Thanks Be to God!

Thank you all from the bottom of our hearts.

We were blessed beyond belief yesterday on the day of Prayer and Fasting.

The Lord ministered to me and filled me. Both of the prayer gatherings were filled with love and outpourings of faithful prayer. As my friend Dan said, "It was like everyone wanted to pray and needed a place to do it." Everyone has been praying on their own, but coming and getting to see John and pray in person was prayer-inspiring for many.

For those of you who could not be there, the 7am prayer time was an intimate circle of thirty or so. We did Morning Prayer and shared communion standing in a circle around the altar. Then everyone circled around me and prayed for me. John was not able to be there.

The evening healing service was at an AMiA church in Wheaton. The worship space is in the round and peacefully lit with candles. There is an altar in the center with an enormous crown of thorns suspended over it. The entire sanctuary is surrounded with charcoal drawings of the Stations of the Cross. The main seating area felt packed to those sitting in the pews. There were 80 or 90 in attendance. The service began with scripture readings and a short homily. Our friend Eirik led the service, Stewart led the Litany of Healing and Randy led the music. A German professor from Wheaton College shared her testimony of healing from cancer 12 years ago with many beautiful scriptures about healing. One that touched me was the man who approached Jesus and said, "If you are willing you can make me well." Jesus said, "I am willing." Jesus the same yesterday, today and forever.

After the homily and testimony there was a Litany of Healing prayers. After this there was an anointing of John with oil and laying on of hands by the clergy present. The entire congregation then moved forward and showered John with prayer after prayer for his healing. (Oh, I forgot this part. Just as everyone was about to begin these prayers John needed a potty break. If you know John, this is so... John. Who else would interrupt their own healing service to announce to the congregation he needed to skip to the lu? :)) At this opportune moment, the group prayed specifically for me. There was a prayer for the releasing of the "knot" in my stomach and I felt this happening.

John was so exhausted by the time we got to the service, he stretched out on the pew and slept some during the communion.

There are many things I am still soaking in and chewing on after this incredible day. I will end this post with my summary of the charge given by our friend Jeremy at the conclusion. He said that in prayer for John he had received a picture of the parting of the Red Sea. When the Israelites reached the impassable sea and the Egyptians were at their backs, God did not part the waters immediately. He sent a wind in the night to blow the waters back. In the same way, we should not give up when we do not see instant results. Instead, when we awaken in the night or drive down the road, pray that the wind will continue to do its work in John's body.
Amen. Thanks be to God.