This is but a "MINOR AFFLICTION" Testimony to the true Nature of God
By: KP-KINGSPUPIL
As a Born Again, Spirit Filled Christian, I have been to numerous revivals, conventions, church buildings, and Christian Camps where God did something exceptional in my life at that particular event. I most generally arrived home from such Spiritually uplifting events with the notion that "Now I KNOW that I will never fall or be weak in that particular area of my Spiritual walk again." Unfortunately, I was very wrong in that perception of myself. Growth in the Lord is like muscle development. You have to continue to exercise that muscle in order for it to stay strong. If you do not, it will get flabby and weak. Many people who work out with weights know that if you dont continue to work out, you cant keep "pumping" the same weights.
I was very "smug" in my position of who I am in Christ. After all, I have read the Bible from start to finish on 3-separate occasions, I have college degrees and a drawer full of Certificates that prove by mans standards, that I have "paid my dues" and earned my scholastic accreditation to show that I am a "bonefied" Christian Crisis Counselor. I have survived 42-years of abuse at the hands of my biological dad, and I have forgiven him for the abuse he afflicted on me. Doesnt that qualify me for the "Saint of the Year Award?" NOT!
All the schooling I attained, all the recognition for my worldly accomplishments, and all the forgiveness in the world, could not have prepared me for what happened to my body on February 24, 2003?This is my Testimony.
I was very active when I was growing up. I played a lot of school-sponsored sports as well as taking dance and baton lessons. I was a competitive baton twirler up to the age of 16, when I turned "Pro." I twirled fire baton for the Detroit Lions football team, and I also taught Hawaiian, acrobat, baton, Belly Dancing and Modern Jazz at a well-known Dance Studio in my County. I was tall and thin, and I enjoyed the fact that I could eat anything and not gain a pound! I also started smoking cigarettes 3-months before I was 16. As I matured into my 20s, my metabolizism changed drastically, and it seemed that even the thought of food would add 10-pounds to my once slim and trim figure. I punished my body regularly, first by eating fried foods, fast foods, starches, carbohydrates, ect., then going on crash diets to loose the weight quickly, the entire time, puffing away on that beloved cigarette!
As we all know, there are consequences for our actions, my body let me know that it was truly rebelling against my ruthless way of caring for it. I became asthmatic!
My Choice: Smoking?Consequence: Asthma & Emphysema.
My Choice: Unhealthy eating habits?Consequence: Diabetes.
Now I could take the easy way out, and blame Satan for these "afflictions," and I did for a while, but I truly didnt like the fact that by blaming Satan, I was falling right into his plan to snare me?I was actually giving him credit for something which he did not do. I was the one that had defiled my body by my own wrong choices. I decided that Satan gets way to much credit in this world, and I was not about to fall into his trap! I was the reason for my afflictions! I caused the asthma, emphysema and diabetes. God had given me a healthy body, and through my own wrong choices, I had done my best to destroy what God had entrusted me to take care of! This was not an easy conclusion to accept, but I knew that "My God" is not a God of punishment. God wasnt punishing me for abusing my body, but he was allowing me to use the gift of free will that all humanity was created with.
My life was a lot like most other people I know?busy and stressful. As a wife and mother, I worried about my husband, children and grandchildren daily. While I was paying this months bills, I was worrying about how we were going to pay next months. I worried about my family, friends, neighbors, someone I saw on a talk show that had a sad story, I worried about them, I worried about the young women I counseled that were severely abused?if someone needed anyone to worry for them, I was the best candidate! I seemed to thrive on stress, and I always attributed that to the fact that I was a survivor of abuse myself and I had a mercy heart. I felt that I was very compassionate towards the afflictions of others, and in some ways, I believe I enjoyed playing the "victim."
While I was all wrapped up in my worrying and stress, I forgot all about what God said in Matthew 6:34: Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Big mistake on my part!
My Choice: Worrying?
Consequence: Stroke (Brain Attack)
Im not going to go into details, but my 20-year old daughter was arrested for a drunk driving incident, and spent 6-months in our county jail. On Feb. 22, 2003, I went for my Saturday visit with my daughter. She was in a foul mood and said some extremely harsh things that hurt me deeply. I was totally stressed. I went to my sons that night and spent the night with my 2-precious grandbabies. The next morning when I awoke, I had absolutely no feeling in my right hand. I attributed it to Carpals Tunnel, and went about visiting with my son, daughter-in-law and grandbabies. I was getting a little worried when at the end of the evening, I still had no feeling in my hand. I went to bed after casually mentioning the numbness to my husband.
On Monday, Feb. 24, 2003, I didnt wake up in time to get my 14-year old up for school at 6:00am, but my husband just figured that I was exhausted from spending time with the grand kids, so he let me sleep and he took care of our 14-year old. Around 7:30am, I came out of the bedroom and my husband came running up to me asking me what in the world was wrong with me. I had absolutely no idea what he was talking about. In fact, I had absolutely no idea who this man was! I knew I had seen him before, but I couldnt remember when or where, and I certainly didnt have a clue what his name was. I didnt know what "name" meant! As this man began talking to me, his words were all jumbled up, and I felt like I was a character in a dream. My ears were ringing, and I had the worst headache I had ever had in my entire life. I thought that at any minute, my head was going to explode!
My husband has since explained to me what he saw when I came out of the bedroom that Monday morning. He says the right side of my face was "drooping," my right eye was completely closed, I was holding my right arm like it was in a sling in front of my chest, and I was dragging my right leg and foot behind me as I tried to walk.
I became very agitated with this man because all he kept saying was that I needed to go to the hospital. No Way was I going to the hospital, to be picked and prodded and hassled. There was nothing wrong with me except that my right hand was still numb, or so I thought.
I had no idea that I was totally blind in my right eye because I could see out of my left eye, and because I couldnt see my right leg and foot, I didnt know I was dragging it behind me when I walked. I didnt even notice that I was talking "funny," and slurring and stuttering all my words. Funny how your mind can be so easily deceived.
When our 14 year old got home from school, that man (my husband), called 911. I remember I was lying on the couch when 2-police officers came in and asked me something. I immediately began crying because my brain was telling me that they were there to take me to jail. I guess the stress from seeing my daughter in jail on Saturday fooled my brain into thinking the police were there to take me to jail! The officers said something about going to the hospital, and I yelled out "No! I not going!!!" The man (my husband) said something real soft to the policeman (He told him that I was not in my right mental capacity), and the policeman said, "Oh yes, she is going to the hospital!" I felt totally helpless. I had absolutely no say in the matter. It didnt matter what I said or how much I protested, when the Ambulance arrived, I was loaded on a gurney and taken to the local hospital 2-miles away.
The only thing I can remember about that ride in the Ambulance is that there was this absolutely bright light directly over me. I know I have never before seen such pure, radiant light. I dont know if there really was such a light, or if it was something that my mind invented, but I can tell you that all my fears were automatically soothed when I looked up into that light! I was so calm in fact, that I didnt even feel the 18-gauge catheter needle the EMT had placed in the bend of my left arm so the doctors could start an I.V. line if needed.
While in the Emergency Room, I realized who the man at my house was?he was Gary, my husband of 16-years, and the pretty little girl with him was my 14-year old, Sandra. The memory of who Gary and Sandra were kept fading in and out of my mind. One minute I knew them, the next I didnt. I was quite confused and disoriented. This is when I really started praying! I prayed that God would not take me home right now because I was not ready to leave my husband and family. Imagine that, me telling God I was not ready to go with HIM, but thats when I first heard the voice. There was a tiny little voice in the back of my head that told me "DO NOT stay in the hospital. Go back to your house. I am in YOUR house. If you stay in the hospital, you will die!" I had no idea whose voice this was that I was hearing, but it kept repeating and repeating the same thing, and the voice was getting louder and louder as time went on.
The Emergency Room doctor examined me and told my husband that he was pretty sure I had a Stroke. He sent me for a CAT Scan after doing a lot of blood work. He tried to open my right eye, and while he was forcing it open, Gary said he KNEW I was blind as there was no indication of any movement of my pupil when the doctor shined a light in it.
The doctor and Gary were talking about me as if I was not even in the room, and this upset me, but for some strange reason, I was unable to express my self verbally. All I could do was cry in total frustration! Then the doctor uttered the words that my brain comprehended perfectly?"I am having her transported to St. Joes in Ann Arbor because we do not have a bed available for her here and St. Joes is more equipped to handle stroke victims then we are." I went into hysterics!!! That voice inside my head was so persistent now! Gary was in tears as I told him "I go MY house?I go MY house!" My God, I couldnt even utter an intelligent sentence. I was talking like a 4-year old! The harder I tried to talk in complete sentences, the worst it sounded! By this time, I was completely out of control emotionally. I kept screaming, "I go MY house!!!" Gary went out of my room and I found out later that he approached the doctor and told him that he felt I was getting to hysterical and he was going to honor my wishes and take me home because he knew that me getting that upset couldnt be good for my current condition.
The doctor came back in to talk to me with Gary. The doctor begged me to let him admit me "for a few days," but I kept repeating the only thing that I knew to say: "I go MY house!" The doctor explained to me that I had a stroke, and by not allowing the doctor to admit me so they could monitor me, I could have another stroke and be left a vegetable, or die. The Emergency Room doctor was very compassionate, and tears welled up in his eyes when I said, "NO, I go to MY house!"
They stabilized me as best they could, gave me pain medication through my I.V. for the headache, gave me a prescription for Plavix, and made Gary sign a waver that he was going against the doctors advice and taking me home.
Once I was "safe" in my own home, I cried out to GOD to help me survive this Stroke. I begged HIM to allow me more time on this earth, and I vowed that I would trust HIM completely for my healing!
The next day when I woke up, my right eye was open! I still didnt realize that I couldnt see out of it, but it was open. Gary called my son who is a Firefighter and is taking classes to be an EMT. Bobby came right over. When he came to where I was lying on the couch, Gary said, "Cheri, do you know who this is? This is Bobby. Do you know Bobby?" I looked up at this blonde haired young man, and I had no idea who he was, but Gary said he was Bobby, so I said, "This is Bobby." Then Gary said, "Cheri, Bobby is your son. Do you know who Bobby is?" I repeated what Gary had just said "He is my son," but I really didnt have a clue who or what a "son" was, and I honestly didnt know who this young man standing over me with tears running down his cheeks was. In fact, I didnt know who "Cheri" was. I didnt know my own name. All I knew is that I was safe in "MY house," where God was, and thats all I cared about. Nothing else mattered to me at that time. My body was absolutely exhausted and all I wanted to do was sleep. My brain was numb and not working. My mouth wasnt working, and my right side was betraying me by not co-operating with my commands.
I didnt know who I was, nor did I recognize my husband or 2-of my children, but I did KNOW that God was in MY house, and HE was going to heal me! I had absolutely NO DOUBT about that. That was the beginning of how I wanted to live the rest of my life in this world?through trusting God 100%!
I never allowed myself to be admitted into the hospital, and now, after almost 5-weeks later, I KNOW it was Gods love and devotion to me that brought me to the place I am today. Today, I have the sight back in my right eye, the right side of my face is almost back to normal (theres still a little drooping by my mouth), he has restored the feeling and use of my right hand, my speech, although slurred and "different," is getting better everyday, and the feeling has been restored in the heel and outside part of my right foot!
Praise God for all the miracles HE has blessed me with! It wasnt the doctors, as I have only been seen by doctors three times since the Stroke. I have not have any "formal" Physical therapy or Speech therapy, but God has selected me as his "patient," and HIS divine healing is far greater then the healing power of any human doctor! Dont get me wrong, I still go to the doctors regularly, as I know that I have to do my part in my healing by meeting God ½ way, but I put all my faith and trust in Gods healing power.
Many people have said that the reason I had this Stroke is because I am being "punished" by God for something I did or didnt do in this life. RUBBISH! The God I worship and cherish did NOT orchestrate this affliction upon me, nor did Satan. There is only one person that is responsible for the trial I have experienced in this stroke, and that person is "ME!" Through the wrong choices I have made throughout my lifetime on this earth, I have had consequences. This Stroke is a consequence to my punishment of my body, but as HE always does, God has turned this affliction on my body around and made something good of it. Through my Stroke, I realized that I am NOT God! I finally understand what it means to "TRUST" God. I had to trust God, the only other choice was physical death, and I wasnt ready to die! God and I now have a totally different relationship then we ever have before.
I dont know where God is going to take me on my journey in this life, on this earth, but I know that wherever he leads, I WILL follow! I OWE HIM so much. Not only did HE allow me more time on this earth, but HE has shown me how deeply my wonderful husband Gary loves and cherishes me. Gary completes me. You never truly know just how deeply someone loves you until you are totally incapacitated and that person has to take care of your every need. Gary has gone above and beyond, and I have been truly blessed by the love of such a good man.
I never really took the time to think about all the awesome people that the Lord has set in my path during my lifetime, until now. For all of you that have prayed for me, sent me uplifting emails and PMs, called me on the telephone, or typed words of encouragement to me when you saw me in a room, I want to thank each of you from the bottom of my heart. I can never find the words to express just what it means to know Jesus loves me so much that HE provided YOU to be not only my brothers and Sisters in Christ, but my friends.
My brain is still in "re-hab," and there are still so many things and people that I do not remember---yet! I know that in HIS time, God will restore all my memories back to me. To God be the Honor, Praise and Glory!
Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard (Isaiah 58:8).
If you see me in a room, or hear me on the mic, PLEASE do NOT feel sorry for me. Compared to what Jesus went through FOR me, this is but a "minor affliction!" I do NOT want pity, because I am a "Work of Gods Art," and HE is not finished with me yet. I am still on the Potters Wheel being molded by my Father. There is no room in my life for pity?to pity me is to allow me to use an excuse for not accepting responsibility for my own wrong choices. It has taken me a very long time to get to the point where I am now trusting God and accepting responsibility for myself and my choices. Please do not allow me to sit on the "pity pot" any longer?I have kept that spot warm for far too long! I cant change my past, my past is my springboard?NOT my hammock!!! I may not be able to change my past, but I can make a brand new beginning.
One Christian who has been tried is worth a hundred who have not been tried, for the blessing of GOD grows in our trials?he who has experienced them can teach, comfort, and advise many in bodily and spiritual matters?
I am Gods unique creation?and God dont make no junk!
By: KP-KINGSPUPIL
As a Born Again, Spirit Filled Christian, I have been to numerous revivals, conventions, church buildings, and Christian Camps where God did something exceptional in my life at that particular event. I most generally arrived home from such Spiritually uplifting events with the notion that "Now I KNOW that I will never fall or be weak in that particular area of my Spiritual walk again." Unfortunately, I was very wrong in that perception of myself. Growth in the Lord is like muscle development. You have to continue to exercise that muscle in order for it to stay strong. If you do not, it will get flabby and weak. Many people who work out with weights know that if you dont continue to work out, you cant keep "pumping" the same weights.
I was very "smug" in my position of who I am in Christ. After all, I have read the Bible from start to finish on 3-separate occasions, I have college degrees and a drawer full of Certificates that prove by mans standards, that I have "paid my dues" and earned my scholastic accreditation to show that I am a "bonefied" Christian Crisis Counselor. I have survived 42-years of abuse at the hands of my biological dad, and I have forgiven him for the abuse he afflicted on me. Doesnt that qualify me for the "Saint of the Year Award?" NOT!
All the schooling I attained, all the recognition for my worldly accomplishments, and all the forgiveness in the world, could not have prepared me for what happened to my body on February 24, 2003?This is my Testimony.
I was very active when I was growing up. I played a lot of school-sponsored sports as well as taking dance and baton lessons. I was a competitive baton twirler up to the age of 16, when I turned "Pro." I twirled fire baton for the Detroit Lions football team, and I also taught Hawaiian, acrobat, baton, Belly Dancing and Modern Jazz at a well-known Dance Studio in my County. I was tall and thin, and I enjoyed the fact that I could eat anything and not gain a pound! I also started smoking cigarettes 3-months before I was 16. As I matured into my 20s, my metabolizism changed drastically, and it seemed that even the thought of food would add 10-pounds to my once slim and trim figure. I punished my body regularly, first by eating fried foods, fast foods, starches, carbohydrates, ect., then going on crash diets to loose the weight quickly, the entire time, puffing away on that beloved cigarette!
As we all know, there are consequences for our actions, my body let me know that it was truly rebelling against my ruthless way of caring for it. I became asthmatic!
My Choice: Smoking?Consequence: Asthma & Emphysema.
My Choice: Unhealthy eating habits?Consequence: Diabetes.
Now I could take the easy way out, and blame Satan for these "afflictions," and I did for a while, but I truly didnt like the fact that by blaming Satan, I was falling right into his plan to snare me?I was actually giving him credit for something which he did not do. I was the one that had defiled my body by my own wrong choices. I decided that Satan gets way to much credit in this world, and I was not about to fall into his trap! I was the reason for my afflictions! I caused the asthma, emphysema and diabetes. God had given me a healthy body, and through my own wrong choices, I had done my best to destroy what God had entrusted me to take care of! This was not an easy conclusion to accept, but I knew that "My God" is not a God of punishment. God wasnt punishing me for abusing my body, but he was allowing me to use the gift of free will that all humanity was created with.
My life was a lot like most other people I know?busy and stressful. As a wife and mother, I worried about my husband, children and grandchildren daily. While I was paying this months bills, I was worrying about how we were going to pay next months. I worried about my family, friends, neighbors, someone I saw on a talk show that had a sad story, I worried about them, I worried about the young women I counseled that were severely abused?if someone needed anyone to worry for them, I was the best candidate! I seemed to thrive on stress, and I always attributed that to the fact that I was a survivor of abuse myself and I had a mercy heart. I felt that I was very compassionate towards the afflictions of others, and in some ways, I believe I enjoyed playing the "victim."
While I was all wrapped up in my worrying and stress, I forgot all about what God said in Matthew 6:34: Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Big mistake on my part!
My Choice: Worrying?
Consequence: Stroke (Brain Attack)
Im not going to go into details, but my 20-year old daughter was arrested for a drunk driving incident, and spent 6-months in our county jail. On Feb. 22, 2003, I went for my Saturday visit with my daughter. She was in a foul mood and said some extremely harsh things that hurt me deeply. I was totally stressed. I went to my sons that night and spent the night with my 2-precious grandbabies. The next morning when I awoke, I had absolutely no feeling in my right hand. I attributed it to Carpals Tunnel, and went about visiting with my son, daughter-in-law and grandbabies. I was getting a little worried when at the end of the evening, I still had no feeling in my hand. I went to bed after casually mentioning the numbness to my husband.
On Monday, Feb. 24, 2003, I didnt wake up in time to get my 14-year old up for school at 6:00am, but my husband just figured that I was exhausted from spending time with the grand kids, so he let me sleep and he took care of our 14-year old. Around 7:30am, I came out of the bedroom and my husband came running up to me asking me what in the world was wrong with me. I had absolutely no idea what he was talking about. In fact, I had absolutely no idea who this man was! I knew I had seen him before, but I couldnt remember when or where, and I certainly didnt have a clue what his name was. I didnt know what "name" meant! As this man began talking to me, his words were all jumbled up, and I felt like I was a character in a dream. My ears were ringing, and I had the worst headache I had ever had in my entire life. I thought that at any minute, my head was going to explode!
My husband has since explained to me what he saw when I came out of the bedroom that Monday morning. He says the right side of my face was "drooping," my right eye was completely closed, I was holding my right arm like it was in a sling in front of my chest, and I was dragging my right leg and foot behind me as I tried to walk.
I became very agitated with this man because all he kept saying was that I needed to go to the hospital. No Way was I going to the hospital, to be picked and prodded and hassled. There was nothing wrong with me except that my right hand was still numb, or so I thought.
I had no idea that I was totally blind in my right eye because I could see out of my left eye, and because I couldnt see my right leg and foot, I didnt know I was dragging it behind me when I walked. I didnt even notice that I was talking "funny," and slurring and stuttering all my words. Funny how your mind can be so easily deceived.
When our 14 year old got home from school, that man (my husband), called 911. I remember I was lying on the couch when 2-police officers came in and asked me something. I immediately began crying because my brain was telling me that they were there to take me to jail. I guess the stress from seeing my daughter in jail on Saturday fooled my brain into thinking the police were there to take me to jail! The officers said something about going to the hospital, and I yelled out "No! I not going!!!" The man (my husband) said something real soft to the policeman (He told him that I was not in my right mental capacity), and the policeman said, "Oh yes, she is going to the hospital!" I felt totally helpless. I had absolutely no say in the matter. It didnt matter what I said or how much I protested, when the Ambulance arrived, I was loaded on a gurney and taken to the local hospital 2-miles away.
The only thing I can remember about that ride in the Ambulance is that there was this absolutely bright light directly over me. I know I have never before seen such pure, radiant light. I dont know if there really was such a light, or if it was something that my mind invented, but I can tell you that all my fears were automatically soothed when I looked up into that light! I was so calm in fact, that I didnt even feel the 18-gauge catheter needle the EMT had placed in the bend of my left arm so the doctors could start an I.V. line if needed.
While in the Emergency Room, I realized who the man at my house was?he was Gary, my husband of 16-years, and the pretty little girl with him was my 14-year old, Sandra. The memory of who Gary and Sandra were kept fading in and out of my mind. One minute I knew them, the next I didnt. I was quite confused and disoriented. This is when I really started praying! I prayed that God would not take me home right now because I was not ready to leave my husband and family. Imagine that, me telling God I was not ready to go with HIM, but thats when I first heard the voice. There was a tiny little voice in the back of my head that told me "DO NOT stay in the hospital. Go back to your house. I am in YOUR house. If you stay in the hospital, you will die!" I had no idea whose voice this was that I was hearing, but it kept repeating and repeating the same thing, and the voice was getting louder and louder as time went on.
The Emergency Room doctor examined me and told my husband that he was pretty sure I had a Stroke. He sent me for a CAT Scan after doing a lot of blood work. He tried to open my right eye, and while he was forcing it open, Gary said he KNEW I was blind as there was no indication of any movement of my pupil when the doctor shined a light in it.
The doctor and Gary were talking about me as if I was not even in the room, and this upset me, but for some strange reason, I was unable to express my self verbally. All I could do was cry in total frustration! Then the doctor uttered the words that my brain comprehended perfectly?"I am having her transported to St. Joes in Ann Arbor because we do not have a bed available for her here and St. Joes is more equipped to handle stroke victims then we are." I went into hysterics!!! That voice inside my head was so persistent now! Gary was in tears as I told him "I go MY house?I go MY house!" My God, I couldnt even utter an intelligent sentence. I was talking like a 4-year old! The harder I tried to talk in complete sentences, the worst it sounded! By this time, I was completely out of control emotionally. I kept screaming, "I go MY house!!!" Gary went out of my room and I found out later that he approached the doctor and told him that he felt I was getting to hysterical and he was going to honor my wishes and take me home because he knew that me getting that upset couldnt be good for my current condition.
The doctor came back in to talk to me with Gary. The doctor begged me to let him admit me "for a few days," but I kept repeating the only thing that I knew to say: "I go MY house!" The doctor explained to me that I had a stroke, and by not allowing the doctor to admit me so they could monitor me, I could have another stroke and be left a vegetable, or die. The Emergency Room doctor was very compassionate, and tears welled up in his eyes when I said, "NO, I go to MY house!"
They stabilized me as best they could, gave me pain medication through my I.V. for the headache, gave me a prescription for Plavix, and made Gary sign a waver that he was going against the doctors advice and taking me home.
Once I was "safe" in my own home, I cried out to GOD to help me survive this Stroke. I begged HIM to allow me more time on this earth, and I vowed that I would trust HIM completely for my healing!
The next day when I woke up, my right eye was open! I still didnt realize that I couldnt see out of it, but it was open. Gary called my son who is a Firefighter and is taking classes to be an EMT. Bobby came right over. When he came to where I was lying on the couch, Gary said, "Cheri, do you know who this is? This is Bobby. Do you know Bobby?" I looked up at this blonde haired young man, and I had no idea who he was, but Gary said he was Bobby, so I said, "This is Bobby." Then Gary said, "Cheri, Bobby is your son. Do you know who Bobby is?" I repeated what Gary had just said "He is my son," but I really didnt have a clue who or what a "son" was, and I honestly didnt know who this young man standing over me with tears running down his cheeks was. In fact, I didnt know who "Cheri" was. I didnt know my own name. All I knew is that I was safe in "MY house," where God was, and thats all I cared about. Nothing else mattered to me at that time. My body was absolutely exhausted and all I wanted to do was sleep. My brain was numb and not working. My mouth wasnt working, and my right side was betraying me by not co-operating with my commands.
I didnt know who I was, nor did I recognize my husband or 2-of my children, but I did KNOW that God was in MY house, and HE was going to heal me! I had absolutely NO DOUBT about that. That was the beginning of how I wanted to live the rest of my life in this world?through trusting God 100%!
I never allowed myself to be admitted into the hospital, and now, after almost 5-weeks later, I KNOW it was Gods love and devotion to me that brought me to the place I am today. Today, I have the sight back in my right eye, the right side of my face is almost back to normal (theres still a little drooping by my mouth), he has restored the feeling and use of my right hand, my speech, although slurred and "different," is getting better everyday, and the feeling has been restored in the heel and outside part of my right foot!
Praise God for all the miracles HE has blessed me with! It wasnt the doctors, as I have only been seen by doctors three times since the Stroke. I have not have any "formal" Physical therapy or Speech therapy, but God has selected me as his "patient," and HIS divine healing is far greater then the healing power of any human doctor! Dont get me wrong, I still go to the doctors regularly, as I know that I have to do my part in my healing by meeting God ½ way, but I put all my faith and trust in Gods healing power.
Many people have said that the reason I had this Stroke is because I am being "punished" by God for something I did or didnt do in this life. RUBBISH! The God I worship and cherish did NOT orchestrate this affliction upon me, nor did Satan. There is only one person that is responsible for the trial I have experienced in this stroke, and that person is "ME!" Through the wrong choices I have made throughout my lifetime on this earth, I have had consequences. This Stroke is a consequence to my punishment of my body, but as HE always does, God has turned this affliction on my body around and made something good of it. Through my Stroke, I realized that I am NOT God! I finally understand what it means to "TRUST" God. I had to trust God, the only other choice was physical death, and I wasnt ready to die! God and I now have a totally different relationship then we ever have before.
I dont know where God is going to take me on my journey in this life, on this earth, but I know that wherever he leads, I WILL follow! I OWE HIM so much. Not only did HE allow me more time on this earth, but HE has shown me how deeply my wonderful husband Gary loves and cherishes me. Gary completes me. You never truly know just how deeply someone loves you until you are totally incapacitated and that person has to take care of your every need. Gary has gone above and beyond, and I have been truly blessed by the love of such a good man.
I never really took the time to think about all the awesome people that the Lord has set in my path during my lifetime, until now. For all of you that have prayed for me, sent me uplifting emails and PMs, called me on the telephone, or typed words of encouragement to me when you saw me in a room, I want to thank each of you from the bottom of my heart. I can never find the words to express just what it means to know Jesus loves me so much that HE provided YOU to be not only my brothers and Sisters in Christ, but my friends.
My brain is still in "re-hab," and there are still so many things and people that I do not remember---yet! I know that in HIS time, God will restore all my memories back to me. To God be the Honor, Praise and Glory!
Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard (Isaiah 58:8).
If you see me in a room, or hear me on the mic, PLEASE do NOT feel sorry for me. Compared to what Jesus went through FOR me, this is but a "minor affliction!" I do NOT want pity, because I am a "Work of Gods Art," and HE is not finished with me yet. I am still on the Potters Wheel being molded by my Father. There is no room in my life for pity?to pity me is to allow me to use an excuse for not accepting responsibility for my own wrong choices. It has taken me a very long time to get to the point where I am now trusting God and accepting responsibility for myself and my choices. Please do not allow me to sit on the "pity pot" any longer?I have kept that spot warm for far too long! I cant change my past, my past is my springboard?NOT my hammock!!! I may not be able to change my past, but I can make a brand new beginning.
One Christian who has been tried is worth a hundred who have not been tried, for the blessing of GOD grows in our trials?he who has experienced them can teach, comfort, and advise many in bodily and spiritual matters?
I am Gods unique creation?and God dont make no junk!
