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

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

 



Modern miracles....

So after my last post about my maternal grandmother and mom, I have been thinking about my dad.  My dad died in 1985 when I was only 31 years old.  I have missed having him around during most of my adult life.  I can't tell you how often, when I am with Doug or thinking about Doug, I think, "boy my dad would have loved him so much" or "Doug and my dad would have had so much in common". (I think this often about my son-in-law Tim also.  Doug and Tim are a lot alike!).  And, unfortunately, Doug has no memories of my dad.  Dad died when Doug was just 3 years old.  And thinking about my dad has me thinking about his growing up years. 

Here is a picture of my dad's family taken in 1919.  My dad is the little boy standing between his parents.



 

I love looking at the clothes and imagining the lifestyle at that time.  I love the fact that I can look at the older kids, standing in the back, and SEE my aunts and uncles.  I was blessed to actually get to know them.  But what ALWAYS goes through my mind, is my grandmother.  Both my grandmother and grandfather came to America from Sweden as "indentured servants".  They were young teenagers at the time and they left everything and everyone that they knew to come to a strange country.  I just can't imagine that.  And then they worked hard, as servants, for other people - as farm hands and maids, childcare workers and cooks. They met in Minnesota while working on neighboring farms. My grandfather served out the remaining time on my grandmother's indentured contract so that they could get married. Eventually, my grandfather purchased his own farm and they raised their children.   As you can see by the picture, there is a large age spacing between my dad and his oldest brother (standing behind his father).  Actually 20 years.  What tugs at my heart about this picture, is who is MISSING from this picture.  This family includes two more boys.  In the summer of 1913, Algot, who was 18 at the time, fell out of a hay loft onto a pitchfork and died of gangrene infection.  Also, Gustov, who was 6 years old, died of "sugar disease".  And then on August 20, 1913, my dad was born.  Can you imagine that?  Losing two of your children and then having a new baby - all in one summer?  And did I mention that my grandmother was 41 years old? 

 

 It has always been in my heart that neither of these boys -my two uncles - would have died if the same scenario played out in my lifetime.  We take for granted doctors and hospitals and antibiotics as well as other amazing medical advances like insulin.  But it was not that long ago that these "miracles" were not available.  I've been thinking about a video I saw on the internet the other day watch it here. It is a story about a 15 year old boy, Jack Andraka, that invented a way to detect pancreatic cancer for only 3 cents. Amazing. I can't help but think of all the other miraculous things, yet to be discovered, that Yahweh has gifted to people.

 

I am convinced that there are amazing, creative inventions and solutions on the horizon.  Yahweh's kingdom is ever increasing and His glory is being revealed through His people.  I am also convinced that my children and grandchildren will have a part in bringing about these miracles.   It gives me a hope and excitement for what is ahead.  And it gives me great joy.

 

Thank you Yahweh for helping me to see your hand in the many miracles we see today.  Thank you for my family and the way that you have gifted and used all the generations.  Yahweh, I pray special blessing on my entire extended family.  May they draw close to you and hear your voice.  Thank you for your great love and the gift of Jesus.   Amen