Jesus Heals

Search the web for natural medicine and you will find almost 15 million results. Click on one of these sights and find out how anything from acupuncture to yoga to reiki (a transferring of energy from practitioner and client to restore harmony to the body's energy and trigger the body's healing process, according to about.com) can cure you of your self diagnosed illness. Talk with loved ones who are dealing with some sort of illness, sickness or pain in their body and many will find that they are readily open to the idea that these alternative forms of medicine would be most beneficial for them. Yet what many do not take into consideration is the background of the "medicine" they are considering; that yoga revolves around the idea that God is an impersonal, spiritual substance, coexisting with all of reality and acupunture around the idea of duality, yin and yang, two opposites co-existing, with each root found in the other. And what many do not realize is that God is not an impersonal, spiritual substance that coexists with reality but rather He is the Creator and Sustaner of all; that "God cares what happens to (a tiny sparrow, a pet canary) even more than you do. He pays even greater attention to you, down to the last detail—even numbering the hairs on your head!" Matthew 10:29 He is involved in EVERYTHING, knowing you better than you know your self. We quickly forget that we can come to Him with ALL of our problems, all our illnesses, sicknesses and pains, that He is our Jehovah-Rophe (The Lord that Heals) and that we can ask for ANYTHING in the name of Jesus and He will do it.

So, instead of being a people that looks to the most "popular" form of medicine for our healing, let's look to Jesus, the Healer of all, and claim our healing in Jesus name!

Tonight, at Life Bible Church, we will have an amazing man of God, Dr Yan Venter, utilizing the healing gift that God has given him to heal every kind of sickness, disease and pain, from toothaches to cancer, infertility to autism. I invite you, come and be touch by Jesus Himself.

John 14:12-14 (The Message)
11-14"Believe me: I am in my Father and my Father is in me. If you can't believe that, believe what you see—these works. The person who trusts me will not only do what I'm doing but even greater things, because I, on my way to the Father, am giving you the same work to do that I've been doing. You can count on it. From now on, whatever you request along the lines of who I am and what I am doing, I'll do it. That's how the Father will be seen for who he is in the Son. I mean it. Whatever you request in this way, I'll do.

Birthday, Christmas, and lessons in between

“Hey Stine, what do you want for your birthday?”
The question I knew was coming, and the question I was dreading most. You see, I could think of a million things I wanted (I mean really, what girl couldn’t?) but I had decided that there is a big difference between want and need, and if I was really honest with myself, I needed nothing. And if I was realistic, there were so many people I could think of that really needed something, so who was I to ask for what I really wanted. And so I told my sister I wanted nothing, a decision that did not come easy and, if I were truly honest, took much self-coaching.

Funny thing about sisters; they know you, often better than you think. So when I gave her my lame “I don’t want you to get me anything” answer, she knew I didn’t mean it, even though I thought I did. So, my birthday came and with it so did my birthday card and gift card from my sister. Even though I told her “No!”
Then I came to a realization. Not just any realization. One of those realizations that you hate to come to, knowing things are going to have to change, and change means work. But change is a good thing. Change means growth, and growth is good (growing pains and all).

Four words were all He needed to say. “What do you want?” These four words; this one question, were the first words; the first question, that John records in his Gospel, of Jesus Christ. And these four words; this one question, gets me every time. Jesus, the Son of God, asked this question to the disciples, not because He didn’t know what they wanted “for He knows the secrets of the heart” but because they needed to know what they wanted, why they were there, what they were wanting to received from Jesus. And, in a response equally as lame as mine to my sister, the disciples asked, “Rabbi, where are you staying?” Jesus, the Son of God, God with skin on, asked what they wanted, and all they can come up with was to see where He was staying. Jesus simply responds, “Come and see.” as if to say “Sure guys, whatever you want.” And I can’t help but wonder; if they had asked something different, something more than to see where He was staying, would He have still said “Sure guys, whatever you want.”? My bible says, “God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams!” So, according to Ephesians 3:20, He most definitely would have granted any request they had. Yet they simply asked to see where He was staying; and I simply said I didn’t need anything for my birthday. How foolish of me.

Yet we are all guilty of this mentality. We buy into a mindset that we shouldn’t ask for certain things because, if we were really honest with ourselves, we don’t really need them. And if we really thought about it, we could think of so many other people who really needed something, so who are we to ask for what we really want? We lack one major truth of who God is, forgetting that He has the power to provide for the needy AND make our wildest dreams come true. We forget that our God “owns Cadillac’s on a thousand lots” (in the words of Pastor Judah Smith) and ultimately settle, accepting our current state while secretly dreaming of something different, yet never telling God what it is that we truly desire. We even sing “How great is our God” while not realizing, or not believing, in how great He truly is.

What would happen if we began dreaming? What would happen if we tested God in the promises He has given us? What would happen if we took the Word of God, believed it with all of our heart, and put it into practice?


My birthday came, and my birthday went, and with the realization that God can do epically more than I can dream, I began thinking of what my Christmas list would consist of. Yes, it was September still, but I was expecting great things from God. I was going to be ready with my answer when the question came “What do you want for Christmas?” and when the question finally came, I found the closest piece of paper and writing utensil and scribbled it down: 1. Canon 30D 2. Canon 50mm f1.4 3. Adobe Lightroom 4. Adobe Photoshop.

Christmas came, and Christmas went, and with the realization that God can do epically more than I can dream, I beamed with joy, because my camera and lens were in the mail!

It's tradition

There's something about the holiday's that give certain people (including my family... and yes, that includes me) the urge to make traditions (and yes, in case you were wondering; I'm already planning traditions that I will subject my children to one day). Some choose a family game that, with out it, Christmas just wouldn't be Christmas. Others bake SweetBabyJesus a birthday cake (yes, this is on my list of torturing traditions my children will be subjected to- can't wait!). But for my family, we sing. It's just what we do, every Christmas. Many would not believe it unless they see it with their own eyes, but it really does happen; right after we open our gifts. My Aunt or Uncle pops out of nowhere with the song books that they have been patiently clinging to all evening and begin passing them out. The cousins look at each other and smile that smile that says "oh dear, here we go." When we arrive at this portion of the evening I can't help but cringe a bit inside, every year. If I (and I'm sure other members of my family) were to be completely honest; there is definitely a love/hate relationship going on with this tradition. A relationship I will strive to acheive in my children one day (sorry in advance little ones... and future husband for that matter).
We split up into groups, decide which group has which portion of the song (which is a major feat in and of itself in my family) and, in no particular order, and at a pitch that would make most dogs howl, we sing (or yell) the Twelve Days of Christmas. And here my love/hate relationship lies. "Are we really doing this? Seriously? How old are we? This is so immature! Oh SweetBabyJesus forgive us for ruining your birthday party with this song" I think quietly to myself. Sometimes (ok, most of the time) I can be a bit dramatic. I like to think of it as being emotional, it sounds sweeter than dramatic. Either way, I cringe, then sing. And before I know it my cringe is replaced with laughter... and my love/hate relationship turns from hate, to love. It's in those moments, when we let go, give in, and laugh, that memories are born. It's in those moments that I realize I wouldn't trade my life, my family, my Christmas, with anyone else. Because without the Twelve Days of Christmas my Christmas would not be complete.

Other things may change us, but we start and end with family.

Anthony Brandt

Reality Check

I'm currently positioned comfortably criss crossed on my couch, lap top front and center, TV set to the limited commercial presentation of Pearl Harbor and the local newspaper at my side. Today is Veteran's Day. And while I woke up this morning with my to do list running through my mind, simply looking forward to a day off work, no thought as to what this day actually represents; I am forcefully (and thankfully) reminded of the lives that were lost at my expense, so that I can sit here, in the comfort and convenience of my home, writing this very post. All too often we, as Americans, forget. We get caught up in the busyness of our lives, the stress that "living the American dream" so often brings upon us, that we forget what it took to give us the simple comfort of sleeping on a bed, with a roof over our head, and clothes on our back. The little things that we so often take for granted.

Today the register guard reported on a bombing in Baghdad, a subject that seems to be all too familiar in the news these days. And as painfully sad as it makes me to admit this, I often times simple skim over these articles. I glimpes at the number of deaths and think to myself "how sad", say a small prayer under my breath and move on to the next article. This article popped out to me though, it's title drawing my interest; "Wave of bombings terrorizes, kills Christians in Baghdad." The picture attached to the article showing an Iraqi man inspecting his destroyed car at the scene of the bombing. I tried for a moment to imagine the feeling of walking out to my car in the morning, on my way to work, and finding my car completely scorched.

As I read I was challenged to imagine what life must be like for them; as "a dozen roadside bombs (were set off) Wednesday... sending terrified famiilies into hiding behind a church where walls are still stained from blood from an attack nearly two weeks ago." The article went on to tell of one man's story: "On Oct. 31, Thomas' brother-in-law bled to death on the church floor after militants stormed the building, shot congregants in the first row, held others hostage and then set off bombs when Iraqi forces came to the rescue. Then Wednesday morning, two bombs went off in quick succession outside his home. 'We are terrified,' said Thomas, who sought refuge at the church with his family on Wednesday. 'I cannot go back to my house. They will attack again. They want to kill us.'"

While we sit here and enjoy a day of honoring our Veteran's and the sacrifice they made so that we can have the freedom we so ungratefully enjoy, let us not forget those who are still fighting, those who have no comforts to enjoy, those that wake up with nothing on their to do list but to survive, and the soldiers that have willingly given themselves to fight along side them.

Funday Sunday: Worst... EVER!

I walk out to my car, super bummed that it's the rainy season but excited for what the day holds. I plop into the driver seat, insert key, turn key, and... nothing. The sound of an engine starting up is replaced with dead air. NOOOOO!!! I cry out; not again! This, my friends, has been the second time in 2 weeks that I have killed my car, and in the last year? I can't even count how many times I have killed my poor Maxine. Yup, my cars name is Maxine. As I begin to pray for a miracle I send out texts in hopes someone is awake at this hour and willing to come save me. Can I just say, my family and friends are amazing! And one of my amazing friends came to my rescue. Karen, I said it once and I will say it again, you are my hero!

Enter Funday Sunday:
This weeks post may not be a little known fact, but it's a fact: I am the worst car owner- EVER. And if you are trying to be nice you may say "oh no, I'm sure you're not that bad."
Oh contrare, dear internet. Not only have I come to terms with this fact but my family and close friends are very aware of it as well. And I have stories upon stories to confirm said fact. Like the time I thought my car was dead, had my dad, who was almost an hour away, drive to come diagnose my problem only to have him point out when he got there that I had simply left my car in drive when I turned it off. My mom swears I'm naturally blonde.

Funday Sunday: Jurassic Park, Hansen Brothers, and Billy Ray Cyrus

My mind runs a million miles a minute with more thoughts than I can keep track of. And more often than not there is a song playing as the same time; usually the theme music to Jurassic Park (don't ask). I have even caught myself humming the catchy little tune while cleaning my room, cooking or working. A few weeks ago Mmm Bop by the Hansen Brothers popped in my head at work. I shared this with my co-workers and we proceeded to watch a clip of the music video (we might have even sang along a bit). Internet, it was epic.

This weeks "Funday Sunday" is dedicated to the random songs that pop in my head for no apparent reason. What's that? You want to know what this weeks song was? Well, let me preface my answer with this; Jesus said "Do no judge, or you too will be judged." As much as it may pain me to admit this, Achey Breaky Heart by Billy Ray Cyrus popped in my head this week. I know, random.... but that's me:)

*Side note- That mullet is epic!

Cheer's to you, parentals!

I don't mean to pee on your rainbow, be a Debbie Downer or a party pooper but some things I just don't get... and birthdays are one of them. It's not that I don't appreciate all the love and kind words that are received but it seems a bit backwards, in my opinion. We get a whole day dedicated to celebrating the fact that we were born; yet we really had nothing to do with it. So, in my attempt to change that, I cheer's to you, parentals; because without you there would be no me.

Mom, thank you for the 70 pounds you gained during the 9 months you were pregnant with me just to make sure I was always well fed. Thank you for the 8 hours you waited in labor for me to arrive. Thank you for those moments when we don't have to say anything, yet know what each other is thinking. Thank you for sleepless nights and long days. And thank you for the 24 years of dealing with me, through the good and the bad.

Dad, thank you for feeding mom. Thank you for the 8 hours you waited while mom was in labor. Thank you for leading by example in all that you do and always being available, for anything I may need, even if it's a simple word of encouragement. Thank you for sleepless nights and long days. And thank you for the 24 years of dealing with me, through the good and the bad.

Mom (yes, dear internet, I have two moms. My cup runneth over!), although you did not have anything to do with the fact that I was born, you did have much to do with the fact that I am who I am today; and for that I thank you. Thank you for always being faithful, to God and dad. Actions speak louder than words, and your actions have a strong voice. Thank you for sleepless nights and long days. And thank you for the many years of dealing with me, through the good and the bad.