Today’s Devotional

Written by: Brooklyn White

It is time to finally put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard?) and write about what hurts. It is time to tell my story for what it is and to not be scared, ashamed, or guilty. I have written my story so many times before, but it was never complete. Bits and pieces were left out to accommodate the human eye. I was scared of letting the outside world see the real me, so I either sugarcoated it or just simply didn’t tell the parts that truly mattered.

Because the truth is…

I had a boy who broke my heart.

I had a best friend with cancer.

I had a friend get into a car accident on my birthday.

I had a lifelong friend who just up and left.

I had an anxiety disorder.

I had a ‘friend’ who blamed my anxiety disorder for the ending of our friendship.

I had a really hard time at university this year.

I had a heart full of pain.

I had to leave a toxic youth group.

I had rumours spread about me.

I had to establish new boundaries with people.

I had a fear of going into public in case I ran into the people who caused me pain.

I had an old friend run away from me in a mall trying to avoid me.

I had a bitter heart.

I had an inability to be brave out of fear.

I had to discover my purpose and calling.

I had run away from God entirely.

I had neglected to take care of myself.

I had been overcome with sadness and confusion.

I had felt this overwhelming feeling of being “The Outsider.”

I had never been one to fit in.

I had a fear of not being good enough.

I had a horrible experience in high school.

I had parents who got a divorce when I was young.

I had too many fatal friendships that resulted in my self-destruction.

I had struggled with controlling my tongue, and often swore.

I had attempted to fit in and be just like the others, but it never worked.

I had a difficult relationship with my father (which has since gotten better).

I had never been one to be invited to things or places.

I had no friends who I could call family.

I had to end an emotionally abusive friendship and hysterically cried while doing it.

I had to pretend to be happy, so people couldn’t discover the pain underneath.

I had to look death in the face, through family members and friends.

I had an overwhelming sense of frustration and confusion.

I had become accustomed to pain and heartache.

I had people who I thought would always be in my life, just up and leave.

I had cried uncontrollably in the shower over words that were spoken to me.

I had to avoid going to youth group for months out of fear.

I had never known what it meant to have a “church family.”

I had to become someone who I wasn’t, to please those around me.

I had continued to question God’s purpose and plan for my life.

I had been the master of disguising sadness as happiness.

I had no hope.

I had no peace.

I had conflict at every turn.

I had a life etched with painful circumstances and situations.

I had to rediscover myself by looking at the past and acknowledging it for what it was.

But most importantly,

I had, and still have, a God who took the shattered pieces of who I was, who I wasn’t, and who He called me to be, and molded me into the person I am now. THE PAST DOES NOT DEFINE ME. And it never will.

However, it has played a huge part in shaping me into the person I am today. The thing is though – I let the past make me feel an overwhelming amount of guilt. I was the one who would constantly search for old friends on social media, and what I found always stung my heart. I knew it would be painful. I knew that if I looked up their name I would see things that would make me cry. And yet, I did it anyways.

I was the one who would lose countless hours of sleep at night replaying what happened, and going over the words that were spoken to me. I was the one who would wake up in the middle of the night with a wet pillowcase because nightmares had made me cry. I was the one who feared the public, and often missed out on amazing experiences due to fear.

I was the one that was full of anxiety, to the point that when anxiety attacks would hit, my body would shake uncontrollably and I couldn’t stop it. I couldn’t stop my mind from thinking about the bad. The pain consumed me.

But I was also the one who chose to end friendships that were bad for me. I chose to pursue God’s heart again. I chose to attempt healing. I prayed and I prayed. I worshipped God in the darkest moments, and continued to seek after His wisdom. From this pain, came irreplaceable life lessons. Heartache resulted in purpose. Confusion resulted in commitment to God. And overall, I slowly healed.

I still struggle every day. I struggle with school, friendships, and finding my purpose. I am learning that part of living this life means learning from your struggles, and pursuing your dreams even when people tell you not to. It is about overcoming conflicts, and becoming stronger as a result.

Ultimately, life is about pursuing God’s heart and trusting in Him and His plan for your life. I now appreciate talks with friends, coffee dates, and staying up till all hours of the night during sleepovers. I find meaning in the small things, like a good cup of tea, cupcakes, and reading a book before bed. I am passionate about people and am learning to love unconditionally and encourage fearlessly.

I am slowly becoming who I was always meant to be. My story was in no way easy to tell, and I would be lying if I didn’t say that pressing the publish button was the hardest thing I have ever had to do. Being honest with myself wasn’t easy, but I have NO reason to be ashamed of my past. I have no reason to feel guilt. I have a story, and I should tell it because somebody out there may need to hear it.

I encourage you to do the same.

All my love,

Brooklyn.

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About Brooklyn White:

Reader, Writer & Tea Drinker | Daughter of the King | Fearless Encourager | Hebrews 6:19 | 18

There is nothing in this universe that I need more than Jesus Christ. My soul finds rest in Him alone. I am learning to hold myself to a standard of grace and not perfection. The trials I have faced and continue to face are continuously shaping me into the person God is calling me to be. I am a woman boldly pursuing God’s heart above all else.

Hebrews 6:19 is my favourite verse which says, “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, sure and steadfast.” I am reminded that His name will be the hope for all the world. This life is certainly not easy, and the reality is that not everyone has it all together. But the good news is that there is a God who will never leave our side during the storms of life, and as long as you stay Anchored to Him, you have nothing to fear. Work Hard. Stay Sweet. Trust God. Love Deep. Pursue Dreams. Live Fearlessly. Encourage Others.

Written By: Emma Srigley

The power of prayer is something amazing that happens. I know from experiences that prayer can influence a change in your life. If it’s something that you really feel strong about this is my opinion but you should absolutely follow it!

               “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you”. ~James 4:8 NKJV

I’m going to talk a little bit about myself and how God has made a difference in my life. God has touched me in ways I can’t describe. I’ve been going to church ever since I was a little girl, my parents would take me but after a while we stopped going to that church, and my grandmother started bringing us to her church (by us I mean me and my brother). I had dedicated 7 years to that church and then I moved to a different church because I wasn’t getting anything out of that church, I had grown out of what they had to offer. I started getting into fights with my family about going to church and about stuff that was happening there. I felt like it was drawing me away from God.  God has changed my life so much! I think that this next verse says a lot about what I have done lately.

 “I took my troubles to the lord; I CRIED OUT to him, and he answered my prayers”  ~Psalm 120:1

I had an amazing experiences at my youth group on August 20th 2014! The night contain of us having our summer wrap up carnival after that we did the ALS Ice bucket Challenge then afterwards we went in and we had late night worship! We are blessed to have an amazing talented band and wonderful youth leaders who dedicated every Wednesday night to be with us and help us grow more towards God! During worship you could feel God’s presents in the room, many of us were crying because we knew that God was in the room and was there to help us get through whatever was troubling us. See that’s one thing with God, even if you don’t pray or talk to him in days, months or maybe you haven’t even prayed. He is always there for us no matter what is happening and no matter what we go through. I know when we discovered the lump on the right side of my head just above my eyebrow; all I could do was pray for it not to be anything serious.

My family and I were on vacation during March Break when my mom noticed the lump on my head. My parents would joke around with me by calling it my “horn” because I always spent way too much time in the barn. When we got home from our vacation a doctor’s appointment was made to check it out. Needless to say, I have had many doctors visits, x-rays and ultrasounds on it to make sure it wasn’t growing. Different doctors would tell me something different, they said that it could be a Cyst, non-cancerous tumor, or even bone that just magically appeared. All I know is that without my friends who prayed for me and God. I doubt that I would have got an answer, so that lump above my right eyebrow is just bone. They finally agreed on that. I had the option of getting rid of it but I choose to keep it because it makes me unique.

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About Emma Srigley:

Emma Srigley is true born and breed farm-girl, she has lived in Essex County, Ontario all her life and was saved at a young age. She enjoys working the family farm and is looking forward to what next adventure life has in store for her!

Written By: Pastor Joe Ritchie

25 years ago, I died. It was in the early morning hours of May 27th, 1990 that it happened and I was 15 years old. A friend and I, who always took turns stealing our parent’s cars, took another wrong turn in life.

It was his opportunity this time to take his mom’s car. We didn’t make it home. On Charron Line in Belle River he lost control on the gravel shoulder at about 120km/h. It was possible that the car clipped a guard wire for a telephone pole as the car flipped front to rear three or four times, bounced out of a ditch, and landed on all four tires in a farmer’s field. The car was totaled and so was I.

My friend was able to run to a house and call for help. I laid lifeless between the front bucket seats with broken ribs on each side, one punctured lung as the other lung filled with blood, and a broken neck at C5,6,7 vertebrae.

The Rochester fire department was first on scene and began to use the Jaws of Life to extract me from the rear window area. Once the paramedics arrived they said it was taking too long and they were losing me.

At that point a firefighter jumped up on the roof and began to peel the roof back like a tin can. The others stood for a moment in awe like they were watching an act of God. The paramedics were then able to secure me to a body board and pull me out, but as they did… I died. I was dead as they put me in the ambulance and drove away doing everything they could to bring me back.

They said it lasted approximately seven minutes. However, once I arrived at Metropolitan Hospital in Windsor and was received into the ER, I died again. This time it was clocked for six minutes. Revived once more and in serious critical condition, the phone call was made to my mom and dad.

It was terrible news and I cannot imagine the pain they felt. After a few days of traction, where they put screws in my scull that were tied to weights to keep my head and neck straight, the decision was made for surgery. A fusion was done on my vertebrae and the wait began for me to come back to a conscious state. It took two weeks. I remember that day as I opened my eyes I had no idea what happened, where I was, or why more than half my body didn’t move.

On life support, unable to feel from chest down, unable to move my arms, hands and fingers, and unable to speak from a tracheotomy, I was told what happened and tears rushed in like rain. Then it happened again; I was moved from my bed in ICU to a lazy boy recliner, why I don’t know, but I died again. This time I was able to experience it.

Three minutes of no heart beat and clinically dead. Everything was black, but I could hear all that was happening. I was unaware that my heart stopped for three minutes until it was all over and they told me what happened. After a couple more days they filled me in on what my life expectancy should be.

A low functioning quadriplegic who will never walk again and will always need medical care and nursing aid. I get it. They gave me the worst case scenario. Oh it took a while to adjust; six years of depression and many wrong choices. The incredible suffering I endured physically was no match for the pain I felt in my heart, mind, and soul. I turned to alcohol, drugs, and promiscuity attempting anything to create joy in my life to mask the pain. Nothing worked.

The truth is I had to die one last time; to myself. In October 1996 something happened that I never would or could have imagined or made up. I met Jesus Christ, of all places in my kitchen. My personal drug dealer pretended to be Jesus Christ dead on a cross as a joke. Jesus Christ showed Himself to me right then and in that moment I believed for the first time. I died to myself that day and began to live for Him. I have never looked back. Love, hope, joy, peace, and forgiveness flooded and filled my life like I had never known possible.

I had no idea in the past that such a life existed. Many miracles have happened since then, but the greatest of them all is my changed heart. I am so incredibly thankful. Yet further to the miracle of a changed heart, God gave me more. It was August of 1998 at a Christian festival called “Kingdom Bound” in Darien Lake, New York Six Flags amusement park.

It was the providence of God that I was there. You see, by 1998 it had been eight years since my accident. Eight years of being physically disabled in many ways. That included my limbs, my hands, my fingers, and my body from chest down. It also included things like the function of my bladder and bowels. I needed medical devices and medication in order to make them work. My bladder in particular was sadly a painful experience as I needed to insert a catheter every time I needed to empty it. Every time!

That was about six times a day every day for eight years up to that day. If you can imagine a plastic tube slightly lubricated and the word friction you’ll understand it didn’t always work right. It would get stuck and bleed and get infected. I was even hospitalized because of it.

So there I was in my tent at Darien Lake, New York needing to empty a full bladder and the catheter got stuck and I began to bleed. All I could think of was that I needed to go to the hospital again. I became very afraid of how that would have worked in another country not my own. So, instead of dwelling in that fear I decided to turn to God. In tears I asked the Lord to heal my bladder and enable me to “pee” without the use of a catheter. I got up out of my tent and went to the washroom.

I peed for the first time in eight years without one! It was not exactly normal but I could do it and I have been “peeing” on my own ever since! Hallelujah! God gave me a physical miracle! If you have read this far, I thank you so much for taking interest. My life now is more than I could have ever dreamed and it’s all because of God. My wife, my children, my family and friends – there are so many blessings, too many to count. If you do not know Jesus yet, please soften your heart to His voice. Cultivate a relationship with God in Christ and you’ll never be sorry you did, only sorry you didn’t. It was 25 years ago for me on May 27th 1990 that I died, but it was only physical death. Spiritual death would have been much worse. I am so thankful that I lived that day in order that I would die again. I would die to myself and live for Jesus Christ; a death worth dying and a life worth living.

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About Pastor Joe Ritchie:

Joe Ritchie born November 22nd 1974 of the flesh and born again of the Spirit October 1996. From the wrong side of the tracks to riding the train bound for glory Joe has experienced much of life’s ups and downs. A motor vehicle accident on May 27th 1990 left him physically paralyzed for life, but not to be undone he has found his place and purpose in Christ. Through his journey he has been blessed with miraculous healing and a call to ministry. Married in 2000 to his beautiful wife Michelle and blessed with their three wonderful children Braeden, Olivia and Amelia, the Ritchie family serves in the ministry of the Gospel of Christ. Joe has been a pastor in the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada since 2001 and continues forward in his call, sharing his story, preaching the word and leading worship.

Written By: Pastor Cathy Prout

Psalm 40:1-5 Passion Translation

“I waited and waited and waited some more; patiently, knowing God would come through for me. Then, at last, He bent down and listened to my cry. He stooped down to lift me out of danger from the desolate pit I was in, out of the muddy mess I had fallen into. Now He has lifted me up onto a firm, secure place and steadied me while I walk along His ascending path.  A new song for a new day rises up in me every time I think about how He breaks through for me! Ecstatic praise pours out of my mouth until everyone hears how God has set me free. Many will see His miracles; they’ll stand in awe of God and fall in love with Him!  Blessing after blessing comes to those who love and trust the Lord. They will not fall away, for they refuse to listen to the lies of the proud.  O Lord, our God, no one can compare with You. Such wonderful works and miracles are all found with You!”

Wow!! This is an accurate account of the miracle-working power of God in my life! I was raised in a Christian home, yet had no idea of my identity in Christ and therefore I strove to be accepted by “whomever” and tried to become “whatever”. At 18 years, I left home like the prodigal son and found myself in a desolate pit and a muddy mess.

Problems greater then I could solve came, one after another. Yet, all the while running from the Lord, desperately trying to find myself, He never gave up on me or the destiny and purpose He had for my life! When I called, He answered. He lifted me up onto His firm secure place and for the last 33 years He has steadied me while I walk on His path for my life. Miracle after miracle of inner healing, deliverance, and freedom from destructive behaviours have changed me radically from the inside out!

It is the miracle-working power of His unconditional love and acceptance that changes people. I couldn’t run from me, change me, or love me. But His love did. And that same miracle love continues to heal, restore, set free, and change anyone who will simply call out to Him. You haven’t run too far away, the pit isn’t too deep, the muddy mess doesn’t offend Him, and there isn’t a problem He cannot solve.

I stand in awe of what He has done in my life and what He continues to do in and through me today! Seeing God change a life… what a miracle!!!

**We are so happy to have Pastor Cathy Prout as a part of our Prayer Team here at UYM. We look forward to continue walking in ministry with this precious lady.**

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About Pastor Cathy Prout:

Pastor Cathy Prout has been the Senior Pastor of Centralia Faith Tabernacle since 2000. Her passion is to see individuals fully restored and built up in order to be wholly dedicated to Jesus Christ. She believes that by returning to the fundamentals of our identity in Christ there is a new level of freedom to live out God’s purpose for our lives. She has been married to her husband Doug, for 34 years and they have 4 grown sons, 2 daughter-in-laws and 1 granddaughter. She loves to read and shop!

Written By: Rejean Brochu

Today, I want to give all glory and honour to my Lord,  and to His precious Word, The Bible, that was given, at school, to my younger brother by a Gideon.

I was born in North Quebec.  As the oldest of 10 children, I had to leave school at age 13 to help my Dad in the family business. In spring of 1966, my parents decided to move our family to Ontario, to work the harvest in this county.
In 1967, my father founded a construction company, where all his children would work in roofing and building material. I was my Dad’s right arm. We all worked very hard but, in order to succeed my Dad was very demanding.  In June 1971, I met my wife and we were married that following December.

One day, I asked my Dad “What is your goal in life?” and he told me it was to make one million dollars. He wanted to buy a White Cadillac. I told him, “We will do it.”, and we did do it, that same year. I started following in my father’s footsteps, with heavy drinking.  By now our construction company had 50 employees and several departments. I was under a lot of stress, and my health and marriage suffered. I began slipping into a deep depression, and could not handle the pressure anymore.

In 1979, we added a new division to the company in trucking and I could no longer deal with the alcohol and anti-depressants. I never told anyone about this, until I got saved….I decided to end my life by driving my truck off of a cliff. But, before I did, I said  “God forgive me, for what I am about to do.” Then I turned the wheel very sharp to the right but, it did not turn at all. God had another plan for my life.

By this time, my wife was saved and she was going to the weekly Bible Study. The group was praying for my salvation. I said to her, I would let her go to the meetings, if she would let me go to the bar with the boys but, she never did tell me that she had been praying for my salvation. At this time, my younger brother had received a New Testament from the Gideon.  It was at my parents’ house and no one was reading it, so I took it and read the inside cover several times. It read: “As you read this book, may you receive help in the time of need.”

Finally in 1981, I quit my job in the family business, and decided to move my family back up to North Quebec, to my late father-in-law’s house. I had 2 brothers-in-law still living there and they welcomed us with open arms. That was late November 1981 and my life was still a mess. I was very depressed. No Job. No Money. A wife and 3 children that I was responsible for. We spent that Christmas with very little. After the holidays, I decided again to take my life.

In January of 1982, I took my brother-in-law’s 303 riffle. I still remember the look on my wife’s face as I was heading out. She said, “Where are you going??” I told her I was going hunting. She was scared and very concerned. She began praying for me, just as soon as I left. I walked into the bush, away from the house. I always had in mind, the truth about God’s love and how Jesus had died on Calvary for me. I said out loud, “Jesus, if You are real, I need to know this today…that You forgive me of my sins, and that You would come into my heart.” He did forgive me.  And He did come into my heart.

I wept bitterly for a long time but, the hurts from the past and the depression left me. I saw a rabbit pretty far off, and I shot at him and missed. My wife heard the shot from the house, and sent her brother to come and check on me. He came running and screaming, “Reg! Are you okay?!?” My response was, “I am fine.  Never felt better in my life.” I came out of the bush that day with a hope that everything was going to be okay.

I read Psalms 116:1-4:

“I love the Lord, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy. Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live. The cords of death entangled me, the anguish of the grave came over me; I was overcome by distress and sorrow.  Then I called on the name of the Lord: “Lord, save me!”

Now I understand God’s grace,  and I now work with the Gideon’s. I will always be thankful for the South-Essex Camp that took time to give my younger brother that little New Testament Bible.  That one day forever changed the course of my life. My late Dad got saved 2 years before he past away. My late Mom loved the Lord her whole life. Several of my brothers and sisters now serve the Lord and follow Him. The miracle here is that I am alive and writing this. I am here by God’s amazing grace and His unfailing love.  

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About Rejean Brochu:

Rejean Brochu is married to his Wife and Best-Friend Evelyne for 43 years, walking through many seasons of ‘For better or For worse’ they have together grown and their love and commitment has endured the test of time. Loving Father of 3 Grown-Children, who have collectively blessed Him with 9 Grand-Children, who in turn have continued to bless Him, with 5 Great-Grand-Children.