Faith Involves Action

A subject has been swirling in my head for some time now, and apparently, it's time to write about it.  How do we speak of faith and healing, with signs and wonders following, while most of us still rely on the world's systems?  I've seen some miracles.  I've been used in some miracles, and I am still walking after many exacerbations of MS.  Sadly though, often rather than the gift of healing, the gift of discernment simply reveals, we as a society, do not really believe fully in healing, or even worse; the individual does not want to be healed.  There are a number of strange benefits in this country, as opposed to begging outside the Temple as was done in Bible times.

I often struggle with prayer requests as people are heading to the ER or procedures, as to how to actually pray.  Do I pray they trust their issue to our Heavenly Father and stay home in their prayer closet?  Do I pray, someone just intervenes with a bottle of olive oil, and lays hands on them?  Do I ask Abba to prove Himself to them, so they'll change their faith in medicine?  I simply cannot ask YHUH to guide the doctors, except to bear witness of His miracle.  That's apparently what Luke did in Scripture.  There is absolutely no record of Y'hshuah Messiah sending anyone to see Luke.  He did, however; send some folks to present themselves to the High Priest, per Torah instruction.

I walked away from dependence upon mainstream medicine nearly two decades ago.  It was not an easy decision.  I had absolutely no earthly encouragement in my decision, but I still knew it was the right thing to have done.  How can I be ready to pray a prayer of faith for someone's health, if I'm not living it, myself?  I do use herbs and oils, which of course are part of creation, but absolutely no pharmaceuticals.  This is not to say, I am against doctors, but sadly, most of them now work for the pharmaceutical industry, and all of them answer to the licensing system of the government.  I don't believe YHUH is using the present medical system in our nation.

Even though I walked away from mainstream medicine, I do still have some MS symptoms.  I prayed years ago, asking Abba to heal me.  I heard "My grace is sufficient."  Of course I recognized that from II Corinthians 12:9.  As I read through that chapter, I noticed that's where Paul speaks of asking that the thorn in his flesh be removed.  He asked thrice . . . Since I'd already asked many more times than that, I stopped asking.  I haven't asked since, and I can faithfully attest Adonai has used me in healing others, as well as providing health for accomplishments in my own life.  Truly His grace is sufficient.

Over 17 years ago, was the last time I tried to mix faith and mainstream health care.  That exacerbation was bad and it was recommended that I check into long term health care, file for disability, stop my denial and accept reality.  When I stated I knew YHUH would raise me back up from that exacerbation, upon my repentance of seeking medical care, I was labeled to have some sort of "disorder of grandiosity."  As it turns out, "they" were wrong on everything.  I now think, also of the fourteen years, Paul references earlier in that same chapter.  I was presented with the same choice King Asa was, but that last time in the hospital, I knew if I didn't get out of the system, I'd have the same outcome as King Asa.
And Asa in the thirty and ninth year of his reign was diseased in his feet, until his disease was exceeding great: yet in his disease he sought not to YHWH, but to the physicians.  And Asa slept with his fathers, and died in the one and fortieth year of his reign.  II Chronicles 16:12-13

I wasn't even able to walk at the time I "rolled away" from mainstream health care, and it was a few months before the wheelchair was parked.  It would still be two more years, 2003, before I knew if I'd be given another chance or meet the same end as Asa.

Now, here I've already celebrated twelve years of homesteading and ready to share His goodness with whomsoever is willing to receive.  And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Messiah may rest upon me.  II Corinthians 12:9

Winter Ills

I never get a flu shot.  Nor do I use OTC products if illness should visit me.  I'm about in the age group of the real push to get all the annual shots before winter.  They may call it flu season or pneumonia season or even strep throat season, but I simply call it winter and with all the shots now promoted and pushed, I think it's only logical that more illness will be going around!  Father warned me, many would be ill, this winter.

I got an early taste of illness this year, and although it was my own carelessness, I gained valuable information.  More folks are coming to visit the homestead, Tabernacle, and Bethesda, now, and I was busier than I've ever been, while still recovering . . . Part of my recovery plan was pool therapy, which has been wonderful, but as it's been getting cooler, I took a chill early in the fall.  The pool water was getting cooler and I was still trying to get in 2 to 3 times a day, but night swims just didn't work and sitting out on the deck in the cool night air resulted in awakening in the night with a serious sore throat, horrible cough, and low grade fever.  I took it as a challenge.  "They" say there is no cure for the common cold and it must run it's course a week to 10 days.  I can't say for sure, this was the common cold, but I can tell you what I did and it was gone in less than 72 hours!

Since the elderberries were so abundant this year, it would only follow that the juice would be needed.  Elderberry juice is a wonderful immune builder!  So, I hit that the first night and continued 4 times a day for the three days.  I also have a wonderful Essential and Extract blend that I used as needed.  I believe the first 24 hour period was probably as many as 6 times . . . I never touched a Tylenol or ibuprofen for the fever.  Fevers are your body's way of killing germs.  Granted with children, fevers must be monitored, but the fever, itself, is not the problem.  I also have an old time honored remedy my Granny used to make.  In a cup, 1 tsp. Lemon juice, 1 TBS Honey, 1 oz. boiling water, blend, then add 1 jigger of Whiskey.  The first 24 hour period, I took three of these, then twice a day for the next two days, and that was it!

I will tell you, the moment I took the first Tablespoon of Elderberry juice, I felt it hit the site of infection in the back of my throat.  By the second Tablespoon, I knew whatever was attacking me, was now under attack!  I followed with Granny's formula which burned all the way down . . . I could literally feel the illness being attacked by natural remedies.

The symptoms began in the wee hours of early Monday morning, and by Monday evening, I had all three remedies at hand.  Tuesday was a day dedicated to recovery . . . Wednesday, I took care of business, pretty much as usual, and by Thursday, I was completely symptom free!

Many believe this winter is going to be somewhat harsh and with that may come illness.  Get some elderberry juice and have it on hand!