The Hand That Guided Me: In the Midst of the Storm

By Rebecca E McMillan

When you have struggles in life, how you handle them makes a big difference! Learn from Rebeccas experiences how to get through struggles in life and be on top. Rebecca helps you get victory over your circumstances with enlightening and encouraging ways.

It is a book of hope, inspiration, faith, and forgiveness. She shows you how not to give up on life because there is a bright side. This book allows you to see how you can make it through the storms of life. She tells you how to keep pressing your way even when the storm comes and wind blows. Through rejection, she realized someone was watching her and a better way was coming.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Mar 19, 2016
• ISBN: 9781504985581

Rebecca E McMillan

Rebecca E. McMillan’s maiden name was Carman, and she was born in New Brunswick, New Jersey. Rebecca still resides in Somerset, New Jersey. Her passion is to help people in need, which came out of the storms and rejection in her life. She was called to ministry in 1978 after visiting Haiti of Port Au Prince. When she arrived home after visiting Haiti, God gave her a vision praying for the sick. After that, she began visiting many people in the hospital for seventeen years, doing pastoral care. Rebecca ministered in prisons and mental institutions. She is an ordained minister who has worked in several churches. Rebecca’s favorite pastime is going to the park, near the water, to pray and meditate. She has a BA in theology at United Bible College and Seminary, BS in leadership/Bible, and MA in science of counseling at Philadelphia College of the Bible.

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© 2016 Rebecca E. McMillan. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 03/16/2016

ISBN: 978-1-5049-8557-4 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5049-8558-1 (e)

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

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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.

Contents

Introduction

Chapter 1 Childhood Memories

Chapter 2 God's Hand in My Life

Chapter 3 Abandoned

Chapter 4 School Days

Chapter 5 Working Days

Chapter 6 South Jersey

Chapter 7 The Move to New Brunswick

Chapter 8 Life without My Father

Chapter 9 My Soul Mate

Chapter 10 Married Life

Chapter 11 My Life Changes Drastically

Chapter 12 Reflections of Life

Chapter 13 My Son

Chapter 14 Tracing My Roots

Chapter 15 My Mother Returns

Chapter 16 A Calling on My Life

Epilogue

Dedication

Introduction

I've had tribulations in my life, but I've overcome them by the mercy and grace of God and much prayer to my heavenly Father. God inspired me to share my life story because of all the changes that have taken place. I was laid off a job that I had held for sixteen years. During this time I felt the urge to begin writing my story. Early each morning after I woke up and took my shower, I would go into my spare room and start typing. Sometimes I would stop for lunch, and at other times I would continue until it was dark. There were times I didn't realize how late it was until I looked into the living room and saw the darkness. I would stop then to put a light on and have my dinner. Then I would go back to typing. I wanted to get in as much as I could every day.

I am writing my story to encourage, uplift, heal, and free those who have been bound by circumstances. I want to let them know they can achieve their goals once they put their minds to the task. I wrote my book to inspire those who think that they can't prevail, those who feel counted out; I want to let them know that, with God's help and belief in ourselves, all things are possible. You are one of a kind and wonderfully made in the image of God. You don't have to remain where you are. You can move on. Life is a journey, and we all are taking the trip.

There is a destiny, a plan for our lives, that God has for each of us. This course we must all take. I've been through the storm and the rain. With determination and perseverance, I have run the race and kept the faith, steadfast and immovable, always abiding in the work of the Lord. May you be blessed with an abundant life in God.

Chapter 1

Childhood Memories

I grew up in New Brunswick, New Jersey, in a three-room flat. Our flat, situated in the middle of the row houses, was attached on both sides. Just past our front door, there was a little hallway with a small bathroom off to the right. Slightly further down, the hallway opened out into the large kitchen, and at the far end of the kitchen, a two-step staircase led down into our large bedroom.

We had two large rooms---a bedroom and a kitchen---and one small bathroom. We had two double beds in our bedroom. Six of us children slept in one of those beds, three at the head of the bed and three at the foot. There were seven children in all; my baby sister slept in the bed with my mom. Later my mother bought a twin bed for my older brother and older sister. This left four of us in the big bed. The new twin bed went in the kitchen by the wall, next to the water heater. Our flat had only two small windows. The one in the bedroom opened out into a dark alley, and the other window was in the kitchen. Our bathroom was so small that it didn't have a window. The kitchen was in the back of the house; when we looked out the window, we were able to see into our neighbors' backyards. We watched the neighbor kids as they played ball, rode their bikes, and threw Frisbees for their barking dogs. After we finished our chores, we ran out to join the rest of the gang.

Our bedroom also served as a family room. There we had a dresser and a television that we watched together when we weren't outside playing. At the foot of the two-step staircase, there was another double bed across the hallway. To the left was another double-sized bed by the wall. In the bedroom was a kerosene heater to keep us warm. I remember going to the corner store to get a gallon of kerosene to keep the heater going. At times when the lights weren't on, we had a kerosene lantern to light the house.

When it snowed, my mother made a very special treat for us. She wouldn't collect the first snow because of all the impurities, but the second snow soon became delicious ice cream, and we always enjoyed that. During holidays my mom made mincemeat pie, and we enjoyed a big dinner. There weren't a lot of toys, but I remember getting a Tiny Tears doll and an Easy-Bake Oven for cakes. I made the best little cakes in that oven's small pan. I have another fond Christmas memory of trips to this big place for a Christmas party with lots of gifts.

When night came, I went to the projects to skate in the moonlight. I felt so free out in the air. Sometimes I went with our neighbors to skate in a big building on Commercial Avenue in New Brunswick. This facility was a recreation building for children. It had a basketball court, so I played basketball also. At times they hosted dances. Later this building was turned into a school.

In the city there was a recreation center for kids on New Street, not too far from where we lived. There we played checkers or Ping-Pong or just sat around talking to friends. In this recreation center, a dance was held every Friday night. The lights