God Hears Your Cry

All across the world, women in need are crying out to God. These women are undergoing severe hardships, extreme sadness, and overwhelming difficulties. To be honest, it amazes me to know that God can touch each of these lives all at the same time. But, He can. The Lord is right there in the midst of each of these situations ready and able to move. To the woman in the hospital bed who is feeling hopeless, anxious, and afraid, God sees your pain. You have been patiently waiting for a miracle, and doubt is starting to settle in. Don't give up. God does still heal today.

"But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed." – Isaiah 53:5

To the woman who feels invisible, like nothing she does matters, know that God sees you. In fact, He sees all that you do. You are precious in His sight, and He wants you to know that you are His beloved.

“You are the God who sees me.” – Genesis 16:13

To the woman whose marriage is falling apart, nothing is too difficult for our Lord. It's not over until God says it's over. He can take the most impossible situation and bring complete restoration. Just put all your trust in Him.

“So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.” – Matthew 19:6

To the woman who can't make ends meet, whose bills are so far behind that there is no way out in sight, know that God is in this. You may not see it in the natural, but fortunately we serve a supernatural God. Hold on to His promises.

"But those who seek the Lord lack no good thing." – Psalm 34:10

To the woman whose child has turned his back on God, know that God sees every one of your tears. He knows you are hurting, but He wants you to trust Him still. God loves your child more than you do, and although you can't see it, God is moving behind the scenes.

“‘For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.” – Luke 15:24

And to the woman crippled with fear and anxiety, lean on Him. God wants you to rest in His peace. Allow the presence of God to permeate every inch of your soul. Let go of all the lies that the enemy has told you, and grasp hold of the truth of God.

"For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind." – 2 Timothy 1:7

Ladies, it doesn't matter how many requests are being called out to God right now – He hears them all. You matter to Him. He can bring hope like no one or no thing can. Keep your eyes on Him.

“I lift up my eyes to the mountains – where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.” – Psalm 121:1-2

----------------------------------------------------------------------

We hope that you will be able to join us for the “The Power Within” Conference on Saturday, September 24^th from 9:00 a.m. – 2:oo p.m. at the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachussets. Additionally, we will be offering a second conference in Cheshire, Connecticut at The Cornerstone Church on Saturday, October 29^th. We are expecting a refreshing time with the Lord.

For tickets to the Springfield event, go to:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-power-within-womens-conference-tickets-25701415626

For tickets to the Cheshire event, go to:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-power-within-womens-conference-tickets-25701743607

Woman On A Mission

She had enough. She couldn't live like this anymore. She was tired and out of options. It had been twelve long years. But that day, that one significant day, she decided that she was done carrying around the disgrace and shame of her disease. That day, there was something different about her. Something changed inside of her. Although Jewish laws prohibited her from going into public areas because she was “unclean,” she boldly left her sick bed. She didn’t care. She was on a mission. She was off to find the Messiah everyone was talking about. She knew if she only could get close enough, if she could just grab the corner of His garment, that she would be healed.

I wonder how many times she talked herself out of going. But, not this time. She was desperate. She was convinced of what she needed to do, and she pressed toward Jesus with every bit of strength and faith she had left in her.

Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at his feet. In the presence of all the people, she told why she had touched him and how she had been instantly healed. Then he said to her, 'Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace."

– Luke 8:47-48

Do you need healing? Have you run out of options? Have you grown tired and weary? Don’t lose hope. Jesus has the last word regarding your sickness. I don't care what the doctors say. I don't care what other people who have the same illness say. Jesus has the last word.

Today, determine to say that enough is enough. Choose to let faith rise inside. Don't let anyone or anything stop you. Draw near to Jesus like never before. The closer you get to Jesus, the closer your healing is. Be that woman on a mission!

By his wounds you have been healed.

– 1 Peter 2:24

No More Shame

When I read through the Old Testament, I am intrigued by the life of Elijah. He is probably one of the greatest prophets ever and had an intimate relationship with God. He predicted the beginning and the end to a three-year drought, allowed God to use him to raise a child from the dead, and defeated the prophets of Baal in a dramatic showdown at Mount Carmel. Interestingly, as incredible a man of God as Elijah was, he experienced suicidal thoughts right after the great victory at Mount Carmel. Jezebel heard of his triumph over the prophets of Baal and vowed to kill him. Elijah fled in fear.

He came to a broom tree, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life.” – 1 Kings 19:5

I don’t know about you, but I am comforted knowing that one of the greatest men of God suffered from depression. It seems that there is a stigma that attaches itself to all mental health issues today, and, as a result, shame accompanies the person that goes through it. The person struggles in secret for fear that people will judge her for this illness. And yet, a person dealing with cancer or diabetes receives the necessary love and support from friends and family.

Unfortunately, depression seems to be on the rise. I have been hearing almost weekly of a new person struggling with this, especially in the younger generation. People, just like Elijah, seem to have lost their purpose in the midst of these confusing times. Feelings of hopelessness have set in.

“But those whose hope is in the Lord, will not be disappointed” – Isaiah 49:23

If you are someone who struggles with depression, I have encouraging news for you. God delivered Elijah from his depressed state, and He can deliver you too. Elijah later went on to fulfill the purposes that God had planned for the rest of his life. His mental health didn’t define him. Elijah didn’t carry any shame for his depression, and neither should you.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” – Jeremiah 29:11

And By His Stripes, We Are Healed

He was only six years old. Surgery!?! Like every mother, there was no way I wanted my son to go through this, even if it was only to put tubes in his ears. “It’s routine,” everyone kept telling me. Routine or not, I was refusing to accept this.

But He was wounded for our transgressions,

He was bruised for our iniquities;

The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,

And by His stripes we are healed.

Isaiah 53:5

Seven years ago, the doctor informed me that my son’s ears were a mess. He added that no medicine or amount of prayer was going to change the fact that his ears were covered in mucus, and his hearing was comparable to that of someone underwater. Surgery was a must. Anything short of a miracle would not suffice.

Fortunately for my son, I know a miracle worker who doesn’t have to obey the laws of nature. My doctor was headed off on vacation and when he returned in a week’s time, the surgery would be scheduled. I had one week. God had one week. My son was placed on several prayer lists, and I recruited every prayer warrior I knew to start praying for a miracle.

I must admit, that a week went by and I didn’t see any visible change in his hearing. The television still blared and numerous “what did you say” still echoed from his mouth. I never lost faith. But, I did remind God politely that my son's appointment was the next day, and that if He didn’t do something quickly, the surgery would be scheduled for that week. That night, I went to bed a little discouraged.

Fortunately, my prayer warrior sister-in-law did not. Her faith was not based on circumstance, but on the word of God and His promises. Unbeknownst to me, she woke several times during the night, declaring healing over my son, claiming the scriptures that God gave for his children. “Pop” she kept praying. “Pop, in the name of Jesus!”

And that is exactly what happened. My son woke the next morning, and the first words out of his mouth were, “Mommy, my ears are popping.” After a few minutes, I noticed that his hearing was improving. I kept adjusting the volume of my speech to see if he could hear, and miraculously, he could.

It was no surprise what happened that day. The doctor confirmed, to his amazement, that my son’s ears were completely healed. There was no evidence that he even had any prior ear issues. And to this day, he has had supernatural hearing.

We know that when Jesus walked the earth, He performed many healings, including the healing of the paralytic, Peter’s mother-in-law, the centurion’s servant, the woman with the issue of blood, and the ten lepers. Unfortunately, many people believe that these miracles were limited to the days when Jesus walked the earth, but I know differently.

The healing of my son’s ears is just one of the many times I’ve witnessed God’s miraculous healing power in my family and in those around me. All too often, we lose hope right before the miracle comes. I want to encourage you today – if you or someone you know needs a healing touch (physical or mental), Jesus is ready and willing for us to call upon him.

O LORD my God, I cried out to You, And You healed me.

Psalm 30:2