Fourth Days
Cathy Price
Corbin Outreach Walk #2
Table of Hannah 

My name is Cathy Price and I’m here to talk to you about my Fourth Days experience.   

I’ve been a believer in God and Jesus Christ for most of my life.  I was raised going to church on holidays and special occasions.  My family didn’t go to church every Sunday, let alone any other day of the week.  Prayers came—sometimes, the bible sat on a bookshelf and was seldom opened. 

But I believed! 

My daddy was a pilot and therefore we moved around a lot.  I had many friends in many different places.  My parents, like many others, divorced.  My sister and I stayed with our mom, while daddy moved away.  Daddy soon remarried and “Found Jesus”!  By this time I was a teenager and thought to myself – Okay—so daddy’s just trying to compensate for his sins.”

He was attending church, studying the Bible, and going on mission trips.  That was okay with me if that’s what he thought he needed.

I still believed!

Years went by—I had gotten married and divorced twice.  I had three wonderful children.  I didn’t raise them in church either.  Oh, I tried going to church a couple of times.  I felt like I was going to a Who’s Who in the churches I went to.  All the women had on their Sunday best, the men all drove Cadillac’s and I felt like I wasn’t good enough to be there.  So it just really wasn’t for me.  I taught my children—at home—the parts of the bible that I knew about.  I taught them right from wrong, good from bad.  I taught them the “Ten Commandments” and thought that would be enough.

I still believed!

Daddy was diagnosed with lymphoma cancer and had started chemotherapy treatments.  I went to Texas to see him and saw the way he acted and heard the things he had to say.  The one thing that stuck in my mind was when he would say “Thank you Jesus” when things didn’t seem to be going right!  I didn’t understand that at all.  He then explained that he thanked Jesus because he knew that it wasn’t God’s will for the things he was doing.  So, he’d change what he was doing and then everything would work out.  I thought to myself “Whatever”!

But I still believed!

Daddy’s cancer went into remission for 6 years—but after that it came back with a vengeance.  I returned to Texas, went to church with Daddy, and then realized that I wanted the peace in my heart that Daddy had in his.  I went to the altar one Sunday night, gave my life to God and was immediately baptized.  Daddy was thrilled.  And so was I.  I came back to Kentucky and started attending a tiny church near my home.  Then came 9/11!!!  I thought it was the beginning of the end. 

But I still believed!

In the meantime, daddy had decided to have a stem cell transplant.  I prayed to God that He cure daddy.  4 months later I received a phone call to return to Texas right away.  I walked into the hospital and found what was left of daddy lying in a hospital bed.  He was on a ventilator and unresponsive.  I spoke with the doctors and the prognosis they gave me was terrible.  It was left up to me to decide what to do next.  I wanted to see my daddy one more time without all of the equipment that was keeping him alive attached to him.  The doctors told me not to go far, that it would be quick once the ventilator was turned off.  The ventilator was removed and daddy’s vitals started falling.  I held daddy’s hand and was hugging him when his vitals leveled off.  Near death but not quite.  I whispered in daddy’s ear—Daddy, you said you were ready for this so go.  You said you were ready to go home so go on, it’s alright!  Daddy’s vitals started dropping again and then it was over.  I buried daddy and returned to Kentucky.

I still believed!

I had remarried for the third time to a wonderful Christian man.  He was teaching me more about God and Jesus than I had ever known.  We were working for and attending a wonderful church that had a great teaching pastor.  Bob had attended an Emmaus walk the year before we were married and wanted me to go on the upcoming one.  I was hesitant at first but caved in and went.  The experience was awesome.  And my fourth day’s experiences have been just as awesome.

I believed!  But after my walk something was different.  I not only believed—I trusted.  I trusted Him like I had never trusted anyone in my life.  I began to understand the things that daddy would say and do.  It was finally all making sense.  I was really beginning to feel that peace that daddy had in his heart, and I wanted to know more about Jesus Christ.  I realized that my whole life had been about me—how I felt, what I wanted, what I thought I needed. 

I believe and trust Jesus Christ now.

Not long after my Emmaus walk—there was a terrible split in our wonderful church.  We continued to attend the church after the split, but soon the feeling of the Spirit was no longer there.  After a few months, Bob and I felt led to leave the church.   We took some time off to meditate and pray, hoping that God would show us the way.  During this time, we felt empty—something was missing—and we both knew that we needed to be in church—somewhere.  It was an awful time.  A time I don’t think I could have gotten through without the love and grace that I found during my Emmaus walk.

But I believed and I trusted

Our pastor, as well as many others that had attended our wonderful church had started attending this church that you are in now.  I wasn’t thrilled at first—the music was too loud, they didn’t sing the traditional hymns I was used to, there were too many people here, and people seemed to keep to themselves.

But I believed and I trusted!

Bob and I have now been attending this church for 8 months.  It’s a great church—filled with the Holy Spirit!  Our new pastor is the most easy-going, spirit-led man I’ve ever met.  The music is still loud—but I understand why.  The songs that are sung are just as meaningful as the traditional hymns I was used to.  And the hundreds of people that attend this church are seeking—just as I am.

I believe and I trust!

I now know that all my past experiences have molded me into the person that I am right now.  I know that He’s not finished with me yet, and I know that I’m where the good Lord wants me to be. 

My first goal in my fourth days was to make sure my children were all saved—and they are now.  Praise the Lord!  I can’t bring people to Christ, I can plant the seed, and I can water the seed, only God can cause the increase.  I feel like there is still a lot of work to do so my “fourth days” are far from over.  There are a lot of people out there that need Jesus in their lives.  I believe and I trust that the Lord is alive and well and living in my heart.  I pray that they can see Him there and desire the peace that I have.

Oh, don’t get me wrong.  I fight battles within myself all the time—is it my will or His will?   What exactly is it that He wants for me?  I know that it’s not about me, it’s about Him.  I pray more now than I ever have.  I seek God’s will for me in everything that I do—no matter how small or how large.  I seek answers in the word of God each and every day—my bible is never very far from me.  I step out on faith every day—I’m stepping out on faith talking to you tonight—I’m not a public speaker by any means. 

But I believe and I trust!  More and more every day.

That’s the whole point isn’t it?  Trust in the Lord, seek Him in everything that you do, seek His word in all things that arise, and believe that “His Will” will be done. 

Decolores!