This was a story about a woman and her faith in the face of struggles (by Joseph Crandall her son, who was the apostle over the works that the Lord gave him. )

 

A LITTLE WOMAN with a BIG GOD

By Joseph Crandall

I have the fondest memories of one of the most spiritual women I have ever known ~ my mother, Mary Crandall. She was an anointed evangelist and preacher for Sister Wood-worth Etter. She learned to trust God and to look to Him as her sole source of support. She found that God was sufficient to supply all of her needs.  Circumstances had closed my mother in with God. She was deserted by my father and left alone with six small children, far from home and family. No welfare or relief programs were helping her meet her financial needs. Many times she would send us off to school without any lunch, but always, without fail, God would supply before lunchtime.  On one occasion we found ourselves snowed-in and stranded by a blizzard, it was so bad it took days before the plows could open the road. The snowdrifts covered our windows and some were so high they reached the roof.  During this time, our supply of wood was being used up. We had no phone and no way of getting help. My mother felt it was time to pray, so we all prayed. My oldest brother came from his room and said God told him a supply of wood would come before the last piece of wood was consumed.  My Aunt Florence, who was staying with us at the time, thought to herself that my brother's faith would be shattered. Attempting to prepare him for disappointment she said, "You poor boy, there is no way anyone could get wood here today, and no one even knows we are out of wood."  As the fire burned low and she was forced to place the last stick of wood on the fire, suddenly we heard a truck pulling into the driveway. There was a knock at the door and to Aunt Florence's delight, there stood a burly farmer and his son. He had a bewildered look on his face. He explained, "I went out to milk my cows and I heard a voice, loud and clear, tell me the family on the hill needs wood.  I thought I was tired, overworked, and my mind was playing tricks on me. But I heard it again. I told myself, "If I hear that voice once more, I'll go and carry wood to that family." The voice spoke again, so my son and I put chains on the truck and filled it with wood "Lady," he said to my mother, "do you need this wood?" Mother told him our last piece of wood was already on the fire. God does hear and answer prayer! Miracles like this occurred constantly during our stay in Connecticut. God never failed to meet even our smallest need.  At one point our neighbors alerted the Welfare Department that my father had deserted us. They sent two agents out to visit my mother, asking her if she had any regular support. She told them God supplied all of her needs and the His provision was very regular ~ everyday in fact. They informed her that her concept of support did not meet the requirements of the department.  They left, but soon returned with a station wagon to take all of us children away to be place in foster homes.  Now my mother, being a red-haired, Holy Ghost woman, was not about to turn her children over to the Welfare Department. She told them God would continue to supply our needs, that she would raise her own children and they would all grow up to preach the Gospel. Shortly after, the sheriff served papers on my mother to appear in court. My mother spent much time in prayer.  The day arrived for her to appear in court and make her defense. When told to take the witness stand and to swear to tell the truth, she told the Judge she could not swear, because the Bible says, "Swear not." At that moment the power of the Holy Ghost came upon her and she began to testify to all of the supernatural provisions of the Lord, not only for our material needs like food and clothing, but for the healing of our bodies too.  There wasn't a dry eye in the courtroom. When my mother sat down, the Judge made this decision, "I am delivering these children back to their mother.  It is for them, a privileged and a great honor to be raised by a mother with such great faith and power.  Case dismissed!” 

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​