Psalm 107:20 (NKJV) “He sent His word and healed them,
And delivered them from their destructions.“

i’m awake at 3:40 in the morning as my daughter decided to think it was morning a few hours early. she’s now back asleep. recently someone shared the above verse with me about an issue they had faced in their own life and that it had been the one scripture they had stood on for their victory. i now have it written on a little 3×5 card on the mirror in my bedroom to remind me constantly that His word is constantly healing me and delivering me from any destructive behaviors.

all of us i’m sure at times have had circumstances that warranted such a word. who knows, maybe tiger has been looking into that one lately as well also. i love God’s grace and mercy. the fact that he doesn’t throw stones when we deserve it. leave us for dead when we’ve hit rock bottom. or disgrace us publicly when we make mistakes. rather he sends his word to heal us and deliver us from our destructions.

none of us will ever be perfect, and at times we may find that we just have a hang up that just won’t go away through natural will-power. in any case, i hope this verse helps those who stumble upon this blog this morning. it was helpful to me recently when shared with me. have a great day.

random early morning thought,

Kameron

There are two basic views when it comes to the charismatic gifts debate. One of these views is the cessationist view, which basically claims that charismatic gifts such as prophecy, speaking in tongues, and healing among other things ceased to happen after the New Testament. On the opposite side of the spectrum there is the continuationist view, which claims that such gifts have continued all the way until today and that Christians are still able to perform such gifts in their lives. Using Scripture and experience, it has become more than obvious to me that the continuationist view is the correct view to take on this subject.

It is seen throughout the entire Bible that when the Holy Spirit shows up, gifts, as well as signs and wonders, come with Him on regular occasions. Numbers 11 is proof of this. In this story, Moses gathers most of the seventy elders of Israel around the tent of the tabernacle where the Holy Spirit showed up. Verse 25 says, “Then the LORD came down in the cloud and spoke to him; and He took of the Spirit who was upon him and placed Him upon the seventy elders. And when the Spirit rested upon them, they prophesied. But they did not do it again.” It is important to note that this does not mean that Christian prophecy will end. This particular moment of prophecy was different which The Bible Knowledge Commentary points out well. “All that was necessary was for their ministry to be publicly authenticated so the whole community could see that they possessed the same spiritual qualifications and authority as Moses himself.”

The Holy Spirit dates back all the way to the story of creation and it is obvious that He dwells in Christ in the New Testament (as shown through His gifts, miracles, and signs and wonders). We as Christians believe fully that Christ made the Spirit available to everyone who believes in Him so we should expect the Spirit to live as He always has. The Spirit was going to be so helpful that it would actually be more of an advantage that Jesus left so the Spirit could come as stated in John 16:7. The Willmington’s Bible Handbook points out that, “This does not mean that the Holy Spirit had no ministry in the world up to that time but that his ministry would now expand and intensify.” So if Christ is giving us the same Spirit He has, we should expect that this meant the Spirit was capable of doing and being much more than a super-conscience (as many cessationists have made Him out to be). And it is evidenced in Acts 2 that He does do much more since as soon as He enters Christians for the first time, they start speaking in tongues.

Jesus has become the avenue in which we receive the Spirit and He expects to see the outpouring of great works because of it. In John 14:12 He says “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father.” This is not a small statement to make as the very last verse of John states that “there are also many other things which Jesus did, which if they were written in detail, I suppose that even the world itself would not contain the books that would be written.” These verses are evidence that Christians are expected to do things even beyond what Jesus did. Matthew Henry’s Commentary made a great point on this subject. “In the kingdom of nature they should work greater miracles. No miracle is little, but some to our apprehension seem greater than others. Christ had healed with the hem of his garment, but Peter with his shadow, Paul by the handkerchief that had touched him.” Obviously Christians cannot do these things by themselves, but they need the Holy Spirit to do so.

My experience has made all of these verses real to me. It is one thing to say the Spirit is capable of doing these things, but it is a completely different thing to actually see it happen. For most of my life I was grown as a cessationist and I did not question it because I had yet to see the Spirit do anything. But after catching people slain in the Spirit, seeing healings happen, hearing tongues spoken, and hearing story after story of what the Spirit is doing, I cannot ignore that there are charismatic gifts today. For this reason, it is my opinion that the cessationist view has become a view of arrogance rather than an educated outlook on the Holy Spirit, because I am obviously seeing Him at work around me through charismatic gifts.

Because of my experience, I have no objection whatsoever to the continuationist view, and see all of the cessationist arguments as incredibly weak. Therefore, the only objection to charismatic gifts today that I can see, is really more of a question than an argument: How can we know that it is God doing these things today and not the perceptions of our own emotions or demonic forces?

There are several ways to answer this question, one of the first being that Christians need to learn how to discern what is and is not from God, and do so with other Christians. We can also look at the fruit of the situation to see if God was really present in what happened. But I think the best way to find out is for one to experience it himself. When a person sees someone healed (or perhaps is the person being healed) it will become much more obvious that God still does these things. Or if someone is prophesied over they just might fall to their face and worship God, declaring that God is there (1 Cor. 14:25). Most of the charismatic gifts that Christians practice are Biblical and until a cessationist tries to experience it, they will have a hard time understanding or believing it, which is not only their loss, but also the Holy Spirit’s.

Bibliography

Walvoord, J. F., Zuck, R. B., & Dallas Theological Seminary. (1983-c1985). The Bible knowledge commentary : An exposition of the scriptures (1:227). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

Willmington, H. L. (1997). Willmington’s Bible handbook (619). Wheaton, Ill.: Tyndale House Publishers.

Henry, M. (1996, c1991). Matthew Henry’s commentary on the whole Bible : Complete and unabridged in one volume (Jn 14:12). Peabody: Hendrickson.

This poem has been revised many times.  It is getting much closer to what I want it to be.  Yes, I used to ride motorcycles.  I wrecked several times, including a crash where my bike stuck into the side of a Ford Escort and I flew over, landing in the road.  By the time I came back to consciousness, the emergency crew had arrived.  A full-face helmet saved my head (and life).  I had many other close calls.  Clearly, God preserved my life each time as he continued to pursue me by his mercy and grace.  In a very real way, he rode with me.  In an earlier version of this poem I said, “Only he could look me in the eyes at speeds of 80 and above.”  He never backed down or gave up on me.  This poem, one of the first I ever wrote, continues to be an encouraging reminder of my Savior’s faithfulness.  I hope it encourages you as well.  Thanks for reading.

I remember the asphalt…how it let me
live outside the lines on a bike.
I remember a rowdy night-spot
where speed got up to pick a fight.
My bright wheels cannot forget: boots,
a leather jacket, and turns
that made me lean down to the pegs.
The boundary blurred
till hardtop hit like hard times.

He gripped when my will failed.
He healed my road-rash knees.
He knew my make and model.
He saw parts no one sees.
Now I listen as gears make changes—
as rubber on roadway moves me
and I approach new signs and places.
As chain and sprocket go humbly
beneath, a narrow road unwinds.

Dear God,

 In your infinite wisdom, You have given me the courage to trust in that which can not be seen. I have been blessed to be witness to healings that professionals deem as medical miracles. I have friends that I love dearly and have given me council and advice throughout my life that have made me ever so greatful to trust in the hands of the Masterful creator of mankind.

It has been an overwhelming day of emotions thus far today. I awoke with the news that dear Tyson had finally ended his memorable journey on earth, and was received into the arms of You, Jesus. While I know that there are those who are even feeling anger that stems from trying to understand why such an innocent little life was taken so young, You have given the family a peace that will carry them through this emotional trial.

I am so intrigued by Your ability to perform miracles. I have seen You provide strength to my own father, when his diagnosis for cancer was given, and the doctors told us that we could only count on 6 weeks to a maximum of 6 months. This news was devastating. But, in Your grand scheme of purpose and plans, we had an additional 9 years. That is truly amazing. He defied all medical explanations for this extension. He was sent home with the understanding that chemotherapy and radiation were useless. While I have no explanation as to why You allowed for those wonderful years that we were allowed to share with him, I will forever be greatful for them. When mother was given 6 weeks to live after all medical intervention failed, You healed her heart and soul with the spirit that she yearned for, and the following morning, she drifted to sleep with the confidence that You would receive her into Your kingdom. Baby Tyson went for a full  month without food, before his body gave way to the tumor. This defies logic, but defines our faith that miracles do still exist amongst us.

I have no real understanding as for the miracles that You have performed in both of my children’s lives. When Cooper was born and the physicians told us that he had cerebral palsy and his 30 seizures a day would render him with an inability to communicate with us, I was left speechless. I could not imagine that the precious baby with the big brown eyes and luscious brown curls, might never recognize me as his mother. His mother who would do absolutely anything in the world to make him better. When all I could do was pray for peace and for a healing that I was told may never happen. I had to rely on faith alone to get me through each and every day. I soon became acutely aware that every moment that I spent with him, was a gift. A gift that could never be measured by worth, but was simply priceless and treasured. When we dedicated him to You at church, I actually felt the Spirit come upon my child, and I just knew that everything would be alright. Fourteen years later, I have a beautiful son, who hugs me everyday, and still tells me he loves me when he goes to bed at night. I don’t believe that anything could be more important than this.

One month has passed, since Spencer has walked through the front door, pulled out a chair and with tear filled eyes, announced that You had COMPLETELY HEALED HIM. I have to admit that at first–I was stunned. I had no idea that a simple dinner with the youth pastor would evolve into small prayer groups and that somehow Your spirit must have evoked the knowledge of his desire to be healed from the migraines that had plagued him for over two years. He said that he instantly knew that he had been healed. He felt Your power and glory touch him in a way that was indescribable. God, He is so on fire for You, that he insisted that as a public sign of faith he would stop wearing his glasses for one week. His headaches always effected his vision. His seizure activity encompassed the visual aspect of his brain, and caused blurry vision. It wasn’t until a week later, that I found out that he had also stopped taking every single one of his medications. His faith was so strong, that he had absolutely no reservations about quitting them cold turkey. The news of this made me stop and stare at him in total disbelief. His neurologist had given us many instructions about his condition. The most important was that all three of his medications must be taken exactly as described. That if we ever wanted to decrease a dosage, then we must slowly decrease doses and be monitored by the hospital. My son, had stopped taking three highly potent neurological medications and had absolutely NO side effects! We are on week 4, and Spencer is totally healed. Not one single headache. I owe it all to the divine healing of a Savior’s hand.

I have to admit, that I would be perplexed, had You not given me an understanding of why I still struggle with the fibromyalgia, and debilitating pain. Perhaps it is because for me personally, I need to be reminded that You never make mistakes. That You are in charge of all life’s mysteries, and that You can heal, but there are times when You simply choose to allow for a different outcome. If I never felt the pain that sometimes make me fall to my knee’s, then perhaps I wouldn’t be as dependant on You. Would I simply take each day, going about life’s business and forgetting to thank You for each and every blessing that You have given to me? Perhaps I need this obstacle in my life, as a reminder that I can do nothing without Your mercy and love. It stands to reason, since we all know that when crisis hit us, we all begin to pray to You and expect Your mercy to fall like rain, from the heavens. For those who seem to be gifted, beautiful, wealthy, loved, and respected…then looking for something or someone to call upon isn’t a priority. But, for those who are challenged with disabilities, financial struggles, loneliness, and disregarded by others–then they seek the power and love that can only come from a Father who offers all of that, for free. It is in those times, when we all need help to deal with life’s insecurities and tragedies, that we call upon the name above all names. Once we’ve experienced this type of miracle for ourselves, we can never deny that miracles are entirely possible.

God, I have learned to trust You more since my illness, than I ever did when health was not an issue in my life. I have learned that reading Your word and listening to Your still, small voice is what carries me through any, and every trial and heartache. So….I thank You Lord, for the pain that reminds me daily– that one day, my Prince will come, and this body that is full of pain and malaise, will be made whole. I can not doubt that in Your plans for my life, and in the lives of all of Your children, You will show Your power. We have to be willing to look into the ANATOMY OF THE MIRACLE. Will we serve Your purpose better, if we have to rely on Your strength instead of leaning on our own? If the miracle that we seek, is better served by taking a life before we feel it has truly begun? If our understanding that You can heal, doesn’t necessary mean that Your will  is for a destiny that may not be discovered until years later? Then, we must put our trust into the designer of man’s anatomy, and the miracle whose end result could lead to physical healing, or even unto death. For You know who we are, where we came from, what we can handle, and how we will respond. It is in this knowledge, that we must put our faith and trust into full capacity.

I will trust the anatomy of the miracle. I may not understand how some will be  fulfilled— but I am not called to figure out Your purpose……I am called to walk in faith. For this is the faith that makes everyday miracles possible.

I believe in miracles, because I believe in YOU,

Gina

I have much to be grateful for: an amazing husband who loves me dearly, two healthy, bright children who bring me great joy, a supportive family, an amazing ministry community, a charming home, good health, and the list goes on…

So, yea I like to think of myself as the 1 leper who after being healed came back and gave thanks to Jesus. Luke 17:15

But oh, the many, many occasions in which I am the 9 who never came.

What keeps us from giving thanks? What stands in our way of giving all out glory to God for what he has done?

Our we afraid to admit we ever had a disease that needed healing? Are we too busy enjoying the new found life of freedom and cleanliness that we neglect the source from which it came?

I want the heart of the 1.

“Praise God, I’m healed!” He fell face down on the ground at Jesus’ feet, thanking him for what he had done.” Luke 10:16

This post was written on March 12, 2001 by church member John Unger.  He wrote it after Vince Smith had a brain tumor removed by a single , pretty exotic radiation treatment. I think they called the very narrow, very powerful beam of radiation a “neuron knife.”  He missed all of two days work, had no side effects or after effects and has been fine ever since. It was amazing!

At those times that your faith feels a little strained do you ever wish for a good, old-fashioned miracle?  I do.  It sometimes seems like God has chosen, for some reason, to not deal with us this way any more.  “Come on, God, there are times we could use a burning bush or a parted sea or some water/wine conversion.  Is that so much to ask?  Thomas doubted and he was given a miracle!  How about me?

Maybe the problem isn’t that God has stopped giving them but that we have forgotten how to see them when He does.

I spent some time with Vince Smith this week and realized that if what I witnessed was recorded as the biblical miracles were it would go something like this:

“A man had a tumor on his brain.  He went to the healers for help.  They affixed a halo to his head and bent over him and invoked the power of the Universe.  God had imbedded this power in the atoms at the beginning of time for our discovery and use. And with the wisdom given them by God and the knowledge given them by those who have gone before, the healers focused this power on the tumor and released it. When it was done they removed the halo and the next day the man went home, healed.”

That was it!

And I sometimes think God has stopped giving us miracles!  As the young folks would say, “Well duhh!”

I’m not going to stop asking God for miracles, but I think I will stop suggesting He ever stopped giving them.

smbc.org

Abba Father
My Defender
You are Holy
And I surrender
For in my weakness
You protect me
When my heart strays
You Correct me

I cry Abba Father -
I love you, Daddy
Abba Father…
I love you, I love you
I cry Abba Father -
I love you, Daddy
Abba Father..
I love you I love you
Daddy

Abba Father
My Defender
You are Holy
And I surrender
For in my weakness
You protect me
When my heart strays
You Correct me

I love you Daddy
Abba Father I love you
I love you
Abba Father I love you
Daddy
Abba Father I love you
I love you
I love you I love you…
…Daddy (parts from Abba Father  by Shaun Groves – Check it out, it’s amazing)

This is one of my favorite songs. Check it out here or here.

Daddy.  I can call the King of the Universe “Daddy.” This guy sent His only child to earth so that we could become His children.  This guy is legit. My daddy is legit. I love Him. He loved me first. He loves me beyond the reason why. He wants to listen to my problems. He wants to help me in my times of need. He holds me in his embrace, no matter how much i fall away from Him.  He’ll fix my brokenness. He fills the needs others fall short of filling. He fills my heart with Himself so I am not lonely when I am alone. He wants to raise me to be more like Him. He wants me to follow Him. He is a perfect example. He won’t let me down. He has my back.

He is the one I want to follow with my life. He is the one I want to die for. He is the one who loves me. He will make me whole again. He will break me in His image. He will help me soar on wings like eagles. He is my strength, my song. He’s my daddy. I want to be just like Him when I grow up. And now. I want to be discipled by His love. by His people. by his mercy. He is the one who loves me more than i can fathom. He protects me in my weakness. He corrects me.  He thinks way deeper than i can even think of. He is way more dimensions than i can imagine.

He is God.

He is Holy, Holy, Holy and yet still my Abba Father.

wow.

Trying to understand His Love more fully,

coop

That is what this man was,…..crippled.  He was lowered down through the roof by some friends.  He was desperate.  Jesus was teaching and as the man lay there on his mat, lame, unable to get up….  Jesus told him that his sins were forgiven.  The man did not ask for that, he came for a healing.  He wanted to walk but he got words.  He wanted to be healed and all Jesus said…at first was….your sins were forgiven…  This man was not worried about sins….he was worried about walking. 

Those around Jesus, especially the religious leaders, were outraged that Jesus could declare someone could be forgiven.  So, Jesus posed a rhetorical question to those who wondered what he could do.  He posed the question, “would it be easier for someone to forgive sins or to tell them to take up their bed and walk? ”

Words are cheap.  Jesus knew that and everyone around knew it too!  So, as they looked on and as Jesus was exhaling the last syllable of the answer, he turned to the crippled man and told him to take up his bed and walk.  And he did. 

I think about the things that cripple us today.  We may not be on a mat, in a wheelchair or use a cane, but I suspect that there are things that cripple us today.   I have had a lot of things that crippled me….and I am healthy.  Got stuff that cripples you today?  I do!  Get this stuff out.  Present yourself to Jesus…  right now.  He can handle it.       Read this account in Luke. 

 louie

We had a good morning at the homless shelter today. We showed up, had worship, heard a message from my buddy Jason, and then prayed over people.

I met a woman who needed prayer over quite a few things:

Legs
Diabetes (High blood pressure)
Blindness/dullness in right eye

Now it appeared that Dr. Brewer had gotten some kind of word of knowledge about someone having heart problems or blood pressure problems so I invited him over to pray for this lady. He annointed her with oil and then prayed over her diabetes. I then prayed for her eye and legs, as did Brewer.

While he was praying, it popped into my head that her eyes would be healed so well that she wouldn’t even have to wear the glasses that she had on and only seconds after having this thought Brewer started praying for that exact thing.

She took her glassess off and said that she felt her eyes had cleared up a little bit but that they weren’t fully there. We continued praying for them and while they didn’t seem to get too much clearer, we will wait and see what God does over time.

I mention this “over time” idea because we prayed for a blind lady last week.

Nothing happened.

But a woman came in today who had her foot healed at the last service and she said that the blind lady could see now.

Also, a lady gave her life to Jesus today and I guess last time after we left, people we’re talking quite a bit about us and how they had seen healing and all this stuff.

God is making Himself real

Here’s a play by play as I typed it yesterday

-11:42a

it’s 11:30 on a Tu morning and several hundred people are gathered in a room, worshiping Jesus, & have been for hours & hours and will be for hours & hours. Several HUNDRED. Signs, wonders, healings, deliverance, the Presence of God in a real way. http://www.ihop.org/Group/Group.aspx?ID=1000051963 Suddenly, big things… get really big and little things get really little and eternity becomes of utmost importance.

-3:20p

Just watched two people testify of healing that JUST occurred in the prayer room at IHOP – sciatic nerve pain GONE, uneven legs made even. Praise God! This is going on all night. 

-8:16p

He’s real, He’s here, and He’s after your soul!

-8:27

a mighty move of the Holy Spirit…

-8:47

Right now many of our parts is getting rocked with the Holy Spirit, but we’re all one body, so we can join in together. DC, CBC, Spokane, BU, KC, all believers are His body. He’s rocking us all over. Amen! The Lord’s pouring out His presence in KC right now..This very moment.

-9:38

peoples’ hearing is getting healed left and right.”Now hold on one second… we just had about seven people stand up here and share about how they got healed. I want everyone to stop and lift your eyes to heaven and just thank the Lord for what He is doing and tell Him how you love Him.” -Allen Hood, RIGHT NOW

-9:50

People are getting healed and delivered like it’s going out of style. And they just busted out a contemporary version of Handel’s Messiah…

-10:14

“You’re My child, You know My voice, no more confusion!” the Lord is breaking off lies!

-10:40

“The prayer&fasting, it’s about the NEW WINE!’The new wine is the power of My Spirit, being released into your spirit’you know what the new wine does to you? It causes you to do things that’re a little crazy,cuz the Lord is far beyond our comfort zone,we dont have the capacity for all that God wants to give us,the pray…er&fasting is unto the release of the new wine that makes the heart glad!”

-10:48

“But the Lord did in 2 days what YEARS of counseling would have took! and He set me free, and I’m FREE!!!! AND THEN HE FILLED MY HEART WITH JOY! JOY!!!!!!! WOO! I’m His favorite!”

-11:03pm

Weeping may endure for the night, but it’s only a season, so hold on, there is JOY in the MORNING… so hold on! Joy is gonna come, He’ll give you beauty for ashes, praise for heaviness, He’ll bring you joy! He’s the God of JOY! we trad our sorrows for joy!

-11:30

Blessing and honor and glory and power forever, to the Lamb who is worthy!!! http://www.ihop.org/watch Free webstream runs 6pm to midnight all weekend! Paid webstream runs 24/7 and covers IHOP’s bandwidth cost for streaming high quality live video and music from the prayer room! God is pouring out a new measure of His Spirit at IHOP right now and I highly advise tuning in.

-11:39

“I felt the embrace of the Father, and felt depression and hopelessness come off for the first time since I was 13… “

Okay. So the past 17 years and 3? months of my life, I’ve been chewing on one side of my mouth. I honestly thought that you could be right-jawed and left-jawed.

Apparently not.

So this past year my body has decided to rebel against my eating habits. Not music habits. Not flute playing for the past 9 years. Not whatever habits. Eating habits. And unfortunately chocolate. [I've always been somewhat allergic to chocolate and didn't like it as a kid. but now it's side effects have turned into inflammation and pain. on the right side of my mouth. because that's the side i eat on.]

At a youth group party on Saturday night one of my friends offered me a piece of Hershey’s Chocolate. Of Course I couldn’t resist. But as soon as the chocolate entered my mouth, my jaw was like “NOOOOOO.” So I tested my theory yesterday afternoon with some Hershey’s kisses. And my mother corrected my eating style. And my jaw still got inflamed. And I came to my conclusions. The end.

Not really. At all. This completely flipped my world upside-down. I have to learn how to chew with the left side of my mouth! It’s so difficult! 180 degrees of chewing circle has been opened up (top +bottom). God has flipped my views upside DOWN.

Habits are dang hard to break!

But really, I think there’s more to it than just re-learning how to eat. I feel like it could also be like worship. Like how we only worship Him in some ways and at some times. But for us to fulfill His purpose for us… we need to expand our horizons and LIVE a life of worship.

I feel like God was telling me that the way I’m going is right but changing things up would increase His glorification. And possibly reduce my pain.

But I also find this a hard message to hear. Because I don’t have strong Christian friends who love me. i’m “missing out on an opportunity.”  i’m working on loving myself more. I’m working on hoping more. i’m working on praying the ridic prayers. i’m preparing to kill lions in pits on snowy days. i’m working on hope. i’m working on casting my cares on Him. i’m working on my relationship with God. And I do love deeply. But I don’t have fellowship. And that just hurts.

Because with fellowship I can’t just start chewing on the left side of my jaw. I can’t just start building my own fires. [Well I can. But I wont get anywhere...]

And so I don’t know. This lesson sounds like exactly what I hear at youth group every Sunday. But fellowship just ain’t happening. Fellowship with the depth and quality that I want. Fellowship with the communication I want. All I’ve seen between my peers and me is broken relationship and brokenness.

And they aren’t fun. And they aren’t pretty. They are painful.

But I do know God. I want to know Him more and more.   He heals us.  And He is whole.

Trying to know Love more and more…

[key word: trying]

coop

Hungry, Angry, Lonely, Tired.

We’ve all been there.  We’ve all done that.  We’ve all got the t-shirt.

There is nothing more painful than when we are in the HALT position.  In fact, that’s a part of why you haven’t seen a blog from me in a week or so.  I don’t like to respond to people when I am in HALT position.  I tend to respond out of the reality of my soul when I’m in a HALT position.

That can be bad for dealing with people.  But that is the PERFECT place to respond to God.

See I don’t think HALT should limit us, I think it should equip us.  When we get to the HALT position we tend to get REAL.  It’s in that place that we ask the questions no one else will ask, it’s the time we admit the emotions we usually cover up, it’s that moment when we finally get down and cry out and say “HEY GOD!!!! I GOT SOME ISSUES WITH YOU!”

I don’t believe HALT has to be the only place that we learn, but rather than seeing HALT as the primary place for the devil to kick you, look at it as the primary place for God to heal you!   It’s in that place that you recognize that HE is God and you AREN’T!

unfinished things bug me…

which is really bad considering i tend to start a project, and then not finish it… :S ugh… lol

so, i started this quilt a year or two ago… cutting the pieces took forever… and originally, i wanted to hand stitch the entire thing… HAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! yeah, that lasted about 2 rows… then i resorted to my sewing machine, which wasn’t working very well but then i fixed it… and i got the patch pieces all together, now all they needed were a border and a back… but then i left for Germany, so i had to put it on hold… and it bugged me the HOLE time! lol… then i got home and finished it in a total of 9 hours… and now it’s on my bed… it was a HUGE relief to get it done! lol…

any time I start a project, and leave it unfinished, it drives me crazy… I have yet to finish my scrapbook from High School… it’s in the storage shed, and still only have the “title page” for my “Travels” scrapbook (i was gonna do just Turkey, but now that I’ve gone a ton of other places, I’m just gonna do everywhere in one…) I start a knitting or crochet project, then put it aside because of my hand… and then forget it, it gets pushed to the back of my closet, or under my bed… etc… then i remember it a month later, and try to work on it again… (i really should just give up on knitting and crocheting tho… it hurts too much… and is IMPOSSIBLE with my brace on… sad cuz it’s so relaxing tho) I have material cut out for projects I can’t remember too… ugh

one project that won’t leave me alone though is the story i started writing in Germany the originally titled “3 wishes” now titled “Tempting Fate”… i write random pieces for it at work, on my phone, in class, in my journal… etc… and it’s always in the back of my head… Lila just won’t leave me alone…

but that is not all i wanted to talk about…

the title “unfinished business” is more about, what are all the things we do in life, that we leave unfinished? We have a lot of non-traditional students here on campus, and most of them because they never got the chance to go, or some who just never got to finish.

I meet people all the time who have things they never finished. Relationships not healed before someones death to homework assignments not done, we all have some sort of unfinished business… and that just makes me sad… it’s almost like living with regrets… i think when you have something unfinished like that, you end up regreting…

that’s why i just posted all of my old “drafts” that never got posted… i posted them just as I left them… and with an excerpt explaining what they were… but the fact is, i posted them, and to me, that means they were finished… and now i can move on from them… and slowly, I hope to finish everything i have started… no matter how big or small, or how important or irrelevant…

I WILL finish EVERYTHING I start from this day forward… even if it takes me forever

…lata days

What are Confessions?

Confessions or affirmations in this study means statements you read or say to yourself taken from the Holy Bible consisting of those things that you desire to improve or change about your life or your community. An equivalent word is a Greek word homologeō which is a derivative of two words: homo and logos. Homo means the same as and logos means the said word of God. Therefore to confess is to say the same thing that God has said about any situation in life.

An example of a confession could be, “By his wounds I am healed.”(1 Peter 2:24 GNB). This confession is made by those who desire divine healing or those who want to stay divinely healthy.

Confessions do make natural laws

Confessions have the power to make laws the govern nature. In the example above we quoted a somewhat common confession, “By his wounds I am healed.” This confession when repeated daily soon becomes a law of nature for you and those you have confessed it upon. What I mean is that even when there is an outbreak of a deadly disease it will not have an effect on you. By the words from your mouth you are able to course your life into your desired destines only.

The Apostle James said, “The tongue is a fire; setting on fire the course of nature.” (James 3:6) You can start setting up laws that you and everything in the universe will obey by the correct use of your speech today.

How to confess

Confessions will be more effective when designed in the following ways:
i. Personalize your confessions. Use the words “I” and “My” and never use your name or “you” when constructing confession statements.
ii. Be Positive. Say, “I am healed” and NOT “I am not sick”. Although “I am not sick” carries the same meaning as “I am healed”, it is a very ineffective confession.
iii. Use words that you can visualize. By saying “I am healed” you also picture yourself standing upright, shoulders high, etc. I mean you see a posture of a healthy person. Visualization words reinforce your confessions.
iv. Use the present tense. Say, “I am healed” and not “I will be healed”. The past tense does not create the laws of nature. All confessions that Christ made were in the present tense. “I am the good shepherd”, “I am the resurrection”, etc.
v. Be enthusiastic. The bible says the fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. So also is a fervent heartfelt confession, it creates laws that you will unconscious follow faster than never.

What are Universal Laws?

Universal laws are decrees or confessions that the Almighty God made when creating the universe. For example the book of Job declares that God made a decree for the rain, and a way for the lightning of the thunder (Job 28:26 KJVR). Furthermore, God spoke the course for planet Mars, Jupiter, the Earth, etc. You too have been given the same power to initiate and change the course of nature to fulfill your dreams.

Be Blessed.

FOR FURTHER READING >>> SEE RECOMMEND BOOKS

The Law of Confession: Revolutionize Your Life and Rewrite Your Future with the Power of Words By Dr. Bill Winston / Harrison House

The Secret Power of Speaking God’s Word By Joyce Meyer / Faithwords

The Power of a Woman’s Words By Sharon Jaynes / Harvest House Publishers

Scripture Confessions Gift Collection: Life-Changing Words of Faith for Every Day By Harrison House / Harrison House

The Law of Confession, Part I CD By Donald Lawrence & Co. / Verity

The passages I chose today may not make sense in a single read but I hope you will read the entire chapter 8 to make sense of it. The reason I took snippets is to show you the thought I had when I read this chapter. First observation is that Jesus performed so many miracles and that’s no surprise. It says in verse 17, ‘this was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: “He took up our infirmities and carried our diseases.”’ I am certain there were so many touched and healed that the writers of the gospels couldn’t record everyone of them but the ones we read have something in common.

Jesus dint walk up to every sick and demon possessed person and heal them. He healed those in need of healing when they displayed their faith in his power and the need for saving. The leper, the centurion, Peter’s mother (Even though not shown but her service later shows her faith), the storm (This was to show those in the boat their lack of faith in him) and the demon possessed men. Again we learn today that what Christ wants from us is that we entrust our all to him and he will work through our brokenness. When we come to realize that it is not us and our medicines and our wisdom but that we are helpless without him, then our call to him is answered, if it is his will. Following Christ is to loose one’s self and if you are willing, then only should you call him Master or Adonai.

In His Loving Service,
Vineet

Boy Is Healed

14 And when He came to the disciples, He saw a great multitude around them, and scribes disputing with them. 15 Immediately, when they saw Him, all the people were greatly amazed, and running to Him, greeted Him. 16 And He asked the scribes, “What are you discussing with them?”
17 Then one of the crowd answered and said, “Teacher, I brought You my son, who has a mute spirit. 18 And wherever it seizes him, it throws him down; he foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth, and becomes rigid. So I spoke to Your disciples, that they should cast it out, but they could not.”
19 He answered him and said, “O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him to Me.” 20 Then they brought him to Him. And when he saw Him, immediately the spirit convulsed him, and he fell on the ground and wallowed, foaming at the mouth.
21 So He asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?”
And he said, “From childhood. 22 And often he has thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.”
23 Jesus said to him, “If you can believe,[a] all things are possible to him who believes.”
24 Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!”
25 When Jesus saw that the people came running together, He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “Deaf and dumb spirit, I command you, come out of him and enter him no more!” 26 Then the spirit cried out, convulsed him greatly, and came out of him. And he became as one dead, so that many said, “He is dead.” 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose.
28 And when He had come into the house, His disciples asked Him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?”
29 So He said to them, “This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting.”[b]

a.Mark 9:23 NU-Text reads “‘If You can!’ All things. . . .”
b.Mark 9:29 NU-Text omits and fasting.

http://www.facebook.com/l/677ad;www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Marcos%209&version=NKJV
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The wind said, Beautiful.  And I was listening.  So I went back into my house, and tried to record what I had heard.  I wrote in my book, Beautiful.  I said, The wind said, Beautiful.  That wasn’t enough.  I went back out again, and I asked the wind, What?  And she touched my like a mother.  She said, Beautiful.  And then I understood.  For the first time in my life, I didn’t want to weep.  I didn’t feel the distance between myself and things.  And maybe it’s true.  Maybe I had been healed.  Or maybe, it was revealed there never was a wound.  Or, if there was, then a vital one.  A one before which nothing lives or dies.  When I am dead, I know, that I’ll be dead, as along as until then I know I am alive.  What does this mean? I asked the sea, and she said, Shh.  And I asked the trees, and they agreed.

Isaiah 40:10-11, 28-31

To those who have no might [God] increases strength. Isaiah 40:29

Jonah Sorrentino was deeply hurt at age 6 when his parents separated. As a result, he held a lot of anger and bitterness inside. At 15, Jonah learned of God’s love for him and became a believer in Jesus Christ.

Jonah, also known as recording artist KJ-52, admits that he used to live like a victim of circumstances. In an interview with Christianity Today, he explained how he began to experience healing: “You definitely have to acknowledge that, no, you’re not okay.”

He added, “You also have to reach a point of saying, “I’m not going to dwell on everything of the past . . . on anger or bitterness or hurt. I’m going to move forward because God is going to give me the strength to do that.’” God helped him to forgive his parents. He wrote these lyrics to encourage others:

Understand you can always find strength in Christ; God has a plan for every single part of your lives. That might be hard to understand in your troubled times but anywhere you go, He’s there with arms open wide.

If we’ve been hurt badly, we may wonder how we can live with a painful past. God could take away our pain instantly and forever, if He chose to. Often, though, He heals us slowly and scars remain. He carries us and gently leads us as a shepherd cares for His flock (Isaiah 40:11).

We may not be  healed completely in this life, but we can count on God’s promises. He gives “power to the weak” and increases their strength (Isaiah 40:29). —anne cetas

Those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength.