You know you are getting old when you injure yourself while sleeping. Friday morning I awoke to ankle pain. I could not move my ankle left or right without experiencing pain. I could not put any weight on my ankle. Fortunately, I was working from home and could just limp around my house. Saturday, the mysterious pain continued, so my husband tightly wrapped my ankle in an ace bandage and...
Normal Christianity
It was a beautiful Friday evening in the summer. The afternoon sun was beating down but a slight breeze made the evening sun bearable. My head was full of details. I was in full Martha mode. The text from a friend cancelling because of sickness did not help my state at all. Amazon had dropped the ball. Worship was cancelled because we had to reschedule due to rain. Here I...
The Fruit of Persecution
Persecution. That seems to be the word for this season. Jesus promised that we would would face persecution for His name sake. Let me reiterate that, we will suffer for preaching Jesus and Jesus alone. The early church experienced that. Peter healed a man who was known as an invalid. His reward? Arrest and an overnight jail stay. Then he was admonished to not preach the conspiracy theory that Jesus...
Oridinary and Flawed
Jesus shared His authority with the disciples: “Summoning his twelve disciples, he gave them authority over unclean spirits, to drive them out and to heal every disease and sickness.” Matthew 10:1 CSB Then He commissioned them: “As you go, proclaim, ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those with leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you received, freely give.” Matthew 10:7-8 CSB The disciples did what...
Lay Hands
Last night, I met a woman in excruciating pain. We prayed for her, but could not get the pain to budge. She left in the same physical pain in which she had come. My heart broke for her. I was disappointed. After our prayer sessions there were so many temptations… Tempted to doubt God. Tempted to doubt who I am in Christ. Tempted to doubt if God still heals. Tempted...
Preemptive Strike – Day 8
I’m getting older. It’s the preferred option to dying. I know God has so much left for me to do. I want to walk in health as I finish my race. I want the strength and stamina to run after grandchildren, travel the world speaking, and help others in need. I want to leave a legacy. This requires health. My prayer for 2020 and beyond is for divine health. Pray...
Testimony
Check out this testimony from a reader of my new book, Redefined. (I am quoting her from memory.) “As I was reading the chapter about the woman with the issue of blood in Redefined, the Lord told me to heal my husband. I told the Lord, “Wait until I finish this chapter.” The Lord said, “Do it now.” I put the book down and called my husband over. He had...
The Temple of God
Old Testament: Solomon built a trillion dollar, extravagant, luxurious temple to house the presence of God. When the nation was in trouble, they were to turn toward the temple and pray. The Lord eyes were open and attentive toward the temple day and night. ““But will God really dwell on earth with humans? The heavens, even the highest heavens, cannot contain you. How much less this temple I have built!”...
It’s Complete
What was the first scripture you memorized? For most it was probably John 3:16. But for me, it was Isaiah 53:5. (I know, I was deep even as a child.) Isaiah 53 prophetically describes the atoning work of Jesus. There are some deep theological truths about the completeness of our salvation found in Isiah 53. Meditate on these truths: He willingly accepted, took upon himself our griefs, our sorrows, and...
I Am Salt
In the OT there is a story of a town with a bad water supply. The bible says the town was “beautifully situated” but the water made the town uninhabitable. As I read that story this morning I thought about our country. No matter what political side you are on, I think we can all agree America is beautiful – from the colors in the Fall of the Appalachian mountains,...