From an Article from Bruce W. Jones, Host of Frontiers-Defending Our Freedom and Faith–
“It is a rare moment indeed when faith denominations of all stripes unite together in common cause, and it is rarer still when that cause is a political one, with sole piece of legislation as its principal target. But when that law eviscerates the very foundation of religious liberty in America as protected under the First Amendment, it should not be surprising that Catholics, Jews, charismatic evangelical Christians, and others find common cause in defense of their liberties.

Such is the case with the firestorm of opposition to Obama-care and the Obama Administration’s attack on religious liberty. Under a new Obama-care mandate issued by the U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS), the White House is mandating that many religious employers, with the exception of churches, provide health care coverage for contraception–including the abortion-inducing drugs–thereby trampling upon their constitutionally guaranteed free exercise of religion. And it is this mandate that has caused a vehement response in churches and synagogues across the country.”

One young friend asks, “What’s that got to do with me?” And many have made this into a debate over birth control funding. This has to do with our ability, based on faith conscience, to say “I don’t want to do that, be part of that, or invest my money in that.” Mandated birth control funding  is disguised as “women’s rights.” To take or not to take birth control is a choice just as having sex or NOT having sex is a choice.

For me to be told I HAVE TO PAY FOR someone’s birth control would mean I am saying that “even though you are not married, even though you are prostituting yourself, even though you are using sex to buy drugs, even though you are “casually” playing the field, it’s ok. And just so you don’t have an “unwanted” pregnancy, here, let me give you this pharmaceutical that is extremely detrimental to your health or will destroy the child you are already carrying just so you can have sex, even though I don’t believe it is right.” If someone MAKES us do that, it is an infringement on our 1st Amendment rights.

When I was a teen, I wanted my mom to quit smoking because she was sick and I was sick. I did not nor do I today believe that smoking is good for anyone. One day, my mom was out of cigarettes and told me to go to the store to buy some for her. I did but the whole time I was angry because MY MOM WAS SICK and I didn’t want her to be sicker. When I told her I wouldn’t do that any more, she was angry, but she still loved me and didn’t ask me to get her cigarettes any more. She could have said, “YOU HAVE TO” even though I didn’t believe it was right. To force me to pay for something I believe is harmful, health depriving, and morally wrong, is against my 1st Amendment rights. I CANNOT in good conscience, pay for, nor ask another to pay for something that is so wrong. This is not about opinion. Having “accidental pregnancies” is not going to stop because we provide pharmaceutical products. These products and abortions have been available through agencies like Planned Parenthood for at least 20 years now. This availability and freedom has not deminished this Nations dilemma of “unwanted” pregnancies or women’s health care. And please don’t give me the “what if someone is raped” stuff because that’s not what this (HHS) mandate is about. The mandate is a violation of MY human right and YOUR human right to say yes or no based on our own faith conscience.

If you think this mandate is a good idea, then BY YOUR OWN CHOICE, (don’t make someone tell you to support sexual behavior and “accidental pregnancies”), open up your own pockets and pay for them yourself because THAT IS YOUR CHOICE based on your own faith or non faith conscience.

Our lives are a constant process of change and growth and sometimes regression. Many believers see the process as punishment from God for our sins of the past. That is so far from the truth. Isaiah 53 tells us that Jesus took the punishment for our sins. So what is this “process?”

Jesus told us we would have problems. Jesus is not the author of the problems because He said he overcame our problems. The “process” is what we do and how we deal with those problems.

The process is for purpose, passion, and provision. The process reveals our purpose in life. Everything changes. There are seasons in our lives when things will not be the same as they were before. Our purpose is to reveal God and God’s glory at all times, especially when things change. Life is more than just getting up in the morning, going to work or class, coming home, going to bed and doing it all over again. Our purpose is to reveal God and his glory.

John 15 talks about fruit and the Vine and abiding and pruning and joy and oh yes, glorifying God. Verse 8 tells us that it is to God’s glory that we bear much fruit, showing or proving ourselves to be Jesus’ disciples. When are we going to do this? When we are in the process or the time of pressing.

What you are going through right now in this “valley of the shadow of death” is a process. The OUTCOME will glorify God. Why? Because you are not alone. God is with you. Hasn’t He promised, “I will never leave you nor forsake you?” God is working the process for your good. Your requirement according to John 15 is ABIDE, DWELL, stick like glue to God, Jesus, the Word.

This process restores your “first love”, our passion for God. We all sing the song, “The Potter’s Hand.” The words, mold me, shape me, use me, fill me, I give my life to the Potter’s hand.” We see that as a gentle massage and when we’re done we are all feeling pretty good. But the reality is when we FEEL the pressure of the molding and melting and using is during the process when things get hard and dark and all we want is out of the problem. Don’t despair. God is right beside us trying to walk us through. Stop pulling away and instead passionately cling to Him.

If anyone has ever been in love and remembers a time when you embraced your loved one to the point that you did not want to let go and leave–if you will intensify that memory and cling to it, abide and adhere to the One who is your First Love, you will make it through that momentary light affliction (Jesus called it that not me).

The process is where we find provision. The scriptures tell us that God will provide EVERYTHING we need in abundance. Psalm 23 says God is our Shepherd and we shall not want or be in lack. God has given us everything necessary to get through this season.

God tells us over and over again, “DO NOT FEAR.” He says He is with us. He is on our side. You may say, “Well that’s easy for you to say!” It’s NOT always easy to say but,  NOT fearing makes things easier. Psalm 1 says to walk in God’s counsel. David said, “I enquired of the LORD.” Paul and Silas sang God’s praises in prison. NO, it’s not easy to see our way through, but if we abide in Christ and His Words abide in us, the process we are in will produce much fruit and will glorify God.

Isn’t that much more exciting than sitting down and crying or wallowing in self pity? Remember that God will be God whether you choose to rejoice or sink into despair and depression. God WANTS us to come through our process in victory and great glory! So what’s it gonna be? What’s you process perspective today?

Phil 4My God shall supply all my need according to His riches (abundant supply) in glory by Christ Jesus

Ps 23 The LORD is my Shepherd, I shall not want (be in lack)

John 15:3 I have been pruned and purified by the message of God’s love. Apart from Christ I can do nothing therefore with Him I can do all things!

With my God I can move mountains and scale a wall. With my God I can do exploits!

I ask of God and I receive. I obey God’s Word and I produce much fruit. Jesus has revealed these things to me by His Word that my JOY will overflow! I am a friend of God and I produce LASTING fruit. I receive this Word by faith and I glorify God. In Jesus’ name AMEN

From a Tyndale tidbit

In 1818, a British engineer developed a “treadwheel,” a Stair master sort of device, that was aimed at reforming stubborn and idle convicts. The time the convicts spent on the treadmill generated power used to mill grain and pump water. By the late 1800s it was no longer in use because it was deemed too cruel.

That’s what I thought as I walked this morning

God has spoken through His Word to me today. He used this scripture to assure me of His unfailing love regarding my family. It is from Romans 4:17-25 in the Living Translation. NEVER GIVE UP! God’s got a plan.

We call Abraham “father” not because he got God’s attention by living like a saint, but because God made something out of Abraham when he was a nobody. Isn’t that what we’ve always read in Scripture, God saying to Abraham, “I set you up as father of many peoples”? Abraham was first named “father” and then became a father because he dared to trust God to do what only God could do: raise the dead to life, with a word make something out of nothing. When everything was hopeless, Abraham believed anyway, deciding to live not on the basis of what he saw he couldn’t do but on what God said he would do. And so he was made father of a multitude of peoples. God himself said to him, “You’re going to have a big family, Abraham!”

^19-25Abraham didn’t focus on his own impotence and say, “It’s hopeless. This hundred-year-old body could never father a child.” Nor did he survey Sarah’s decades of infertility and give up. He didn’t tiptoe around God’s promise asking cautiously skeptical questions. He plunged into the promise and came up strong, ready for God, sure that God would make good on what he had said. That’s why it is said, “Abraham was declared fit before God by trusting God to set him right.” But it’s not just Abraham; it’s also us! The same thing gets said about us when we embrace and believe the One who brought Jesus to life when the conditions were equally hopeless. The sacrificed Jesus made us fit for God, set us right with God.

As in the past, I like to begin the new year with fasting. Fasting doesn’t change God’s mind, it makes us tune into His will, His way, His plan. It prepares our heart for what is ahead of us. Fasting unplugs our spiritual ears and gives us greater hunger for the things of God. Jesus fasted prior to being tested in the wilderness. When he was tempted, He could hear clearly what the Spirit of the Lord revealed and was able to overcome temptation.

Yes, Jesus had to walk by faith like you and me. He had to be lead by the Spirit of God, like you and me. He had to know God’s voice, like you and me. He had to know God’s Word, like you and me. Jesus’ example to us was not super human, His example to us was supernatural. Jesus was teaching us HOW to walk supernaturally. He showed us how it is possible to walk by faith and not by sight.

I have heard some people quote 1 Cor 2:9 recently and saying that God’s plans are a mystery that we cannot know and therefore, with uncertainty, we must just follow God. I learned a loooonnggg time ago that following God is not with uncertainty, but with great confidence and boldness. I found that out by continuing to verse 10 of 2 Cor because it has the conjunction BUT! This conjunction implies there is a change or clarification to the previous verse. It reads this way, (2 Cor 2:10 paraphrased) BUT God HAS revealed what He has prepared for those who love Him (that is you and me) through His Spirit (that dwells within us).

In this New Year, I am looking for and depending on God’s plans. I am beginning this year with fasting to “clean the potatoes out” of my spiritual ears. I know that God will not give me any unnecessary details for momentary light afflictions or for a battle that I will not need to invest my time. Mark and I were talking this morning and we agreed that many people want  all the details of what God has prepared for them. But God does not reveal details before they are important. If He did, we would be controlling the situation and if that didn’t work out, possibly try to manipulate the outcome. But then God wouldn’t get the glory, or maybe He would and be blamed for the disaster. Either way, the end result would not be God’s results.

Fasting aligns our spiritual compass to seek those things which are above. We are to seek FIRST the Kingdom of God. How many people stop right there? There is another conjunction that ADDS to the first part of the sentence. It means MORE. The word is AND. Seek first the Kingdom of God AND (more) His righteousness, or His right way of doing things, or being in rightness. When we fast, we can hear that voice behind us saying, “this is the way to go, walk in it.”

Recently, I have head several people say things like, “I want more of God in my life, or I want to know Him more.” My question is, “Who doesn’t? and “Do you really, or are you just puffin smoke?” Fasting. Jesus set the example. He said in Matthew, “Take my yoke upon you.” This is our responsibility.  If we really mean what we say, then we will do things His way. If we really mean what we say, there will be evidence to our seeking. The end result will be the proof in the pudding. People will be saying about us, “Truly we know they have been with the LORD.”

by Kenneth Copeland.

If you are wondering why things are going to be all right in your life when they are going so wrong everywhere else, it’s because, as a believer, you’re in covenant with God. You’re called, appointed and anointed to be a distributor of His blessings. You’re divinely commissioned to bring help to a hurting world.

“But Brother Copeland, I don’t have anything to give!”

That’s not true. Second Corinthians 9:10 says that Jesus “ministereth seed to the sower….” The word minister there is an important word. It refers to “someone who is appointed to administer or manage something for the good of someone else.” It can be used to refer to the administrator of a trust fund or the executor of an estate. A minister uses what’s entrusted to him to improve the life and situation of another.

Jesus is the High Priest or the High Administrator of the Body of Christ. He is the executor of God’s wealth, which belongs to us through our covenant with Him. We are the priests (Revelation 1:6) who operate under His authority and minister that wealth to others as He directs.

The Bible assures us that Jesus, as our High Priest, has already ministered to us something we can give. So, no matter how financially strapped you may be, you still have enough to bless some- one. If it’s not in your bank account, it might be in the back of your closet. If it’s not in your wallet, it might be in your attic.

Actually, everything you do and every word you say can become a ministering seed. Just by purposing to do it, you can be a blessing to everyone with whom you come in contact. You can find ways to prosper people wherever you go.

When you’re staying in a hotel, for instance, don’t gather up all the tiny soap bars and shampoo bottles and stick them in your suitcase. Although they’re included in the price of the room, you won’t ever use them. But the hotel proprietor will. So bless him with them. Sow them back into his business and be a minister of his prosperity.

Do that kind of thing all the time. Always be on the lookout for ways to encourage people. Smile at them. Tell them you appreciate them. Minister love, kindness and joy to them.

Before you leave the house in the morning, say, “Lord, I’m Your minister today. I am a minister of salvation to those who want to receive You as Lord. I am a minister of healing to the sick. I am a minister of finances, bread and goodness. I am anything You need me to be.”

When you start living with that attitude it doesn’t take long for your life to absolutely turn around. The minute you truly start seeking first God’s kingdom and His righteousness, living by faith and love, you are well on your way to always having.

You’re also about to have more fun than you’ve ever had in your life.

Anybody out there have a NEED to control. Oh some of you may say, “Not me.” But I’m willing to bet there are more people out there like me. This need to control comes from different walks in life. Could be something from your past, a recent offense, abuse, grief or all of these things. Control shows up in different forms such as anger, manipulation, gossip, being easily offended, talking tooooo much about yourself or just waaaay tooooo much, depression, anxiety attacks, fear, and physical abuse. Recently I lost a son and because I could not control that, I have felt the NEED to control other things around me, even to the point of offending others. Below is an article I found months ago and have recently rediscovered it. I hope it helps someone out there as much as it is a help and a reminder to me.

From Annette Capps–One of the symptoms of powerlessness is the need to control. It may be the need to control through anger, sickness, dominating conversations, or acting like a victim or a tyrant. The illusion is that “control over people and circumstances is power”. It can never be. You can hold someone at gunpoint or physically torture them, but you have no power over their soul. You can manipulate circumstances to just how you think things should be, but in the end, your need to control has power over you. Letting go and leaving each person and circumstance with God is true power.

The first step to true power is recognizing what person or past event still has control over you. What are your negative obsessions? What event, thoughts or beliefs are still stuck in your mind? Emotional healing can only begin when you acknowledge what you need to be healed from, but don’t get stuck in that process. Once you bring it up, keep going until it is resolved. Don’t get stuck in the emotion of it. The power comes in letting it go and moving on.

To the degree that you focus on negative events in your life, to that degree you are bound. Obsessing about past hurts, enslaves you to that moment in time and to the person who “sinned” against you. Didn’t Christ come to free us from the power of sin? That means we can be free from the power of others sins against us as well as our own personal sins. Sin no longer has power over us.

You have a choice to make. Do you want to be truly empowered by Christ in you, letting go of your past, forgiving others? Do you want to see God’s power in your life and circumstances? Do you really want your words to come to pass? Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you into complete spiritual and emotional healing. Every person will have a different path to healing through the Holy Spirit’s guidance. Trust His Wisdom on the inside of you.   Romans 8:38-39

This goes to our friend Randall Bertrand and others that work outside the box. Their “Holy Ghost inspired” ways of reaching out to others in diverse cultural fashion, keeps me on my toes and my ears open to the daily prompts of God’s voice.

This is an article from Rachel Burchfield: People are the only thing going to heaven. Your sports trophies won’t live forever, but the guys in the locker room will. Your financial portfolio won’t last forever, but your bankers and business colleagues will. Your Bow-flex body isn’t eternal, but every person in that gym is. Let’s put our priorities on pointing people towards eternity and introducing them to Jesus.

2 Cor 5:20 says that God gave you a ministry of reconciliation. That means that you have an anointing to either bring people to God for the first time or reconcile them back to the Lord. When you truly believe that “Your steps are ordered of the Lord,” you’ll realize your daily encounters with people are not a coincidence. God wants you to point them to Jesus. I am not opposed to leaving a tract for the waitress (but make sure you leave a fair tip, too), knocking on doors, preaching in bars etc., but salvation is usually a progressive reality of who Jesus is, not an emotional response.

Several years ago, a friend told me about a party he attended in a couple’s lovely dream home. Because it was in a remote, undeveloped wooded area, they had placed one of their four teenagers at every significant turn on the road. They functioned as a team to get the guests to their father. All they did was smile and point people in the right direction. What a great picture for true soul winning. The Father plants believers at every significant turn of someone’s life to point the to Jesus. Sometimes you’ll be led to quietly pray or say a kind word, while other times, you’ll experience the joy of actually praying that sinner’s prayer with them. Paul said, ” . . . one plants, another waters, but God gives the increase.”

Recognizing that God’s will is to point people to Jesus, here are three pointers. First, pray daily and accept Ps. 37:23, believing that ” . . . your steps are ordered by the Lord.” You’ll then find great purpose in untimely visitors, long lines and unscheduled meetings. Secondly, select a life phrase that you say so often to people that it becomes second nature (Eva says 1st nature ) to you. “God bless you, Jesus loves you,” and “Be blessed” are good considerations. I like to say, “It’s safe to trust Jesus” and “I’m going to say a prayer for you today.” People will usually be very appreciative and eventually ask you more about the Lord. Thirdly consider a bold, aggressive approach with those you know are going the wrong direction or in a difficult season. Send a card, e-mail, voicemail or gift with an honest, heartfelt message of “You don’t have to live confused or sad. Jesus died for you to have abundant life. Trust Him. Call me. We’re both listening.”

On October 30, 2010 the Opera Company of Philadelphia and 650 choisters sang the “Hallelujah Chorus” in Macy’s. Flash mobs in a Canadian mall’s food court did the same thing, singing Handel’s masterpiece to thousands of confused shoppers. Their busy, senseless lives were interrupted with Jesus, King of Kings and Lord of Lords being exalted and celebrated. The very next month, in Melbourne, Australia, the secular pop rock group U2 sang “Amazing Grace” and 100,000 people in the stadium joined in. Friends, don’t get religious on me. Even if the stadium was filled with stoned sinners, the song pointed people to Jesus Christ. Let’s rejoice and watch for more of these unusual revealings . . . and perhaps the Holy Spirit will give you some creative ways to point people to Jesus, too.

Proverbs 11:30 “He who wins souls is wise . . .”

Those who know their God shall be strong and do mighty exploits. Daniel 11:32. such as violate the covenant he shall pervert and seduce with flatteries but the people who know their God shall prove themselves strong and shall stand firm and do exploits [for God] AMP. With flattery he will corrupt those who abandon the promise. But the people who know their God will be strong and take action (GWT).

These are variations of the same verse. Sometimes when I read my Bible, I like to break down the verses and meditate or think about an individual word or phrase and determine how it applies to me. For example, starting with the phrase “those who abandon the promise.” To whom is the word “those” referring? Are those strangers, foreigners? Are they aware of what they are supposed to be doing? And the phrase, “people who know their God.” Is the word “people” talking about the word “those?” Are those the same group as people?

GOD’S WORD Translation says, “Those who abandon the promise.”The AMP breaks it down as those who violate the covenant God has made with them vs “those who KNOW their God” or those who have not violated the covenant. Does this mean that both groups KNOW God? Are they equally aware of God AND His covenant or promise?

The conclusion is both groups of people are equally aware of God and both groups are equally aware of the promise, the covenant God has made with His people. Both groups, in God’s eyes, are His people. But it appears some of God’s people don’t take seriousely God’s covenant with them; God’s promise to them. When reviewing different versions of this scripture, words like, “violate, abandon, do wickedly” define the character or nature of those who know of God vs those “Who know their God.” There is a connection between God and those who KNOW him, but we see separation or disconnect with those who violate and do wickedly.

For those who KNOW their God, we see phrases or descriptions like, “courageously loyal to their God”, “know their God”, “courageously know their God”, and  “follow God” we see a different kind of character trait and connection or relationship. It is one of companionship and action. It is one that will not stand for evil. The following phrases give new meaning to verse that states “the violent (one of those) will take it by force” (Matt 11:12). We see this when we read, “those who know their God will fight back”, “will prove themselves strong and shall stand firm and do exploits [for God]“, “shall be strong and shall act”, “will be strong and take action”, “will take a strong stand”,  and “will firmly resist him [the enemy].

The “so what” of this devotion comes in the question, are you one of those? Do  you KNOW your God?

Aug. 6, 2011 Journal entry as God spoke to my heart–But now O Eva, listen to the LORD who created you, My daughter. The One who formed you says, “Don’t be afraid for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name, you are Mine. When you go through the waters I will be with you. When you go through the rivers of difficult you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up (the flames will not consume you). For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. You have chosen to know me–believe in me and understand that I am God alone–there is no other.

No one can snatch you out of my hand, no one can undo what I have done. I am the LORD your Holy One. What is done in the past is nothing compared to what I am going to do. For I am about to do something new. Listen to me, Eva, my servant, my chosen one. The LORD who made you and helps you says, “Do not be afraid.” I will pour out my Spirit on your descendants, my blessing on your children. They thrive like the watered grass.

My response according to God’s own Word–You LORD have established us and explained our future. We will not tremble, we will not be afraid for You proclaimed Your purposes for us long ago. We are Your witnesses, there is no other God, no Rock like our God. Thank you LORD, You are mighty to save. Hallelujah!

This is when Mark Jr. had the “flu”, or so we thought. He didn’t want to eat, drink, watch his car shows, throw anything, nothing. He wanted to sleep. We’ve all been there before, so we let him sleep. He slept for three days getting up here and there to use the bathroom and wander around a little. By Monday, he was feeling better but had developed an inconsistent cough. No fever, no runny nose, no mucus but still pretty tired. He didn’t complain and he was getting up more. Just thought this flu knocked the wind out of him.

AUGUST 16 journal entry–5:30 am  LORD, I have prayed for You to show me how to help Mark Jr. and now I read in Your Word from Psalm 25, “The Lord is good and does what is right; He shows the proper path. He leads the humble in doing right teaching them His way. The LORD leads with unfailing love and faithfulness all who keep His covenant and obey His commands. Who are those who fear the LORD? He will show them the path they will choose. They will prosper and their children will inherit the land. My eyes are always on the LORD and He rescues me.” And from Ezekiel 12:25, “I AM the LORD. If I say it, it will happen!”

The next week, Mark’s feet began to swell and he was acting winded. I called the doctors office to try to get him in but did not get any calls back. Finally on the next Tuesday the doctor could see Mark. After seeing the doctor, we were told to take Mark to the ER next door. At the ER and an EKG later we were told Mark had a heart attack. Later when the blood work came back, we were told Mark didn’t have a heart attack but could at any moment based on the EKG. The doctor said, “You have a very sick boy.”

I must interject at this time that in the process of drawing blood 4 different times, 4 adults had to hold Mark down in order to get a needle in him. lol Again, this happened 4 times and Mark did not have a heart attack. He did turn a few colors in the process, but no heart attack. IV and foley inserted and meds to remove fluid have begun.

We transferred Mark to a different hospital and after a few humiliating moments (for Mark–the details for the favorite few) Mark was taken to the cardiac ward where MORE blood was taken and 4 more people had to hold him down. By 2:30 or 3 am we finally settled down for a few moments of rest after the usual questions, we slept for about two hours and began more blood draws, tests, meds and questions trying to determine the cause of this problem.

AUGUST 24: 8 am ish–I am so tired I cannot even function. The doctors have come in and told me about a possible blood clot and damage to Marks heart that may or may not recover. This is all due to the “flu” he had previously and they are calling it a Viral blah blah blah itis thing. I recognize the same peace I experienced 4 years ago. Doing a lot of smiling and nodding, but thank God they are not pressuring me to make decisions until I can think clearly. Mark is asleep. When I am tempted to be afraid, I will trust in the LORD.

Evening rounds around 5-6 ish–The doctor said his plan is for Mark to go home on Friday. ???? I’m good with that but some may ask, what has changed? God is in this place. I have asked for prayer from everyone according to Heb 13:5-6 and Isaiah 58:8. The LORD’s hand is not shortened at all, that  it cannot save nor His ears dull that they do not hear. Thank you LORD that you guide me.

AUGUST 25 around 5:30 ish am. God is speaking to me through His Word, “Have you not seen? Have you not heard? The everlasting God does not faint or grow weary, there is no searching His understanding. He gives power to the faint and weary and to him who has no might. He increases strength [causing it to multiply and abound.]

PRAYER: Thank you Father. I declare Your Word above all else. You increase Mark’s strength and renew him He will mount up on wings like eagles, he will run and not grow weary, he will walk and not faint or become tired.

GOD’S RESPONSE TO MY PRAYER: But you, Eva whom I have chosen, the offspring of Abraham, my friend, you whom I the LORD have said to you, I have chosen you and I will not cast you off. You are my friend. Do not be afraid [there is nothing to fear], for I am with you. Do not look around you in terror and be dismayed for I am your God. I will strengthen and harden you to difficulties, yes, I will help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand of righteousness and justice. Behold, those who are inflamed against you will be put to shame and confounded. Those who war against you will be as nothing, nothing at all. For I the LORD you God hold your right hand. I am the LORD who says to you, “Fear not! I will help you!

AUGUST 25–8 ish am–the doctors are making their rounds and again, Mark’s doctor says Mark will go home tomorrow because he has responded so positively to meds and the swelling is almost all gone. Also, they can hear almost no heart arrhythmia (murmur). I have refused one med but ok with the others. One doctor is not happy and trying to cause me to fear by his “possibilities.” But I will not be moved because God said do not fear. Mark is up laughing and walking and eating and enjoying his car magazines Mrs. Collins brought to him.

AUGUST 26 8 am ish–Mark is definitely going home today. Even the one doctor who was so “upset at me” is such a different person today. That’s a God thing. Left thank you notes with all the nurses and Dr. V for their help in Mark’s crisis. From the brink of no return to complete recovery-only God. No doubt in my mind that “by His stripes, Mark IS healed.”