3 John 2
King James Version
2 Beloved, I wish above all things
that thou mayest prosper and be in health,
even as thy soul prospereth.
Interesting how GOD shows you stuff.
Especially if you are in His ministry.
If He knows you care what happens to others.
And if you really wish to be of help.
And actually even volunteer for the job.
Wishing only to follow the LORD's will.
I did pray fervently for JESUS to please lead me to people who may need help.
I wouldn't want to miss that call for help, and there's no one to help.
I had no idea He'd answer so soon.
And from home yet.
In just a couple of days, he gave me a family member to care for.
The watchman became "watcher" for this family member.
I didn't realize there would be a "hospital" experience.
GOD also made me "watch" over others at the hospital.
Even just to listen to their stories.
To hear the sick's pain.
To hear the family's sorrow.
To witness both life, and death, each day.
To celebrate recoveries.
To share the gospel, revealing its relevance to their lives.
To comfort each other, as we waited for patients' "procedures" from the operating room, and "recoveries" from the recovery room.
Every person has a story to tell.
A rich bed of truth, and tales.
SPIRIT and I did write, "In EVERY person is a STORY", a year ago.
As I shared testimonies on how JESUS healed, some dug deeper -- curious about health, healing, and spirituality.
Others listened, but reserved judgment, visibly holding fast to their own religious beliefs, lest I "infect" them.
You can feel when the gospel is taking root.
And you can feel when it's not, due to resistance.
You can feel the opening, and closing, of doors, and windows, in these people's hearts, minds, bodies, and spirits as you share momentary camaraderie, waiting for your patients.
Well, it's been 23 days since we first took that ambulance to this friendly hospital.
I had been on "straight shift", as the nurses called it.
Nothing like real experience to learn from.
And now, I'm able to gather a few findings -- just from listening, witnessing, and observing people around me.
Which merely confirm what I've already noticed for most of my life.
This was merely truth, in action.
Stress causes illness.
A hardness of heart causes heart problems.
Anger and hatred solidifies in the body, especially hurting the heart, brain, gallbladder, stomach, and colon.
Ever heard the expression, "He had the gall"?
Well, that's a key.
GOD gave me this facility for words.
Which, as born again, I'm able to connect with His WORD.
Root words say much.
Pride causes all sorts of illness.
But GOD sends humility, so you lose that pride.
Both rich, and poor, all suffer the same fate.
Death, or illness.
Apart from E.R. (emergency), one of the most populated departments is the Orthopedics ward.
Many beds line up the room.
The spillovers can be found in the waiting area.
Empty beds are filled with suffering, and waiting folks, all bundled up, huddled in the cold.
Broken bones, twisted spines, degenerating bones, even sprains.
The doctors can't find a moment's rest as they try to find cures, and solutions, for their patients.
Many are injured from "freak" accidents.
A slip in the bathroom.
A tear during sports.
A fracture from accidents.
Some show off, and end up broken.
Others are victims of "circumstances"
There is no joy in pain.
Faces mirror the pain, and anxiety.
What now?
How long will this take?
How much is it going to be?
How could this have happened to me?
Will I get well?
Will she make it?
Every time I broach the subject of prayer, it is warmly received.
Prayer seems to be a natural recourse for people, in times of pain, and suffering.
I pray for everyone around here.
Only GOD's will stands.
That's the secret to getting our prayers answered:
Matthew 18:20
King James Version
20 For where two or three
are gathered together in my name,
there am I in the midst of them.
John 14:13-14
King James Version
13 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name,
that will I do, that the Father
may be glorified in the Son.
14 If ye shall ask any thing in my name,
I will do it.
1 John 5:14
King James Version
14 And this is the confidence that we have in him,
that, if we ask any thing according to his will,
he heareth us:
Stubbornness, and ignorance, cause illness.
Many don't follow their doctors, and end up worse than before.
Others become too sure of themselves, thinking they're indestructible.
Others over-medicate.
The word hardly bandied about in the health industry is "prevention".
That would end all business, you see.
Who would visit clinics, and hospitals, if people tried prevention?
How could big pharma make money if people were well, and obedient to doctors?
Illness gives birth to many industries.
You can almost see, and hear, the financial gears grinding, each time doctors think you should have this test, or see another specialist.
Corollary services wait in the wings.
There was a time one doctor seems able to do it all.
In battlefields, all you needed was a "medic", and he will have to do.
Now, there's specialization for everything.
But that would be for another article.
Stress, hardness of heart, anger, hatred, pride, stubbornness, ignorance.
We've covered those so far.
What could be other causes of illness?
Genetics, of course.
A predisposition for diseases, inherited, and all.
Still, prevention helps.
Anger, and hatred, are major factors in disease.
Those are real "killers".
They take away your joy.
They hurt your body.
They destroy your mind.
They damage your spirit.
You are like one festering sore, that creates more sores.
All because you are "sore".
You want others destroyed.
In the process, you destroy yourself.
Leviticus 19:17-18
King James Version
17 Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart:
thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour,
and not suffer sin upon him.
18 Thou shalt not avenge,
nor bear any grudge
against the children of thy people,
but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself:
I am the Lord.
It's like you declared "open season" upon yourself.
As such, all kinds of diseases may visit you.
All because you are like a boiling cauldron of hatred.
Reminds me of another article spirit and I wrote nearly two years ago -- "Spirit of INFIRMITY".
Similar to the "Spirit BEHIND wars".
It's the same spirit all over again.
And it surely is NOT of CHRIST.
If it's trending where I live, then it's not a nice trend.
All dialysis beds were filled at the hospital.
I've literally counted 30 just one time.
Then discovered there were two other rooms accommodating such.
That makes a total of 38 beds for dialysis patients.
Most patients have three sessions per week.
Their arms have already developed a hard "mountain" for sticking such needles.
In the Philippines, we like food "sweet".
Many like it "salty".
Then people got the idea, it's got to be "spicy".
Thus, the dialysis boom here.
Renal failure is widespread.
Ain't pretty, mind you.
Again, hardly prevention.
A sad state of the times.
The best part of ministering at the hospital -- for that's what GOD assigned me to do -- is to share stuff about JESUS.
How He healed.
What He healed.
How He knew people were sick.
How He was able to determine their illness.
What cure He gave.
Other things He asked of them.
You can all find it from these sample articles:
GENTLE reassurance from the LORD
Here's another source of useful articles:
These verses will give you the strength you need:
Exodus 23:25
King James Version
25 And ye shall serve the Lord your God,
and he shall bless thy bread, and thy water;
and I will take sickness away from the midst of thee.
Psalm 147:3
King James Version
3 He healeth the broken in heart,
and bindeth up their wounds.
Proverbs 3:7-8
King James Version
7 Be not wise in thine own eyes:
fear the Lord, and depart from evil.
8 It shall be health to thy navel,
and marrow to thy bones.
Proverbs 13:12
King James Version
12 Hope deferred maketh the heart sick:
but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.
Proverbs 13:14
King James Version
14 The law of the wise is a fountain of life,
to depart from the snares of death.
Proverbs 16:24
King James Version
24 Pleasant words are as an honeycomb,
sweet to the soul,
and health to the bones.
Proverbs 17:22
King James Version
22 A merry heart doeth good like a medicine:
but a broken spirit drieth the bones.
Ecclesiastes 11:8
King James Version
8 But if a man live many years,
and rejoice in them all;
yet let him remember the days of darkness;
for they shall be many.
All that cometh is vanity.
Ecclesiastes 11:9-10
King James Version
9 Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth;
and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth,
and walk in the ways of thine heart,
and in the sight of thine eyes:
but know thou, that for all these things
God will bring thee into judgment.
10 Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart,
and put away evil from thy flesh:
for childhood and youth are vanity.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20
King James Version
19 What?
know ye not that your body
is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you,
which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
20 For ye are bought with a price:
therefore glorify God in your body,
and in your spirit, which are God's.
1 Timothy 4:7
King James Version
7 But refuse profane and old wives' fables,
and exercise thyself rather unto godliness.
1 Timothy 4:8-10
King James Version
8 For bodily exercise profiteth little:
but godliness is profitable unto all things,
having promise of the life that now is,
and of that which is to come.
9 This is a faithful saying
and worthy of all acceptation.
10 For therefore we both labour
and suffer reproach,
because we trust in the living God,
who is the Saviour of all men,
specially of those that believe.
Related material:
WHAT makes GOD answer a PRAYER?
Note: Many of the verses were obtained from Daily Verses
Interestingly, notice their "Verse of the Day".
Sure ties up with this article you've read just now:
Jeremiah 17:14
King James Version
14 Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed;
save me, and I shall be saved:
for thou art my praise.
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