God is still the Great Physician

I love God Spots.   A long time friend needed God in the worse way for the health of her adult son. This is her report…

First report: Claudia has much to be thankful for today! Chris is communicating with hand squeezes; his temp is down; he is on no “machines” (had his “turkey and dressing” through a feeding tube; responds to many commands (cough, say “hi” which sounds like Darth Vadar); IMPROVEMENT! Still a long way to go. Richard is having symptoms of his rheumatoid arthritis coming out of remission. We still need everyone’s prayers. Bless you all.

Second report: Claudia is thanking the Lord for miracles today! Chris woke up talking! He sat up in a chair for 3 hr. Dr. said 90% of those who have this serious of a stroke do not survive. He is leaving ICU for CCU when a bed is available. Medical personnel are amazed. Chris is doing great!!

You can follow God’s hand on Claudia’s family by clicking on her link to Facebook. Be encouraged to leave her encouragement comments here, also.

Homeless for the Holidays

Cora and I went grocery shopping for the holidays and I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to chat with Mr. and Mrs. Anderson. They are homeless. They have a camp up the hill a couple of miles from the grocery store. Lee was sitting at a bench outside the grocery store while his wife was shopping at the party store.

Lee and his wife were very friendly and were eager to share their stories. Lee found Jesus a couple years, ago. Since that time, he has totally kicked his drug habits and does not manufacture meth any more. His wife is also clean, but alcohol is still a part of their daily existence.

Although life had been hard on the two of them, they were incredibly positive. They were eager for company and offered to take me to their camp to show me around. I declined but got their phone number in case I changed my mind. I wish I could remember his wife’s name, but sadly can’t. I asked if she had ever seen God do anything for her. She
very excitedly asked me how many times would I like to hear about?

She then sang me a pretty song. It was her best “Valley Girl” rendition of a song she had written about Adam and Eve in the garden. She had previously sung this song to a prostitute and drug addict  while locked up at the county jail. She saw God in the song and believed it a strong witness to her friends. It probably was. Lee loved to hear her sing.

You likely will find this statement odd, but I don’t know if I have ever met any couple as excited about God and His place in their life.  They were really pumped and it was hard for me to get away. They just wanted to keep talking about God in their life as they shared a bottle.

The experience does make me wonder. Why did I expect less out of a homeless person, then I’d expect in talking to any other stranger.  Why was I surprised they had a relationship with God? No matter how I slice it, I was blessed in the opportunity to meet the Andersons.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING from 37stories!

Surf to: http://www.freshc.org for a Fresh Connection…

THE CANCER CONNECTION

Update on my friend with cancer follows. Please pray…

On October 27th, I was diagnosed with mouth cancer; a stage 2 squamous cell carcinoma inside my right cheek. Surgery is scheduled for Monday, November 30 at which time the surgical team will remove the tumor, 5 teeth and a portion of my upper and lower jaw. I am advised to allow at least two weeks before even thinking about resuming any normal ministry activity. So, I will be out of commission for a couple of weeks. For those of you who sent your support check after the 15th, you will be receiving a receipt letter as you normally would but it will not have any personal comments on it. Please know that whether there is a note or not, I am very grateful for your ongoing support of our ministry. It is a blessing beyond belief.

But God, who is rich in mercy has opened some doors of ministry for me since the diagnosis. One opportunity was with a 38 year old male, I’ll call “Z”. When I visited him in the hospital, upon the request of his sister, “Z” told me that had been diagnosed with lymphoma and was facing a chemotherapy treatment plan. As we talked, he broke into tears when he shared with me the possibility that he would never leave the hospital. I grabbed his hand and words of encouragement began to flow from my mouth. He confessed that he had not been in church in over 20 years, that he had lived a hard life as a truck driver and just didn’t know how God could forgive him. I assured him that forgiveness was his in Jesus and if he, by faith, would give Jesus his old life, that Jesus would give him new life in return. A life of supernatural hope, peace and love that he could experience despite his serious prognosis. So, on a Monday morning, just before I went for a CT scan, “Z” gave his life to Christ. Please pray that this confession will take deep root and that “Z” will be drawn into a close, personal relationship with Jesus.

I visited another gentleman in the hospital following surgery to remove a blockage in his small intestine that had caused him a great deal of discomfort. The surgery went well and he was looking forward to going home to his family. He was released from the hospital but later received a pathology report that revealed that he has a very rare form of intestinal cancer. He is currently undergoing chemotherapy with additional surgery on the horizon. I shared my diagnosis with him and all of a sudden, our relationship deepened.   All of a sudden he felt I could understand better. He has always been cordial during our interactions but now he gladly received prayer and has sought my counsel on when and how to share this news with his children, his co-workers and his friends. We talk on a weekly basis
for updates and to encourage each other.

So, here we have an opportunity to experience Romans 8:28 which says: “For we know that God causes all things to work together for good so those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.” The Lord is at work. I believe that either He is deepening my faith so I can more effectively minister and/or He is purifying me. Perhaps there is some dross on my heart that inhibits the fullness of the Spirit to work or that keeps me from being an accurate reflection of Christ to those He puts in my path. Whatever the reason, God knows the outcome.

I have told Peggy this and I may have shared it with you and, if so, forgive me for repeating myself. “I don’t know where this road leads but I know Who paved it”.

If you are prompted to pray for me, please pray for Peggy also. We are asking that the Lord use this for His glory and for our strengthening. I would also ask that you pray that the surgery will be adequate and that no radiation treatment will be necessary.

Your partnership with us in ministry is a gigantic encouragement and because of your support, I am able to share the love of Christ in the workpalce with many who have never been to church or have been away from it for a long time. I don’t know how many people have shared with me that, as a result of my encouragement, they are actively visiting churches to find one that they can become involved in. You enable that through your gifts of support. THANK YOU!!! And God bless you.

To Know Him, To Make Him Known,

 

Friend with Mouth Cancer…. How can we pray for you?

I have a friend who has a cancerous growth in his mouth. Likely, he will be embarrassed if he reads this. He is a humble man of God and actively seeks His pleasure. I believe if God were to heal him, others’ faith would be increased and God would be blessed.

I want God’s abundance on his life. So it is not my desire to get you and I between him and God’s best. If it pleases God, pray with me in requesting God’s healing power on my friend. Pray for the doctors to be astonished with his miraculous healing. I know my friend will point others to God as the miracle worker.

So as you read this, pray for God’s healing on my friend’s mouth.   Pray the tumor will miraculously recede at the doctors’ astonishment.   Pray God will be blessed and my friend will be healed.

Ask this in the name of Jesus who has already given all for us, as believers. If He chooses, my friend will be healed. If you have a word of encouragement or prayer post it here.

Surf to: http://www.freshc.org for a Fresh Connection…

God Spot Verified

From my friend Faith.  What a great name!

My Thoughts:
Jeremiah 10:6
No one is like you, O Lord; you are great, and your name is mighty in power.

So…most of you know that this last week was pretty intense for my family. I received the call Friday evening from my parents telling me that my mom had been having chest pains, had been to a cardiologist, and that she would have a heart catheterization (with stints or bypass) on Monday. My entire family rushed to Missouri to be with my mom and dad. My mom was having all the symptoms of a heart attack on Sunday and was taking nitroglycerin. On Monday, the doctor told us that my mom had some anomalies (defects) and 2 clogged and calcified coronary arteries. He told us that he was pretty sure that she was going to have a triple bypass. We rallied, prayed, and hoped for the best.

An hour passed and the doctor came out with a perplexed expression on his face. He said, “She’s fine. Actually she is better than fine. Her arteries have zero plague and no calcification. Being 65, she should have some but she doesn’t. Not only is she plague free, but the abnormalities on the CAT scan just aren’t there anymore. I cannot explain it, and I called 3 other doctors in to look…God must have performed a miracle.”

My mom went home that evening and has had no chest pain or any symptoms. My mom says that all her symptoms went away shortly before they wheeled her into the procedure room and that it was fascinating to watch the doctors freaking out because they didn’t see what they thought they would. They even checked to make sure they had the right CAT scan.

I am praising God because I truly believe He healed my mom…a mighty demonstration of His power. As you pray and listen to God this week, what is God demonstrating to you?

When God Rejects Us

GUEST POST by: Marianne

We pray for legitimate help.   We wait, and there is nothing……..

Why?

Those who insist that every prayer is met with victory, if you pray hard enough, or tithe long enough, are wrong.

Jesus prayed to avoid the cross, but he died on it anyhow. The apostles were faithful in prayer, yet most were also crucified, as Jesus was, or put to death for their faith.

People get depressed when God does not seem to answer, or His answer is obviously “no.”

Sometimes God helps, sometimes He doesn’t. Why?

I have found that the longer I know the Lord, the less He helps me.

That does seem opposite of what I would expect.

But as I mature in faith, my faith is tested more. And I have to wait longer for anything, if I am to get it at all. God is present to help me grow in faith. If he answers too quickly, then my faith stays where it is at.

Many of us have legitimate situations. We are in serious difficulty: unemployed for years, out of money, terminal illness, etc.

We have to accept the reality of our situation.

If it is meant to be cured, then it will. If it goes on too long, we will die because of the situation.

Sometimes, we do not get another job in time, before we lose our house, and sometimes we do not survive cancer.

But this is the time to draw closer to God anyhow, because he may be all we have left. We need to also accept that it is not God rejecting our prayers for help.

God gives life and he takes it away. Our life is in His hands.

Maybe it is our time to go and be with Him.

Our heavenly reward will not be based on our success in life, or how well we got God to answer our prayers, or quickly overcoming an earthly problem.

It will be based on our faithfulness during a testing time, when God does not give us what we want.

It is the dark times when we are nothing, our life is nothing, and we have nothing, that we earn our crowns.

So when you see this happening to you, just look up to Him. He is watching you grow, and he knows the pain you are in.

He has allowed it, so that you will not only come to know Him and His sufferings, but also a greater weight of glory when you meet Him.

Do not give up. Be encouraged. God is not rejecting you.

You are closer to Him now, than you ever have been before. No matter how hard it is, just rest in Him.

Ecstatic – Word for the Day

 ”I saw God before me for all time.
      Nothing can shake me; he’s right by my side. 
 I’m glad from the inside out, ecstatic;
      I’ve pitched my tent in the land of hope”.

………………………………………….David

Write the verse on your heart and in your head.  Claim it every 60 minutes.  Be “glad from the inside out”.  BE ECSTATIC!  There is no better place to be than with God right at your side in the land of hope.

Remember.  Life was not easy for David.  He was constantly hunted and death was always knocking at his door.  Yet, he was ECSTATIC!  Living in a land of hope.    Be a little like David today.  God can save. 

Pray with me for healing on marriages.  “Abba.  Father.  Please look down on us and have mercy on struggling marriages.  Use this time of struggle to draw us close to you.  Then, heal our marriages.  Protect us from the evil ones.  Help us pitch our tents in the land of hope.”

James Harrison T-Shirt – What will you pay?

How much will you pay for an authentic James Harrison Superbowl record breaker T-Shirt?  I think this shirt may have been worn during the Super Bowl game and James made his record breaking touch down.  I think the guy that has this shirt stole it off his back while he was in the shower.

 Or possibly you’d like to bid on Aretha’s hat she recently wore at the Oh’Bama inaugeration.  She says she’s not sure if she is going to let the Smithsonian Institute have it.

 

And if nothing else you could always bid on Michael Swim Phelps’s hooka pipe.  He says he used bad judgement.  Probably thought the pipe was a bad fit for his teeth.

Or possibly my dirty socks. 

I don’t know.  I guess the Super Bowl brings out the best or worst in me.  Sigh…

 

Which item will bring the best price on ebay?

Run. But, you can’t hide.

Google
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Bad Request

Your client has issued a malformed or illegal request.

————————————————————————————

I am focused and praying hard for couples in marriage that I know are struggling.  Yesterday, one of the couples said they were separating and another said they had already separated.  Sometimes it seems God sends back a “Google Error.  Bad Request.” response. 

What am I doing wrong in my prayers?  If separation is the result of my prayers, maybe I shouldn’t be praying?  Is God just too busy keeping up with presidents and kings and things?  Does God really care?

Then, I think about Jesus willingly dieing on the cross that I might have life and have it abundantly.  That negates any argument of not caring.  Could it be that my prayers are adding light to the couples’ life that reveals things they don’t want to see?

Running from God is never the solution.  He never tires.  He will chase.  Abundance is found when God is embraced and you walk faithfully together through the fire.  Let God catch you.  Give up the chase.  He can and will make a difference.   God bless.

You do! I would never!

 What ever happened to love?  Remember the first time you looked in your Love’s eyes and saw the gentleness and peace of returned love.  Remember when there was nothing you wouldn’t do for your life mate?  Remember the kind words exchanged and that good morning kiss? What happened?

You worked hard to provide for the family.  Long hours at your profession or striving to keep the home pulled together while the world pulled it apart.  Running, constantly running from one sports event to another.  What happened to the love?

Somewhere in the mix of life, faithfulness slipped away.  There just wasn’t time for God if you were going to accomplish the things that were admirable and important.  Slowly, it became harder to spend time with a Father that was so distant.  It wasn’t long before you shoved Him in the back of your thoughts and quit caring.

Do you want your love back?  Return to your 1st love and love will return to you. 

Do this.  Buy the New Testament version of the Bible known as “The Message” and read it straight through cover to cover as fast as you can.  Write in the margins everything that comes to your mind. 

Read fast.  Write fast.  Don’t let anything slow you down or prevent you from consuming the Word.  Open your body, soul and spirit to God.  Somewhere,  sometime during the read you will find your 1st love.  Love will return to you.  It’s that simple. 

It only takes a few days to consume a good book.  The Message is THE good book.  It took me less than 30 days to read it the first time while I worked a full time job.   If your marriage has lost its love.  Read the book and then read it again.  You will find love.  Guaranteed.  But do you really care?

“Do you think their faithlessness cancels out his faithfulness? Not on your life! Depend on it: God keeps his word even when the whole world is lying through its teeth.” Paul