healing

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Where There’s a Will

Where there’s a will there’s a way. These were the first words that entered my conscious mind this morning as I was just waking up. I then thought of two recent instances when I was told that something could not be done. I was determined to get it done. I found a way and I got them done.

Following these thoughts I began to think about God and His will.

Now a leper came to Him, imploring Him, kneeling down to Him and saying to Him, “If You are willing, You can make me clean.” Then Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, “I am willing; be cleansed.” As soon as He had spoken, immediately the leprosy left him, and he was cleansed. Mark 1:40-42, KJV

Jesus Christ is perfect theology – He is the will of God. ~ Bill Johnson

Healing is so much God’s will that He made a way through the scourging and death of His own Son. Jesus paid the full price to make a way for healing, for all.

…By His wounds you have been healed. 1 Peter 2:24, Amp

Following this another scripture came to mind.

This is good and pleases God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth. For, There is one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity-the man Christ Jesus. He gave his life to purchase freedom for everyone. 1 Timothy 2:3-6, NLT

God wants all men saved, so much so that He sent His Son to shed His own blood to pay the price for the sin that held us bound. It’s His will, but He won’t force His will on us. We have a choice. We can say no, but even then He ‘had’ to make a way. Why, because He loves you and me.

For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten (unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life. John 3:16, Amp

But He was wounded for our transgressions,  He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed. Isaiah 53:5

What has God promised you through His Word? What has God said is His will for your life? Where there’s a will there’s a way is not always true for us as men, but when God wills something He makes a way.

With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible. ~ Jesus

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I Come To You in His Name

In less than a week I leave with a team from our church to serve the people of Guatemala. As I pray over and think about this trip, one phrase keeps coming to mind. “I come to you in the Name of the Lord.” Each time I hear this phrase so many thoughts flood my mind. Here are just a few.

The name of the LORD is a strong tower; The righteous run to it and are safe. (Proverbs 18:10, NKJV)

God’s name is a place of protection… (Proverbs 18:10, MSG)

We are going in safety and peace, because we are going in the Name of the Lord.

Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediatlely his feet and ankle bones received strength. So he, leaping up, stood and walked… walking, leaping, and praising God. (Acts 3:6-8, NJKV)

…His name, through faith in His name, has made this man strong… (Acts 3:16, NKJV)

“And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name…they will lay hands on the sick and they will recover.” (Mark 16:17,18)

We are going with His healing power, because we are going in the Name of the Lord.

Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel…” (1 Samuel 17:45, NKJV)

We are going with His victory and deliverance, because we are going in the Name of the Lord.

For “whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.” (Romans 10:13, NKJV)

We are going with His saving power, because we are going in the Name of the Lord.

…God is love. (1 John 4:8, KJV)

Jesus was moved with compassion. (Matt 9:36; Matt 14:14; Mark 1:41; Mark 6:34)

We are going in love. We will be moved with compassion towards the people of Guatemala and meet their needs through His supernatural power and provision, because we are going IN the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ!

Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the Glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:9-11, NLT)

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Teach Me

Show me thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths. Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day. (Psalms 25:4-5, KJV)

I’ve written on this topic before, but felt very strongly this morning that I needed to do so again and in greater detail. In 1997 my nephew passed away a few short days after his birth. Many shared their thoughts on why this happened, why God did this. I knew God, but I knew very little about His nature and His ways. My prayer to Him in the midst of it all was this, “God I don’t know what happened, but I don’t believe You did this. Teach me about healing.”

Within two months I found myself at a new church, though neither my husband or I had considered leaving the church we had been in for years. There is so much to this story, but for the sake of space and time let me just say that less than a year later I had become a part of the healing ministry at that church including volunteering in their hospital ministry and being a part of their healing school. Many years later, many prayers later, hundreds of people ministered to and prayed for later, I became the person ‘in charge’ of the healing ministry at our church. I was in charge of training the hospital ministry team and coordinating the ministry. I taught healing school and trained the healing school volunteers. Sixteen years later I am still praying for the sick and seeing them recover. How? I asked Him to teach me about healing.

It didn’t take me long to realize what it meant to ask Him to teach me. I asked Him to teach me about prayer and soon found myself as a young woman with jet black hair, sitting in prayer meetings where just about everyone else in the room had white or gray hair. I’m not trying to make much of myself. I’m making much of my God! I asked Him to teach me about prayer and I ended up with wisdom beyond my years.

I asked Him to teach me about love and to teach me how to love. While at this same church, I not only taught classes on healing, but I also taught many classes on God’s love.

I’ve asked Him to teach me how to be a good wife. I’ve asked Him to teach me about anything and everything I can think of and He always does.

Recently I shared this with someone going through a very difficult situation. One of the things they were battling was tremendous fear. It was not only a battle that was specific to this situation, but one that they had struggled with for much of their life. I encouraged this person to ask God to teach them about His love. Perfected love (His perfect love) casts out all fear. I also encouraged them to ask God to teach them how to walk free from fear.

He longs to lead, guide, instruct, encourage, and teach us. We don’t have to walk through this life alone. We don’t have to try to figure it all out on our own. Trust me you will never figure it out on your own.

Ask Him, “Teach me”. Let Him help you to have the abundant life His Son gave His life for. Selah.

…one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray… (Luke 11:1, KJV)

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Touched

When I say the word ‘touched’ what comes to mind? Maybe you think of the physical act of touching. A hand reaching out to come in contact with a person or object. Maybe it causes you to think not of a physical act, but an emotional one. Being deeply moved emotionally by an act of kindness or by the suffering of another.

During a recent conference, one of the speakers shared on the woman with the issue of blood. Let’s take a look at her story in the book of Mark chapter five.

And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years, And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse, When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment. For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole. And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague. (Mark 5:25-29, KJV)

I love what the conference speaker shared in regards to this woman. He spoke of how some make it seem as though she grabbed Jesus or clung to Him in some way. But he demonstrated what it means to touch. She reached out her hand and maybe with just one finger lightly, gently and momentarily came into contact with His clothes. All around Him people were pressing in. I picture people pushing and pressing being jostled about as they tried to get to Him.

And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes? And his disciples said unto him, Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me? (Mark 5:30-31, KJV)

The disciples were thinking, “Are you kidding me? Who hasn’t touched Him?” as they were being pressed on all sides. But someone touched Him in a way that caused virtue, His healing power, to flow from Him. He wanted to know who touched Him in faith and received the grace to be healed.

As I listened to the speaker a song started to stir in my heart, He Touched Me. The song flowed through my heart and my mind. Then I heard His still small voice, “You’ve touched Me.” My heart was flooded with joy. My eyes filled with tears. I knew what He meant. He was not speaking of a physical touch. He was telling me that I had touched His heart.

Yes, He touched Me. Yet, I am humbled, amazed, and in awe of the fact that He is a Savior, our God, that we too can touch.

For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched… (Hebrews 4:15, KJV)

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Truth

I sat with a couple yesterday. Both the husband and wife have recently been diagnosed with cancer. The weight of their illness hung heavy in the room. Hospice was coming later that day.

I sat with them and I read scriptures – Isaiah 53:5; 1 Peter 2:24; Psalm 103:1-5; John 3:16; Luke 11:1-2, 11-12; Matthew 7:9-11; James 4:14-16; Mark 16:17, 18, 20.

I shared with them about healing being included in the work of the cross. I shared that Jesus paid the price for all of our diseases. I shared that God’s motivation for the cross was His love for us. I shared with them that it is our heavenly Father that we are praying to, not some distant, disinterested god, but a Father Who passionately loves His children. I shared that praying for healing was His idea, not ours. I shared that He gives us a part and that we can trust Him with His part.

Then I prayed with them.

In all honesty there are times when some little voice says to me, “Why are you doing this? Why are you getting their hopes up when things look so bad?” I don’t recall hearing that voice yesterday, but I do recall hearing this.

And you will know the Truth, and the Truth will set you free. (John 8:32)

I was there to share His Truth. His Truth about healing and the Truth about His love for them.

I once shared these Truths in a class. A woman who attended that class mentioned to me later that her co-worker was complaining of having flu-like symptoms. She almost walked away, but then she thought “I just do my part and He’ll do His part.” She prayed with her co-worker and then walked away. Later this co-worker came to her and told her that her flu-like symptoms were gone. The lady who attended the class heard Truth. The Truth set her free to Trust God. Through her, God’s Truth set her co-worker free from illness.

I shared these same Truths with a friend who had stage 4 cancer. The doctors said there was no hope left. She was set free from cancer by these Truths. That was many years ago. She is still free today. And there are so many more I could share about.

What Truth from God’s Word do you know? Let that Truth set you free and then allow God to set others free as you share His Truth with them.

And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen. (Mark 16:20, KJV)

And these signs shall follow them that believe… (Marks 16:17, KJV)

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Fear Not, Believe Only

On a daily basis I see and speak to people who are physically ill. Because of my job I mostly see and speak to people with terminal illnesses. I’ve done this for 15 years. I’ve seen their fear. I’ve seen their faith.

I’d like to share a scripture with you that has not only helped me in my own walk of faith, but has also helped many of these precious people in their walk of faith.

First, the context. Jairus, a synagogue ruler comes to Jesus saying his daughter is at the point of death and will Jesus come heal her. Jesus turns to go with him. As they are walking to Jairus’ home a woman with an issue of blood comes up and in faith touches the hem of Jesus’ garment. She is instantly healed. Jesus stops to find out who touched him and she shares about her healing, thus prolonging his trip to Jairus’ home. In the meantime Jairus’ daughter dies (see Mark 5 and Luke 8).

It didn’t work out the way Jairus had hoped. He expected Jesus to arrive before she died. He expected Jesus to heal her, but did he ever expect Jesus to raise her from the dead?

While He was still speaking, there came some from the ruler’s house, who said [to Jairus], Your daughter has died. Why bother and distress the Teacher any further? Overhearing but ignoring what they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, Do not be seized with alarm and struck with fear; only keep on believing. (Mark 5:35-36, Amplified)

Jesus arrives to Jairus’ home and finds people weeping and wailing. When He tells them she is not dead they begin to laugh and jeer at Him. He throws them out. I like that part. Yea Jesus!

Gripping her  [firmly] by the hand, He said to her, Talitha cumi – which translated is, Little girl, I say to you, arise [from the sleep of death]! And instantly the girl got up… (Mark 5:41-42, Amplified).

My point for sharing all this is to ask you, At what point do we start fearing and stop believing? This father’s child was dead and Jesus said to him fear not, only believe. I have held on to this scripture and seen impossible situations completely turned around. I have seen people at the point of death hold on to this scripture and be healed of a terminal disease.

So I have another question for you. At what point do we start fearing and stop believing God concerning our nation?

That’s the USA for me. The same applies to whatever nation you are in. Let’s fear not. How? Remember His love for you. Perfected love casts out all fear (1 John 4:18). And let’s keep on believing. Selah.

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Motivation for Change

It’s been about eight months ago that my life took an unexpected turn. After thirteen years of ministering healing to others, I found myself with symptoms in my body that were hindering me in that ministry. I asked the Lord for wisdom so that I could once again sing in the hospitals. His response to me set me on my current course.

“Even if you never sing another song. Even if you never minister to another person. I still want you healed, because I love you.”

He didn’t want me healed for what I could do for Him. He wanted me healed because He loves me. The symptoms were gone within a week.

However, since then I have not sung another song in a hospital and except for one visit for a friend I have not ministered to a person in the hospital either. And after fourteen years at our church, God asked us to move to a new church.

I found myself in the great unknown. Where am I headed now? What do I do now? What is happening to me? And in this place of unknown, things within my own heart, things I had successfully pushed down and ignored for years, things I didn’t have to face in the busyness of life, began to creep up and refused to be ignored any longer. I would have to change now.

So here we are in this concentrated season of allowing God to search my heart and change me. And it’s not always easy. Yet, I keep before me the plans He has ahead for me and all the people that I will once again minister to. For their sake, if for nothing else, I must change. So I press on. But wait, God has something else to say in the midst of this changing.

“I don’t want you to change for what you can do for Me. I want you to change because I love you.”

He loves me. Yes, He loves those that I have ministered to and will minister to again, but while He’s making me and molding me, He is not as much thinking of them as He is thinking of me. He wants me to be happy. He wants me to be successful and He wants all this for me, because He loves me. A simple truth, an obvious truth, but a truth that each day is setting me free.

Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth. (3 John 2, KJV)

For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil… (Jeremiah 29:11, Amplified)

For we are God’s [own] handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live]. (Ephesians 2:10, Amplified)

He has prepared a good life for us because He loves us. He’s preparing us for the good life because He loves us. It’s time to change because He loves us. It’s time to be all that Love created us to be.

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Endued with Power

And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high. (Luke 24:49, KJV)

But ye shall receive power, when the Holy Spirit is come upon you… (Acts 1:8, ASV)

Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many. (Matthew 20:26-28, NLT)

We have been empowered and through that power we have been enabled to serve. To serve God? No. He didn’t come to be served. We are His body in the earth. We are empowered and through that power we are enabled to serve others on His behalf, in His Name.

I like that if you continue to read in Matthew 20 after Jesus makes this statement, that the very next thing you see Him do is heal the blind men. He stops when He hears them and says to them, “What do you want Me to do for you?” He was empowered to serve these men and they were healed.

…God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him. (Acts 10:38, NKJV)

Selah.

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Known

A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. (John 13:34-35, KJV)

I’m known for many things. I’m known for being a little lady who likes little things. I’ve been lovingly teased about my tiny purses, tiny shoes, tiny notebooks, my tiny Bible and my new hobby of growing tiny Bonsai trees. Oh, and did I mention I have a tiny dog too.

I’m known for my curly hair and for always having a smile on my face.

I’m known for ministering God’s healing power to the sick through His Word and through prayer. Some even refer to me as the “healing lady”.

But the scripture above is what I want to be known for. He said that all would know that we are His disciples by our love for one another.

I endeavor to be known as one who loves like He loves. The legacy I want to leave is that I loved God and that I loved people. I want to be known by my love.

Father, teach me to love.

I love you.

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He Sent His Word

A few scriptures about the Word of God…

He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destruction. (Psalm 107:20, KJV)

For the Word that God speaks is alive and full of power… it is sharper than any two-edged sword… (Hebrews 4:12, Amplified)

So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. (Isaiah 55:11, KJV)

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (John 1:1, KJV)

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us… (John 1:14, KJV)

He sent His word and because He rode in a donkey; because He ate with sinners; because He grew up among them and they “knew” Him; because He healed on the Sabbath; many who had spent their lives looking for Him missed Him.

We find His promises to us today in His word. We pray and we believe. But sometimes we don’t receive because the answer comes in a package we didn’t expect. Maybe even in a package we don’t particularly like.

I’m reminded of a testimony given by a preacher who is known around the world. He shared about a time, in the midst of worldwide ministry, that he found himself in bondage to sin and unable to get free. God sent a plumber to pray for him and he was set free. Praise God he didn’t reject the Word of God sent to heal him by rejecting the package it came in. Selah.