A Divine Appointment

By Joseph Fay

It's the middle of summer in late July of 2003. I can see myself laying on the floor in our master bedroom. I'm curled up in a fetal position. I've been there for quite a while, right where I collapsed in tears. Before this, I wasn't one to cry much. And if I did, I'd never be willing to admit it. "Come on, man. Real men don't cry." And yet here I am rolled up on the floor, sobbing uncontrollably. I'm crying so hard that I can't catch my breath. My stomach hurts, and I don't have the strength to get up. I remember thinking that this is the day that I'm going to die. I've already made my decision. I don't know how I'm going to do it, or where I'm going to do it, but as soon as I can get up off the floor, I'm going to take my life. All hope is gone. I'm giving up. I can't go through this. Looking back now, it's hard to believe it was me on that floor, and a lot has changed since that day. I believe that there comes a time in everyone's life that we find ourselves in a situation that only God can truly help us. This was that time for me. I was on my way to prison, but what felt like the end was actually just the beginning. I sincerely pray that regardless of your circumstances, God will use my testimony to encourage you and give you hope because we all need hope, and everyone needs Jesus.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Sep 8, 2016
• ISBN: 9781681979281

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A DIVINE

Appointment

Joseph Fay

ISBN 978-1-68197-927-4 (Paperback)

ISBN 978-1-68197-928-1 (Digital)

Copyright © 2016 by Joseph Fay

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.

296 Chestnut Street

Meadville, PA 16335

www.christianfaithpublishing.com

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

Dedication

Foreword

Introduction

Chapter 1 - Hope Enough

Chapter 2 - The Longest Night

Chapter 3 - The Narrow Way

Chapter 4 - Six Weeks

Chapter 5 - Saying Good-Bye

Chapter 6 - Hey 228!

Chapter 7 - My Ebenezer

Chapter 8 - What’s Next?

Chapter 9 - My Barnabas

Chapter 10 - My Graveclothes

Chapter 11 - Go Tell

Conclusion - Tried and True

About the Author

Dedication

To my wife, without whom, there would be no book at all.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails… And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. (1 Corinthians 13:4–8, 13, NIV)

We closed all our letters with these words. But what matters even more is we have lived them. Thank you for being true to God’s Word. And don’t forget. I’ll meet you at the river. I love you.

Foreword

The book you are about to read is the powerful retelling of a couple’s trying twelve-year journey. As you read it, I’m confident that you will be stirred by the love of God and challenged by His mercy. Since the husband was imprisoned over twelve years ago, the road he and his wife travelled has obviously not been easy. While it would have been much easier to simply bypass this part of the road-trip, it is the detours of our lives that reveal to us the wisdom of God. By allowing them to persevere through such a long and sometimes lonely journey, God showed them just how much He loved them so much so that He refused to allow them to remain as they were.

Through these extremely difficult circumstances, God brought them from self-reliance to humble dependence upon Himself. When I take time to consider all that God worked in this couple’s life in order to bring them to salvation in Him, I am humbled and amazed by the grace of God. Hebrews 7:25 says that Jesus Christ is able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him… They are living proof of this glorious truth! I pray that as you read their story, you, too, will be amazed by the grace of God. And if you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, I hope that He will use their testimony to bring you to repentance and faith in Him.

Yours for Christ’s sake,

Pastor Matthew Anders

Introduction

This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show forth all long-suffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting. (1 Timothy 1:15–16, KJV)

Have you ever found yourself trapped in a corner with no way of escape? Have you ever felt like you’re under attack or found yourself in a situation that seemed to be hopeless? Maybe it’s because you messed up and dug your own hole, or maybe you’re a victim of circumstance or someone else’s indiscretion. Whatever it is that put you there, it’s a pretty lonely feeling when the world comes crashing in on you.

The Bible tells a story in 2 Kings 6 about how the Prophet Elisha and his servant woke up one morning to find that they were surrounded by a host of enemy troops from the Syrian Army. They were there to capture Elisha and take him back to their king. When Elisha’s servant saw the Syrian army, he was afraid and asked his master what they should do. From his point of view, there appeared to be little hope of escape. But Elisha answered, "Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them (verse 16). You see, Elisha had a different perspective; he could see what his servant did not. So Elisha asked God, Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha (verse 17)."

For anyone reading this now from the valley of despair, that’s my prayer for you too. I pray that the Lord will open your eyes and change your perspective. That you will take your eyes off of the problem and see how God’s holy army has the enemy surrounded. Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.

For forty-two years, I viewed my life and all I held dear through the eyes of my own narcissistic flesh. My main interest in almost any circumstance was to consider myself first and then try my best to manipulate the outcome to benefit my own self-interest. What grieves me most is that I didn’t think that there was anything wrong with that. Like everyone else, I was just taking care of me and mine. Whether I was right or wrong was up to me to decide. I had my own moral compass, and I didn’t need anyone telling me what to do.

…but every man did that which was right in his own eyes (Judges. 17:6)."

Eventually, that homemade compass took me somewhere I never wanted to go. Like Elisha and his servant, I woke up one day to find that I was surrounded, but not by an outside enemy. I was surrounded by the consequences of my own doing. My enemy was myself and the deceitful wickedness of my own heart (Jeremiah 17:9). I was under attack, and I had no one to blame but myself.

Now let me be clear about this. If you’re looking for a self-help book, this isn’t it. Actually, it’s just the opposite. If you’re searching within yourself to try to figure out the meaning to life, I think you’re looking in the wrong place. And if its wisdom you’re trying to find, be careful where you look. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God… (1 Corinthians 3:19) Is there a void in your life and you just can’t figure out what’s missing? That’s okay, try looking up rather than within. It’s God who put that void there, and only He can fill it. Now please understand. I’m not trying to be disrespectful or make light of your struggles. That’s the last thing I would ever do. Believe me, I want this book to be a help. I’m just not the one who can help you. Is there a storm brewing in your life right now? Take comfort in this, God knows all about it. It may have caught you off guard, but He saw it coming before it even started to take form. Feel like you’re lost at sea? I know that feeling all too well. You might even say I’ve been shipwrecked before.

Maybe it’s smooth-sailing in your life right now. The sea is calm and not a cloud is in your sky. I know what that’s like too. Be careful though. "Pride goeth before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall." (Proverbs 16:18) I sure learned that the hard way. Here’s something else to consider: sometimes, things aren’t as they appear to be. There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. (Proverbs 14:12)

Do you want to hear a story? It doesn’t start out very well, but it does have a perfect ending. It begins with a lot of sorrow and heartache brought about by the actions of one specific person. That would be me. I was that guy, but I’m not the story here. It’s not about me. It’s about the One who saved me. Someone gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy (Psalms 145:8).

One day, I woke up without a care in the world, but by the time that day was over, my whole world had been turned upside down. Suddenly, I was smack in the middle of my very worst nightmare, except it wasn’t a dream. Lost in fear and humiliation, I was trapped by the circumstances of my own doing, and there was nowhere for me to hide. That’s how we met. He sought me out when I needed a friend, when most of my old friends were nowhere to be found.

"For the Son of man (Jesus) is