The Lord Held My Hand: Living Testimonials of the Power of a Living God

By Everett R. Stewart

There are times in all our lives when it seems as though we are at the end of our resources, and we dont know where to turn or what to do. We can be overcome with feelings of uncertainty, loss, helplessness, and hopelessness. The question is whether we let those emotions run our lives or look to the One who can help us through all our difficulties?

To author Everett R. Stewart, we should not look at these times as being the end. He believes they are actually the beginning because we have no other choice but to turn over everything to an all-powerful God, stand firm, and watch what He can and will do. In his book The Lord Held My Hand: Living Testimonials of the Power of a Living God, Stewart shares how the Lord has worked in his life after he accepted Him as his Lord and Savior. Among his testimonials, Stewart writes about how God kept him awake during a long drive, avoiding an accident. The author also relates how the Lord healed his son of a hip problem.

You will find inspiration and encouragement in The Lord Held My Hand: Living Testimonials of the Power of a Living God. The experiences Stewart shares are ones that many people can relate to. He clearly shows that God is interested in your life and will give you the strength and answers you need for every situation.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Dec 23, 2015
• ISBN: 9781512722239

Everett R. Stewart

Everett R. Stewart grew up as a farm boy in northwest Illinois and eventually enlisted in the US Navy. He later attended electronics, technical, and management schools and worked in technology for decades. He also developed and instructed training programs. Ultimately, he was led to ministry and found inspiration to write.

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Copyright © 2015 Everett R. Stewart.

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.

Cover image by Everett R. Stewart

This book is a work of non-fiction. Unless otherwise noted, the author and the publisher make no explicit guarantees as to the accuracy of the information contained in this book and in some cases, names of people and places have been altered to protect their privacy.

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

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ISBN: 978-1-5127-2224-6 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5127-2225-3 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-5127-2223-9 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2015920121

WestBow Press rev. date: 12/16/2015

Contents

Chapter 1:  The Lord Held My Hand

Chapter 2:  Divine Providence

Chapter 3:  His Healing Touch and Presence

Chapter 4:  Protection

Chapter 5:  Divine Guidance and Ministry

Chapter 6:  Trying Times

Chapter 7:  Experiences as a Youth

Chapter 8:  Restoration and Blessing

CHAPTER 1

The Lord Held My Hand

I n January 1962, while on leave of absence from the US Navy, I was at home visiting family and friends. During this time, a brother asked me to a pancake supper at the home of a friend.

I responded, I won’t know anyone there!

He said, That’s the point! I would like to introduce you to this young girl who is their daughter.

I thought, Why not? At least I will get a free home-cooked meal, and I love homemade pancakes. So I agreed.

Upon arriving, I was introduced to a small black-haired girl who I thought was very cute but too young. Not seeing anyone else around, I finally got up the nerve to ask, Do you have an older sister?

No, why?

Never mind. I decided that I might as well get to know her anyway.

We had a very nice evening, and she invited me to attend church with her. Later, I found out that she was sixteen, almost seventeen.

On several occasions, I asked her to join me to do things on Sundays, and her response was always the same: I have to go to church. Why don’t you come with me? Not having been raised in a churchgoing family, I could not understand. After a while, I began to think, Why not give it a try and see why it’s so important to her?

After going to church with her a few times, I began to learn better ways of living and of doing things, and I gave my heart to the Lord.

We decided to correspond by mail while I was on duty and see each other when I was home on leave. We grew fonder of each other and eventually fell in love.

Later, in April 1965, I transferred to Hawaii for my final tour of duty, but after four months, I missed that little girl so much that I came back, married her, and took her with me to Hawaii for the remainder of my two years of duty. If you have ever had the privilege of putting together a wedding in two weeks’ time, you will understand the challenge we faced and that the hand of God was present.

What a wonderful time we had in Hawaii alone, getting to know, trust, and lean on each other for support without the intervention of anyone but the Lord! We decided to dedicate some time to the Lord each night by reading the Word and praying together before going to bed.

In April 1967, we arrived back in the continental United States, and after we stayed with my wife’s parents for a brief time, an uncle offered a small one-bedroom home that he owned for us to live in until we got our feet on the ground. I got a job with General Electric, and we started to settle into our lives as civilians.

We both got involved in the local church by helping wherever we could, teaching small kids’ Sunday school classes by telling Bible stories, cleaning the church, mowing the grass, visiting and praying with people, ushering, and just trying to live the life the Bible describes.

One of the most important things I learned was the notion of taking a chance. I agreed to teach an adult Sunday school class, and I ended up doing so for seventeen years. It forced me to spend much more time studying the Bible, praying, and preparing for class.

I discovered that in order to teach, I needed to know and understand that people will ask questions. To be able to help others, I needed to know a sizable amount more than I already did. The more I studied, the more I understood what I needed and was lacking.

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

(Matthew 5:16)

Psalm 23

A hunger for the Word of God began to well up within me; the more I read and studied, the more I wanted to continue to do so. In my prayer times, I began to ask the Lord for more of His presence and to be filled with the Holy Spirit, which is often referred to in the Scripture as the Holy Ghost and the Comforter. As John the Baptist taught,

Teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen.

(Matthew 28:20)

I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

(Matthew 3:11)

John answered, saying to all, I indeed baptize you with water; but One mightier than I is coming, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

(Luke 3:16)

But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.

(John 14:26)

I can testify to the fact that