Mrs. M's Battle for Sustained Healing

Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able 

to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.  Ephesians 4:11

Wednesday night, 12/10/08, four of us were gathered at the beginning of our prayer meeting.  Mrs. M shared that she had arrived one hour early because she was in so much pain she couldn’t stay at home.  She has had a battle for the healing of her teeth and gums.  This was a new pain she had never experienced.  I laid hands on her and prayed for her healing and the pain to stop.  Ms. H hugged her and began to pray.  As Ms. H prayed she began to laugh.  She was laughing, praying, and hugging Mrs. M for several minutes.  Finally Mrs. M fell to the floor on her knees crying, lifting her hands heavenward, and thanking God for taking the pain away.  She had no more pain the rest of the evening.

Sunday, 12/14/08, Mrs. M came for prayer again.  This time she said her mouth felt as if it was on fire.  She was obviously in great pain and cried as she explained.  We laid hands on her again and prayed.  The fire went out and she was fine.

Some relevant history would be helpful to understanding Mrs. M’s battle.  When she was growing up her parents continually ridiculed and belittled her.  They particularly targeted her mouth, saying her teeth were ugly and misshapen.  When she became an adult she spent a considerable amount of time and money with dentists trying to correct her problem.  Unfortunately, as planned by our adversary, she contracted a very painful infection under one of the bridges in her mouth.  For over a year she had suffered with pain and treatment.  She sounds a lot like the woman described in Mark 5:25-26, " A woman who had had a hemorrhage for twelve years,and had endured much at the hands of many physicians, and had spent all that she had and was not helped at all, but rather had grown worse--"

Sunday morning before church, her husband had gotten very angry with her and had been verbally abusive.  After the tongue lashing by her husband, the pain started again.  She had the good sense to come to church anyway and get prayer.

Please stand with Mrs. M and our church as we believe for total and continuous freedom from these attacks and for the salvation and healing of her husband.

Dancing Again--Pointe to Pointe!

For the past 4 summers young women, and two young men, have come to Japan to dance with my daughters’ modern dance troupe, Shachah. In the summer of 2008 we felt we really needed to pray for their safety and that what had been stolen from them by the devil would be restored. Several of the ballet dancers had injuries that hampered, inhibited, and/or prevented them from doing all they needed to or wanted to do in dance. We particularly prayed for two of the ladies who had lost the ability to dance on pointe shoes because of surgery. I just received MG’s testimony and want to share it with you as part of my spiritual journey.
“When I was 17 [2003] my left ankle started to really hurt while I was dancing and I started to lose range of motion very quickly to where I could not point my foot. That whole year I was going to doctors and they couldn't figure out what was wrong. Four days before going to college I had surgery on that ankle. All of my cartilage had worn away in that joint and scar tissue had built up (hence the loss of motion). They filed one of my bones down and tried to replace some of the cartilage. I didn't dance at all for several months while it healed and I did physical therapy. Two years later I tried a semester of pointe work just to see if my ankles could handle it. Then the right ankle started having the same problems and the whole semester was very painful. I basically just gave up and tried to accept that this was never going to be a part of my dancing again, even though I really loved it.
This summer in Japan I really felt the Lord restore and heal a lot of things inside of me, and He renewed my sense of purpose in my dancing. "I am good at this. I know this is what God has called me to do." This fall, five years after the injury began to get serious, I put my pointe shoes back on just to see what would happen. I started taking more and more classes waiting for them to start hurting. Then I forgot that I was waiting for them to start hurting. Suddenly two months had gone by. One night I prayed for a lady with a tumor in her breast. I found out that she had gotten healed the next day. I just told the Lord that the injury was over and I needed my ankles back to do what He had called me to do. That was a big faith moment for me. "Yes. they're healed. Tell people that they are healed."
Now I have the lead role for the ballet in the spring, and it's a part that I have only dreamed of doing. God is so good to me.”

Handkerchiefs, A Baby, & Puzzled Doctors

"God gave Paul the power to do unusual miracles, so that even when 

handkerchiefs or cloths that had touched his skin were placed on sick people, 

they were healed of their diseases..."Acts 19:11-12 (NLT)

     Baby Tet-chan, one of our 4 Down Syndrome foster children, has been in the hospital most of the 7 months of his life.  He has had one heart surgery and is waiting for the 2nd to repair a hole in his heart.  He has used all his energy to breath and stay alive and thus has had calories left to help him gain weight.  The doctors said that once he reached 5 kg (11lbs.) they would do the surgery.  They did not expect him to reach that weight any time soon.  He also has many complicating factors.

     Sarah, Ako, and I pray for him every time we go to the hospital.  In addition, Sarah has been bringing handkerchiefs to church and having as many people as possible lay hands on them and pray for healing for Tet-chan.  For months she has been taking the handkerchiefs to the hospital.  We have been amazed that the nurses are very careful to keep these handkerchiefs on the baby as much as possible.  Yesterday, Tuesday, 12/9/08, the doctors did a catheterization on Tet-chan to determine the current condition of his heart.  They also ran other tests.

     Regarding the tests on Tet-chan.  The doctors are puzzled, and I have to be very careful how I explain this so as to be accurate.  5 improvements the doctors can’t easily explain:

1.  He has gained weight much faster than expected.  He is now almost 5 kg.

2.  His liver function was abnormal but now is within acceptable levels.

3.  Based on his current condition and medical history he should not be able to produce red blood cells.  Now his body is producing red blood cells.

4.  The pressure gradient in his lungs is now within an acceptable range although he still has a hole in his heart. His pulmonary hypertension is gone.

5.   Previously, they thought two of his heart valves were so deformed they would be almost impossible to repair.  Now they have determined they are not so bad and can be repaired.

As a result of all these new factors the doctors now can't decide if he needs heart surgery now or wait until he is a year old!?  They said they need to wait and see what happens.

When Sarah said, "We've been praying and will continue to," the doctor didn't know how to respond.  Sarah and Ako have shared frequently with the doctors.  We are cooperating with them and let them know that we are praying for God to guide and give them wisdom. So, Tet-chan is being healed, it's just not complete yet.  We have people praying all over the world for little Tet-chan.  Keep praying, thanking God, and believing.

Spiritual Journey toward Miracles & Healing

     Yesterday the atmosphere at Living Way Church was different.  I felt as if I was not in the same dimension as everyone else as I shared the Word.  When I asked Akihiro what he felt, the only way he could describe it was "brighter.  Everything seemed brighter."  At the end of the meeting we asked the Presence of the Lord to come, for Him to show us His glory, for the Shekinah to be revealed.  I didn't know how to end the meeting.  Everyone just sat there in silence for a few minutes before anyone started talking and moving about.

     Since March of this year, 2008, we have been actively praying for people to be healed and for them to receive miracles in their finances and work situations.  Although we have not had any startling breakthroughs, we have had people get promotions, better jobs, bonuses, back pay they were not expecting, find money, and receive unexpected gifts.  Several people who had pain, some for many months, have had the pain stop.  Yesterday, we prayed for eyes to be healed and any problems with teeth, gums, and mouths to be healed.  Mrs. W. was talking to me after the meeting and suddenly stopped and exclaimed, "My pain is gone.  When I came to church this morning, my gums were hurting and now I realize it's stopped."

     One lady has tried to get her unsaved husband, Mr. K., to church for years.  He has so many physical problems the doctors have trouble treating one without interfering with the others.  He has been very hostile toward her beliefs.  Any time he found a Bible in the house he would tear it to shreds.  For years he would get very angry when she would go to church.  In the last few months he has changed.  One night she heard him reciting the Lord's prayer in his sleep.  He has encouraged her to come to church and not be late.  Sunday he brought her but got angry and left when someone told him he couldn't go in and out to smoke whenever he liked.  [That wasn't me, by the way.  I would have told him he could!]  However, he did come back at the end of the meeting for prayer.  He let me lay hands on him and pray for his diabetes to be healed.  This was a MAJOR break through!  I'll keep you posted.

     We are on a journey.  We have made a commitment we will not stop praying and believing the Living God to confirm His Word with signs and wonders and healings as He did in the first century church.  It has been almost 10 months now.  I get discouraged sometimes.  I've gotten sick and unexpectedly wound up in the hospital for 10 days!  At one point we had 4 of our foster care babies in the hospital at the same time!  But, we are pressing on.  As of today, the doctors are puzzled about the amazing progress of one baby in recovering and the slowing down of a progressive disease in an older lady.  Neither of these people is totally healed yet but the doctors cannot explain what is happening in them.  The baby should not be getting well so fast and the lady should be much worse than she is.  We Thank Our Lord and Creator for the progress and pray that we will totally confound the wisdom of the medical profession as God moves.

Living Way Church Declarations

Renewal of God’s Deeds
[March, 2008]

LORD, I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds, O LORD. Renew them in our day, in our time make them known; in wrath remember mercy. Habakkuk 3:2 (NIV)

Financial Blessing
[May, 2008]
{Taken from Bethel Church, Bill Johnson, Redding, CA}

As we give unto the Lord we are believing the Lord for:
jobs and better jobs
raises and bonuses
benefits
sales and commissions
open doors and opportunities
favorable settlements
estates and inheritances &
the wisdom for proper management
interest and income
rebates and returns
checks in the mail, bank transfers
gifts and surprises
finding money & valuables
debts paid off & cancellation of debts
expenses decreased
blessing and increase
Thank you Lord for meeting all my needs that I may have more than enough to give to the kingdom of God and promote the gospel of Jesus Christ throughout the world.

Abounding Grace Declaration
[July-August, 2008]
“Where sin abounds, grace much more abounds.” (Rom. 5:20)

Lord Jesus, we, your church, proclaim that during this *obon season as sin increases,
Your grace will increase much more!
As demonic activity increases, Holy Spirit activity will increase much more.
Satan shall not have his way this season but The Lord Jesus Christ will have HIS way!
We proclaim:
Grace for salvation will increase!
Grace for healing will increase!
Grace for deliverance will increase!
Grace for finances will increase!
Grace for releasing gifts of the Spirit will increase!
We proclaim that Jesus is Lord of this season in Japan!
*obon is a season in Japan, usually the middle of August, when people believe the spirits of their ancestors are released from Buddhist hell and return home for a few weeks. People light little fires outside their houses at the beginning of obon to show the spirits how to return home. The TV networks run mostly horror/occult type films during this season. Demonic activity definitely increases during this season.

Declaring God’s Presence with Thanksgiving
[November, 2008]

Thank You Father for enthroning Yourself on our praises.
Thank You Jesus for being in our midst as we gather in Your name.
Thank You for drawing near to us as we draw near to You.
Thank You Holy Spirit for coming upon us and living in us;
for teaching us and guiding us into all truth;
and, for revealing Jesus to us.
Thank You for always hearing and answering when we call.
We declare that in Your Presence we are healed,
we are set free,
and we are blessed.

The Salvation of Mr. M.

The Salvation of Mr. M.

We returned from Shulam on Friday, August 29, 2008. At 13:00 the next day, Sarah, Ako, Lew, and I met with Mr. M and his wife. His wife has been a faithful member of our church for many years now and has constantly sought the Lord for her husband’s salvation. His son, daughter-in-law, and daughter are all Christians. Mr. M has attended church off-and-on, mostly off, for many years but had never come to a point of decision for himself. However, a few months ago he learned he had inoperable pancreatic cancer. He had now completed his first round of chemotherapy and wanted to talk about his relationship with Christ.
As we talked we learned more of his journey. When he was in his 20’s he was riding a large motorcyle at high speed. A very large truck stopped in front of him. When he applied his brakes, they failed. His motorcyle did not slow at all. In a nanosecond it flashed through his mind, “I’m going to die.” Suddenly his motorcyle stopped, just short of colliding with the truck. He said there was no screeching or skidding and the motorcyle did not shudder in the least. His brakes still had not worked. He and his cycle just gently stopped. He said he knew from that time that there was some god or some being that had saved him. But, since he wasn’t injured he just went on with his life.
Looking back now, some 40+ years later, he recognized that the Living God had saved him. He now believes there is a god. I told him that was good but that even the demons believe there is a God [James 2:19] but they will not humble themselves and repent. I asked Mr. M, “Do you remember ever repenting with your own mouth and asking Jesus to come into your life and take control?” He said he hadn’t. I told him he was not born again and he needed to do that.
We explained that he needed to know for sure that he was born again and had eternal security. He needed a point in time he could refer to and say, “On this day I prayed to receive Jesus.” When we asked him if he was ready, he said, “Yes.” I lead him in a prayer and covered everything I could think of beginning with his belief in the virgin birth and going through the resurrection of Jesus. Lew said he had never heard such a detailed sinner’s prayer. I told him we had been praying for this man’s salvation for almost 20 years and I wanted to make absolutely sure we didn’t leave anything out.
Mr. M’s wife was very excited. We believe he had a genuine encounter with the Lord. Water baptism had been a big stumbling block for Mr. M and he had steadfastly resisted it. Interestingly, Mr. M had insisted his elderly mother be baptized before she died. We were able to lead her to salvation and did indeed baptize her just before she slipped into senile dementia and was unable to communicate. She passed away not too long after her baptism. However, Mr. M resisted for several more years until his conversion August 30.
We had intended to get back with him very soon but got very busy and then I had to enter the hospital. Sarah called on Tuesday, 9/9/08, to say that Mr. M had refused any further chemotherapy and was leaving on Friday for an alternative treatment center that uses diet and natural remedies. He would be gone at least a month and maybe longer. Mr. M was told if he took the 2nd round of chemo he would live for one more year. He decided he did not want to be so sick and would try this other treatment. Sarah was concerned this may be the last time we saw him so he needed to be baptized now. I told her to see if he was willing and she and Ako made the arrangements.
Wednesday, 9/10/08, I got a pass to leave the hospital for 7 hours—officially to visit my 2 daughters leaving for America. After a brief stop at home, we all headed to the church to baptize Mr. M. His whole family was there. We gathered any church people who were available on short notice. Sarah, Hunter, & Mason had cleaned our church pool (a small, kid’s pool) and started filling it with water. We ran a hose from the church shower and turned on the hot water to warm up the otherwise frigid water.
Since it usually takes almost 8 hours to fill this pool we only had about a foot of water in it. Mr. M got on his knees and, after prayer, stretched out face down in the pool. Sarah and I splashed water on any exposed parts to make sure “every part of him” was soaked. Again, we had waited too long for this moment to leave anything uncovered! Mr. M was really a good sport about this and shared a brief testimony at the end in which he genuinely thanked his family for their love and concern over many years.
We completed this momentous occasion inside the church as we all shared the Lord’s table together. We then gathered around Mr. M, anointed him with oil, and prayed for his complete healing from the cancer. And, since this is Japan, we all posed for a photo to commemorate the day. Mr. M and family returned home to prepare for his trip to the treatment center and I returned to the hospital to complete my treatment.
Please stand with us for Mr. M’s complete and total recovery. We are praying that God will grant him many more good years.
As a church we believe Mr. M is the first fruit of what God wants to do in so many families in our church. Almost every Japanese in our church is the first, and only, Christian in their family. Most of our married women have unbelieving husbands. We believe the time has come to complete their families—to bring in all who are yet resistant to the gospel. We see God working in so many of the husbands as they face new and difficult situations. Mr. M said this cancer was one of the first things in his life he couldn’t overcome by himself. Hard work and determined endurance could not heal him or save him. He had to turn to Someone higher and Greater—the Living God. May God bring many others to this point!