God Was There Even Though We Weren't Aware: We never walked alone

By Don Talladino

I thought that the title of the book was appropriate because when we were not Christians, we didn't know that God was watching over us. If he wasn't, I probably wouldn't be alive today because of the things I was involved in before I was married to my lovely wife, Nancy. That is why I want everyone to know that God loves them and he is for you and not against you. It doesn't matter what you've done in the past, the Lord Jesus loves you more than you could ever know. For those Christians who doubt their salvation in Christ, let me say to them, get back into God's word because it's there that you will find assurance of your salvation. "Whoever has the son has life; whoever does not have the son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life" (1 John 5:12, 13 NIV).

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Apr 19, 2022
• ISBN: 9781098071851

Book preview

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God Was There Even Though We Werenand#39;t Aware

We never walked alone

Don Talladino

ISBN 978-1-0980-7184-4 (paperback)

ISBN 978-1-0980-7185-1 (digital)

Copyright © 2021 by Don Talladino

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.

832 Park Avenue

Meadville, PA 16335

www.christianfaithpublishing.com

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

The Wild Years

God’s Way, Not My Way

A Few Tough Years

A Man Named Rich

An Adventure to Remember

Where Are They Now?

God Is Still Speaking

Answers to Prayer

Closing Words

Acknowledgments

First, I want to say thanks to the Lord for coming into my life in 1974. Without Him, most of the redeeming parts of what you are about to read would not have come to pass, and my life could have even been cut short.

I would like to thank my wife. If not for her, I would have spelled a lot of words wrong in this book. She especially helped with the specific dates and more detailed memories of our past. Also, for staying with me these fifty-three years this August 5, 2020. I wouldn’t have as many stories to tell about how God was so good to us.

Mike Swiger who we are in prison ministry with. When I told him that I felt God wanted me to write this book, he encouraged me to follow through with it.

Also, our Pastor Larry Noel of The Light in Kent Ohio. He encouraged me to first make a tract about our lives and that may help me want to finish this book.

Last but not least, our daughter Sarah that took the time to type it up and also expound on many areas in the book. Giving her own account of many things that happened in our family was also helpful for us so we could send it to publishers.

Introduction

Ihope you are not like me and pass up the introduction and go straight to chapter 1. I will try to make this interesting so you will want to read the introduction and this book.

The reason or goal of this book is to help others hear God, through His word and through the Holy Spirit, speaking into their lives. Also, to show them how He worked in our lives and how anyone can have a closer walk with God if you choose to take time with Him.

I have done many difficult things in my life. Surely at the top of the list is being a husband and a father of two great boys, Nick and Josh, and two lovely girls, Sherry and Sarah.

I have also done some foolish things in my life. Like trying to fight guys much bigger than me. Wow, was that stupid! I would try to keep one step ahead of the police so I would not be put in jail for the things I did. From making home-made bombs for revenge to dodging bullets and running with a rough crowd of guys I would call friends. Eventually, I didn’t like living that way, always looking over my shoulder, for who was out to get me. After I met my future wife, Nancy, I wanted our life to be different. I knew things had to change from then on, but I didn’t know exactly how I was going to totally turn my life around. Little did I know I wouldn’t be turning it around by myself. Even though there are many years between the guy I once was and this next story, I’m so thankful for God’s mercy and saving grace and the promise to help me through any mountain I had to climb.

One time, years ago, I climbed a rock wall. That was fun! When I was done, I watched others climb for a while. There was a big guy about two hundred and twenty five pounds of pure