Tag Archives: Healing

Designation VS Definition

Inspirational, , , , ,

My dad turned seventy on Friday. I gave him eight birthday cards, one for each decade he’s lived plus one for his special day. Each card had a title with a prominent name or position he wore for that decade: Donald (0-10), Donnie (10-20), Daddy (20-30), Dad (30-40), Father-In-Law (40-50), Pawpaw (50-60), Personal Trainer (60-70).

Within each card I listed other names and titles he used during that decade of his life. For the eighth card I titled it simply, Friend. Out of all his titles and names through the years, the one I like best now is that one. It’s how we relate to each other.

What started as a cute idea quickly became a profound lesson as I reflected on all his names and titles. I’ve worn many of the titles he has and many of them I hope to wear some day. But right now I’m wearing one he’s never worn: widower.

I never planned on having this title, at least not at this age. This is something that only happens to people my dad’s age, right? Right. But hiding from it doesn’t help. Denying it doesn’t deny the reality of the circumstance. It’s the correct designation. But what does it say about me? Will I let it define me and my future?

There it is. Designation versus definition.

With a life change as significant as Widower, you can’t help but be affected. It is certainly a defining moment. How I choose to handle this will affect the rest of my life. Will it be a designation for this period of my life or define the rest of my existence?

Widow and widower both are terms that grate on the nerves. They portend deep loss, broken hearts and dreams, grief, sadness and fear of the future. Will that be the definition I saddle on my life?

Its a hard place. But in that place I have found resolve. Resolve to continue to love, to expect restoration, to heal my heart, to laugh again and to build new dreams. Where did I get that resolve? Love.

The opposite of fear is not fearlessness, but love. In fact there’s an ancient Jewish saying that says, “Perfect love casts out fear…the one who fears is not perfected in love.” Where do you find that kind of love? Only one place I know. It was demonstrated perfectly in the life of one person. Jesus.

In the tumult of care-giving and fighting Kristi’s cancer and in the wilderness of fresh grief and loss, love is hard to hear and easy to let slip out of sight. Training helped me find it again. Training won’t heal your grief. The love of Jesus can. Training can help you find your way though until you discover it.

I don’t know how long I’ll wear this designation, widower, but it won’t define me. How about you?

Mission Accomplished

Inspirational, , ,

“To be honest, I’m not really ready to come home.” quipped Katie as I picked her and my parents up Saturday night. “I was just getting to know the students and staff and it was hard to leave.”

I’m sure it was. She witnessed several students and staff receive a healing touch from Father God through prayer, participated in multi-lingual worship, provided international babysitting, whipped up and served late night pancakes (twice) for the staff and students, and survived several Romanian cab rides, just to name a few highlights of the week!

I’m thankful to have Katie home, but more grateful still that she was able to meet and interact with an international cast of believers from Romania, Switzerland, Finland and The Netherlands. While my dad provided the primary teaching at the school for the week, Katie was in a support role, soaking up the Spirit and serving as needed.

I think maybe she realized that people are the best gift you get when traveling for mission work (or any travel). Its not the scenery or the adventure…the mission is the people. To connect with them is crucial if any ministry is to take place. And connect she did. I’m proud of her.

You go girl!

Mission Cluj

Inspirational, , , ,

Katie and my parents are safely in Cluj, Romania for a week of teaching and ministry at the YWAM base there. You may remember that my dad and I made the same trip back in March 2012, right before Kristi was diagnosed. You can find a video and brief story about that trip by looking at this post from June of that year.

Please pray for all three of them this next week as they bless those around them with the love of Jesus. Pray that they would hear and respond to the leading of their Heavenly Father.

My dad is once again teaching on healing and the foundations of spiritual warfare. Pray for open hearts, open minds and an open atmosphere in which to minister.

B-Gone, B-9, B-Healed….Its what Jesus prayed.

18 + 461 A Celebration

Grief, Inspirational, , , , ,

Yesterday was amazing in so many ways. Well over 400 people crowded the room to honor Kristi and celebrate her life. I was moved to tears as Joy, her cousin, sang the song “How Beautiful” to start the service. Joy sang that same song at our wedding nineteen years ago. Kristi truly was a beautiful woman in so many ways and the service was a fitting tribute to her life and love of family, friends and Jesus.

Kristi’s aunt Margie and Uncle Tom both shared their own recollections as well as notes from her mother and father, John and Bev. My mother, father and sister also shared how much they loved Kristi and what she means to our family.

As the last strains of “In Christ Alone” floated in the air, I stepped to the pulpit and told the story of my initial date with Kristi and our subsequent courtship, mountain top engagement and surprise Hawaiian honeymoon. I shared about how we both continued to pursue our love for each other through the years, never allowing it to grow stale. I closed with an encouragement to keep pursing a relationship with the Father and make sure to respond to His pursuit of you and invited anyone who wanted to come forward for prayer for any reason.

Two couples came forward to receive prayer and both received healing, one for spinal issues and another for GI tract issues. The Spirit Of the Living God was present and as scripture says, where the spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. Freedom in Christ brings life and ultimately healing.

I have since prayed for two friends, one with a hip problem and one with a sprained ankle and seen the pain decrease or disappear immediately. Hallelujah! I finished my talk by urging us all to keep leaning in toward Jesus until our faith reflects His and that B-Gone, B-9, B-Healed becomes second nature to us, a way of life that is characterized by the overflowing of Jesus’ spirit to those in our sphere of influence.

Today has been low key. A run this morning, hanging with my sister and family (in town for the service) and talking with a long time friend also in town this weekend. As expected, I’m tired. Truth be told I haven’t slept very well for a couple of weeks, first caring for Kristi and then the whirlwind of schedule and details that have descended upon us. Pray for deep, restful sleep tonight and in the days to come.

Finally, thank you to everyone who came out yesterday and thanks to those that sent messages of encouragement even though you couldn’t attend. It blessed my spirit to look over the crowd and feel the love, support and care for Kristi and our family.

I love you all!

B-Gone, B-9, B-Healed

18 + 57 Facts and Truth

Inspirational, , , ,

Jun 5, 2012 1:29 AM
As we pass the 24 hour mark here at the hospital, I thought I’d lay out the current facts of the situation:
-Kristi has an infection that continues to keep her heart rate up, a low grade fever going and red areas persisting on her chest.
-She is receiving antibiotics via IV at regular intervals in an effort to knock the infection down. If she can be fever free for 24 hours she can go home.
-If the infection persists, we will have to make a decision on surgical removal of the tissue expanders that were put in during the original surgery on May 1st as part of the preliminary reconstruction process. The current thought process from the medical team is that the infection is likely a result of bacteria on the surface of those devices.
-If the expanders have to come out, Kristi will have to heal up again before she can continue her chemotherapy.
-As the hours click by, Kristi is resting comfortably but there is no change in the infection.

I made a fast trip to the house this morning to clean up and gather more gear for our longer than expected stay. While there I could feel myself starting to get amped up about this curve ball in her recovery and the looming decision about the expanders. Our Father gently reminded me to take a chill pill and walk in faith, not fear.

While praying with a friend this evening the Spirit brought to mind these truths:
-The wounds of Jesus provided for Kristi’s healing. Is 53:5
-Jesus finished his work and now sits at the right hand of the Father where he has opened access for us to the sanctuary, to the Father’s lap. Heb 10:12-24
-the Kingdom of heaven does not have any sickness or death in it. Jesus beat both in his resurrection power. Rev 21:4
-Kristi has been seated with Christ in the heavenly places having been given everything she needs for life and godliness. Eph 2:4-7
-Jesus himself is truth. John 14:6 He is truth with flesh on. He’s solid, personal and alive.

When Truth came face to face with the facts of death and disease guess which one did the about face? That’s right. In the presence of Truth, facts changed…lame muscles leapt with strength, mute tongues wagged, blinded eyes saw the light, withered hands blossomed to wholeness and a dead little girl filled her lungs with the breath of life. The facts of disease are transformed by the Truth of Life.

Jesus commanded us to continue his work, to train everyone to do what he did. Eph 2:10, Matt 28:18 He said we’d do greater things than He. John 14:12

I saw it happen first hand while in Romania in late February this year for a mission trip. My father prayed over a woman in her mid twenties who’s right leg was about one inch shorter than the other. During her breach birth, the doctor had pulled her leg out of socket and then cast it incorrectly for the first six months of her life. She had walked on the ball of her foot to avoid a limp ever since and routinely experienced significant pain during exercise. But before our very eyes we watched Truth transform her facts. Her legs became the same length, her hip was healed and at the end of the week she testified that she had no pain during exercise! Two weeks later while conversing via Facebook, she told me she had been able to run around outside after the snow had melted. She was so thrilled to have legs the same length, it made such a difference, “so amazing!” she exclaimed!

I made a video about Christina’s healing. Let me set the stage: My father and I spent a week training students at a YWAM base in Cluj, Romania. They were preparing to go on a mission trip and we provided instruction regarding spiritual warfare which we started off with prayer for healing. Truth was present and everyone’s lives were changed. Several students and staff received healing with Christina’s being the most dramatic.

That’s why I pray like I do and ask you to join me in praying for Kristi’s facts to be confronted with and conformed to Truth:
B-Gone, B-9, B-Healed
Click here for the Video.