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Dear family of our Lord Jesus Christ and faithful Daily Cup readers,
Good day to you all! Thank you for joining us here on the “Cup.” I’m Shonda Savage an inspirational writer at FGGAM.org and I’m filling in for Dewey today.
We thank God for what HE is doing and working through this ministry and we thank you, our faithful readers and supporters of the ministry for taking part of what God is doing here at FGGAM.
Do you know what I love about this ministry? This ministry is a praying ministry! When someone needs prayer, Dewey is right on it and he sends out the prayer requests through the Daily Cup. And you, the readers, pray! I know you pray because recently Dewey has sent out prayer requests for me and I have received messages and emails from you letting me know you are praying. I thank you!
This morning I am having surgery. I was diagnosed with malignant melanoma, but thank God it was detected early enough that surgical excision is the only treatment necessary. I had a mole removed from my left forearm. It was sent off for pathology and came back positive for melanoma. The dermatologist did remove it all, however, the needs to be a larger margin of clearance. So I go under general anesthesia this morning for the surgical oncologist to remove 1 cm of flesh from the mole site. This is an outpatient surgery, so I should be home by lunch time. My recovery time should be quick as the surgeon is only removing top layers of skin. No muscle or bones are affected.
Thank God that is all the treatment I need for this! Once the flesh is removed and the pathology reports all clear of cancer cells, I’m done!
Let’s remember to pray for others who are dealing with much grief these days. I ask you to pray for my mom’s dad’s side of the family. We lost a precious sister in Christ, Brandi, who battled melanoma for three years before she passed on to be with the Lord on Oct 3.
Also another friend of mine, Delores, her daughter passed away from a blood clot on Oct 5.
Both these ladies loved the Lord and they are now dancing with Jesus. However, there is a big hole in the families on this side of eternity. Please pray for those families.
Let’s continue to pray for healing for those who are sick.
I have been asked and I even ask myself, “Why do some people get well and others pass on when we pray for their healing?”
I don’t know. I’m not God and I can’t answer that. God’s word promises healing for His children. Why aren’t more believers being healed?
This is a tough subject and one that I’m no expert on. However today for the Cup, I will share with you what God showed me through my recent experience. Then how God brought confirmation to me regarding it.
Before I went to see the dermatologist, I was running from God in the area of my calling. I’m called to write and speak to share the God’s message with people. However, I’ve been through some really tough season in my life for the past three and half years. I decided it was too hard to be transparent with others. It is easier to do something else. So I sought to sell products through home parties. But the Holy Spirit nudged me that was not what He called me to do.
I ignored that nudge from the Holy Spirit and continued to do what I wanted to do anyway, because it was fun. I didn’t have to expose myself to anyone. However one morning while reading the Word during my early morning quiet time I was lead to read:
“There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death.” Proverbs 14:12 NLT
By this time in September, I was dealing with GI issues that could not be explained medically. Dewey text me and told me that when he prayed he sensed it was stress.
Yes, I was stressed because I was battling with the Lord doing what seemed right in my own eyes. Then over the next few weeks the Lord led me to other Scriptures to confirm my calling in writing. I repented, then let go of the home party business to focus more on writing.
Then came time for the excision of the mole. On the way to the clinic, my husband did something that made me angry. Well I walked into the clinic angry, signed in and then disappeared into the bathroom. I prayed and asked God what to do. And through my huffing and puffing, I felt the still small voice say “forgive him.” Of course, I didn’t want to because it was his fault. He already apologized, it just didn’t sound like a sincere apology to me. But because I love God, I decided even if I didn’t feel like it I would forgive him.
I returned to the waiting room, sat down, and leaned over to my husband and said, “I choose to forgive you because Christ forgave me. I don’t feel like it and my emotions have not caught up with my decision. So please just give me time.” He complied.
A few minutes later the nurse called me back to the exam room and as we walked back, it was as if all the anger, resentment, and bitterness fell off of me and the peace and joy of the Lord filled me up. I looked at my husband and we cut up with the nurses and doctor as if nothing had just happened. It was amazing. The doctor removed the mole, and the rest of the day went well.
A friend of mine who is a doctor sent me a link to a book, titled “Healing Begins with Sanctification of the Heart” by Dr. MK Strydom. I downloaded this free book. The author of this book explains that “87% of all diseases are a result of what goes on in our thought life!” And to take it a bit further, most cancers are linked to bitterness and unforgiveness! What did the Lord ask me to do before the mole was removed? To let go of the bitterness and forgive!
Well, six days later, when the call came for me to return to the doctor’s office. I knew what the report would be as the doctor wanted to see me immediately. He confirmed it was malignant melanoma. However, it was superficial, slow growing and only 0.42mm deep. This type is manageable with excision. I was singing praises to God. Hallelujah!
Yes, I believe my prognosis could have been worse. I don’t know what would have happened if I had not chosen to forgive my husband. Perhaps the pathology report would have been different and I would not have it this easy. Only God knows that for certain.
I do believe that some illnesses come upon us based on our choices and we reap the consequences of those choices. I write about that in a chapter in the Hosea study, Wild Grace: Experiencing Your Spiritual Splendor.
Strydom’s book explains how the Scripture and medical science lines up. Too many people suffer from diseases when what we really need is to repent and turn to God. I know that is what I experienced in this way and so much more that I don’t have room to share it here.
If you or a loved one are suffering from an illness and are seeking God for healing, below is the link to a free pdf file of the book.
Healing Begins with the Sanctification of the Heart by Dr. MK Strydom
I know some of you out there are battling some serious issues. It is my prayer that each and every one of us be able to be healed and walk in health for the days God has numbered for us.
This is my prayer for healing from Psalm 103:1-5 (NKJV):
“Bless the Lord, O my soul;
And all that is within me, bless His holy name!
Bless the Lord, O my soul,
And forget not all His benefits:
Who forgives all your iniquities,
Who heals all your diseases,
Who redeems your life from destruction,
Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,
Who satisfies your mouth with good things,
So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.”
Blessings to you all my brothers and sisters in Christ!
Shonda Savage
Let us remind you that Pastor Dewey will be preaching this Sunday at Revive Church in Rio Rancho at 10am. If you do not have a home Church please come! Pastor Dewey will be preaching on “Maintaining a Healthy Fellowship” Revive Church is located at 800 Polaris Blvd. in Rio Rancho, New Mexico. Please pray for Pastor Dewey and his message.
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