Tuesday 18 October 2011

GOD STILL DELIVERS FROM AFFLICTIONS

At our cell group meeting last Wednesday evening, we prayed for and with two beautiful, brave, women who although at totally different stages were undergoing similar experiences. Both of them had been diagnosed with breast cancer.

The one we met only after she had had a mastectomy and had gone through chemotherapy. She has an appointment with the oncology specialist for her 6 month check-up and tests on the 27th of this month. She finds the waiting stressful and needed the peace that only God can give.

The other lady had just recently been diagnosed and was due for her mastectomy the day before yesterday, Friday, 14 October.

For the purpose of relating this to you, I am going to call the first one Mary and the second Elizabeth. Our cell group members are truly like a spiritual family. We stand together, pray together and support one another in any crisis. I am sure that Elizabeth received a number of phone calls, e-mails and SMS's on Thursday and Friday morning. Her operation was due at 2 in the afternoon and her closest friend, also a member of our cell group, kept us informed of progress. She was undergoing reconstruction of the breast at the same time, so the operation took a few hours. By 5.30pm I received an SMS to say operation over, all well. By 7.00 a further SMS to say she was fine and was not suffering any pain, just slight discomfort. By 9.00 the next morning, another SMS to state that not only was she fine but hoping to be discharged today, Sunday, 17th October. I could hardly believe the words as I read them.

I visited her Saturday evening at 7.00 and she was smiling serenely, without pain and praising God for His goodness and mercy. And just looking at the view from her hospital bed – Table Mountain with the majestic colours of the sunset behind it and the lights of the city in front of it and a midnight blue sky above it – was reason enough for a sacrifice of praise and worship! What a glorious Creator God we serve! What a faithful God! He is to be praised from the rising of the sun to the going down of it. At about 9 tonight I received another SMS saying that she's home, and God is good!

But now, thus says the Lord, who created you, O Jacob, and He
who formed you, O Israel; “Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by your name; you are Mine. When you pass
through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers,
they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you
shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you. For I am the
Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Saviour;...”” Is. 43:1-3

Thank You, Lord, that Your word is ever true and that You are ever the same. We praise Your holy name! Help us to appreciate and look after our bodies and the good health that we are enjoying.

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