Hello ,

Her name is Netria, and "our story" is pretty amazing (if I must say so myself). When I had my heart attack and it didn't appear that I would pull through, my wife lined everything up for me to be flown to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. 

I don't remember much about my arrival, but I do recall a few of the nurses that attended to me after I had been there for a number of days. One of those nurses was Netria. She was pleasant, kind, a very capable care-giver as I struggled to keep going. 

I discovered that Netria was a Christian woman, but had no idea that she was from the same denomination that I pastor with. We were both surprised and elated to have that connection. 

But, that's not the best part!

One day, my wife Roberta, and daughter Taylor were conversing in my room about The Open Word. My wife told me, "Honey, we have to get the user name and password for your devotional. These subscribers must be so confused that they haven't received any devotionals from you."

Netria paused what she was doing stopped and turned towards my wife. "Devotional?" she said. My wife smiled and said, "Yes, Mike does a daily devotional by e-mail and sends it out to hundreds of subscribers every morning." 

'What's the devotional called," replied Netria. "The Open Word," responded my spouse. 

This beautiful nurse gasped and exclaimed, "Oh my goodness, YOU'RE Pastor Mike!" I told her that I was, and she became quite excited. 

"I have been a subscriber to The Open Word for YEARS," Netria excitedly told me. You have NO IDEA what The Open Word has meant to me. I read it every morning while I was going through nursing school. It was such an encouragement to me!"

I couldn't hold back the tears!

Of all people in this world to be caring for me in such amazing ways, here was a subscriber to The Open Word Daily e-Devotionals...someone I had never even met was telling me how much I had helped HER, as SHE was caring for ME!

Only God could have lined that up.

I was reminded once again that we serve a God who knows all about us, our struggles, our trials, and our challenges, and even works out some of the details that He KNOWS will bring us encouragement just when we need it.

I will be forever grateful for this experience, and thankful for Netria, her love for Christ, and her testimony of how a tiny ministry called The Open Word gave her a blessing that came full-circle back to the one who sends it out each morning.

God is an amazing provider!

Have a great day and God bless!

Pastor Mike / The Open Word