Day 363 - Friday

Tonight a friend of mine sent a text message requesting prayer for her daughter in law who is pregnant with twins.  The young lady has had several miscarriages and had such a hard time getting pregnant. 
She began having pain and had gone to the hospital.  I called Donna and we prayed together and within ten minutes of that prayer going out her pain had left.  The doctors completed follow up tests to check the babies and the fluid levels were all back to normal and her placenta was where it belonged and everything was fine!

I LOVE the fact that you don't even have to be near the person needing healing for them to get healed.  Jesus heals with just His word being spoken!

Day 362 - Thursday

This is pretty cool! 

I was online in the morning before work just checking my email when a friend/sister in Christ from Sweden popped on to Facebook.  We played catch up for a minute or so before she asked me to pray for her.  She suffers from a disease like fibromyalgia where she can be in near constant and unexplainable pain.  She was hurting pretty badly yesterday and having trouble walking as well as being emotionally drained.

We prayed and within just a few minutes the Lord had taken ALL of her pain away! INCREDIBLE!  Fibromyalgia is one thing that I would really like to see more people getting healed from.  It is such a debilitating disease.  Not only is it painful but so many people feel so hopeless with it too because there is no real cure for it. 

The awesome thing is... Jesus is the Cure for EVERYTHING!  It says in the Word that He bore pain, suffering and death for all of our sicknesses and diseases.  Jesus' Name is also the Name above every other name, including the name of those diseases for which there is no cure.  He is hope to the hopeless!

Day 361 - Wednesday

Tonight I got to teach our pre-teen group Thrive.  I love working with those kids.  Tonight I had Kyle, one of our youth group leaders, in there helping me teach and he was awesome!  He really helped me get the kids to start asking questions about who Jesus is and the Bible.  We actually had a terrific discussion going.


On top of that the kids prayed for each other again and we saw one young man who had kidney stones have all the pain leave his body when his friends prayed for him!  How awesome is that!?!?!?!  They got to see who Jesus was in action!  I love it that I serve a living God who is still working and moving on our behalf!

Day 360 - Tuesday

This morning at prayer, Donna and I were praying together when Holly showed up.  As we began to seek God for our church His peace just descended on us and it was so calm and refreshing there.  I felt in my heart that I should touch Donna's foot. 


I thought, that is so weird... I am not doing that... I ignored it for several minutes.


After our individual prayer time was over we gathered together for corporate prayer.  Donna said she had hurt her foot the day before on the drive home from Chicago and asked if we would pray for it.  I started laughing and told her what I had felt in my heart.


We prayed and immediately she was healed!  Glory!

Day 359 - Monday

The last Monday of the year.  The last Monday I will write this blog, I think?!?!!?! 

My beautiful daughter woke up not feeling well this morning.  I went in to wake her up and she felt a little warm.  Probably all of the excitement of the holidays.  As I looked at her little sleeping face I said a prayer over her.  She woke up a few hours later bright eyed and bushy tailed and ready to go except for a little headache.  So I had her pray over herself and before long she wasn't complaining of a headache any more!

I love helping her to build her faith to see miracles!  I know that God has put that in her!

Day 358 - Sunday - Christmas Day

No, I didn't drop off of the face of the earth.  No, I didn't give up on my NYR this close to the end, and no I didn't go on vacation this week.  Although it may have seemed like it!  I realized the numbering was messed up on here and I had to go through each entry and adjust the numbering basically starting with the first day and moving forward.  It took HOURS!  But I am glad I hadn't written any other posts that I had to re-number!  The upside is I am finally going to play catch up!

Christmas day was so busy.  I did get to go to church that morning, for which I was really grateful.  It was an incredible service and even though it was quick, God's presence in that building that morning was so strong that I hated to leave. 

I did get one good report... one of the babies at the church was born with a displaced hip.  We had prayed for her the week before and she got her ultrasound results which came back showing everything was perfect! YAY GOD!

I know that Christmas Day is the day we celebrate the birth of Jesus, but it seems like I always get blessed more than He does.  I was talking with a young lady at church and recounting the Christmas' past where the Lord has stepped in and met my every need and most of my wants.  The last few years, I have been exceptionally blessed.  Being a single mom and in school I don't have a lot of money.  When I was married though my husband was a really good gift giver and he used to give the best presents on special occasions.  I must admit as silly as it is ... I miss that.  Every year since I was saved though, I am pretty sure that someone has gotten me the very thing my heart desired that I didn't think I would have... because I was alone... This year was no exception!

Further proof for anyone out there that might still think that God doesn't care about every intimate detail of our lives! 

Day 357 - Saturday

It is Christmas Eve... The night before Jesus was born into the world more than 2,000 years ago.  My kids and I sent a great big box of toys to Alaska.  Today was the Christmas party for all of the kids in the little village of Tannacross.  Pastor Crystal sent a picture of all the bags of toys ready for all the kids.  It was incredible...

I was sitting in church one night a couple weeks ago and just kept thinking about Crystal.  All through service.  It was such a nagging thought that I sent her a facebook message DURING church... I know rude, right?!?!?!  But I couldn't pay attention to the pastor anyway.  I asked her if htere was anything they need.  She messaged me back a day or two later and when I read about the children of Tannacross tears welled up in my eyes. 

This is what Christmas is really all about...

Day 356 - Friday

I have gotten to spend the latter part of my evening ministering to a young lady.  It is such a blessing to be used by God to touch people.  Allowing my story to help other people by sharing it. I wish I could say more tonight, but I can't.

This year and this resolution are almost over... I would like to be able to say that I have done this well and consistently.  I would like to say that I will be sad when this is over.  I am getting pretty discouraged with my own inabilities to push past my fear and step out in faith all the time.  To be able to hear what God is saying and what He is doing all the time... but I don't...  Progress not perfection!

Day 355 - Thursday

I had to run in to the office supply place in town today and have a document faxed.  The minute I walked in I saw a lady that I had prayed with for healing in her back.  I didn't have a chance to go up and talk to her and ask her how she was doing... She was walking perfectly though! 

My friend called me later in the afternoon and she said, "Do you have time for a prayer meeting?"  Of course!

We prayed for her step mom who was in the hospital with unexplained stomach pain.  I know that God sent His angels into that hospital room while we were praying and touched her.  I haven't heard if they have released her yet, but I believe that she will be out before the weekend starts!

Day 354 - Wednesday

We did Christmas with my ex un laws tonight.  All afternoon I was working myself up to pray with my ex un laws neighbor who I knew would be there...  She is in need of a knee replacement. 

She mentioned on facebook a few days earlier that she was scheduled for one.  I wanted to ask her if I could pray for her... but my ex un laws were around the whole time and so I couldn't really.  My fear of offending them or being embarrassed outweighed my concern and love for Carolyn...

Just more to work on...

Day 353 - Tuesday

Well, today I almost prayed for the gas station guy tonight. 

I had to run in and pick up some milk on my way home from finishing shopping.  As I was checking out I saw that the attendant had a splint on his finger.  So I was brave enough to ask what happened.  He said he hurt it playing basketball.  I chickened out on the praying part.  I am not sure what the fear was... but I am determined to defeat it with God's help!

As I sit here writing this I began thinking about how "almost praying" for someone is the same as not praying at all as far as what it will be like when we meet God and discuss what we have done with the gifts He has given us.  It reminds me of the story of the talents.  Where the one guy takes what the master gives him and he goes out and makes a huge return on his investment.  The second guy comes back with more than he started but not as much as the first guy.  The last guy buries his talent in the ground and doesn't do anything at all with it.  I am thinking when I am "almost obedient" to the Lord... well, to be blunt I am burying what He has given me, and He isn't going to be too pleased when He comes home.  I wonder if He will say "Well done, my good and faithful servant" or if He will say, "Oh you faithless generation".  Father help me to be obedient!

Day 352 - Monday

Being that Christmas is less than a week away now, my mom and I headed out to the stores tonight to start and finish our shopping.  I will just let you know right now, that did not happen.  However, as we headed out I thought about last year. 

I know that this may seem silly to some people, to think that God cares about parking spots... but I am telling you He does.  He cares about all the seemingly mundane and inconsequential things in our lives.  He is just so longing for relationship with us and for fellowship with us that He concerns Himself with every facet of our existence. 

I have been blasted by acquaintances before for my belief that Jesus cares about parking spots, but I really think He does.  As we were heading out tonight, I remembered last year when we were so tired and every shop we went to... and I made my mom go to a lot of them... we found a parking space within just a few feet of the door.  Tonight was no different.  It was so strange that after the third store and finding spaces close to the door at all three, I mentioned "Parkinglot Jesus".  My mom said she was thinking the same thing.

I must at this time offer you the thought that the Lord cares about even the simplest things in our lives and that we should bring Him every thought and care.  Trust that He is there and that He cares and He hears and He will answer!
P.S.  Yes, I prayed for parking spots :)

Day 351 - Sunday

This morning's church service was awesome! Not only was the worship incredible, the message from pastor awesome, but I was overwhelmed and amazed by God's goodness.  I couldn't stop myself from crying as I stood next to a young lady who is going through the exact things that I have walked through.  I praise God that I lived through them to be able be here to stand with her and pray through it with her.  He is sooooo Good! 

At the end of service while ministering to people at the altar, Barb and I were praying with a woman who has had chronic back pain for years.  We had prayed for her before dozens of time with little to no relief from the pain.  I must admit that that is fairly disheartening.  Pastor called her up and as we were praying for her I got a word to pray for her heart.  As we prayed, both Barb and I felt God giving her a new heart!  I felt this heat and almost like a vibration and I don't really know how to describe the rest.  It was incredible! The power of God hit her and down she went.  When she came to she shared with us that she had been having chest pains and had gone to the doctor.  She was given an EKG and an irregularity was discovered.  She had gone in for more tests and was awaiting the results.  How cool is that!?!?!?!

I love how God is speaking and sharing what He is doing so that other people can see how much He loves them in a real and tangible way!!!  So AWESOME!

Day 350 - Saturday

This morning I had scheduled a community service work day for the mentorship program for teens that I am involved with.  We went to a food pantry/soup kitchen/ homeless shelter to help clean.  I am not sure if we helped them more than they helped us!

It was awesome to see people with such hearts to touch people for Jesus.  I fell in love with their joy and their heart for people.  They have a tremendous work that the Lord will use powerfully!  After scrubbing and working alongside one of the organizers for the facility I noticed that she was having trouble with her shoulder.  I asked her if it would be ok I prayed and asked God to heal that shoulder.  She agreed eagerly! 

We prayed together and we saw all of the pain leave that shoulder.  It was so awesome!  I love how the Lord works.  I love how He brings people together for His good and glory!  I cannot wait to see what this relationship turns into!

Day 349 - Friday

This morning I had breakfast with an awesome woman of God.  We sat at Dunkin' Donuts for nearly two hours and talked about God!  She shared with me about the difficulties she was experiencing with her developing faith in God's healing power.  She isn't as fortunate as I am to have amazing teachers all around her who are hungry and expecting God to do all that He has said He will do.  she was sharing how she had felt discouraged lately by all of the faithless people.  Not that those people don't love the Lord, they do... They are just afraid to take some risks and be "weird" for Jesus. 

Feeling bad that her bubble had been burst and suddenly aware of the 3 older gentlemen sitting behind me, I turned around to them as they were getting ready to leave and asked if any of them had any pain in their bodies that they needed prayer for.  They all said, "No" at first.  I asked them if they had any pain at all, back or legs, or maybe arthritis.  One of the guys said he had arthritis all over and ti was because he was old and he was willing to live with it.  Not much you can do about that one... The third guy waited a minute until his friends left and he said he would always take prayer but he didn't have any pain in his body at the moment.  He did have a hearing aid in though.  So I prayed for God to touch him and heal him and for his body to be strong and that he would have a blessed day.  It was awesome and so much fun! I've missed praying with people in random places with a friend. 

Maybe Kim is the answer to the prayer I have been praying?

Day 348 - Thursday

This morning when I was doing my morning facebook check... Don't worry, I know how lame that is! LOL  I noticed that there is a lady who is the wife of a man I work with who had thrown out her back that morning.  Immediately I felt like I should message her and ask her if I could come by and pray with her.  Of course I didn't do it, even though I had to drive right through the town where she lived on my way to the mall.  Instead I just went and did my thing. 

It wasn't until I was getting ready to go to bed last night that I looked on facebook again and saw that she had posted that she had had to miss her kids' Christmas concert at school because she couldn't walk, that I felt incredibly horrible.  So... I waited a little longer...

Then I finally got up the nerve to send her a message and ask her if I could pray for her back. 

Day 347 - Wednesday

I hate when I let this go and then I have to go back and try and remember the last few days... not my strong suit... You would think after nearly a year I would be more diligent and on top of this... but not so much!  Wednesday night at church after working in the pre-teen ministry, I was walking down the stairs exhausted... which I am sure was more than apparent on my face...

My pastor said, "We had a couple visit the church tonight... and she has stage 4 cancer!  We prayed with her and all the pain in her body left!"  GLORY :)  Stage 4 Cancer!  Now that is what I am talking about!  Those that are hurting and without hope seeing some hope restored, seeing God's love manifested toward them!  I wish I could have been there to see the look on her face.

I seriously underestimated our preteens!  This week was their Christmas party.  We had lots of awesome snacks and video games for them and teamwork games for great prizes.  The overwhelming response at the end of the night ... "Aren't we going to have a lesson?"  I asked my son if he had fun, his response, "I wish we would have had a lesson tonight, mom."  WOW!  I didn't realize how hungry these kids at such a young age are for a real God who does real things and cares about real people.  Obviously, we will be having a lesson next week!

Day 346 - Tuesday

Today was slightly better than yesterday... only slightly... I still blew off a couple people... I was just so tired and cranky because my brain stopped working 3/4's of the way through my last final.  I was really struggling with my sanity, when my friend called.  I only answered because I knew she would cheer me up. 

Turns out she needed prayer.  We talked for a little and each vented about our days (her's was worse - she got in a minor fender bender in her driveway).  Obviously her back was hurting and she needed prayer.  I knew it.  Sad enough to say though... I didn't even want to pray for her and she is someone I love very much.  Before we said goodbye though, I was able to press through my own negativity and ask if we could pray really quickly for her back.  She responded like a real friend who knows and understands pure unadulterated exhaustion, "You don't have to."  This is one of the things I love the most about her... she totally gets me and that is the exact same thing I would have said had the shoe been on the other foot! LOL

So we prayed... well, in my heart - not out loud - I begged Jesus in my whiny voice to touch her and heal her body.  If you could've heard it ... it was pathetic! LOL  Do you know what happened?  God healed her.  He took all that pain away right then.  There was no joy, no happiness, no positive emotion, no feeling God's presence, not even any real faith at all... And He just healed her.  He is so AMAZING!  I never get tired of Him!

Day 345 - Monday

My mother started her day by reminding me I haven't stayed up with this that well this week.  It was finals week, and I must admit, I was pretty much out of my mind the first part of this week. 

Monday would have to represent one of the greatest days of  faith failure...  I was so tired and preoccupied that a couple people called and texted for prayer, and I must admit... I blew them off.

I didn't do it intentionally... I was just so busy.. so tired... so whatever.

I wonder who was more disappointed me or God? 

Day 344 - Sunday

The thing I love best about Sundays is seeing people coming to church expecting to get a miracle.  I know not everyone does, but the ones that do make my heart smile!  I got to pray for several people today.  One particularly difficult case of severe back pain was healed.  Four of us stood in agreement with a lady tonight and through prayer and the guidance of the Holy Spirit within a few minutes she was able to walk again.  It was awesome to see her go from limping and crying when she walked  to an almost normal gait within just a few moments. 

Another young lady who is close to my heart was ministered to and touched so powerfully this morning it was awesome to see.  She had so much fear and hurt and the Lord just began to lift that off of her as He ministered to her throughout the service.  My friend Cinnamon and I just got to love on her while we sandwiched her between us for worship and wouldn't let her sit down.  That might sound a little anti-religious... making someone stay up front during worship... well, it is.  She felt our love and care for her which allowed her to feel if only for a second God's love for her. I love His redemptive power!

Another woman with knee pain was completely healed.  God touched her as we prayed and we saw her feet come into alignment and the swelling and pain left her leg.

Donna and I also prayed with one of our exchange students who will be returning home to Korea in the morning.  What God is going to do in that young lady's life as a result of her time here and getting to know Him is going to be astounding.  She was not raised in a Christian home and she was able to see God's love manifest to her while she was here.  She will take that back to her country and I cannot wait to see the positions that God places her in and how He will use her to shape and shake that nation!

Day 343 - Saturday

I had a video that I wanted to attach to this blog.  Unfortunately I am not that tech savvy and cannot figure out how to get it from facebook to here.  Hopefully I will be able to get it on here in the next day or so. 

Look!!! I got it on here! Aren't you proud of me!!!  Click on the Link below... it is a great video by an amazing young woman!

I didn't pray for anyone today.  I had to study for finals so I stayed at home all day and just worked on homework.  The phone didn't ring and I didn't call... it was kind of nice for a change.  I probably should have asked God what He was up to, but I didn't do that either.  Oh, well, tomorrow will be better!

Aimee's Video

Day 342 - Friday

Today was such an amazing day.  I got to see the Lord heal several people today.  Before I write about that though, I want to share an important revelation I received this morning.  Last night I had a dream and I was still mulling parts of it over in my head while I was working out in the gym today.  I was working it out while I was working out! :O)  Cheesy, I know!

Anyway, the Lord was showing me how not to look to man for approval.  Sometime ago I had let the passion of my relationship with Him grow cold because I wanted to fit in with the "group" at church.  Yes, I had to let go of some of my passion for Jesus in order to accepted by church people... I know that sounds ridiculous... but it is true.  God shared with me that I had let Him go so I could fit in with them.  I was heartbroken as I repented.  My heart still aches for what I did to Him by doing that and for what I have lost because of that disobedience.

After that it was one miracle after another.  A girl came to my house to pick up some product and I asked if I could pray for her because she has lupus.  I know God is working on her and I am hoping she will be at church this Sunday, please pray with me!

At my children's Christmas play tonight, I saw a friend sitting with her mom while we were waiting for the program to start, she just didn't look right.  So I asked her.  She shared that she had the flu and her neck hurt but she didn't want to miss her son's performance.  We prayed and God took the nausea and fever away instantly.  We had to pray a second time before her neck and back were healed.  Long story short, she felt like a million bucks when she went home.

Then God showed up in a HUGE way at our single parent's ministry event that we were having tonight. It was chaotic and a mess at first.  It turned out incredible. This woman spoke and it was like windows of heaven opening up and just showering blessings on us tonight!

Thank You Father for this Day!!!

Day 341 - Thursday

Today I got to have  some quality time with one of my spiritual moms, Rev. Deborah Aksamit.  She is an amazing evangelist and I am blessed to call her momma!  We prayed together to see break through in all different areas in our lives and in others lives and in the church.  It was awesome!  I love praying with her! 

God must have been in the mood to heal headaches today.  My friend Cinnamon came over later in the day with a migraine headache.  We prayed and we agreed together and God completely healed her head.  Another one of my friends was suffering from headaches today too!  She text me and asked me to pray. We prayed via text and by this afternoon, her headache had completely gone!  She had had it for three weeks!

God is so good!  He will even sends out His power via text message!  I guess it is true that His word will not return void!

Day 340 - Wednesday

So I have to play a little catch up here! My mom sent me an email this morning... "Dear, your last post was Tuesday; it is now Friday."  It has been a long week! Oh well enough of my excuses! I have lots to write about!

I was in the gym this morning and I was supposed to meet a couple of friends there. All morning though I had this strange feeling that they weren't going to come today.  About 11am I had gone to check my phone, and I was checking my voicemail when I got another call.  It was the friends I was supposed to meet.  They had been in a bad car accident.  God had completely protected them though.  Someone T-boned the side of their car right in the passenger side front door.  Luckily they were both able to walk away with not even a scratch!  The car did not do so well!  The girl who hit them did not either.  She survived but was injured pretty badly.  She hit them at around 55mph.  Because of prayer though, they had no injuries and no stiffness either. 

At tonight's church service we saw God work mightily through our children.  At the end of service, the kids were downstairs and running around.  Our Pastor had fallen a few weeks ago and really injured her knee.  It was swollen and painful.  I asked her if we could pray for it and she said yes.  So her granddaughter and I were getting ready to pray.  Bella was a little shy so I started out.  While we were praying, Bella's brother, my son Mason, and Angela their exchange student joined us in praying.  When Bella began to pray, I felt the swelling in Pastor's knee shrink, like someone had let the water out of a water balloon.  She stood up and had NO pain and the swelling was gone!  It was so AMAZING!!!

Day 339 - Tuesday

This morning I woke up to my phone ringing at 6:30am!  I am not a morning person...believe me!  My son's phone accidentally called me when his alarm went off.  At first I made the... UGHHHHH! Groannnnn!  Then I realized that I had an opportunity to spend some quality time with The One I love.  Yes, Jesus!  It doesn't happen often that I get to spend time with Him early in the morning because I like to sleep until the last possible second before getting out of bed. 

I must admit that it was pretty awesome.  I have been so busy lately with school and the kids and... well, ... excuses... that my time with God has really suffered.  It was nice to get back on track.  I know it helped me through the stressful evening I had.  On that note... I am going to bed! 

Oh, yeah, we did pray for a beautiful baby girl this afternoon at prayer.  She was born with hip displacia about 3 weeks ago.  As we were praying for her you could feel things moving around inside her hip joints.  It was really weird!  She goes to the doctor for an MRI tomorrow to determine if she will need surgery or not (well really so the doctor's can tell her mommy that she is all healed and won't need surgery).  So I will let you know!

Day 338 - Monday

As far as Mondays go, this one was pretty amazing!  I love how the God we serve is so awesome and amazing that He will take our biggest mess ups, our biggest failings and failures and turn them around to help others!  My B.C. (Before Christ) was a mess... No joke. 

Tonight though I got to share the awfulness that I went through with a young lady who has an incredibly bright future.  She is destined for greatness in the Kingdom of God.  She is struggling with a number of the same issues that I had as a teenager, but most of all she is suffering from loneliness.  I think that is what most people that have issues are suffering with.  Our world today isolates us so much.  We don't talk anymore, we text... I am as guilty of it as the next person!  In fact my mom saw a Christmas Ornament when we were out shopping the other day that said "Texting Queen" and she said, "Oh, I should get that for you!"  We email instead of write letters... Sorry, I am guilty of that one too!  I hate going to the post office! Sometimes I will just live in my own little world for days at a time only coming out for the most necessary things like connecting with my kids. 

Anyway, after about an hour and a half of sharing with her and listening to her, God did an amazing thing... He gave her a friend that cares about her and loves her for who she is, where she is.  That is a rare thing!

Day 337 - Sunday

I must admit I have very little difficulty in sharing my mistakes with people; however the opportunity does not present itself often.  Tonight was a different story.  Before church even started tonight my friend and I were in the prayer room together.  After everyone else had left something strange happened.  Well, not really all that strange... after all we are talking about God here!

I was sitting next to her and I put my hand on her and she began to cry.  After some time I asked her what was going on and she shared some vague things.  This prompted me to open up and share what the Lord and I had been talking about earlier in the day.

Over the last 6 years of my Christian walk, I have worked very hard to get rid of everything in my life that would be displeasing to God.  Unfortunately, no matter how hard I try, no matter how hard I fight... there are a couple areas in my life that I have just been unable to have complete breakthrough from.  I hate the behavior the way God says we are to hate sin.  I will do really well for a few months and then I will have a slip.  Now get your minds out of whatever you are thinking this great sin is... it really doesn't matter what it is... sin is sin is sin is sin.  There are no little sins or big sins... it is all the same to God.  And anyone who has read this over the last 11 months can probably figure out what mine is anyway! LOL

The point is... after my latest little slip up the last couple of days, I was asking God why I couldn't seem to get free from this.  His response to me surprised me:  If you could get free of this on your own or by following some formula, what need would you have of Me?  You would begin to think the miracles and signs were because you were so good or perfect and had gotten rid of sin in your life instead of recognizing that they are Mine.

Well that hit me like a ton of bricks.  To be honest I am still trying to get my theology around that one!  The upside of this little revelation ... it was also exactly what my friend needed to hear.  It was good for both of us because we also recognized that we aren't alone.  We are all still sinners, continually falling short of the glory of God.  I wish I could say this story is going to end with my walking in the fullness of all that God has for me, a sinless life, perfect in every way.  Unfortunately, that isn't how it works.  We are sinners in need of a saving God, saved by grace through faith, by a God who renews His mercy for me everyday!

So if anyone else is out there thinking that they aren't good enough to do God's work or that they have already messed it up by their behavior... Good... Now God can work in your life and through your life without YOU getting the credit!

Day 336 - Saturday

Today we were finishing up the move at me ex un laws.  There were so many people there to help, it was really and truly a blessing!  Especially since they had all of the heavy furniture moved before I even got there!  SCORE!

We worked hard all day and by the end of the day nearly everyone was exhausted.  No one worked as hard as the Ryken's though.  They are a couple about my ex un law's age and they worked their tails off all day.  Late in to the afternoon Mrs. Ryken was limping.  Her knee was hurting.  My ex Mom un law said that she needed a knee replacement as she shouted for her to "Sit down and take a break!" from two rooms away. 

Softly I made mention of Dr. Jesus doing a little knee replacement just loud enough for my ex Mom un law to hear.  Her response was "That might be a little much for us Presbyterians."  That was just enough to keep me from stepping out. 

Why do I let that happen? Why do I leg my brain get in the way of my heart?  It seems that this is a constant swinging back and forth.  Sometimes I just jump out there boldly and others I just freak out!  God, I pray You will help me to become more like You and have faith to believe for the miracles all the time!

Day 335 - Friday

I think I got gypped today.  Normally Fridays are such awesome days with lots of time spent talking with God.  Instead I seemed to just be swimming upstream with everything...

I was helping my ex un law's move today.  They are downsizing their home and moving to a home that has one level.  My ex father un law was diagnosed with a brain tumor earlier this year. The type he was diagnosed with is one of the fastest spreading and most vicious.  I am happy to report that following surgery, and 6 mos from initial diagnosis, and with only one round of chemo, he is showing no signs of new cancer cells in his brain!  This in itself is phenomenal as the type he was diagnosed with is supposedly incurable.  I will say that shortly after being diagnosed he came to Jesus in a profound way and I know that God is behind the fact that he isn't dead yet.  He should have died at least three times by now.

The medicines that he is on though have been messing with him.  While I was up there today he was so confused and disoriented and his movement and speech weren't right.  It turned out, as we found out later today, that they had one of his medication doses too high. Praise God, he should be reasonably back to good in the next day or two!

Also, the young lady that Donna and I ministered to a few days ago had to be hospitalized today due to her suicidal thoughts.  I am not surprised but I am a tiny bit disappointed.  I know God was in the room with us on Tuesday.  I know that He was trying to help us help her.  I know He wants to see her healed.  So I guess I am just going to have to trust in what I know and continue praying for her.

Tonight was our monthly prayer meeting at the church. I was completely looking forward to it.  Spending some time soaking in His presence with my church family.  A friend had called earlier in the afternoon and asked if I could come help her with a gift for her daughter's birthday on Monday.  I said I would come over before prayer and help her.  I was sure I could get it done quickly.  WRONG ANSWER!!!  Two hours later ... and after prayer was already over... we finished the project.  It did turn out well... and it was loving and kind helping her, but I really feel like I missed the best part.  So as soon as I am finished with this I am going to spend some time with the One who loves me best!

Day 334 - Thursday

Tonight I got to sit in a room and listen to a group of people who God had turned around for the better.  This group of adults came and spoke to our diversion students about the dark road of alcohol and drug abuse.  They spoke about how when they were at the very end of their rope there was a hand reaching out to grab a hold of them.  That someone cared. Someone bigger than who they are, bigger than their friends and bigger than their parents. 

I watched as they took in what the speakers had to say.  I could see in some of their eyes that they were really taking it in.  They heard about a God who would meet them right where they are and help them to go to an even better place. 

The best part of this is that these kids are not church kids.  They are kids who have gotten in trouble with the law.  The court system offered them an alternative to heavy fines or time in the detention center. I can't really tell them they need to find Jesus but our volunteers can speak about their own Experience, Strength, and Hope.  I believe that God has put them in this program because He is drawing them closer to Him!  It is such a beautiful opportunity to touch kids lives!

As if that weren't good enough... One of the volunteers was having shoulder pain and our healing room team got to pray for her after the class and the Lord touched her shoulder and it was amazing!