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Print I don’t know why I decided not to read the book. I mean the truth of the matter is that I read poorly written books all the time. I would like to consider myself an expert at finding books that are redundant, boring, over-technical, and even redundant. And I really had no reason to think that this author was any of these, but regardless I chose not to read his book. So why write about it? Well, it was the title. I was the manager of the book department and it was my job to make sure that every title was checked at least once every week. This book just so happened to be one I couldn’t forget. It was titled A Miracle Settles the Issue. For some reason, that statement would never leave me alone. As I continued checking title after title, half reading, half scanning, I just couldn’t get that title out of my mind. Well at least not until I got to the dating section. Not long ago God brought that title back to my attention. I was eating a hamburger with a friend and got a call from my mom. She was crying and it was the kind of crying that told me I would not be finishing my hamburger. She was in the third stage of ovarian cancer. I didn’t know all that stage three entailed, but I knew that it was only better than stage four and I would have much rather heard stage one or two. My mom had cancer. Now I tend to tell stories in reverse so let me continue by saying the previous Christmas had been the first one without my grandmother. She died at what I considered to be much too young of an age, and she died without knowing God. For weeks I prayed so earnestly and with great faith that she would be healed. My brother had a vision of her being baptized in Jesus’ name and receiving the Holy Ghost, and I believed that would happen. When the call came in the middle of the night I was shaken. I will never forget being bent over the recliner in my room and sobbing for my Grandma. As I prayed I felt the sweet peace of God fill my room, surround me and give me strength. I would like to say that the moment I heard my mom had cancer I took to my knees in a fury of prayer. I would love to say I prayed without ceasing believing for her healing, but that was sadly not the case. It had been months since her diagnosis and finally God decided to wake me up. It came in one of those Apostolic services that seem to have no order, but are without question ordered of the Lord. My pastor’s wife heard from God and made her way to the pulpit. In a fashion she had never been accustomed to, she stood, Bible in hand, and declared what God had told her to share. Psalms 103 “…Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases…” What had I done? I, who had been so blessed by the Lord—I, who had first-hand seen the healing power of God—I had yet to in faith believing, ask for, claim, and believe that my mother would be cancer free. Had I so easily forgotten His power? Had I so easily dismissed my God? My story may not quite end like you hope. It’s been over a year since that night and my mom is still battling ovarian cancer. She lost her hair, grew it back, and lost it again. She just had chemo last week and today was a “bad day.” But as I visited her this afternoon and gently rubbed her bald head, I allowed myself once again to remember … I remembered how the healing hand of God has so many times touched my life and the life of my family. I lingered on the thoughts of a thousand times God spoke to me in a voice clear and intimate. I once again prayed a silent prayer, faithful and strong, for healing. You see the fact that my grandmother died lost or even the fact that my mother is battling a terminal illness does in no way change the power and ability of my God. Why? Because, a miracle settles the issue. I have too many instances and blessings too many; miracles and wonders that have filled my life heretofore to ever question Jesus. I think back to Malchus, the soldier who apprehended Christ and lost his ear. I can only imagine what it must have been like to watch your ear fall to the ground. To clasp the side of your head and feel the warmth of an open wound and know that something is dreadfully wrong. And then … to watch a man reach out and make it all go away. For Malchus, a miracle settled the issue. No longer could this man sit in Pilot’s court and listen as Christ was tried. He was good, He was right … couldn’t they see a miracle settled the issue? I just don’t think Malchus was near when the beating began. I imagine him solemnly taking his leave when Jesus began to be so unjustly crucified, why couldn’t they see as he had? Surely this man had done similar things for all of them, how did they so quickly forget? I had quickly forgotten too, Malchus. My grandmother’s death had silenced my prayers for healing and I’m afraid my faith as well. I had allowed a lifetime of wonderment to be swallowed in a season of bewilderment. I had allowed myself to forget, and while my mother still battles cancer, while I still walk this road of ups and downs, I can’t afford to forget again. Someone told me, “A man with a testimony is never at the mercy of a man with an argument.” I have a testimony of who God is. It’s a life full of blessing, full of healing and it definitely settles the issue.
ninetyandnine.com © 2005, Jason Ouellette ------- Jason Ouellette is a Jr. High youth pastor who plays games like Honey I Love You with youth on Friday nights and Gin with his mom on Saturday mornings. |
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