The Warrior Sunday, Jan 24 2010

I was once described by someone who doesn’t know me well as having a stiff upper lip.  I’ve never been a good faker.  If you see me smiling, it’s the joy of the Lord but if you find me quiet then something is amiss. I almost never cry in the presence of anyone unless I am certain they have something to give.  It makes me feel awkward and I end up trying to make them feel better.  So, I cry best in the presence of God and those who let Him flow through them. In High School the Bible characters I related to most were Jeremiah, the “Weeping Prophet” and David, the “Warrior Poet”.  In those days a song by Twila Paris became sort of an anthem for me.  It still rings true, especially this week.  And from talking to people lately, I think many can relate.  Here are some of the lyrics:

“The Warrior is a Child”

They don’t know that I go running home when I fall down

They don’t know who picks me up when no one is around

I drop my sword and cry for just a while

‘Cause deep inside this armor

The warrior is a child.

Unafraid because His armor is the best

But even soldiers need a quiet place to rest

People say that I’m amazing

Never face retreat

But they don’t see the enemies

That lay me at His feet.

They don’t know that I go running home when I fall down

They don’t know who picks me up when no one is around

I drop my sword and and cry for just a while

‘Cause deep inside this armor

the warrior is a child.

4 Responses »

 

God’s Faithfulness Sunday, Jan 10 2010

²And the Lord answered me and said, Write the vision and engrave it so plainly upon tablets that everyone who passes may [be able to] read [it easily and quickly] as he hastens by.

³For the vision is yet for an appointed time and it hastens to the end [fulfillment]; it will not deceive or disappoint. Though it tarry, wait [earnestly] for it, because it will surely come; it will not be hindered on its appointed day. Habakkuk 2

Something amazing happened last week and it happened on my birthday.  The Lord visited me in a beautiful way.  I was watching as He moved in someone’s life and the Lord gave me a picture then He reminded me of a dream someone had over a decade ago. Then He simply said, “This is that.”  Suddenly I realized that what I was seeing with my eyes was the fulfillment of a 15-year-old promise!

God is always speaking. He gives us visions, words and promises.  He gives us hope and sometimes warnings.  He knows us well.  He knows that in our running around we might not remember what He has spoken so as He told Habakkuk, we need to keep these words accessible. God is so kind.  He really understands us better than we realize.  He knows we are weak and forgetful when it comes to waiting.

Although sometimes the waiting is torturous, He doesn’t make us wait to torture us.  There are always reasons for His timing.  Not that we always understand, even in the end, but we can be assured that He has a plan.  Waiting gives us just enough pressure to want to seek God and it brings our human minds just enough confusion to cause us to inquire of Him. It is in the waiting, the seeking and the asking that we wrestle with God and He teaches us to rest.  What starts out as us trying to wrestle God ends in our finally giving up and resting in His embrace.  Then we become so comfortable in His arms that we almost forget what we were wrestling over and before we know it the promise is upon us and He quietly reminds us of His faithfulness.

6 Responses »

 

Focus for the New Year Monday, Jan 4 2010

There were so many things that happened in the final weeks of 2009 that 2010 was upon me suddenly and I didn’t even have time to welcome it properly.  I had no time for the usual year-end pondering or new year planning.  So here I am in a new time and space called 2010 wondering how I got here and if this time and space is really significantly different from the one we called 2009.

All I know  is that I do feel a shift in my heart to be very precise in my choices right now.  I want everything I choose to be in sync with what I know I am called to be about right now.  I don’t want anything extraneous.  My focus is narrow and I have a sense of definition to my purpose.

There are so many things in my own little life that I could work on and from there, I could expand it to even more things I could do, but I feel especially pressed to stay focused on a few things the Lord has put in front of me.  It feels a bit like the Lord has directed the camera to a very tight shot and everything in the peripheral has faded away.  Those who know me will not be surprised as the Lord has used my circumstances for years to force me to live a narrowly focused life.  That is even more true now than before.

There have been times that I longed to stretch out a bit, but I sense the need to pull in even tighter right now.  So my prayer for the New Year is for God to hold me tight and keep me focused on exactly what He has for me now.  I don’t want to be distracted by the many things I would like to see happen or the things I would like to work on.  I don’t want to get lost in the assignments of years past either.  I just want to faithfully focus on what is directly in front of me now.

Sometimes a narrow focus can seem restrictive at first but there is a positive side as well. There is a sense of security in this tight focus.  When the Lord gives me a narrow focus I feel a bit relieved that I don’t need to concern myself with things I am not assigned to.  There is a rest in doing only what we are called to and releasing everything else.  As we keep our main focus on the Lord, He will direct our eyes and our hearts on those things He has for us in this season.  Everything else can wait.

Proverbs 4:25
Let your eyes look right on [with fixed purpose], and let your gaze be straight before you.

2 Responses »

 

Got Mercy? Thursday, Dec 31 2009

Got Mercy?

These are difficult times we live in. Individuals, families, churches and entire communities are experiencing testings and trials and are suffering in various ways. As someone who is no stranger to trials, I empathize with those who are going through difficulties. I’ve noticed that when things get tough, it is human nature to judge and point fingers. I’ve watched over and over in my own life and in the lives of others that people who are suffering are easy targets for judgers and fixers.

The judgers want to tell you why you are in the situation you find yourself in and the fixers want to tell you exactly how to get out. Both are operating in pride, and most of us have been guilty on both counts. When you are on the receiving end of this it brings everything from condemnation to anger, and leaves you with even more to deal with than before!

So with the times we are in becoming more difficult, I thought it was worth re-posting this.

1 Chronicles 21:13
“I am in deep distress. Let me fall into the hands of the LORD, for His mercy is very great; but do not let me fall into the hands of men.”

The deeper our distress, the more we long to be in the hands of God. Jesus is just so kind. He understands our plight. He is the incarnation of the mercy seat; that place covered by His blood and filled with the presence of God. Oh, to be in that place when we are hurting!

Unfortunately, we have all had times of distress when we have fallen into the hands of men. Sometimes even the most well meaning humans create more distress because they unwittingly operate from the position of the judgement seat rather than that of the mercy seat. This is the difference between having compassion and “feeling sorry”.

True compassion is born out of suffering that has given birth to empathy. Jesus had (and has) compassion for people because He chose to identify with us in humanness and suffering. Those who merely feel sorry for others have distanced themselves from the suffering of others and say with the pharisees, “Thank God I’m not like that!” Sometimes they even take a kind of perverted comfort in the sufferings of others. Other times they are the types who know just what the problem is and have the simple solution that will change your situation. The ten commandments were the simple solution. If everyone just followed them, things would go well. The only problem is, the law was never meant to be the solution.

Jesus came to be the solution. He didn’t come to point out the pain and suffering and sin and sickness. He came to become the pain and suffering and sin and sickness. He became it, to conquer it, so that we could find our life in Him and operate from the mercy seat.

We have to continually humble ourselves in order to receive mercy and give it to others, and we have to guard our hearts so that we do not become like the Pharisees. To identify with Christ means to be intimately aware of our own brokenness and need for Jesus and to identify with the suffering and brokenness of humanity. We can only give as much mercy as we realize we have received. As humans, we really want to have answers for people and their problems. We can’t always give answers, but we can always give mercy.

Hebrews 2 18For because He Himself [in His humanity] has suffered in being tempted (tested and tried), He is able [immediately] [c]to run to the cry of (assist, relieve) those who are being tempted and tested and tried [and who therefore are being exposed to suffering].

2 Responses »

 

Musings From A Recovering Child of the Bible Belt Saturday, Oct 10 2009

Growing up just slightly to the west of the Bible Belt’s proverbial buckle I entered adulthood with a strong knowledge of the Word of God. That’s the bright side.  The other side of that shiny buckle is that I grew up with a lot of ideas that were touted as “Christian” that were really just cultural.  The culture was so entwined with Christianity that it was very difficult to see them each for what they were.

 One funny example is what were known as “The Blue Laws”.  These laws prohibited certain commercial activities on Sundays.  Car sales are still prohibited!  All of this, thanks to the Puritan heritage that still influences our culture.  Never mind that there is nothing in the New Testament stating that we are bound to the Old Testament laws of the Sabbath or that these laws, when first established in the colony of Connecticut, allowed for the militia to force people to attend church and forbade everything from working to wearing lace.  

As a young adult I moved with my husband to New York City.  I was somewhat amused at the fear exhibited toward Southern Christians.  I knew they had little to be afraid of, but maybe the militia thing was still haunting them.  For the first time in my life I started to see the difference between culture and Christianity.  I happily discovered that I could wear jeans or shorts to church without being looked at like a heathen!  It was not because these people were disrespectful of being in church or because they simply weren’t “raised right”.  It was just a practical matter.  We all walked a long way (by suburban standards) to get to church.  We dressed for the weather and for wherever we were going after church, which was usually Central Park.

I later moved to Ohio and then to North Carolina.  I’ve ben in a lot of different kinds of churches.  I’ve noticed that churches have their cultural expressions as well.  I’ve learned to appreciate the differences.  The different churches addressed in Revelations had different strengths and weaknesses.  Jesus had something to say to each of them on both counts.  I’ve been to churches in several countries other than the United States.  Those experiences are eye opening as well.  

Lately my eyes have been opened further.  There is a purity in our personal relationship with Jesus that comes when we recognize that we really are not of this world or the cultures we live in and neither is Jesus.  The Lord has taken me aside lately and helped me to examine my heart, beliefs, assumptions and mind sets once again.  He wants us to have a Kingdom of God mindset first, rather than an earthly regional or even denominational (i.e. Texan, Baptist, Eastern, Northern, American, Episcopalian, non-denominational etc.) mindset.  We are all shaped by our culture and he placed us where we are and has given us certain experiences to teach us certain things, but ultimately, our identity has to be in Him and as Citizens of His Kingdom, and although it is molded it cannot be grounded in our culture, Christian or otherwise.  When we are not Christ centered, we tend toward pride and egocentrism or on the other end of the spectrum globalism.

So, if you dare, ask the Lord to show you the things that you may have accepted as “The Gospel Truth” that are really only cultural at best and unscriptural at worst.  It’s a needed exercise at some point and it makes us much more usable by God to those of all cultures and nationalities.

 

^{Luke 17:21}Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.

One Response »

 

The Secret To A Joyful Life Thursday, Sep 17 2009

Passage John 15:9-11:
9 “I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. 10 When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. 11 I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!

And there it is! The “secret” to a joyful life is no secret at all. The bottom line with God is always love. Knowing we are loved by God and living in that place of love fills us with life and joy!

We wander around so often wondering why we can’t find joy but Jesus is so plain about it all. He even tells us how to remain in love so that we might remain in joy. It is through obedience.

I think that part rubs us the wrong way. We don’t like to obey. Our flesh is not into humility and submission. We’d rather think that we have more to do with our own joy. We’d like to think that it is our choice and we create it. Those things are only true within our submission to God first.

We sometimes make choices without really consulting the One who knows and loves us best and think we are choosing for our own happiness, but eventually we find that living for our own happiness does not lead to true joy. We humans are curious creatures. We often fight hardest against the things that will bring us what we desire most. Sometimes it is so uncomfortable to abide and obey. It is just counterintuitive that out of obedience true joy springs and overflows.

I know that Jesus has more joy than most. The scripture speaks of Him in the psalms as having more joy than His brothers, yet we know that He experiences sorrow and anger and grief as well. It leads me to believe that joy is not so much an emotion as we often think of it, but rather a state of being and that, that state is maintainable and can remain constant even in the midst of very diverse circumstances and emotions.

Leave a Response »

 

A Time To Mourn Friday, Sep 11 2009

Thw Bible says that there are seasons for mourning. September 11 marks the most significant time of national mourning since my birth. It was so sudden and jarring, and for my family, very close to home. There are times, and this was one of them, that comfort cannot be found. There were no words to make us feel better, we simply had to mourn.

We had to feel the shock, and pain and vulnerability. We had to cry. We had to get angry at injustice. We had to hold onto each other and be held by God. I remember that part so well; holding on. In times like those, everything that we know is sort of up in the air, there is nothing we can do and our only recourse is to be. We just have to be in pain and be together and as we cry out to God we find that He is not expecting anything more of us and is perfectly willing to just be with us too.

When we can just be with Him, something changes. The circumstances don’t, but somehow, eventually, the edges are softened, our hearts are calmed and at some point we start to hear that still, small, voice once again and we gain strength for the next moment. Mourning is a slow and tedious process but if we give in to the process, we find that the process works. It is the vehicle we have been given to bring us from shock and despair to celebrating life again.

Today we remember what happened and the people we lost but we are not mourning in the same way. Other times of mourning will come. They always do. In the mean time, we need to enjoy the seasons we are in and always spend time just being with God so that we know instictively where to go when we are blinded by pain.

Psalm 56:8:

8 You keep track of all my sorrows.[a]
You have collected all my tears in your bottle.
You have recorded each one in your book.

Leave a Response »

 

Keep Your Chin Up! Wednesday, Sep 9 2009

The God of all things and all people is not the least bit shocked when we, personally or collectively, experience disturbing times and events. He is still on the throne when our heads are spinning and our hearts are broken. He knows that we are merely flesh even while we are reeling from the circumstances that cause us to recognize that fact ourselves. Jesus was painfully aware of how difficult it is to live as a human and how we would feel when the world around us is behaving like, well, the world. And he told his friends that things would get worse before they got better. Then He told them to keep their chins up.

Luke 21:28 Now when these things begin to occur, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption (deliverance) is drawing near.

God is not trapped by the time and space we live in. He wants us to know that the things on Earth are only a shadow of things that are real. He knows, and so does the enemy, that if we really grasp that reality we might be shaken but we will never be moved from the place of strength, joy and hope that we have in Christ. An eternal perespective is one of the keys to overcoming especially in the days we are now in.

2 Corinthians 4:18 So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.

This is why we close our eyes during prayer. I always say that I can see better with my eyes closed! So what is it that He wants us to see and fix our gaze on? It is Jesus! He wants us to see Him and his beauty. Whe we see Him, nothing else matters at all!

Acts 7:55
But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed steadily into heaven and saw the glory of God, and he saw Jesus standing in the place of honor at God’s right hand.

That’s what we have to do; stay full of the Holy Spirit and gaze staedily into heaven until we can see clearly. When get a glimpse of the things of heaven we hunger and thirst for God, nothing else is even remotely as important. Our perspective is totally altered by the beauty of His presence.

Psalm 63 1 O God, you are my God;
I earnestly search for you.
My soul thirsts for you;
my whole body longs for you
in this parched and weary land
where there is no water.
2 I have seen you in your sanctuary
and gazed upon your power and glory.
3 Your unfailing love is better than life itself;
how I praise you!
4 I will praise you as long as I live,
lifting up my hands to you in prayer.
5 You satisfy me more than the richest feast.
I will praise you with songs of joy.

6 I lie awake thinking of you,
meditating on you through the night.
7 Because you are my helper,
I sing for joy in the shadow of your wings.
8 I cling to you;
your strong right hand holds me securely.

3 Responses »

 

Encouragement in Perplexing Times Sunday, Aug 30 2009

2 Corinthians 4:8-10 8 We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. 9 We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed. 10 Through suffering, our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies.

The circumstances that we are facing right now that seem to press relentlessly and the stuff from tragedy to annoyance that pushes until we are knocked to our knees are the very things the Lord allows to bring death to our flesh and life to our souls and to souls around us. Sometimes I think God gives us little reprieves, but not for long.

Luke 3:16
John answered them all by saying, I baptize you with water; but He Who is mightier than I is coming, the strap of Whose sandals I am not fit to unfasten. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.

Baptism with fire is a reminder that we have been accepted by God (a very good thing) to be living sacrifices (a not so fun thing) unto Him. When we first realize that the Lord accepts our lives as holy sacrifices it is an overwhelmingly humbling honor. Soon though, our flesh catches on to the whole thing and is crying out for mercy and pleading its case to be allowed to live. We would make all kinds of exceptions and excuses but The Holy Spirit is ruthless when it comes to our flesh and sin. We would try to talk our way out of crucifying the flesh in just about any way we could, but Holy Spirit is, well, holy. And His mercy toward us is so powerful that He won’t have mercy on our sin. He is single minded in His efforts to bring us freedom and present us as a spotless bride to Jesus.

The methods He uses are not always easily understood by our human minds and emotions. The places He allows us to tread and even leads us to are not always what we had in mind when we signed up for a journey to the promised land. In those times it is most important not to become offended at God and angry with His ways. He knows where we are going and what it will take to get there. More importantly, He knows the people we will cross on the way and has directed our path as much for them as for us.

2 Corinthians 4:11-12
11For we which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. 12So then death worketh in us, but life in you (those around us).

Leave a Response »

 

Integration of Revelation Monday, Aug 24 2009

This has been a weekend of extremes and opposites. I have gone from the deepest trenches to the highest heights and I am feeling conflicting emotions and thinking conflicting thoughts.

It started on Friday morning with a Skype call from Ukraine. I was able to speak to one of my dear friends for the first time in nine years with the help of another Ukranian friend acting as the interpreter. My friend Natasha said her heart was beating so hard she thought it would come out of her chest! The whole time was just saturated with Holy Spirit. By the time we prayed at the end of the hour, the presence of God was so strong that all I could think about was how awesome it must be in Heaven. I remembered why I never wanted to leave Ukraine.

Friday and Saturday night were spent at a conference. The Lord felt so close and our minds were filled with truth. Somehow, in between all that there was a lot of “stuff” happening. Things to deal with and figure out. Things that were honestly way beyond our ability and human wisdom to tackle.

By Sunday, we were just physically wiped out, emotionally drained and like I said before, a little confused. I decided it was best not to even give my feelings a chance to speak. This morning as we prayed, I had a clearer understanding of what had happened, why we felt the way we did and what God was after in all of this.

When I was a kid, older Christians would describe part of my weekend as “mountain top experience”. Then they would sort of pat us on our heads and tell us that we have to come down. The coming down is always the hard part. The confusion of that whole process was answered by what God revealed to me today. He showed me that although we have to “come down” and live our every day lives, He doesn’t want us to leave everything He imparted to us on the mountain behind.

The words He had me pray today were, “Give us integration of revelation.” When He opens the Heavens and imparts to us things of the Spirit, it is not so we can leave and say. “I met with God. How cool.” He opens the Heavens and gives us revelation so that those things of Heaven change our spiritual DNA and become a part of who we are. As the the nature of God becomes more amore a part of who we are, then His Spirit has more influence in the Earth and on the people with whom we are in contact. Be encouraged to reach for the Heavens but don’t stop there; let God integrate what you find there into who you are and then impart it to others.

2 Corinthians 4:6-7

6For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

7But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.

Leave a Response »

 

Giving Out and Filling UP Wednesday, Jul 29 2009

Yesterday I left to run errands and stopped along the way to enjoy some “me time”.

Just as I was about to take the first sip of my latte, I was approached by a local reporter and his cameraman.  They wanted a few comments about the recent banking news.  I obliged.  Then I called my friend to catch up and just as I was leaving to go do my errand a guy backed into me in the parking lot while I was just sitting there!  Just then the phone rang.  A bit rattled, I skipped that call and called my husband.

Feeling better, I called my friend whose call I had skipped.  It turns out he needed prayer for his wife.  But before we got to pray another call came in.  It was a teenager I know.  She was crying and on her way to the hospital, so I prayed for her.  Then it was back to my other friend to finally pray with him.

My prayers felt more powerful than they have in months!  I couldn’t help but think of how Holy Spirit is more than happy to breathe on us when we step out of ourselves and take part in the lives of others.  Even though unusual things were happening around me, some of them interesting and some upsetting, everything quickly faded when I focused on what God was putting before me.

“Me time” is really important but sometimes, the only way to get filled up and re-charged is to give it all away.
So, if you are like me and can sometimes get into a “funk” make the best of every opportunity to pour yourself and God’s love and power into the lives of others. It’s the best pick- me-up around!

Luke 6:38
Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.

Leave a Response »

 

Not of This World Sunday, Jul 5 2009

1 Timothy3 Endure suffering along with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 Soldiers don’t get tied up in the affairs of civilian life, for then they cannot please the officer who enlisted them. 

Just in case your head is so far into the sand that you haven’t come up for air in a while or you have somehow managed to remain in so kind of proverbial bubble, the world has not  been operating in a “business as usual” mode for quite some time.  I don’t write about it often because I hate to point out the obvious and my true desire is to focus people on Jesus.

Today, though, it feels like the obvious is screaming to be noticed amidst the circus of distractions.  Even the worldliest take notice when over a half dozen celebrities die in one week.  Of course we’ve lost count of the men, women, and children who have died in recent wars and new wars seem to threaten daily.  But that’s not all.  There is just a sense of urgency in the Heavens, so to speak.

Many of us have sensed these things coming and know this is just the beginning.  I think that it is time to call the Body of Christ to focus on our purpose in the Earth.  We are not citizens of this Earth.  We are residents of the Kingdom of God and are only here to demonstrate His love and power.  Things are going to get tougher in some ways, but that will only give us greater opportunity to shine the light of Christ.

If we are going to shine His light, however, we must make it a priority to draw close to God, walk in holiness and humility and be single-minded.  We cannot indulge our flesh and walk in the power of God. We are going to need His power in the days ahead both for ourselves and for those around us.  There is no more time to dabble in the things of God.  The time is now to : 

8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.
10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

James 4:8-10:

Leave a Response »

 

Mac is Back! Sunday, Jun 7 2009

Hi everyone!  I’ve been away so long that I feel like I need to introduce myself or something!!

There has been so much going on and right in the middle of it my computer went on the blitz!  It was very disturbing.  I am certain that if I had to give up my Mac or my wheelchair, the chair would just have to go.  I called Mac support and we went through this whole thing and the tech guy gave me dreadful news.  He thought it could be water damage.  And that’s not covered!  Was that possible?  Could be, I thought, since I use my laptop as a dinner tray.  I was crushed!  So I made an appointment with the Genius Bar at the Apple store.  Those are the computer geeks for Apple who actually diagnose and fix their computers.

I got out a couple of days later in a torrential downpour from a tropical depression to take Mac in for the appointment.  We got there early only because I had the time wrong.  We finally got called in for our appointment.  The “genius” at the bar was not as stereotypically geeky as I had imagined, but she seemed smart enough nonetheless.  I told her my water fears.  She told me that would cost around $850.00.  I tried not to panic and shot up a quick prayer for Mac.

The “genius” did a quick examination of Mac and after several Hmmmm’s told me that Mac’s symptoms did not match what she typically saw with water damage.  Good news!  She said if I left Mac there, it would take about 12 days to get to him and then they would call me and tell me the diagnoses.  She wanted to know if I could go without a computer that long.  I thought about it.  Twelve days is a long time, but I had to have an operating computer so I turned Mac over to her.

Then I remembered I had my Ipod Touch in my purse!  I asked her if she could set up my e-mail and facebook on the I-Pod so that at least I had that while Mac was away.  She did and I left feeling very connected (finally) and very 21st century.

Then a miracle happened!  Two hours later I got the news that Mac had no water damage and that everything had ben repaired and I could come get him (free of charge!).  So Mac and I are back, working together again.  All is well.  :)

2 Responses »

 

The Answer to the Prayer was Prayer Thursday, May 21 2009

Today I am really thankful to be home with nothing pressing to do at the moment except to press into God and the moment.  I love to go and do but in my heart of hearts I am more of a “be-er” than a “do-er” and there is no place I’d rather be than in the presence of the Lord.  Besides, it is in these quiet moments that I finally get to engage in my other passion; writing.

I love having this time to reflect and share what God has been doing.  Most of you know that my healing is coming at a more rapid pace now.  Once I got to the gym and saw how much healing had taken place since the last time I’d worked out, I really almost couldn’t believe it myself!  I knew this was the time to focus on my healing like never before because it was no longer something to pray would manifest.  It was already happening in a visible way and time to pray into what we were seeing.

I know from experience how effective healing prayer is, especially in a situation like mine so I tried to gather some people to “soak” me in prayer.  It just was not coming together, but I kept trying and kept going to the gym and watching the healing progress.

On Tuesday I went to the gym and was blown away again at the rapid progress.  Tuesday night I did an interview for the In My Pajamas Show (you can listen to that interview at www.Blogtalkradio.com/inmypajamasshow) and shared what has happened and what is happening.  It’s always fun to give God glory for what He is doing!  He’s hard to keep up with, though, because He is always doing something new and it seems that the more we praise Him the more He gives us something to praise about!

I got home after the interview and got into bed when I got an unexpected phone call from a neighbor who I haven’t heard from in about a year.  She seemed really excited and was a little hard to follow but she mentioned that she was with Dennis Brown.  He runs the Healing Rooms in Charlotte and I am very familiar with him and I love the work he does, so I was starting to clue in.  Ten my neighbor asked if she could come pray for me.  I was thrilled!  This is exactly what I’d been needing and God had it all set up!  So I told her to come on over, thinking it was she and her husband.

Well, it was she an her husband and about eight other people plus Dennis!  Apparently, Dennis was teaching a class on healing prayer and praying for the sick and the entire class came and I became the object lesson.  How cool is that?  I had been asking for soaking prayer and there was a whole class meeting in my neighborhood just itching to lay hands on the sick and the Holy Spirit put me on their hearts at just the right time.  Of course God honored their prayers with His presence and I am certain we will get to see the results when I get back to the gym.

 This is happening so rapidly that I bought a little video recorder to take to the gym so I can start posting the results on YouTube. Stay tuned…

Matthew 4:24 (Whole Chapter) 
So the report of Him spread throughout all Syria, and they brought Him all who were sick, those afflicted with various diseases and torments, those under the power of demons, and epileptics, and paralyzed people, and He healed them.

2 Responses »

 

News From the Gym Wednesday, Apr 29 2009

I have good news on the physical progress front.  I am making rapid gains with my once paralyzed arm.  The muscles have returned at different times, so some are stronger than others, but all are making progress.  I can lift up to 20 pounds with the tricep but only three to five with the bicep.  Although I use no weight at all on some of the deltoid exercises, I am still getting stronger.  I am able to raise my arm  enough to make it parallel with the floor.  Just several months ago I could not raise it at all.

I’ve also begun to use my torso muscles and my abdominals, even if just a bit.  Today was especially good because I was able to press my right foot into the trainer’s stomach! Nothing yet with the left leg, but again, this is still a huge improvement!

In a practical way, this translates into my being much stronger and more independent when I transfer to and from the wheelchair, my arm is not in pain, and I can simply do more with my left arm like grab my seat belt and give better hugs.  :)

God is good and I am so thankful for how far He has brought me.  On the other hand, the cry of my heart is still, “More Lord!”

6 Responses »