Instant Healing

Here we are another week gone by!  It seems like a good week as I ponder all the things we were able to do.  Last Sunday afternoon John and I drove up to the hills near here and to the gateway of the Sequoias.  It offered us a beautiful view of Lake Kaweah as well as rivers flowing fast from the mountain snow melt. On the way down the mountain we stopped at a favorite ice cream shop and ate Three Rivers home made ice cream!

Many of you might not know what all John has wrong with him.  Well as far as we know this is the list - his heart has been repaired with one stint but several other arteries seem to be clogged or partially clogged, he has esophageal cancer in his esophagus close to his stomach and lesions on his spine and hip which he was told was also cancer and which may come from another source.  These things are too difficult to treat as there are too many and one would harm the other if treated.  Some of you have asked me if we were given expectancy of length of life.  This question doesn't bother me or John at all, but to tell you all the truth we figure it is a mute subject as we did not complete testing that might give us more definite answers. We decided to let God decide and take comfort in showing us by John's strength or lack of it when that day would be.  So as many of you know we have chosen the way of comfort.  We are signed up with hospice and enjoying the days God gives us at home.

John's biggest need for prayer is to keep his pain under control.  There is considerable back and hip pain.  He is such a trooper - he rarely complains - he is always trying to make my life easier by doing as much as he can for himself.  He can't really bend down to pick things up he drops or put on his socks and shoes or step into his pants but I often catch him trying to do these things!  I love him for trying but continue to try to be Johnny on the spot so I can help as needed.  I love helping him during this time and I am so thankful we have these precious days to share together.

One day this week we got really brave and I took him to the Bible book store for his birthday gift and shopped for a granddaughter's graduation gift.  We stopped by Costco after that (yes big feat) to pick up a few items.  The cart makes a good walker (he does have a real cain and walker).  We than braved a favorite Mexican restaurant.  Yes that was a bit much and the next day John felt it but we were so glad we tried.

On Saturday we did another major envelope push - I had my granddaughter's graduation to attend while his daughter "Pop sat" him.  They ended up going through some needed bookwork together.  When I arrived home I prepared dinner for his son and family for an evening birthday dinner (for his son) at our house.  We had a wonderful time sharing dinner and lots of reminiscing with old pictures.  John looked so good all day but today he felt that too.  We both decided it was worth it and we even made it to church this morning!  God is good! Our pastor had a great sermon on Acts 3:1-10.  We loved how he pointed out how being lame pointed to sin and when the lame man was made well it was the same as being freed of sin!  The lame man for the first time could enter the temple court as his sin was washed away in his healing!  No wonder he jumped up and down praising God!  He realized by his healing he was redeemed by Jesus!  He no longer had to be ashamed but could be accepted in the arms of God being made holy through Jesus.  We also enjoyed the thought that the power that healed the man was only Jesus but we are the hand that helps lift up the person in need of Christ!  It encouraged John and I to continue to share Jesus as this is what the church should be in the business of doing.

I, Vera, read this today from Oswald Chambers book "My Utmost for His Highest".  I don't always love reading this devotional because he is so tough on what the spiritual life should look like.  He leaves out no punches!  When I walk through hard places (like now) I find it interesting that I enjoy his thoughts more deeply than when everything is going my way!
Here is a thought from today, "God is not concerned about our plans; He doesn't ask, "Do you want to go through this loss of a loved one, this difficulty, or this defeat?"  No, He allows these things for His own purpose.  The things we are going through are either making us sweeter, better, and nobler men and women, or they are making us more critical and fault-finding, and more insistent on our own way."

May God make John and I willing to have oneness with the Father in our suffering and uncertain days and trust Him to make us His servants as long as He leaves us here to minister until we enter His heavenly home!  All who love Jesus and what He has done for us by dying on the cross and rising again are Expected in Heaven!!  If you accept Him today - confess your sin and inadequacy and believe in Jesus you will be instantly saved just as the lame man instantly walked!!  Instant healing!!