Miracles in the Midst of the Storm: Get a Glimpse of the “Son” Shining Through the Clouds in Your Storm

By Charlotte Benson

Get a glimpse of the Son shining through your storm clouds as you read this book. Its sure to give inspiration and hope to any reader who is struggling with problems.

The Tim Fitzgerald family has experienced many miracles from God during their times of storms (infertility, pregnancy, adoption, finances, life-threatening diseases). Each chapter shares about their joys, struggles, miracles and reasons to praise God through the storms. Included are humorous accounts such as when one son decided to glue his feet to the floor and another son decided to be the Holy Ghost with some help from the kitchen. The conclusion of each chapter provides a personal time of meditation titled, Meaningful Moments with the Master.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: May 23, 2005
• ISBN: 9781463484750

Charlotte Benson

Charlotte Benson and her husband, Tim reside in Oak Ridge, TN. During their thirty-three years of marriage they have lived in Tennessee, Kentucky and Massachusetts. They have three grown sons, a grandson and a granddaughter. Charlotte has written numerous articles for Southern Baptist publications including Contempo, Royal Service, 3rd and 4th grade Sunday School curriculum and Backyard Bible Club materials. She is a current writer for Missions Mosaic. One of her greatest joys was in the publication of her first book, Piecing Together the Johnson Family. It was published in 2002 by Miller Printing and Art in Heiskell, TN. The family history book is informational but also a blessing because it successfully reconnected many cousins.

Book preview

Contents

Dedication

Acknowledgement

Introduction

Chapter One

Aglow with God’s Glory

Chapter Two

A Miracle from God

Chapter Three

Complete Surrender

Chapter Four

The Preacher and the Fireman

Chapter Five

A Third Son on the Way

Chapter Six

God’s Little Missionary

Chapter Seven

A Daily Walking Miracle

Chapter Eight

A Story That’s Just Beginning

Chapter Nine

A Family United in Prayer

Chapter Ten

Praise God, Anyway!

Chapter Eleven

Birth of a Book

Chapter Twelve

Family Photo Album

Dedication

In honor of

Mildred Millidean Johnson, the mother of Charlotte Benson. She is an encourager to Charlotte in her writing career.

In memory of

Alma D. Simpson (1919-1989), the mother of Lynda Fitzgerald. She was known by many as Granny Alma.

Acknowledgement

In appreciation to

Pastor Steve and Mrs. Faye McDonald, Calvary Baptist Church, Oak Ridge, TN for their faithful prayer support

Linda Moody from Johnson City, TN for her prayer support during the writing of this book and Linda’s vision of seeing the Fitzgerald story in a book

Numerous volunteers who assisted the Fitzgerald family when needed

Numerous medical personnel providing medical services with caring hearts

Calvary Baptist Church prayer support

Mr. and Mrs. Larry Rinderer for their prayer support and words of encouragement

Tim Benson for his computer assistance and patience with his wife, Charlotte as she spent many hours giving birth to this book

Liz Collins, Debra Prince Fox, and Gail Guy for their contribution of poems

Jon Shipley for 2001 photography

Introduction

Get a glimpse of the Son shining through your storm clouds as you read this book. It is sure to give inspiration and hope to any reader who is struggling with problems. Each chapter shares about daily joys, struggles, miracles and reasons to praise God through the storms. The conclusion of each chapter provides a personal time of meditation titled, Meaningful Moments with the Master.

The year of 2004 is noted for the many natural disasters throughout the world, of which many were caused by stormy weather such as floods, tornadoes, and hurricanes. Residents of Florida were hit hard during the 2004 hurricane season. The Tsunami disaster of December 26, 2004 killed over 150,000 people from several countries. Individuals also experience other types of storms in their personal lives caused by such things as the Iraq War, divorce, drugs, alcohol, abuse, sickness, depression, death and the list goes on.

The Tim Fitzgerald family has experienced many miracles from God during the storms in their lives. Without a doubt, they have a story to tell the world. The testimony of this family has a strong impact on a congregation each time they have an opportunity to share. Each chapter will share parts of their testimony and about their miracle working God, in an attempt to focus our attention upwards.

Each member of the Fitzgerald family is a miracle. Tim was legally blind until a miracle came. Tim’s wife, Lynda is a walking miracle because she was given only three years to live in 1994. Lynda is a middle age woman who continues to have faith no matter what her situation is. She was told they could never have children. However, God had other plans. Lynda praises God as she recalls many miracles they have experienced.

Lynda has more to deal with each day than an average person does. Ongoing medical problems are daily struggles for Lynda. She praises God for each new day she is given to be with her family. Her medical problems consist of diabetes, lupus, neuropathy, and other medical problems. Lynda’s ongoing diseases cause problems with her skin, muscles, joints, lungs, heart, feet, kidneys, pancreas, eyes, mouth, gums and teeth.

However, there is one thing Lynda does not have problems with and that is depression for she has learned who to depend on and who to talk to when she begins feeling down. Her faith in God is what keeps her alive from day to day.

When God opens a door, Lynda goes through it without hesitation. She knows when God gives her an assignment that He also provides her the strength to fulfill it. Her pain is great but generally well hidden through the glow of God’s love in her face. She glows as she shares with others about new miracles God continues to bless her with each day. If you have never seen a walking miracle, Lynda is one! Calvary Baptist Church in Oak Ridge, Tennessee is where each member of the Fitzgerald family is an active member.

The following chapters were not written to focus on the ups and downs of a family. The purpose of this book is for you to catch a glimpse of the Son shining through the clouds in your storm as you meditate on the words in this book.

One Redeemed Lynda

When I see the glow upon your face,

I know you have received God’s redeeming grace.

With all the hills you have to climb,

Love for God shows through sublime.

As you struggle through each day,

You call on God, help is on the way.

You bless each life that you touch

Because you love them and God so much,

You spread joy, laughter and sunshine.

You love God too much to whine.

You have had a rough road to trod,

Through it all, you hold tight to God.

Think of me as you kneel to pray,

It will bring sunshine into my day.

A friend and sister in Christ,

Liz Collins

Chapter One

Aglow with God’s Glory

Are you the lady that was glowing from the choir of Calvary Baptist Church the night I attended their drama? asked a service station attendant.

Lynda replied, I was a choir member in that drama. Little did this stranger know of all the details that were behind the glow on her face.

The Gates of Heaven drama was attended by many church members and visitors each of the five nights of the performance. The special glow from Lynda’s face was recognized by many in the congregation.

The glow was shining like a bright light. Lynda had made a complete surrender to God. The surrender involved much hard work and time in practicing and performing for a large drama production. Each person involved in this production had a commitment but there was something special about Lynda’s commitment.

During the past years she had wanted to be involved in this drama but could not. The reason was because of the many continuous health problems with her and her family. Actually, the average person would probably sit down and do nothing if she carried Lynda’s problems on her shoulders!

This particular year was different because she felt an urgent need to make the commitment even though the sickness and problems were still there. Lynda knew where her strength would come from to stay faithful to the drama commitment. She prayed and claimed God’s promises to supply the much-needed strength.

To see her walk into the church building, you would probably have thought to yourself, She doesn’t have the strength to walk. How can she faithfully participate in the drama each night?

Although she did not feel like walking, God held her up when she did not have the strength to do so. Lynda said, I would feel weak and someone would put an arm around me – it was like God holding me up.

One night her back and legs were in great pain during the performance. A choir member reached around and massaged her back. The person had not realized how helpful that was. Some people would help her to stand and sit at the appropriate times. Of course, those helping hands were not seen by the large congregation.

The Bible teaches us that God will supply all our needs. He surely supplied Lynda’s needs. Perhaps God gave different choir members little nudges to do the things that were needed to supply strength to her at various times throughout the drama.

She looked like she was going to fly out (like an angel), someone remarked. Did that person know Lynda’s strength was coming directly from God as she stood in the choir each night and sang?

We experienced a week of revival in our church. Many were saved during the invitation time. Personally, I felt it must have been the best week this side of Heaven! Seeing people acting out the various parts of being healed from sickness, blindness, alcohol, broken hearts and entering through the