Rough Spring!

The months of April and May has been an interesting month from a physical and spiritual perspective. I have had a rash that has spread all over my body and the itch and burn is almost unbearable. I have been to my doctor twice and he put me on a series of anti-biotic, which did nothing. Then I was on a series of steroid treatments for 13 days and still nothing. The Doctor sent me to a skin doctor and he gave me a medical cream, a conditioner and a steroid shot. Still nothing!


They took a biopsy several days ago and I am to get the results shortly. The rash is slowing starting to clear up, somewhat, although it has spread; it does not burn and itch so much. I thought quite a bit of Job sitting on the ash pile scratching himself with broken pottery. How he must have felt; and his friends did not bring much comfort. The steroid pills caused my blood pressure to go out of whack and I could not function for almost a week without feeling very, very bad.



In addition, I had a scan done on my neck veins at the request of my heart doctor to see if there was blockage. The scan showed that there is. Several days later I went to my dear friend Rev. Cooper's for coffee and prayer and he anointed my neck with oil and we claimed healing. Two weeks later my heart doctor again asked me if I would have a C-Scan of the neck to see how bad the blockage is. I did. There was no blockage in the right neck veins and the scan showed that there was some blockage in the left side. He called me at home and said this was very unusual and there was something out of order; would I agree to another scan, free of charge? I told him exactly what happened; God had
intervened on my behalf because of our prayer and anointing. He said he would still like to do the other scan, for free. I agreed and said that it would confirm my healing.


This scan showed that the right side was in good shape but some blockage in the left. How much he did not know; he could not decipher the numbers or pictures. Would I have another C-Scan, at no charge! I said yes and am waiting for the date of the scan.


Through all of this, the painful burning itch and rash and the blocked arteries the doctor is convinced I still have, I was led to a passage of Scripture that showed me exactly what was going on. It is found in Isaiah 24:14,15 ~


"They shall lift up their voice, they shall sing for the majesty of the LORD, they shall cry aloud from the sea (which I did two weeks ago in the Outer Banks of N.C.!) Wherefore glorify ye the LORD in the fires, even the Name of the LORD God of Israel in the isles of the sea."


Glorify God in the fires! Anyone can do this when things are fine; but what of the fiery trials which test our faith? There is only one way to learn to do this; and that is to do it. God has been here all of the way; even in the dark sleepless nights as I have cried out to Him for releif. He is answering my prayer and I am learning volumns about Him and myself in the process.

Visitation On Our Nation

We are fast approaching the place where Israel of old in the days of Jeremiah found themselves. After years of preaching, prophecies, signs and wonders by God's Prophets, Israel still turned a blind eye to the ways of God. It got so bad that they would not even acknowledge God. They became brazen in their sin and thought because things remained the same, they would never have to give account for their actions.


Jeremiah 51:17,18 gives their mindset: "Every man is brutish by his knowledge; every founder is confounded by the graven image: for his molten image is falsehood, and there is no breath in them. They are vanity, the work of errors: in the time of their visitation they will perish." Things became so dire in Jeremiah's day in Jerusalem that women were cooking and eating their own children! Think of that! The shops were full, the malls were packed, stores were selling produce like there was no tomorrow; but in the day of visitation they were found in a very grave state.


What of those who obey God in the day of visitation? We have many examples to go by. The chapter in Jeremiah 51 continues (verses 19-21) The portion of Jacob is not like them; for he is the former of all things: and Israel is the rod of His inheritance: the LORD of Hosts is His Name. Thou (we) are His battle axe and weapon of war: for with us God will break in pieces the nations and destroy kingdoms; and with us He will break in pieces the horse and his rider; and with us He will break the chariot and his rider...."


Never forget-We are His inheritance. We must not fear no matter what falls on our nation. God will protect and keep us in all of our ways. There are dozens of examples of this fact. In Joshua 2 we find a lady of ill repute protected when the mighty walls of Jericho fell down around her. In the Book of Kings and Chronicles we see David chased and hunted like an animal by King Saul and his armies and supporters. Yet David is secure. In Egypt during their captivity when God finally decided it was time for Him to act on behalf of His Children there were great plagues and darkness so dark it could be felt; but not dark and no plagues touched the Children of Israel!


When Jerusalem was in the middle of falling and the Babylonian armies were carrying most away captive to Babylon, God instructed Jeremiah to buy property in Jerusalem. (Jeremiah 32) God is the God of all flesh; is anything to hard for Him? We must not lose heart as judgment begins to fall. He is on our side! We are His battle axe as we stand against the forces of evil; forces of doubt, fear, unbelief and sin. We are the victors. The horse and rider, even the mighty chariot are under our feet.


God has made an everlasting covenant with us and will not turn away from us. He has put His fear in our hearts and we shall not depart from Him. Just as He will bring great evil against those living in rebellion, He will watch over us with an everlasting eye that never slumbers or sleeps. Memorize His promises; they are as sure as the rising of the sun and the setting of the same.