Getting to the Good: Nothing Is Impossible for God When You Believe

By Hildred Peggy Lyons and Debora Knowles

Are you ready to experience the impossible? Nothing is impossible for God!

Getting to the Good bears witness that a place of pain and suffering is not a bad place but a position God uses to get you to a place in Him where you would never gone. It also bears witness that no weapon formed against you shall prosper.

What sets this beautiful story apart from others is the unusual twist of a mothers love and acts of kindness in the midst of the horrific pain after the death of her son.

When you believe, God grants power and strength to hold on through any storm of life. You will see the power of belief demonstrated here through the faithfulness of a husband who prayed, fasted, trusted, and refused to believe anything other than what God has said in His Word, "By His stripes, his wife was healed."

Getting to the Good can be the catalyst that helps change your view about the pain and struggles encountered in your life. And in so doing, it can lead you to a deeper, more intimate relationship with God.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Sep 18, 2013
• ISBN: 9781490805054

Hildred Peggy Lyons

Peggy Lyons is a licensed Minister of the Gospel, a certified fitness consultant and life coach. She serves as the Minister of Fitness at her church. She is the recipient of numerous awards and commendations. Most recently she received the prestigious, Extraordinary Life Award given to a member of the greater Albany community who has by example and deed, demonstrated a positive character in the face of adversity and lived a life of perseverance, faith and resilience. Her lifestyle exemplifies an unselfish generosity and a dogmatic faith in God. She empowers the young and old to journey to divine health by taking personal responsibility and exercising good stewardship concerning all aspects of health and wellness. Her challenge to others is to choose to honor God with mind, body and soul. Peggy spent her work career at the Proctor and Gamble Company. She has been married for 44 years to husband George Lyons with whom she has one adult son and two granddaughters. They live in Albany, GA. Debora Knowles is a retired educator and trainer. She has collaborated on the writing of training materials and workshops for college-bound youth and has also co-authored several inspirational books integrating spirituality and wellness for women. She believes her legacy is to impart wisdom empowering others to strive to be their personal best; to build and strengthen one’s skills and abilities; recognize gifts; and focus on excellence in all we do. Debora and her husband Timothy, have been married for 33 years and have three adult sons and five grandchildren of whom they are very proud.

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Copyright © 2013 Hildred Peggy Lyons and Debora Knowles .

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Book cover design and layout courtesy of Phillip L. Harper Jr., Cool Blue Flame Design, www.coolblueflame.com

Scripture quotations are from: The Holy Bible, the authorized King James Version (KJV) ©2003 by Thomas Nelson, Inc., the Life Recovery Bible New Living Translation (NLT) 2nd Edition ©1998 by Tyndale House Publishers, the Life Application Study Bible New International Version (NIV) ©1998 by Tyndale House Publishers and Zondervan Publishing House, and the Holy Bible New King James Version (NKJV) ©1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.

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ISBN: 978-1-4908-0504-7 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4908-0503-0 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4908-0505-4 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2013914908

WestBow Press rev. date: 8/14/2013

Contents

Foreword

Reverend Lorenzo Heard

Dr. Devell Young, Faith-Filled Physician

Michael’s Mother

Preface   Reflection of a Sick Woman

Acknowledgments

Thanks to the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville

1   What Is the Good?

Preparation Starts Early

The Woman in the Mirror

In Search of That Woman

When Whispering Doesn’t Do It

Letter of Gratitude:

June 2001

2   God Turned Up the Volume

Can You Hear Me Now?

A Major Puzzle Piece Revealed

The Power of Belief

The Gift I Call Husband

George’s Account of My Blacking Out

Michael Gleason Derrick

3   Hold On and See What the End’s Gonna Be

Taking Matters into Our Own Hands

That Glorious Sunday Morning

Following God Can Seem Crazy but Wise

I Don’t Mind Waiting

Remembering My Little Brother by Charles Derrick (Michael’s Big Brother)

4   The Anniversary That Almost Wasn’t

The Midnight Angel

My Gift Speaks a Prophetic Word

The Unexpected Visitor

Waiting for Grace Plus Zero (50)

Letter of Gratitude: November 2002

5   The Picture Gets Clearer

Finally Getting to the Right Place

One Step Closer

To Tell or Not to Tell

The Race Is On

6   God’s Picture and Plan Unfolds

George’s Account of Waiting … and Waiting

My Morning After

George’s Account of Bringing the Good News Home

My Archangel

Life Link

7   Embracing the Pain of Shifting

Coming Home

Accepting God’s Call

Scripture References

Here’s What They Say

Dedication

In Memory of My Donor: Little Michael

November 29, 1996-January 15, 2001

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Little Michael-1

Dedication

This book is dedicated to the memory of my transplant donor and archangel, little Michael, and to his amazingly courageous mother, who was determined in her hour of deep anguish and pain to have something good come out of the tragic and seemingly unnecessary death of her four-year-old son. She is a special mother. Her unselfish act of love for her son birthed a legacy to the world—the gift of life.

After the transplant, it took a while for my memory to return. But once I got my mind back, the first thing I wanted to do was find my donor family and say thank you. I was so grateful to them for my new life. The spirit of gratitude that filled me was so strong that my desire was not an option. I just had to find them and express my deep appreciation for their act of kindness. They had given me a second chance at life, and I just had to say thank you, even though those words, quite honestly, didn’t—and still don’t—seem to be enough.

I want the family to know that I am living for two, for Michael and me. So I eagerly spend time working with the bigger kids and playing with the little kids, helping them to live the life that Michael didn’t get to live, to do the things Michael never got to do. RaeAnn, I want you to know that it is not in vain that your son has gone on before us. Much good has come from your kindness: a husband still has his wife; a son still has his mother; a mother and father still had their daughter; two granddaughters still have their G-mama; and the Lord has a faithful servant. So I celebrate and honor little Michael’s life and legacy, giving thanks to you and to God. I strive each day to be a good steward of my body by making healthy lifestyle choices that honor my new life and God. My fervent prayer and earnest hope is that this book will bring a measure of peace and comfort to you, to his big brother Charles, and to all of his family. May the story I tell fill your hearts with hope and love. May the lessons learned bring you encouragement, peace, and unspeakable joy.

I pray that all of you who read this story will be blessed indeed as you begin to look for and to see the good present in every situation, instance, and circumstance of life.

I feel so blessed, RaeAnn, to have finally been able to wrap my arms around you and say thank you. It was a moment I’d longed for ever since I’d received my new life. I continue to pray that life for you will somehow become normal again. When we met and talked, I sensed that perhaps it might be possible, as there was a joy, a gleam in your eyes. And although your life will never be the same, God has a way of exchanging the pain of what we’ve lost for more happiness and more joy than we would ever have imagined possible. He knows how to work things out for the good.

HILDRED PEGGY LYONS [1]

Peggywithbackgroundpageii.jpg

My story is one of triumph, faith, healing, and an amazing journey back to God. Along the way I found acceptance, health, and purpose—and ultimately, the good God promised.

My life really has been like a puzzle. God allowed things to happen that didn’t seem to fit the direction I was trying to go, things I still don’t quite understand. However, no matter how I look at all the puzzle pieces of my life, I see an unmistakable picture of God’s love, power, grace, mercy, and faithfulness. When my heavenly Father brought me through the storm that threatened my life, He knew that I would be the one leper who came back (Luke 17:15 NIV). I would be a voice for Him in the earth. By the grace of God, I have been able to impact my church and community by motivating men, women, boys, and girls to move toward divine health, and for this I am truly grateful.

Foreword

Reverend Lorenzo Heard

What a heartwarming story of the faithfulness of God to come through for a family and bring life, healing, health, and restoration. In this book we hear the testimony of people who dared to believe until the end. Like Abraham and Sarah, they hoped when there appeared to be no reason to hope anymore. We can never tell what God is doing, what God is working on, or what God is working out for our good. So often, when it seems that the Lord isn’t doing anything, that’s when He’s doing everything. We should never give up on the goodness of God, because God’s goodness will never run out on His people.

Your faith will be strengthened as you read the chronicles of God’s involvement in the life of a woman who desperately needed an angel. Seeing Peggy reminds me that God is still working miracles, and reading about Peggy reminds me to be glad when God takes His time. God taking His time gives us time to see that when there is no one else who can help—when God is our only help and hope—this is actually a great place to be! For only then can we freely give God all the glory, credit, and praise!

So pull up a chair and pick up some tissue. Read and rediscover the faithfulness of God to bless the faith of people who trusted Him enough to fast and pray for a breakthrough for someone else.

Reverend Lorenzo L. Heard, senior pastor

Greater Second Mount Olive Baptist Church, Albany, Georgia

December 2012

Dr. Devell Young, Faith-Filled Physician

It was the fall of 1996 when I was asked by a local physician to evaluate a new patient, Mrs. Lyons. She had been admitted to Phoebe Putney Hospital for routine surgery. Our first meeting was cordial and routine. My physical exam revealed evidence of an enlarged spleen and a firm liver that was otherwise normal. It wasn’t until I reviewed her blood studies that I realized she had a problem. Her liver enzymes were elevated, and even more revealing was the fact that the protein produced by the liver—albumin—was low. In the context of liver disease, that signified chronic disease, including cirrhosis—and end-stage liver disease.

At the time, Hildred, as I came to know her, did not exhibit this condition. To further understand her plight, I sought old records from previous admissions to the hospital. There was only one. She had been eighteen years old and had delivered her first and only child. Data from that admission revealed elevated liver enzymes.

From the beginning, Hildred was a delightful person to work with. Anyone who has known her, in both the past and present, would say she’s full of life and bursting with energy. However, from 1996 until she was blessed with a liver transplant in 2001, she was one sick child!

In the subsequent days of our acquaintance, she began to develop symptoms of liver failure. Hospitalization for confusion, hemorrhages, and infection became commonplace. She was referred to a local gastroenterologist and ultimately to a hepatologist—a physician who specializes in diseases of the liver—at another hospital for transplant consideration. It seemed as if the other hospital did not understand the end-stage nature and dire condition of this patient. But I felt we had invested too much time to consider a change in programs, especially at that final hour.

So it was a surprise to me when Hildred informed me that she had received divine guidance to go to another program in Jacksonville. At my office, Hildred told me of prayers from her pastor and church—and a