We opened the Women’s Recovery Home October 1999. My family slept one side of the house, the women on the other side. There was a huge living room, and kitchen in the middle,  which is where we spent all our time.  It was wonderful living in community with new believers, and it had it’s challenges.  Let’s just say, a lot of learning took place, on our end as well as the women who came into the home. We got to see first hand, God enter a hungry heart, and bring change. We saw families restored that were told they would never be together as a family again. We witnessed those who have struggled with addiction for many years, get saved and follow Jesus. We saw anger become tears, and Jesus healing touch come in, where one’s whole face would change. There was peace crashing in, where their had never been. We saw those who thought they could “get over” on us, get busted by God, and become humbled, and turn to Jesus. It was a beautiful time to see God move mountains, in pursuit of people’s hearts. He heals and restores our soul, (Psalm 23)  and is always eager to bring change, hope and freedom.

We stayed with the ministry for three years, but lived in the Women’s home for one year.  We had some money left over from the crash, that afforded us to put a down payment on a little house not far from the Women’s home. Purchase price was $93,000.  We were so excited, as this had been a dream for our family for a long time.

Not long after being in our new home, did I begin to get sick.  I had a pain that was worsening with each day, in my left side. I got a fever, chills and my body ached badly, which was getting worse each day.  I could not sleep at night.. I decided to go to the emergency room.  They ran tests and could not figure out what was wrong with me.  At the end of the day, the ER doctor was baffled but did not feel she could send me home with the amount of pain I was in. She decided to run one more test.  It came back that I had Diverticulitis.  That was really strange because I was so young, and eat really healthy. However, that was the diagnosis.  She put me on heavy antibiotics and told me I needed to avoid a lot of the foods I ate every day.  She said that if this does not get under control by meds and diet, that they would have to take out part of my intestines. I was so upset. I did not have time for this. I needed Jesus to heal me once again.  I took my meds, changed my diet, nothing changed. I continued to get worse.  After two weeks, I got up one early morning, got on my knees and asked the Lord to heal me. I did not want to spend my time focusing on this. I had little children and ministry and a lot to do. Please God, will you take this from me?

That next Sunday, we decided to go visit a different church.  Towards the end of the service, they were asking the congregation, if there was anyone who was sick?   I raised my hand.  I was standing at one end of the row, our children all in between, and my husband at the other end of the row.  Suddenly, both my husband and I could feel the Lord’s presence with us.  No one had come to pray for me yet, but Jesus was touching me.  I began to cry as I knew I was being healed. My husband looked at me and  he knew too.  He began to cry. We felt such a connection as we stood in awe as I was being made whole. We were being touched by Almighty God. He was answering my prayers and taking Diverticultis from me. I will never forget this Mighty Wonder. It was truly amazing and powerful. We just stood in what felt like a waterfall of His love and prescence, washing me of this disease. The pain was instantly gone, I felt stronger and was absolutely confident it was over.  When the prayer team got to us to pray, I said with tears in my eye, I am healed, thank you anyway.

That was the last day of feeling sick, the last day of pain. No more weakness, nausea, weariness.. I slept for the first time in weeks and never had a single symptom again, even though I was told that once you have Diverticulitis, you have it forever. Our God is Yahweh Rapha- our God who heals.

In Awe of His Mighty Wonders