He is Willing

When we talk about miracles what do you think of? Is the parting of the Red Sea what comes to mind? How about "walking on water"? Do we think about physical healing? I know I do.

There are many types of miracles in the Bible, and Jesus Himself preformed many of them as we see in the New Testament Gospels. Today I want to tell you about a miracle that happened in my life. I want you to know, so you will understand and accept that miracles are for those who believe. Not for those that just believe in Jesus, but for those that believe that He is willing... still willing for miracles, today.

Jesus healing the man with leprosy in Mark chapter 1.

Don't be tempted to skip over the scripture. (been there, done that) Even if you read it one hundred times. God can show you something new. He will honor your willingness to read His Word. So take a minute each new post to read the scripture verses. I can guarantee that it will bless you...time after time.

Version: NAS
John 14: 12-14

"Believe Me that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me; otherwise believe on account of the works (miracles) themselves. 12. "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater [works] than these shall he do; because I go to the Father. 13. "And whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14. "If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do [it].


Version: NAS

Mark 1: 40-42


40. And a leper came to Him, beseeching Him and falling on his knees before Him, and saying to Him, "If You are willing, You can make me clean." 41. And moved with compassion, He stretched out His hand, and touched him, and said to him, "I am willing; be cleansed." 42. And immediately the leprosy left him and he was cleansed.

Some of you that I correspond with have heard this account, but I want you all to be on the same page with me. You need to know this, so you will know that I believe in miracles. Not just in theory, but in real life.

Back in the fall of 2002, a little over seven years ago. I had three major heart attacks. For four days I had what I thought was a pinched nerve in my right arm. I didn't know it was my heart because the pain was so severe in my right arm, shoulder to wrist.

At that time I was in good health, active and energetic, involved in church and ministry. I had a healthy diet, was a size 6, and had never smoked. I was probably the last person in the world that you could look at and think would be a candidate for a heart attack. But I had been under a lot of stress for quite a few years, and the underlying cause was that I had hereditary cardiovascular disease of which I knew nothing about.

God had called me to ministry a few years before, and in preparation He began to teach me about Himself. I studied God's Word for hours at a time. Sorry, I'm not exaggerating. I would get my Bible, and a notebook and I would be at His feet studying, praying, and listening. He instilled in me that He was looking for people that would believe the Bible. Not just for salvation, which is only the start, but that would really BELIEVE that He was still the same today, and that He is willing to do miracles in our individual lives. So I started studying the gospels with great intent and interest. Would I be willing to trust Him? Yes, I was convinced that I would.

So then a few years later the heart attacks happened, only a few weeks after God had done a huge miracle at our church that He had allowed me to be a part of. He knew what was coming my way. Why didn't He prevent it? Good question. One that I have asked of Him. I will just say, that had I not had this experience I would not have known first hand God's graciousness, willingness to heal, and His amazing love. I would not now have the confidence to teach and pray for others for physical healing.

Now when I finally got to the hospital at 6:00 on Monday morning I was still in the middle of a major coronary. They rushed me to the Heart Catheterization lab and did an angiogram. That is where they insert a tube, or catheter, through the femoral artery in your groin and inject a dye (contrast material) that will show under x-ray where you have an arterial blockage.
I had a 100% block and because of it there had been so much pressure in my artery that an aneurysm had formed. It was extremely large and had so weakened this artery that the cardiologist left the room when he saw it. He knew I was going to die on the table, and he didn't want to see it. My heart was severely compromised and was "dead" in the upper 1/2 to 1/3. In layman's terms I was a "goner".

I was terrified when, laying on the table, I started having another heart attack. There came a voice in my spirit that said to me loud and clear. "There will come a day when you see Me face to face, but today is not that day." I knew right then He would heal me.

I was told after the angiogram procedure that I would be a cardiac patient. Surgery to repair the aneurysm was out of the question. It would kill me. I could die if I sneezed, so it seemed inevitable that I didn't have much time. I thanked my doctor and said that I believed that God had a ministry for me and that I couldn't do it if I was in heaven. So I believed God would heal me. I didn't know when. Tomorrow, next week, next month or next year. But I believed God would do it.

The end of the week of my hospital stay the cardiologist suggested some repeat tests to see exactly where I stood. (now I think that this would have been a waste of time and dangerous) God knew what He was doing. So I had the tests.

The next evening I had a full hospital room with church friends and prayer partners. Our Sunday School teacher and his wife were there, and some close friends. (I had told my husband to not let anyone in to see me that was crying or scared. I could not afford to doubt.) The doctor came in to give us the results. I told him to go ahead. These people that were with me knew where I stood in my physical health and prognosis. The doctor cleared his throat, somewhat at a loss for words.

"I can't find the aneurysm, and your heart is fully functioning. I don't know how to explain it."

"I do." I said. "God has healed me."

And the cardiologist agreed.

Now re-read Mark 1:41

Now you know why I believe in miracles.

A few posts ago, I asked for a favor. I'm not too proud to do it again. If you read this Bible Study please place a link to this blog on your side bar and or blog list. This is not for me, as it is not "about me". This is a blog celebrating Jesus and God's Word. I am praying for people to read this. God can bring them to Himself if we make His Word available. People come through these blogs hurting and searching. I believe that if they can just get a glimpse of Jesus here, He can change their lives. Please remember, this is not about me, or for me. It's about spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ. If you don't feel comfortable yet, please pray about it. Here's the link:

http://www.adayinthelife-commonground.blogspot.com/.

We are just getting started. Have you found a journal, or a notebook? Please do. I know that God wants to speak to each of us. Just take a minute to write your thoughts, ideas, and prayer requests down for future reference. God has a lot to say to us. God has been speaking to many of you this last week, and I am so excited. I want to hear about what God has been doing in your own life. Please don't feel like my account overshadows what He has done for you. I needed healing, He did that. You may not have had that exact need, but I know there are miracles out there. Please share them with us. It doesn't have to be a "physical healing"' but ANY thing that you know God alone did. Leave a comment and tell us how God has done miracles in your life.

 

Blessings everyone!

love, Debra