BVOV Magazine 2013 - present

That same year, in 2003, Mike posed a question to Peg: “What do you think about my taking our nest egg and investing it?” Peg prayed and sensed peace. For years, she had seen the results of his investing and knew Mike would never put their future at risk. “Go for it,” she said, standing in faith for a financial harvest. Over the next four years, Mike multiplied their retirement funds almost five times. “Quit teaching so we can travel!” he begged Peg. Peg agreed, so they split their time between traveling and enjoying their children and grandchildren. Then one Friday in August 2008, Mike told Peg he didn’t feel well. “Call Erik,” Peg urged. “No need to bother him,” Mike insisted. “It’s just the flu.” Three days later when Mike was no better, Peg called their son and asked him to check on Mike. Erik took one look at Mike and admitted him to the hospital. That night he was moved to ICU. “What is it, Erik?” Peg asked. “I’m not sure.” Peg pulled out the healing scriptures she’d prayed before Mike regained his mobility and hit them hard. Meanwhile, Erik transferred his father to a hospital in Joplin. Mike was put on a respirator and didn’t respond to antibiotics. “Things happened so fast I felt as though I’d climbed onto a carousel that was spinning out of control,” Peg says. “I prayed God’s Word over him.” A diagnosis was eventually made that surprised everyone. Somehow, Mike had contracted Legionnaires’ disease. Although the source of the illness remained a mystery, the Source of his healing was never in doubt. Peg continued to stand on God’s Word and Mike recovered. Faith for a Home The following year the Lord gave Peg Proverbs 24:27, “Prepare your outside work, make it fit for yourself in the field; and afterward build your house” ("New King James Version"). The Lord was telling her to build the house! Peg remembered the vision she had back in 1987, of a gabled house sitting near water. She pulled out a pamphlet that listed the scriptures Gloria Copeland had stood on when she built her dream home. They had six grandchildren now and could use more space. The whole country was in the throes of a recession and no one in their area was building. While most people suffered financially, because of the blessing of the Lord and Mike’s financial wisdom, their finances continued to multiply. They bought a lot on a private lake and, as they built their dream home, Peg put scriptures in all the door jambs. In the bedrooms she put scriptures about sweet sleep. Over the entrances she put scriptures about the protective power of Jesus’ blood and peace. While most Americans tightened their budgets because of the recession, Mike and Peg moved into a 6600-square-foot gabled home on a lake! What Mike and Peg realized was that the life of faith wasn’t a sprint. It was a marathon which stretched all the way until your dying day. It brought the power of God into all your circumstances; into every valley and to the tops of every mountain. It was the grace necessary to start well, run your race and finish your course. Finishing Well In December 2011, the Lord told Peg that He was going to take Mike home. She wasn’t surprised. Over the years, he had continued to face health challenges. After suffering several bouts of congestive heart failure and a recurrence of the crippling symptoms of R.A., Mike had grown tired of the fight. Peg started reading books on heaven, building her faith for a glorious home-going. On December 15, Mike said, “Peg, God told me that I’m going to die.” “I know,” she said, wrapping her hand in his. “He told me too.” “There are worse things, you know.” “I’ve been reading books on heaven. It’s glorious!” That month, Mike was admitted to the hospital to be treated for congestive heart failure. Mike and Peg told Erik that Mike was going home. Erik, an internist and his father’s primary physician said, “When patients tell us things like this, we in the medical profession take it very seriously.” In response, Mike signed a do-not-resuscitate order. Then they called all their children and grandchildren in to say goodbye. 14 : BVOV

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