GOD'S ORCHESTRATION
We have experienced the orchestration of God's beautiful symphony of events in thousands of different situations, but we never cease to be amazed at his efficiency and expertise in each and every series of circumstances.
The situation in the current instance relates to my husband's diagnosis of cancer in multiple parts of his body, the miracles surrounding the diagnosis and the two operations, his speedy recovery from the surgeries, and then the events relating to our trip to MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston.
We had anticipated staying at a particular hotel in Houston, but we took the recommendation of the patient advocate information and decided to stay at the MainStay Suites. That particular hotel proved to be the right one. It was relatively new, had a wonderful breakfast which is much more varied than other suite hotels provide. The staff was congenial, efficient and helpful.
Before leaving home my husband and I had talked about visiting Lakewood Church while in Houston because we had had a wonderful miracle experience at the church 19 years previously. Revisiting the same church was not a priority in your minds, just a passing thought.
When we arrived at the MainStay Suites hotel we noticed a sign that said that anyone who wished to attend Lakewood Church could sign up for a shuttle. That seemed to be an accommodation that we had not expected from the hotel, which also provided shuttle service to MD Anderson medical buildings.
My husband inquired about the shuttle ride to the church and was told that we should be in the lobby at a certain time and a driver would take us to Lakewood Church. That seemed simple enough.
We showed up at the appointed time and the driver showed up a few minutes later. He engaged us in conversation during the ride to the church by inquiring about our satisfaction with the hotel, whether we enjoyed the free breakfasts and amenities, whether the staff was efficient, etc. We gave glowing reports to the driver and he seemed pleased. He told us that he, in fact, is the owner of the hotel and was glad to hear things suited us so well. My husband and I looked at each other and smiled, thrilled at God's orchestration of providing a driver for us who is the owner of the hotel.
The hotel owner, who was acting as shuttle driver, said his part of the ministry of the church is transportation. When he drove into the huge parking garage he began looking for a parking space, which is very often hard to find since the church normally has 16,000 attendees on Sunday morning. He drove to the front of the bottom layer of the parking garage, began looking for an open spot, and noticed that a spot at the very front of the bottom level was vacant. He remarked that it was the prime parking spot and he had never seen it vacant, especially that late in the morning. It was the first spot closest to the entrance to the church. He continued to remark about the miracle of it being vacant, and so we told him about the parking spot angel that we have and that we were not surprised at all about its availability.
We continued to tell him about God's angels having specific ministries for God's children. He was intrigued, but still amazed at the choice parking spot he had found.
We followed him to the huge sanctuary telling him about our visit to the church 19 years earlier where God confirmed to me through John Osteen's mouth that I had been healed of cancer. He again was intrigued and asked me if I wanted Dodie Osteen to pray for my husband. I told him sure.
He told us to follow him, which we willingly did. He led us through the long lines of people who were waiting to get into the huge auditorium, leading us to the bottom floor, telling the ushers that Dodie Osteen was going to pray for my husband. The head usher led us further through throngs of people, pointing out three chairs on the seventh row from the front. We took our seats and gathered our thoughts, amazed again at God's orchestration of getting us to the service in a car driven by the owner of the hotel who made it possible for us to have seats close to the front.
Joel Osteen opened the service, after which the worship team leaders led the people in worship music. Then he said that their prayer partners wanted to pray for anyone who needed healing in their bodies, healing of relationships or prayer for other needs. The head usher motioned for my husband to come up the aisle to the front, motioned for me to join my husband, and we stood there for only a few seconds.
The usher led us to a young woman who asked if my husband needed prayer for healing to which he answered, "Yes." Dodie Osteen came over to us, asked where we are from, told us that her husband had preached one time in our town, then asked if my husband wanted prayer for healing of cancer. Again he told her, "Yes." She began to pray for him, commanding that any remaining cancer would leave his body and then she prayed that God will give him supernatural strength during chemotherapy so that he would have no side effects from it. She had no way of knowing that that was a concern, the side effects of chemotherapy. We went back our seats with tears of joy in our eyes and smiles on our faces.
God's orchestration continues to amaze us. How He accomplishes what He does is a mystery to us; but we are like kids, we continue to say that our Dad can do anything.
Thank you God for your divine orchestration.
Thank you for providing the owner of the hotel to be our chauffeur.
Thank you for proving to the owner of the hotel that you care about small things like parking spots.
Thank you for the authority you gave Dodie to command any remaining cancer to leave my husband's body.
Thank you for the word of knowledge that you gave to Dodie about strength during chemotherapy.
Thank you for your surprises that we encounter every day that prove that you are the Loving Father who provides everything your children need.
Thank you for surprising us with your wonderful orchestrations.
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Saturday, August 21, 2010
A BUNDLE OF JOY
A BUNDLE OF JOY
I've heard of small bundles of joy, meaning newborn little babies who come into our lives to bless us and bring joy. I've never heard of an adult bundle of joy. But my husband and I met one in Houston at the MD Anderson Cancer Center. The meeting was a chance encounter, but I told her that there are actually no chance encounters where God is concerned.
I was taking a long walk on the Sky Walk between buildings while my husband was in a series of tests, and a small vibrant woman who was pushing her walker remarked to me that I looked so pretty in my green blouse. I thanked her and continued my speedy walk.
Later, after my husband completed the first portion of his tests, the two of us went to one of the many hospitality rooms for cookies and coffee. We got refreshments from the hostess, then we sat in chairs by the door. We had also obtained a blanket in which my husband wrapped like a cocoon, because every health care facility sets the room temperatures low, low and lower. He was freezing.
Into the same hospitality room walked the same woman who had commented on my green blouse in another part of the medical complex a long way from this particular hospitality room. She took a seat in another sitting arrangement but quickly noticed me in my green blouse and again commented how pretty I looked.
We exchanged pleasantries about our favorite colors and then my husband joined in the conversation when we began to talk about grandchildren, one of our favorite subjects. It evidently was her favorite, also. We bragged on our grandchildren; she bragged on hers.
Suddenly we started talking about another of our favorite subjects, God. We shared testimonies. She had wonderful ones and we had wonderful ones. She talked freely in her conversations about God's miraculous events in her life and we filled in with the astounding testimonies of God's presence in our current situation, which was Steve's operation, the removal of the cancer, and the reason for the appointment at MD Anderson. It is the king of cancer treatment centers of the world, as proclaimed by Steve's surgeon.
The bundle of joy announced that she is a 25 year cancer survivor. I chimed in that I am a 19 year survivor. We had both been treated at MD Anderson. She began glowing as she related the events of her unfortunate ordeal which eventually had wonderful results. I shared my same miraculous results with her, sharing the miracles that God had performed in my life.
Soon she had to leave the hospitality room for her doctor's appointment for a checkup. We hugged and remarked together that there are no chance encounters, that we both knew that our meeting was arranged by Our Loving Father to enhance the faith that Steve and I already had relating to his tests, the findings and the treatments.
That particular day we needed to hear the testimonies of the bundle of joy to enhance our faith relating to our current situation. God arranged my wearing the green blouse that attracted her attention on the brief meeting in the Sky Walk. Then He led the three of us to the same hospitality room in the same building, of which there are many, many similar rooms in the medical complex. She took a seat near us before she noticed me sitting there in my green blouse that she had previously admired, after which the sharing of testimonies began. Her joy was contagious in the midst of serious events in the lives of all the people in the room, on the Sky Walk and in the huge medical complex.
She brought to mind the scripture that says, "The joy of the Lord is my strength." Steve and I left that hospitality room with stronger joy and stronger faith. I call it an infusion of faith and joy. The sharing of testimonies does that, infuses new faith and joy into us.
Steve completed the next tests with a great attitude after the infusion from the bundle of joy. Those chance encounters are like kisses from Our Loving Father. It amazes me how He arranges them, but I'll welcome them every time,.
I'm still thanking Him for delivering joy to us from an 80 year old Bundle of Joy. She's probably continuing her ministry of distributing joy to other people in her small Texas town and wherever she travels. She told me that she was a cheerleader in high school and college. She's a cheerleader for God now. Her current team always wins. I'm glad we're on the same team.
I've heard of small bundles of joy, meaning newborn little babies who come into our lives to bless us and bring joy. I've never heard of an adult bundle of joy. But my husband and I met one in Houston at the MD Anderson Cancer Center. The meeting was a chance encounter, but I told her that there are actually no chance encounters where God is concerned.
I was taking a long walk on the Sky Walk between buildings while my husband was in a series of tests, and a small vibrant woman who was pushing her walker remarked to me that I looked so pretty in my green blouse. I thanked her and continued my speedy walk.
Later, after my husband completed the first portion of his tests, the two of us went to one of the many hospitality rooms for cookies and coffee. We got refreshments from the hostess, then we sat in chairs by the door. We had also obtained a blanket in which my husband wrapped like a cocoon, because every health care facility sets the room temperatures low, low and lower. He was freezing.
Into the same hospitality room walked the same woman who had commented on my green blouse in another part of the medical complex a long way from this particular hospitality room. She took a seat in another sitting arrangement but quickly noticed me in my green blouse and again commented how pretty I looked.
We exchanged pleasantries about our favorite colors and then my husband joined in the conversation when we began to talk about grandchildren, one of our favorite subjects. It evidently was her favorite, also. We bragged on our grandchildren; she bragged on hers.
Suddenly we started talking about another of our favorite subjects, God. We shared testimonies. She had wonderful ones and we had wonderful ones. She talked freely in her conversations about God's miraculous events in her life and we filled in with the astounding testimonies of God's presence in our current situation, which was Steve's operation, the removal of the cancer, and the reason for the appointment at MD Anderson. It is the king of cancer treatment centers of the world, as proclaimed by Steve's surgeon.
The bundle of joy announced that she is a 25 year cancer survivor. I chimed in that I am a 19 year survivor. We had both been treated at MD Anderson. She began glowing as she related the events of her unfortunate ordeal which eventually had wonderful results. I shared my same miraculous results with her, sharing the miracles that God had performed in my life.
Soon she had to leave the hospitality room for her doctor's appointment for a checkup. We hugged and remarked together that there are no chance encounters, that we both knew that our meeting was arranged by Our Loving Father to enhance the faith that Steve and I already had relating to his tests, the findings and the treatments.
That particular day we needed to hear the testimonies of the bundle of joy to enhance our faith relating to our current situation. God arranged my wearing the green blouse that attracted her attention on the brief meeting in the Sky Walk. Then He led the three of us to the same hospitality room in the same building, of which there are many, many similar rooms in the medical complex. She took a seat near us before she noticed me sitting there in my green blouse that she had previously admired, after which the sharing of testimonies began. Her joy was contagious in the midst of serious events in the lives of all the people in the room, on the Sky Walk and in the huge medical complex.
She brought to mind the scripture that says, "The joy of the Lord is my strength." Steve and I left that hospitality room with stronger joy and stronger faith. I call it an infusion of faith and joy. The sharing of testimonies does that, infuses new faith and joy into us.
Steve completed the next tests with a great attitude after the infusion from the bundle of joy. Those chance encounters are like kisses from Our Loving Father. It amazes me how He arranges them, but I'll welcome them every time,.
I'm still thanking Him for delivering joy to us from an 80 year old Bundle of Joy. She's probably continuing her ministry of distributing joy to other people in her small Texas town and wherever she travels. She told me that she was a cheerleader in high school and college. She's a cheerleader for God now. Her current team always wins. I'm glad we're on the same team.
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
STANDARD SETTERS
STANDARD SETTERS
I always tried to figure out the meaning of the scripture that says, "When the enemy comes in like a flood, God will raise us a standard against him." In my human mind one time I figured out that that standard was a flag that God would spiritually put in front of us that told the enemy to stop right there.
That's logical and I banked on that for years. Yet, bad things happened to my family and me.
There were other things I reasoned in my human mind, like the practice of speaking God's written Word and the enemy can't touch the situation. It worked some times but not always.
Today I have a more meaningful revelation from the Holy Spirit for my husband and me.
Cancer was found in the entire left lower quadrant of Steve's abdomen. The doctors suspected cancer and had even removed a malignant testicle and sperm cord a month ago. Their intent in the present surgery was to remove a non-functioning kidney and the ureter tube and a small portion of his bladder. They didn't anticipate the extent of the cancer when they opened him up to do their job.
When we were in the pre-op room waiting for the time for him to go to the operating room, both doctors who were doing the surgery came in at the same time. My husband and I had discussed previously what we were going to say to them. He said he was going to tell them to operate on him like he was 30 years old instead of 74. I said I was going to tell them that they are going to operate on a man who is in the top ten rankings of swimmers in his age group in the U.S. and he wants to be the number one when he's 100. My husband frowned but I knew that, if given the opportunity, I would say that.
The opportunity presented itself when both doctors came into the pre-op room. My husband was prevented from saying anything because he was taking a pre-op breathing treatment and had the breathing pipe in his mouth puffing away. My opportunity was there, so I emphatically stated to the doctors that they have a man who is not like other men, that he is a champion swimmer and in the top ten in his age group in the U.S. I continued to profess to them that he wants to continue to swim and become the number one swimmer when he's 100.
They left the pre-op room and headed to the operating room, saying, "We'll do our best."
When they got into his left abdominal area they found that he had malignant tumors everywhere in the area from above the kidney all the way down to below his groin area. They were up to the job. What they thought would be an easy operation that would take an hour and a half actually took over five hours. They poked and probed and cut and sewed until they got all of the visible cancerous tumors out of his body which took many more hours than anticipated.
The doctors called him an amazing man and a marvel man because he won so many swimming gold medals while carrying around all that cancer in his body. They were amazed that he never had any pain, never had any blood in his urine. He was always the picture of health.
During the operation they took out many, many tumors successfully, along with some organs. His prognosis was excellent. The doctors said there was a possibility that he might have radiation that will target the cancerous areas and that he certainly would have chemotherapy, which provides the last clean sweep to rid his body of all the microscopic tumors that were impossible for them to see. He took the news as if it was no big deal.
While thanking God one morning it came to me, surely by the Holy Spirit who is the Teacher, that if we had not spoken his goals to the doctors before the surgery that they would have seen the extent of the cancer while operating, thought about his age, and they would have closed him back up and told him to have chemo and radiation and he probably would have died in a short time.
The fact that we set the standard for them, to treat him like his body is the body of a 30 year old, and to fix him so that he will be number one in swimming competition when he's 100 years old, those comments set the standard. We spoke them out verbally to the doctors and they aimed to please, determined to treat him like he is forty years younger than he is, and to fix him so that he can get back to competing in swimming and winning gold medals until he's 100 years old.
We spoke the standard and they performed the actions that would bring the standard into being. They could have closed him up without removing the large amount of cancer, but they didn't. They cleaned out the multitude of tumors, taking hours of their time to fix him, probably with other patients waiting for their services. The task didn't look too ominous to them when they were reminded of the standard we had set for them, to fix him so he can still win gold medals. They were up to the task and did their marvelous work, led by God's angels, I know.
We can set our standards low or we can set them high. In this situation we had set our standards really high and the surgeons brought it into being.
The scripture became real to me by this experience. The enemy had come in like a flood in the form of cancer. God impressed us to tell the doctors the standard that we expected. They did it according to our desire.
When we speak words revealed to us by the Holy Spirit we are proclaiming our standards every time, and God's working angels will bring the standard into being.
Knowing that a standard is really a goal or a desire or a wish or a prayer that is filled with faith, it will become a reality.
My standards are perfection in every area of my life. I'm not standing for anything else.
How about you?
I always tried to figure out the meaning of the scripture that says, "When the enemy comes in like a flood, God will raise us a standard against him." In my human mind one time I figured out that that standard was a flag that God would spiritually put in front of us that told the enemy to stop right there.
That's logical and I banked on that for years. Yet, bad things happened to my family and me.
There were other things I reasoned in my human mind, like the practice of speaking God's written Word and the enemy can't touch the situation. It worked some times but not always.
Today I have a more meaningful revelation from the Holy Spirit for my husband and me.
Cancer was found in the entire left lower quadrant of Steve's abdomen. The doctors suspected cancer and had even removed a malignant testicle and sperm cord a month ago. Their intent in the present surgery was to remove a non-functioning kidney and the ureter tube and a small portion of his bladder. They didn't anticipate the extent of the cancer when they opened him up to do their job.
When we were in the pre-op room waiting for the time for him to go to the operating room, both doctors who were doing the surgery came in at the same time. My husband and I had discussed previously what we were going to say to them. He said he was going to tell them to operate on him like he was 30 years old instead of 74. I said I was going to tell them that they are going to operate on a man who is in the top ten rankings of swimmers in his age group in the U.S. and he wants to be the number one when he's 100. My husband frowned but I knew that, if given the opportunity, I would say that.
The opportunity presented itself when both doctors came into the pre-op room. My husband was prevented from saying anything because he was taking a pre-op breathing treatment and had the breathing pipe in his mouth puffing away. My opportunity was there, so I emphatically stated to the doctors that they have a man who is not like other men, that he is a champion swimmer and in the top ten in his age group in the U.S. I continued to profess to them that he wants to continue to swim and become the number one swimmer when he's 100.
They left the pre-op room and headed to the operating room, saying, "We'll do our best."
When they got into his left abdominal area they found that he had malignant tumors everywhere in the area from above the kidney all the way down to below his groin area. They were up to the job. What they thought would be an easy operation that would take an hour and a half actually took over five hours. They poked and probed and cut and sewed until they got all of the visible cancerous tumors out of his body which took many more hours than anticipated.
The doctors called him an amazing man and a marvel man because he won so many swimming gold medals while carrying around all that cancer in his body. They were amazed that he never had any pain, never had any blood in his urine. He was always the picture of health.
During the operation they took out many, many tumors successfully, along with some organs. His prognosis was excellent. The doctors said there was a possibility that he might have radiation that will target the cancerous areas and that he certainly would have chemotherapy, which provides the last clean sweep to rid his body of all the microscopic tumors that were impossible for them to see. He took the news as if it was no big deal.
While thanking God one morning it came to me, surely by the Holy Spirit who is the Teacher, that if we had not spoken his goals to the doctors before the surgery that they would have seen the extent of the cancer while operating, thought about his age, and they would have closed him back up and told him to have chemo and radiation and he probably would have died in a short time.
The fact that we set the standard for them, to treat him like his body is the body of a 30 year old, and to fix him so that he will be number one in swimming competition when he's 100 years old, those comments set the standard. We spoke them out verbally to the doctors and they aimed to please, determined to treat him like he is forty years younger than he is, and to fix him so that he can get back to competing in swimming and winning gold medals until he's 100 years old.
We spoke the standard and they performed the actions that would bring the standard into being. They could have closed him up without removing the large amount of cancer, but they didn't. They cleaned out the multitude of tumors, taking hours of their time to fix him, probably with other patients waiting for their services. The task didn't look too ominous to them when they were reminded of the standard we had set for them, to fix him so he can still win gold medals. They were up to the task and did their marvelous work, led by God's angels, I know.
We can set our standards low or we can set them high. In this situation we had set our standards really high and the surgeons brought it into being.
The scripture became real to me by this experience. The enemy had come in like a flood in the form of cancer. God impressed us to tell the doctors the standard that we expected. They did it according to our desire.
When we speak words revealed to us by the Holy Spirit we are proclaiming our standards every time, and God's working angels will bring the standard into being.
Knowing that a standard is really a goal or a desire or a wish or a prayer that is filled with faith, it will become a reality.
My standards are perfection in every area of my life. I'm not standing for anything else.
How about you?
Sunday, July 11, 2010
BIRDS OF A FEATHER
BIRDS OF A FEATHER
Getting ready for surgery is more a mental exercise than it is an organizational one. Often the dread is overpowering and a black cloud hangs over the patient like a constant companion.
My husband Steve had been pretty upbeat about his upcoming surgery but I could tell that his emotions were varied, positive most the time but then a wave of fear would pass over his mind with thoughts of the possibility of a negative prognosis after the surgery. I will have to credit him with the fact that most of the time he was upbeat.
The day before the surgery I asked him a question I should not have introduced into our conversation. I knew better than to ask it. I asked as he came into the kitchen for breakfast, "Did you have a good night?" That elicited a report I didn't want to hear, "No, I didn't. I had a terrible night."
As we all know, once the day starts off with a negative mindset, very often the rest of the day follows the same vein of thought. I didn't relish that pall hanging over our heads the rest of the day, possibly lasting into the day of surgery, which would be hard to shake.
I began telling him about a testimony that our friend Diane wrote me in an email that very morning. The story was a follow-up conclusion to an ongoing problem that she had had for several summers. The past two summers swallows have taken up residence on her porch and they have been a real problem. They have dive bombed Diane, dive bombed her dog and cat, and have been a real nuisance. She has not been able to sit on the beautiful porch that she has decorated for a town contest. Enjoyment went out the window for her when the swallows decided her porch was the perfect place to nest. They were back again this year like vacationing relatives, making the summer unbearable again.
Some other birds decided to inhabit her porch this summer also. A finch built a nest in her hanging basket that was filled with flowers. They were welcome because they did not have the habit of attacking man and beast the way the swallows did.
Diane's son Chris and his girlfriend Babette came to visit and share some of the great wisdom they have gained in their many travels and meditation seminars. Diane told Babette about the swallows and told her about the finches and their nest.
Babette remarked that she had a book that she wanted to share with Diane about birds and how they are sent to us with messages that we need to learn. She shared an unusual insight, that the finches were there in the hanging basket to bring peace between Diane and the swallows. My friend decided to read the book about messenger birds with an open mind after hearing that interesting comment.
The next morning Diane prepared to take her dog for a morning stroll, a daily occurrence, and she was prepared to have to dodge the swallows and their dive bombing habits. However, as she gathered up the small dog in her arms and tiptoed onto the porch she was astonished. There were no swallows around. They were not there to torment her and her dog. As she walked further into the yard she was cautious but still noticed the absence of the swallows.
As she ventured out further into the yard she heard the sweet voice of Babette back at the house saying, "I told you so."
Surely she was right, the finches had come to bring peace between Diane and the swallows because now the swallows were not behaving like tormenters. In fact, they were absent completely.
God's messengers of truth take many forms. This time it came on the wings of birds for Diane and for us from the mouth of her son's girlfriend Babette.
My husband and I gleaned the overflow from the story. As I told it to him, suddenly his positive attitude was restored and his whole countenance changed. He began to speak positive things, which will continue into the day of surgery, I know.
Then my sister-in-law sent a wonderful story about a sandpiper. I knew the messages were sent to let us know that the birds in God's dimension, His angels, were already doing their jobs of giving wisdom to the doctors to bring perfect results to the surgery.
We expected the best because we knew that peace would be in the waiting room, the operating room and the entire hospital. Peace benefits everyone involved, just like peace was brought to my friend and the swallows by the little finches.
I love God's messages of faith.
Getting ready for surgery is more a mental exercise than it is an organizational one. Often the dread is overpowering and a black cloud hangs over the patient like a constant companion.
My husband Steve had been pretty upbeat about his upcoming surgery but I could tell that his emotions were varied, positive most the time but then a wave of fear would pass over his mind with thoughts of the possibility of a negative prognosis after the surgery. I will have to credit him with the fact that most of the time he was upbeat.
The day before the surgery I asked him a question I should not have introduced into our conversation. I knew better than to ask it. I asked as he came into the kitchen for breakfast, "Did you have a good night?" That elicited a report I didn't want to hear, "No, I didn't. I had a terrible night."
As we all know, once the day starts off with a negative mindset, very often the rest of the day follows the same vein of thought. I didn't relish that pall hanging over our heads the rest of the day, possibly lasting into the day of surgery, which would be hard to shake.
I began telling him about a testimony that our friend Diane wrote me in an email that very morning. The story was a follow-up conclusion to an ongoing problem that she had had for several summers. The past two summers swallows have taken up residence on her porch and they have been a real problem. They have dive bombed Diane, dive bombed her dog and cat, and have been a real nuisance. She has not been able to sit on the beautiful porch that she has decorated for a town contest. Enjoyment went out the window for her when the swallows decided her porch was the perfect place to nest. They were back again this year like vacationing relatives, making the summer unbearable again.
Some other birds decided to inhabit her porch this summer also. A finch built a nest in her hanging basket that was filled with flowers. They were welcome because they did not have the habit of attacking man and beast the way the swallows did.
Diane's son Chris and his girlfriend Babette came to visit and share some of the great wisdom they have gained in their many travels and meditation seminars. Diane told Babette about the swallows and told her about the finches and their nest.
Babette remarked that she had a book that she wanted to share with Diane about birds and how they are sent to us with messages that we need to learn. She shared an unusual insight, that the finches were there in the hanging basket to bring peace between Diane and the swallows. My friend decided to read the book about messenger birds with an open mind after hearing that interesting comment.
The next morning Diane prepared to take her dog for a morning stroll, a daily occurrence, and she was prepared to have to dodge the swallows and their dive bombing habits. However, as she gathered up the small dog in her arms and tiptoed onto the porch she was astonished. There were no swallows around. They were not there to torment her and her dog. As she walked further into the yard she was cautious but still noticed the absence of the swallows.
As she ventured out further into the yard she heard the sweet voice of Babette back at the house saying, "I told you so."
Surely she was right, the finches had come to bring peace between Diane and the swallows because now the swallows were not behaving like tormenters. In fact, they were absent completely.
God's messengers of truth take many forms. This time it came on the wings of birds for Diane and for us from the mouth of her son's girlfriend Babette.
My husband and I gleaned the overflow from the story. As I told it to him, suddenly his positive attitude was restored and his whole countenance changed. He began to speak positive things, which will continue into the day of surgery, I know.
Then my sister-in-law sent a wonderful story about a sandpiper. I knew the messages were sent to let us know that the birds in God's dimension, His angels, were already doing their jobs of giving wisdom to the doctors to bring perfect results to the surgery.
We expected the best because we knew that peace would be in the waiting room, the operating room and the entire hospital. Peace benefits everyone involved, just like peace was brought to my friend and the swallows by the little finches.
I love God's messages of faith.
Thursday, June 24, 2010
TRUTH DISGUISED AS MAXINE
TRUTH DISGUISED AS MAXINE
"Open my eyes that I might see visions of truth thou hast for me."
There she sat again in the doctor's office, a vision of truth sent for me. The interesting thing was that she was a replica of the greeting card character Maxine, an extraordinary looking woman with white frizzy hair, small in stature, wrinkled face and arms, and she was sitting in the most unladylike pose reading a red leather New Testament. She was a picture straight off of a greeting card or straight off of an internet email message.
"Open my eyes that I might see visions of truth thou hast for me."
There she sat again in the doctor's office, a vision of truth sent for me. The interesting thing was that she was a replica of the greeting card character Maxine, an extraordinary looking woman with white frizzy hair, small in stature, wrinkled face and arms, and she was sitting in the most unladylike pose reading a red leather New Testament. She was a picture straight off of a greeting card or straight off of an internet email message.
I had noticed her two weeks before, on another occasion, when she and her husband entered the same doctor's waiting room. She had on a bright red blouse with red and white seersucker pants and bright red shoes. The colors were unusually vibrant for a woman her age, which was probably late eighties, but my eyes were drawn to her because of the bright colors which contrasted with her white medium length frizzy hair. The combination just seemed to attract my admiring gaze. Maybe the attraction was because I love bright colors, too, and the older I get the brighter my choice of colors seems to get, so I felt a kinship with her.
On the second occasion I saw her when she entered the waiting room. She was adorned in more demure colors, varying shades of beige. However, I recognized her immediately because she wasn't easy to overlook. She and her husband returned to the same seats they had previously occupied on the first occasion, as if the seats were permanently reserved for them.
I began reading the morning paper, occasionally glancing at the woman out of the corner of my eye. She seemed to be worth watching.
I began reading the morning paper, occasionally glancing at the woman out of the corner of my eye. She seemed to be worth watching.
I became completely consumed with reading a particular editorial in the newspaper and for a full fifteen minutes didn't even glance at the real life replica of "Maxine". When I finished reading the article my attention immediately went to the woman. She was sitting in the most awkward position, skinny legs wide apart, purse nestled on the floor between her legs, and she was reading the New Testament with concentrated intent.
Suddenly I heard the real life "Maxine" profess these words to her husband, "We are so blessed." To which he replied, "Yes, we truly are."
As an observer of the pair and an eavesdropper to their conversation, I became blessed as a result. It was as if God had sent the woman to remind me that my husband and I are also blessed. We were eagerly waiting for a conference with the doctor to discuss the results of pathological tests which might require serious procedures.
My eyes were clearly opened to see the miracle of the situation, that God had orchestrated the chance meeting again so that I could see and admire the lady in her unusual sitting position reading the New Testament where God promises healing to his children, and then to verbally hear the proclamation of, "We are so blessed," to remind me of my own blessings.
Blinders fell from my eyes and I was again filled with faith because of the vision of truth that He had for me. He used an unusual vessel, one who certainly got my attention. She was the cutest thing I ever saw, wrinkles, frizzy hair and all. Maybe she was an angel in disguise. If so, that angel chose the right disguise, the one of a greeting card character that I love. She quickly opened my eyes and ears to the message that God wanted me to hear, reminding me that I'm blessed beyond belief.
Whomever you are and whatever your name is, you are "Maxine" to me, an angel in disguise sending a greeting to me.
Yes, I am blessed. I got the message loud and clear, the message which confirmed a truth I already knew, but it reaffirmed the reality of my many, many blessings.
Blinders fell from my eyes and I was again filled with faith because of the vision of truth that He had for me. He used an unusual vessel, one who certainly got my attention. She was the cutest thing I ever saw, wrinkles, frizzy hair and all. Maybe she was an angel in disguise. If so, that angel chose the right disguise, the one of a greeting card character that I love. She quickly opened my eyes and ears to the message that God wanted me to hear, reminding me that I'm blessed beyond belief.
Whomever you are and whatever your name is, you are "Maxine" to me, an angel in disguise sending a greeting to me.
Yes, I am blessed. I got the message loud and clear, the message which confirmed a truth I already knew, but it reaffirmed the reality of my many, many blessings.
Sunday, June 13, 2010
MORE HAND PRINTS OF GOD
MORE HAND PRINTS OF GOD
Don't you just love to see the footprints and hand prints of God in a situation! You know He's there, you know He's working hard to perfect a situation, and then He sends some confirming visual prints and we are so very, very grateful. We become even more solidly filled with faith because His prints are His visual evidence that the matter is firmly in His hands and He is able to perform His wonderful works in the circumstance.
Don't you just love to see the footprints and hand prints of God in a situation! You know He's there, you know He's working hard to perfect a situation, and then He sends some confirming visual prints and we are so very, very grateful. We become even more solidly filled with faith because His prints are His visual evidence that the matter is firmly in His hands and He is able to perform His wonderful works in the circumstance.
My husband had a serious operation that resulted in a report that was shocking to us. We know our Heavenly Father is well able to do what He has promised to do, which is restore completely, but the report sent our minds reeling for a few hours.
I began quoting a scripture, "The Son of Righteousness will rise with healing in His wings," which is found in Malachi 4:2. The rest of that verse promises that we will go forth and grow up as calves in the stall, and we will tread down the wicked and they will be ashes under the soles of our feet in the day that God rises with healing in His wings.
On the second day after we went home from the hospital a dear friend named Dorothy, a faithful member of the Praying Posse prayer group, brought a rare begonia plant to us and a card for Steve. When Steve opened the card it was like the pain medicine he had been taking for his body, only this was pain medicine for our minds.
On the front of the card was the word "WINGS" in large, bold letters followed by a message that those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. Then the message on the inside of the card referred to faith being the wings that will lift us up.
Dorothy had no knowledge that I had been quoting the scripture about the Wings of the Son of Righteousness, yet she chose the perfect card.
Any little hints of doubt and fear in our minds flew out the window as the Wings of the Son of Righteousness renewed our strength and lifted us up.
Any little hints of doubt and fear in our minds flew out the window as the Wings of the Son of Righteousness renewed our strength and lifted us up.
The card continued to do its mighty work, strengthening us while those same Wings of the Son of Righteousness completed God's work of healing.
Another valuable hand print/footprint of God came the day before the operation. Marcia, another Praying Posse prayer warrior, brought to my house a banner she had purchased the prior weekend. The banner is by a new artist in town, a huge painting of two giant angels embracing each other. Their wings are prominent behind them. When I think about that banner it presents another visual representation of the Wings of the Son of Righteousness rising with healing in His wings to bring healing to God's children. Steve is a recipient of that powerful and loving healing.
God continued to cover all bases in the situation, like He always does. He confirmed His promises and put us on the solid Rock again thanks to loving friends who willingly put the final seal of approval on what God has already guaranteed.
Friday, June 11, 2010
GOD'S FOOTPRINTS AND HANDPRINTS
HAND PRINTS AND FOOTPRINTS OF GOD
When a doctor tells you his prognosis about a challenging medical problem that you're facing, his words stick in your mind, rolling over and over, even gaining more negativity every time they roll around. It's difficult to get your mind stopped from its spinning out of control, imagining every possible worse case scenario, even when the prognosis may have good possibilities. The negatives seems to take over, covering up the positives. Such it is with the human computer called a brain, one negative thing overrides all positive ones.
My husband Steve had had surgery in which was found a tumor that has markings of being malignant. Even though the results of the final testing had not been revealed to us, our minds were running amuck with negative thoughts spinning out of control.
I was reminded of the message that Jesus gave to people when he walked the earth. He told them to consider the lilies of the field, how they neither toil nor spin, yet their Heavenly Father adorns them with beauty. I knew that He was saying that we shouldn't let our minds spin out of control with negative thoughts. Yet, I was having trouble girding My mind down. I was not controlling negative thoughts the way I wanted. I couldn't get my mind quiet so I could finally get some sleep. It was definitely spinning out of control, controling me with thoughts of dread and doom.
After laying in bed for an hour with no success in my effort to control the thoughts, I began to think a little prayer, okay, God, give me a scripture that I can play over and over again in my mind instead of dreadful thoughts playing over and over again. A scripture came to mind that I had only heard once, "Let God be true and every man a liar." That seemed remote from any relation to our situation, but the more I pondered it the more I saw that it related completely. It was telling me that I must let what God says about the situation be true and any negative prognosis we heard from humans be a lie. So the scripture really did relate to our situation because my husband and I both know that God said, "By His stripes you are healed," and no matter what any man says, what God says is the final word, the final proclamation.
That scripture from our Instruction Book, called the Bible, rolled over and over and over in my mind, replacing the negative words of the doctors. It began to give me faith. It did what I wanted it to do, calmed my mind. In a few minutes I fell asleep and slept for three hours. That was just what I needed, rest for my mind and body.
I woke with the scripture in my mind, "Let God be true and every man a liar." It still brought me mental comfort beyond belief, just like it did during the night.
After getting home from the hospital the next day, a card arrived from a friend who knew nothing about my experience the day before. It was addressed to my husband. Our friend Jane wanted to give my husband encouragement and faith that the final outcome of the medical situation would be positive and perfect.
In her own handwriting on the card, Jane very lovingly told my husband how much she cares for us, and then she ended the note with this scripture, "Let God be true and every man a liar," Romans 3:4.
We were filled with awe and wonder that God would give Jane the same scripture He gave to me about the situation, assuring us that God knows much more about it than any man or a team of men know. So we know what God says is true about it. And that truth is that the final outcome will be magnificent and perfect.
Men don't know the inner workings and the final outcome of a situation. Only God knows them. So the limited knowledge of men, even doctors, make them liars because they haven't come to a complete knowledge of the truth about it.
God confirmed though Jane that God's words are true and we can rely on them.
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