A reader writes:

Please ask your readers to pray for Loretta, who has Stage IV cancer and is preparing to begin chemo.

Also, my old Evangelical pastor, Jerry Crick writes:

Dear friends;

It has been a long time since I wrote and share what God is doing in my life. There have been many challenges and I have learned a great deal from the Holy Spirit. God is gracious and I would like to share with you some of what he’s doing with me.

To bring you up to speed on my medical condition, I have been diagnosed with multiple systems atrophy. This is a form of Parkinson’s which affects the entire brain. It is incurable and seriously limits the length of time a person has to live . When I first received this diagnosis, I was concerned and my faith was challenged. How would I live? What would happen to my family? What would it be like to see my body deteriorate right before my own eyes. Doctors change medication many times looking for the right mix to deal with the symptoms. I began physical therapy and worked very hard at it. It brought great results. I doubled my strength and my walking time and I regained 70% of my lost balance. My head began to clear up like to think logically again. I stopped falling; which had become a regular part of my life. I still cannot write and I can’t type other than hunt and peck. I have no transportation, so I can’t work. I spend most of my days isolated and alone.

Well things are about to change! The Holy Spirit is talking to me about the choices that I need to make. He’s telling me from the depth of his heart that I must begin to choose the road of life. I’ve spent hours of meditation on what his life in Jesus. I spent days meditating just where my life is going. And I am convinced of two things. First, in the midst of suffering and loss though we may never have understanding as to why we are suffering, his presence, his person never leaves us. His grace is for everything and forever. A few weeks ago, the idea of healing crossed over from mental thought through prayer that I spoke into believing the goodness of God. The power of God resides in all of us. We are the righteousness of God in Christ through faith by grace. Born into the kingdom through no good act of our own. Maintained in the kingdom of the unending grace of God.

The second area God is speaking to me about is controlling my mind and my emotions; submitting them to the truth of the word and the actions of the Holy Spirit. In short this means trusting God for everything all the time. The pain may reign in the body and weakness may challenge my very will to live, but true life is found in trusting him with everything. We too must say ‘though he slay, I will trust him”.

I have gone from being bedridden for a year unable to walk without help and unable to speak intelligently, despairing of life and begging God to take me home. I have cried. I have been angry. I prayed until I couldn’t think or feel. I had many many people pray for me and I’ve appreciated those tremendously. Little over a year ago, Randy Clark brought his ministry team to Denver. I was only well enough to attend one evening meeting. He prayed for me and I felt some release from Parkinson’s. I also was healed of sleep apnea. This was a great blessing and failed my hope to the top. In light of this healing, I returned to the neurologist for some more tests. This report was not good. He said he could medicate the symptoms and keep me comfortable but, there was no cure and no real hope for me.

At this time God began to speak to my heart about living faith relationally. He told me to choose the road of life. He told me to avoid the road of death. Over and over again in the .night his spirit washed me like waves of warm water. I could feel the old wounds and scars seem to disappear. I could feel the dirt that was left from sin being washed away. When it was revealing to me was that God loves me gave, his life for me and is ready to lead me on the path of life. I’m stronger today than any time in my life. I know God has healed me. It may take some time for the healing to show the surface, but in my soul I am whole healthy.

There are some challenges ahead. I have not worked for two years. The church is closed. My photography abilities are seriously limited by my failing eyesight. I still believe I’m called to ministry and that there are things ahead that I cannot even imagine. God has provided for us miraculously but we still live day to day and paycheck to paycheck. If anything goes wrong anyone needs something new like a pair of jeans, we’re stuck There’s also the issue of knowing where God wants me to serve and vision he has for my life.

To summarize my health is improving because God is healing me. I’m ready willing and able go back to work doing whatever God wants me to do. Whether I work in ministry minister in my work, I believe I’m headed down a new road. I believe I have the power to see others healed and delivered and to see the loss come to know Jesus. The battle is almost over. I’ve got the enemy on the run. His weapons have not defeated me, but only made me stronger. If you get any inspiration feel free to e-mail or call. You can pray for another car for me so that I can go to work. Also pray that God will open the doors to the next step in my destiny.

I can’t thank you enough for standing by me and my family. The body of Christ worldwide has come to our aid and we can never repay what they did. In the darkest of times, when all seemed lost and hopeless there was always someone who would pray or call or came by for a visit or sent some money a card or phone. This sharing of life proves the Scripture that when one is hurt all are hurt. So join us in our time of joy. God is on the move. He is faithful to his word. Miracles have just begun.

In his service,

Jerry

Father, hear the prayers of your children for healing, and grant them the grace to trust in you and your Son, come what may. We ask this through Jesus the Lord, Amen.