The Blessed Disease

The Blessed Disease

How can such an oxymoron exist. Surely Disease is either good or bad. I have never given this much thought other than to pray for healing each time a loved one is diagnosed with some mysterious sickness. I remember a sermon I heard once that told of a little lady that came to the minister with a headache. The church whispered a quite prayer not really giving it much thought. Then another person came with the diagnosis of cancer and requested prayer. The preacher cleared his throat and with a deep voice of concern said with great sincerity "Gather Round  Saints". When we pray we need to realize that to God cancer is no greater than having a headache. With a moving as a slow settling fog God can heal either of them the same. I believe God really does heal sometimes in response to a gentle whisper or a groan and sometimes to the deep heart felt throws of bitter moaning. Either way I know it is true that he is touched by the feelings of our infirmity. That means that he cares. To believe that all things work together for the good of those who love the Lord is the source of trust and faith and hope. Of knowing that everything in his word really is true.  The Blessed Disease. Recently I myself was diagnosed with an Immune disorder in which I don't make enough immune cells to fight disease. They sent me to an infectious doctor and he told me that a simple cold could kill me. He recommended a treatment called IVIG to give me the immunity of others. It is a blood derivative so I agreed to the treatment. It made me horribly sick with a severe headache with which I could not lift my head off the pillow for days. I had a fever and severe nausea. I can not do this because I had to miss three days of work and felt like I would die. It was ordered monthly. I have been to church and prayed for about my problem. What to do? I have really been contemplating the absurdity  of trusting God for my healing. I know I know...what if he don't heal me but right now I am just thinking about what if he does and again I say He is touched by the feeling of our infirmity. So I think if he cares like his word said then maybe just maybe he will heal me. What if he does?

Thankful

Thankful

Today I am thankful. I teach Sunday School and it was so refreshing to see the kids reaching up with their hands outstretched toward heaven as they both worshiped and prayed. They were sincere and acting as leaders. I am so proud of them both where they have come from, and where they are going to. My heart is feeling Thankful. Michelle and Kylee....Pray on! 

What If ?

What If ?

What If ? What if I would do my best daily. What if I was thankful in all things like I should be. I am afraid I spend way too much time whining about the things I can't change. Things that do not matter anyway instead of being thankful for the things I should be acknowledging as important. Like how God in his infinite blessings once again just this week spared my Husbands life as he gasp for breath.

I found him just laying in the bathroom floor so out of breath. He was pale as a crisp white sheet and as cool. His breath came in wasp of deep deliberate inhalations. I looked at him with concern and ask what are you doing? He gazed at me and in a hushed voice that took way to much energy said I just could not make it back to my chair. Let me help you I said. As I took his arm and encouraged him to lean on me tears welled in my eyes but they were tears he would never see because at this time I will be brave. I took him to the hospital and was told he was in congestive heart failure. After a few days of treatment he is back home again and once again I am thankful for his life.   As I mull over these events I am reminded of how sometimes people are put in our lives for us to provide help. They are hurting, gasping within almost about to die spiritually. All they need is for us to offer to help them up and back to their chair. Back to that place where they can feel God one more time. They are sick spiritually and may be about to give up but need our prayers and our tears which they may never see. Our intercession that reaches heaven for others and grabs the attention once again of a God who cares deeply. He is just waiting for someone to call. Let it be me. Make me  more aware of my surrounding and the pain and needs of others. What If ? it is my voice he is waiting to hear. Speak Lord for I am listening.   

A Day of Change

    

     Today is a great day. It is a day of change. Today we have seen prayers answered and miracles happen. Today is the first service in our new church. The church God made possible. In other words the church that God gave us. Pastor Hall says it is our million dollar miracle. It is our miracle not just because it is beautiful with the red carpet and the polished wood furniture or because of the artful baby grand piano just waiting to play The Old Rugged Cross or I See The Crimson Stream of Blood. If that piano could talk it would be saying "play me softly so that souls will be touched by the very spirit of God." For this we have prayed.
     We realize that our service to God is not in a brick and mortar building but of things much deeper than that. We are just blessed with those things but our calling is not about us. It is about them. Those people out there who walk to and fro in our city. Those people who are lost but are blind to their state of despair. Those people who are hurting inside and don't know where to turn. That is where we come into play. We must show them
    
    

Stand Your Ground

Stand your Ground

She was dressed for the occasion because the festivities called for that. To her husband she was the most beautiful lady ever. He cherished her. He had another wife who had given him children but still, it was Hannah that he loved. But that was not enough. Hannah had things, possessions that would have made any women happy but not so with Hannah. She wanted more, she needed more.
The party surrounded her. She could hear people laughing, and joking, and sharing pleasantries, as she sat quietly uttering not a word. Her heart ached within her chest as she excused herself walking slowly at first and then running away to a place where she could be all alone. On the steps she sat and then slumped because the burden in her heart would not allow her to sit up straight. Her soul cried out even though she could not be heard. Only her lips moved as the tears streamed down her face. From across the way Eli the priest saw her. Who could this woman be he thought. He watched as she cried and her body jerked with  deep sobs as if she was in agony. She must be drunk. He walked over to her thinking she was a mess. "Put away thy wine" he said to her in a stern voice, a little disgusted at what he saw. How could she be here at such a joyous event in a state like this. Her eyes were swollen and red. By now even her attire appeared disheveled. In a quiet hushed voice racked by pain she looked up at him, her eyes still moist from crying and said "No lord I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit: I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but have poured out my soul before the LORD."
Hannah had to have children or die!
         
     And now I ask how long has it been since we have pulled ourselves away from the fun things in life, The things that make us laugh. When have we allowed our hearts to meditate on that which is not pleasant. When have we been sober enough to realize that it is not the fun things that our children need, it is the grounded word of God. It is to instill in them that living for God is fun and necessary. When have we cried out to God so much that our voice left us and all we felt was that deep seated grief as if we have lost something precious. In fact the most precious thing in our lives. We better wake up! We better do something! We better train our ears for the call! The call to win our children and to snatch them back from the very hand of satan. Oh God! Have mercy upon us if we just stand quietly as they are drawn away and we do nothing to stop them. It is imperative that we develop plans, and games and music that will speak to their hearts and put the word of God into them. That we show them by example how to worship. That we create an atmosphere conducive to the moving of the spirit. The main thing is that we as their Grandparents, aunts and uncles, moms and dads must do everything we can to win them because satan is ever reaching, ever enticing, and at all times trying to pull them away. We must stand our ground.
    

It's No Time To Sleep

It's No Time To Sleep

     In the early morning while the world is sleeping I awake. No not by choice but yet by choice. It's 1:30 a.m. Yes I could roll over and go back to sleep as my body desires to do but again my thoughts roll over and over in my head and sleep eludes me. I am consumed with a burden for souls. I realize that some people who read this may think I am crazy or at least a little off but not so, this is what a burden feels like. Tears roll down my cheeks as I cry out for a world that is lost and more real to me, for our children and grandchildren. I am reminded once again of the verse in Luke 23:28  where Jesus told them. Daughters of Jerusalem weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children. Who will pray in this day when things are so hurried and the world says things don't matter. That it is ok to live like you want and dress just any old way. When they call good evil and evil good. I want to shout to the top of my lungs. People of God wake up! Pray! Arise in the early morning and late at night. Bow on your knees at noon time and early afternoon. Wherever you are whatever you are doing stop and cry and pray for God! the one true God to look on us with compassion and love and save our world. To forgive our sin. To send back again the spirit of old time conviction. Conviction that will call us to pray once again and to arise out of our sleep because people are dying and going to hell and who will pray for them if not us, if not me. Conviction that won't let us slumber and sleep spiritually. Conviction that makes us look at ourselves through magnifying glasses and see who we really are, what we really believe. Conviction that will make us change from the comfortable to the necessary, that will wake us up in the middle of the night because our people are lost. Who, I ask will hear that call and stand in the gap and make up the hedge and do the uncomfortable to make a difference. Please God! Let it be me. Wake me up tonight, and tomorrow night, and the next night, and help me to pray, to weep, to cry for souls...That is what he did in the garden of   Gethsemane and that is what our calling is. Thank you God for choosing me, for trusting me with this gift. Help me ever be found on my knees before you until my world is saved.

    

Until

Until

How long should we hold onto a promise...a hope...a dream...in search of a miracle? The answer to this is Until...

According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary the meaning of the word until indicates the time when something will happen or come true. When we have prayed and prayed for an answer we should never quit. We should continually pray for the focus of our need until. Until when you may ask, and so I say, Until you either die praying or you see the miracle come true. Faith is the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not seen! I do believe that a lot of times people give up way to soon and some give up a moment, literally seconds before their miracle is about to occur.

The way I see it, It doesn't matter if I see my prayers come true or not. I know that this may seem crazy but if I never see anything else come true, I have already seen enough to know that my prayers are not in vain. Would I love to see each one answered? Why yes I would. But until...I will just keep on praying. Keep believing, Keep waiting for that miracle and keep holding on to the promise. I will keep on Until... because Webster says Until is the time when something happens or comes true.

Luke 24:49   

And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.