By Marlene Gilliam

Here's what came of it. God sat her down and she stayed there at the computer, typing as fast as the words came to her and ended up with a book. The following is the Preface to: But, God, They Died!:

So, now what? What does this mean? Which part didn't work? Was it my fault in any way? Was it God's fault? Who failed? What about faith? Do we question God? God, I don't mean to question you, but, I need answers!

My next set of questions became:

How can I teach people God's Word if it has not proven to work for me?
Can I tell people that God's Word is true sometimes, but not at others?
What are the determining factors?
Doesn't "…they shall recover." mean just that?
If it does, why didn't they?
If it doesn't mean exactly what it says, what does it mean?

Hold on to your hat cause it got worse. I then began to say, "If I can't stand on and believe what God's Word says about this, how can I believe His Word in other areas? If I don't get answers, I don't know how I will believe any of it." "God, I need help! I am desperate. Your Word is real or it isn't!"

My husband warned me to watch what I am saying. He was right. I must watch my words for my tongue has the power of life and death in it.

Proverbs 18:21: Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

But, my response to Dan was, "Can't I be honest with God? If I can't be honest with God, with whom can I be honest? He knows my heart. My heart is to serve Him. I have great faith, yet seem to lack understanding in this matter. I need to be able to be truthful and honest with God. He is the only one I can turn to. He is the only one with the answers"

So, here I am, at the computer, writing as the words come. Names in this book are changed to protect the privacy of those involved. If there is any similarity to you or anyone you know, just ask God about it. I don't know what this book is going to say; because, as of this point in writing it, I don't have any of the answers.

I am in need of help. So, as usual, God is having me write down what I need so that someone else will get the help too. Right now, I am just reaching out to God. One of our friends (we'll call him Dale) was just rushed from the church service to the hospital in an ambulance with a heart attack. At this very moment, I don't have any report on his condition. Yet, in the midst of it all, I feel the prompting of the Holy Spirit to sit here at the computer and type - type whatever He puts into my spirit - by faith! I have so much faith; yet, what about Dale?