God is my Healer...but I'm still feeling bad

Hi Everyone...I know it's been a long time since I've posted, and even longer since I've posted regularly. I've had some serious health issues this last few years and I've just not been able to feel like I could do this blog justice. I have another blog, which I started first; sort of a decor/lifestyle blog. It's listed on the sidebar here. Common Ground. If you'd like to catch up with my life then come on over. I've just posted about some of what's been happening with me healthwise. God has been leading me to some important life and health changing insights.

There will be more posts coming, but for now you can at least get an update, and understand why this blog has been silent. I've missed posting here, but I think you may understand that there are times when you just have to listen to God...  www.commonground-do.com 

God is Above All Things

One of the amazing and wonderful things about God's Word, the Bible, is that it speaks to each one of us for whatever it is we are going through. We all have our different issues and problems, needs and desires. For one of us it's finances, another, our children, still another health or relationships...then again some of us have all of these things in our lives to deal with.  Right now the one that's on the "front burner" so to speak is my health. I know... it's been that way for awhile, but I know you can relate. Problems rarely are solved overnight, and sometimes God allows us to walk "through" for a while. Mine has been awhile.

I had a tough summer, but God has been doing some things for me and I'm feeling better pain-wise. (Thank you Lord!) I'm definitely giving Him credit, it wouldn't be happening without His hand on me. I was in a spiral down and it wasn't fun. Medication wasn't helping, and if I looked at the "big picture" of textbook diagnosis and prognosis, mine was crummy to say the least. 


But, with one thing, it always leads to another with God. He may let you sit for a little while, but then He's always there moving you forward once more, stretching your faith, and causing you to get uncomfortable in the place that He last left you. Do you understand what I'm saying? God isn't stagnant and He doesn't want us to be either. So we may have a victory and praise, but before you know it He's knocking on the door again asking us to step out of our comfort zone and go further down the "faith" road.


God sometimes plants me in a particular chapter in the scriptures and leaves me there. I may read something a dozen times before it starts to sink in. Has this happened to you? I go over and over and sometimes frustration happens before enlightenment. Then sometimes He shows me something ahead of time and I find myself realizing I need to pay attention for what's coming. Case in point. John, chapter three. I'm there alot.

What I've been reading over and over is John 3:31 "The one who comes from above is above all". Sounds simple enough to understand. But understanding and putting into practice are two different things. He's asking me to believe and act upon that statement. He's in control. He's the One who makes the decisions. He's the One who can bring the manifestation of healing when no one else can. He's the One that can transition you from head knowledge to actually doing what needs to be done. 


God gives promises and sometimes those promises seem distant and unattainable. Often times they are fraught with difficulty and ditches along the way. But a day comes when things start to change. I'm reminding myself to praise God along the way, and to keep moving forward. He will be there with me each step of the way.


I found this illustration today that says it all!

Wherever you might be in this circle, just let God keep moving you forward.

love in Jesus,

I've been thinking...

Yes, I know that can be a dangerous thing for some of us.

Just wanted you to know that I'm still here. I've been thinking about things that have been going on with my life and in my spirit...wanting to talk about some of the things that God has been showing me in these last few months. I've been contemplating the last nine years of my life; trying to make sense of it in the spiritual realm.

I have a tendency to "overthink" sometimes, especially on weighty subjects. And there have been two weighty subjects in my life throughout this time that seemingly contradict themselves. A call to ministry in regard to healing, and then the fact that I was about wiped out with heart disease. It would be easy for me to just feel like they cancel each other out, but God won't let me go there.

I've been thru every emotion under the sun in this last few months, but I haven't given up on getting out of the place I seemingly am stuck in health wise, or the fact that no matter how hard I want to quietly slip away from posting here, God will have none of it.

Playing house at my other blog has given me a distraction. Painting furniture, rearranging things, sewing, having linky parties; God has all approved and basically said, "Go ahead, have some fun, then come back here when I say so."  ...so I'm back...

My husband and I talk alot, he's my best friend, and good thing too. Otherwise living with me might not be such a picnic. God has put something in him that I can only call divine love for me. We've had alot of ups and downs in 38 years of marriage. (Who can be married and not have some ups and downs?) He's a good listener, and always processes what I need to share. I can complain and fuss and whine, and he's always there to pray for me and encourage me. He helps me sort things out and sift thru the junk in my life.

OK, so here's the jest of this post.

I still believe in healing. I have a long history with the Lord on this, so it ain't changin' or going away.
(I know not all of you have this same belief, but God has settled this with me many years ago, so even though I respect your opinion, please don't try to change mine.)
I've done everything I can "do" to show the Lord I mean business. Below are just a few things that God has given me over the many years I've been here.

I've read every book on healing from founding spiritual fathers to current ministries.
I've taken communion every day, as I know that we do this in remembrance of what Jesus has done for us.
I've looked up every scripture on healing and taken it to the Lord in prayer.
I've rebuked the enemy.
I've submitted myself to the Lord.
I've done extensive evaluation led by the Holy Spirit to reveal to me things in my life that I have needed to turn over and let God deal with.
I've forgiven every one who ever did something against me, and I've asked forgiveness of those that I may have harmed.

the list goes on...

you get my drift?

I have faith in God for His will to be done.
I'm believing and standing on the promises.
I'm there.

So when I went back to the Lord this last week about ,
"Is there something I haven't done?,
 Is there something you want from me?
Why is this still continuing?"

I received an answer...
"wait, and call it done."

All the good things that teach us and grow us and reveal God's Word to us can become "works" if we aren't careful.

God knows our heart.
He knows our faith.
He wants us to trust Him.

Then we wait...

love in Jesus,

Pursuing God

I imagine you've noticed that I haven't been posting as much lately. Hard to miss. There have been some projects that God has put in front of me. Not all outwardly seemingly God sent, but yet I know they have been. Starting blogs for a few of my business friends, taking a trip to see our kids, doing some much needed projects around the homestead, and then let us not forget, aging parents that seem to be needing more attention and time.

Just like you, I live in the real world of fixing dinner, doing laundry, housework, and needing to be productive in daily life. Sometimes I haven't felt very "productive" in the real world, so when I get a fresh breath of energy and momentum I try and "run with it". But in doing so, I don't want to neglect this special place that God has given me to communicate with you all out there. (If I haven't checked in with you lately it's not because I haven't thought of you all.)

I'd be misrepresenting myself to say that I'm praying 24/7, reading the Bible for hours a day, or going to church 7 days a week. I've been there, and yes, there are "seasons" for that. For extended periods of time I've been in relentless pursuit of God, but just as in normal earthly relationships, there are also times of "comfort" and constancy, and contentment. That's not the same as backsliding, or losing touch, or lack of commitment.

Just saying that today, after knowing it was time to do another post, God sort of corralled me from my projects. He sat me down and gave me a scripture to look up. Sometimes He speaks a scripture verse to me, book, chapter, and verse. Most of the time I'm not familiar with it off the top of my head. Today He said to me "Mark, third chapter, 10th verse."

Version: NAS

Mark 3:10
"...for He had healed many, with the result that all those who had afflictions pressed about Him in order to touch Him."

Seems as though I've not been "pressing in about Him" as much lately. I've been trying to adjust myself to the fact that I have some health issues and that I'm still on meds and it all restricts me. Even though from reading my other blog, you might think I was a whirlwind of energy, truth is I'm not. Some days are good, others not so much.

I'm trusting God for my life and health, but some days I just try to put it aside and keep doing "life". Positive thinking is not an effort for me. It's always been preferable to the alternative, and besides God isn't into "woe is me". That's not faith, nor is it a godly testimony.

I guess my thought that I'm getting today is to not lose the "pressing in"  anointing that God bestows upon us. He puts it there for a purpose. It's to accomplish His purpose for us. Right now I don't want to lose track of the momentum that God has for me, here at this Bible Study, or for life in general. I don't want to be complacent, or lackluster in whatever it is God is calling me to do.

And you know something really funny (as in strange)? When I opened my Bible to Mark 3:10, not only was it underlined, but dated "5/19/04"; a year after my heart surgery. And exactly 6 years ago today. Who says God isn't "timely" and aware of our exact need?

It's been a long seven years, but I'm still here and I'm still Pursuing Him. Most of the times that Jesus healed it was when someone "pursued" Him. The blind man, the leper, the woman with the issue of blood, the centurion, the synagogue leader with the sick daughter; many many more, God saw their dedication and drive for Him; their faith and action, their desire to stay in the race. I want to be one of those people of faith. Not complacent, but in pursuit.

If you have never read "The God Chasers" by Tommy Tenney, I highly recommend it. It will get you out of your rut and make you put on your shoes.

love in Jesus,

Debra

No Spiritual Bandaids

How many of us want and need a "quick fix"? Problems in our lives that we look at, shoot up a prayer to God, and then try to cover up from everyone else? No time to deal with the issues, just a need to have the matter taken care of? 

 "God, please fix this!!!"

We might be able to get away with this for a while, maybe even a long while, but eventually we will realize the "problem" is still there. Nothing healed, nothing resolved, nothing really fixed. Oh, it may look a little better. But is it a lasting solution, or is your problem just sitting there, or maybe the problem is even "infected"?

When our older daughter was about 13, she and a friend had been riding a motor scooter (which I had forbidden but she did it anyway) out in our rural subdivision. The streets were not "paved" with concrete, but more of an asphalt surface, you know, hardened tar and gravel. Well, the inevitable happened; a spill on the bike and a screaming, crying kid, limping up the driveway with blood covering her bare legs. She was in a lot of pain and no "I told you so's" were needed. Now, what if I had just wiped off the blood and put on a bunch of band aids?

I called the doctor, and this was his advice. Put her in a warm tub with some Epsom salt, and be prepared for some time to work. Having worked in the ER, I am accustomed to a little blood, so I did what could have been done for her there. Tweezers in hand I set about the job of removing debris and gravel. An hour or so later, and after hearing a few, "NO!, NO's" She was cleaned up and slathered with Neosporin and some bandages. The healing began, but not until the junk was out, and the wound cleaned. A quick fix would not have beneficial here. Time, information and some work were critical to see this resolved in a way that would permanently have a good outcome.

Do we have behaviors that God has been trying to speak to us about? Attitudes and ways of thinking that are non-productive? How about relationships that are difficult and a source of constant concern? Just like a physical ailment, injury, or disease, we cannot ignore problems hoping they will go away. A quick fix, usually doesn't last, and can cause more harm in the long run.

Our spiritual lives can be this way. A lot of debris, hurts and pain. Incidents that are major sticking points in our lives. We can't make any progress because we don't allow God to get in there and do the work.

We need to give God permission to teach us and show us what kind of steps we need to take, to see healing and lasting change come to our lives.

Seeing lasting change in our spiritual lives takes a little effort and attention. It takes time in prayer and reading God's Word; Bible study and listening for God's direction in our life. None of these things can be accomplished by snapping our fingers. Our development as Christians takes time. Salvation is immediate, but the renewing of the mind and our conforming to the likeness of Jesus can be a process.

One of the complaints that I had about my early years and into young adult life was that I was out of balance. I had been taught "doctrine" (not always the truth), but didn't have any "practical" information on how to live my life. It was all about what I should "believe", but nothing about "how to live" the Christian life day-to-day.

Then we can go the other direction in that we just want to know what to do, without having a belief system to back it up. We need both; good doctrinal understanding about God, and then practical teaching about our Christian walk. We won't be able to find the steps for our future and a healthy Christian life, attitudes, and relationships if we don't have a good foundation of who God is, and how He feels about us.

It's critical to realize that we need to establish our Christian lives on what we believe, instead of forming beliefs based on how we behave.


This will be the only way to see our identity in Christ really causing us to move forward. We need the proper Identity In Christ, and then the correct doctrine and theology to go with it. Don't skip the doctrine part to get to the "quick fix". Let's let God teach us about Himself, have that firmly planted in our hearts, then allow that knowledge to bring change.

Love,

Debra

 

concepts taken from Chapter 3,

Victory Over the Darkness

Abba Father, He's My Dad!

Who wouldn't love to have a great relationship with our Dad? Many of us had great ones, while some of us really lacked the ability to have a wonderful father-child relationship. Some dads traveled, some dads weren't communicators, some dads had themselves been hurt as little children and couldn't show affection. Some were too harsh, others too lenient. Some were absent physically or emotionally. Some were even abusive. Then some of us were distant, too busy, or thoughtless. There are many reasons why we haven't had a perfect relationship with our earthly dads, but our Father in Heaven isn't like our earthly "Dad", no matter how wonderful he might be.

We as human parents love to give gifts to our children. Christmas, birthdays, sometimes even a "just because" gift, just to let them know we love them. Our Heavenly Father feels exactly the same about us. He wants to give us good things. He longs to bless His children.

Matthew 7:7-11
7. "Ask, and it shall be given to you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you. 8. "For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it shall be opened. 9. "Or what man is there among you, when his son shall ask him for a loaf, will give him a stone? 10. "Or if he shall ask for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he? 11. "If you then, being evil, (by comparison) know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!

Matthew 6:8
"Therefore do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need, before you ask Him.

James 4:2
You lust and do not have; [so] you commit murder. And you are envious and cannot obtain; [so] you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask.

God knows what we need, yes. He's all knowing, but He still desires for us to ask. And then say "thank you, Father."
These first three scripture talk about our "asking" the Father for the things we need, but have you thought about asking Him for everything that HE would like to give you. There may be gifts and blessings that we haven't thought about, that He would like to bestow upon us.

We've probably heard the story about the man that arrived in heaven and was led to the large room filled with rows and rows of beautifully wrapped presents, each one tied with a bow and sitting on a shelf. He was amazed and asked his guide what they were. The guide replied. "These are all the gifts and blessings that God had for you, but you never thought to ask for."

A little simplistic, but wouldn't you want to receive each and every gift that God had prepared for you out of His great love? This goes for not only material things and blessings, but how about friendships, experiences, and spiritual gifts. Many people are afraid to ask for spiritual gifts because they think they are "scarey". God is good, He will prepare and nurture you for your giftings.


Psalm 103:1-5
1. [A Psalm of David]. Bless the LORD, O my soul; And all that is within me, [bless] His holy name. 2. Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget none of His benefits; 3. Who pardons all your iniquities; Who heals all your diseases; 4. Who redeems your life from the pit; Who crowns you with lovingkindness and compassion; 5. Who satisfies your years with good things, [So that] your youth is renewed like the eagle.

Here we see that God has gifts and "benefits". These come with our salvation "package", but sometimes we don't know or recognize it. Salvation, forgiveness of sin, health, love, spiritual optimism and hope. A satisfied life. Youth in body, mind, and spirit. These gifts are all available for us by "asking" for them.

Galatians 4:6
For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

Romans 8:15
And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!"


These last two verses talk about God refering to Himself not only as our Father, but as our Dad. How wonderful to know that God says "I love you so much, call me Dad!" Knowing God in this way enables us to go before Him to "ask" because we know He loves us, really loves us. This gives us the understanding that we have a loving dad who wants us to ask for the things we need, even though He knows these things in advance. He has a plan to give us all that He wants to give us, and so that we will come before Him with confidence, that we might have "effective prayer".

Hope you are having a great start to your week.

love,

Debra

The "P" Word

Have you heard me say in the past, that I am not preaching to you? I hope you know that. Each one of these posts is given to me by God, for me. Then I pass them along to you, hoping that what I have been given, you might find relevant for yourself. God is that way. He sends out His Word and it does not return void.

Isaiah 55:10-11
10. "For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, And do not return there without watering the earth, And making it bear and sprout, And furnishing seed to the sower and bread to the eater; 11. So shall My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me empty, Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding [in the matter] for which I sent it.

In the past I have been a very impatient person. I have laughed with several of you about my lack of interest for a big creative project like quilting or knitting, or just about anything that cannot be completed in one sitting. I have been the queen of "Instant Gratification". Sometimes this can be a good thing, but most of the time it just sets me up for impatience, frustration, and irritability. Because inevitably when something takes longer than I think it should, then my gripe-y side rears it's ugly head. Anyone else out there know what I'm talking about?

Galatians 5:22-23

22. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23. gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.


James 5:7-11
7. Be patient, therefore, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. Behold, the farmer waits for the precious produce of the soil, being patient about it, until it gets the early and late rains. 8. You too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. 9. Do not complain, brethren, against one another, that you yourselves may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing right at the door. 10. As an example, brethren, of suffering and patience, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 11. Behold, we count those blessed who endured. You have heard of the endurance of Job and have seen the outcome of the Lord's dealings, that the Lord is full of compassion and [is] merciful.

I think my biggest long-term "project" has been my health. Believe me, I have heard it all, done it all...remember I am a Pentecostal, Charismatic, ....whatever. I've stood in healing lines. Prayed for others in healing lines. I've confessed and believed and confessed some more. I've read the Word every day, quoted scripture everyday. I've done everything there is to do. yet....

I know why God has allowed me to "remain" where I am. He is teaching me patience among other things...and to stand firm. Now, I will be the very first to say God does not put "sickness on us". "He healed them all", so I have the very highest resolve for healing, but I also know there are factors out there that pertain to the individual. If we are going through something, and we all have our "somethings", then sometimes God "allows" us to be tested and refined. He can allow us to "go through the fire" somewhat to "clean us up" and purify us. It's during those times we need to stay faithful to God and His Word, to believe it, and then to be patient waiting for His right timing for it to come to pass.

Malachi 3:2-3.
"But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner's fire and a launderer's  soap. 3. "And He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and He will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, so that they may present to the LORD offerings in righteousness.

So right now I am trusting God, learning patience. Examining myself, my life, my motives, etc. and waiting...waiting to see God's Word accomplish that which it has set out to do. As in the words of Beth Moore, I'm allowing God to teach me His "Sufficiency" for each day, as well as His "Supremacy" in healing.


(Just a note to those of you who are new to this blog or my other blog, Common Ground. Seven years ago with 3 heart attacks and triple bypass surgery, I was diagnosed with Coronary Artery Disease. With me it is not because of "lifestyle", but do to an hereditary condition from my Dad's side of the family. At that time God stepped in and saved my life when he healed an aneurysm and a dead heart. It was a "death sentence", so I know about God's miraculous power for healing. But I also know what it is like to walk out every day with medications and restrictions. I continue to trust God that He is in control and that "by His stripes, I am healed."!)

I want to thank each of you that are following my posts, and even more so since I have now made a commitment to post daily on this Bible Study Blog. Thank you also for the ones that have linked back to me and on your blog list. I have said this is not for me, but for the spreading of the Gospel, which is what this blog is all about. So thank you in advance if any others of you decide to become a "follower" or one who links up with me. Remember that I appreciate you so much and that each day someone new finds this blog.

In great love,

Debra

Don't worry, be happy...

Sounds easy enough.

My husband has a pretty dry sense of humor, but he can be extremely funny in an annoying sort of way at times. When the girls were growing up he used to sing funny songs to them. It irritated them and made them laugh at the same time. It would help them forget their problems. His favorite tune was "Well, it's a good day from morning to night..." Anyone remember that little diddy? It is forever burned in my memory!

In the course of our lives we worry and fret. We worry over our children, our families, our spouses, our finances (especially now), our health, our relationships. The list can go on and on. We are worriers, especially us gals. We're moms "in charge of the family" and because of that we get in a place of misunderstanding concern and care for our children, loved ones, and circumstances with "worry". I know. I've been one of those people.


Version: NAS

Matthew 6:25-33

25. "For this reason I say to you, do not be anxious for your life, [as to] what you shall eat, or what you shall drink; nor for your body, [as to] what you shall put on. Is not life more than food, and the body than clothing? 26. "Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns, and [yet] your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? 27. "And which of you by being anxious can add a [single] cubit to his life's span? 28. "And why are you anxious about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, 29. yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory did not clothe himself like one of these. 30. "But if God so arrays the grass of the field, which is [alive] today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, [will He] not much more [do so for] you, O men of little faith? 31. "Do not be anxious then, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'With what shall we clothe ourselves?' 32. "For all these things the Gentiles eagerly seek; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33. "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you.
 
 
This last verse is the key here. Seek God first and then He can give us the things we need.
 
 
Version: NAS
Philippians 4:4-7

4. Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! 5. Let your forbearing [spirit] be known to all men. The Lord is near. 6. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
 
 
The following is our foundation scripture.

NAS version
John 15:9-17

9. "Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love. 10. "If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father's commandments, and abide in His love. 11. "These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may be in you, and [that] your joy may be made full. 12. "This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you. 13. "Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. 14. "You are My friends, if you do what I command you. 15. "No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you. 16. "You did not choose Me, but I chose you, and appointed you, that you should go and bear fruit, and [that] your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask of the Father in My name, He may give to you. 17. "This I command you, that you love one another.
 
Wonderful scriptures, but how many of us are still worrying? We look at the scripture and read it and say. Well yes, that SOUNDS good, but how do we actually do it?
 
Version: NAS

1 Peter 5:7
7."...casting all your anxiety upon Him, because He cares for you."
 
Here's where the answer lies.  Let's see what the dictionary says about the word "cast".
 
"to throw, deliberately and forcefully, toss, pitch, fling and hurl."
 
Remember when Jesus met the disciples they were fishing. They used nets back then to gather the fish, I guess much like today. But they did it by hand. Now we all know that if you are going to throw out a net, that you better have some force behind it otherwise it won't get where it needs to go. Use this visual. Take all your worries and anxieties and literally "throw" them to Jesus. He will catch them for you.
 
I once heard the analogy of "worry" to the thought of having car problems. You can have a car problem all day, but it won't get fixed until you take it to the mechanic. Get the correlation? As long as we are hanging onto our problems and clutching our worries, frustrations and fears, they will never get into Jesus capable hands. After all He promises to take care of our needs.
 
This following scripture is for me today. Anyone else need it?
 
Version: NAS

Matthew 4:23-25

23. And [Jesus] was going about in all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness among the people. 24. And the news about Him went out into all Syria; and they brought to Him all who were ill, taken with various diseases and pains, demoniacs, epileptics, paralytics; and He healed them. 25. And great multitudes followed Him from Galilee and Decapolis and Jerusalem and Judea and [from] beyond the Jordan.
 
Jesus is willing and waiting. He's right there asking you to let Him take your burdens. Remember, He loves you and He's your best friend. He wants you to cast your troubles on Him. He's ready. How about you?
 

Ready...set...GO!

 

Debra

I have an update and it concerns Melanie and Andrew, found on the side bar. Many of you have read and prayed for them and kept track of Andrew and his illness. I just read today in Melanie's latest post that he is now with Jesus. My heart is breaking for them as I have communicated with Melanie many times via email. I am deeply grieving over this, but I am still trusting God, as is Melanie.

I know God had me post my last post, without this knowledge. But now in light of this situation I want to say that it is not meant to be light or without great love for those who are suffering right now. My love and prayers are with Melanie for her and her family.

Benefiting from the Gift of His Presence

I had a plan for this next post. But one thing the Lord always asks of me is to be "available". He wants me and you to be available to hear Him and then do what He asks us to do.

We just happened to watch the movie "Yes Man" last night with Jim Carrey. I'm not saying run out and rent it. It had some questionable language, and a few other things that were, well, maybe not Bible Study material. The reason I even make mention of it, is because when God calls us and then asks things of us, I have learned that He wants a willing heart and an attitude of  "Yes". So today when I planned on another post that I still feel He wants, He asked me to write this instead.

God wants to talk about benefiting us

with His presence,

 and all that "Gift" really means.

Please don't be turned off by the amount of scripture that's here today. Each one of these passages God gave me specifically. That was one of the things I want to stress here in this blog, it is A Bible Study. I can talk all day, and maybe say some things that are interesting and even beneficial, but there is nothing better than God's Word to get to the heart of the matter. So that is why there is so much scripture to read. He can say it better than I can. The Word of God supernaturally informs, reveals, convicts, heals and permeates our being. There are some people out there that He wants to reach today. So ask God if you are one of them. (I think we all are). Then let Him bring to your mind and heart what He is wanting to say to you.

Version: NAS
Psalm 103:1-18


1. [A Psalm of David]. Bless the LORD, O my soul; And all that is within me, [bless] His holy name. 2. Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget none of His benefits; 3. Who pardons all your iniquities; Who heals all your diseases; 4. Who redeems your life from the pit; Who crowns you with lovingkindness and compassion; 5. Who satisfies your years with good things, [So that] your youth is renewed like the eagle. 6. The LORD performs righteous deeds, And judgments for all who are oppressed. 7. He made known His ways to Moses, His acts to the sons of Israel. 8. The LORD is compassionate and gracious, Slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness. 9. He will not always strive [with us]; Nor will He keep [His anger] forever. 10. He has not dealt with us according to our sins, Nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. 11. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, So great is His lovingkindness toward those who fear Him. 12. As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us. 13. Just as a father has compassion on [his] children, So the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him. 14. For He Himself knows our frame; He is mindful that we are [but] dust. 15. As for man, his days are like grass; As a flower of the field, so he flourishes. 16. When the wind has passed over it, it is no more; And its place acknowledges it no longer. 17. But the lovingkindness of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him, And His righteousness to children's children, 18. To those who keep His covenant, And who remember His precepts to do them.

God is giving us an opportunity for good things in our lives. If you don't know that or believe that, please do. He is not harsh or mean spirited. He is not angry with us. No matter how many times we mess up or fall down, He is right there, reaching out His hand, taking ahold of us and wrapping us in His arms. We cannot compare His love for and to us with any earthly parent. He is above and beyond any love that we have ever known.


Version NAS
Jeremiah 29:11-13


11. 'For I know the plans that I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. 12. 'Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. 13. 'And you will seek Me and find [Me], when you search for Me with all your heart. 14. 'And I will be found by you,' declares the LORD,

Version: NAS
Matthew 12:15-21


15. "... And many followed Him, and He healed them all, 16. and warned them not to make Him known, 17. in order that what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet, might be fulfilled, saying, 18. "Behold, My Servant whom I have chosen; My Beloved in whom My soul is well-pleased; I will put My Spirit upon Him, And He shall proclaim justice to the Gentiles. 19. "He will not quarrel, nor cry out; Nor will anyone hear His voice in the streets. 20. "A battered reed He will not break off, And a smoldering wick He will not put out, Until He leads justice to victory. 21. "And in His name the Gentiles will hope."

Not only do these scripture verses talk about Jesus healing physical disease and illness, He is reminding us today of His great love for us. Somewhere due to circumstances in our lives we tend to forget that God Really Loves Us.
In verse 20 it says that He will not break off a battered reed or put out a smoldering wick. What does that mean? God loves us so much He will not do anything to harm us. He sees when we are downtrodden, depressed, and feeling without hope. He sees when there is only the slightest spark in our spiritual life and relationship with Him. Is He going to stomp on you and crush you when you are down or "in the pit"? Does He refuse us because we may not feel worthy? NO! Just the opposite, He will do whatever He can to pull us up. Just let Him. Just give Him the attitude of "yes". Trust Him and give the Lord the permission to help you. He is right there waiting to help you whatever your need...physically, mentally, emotionally, and relationally. He is ready to step in and let you FEEL and Know His benefits.

Remember the scripture from last post?

Version: NAS

John 15:9-13

9. "Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love. 10. "If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father's commandments, and abide in His love. 11. "These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may be in you, and [that] your joy may be made full. 12. "This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you. 13. "Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.

Jesus laid down His life for us. For salvation, yes, but for other benefits from His great love. I love the verse about "Joy", that His joy may be placed in our hearts. No matter what we are going through we can still have the "joy" that comes from knowing Jesus.

Let His love put you in a place where you can receive His Benefits. After all they are right there waiting for us. It's a complete package. You get Him and you get His Benefits. I think realizing that could be the best Christmas gift we could ever receive.

Love to all you,

my "friends".

Debra

Knowing the "Will" of God

I grew up in a church and denomination that never prayed for healing. It was a taboo subject. Just like 1 Corinthians Chapters 12-14 were not sermon material. The motto was, "if you don't understand it, let's just not talk about it". Well maybe they prayed for "God's will to be done" concerning an illness or disease, but it never gave me any confidence that this person would ever be well.

One time in a small group ministry meeting the leader was praying for one of our team members that had a large cancerous tumor on her kidney. She was getting ready to undergo surgery to remove it. She was a young woman in her early 40's, a new Christian, and desperately needed and wanted God to step in and heal her. The leader prayed for God's "will" to be done, but in the process prayed for her to be ready to die if it was her "time to go" and peace with that prospect. After that meeting my friend came up to me and said,
"Well, cr*p, I might as well just sit here and die!"


How many times have we wanted to pray for someone that was desperately needing healing, but we were a loss for words, because we didn't really "know God's will for healing". Maybe we didn't pray, or we took the "safe" route and just said "God's will be done" with that huge spiritual question mark just hanging there. Not knowing God's will is a dangerous thing. You can die from it.

Luke 22:41-43
41. And He withdrew from them about a stone's throw, and He knelt down and [began] to pray, 42. saying, "Father, if Thou art willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Thine be done." 43. Now an angel from heaven appeared to Him, strengthening Him.

The only time that Jesus asked for God's will to be done concerning Himself was when He was in the Garden of Gethsemene. He needed to know God's will for Him at this agonizing time before His arrest and crucifixion. The word

"Will"  in the Oxford Dictionary is stated as a strong desire or intention, premeditated purpose, and a legal document that expresses one's wishes to be carried out.


Foundation Scripture
New American Standard Version
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.

I mentioned a few posts ago, that back in 2006, God gave me a Bible Study on Physical Healing, I was hoping that we would be able to study from it in this Bible Study. Today I want to share the portion I received concerning "Knowing the Will of God" for our physical healing. What follows is scripture and commentary on it.


This study is meant for a group or an individual. Looking up the scripture for yourself will be a great study tool. Now is when you may want that notebook or journal. There is a wealth of scripture and revelation to be had in the following verses. I'm encouraging you to read them and jot down thoughts and your own prayers. If you don't need physical healing or know anyone that does, then read and study knowing these scriptures pertain to more than just that element. We can use them for anything that we might be going through. We all have problems and situations in our lives that we need God to take over, for Him to touch our hearts concerning, and maybe you will feel more prepared the next time you have an opportunity to pray for someone.

Knowing the Will of God

Is it “God’s Will” that I be healed?

Our ability to pray in faith goes only as far as what we know God’s will to be for our lives.
We cannot have faith for God to heal us until we are sure that it is His will. We can believe for something if we can be sure that it is what God wants; but if we are not sure, then we are crippled with doubt. “Maybe God wants me to be sick. Maybe He heals others but not me. How can I know for certain?” Many people have been prayed for, and at the end of the prayer, as if an afterthought or excuse, we hear, “…if it by Thy will”. Let’s look at scripture and see what it says concerning God’s will for healing.

Jeremiah 29: 11-14 “I know the plans I have for you;…a plan to prosper you and not to harm you; plans to give you hope and a future.”
Does this sound as if God wants you to be sick; that it might be a good plan for you? That he might just want you or a loved one to die, or to be without hope? It says to me, that He wants you to be moving forward, doing good things, working for His kingdom. I’ve not heard of anyone who was sick or dying that wasn’t harmed in some way. I know that God can take our sickness and turn it around, bringing something beneficial out of it, as it says in Romans 8:28, but to say he caused or wanted us to be sick is not His plan.


Exodus 15:25-26 “For I am the Lord that heals you.”
God has called Himself, Jehovah-Rapha; “I Am Your Physician, Your Healer”. This is one of the names of God. If it is one of the names that God gave Himself, we should believe that healing is what He wants and intends to do.

Psalm 23:4 “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil.”
This verse is saying that we are not to be fearful as we walk through the valley. Even if “death” is hanging over us casting a big shadow, we are supposed to walk through it. Not give up or camp there. We are to keep moving, knowing God is with us.


Psalm 103:1-5 “…forget not all His benefits, who forgives all your sin and heals all your diseases.”
It is a benefit we have in Christ that He not only has forgiven all our sins which brings us salvation, but He also has made provision for our health and healing.


Isaiah 53:4-5 “Surely He took up our infirmities (sickness) and carried our sorrows…He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His wounds we are healed”.

I have found many people who automatically believe that salvation is for them, but they have not been told or taught that healing is part of our salvation “package”. If we are not teaching this in our churches is it no surprise that God is not thought of as our Healer?


Matthew 8:16-17 “…He healed all the sick. This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah; ‘He took our infirmities and carried our diseases’.”
These two scriptures together tell us that when Jesus died on the cross He paid the price for our sins and gave us salvation of our souls, but he also endured the wounding of His body (the beatings and whippings) so that we might be made well in our physical bodies. Many people argue with the idea that Jesus gives us healing in our body with His death and resurrection, because they do not see this happening in the church today, but when you see these two verses together, there it is. He healed people so that He would fulfill prophecy concerning Himself.

2 Corinthians 1:22 " ... He put His Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is  to come."
God gave us the Holy Spirit as a “deposit”; a guarantee, of what is to come, meaning salvation and eternal life. In a time of seeking the Lord for a scriptural basis for healing, the Lord spoke to me that just as we receive a new heart and are transformed from death into life, (at the time of our salvation) by the Holy Spirit, our healing has also been given as a “firstfruits” (a “deposit”) of our glorified body that we will live in for eternity. I believe that being healed and walking in divine health is a “deposit” or, “firstfruit” of what is to come in our glorified bodies that we will live in for eternity.



Hebrews 4:14-16
14. Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15. For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as [we are, yet] without sin. 16. Let us therefore draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and may find grace to help in time of need.
Be confident of God's will in healing or any other prayer request. Ask God to confirm His will to you. He will do it.

 Matthew 8:3 “Jesus reached out His hand… I am willing, he said”.
This statement shows us what His will is. It is today, as it was 2000 years ago. “I Am willing”.
Malachi 3: 6 "I the Lord, do not change."


Hebrews 13:8 "Jesus Christ is the same, yesterday, and today and forever."
Jesus doesn't change. We change, mankind has changed, but Jesus never will. What He did for us 2000 years ago, still stands.

1 Corinthians 13: 8-13 “…when perfection comes”
If you have been taught that this scripture refers to the completion of “the canon”, let me testify that the Lord is still speaking today. He still asks us to pray in tongues, heal the sick and cast out devils. (Mark 16:17-18, Luke 9:1-2) If you believe that all God has to say has already been said, then I will ask you to ask the Holy Spirit right now to reveal truth to you, because you have heard this taught by someone who does not believe it is still possible to hear the Lord (except through the scriptures) . God speaks to His children every day and gives miracles. God has not changed, we have. Let us not let go of scripture, but let us also know He is still speaking and moving mightily in our day as in the days of Moses and Daniel and of the original apostles. Jesus has not changed.

_______________________________________________

And my friend with the kidney cancer? We sat down and prayed together. I asked God to reveal Himself to her through not only His Word, the Bible, but I asked God to give her confidence before Him, that He would speak to her personally and give her assurance of His great love and His awesome will for her life. She had her surgery, and was cancer free.

There is a lot of scripture here to look over. I know this is a busy time, but there is a purpose for us starting this subject of "Healing" at this time. Spend as much time as you feel comfortable with. I'm not trying to place a load on you. Just know God has a plan and purpose for this to be "out there" now.

Please leave any questions or start a line of commentary. I'll do my best to answer. (I'll answer back here on the comment page) I will have this post up for several days, that way you will have time to read and reflect.

I'm restudying this subject and scripture for my own benefit. As many of you know, God healed my life threatening, impending problem, but I still have some physical things I am walking through. But, God is with me, so I trust and have faith in Him.

Blessings and love to you all,

Debra

UPDATE:
The following is a comment I left on this post on Dec. 6 at 9:35 pm. I thought about putting this in a new post, but I just added my comment for you to read first.


Debra @ Common Ground said...
I know this last post has a lot to think about and pray over. That has been my intent. I didn't grow up with this understanding (of healing), and had never heard it taught. I'm not asking that you believe it because I said so, I'm just asking that you be open to think and pray about it. This is a time when God is revealing Himself to His Church and in doing so He is revealing "mysteries". This is not a "new" teaching, but one that defines who Jesus is. So don't feel threatened (or be offended) or think that I am some sort of "religious" kook. Hang in there and be open to this concept of healing. Take the scripture and pray about what I've said. Open dialogue and discussion is a good way to investigate.
I know this has probably taken some of you by surprise. It's one thing to have a miracle happen to ourselves or someone we love, but I needed to know why. I wanted to know the doctrine and the theology of miracles and I prayed for the understanding concerning them. I feel that God has shown me a little of it.
I don't claim to "know it all", not by any stretch of the imagination. I have had people linger in illness and death in my family that was so devastating. This is a deep subject and it is not black or white. I'm just hoping you will be open to listen, to think, and then to pray about it.
So don't walk away, there's more to come.
Debra
December 6, 2009 9:35 PM

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