Here is my testimony in a nutshell, because I could write a book on my experience with living with Lymes disease for 20 years, followed by Fibromyalgia, Mitral Valve Prolapse, and bone spurs cutting into the nerve endings of my spine. Not to mention how awesome the Lord was through all this and what He taught me.
These diseases caused severe joint, muscle, and nerve pain. I live with severe headaches all the time. My right foot dragged, caused by nerve damage from the Lymes disease. I suffered from breathing problems daily. I had ear and eye pain that interfered with my hearing and sight most of the time. I eventually began to lose the ability to read and write and was struggling to remember the names of family and friends due to memory problems caused by my illness. The pain was severe to excruciating 24 hours a day. I became bed ridden 20-24 hours a day, wondering how long I had left here on earth.
Then in March of 2004, I received a phone call from Pastor Don. He was calling to see how I was doing. I told him my history of dealing with my disease, and he proceeded to tell me about the healing services they had at church and encouraged me to come in for prayer. Out of kindness, I said that I would try and come in for prayer that night because for me to get out of bed and go out into the cold night air was more painful then you could imagine. I also had to put on my foot brace, two knee braces, two wrist braces, and a back brace. I had been a Christian for 14 years up to that point, and I knew Jesus had the power to heal, but I was prayed for regularly with no results. So my faith for my healing was not much, and I convinced myself that it was God’s will for me to be sick.
After arguing with the Lord for about two hours, reminding Him that I had been prayed over for 14 years with no results and how painful it was for me to get out of bed and go out in the cold night air, I lost the argument, but I haven’t won one yet. So, I walked in church that night with the aid of a walker, believing that nothing would happen and retold my story to the prayer team. For the first time in 14 years of being a Christian, I was told that Jesus not only died for my sins, but He also died for my illness, and it was by His stripes that I could receive healing. The moment they told me that I felt chains being broke off me, and a dark veil was lifted off, and for the first time in three years, I understood scripture. God got my attention that night, and I wanted to know more.
I was not healed of my illness that night, but God opened the door for me to learn the truth about what the Bible said about healing. It was my choice to walk through the door or stay on the other side. I walked through the door. For about three months, I was taught the truth about God’s word, and my faith was growing. Then on June 12, 2004, I came in for prayer. Pastor Gene and the prayer team prayed, and as I was hobbling back to my car, I heard the Lord say, “Put down your crutches and walk.” I thought to myself, what is the worst thing that will happen? I will fall flat on my face. So, I took a step of faith, believing that God just healed me. My foot that dragged for 20 years began to walk normal, and all the pain just lifted off me. I was healed of every disease that night, and the Lord gave me my life back. I now have the faith of Abraham, and with each passing month, my walk with the Lord grows deeper and more personal. I have dedicated my life fully to the Lord and His work, and hope to be a pastor myself one day.
