Might Works

I’ve written before about our Thursday night 42 games. Several years ago a couple in our church invited a widower and a husband whose wife was in a nursing home with Alzheimer’s to join them for a home made dinner and an evening of fellowship. Over the years the number of attendees has fluctuated, but increased considerably. Last night there were five game tables in use to accommodate the group.

Among the attendees was a walking miracle.

Last December, one of our church members had a toothache. She also had four children that kept her busy, from age 16 to a toddler not yet two. She was feeling a bit worn out a couple of times when we spoke. Getting to the dentist took some doing, but finally there she was. He told her she needed to see another doctor. An oncologist.

It wasn’t a tooth that was giving her pain, but a tumor growing in her jaw. It was cancerous. It may have saved her life, though, for further tests showed she had the very rare Plasma Cell Leukemia.

The question is, do you fight it – with all the finance, energy and emotional drain involved, only to succumb – or do you accept the terminality to wait patiently for homegoing. Her Christian doctor joined them in prayer for God’s will to be made manifest, advised them that if it were his wife, treatment would begin immediately.

In keeping with God’s word, the couple went to our pastor and requested the biblical response before beginning the debilitating chemo, placing themselves in God’s hand for all the answers.

Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: [James 5:14 KJV]

Instead of the elders of our church going to their home, the entire church took part in that evening service. We circled the sanctuary, taking turns placing our hands on the shoulders of this loving couple, praying that in God’s will would be found the healing for this deadly disease. Then came the long months of chemo.

It has not been an easy eight months. But it has been a joyously uplifting time as hundreds have prayed without ceasing. Effectively.

Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. [James 5:16 KJV]

Last night was the first time in months that she wore no protecting head cover in our presence. Those have been lovely, but not as lovely as the flowing blonde locks we used to see. It will be months more before the wavy locks return, but the short hair she now sports is the promise of new growth.

As the people when He entered Jerusalem, we praise Him:

And when he was come nigh, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen; [Luke 19:37 KJV]

Indeed, we praise God with loud voices for this mighty work that we have seen!

Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: [1 Peter 1:8 KJV]

Laying On of Hands borrowed from the website support for Sgt. Samuel Nichos, USMC, an American hero.