Not bowing down to other gods (Exodus 23:26)

This is something I learned from Exodus 23 where it talks about God's blessing. This is a simple understanding of an ordinary mom who don't have a specific degree.

Exodus23:26 says God will bless my bread and water, and will take sickness away from the midst of us. The beginning of the verse in my note says, "And so." I don't remember which translation it came from, but I thought there must be something I need to do before God blesses my food and water. Of course I know God is merciful, and I don't understand deep and difficult theology but I thought there might be something I might want to pay attention to. So I went back a few verses. Then I saw that God wants us to get rid of other gods utterly. I saw how important it is to God.

We are not to 

• bow down to other gods
• serve them
• do after their (other gods' people) works or follow their example.

We are to

• utterly pull down/break
• destroy 

                                                              their standing images.


In this verse, I saw something fascinating. Two words are repeated twice in Hebrew Bible just like in the proverbs (diligently, diligently). The words repeated here both mean to break down.  The first word is to break down/beat down. The second word is to break down in pieces, crush, etc. So we are to utterly pull down and down, and crush and crush their standing images. Then...

And so you shall serve the LORD your God, and he will bless your bread and water, and will take sickness away from the midst of you. (Exodus 23:26)

Glory to God. He is the One who healed us all! I am waiting for the day when the LORD will act and I will hold a proof in my hand (One time I decided not to wait for that, but then I noticed it was still my desire to have an "NED" (no evidence of disease) in my hand, so I am waiting for it again) . Until then, I keep hiding in the shadow of His wings, speaking to the mountain to be removed and be thrown into the sea!


In Christ,

Psalm 116 in my own words

I love that the LORD has heard my voice and my earnest prayers attentively.
Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live.

The cords of death were around me, the terrors of grave overtook me.
I saw only trouble and sorrow.
But I called on the name of the LORD, "Please, LORD, save me!"

The LORD is merciful and righteous, yes, our God is compassionate.
The LORD preserves the thoughtless; when I was brought low (oppressed) he saved me.
My soul, return to your rest!
For the LORD has been generous toward you.

Yes, you have rescued me from death, my eyes from tears and my feet from falling.
I will go on walking in the presence of the LORD in the lands of the living.
I will keep on trusting even when I say,
"I am utterly miserable," even when, in my panic, I declare, "Everything human is deceptive."
How can I repay the LORD for all his generous dealings with me?
I will raise the cup of salvation and call on the name of the LORD.
I will pay my vows to the LORD in the presence of all his people.

I am forever thankful that the LORD is giving me abundant life everyday. Stage IV cancer is diminishing.

Videos that give you faith!

http://www.cross.tv/68629

 http://www.cross.tv/8549

by Christine Darg

my friend is healed

One of my friends from church, who was diagnosed with stomach cancer, is cancer-free! I haven't seen him in awhile but I heard the news through my son. He had some bad days during chemo therapies.  But he is free now! That is great news.

God heals today. 

Praise God. Thank you, Jesus.

The above blog was written some time ago. Today I heard his testimony at church. After chemo therapy he was having a heart problem and the doctors said a part of the heart was not functioning.
Today, he testified and said that the doctors could not figure it out, but his heart was starting to heal itself.

Glory to God. It is amazing. He looked very good today, too.

Testimony from Lakewood church

Testimony of a lady from Lakewood Church

I certainly learned how to fight and keep focused by Dodie Osteen's teachings. I am grateful for her and also for Gloria Copeland's teachings. I had never listened to Gloria's teaching until a stranger contacted me and gave me her teaching CD's. He heard about me and wanted to pray for me. I am so grateful I "met" these teachings through him. Prosperity teachings? I hear criticisms but I am definitely grateful for their belief in healing. They caused me to look into the Scriptures more intently.

I am also grateful for the people at my church, The River, who keep standing with me.

I am also grateful for the teachings of The Bethel in Redding, California.

I am also grateful for the prayers of many different denominations. We are one in Christ Jesus.

Cancer is not mine. It does not belong to me.

December 23, 2011 - new lesions

The result of the scan showed some new lesions, but everything else was stable.
The doctor seems to think it is possible that the lesions may not be cancer. My husband and I are glad to hear that! We'll have to have more test and see.

God is happy when we have faith when there seems to be no hope.

Jesus came to the world to give us hope and life.
Faith in Jesus is not just a "beautiful thing" to have. It is life or death.

Jesus, I still trust in you.

PET scan

Today I had an appointment for a PET scan.
I was praying and thinking about something to say to the scan tech person. Something that honors God and something that encourages me and hopefully him. I wanted to see God's glory.  This was my 5th time to see him. I ended up saying, "My body will not suck up any of the radioactive nuclear medicine you are about to inject in my blood." He smiled and said, "That's good!" It turned out to be more for me than anything else.  I think I was hoping that would be a prophetic word over myself. I prayed hard while I was waiting for the medicine to go through my body - for 90 minutes. I prayed, then fell asleep, then I prayed. I felt like I was ready when the tech came to get me.

On my way out, I saw somebody I knew. Her doctor found a spot in her lung. Without hesitation I reached out to her and whispered a prayer for her. I forgot how shy I was. When love is first, fear (due to shyness) disappears! I believe she will be okay.

The person I got to know through my brother-in-law texted me the other day. We haven't met each other yet, but we talk on the phone and pray for each other. She was also diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer. When I talked to her about a month ago, she was coughing so much that she could not continue talking. Well, in her text the other day she said that her PET scan showed that the tumor had not only stopped growing but it has shrunk to almost nothing! I called her and she was not coughing at all this time. 

God does not change. I want to brag about Him.

25th anniversary

We have disagreements in many areas, but praise God we celebrated our early 25th anniversary last weekend. The grass becomes green where we water. God loves us in every area of our lives. He makes a new way even when we felt like there wasn't going to be any. The enemy must flee when we resist. God is so faithful. We wait, and he comes.

During our celebration, we rode bicycles, hiked, and walked in one day. I felt great! Being able to do all those itself is a miracle for me.

Last week I went to my oncologist's office. He had skipped my maintenance med. twice due to my dental procedures (root canals) so I was naturally a bit nervous. I meditated on the scriptures of God's healing promises more than usual the night before. And God faithfully revealed his power in the result of my blood test and the blood pressure. They were perfectly normal!

I am thankful.

Cleaving to God - I Samuel 30:6

David found strength from God.

I Samuel 30:6b

(KJV) ...but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.
(NAS) ...but David strengthened himself in the LORD his God.
(NLT)...but David found strehgth in the LORD his God.

וַיִּתְחַזֵּ֣ק  (Strong's #2388) is the word for "encouraged" or "found strength."

It has meanings like fasten upon, seize, be strong, to bind, cleave, hold faｓt, lean, etc...

How did David become encouraged and strong? We don't have to imagine or guess what he did or how he did it because it is indicated in the original word! He cleaved to the LORD his God. That is how we stay encouraged and gain strength, too, because the word of God gives strength and life to those who find them. (proverbs)

I was greatly encouraged by the following words from Deuteronomy 4:4.  The word for "cleave" is a different word from #2388 (it is #1695),  but "cleave" part is the same. : )

(KJV) ...but ye that did cleave upon the LORD your God are alive every one of you today.

I once asked the LORD, "What was I doing then, when I was reading the Bible and studying the Bible, before I was diagnosed with cancer? Wasn't I reading your word?" I felt a soft small voice in my heart immediately after I said it. "These words are giving you life." This was a moment when I understood what he meant. He doesn't answer my "why" questions, but he gives me peace. Our God's kindness is great. I keep trusting Him. He is my hope.　Cleaving to/clinging to/adhering to God is the best place to be.

Thanksgiving - Psalm 30

Psalm 30

¹ I will exalt you, Lord, for you rescued me.
      You refused to let my enemies triumph over me.
 ² O Lord my God, I cried to you for help,
      and you restored my health.
 ³ You brought me up from the grave, O Lord.
      You kept me from falling into the pit of death.

That is exactly what God is doing in my life!
I am full of gratitude.
Thank you, Father.

Today I got together with some of my relatives, and I connected with some of my friends via texting. My heart was full of joy.

 ¹¹ You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing.
      You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy,
 ¹² that I might sing praises to you and not be silent.
      O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever!

I don't want to forget what you have done.
I keep praising you, Lord.