Friday, October 12, 2007

A Stream in the Desert

I am really excited to share with you all some news about what God is doing in my Mom’s life! There are some specific prayer requests, that I will get to eventually, that I would greatly appreciate you all praying with our family. I believe God is about to do a mighty work, and I hope that as many as possible can feel like a vital part through your personal prayers and faith.

For the past couple of months, I have been studying Matthew. I felt like this was a random variation from studying Paul’s letters, but now I am reminded that nothing is ever random with God :) Through reading about Jesus’ ministry in Matthew, I have been overwhelmed by the amount of focus His work had toward spiritual and physical healing. He never met with a group of people without meeting their physical needs. I am not saying that he considered their bodies as important as their souls, but he definitely displayed infinite amounts of compassion for their physical maladies. Then, when He left earth, He left that gift of healing with His disciples. Finally, his disciples (namely Paul in 1 Corinthians 12) list healing as one of the spiritual gifts that Christ has left for his children. So why do we roll our eyes at the thought of a healer? Why do the only “healers” we find ourselves exposed to seem like little more than a freak show with flashy suits, purple hair, and fake eyelashes? I have been finding my heart softening to the thought of a gentle and quiet spirit, who God happened to bless with a special gift of healing. I brought this up to Mom and Dad several times over the past few months. Just a couple of weeks ago Mom laughingly said that it sounded great to her, but did I know any? :)

Now the story: A family friend in Dothan was meeting with a business associate from out of town. Somehow, he got on the subject of a man in Savannah, GA to whom God had given the gift of healing. He had just flown his mother-in-law out to see him, and he told several other stories of the healings this man had performed. It touched our family friend, and she asked if she could give him Mom’s name. The healer, whose name is Gene Hall, normally receives a name, prays over the name with his prayer team, and then contacts the person if God confirms His anointing for that person’s healing. On October 4, he contacted Mom.

He had several questions for her about the specifics of her disease, and she had several questions for him about his life and walk with the Lord. He is a born again believer who has spent 2-3 hours per day alone with the Lord for 19 years. He solicits no one for his healing ministry. He allows God to bring them to him, and he prays over the anointing. His ministry is funded by God’s blessing of his contracting business. Finally, he has a worship and prayer team that joins him in the ministry.

Mom (and Dad) were touched by what they perceived to be a humble and sweet spirit. Nothing about him seemed to imply a desire for acclaim; he only seemed concerned with using the gifts God had given him, to serve Him in the way He was directing. Gene also described the actual healing service and said that when the Holy Spirit is poured out on him for healing, his hands become as hot as fire. Doesn’t that give you chills?

He told Mom that he and his prayer team would be praying for God to reveal His perfect timing. In the meantime, here are some specifics that Gene asked us to pray:


1) That every thought will be taken captive to the obedience of Christ. Any thought that contradicts Jeremiah 29:11 we must resist.
2) Laughter, because God says we should be able to laugh at the future.
3) Thank God for healing.
4) For Becky to picture herself well and healthy.
5) For the wisdom and discipline to guard the words we speak.

Finally, at the end of the conversation, Gene said that he was so excited about what he felt God was doing that he just wanted to shout. Then, he asked if he could pray for mom over the phone. She humbly accepted, and he started just praying normally. Suddenly, he started speaking in tongues. He would pray a line in tongues, and then he would interpret what he’d said (This interpretation was a big deal to me, because the Bible warns against praying in tongues for show. If there is no interpretation, what good or purpose are you serving for those around you?). Mom couldn’t remember everything he said, but here are some of the things she jotted down after they got off of the phone:

  • Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland. (This is actually Isaiah 43:18-19)
  • Trust me. You are mine.
  • I chose you. You did not choose me.
  • This is not your battle. It is my battle, and I will fight it for you.
  • I love you. I will heal you. You will be a witness for me.

By the time he finished praying, Mom was shaking and crying. She said she felt like she didn’t want to move because she had just experienced God speaking to her. He is so awesome, and mighty, and powerful! My Dad wrote a letter to his friends where he said, “So many of you have been faithful to pray with us. Perhaps now we can focus our worship and prayers together for the glory of God, and we can all dance in the streets together and sing His praises. We have been holding on by faith to the healing of Becky, which He foretold 14 years ago. We must center our worship around the God we serve who is able.”

So, as Mom and Dad humbly move forward into this new territory, I ask you to all pray with us for the wisdom and guidance of the Holy Spirit. I also pray that God will be glorified and your joy maximized as we watch the Lord “making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.”

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

That is amazing, I will be praying.

Anonymous said...

Wow Abby! I have truly believed, from day one that sweet Becky will be healed. You have an amazing family and I know God sees that- as does everyone else! I will continue to keep your mom and your family in my prayers!

Darby said...

I've been waiting for this post for a long time! I've been wondering what's been going on in that heart of yours and what a joy and sweet relief to read what the Lord has laid upon your heart and the hearts of your precious family! I will join with you and many others in prayer for HEALING for your sweet mother! Like my favorite song of the week says, "There Is Power in the Blood"! And I BELIEVE IT!! Love you my precious friend and I'm praying for you and all your family!! May God do a mighty work through your mom!!

Dona said...

Abby-
I have been reading your blog for about a month- it is so good, but today's is wonderful! You know that Dothan is praying. We love your mama so much, but God loves her more than we ever could! Take care of yourself, and your little one coming soon!
Dona Stickler

Lori said...

Hi Abby, thank you for your beautiful post. Your mom told me about your "blog" many months ago, and it is just recently,(I think through Robin Brookshire's blog) that I have finally been able to visit. Pace is so beautiful and I see so much "Clark" in her sweet face! Thank you for this update on Becky. Many, many of her friends are praying and waiting along side them for God's work. I too have recently become very aware that Jesus' ministry here on earth was about spiritual and almost always physical healing. Many times in my life, I would be looking "left" for God's answer to my prayer only to be tapped on the right shoulder with His gracious and perfect answer. He is unfathomable and I will join you all in your specific prayer requests, knowing all the while that He will answer the ones we vocalize from our heart and mind and the ones that Jesus is whispering in His Father's ear. I will expect the answers to exceed "all that we can ask or hope for"! Be glorified Lord.
Much Love, Lori Jordan

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the update. I love you all dearly. I am worshiping!!

Anonymous said...

I am so excited to hear how God is moving in your lives! I am joining you in praying God will be honored and glorified, we will have laughter in our hearts at the future, for widom and discipline in our spoken words, and praise that God is our healer! I love you all, Sharon T

Anonymous said...

Only through how the Body of Christ works...you have now been prayed for from San Jose, Costa Rica. "Now to Him who is able to do exceeding abundantly beyond all that we ask or think..." Eph. 3:20. Trust in HIM.
Teresa

Anonymous said...

Hey Abby, this is the first i have seen of your blog, but am very impressed. I have always admired your mom for her fight courage. I will continue to pray for her and the rest of your family. Please let me know if i can ever do anything to help. Hope to see yall soon.

Anonymous said...

Abby,
Your family has been a blessing to David and me; we love each of you dearly. I have and shall continue to remember Becky and Ken in prayer and recall the great joy they bring to those of us who have the priviledge of sharing in their life. We treasure their recent visit in our home.
Love,
Tallulah

Anonymous said...

Abby,
Thank you so much for sharing your family's journey! The Hartsfield's have loved your family for so many years. Each of you are precious to us. I have always been so impressed, encouraged and refreshed by your family's abiding faith and authentic walk with Christ. We are praying for each of you and your mom's healing each day. God's gifts are good and His plan is perfect (James 1:17). We love you, Ron and Sally Hartsfield

Anonymous said...

Abby, what an awesome post! Mom told me the good news yesterday. We were so excited. You have such a wonderful family, that has used the "desert" to glorify God through it all. Your mom is so sweet, and has an amazing testimony. I just wanted you to know that we will be praying for healing. I haven't seen you or your family since I got married I don't think. My husband is the music minister of Gospel to the Nations. It's a non-denominational church. Eddy and I will definitely put your family on the prayer request there.
I miss everyone at First Baptist. I will have to visit one day! Your baby is beautiful. I love the pictures! Have a wonderful day!

darrell barkley said...

Becky...
My prayers are with you and your family...looked for and missed you at the 30 year reunion, as it would have been great to see your big eyes and loving smile...it's been a long, hard haul for the class of 1977...but God is still in the blessing business...keep the faith and fight the good fight....as ever...darrell barkley