Memory Verses

"For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nether angels nor principalities, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord."   Romans 8:38-39

Ever since the cancer had hit, she had been memorizing verses of scripture.  She found it so helpful.  At first she memorized to force her brain into action, to prove to herself that indeed her thinking brain was not adversely damaged by the CNS lymphoma.  Back in 2011, the memorizing was a monumental challenge with a poor success rate.  However, she persevered and now in 2014 memorizing different scripture passages came easier to her.

Romans 8:38-39 had always been known to her as vital and important words that Paul wrote to the Christians in Rome.  But what thrilled her was that as she spent time memorizing the words and phrases, they took on deep meaning. Why hadn't she seen that before?  She concluded that during the process of memorization, as she focused on each word and phrase, committing the verses to memory, the force of the message emblazoned itself in her heart.  What a glorious discovery!

Verses 38-39 became important to her this week as they were the scripture verses read during the two church services last Sunday when she gave 'the message'.  Yes, as she thought back on Sunday...what an opportunity she was given to tell her story of her journey with cancer and Jesus.  Having been invited by a local minister to 'give the sermon' (she still couldn't believe it!), she shared all the incredible events that had happened over the past four years including the 'vision', the purchase of the condo with handicap access a year before that was needed, the doctors concluding her healing was a 'miracle', the experiences with angels, her being unafraid of death, and her new insightful understanding of Jesus. Wow!  A lot to cover, but she did it...standing without her cane, using no notes, speaking plainly and from the heart, after many hours in prayer focusing on letting God speak through her instead of elevating self.

She remembered how she had prayed to the Lord with overwhelming thanks in her heart when it became clear that the cancer had left her body. "What do You want me to do, Lord?  Since You have healed me, I want to do anything You ask." And Jesus' answer always was and is, "Tell them how much I love them."

So, she had done just that last Sunday in two churches and from the reaction of the attendees, they were moved by the message.  Now, just recently, several people had asked her if she would speak at their church. She answered, "Wherever I'm invited, I'll go." Was this God's perfect timing?  She began to conclude God had brought this together as His plan and timing.

Amazing, in spite of the fact she was physically not perfect because of the vestiges of right sided weakness, could not drive (yet), had trouble getting in the car, walked slowly, had limited use of her right hand....and yet....the Lord could use her to communicate His message of love and salvation.

As she repeated from memory again and again the wonderful verses of Romans 8:38-39, she knew so well their truth.  When the oncologist told her "You have seven weeks to live", she responded, "Praise God!".. knowing that whether she died in seven weeks or lived, she would be with Jesus.  And when Satan tried to 'pull' her during the nightmares that week the end of June, 2010, before the brain biopsy, and when she felt angels protecting her from falling as she started walking again, and when she did have four falls in 2011 but was never hurt...in fact she felt angels cushioning her in a 'soft fall', she experienced "angels and principalities".  Yes, she had been through the worst health situation and yet she never felt separated "from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord".

He is so powerful!  He is omnipresent!  He is omniscient!  Jesus is real!  What a wonderful God we have!  How could anyone not believe in Him?  How could anyone not want His forgiving love and salvation?
Praise be to God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit!