Our Glory Stories Of God’s Miraculous Intervention & Provision By Roger & Gerri Taylor Our Glory Stories Of God’s Miraculous Intervention & Provision ©2007 by Roger & Gerri Taylor ISBN: 978-0978724627 Printed in the United States of America 1st printing 2007. Cover Photo by Roger Taylor Cover Design, Layout, & Project Management by DayBreak Publishing www.daybreakpublishing.net Script KVJ Scripture quotations marked “AMP” are taken from the Amplified Bible, Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. The Message by Eugene H. Peterson, copyright (c) 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked (NLT or The New Living) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved. Published by Places In The Fathers Heart, Inc. www.placesinthefathersheart.org ALL RIGHTS RESERVED Policies for Downloading Free eBook This eBook may be downloaded free of charge, emailed to friends and associates, copied and distributed in any way that is beneficial to the Body of Christ as our gift to you. It may not be sold. Please keep the material complete in its contents and the credits as they are shown. Copying and distribution of this material indicates that you agree with our Policies for Downloading. By our Father’s promise we have life. Psalm 119:50 “My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life.” We are blessed with Father’s renewing our hearts and our spirits with His promises. We are blessed with recalling the many times that Father has been with us, has loved us, has taken care of us, and has blessed us. We are blessed with holding on to promises that He is making to us from His word and from His Spirit. We are blessed with deep understanding that His words are our very life. We are blessed with knowing that our faithful Father is watching over His purposes that are not yet, His promises await a future time or fulfillment. We are blessed because we are renewed, refreshed, and restored in our relationship with Father and His faithfulness to us. We pray this same blessing over you, our reader. Adapted from Blessing Your Spirit, by Sylvia Gunter and Arthur Burk © 2005 Published by The Father’s Business. Used with permission. DEDICATION WE DEDICATE THIS WORK TO OUR CHILDREN LISA AND MATT WHO HAVE PAID A HEAVY PRICE FOR THEIR PARENTS’ WALK WITH GOD. TO OUR GRANDCHILDREN BRITTNEY, JENNY DANACA, MARIAH AND MALLORY WHO HAVE ALSO PAID A HEAVY PRICE FOR THEIR GRANDPARENTS’ WALK WITH GOD. and TO OUR SPIRITUAL CHILDREN WHEREVER YOU ARE WE LEAVE YOU ALL WITH THIS LEGACY. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS We wish to acknowledge and honor many people who throughout our 30-year Christian walk have been an expression of Father’s love and care for us. You have supported us financially and kept us going. You have supported us emotionally and kept us going. You have supported us spiritually and kept us going. You have been Father’s arms to hold us, His hands to support and guide us, His eyes to watch over us and His mouth to love, encourage and correct us. Where would we be without your faithfulness? May Father richly bless you for your willing, giving hearts. To three ladies in particular, Peg Adams, Helen Sturm and Jenifer Harris, our volunteer staff who for over 15 years never left our side. You above all others remained faithful to us through our many emotional and spiritual crashes, through the helpless and hopeless times and many financial crises. You were always there to encourage us and help us pick up the pieces and go on. May Father richly bless you all according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus our Lord. To Al Ells, founder and director of Leaders That Last Ministries in Mesa, AZ, our mentor and friend, who helped begin the journey in our healing process. We will forever be indebted to you for your leadership and guidance, for the hours you have spent with us in the counseling chambers, and for always building a platform of love and encouragement under us in ministry. We are leaders that have lasted because of you. To Johnnie and Kay Lewis, our spiritual parents, who have changed our messy diapers and bottle fed us during times of great distress in our lives. You have taught us the valuable lessons of Father’s unconditional love, and led us from being spiritual children into the realm of a son and daughter of the Most High God. We honor and bless you always. To our Ministry Prayer Team, who has stamped out the enemy’s cause in our lives so many times we cannot count them. You have taken hits for us so that we could stand in places of ministry free from the conflict and confusion of the one who seeks to kill, steal and destroy! Your loyalty and faithfulness goes above and beyond the call of duty. You are giants of the faith, devoted warriors of the Ancient of Days, our Lord. We could not do what we do without you. ENDORSEMENTS Our Glory Stories is a moving account of Father God’s adventures in the lives of two people told humorously, honestly, enthusiastically, and powerfully by Roger and Gerri Taylor. Through their words flow life, hope, healing, victory, and God’s boundless, unfathomable Love for His children. Warning: reading this book could result in loss of depression, anxiety, anger, purposelessness, cynicism, self-hatred, and/or lies you have lived by. Proceed at the risk of being blessed. Mrs. Carol Bandi, Educator and Student Mentor Grace Christian Academy, Durango, CO. While in a season of great testing and death of a vision, we read Our Glory Stories by Roger and Gerri Taylor. With tears and laughter this book profoundly impacted us as we read of God’s mercy, grace, forgiveness and miracles. As the Taylor’s opened up their lives with transparency, they helped us see that our Father has never passed us by. He is along with us on this journey, and He has built within us longsuffering. We can now stand on the threshold of fulfillment of our own vision. Thank you, Roger and Gerri for your lives. Our Glory Stories is truly a gift to the Body of Christ. James and Cheryl Phillips, Directors The Father’s Heart Ministries of South Florida. Read these stories at your own risk, for they will challenge you to take measure of your own faith. Read these stories for your own reward, for they will inspire you. In their real life struggles, Roger and Gerri reveal their obedience, faith, and love for the Lord. This book is hard to put down. The lessons are hard to forget. Dr. John Albrecht, D. C. Albrecht Chiropractic, Conway, SC Forward By Rev. Alfred H. Ells, M.C. Leaders That Last Ministries Sometimes I think I have heard every story that can be told. For thirty years I have carefully listened to the painful narratives of thousands of God’s people. I take note of their deep inner thoughts and feelings all the while trying to hear God’s heart for them. It is difficult work yet immensely rewarding – especially when the aching or searching soul experiences God’s marvelous touch. I am a counselor. Trained as a marriage and family therapist I have a ministry to leaders called Leaders that Last. I work with pastors and ministry leaders across the country helping them be healthy and grow healthy ministries. This is how I came to know Roger and Gerri Taylor, two friendly and caring people who believe they are called to a retreat ministry for leaders in Colorado. They called and I didn’t respond at first because I was so busy. But they kept ‘bugging’ me until a staff member asked me to pray about whether I should return the call. I did and it’s led to a long standing relationship with two wonderful and adventurous people who truly live the life and do the work of Jesus. As you know, life is difficult and committing to a life in Ministry is even more challenging. That’s what makes the Taylor’s Glory Stories so appreciated and unique. Too often leaders keep their private lives hidden from their public. They want to cultivate and maintain a public persona that says ‘we have it all together’ and have all the answers. The research from Barna, Focus on The Family and Duke University among others tells a very different story. Leaders are struggling with leading themselves, their families and their ministries. Our Glory Stories is a powerfully transparent and realistic account of the struggles inherent in God’s call to Him and others. Read the stories. Let them sink deeply into your inner being. They will help you see your heart clearer and find God in your own circumstance. Be encouraged. Your Father has been there for the Taylor’s and He will be there for you. Rev. Alfred H. Ells, M.C. Director Leaders that Last Ministries™ www.leadersthatlast.org INTRODUCTION “The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” Rev. 19:10 Through the years in both formal and informal settings, large groups and small, we have shared our testimonies. We have shared not just our salvation experiences, but also testimonies of the many and various things God has done throughout our walk with Him. During these years, we have been encouraged to write our “stories.” Neither one of us took this seriously until recently when the encouragement came from several different sources in very quick succession.