Even though I was raised in church, in a Christian home, and had prayed the prayer in the "Four Spiritual Laws", Jesus was not an intimate part of my life. I did not know how to apply His Word in my everyday life. As a result, when I went to college, I got away from the Lord, quit going to church and started living a sinful life. Thank God for praying parents! The summer after my junior year my parents made me go to a youth revival. A high school boy talked about being in love with Jesus and that Jesus was his big brother. He radiated love, joy, and peace- everything that I did not have. I was miserable. I said to God, "I want what he's got." (I knew no theology. I did not know what it was: only that he had something I did not.) When I said that, God brought me into His very presence. I literally saw the light. I was overwhelmed by His holiness! Then I realized how unholy I was. I was covered with something like soot, as though I had been in a coal mine or chimney: that represented my sins. Then God touched me and I was instantaneously cleansed. (Isaiah 6) Then He poured something like oil all over me. It was like swimming in God's glory. Some may say "Oh, you had an emotional experience." It was emotional; I was weeping. However, one day I was an alcoholic- the next day I was not. I was totally set free and transformed. Some other things in my life changed more gradually, but I was a new creature. I received gifts that I did not even know existed: the gifts of teaching and evangelism. Later I received the other gifts.
I had been taught at one church that God no longed healed or did miracles. However, the verse "Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever" (Hebrews 13:8) kept coming to mind. If Jesus is the same and God changes not, then He must work the same works. Thank God I found out about His healing power. About 14 years ago I found out that a tumor had eaten over half of the middle bone in my left wrist; I discovered this as the result of a fall. The doctor was going to have to remove the tumor, do a bone graft from my hip, and put back the cartilage which I had torn in the fall. I told him that I was a pianist. He said that I would have extensive therapy, but might never regain full mobility. He put me in a plastic cast and did cat scans, arthrograms, and x-rays. I went to God in prayer. I reminded Him that I used my talents for Him, not for the devil. He took me to the story of the Syro-Phoenician woman, who asked Jesus to heal her daughter, who was severely demon-possessed... At first He ignored her. Then He said that it was "not good to take the children's bread and throw it to the little dogs." She did not get offended or leave. She said, "Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their master's table." (Matthew 15:22-28) In other words, "You have so much power; You have enough power for all of Israel and my daughter too!" She called Him "Lord" and "Master" and she worshipped Him. Healing is the children's bread. I said, "I'm your child. Healing is my bread. Jesus already paid for it, for it is written, 'By whose stripes you were healed.'" (I Peter 2:24) Then I said, "Lord, I have a bone problem; I need a bone Scripture." He took me to Hebrews 4:12, "For the Word of God is living and powerful, and sharper that any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." So I said, "God, I am going to take You at your Word. Your Word must be a sharp as any surgeon's scapel, so You do surgery." I put my wrist in my Bible and closed it on it. Then I said, "Tumor, I curse you in Jesus' name. You cannot live in my body. My body has been bought and paid for by the blood of Jesus!" I said, "Lord, do your own bone graft and fill up this hole in my arm. I do not know where this cartilage goes, but You made me, so please put it back where ever it goes. In Jesus Name, amen." When I went back for my pre-operative visit, they did another x-ray. I said to the doctor, ""That looks different." He said, "It is different." He got the original x-ray and put it up. I said, "That looks like bone" [on the new x-ray.] He said, "That is bone." He examined me and said, "Well, I guess we can cancel your surgery."
In the fall of 2008, I was diagnosed with cubital tunnel syndrome in both elbows and I was told that I would need surgery in both elbows. Again I prayed and put my arms in the living Word of God, and was healed again in both arms. The devil has tried to steal my song several times, but Jesus disarmed him. Praise the Lord!
My husband and I both teach at Alabama A&M University, where we do campus ministry. We teach a weekly Bible study, evangelize, and have a food pantry for needy students. Half of the proceeds of the CD
"Anointed Praise" will go to help support this ministry,
All Faiths Christian Ministry, an IRS tax exempt ministry. May God bless you.
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