When Heartache Becomes a Blessing

Sometimes the things that bring us the greatest pain in our lives turn into blessings because of the grace of God.

On Sunday, January 12, 2003 my Mother died. Although it was nine years ago today, I remember it as though it happened yesterday, in vivid detail. Geneva (Criss) Sparks had lived a long, joyous and triumphant life in the Lord. However, in the last few years she lived with a great amount of physical pain. My only solace in losing her was the knowledge she was no longer in pain, and she was in the “everlasting arms” of our LORD.

THE ETERNAL GOD IS THY REFUGE, AND UNDERNEATH ARE THE EVERLASTING ARMS:

My Dad the Rev. Edgar Calvin Criss, died in 1971, I was just six years old. In

losing Mom it felt to me like I was losing my Dad all over again. Mom held so strongly to the truth and faith that Dad preached so strongly as Pastor of the Apostolic Pentecostal Church in Massillon, Ohio. And being the closest connection to Dad, she was the one who could best describe and let me know what my Daddy was like, and who he was. I have always bottled up my strongest emotions only releasing them when I’m alone and when with my God. I remember in vivid detail several years after my Dad died, waking up in the middle of the night shaking and crying and repeatedly saying, “I miss my Daddy, I want my Daddy back”. I was always sure to be quiet enough not to disturb anyone sleeping, my emotions were bottled up and I didn’t want anyone to know.

Those same emotions were about to reappear. Just a couple of weeks after Mom died I was on a business trip in Michigan. Being several hundred miles away from any family, there was no one I could be strong for. It was late in the evening when I arrived, and too late to call anyone. I felt so alone and isolated. Two weeks of bottled up emotions while trying to be strong for others had suddenly been released unrestrained. But I had been given a gift, something to lean on, and something to trust in during my darkest hour.

TRUST IN THE LORD WITH ALL THINE HEART; AND LEAN NOT UNTO THINE OWN UNDERSTANDING.

My Parents’ passed on a tremendous legacy to my siblings and me, of which I am extremely thankful for. One of the most crucial lessons I learned while growing up, was that I could not rely only on my parents’ faith and prayers for my salvation. The older I became I realized I was going to have to find this thing for myself. But what I have come to know as the truth, is not in my heart just because of them, they simply started me on my journey. I learned from them how to reach God for myself, and not trust in the riches or gods of this world to lead and guide me.

LABOUR NOT FOR THE MEAT WHICH PERISHETH, BUT FOR THAT MEAT WHICH ENDURETH UNTO EVERLASTING LIFE, WHICH THE SON OF MAN SHALL GIVE UNTO YOU: FOR HIM HATH GOD THE FATHER SEALED.

I found a hiding place, entering into the Holiest of Holies by the blood of Jesus.

THOU ART MY HIDING PLACE AND MY SHIELD: I HOPE IN THY WORD.

It is there where I met God for myself; it is there where He continually reveals His word to me. I have found that the greatest time to read the Bible for me is after an encounter with God in prayer. Starting in my parents’ lives’, continuing in mine, my prayers and hope is for that same faith to be established in my children’s lives.

STUDY TO SHOW THYSELF APPROVED UNTO GOD, A WORKMAN THAT NEEDETH NOT TO BE ASHAMED, RIGHTLY DIVIDING THE WORD OF TRUTH.

While with my oldest daughter Erica (who was 12 at the time), not long after Mom died, I asked her the question, “What will you remember the most about your Grandma Geneva?” She said, “I will never forget every time we stayed with her overnight, when I woke up in the morning I would always go in the family room to see her, and she was ‘always’ praying and reading her Bible.” Mom had left an indelible impression on my children. She was in the Church service praying with my youngest daughter, when Erin received the baptism of the Holy Ghost speaking in tongues as the spirit gave the utterance.

The reflection on these things so soon after her death brought me to realize the blessing that had been bestowed upon me, my children, my siblings and many others through the faith of my parents’. Although they are no longer with us, the memories of their faith, their devotion to God and family, and their instruction remain. And their prayers will never be forgotten in heaven.

…AND GOLDEN VIALS FULL OF ODOURS, WHICH ARE THE PRAYERS OF SAINTS.

Though the heartache of the loss of my parents’ will never be mended, it is a constant reminder to me, of the blessing that God gave to my children and me. It is my prayer today that the passion Dad and Mom had for God that blessed so many people, will also become embedded in the hearts of my children and all of our family, until the day we shall all be with the Lord.

Scripture references (All KJV); Deuteronomy 33:27, Proverbs 3:5, John 6:27, Psalms 119:114, 2 Tim 2:15, Rev. 5:8.

Daniel Criss
President/Founder
Life Achievement Services, Inc.

Why Would You Go Through This When You Don’t Have To?

“Why Would You Go Through This When You Don’t Have To?”

This is a quotation from Matt Yeater at Life Tabernacle Church in Elkhart, Indiana on October 6, 2010. Matt is a 30 year old student at Indiana Bible College in Indianapolis. He is blind because of an explosion that occurred while working with the illegal drug Meth.

On this particular Wednesday, Life Achievement Services was holding “Life Skills” classes for about 26 students from Bashor Childrens Home in Goshen, Indiana. There were to be two classes divided among young men and ladies. The ladies were originally scheduled to be in the “Career Planning” class, and the young men were scheduled for “Personal Development” Mr. Tom Hartnett who is the Pharmacy Manager of CVS Pharmacy in Elkhart was scheduled to facilitate this class which was his second session on the subject of “Substance Abuse”. Because Tom had planned two great videos on drunk driving, it was decided that we would combine the two classes for the 20 minutes of video in the Church sanctuary. After the videos we decided to split the classes as normal. Apparently, God had a different idea.

While watching these videos, Matt walked into the back of the sanctuary. We did not

anticipate him being there. My wife Rebecca pointed Matt out to me suggesting that we should ask Matt to join the substance abuse class with Mr. Hartnett. I first spoke with Laura Marmolejos, who directs the Independent Living program at Bashor Childrens Home, and she not only supported the idea of inviting Matt to participate in the class, but she also requested that we allow the young ladies to join the class. A brief conversation with Mr. Hartnett ensued, and he agreed it would be a great opportunity to have someone with the experience that Matt had to help him teach. He and I then spoke with Matt and invited him to participate in the class and Matt seemed eager to do so.

At the end of the videos we announced to the group of young people that we would all be joining in the same class inside of the Adult Education Room of Life Tabernacle. This room at best comfortably seats between 12-15 people. On this night we had 26 teenagers, 5 staff members from Bashor Childrens Home including Laura, 4 staff from Life Achievement Services, Matt and Mr. Hartnett. After cramming everyone into this room, I gave a brief introduction and turned the floor over to Matt. Matt gave a heart wrenching testimony, of which my only regret is to not have any video of the evening.

During the 20 minutes account of his life from age 3 to 30 he spoke of abuse, drugs and alcohol that brought many tears to the eyes of his listeners. His first drink of alcohol was given to him by his family at age 3, and was drunk independently for the first time at the age of 6. Matt gave an account that is unfortunately all too much familiar by the young people this room was full of. At the age of 23 after being left to die (from the meth lab explosion) by his friends, he found himself in a hospital where the realization of not knowing if he would live or die, and if live, would he ever see again. Charged, convicted and incarcerated, Matt spent many lonely nights in jail seeking a God that he couldn’t even be sure existed. In and out of jail and on drugs for a number of years, he began to draw closer to God. He had 3 children by now and the struggle continued until by his own testimony, “I’ve been delivered by the blood of the Lamb of God, baptized in His name, and filled with His spirit”. He continued to say, “Why would you go through this when you don’t have to?”

After Matt’s testimony, the young people and staff members had many questions for him, and the session continued with his answers for the next 20 minutes or so. One teen asked, “What do you miss the most being blind”? Matt’s answer was, “I want to see the face of my children”. The questions were direct and simple; his answers were poignant and riveting. At the end of answering these questions, Matt spoke a word to a very specific young teenage man, whom he’d never met, and had never seen. He told him, “I will pray for you, that God gives you a respect for leadership”. What Matt didn’t know, is the very words he spoke to this young man is exactly what was needed. This young man who just turned 18 did indeed have a problem with authority. This young man and several others have been attending Church services every Sunday, and one of my greatest joys is; when he sees me I get a great big smile, handshake and a hug.

Mr. Hartnett closed out the class by sharing two more videos that provided blunt pictures of the results of methamphetamine use and straight-talking from Doctors who treat meth addicts. Several of the teens informed me they didn’t really enjoy the class tonight because it brought up too many painful memories. But there are no regrets on my part for having changed our plans. And it’s all because these 26 teenagers witnessed the ability of our Lord Jesus Christ and His word to change, to deliver and to give hope for a bright and prosperous future. It was a night to remember. It wasn’t an evening about Matt Yeater, whom I am appreciative of. It was an evening about a marvelous and wonderful God, and 26 teenagers who are loved, who have hope, and who are being helped out of living a life that they just don’t have to live.


This article was previously written and published in google documents on November 2, 2010.

Matt Yeater is available for speaking engagements. Call Pastor Mark Johnson at (574) 293-9332 for arrangements.

Daniel Criss,
President / Founder
Life Achievement Services, Inc.
http://www.lifeachievementservices.org