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By CHERYL ROGERS
Can you imagine how Abraham felt while he was trudging up the mountain to sacrifice Isaac, his son?
He must have felt dazed, like a man in a dream -- a nightmare. He must have wondered how this good God, who promised him many descendants through this very son, could have asked such a thing from him.
It's an experience not many share. Although God sacrificed his son, Jesus, for us, I would suspect the devil if such a request were made of me.
Yet as I deal with a multinodular goiter, I am feeling a little bit like Abraham heading up the mountain.
After eight years, this goiter has enlarged and God has led me to return to the doctor and do a thyroid ultrasound. My doctor is planning to refer me to a surgeon.
I have been praying and standing in faith the goiter was healed, without surgery. I do not want to risk losing my singing voice, which I have used to record 31 Scripture songs inspired by the Word of God.
Nor do I want to risk being on thyroid medication the rest of my life, when I currently do not need any.
I have prayed and fasted and sought God on this, for eight years, believing ... for divine health.
And yet he is leading me down the road I do not choose to take.
I pray I will not fail any test -- whether it be of faith or obedience.
As I hold onto God's promises for health in his Word, I am trying to be obedient as I look for ... the ram in the bush.
Cheryl Rogers is a free-lance writer, songwriter and digital artist specializing in Scripture-based content. Visit her website at Really Long Link for original Scripture songs, chords and lyrics, Bible columns and artwork.
Like many of us, I learned about Jesus as a child.
I learned he was the son of God who came to earth, healed lots of folks, and got killed because so me folks felt threatened.
But things began to change after I surrendered my life to God and started regular Bible study.
I learned Jesus was (and is) the Word of God.
In all those years of church going, I had pretty much ignored my Savior, the Word of God.
Sure, I knew about the Jesus who roamed the earth 2000 years ago.
But did I really know the Jesus who waits to speak to me from the Bible gathering dust on a shelf? Did I know the Jesus who still heals through his word, even today?
Well, the answer was "no" for many years -- not until he demonstrated the power of his word to me.
During Scripture readings at church, his words became real for me and my spiritual eyes were opened. The Scripture reading was from Matthew 20, where Jesus heals two blind men.
Verse 24 reads: "So Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes: and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed him."
That day I received an appreciation of what was really was important in life: not things, not my work or what I could accomplish with my life, but the people God placed in my life to love.
I had placed too much emphasis on work.
Since that day, God has continued to give me spiritual sight through his word, enlightening me, convicting me of sin, and comforting me with his truth.
One day he began giving me melodies to Scripture during my private study time.
I did not ignore it, in part because I knew their power, and in part because my father had encouraged me as a child to write songs and I could not. I dutifully wrote down the notes that came drifting into my mind.
When my church held a talent show, I sang one of them to declare my healing in faith from a goiter.
After that, God gave me more and more songs.
Eventually, I penned and recorded 31 Scripture songs, which I believe have not only a message but a mission: to keep us connected to the word of God and to help us walk in the fullness of his promises for us.
The first CD is called Victory!, because God "giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." That Scripture is from 1 Corinthians 15:57
After the Victory CD came Arise Shine, named for my song from Isaiah 60, and Bring my Soul out of Prison, named for my song from Psalm 142.
After I learned the power of the word of God, I realize that, in a sense, I had rejected Jesus, my Savior. I hadn't recognized him or his presence silently waiting for me ... on a bookshelf.
I had limited him and his ability to help me.
I am grateful he demonstrated the power of his word to me, and that he continues to do so. I am glad I know he has a purpose for me every time I pick up the Bible to read, listen to a Scripture song, or hear his word preached.
Isaiah 55:11 reads:
"So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it."
I also am grateful God is everywhere and that his spirit is waiting to love and teach me through fellow Christians, too. His spirit is waiting to love me and teach me, whether I am at home, in church or in the grocery store.
Thankfully, Jesus reaches out to us in whatever way he can.
Cheryl Rogers is a writer and singer/songwriter specializing in Scripture songs and Scripture-based columns, stories, and artwork. Free resources are posted at Really Long Link
By CHERYL ROGERS
I have a confession.
I used to have doubts about God's existence. I would pray and I wouldn't always get an answer, so it felt like a one-sided conversation.
Then one day when I was very, very sick and out of options, I surrendered my life to God. I didn't know what else to do.
Guess what? HE heard me.
It was late 1996 and I was suffering from severe immune dysfunction. Basically, I was super sensitive to everything in my environment and I was getting worse.
I had already prayed. I had already seen the doctors. I took their pills. I took their allergy shots. I took out my mercury fillings. I did deep-heat detoxification in a sauna. I tried to avoid my stressors.
And still, I got worse.
At first, it was better and worse. Then, it was much, much worse. So much so, I didn't know where I could live.
Now that seemed like a problem of God-size proportions. I told him I had done all I could and if he could do something with my life he could have it.
Well, that's not much of a salvation prayer, but God seemed satisfied with it. He got me a new place to stay within a few hours and filled me with faith in him and a desire to be obedient to his wishes. (I previously had relied pretty much on my own judgment.)
For two weeks he tested me. I rotated sleeping places at his discretion. Kind of like the Israelites following the cloud in their wanderings.
"And when the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the children of Israel went onward in all their journeys:
"But if the cloud were not taken up, then they journeyed not till the day that it was taken up." Exodus 40:36,37
And then, my mother sought prayer for me from Messianic Vision's radio show by Sid Roth, a Georgia pastor. Well, they drew my name by lottery on the show and prayed for me.
I didn't know my mom had put my name in for prayer, but I sure knew someone prayed for me. I became more optimistic and resolved to make the most of my situation!
The folks on the show declared me healed.
Indeed, as I later learned, I had received the Holy Spirit. My body became stronger and stronger as each day passed.
"But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you." Romans 8:11
Well, it was (and is) true.
The Holy Spirit led me to seek prayer wherever and whenever I could. I had people lay hands on me and pray, just as they describe in the Bible.
About six months later, I believe God led me to a statewide charismatic prayer conference. It was there I received a physical healing from Environmental Illness.
My life has never been the same since.
I found being the boss isn't what it's cracked up to be. I just don't have all the answers, as much as I'd like to ... It's sure been a weight off my shoulders.
I have to admit that, deep inside, I was running scared. It wasn't a good feeling.
Now, I can rely on the one who made me to do what's best.
"In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid of what man can do unto me.
Thy vows are upon me, O God: I will render praises unto thee.
For thou hast delivered my soul from death: wilt thou not deliver my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of the living?" Psalm 56:11-13
Cheryl Rogers is a writer and singer/songwriter specializing in Scripture songs and Scripture-based columns, stories, and artwork. Free resources are posted at Really Long Link
By CHERYL ROGERS
Does sharing your faith leave you cold? Do you tire of trying to help when others turn a deaf ear?
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I am new to Oble and am wondering...
I host a blog on my website. Would it possible to link to it, or do I need to set up a brand new blog?
Sorry if this is a dumb question, but down the road it will likely save me lots of time if this can be automated
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