Can't believe it is already March...

Thursday we went to Gwen's house to celebrate Ellie's 11th birthday!  I really can't believe this sweet girl is 11 years old.  As you can probably see from this picture, Ken is doing extremely well.  We are, for the most part, back to our usual routines.  I haven't resumed watching Gracie yet since Ken still has multiple doctor appointments that I don't want to miss.  But hopefully within the next few weeks, we will be totally back to normal.  It was a special time today to just be with the kids and also - we got to pick up our Girl Scout Cookies!

We brought Ellie her Birthday presents and I was very happy to see her take the time to look through one of the books I had chosen for her....

I found these on the internet and they are extremely cool.  One is a book that has 26 famous and very successful people who had or have dyslexia.  The second book was 26 famous fashion designers.  Both important issues for Ellie.  Dyslexia has made it so difficult for Ellie to read, but with her hard work and hours of practice she is now a capable reader.  It is great that she can see reminders that this disability will not determine her success in life.  Ellie has certainly already shown that to our family.  I am pretty sure that she sold the most boxes of Girl Scout Cookies in her troop.  If she sets her mind to something, she is unstoppable!  She has the biggest heart and is always looking out for that person in need.  She has come up with a plan to make bags (she has already learned how to sew and owns her own sewing machine) that will be filled and given to families that are helped by Firm Base

(her dad's not for profit). Her recent birthday party included friends from church, dance, co-op, and family friends.  I have seen Ellie as a warrior, praying and caring for people since the day she was born.  It is amazing to watch those exact characteristics blossom and grow.  I can't wait to see exactly how far this young lady goes in the years ahead.  

Friday is also Doug's birthday.  Just as I wonder how it is already March, I am wondering where the last 38 years have gone since Doug was born!  This photo was taken shortly after Doug got home from the hospital at around 3 weeks old.    

I love this picture of Gwen, Ken and Doug.  Grace was at our house yesterday since Doug came over to help fix our washer and help us "cut the cable"!  Yes, we finally made the move away from cable TV after almost 40 years.  The kids have been telling us we should do this, but it was always on the bottom of the have to do list.  While Doug and Ken were busy with washer repair duty, Grace and I were looking through my files of photos of Gwen and Doug when they were little.  Every picture of Gwen that came out of the box, Grace declared that it was Anna!  Guess that is pretty good evidence that Anna looks a lot like Gwen.  

It is good to accomplish tasks that have been hanging around for a long time.  When Ken was recovering from his hospitalization, we talked about all the things that we wanted to get done once he was feeling better.  And we have managed to keep shortening the list.  One of the many follow up medical tests that Ken needed to have, was a CT scan of his liver.   That test was to determine if there was a liver abscess or if there was a potential cancerous tumor on his liver.  We are so thankful that the CT scan showed that the spot on his liver had shrunk considerably which proves it is a liver abscess.  While there are still further tests that need to be done and weeks more of antibiotics, both Ken and I could breathe a little easier after that good news.  We still need continued prayers for Ken's immune system to recover after the septic shock.  His blood counts are low which is concerning but expected.  So prayers for all blood numbers to increase would be appreciated.

I feel like I have had sort of an extended "lent" this year.  Most years during Lent, I make very intentional decisions to do a specific devotional, or fast from something specific.  Generally I have used the 40 days of lent as a personal time of reflection and prayer.  Because of Ken's illness, it feels like that set aside time started in January for me.  I have found it hard to focus and pray and very difficult to do my Bible studies. Yet for me, it as been a time of such dependence on Jesus every minute of the day and night.  On Ash Wednesday, I was lamenting that I didn't have any "program" planned for lent this year.  I realized that the entire 2020 was a drawing closer to Jesus.  When you are going through a difficult time, you have to rely on the ever presence of Jesus.  As I sat in the waiting room, walked the halls of the hospital, sat in the ICU, talked to doctors and nurses, argued with insurance people, tended to Ken's needs, relayed information to the kids, signed tons of paperwork, made so many decisions, - every day - every hour - every minute, I knew that Jesus was there with me.  And Jesus has been with Ken every second of this "adventure".  More than once I found the words of Psalm 23 going through my head....

"Even though I walk THROUGH the valley of the shadow of death, 

I will fear no evil, for you are with me."

This time has sure enough been in the valley of the shadow of death.  Being in ICU, death was all around us.  And Ken's condition was that serious.  But I loved that I had the reminder that I was walking THROUGH the valley, and not camped out or living in that valley.  And mostly that Jesus was there with me.  I don't think there is anything more comforting than that.  I am so thankful for the Bible and these verses hidden in my memory for the Holy Spirit to bring to life when I most need them.  I strongly encourage you to choose some scriptures that speak to you, and set them to memory.  You just never know when you will most need them.  Lent is a good time to begin to memorize scripture.  Why not start today?

Jesus, thank you for your promises which are always true.  You are always with us, in good times and in the challenges.  Holy Spirit, thank you for bringing into my thoughts you Scriptures when I most needed them.  Remind us all of your steadfast love and care, even when we seem to have forgotten you.  Thank you Jesus for doctors, hospitals, medicines but also thank you that YOU are the healer.  Amen

Beauty in the broken.......

Yes, today I spent time at my "happy place" - the beach.  This has been an interesting adventure for Ken and I.  We normally go to the beach in Florida!  But this trip we are in Alabama.  I remember saying that I really didn't want to come here since I prefer the Atlantic over the Gulf.  The waves just are not the same.  At least that's what I always said until today!  In checking the stats this morning the wave height here was HIGHER than our favorite Atlantic beach.  So much for no waves.  It was pretty chilly here this morning watching the sunrise (around 50), but that was still 20 degrees warmer than at home!  By the time we went to the beach it was in the low 70's and quite comfortable.  And the waves were really amazing to watch.  Isn't it just like Jesus to bring those winds and therefor, the waves just for me?  I would like to think so!

Backing up a bit, on our drive to the beach yesterday, Ken and I saw something quite amazing - at least to us!  

This picture might be a bit hard to decipher but it is a cotton field!  And the cotton is ripe for the harvest!  We actually came upon this when we made a slight wrong turn and ended up looking for a place to turn around.  Ken actually got out of the car and took his camera over the ditch and into the field to take pictures.  And then he became a real "cotton picker" when he reached down and broke off this....

Now this northern city girl has never seen cotton on the stem!  It is soft and actually looks and feels a lot like the cotton balls you purchase at Walgreens!  But what fun to actually see a whole field (actually we saw a bunch of fields after we stopped) of cotton and then to actually get to touch it.  Very cool.  

And then, this morning on the beach I found these.....

Parts of broken shells.  But aren't they amazing?  I especially love the top shell.  It looks just like an angel wing to me.  As I was watching the waves, feeling the wind on my face, and thinking about these shells, I very clearly heard "there is beauty in the broken".  WOW!  Isn't that true?  That cotton stem is broken off of the plant.....and it is beautiful.  These shells are just broken pieces, pounded in the surf...but they are beautiful.  And Jesus reminded me that even though people are broken....they are beautiful to him.  There are lots of ways that people become broken.   Sickness, circumstances, deaths, accidents, just life can break someones spirit.  The good news is that Jesus doesn't cast aside the broken.  He lovingly holds and heals and puts all of His precious broken children on display for the entire world to see!  That's you and me folks!  All of us are broken in sin.  And when we let him, Jesus transforms us into a thing of beauty.  And then as we walk through this life, and the waves of life and the winds of adversity toss us around, we become broken again.  But just like these shell, Jesus sees us as things of beauty and great worth.

This last year has been very difficult for my family.  Losing a baby - a son, a grandson, a nephew, a cousin... well, it has broken us.  Lucas will always be greatly missed in our family.  Jesus reminded me today that He still sees our family as beautiful and he is gently holding us.  No matter how big or difficult or overwhelming your life might seem, it is not to much for Jesus.  And more than that, after he has dusted us off, and even when we don't feel "healed",  when we see ourselves as jagged and ugly, he cherishes us.  There is nothing better than that!

I needed to find those broken shells today!  And I needed the reminder that Jesus is at work in my family.  Yes, there is beauty in the broken. 

Jesus, thank you for fields of cotton, the beach and the waves!  Sometimes it is the little things that are the most important.  Thank you for your great love and care for us.  Holy Spirit, speak gentle words of calm and peace into all of the broken places in our lives.  Give us hope in all circumstances and remind us that Jesus sees us as beautiful!   Amen

It's all about the process....and the collision

So once again, it is a song that completely got me today.  The song is by MercyMe,,,,The Hurt and The Healer.  You need to stop, click on that link and listen to this song.  The video that I posted contains the lyrics so you will be able to read them, as the video plays.  And here they are.......

Why?

The question that is never far away

The healing doesn't come from the explained

Jesus please don't let this go in vain

You're all I have

All that remains

So here I am

What's left of me

Where glory meets my suffering

I'm alive

Even though a part of me has died

You take my heart and breathe it back to life

I'll fall into Your arms open wide

When the hurt and the healer collide

Breathe

Sometimes I feel its all that I can do

Pain so deep that I can hardly move

Just keep my eyes completely fixed on You

Lord take hold and pull me through

So here I am

What's left of me

Where glory meets my suffering

I'm alive

Even though a part of me has died

You take my heart and breathe it back to life

I'll fall into Your arms open wide

When the hurt and the healer collide

It's the moment when humanity

Is overcome by majesty

When grace is ushered in for good

And all our scars are understood

When mercy takes its rightful place

And all these questions fade away

When out of the weakness we must bow

And hear You say its over now

I'm alive

Even though a part of me has died

You take my heart and breathe it back to life

I'll fall into Your arms open wide

When the hurt and the healer collide

Jesus come and break my fear

Awake my heart and take my tears

Find Your glory even here

When the hurt and the healer collide

Jesus come and break my fear

Awake my heart and take my tears

Find Your glory even here

When the hurt and the healer collide

Jesus come and break my fear

Awake my heart and take my tears

Find Your glory even here

I love that this song seems like the writer has read my journals.  I love that it starts with the WHY question.  I don't know if I will ever stop asking that question.  Sometimes it is the first thing that I pray, sometimes it is the last thing, sometimes it is the only thing.  And I love the second line.  The healing doesn't come from the explained.  It is easy to think that the hurt would leave if only we had an explanation...a cause... for Lucas' death.  But the truth is, there is no answer that would take away the hurt.  The healing comes only when the hurt collides with THE healer!   I love the second verse...a plea to help us keep our eyes on Jesus and than asking that Jesus takes hold and pulls us through.  And then there is the last verse.....break my fear.. awake my heart and take my tears..find your glory even here.

I love the video with this song.  They actually "collide" the words hurt with healer.  It is a visual that I will be remembering.  I know that I am not the only one that has been touched by this song.  Or that WILL be touched by this song.  I am just so thankful for the talented musicians that are pressing in and listening to Jesus.  What a gift it is to be touched by music.  And to be able to reach Jesus through music.  

After listening to this song several times, I was thinking of my past experiences with healing.  In every case, that visual of the hurt colliding with Jesus the healer, is very accurate.  In 1999, I experienced a dramatic healing from COPD and Asthma.  Before the "collision", most every breathe hurt.  At the point of healing I also experienced the love of Jesus in a way that is really beyond words. I know that this hurt and grief that is in my life now, will not vanish in a dramatic healing.  It will be a process that will happen when I keep my eyes on Jesus.  He will pull me through this.   I am especially thankful that there is no limit on the hurt colliding with the healer.  It is a something that happens minute by minute. I know that I will be waiting for that next collision.  Because in that, there will be more healing.  

Jesus, thank you for the wonderful musicians that we have.  Continue to bless them with your presence, your words, your music.  Thank you for these healing words that washed over my spirit today.   Holy Spirit, there are many hurting people who desperately need to experience that collision with Jesus.  Draw them closer even as they may be asking the "why" question.  Help me to keep on looking at Jesus and let me welcome the collision.   Amen

Not the day I had planned.....

I had lots of different errands to run today and some things that I really wanted to accomplish. I had made plans to have lunch with my son and daughter-in-law and was so looking forward to this day.  But somewhere around 8:30am I was on the phone with Gwen.  I began to experience some bizarre and simply terrifying visual disturbances.  All I can tell you is that I was "seeing" a bunch of black dots and zig zag lines across my eyes that were continually changing and moving.  It was so frightening.  I immediately called Ken to come home so that he could take me to the doctor.  Poor Gwen!  She was really afraid that I might be having a stoke!  Before Ken got home, I had called my eye doctor and they were prepared to see me as soon as I could get there.  Thankfully, by the time Ken got home, my vision had cleared.  I think it lasted for around 20 minutes.  My eye doctor did a very detailed exam of my eyes and told me that he was sure that what I had experienced was an "ocular migraine".  I thought this was very weird since I did not have a headache or any other symptoms.  Apparently these are not all  that uncommon and some people have these events only one time and some people have them more often.  They are unsure what causes them and there is nothing that you can do to prevent them or when they are happening.  So, yes, I was breathing out.

On the way to the eye doctor, I was trying to relax and just trust that Jesus would give me an answer about this event.  I suddenly remembered that several weeks ago, while I was at a worship service where healings were taking place, I had heard that I should get prayers for my eyes.  The funny thing was, I really didn't have any reason for this prayer.  I had an eye appointment for my yearly exam during the following week, but I had not been having any issues with my eyes.  I thought it was really odd.  I decided that I needed to pray for my spiritual eyes to be opened and to see with greater clarity all that Jesus had for me.  I ended up leaving that meeting never getting any prayer.  It was very late and there were so many people waiting for prayer, so I opted to leave.  Today I wondered if this was the reason for that nudge of the Holy Spirit, encouraging me to pray and get prayer for my eyes!

After the eye doctor, Ken decided to stay home for the rest of the day, We ended up both going out to lunch with our son and daughter-in-law which was wonderful.  There were several little jobs that Ken needed to do for our home improvement projects going on.  I spent some time just relaxing.  While I was thinking about the day, I was filled with thankfulness.   And I prayed that Jesus would touch my eyes - physical and spiritual - so that His will would be done through me.  Tonight I am just so thankful for SIGHT!

Wow...this was not the day I had planned.  But tonight I am so thankful for Ken and his care and concern for me.  And I am thankful for Gwen and Doug and their families.  I am very blessed to have a wonderful eye doctor who fit me in and then spent time explaining to me what this odd occurrence was and assuring me that I was really going to be okay. And I am so, so thankful that I was reminded that the Holy Spirit will nudge me when there is something that I need to be praying about.

I am encouraging all of you reading this, to be sensitive to that little whisper from the Holy Spirit.  And I am speaking to myself also.  We just need to be quiet and listen.  And we need to DO!  If we hear, PRAY, then we need to pray.  If someone's face comes to our mind, we need to CALL (and pray).  If there is a cause or topic that keeps coming to our minds, we need to listen to that whisper and than follow through with action.   I will be reminding myself of this daily!

Jesus, thank you for your care and concern for every little detail in our life.  Thank you for family that stands with us.  Thank you for doctors and tests and all the things that we sometimes take for granted in our medical world today.  Thank you for being THE healer.  Amen

Day 18 - TODAY'S answer to prayer

So most of the last few weeks have been testimonies from years ago.  Not today!  This is not the best picture of my sweet little ones (I lifted it off of Instagram - sorry Gwen), but I needed to share this!

Gwen and Tim took their 4 children on an airplane to visit my 94 year old father-in-law whose health is failing.  Now, this kind of a trip is not for the faint of heart!  Just the sheer amount of "stuff" that they had to bring would scare anyone!  Think car seats for all the kids, a playpen for Anna, not to mention, clothes, cups, bottles - you get the idea.  And four little ones on an airplane -  well, lets just say that Gwen and Tim are a hearty lot.  But still, I figured that they could use prayer coverage for this trip.  So I put out a request on my small group "text prayer chain". 

Now let me tell you that this texting thing is really amazing when it comes to sharing prayer needs.  I was just telling a couple of people how much I feel the very real presence of the Holy Spirit each time I get one of those text prayer requests from a member of our group.  I have no doubt that this use of cell phones and texting is just one thing that Jesus is using today.  Recently I saw a sign on a church near my house that said  "Prayer - the ultimate wireless connection".  And I think that the combination of using texting to pass prayer requests is just taking this one step further. 

So on to the story of today.  Well, everyone prayed for Gwen and Tim's airplane travel and it was a very good trip.  So, yes, an answer to prayer.  Let's face it.  A good three hour trip with four children is a miracle! 

However, I neglected to ask for prayer for some other details of this trip.  Like a rental car big enough to hold 4 car seats and 6 people and all the stuff - even though there was a prepaid, confirmed reservation for one! (I know, anyone who knows the show Seinfeld is now saying "They know how to TAKE the reservation, they just don't know how to HOLD the reservation!"  Ken and I were saying the same thing).  Thankfully, although NOT quickly, a different company found a suitable vehicle for them.  They were 3 hours later getting to their hotel than they expected.  You would think a good nights sleep was all they needed.

But early this morning I got a text from Gwen that Ellie was very sick and throwing up.  Now this is really no fun in a hotel.  And really not good when you need to go visit an elderly person who should not be exposed to anything!  I immediately put out an URGENT prayer request via text to my group.  And they all assured me that they were praying.  It was not looking good after 3 hours of Ellie getting sick every 30 minutes like clockwork.  Gwen and Tim were trying to decide what to do and then I got a text from the leader of my small group.  It said "been praying and feeling that a break thru is happening".   And I am not kidding you, within 2 minutes I had a text from Gwen saying Ellie was up and out of bed getting dressed.  And then they were on their way to see Great Grandpa.  Within another hour Ellie was swimming in the pool at my sister-in-law's house. 

By this evening, they were on the beach.  As you can see in this picture, they are all doing well - including Ellie.   And I am convinced that Ellie's quick bounce back was due to this wonderful group of prayer warriors who stood with me and prayed! 

My encouragement to you is to find yourself a group of people who are willing to form a "text" prayer chain.  You will be blessed.

Jesus, thank you for your protection and covering over Gwen, Tim, Lia, Ellie, Zeke and Anna.  Holy Spirit, bless their time visiting with Great Grandpa and the rest of the family.  Thank you for my friends and their willingness to pray when the need arises.  Holy Spirit nudge us all to pray for those close to us even when there is not an urgent need.  It is a miracle that we can connect through cell phones to connect TOGETHER to you.   Thank you for the quick healing for Ellie!  Amen

Testimony Day 2 - Breathing in and out

This picture holds lots of memories for me.  It was actually the first time that Ken and I had gone away on a vacation, without the kids. Doug was in High School and Gwen was in College.  Not such a big deal to travel without them.  We were celebrating our 25th Wedding Anniversary with a trip to Florida in May, 1999.  We had an amazing vacation. 

Now for the back story about this vacation.  I had been bothered by severe asthma for about the 10 years leading up to this vacation.  I had terrible trouble with sinus infections, allergies, and "restrictive asthma".  My daily routine included four different inhaled medications and frequent nebulizers treatments.  Prior to this vacation I visited my cardio pulmonary doctor.  I was concerned about the plane travel as well as making it through this vacation without needing to visit a hospital.  After some testing, he prescribed a long course of steroids, an antibiotic, and added another inhaler to my daily medicines.  He also penned these words in my chart....."SEVERE CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE".  Thanks in part to this doctor, we had a great vacation without any medical crisis.    When I returned home, I continued to struggle with my breathing.  I remember thinking that this was not going away. And with the diagnosis of COPD, I wasn't exactly sure what the future would hold.  Now during the previous 5 years I had many prayers said for my breathing.  I had gone forward for healing many, many times.  Sometimes I would feel better for a day or two.  Sometimes I would breath easier during that service, but it would end when I left the church.  That is until October of 1999. 

During a special event at my church, I was experiencing severe problems breathing. I decided that I needed to leave.  However, the Elders and Pastor stopped me before I hit the door, and they all gathered around me and began to pray.  I am not sure exactly what words were being said, but I became very aware of the presence of the Trinity in a way that I had never experienced before.  I knew that God the Father, Jesus and the Holy Spirit were present at the moment.  All that I felt was an amazing washing of the most incredible love I have ever felt.  At the end of this prayer time, I was breathing easy and returned to the church for the remainder of the service. 

The next morning when I woke up, I thought "Wow, I don't feel short of breath!"  I grabbed my peak flow meter and saw a number I had never seen before - 650!  My average peak flow was around 200 - on a good day!  I thought, maybe something amazing had happened during that prayer time the night before.  I took all my medicine that morning, but forgot to use my inhalers during the day.  When I arrived at church for the service that evening, I had the realization that I had been completely healed!  I never used my inhalers again and stopped all of my medications.  When I visited my primary doctor the next month, she called my lung function "normal" and declared "THIS IS A MIRACLE!"  I have never had another inhaler or breath treatment in the 15 years since that amazing prayer time. 

Sometimes I forget to be thankful for breath.  Today, I am so grateful for the chance to share this story again.  What a great reminder for me!  The message of this testimony today is that miracles happen every day!  There are healings occurring when you least expect it.  And most of these healings don't happen through some "faith healer" like you might see on television. (Although healings and miracles can and do happen there!)  There are amazing miracles in answer to prayers prayed in living rooms, cars, over the phone, even on the internet. Jesus is the maker of those miracles.   It is all about Him!  So I encourage you to be expectant!  A miracle or a healing may be just around the corner for you.

Jesus, thank you for the amazing healing work that you performed in my life on that October day.  Thank you for breath and life!  Holy Spirit, thank you for the reminder that miracles and healings happen today.  Jesus, help us to all expect restoration and health and healing from you.  Thank you God for your great love.  What an amazing wonderful Father you are.  Amen

Day 27 - Thankful for good health - part 2

So last night I was thinking of 1972 and tonight I am thinking about 1984.  Doug was just over 2.5 years old.  He had a rather serious urinary surgery in September of that year and the hope was the surgery would fix all of his infection problems.  But, alas, it was not to be.  Doug had an appointment at the "Urology Clinic" at Children's Memorial on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving.  Let me tell you that I was NOT used to driving all over Chicago and prior to this time of Doug's illness I had never driven into Chicago by myself.  But when your kid is sick, you will do whatever it takes.  This was our first visit back to see the Urologist who did the "experimental" surgery on Doug.  He was not a very personable man and rather arrogant.  As a matter of fact, when our insurance refused to cover the cost of the surgery because it was "above reasonable and customary" he told the insurance company that it was HIS procedure and how dare they tell him what it should cost.  Needless to say, we lost that battle and ended up paying for the procedure ourselves.  But I digress........ I took the day off of work to take Doug in because it was clear to us that he was indeed sick again. After driving to the hospital and waiting for 4 hours at the clinic, the doctor told me that it was impossible that he was sick and I should just take him home.  Even though he tested positive for infections.  I was so upset.  So I left Children's Memorial and started home.  Only to discover that the tollway was under construction and it was the busiest day for travel.  And the detour I needed to take was........get this......through O'Hare airport (on the busiest day for travel).  So I spent 4 hours on the lovely tollways around Chicago with a sick, crying child in a car seat.  Somewhere around hour 3, I began to cry.  I was so glad to finally arrive home.  A call to our local doctor (who had the test results) resulted in his urging for us to bring Doug to the local hospital for treatment.  At that point, it was clear Doug and I both just needed to be home (at least long enough to stop crying).  However he had a big heart and told us to stay home in the morning, eat some turkey, and to go to the hospital in the afternoon.  So that's what we did.  I was just so thankful to be close to home.  To be in a hospital that I knew well, and to have a Doctor that seemed to really care about Doug. 

(This picture was actually taken at Christmas of 1984.  Look carefully and you will see the IV dripping into Doug's arm (hanging from our Pole Lamp! We willing gave him cheese puffs because he would sit still for the entire time his medicine was running!)  Doug was in the hospital from Thanksgiving until Christmas.  And that same doctor made a way for us to do an IV at home so Doug could get his medicine and we could be home for Christmas.  This was amazing for 1984 - they just didn't do that.  Jesus provided a way for us)
So, once again today, I am so thankful for Doug's wonderful health now as an adult. Thinking back on these days brings it all back to me and I just feel waves of gratefulness. Most people do not really know all of Doug's health history and only a few have heard this story. For me this was sort of a turning point when I discovered that, as a mom I really knew my child better than any doctor or hospital could. It's that "mother's intuition" that is really the Holy Spirit!

So tonight I am celebrating and thanking Jesus for the miracle of my wonderful all grown up healthy adult son! Yes, we have lots to be thankful for!

Jesus, thank you for your protection and your guidance during those very hard years.  Thank you for the plans and purpose you have for Doug and the destiny that you are working out for him.  Holy Spirit, thank you for hearing my heart's cry for Doug in those years.  Thank you Yahweh our healer for the miracle of health for Doug!  Amen

Day 26 - Thankful for good health - Part 1

As I have been sharing about various Thanksgivings from years past, I decided I had to blog about Thanksgiving 1972.  I was 18 years old and living at home.  Ken and I were already dating and I was a college student at a local community college.  And I was working at Walgreens.  Each of these facts is important in my telling the story of Thanksgiving in 1972. 

Let me set the stage.... I was a new college student (my first semester) and I was working a lot of hours at Walgreens.  They had just started being open until Midnight and I frequently worked 3pm till Midnight.  And I was dating Ken.  Each of these things led to me not getting much sleep and being pretty stressed.  I had been feeling sick most of October and had already completed several rounds of antibiotics and was still under the weather.  I remember well when the doctor said that I needed to have some blood tests because he suspected that there was something else wrong with me.  Now let me say that I had just recently lost a cousin to Leukemia and when the doctor suggested that my symptoms might be that serious..............we were worried.  So when we received that phone call from the doctor telling me that I had Mononucleosis, we were relieved!!!  Although serious, it was not life threatening.  I remember the day of that phone call very well.  I called my boss and told him I didn't know when I would be returning to work and I called my counselor at college and gave them the same line.  The college wasn't very worried.  They assured me that I could catch up on all my work (which did not happen).  But my boss............well my Walgreens story is one for another blog.  He indicated that I might not have a job when I recovered.  I thought this was really unbelievable since he was a Pharmacist and knew about these things! After these calls were made, I gladly climbed into bed and fell asleep.  I don't remember ever feeling THAT tired!  That was on a Thursday, a week before Thanksgiving.  I have been told that I actually got up for Thanksgiving dinner, but I really don't remember it.  The first thing I really remember is on the Sunday after Thanksgiving - the 26th.  I actually stayed awake to watch a Disney special on TV!  And I finally felt like I was going to be okay.  It was truly a thankful thanksgiving for me (and my parents)!

I hadn't thought about this story for a very long time.  Today as I was thinking about it, I had such a feeling of peace and joy.  Even though, as the time, I didn't really think about the fact that Jesus was the healer and the protector for me, NOW I know that he was totally responsible for my restoration.  And I can even see the working of the Holy Spirit in the path that this illness caused me to walk.  By February of the next year, my life had taken a very different direction.  I was no longer in college and I was working a 9-5 full time secretarial job (which I had for the next 5 years). 

Yes, it was an interesting and very thankful Thanksgiving for me. 

Jesus, thank you for reminding me that you were working in my life, even when I wasn't aware of your presence.  Thank you for restoring me to good health and for providing exactly what I needed at that time.  Thank you for my mom and dad, and their provision for me during this illness. Holy Spirit thank you for helping me to walk on the path that brought me into my destiny.  Amen

***Watch for my blog tomorrow for another Thanksgiving story of restoration!*****

(My Walgreens story is really very interesting.  I promise to share that story sometime in the very near future.)

When you've been touched......

Before you do anything else............please watch this video -Evangelist Nathan Morris heals blind girl  Just click that link and watch carefully.  You can actually see the amazing work of the Holy Spirit through Jesus, as this girl's eye forms.  It is so amazing.  

Okay, have you watched this?  Well, today I got to sit in the front rows of that amazing conference I've been blogging about, and have Nathan Morris actually right in front of me.  And then I got to experience the FIRE and POWER of Jesus, touch me through Nathan as he prayed for me.  I encourage you to go to Utube and watch more videos about this man's ministry.  Yes, people all over the world are getting miraculously healed.  But more than that, hundreds of thousands of people are coming to know Jesus through this ministry. 

This somewhat fuzzy picture was difficult to get!  This man moved all over the room - quickly!  When you watch those videos, note the size of the crowds that are present as Nathan ministers.  It is unbelievable that he would come to this small local conference and so freely minister to all of us.  I am so incredibly blessed that Jesus arranged for me to be at this conference.  If I had NOT lost my job, I would have missed this.  And then, just before this conference started, I received word that I was hired at a new job that I start tomorrow!  Isn't Jesus simply wonderful?  I know in my heart that this was all pre-arranged so that I could sit at the feet of these teachers.  I have been filled and renewed and charged up to move into a new place in the months ahead.  And it was all possible for me - because of a job loss.  And then a scholarship to this conference (which I received so willingly from HUB Ministries).  And then a new job.  WOW! Isn't Jesus great?

 

A couple more things to share from this conference.  Yesterday, during worship, we sang "There is a redeemer".  That older song by Keith Green.  The atmosphere was just supercharged with the glory of Jesus, and I remembered reading Melody Green's (Keith's wife) testimony about Keith and that song. She said it was very late at night and she heard Keith at the piano.  When she came into the room as he was singing this song, she saw the glory cloud surrounding him.  If you don't know his story, take a minute and look it up.  Since I am putting you all to work today, here is the link to Keith Green singing this amazing song..There is a Redeemer.  I am praying that as you listen to this song again today, you will be touched just as I was yesterday, and hear and feel the glory of the Holy Spirit. 

Just before the service today, I checked my phone for messages.  I saw that there was a prayer request for a sweet little girl named Audrey.  She is in the hospital and has many, many health issues and concerns.  I left the Caring Bridge site open on my phone, with Audrey's picture shown.  And when Nathan prayed for me, he put his hand on my phone.  I know that Jesus touched Audrey in that moment.  I am expecting a miracle for Audrey!

Today I want to leave you with this awesome quote from Nathan Morris.  He said "Most prayer today is just unbelief clothed in wishful thinking".  I know that as I ponder this thought, remember all that I have witnessed personally, and move into that new "Stature" in the Spirit that Nathan spoke about, I will be doing more praying with belief and confidence in what Jesus is doing!

Jesus, thank you.  It seems like so little to say, but today....... just thank you.  I have been changed by your powerful working through the Holy Spirit.  So, Jesus, would your continue to pour out your powerful working miracles to everyone reading this blog today.   Shower Audrey and her family and all of the doctors and nurses tending to her, with amazing grace and peace and love.  Bless Nathan and his wife as they travel home and give them rest.  Amen

 



Celebrating healing.... and praying for healing!

Yesterday we had one of those wonderful days spending time together as a family.  However, we were missing Doug - my son!  Unfortunately, he is sick with a fever.  He stayed home and rested while the rest of us met at a local water park. For me, water and swimming are closely tied to spending time relaxing with the people I love the most.  (See the previous post on Lake Maud!)  We had the almost ideal day.  It was warm enough without being HOT.  And we had plenty of shade available and to top it all off, the park wasn't very crowded.  With 5 adults and 3 kids there were plenty of hands to help with the little ones.  We all spent some time just riding those tubes in the lazy river.  Then after hours of swimming and time in the sand area and splash park, we knew it was time to head out.  Zeke, our two year old grandson, had not had a nap.  He could barely walk he was so tired.  But before we left, we all gathered together to have a wonderful meal, provided by my daughter-in-law. There were a couple of picnic tables in a grassy area of the parking lot.  So we all sat down to eat together.  I don't know why it is, but any food that is eaten outside always tastes so good!  It was at this point that I think I most missed Doug.  Looking around at everyone eating and laughing together.   Then, just as we were getting ready to leave, my three grandkids went to explore one of the trees.  I took the opportunity to snap some pictures.  Here is Zeke (2) Ellie (4) and Lia (7).

 



 When I downloaded those pictures last night, all I could think about was this picture from the past...

 

This picture is Gwen and Doug from 1985.  Gwen was 6 and Doug was 3.  When I sat and looked at these two pictures, I felt the passage of time.  But more than that, in spite of Doug not being present with us at this event, I remembered Yahweh's blessings over our family that included Doug's health. I realize that there is an irony about Doug being under the weather yesterday, when I am posting about Yahweh's provision of  his health.  But I am truth- telling here.  Doug was a very sick little boy. With very serious kidney and immune system problems that actually began when he was born, there was a point when we were not sure that he would survive.  After many, many days in the hospital, a lot of medicine, surgeries (that included Doug losing a kidney) and seriously too many doctors to count, I know that it was GOD that brought healing to Doug.  There was not a dramatic healing moment, rather there was a gradual return to good health that included medicine.    Part of the frustration about the years of sickness that Doug experienced, was that the doctors never could pinpoint the exact diagnosis.  Nothing exactly fit. But there was a point when Doug was five and half, when we had to make the decision to take him off of the medicine and risk him getting sick again. It was Yahweh that brought us to that point and gave us the peace to follow through with that decision. And Doug never experienced that sickness again. Recently, I happened upon an article about a little girl who had a very similar medical history as Doug.  The article detailed the diagnosis of her disorder.  It is a recently discovered genetic problem (22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome) that grouped together many children who had never had an accurate diagnosis.  Reading that article was an answer to questions that had always been in my mind.  But even if Doug does have that genetic deletion, it simply doesn't change that Yahweh has a plan and purpose for Doug that included his healing.  Thank you Yahweh!

 

I love the way that Jesus reminds us of who He is.  He is our healer, our provision and our peace.  I especially love that when we gather around a table and eat together, we can remember that we are a part of Yahweh's family. 

 

Yahweh, thank you for family time, for laughter, and swimming and hugs.  Thank you for your provision of good food and fun.  Jesus, you are an amazing God that loves us with an unending love.  Thank you for providing answers to long ago questions and then giving the peace to know that the answer doesn't matter.   Especially, thank you for your healing both in the past and today. Yahweh, bring your healing power to Doug right now!    Amen

 

 

  



 



Thunder, Lightning, and shofar blasts

Last night there was a dozy of a storm.  The entire building at the Cyrus Ministries Big Rock facility was shaking as the thunder roared (with the added vibration of a passing freight train!).  The lightning was just flashing all over the sky.  And during worship I heard the blast of a shofar.  Now, I confess, that I am more apt to SEE something unusual during worship, but last night I heard that shofar blast.  And that reminded me.......

One night last week I had my sleep interrupted three different times when I was sure that there was a shofar blast!  I have learned that when something like this happens, it is best to take time to stop and ask Yahweh for an explanation.  I was awake for quite some time, but did not have any clear answer.  Just after I got up early the next morning, I heard "the three shofar blasts were three walls broken and three gates opened" 

Okay - this is an exciting word!  I could imagine some walls that I have been facing just crumbling.  I was thinking about Joshua and the walls of Jericho.  But what were these opened gates?

Then several hours later, just going about my daily routine, and continuing to ponder those shofar blasts, I heard Yahweh's explanation.....

     Wall of hopelessness and despair broken and gate of joy and peace opened!
     Wall of disease and infirmity broken and gate of health and healing opened!
     Wall of disappointment & discouragement broken and gate of provision & opportunity opened!

Last night when that shofar sounded, Yahweh was sending forth His power and doing battle in the heavenly realm FOR US!   At those times when we are so tired, so hopeless and so beaten down, HE is sending forth his angels to break down those walls.  When we are sick and hurting, HE has opened the gate of restored health for us.  No matter what our current situation is - how bleak things may look, HE has not only provision but opportunities for us. 

What a comforting thought. I am so glad that I am not responsible for all the spiritual warfare.   It's great to be reminded that Yahweh wants to breakthrough even the nasty, tough areas of my life.  And His plan for me includes everything that is needed and the place to complete it. 

Tonight I am very thankful - thankful for safe travel home during that nasty storm last night.  And thankful for a deeper revelation of Yahweh.  I am also thankful that I am going deeper in "getting" who Jesus is!