Grace Renewal
One of the many things that I’ve loved about working with Harbor Church is their emphasis on grace. Pastor Dick Kaufmann when he started Harbor about 14 years ago sought to emphasize a gospel-centered and a grace centered movement of churches.
The outflow of that is that at most Harbor staff meetings and church planter meetings we tell grace renewal stories. Stories that show how God is working. Testimonies of his grace.
I felt like I should share a couple of wonderful grace renewal stories with you today.
God’s Work in Dawn’s Life
Dawn and I have asked you to pray for her sinus infection. The doctor told her last year that she was going to need a surgery to correct the problem she had with her sinuses. Since that time we’ve been praying for the Lord’s healing touch. Dawn has also used some alternative health remedies.
The prayer and the natural vitamins went on for close to a year. Yet, Dawn was still experiencing some of the same symptoms with her sinuses.
Finally, she just felt a peace that she had tried everything and that she should go back to the doctor to get a CAT scan. Initially we were discouraged, the CAT scan showed no change! The nurse talked to Dawn about when they could schedule the surgery.
This Tuesday we went to the doctor, because he needed to examine Dawn personally to see what the exact issues were, and to make sure she needed the surgery. I accompanied Dawn for that doctor visit. She was very nervous.
The doctor arrived in the room. He is very business like. His bedside manner could use some work, but he has a reputation as one of the best doctors in his field in the area. Anyway, he shows us the CAT scan. The doctor explains this is how a normal sinus should look, and then he shows us the pictures of Dawn’s sinus. They don’t look like a healthy sinus.
The doctor says he needs to look into Dawn’s sinus to see what’s going on and to check it first hand. He gets this long scope that sends my wife into some fear and panic. She weeps, and asks the nurse if she will hold her hand.
You Do NOT Need Surgery!
Then as the doctor is checking Dawn’s sinus, he asks “have you ever had surgery on your sinus before.” “No,” is the response. Then he says, “your sinus looks healthy, you will not need surgery.”
Wow! Even though we didn’t think the Lord had healed Dawn, he did!
I know that the Lord doesn’t always choose to heal, but it sure is exciting when he does.
The Father’s Good Gifts – Rejoice!
I love Jesus’ exhortation regarding prayer found in Matthew 7. This passage is also a great promise, and a wonderful reminder of how our loving Father wants to give us good things!
““Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!” —Matthew 7:7-11 ESV
Rejoice with us! Even though we doubted God answered.
Keep Praying
Since the Lord hears our prayers, and you play such an important part in that I wanted to ask you to pray for our church. I can’t go into the details, but the Hispanic ministry is experiencing a huge trial right now. We need wisdom and the Lord’s unifying peace.
In His Grip, Dave
DiasoLifeOnTheBorder.org
8 Comments
By peacelovegreatcountrymusic
I’ve been enduring profound health issues and it’s tough to pray for healing that had yet to come. Every day though, I do try and carry grace and thanksgiving with me.
By diasolifeontheborder
My wife felt a peace about trying everything, and she didn’t think she was healed. She thought she was going to have to have surgery. We are grateful for the Lord’s intervention – it was something that she’s dealt with for a long time. I pray the Lord gives you his grace to carry on, and I pray for his healing grace as well.
By Debbie
Rejoicing in Dawn’s healing and praying with you for the church, for His healing there as well. God bless you!
By diasolifeontheborder
Thanks – it’s a huge relief.
By Pure Glory
Jesus had the Holy Spirit when he walked the earth and the Holy Spirit never let him down. We are all God dependent. He is so good to fill us to our deepest need. We totally dependent on God and his goodness. He is our ever present help in our time of need. He always here to give us what we need. He makes us to lie down in green pastures and gives us all our needs. His love is more than enough. Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever and when we humble ourselves and ask for his help, he does. Praise God!
Thank you Lord that you are doing a deep work in the hearts of all the body of the church. May your love fill them and grant them your Shalom, whole and complete nothing missing. We cry out for wisdom and revelation how to pastor the church. Thank you for responding, your presence and help.
Amen
By Naphtali
Wow Dave! That is awesomely God! So happy for Dawn! God shows us what we need to know or do when we ask and stay in communion with him. My experience with the medical field has rung bells when to question a doctor or not. I am so thankful for my doctor and her staff who understand their patients and don’t jump to doing that or that. I just read this morning in My Utmost for His Highest, ” “It is much easier to do something than trust or believe in God.” Allowing God to show us what to do often eliminates “our doing” that which is unnecessary, costly and fearful. And the secular world is into pouring fear into everything to get people to do that which they shouldn’t. A great example which happened over night is the Sudanese woman who gave birth that was sentenced to death for becoming a Christian and all of a sudden she is freed! The purpose in the Muslim groups announcing her death sentence to the world backfired because they were imposing fear on anyone like her….the world reacted to supporting her than their evil. Dawn’s story here gives hope to those who are struggling with all kinds of things and that prayer and believing God has already answered is the answer.
As for the Hispanic ministry I believe God is shaking up the church to remove that which has been there for decades that he never planted. He knows of the good you and your family are doing there and will honor it. I am expecting the Holy Spirit to begin to show up and show off in God’s church!
Great blessings upon you and your family Dave! Tell Dawn I am so happy for her!
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