Cry Out and I Will Answer

When our friends Brandon and Mandy were expecting their fifth child, Brandon had a dream a couple of months before their baby was born.  He knew it was more than just a dream.  Brandon shared it with my husband, Mark, but chose not to share the details with Mandy in order to protect her from fear.  In the dream, their baby had just been born, he was seated in a specific spot in their bedroom, and something was very wrong.  The situation, which was not clear in the dream, was life or death.  The message in the dream was clear… “if you cry out to Me, I will answer.”

When the time came, Mandy’s labor went smoothly.  Molly Jo was born peacefully in the water at home, with Brandon supporting her.  But quickly their midwives noted that Molly Jo was not breathing.  Hastily, they had Brandon cut the cord, got Molly Jo, and started giving her chest compressions and oxygen in a mask.  For at least twenty minutes, they worked hard breathing for her and removing amniotic fluid from her lungs. 

Mandy and Molly Jo

Right after the birth, when it was clear Molly Jo was not breathing, Brandon found himself in the exact same spot in the room where he had been in the dream, living what he had envisioned.  He cried out passionately to the Lord as Molly Jo was being worked on.  Meanwhile, Mandy was embraced by supernatural peace and knew that the Lord would save Molly Jo.

A little side note here… the midwives had not been told of Brandon’s dream.  But as one of them cared for Molly Jo, she heard from the Lord the exact same message that Brandon had received earlier… “if you cry out to Me, I will answer.”  The midwives were certainly crying out as they worked on Molly Jo!

The Lord did answer.  After twenty minutes, He breathed life into Molly Jo, much to the joy of everyone in the room (thus, the addition of “Jubilee” to her name)!  I love to remember this miracle whenever I gaze upon sweet Molly Jo.  She is a reminder of His tender love, in the good times and the bad.  He is faithful.

Hearing from Him

As I was driving to meet with some friends to pray together, this song played on the radio - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l1YLXWANhvI – which I’d heard many times before, but never paid attention to the words. At one point, the words became crystal clear to me and seemed to be spoken straight to my heart.
I arrived at my friend’s house, and there was a good time of sharing and prayer.  Much of what my friends had for me in reply to what I shared seemed pertinent to the section of the song that stood out so strongly to me. I shared that perhaps the Lord spoke something to me on the drive over which tied in to what was being revealed. They asked what, and I explained about the song, and I sang the section that the Lord highlighted for me:

“..got a couple dents in my fender - a couple rips in my jeans. Try and fit the pieces together, but PERFECTION is my enemy. On my own I'm so clumsy, but on Your shoulders I can see, I'm FREE to be me.”

At that point, a friend reached behind her and grabbed a sheet of paper. On her drive over (1 hour and 45 minutes in traffic!), she had heard the same song, and the Lord impressed on her that the words were meant for me (that specific section that I had just sung!). There it was – scribbled on her paper (quite scribbled, because she wrote it while driving – ha!!)... the exact section of the song! How amazing to have the Lord confirm His encouragement to me. He is incredibly kind. : )

I'm a child in this journey, but I'm so glad that my ears are opening and I'm learning to recognize His voice. I hope this story speaks to you in some way!  He is VERY real - He is CRAZY about you - and He does speak and move in powerful ways.

God Hears; God Heals

I recently got home from an unexpected trip to Colorado. Russ, my older brother, was on his way home to Amarillo with his family after visiting our parents in Evergreen. As they were driving through Colorado Springs, they had to stop due to traffic. Debris in the road caused a chain reaction of people hitting their breaks. As Russ checked his rear view mirror to be sure the cars behind him stopped, he saw a motor home veer out of traffic onto the right shoulder of the road. As the motor home came up on the shoulder next to Russ’s car, it hit a sign and burst into flames. Russ knew he had to do something. He pulled his car forward and out of traffic in front of the fiery vehicle and ran back to help the man as Tracy and the kids, still in their car, started to pray for protection. Tracy said Si, their oldest son, told her not to worry, that his dad would be alright.

Tracy and Si could see Russ as he ran into the fire at the driver’s door. He was not able to get the door open, but the window was open and Russ was able to grab the top of the door frame and peel it down and out to force it open. Fighting flames that were fueled by a gas tank in the motor home, Russ’s next obstacle was the seat belt. He was able to get the shoulder belt around to the back of the man, but the lap belt was still holding him in. Russ said he was unable to release the belt and was asking God for help. A police officer came in with a knife and cut the lap belt. Russ, along with others who had come to help, was able to pull the man to safety.

The chaos of the scene must have been amazing. Tracy talked about the sounds of cars hitting car parts flying. She thought something had hit them, but their car is undamaged. There were 6 other cars that were involved in accidents due to this one that was still burning. A police officer came and evacuated Tracy and the kids from their car in case the fire spread their way. They were pulled to safety away from where Russ was.

I can’t imagine the all of the events that unfolded during this time. Lots of very scary moments that must have happened so fast but felt like they would never end. Russ was with the man and did talk with him and was able to get a response, right after he was pulled out. At some point the firemen saw Russ and told him to sit down.

The paramedics and firemen were tending to the victims, Russ included. A fireman went to Tracy to tell her about Russ’s injuries and then talked to the kids about their daddy. Tracy said he was very kind, sensitive and straight with them. He told them that Russ had been burned on his face, arms, and hands and that they would be transporting him to the hospital. Tracy was to follow the ambulance to the hospital in Colorado Springs. (He was later transported to the burn unit at University of Colorado Hospital in Denver)

Tracy is an amazing woman. She gathered her children and prayed. She told the kids that God is a God of healing and would heal their dad. As they drove, Tracy had Breck start calling people and asking for prayers of healing.

News of Russ being injured with burns to his face, arms, and hands went out and people all over started to pray.

God hears prayers! God protects the righteous! God heals his children!

I arrived to the University of Colorado Burn Unit less than 24 hours after this all happened. The burns on Russ’s face were gone! The burns on his arms were gone! His eyes were fine & his lungs were clear! Praise God!

I believe firemen know what burns look like. I can’t believe a fireman would tell a family that their husband and father had burns that were not really there. I can believe that our God would use an ambulance ride to heal those burns. Whether He healed Russ in that ambulance or protected him in the fire (OR BOTH) I praise God for the miracles of the weekend.

I believe God used Russ to save this man, Jose Fernandez, from the fire. I believe God protected Russ from the chemicals and flames, and healed his burns on his face and arms. I know the burns on his hands will be used to testify to people of Jesus’ love for each of us.

I am so proud of each of my nieces and nephews. Brently, Breck, Si, Jake, Braid, and Asher, are all incredible young people. The events that took place in Colorado Springs on July 25^th were huge and each of these kids rose to the occasion with beautiful poise. Tracy is such a great example of a Godly woman, wife, and mother. Her strength and faith are immeasurable. Then there is Russ…of the burns, the blisters, the singed hair, the bandages, the stories and memories of the events…what sticks out to me right now as I write his name is his face…His expression of compassion, tenderness, grace, and love when he was asked what made him run to a burning car and he answered “because Jesus lives in my heart”

I would like to thank you for lifting Russ up in prayers. I ask that you continue to pray for healing for his hands. I would like to ask that you add Jose Fernandez and his family to your prayers. He is in stable but critical condition. He is 75 years old and burned on almost half of his body. He is in the Burn Unit at University of Colorado. He is surrounded with family who love him. A son and grandson came to visit with Russ in the hospital. They told Russ that he had accepted Christ about 3 months ago and was baptized. They are all very sweet, gracious people and need your prayers through this very difficult time. When I spoke to them on Monday, after the accident, they said that they are holding on to the idea of having him home for Thanksgiving to carve the turkey.

I would like to thank you for lifting Russ up in prayer. I ask that you continue to pray for healing for his hands and for God to be glorified through all of this.

Cheryl

David's Story - God at Work

I've been wanting to write the story of David for a year now. This is such an encouraging God story to me - I hope it blesses you as well. I'd like to warn you that it deals with subjects (demons, for example) that aren't accepted in our logical Western culture. But David can tell you that he has experienced satan and the work of his demons. Thankfully, he has also experienced the incredible mercy of God and the truth that God is more powerful than satan. I believe that satan knows that it's to his advantage to seem 'not real' to our Western minds, so he works powerfully 'behind the scenes' in our country. In other cultures where satan knows that his spiritual reality is known, he might as well work in more direct ways. And in those places, demonic activity is well known. Either way, we know that satan "comes only to steal and kill and destroy," but Jesus came that we "may have life, and have it to the full" (John 10:10).

For the 2005-06 school year, I was blessed to get to know a group of 11th grade girls at our church, as I served as one of their Sunday night group leaders. A very sad, memorable time of that year was when one of their friends, Arnold, passed away in October 2005. Involved in drugs, Arnold accidentally shot himself. I didn't know Arnold, but was saddened by this tragic loss, and felt for his family and friends.

Two years later, on February 10, 2008, I was sitting in our church building auditorium during Sunday morning worship. My baby girl was just a few months old, and I was accustomed to having to get up and walk outside of the auditorium when she started making too much noise. But on this day, she was perfectly content. Despite that, I had the weirdest "antsy" feeling... I just had to get up. It's not like me to just 'have to get up' from worship service, and walk out. In fact, it had never happened before. I didn't realize this was the Holy Spirit at work until later.

I walked out to the coffee bar area just outside of the auditorium, where there are several tables. A few minutes later, a young man walked in the front door of the church and sunk down at one of the tables near me. No one else was around. This young man, about 20 years old, was covered with a spirit of darkness. It was as if a cloud was upon him. Covered in tattoos, battered from life, and dressed in dark clothes, he simply sat with his head hanging down. I knew I needed to talk to him. I introduced myself, and he mumbled that his name was David. He would not make eye contact with me. I tried to converse with him, but his answers were short. After a couple of minutes, I asked what brought him here. He mumbled, "no where else to go." I felt the need to pray for him and asked if I could. He mumbled something, and shrugged. I asked if he would wait there while I got some others to pray for him, and he mumbled, unsure, to that. I ran to the side door of the auditorium, where I found my dear friends Bob & Alicia. They came with me, and Bob immediately recognized David, greeted him, and they sat down with him.

My baby now wanted me to walk her, so I could not stay by David and pray for him there, as much as I wanted to. Rather, I walked and prayed immediately, begging God to save David. It wasn't until early that afternoon that Bob called me from the hospital, where they had taken David because he was so agitated. I learned from Bob that David was Arnold's big brother. David had been with Arnold the night of his death, and was living a very troubled life. Later that night, I spoke with Bob and Alicia again. It turned out that when Alicia sat down and placed her hand on David's arm to pray for him, she got a picture which helped her know how to pray. Alicia could see demons clawing within David. With that, she prayed for David to be delivered from satan, his demons, and their work in his life. After praying, it was clear to Bob and Alicia through what David was feeling that he was suicidal. They got Angela, a professional counselor within the church body, to come over to help. She talked to David and recommended going to the hospital. Once at the hospital, they tried to calm David. He remained highly agitated, despite the drugs that were administered, which should have calmed anyone. Bob was so discouraged with how helpless they felt, ministering to David, yet feeling as if there was no breakthrough.

A few days later, Bob was surprised to get a call from David. It turned out that David was at a halfway house. His tone was entirely different than a few days before, and he was speaking clearly. He told Bob that he wanted to be baptized in front of everyone the next Sunday morning - he wanted to surrender his life to Jesus Christ. When Sunday morning arrived, he thanked everyone who had reached out to him the week before, and told them that they had saved his life. When he stood before the congregation to be immersed in Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection, he was asked first if he believed that Jesus was Lord. He boldly said, "Jesus is everyone's Lord, whether they like it or not!"

We have come to know David much better over the last year, as he comes to our home many Sunday nights, joining us and a few other families who are striving to draw closer to God and each other. It has been amazing to see the drastically different person that David is now compared to before he turned to Christ. Not perfect by any means (Who is? We're all on a journey...) but he's a whole new man. We've been sharing our stories, and it was intriguing to hear David's story several months ago. His past was very dark. He was medicated for years for Bipolar disorder (though he is now free of all medications), and felt that he slept much of his childhood away. He was active in using and selling drugs, and was scarred by the painful memories he has of his younger brother's death.

At one point in his story, David said that he used to be able to feel demons clawing inside of him, until that day when he was prayed over in February 2008. At that, I felt the hair stand up on the back of my neck, knowing how that fit with what God revealed to Alicia. After his story, I was able to share with David and the others the strange feeling I'd had sitting in the church that day - how I just had to get up. I also shared the picture that was revealed to Alicia when she prayed for him that day, regarding demonic activity. This was the first time David had been told about that, and it was incredible to realize just how God had delivered David, using many people as instruments. David also shared how much it meant to him that Bob had simply patted his back at the hospital and told him that he was going to be OK, and that Bob loved him. How encouraging to see how God turned a hopeless situation around, and used people (who even felt discouraged through the process) to powerfully transform a life. We were all thankful for the depth of God's love for David and how He pursued David and saved him.

David and his young wife, Cynthia, have many struggles to overcome as they strive to turn their lives around - not just for their sake, but also for their children. Satan is as active as ever, constantly throwing hardships their way and bringing up their past. Just a week ago, God spoke to me of how David may fall down, but he can get back up again. I wondered - has David gotten into drugs again, or what? My knee-jerk reaction was "Oh no!" - as if David had fallen off a cliff and the situation was hopeless. Immediately, I heard something different - God is not a control freak like we can be. God gave us the freedom to make terrible choices with terrible consequences, yet He acts redemptively through our mistakes if our hearts are turned to Him. I wondered at this random thought that came into my head about David falling down. Later that night, I learned of some serious hardships that David and Cynthia were facing due to some terrible choices they made. What would have normally thrown me for a loop did not. Rather, I was excited to realize that God's word to me was timely, true - and for my encouragement. God longs to give David hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11). He wants to redeem David's past and give him a crown of beauty instead of ashes (Isaiah 61:3). When you think of David, please pray for him, his wife Cynthia, and their children. Pray for perseverance and strength through this battle, that they will be transformed to experience the full life Christ has in mind for them.

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

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

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.)