Last week I was filled with joy to be able to share words with my son Sean. As I promised then, this week I am so blessed to be able to share his wife Gina’s words telling a little bit more about their story. As Mom to Sean and Gina, and Grandma to their 4 darling girls, my heart is so thankful to watch them follow God’s path for their lives. Would you join me now, as Gina shares her heart:
Bettie, my Mother-in-law asked me to write a guest post sharing part of my story, and after praying at length about it I knew I was supposed to share about the journey that God has been taking me on over the last ten months. It’s been a struggle to put into words everything that I’ve been feeling, but I trust that God will use my story to be a blessing to you the reader.
Last April we were driving home from church, back of the vehicle filled to the max with our four little girls, when my husband, Sean, brought up the game changing word that God had given him during the service. God had told him that we were supposed to go to ministry school in Florida. I started crying right away and shared the confirming word that the Lord had put on my heart a year before, but that I couldn’t say anything until God told Sean. That was all it took; we began telling family and friends that we were going to be leaving Minnesota and moving across the country to some unknown location in Florida! The next morning, bright and early, Sean came into our room and told me that God had told him we were supposed to go to YWAM (Youth With A Mission). I wasn’t surprised because the night before God had already put YWAM on my heart, and once again told me not to say anything!
Once we got the confirming words from the Lord together, we moved along quickly. We put our house on the market four days later and it was sold the following morning for higher than our asking price!
Go God!
During the midst of all of this I was dealing with chronic illness that had started five years before while serving in missions in Asia. I had developed strict food restrictions, I lived in a great deal of muscle and joint pain, and struggled with anxiety. God had promised healing, but that in the waiting He had lessons for me to learn. I learned God doesn’t dole out sickness and discomfort, that’s a result of us being broken people in a broken world, but He does take a seemingly ugly situation and use it for His glory. I learned what it was to rely on His strength and turn to Him for my joy. He became a trusted friend and life source.
Several days before we began the long drive south to Florida, God gave me the word I had been waiting for…you will receive your healing soon!
Attending YWAM was the best thing that could have happened for my husband and I, our hearts were healed from years of built up hurt, our worldview was changed, and on a Friday afternoon in August God began stirring the healing waters. Through a series of clear God-speaking moments I began eating foods that I hadn’t touched in years, without any reaction! God continued the healing by going deeper than the physical and identifying areas that needed to be rebuilt from the inside. He gave me a beautiful word that He wanted to knit for me a fresh heart, all I needed to do was hand Him the knitting needles and allow Him to work.
He’s been so faithful and has done a work that only He can do!
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28 (NIV)
It hasn’t been an easy journey, because I still battle; I fight against the panic attacks and anxiety that have chased me down throughout my life. The difference now is that I have immediate hope, because God has promised to help me and pour out His joy over my life, I know with a certainty that God says what He means and will always follow through! Such life giving and uplifting goodness He gives!
Gina and Sean have a lovely website that details more of their story and their mission to Guyana. You can visit their site, GilbertYwamFam by clicking here. I know they would appreciate your prayers as they leave for Guyana next week. Can we pray together now?
“Dear Lord Jesus, we thank you for the ways that you lead us and guide us along your path. Thank you for always being so patient with us, even through the difficult days, when we cannot see how you are working. Oh, but, we are so grateful for the times that you show us your faithfulness and your great power! Thank you for the beautiful healing that you brought to Gina! And now, Lord, will you guide and watch over Gina and Sean and their family as they follow you in faith once more? Will you send a fresh anointing upon their words and bless the work of their hands, so that your great glory may be seen by all around them? May you call lost ones home, and bring wandering hearts back into your Kingdom of Love. In the name of Jesus we pray, Amen.”
I am linking with:
BettieGsRAseasons 
What a powerful testimony to God’s perfect leading, step by step. I am in tears. Just how He has knitted you together too in the stepping forward. So beautiful. Bettie- thank you so much for inviting Gina to share.
Gina- I am so sorry for all the physical pain you have had to walk through and the anxiety and panic attacks that continue. But praise be to our God for using even this to strengthen and equip you. May you continue to know His nearness and His deep joy through each and every step. And may our LORD place His hedge of protection around you, Sean and each of your precious girls. May they too taste the love of their Savior as He provides for them too – with friends at each new place and families that encourage and strengthen you in your faith. God bless you all so much. You are such an inspiration to me.
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Dear Anna,
Thank you for all of your prayers as Gina and Sean continue to walk forward in the path that God has for them. I am so grateful to be able to share the precious work that the Lord has done in their lives. Isn’t God so good to let us join in with each other by prayer, over so many miles? He truly is a miracle-working-God! Love and Hugs!
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He sure is, Bettie. What a privilege it is to join each other in prayer. Sending you much love and hugs. Thank you so much for your prayers today. Xxx
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I’m happy for you and for your son’s young family starting on a new challenging journey of faith. I checked their website and saw they’ve been in the northern tip of Thailand too! I will start following them as well. They are blessed with a praying grandma and grandpa, as I also was in my childhood.
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Dear Lisa,
Thank you so much for your prayers and encouragement! And, yes, somehow I thought that I had mentioned to you–one of the things that I was so excited about when I first met you, was the connection with Thailand! They were there this past fall with YWAM! I love the way that God weaves our lives together when we follow Him. He is so good to us! Love & Hugs!
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Dear Bettie, what a beautiful testimony from Gina! God is so good! Thank you for sharing her words! I pray God will continue to work in their lives. Blessings to you and to your family! Love and hugs to you! xo
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Dear Gayl,
Thank you for your prayers and support! I am so glad that the Lord knows how to guide and carry our children, through every new step He has for them. I am thinking of your son and his going to Japan at the same time that Sean & Gina left for Thailand. I will keep praying for him also! I am so grateful that we can pray for each other, and our children! Love and Hugs to you! xoxo
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As I read Gina’s testimony I smiled. I wonder how often the Lord has allowed such beautiful struggles.
Thank you, Gina, for sharing! Your story reminds me of my mother’s struggle. Mom had never graduated from high school, neither had Dad; and he had a speech impediment. Mom’s dad was an alcoholic who had told her repeatedly that the daughter of an alcoholic would never amount to anything.
Yet Mom believed God was calling her to be a pastor’s wife. She thought if it wasn’t that, maybe she was going insane.
After months of mental anguish, one night after they went to bed, Dad said to Mom, “I believe God is calling me to be a preacher.” Mom burst out crying.
Dad said, “I knew it would be a shock to you, but I didn’t think you would take it this hard.”
Six years later, Dad was in the pulpit of his own church. He and Mom had both graduated from high school by correspondence, Dad had graduated from Bible college, and his speech had greatly improved because of Mom’s coaching.
Oh, the stories we are going to get to hear in Heaven of God’s grace!
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Dear Linda,
Oh, thank you for sharing the beautiful story of your parents’ ministry and calling. Isn’t our God just so amazing? He ways are so far above ours, and He does not function in the same way that we do, that’s for sure! I agree with you, that we will have so many wonderful stories to hear when we get to Heaven. But what grace God has given us now, to be able to look back at the stories we do know, and hold onto the same HOPE that we saw lived out before us. I appreciate your connections so much Linda! Knowing that we can pray for each other as cousins and as sisters in the Lord is so beautiful! Hugs and Blessings to you!
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Betty thanks for having Gina share
what God is doing in her life. What a fabulous testimony with encouragement for people to read. Praise God for His perfect timing.
Praying for Sean, Gina and kids as they start a new chapter of their lives. My prayers are also with you, hubby and rest of your family. ❤
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Dear Kristine,
Thank you so much for your prayers and support! I know that Sean & Gina appreciate it as they step forward following Him. And I appreciate your prayers for all of us so much. His timing really is so perfect, isn’t it? He knows just what we need! Blessings to you!
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What a wonderful story. Thank you.
Praying for you all. God bless.
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Dear Victor,
Thank you for all of your prayers. They are so appreciated! God bless you!
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What a beautiful story of God’s leading and healing! I’ll be praying for them as they start their journey!
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Dear Anita,
Thank you for your prayers! Our God is so amazing, isn’t He? I am so grateful that He meets us and leads us along His path! Blessings to you!
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Thanks for sharing this story!
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Thank you for visiting here today! Blessings to you!
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What a testimony! I believe that it is in God’s answering of prayer and the feeling of His presence that we come to know Him so dearly and trust Him and Christ Jesus. Just as with humans, it is when someone does what they say consistently, that we come to trust them with our heart. I believe God is behind this, and if our earthly relationships can be trusted, surely our heavenly ones can be even more. I dealt with panic attacks that put me in the hospital for 28 days, but God brought healing through medication and healing my stressed-out heart. So much stress from a painful childhood buried drip in my spirit that I did not realize was there. Gina, hold on, and just remember when the attacks come that greater is He who is in you than he that is in the world, and keep saying, I am not dying. Keep breathing and I just believe that God is going to use those attacks for His glory, as He did for me just now in telling you my situation. May God bless the work of your husband and you and your daughters for Him. Obedience is better than sacrifices.
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Thank you Regina for your prayers and loving heart! Yes, our Lord truly is so gentle with us, as He shows us His faithfulness throughout each moment and season. Thank you for sharing that very comfort that He gave to you, with us here today. I am always so blessed at the way that He overflows into the live of those around us! May He continue to bless you!
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Thank you, Bettie, for allowing both Sean and Gina to share their stories. It lifts my heart to hear evidence of God’s powerful working in hearts and lives through seemingly impossible circumstances. Yes, Gina, your story does bless me. It brings tears to my eyes how God wanted you to be still and wait for Him to reveal His way also to your husband. May God strengthen, guide, and bless you in His way! Love and hugs to you both!
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Dear Trudy,
Thank you so much for your prayers and support! I know that Sean & Gina are so appreciative of all the prayers. I am so thankful that you were encouraged here by the Lord’s faithfulness in Gina and Sean’s story. His ways really are so much higher than ours, aren’t they? We often cannot see the joy that will follow when we wait and trust in Him, but He has so much good in mind for us! Love and hugs to you too my friend!
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Thank you for sharing this life story with so much evidence of how God works and confirms His will in our lives!
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Dear Leslie,
Thank you for your kind words! Our Lord is so gracious to “confirm His will in our lives.” I long to see more of those moments throughout my days! Blessings to you!
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Such beautiful words from Gina! Thank you so much for sharing, sweet friend. 🙂 Sending much love to you and your precious family today!
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Dear Cheryl,
Oh, thank you dear friend for all of your love and your prayers! They mean so much to me, as we each go forward with the surrenders that He asks of us. I am so thankful that He walks with us, and shows us His Grace along the way. Blessings, Love and Hugs to you!
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Thank you Gina for sharing your story. I’m joining you by saying “yay God”! I have heard nothing but amazing things about YWAM. I pray God blesses you and your family as you continue to walk out this path toward God.
Bettie-I imagine your momma heart is so proud of your son and DIL. God is so faithful and your beautiful example of faith is continuing through your family. Now that’s legacy!
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Dear Mary,
Thanks for sharing your wonderful thoughts and good word about YWAM also! Isn’t the miracle-working power of our God so awesome? He is so good to us, to bring us His faithful word down through every generation. I am so grateful for your prayers, Mary, as I send out my kids with God’s blessing upon them. May I continue those prayers that have gone on before me. Blessings to you!
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What a beautiful testimony of faith. Thanks for sharing.
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Dear Debbie,
Amen! God’s faithfulness is so great towards us! Thank you for your good words here today. Blessings to you!
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Wow, what a wonderful testimony of faith, perseverance and prayer! It moved me so much to hear Gina’s story. It truly is amazing. I also love these words of affirmation gleaned in the trusting process: “I learned what it was to rely on His strength and turn to Him for my joy.” Amen! Adversity and chronic illness do throw us on God’s mercy each day and into His loving arms. And it’s there that we find all the hope, joy, peace and strength we need to survive and thrive. I’m thrilled to hear about Gina and Sean’s call to YWAM and will be keeping them and their family in my prayers. What a blessing it is for them to have faithful, praying parents as well! Thanks for featuring Gina on the blog, Bettie. It would be good to hear more from them in the future. Love and hugs! xo ❤
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Dear Joy,
Oh I appreciate your prayers for Sean & Gina so much, my dear friend! I know they are so thankful also! Yes, our Lord really does come so close to us as we throw ourselves “on God’s mercy each day and into His loving arms.” What faithfulness He shows us through those trials. And, yes, I would love to share updates about Sean & Gina’s journey as the Lord continues to guide them at YWAM over these next many months. I am praying that God will find ways to keep us all connected in His worldwide Body. This digital world is amazing to me, how we can hear from friends around the world now, and join with each other in prayer and praising, in ways that were unheard of even just a few short years ago! Grace upon Grace, right? Love and Hugs to you! xoxo
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Gina, what a gifted writer you are. What a beautiful testimony of submission and healing. Thank you for sharing that with us. 🙂 — And, Bettie, thank you so much for the lovely happy-mail you sent me. Such a beautiful little package of goodies. Thank you so much for your sweet generosity. xoxo
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Oh, Brenda thank you for your kind words, and beautiful support for Gina! I am so thankful that the Lord is guiding Gina and Sean on to the next step of His story in their lives. I am glad you received the package, Brenda! Enjoy! And Blessings to you dear sister!
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What a story of faithfulness! I pray for Gina and Sean as they answer God’s Call in complete surrender. When we surrender all to HIM, He really does speak clearly to us. What a testimony that I want to follow.
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Dear Debbie, Yes, isn’t our God so amazing and faithful to us through each step of the journey? I am so thankful for all of your prayers, and I know they mean so much to Sean & Gina too. Yes, I want to keep following and surrendering to the Lord’s call too! Love & Hugs!
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