Tag Archive | healing

A Master of Disguise

Due to extended family schedules, this year, we decided to celebrate Christmas this weekend. Like a Christmas without snow, it just won’t seem the same to me; but I choose to make the best of it and made plans of cookie decorating with my grandchildren on Saturday. The enemy, however, the author of sickness and disease, decided to try to rob me of my family Christmas altogether, by trying to take me down. It was Wednesday night, about 9pm, when I started feeling chilled. Where I work, we are always cold, but this felt different. Several other symptoms soon developed that mimicked a milder version of terrible covid I had experienced a few years ago, but this time I was prepared and refused it with the Word.

There is a window of time, right when you feel that first symptom–you know that feeling, it’s like a suggestion. It’s like it, because it is! That is your moment to refuse to accept it. You don’t toy with it, don’t think about it, just plain refuse it! Speak out loud to it–No! Sickness, you’re not coming here. Devil you’re not taking my Christmas! You can’t have my body. I refuse you–I rebuke you in Jesus Name!

“The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe.” Proverbs 18:10

I drove home declaring the Word over my body and was grateful my dog was already in bed when I got there, because that is exactly where I wanted to be. Racked with chills, I put an extra down comforter over the other one, climbed under the heap of down-feathers and went to sleep declaring the Word. An hour an a half later, the chills are gone but it wasn’t time to relax the Word, not yet, instead it was time to double down. This was at 1:30 am. I went to sleep once more, declaring the Word, and at 3:00 woke up totally healed! Praise Jesus!

The next day I told my son what had happened and praised the Lord all day, feeling wonderful but tired. I had fought a battle. Then came . . .

Round Two.

I was fine all day Thursday, until the afternoon, when the devil changed his disguise and I suddenly started to cough. At first it was just a cough or two, but it kept increasing, and suddenly noticed my lungs feeling heavy and paining out my back. I took a deep breath and at the same time saw an image of my lungs shattering like they were made of thin ice that cracked all over and fell to the ground. My lungs felt like broken glass and the devil whispered–you have pneumonia. This is the first time I ever ‘saw’ his suggestion in a vision and I can’t believe the audacity of him hitting me again. Oh, that didn’t work? Well how ’bout this–will you believe this????

NO!

He is a master of disguises and they are all the direct opposite of what the Word says.

What do you choose to believe?

I went to bed coughing every few minutes, and in between the coughs declaring the Word over my body and rebuking the sickness once again.

Once again, just a few hours later, I woke up in the middle of the night, no longer coughing and able to take a deep breath with absolutely no pain–completely healed.

Glory to God!!!

So this morning I was asking Him, “Lord, what should I do? Should I tell my family what I went through, only to have them doubt and lose my time with my grandchildren after all?” He simply said, “Testify.”

I wish for you to understand, when the enemy throws sickness at you, you don’t have to accept it. Speak the Word against it; and when it seems like it’s getting stronger, that is not the time to give up and accept it–it’s the time to double down. Command it to leave in Jesus Name!

You are not healed when you see the symptoms leave your body. You are healed when He paid the price for your healing at the cross. We are simply defending our right to His Promises. Divine Healing belongs to you. It is your God-given right to be healed but it is by faith that we receive His Promise of healing.

By faith we defend our body from attack.

I have never experienced the enemy trying so hard as to put two different forms of sickness on me in two different but consecutive days before. It tends to make me think that this is going to be one of the best Christmas’ ever!

“He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.” I Peter 2:24

“I will extol thee, O Lord, who has drawn me up, and has not let my foes rejoice over me. O Lord my God, I cried to thee for help, and thou hast healed me.” Psalms 30:1-2

Was I Really Dreaming?

Sep3

Sometime in the night I was awake and thought about writing a post today, about the nearly dozen eggs that I had exploded all over my kitchen. Yes, it really happened, and I am shocked at how thoroughly an egg can explode. Not just blown open, but in pulverized fragments that covered my kitchen. I had put them on to cook, threw in some laundry and then proceeded into my quiet place where I got so caught up in spending time with the Lord that I had no memory of cooking them. Even when I heard the explosions, I thought it was an odd sound, but didn’t readily investigate. I thought it must be the neighbors. When I finally realized it was actually in my house, the pan then exploded the final egg!

What a mess!

My microwave, which was perfectly fine, now makes this very loud noise even though the eggs weren’t in it but cooked below it. I think the extreme heat/steam has warped the outer casing and now it vibrates. I am leaving it off for a bit to decide what to do. Too many online reviews say the newer microwaves, no matter the brand, just aren’t the quality they used to be. I am reluctant to scrap mine and hope I don’t have to. I don’t quite understand why the Lord didn’t clue me in on the brewing storm, except that maybe I needed to see the serious consequences of putting food on the stove to cook and leaving the vicinity. I have done this too many times. There are just so many more interesting things than cooking anymore. I’ve lost interest in it, and just cook to get it done!

The Dream:

So, this morning, I had a dream. In fact, I was sleeping so soundly that I slept until 9:34 and woke up from such a deep place that it took me a minute to realize I was awake and where I was. I had slept without hearing a text that came in an hour prior, and that is really not like me.

I woke up remembering the dream in every detail. The people, the conversation, what they were wearing, action, the miracle. I highly suspect the Lord had taken me there on a mission. You can believe or not, it’s up to you. I’m just relating what happened. I don’t even know myself, for absolutely sure, but it is just so very clear. Too clear–especially to make up the conversation in one’s head, back and forth in real time. He has done this before. I have experienced many miraculous things and I never limit the God who doesn’t know impossible. I related in a text to a friend this morning, “I kinda think we are going to be in for many surprises when we go to Heaven and learn of the many ways we were ‘used’ for Him and didn’t even realize it.” . . .

When there is a willing heart, He is able.

So in the dream, I was driving a car in a land that is foreign to me and just then a teenager, on a bike, rode up and kind of side-swiped into my car. He fell off the bike, so I got out of the car and asked him if I could pray for him, because he seemed so startled. He was agreeable, and we were about to, but a woman came up and said, “We can’t pray together, because we don’t pray to the same God.” I replied, “That may be so, and you can do what you want, but I am going to pray to the only God that can save and heal. Jesus Christ is the Son of God and it is only by His Blood that we can be saved, by His Blood that we are healed.”

At that, I was about to pray for this young man but I looked up to see a boy in a wheelchair that had apparently come with the woman. He had a look of determination on his face and he started to struggle, as if to get up. The woman looked over at him surprised and asked to him, “Are you wanting to try to stand?” She started to walk back to him, she had walked about 4 steps away from him to approach me, but he made a gesture with his hand that indicated he didn’t want her help. When suddenly, he stood–all by himself!

I hadn’t prayed for him, he had just heard and believed–and stood up!

He started to walk, very stiff-like at first, but he got stronger with each step. He looked almost like a straight stick, he was so thin. The woman then told me that he has never walked. I asked how old he is and she gave me an age range of around 4. I thought that was strange and said, “Don’t you know how old he is?” and then I learned that he was adopted and she really didn’t know his actual age. He looked older to me than 4. He was taller than I would think he would be for 4 and seemed more like a 6 year old. He was dressed in thin light pants and shirt, of what seemed like a cotton material. She had dark clothes and so did the boy with the bike.

The dream then ended and I woke up more rested than I have been in weeks. I needed that rest. I have been pushing hard all summer and the egg explosion was traumatizing to my exhausted soul.

Whether I was there or not will one day be revealed, but what is revealed right now is that Jesus is here for you. Whether you were taught to believe in Him or not–whether you believe or not. He wants to save you–He wants to heal you–He LOVES you!

The Holy Bible is very clear–He is the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father, but through Jesus. He is the One and only TRUE God. You can believe Him or not, it’s your choice. I am not trying to force Him on anyone.

I respect your right to believe what you choose, but I ask you . . .

Does your God Save?

Does your God Heal?

Does your God bring you Freedom?

Does your God bring you Joy?

Does your God give you Peace?

Does your God Love you?

Does your God answer your prayers?

Did your God die for you?

Do you know for certain where you will go when you die?

All these, and so much more, you should carefully consider–for if your answer is not yes to every one of them, then you are not following TRUTH.

If no, then you are not safe and you are not free.

I urge you to seek Jesus. ♥

“Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but by me.” John 14:6

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God sent the Son into the world not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him. He who believes in him is not condemned; he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.” John 3:16-18

“He who believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself. He who does not believe God has made him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has borne to his Son. And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life; he who has not the Son of God has not life. I write this to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life. And this is the confidence which we have in him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have obtained the requests made of him.” I John 5:10-15

“Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders, if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a cripple, by what means this man has been healed, be it known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by him this man is standing before you well. This is the stone which was rejected by you the builders, but which has become the head of the corner. And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.'” Acts 4:8-12

“He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls.” I Peter 2:24-25

“And just as it is appointed for men to die once, and after that comes judgment, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.” Hebrews 9:27

“After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no man could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits upon the throne, and to the Lamb!” And all the angels stood round the throne and round the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying, ‘Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God for ever and ever! Amen.'” Revelation 7:9-12

The Heart of the Rose

May30

A Rose With a Purpose–Packed and Ready to Go!

It was special from the start . . . Special, in that it was a gift of love from my church family on Mother’s Day . . . Special, because it not only survived the steam from my coffee cup but miraculously began to grow without any root or soil . . . Special, because after its story, the Lord revealed more . . . This special rose has more to tell you . . .

Miracles Always Have Purpose!

My table seems quite empty now without the rose, but I can drink a cup of coffee again without being cautious where to set it. I miss my rose, but it wasn’t mine to keep. I have learned that when I receive something, be it money, food, gift etc, to look inside and inquire of the Lord–is it for me or did He have someone else in mind to be blessed, and I the carrier? Especially with money. Is it for me or is it a seed? –That said, it didn’t occur to me that I would be giving away a Mother’s Day gift, because, why would one do that?

Why?

Because, the Lord has need of it!

After my previous post, “A Gift of New Life,” someone made the comment to me stating–“That post touched me more than any of all of your posts.” What exactly was it about that one? He couldn’t really say, but the Lord had used that post to place His finger directly on the pain of his soul. It was just time–time to deal with the wounds of life that had been stuffed but never healed. It was time for God to answer my prayers; I had been praying for him for a very long time.

My time came when my husband died. Suddenly, years of stuffed pain erupted in me like a volcano. It was the proverbial ‘last straw’ and I didn’t know how to cope with it. My friend Paula, now gone home to be with the Lord, took the time, patience, and love required to unravel my mess–helping me to live again! I thank God for her, I am so grateful–everyone needs a special friend like Paula!

Be encouraged, the Lord hears you!

This man stated that he had been planning to call me for about a month. “I want what you’ve got!” he emphatically stated. What? “That baptism of the Holy Spirit–I want that!”

That is one of the greatest gifts one could ever desire!

“For John baptized with water, but before many days you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” Acts 1:5

If you’re having trouble connecting with God. If your walk with Him seems inactive and dull. It’s likely that this is what you are missing. Don’t let people tell you that it’s not of God. Open your Bible and read it for yourself.

So, it was the next morning when I looked at the rose and realized, this is why it was growing but not putting out roots. This rose represented the man’s new beginning. During our conversation, so much pain of his past poured forth–revealing his need for the Lord to heal and deliver. Pain from his past, the trauma of Vietnam, loss, and the alcohol he used to anesthetize it all had gripped his life–caging his heart and soul. He had tried everything to break free, but there are some things we just can’t do on our own.

A few days before I was given the rose, a video about rooting a rose from a cutting had come into my YouTube feed. It was interesting, so I sent it to my text for–someday. Now I realized, God, had sent it, and ‘someday’ was here!

The left picture, presented above, is the rose 18 days after I received it. Who knows how long it had been cut before that. After it was given to me, it was three or four hours out of water; not even a wet paper towel on the end. So, I prayed when I packed it up, that it would survive the journey; but it was so straight and strong it didn’t even ruffle a petal. I took it to the man and said, “This represents your new beginning. You are going to plant this and it will be a marker of your new life. It didn’t put down roots because you are the one that’s going to be putting down new roots!” We talked a bit, read through scriptures, and then it was time to pray. He had told me the night before that he had asked and asked but nothing ever seemed to happen. Well, God made sure he knew something happened, because he radically received his baptism!

He first commented that he could smell the rose. “No, that rose doesn’t have a scent,” I told him. “I’m smelling roses!” he reaffirmed. It was Jesus. His Presence sometimes has a scent. When I worked at a factory years ago, I was in a corner all by myself and got so caught up in my thoughts of Him I began to worship in my heart; and suddenly was enveloped with the smell of roses. Factories don’t smell like roses, and there was no one else near me. Other times I have smelled lily of the valley and once, honey and roses. He then commented that it was getting stronger, but I couldn’t smell anything–this was just for him!

I put my hands on his head to pray and it became hot and sweat broke out on his head when I asked the Lord to baptize him in the Holy Spirit. I commanded a spirit of addiction off of him, and then the Holy Spirit filled him and he began to shake. He sat shaking for some time, “Stay with it,” I instructed him. The Lord was doing a work in him. During this time, I had prayed that the Lord heal him from the top of his head to the souls of his feet; and the very first thing he did when he got up was to go smell the rose. “It doesn’t smell like anything.” he said to me. “Yep, told you, it has no scent–that was Jesus!” Much later we went to a restaurant for dinner–our plan was to go to lunch but this had become a much bigger event than either of us had expected. At dinner, before he even sat down, he said, “Do you smell that?” Yeah, sure, the food smells were really strong, garlic and sort of a pungent BBQ. He got that misty look on his face as it dawned on him, the Lord had healed him–he has not been able to smell anything for years! –and that is his beginning . . .

Glory to God!

“‘For John baptized with water, but before many days you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.'”

“‘But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the end of the earth.'” Acts 1:8

“And suddenly a sound came from heaven like the rush of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues as of fire, distributed and resting on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” Acts 22-4

“And Peter said to them, ‘Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children and to all that are far off, every one whom the Lord our God calls to him.'” Acts 2:38-39

“As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them just as on us at the beginning. And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said. ‘John baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ Acts 11:15-16

“And he said to them, ‘Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?’ And they said, ‘No, we have never even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.’ And he said, ‘Into what then were you baptized?’ They said, ‘Into John’s baptism.’ And Paul said, ‘John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, Jesus. On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came on them; and they spoke with tongues and prophesied.” Acts 19:2-6

“I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear, he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire.” Matthew 3:11 KJV

“‘ And I tell you, ask, and it will be given you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!'” Luke 11:10-13

“‘–If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.'” John 8:31-32

A Gift of New Life

May28

A Mother’s Day Gift From My Church

This rose was given to me on Mother’s Day, May 11, 2025. It is now 17 days later and it has not lost a single petal. Its original leaves fell off fairly quickly but, no matter, as you can see it started growing new ones! With all this new growth, you would think it would be sprouting roots but not a single root has come forth from the cut stem. There are a few petals on the bottom that darkened and dried within; which I finally figured out it was because of my coffee cup that I had set just below it. I didn’t think about the steam rising. I have conferred with the other moms of my church, that received roses from the same batch, and every one has noted that God is doing something with this rose, and stated that their roses, though beautiful, did not last like this one.

This has reminded me of another rose, a long time ago . . .

Many years ago when my kids were small I was given a white rose from my church on Resurrection Sunday. What happened with this rose may sound far-fetched to you, but I stand before God and tell you it is the truth. He has done many, many things in my life that seem astounding, but He doesn’t know impossible, and often brings wonders to remind us of that fact.

The rose was pure white and absolutely beautiful. So beautiful that I was sad to see it droop over, as it began its decline. A cut rose doesn’t live forever and I expect this is what makes them a precious gift to the receiver. Now for the amazing part. . . remember I said it was given on Resurrection Sunday, well, three days after it drooped its head over, it lifted back up. Seriously it did, and you can choose to believe me or not, that won’t change the fact, it happened. So, this rose dried standing in water. It dried perfectly and didn’t brown. When I saw that it was dried, I took it out of the vase of water and hung it upside down in my kitchen. It stayed that way for 2 years, but everyone was so amazed by it, they kept touching it, because it looked so “real.” All the touching and probably oils from the fingers finally took its toll on it and ruined it. I’m just as guilty, the petals felt sort of like leather and it was so amazing, I just wanted to touch it– everyone did.

“And he began to teach them that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.” Mark 8:31

Have you suffered many things?

Don’t give up hope. Lift up your head and seek Him for a new beginning. He has restoration for you! See your past as a springboard to your future. What did you learn and how can you grow from it?

Some have suffered horrific things from evil and those influenced by it. May God comfort you, heal you and release you from those painful memories. May His mercy be upon you and protect you. May you find that His comfort brings you to a place of safety and hope. May He give you peace and may you be filled with joy, once again.

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” John 10:10-11

“I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and whoever lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” John 11:25

“Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but by me.” John 14:6

In Him We Thrive

May13

Friends of mine have been going through traumatic times lately. He is my former employer, which was many years ago; but over the years, he and his wife and I have remained good friends.

A couple months ago he had a stroke. . .

With the Lord and the hospital watching over him, he has come out of it in amazingly great shape. Thank you, Jesus, and many thanks to the wonderful team of doctors and nurses who took care of him. His wife, however, did not fare so well. Struggling while he was in the hospital, faced with the reality of what life might be without him, she developed a fear for her future and began shutting down. I was working heavily at the time and was unaware of the storm that was brewing until I heard from her husband one day that they were taking her to the hospital. “I’ve never seen anyone so thin.” he stated. I asked him to get back to me, but he didn’t and when my texts went unanswered, I was reluctant to intrude. Still busy with work and life, it was 2 weeks before I realized how much time had lapsed and I still didn’t know how she was. Just as I was wondering this, he texted. She is still recovering, has lost a lot of muscle and is in Hospice care in Chicago. He had sent a wrapped heart emoji with the recovering part which made me think she had suffered a heart attack, but my texts for more clarification again went unanswered.

Sunday, Mother’s Day. . .

I was going to have my church pray for her. We are a fervent-praying, God-seeking church–but during worship I began to pray. The Holy Spirit anointing dropped and enveloped me with such a Presence that I knew God was on it and no longer felt the need for more prayer. It seemed so settled, that afterward I even forgot to ask.

That afternoon her son called me. He filled in all the missing details. She didn’t have a heart attack, but they determined failure to thrive. Her oxygen level was so low she was near death. She was dehydrated, not eating and the doctors said she would likely die within 24-48 hours. I told him about the anointing and prayer, declaring that I don’t believe it’s her time to go. He was quiet. Realizing that this too could be an intrusion, to someone that had likely prepared in the midst of this whirlwind for her death, I softened my exuberance; explaining that I’m probably just not wanting to let her go. He encouraged me to call his dad, stating that he knew his dad would welcome my call, but later it received no answer.

The next morning I called again. . .

This time he answered, and when I asked how she was, he said, “Oh, Would you like to talk to her?”

Within 24 hours, the time she was supposed to die–God moved!

Not only did she not die–she is staying in a hospital bed at her daughter’s and at the time of my call she was out of bed and sitting in a wheelchair. She had eaten breakfast and the oxygen was off. Her voice was strong, cheerful and one would never know she had just hovered at the brink of death.

She said, “I had a cup of tea this morning with honey!”

WOW!

At the end of our conversation, I instructed her, “Tie your shoes, I believe you’re coming home soon.”

Her reply?

“I want to come home.”

Someday she will go to her forever home, but this isn’t the time. . .

Praise Jesus, He is causing her to THRIVE!

“And his name, by faith in his name, has made this man strong whom you see and know; and the faith which is through Jesus has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all.” Acts 3:16

Though the world can be a scary place, we must not yield to fear. Fear is a spirit that will begin to take your life from you if you yield to it.

This is the time to anchor to the Rock!

He will keep you safe–Yield to Jesus!

♥ UPDATE: My friends are making preparations to come home! She is walking with a walker and has gained a little weight. This is essential, as her husband told me she had weighed in at 65 pounds when they made the decision to transfer to Chicago and Hospice. I can’t even imagine a 65# adult. It is an incredible miracle that she not only lived, but is in the process of complete restoration. Please keep them in your prayers. You may just say Lori’s friends and the Lord will know. He knows without you even saying that–He knows! –Thank you!

♥ Her husband also mentioned that he will be driving soon. Another miracle, as it was just 2 months ago when he had the stroke.

Praise God for His unwavering faithfulness! He honors our prayers–He honors His Word!

Hallelujah!

♥ALL GLORY BELONGS TO GOD!

Thank you, Jesus!

Later, this same day, I was walking my dog on the public paved trail. We were almost back to the car when a shadow spanned over me blocking the sun. I saw the huge black wings imprinted on the cement and knew that bird was after my dog. He was very close. I looked up at him and pointed my finger and said, “You will not take my dog.” The eagle raised up, circled and came in closer, very close! Looking up, I pointed again and said, “I have authority over you and you will not touch my dog! His shadow covered over me. I pulled my dog in close and said, “I don’t abide under your shadow. I abide under the shadow of my Father’s wings–be gone in Jesus Name!” He immediately flew off and when I reached the car, just moments later, looking up at the sky he was nowhere to be seen.

Praise God for the authority He has given us, in His Name!

“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High, who abides in the shadow of the Almighty, will say to the Lord, ‘My refuge and my fortress; my God, in whom I trust'” 91:1-2

“Protect me from harm; keep an eye on me like you would a child reflected in the twinkling of your eye. Yes, hide me within the shelter of your embrace, under your outstretched wings.” Psalm 17:8 TPT

“Behold, I have given you authority to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy; and nothing shall hurt you.” Luke 10:19

“Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, after our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth.'” Genesis 1:26

Miracles All Around You

Apr6

Tonight, I went to the movie theater to see “The Chosen” season 5, part one. They have done an incredible job in these movies, portraying the life of Jesus, with His disciples. So realistic, it brings the pages of the Bible to life!

My favorite season is 4.

If you have yet to see that one, don’t miss it!

Before the movie began, they offered a QR code on the screen to scan for extras of some sort, don’t know, haven’t gone there yet. I tried and tried to capture that code but it just wasn’t happening. After it was no longer visible, it occurred to me that I had put my phone on airplane mode for the movie. No wonder! A nice woman, sitting behind me, offered to send me the code from her phone after the movie. When she asked for my number, she put her sunglasses on, explaining that they are prescription. It was the perfect segway to tell her about the wonderful miracle God has given me.

I related to her that I was blind a little over a year ago, and the Lord not only restored my eyes from blindness but that, before the blindness, my vision was worse than 20/400 and now I don’t use any correction at all; and I no longer have Glaucoma! Glaucoma is an eye disease that is determined by doctors to be incurable. I have battled it since I was 20 years old, and the specialist has confirmed that I no longer have it, including the damage that it had caused my eyes, for the miraculous healing has reversed it all! Correction– all but one small spot, that was from many years ago.

I am so delighted to report that she responded with her own incredible miracle and told me that her son-in-law had been riding a snowmobile on a lake and it had fallen through the ice. He was in the frigid waters for over 2 hours and not only did he live through it, but came out of it with no issues whatsoever!

Glory to God!!!

If I had let the opportunity to speak of the goodness of God pass by, I would have missed an incredible blessing. It was like getting a 100-fold return, instantly, from someone in the family that I had never even met. Likewise, I would have missed an opportunity to pass her testimony on to you!

Don’t miss the little moments to share the goodness of God. It encourages others, gives you opportunity to show your thankfulness, and the opportunity to hear their story–all Glory be to God!

I can’t help but think that He sets up appointments and then sits back to watch as the connection is made–the family of God is a wonderful thing.

Thank you, Father, for saving their son. . . Thank you! –Thank you!

Thank you for miracles–and especially the wonderful miracle of Jesus!

Jesus came to give you the miracle of salvation–

Do you know Him?

Don’t live another day without Him!

Reach out to the family of God–they are, “Miracles All Around You!”

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God sent the Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him. He who believes in him is not condemned; he who does not believe is condemned already because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.” John 3:16-18

“-If you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For man believes with his heart and so is justified, and he confesses with his lips and so is saved. The scripture says, ‘No one who believes in him will be put to shame.'” Romans 10:9-11

“For this is the will of my Father, that every one who sees the Son and believes in him should have eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.” John 6:40

“Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If any one serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there shall my servant be also; if any one serves me, the Father will honor him.” John 12:24-26

Faith’s Gift

Sep7

The first time we met, he was in an alley, and very drunk. He yelled at me to go home. “Go home” he said, “We don’t want you here!” and I replied, “I’m sorry you feel that way, but I’m staying.”

Rather than deter me, he worked his way into my heart.

I know one shouldn’t have favorites, but my list of favorites seems to keep growing every week and he is way up there at the top. Maybe because he had tried so hard to reject me–maybe because I could see beyond the wall of pain.

He’s one of our veterans . . .

living and trying to cope on the streets, along with many many others; vets and non-vets, men, women and children, stuck in that same relentless trap.

I had been reading an article about a group that was feeding the homeless in a park. They had started during Covid and were now going to continue, by moving to a local shelter for the winter. When they found out that if one doesn’t stay at the shelter, they can’t eat there, they continued serving at both–faithfully, all year long. The Lord weighed in, as I read the article, and spoke to me, “The people they serve are much like the prisoners you write for.” When I agreed, He continued. “Then why don’t you go help them.” It was more of a statement than a question and I didn’t hesitate.

“Ok!”

I sent them an email and they graciously opened their hearts to me, inviting me to ‘give it a try’ that week. I never looked back. It has been my favorite night of the week ever since, and a tremendous gift to serve such appreciative, wonderful guests!

So this ‘belligerent’ guy became my friend that I saw only once a week. When he isn’t drinking he is a sweet, gentle soul. It’s the vodka that made him mean, but it really wasn’t that was it? The vodka was his means of coping with a life out of control. A life that had become too hard to face without it. It was vodka that he reached for when his heart just couldn’t bear it anymore. I hear so many criticize the homeless, and give their mighty opinions of how they should be ‘handled’ or even not helped.

I wonder how those criticizers would fare if they tried even just one day in their bitter situation.

So, we got to talking a couple winters later, and I told him he was the first person I met when I had started. I related to him what he had said to me and I was smiling, not condemning. “I said that?!” he replied. “Oh, that d… vodka! I should never drink that stuff!” It wasn’t long after, that he seemed to be getting more fragile. He was very thin and having trouble walking–far too many years of hardship, out in the elements. I told him I was praying for him. He seemed a little embarrassed and befuddled at that. That season ended and I moved to serving in the park. He didn’t come the next winter which was a bitter, bitter cold one. I prayed that he be healed, warm, and safe. The next year, when he didn’t return, I asked everyone that knew him, if they had seen him; but only one responded vaguely positive; they thought they had heard he was still around. I missed him and tried not to worry, but continued to trust God–Who knows everything!

The Gift!

I think it’s been about a year and half now and this week I was given an incredible gift!

Running an errand on my way to work that day, took me down an alley I don’t usually travel. He was there! When he saw me, his face lit up! Maybe he was reflecting my own shining face, for I was so happy to see him–but no, his face revealed the countenance of a changed man.

We talked for a bit and he told me that he no longer drinks and he has been able to sleep. His face was now fleshed out, he looked rested and years younger. It was evident that his heart is no longer tormented. He went on to say he has been working, and is making plans to move back home in a few weeks, to where he grew up. If that wasn’t enough, he’d saved the biggest gift for last . . . the docs had worked him over and ran scans and tests, reporting that his liver is in excellent shape! He laughed and said he told them maybe they’d better run that again. We both know that after all that hard drinking, there is only one possible way for him to have an excellent liver–NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE WITH GOD!

Our huge smiles matched this time as he said, “I’d better get outta here.” His face shown as he spoke his parting words to me–

“Keep the Faith!”

There’s no other way to go!

My friend knows Jesus–everything’s gonna be alright!

All Glory Be to God!

“He will care for the needy and neglected when they cry to him for help. The humble and helpless will know his kindness, for with a father’s compassion he will save their souls. They will be rescued from tyranny and torture, for their lifeblood is precious in his eyes.” Psalm 72:12-14 TPT

“He responds to the prayer of the poor and broken and will not despise the cry of the homeless.” Psalm 102:17 TPT

“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being changed into his likeness from one degree of glory to another, for this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.” 2 Corinthians 3:17-18 RSV

Miracle Progress

Jul10

Hello Reader,

I am excited to announce an update on the miracle God has been working in my eyes. If you are new to this blog, welcome! You may read about the origin of the miracle in the post titled, “A Miracle in Progress.” It details the event when I woke up in December, blind in both eyes. The Lord was so faithful in preparing me for that. Not that I knew I would wake up blind, but He told me to study about entering into His rest, two weeks ahead. That preparation so filled me with trust, that the morning I woke up not seeing I wasn’t afraid but spoke out loud, “This blindness will not remain. I will see again!”

And, I did.

I won’t go over that part anymore, but you may read about it by scrolling back to the original post. I urge you to do so–

His miracles are so great!

So, the last I left you, I was being seen by a cornea specialist–about every 4-5 days. In January, he determined the situation resolved, left me on an ointment for a week more and drops again–indefinitely. I tried to comply, but the drops were hurting my eyes again, much like before the blindness. I actually had prayed before all this blindness had happened, asking the Lord to get me off the drops because they were hurting me; and to bring forth the full manifestation of my healing–no more glaucoma!

One day, I was really wrestling with the fact that God had restored my vision, so much that I no longer needed to wear any correction, even though my eyes had been worse than 20/400 throughout my life; but I was still on drops! I wanted to take the leap, but the doctors have always said you can’t feel the pressure and you can go blind from the damage of high pressure.

Basically, I believed, but I was chicken.

I went to work that day and a guy I work with came by and out of the blue said, “Are you still taking those drops?” When I replied yes, he said it again, leaning in and looking me straight in the eye, with a look that said, Why? I knew it was from the Lord encouraging me to leap, and stopped them that night. Ironically, a month later, I told the same guy that I stopped them, figuring he would be excited about it, but he became a bit upset. He quickly backtracked and said I should talk to my doctor about it. I told him I had an appointment; I just didn’t tell him that my appointment was for 5 months away.

In May I took a vacation. . .

and met some wonderful people from Dublin, who were on vacation as well. It’s a long story, but the short version is the Lord drew me to buy a t-shirt that I didn’t like, so I would take it back the next day and, therefore, meet these people. I know it was His plan, because they didn’t have the size I needed for my Granddaughter, 5-6. Then the Lord said, “There is one, but it’s in the wrong place.” He indicated that it was in the size 1-3 stack. I told the lady I believed there was one in the wrong size and when I went for that 1-3 size stack, she became upset. “Well, it’s not in there!” I paid her no mind, but went right for the color I wanted, half way down the stack, plucked it out from the middle and it was indeed a 5-6! The Lord had hidden it there for me!

The lady’s mouth dropped right open!

Anyway, all this put me walking with these 3 lovely people from Dublin and we got to talking. The man said something like it must have been hard to come all this way by myself. My opening to tell him about the blindness. “Not as hard as it could have been before my miracle.” They became very alert and wanted details. It turns out the woman is an ophthalmologist and her son is medical as well. She was on her way to a 2-day ophthalmology conference. After hearing my testimony, she replied, “That’s impossible.” “You can never get rid of Glaucoma.” I replied, “Nothing is impossible with God.” She seemed bristled, and I understand. She is defending what she knows to be true, but at the same time, I was defending what I know to be TRUE–and it’s a higher Truth that trumps all!

If I hadn’t had to go back and return the t-shirt, I never would have met new friends from Dublin.

The doctors are wrong about not being able to feel glaucoma pressure. After leaving those people, I had a battle of faith. I could feel the pressure so strong, at times it felt like my eyes would explode. I expect there was likely much discussion about it at that medical conference and likely mostly nay-saying. Our words and even the words of others are not to be taken lightly. Words are powerful. Don’t negate someone’s healing by your words. Pray for them. Encourage them. Speak the Word to them; but don’t tell them it can’t be done.

Nothing is impossible with God!

Sometimes we aren’t handed our miracle on a platter, but must take a stance! You see the enemy wanted me back in bondage to those drops. I refused to budge. I spoke my healing and spoke to my eyes–stood my ground.

Never give up!

You were healed when Jesus bore that beating to pay the price for your healing. By faith you bring that promise into this realm. When you pray–receive! Believe and receive it done, right then! I have said it before and I will keep saying it–so many live by their senses. They will believe it, when they see it or feel it. Until then, they don’t think they are healed. Sadly, that kind of mindset usually doesn’t produce healing. That is more doubt than faith. It is challenging the Word, expecting it not to happen, rather than believing that it will–that it is already True! It’s a “prove it to me” attitude that doesn’t please Him, because it’s not truly faith.

He acts on His Word–Unwavering Faith–Trust.

So, I ended up seeing those lovely people many times on that trip, and I hope that one day I can go visit them in Dublin. We exchanged information and I was elated to send them a text today with my news!

Drum Roll Please . . .

My doctor, when she heard that I was off the drops, said she respected my faith but couldn’t sleep nights if my pressure is high. That day her tech had taken the pressure with a hand-held instrument and it read high. For some reason she didn’t re-take the pressure, which she always does. I expect, knowing I was off the drops, that she expected it to be high so didn’t question it. She said that she respected my faith, but asked that we meet in the middle. She wanted to send me to a specialist/surgeon to evaluate. Her intent was that he could put tubes in my eyes to drain and relieve the pressure or a stent. I agreed to go.

I am sure this was all in God’s plan!

You see, in going there, I was taken care of by 5 different techs. They all had a job to do and put me through a battery of tests and full dilation. Each one heard my testimony and then looked astounded when they entered my new stats along side the prior records. “Wow, that’s quite a difference!”

The specialist listened, examined, took pressure, took it again. I continued the story as he typed in findings, and as he started typing a letter to my eye doctor, also a glaucoma specialist, his smile got broader and broader with each new fact.

The FACT of the matter is . . .

He turned and said to me. “You don’t need surgery. You don’t need drops. You don’t need anything because you don’t have glaucoma! You have been off drops for 5 months and your pressure is in the low teens–normal. Your eyes are healthy. You haven’t lost vision. There is only one tiny spot, in the left eye, that had prior nerve damage from years ago that has not gotten any worse.”

“You don’t have glaucoma!”

He also said that those hand-held instruments are not reliable. I agreed. Another time that it was used on me, the reading then as well, was tremendously higher than the re-take ten minutes later.

With a big smile on his face, he sent the letter off to my doctor and said he wanted me to follow up with her in 3-4 months. I can’t wait! I want to see her reaction to all the Lord has done. I know she will be happy for me because she was the one that, twice, saw from field testing that I had regained peripheral vision. Twice! The first time she said, “You’ve regained vision, but that’s impossible.” I replied . . .

Nothing is impossible with God!

She agreed.

“He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, but now have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls.” I Peter 2:24-25

“And Jesus answered them, ‘Have faith in God. Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone; so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.” Mark 11:22-26

“Jesus looked at them and said, ‘With men it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God.'” Matthew 19:26

Please continue to keep me in your prayers as my miracle continues. There is just a bit more ‘tweaking’ to be done for it to be fully manifested. My left eye sees perfectly, but the right eye is 20/40. This is a huge change from the 20/400 it used to be!

I am fully expecting it to be 20/20 when all is said and done. Thank you so much readers, for your faithfulness!

Lori J. O’Neil

All Glory Be to God!

Shake On It!

Mar28

If you have read my posts in the last couple of years, you know that I have been privileged to report several wonderful, incredible miracles. God has allowed me to be a part of them to not only build my faith, but to be a part of building yours as well. Are we not strengthened and encouraged when we read and hear of the Lord’s miraculous manifestations amongst the Body of Christ? I know I am, for it underscores what I know and believe!

Though I have been privy to many miracles and healings, even recently, the miracle received in my own eyes, yet there are just as many, and more, that seemingly can’t receive. This has bothered me, for they too are faithful ones that believe, and yet something is missing. The key that unlocks the door to what they desire so much.

So, a few months back I asked the Lord to show me, Why? Why Lord, do some get healed and others don’t? Why are some seemingly not able to receive? What are we missing?– for it surely isn’t because of you! I have seen time and again the blame laid to God when their hope didn’t manifest. Frankly, it’s time to stop blaming God and look within. Too often we try to stuff Him into the box that fits our understanding instead of asking for our understanding to be enlightened to His Truth.

You see, God doesn’t arbitrarily pick and choose whom He wants to heal and those He doesn’t. He doesn’t decide if you’ve prayed hard enough, or said the perfect words. You don’t need to find that person that has that extra anointing or says just the right prayer. They may help you, to stir up your faith, but He is your Healer. He simply asks you to believe His Word, because it’s already been done. If you believe it, your faith will manifest.

“Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that made us whole, and with his stripes we are healed. all we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” Isaiah 53:4-6

I have found, that many think they believe but they put limits on their belief. Some won’t believe it is done until they see it manifested in their body. They are sensory driven and this is not faith; it is actually a form of doubt. I will believe it when I see it. Some believe for a time, but they have an expiration date attached to their belief. I will believe for this long, but if 6 months goes by and I haven’t seen it yet, then I guess He doesn’t want to heal me. There are those who say they believe, but their words talk their problem rather than speak their faith. Still others, receive their healing manifested, but when the enemy challenges, which often happens, they immediately say, “Oh, I thought I was healed but I guess not”; when what they needed to do was refuse it to ever have entrance to their body again. Maintain your healing!

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd. the good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” John 10:10-11

Some say they are sick because God is trying to teach them a lesson. No, no, a thousand times no! He is GOOD. He is our Healer! Would you choose to make your children sick, in order to teach them a lesson?

If you don’t understand, do what I did–ask Him!

Last week I was walking down the hall at work, not thinking of anything in particular, when the Lord spoke to me, not audibly, but in my spirit. “Receiving healing is like entering into partnership.” Hmm. I had never thought of it like that. I was working and needed to focus on my demanding job, so that is all He said and I didn’t spend any time that day thinking on it.

The next morning when I woke up, immediately I had a vision of Jesus with His hand extended, as if waiting for a handshake. The vision remained, as Wisdom reminded me that God cannot lie and that Jesus backs His Word, in fact, He is the Word–He cannot deny Himself.

“The saying is sure: If we have died with him, we shall also live with him; if we endure, we shall also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us; if we are faithless, he remains faithful–for he cannot deny himself.” II Timothy 2:11-13

“God is not a man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should repent. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?” Numbers 23:19

“For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, whom we preached among you, Silvanus and Timothy and I, was not Yes and No; but in him it is always Yes. For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why we utter the amen through him, to the glory of God.” II Corinthians 1:19-20

We seem to have lost the art of the handshake. When I was growing up, men would come to an agreement, or a business deal and a hand would be extended. When that hand was offered, it meant ‘I will do what I have said’–you can take it to the bank! A man’s handshake was his bond. It was understood that it wouldn’t be broken and the person that likewise shook with them knew it. Trust that didn’t fail. I don’t see that much anymore. Why? Have written contracts replaced honor? We no longer can trust? I have been burned many times by men who didn’t stand by their word and I have therefore lost trust, respect. Have we carried this ‘don’t believe it until we see it’ into our faith?

Jesus extends His hand to you.

If there is any lack of Truth, the lack is not on God’s part. In other words, if your life is not lining up with the Truth of the Word, it’s not God that has failed. He will never fail you, or fail to perform His Word–come up higher!

Have we reduced what Jesus did for us at the Cross to a mere tradition?

He suffered a horrific death that we might have abundant, everlasting life. During this Easter season, it is well and good that we honor Him and remember what He went through to accomplish this; but are we truly living the abundant life or just reading about it?

Many choose the tradition of fasting during Lent. Praise God that you want to honor Him, but does it change you or are you simply saying thank you? I’m not asking you to stop if it is important to you, but asking you to consider . . .

Wouldn’t it be a greater honor to Jesus if we received the fullness of the Cross?

If we were to live healed, in peace, rest, freedom from fear, fully protected, well provided for, and abundantly giving? Daily experiencing an intimate friendship with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit; and partaking of every promise Jesus’ suffering, death and resurrection has procured for you? It’s been over 2,000 years since His agonizing death and resurrection, and yet we’re still struggling with the same questions.

Wouldn’t total, unshakable belief say, thank you, more than fasting or words could ever express?

He bids you to find each promise and shake His hand!

It’s there, extended to you, do you see it?

Shaking His hand, means you agree that His Word is True and you receive it, without question. You shake His hand and it’s a done deal! Never to doubt again. With every lie the enemy produces against you, you remind him, and yourself, that you shook on it and it’s already settled. This, my friend, is entering into His rest. For He has already healed you, it was done at the Cross. He’s already provided all you will ever need to live this life abundantly, it was done at the Cross. You don’t need to cry and beg, it is already done. He rested, because His work was completed. . . and it is for you! All you need do is believe and shake on it–Shake His hand!

It is finished!

“Is this not the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh? Then shall your light break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up speedily; your righteousness shall go before you, the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard. then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; you shall cry, and he will say, Here I am. If you take away from the midst of you the yoke, the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness, if you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday. And the Lord will guide you continually, and satisfy your desire with good things, and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters fail not. And your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; you shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to dwell in. If you turn back your foot from the sabbath, from doing your pleasure on my holy day, and call the sabbath a delight and the holy day of the Lord honorable; if you honor it, not going your own ways, or seeking your own pleasure, or talking idly; then you shall take delight in the Lord, and I will make you ride upon the heights of the earth; I will feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” Isaiah 58:6-14

A Miracle in Progress

Jan10

“Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. Instead you ought to say, “if the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.” James 4:13-15 TPT

We surely don’t know what tomorrow will bring . . .

On December 14th, 2023, I played Scrabble© with my mom. It was just an ordinary day or so I thought. However, I went to bed that night feeling totally fine, but woke up blind. It was such a shock! I could see absolutely nothing out of my right eye and only a little bit of light and shadow with my left; but the Lord is so good, and this didn’t surprise Him at all. He knows everything that’s going to happen to you ‘tomorrow’.

A couple of weeks before that it had been strong on my heart to enter into the rest of God, resting in His completed work. In advance provision, He had prepared my heart–for my heart to trust.

When a crisis happens, the first words out of our mouths are critical. . .

as is every single word you say thereafter about the subject.

You can’t say you have faith one moment, but speak unbelief the next. In other words, if your words are not lining up with the faith you say you have, then you are not truly in faith. You might think you are, but you can’t be expecting one result if you are speaking another.

The Lord knew this blindness was coming and His preparation to fill my heart with trust gave me the gift of faith and no fear. Right in that critical moment, I couldn’t see with my eyes but my mouth could speak; I spoke out loud, “This blindness will not remain, my eyes will see!”

“For the overflow of what has been stored in your heart will be seen by your fruit and will be heard in your words.” Luke 6:45b TPT

Immediately after speaking that, I got an inkling of vision in my left eye. It took many attempts but I managed to maneuver through my phone to call my prayer partner. It was like punching around in a closet. I was grateful to have her in speed dial, because I could recognize the color that went with her name. As we prayed, more vision came in that left eye, enabling me to call my eye doctor. They got me in right away.

I had had a laser on my right eye, to lower the pressure of glaucoma, just 4 days before. One would think this was all stemming from this but I only had it in one eye and both eyes were affected. They tested my eyes and I couldn’t even see the great big E with my right eye, it just wasn’t even there. My left eye could see black, but it was a blur, so I consider it a miracle that I was able to call those two numbers. I had prayed a couple weeks prior to this and asked the Lord to get me off glaucoma drops. My prayer all along has been for my healing of glaucoma to fully manifest. This has been a progressive journey. I have regained peripheral vision (twice) that my doc said was impossible. I told her that nothing is impossible with God and the tests have proven it. Now, she immediately took me off one of the glaucoma drops, that was the strongest, the one she figured was the culprit, and put me on steroid drops and ointment. Thus began a whirlwind of doctor appointments every 4-5 days and a cornea specialist was brought into the mix. He took me off the other glaucoma drop in the right eye as well and prescribed a milder steroid and a different ointment.

In the midst of this drama . . .

I went for a scheduled dental appointment. I would have liked to have canceled but it is so hard to get in. Praise God for my friend that waited patiently for me. I have been believing for my tooth to heal for 2 1/2 years. They wanted to do a root canal and crown. The x-ray showed the root had shrunk up and was blunt. It hurt terribly but I refused. I stood in faith for the root to re-grow and be rooted as normal. The first year I couldn’t eat on that side at all. Even soft foods made the tooth throb. Second year, occasional soft foods, but it still pained so I stayed away from it. They tried to do another x-ray midway but their machine malfunctioned and they had to skip it. The last 6 months I have been able to eat on that side, even really hard stuff with no pain at all. They took another x-ray on this visit and it showed the root, re-grown, seated, and totally normal. The dentist made no comment, but started to poke, prod and tap hard on that tooth and the two on either side. She kept saying, “Does that hurt?” “Does that hurt?” No, no, NO. There were also three teeth they wanted to fill above the teeth, where gums had receded. I said no and have believed for the gums to come back down. Now she only finds one that “troubles” her. “The other two I’m not concerned with.” she said. “I still want to fill the third one.” No, no, NO!

My eyes improved with every visit, but it was one visit in particular that there could be no explanation but a miracle from God. In 4 days time my right eye went from seeing 20/90 to 20/40 and my left eye went from seeing 20/80 to 20/12.5. I had never heard of 20/12.5 but this is what they termed seeing two lines better than 20/15, whereas 20/20 is perfect vision! In that same 4-day period, my pressure went from 22 and 26 to 12 and 15. The miracle of that is that my left eye had a detached retina years ago. It not only detached, but the surgeon said my retina had shattered and it was a very difficult surgery. He was ecstatic that I came to see 20/25 after it healed, which I praise God for, and the expertise of that surgeon, but it didn’t stop there. That eye also underwent laser to bring the pressure down and when that didn’t work, a Trabeculectomy; surgery to create a mesh-like pathway for the eye to drain fluid. A pressure reading in that eye of 12 was only seen briefly after that surgery and then it started to climb once again. Even with those strong drops and two different kinds, continuously, she couldn’t get it below 22 anymore. Now, with the strongest drop taken away, the pressure is 12.

Praise Jesus!

So this incredible vision in my left eye enabled me to return to work. I knew it was going to be hard, but I wasn’t prepaing for just how hard. Both days were super busy, and though I could see really well up close, anything beyond a few feet was a blur. I could know people, from memory and of their shape but their faces were a blur. I didn’t realize how much I read lips when it’s too noisy to hear. Keeping up with the stamina required of the job and the constant struggle to see, absolutely exhausted me; and by the end of the second day I was fighting tears.

The 3rd day was a milder day and though it was still hard to see, I was enjoying the calm and my wonderful co-working family. I love my job!

But, this is the exciting part. . .

At 8:20pm, suddenly, I could see a co-workers face from about 8 feet away!!! It was still a lil blurry, but I could make out his features and see expressions. Wow! I was like a kid again, looking around, everywhere, to see what I could see. Later I realized that 8:20pm is 2020 military time, which is what we go by at work and 20/20 is perfect vision!

I take that as a confirmation, because ‘perfect’ hasn’t manifested yet, but it’s coming!

Exuberant with my newly-minted sight, my son took me grocery shopping. I have not yet attempted to drive; my work takes me into the dark, and the lights when driving at night are quite the distraction. There was a snow storm predicted, so every store was packed out. The noise, people, shapes, colors and florescent lights was just too much for my brain to cope with. I went home traumatized, exhausted, slept fitfully, and I woke up with a splitting headache. I have come to realize that with every new level of vision, my brain has to re-calibrate and learn how to see with that particular vision, because the two eyes are not in sync with each other. I would have thought this would be easy, because I have done mono-vision for years but it seems to be different with an eye that is trying to heal.

So, here we are. It was a very long story to tell you that I have learned to rest in Him. I fully expect my total healing to come. My right eye has already had a miracle as well, for before the blindness, my eyes were off the charts; worse than 20/400 I was told, but correctable. Now, after my suddenly, at 2020 the other night, I expect I am seeing 20/25 in that eye without correction! Glory to God!!

Which reminds me . . .

You didn’t know this, but remember Nicholas? He is the prisoner I wrote about in another post, “Genuine Fruit”. Nicholas is part of “Project Turn” a partnership with Duke University Grad School, Divinity Program. He was one of 6,000 inmates chosen to be in this program. They chose ten inmates to take classes side-by-side with ten Duke Grad students. He came up with the idea of an education class needed in the prison and was given the go-ahead to help develop it. They have asked to use my books for the class, as mandatory reading. Glory to God! Well, that class started that night that I had the sudden vision. It wouldn’t surprise me if he had asked those men to pray for me that night. He knows of the issue I’m having. Wouldn’t that just be incredibly wonderful for them to see a miracle happen as a direct answer to their prayers! Will you join them and believe for a miracle? I want to see perfectly and no more glaucoma–at all!

Thank you for your prayers!

A special thank you to my dad, my son, and my friend Jamie for their incredible patience in hauling me around to appointments, waiting through them, and running me around for prescriptions. Thank you so very much!

No one is an island. We need each other!

God Bless You Reader,

Lori J. O’Neil