Time After Time
A true story of how one family found victory over suffering and death in the midst of unusual circumstances
by
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Introduction
God blessed my wife Jan and me with a beautiful daughter on September 2, 1966. It was truly an exciting moment in our young married lives. It felt so good to say “our first child!” Those of you, who have experienced the birth of your first child, probably had similar feelings. Our small third floor apartment in Berwyn, Illinois had a new tiny addition. Our lives changed dramatically when our daughter Christine was brought home. It was no longer about us but also about her. We welcomed our new responsibility as parents with great enthusiasm and love.
Chris’ medical problems began at her birth. She was born with a clubfoot, which raised major concern for her young naïve parents. She underwent surgery and both of her legs were placed in casts when she was three months old for several months. Needless to say, seeing our little girl in those casts at the beginning of her life created some stress in our lives.
As years passed, we moved to St. Charles Illinois and added two more girls Connie and Diane to our household. At the age of seven Chris was diagnosed with Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia at Children’s Memorial Hospital in Chicago, Illinois. We were just devastated! How could this be? In an instant we went from taking for granted we had all this time to watch Chris grow up, to realizing she might not live more than six months. For us, at that moment our world took on a totally different meaning. Life was now so precious and so short! Suddenly we learned the importance of living one day at a time.
Time After Time is a true story of how one family came to rely on the Lord Jesus Christ through the daily trials of coping with a terminally ill child, and through it all experienced His comfort, strength and encouragement. It’s a true story of what God can do if we are open to His heart, love, hope, peace, grace and mercy. It’s a true story of encouragement, hope and victory for those who struggle with illness, pain, suffering, trials, and tragedies that come with just living life every day. It’s a story based on Romans 8:28 “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.”
Perhaps we have heard the saying “every day a little rain must fall.” Each day is not guaranteed to bring sunshine and blue skies. Unpleasant experiences filled with storm clouds and rain will come our way at some time or another. That is just the way life is.
My family and I experienced many rainy days in our daughter’s journey with leukemia. With the Lord’s help we survived the many storms that surrounded her illness and death. However, we came through them all triumphantly because of the unlimited power, grace and mercy of a loving God. Therefore, how could we not give praise and glory to Jesus throughout the pages of this book?
May you find the Lord’s blessings, power and strength as you read the following paraphrased words from the song, Bring the Rain. Where you have pain, may you find the Lord’s peace and grace. If you have doubt and confusion, may God grant you steadfast courage to overcome. If you are tired, stressed out and want to give up, may God give you a clear understanding and strength to press on and fight another day. If you are consumed with fear, may God fill your whole being with His unconditional love.
Bring the Rain, by MercyMe
Some Lyrics Paraphrased.
Numerous times I have been approached
About how can I praise You God in the midst
Of all my trials
My reaction just astounds me when You
Consider what could alter my relationship with You
Yes my life has been transformed by Your presence
Before these storms have come my way
It never dawned on me to deny You Lord
My protection from turbulence
Brings me in Your presence
I lift up my pleas to You
I ask for joy, I ask for peace
I ask for the opportunity to be released
I ask for happiness realizing there will be times of
Disappointment
Whatever pain comes my way I will give You glory
Than Lord let the rain pour down
I will be forever Yours in spite of the storms that
Hover over me
Because You can rise above all my hurts
You have provided me with a path
By enduring pain for Your purpose
Glory, Glory, Glory
Is the almighty God
Friends, this wonderful life changing promise comes from God’s Word. He works all things for the good for those who trust in His Son Jesus Christ!! There is absolutely nothing we cannot conquer in this life, even death that God cannot ultimately turn to good! This is a story of finding victory in Christ while going through a horrible experience in the midst of a horrible tragedy. If we receive Jesus as Lord and put our undying trust in Him we are in line with God’s will, meaning we are also called to His good purpose. The chapters in this book reveal how born again Spirit filled Christians can be victorious regardless of the obstacles they face this side of Heaven!
For the Christmas of 2009, my wife Jan and I received a Christmas card from long time friends who reside in Arizona. They wrote the following: “We think of you often and remember all the fun times we had. Rock music really sends us back to memory lane when we hear those familiar golden oldies.”
There is no doubt music stirs our emotions and often takes us back in time to a nostalgic moment in our lives. For example an old love ballad may remind you of your first love “our song”. A sad song can evoke painful moments in our lives past, present and so on. I believe God can even use the secular to lead us to the sacred.
Throughout this book each chapter has a song (golden oldie) that has pricked my memory on how the power of the living Christ helped us through the most difficult period a parent could ever experience; the suffering and death of a child.
Regardless of the heartbreaks you might be experiencing in your life right now, those unraveling of events have you paralyzed with fear and uncertainty of what lies ahead. The reality is we can have a quiet boldness, confidence and assurance in God’s amazing love, power and ability to rise above it all!
However, at times it seems to get uglier before it gets better. It is exactly in those moments of extreme despair that we discover God is not simply a temporary relief. Instead, we come to the realization that He is our eternal shelter, protection and strength in any unfortunate situations we might find ourselves in. We just need to look God’s way and give Him a chance to “Taste and see that the Lord is Good! Happy is the man who takes refuge in Him!” (Psalm 34:8). Time After Time is filled with pages of this profound truth.
Whatever you are going through, may you find the blessings of God and victory in
Christ as you read Time After Time.
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About the Book
What price would you pay to find hope and victory in the presence of your darkest moments? Nothing brings us to our knees more than hardships or ultimately the loss of a loved one.
Pastor Denny Carr and his wife, Jan, have experienced the unspeakable: the death of their oldest child. It was through this tragic event that they discovered one profound truth: one can face, overcome, and move beyond all the pain agony, loneliness, heartbreak, hopelessness, desperation, and even death itself. Jesus Christ can move us from the darkness of despair to the light and comfort found in His presence.
This true story shows that deep down, all of us want to believe and experience the supernatural. In our present-day culture, we are starving to find inner meaning, guidance, and purpose in life. This book was written as a tool that seeks to affirm what we are all searching for. We want to embrace truth, meaning, joy, assurance, and victory in the midst of tragedy and heartache. It can all happen for you as you read Time After Time.
About the Author
Denny Carr is currently serving as an executive pastor at Park Place Baptist Church in Montgomery, Illinois. He earned his undergraduate degree at Judson College, Elgin, Illinois, in religion and philosophy. He received a Master of Divinity degree at McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago. He has served in churches for over twenty-nine years. Denny and his wife, Jan, have three surviving children and five grandchildren.