Category: miracles

Does God Still Heal?

Published on by katiesencouragementforyou22 Comments

Does God still heal?  Of course He does.  I have been a recipient of His healing powers, as has my family, many times.  God healed my eyesight.  I detail that story in:  Yes, Jesus loves me.

My mother was healed from her cancer.  My husband has many injuries that should have prevented him from doing the highly physical work that he did, but God has healed him time and time again, so he was able to continue to do this work.

Does God heal everyone all the time?  No, He does not.  Does that mean that God has favorites–that He loves some of us, more than He loves others of us?  No, it does not—God is impartial  (Galatians 2:6; Romans 10:12)—He loves us all.

Then why does God heal?  Some say–if you have enough faith, you can be healed.  If you believe enough, you can be healed.  Then where does that leave the people, who were believing with everything they had, and they were not healed?  Where does that leave the people whom God said, “No” to their healing here on this earth?

It leaves them where it leaves the people that He does heal—LOVED.   They are loved.

Romans 8:38     And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. 

So what about the question, “if you have enough faith, you’ll be healed?”…

 My son Sean was not healed, no matter how much faith we had.   In fact, we didn’t need very much faith, as Jesus Himself taught that if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you can move mountains. (Matthew 17:20) That’s because God is moving the mountain, not us, not the amount of our faith–it is the object of our faith, the Lord God, that moves the mountain.

When God hasn’t moved the mountains for me, and hasn’t healed, and hasn’t done what I’ve asked, I can start to wonder if He’s angry with me.  Is He withholding His blessing from me for a reason?  Why hasn’t He answered?   Why am I suffering, or why is a loved one suffering?

I’ve recently heard a song called, Remind Me You’re Here.   There is a line in the song that says: “I won’t ask you for reasons, because the reasons won’t wipe away tears.”   The gist of this song is that the reasons behind the suffering won’t comfort us–but God will.  He will comfort us while we are suffering–even if our suffering was brought about because of our own wrongdoing–God will comfort us, and love us and restore us.

We don’t have to be afraid of God.  We don’t have to keep our distance from God.  He loves us. He has demonstrated that love, by sending Jesus to die for us.  

One day, all our suffering will be over, but until then we can know, we are loved with an everlasting love and a personal love–that wipes away every tear.

May We  be encouraged! 

“Remind Me You’re Here”

None of my pain
Has ever caught You by surprise
Still, it’s hard to trust You
When I’m lost in the wondering why
But I’ll trade every question
Just to lay down and rest in Your heart
And I’ll reach for Your hand
Though You led me here into the dark

And I won’t ask You for reasons
‘Cause a reason can’t wipe away tears
No, I don’t need all the answers
Just be here beside me
Father, remind me You’re here
Here

If it’s random or providence
Neither are a comfort to me
Are You cruel if You planned it,
Or weak if You allowed it to be?
Half of me’s still believin’
The other half is angry and confused
Oh, but all of me is desperate
And longing to be held by You

So I won’t ask You for reasons
‘Cause a reason can’t wipe away tears
No, I don’t need all the answers
Just be here beside me
Father, remind me You’re here
Here

Get me outta my mind
And into Your arms
Where hope comes alive
And fear falls apart

I won’t ask You for reasons
‘Cause a reason can’t wipe away tears
No, I don’t need all the answers
Just be here beside me
Come be here beside me

And I won’t ask You for reasons
‘Cause a reason can’t wipe away tears
No, I don’t need all the answers
Just be here beside me
Father, remind me You’re here
Here, just need to know
That You’re here, yeah
Here, I just need to know that You’re here

A Place Called Home

Published on by katiesencouragementforyou15 Comments

Sometimes life can seem random, like there is no rhyme or reason to what happens or when things happen.  I’d like to share memories that still help me when I think of them, to know that I am not alone, that I am loved, and that there is more to life than just what we see.

What I am about to share next will seem like the opposite of what I just shared—but read on, and you will see what I mean.

My dad had a stroke 5 years before he died; it left my dad without the power of speech.   I remember my son Sean told me that he missed hearing his Papa’s voice, and he was afraid he wouldn’t be able to remember what his Papa’s voice sounded like. (Sean didn’t have to be afraid of that—4 years after my dad died, Sean passed.  Sean is hearing his Papa’s voice in heaven.)

Not quite 3 years before my dad died, my youngest child was born.  She was my parents’ youngest grandchild.   When our sweetness was just over 2 years old, we went to visit my parents.  My sweet girl was a busy, busy, busy, 2-year-old, never sitting down, always moving.  On this visit, she climbed up into her Papa’s lap, and stayed there hugging him, for the next 45 minutes.   At the time, I was stupefied as to what was happening.   The next day, my dad had another massive stroke, and spent the next 6 months in the hospital until he died.

I still cry when I remember our precious little girl, crawling up into my dad’s lap and hugging him.  It was the last hug between them.  How did this tiny little girl know this would be the last time she would be with her Papa?  How did she know to embrace him and the moment?

  I have many questions like that:  How do birds know to fly south for the winter?  How do bears know to hibernate in the winter?  Yes—I know the scientific explanation, but someone had to design the birds to have those homing instincts, and someone had to design bears’ bodies to go into hibernation.

Scripture tells us that God takes care of the birds of the air, and we are worth much more to God.  God loves us; He cares for us.  He has prepared a place for us. 

Every time I go to a funeral, and see the body, I am reminded once again, that our bodies house our spirits.  When the spirit is gone, the person is gone, even though the body remains.

Sometimes—life seems random, like a big cosmic accident, and then sometimes—something happens—and it reminds us that we are not alone, that we are loved, and that there is a place we are all heading towards—a place I call home.   May we be encouraged!!

This post was originally posted in 2022**

My Dad and Mom used to sing this song to all their babies–children and grandchildren. Also, Dad loved Johnny Cash–so I thought it only fitting to share this song with you all. 🙂

Beautiful

Published on by katiesencouragementforyou17 Comments

This month marks the 12th anniversary of my son Sean’s passing from this earth.  He would have been 28 years old this year.  When he was here on this earth, he liked a very special young woman.  I remember him telling me about her.  She had long brown hair, and a gentle smile.  

One day we were in the kitchen and he told me he got, “friend-zoned”.  He said this young woman told him that she wanted to just be his friend, and focus on her relationship with the Lord.  He also told me that he knew she was right.  

When Sean had his accident, she came to the hospital, distraught and inconsolable.  

After Sean passed, she and I talked, and she told me that she wondered if she would ever be in a relationship again.

This beautiful young woman got married last month, to a young man who just happened to have been Sean’s best friend.  God truly does make all things beautiful in His time.  Please join me in praying for this young couple.

May We Be Encouraged!!

Photo Credit: aubreyburman.com

Believe On Jesus–CAIN

Published on by katiesencouragementforyou8 Comments

Has the road you’ve been walking on led you where you wanna go?
Did the things you’ve been trusting in bring you high, then leave you low?
Oh, I know, I know, I know, I know you don’t wanna try again
Can’t you hear him knocking? Mm, won’t you let him in?

Believe on Jesus, call upon his name
Believe on Jesus and you will be saved
Open your heart and let him live inside
Believe on Jesus, it’ll save your life

Let him save your life
Let him save your life

If you confess it with your mouth and you believe it in your heart
Then that love that you’ve been looking for will meet you right where you are

Believe on Jesus, call upon his name
Believe on Jesus and you will be saved
Open your heart and let him live inside
Believe on Jesus, it’ll save your life

Believe on Jesus, let the old ways die
Believe on Jesus, leave your past behind
Open your heart and let him live inside
Believe on Jesus, it’ll save your life

Let him save your life
Believe me, it’ll save your life
Save your life

Believe on Jesus when it don’t make sense
Believe on Jesus when you need a friend
He’s by your side till the very end
Believe on Jesus, you’ll be glad you did

So where are you at?
Are you ready to stop trying and start trusting?
Jesus lived on your behalf
He died in your place
And he rose to give you new life
You can believe on Jesus right now

Whether in your car, the kitchen, or a walk with your dog
Proclaim it out loud, Jesus is lord
And if you believe in your heart that God raise him from the dead
You will be saved
Believe on Jesus
It’ll save your life

Believe on Jesus
Believe on Jesus

Prayer and Shame

Published on by katiesencouragementforyou23 Comments

Have you ever needed someone to pray for you and yours, but found it difficult to open up and share the problem for which you desired prayer?  In fact, you may have felt shame. What would the person/people think of you/your family, if you really shared the struggles?

For the past few years, I have gone to a women’s prayer group that meets once a week.   I must confess that I have had those thoughts about sharing my prayer requests.  However, just as a woman in labor is focused on little but pushing out her baby—the life and death situations requiring prayer have brought into focus what is really important–and my shame is not one of those things.

As these women have prayed—God has performed miracles–time after time after time.

In fact, today I had another situation that required prayer—and I felt shame—but because I have seen God’s miracles—I reached out again—past the shame—and I shared my concerns.

I have also reached out to others beyond this prayer group and asked them for prayer.   God has been taking off my blindfold, and showing me the power of His praying people.

It literally makes the difference between life and death.  Literally.

I’m hoping this small blog encourages you—whoever you may be—to ask others to pray for you and yours.  I’m hoping it encourages you to join with others to pray for your families, your churches, your communities,  and your countries.

This small group of women has seen miracles in our families, our churches, our community, our country and our world.   

 ” Confess your sins to each other, and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.” James 5:16

May We Be Encouraged!!