Day 251 Round Two

 

9/8/2025

 

Today is the first Embassy call that I have missed in 703 days of the war, but I had an early medical appointment, and I had to drive to Richmond. The area has changed considerably in thirty-five years, so I need GPS to assist me in reaching my desired destination without hassles. Technology works sometimes! But just in case, I am the old Girl Scout Leader who is prepared with the physical destination written out on paper just-in-case! I also leave early for appointments as unexpected things happen in traffic, and I never want to be late. Since I'd been up most of the early morning, because of the red alerts going off in Israel, it was a restless night, and I was a bit tired as well. My son, who is not fond of interstate traveling, kindly agreed to go with me just in case I got tired. He was there to keep me alert and for moral support, as this visit was "atypical," a word doctors love to use when discussing my cases. They need to write a new textbook just for me! My doctor did advise me to stay out of trees, however, and that was a totally...eh, maybe...unrelated visit. Life continues to be interesting for me, and a bit humorous. My real life stories seem to amuse people. And I thought I didn't have a life!!

I had such a wonderful Sunday with great teaching that confirmed some things God's been showing me about the motives of my heart. I really didn't speak much about that in the post for yesterday, because I was up to my neck in all these crazy distractions, when I was trying to listen to a sermon or relax with music. I always listen to music when I write, so depending on what I am listening to at the time...reader beware! 

I was privileged to hear two testimonies about the wonder-working power of the LORD yesterday. The first was during our global prayer call with Jerusalem. A young worship leader and Messianic Jewish singer of Jewish/Brazillian descent, Elihana Elia, gave a testimony of the supernatural healing power of our LORD. She was diagnosed with breast cancer about a year ago, went through surgery and radiation and chemotherapy and told she was cancer free. She began experiencing severe back pain, and although she asked the oncologist to give her a PET scan, she was denied. When she switched her doctors to all Jewish oncologists, metastatic breast cancer was diagnosed, and her spine and back was full of cancer, as well as her liver. They gave her no hope, and ultimately gave her three to six months to live. Hospice was recommended. This was in June of this year. Elihana has a strong faith in God, and during all this time she and her mother prayed and praised the LORD. During the war with Iran that began on June 13, 2025 she became so heavily burdened for her country that her intercession turned more towards Israel than her own needs. The war ended on June 24, 2025, and she continued to praise the LORD. Elihana had made aliyah to Israel, but her mother remained in Brazil. At some point, her mother had placed a red cover over her daughter's bed, representing the blood of Jesus Christ that covers us as we plead His blood. What a wonderful display of faith in action. Recently, when Elihana returned to her doctors, new scans were taken, and she was completely cancer free. She showed us videos of her visit with the oncologist showing her the before and after scans, so we were able to see the cancer in her back and liver, and we saw the new scans that showed no cancer! God divinely intervened on her behalf. The important thing is that regardless of her condition, she always praised and worshiped God in the midst of the highs and lows, as did her mother. She sings beautifully, and I invite people to look on YouTube for her testimony and songs. 

The second testimony came from a 17 year old young man, Cannon Van Daele, who was diagnosed with liver cancer a year and four months ago, then a brain tumor. He said that "Cancer has been a blessing." In his enthusiastic testimony, with a great big smile and exuberant joy and expression on his face and gestures, he shared how grateful He was to God for each day, each breath to praise Him and share his faith. Cannon shared that because of the cancer diagnosis, God used it to "flip a switch" in his brain about his life and personal relationship with Christ, and he said he would never be the same. I include a link to his testimony here for you, as you do not want to miss it (https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1987906005342304). Two testimonies, both giving praise and honor to God in the midst of life and death circumstances, both very young children, just beginning life. What faith and wonderful hope!

This morning was a great time with Jesus, even though I woke up quickly following a dream of a friend who was calling out to me, as I was traveling up a road hurriedly. In the dream I was in New Mexico, visiting an older friend, and I was driving away, when I heard a voice for me to come back. I woke up, wondering what that could be about or if I had eaten a bad potato before going to bed! I had been invited to a meeting in Washington DC at the Museum of the Bible by three different prayer ministries, but I don't like to mingle and mix at important events, even when our beloved President is the main speaker. I much prefer hiding out in my prayer closet, unless God says "Go!" I never have been one to seek the limelight; I much prefer to handle things the way scripture says to do. I realize that there are times and places, but seeking self-aggrandizement is not my thing. We all have our gifts in the body, and I guess my body part is a hidden part. All parts serve vital roles, but mine could be a janitor. It may not be a pretty job, but I'm good for it! It makes others' lives more tolerable, don't you think?!  

"For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God Than dwell in the tents of wickedness (Psalm 84:10)."

I'm beginning to see how things are coming together in my dreams, and then again, another piece of bad potato. In case you haven't caught the humor of the analogy yet, I am referring to a scene in the movie Scrooge when Ebenezer Scrooge sees Marley's ghost. Scrooge does not want to face the fact that he is being visited, and the results may not pan out so well, as his past is catching up with him in real time. No one wants to end their life with unresolved skeletons in their closet or in public view. 

This afternoon, after my medical appointment, my son and I went to the grocery. That's always a shocker when you check out. Things have gotten so costly that I may need to go back to work. Who knows it may even bring me a little peace having an escape from all that needs to be fixed, and yet, there may be worse distractions in the field. As the spiritual warfare increases daily, the distractions are becoming bolder and more varied. I am becoming heart sick over situations that are happening, and no one wants to take responsibility for their own actions. We live in a society that wants to blame someone else, play the victim, and because of my training, I am able to see very clearly the truth behind the cover up. Personally, I see people close to me who want to be well and work, while others want to lie and cover up and have someone else pay their way. I don't know if God is allowing things to come my way to put me through the fiery trials to refine me or not. I feel so helpless at times, because I cannot "fix" anyone's problems, I can only advise or recommend as a friend, not a professional. I have experience, but people have to want to take the initiative. The only answer to any problem is Jesus, and few people, even professing Christians, believe life is just that simple. Oh, another pill, a different doctor, if only, if only, if only! Nope, Jesus. The reason a person may feel that it is just not that simple, or wants to say that I don't understand, is because they do not want to make a choice. To live or die! I am well acquainted with making wise and not so wise decisions, but I have always chosen life. I never doubted God, and He never doubted me, even when I was at my lowest point. The testimonies I shared above of Elihana and Cannon testify of God's amazing grace. The choice is ours:

“Now therefore, fear the Lord, serve Him in sincerity and in truth, and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River and in Egypt. Serve the Lord! And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24:14-15)