The Holy Spirit & the Airport Bathroom

Silly title, but I wanted to share this God story because I just love how He cares for us so much that He is involved in the details...

On September 6, we went to Las Vegas (for the first time) for a huge baby product trade show called ABC. We were going to represent SlingEZee, our baby sling business. SlingEZee has been our favorite baby carrier for years, and we were blessed to buy the business in January 2007. We had worked incredibly hard for many months to prepare for ABC. The week before leaving for Vegas, a particular section of scripture spoke to Mark, and he sent this e-mail to some of our employees and me the day before we left for the show:

Sent: Friday, September 05, 2008 8:42 AM

Unless the LORD builds the house,
They labor in vain who build it;
Unless the LORD guards the city,
The watchman keeps awake in vain.
It is vain for you to rise up early,
To retire late,
To eat the bread of painful labors;
For He gives to His beloved even in his sleep.
Psalm 127:1-2

This Psalm that has been on my mind for the past week and I’d like to share it with all of you because I think it pertains to us. We have put all kinds of time and effort into this years ABC Show but I ask that you pray today and through next week that God will do with this show and SlingEZee whatever he wishes. Whether we win or we lose in the worlds eyes lets thank God for being there and bringing us on this journey.

Thanks, Mark

We had given our business over to the Lord, which only made sense as it was clear to us that He led us into owning SlingEZee. Once again, we asked Him to do what He wanted with it - it was His.

The next day, we drove to the off-airport parking lot for Houston Hobby, parked the truck, caught a shuttle, and checked in at the curb for Southwest. Mark realized at that point that he forgot his glasses in the truck, and would need to go back. I told him to go ahead - I'd run to the bathroom and meet him near security so we could go through together.

I walked down to the baggage claim area at Houston Hobby and found a bathroom. It was clean and offered about 10 empty stalls. I stood there looking at the empty stalls (really needing to go) and felt that I was not supposed to be in this bathroom. Why? I couldn't figure it out. There was nothing scary about it. I tapped each stall door open and looked in, seeing that each one truly was empty. I felt so goofy - what was my deal? Though I toyed with telling myself that I was being silly, I'd had this strange feeling before and decided to listen. After leaving the bathroom, I called Mark on his cell purely because I felt so strange and didn't know what to do with myself. I told him that I needed to go to the bathroom, but didn't feel good about this one and would wait for him to return. He said that was fine - he needed to go, too - and we'd look for one after going through security.

After going through security, we turned toward our gate and each went into our designated bathroom. While in the ladies' bathroom, I heard a few women talking while washing their hands. It was clear they were going to the ABC show as well. I came out of my stall, noticed the ladies who were chatting, and proceeded to wash my hands. When Mark and I met back up, I pointed the ladies out to him, now chatting in front of our gate, and told him that they were going to ABC as well. He said that I ought to meet them, and I agreed, but the timing did not feel right.

Settled on our plane, we ended up in front of one of the ladies, who happened to own a diaper bag company. She would be representing her company at ABC. The other two ladies were seated far ahead of us, and had made a comment about my baby sling as we passed their aisle.

A while into the flight, Havilah, our 10 month old baby, became tired and started to nurse in the sling. I got up and went to meet the two ladies seated ahead. They affirmed that they were going to the ABC show, and explained that they were buyers for a baby furniture store in Houston that has several locations. When they asked what we were going for, I explained that we were representing SlingEZee, the baby sling I was wearing. They responded with the trouble they were having with the slings being sold in their stores, which led into my passion for babywearing and offering workshops to help mothers. I was able to show how SlingEzee is constructed differently, making wearing your baby comfortable for longer periods of time. When I mentioned how easy it was to breastfeed in it, they were both surprised to learn that Havilah was nursing herself to sleep. When she finished, I was able to readjust her vertically against my chest and tighten the top rail of the sling independently - something that most pouches don't allow. The owner of the baby furniture store was very pleased with what she saw of SlingEZee. She then told me how she was part of a large buying group. This group consisted of owners of baby stores across the United States. She wanted to mention SlingEZee to her group at their upcoming meeting. This buying group, which I was previously ignorant of, happened to be at the root of the ABC show's start years ago.

As I walked back to my seat on the airplane after conversing with the ladies, I realized the huge gift the Lord was giving us - as He gives His beloved even in his sleep. I realized that He led me to this opportunity by placing me in the right place at the right time. I was clearly not supposed to use that first bathroom - for reasons that I was not aware of. I was supposed to be in that second bathroom - at just the right time. I sit in awe at the Holy Spirit's mysterious ways, helping Mark to leave his glasses behind, and speaking to me through a strange feeling in that first bathroom. The gift the Lord gave to our business was very exciting, but more exciting to me than that was His involvement. He's shown Himself over and over again in our lives, and there is fresh awe every time.

I remember learning through my studies at a Christian university about how God used to speak to people and work in miraculous ways, but He no longer does. I accepted this, since it fit my experience. Fourteen years down the road, however - having grown closer to the Lord through trials and joyful times - I have watched my intellectual (often legalistic) faith transform into a deeper, living faith. Increasingly, I was experiencing God - not because God decided to finally speak to me or interact with me - but I think because my relationship with Him was deepening and my eyes and ears were starting to open. I'm still a child on this walk, praying for my eyes and ears to be truly open. It amazes me how often He speaks to believers today (just thinking of my friends here in Houston!) and how often He miraculously heals and manifests Himself to those who love Him. How strange to see this consistent, wonderful truth amidst a culture that denies His power and very existence. If you're struggling with doubt, be encouraged. He's really there, and He wants you to know Him intimately. Pray for open eyes and open ears, so you can hear the words that are falling all around you, and see the opportunities for a fuller life that await you.

Rebecca

Relief

Over the years, I have suffered from mild pain in my hips or lower back due to a slight curvature in my spine. For some reason, pain had escalated in my left hip over the last six months. Perhaps this was due to having my fourth child in October 2007. Daily the pain would start in my left hip so that I was in pain by nightfall. Perhaps if my physical load was lighter, it would not start hurting until the afternoon. Or sometimes it would start off in the morning. But every day, the pain would build without fail.

Emotionally I was feeling overwhelmed with this pain. With four children ages 8 and under, I needed my strength. It was disheartening to need to walk across the house in order to change a diaper and feel overwhelmed by that simple task. The words that always came to my mind regarding my hip joint as I walked across the house were 'dry' and 'grinding.' I cried out to God and asked Him to heal me of whatever was causing pain.

On Saturday, July 26, 2008 I was able to attend another Ministry Team Training at Calvary Community Church. The Lord had used these conferences to bless my relationship with Him incredibly. At past conferences, words of knowledge had been shared with me from brothers and sisters in Christ that did not know me at all - words that only God could have shared with them. The Lord used these prophetic words to show me that He knows me intimately and loves me. I'd been encouraged deeply. I had also witnessed close friends of mine experience physical or emotional healing, but I had not experienced that personally myself.

The morning of the July 26th conference, I thought, "If anyone mentions anything about left hip pain today, I'm getting up!" During the afternoon session, a regular part of the Ministry Team Training is to practice listening for a word from the Lord concerning needs of healing. Sure enough, at the afternoon session, someone got "left hip." I raised my hand in response. At the end of the 'listening' time, I went forward to join the group of believers who were to pray over my hip. A sister in Christ placed her hand on my left hip, and the team prayed for me. At one point, a college aged girl got a word - 'lubrication.' I thought to myself - "Yes, Lord! That is exactly what I need for this dry, grinding hip." I had not shared anything about my hip pain with the team. It was neat to hear this very fitting word.

The same girl also received another word, which I have had a hard time recalling since that day. It is something similar to 'strife' or 'conflict' - I remember thinking that I definitely related to the word in regard to the spiritual war within me while mothering my children. I had been struggling for years to show the love of Christ, while often feeling incredible anger or frustration. How wearying it was to 'lose it' with the children so often. How often had I asked the Lord to release me from this inner war? Very, very often...

I thanked the team for their prayers, but had nothing to report when they asked me if anything felt different. The pain had not started yet that day, since it had been a very easy day for me physically, attending the conference. I stood talking with a lovely older Christian woman named Carolyn afterwards, who happened to be a member at Calvary Community Church. She had led the prayer team that prayed for me. She shared her daughter's testimony of healing with me with great excitement when I mentioned to her that part of my issue may be due to having a slightly curved spine. Her daughter, Kathy, joined us, and they prayed again, this time for healing regarding my spine.

The day wrapped up, and once again I was blessed by joining the believers at Calvary for their day of sharing. A few days passed, and ironically I did not think about my hip once. It took me a few days to realize - 'Wait a minute!! I haven't had one speck of pain!' It has been almost a month now, and I have not had one minute of pain. Frequently as I go about my tasks, I recall the pain that gripped me daily, and I thank God over and over again for His merciful healing. I know that my new body will be a glorious, pain-free, sick-free body after this life. But what a treat to experience healing from Him on this side of heaven!

It took me a while longer to recognize that the war within me toward my children has been greatly relieved. Of course, with four young children, the days are a whirlwind. But I have not felt that hot anger inside of me swell up. What a wonderful relief!

Praise God for His mercies!

Rebecca

I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.

Ephesians 1:17-23

Re-Alignment

In the Summer of 1976, as an incoming ninth grade freshman, I was diagnosed with Scoliosis or curvature of the spine. Unlike the Hunchback of Notre Dame, I had an S-curve with a twist and not a C-curve which would’ve visibly bent me over to one side. At the time, I was crushed by the “prescription” which was to have me wear a full torso, neck and head Milwaukee brace 22 hours a day, 7 days a week. I spontaneously cried off and on for weeks after being fitted that September, feeling sorry for myself, awkward, ugly and just frankly upset that I was not able to do or wear what was normal for 14-year-old girls. In the nights, when I couldn’t sleep due to pain and the inability to find a comfortable position in such a contraption, I would cry out to God, asking, “Why me, why did You allow this, and why don’t You make it go away?” I couldn’t understand why “a child of the Most High God, (me), would have to be crooked, gangly and unattractive. I had and could get no answers, but I started to pray for healing and for a miracle. I knew and believed God was able and willing to do this for me if I just began to ask and pray.

What I assumed was that the supernatural healing that I desired and prayed for was just like a miracle - instantaneous.

Fast forward to the spring of 2002. I was a single 41-year-old mother of two girls, a three-year-old and a seven-year-old. Also, the three of us were living with my retired parents who I hadn’t lived with in 19 years. I was recovering and healing from a very disheartening divorce. I continued to pray for restoration, reconciliation and overall healing for me, the girls and their father. As part of the process, I had to realize that the girls’ father would not be returning and that I was the sole responsible parent. I looked at my situation, my age, my health and my stewardship with the upbringing of two children on my own. In my mind and heart, I had to be the healthiest I could be, not only emotionally and spiritually, but also physically. I meditated without ceasing, praying for wholeness, and a healthy chance to start a new life with my daughters, whatever that meant or looked like. One morning I woke up at my parents' home and realized I’d been healed of my Scoliosis. But not like I assumed, expected or thought it would be when it happened. I’d been healed of the pain associated with the Scoliosis. I told my mother, while she stood over the kitchen sink trying to wake up before her first cup of coffee. “Mom, God’s healed me of my Scoliosis, but not like I thought, He’s taken away all the pain.” In my mind, soul and spirit, I said, “O.K., God, I’ll take whatever You’ll give me, thank You, and oh, I understand now what You mean by ‘My ways are not your ways’.“ I was and am grateful, thankful and happy that He’d faithfully revealed Himself to me in this way at that time in my life.

In August of 2006 I lost my job as a VP Marketing & Communications, and I begin to soul search and ask God what He wanted of me again. In the nights my right hip began to hurt, ache and have pain. God healed me of Scoliosis pain four years earlier, so this was a new twinging malady. I began to pray for healing in the nights, touching my own hand to my hip bone, laying hands on myself. I knew that if God could remove the pain from 30 some years of Scoliosis, He could touch this hip in the same way.

On Sunday July 1, 2007, I was worshiping and meditating in the morning Reflections service at our church. After the singing, Pastor Jeff McGee came to the altar to close the service with prayer, but before he did, he announced that he’d received a word of knowledge from the Lord and it was this: “Someone is having hip pain and you are to be healed.” Immediately, I raised both arms, smiled and said, “That’s me . . . that word is for me!” He told us all that he wasn’t sure whether everyone there was to pray over me then or wait until after the main preaching service. He told me that if our senior Pastor Steve Meeks didn’t call the Ministry Teams for prayer following the main service to come find him, and he’d lay hands on me and pray. I did just that. After the service I went to Jeff, and said, “I’m here, I’m ready, I’m doing exactly what you told me to do. I’m here to be prayed for and receive the word of healing that was brought forth earlier." He called a beautiful older woman up to the altar to be the one to physically lay hands on my hip. Jeff was in front of me; my mother was right beside me. As we all began to pray, Jeff prayed for me to receive the healing word, for the fire of God to fall upon me and for the pain to be released from my bones. Then, the woman, who I’d never met, brought forth what she was hearing in her spirit, even though she didn’t understand why, she said, “All I’m getting is RE-ALIGNMENT.” I knew instantly what God wanted for me at that time and moment - alignment of the curvature of the spine, healing for my Scoliosis! I opened my heart, my spirit, to receive the healing miracle that Jesus died for me to have and to receive as a child of the Most High God. Before I left, Jeff told me to continue to meditate, pray and stand on the words brought forth by the Lord through his servants that morning. He said to pray all week, and if need be come back the following Sunday and they’d lay hands on me again until God’s promise for me was manifest.

By Thursday evening, July 5th, I was beginning to have back pain like I’d not felt in several years. I chalked it off to stress from starting a new business, my husband, Dennis, being ill and losing his biggest client, and my uncle being critically ill. I continued to pray and also self-remedy or medicate. By Saturday, the entire left side of my back was full of knots; I was in pain and could hardly move. Then our dear friends, Daniel and Marlene DeJesus, called to check in on Dennis since he’d been so sick with a cold. Daniel wanted to come and minister to Dennis, and offered that he and Marlene would come and give him a massage. When I heard that, I said, “I’M THE ONE WHO NEEDS A MASSAGE!” They didn’t know I’d told Dennis earlier that day that I was on the verge of investing some money in a massage. God knew what I needed and sovereignly provided the massage through Daniel and Marlene. I immediately jumped in my car and went to their home. There Marlene gave me a very thorough, deep tissue massage on my left back. I walked away sore as gee whiz but knew the hurt would be a healing one. Before and after the massage we prayed for me, for Dennis, the girls, my parents traveling to Wichita and my uncle. They knew nothing about the words of knowledge I'd received from the Lord on Sunday morning.

In the night of July 6th, I woke up to a clear revelation: God was gradually re-aligning my spine from glory to glory, and the muscles in my back were not used to being in the new and normal position they were being forced into by the progressive healing. I got up early Sunday morning, paced around the house, knowing what God told me in the night. I kept asking, “Really God, really?” I was almost giddy - overjoyed, overwhelmed, and in absolute awe and amazement. I finally brought myself to the defining moment. I went into the bathroom and stood in front of the mirror to view a body that had not stood straight for 32 years. My shoulders were even on both sides, my hips weren't tilted askew and my arms hung straight at my sides!

God continues to align my spine and heal my body even now. It wasn’t and hasn’t been instantaneous as I thought it would and should be, but it is nonetheless a miracle. I’m feeling stronger physically and spiritually than I have in a long time. I don’t know why or can’t explain God’s progressive healing for me, why He chose this for me or why now. All I know is His grace and mercies are available to us all. His miraculous healing power is there for us all to embrace. We just need to open ourselves up, expecting God to touch us. Just don’t tell Him how or when to do something. He’s got HIS OWN PLAN IN MIND for us all. We just need to be still and know that HE is God.

Much love,
Kathy

Speaking His Love

I have experienced the Spirit of God come over someone about 5 times in the last 16 years, mainly through my loving husband, either while he was praying or worshipping/singing. It has been different every time. An overwhelming empathy comes over him, where he actually feels the person’s pain. On two occasions I was the only witness. Knowing my husband so well, I knew that it was only God anointing him in that way. On other occasions, there were other witnesses where an instance similar to Numbers 11:17 occurred, where God took the Spirit that was on the leader and put it on the followers. For example, once there were about 8 of us praying in a home, when the Spirit fell upon us. There was a sense of incredible peace upon everyone - a heavy anointing. We sat in awe silently for 5 minutes after. The experience was so unbelievable, that not a word has been spoken about it since. Looking back, it strikes me as sad how people do not know how to react when they are not used to His presence. I felt like, "Wow! What just happened? Now what do we do?"

I had only ever felt the anointing of the Spirit with my husband present, so I sort of relied on his ability to "tap into it." And when you feel it, you want so much to live there forever, to never let it go. And when it is gone, you are in total awe of what just happened. Intellectually, I knew that the Spirit could manifest in any form or fashion, whenever or wherever He wanted. But I didn't really accept that in my heart until I had an experience without my husband present beside me. This occurred in February '08 when I went to receive a prophetic word about myself from God from a prayer team at Calvary Community Church. This was a special session that I signed up for after attending one of their Ministry Team Training conferences.

As I entered a room with 4 people whom I had never met before, I thought they would tell me "OK, let's be quiet for a minute and listen to God, to see what He has to say". Well, I had no sooner sat myself in the chair than the first woman began to speak. She spoke of an explosion of force. Then the man beside her described the force being like a drag racing car taking off on the start line. The wheels spin off of the pavement, burn out, then take off in full force as their tires make contact. As he was describing this, the look on his face was quizzical. I felt that he was wondering if I wouldn't understand what he was talking about. He was getting a picture of a drag race car, but would a woman know anything about that? I just nodded my head, purposefully not giving him much feedback because I didn't want to react to what he was saying.

The woman who had spoken first also gave the last comment. She said, "I notice you are wearing white socks. You are conservative. God wants you to know you should wear colored socks." I almost fell out of my chair at this point. No one in the entire world knew, except myself, that I had been phasing colored socks out of my sock drawer for six months. I had only white, black, and khaki left, and intended to get rid of the remaining khaki ones.

These people also were unaware that my father is a drag racer. My childhood was spent on many drag strips in the Southern part of the United States. In a sense, the drag strip was my church. I knew exactly what the man on the prayer team was talking about. When the tires of a drag racing car make contact, that's when the power happens. For about six months, I'd been feeling like my wheels were spinning regarding what my role was as support to my husband in his business, and my role as mother to my children. I'd been praying for direction. With the picture of drag racing that the Lord provided, I knew that God knew me intimately and He would take care of me. He was speaking my language to me. TO ME, personally in a way that I would understand! This was HUGE for me. So huge, that I couldn't grasp it and take it all in. I just had to sob with joy! It was absolutely amazing.

God was speaking His love to me through prophecy. Now I had experienced it myself. And now, by the way, I wear colored socks!

-Jenifer

Healed within the Womb

I have to share about the Lord's mercy and grace in my life. During my last pregnancy, on a Thursday, my doctor had called with some bad news. My ultrasound came back showing many cysts on my baby's kidneys. I was devastated. I cried out to God and prayed for a healing miracle. I called on many friends and prayer warriors who prayed and laid hands on my belly. I wanted righteous anger to rise up in us against the enemy's plans and stand and fight! The Lord spoke to me about His promises and gave me complete peace.

On Monday, I went to see a fetal specialist who would handle my pregnancy now that there was a complication. My last baby died at 32 weeks gestation, so you can imagine what I was up against. I reminded God of His promise to me over and over and also reminded Satan. At my appointment, the doctor did a level 2 ultrasound and asked me why I was there. He saw nothing wrong with her kidneys! I knew instantly that she was healed in the name of Jesus. I later talked with my general OB and he confirmed that he saw many cysts on her kidneys. I told him that I believed what he saw, but that God is still on the throne and that He heals the same yesterday and today!

God is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Hallelujah!

Sophie

Healed from Food Allergies

God's Word says that the enemy comes 'to kill, to steal and destroy' - John 10:10 - but Jesus came to bring us 'life to the full.' What a contrast! For ten and a half years 'food allergies' have been part of Marianne's life and ours. Many of you have joined us to pray for her over this time at specific occasions and now we want you to rejoice with us for Jesus Christ has healed her.

As most of you will be aware, in early January the situation rapidly deteriorated for Marianne in an unexplained way. Even one consultant Pediatric Allergist in a top children's hospital was baffled and told us that she had never seen the like of it in all her years of experience, losing so many food items at one go from an already highly restricted diet. The only hope we were given was that it might be a 'virus' and the treatment was one and a half months of antihistamine to be taken before each meal.

Despite keeping rigorously to the medication, 'to be taken twenty minutes before each meal for maximum effect,' we saw very little improvement. We kept a food diary during the time and for each meal, each day there continued to be an obvious, ugly reaction. Just finding something to cook was a trial. There were so many things she could not eat that citing what she could eat was easier. (At one point when we had hit rock bottom this had been cornflakes, raisins, dried apricots and precious little else). The traditional cure of 'lamb and rice' even proved too much for her system as she had reactions to these as well.

Despite the difficulties of finding something for her, the worst part was that her lips were so swollen, damaged and infected as a result of the reactions that she struggled even to eat with a teaspoon and drink with a straw (this situation being a side-effect of chronic eczema around her mouth). You can understand in the circumstances that instead of being a pleasure, eating was a moment we all dreaded, knowing that there would be pain, rashes, itchiness and inevitably of course, tears.

During this time God made it clear to me one day while reading Scripture that we had to 'resist the devil, standing firm in the faith' - 1 Peter 5:8-9. By chance I decided to looked up the word for 'resist' in the original Greek in order to fully understand what this meant. (This is not something I do ordinarily!) There it was, with its English translation, meaning: 'to stand against, to oppose, to withstand ' but it was especially the English gloss of the Greek which I found interesting - for there was God's answer to our question of how to put the 'resistance' into practice. The actual word in Greek was 'anthistemi' - something which bears a striking resemblance to 'antihistamine!'

In faith, and trusting God that this was the divine 'prescription' for our situation for Marianne, instead of taking antihistamine in medical form before each meal we 'resisted' the real enemy, (since food was clearly not the real enemy here, although it had every appearance of being so). Since our offensive weapon against the enemy is God's Word, (see Ephesians 6), and we prayed before each meal using a verse in 1 Timothy 4: 4,5 which declares : 'For all (food) is good and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving for it is consecrated by the Word of God and prayer.'

Amazingly through prayer alone and the application of this Word of Scripture, within a very few days Marianne was able to eat almost all of the foods that she had stopped taking since the time of crisis in early January had begun. It wasn't a 'magic formula' though, for in our battle the enemy fought back. Despite our victories, we also had many occasions when we had to take Marianne aside during a meal because despite faithfully praying this Scripture, she had still reacted to something. We would then continue to pray until the reaction stopped which it generally did.

If this all sounds too good to be true to you and completely unlike anything you have ever experienced, rest assured that we have never experienced anything like this before either! However, we have not been duped, the enemy has repeatedly thrown off his disguise and bared his fist at us quite literally for daring to challenge him in this sickness. But we have stood in Christ's victory over him through the Cross and he has had to flee. We have tested and seen that God's Word is truth: John 17:17 and that when we resist the enemy, he will flee (James 4:7).

The end of this story came on March 31st when as a step of faith that God had completely healed Marianne as a result of specific prayers of faith, we re-introduced cow's milk into her diet, one of the previously big allergens in her diet besides peanuts. She did have a major reaction, the biggest of any since all of the other food 'reintroductions' began. But, when dealt with in accordance with God's word, the enemy had to flee again and the reaction disappeared, frightening though it was. It is a testimony to this that the following day when we saw the Pediatric Allergist in Paris for a routine check-up, which had been scheduled some time before, she conducted a series of tests from which she concluded that not only did Marianne no longer have any restrictions on her diet, but she could even have peanuts, something which she then tested on the spot. Marianne's conclusion was that peanut butter was great!

So just what do we make of all this? It is very hard to resume in a paragraph God's entirely sovereign plan during all of this and why healing would have been delayed for 10 years. Yet, we have seen His mighty hand act. Medically speaking, statistics were against us, as a child with serious multiple food allergies will never fully 'grow out of it.' But God is greater than stats! We now also understand in a very concrete way that when we stand on the promises of God there will be resistance from an enemy who is real and who will stand against us, who will threaten us and who will try to scare us, but we are 'more than conquerors though Him who loved us,' Romans 8:37.

What has Marianne's reaction been to her healing? You can bet that it was less spiritual!! In short it was just utter amazement that after all these years she is able to finally have an ice cream - aren't children down-to-earth! She has revelled since Monday in yogurt and cheese, eaten her first real pizza, cooked and eaten brownies and chocolate chip cookies with me... all of those things which we consider 'normal' experiences for a child. How can we fathom God's wisdom and His power? Surely His name is great in all the Earth and His love knows no end.

In Christ the King,

Elizabeth

Healed from Depression

AN OPEN LETTER TO ALL FROM ONE SAVED BY THE GRACE OF GOD

I have a story to tell. It is a story about hope where there was no hope, about a God who is bigger than anything I ever imagined.

I have had serious depression for the last 10 to 12 years. Each year seemed to get worse and worse. I had been through all the antidepressants, alcohol, counseling, praying, being prayed for and nothing was helping. The last week of January 2002, was the worst it had ever been. Crying every day in sadness and desperation. I was as far down the dark end of the street as you can go. There was no hope left for me in family, friends, myself or God. The only thing I could take comfort in was the thought of killing myself and ending the pain. It was so dark, lonely and hopeless I couldn’t face many more days hurting like this. I was at the end of my rope.

That week some friends who are involved with a ministry out of town invited me to go back with them and see what God might do. I didn’t really want to go out of town but I had nowhere else to turn, so I went.

I spent many hours each day before God. I found myself in the midst of others praying, interceding, praising and worshiping. I was prayed for several times. The best way I can describe what happened was that God met me there and His love flowed over me. When there was nothing but God things began to change. By the time I left for home the depression was completely gone! I have been totally healed! Not only is the darkness gone but also many things from deep in the past are also gone. I now have a new love for God and people that I never had before. So many things have changed I don’t have room to tell them all.

In the Book of Acts a lame man is healed. He jumps up and tells everyone what God has done for him. Like that lame man I was crippled in my mind. Like that lame man I now have a story to tell about what God did for me. Miracles and wonders will happen so the world will know of the power of God. I am telling my story so you will know. If you have never before seen or heard of a miracle you have now.

My life is a new adventure. Each day I look forward to what God will do. I don’t have an agenda other than loving God and looking for Him to guide. Everything is not perfect but with a new mind and God’s love there is lots of hope.

I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the Living. Ps 27:13

If there is some way in which I can encourage, talk to or pray with you please let me know. My desire is that you know the same freedom Christ has given me.

Gary
gkr50@yahoo.com

Shocked by the Voice of God

From gracEmail, by Edward Fudge:

"Sure, God spoke to Noah, Isaac and Phillip," we sometimes think. "But he would never speak to me." Little wonder that when he does speak directly today, it is often a shocking experience. At my request, gracEmail subscriber Jack Outhier has reluctantly but kindly given me permission to relate his shocking encounter with the voice of God -- and the good fruit that resulted from it. Jack's email address is jack.outhier@LegacySolutionsLLC.com

* * *

"I was driving alone. Suddenly, within my spirit, I felt moved to turn at an upcoming intersection to go 'speak' to a couple who lived nearby. I knew who they were but did not know them and had no idea what I would say. I struggled for a mile as I approached the intersection, my logic arguing with the Spirit’s leading. I sped past the intersection at about 70 m.p.h. when the next instant a voice boomed into the silence of my vehicle, 'I SAID TURN!' It was a loud and forceful demand that shocked me into slamming on my brakes and pulling off the road. I turned around and took the road He had first 'nudged' me to take.

"Pulling into the couple's driveway, I was totally confused, scared and at an absolute loss of what to say. To my relief, no one answered the door and I headed back to my car. Then, as if a rubber band were pulling me, I was drawn around to the back of the house where I found them working in the garden. They were probably as confused as I was to see me walking back there. They knew who I was, but we had no common ties, had never visited and I now lived 100 miles away,

"We never even shook hands. I just began to speak, revealing things to them that I did not know and could not have known. That scared me to death and turned their faces white with shock. It was my voice but they were not my words. I spoke of their addiction to alcohol and drugs, naming places they frequented which I had never heard of. I named a man whose name I had never heard, with whom the wife was having an affair, and charged the husband with other sins. My 'speaking' went for about ten minutes while all the blood seemed to drain from their faces. When the words stopped coming out of my mouth I had no idea what to say next. I felt terrible for what I had said and simply departed, leaving them arguing, crying, screaming and denying as I drove away. For the next hour I drove in stunned silence. I dared not tell my own church what had transpired and had no one else to discuss this with.

"The next week the woman checked herself into treatment for chemical abuse and the man divorced her while she was in the hospital. Five years later this lady remarried and asked me to perform her wedding. During that interval she had given her heart and life to the Lord and I had baptized her into Christ. She had daughters who all led their husbands to Christ and are raising their children in the Lord. Last year the mom told me that 26 people are joyously walking a Christian walk today because of the voice I heard that day on the highway."

For more about the Christian grace-gift of prophecy, click here.

Copyright 2008 by Edward Fudge for Jack Outhier.
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Anointed by the Spirit

The past five Ministry Team Training Conferences (November 2006 through February 2008) at the Calvary Community Church in Houston have been a great blessing in my life. It has strengthened my relationship with God and deepened my love for Him.

In November 2004, I found out I had six blockages (some 95%) in my coronary arteries and had by-pass heart surgery. This scare made me want to be closer to God. For the next two years, I started praying daily and studied God’s Word often, but still I felt I did not have a deep personal relationship with Him.

At the invitation of my daughter Rebecca, I attended my first Ministry Team Training in November 2006. I was encouraged by the stories of God’s Holy Spirit being active in people’s lives today, healing them, and giving them prophetic words of encouragement. The first words given to me during a Prophetic Ministry session rang amazingly true. One person said when he prayed for me, he saw me standing in the woods near a stream and the Lord came to me and asked "What can I do for you, Joseph?". I said I just love being near Him in the beauty of the outdoors. The Lord said "I know that, but still what can I do for you?" The picture revealed to that person by the Holy Spirit was so true. I have always loved the beauty of the woods and waters, and often praised God there for His wonderful creation.

During the next three Ministry Team Training and Prophetic Ministry sessions in 2007, I received more insight into the will of God for my life. In these sessions and also at home, at church, and in Bible studies, I became closer to God and developed a deep love for Him. I felt the Holy Spirit slowly making changes in me.

The Ministry Team Training in October 2007 was amazing for me. I was in Jeff McGee’s class on Deliverance and Anointing of the Holy Spirit. At the end of the class at 3:30 PM, the class stood in a large circle in the classroom while Jeff slowly prayed for the Holy Spirit to come. I kept my mind still and waited on the Lord. I just occasionally prayed "Come, Holy Spirit". I felt a tingling in my fingers and a heaviness in my body. I prayed "Increase your power, Holy Spirit." After a few minutes, I had to sit in a chair behind me because of the heaviness. For thirty minutes as I sat slumped back in that chair, I had the most intense feeling of peace and love throughout my body that I had ever felt in my entire life!

At 4:10 PM, still feeling heavy with the peace and love of the Holy Spirit, I went downstairs with Jeff. I waited on the back row as all the classes came down, and as Steve and the other pastors started organizing teams to pray for healing. I joined a team to pray for a man who had hurt his right shoulder and elbow. The leader prayed first, then the second team member, then me. I placed my left hand on the man’s shoulder and my right hand on his elbow. I humbly prayed only a few words - for the Holy Spirit to heal the man and take away his pain, and to do it to glorify God. I blessed the work of the Lord and then waited on the Spirit for a minute or two in silence. After I prayed thanks to God and removed my hands, all four of us discussed our prayer session. Although I really was expecting a healing, I was still amazed when the man told us that when I placed my hands on his shoulder and elbow and started praying, he felt a tingling and then warmth at those two spots, and then his pain was gone! I knew that God had anointed me with His Holy Spirit in the classroom, and then used me just like a "mailman" to deliver His healing to that man.

~ Joseph
jgs106@juno.com

Calvary Community Church

I wanted to post a brief description of Calvary Community Church, since it is being referenced in some of the posts on this blog.

Calvary Community Church has been used by the Lord to bless many believers in the Houston area and beyond. They have a very interesting history. Calvary started as a Southern Baptist Church. In the 1980’s, the pastor was feeling burnt out, and went through a season of seeking and crying out to the Lord. The Holy Spirit surprised Calvary with an intense time of manifesting Himself powerfully. They experienced healings, gifts of knowledge, and discernment between spirits, among other manifestations. Since they originally believed that the Holy Spirit no longer worked as He did in New Testament times, they were challenged to go back to the Bible and re-evaluate what they believed, in light of their experiences.

Calvary has been building up and encouraging fellow Christians for years through their Ministry Team Training conferences that they hold every few months. The first session, Foundations for Power Ministry, led by Steve Meeks, is a great day of hearing the incredible history of what God did at Calvary as well as being challenged by what the Bible says about how the Holy Spirit works. By learning how the Holy Spirit works, believers are challenged to live as disciples by actively ministering to, healing, and teaching others.

Calvary went through a season of the Holy Spirit being poured out very frequently. Steve likened it to God 'advertising' for the kingdom to come. He can do what He wants when He wants to. They continue to be obedient in ministering to others, leaving the work to the Holy Spirit - and He does as He desires.

The teachings at the Ministry Team Training's are Biblically grounded, and there is plenty of opportunity to ask questions. After the conference, there is the option of being ministered to through one of their prophecy teams. Their prophecy teams consist of two to four people, who pray and listen for a word from the Lord to share. It is encouraging to receive a word from the Lord that is meant only for you (and validating to realize that it has to be from the Lord because these people know nothing about you, but the message is very personal). It is comforting to be reminded that God is still present, powerful and intimately involved in our lives.

Healed from Paralysis

I'll write for my grandfather, who has already passed on. In the 1950's, my grandfather worked in New Orleans picking up and delivering laundry to homes. He had a terrible accident, and my father, 5 years old at the time, recalls my grandfather pulling himself up the steps to their shotgun style home. He was admitted to Charity Hospital, where my father remembers being smuggled up the back staircase to visit his dad. It was confirmed that he was paralyzed... he would never walk again. Despite this news from the doctors, my grandfather prayed fervently through the night. That night, he saw Jesus, shining brightly before him. The Lord said, "Joseph, get up and walk." My grandfather was healed, and shared his testimony repeatedly over the years.

Written by Rebecca, for Joseph (Sr.)

The Purpose

While attending a Christian college, I learned that the Holy Spirit only acted in certain ways up until about the first century. The Spirit worked in special ways to confirm the truth about Jesus Christ, especially since the Bible was not yet in print for the people. But since then, I have come to experience otherwise. Yes, the Spirit did work in that way... but He still moves, often in wondrous ways. And honestly, He's been nagging me (in His gentle way!) for a long time to put this blog together. So, here goes. This blog is here to point to Him. It will be a place for testimonies from various people to be posted. Because He's still at work. May this glorify Him.