Our church was buzzing this weekend with a powerful service of healing testimonies, I’ll share them in a minute… first a little vacay update.

The Collins Clan enjoyed a ten day break in San Diego. Reconnecting with some lovely friends from years gone by, reminiscing and enjoying the limitless wisdom our friends offer. The children enjoyed the parks -San Diego Zoo, Seaworld and Josiah loving his Disneyland dream.

What a gift to sit on a beach for hours on end, breathing in,

children settled,

surfing,

and dolphins diving (first time of seen this in the wild!)

Photos:Mine – California 2012

Back to the testimonies! Two stories were shared…

The first, Jillian a beautiful 20 year old who has endured Scoliosis for many years.  She has undergone major surgeries to bring correction to her spine – by removing brain mass from outside of her skull cavity and to place two titanium rods in her spine to correct the curve. In addition, a time in traction where weights were attached to bring the 105 degree curve into correction. Times of intense pain and learning to respond physically to accommodate this dictated Jillian’s teenage years until two weeks ago on our youth trip to the LA Dream Center. God met with Jillian during a worship service and spoke to her, to her heart – clear words of healing and wholeness to come. Jillian has experienced massive healing already and can move with freedom like she hasn’t in a long time. Thank you Jesus.

Curtis, our great worship leader, spoke of a different healing he had recently experienced, after attending an Encounter God retreat with pastors, designed to heal hearts and emotions. Curtis was taken back to a place of his childhood where he experienced much emotional pain – he realized this had a hold over his life, that chains held him bound and he needed to experience the freedom he is promised in Christ – Curtis decided to release these areas and felt a new freedom he has never known before. How Great is our God!

As they spoke, the testimonies drew in the tangible presence of God and changed the atmosphere to expectation and faith – a clear invitation for miracles.

Already we have heard of other healings that took place as these testimonies were spoken.

The word testimony comes from someone giving evidence, with primitive root in Hebrew ‘Do it again’. Hearing testimonies changes the way we hear.  How we walk out our faith.

Are you believing as you hear this… ‘Do it again’?

I am challenged yet again to share my healing.

Healing…. I believe in it. I read about it. I pray for it. I haven’t seen anywhere near the healings I should.

I realized today that I have been reluctant to share my healing as much as I should, maybe because I have not seen healings around the people I love, almost feeling guilty for my own healing. In doing so I have not given God the glory He deserves for healing me. I realize I can’t be responsible for another’s healing – but I can be responsible for praying for them. God does the rest (thankfully)

So, my story…

I was seven years old and so sick. A frail, ashen girl attending endless Dr’s appointments and experiencing various tests until conclusive results found that I had Cystic Fibrosis – a life threatening disorder affecting the lungs and digestive system.  Years of medication and physiotherapy followed with many weeks of hospital stays and intermittent school attendance. Carrying the weight of the diagnosis, physically and mentally was tough.

My family felt it.

At school lunchtimes, I would wait at the office with my friend Ian Bills to pick up our meds, he also had CF. Billsy was great fun with a cheeky sense of humor always wheezing and laughing so hard sometimes he could hardly breathe. I would always whack his back in the name of physio.

I miss my friend Billsy, he laughs easily now.

At 13 my Doctor sent me into hospital again for intensive tests. This time a different result. The consultant called my family together to inform us that there was no trace of the Cystic Fibrosis in my body. The news attracted media coverage nationally and local TV news.

At this point in my life, faith was not resident – God, Jesus, Christianity were not part of my life, or the life of my family – in fact – we all lived a lifestyle far from faith.

My Mom met a friend who went to a local church in Lye. Barbara cried with thanks when Mom told her I was clear – the church had been praying for my healing for years.

They had believed and persisted in prayer. Be encouraged. Don’t give up.

God invaded our lives with what He does best from thereon in. Salvation. Love. Healing. Grace. Freedom.

I’ll save those stories for another time…

As for today I want to make some room for miracles.

For us to shout out. ‘Do it again’

Could it be as we begin to testify of our stories that we will see healing from pain – physical and emotional? That our language of faith will change.

Our ears will hear again. Our eyes will see miracles.

As you go about your week, be intentional about telling some God stories. His goodness over your life, His faithfulness, His love and grace surrounding you.

Take time to share and see how the atmosphere changes.

Let me know how it goes…

Isaiah 61. For you.

The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me,

Because the LORD has anointed me

To proclaim good news to the poor.

He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,

to proclaim freedom for the captives

and release from darkness for the prisoners,

to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor

and the day of vengeance of our God,

to comfort all who mourn,

and provide for those who grieve in Zion—

to bestow on them a crown of beauty

instead of ashes,

the oil of joy

instead of mourning,

and a garment of praise

instead of a spirit of despair.