few years have passed since I lived the story contained in these pages. What full years they have been!

Rosemary retired shortly after I left the hospital. We kept in touch by phone and letters mostly. Once in a while she would stop by the church to see me during the afternoon. We sat in the lobby and talked and laughed together. The weather. Our families. The political scene.You name it. We talked about it.

It was on one of those afternoons that she gave her heart to Jesus Christ. As simple and sincere as you please. We cried a lot that day, and we sang a little. It was a moment I had prayed for.

A short time later, I received a call from Rosemarys daughter asking me to oversee her mothers funeral. Mom went to Heaven during the night. She just slipped away in her sleep, she told me as I let the tears flow freely. We honored her life on a cold February afternoon in the middle of a snowstorm.

Rosemary hated snow. And she hated it when people made a fuss over her.

But she got both that day.

In the spring of 2006,I walked my daughter down the aisle at her wedding. The church was filled with family and friends. My mind was packed with a whirlwind of memories. How these years had sailed by! My little girl! My pacifier-sucking, blanket-holding, piggy-back-riding baby had grown up! Here she was, looking like she stepped off the page of a bridal magazine. I swallowed hard, gave her my arm, and we started our march to the sanctuary with an army of bridesmaids following us like ducks swishing to the pond.

For a moment, I recalled that terrifying night a few years before when I had one of my fiercest battles with despair. I was haunted by images of Bethany walking down the aisle at her weddingalone. Torrents of anxious thoughts had assaulted me. Hopeless lies from the father of lies had tried to rob me of all hope.

Yet here we were. Walking down the aisle. Together.

The wedding pictures captured a slight grin on my face as I escorted Bethany that day. You might ask, What were you thinking at that moment? The phrase: Liar, liar, pants on fire! had run through my mind a few times.

I am so grateful to have experienced so much life in these years. They are days I will never take for granted. People often say, If I had experienced half the miracles you experienced, Id be grateful, too. Although my physical healing is an important part of my testimony, it is not the most important part.

I am truly amazed that my sins have been forgiven.

Jesus healed my body, but most of all He freed my soul. Miracles alone wont change us. The transformation comes when we receive His amazing grace.

As I write these final words, I want to invite you to make the most important choice you could ever make. Surrender your life to Jesus Christ. Ask Him to forgive you. Ask Him to fill you with His love and His power, transforming your whole being. Your words can be as simple as this:

Jesus, thank You for coming after me. Thank You for dying in my place and suffering my penalty for the crimes I committed against You!

Jesus, I need You! I ask You to forgive me for all of my sins. I surrender my life to You. I yield my will to Your will. Help me to follow You all of my days.

I am no longer in charge of my life.You are! Please fill me with Your Holy Spirit and empower me to walk in Your ways.

I thank You for hearing the cry of my heart.

I trust You, Jesus.

In Your name, Amen (So be it!).

CHRIST COMMUNITY CHURCH

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