Miracle at the Garage

By J. A. Elliott

We were baptized in Jesus name, not anyone elses. Let us all resolve to be simply Christians, disciples of Jesus Christ. If unity among believers was so important to Jesus, how can we not make the effort to maintain the unity He made possible by His death on the cross?

Miracle at the Garage tells a present-day tale of hope, wonder, amazement, grace, love, and faith. God is here with us today, in our struggles, in our pain, in our love, and in our fame. This memoir offers a look into the lives of a few individuals with two common bondstheir love for Christ and their connection through the Garage, a mens ministry. It describes the miracles that have transformed them into the loving, strong, God-fearing, and courageous men they have become through Gods love.

Each figure in Miracle at the Garage has his own unique story, including author Andrew Elliott, who overcame alcoholism through the power of Gods love; Anthony, the spiritual leader of the group who overcame a life of drugs to come back to God; and John, who is in a car accident with Anthonys wife and miraculously walks into the Garagewhere he finds forgiveness. All of the people who share their personal stories here are part of the Garage ministry that serves as the backdrop for this inspirational collection. Incredibly, some of the miracles actually occurred at the Garage itself.

The personal reflections shared here can renew your faith in the miracle of Gods love and remind you that there is also hope, grace, and wonder in that faith.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Dec 17, 2015
• ISBN: 9781490890111

J. A. Elliott

J. A. Elliott was born in Virginia Beach, Virginia. As a poet for thirty years, a technical writer for the US Coast Guard, and a disciple of our Lord Jesus, Andrew has accidentally positioned himself to be a writer for God. He and his wife have three children and live in the Tidewater area of Virginia.

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Copyright © 2015 J. A. Elliott.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The NIV and New International Version are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™

Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright 1979, 1980, 1982 by Thomas Nelson, inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.

Scripture taken from the King James Version of the Bible.

WestBow Press

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

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ISBN: 978-1-4908-9010-4 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4908-9012-8 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4908-9011-1 (e)

WestBow Press rev. date: 12/11/2015

Contents

Acknowledgments

Introduction

Chapter 1   Anthony

Chapter 2   Beginning of the Garage

Chapter 3   Charlie

Chapter 4   Jan

Chapter 5   George

Chapter 6   Danny

Chapter 7   Carl

Chapter 8   Jack

Chapter 9   My Own Story

Chapter 10   The Garage’s Own Miracle

Acknowledgments

W ith special thanks to:

** My wife for her editorial help, her prayers for me that have been a backbone to my survival, her assistance in arranging the stories, her giving me the time I needed to sit and write, and above all her Love, which is getting more beautiful everyday.

** The many prayers from friends and pastors and chaplains and brothers and sisters in Christ, especially my brothers at the Garage, who believed in this book and know of or saw the Miracles for themselves first hand.

** Anthony Robinette for his courage and obedience to Christ for starting the Garage Ministry.

**My Wednesday Bible study on the Coast Guard Base for their prayers and their leadership and strength.

** My prayer partner Rob Wyco, without whose prayers I would not have made it this far nor have had the strength to keep going at times.

**My Bethel church family, especially the information desk ladies whom I adore, for their prayers, strength in the Lord, and ability to sing so beautifully.

**Stacia Morgan at Stacia Morgan photography [e-mail] for her prayers and her beautiful pictures that grace the front and back cover of this book.

** Mark Damon Puckett for his editorial service, friendship and support. [e-mail]

** My children Nathan, Wyatt, and Wynn for being God’s gift to me and taking care of things around the house so I could sit and write.

**Last but certainly not least, Jesus Christ for His sacrifice to make my new life possible, for His friendship, for His Holy Spirit, and for His Love, Forgiveness, and Grace. Thank you Lord.

Introduction

But if I were you, I would appeal to God;

I would lay my cause before him.

He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed,

miracles that cannot be counted.

He provides rain for the earth;

he sends water on the countryside.

JOB 5:8-10 (NIV)

"H ow would anyone begin to tell about miracles from God that seem to happen more frequently in this broken down garage than any other place besides the time when Jesus walked the earth as a man?" This was originally my quote, but a pastor was talking to me the other night and said the same thing, so it must be God’s quote. Praying one night, November 8, 2011, God spoke to me audibly (which has only happened a few times in my life, my short Christian life).

"Andrew, I want you to write the story of the Garage, and My ministry through Anthony and the Garage. You asked why you were never present for all of the other miracles that happened at this place? It is because, Andrew, this is not your ministry. You are the one I need to write the stories, but I wanted to make sure that you knew that this was not your ministry or just your story. This belongs to everyone in the Garage, and it needs to be told, so that others will believe that I still perform miracles; it is not just a bunch of stories that exist only in the Bible. I AM alive." I cry every time I think about this, as it is the most humbling act ever, to be asked by God to do his bidding.

The Garage is just that. It is a stand-alone, one-car garage, with cinderblock siding, one door (recent update), and it is very old, nothing pretty about it. In the winter you can feel the cold breeze come through, and the summer requires both doors to be open so we can actually get a breeze. There is old clapboard siding at the apex that holds on the roof, which is falling off. So many times we judge things by their outward appearance, but the inside of this garage has seen God’s holy presence streaming through every Tuesday night. And in that respect, it is beautiful. Complete with 9 mounted deer heads, a pool table, a stereo system for worship music, a foosball table in the corner, a motorcycle chassis and a refrigerator for cold sodas and water. Outside of the garage are a port-o-potty and a charcoal grill. (Everything a man would need.) This is normally a man’s haven; here it has become a part of a men’s group’s Heaven on earth.

"You have until May 2012 to finish. I will have the publishers lined up for you as well as editors, so I need you to just write. The name of the book is Miracle at the Garage," God continued.

The next morning, as I was driving my usual 45 minutes to work, I turned the music off because I wanted to spend time with the Holy Spirit, and listen to what He wanted to say as well. It was a quick conversation, confirming all that God had spoken to me the night before, but He also added, Andrew, you need to not be volunteering anymore for other ministries until after the book is written. This had answered another prayer since I had been waiting to hear from Him about taking on more responsibilities for other ministries. This was huge for me, not just because I needed an answer, but due to the fact that I have a problem of saying no (or not right now) to people when they ask me to do something. Also, having to stop volunteering at church was not easy for me either. My pastor is also my friend and I did not want to put a wall between us, or put him in a tight spot— we never have enough volunteers. Does the church ever have enough volunteers?

Later that morning, I called the representative who had asked me to volunteer more time with them and their particular ministry, and told them that I had to wait until this project from God has been finished. Later that week, I spoke with my pastor at church and he told me he might be able to help with publishers, and he understood that I needed to take a back seat on my volunteer time. You better keep coming to church though, and I know where you live. Did I mention he was also my next door neighbor?

That’s another story.

I spoke with Anthony, the leader of the Garage Ministry, and told him what God had asked of me, and everything God had told me, and that any royalties from this book would be split with him as this is his ministry. He was excited and asked me to talk to the men at group about the project God had chosen for me. In addition he asked if we should maybe get a story done in the local paper. I agreed, but did not know anyone at the paper. Inadvertently, someone from the paper called him later that day and wanted to do a story on the Garage.

Coincidence?

There is no such thing when God is involved. Anthony has said many times that God is still in the miracle business. As you read, you will see that He is still in the miracle business. Thank you God, for everything you have done in my life, for your son Jesus, who died on the cross for us, for my family, and for the blessings and Grace you have bestowed upon me, which I do not deserve. Amen.

On that following Tuesday I spoke with the men and the information was exciting for all. A few people have asked about whom I wanted for an audience so I could have a focus within my writing. My only answer: it is for everyone, those who have no hope, those who have no belief in miracles, those who do have hope in a better, brighter future, and those who are willing to let go of everything that hurts them. Christ is alive, and he works miracles in our lives. We only have to want Him to cleanse us, and we ask it with a humble heart and a genuine want for His love.

As we get ready to read about God’s modern day miracles, we cannot forget God’s greatest Miracle, Jesus Christ; whom the Father gave to us, the last and most important sacrifice of all time. Through the blood of Christ these modern day miracles are possible, as well as peace, love, salvation, grace and faith. Jesus himself told his disciples that they (we) are capable of the same miracles:

Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? The words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.

Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works’ sake.

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.

And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.

John 14:10-14 (KJV)

Speak the following prayer with me slowly, and listen to each word, as I would hope you would do with each prayer you come across. There is power in prayer, a power that can only be unleashed if you truly believe. So read it and believe, blessings:

Heavenly father, I come to you today, with a broken