Jenny's Story
At Simply Bible, we're on mission to help others know and enjoy God through the Bible. When people do, they come alive. In turn, they help others know and experience God through His Word. A ripple effect. Jenny F. wrote to us about her own such experience with Simply Bible. She shared this beautiful story with Carmen of how knowing God through His Word touched the heart of her dying father-in-law:
Hi Carmen. I don't know if you remember me, but I was in several of your Simple Bible studies at church...
...I wanted to tell you how something you shared about living in China served me, and especially served my in-laws, as Mark's dad was dying.
I can't remember the context as to why you shared this story but it has stayed with me all this time, reminding me how important and impactful it is not just to read the Bible, but to understand the context and that understanding little things can totally change the way you receive a verse from God.
You shared that Psalm 46:10- Be still and know that I am God- was one of the first verses you learned to speak in Mandarin but that when you translate the same verse from Mandarin back to English, it translates to "You MUST be still; you must know that I am God."
I shared that story with my Father-in-Law in one of my visits with him. He said to me that he "never considered himself a religious man but THAT interested him." So I went home and started researching the verse. I printed some excerpts from some sermons and several translations of the verse.
I didn't know how much those pages would comfort him and Diane as they came to grips with the lack of time they had left together on Earth.
Diane shared these pages with her pastor. He held up the pages during the funeral. I had written some notes with a fuchsia marker along the edges, and they were difficult to read in many places because of the tears that had fallen on the pages.
I don't know if I ever had a reason to share with you that I used to work as a nurse, but in the moment that I realized he needed to know that it was "Okay to go"- I let Diane know and she held him, kissed him, brushed his hair with her hand while she told him it was okay to go be with Jesus but over and over she repeated, "Be still."
I wanted to share this with you because your Simply Bible studies and the help of my small groups taught me how to do the research that I did for my father-in-law.
I just read your most recent "Note from Carmen" and I am so excited that God is calling you to continue to grow the Simple Bible Study books. Your obedience to God's calling on your life through Bible study was one ripple that created a big wave of comfort and healing in our family during a very difficult time.
My Mother-in-Law had not physically been to Church (that I know of) since I moved in 2001. After the funeral she said to our whole family that she would like to go to the church of the Pastor who did the service.
Thank you for who you are and who you are becoming through Christ Jesus! I pray I have the obedience & courage to follow Him in my own life.
Thank you, Jenny, for your comforting, beautiful words. We give thanks for the wonderful ways God has worked in the life of your family through Simply Bible. To know and enjoy God is truly the greatest gift. Praise God from whom all blessings flow!
Lord God, we praise you for the blessing of knowing You through Your Word. We pray that You would continue to comfort Jenny and her family through Your Spirit and the promises of Your Word. Do Your good work of helping us all learn to be still and know that You are God.
Be still and know that I am God. I will be exalted in the nations. I will be exalted in all the earth. Psalm 46
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