Stories of a good God

Posts tagged ‘power of the testimony’

It’s a Baby Boy because God is Good!

“Stop by and pray for her” I felt Him urge me again … and so I turned and found a park and got out of the car.

It was a prompting to pray for a girl who was the owner of a local clothing store.  I had been in there 2-3 weeks earlier and at the time I got the distinct feeling that she had wanted a baby, but had not yet conceived.  I had not offered to pray at the time, sensing it was not quite the right time …

This particular morning, on my way out, I felt Him urge me to make time that day to stop and pray.  I was heading out and I asked Him to remind me on my way home if He wanted me to stop.  I was actually flat-out trying to get ready for a major trip overseas, and we were leaving the following day …

True to His word, and to my request, God had reminded me on my return trip, and so, having parked the car, I made my way over to the store.

I wandered in, and after the usual greetings, I told her why I had stopped by.  A little taken aback, she had said yes she had been trying to get pregnant, that it had not happened for her and her husband yet … that she would absolutely like me to pray.

Ironically she had the same name as my daughter, whose conception was a miracle.  I explained the story to her, and laid my hand on her gently and prayed, as I felt led, asking God to do for her what He had done for me those 11 or so years earlier.

She got teary, and said thank you and I left, saying I would pop back in after our trip.

We went away, returned, and life went on as usual until about 3 months later, when I felt the gentle prompting to return to the store … to just wander through and see how she was getting on …

She was there and was serving a customer, so I waited.  When she was done she turned to me and said very quietly, that not even her family knew, but … yes … she was pregnant and she was overjoyed!

She went on to tell me how freaky the timing of my coming into the store that day had been, that her “fertile day” was the day after I had prayed, and that she had conceived that day (God had answered the prayer within 24 hours) … but as she spoke a shadow fell across her face and she said with great vulnerability that she was so frightened that what had been given would be taken away … she was frightened of a miscarriage and she searched my face for confirmation it would be ok …

“No pressure” I thought … but then I chose to step into the truth and told her that God is a Good God, a Kind God, and He does not give just to take away, and that He would not have had me stop to pray for her with that sort of freaky timing, just to allow the baby to die … and I told her so, and I asked if I could pray again …

Looking relieved she said “yes” and I gently laid my hand on her stomach, and prayed for that baby … I prayed that the baby would be healthy, full term, sleep well, and that the pregnancy would  be a blessed and easy one … the fear on her was palpable, but I felt it leave as I prayed and I said to her that when and if the fear returned she was to remind herself of her own testimony … and that God was all over this, that the baby was His own good idea and that the baby would be fine!

Oh faithful one that I am (and I say that with great Aussie irony!) because I did get into the car and start to intercede for her and the baby as I drove away … but as I did I felt a quiet confirmation in my spirit that all would be well and so in faith  I stopped and thanked Him for His loving kindness …

And yes, late last year, I drove past the store and I saw the sign in the window of the store …

“It’s a baby boy!”

Purely and simply because …

God is Good!

 

 

 

Category:

God is good, Obedience, Power of the testimony, Pregnancy, Word of knowledge

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And the baby had down syndrome no more because…God is Good!

On Wednesday 9th May 2012 I received the following testimony from a dear and beautiful friend who takes God at His word …

She believes, she stands, she declares and she releases … fully knowing and fully believing with all her heart that God is Good!

She writes:

In early February I had the opportunity to meet and pray for a woman called M.  She was about 6 months pregnant at the time. I prayed for her and the baby, that all would be well for the baby and for the Mum, not really knowing anything about her background or circumstances, etc .

Later into the pregnancy, I found out that the baby was diagnosed as having “down syndrome” and was missing a nose.  I was told that the mother of this baby was in shock and in total fear of how she was going to cope with such a baby.

Some time later, at church, I heard a testimony of a woman in our church praying for a pregnant woman who had also been told that she was carrying a baby with down syndrome.  The woman at church had prayed for the pregnant woman and the baby had been completely healed by God.  When I heard the testimony at church I elbowed my husband and said, “that’s for M“ and I “took” the testimony for her knowing what God had done for one … he could and would  do for her … and so, when I saw M again, I was full of faith and I released the testimony and God’s Kingdom over her, praying for the same … a fully healthy baby…

On the way to church last Sunday (May 5) I heard the news that the baby had been born at home, early that morning, and that the baby appeared to be totally healthy, with a fully formed nose.

I was told that, after getting to the hospital, the doctors assessed the baby, in full knowledge of the diagnosis of down syndrome and that although all appeared well, a blood test would have to be done to be sure the baby was fully healthy.

Late Monday afternoon, the blood tests came back … all clear!

I saw the baby today.  He is totally healed, totally whole,  and is absolutely delightful!!!!!

Glory to God!!!

And so …

A loving woman, full of God, stepped out and prayed … she heard the testimony of God healing another …  she took the testimony, as something of substance to take be taken a hold of, she claimed it for another … she released it … in faith … and saw God move …

And as a result … another baby, declared by the medical profession as being a hopeless case, declared as being destined for a life of struggle and sadness, is instead set free to step into the fullness of his God’s given destiny … just because she chose to believe, and offer what she had to another, fully knowing and believing that …

 God IS Good!

Note: in referring to “taking” the testimony see Revelation 19:10.  There is power that is released as a testimony is told and as such there is an open invitation to see that testimony (miracle, healing etc) repeated …

“They overcame him [the devil] by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony…” Revelation 12:11 each and every testimony is powerful in and of itself.  

See Bill Johnson’s book “Release the Power of Jesus“ and see this story for demonstration of the concept in my world where we later discovered that the tumour shrank (even though Dr’s said it would never shrink) … and we believe that the tumour shrank when this testimony was read …

The power of the testimony is a powerful and effective tool to use when you are about to pray for someone, regardless of situation … using a testimony of His goodness that matches the situation, if you have such, or a story that doesn’t match but that demonstrates God’s goodness and power if you do not have a matching testimony … either way I have found testimonies increase faith in me and the person I am about to pray for, and it often releases the anointing in a very tangible way … this is why I tell and retell the stories of God’s goodness on this blog – we are all one family, who can share each other’s victories and retell and ask God to do the same in our lives and in the lives of those we encounter as we go … your victory is mine … and my victory is yours … so let’s tell and share and see the power of God’s goodness infect the world … because …

God IS Good!

Category:

Bill Johnson, Down Syndrome, God is good, Power of the testimony, praise report, prayer, Pregnancy

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The Power of the Testimony – healing of stomach pain because God is Good!

On Christmas Day I posted the praise report of the healing of a young child with cerebral palsy … it was appropriate, I thought, to write of a healing of a child, on the day we celebrate the birth of The Child, that would wager life for all those that would call Him Savior and Friend …

I posted this story as I cared for my 8-year-old daughter, who had woken suddenly at 5 am on Christmas morning, and had started vomiting, presumably from a tummy virus … she ceased emptying her stomach’s contents 24 hours later and on 26th December she rested, sleeping most of the day …

Even though the vomiting had stopped she still had pains in the stomach, which disturbed her sleep, and which caused us concern …

We had prayed.  We had laid hands.  We had declared healing and health … we praised God for His goodness, that this would cease quickly (previous times she has been ill with a tummy bug she has not stopped vomiting for 3, and at worst 10 days – at which time she was nearly hospitalised); and so, we were believing for a very quick recovery … and we believed we had received a quick recovery with the vomiting ceasing 24 hours later at 5 am the following morning … other things we had done … we had put on soaking music, praise music, words of Scripture that highlight God’s desire and power to heal …we had rested, we had encouraged her to rebuke the sickness in Jesus name, to soak in the presence of Jesus, to go to the place where God is for her … we did all we knew … except, take communion and anoint her with oil …

As she rested I decided to share with her the Christmas Story of the healing of the child with cerebral palsy … she loves the testimonies and delights in amazement at God’s Goodness and power …

As I did, the pain suddenly increased with an intensity that at first alarmed me, but then I thought “got you!” …

I have been taught, and have also witnessed (see link here for story with example), that sometimes when we pray for healing the pain can get worse … or it can move around the body … if this happens it can be a sign that we have hit the mark with our prayers … and whatever is causing the sickness is on its way out!  (Thank you Randy Clark healing School 1).

I completed retelling the story as she writhed on the bed, with my hand upon her, rubbing her back and I called for my husband to come to stand with me in agreement and together we rebuked all sickness and told the spirit of infirmity to get out and leave her in the Name of Jesus …

The pain stopped instantly, and from that time she recovered very quickly … firstly resting peacefully, then eating carefully … 

While we had missed the big family celebration, we still celebrated Christmas with a small lunch two days later, and a Christmas breakfast with crepes, melted chocolate and whipped cream the day after that …

Later she looked at me and said what a wonderful Christmas it had been … a quiet, peaceful three-day celebration with people that she loved, and we talked of some Christian practices that celebrated Christmas through to 8th January each year …

Throughout all we stood firm, believing that God was not the author of this sickness.  It did not come to teach her or us something … it came to steal a day of celebration … for

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy …”

BUT JESUS ….

“… came that [we] may have life, and have it abundantly.” John 10:10 (NASB 1995)

And so we stood firm on our belief and our knowledge that God is good and we believed, declared and did what we knew to do, leaving the rest to God … and the key came … we inadvertently used the power of the testimony of someone else’s breakthrough and it worked because …

God is Good!

Category:

Cerebral palsy, Christian, Christmas, God's love, healing, Love, Matthew 10:10, Power of the testimony, praise report, prayer, Prophetic promises

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And unto us a child is born … Praise report of a Good God! healing of cerebral palsy …

In this world of instant this and instant that, how many times do we miss what God is doing and somehow give up on a miracle that may have already started to happen, if we just hung in there to see it to maturity?

Do we speak life … or death over our worlds for “life and death is in the power of the tongue” (Proverbs 18:21).  Do you speak life, and celebrate even small beginnings, or do you speak death in discouragement and disappointment …

This is a brilliant testimony of God’s goodness.  A healing, blooming into fullness over time … it is still continuing even as I write …

This testimony (lengthy but so worth the read) was sent to friends of mine.  My friends had the same type of healing take place in the life of their own boy, who is now a grown man.  My friends’ child had been diagnosed with cerebral palsy too and was later declared infertile … he has since grown into a completely healthy functioning adult man who is a happy husband and father …

My friends did not give up and continued to pull down on the Promises of God and while doing so they also foster cared for over 70 children … I know … it amazes me too!

So, I ask … what miracle is around the corner for you?  We all love the instant fixes, the eyes that open, the ears that hear, the lame that walk instantly, but often a healing can be a process … it comes as a seed that must grow … and in that process there is a coming closer into relationship with a loving Father God, who wants good things for His children (Matthew 7:11)…

I believe we must celebrate all stories of breakthrough, all stories of triumph, for in each story of breakthrough is the promise of our own breakthrough … this is why I love these stories … God is no respecter of persons and … “they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony…” (Rev 12:11) … there is power in the blood and in the word of our testimony … and so read and prepare for the hour of breakthrough in your own life and be blessed as you declare His goodness in your own lives and into the lives of others …

My friend writes:

We became involved in this because of the miracles in our son P’s life. When A’s parents came forward for prayer, we were called and asked to tell them about our journey [author’s note: there is power in the testimony]. We prayed with them until Bill Johnson and Leif Hetland were free to come and pray. It was such a privilege to be ‘involved’ in this miracle…. HE is GOOD!

The testimony then goes on to say …

In January 2010 my two precious twin daughters were born almost 3 months before they were due, weighing in at only 2 pound 11 oz.

Within 24 hours my first born, A was diagnosed with significant brain damage, due to a major cerebral artery stroke. We were told she would probably die, but even if she did survive we were told she would have cerebral palsy and would never walk, talk properly or see properly and would not function normally in general. A’s younger sister was skinny and premature but ok.

So began our major faith walk with the Lord.

Early on the Lord gave me a dream in which I saw her running to me on the first day she came home from school. I refused to believe she wouldn’t walk. I told the doctors I was expecting a miracle. Jesus was there over her isolette in the ICU ward and He wasn’t going to disappoint us. She was going to be perfect just as He created her.

I cried. I screamed at God. How could you let this happen to my darling daughter? Why? My husband and I struggled with our faith. I realized that a faith that hadn’t been tested, couldn’t be trusted.  I clung to Him desperately.

Soon after we got home, after almost 3 months in hospital, we started to see signs of paralysis – symptoms of cerebral palsy. The knots in my stomach got worse and I’d lye in bed at night and couldn’t sleep because I was fearful for her future. The enemy would get in my ear, and harass me that she would never walk.

But, I remembered the hope I have in Jesus and the dream, the promise He gave me.

In May 2011, my daughter and I were at an all time low. She would sit on the floor and sob because she couldn’t move. Big fat tears would roll down her cheeks. She’d watch her sister running around and it would just break my heart. She couldn’t crawl. She could only sit.  Even then, she’d often fall back and smack her head on the floor. The whole right side of her body was paralyzed and in a state of spasticity. All she wanted was for me to hold her constantly and carry her everywhere. That was impossible and I felt like I couldn’t bear it much longer.

I cried out to the Lord … we can’t take much more Lord, we need a breakthrough soon! He said to me she would start walking in August. It seemed too long away but we just clung to the faith He’d given us.

In August I was driving home from a medical appointment and the Holy Spirit hit me hard and said He wanted me to take A down to Melbourne for Bill Johnson to pray for her. Before I got married, I had lived just outside of Melbourne and had attended Stairway Church but now I lived in rural Victoria, 3 hours away.

Bill Johnson and Leif Hetland were visiting Stairway Church that weekend of August 20th. Problem was, their conference was in a few days, and I had no tickets.

In faith, we made plans to go, and believed we were going to receive prayer. My husband and I took our three children (all under 2 years old!) to Melbourne, three hours away. Everything possible seemed to happen to prevent us getting there. We even lost our accommodation, so we had to drive there and back on the same day – 6 hours in total. We waited until the end of the conference, when the ministry team were praying over everyone, and then we walked right through the doors holding A. Thank God no one stopped us. The presence of God was in that place and we were getting in there no matter what! We waited in line and it came time for Bill and Leif to pray for her. Nothing happened…

We left for home believing for a miracle. The kids screamed pretty much the whole 3 hours home. My husband and I were emotionally spent.

The healing started slowly. She started pulling herself up to her knees; then she started pulling herself up to standing. A few months later she was cruising around furniture; and, then she was walking along the fence at the play ground! Then she was walking with us holding onto her two hands.

Before long, she was walking with us holding her one hand, the good one. Then it was walking holding just the affected hand.

And then … we hit a painfully slow period of nothing …nothing…nothing … it was like watching grass grow.

I downloaded Danny Silk’s message on “Master of the Breakthrough”. I knew something was building. We prayed, we declared. We prayed, we declared. Then last Sunday at church we sang a victory song about the deaf will hear, the blind will see, the LAME WILL WALK, the dead will rise, and I believe, that Jesus Christ is alive! We chanted that over and over and danced in the Spirit. We declared A would be dancing on her tiptoes, for Jesus!

The next day, on Monday, I woke up and read this scripture:

“If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!”( Matthew 7:11).

A few hours later – A let go of the couch, and started walking completely alone, towards me!!!

It was an unforgettable, indescribable moment.

She’s wobbly, she is still falling and giggling, but Hallelujah … she is walking due to the amazing resurrection power of Jesus Christ! She is beating all the odds!

A is still learning to use her right arm and hand, particularly her fingers, but we just know that it won’t be long and a complete and total creative miracle will have happened!

She WILL be dancing on those cute little tippy toes. Who knows, maybe one day she’ll play the piano. She has also been talking, I’ve been teaching her to say ‘God’ and ‘Jesus’. Her eyes are perfect, she can see as well as her little sister.

All glory to God! He truly is THE Healer and Restorer. Thank you Lord from the bottom of our hearts! We are so grateful to our King.

A’s testimony to Jesus is going to be broadcast to everyone we come across. He is so worthy of all of the glory. And we can honestly say we are blessed to have been taken through this journey. We just can’t help but spread the word, of, “Look what the Lord has done!!!!” Hallelujah!

Signed AJ

What seed of a miracle has been planted in your world?

What seed of a miracle could you release to others?

If the healing, whether your own or someone you love, or someone you have prayed for has not yet materialised in the natural … do not lose faith, but know the breakthrough is there … the breakthrough of another holds the promise of the breakthrough in your own life …

For unto us a child is born … (Isaiah 9:6)

And I know all this is so because …

God is Good!

Post Script: In getting permission to recount this testimony the following comment came back from the family on Christmas Day 2011:

PS: the medical professionals are all saying, it is just unheard of for a hemiplegic cerebral palsy child to be walking before 2 AND without her AFO (ankle foot orthotic). Truly is a miracle!
 
Unheard of in the natural world of medicine … but not unheard of in the world of Jesus Christ because …
 
God IS Good! … Merry Christmas!
 
 

Category:

Bill Johnson, breakthrough, Cerebral palsy, Christian, Danny Silk, Dreams, faith, God is good, God's love, healing, Isaiah 9:6, Leif Hetland, Love, Matthew 7:11, miracle, Power of the testimony, Power of words, praise report, prayer, Prophetic promises, Proverbs 18:21, Revelation 12:11

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And she stood weeping … because God is good!

After church today we popped into a service station to fill up the car and to purchase a couple of items for a lunch we were heading to. I collected my items and as I went out to the car to get a discount voucher I felt certain that God wanted me to offer to pray for the girl behind the counter.

I finalised my purchase and offered to pray for her … explaining I was a Christian and I wanted to know if she needed prayer for anything.  She looked at me puzzled and so I repeated my question, explaining that I had felt God prompting me to offer to pray for her as I had walked out and so I wanted to know if there was anything I could pray for her about …

She looked at me and lent forward earnestly and immediately said “yes, a job, I am a qualified pilot and I want a job” … I looked at her and said I would pray for her and I stepped aside so she could serve the next person …

To follow was one of the longest waits.  The customers poured in.  One would leave and another would come in … (it often happens) … so I waited … but as I did I checked my watch noted my husband and children waiting in the car and prayed for an opportunity because we were due to get to a lunch … regardless, I knew to wait, because this was a God assignment and therefore important …

She looked at me and suggested that I could go … I looked and said “no, this is important” …

Eventually we had a break in the flow of customers and I introduced myself.  I noted her name and said hello, took her hand and invited the Holy Spirit to come … an anointing immediately flowed.

I recounted the testimony of a friends husband who I had prayed for, who had waited for 9 months for a contract to come through from a major bank, and for whom the day after I had prayed an open destiny, a contract came the following day by email … he quit his job and started the new job in less than a week (praise report click link here) …

I then prayed “God what you did for B, do for A” and I declared her destiny open in the name of Jesus, I released blessing and favour, and doors to be open to her destiny … as I did I could feel the anointing flow.  Someone came and waited to be served as I prayed and I felt the Holy Spirit say “that’s enough”.  I left quickly and as I ran out she again asked my name, I told her as I ran out and left calling out “bless you”.

As I left the store, I felt that I needed to give her the name of our church and so I ran to the car, scribbled the churches name and my name and number on a scrap piece of paper and ran back in to give it to her … I saw that she was standing behind the counter holding back the tears as she served the next customer …

I ran up to the counter and gave her the details, explaining them briefly to her and as I did the flood gates opened and she started to weep.  I looked at her and said “you felt Him didn’t you?” she nodded … I asked if she needed a cuddle, she said she was fine, and so I encouraged her to feel ok about calling me, and explained that this was my church …

I left marvelling at how powerfully God had touched her.  As I climbed into the car I mentioned it to my husband, explaining how I usually do not get to go back to see the impact of God on the people I stop for “as I go” … but this time I had, and how powerfully He had touched this beautiful girl … she was obviously moved, and had felt the touch of God first hand … I know her destiny is open now … I have seen it happen over and over … I know that good things are on their way for this lovely girl because …

God is Good!

Category:

As you go, blessing, Christian, declarations, God is good, God's love, Identity, Love, open destinies, Power of the testimony, praise report, Stopping for the one

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Celebrating and sharing the Goodness of God the world over…God is Good!

For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.

(Habakkuk 2:14 NIV)

I love celebrating God’s goodness.  I love hearing about the breakthroughs, the healings, the goodness, the miracles … it encourages me to keep going, to keep stepping out and offer the Kingdom of Heaven to others – to believe the promises in the Bible for me, my family, my community, my country …

I love learning from another Believer’s journey … because in every story there is something to glean, to learn, to consider … just as in the parables, there is always a hidden gem …

I love celebrating with people on breakthroughs.  I love hearing the prophetic words over people – it is a glimpse into who they have been created to be by God … and in knowing that I can then encourage them to step into that identity, into that call, and I can adjust my “lens” to see them more in the way God sees them …

There is a woman on the other side of the globe, who celebrates God’s goodness too.  In the natural she is a stranger to me; even so, she is a sister in Christ, who loves Jesus with a passion … and so there is a connection …

I found her when I found a story of her son’s healing, by mere “chance” after posting one of my blogs.  The story was of her husband stepping out and praying for her son in a busy airport.  In it she honestly reflected her embarrassment as her husband prayed in public, and she shares her surprise and delight at her son’s immediate healing …

She celebrates the little things, the kisses from God, like gifts of candles from friends, recognising God’s hands in the gift because they were just the right fragrances …

She celebrates her children’s prayers being answered …

And she celebrates when her family is freed of debt  in miraculous ways …

And, after reading about one of my stories where I stopped and prayed for someone in the hospital recently, she took the time to encourage me, a stranger from the other side of the world, and sent me a similar story … of how a stranger stopped and prayed for her son in emergency.  She was a brand new Christian at the time … it was a gentleman, who prayed, after which her son “mysteriously” got better – very quickly … click here – it is worth a read

What stories are you keeping to yourself?  Whose stories are you grabbing a hold of and asking God to “do again”? He is no respecter of persons, so if He has done it for one of us, He will do it for another …

I believe that we here in Australia need to get over the “tall poppy”syndrome, and yes I know it is dying, but we all need to get on with telling our stories about a Good God … and in doing so the earth will be filled with the knowledge of His Glory … We will encourage each other to live as Christians … as mini Christs … because we are all empowered to do so. 

Why not step out and tell some stories, encourage some others, tell some non-Christians of His goodness, tell other Christians of His Goodness … just talk about Him and who He truly is … how He protects, loves, delivers and heals … in this life … He wants it “on Earth as it is in Heaven” … (Matt 6:10).

And, we should be telling the stories and celebrating all that He does for His family, for His kids, because …

God is Good!

Category:

Christian, God is good, God's Glory, God's love, Habakkuk 2:14, Love, Matthew 6:10, Power of the testimony, praise report, prayer, Unity

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Coffee, Chats and Commitment … coming home to a good God

I had the pleasure of catching up with a very dear friend this morning. In fact she is more than a friend, she is indeed a mighty woman of God and an inspiration. In any case, I had the pleasure of seeing her this morning.

When we catch up I normally see her at a shopping complex half way between where she works and my home; but today, we decided to catch up closer to her work.

We had a chat, a coffee (well I had tea and some more breaky) and there was a beautiful young girl that was serving us. When she came close to our table, I could feel the Spirit of God moving … I noted what I felt, said nothing, and thought perhaps I needed to offer to pray for her before I left.

Our time of catching up came to an end, I said goodbye to my friend and got myself sorted … as you do when you travel with a four-year old …

I chatted to God to see if I should stop to offer pray for this girl, and did not feel compelled, but as I said “thank you” to her I looked in her eyes, and stepped out in faith, and said to her “you may find this strange but I wanted to know if there was anything that you needed prayer for?”

She looked at me, tears forming in her eyes and said “why do you ask?” I said I was a Christian and had felt the Spirit of God all around when she came over to the table and wanted to see if there was anything that she needed prayer for …

She looked at me wide-eyed, and, after dealing with a few delivery people in the coffee shop she quietly said to me that she needed direction in her life, she wanted a new job and that she was a Christian but had drifted away from God …

I introduced myself and asked her if I could pray that her destiny would open and I told her a few testimonies including the story about the dad that I had prayed for that had got the job (link for story and praise report) he had been waiting on for 9 months within days of praying for him … I then told her about someone I prayed for in that very coffee shop months ago, who had the same thing happen (see link for story and praise report) she said she knew the person and said “yes, that would be great” … and I then suggested that she may want to ask Jesus back into her life, to which she replied “yes I do”.

I prayed for her, and prophesied favour and blessing. The Holy Spirit was tangibly present and although she was obviously shy about the public nature of being prayed for, she could feel Him all around her and she struggled to hold back the tears …

I declared her destiny open, shut the door on the past, called in favour and a great job, and then prophesied that, like her namesake, Esther, she was called to greatness and to a place of great authority. I prophesied that she would enter a time of soaking in God’s presence and from there she would discover her God-given identity in all its fullness … I then invited her to pray and make a re-commitment to Jesus … and she did, in her own words, quietly saying she wanted Him back in her life, apologising for leaving, and asking the Holy Spirit to come and fill her … she looked up at me and I affirmed her, gave her my number, the location of the closest church in the area, which just happened to be my church too, and gave her the service times …

I left the shop thinking how she had been on God’s heart. She had just shifted down to Melbourne from Brisbane a few months earlier …

My friend and I never usually catch up in this shop, but this morning we did … God loved Esther so much, He wanted her back in His world … and so He showed her His love in a tangible way by sending someone to ask if she needed prayer (and I nearly missed it!) … and she instantly felt loved by Her Creator and wanted Him back in her life …

God cares about the little things … He cares about each and every one of us …

My son asked me, as he watched the movie Nemo later that day, about why Nemo’s dad kept searching day and night for his son. I said, “well if you were lost I would search day and night too, because I love you”… and as I said it I realised that God does this as well … yes, I know that God knows where we are at all times, but that does not stop Him from seeking us out …

Just as I love my children, so God loves His, in fact He loves them even more … He loves the ones who know Him as their Daddy, and the ones who don’t … he loves the ones who are with Him and have never left, and he loves the ones who once knew His embrace but for whatever reason have left is side …

God will never cease looking for His children, calling them home to Him, and when they are home He lavishes His love upon them … His goodness and love follows us all the days of our lives (Ps 23:6) because…

God is Good!

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Christian, God is good, God's love, Love, open destinies, Power of the testimony, Prophecy, Psalm 23:6, salvation, Stopping for the one

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And the meaning of her name was “purity”…praying for Katy in the car park

Yesterday (Thursday 10th November 2011) I was heading home from kindy drop off and I remembered that I needed some basics of food.  I checked about stopping on the way home, since kindy time is usually my “date with God” time.  I queried God about stopping at one supermarket and got the very faintest impression of a car park behind a local fruit/vege/meat shop in the area, and it really was the faintest of impressions.

I hesitated but thought that I would drive there, double checking with Him that I should not stop at the large supermarket, which made more sense.  I drove to the area of the car park that I had the impression of and got the sense that there would be a really favourable car park for me to run in and out.  I drove slowly up the lane and thought … “there is the car park”, figuring it was a blessing for me …

I hopped out of the car, and briefly glanced back over my shoulder, and as I did I saw Katy (her name, as I found out later), a young girl in an oversized pram, all hunched in on herself, small, bent, screwed up in the face and hands and arms and legs all huddled and crunched together in a little mass …

There was no clear “yes go pray for her,” I just did.  “She could be healed!” I thought and so I stopped, turned around and walked up to the pram where the mother was loading the car with her shopping, her daughter huddled, a little mass of limbs, under a little light jacket, to protect her from the slight chill in the Spring wind.

I smiled at the mum quickly explaining that I was a Christian and I offered to pray.  The mum said “sure you can, others have, but you go for it” …

I quietly asked what had happened and was told that Katie had been a completely normal little girl at the age of two.  She said that she had taken Katy for her two-year old injections and after this time Katy had started to “fold in on herself” … she had stopped growing and withdrew internally, into herself so to speak.  I asked what the doctors had said about it and she responded saying that the medical profession had refused to listen to her, telling her that Katy’s condition was purely due to a “time bomb” in her … that she was missing an enzyme in her brain …

I listened, introduced myself and asked if I could lay my hand on Katy.  She said “sure”, and so I bent down to Katy’s level and introduced myself , placed my hand on her and invited the Holy Spirit to come.  I felt the Holy Spirit come and in the chill of the wind I released healing in the name of Jesus.  I prayed for healing and a rebalance of hormones and enzymes.  I said, whatever the cause, be healed in Jesus name.  I prayed for Katy to be made whole.  Her mother mentioned that Katy had started being very fearful a few years earlier and had withdrawn even more, and so I rebuked that spirit of fear and released peace.  I also released Katy into her destiny, “seeing“ her as she was destined to be, not the little huddled shell that she was, but the young, amazing, vibrant girl that she was meant to be … that she was destined to be …

The mother told me that she believed that there would be a miracle, that Katy would be healed one day.  She said that many people had said that Katy would be healed before her 15th birthday, and she told me that Katy would turn 15 in a few weeks time … she said how refreshing it was that I did not beg and plead with God for her healing, as other Christians had … she then said that she did not believe in God anymore … how could He let this happen?  I listened, without judgement, and gently suggested that God was not the author of this, that He did not “let” this happen, and that Christians, as people left in charge, we, us Christians, were responsible for praying  … she was not convinced, and I knew it was no time for a theological discussion.  Instead, I told her of a friend of mine who, only the day before, had told me the testimony of her son and how he had been healed of cerebral palsy.  It had not been an instant miracle, but a gradual healing … and I now note how important it is that we all share our stories for we overcome the enemy by the blood of the lamb and by the word of [our] testimony (Rev 12:11) …

I then asked God to do the same again for Katy … and prayed some more. 

When I sensed it was enough, I asked if I could give Katy a kiss.  The mum agreed and I kissed her on the cheek, quietly telling this young girl that she was beautiful … I turned and asked the mum if I could give her a hug, my heart went out to her and all she had been through … she hesitated and said “no” telling me if I had not asked and just done it she would have been ok …

The mum then suddenly said “we nearly called Katy, _____ “ and it was my exact name.  I looked at her astonished and said it was no coincidence, thinking to myself first of the deaf girl, with a close variation of my name, and then Katy, who was going to be called my name … “no coincidence!” God was up to something.

I thanked the amazing mother for allowing me to stop her and pray for Katy.  I wanted to pray for her too, but knew it was enough, so I did not offer.  I gave her my number and the name of my church so if she decided she wanted more prayer for Katy, she knew where she could go …

I went on my way, praying for Katy, and her mum as I went.  I collected my shopping items and went home, knowing that what had just happened was no coincidence.  I had been set up again by God.

I have received prophetic words about the “strange cases” being healed.  The deaf girl and Katy were both an invitation to step into my destiny … however, regardless of me … what I was even more aware of was the sense of responsibility and of my own ineptness … I started to pray for more power and anointing and I very quickly received the response … you have the anointing … just step into it … so I then said … well God I need more power …

We have all been called into the ministry of healing as we go … We are all called to stop for the one and set them free … We are all called to be like Jesus … We are being transformed, and as we are becoming more like Him, how else do you suppose we are going to truly discover who we are until we step out into the very basic ministry to which all believers are called …

And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak in new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover (Mark 16:17-18)

I am not suggesting that we should drink poison or run around picking up snakes to prove this … but I am suggesting that we all should step out and give “laying hands on the sick” a go, and keep giving it a go until …

His word says I will lay hands on the sick and see them healed … I have the power to lay my hands on the sick to heal … who am I to refuse to believe God’s word … who am I to hold that back from someone like Katy …? If her mum had said “no” at least I had given them the choice to receive or not … I have no right to hold back what I have …  and so I step out and “do the Fathers business” and in doing so I am sure that I will see that …

God is good!

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Christian, God is good, Mark 16:17-18, Power of the testimony, prayer, Rev 12:11, Stopping for the one

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Receiving some sunshine and releasing some “Son-shine”…God is Good!

God loves my local hairdressers … He turns up there on a regular basis …

I was at the hairdressers on Saturday 5th November 2011 getting some “sunshine” put into my hair for summertime …

I have been going to see the same girl for nearly 8 years now, and she knows my own story, as well as many of the stories of others who have overcome known or suspected infertility …

My hairdresser is beautiful, clever, smart, kind, very very sensible, courageous and was their youngest manageress ever!  She is very self-sufficient and has managed life well…

She has known for a very long time that I am a Christian.  She has watched as I got frustrated with everyday Christianity and how I recently decided to step out and believe what God’s word says about Himself … and me.  She has personally watched some of the early stories unfold in the salon, watching me pray for people while there.  She watched one of my earliest and biggest challenges in The nose that could not smell, she then saw the story of a baby with a toothache  unfold, and she knew about the salvation story.  God has been very busy in this salon! 

She has gradually become more open to me and to my faith and has asked questions, not just ones about the God stories, but about life in general … she says she watches my children and is interested in my views about life … and when she asks me these questions I take a deep breath ask God to give me wisdom and I answer them as best I can … for we are witnesses where ever we go, even without saying a word …

A few months ago she quietly said to me that she would like me to pray for the same miracle of fertility and conception that I and others I have prayed for have experienced … I vaguely recall having just finished telling her a story about a girl getting pregnant after prayer and she told me that it was time for her and her husband to start a family … and she wanted me to pray.

Touched, I gently reached around the chair and I prayed for her.  I didn’t feel anything much, but I believed by choice that God would honour the prayer as He had so many times before with women (and men) who wanted to get pregnant and I had prayed for.  I have continued to pray for her, and even called, when I felt to, just to encourage her in her conception journey.

Well, as I mentioned, last Saturday I was in the hairdressers getting some “sunshine” and B quietly let me know that she had been diagnosed with a hormonal imbalance – she needed higher levels of progesterone!

She came around and sat before me and said that she was planning to take me up on the “coffee and a chat for a prayer session” offer I had made many months ago … I looked and said “that would be great, and I am happy to do that, but lets quietly pray now?”  I took her hand, invited the Holy Spirit to come and … well, He did … He overwhelmed me, His presence was so strong, I started to cry in the middle of the salon!

She looked concerned, so I quickly explained that He had come very strongly, and I prayed declaring hormonal balance, declaring fertility and asking God to do for her what He had done for me … I knew not to pray double portion – the last person I did that for ended up pregnant in her next cycle with twins!

When I stopped, and it was only brief, I asked her if she had felt Him come.  She gasped and said “I did, I felt warmth flow all over and through me, and it was amazing, it went right through me!”

… the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings (Malachi 4:2)

Jesus had turned up in a magnificent way!  I was there to receive some “sun shine”; but I was in fact set up to release some “Son-shine” … and what a privilege it was!

Greatly encouraged I said that what she felt was the healing power of  the Holy Spirit and that I believed she would be fine now … and as I did my brain was screaming at me “what if the test results she’s having in a month show that the hormones are still unbalanced? …”

It has been a relationship of 8 years with this girl.  It has not been a relationship “to convert” but a relationship between two girls doing life … one a Christian, and one that is not … yet … and the time came when she was open to His influence … the time came for me to step out and pray … she knew my faith, she had heard the stories and when she was ready she received … and boy did she receive! She was so open as I prayed and I am sure it was her hunger that drew Him so powerfully … her hunger and His desire to prove Himself strong for her, I just had to effect the introduction, He did the rest …

I later came home, and thought of the immediate fears I had of failure, even though she felt the heat surge through her body (much like what had happened to me all those years ago).  I reminded myself that the issue was now with God – I would continue to pray as prompted by God, and I would continue to believe … and who knows, she may even get pregnant in the next cycle, she just may, and if she does not, I know she will conceive at just the right time … and I will keep you posted … because …

God is Good!

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Christian, declarations, God is good, healing, Malachi 4:2, Power of the testimony, prayer, Pregnancy

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We shared the same name…and it was no coincidence – the deaf shall hear

We recently went away for a couple of days.  On our last day we decided to have a burger for lunch, before the drive home.  As we queued to place our order I went to ask a girl who was stacking the fridge where the bathroom was.  She stood and motioned to me that she was deaf … I nodded, smiled, and noted the direction she pointed to in response to my query, which she lip-read …

As we sat outside waiting for our lunch, I mentioned to my husband that there was a deaf girl and I was going to ask if I could pray for her.  It was not that I felt God necessarily wanted me to, or that I had to, it was not a matter of obedience, but rather it was something I felt He would like me to do, and, in any case, if I wanted to see the deaf hear I needed to step out and offer.  I also realised that I did not meet many deaf people in my day-to-day activities … and I needed to step out.  I did feel a bit nervous about it, but thought I would regret it if I did not offer, and in any case … she just may be healed and who was I to not offer?

We ate our hamburgers and I watched for my opportunity.  I saw her as we readied to leave and so I went across to her, gently tapped her on the shoulder, and tried my best to layman’s sign “could I pray for you?”  Another girl watched and then signed to her for me.  I gratefully smiled, and quickly explained that I was a Christian, had seen miracles happen and wanted to know if I could pray for the girl … the girl signed my request and the response came back … “thanks but no thanks” …

I thanked both girls (who I presumed were sisters), and said to the girl who had signed for me that I needed to learn how to sign “can I pray for you?”  she stopped, put her dishes down and taught me there and then … and as I practised, the girl I had wanted to pray for stopped, watched and signed that I could pray for her if I wanted to …

And, so I did.  I placed my hand on her arm and as I did I asked her name … she had a very subtle variant of my name – I knew that this was no coincidence!  God had set me (and her) up for a miracle.  My name is not that common in Australia and so it was a set up! 

With a greater feeling of confidence, I invited the Holy Spirit to come, and I started to pray.  I then cautiously asked if I could place my hands on her ears … she agreed, and as I did I commanded the mute deaf spirit to leave and released fullness of hearing in the name of Jesus.  I finished praying quite quickly, sensing it was enough and thanked her …

There was no sudden thunder bolt, no angels singing the Hallelujah chorus (that I could hear in the natural anyway), but I knew that I had stepped out, not because I had to, but because I wanted to …

I had not felt much as I prayed, but as I sat down again I felt a strong surge of power flow and so I prayed for her again, on my own quietly as she moved around the outside tables …

As we got into our car to come home I said to my husband that, while I had not seen a miracle manifest immediately, I was still encouraged – her name and my name being nearly identical was not a “coincidence”.  I said to him that she may start hearing the next day, or it may slowly get better … I did not know, and it was not up to me to worry about the outcome.  I mentioned Heidi Baker, and recalled how the first blind people who had seen, after Heidi had prayed for them, all had Heidi’s name.  I note that these women saw instantly before Heidi’s eyes, and yes, I note that Heidi prayed for many before seeing her first receive sight … at least 100 blind people (or it could be 1000 people, I am not sure of the numbers but it was many blind people before her first blind person regained sight), but the fact that the first three all had Heidi’s name, and the fact that this girl had my name, not a common name in Australia, was encouraging, and I am certain no coincidence!

Some of you may say … “well, you are no Heidi Baker.” I agree, I’m not.  Rather, I am Me … stopping for the one, in my sphere of influence and choosing to believe that He will up hold his word for anyone, where ever they live, including me, if we will step out and trust Him to do so.  I have to start somewhere and a sea-side coastal town in Victoria, Australia is a great start!  I figure, we just have to get going, where ever we are, what ever we are doing, and go about the “Father’s business” … stopping for “the one“!

I thought to myself and I declared it out loud in the car … “God, you did it for Heidi … please do it again” and I held onto the power of the testimony.

I left knowing I had stepped out, but this time I stepped out as a friend of God … just as a friend would step out and do something nice for another friend … rather than out of a sense of obedience.  I stepped out this time out of a love … a love for a girl who may receive her hearing; and, out of a love for my God, because I knew he would like it if I did this for Him.  It was not about performance, but about love, just as one does something special for a friend … and also … don’t forget … I want to see the deaf hear!  He says it is a sign that will follow me, so I need to start believing it, and stepping out on His word, knowing He will back me up in accordance with His word because …

God is Good!

Category:

Christian, deaf hearing, Friend of God, God is good, Love, Power of the testimony, Stopping for the one

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