30 January 2009

by Joie Pirkey

In the summer of 2000, Douglas and I and our three children moved to Little Chute, Wisconsin. I bought into a small Christian book store with my mother where I worked part time. The rest of the time I spent with my children who were still very young. One Friday in late June I was at my sister's birthday party when I had the first of two heart attacks. Through a series of doctors and hospitals I found that I had a disease that I was born with that was causing these heart attacks. The doctors at Mayo Clinic told me there was no cure and that my heart was so damaged that it wouldn't be able to handle another. I was instructed to get my affairs in order. I planned my funeral. I told my babies and tried to teach them about death and heaven and their futures without me. My illness got worse. The doctors at Mayo asked me to do some experimental research. It was dangerous but necessary in case the disease was passed down to my children. We scheduled the most extensive and invasive test for October 10th, 2001. Ten days before that test I was getting ready for bed. While still wide awake I began to see bright lights fill the room. I saw the Holy Spirit then and He actually began to speak in an audible voice to me. He told me that He was going to give me a message for the Church and then heal me to prove the message was true. After the event I felt as if power was pulsing through my chest; I felt better than before the heart attacks. My husband and I met with our Pastor the next day to share with him what happened. He was encouraging and believing. But I was struggling. I needed to go ahead with the scheduled test at Mayo because I desperately needed some peace of mind. These events, although one would assume they would be wonderful, exciting, joyful, life changing, for me were very troubling and caused me much consternation. I was deeply struggling with doubt and unbelief. The appointment at Mayo was nothing short of amazing. On Friday, February 27th, at Country Inn and Suites in Little Chute, I will be telling the story surrounding the message and most importantly the message itself. If you are receiving this email, I believe that God wants you to hear this message. Please pray about attending. If you have already heard it, ask God if He wants you to forward this to someone in particular. I will also be sharing the testimony on March 27th as well. Both meetings will be at 7:00 pm. Freewill offering will be taken. For more information see the web site: www.shoutsofjoyministries.com

Douglas Speaking in North Carolina

 
Douglas speaking at a Catholic Grade school in Wilmington North Carolina this week about the children of Rwanda. As I look at the children in this photo I think of the orphans in genocide, thousands of children this age watching their parents being killed and then trying to survive without them. Breaks my heart and causes me to want to do something on their behalf.

Grace

 
My seventeen year old son, Zeb, just finished, local author and national speaker, Bob Lenz's new book titled GRACE. He loved it. He has told me and many others countless examples of being moved deeply and spiritually by its content. If you have a teen in your life this is a must read. Pick it up, lay it in their room and say "I heard some kids were talking about this book." Then walk away.

You can pick up a copy at the Carpenter on Main Street in downtown Little Chute or at the book table at Women's Celebrate. You won't be disappointed.