By Chris Meehan
Evansville missionary Peter Putzier“I’ve got to sit down—I’m in so much pain,” said Tim, a 25-year-old man with a long white cloth wrapped around his rib cage. He had broken two ribs and torn some of the muscles in his right shoulder in a car accident. It hurt to breathe, and he couldn’t stand up straight without pain.
As Tim sat on his front porch, Evansville missionaries Peter Putzier and Mary Timler started a conversation about the importance of hearing the Lord and responding quickly to what the Lord says.
“I can tell that you both have a relationship with God,” Tim said. “No offense, but I wouldn’t have kept talking to you if I hadn’t seen that.” Five days earlier, at church on Easter Sunday, Tim had rededicated his life to the Lord. He claimed he could “talk your ear off about the Lord.”
He also said that his rib cage hurt at an eight on a scale of one to ten, but when Mary and Peter prayed with him, he said the pain dropped to a two.
“Can you take off the binder?,” Peter asked him.
Tim’s eyes widened as he removed the white cloth, expecting a stab of pain at any moment.
“I can’t believe this.” Tim began gingerly probing his ribs through his T-shirt, but he couldn’t cause any pain to flare up. He looked at his friend James, standing nearby.
“You’ve seen me the whole time,” Tim said. “I couldn’t take that thing off without grimacing before.”
Tears welled up in his eyes. “Thank you, God! Thank you, God!”
Peter suggested that Tim try singing, which requires deep breathing. Tim easily joined in a chorus of “Our God Is an Awesome God,” then he stood up straight and cried out, “The pain is gone. I’m so glad you came over here today.”
Peter asked Tim if he’d like to join them for missionary work the next day. Tim agreed and spent 90 minutes talking to neighbors and sharing the story of his healing. “At one point we ran into an old friend of his, and Tim was excited to talk about the Lord with him, even offering to pray with him,” Peter says.
When they started the day’s missionary work, Tim’s abdominal binder lay in the same spot on his porch where he had dropped it the day before.
Responses
Louie Grams says:
April 21st, 2010 at 5:18 AM
Great story and well told! God is on the move! Thanks for keeping us in the loop.
Laura Brummer says:
April 21st, 2010 at 11:54 AM
Praise the Lord!
Susan Busk says:
April 21st, 2010 at 12:36 PM
Praise God-keep up the good work!
God bless you all, sue
Jim Grill says:
April 21st, 2010 at 12:59 PM
Brothers and sisters,
Thanks for the web site and the emails. As "human resources" for a company I get many emails from sites that are meant to motivate, inspire or to energize or offer wisdom.
Your emails inspire and breathe the Holy Spirit upon me. Thank you for the testimonies.
May the love of our Father continue to be poured out in and through each of you.
Jim Grill
Paul Putzier says:
April 21st, 2010 at 1:30 PM
What a great way to start my Wednesday - being reminded of the love and power of God, and His invitation for us to join the work of healing the world. The story reminds me of that old song by the football player, "Be Bold! Be Strong! The Lord our God is with you!"
Ray Hickey says:
April 21st, 2010 at 1:42 PM
Great story, the Acts of the Apostles in modern times. The Spirit of God is alive and well and active today.
Keep those stories coming.
Anne Brewer says:
April 21st, 2010 at 1:44 PM
An Easter miracle! Thank you Lord. So great that he joined you the next day!
Ed Varevice says:
April 21st, 2010 at 2:16 PM
Thanks for the encouraging emails. They're a great conversation starter with brothers and sisters in our men's and women's group meetings.
Ray Gonzalez says:
April 21st, 2010 at 2:19 PM
This story reminds me of the Gospel of John telling of John peering into the tomb and seeing the wrappings laying on the ground. He is risen!
In Christ - RJG
John DeLee says:
April 21st, 2010 at 3:06 PM
Stories like this confirm to me that the Holy Spirit is alive and well! Praise God!
Linda Coney says:
April 21st, 2010 at 5:15 PM
Wonderful story of the Lord present and working today! Thanks.
Bridget Feeks says:
April 21st, 2010 at 5:16 PM
How fitting it is that this man is now offered a venue for which to thank God publicly and to proclaim the power of God.
It is reminiscent of the early church and a real sign of contradiction in our present age. Jesus lives!
Mark Elio says:
April 21st, 2010 at 7:03 PM
What a great Resurrection testimony! God's timing is so awesome!! Jesus is truly alive, present and actively working in our midsts today. As Jesus said, all it takes is faith the "size of a mustard seed." Praise God for Tim's healing! The Lord is risen, indeed, Alleluia!
Robin says:
April 21st, 2010 at 11:45 PM
Is anything too big or too small for the Lord? Thank you, Peter and Mary for opening the eyes of Tim so he could see the Father and accept His glorious and awesome touch. May God be praised. I can hear the Father saying to you, "Well done, good and faithful Servants".
Terry Bomkamp says:
April 22nd, 2010 at 11:53 AM
wonderful news of His Power, thanks for sharing
George Cramer says:
April 22nd, 2010 at 1:16 PM
It's great to see our brothers and sisters have "hit the ground running" in Evansville. Thank you Peter and Mary for being Christ to Tim and for letting Christ's love shine through you. God bless you all. Thanks to you Sean for the updates. George
Mary Duddy says:
April 23rd, 2010 at 5:54 AM
What a beautiful Easter story!
Betty Rayl says:
April 23rd, 2010 at 6:42 PM
Our God is such a great God, Thank you for sharing.
Donald Busekrus says:
April 23rd, 2010 at 8:12 PM
Your stories as missionaries are inspiring and encouraging! Keep planting the seed of faith and our Father will take care of the watering. Come Lord Jesus!
Gina Kadera says:
April 25th, 2010 at 2:31 PM
What a wonderful story. God is so good - All of the time! The reminder to listen to the Lord, is something we can encourage in everyone.
Thank you, God bless you!
Gina Kadera
Ron Gouveia says:
April 28th, 2010 at 6:43 AM
Great story leading into Pentecost. Thanks for sharing it and for those stepping out in faith.
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