Does God Still Heal Today?

By Gail Smith

Do you believe God heals today? By that, I mean do you believe that our God still performs miraculous, supernatural healings for people alive today, in  year 2013?  There was a time when I believed that God no longer worked in supernatural ways to heal people.

I recently had the privilege of doing some research for authors Cecil Murphey and Twila Belk on a book just published, "I Believe in Healing". Cec has written over 125 books, including "90 Minutes in Heaven and Gifted Hands."  My job on this book was to look for documented, divine healings by God, before the year 2000.

Subtitled “Real Stories from the Bible, History and Today,” "I Believe in Healing" is an exhaustive collection of healings ranging from the very earliest recorded healings to stories of people today that can’t be explained by natural means, reminding us that God is the same, yesterday, today and forever.
I say “exhaustive” because as one involved with the research I can tell you that I was blessed to spend many hours searching, reading and documenting these healings, online and in books, too. From barren Sarah (Gen 11:30) to the acts of the apostles, to first century healings, continuing on to Saint Bede, Kathryn Kuhlman and C. H. Spurgeon, God’s power and compassion has been reaching out to touch the sick, the blind, the lame and others with divine healing throughout all of time.

If you should be looking for evidence that God still heals today, this book will answer questions, give examples and save you a lot of time.

Written in two large sections, Part 1 “Stories and Testimonies of Healing” is just that, while Part 2 answers “Questions About Healing.” You can click here to see chapter titles and the “Table of Contents.”

As for me, I became a believer in healing a long time ago, thanks to the ministry of an extraordinary pastor, Ron Dunn. And if I hadn’t changed my mind way back then, I certainly would have believed after reading 20 centuries worth of healings, or at least a tiny fraction of them.

What a great job I have-- it was an incredible blessing for me to be able read story after story of people who were touched by God in so many miraculous ways. No matter the time, place, or circumstances of those in need, God is still at work. My faith has been strengthened, my heart has praised God and my life has been enriched by a growing awareness of God’s magnificent works of healing down through the ages.

I’d like to invite you to experience the same blessing. Take a look at "I Believe in Healing". You’ll find biblical answers to the most common questions about healing as well as amazing acts of God’s mercy and grace.

Christmas X 7

By various authors and you, too, hopefully.

I challenged our TGBA authors to write a seven word sentence about Christmas. Today's post is the result of that challenge. I hope you enjoy it and will add your own seven word description of whatever comes into your mind/heart when you hear the word "Christmas."

Childhood memories from Christmases long, long ago.  
Michael Elmore

Intentionally reflecting daily on Christ's miraculous birth!
Sharon Wilhite

Love wrapped in cloths--given for us.
Marie Tschopp

Celebrating Emmanuel, God’s love with us, forevermore.
Gail Smith

And from Robin, a seven word series:

Christmas Season in Seven Seven-Word Sentences

By Robin Steinweg

*Christmas lights brighten the ever lengthening days.

*Christmas recital: performed by diligently practicing students.

*Christmas shopping: delayed because of practicing students.

*Christmas music seems slaughtered by muzak loops.

*Yuletide carols being sung by a choir.

*Will the cantata be ready in time??? 

*All preparation is for One alone: Jesus!

Photo courtesy of MotionWorship.com
 

Don't forget to add to our seven words of Christmas post.  Merry Christmas, friends!

The Gum Samaritan

By Gail P. Smith

"Grammy, do you have some gum?"  Four-year-old Naomi has already figured out that I'm the "Gum Grammy."  I checked my purse and when I didn't find any we headed up to the counter at Caribou Coffee to get a pack of "Peppermint Vanilla" sugar-free gum. Mmmm, sounds yummy, right?

 Naomi tried one piece and, of course, hated it.  I put it away in my purse, pulling out a piece from time to time, but I never really looked at the package. I mean, who looks at gum packages?

As I got to the last of the gum and pulled the empty package out of my purse to pitch it, the back of it caught my eye.  It read: "Each tray of gum provides 7 meals in American communites." It continued on and hopefully, I've made the above photo large enough for you to read the "FACT" part for yourself.

"Wow," I thought, "I only spent $2 provided 7 meals? That's a lot of bang for your buck." I turned the package over, looking for a loophole of some kind and on the inside I found this:

Unexpected to say the least, but very cool nevertheless. I cut the card out and did my good deed.  I called my daughter from the grocery store to ask if she needed anything.  I was able to help her out by buying the veggies she needed for dinner that night. I delivered them and marked off square #1 and gave the card to her to "pay it forward." She has since passed it on to someone she helped out by babysitting.  Pretty good for just a pack of gum.

To find out more about Project 7 I visited their website where I discovered their mission statement: "We make everyday products for good that help fund seven areas of need across the globe. Join our community and help 'Change the Score.'” They make the point that people think because they can't volunteer, they can't do anything. 

But Project 7 founder, Tyler Merrick believes, "We can change the world simply by changing what you buy. Little purchases can make a big impact."  "Little purchases," like a package of gum, that can feed 7 hungry people.

But, hey, don't take my word for it.  I'd invite you to take a look at Project 7's  website and see for yourself the things they are doing to help the average consumer help change the world. Or you can take a look at them on YouTube.  Check it out.  Maybe there is some small thing you can do to make someone else's life better.

"Then the King will say, ‘I’m telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me—you did it to me.’" Matthew 25:40 (The Message)

It's just a little thing to us, but who knows what God can make out of it? That's one pack of gum that left a real sweet taste in my mouth.

Animate Your Story!

Today's blog features a recent animated promo I made for Cec and Me, an online talk show hosted by Cecil Murphey and Twila Belk.  It airs each Tuesday evening at http://www.toginet.com/shows/cecandme. 

In today's wild and wooly www.com there is always going to be more than one way to tell your story.  I discovered a new site called GoAnimate through YouTube and made this little video in about an hour.  It's easy, fun and hopefully will get more attention than just another post on Facebook about Cec and Me.  The hardest part was that you MUST spell everything fun-et-ick-lee or the automated voice won't know how to say it.

I hope you enjoy the video.  At ten sentences, it's a little over our seven sentence challenge, but still far less than the average blog post.

GoAnimate.com: A Burger Date with Cec and Me by saintgail

Like it? Create your own at GoAnimate.com. It's free and fun!


So now you know what I'm doing with my summer.  What are you doing with yours?

A Good Writer's Favorite Things

Learn everything you need to know about writing in two minutes and forty-five seconds. 
(To be sung to the tune of  "My Favorite Things." ) And a-one, a-two...

Show me, don’t tell me, write clearly concisely
Polishing, reviewing, re-reading, rewriting.
Sentences too long will never take wing

These are an editor’s favorite things.

Typewritten manuscripts with proper spacing,

Proof-read and re-read with accurate numbering

No run-on sentences with misspellings,

These are a publisher’s favorite things.

Authors with bios, a blog and a web site

Pictures professional, taken in good light,

Willing and ready to try anything

These are a marketer’s favorite things.

When you’re writing

Seems so frightening

When you’re feeling sad

Just simply remember these favorite things

And soon you’ll be feeling glad.

Use proper grammar, correct punctuation,

Be active, not passive, in all your creation.

Make sure each article tells just one thing.

These are a good writer’s favorite things.

“Don’t quit your day job, keep writing, keep trying”

Royalties, book lists and caffeine and whinning.
Words full of praise about all your writing,
These are a good writer’s favorite things.

Working at home in your bathrobe and PJs,

Feeling creative and smart on the good days,

Praising the Lord for the joy writing brings,

These are a good writer’s favorite things.

Tell your story,

For God’s glory!

Stop that feeling sad!

Just always remember these favorite things,

Trust God

And start feeling glad!

The Real *F*Word

“Excuse me” I said to the back bending over the display of children’s pajamas. No response.

I’d been standing for several seconds behind the busy mom’s shopping cart. Her two cute kiddos sitting in the cart smiled at me and I smiled back with my “universal grandma grin.” I cleared my throat again, a little louder while trying to gauge if I could squeeze by.

The shopping cart was smack in the middle of a narrow gap between two shelves of clothing, a long walk when you’re at the end of the day. I waited a bit more, then gently took hold of the cart handle and lifted it over about 3 inches so I could push by, winking at the big brown-eyed preschoolers as I went.

“Next time say excuse me!” I heard in a harsh tone.

Startled, I replied, “I did” as I continued walking away.

“Not all of us have perfect hearing,” she snarled. When I didn’t respond the ranting began, “That is so rude. You should NEVER touch someone else’s cart…”

I turned around and opened my mouth to tell her that although I was sorry she was having a bad day she wasn’t allowed to take it out on me. What came out of my mouth surprised us both.

“Will you please forgive me for touching your cart?” (Where did THAT come from?)

“WHAT?” she said, as if I’d said another word that begins with the letter “f”.

Between the two of us I honestly don’t know who was more shocked, but I think it may’ve been me. I was surprised that the mere act of apologizing and trying to make things right could elicit such anger.

But maybe I shouldn’t have been. After all, asking for forgiveness is not something our culture is known for. My church had recently finished a sermon series entitled “Forgiveness—The Real *F*-Word”. For five weeks we’d heard about forgiveness, how to forgive others, forgive ourselves, forgive God, and about asking for and receiving forgiveness.
If that weren’t enough, during the same period I’d taught two Sunday School lessons on forgiving to 3-5-year-olds in our Pre-K. Trying to teach such a big concept to little kids challenged me to get to the heart of the matter.  It certainly made me examine my attitudes about forgiving and being forgiven.


I think that all I’d heard and studied must have been mulling in my mind all this time and at the proper time, with no warning to me, the truth that God wanted me to practice just popped out.

“I need to ask you to forgive me,” I said to my fellow shopper. “I don’t mean to be disrespectful by that. I did something that upset you and I’m sorry and I hope you will forgive me.”

The unhappy lecturer continued, “I was worried about my children, you could’ve run off with them. You should never touch someone’s cart with their children in it!”

“I know. You’re right. I shouldn’t have touched your cart. I’m sure you were scared. I have 7 grandkids myself. I’m sorry that happened and I need to ask your forgiveness.”

By this time the woman was utterly confused and more than a little frustrated. No matter what she threw at me I responded the same way as sincerely and meekly as I knew how, by telling her how sorry I was and how I hoped she’d forgive me.

After listening to her for a while longer I finally felt it was time to walk away, leaving her still angry (at me? at the world? at life?) I said once more I hoped she’d forgive me and that I’d learned a valuable lesson from her. She walked away muttering under her breath. But at least she didn’t say she wouldn’t forgive me. I think she was convinced of my sincerity, but was at a loss as to how to react to being asked to forgive.
This was one of those random incidents that get under your skin. I’ve thought on and off about it ever since, starting in the parking lot, asking God “Where did that come from?” I’m glad I asked for forgiveness, I know it was the right thing to do, but it was so unexpected by me and so unappreciated by the one offended.

I’ve come to the conclusion that God had one short lesson for me that day-- Ask For Forgiveness. Don't defend, argue or justify.  It really doesn’t really matter if the actions are innocent, if you've offended someone just suck it up, apologize, and ask for forgiveness. That’s it. Just that simple. Don’t make it a big deal, just humbly ask the person offended to forgive you for the offense.  I learned long ago at a Bill Gothard seminar that even one percent of the blame was enough to ask forgiveness for.

I wish I had a heart-warming ending for this little shopping trip. But I fear the heart that I offended is still cold. But we serve an awesome God. Maybe, somehow, God will use the fact that someone took her concerns seriously and tried to make things right, to speak to her. That is what I’m praying He’ll do.

Lord Jesus you alone know what it takes to soften a hard heart. In your mercy and grace, please call this woman in from the cold to the warmth of your love.