The Healing And The Gift

Today I received two gifts from the Lord.... one a healing and one the gift He said He would give me in my health.  The healing was realized after I got the phone call from my neurologist’s office when they told me that I had a lot of arthritis in my neck.  Such a surprise to me!  The Lord had told me that the cause of my headache was in my brain, so what was the deal about the arthritis?  How could that be the cause of my headache when the Lord had told me the cause was in my brain, not my neck.  Well... the Lord explained that to me in His Word when He made it known that He had healed the problem in my brain and substituted the cause of my headache into my neck!!!!!  He actually moved the cause from one place to another in my body and that new condition and place is much easier to treat.  WHO BUT GOD COULD HAVE DONE THAT???????  Although the Lord has done this before in my health, I am always awed, amazed and humbled when He does it!!!  

Through the years the Lord has miraculously healed me of breast cancer, interstitial cystitis, gluten intolerance, lactose intolerance and now a very serious problem in my brain!!!!!  He absolutely receives ALL the glory for doing these things in my health!  I have asked Him many times why He does this in my body when so many others suffer excruciating pain and illnesses.  Why am I spared (at least so far) serious and devastating diseases and others are not?  The only reason I have ever received from Him is this...

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”  (Jeremiah 29:11)

So far it is simply not His way to receive the greatest glory from my life.  Though it may be some day, for now it is not.  I am truly blessed in this and most unworthy.  He is so merciful in my health and I am speechless once again because of what He has done in my life.  To Him be all praise, honor and glory for His mercy in my life.  Like I said... I am humbled, ever so humbled, by His work in my life.  

Alive Again!

God has given me the most incredible gift (no, not the health gift that He will give me later) and I can hardly believe He has given me this privilege.  I am now involved with the ministry Alive Again! that is based here but serves the Lord internationally.  He has called me to be the prayer ministry co-ordinator of this Spirit-filled ministry.  This humbles me so.  I am so thankful to be used by the Lord in this way.  Thank You, Lord!  May I rely on You alone to do this.  Praise You!

For many years the Lord has given me a heart for women who suffer from the trauma or abortion and sexual abuse, so it is easy to see how He has connected me to Alive Again!  I’ve known Sherry, the ministry’s president, for many years and know her as a woman who is sold out to the Lord and desires only to serve Him whatever the Lord calls her to do.  I’m grateful to serve the Lord with her.  

Alive Again! takes women and men through the Bible study “A Journey To Grace” to bring them to the healing and redemption that the Lord desires for all His children.  It is an amazing journey.  As I begin as the prayer co-ordinator for this precious ministry, it is my desire to support, encourage and fortify Alive Again! through prayer in order that the Lord may be glorified even more through it.  May all be to His greatest glory.  

Lord, thank You for this gift...

“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of heavenly lights, Who does not change like shifting shadows.”  James 1:17

More...

Back from my latest neurologist’s appointment.  Cervical MRI scheduled for next week and prescribed sleep medication.  The real answer to my headache?  It would surprise me if it is, but the Lord is definitely leading and guiding us to the true diagnosis.  Just need to rule out all other possibilities.  I need the Lord’s merciful grace to endure and wait on His answer to all of this.  The true diagnosis is coming.  I just don’t think it is here yet.  God is in control and I will follow wherever He leads me.  I will praise Him in the storm.  He is still good, He still loves me with an everlasting love, and I will still love and serve Him with all my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Praise Him from Whom all blessings flow...

“I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth.  These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them.”  Isaiah 42:16

P.S.  Got a great hair cut yesterday.  I love “good hair days”!  Thank You, Lord, for that blessing!

Beans...

Yes, beans.  I’d looked for them in three states before I found them this afternoon in our local Walmart.  I’d even “made my own” the other night.  You see... these beans were one of two main ingredients in our “famous” red beans and rice recipe.  My sweet husband showed me how to make this recipe shortly after we married and we’ve always loved that recipe.  So not being able to find any more of the canned beans was frustrating.  The last time I needed some, I had to have them special ordered.  However, last night I had only one more can of beans left.  I was resigned to “making my own” until, or IF, I could find some place that carried the infamous beans.  Such was my mindset until this afternoon at Walmart.

While going to the dentist and running errands this afternoon, I ended up at Walmart (not an unusual thing for me).  While doing my shopping, I was meandering down the aisle of vegetables.  And there they were... my canned beans... just sitting on the shelf like they’d been there for years.  I was thrilled!  I was amazed that they were there and thankful that I had finally found them again.  But more than being thankful for the beans, I could not help but thank the Lord for providing something so simple as cans of beans for me.  I was awe struck at His great love and provision for me.  I could have lived without that particular type of canned beans, but God provided them for me once again.  Standing there by the beans in Walmart I saw the Lord shine through and show His love once again.  I felt His Presence as He again showered me with something I wanted but did not really “need”.  Wow... God is the only One I know Who can show His love through providing a can of beans.  He humbles me any time He does this in my life or the life of those I know.  Thank You, Lord!

“He Who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all-- how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things?”  Romans 8:32

Who would have ever thought that would include cans of New Orleans style red kidney beans? 

I Need Thee...

“The Lord protects the simple-hearted; when I was in great need, he saved me.”  Psalm 116:6

Great need... that seems to be my life theme for some time now.  I’m living more and more in complete dependence on the Lord.  That’s a good thing and I’m glad about that.  Living in such a place can be extremely challenging though.  I feel like I’m sitting in a school desk before the Lord and He is teaching me and molding me more into His likeness.  Like I’ve said before... that’s a good place to be, just hard sometimes.  I again am tempted to take my eyes off of my Lord and put them on my circumstances (they are screaming for attention!).  I just can’t afford to do that... I just can’t.  How would I ever survive in such a way?  I simply can’t and don’t want to live with my eyes on earthly things.  Sooooo... by HIS grace I will keep my eyes upon Him.  I have to... otherwise I would be consumed by my own desires and the ways of the world and I couldn’t stand that.  I love the Lord so much and desire His will above mine at all times.  There is such joy in living in the light of His Presence and I don’t want to miss a moment of being with Him.  Thank You so much, my Lord, for making that possible and for being my Emmanuel, God with me all the time.  Praise You, Lord!

Home Again...

We got home yesterday.  I wish that I had the words to describe our trip.  I am still in awe of the ways that the Lord covered our trip with His mercy, power and grace.  I don’t know that I’ve ever experienced Him in such a powerful way.  He has taught me so much more about what Philippians 4:13 and Matthew 19:26 means. 

“I can do everything through Him(Christ) Who gives me strength”.  

“... With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

While on this trip, despite my multiple health problems, I was enabled to travel, enjoy our time with others, and help my Daddy.  I did things that I could never have done except by the help and grace of my Lord. Yes, He made it all possible by giving me His strength and abilities.  On my own I could never have taken this trip and, surely, I could never have done all that I did while gone.  It was truly a supernatural trip, something only He could have accomplished.  I am once again completely humbled by it all.  Words to explain it all escape me.  There are no words to described all that He did.    All that I can say is this... on the trip I was able to do everything that was needed, but, now that I am home, I can do none of those things.  Oh yes, it was a supernatural trip.  Praise God from Whom all blessings flow!