Thursday, October 23, 2014

Looking Back: Only God!

Joel and Renee
NYC skyline

It was one year ago we packed our van with everything but the kitchen sink, and headed East for a great adventure in faithful living.  God orchestrated that two week trip from start to finish and just like when He sent the ravens ahead for Elijah, He prepared the way for us with each sunrise.  It was a trip I never thought I would make.  No one did.  Only God.

I have been going back over posts I wrote in October and November 2013 sharing how God walked with us before, during, and after this great journey took place.  Having been homebound for 10 years with very little time spent out in the world, this was beyond our imagination or hope....until Joel was healed overnight, and in response I began my journey forward from nearly 3 decades of chronic illness to wholeness and health.  Only God.

We traveled three thousand miles, stayed in hotels for 14 nights, attended a three day healing conference in CT, spent 10 hours in NYC taking the ferry, commuter train, subway, and walked over 5 miles on our marathon tour.  We also went to Niagara Falls, walked the Appalachian trail and Long Island Beach, visited with our oldest and her family at our SIL's sisters in CT, and took in the beauty of 9 states.  We connected in person with Internet friends in CT and NYC.  Only God.

At  the conference on healing we experienced the power of God's presence in amazing ways.  We felt right at home in the Lutheran-Holy Spirit moving-healing church, and we met so many others who were on the same journey as us.  Only God.

We look back on that time as anointed beyond all we could have "asked for or imagined".  It still makes us smile to reflect on each day ----what we saw, what we experienced, what we learned.  We are so very grateful.

So, where are we today one year later?  Joel is still completely healthy, working part time, biking, and more.  He lives this verse in Nehemiah 8:10  "The joy of the Lord is your (my) strength."  He is always surprised that he is 68 years old, and declares he is getting younger every year!  Retirement is not on his radar.....yet.
My journey has been more of a process.  Healing from Lyme and co-infections came immediately, other health issues have been crockpot style.  I am still healing and expecting "more".  Starting last January around the second anniversary of Joel's overnight healing, I began to experience the presence of God in ways that are still hard to describe.  Looking back on those 4 months of a heavy blanket of Holy Spirit "hugs", I realized that a great deal of inner healing took place.  Physical strength has also continued to increase, and so has my ability to be active in and out of the house.  MCS is a thing of the past.  We have traveled several times for weddings, vacations, and family visits.  With all honesty I share that some things have not yet moved forward with my health.  My  eyes grew worse, requiring laser surgery. A second eye drop I took for just 2 weeks, has affected my heart for now.  The eye migraine I experienced recently was no fun.  BUT as we look back on where I was and where I am, we rejoice.  Only God.

 Our great adventure last October was so delightful, it still makes us smile and laugh right out loud.  Looking back on last year's steps of faith are fueling my beliefs today as I keep my focus on Jesus and my faith in what I cannot yet see.   For myself AND for others!  God is amazing.  He is, as my friend Linny says, a mountain- moving, awe-inspiring, miracle-making GOD!  Our adventure last year says it all.  Only God.  Only God!

"My child, pay attention to what I say
listen carefully to my words
don't lose sight of them..
let them penetrate deep into your heart
For they bring life to those who find them
and healing to their whole body. 
Guard your heart above all else
for it determines the course of your life"
Proverbs 4: 20-23

4 comments:

Sharon said...

Your story always inspires me. Sometimes when I get discouraged, I always ponder the stories of people who have witnessed a great movement of God in their lives. I think of you and Joel.

God is always at work, sometimes the work is not on the outside, but the healing is being wrought in the inner spirit.

GOD BLESS!

Breathing In Grace said...

Oh, Ms. Renee, it just blesses my heart to read this awesome testimony of our Lord's healing power. Thank you for sharing! Ain't God good? Oh, yes He is!

Renee said...

Thank you Sharon! I find for myself inner healing moves the physical healing forward too. I'm all for that!

Renee said...

Thank you Debbie. Yes, God is good!