The Rose of Sharon and The Lily of the Valleys

Song of Solomon 2:1
I am the Rose of Sharon, and the Lily of the valleys.

Jesus Christ is the Rose of Sharon and the Lily of the valleys.

The Rose of Sharon: The Rose is the most beautiful flower of all the flowers. Sharon is a pristine and fertile land at the foot of Mount Carmel. The Rose of Sharon is the flower that blooms and blossoms in the fertile land of Sharon. The fertile land represents a heart well-grounded in Christ. No matter what befalls, albeit a behemoth, the heart stays fixed on Christ. This heart waits on God, nurtures on the Word of God, goes by the Will of God, does not rely on its own understanding, acknowledges Christ at every turn and surrenders to Christ completely. Such fertile land is mentioned in the Parable of the Sower in Mark 4:20 where it says, “And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred.” If the seeds (the Word of God) sown fall on a good ground (heart in Christ) the fruit is a certainty! The fruit may vary from person to person. Some may be thirtyfold, some sixtyfold and some hundredfold. No matter what, the fruit is a definite result!

The phrase “Rose of Sharon” signifies that the beauty of the budded flower (Rose), on the most fertile grounds of Sharon, is incomparable to any other flowers of the field. The red color of the Rose represents the blood of Jesus Christ that is holy and divine. When we are adorned by the precious Blood of the Lamb of God (Jesus), the perfection and loveliness is delightful to the beholder. Does your life reflect the Rose of Sharon? Can people see you and get a glimpse of the glorious Lord, you say you so love? Does your walk reflect the Living Lord? I weighed on these questions for days and meditated on this verse. I sought the face of the Lord. I deeply desire that His face should shine on me. To my Lord I surrender and let Him have His way in me! Will you allow Him to transform you as well?

The Lily of the Valleys: Lily is one flower that symbolizes purity, grandeur and holiness. In Matthew 6:29 it says, “... even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these (lilies).” The lilies are arrayed so spectacularly that there is none on the earth that is arrayed like the lilies, not even Solomon in all his glory was. Even in the deepest valleys the lily stands out for its flagrant beauty and sweet fragrance. Now, Christ is that Lily of the Valleys. Valleys signify the rock-bottom times when we are facing fiery trials. From the fiery trials, Christ the Lily of the Valleys, shapes us, makes us and transforms us into His awesome image.

Take a look at the petals of the Lily; they hang down in complete humility and yet have the extreme beauty. Yes, Jesus Christ humbled down Himself and took the form of the most humble human being, carried the transgressions of the World, nailed all our iniquities on the Cross of Calvary, rose again from the dead and ascended into heaven. He took the shame and guilt of all of us by humbling Himself and is yet the King of Kings and the Prince of Peace! Let us humble ourselves in the sight of the Lord, for who are we before the Most High that we should consider ourselves worthy? Christ, the Lily of the Valley was able to bear all our griefs and sorrows through His humility.

Do you know this Christ personally? If not take a moment and seek Him. You will find Him and He will embellish you with the free gift of Salvation. Make Him your Savior today!

A Panting Soul

Psalm 42:1-5

As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God? My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God? When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me: for I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holyday. Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.

The above picture was captured by Ms. Carmie Rowell from her beautiful home and she courteously permitted me to use it for my devotional. As I was gazing at this marvelous picture of the deer above, I sensed that this deer was content strolling on the green pastures. I wondered how a panting deer would appear in its state of utmost expectancy to find the water brooks. This instantly reminded me of the song “As the deer panteth for the water…” and the Psalm 42. I dwelled on these five verses for quite some time and I positioned myself in place of the Psalmist.

A panting deer would have no desire other than an intense longing to find the water creek just so he may quench his thirst. The Psalmist is saying that his soul is panting after God in a similar fashion. His soul is panting for the Living God; not an idol that fails to hear, see, understand or sense the human longing. Yes, this Living God is the one who is all-pervading, the great I AM, the Alpha and Omega, the Creator, the Omnipotent, and the all-sustaining God of Ages! He is my Rock, my Shield, My Protector, my First-Love and the Bishop of My Soul. My soul hungers and thirsts for the selfsame Living God all-through. While the mundane concerns of this life may try to divert my focus for a moment, the deep passion and longing for my Savior pulls me like a magnet. Oh, how my soul longs to inhabit the courts of the Lord forever!

The Psalmist seems to have been terribly troubled by the countering question, “Where is thy God?” Perhaps he felt forsaken at the point in time for he was in a foreign land farther away from his own. In this foreign land he was deprived of this awesome privilege of worshipping with his people in the House of God. When we go through times like these, where we sense an abandoning in the spirit, that is when the divine longing intensifies and the power of God manifests in a supernatural way. When we are satiated in all spheres, the need for the King of Glory is very minimal or may be nil. The Psalmist is pouring out his soul in himself and crying within. The cry of his heart is to be in the house of God where he had once worshipped with the voice of joy and praise.

In the next verse, he is addressing his soul by saying, “Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.” This is where we should exactly land on. Our hope should be in the Lord. Why should our soul be disquieted in us? We should be uplifted because our hope is neither in us nor in the people around us but in the Lord alone. Just as the Psalmist felt strange in a foreign land where his dwelling was only temporary, we should feel while we are here on earth. The earth is a foreign land for us because we are strangers sojourning here for a while preparing to meet the King in the everlasting life afterward. Even when we go through a time of despondency, well before it takes us, let us rejoice and praise the Lord for the help of His countenance. Seek His face that is so fulfilling than fixing eyes on the temporal passions that are sure to fade away! When we are filled with God’s eternal expression of joy, we will be exactly like the deer that is well satisfied in the picture above. Yes, our panting for the Lord will be quenched when we commune with Him. While a soul that doesn’t pant for the Lord is casting eyes on things that are mortal, the soul that pants for the Lord is seeking the things that are spiritual and everlasting. This panting soul for the Lord will feast on the divine manna and drink from the fountain of the Living Waters.

Ms. Carmie Rowell’s Healing Testimony

The above picture was taken by Carmie from her home. The splendor of this image speaks of God's glory unto us!

I have met Carmie Rowell on Facebook. Something about her made me visit her wall every now and then. When I visited her wall three days back, she had a part of her testimony typed in as a response to her friend's post. I wanted to hear more of her testimony. Here it is as she shared it with me. I was thoroughly blessed by her testimony and I believe it will bless you as well.

I have been a christian for 30 years. We came under a strong word of trusting God not only for our salvation and finances but also for our sicknesses. I came into the walk with chronic colitis which I had since I was 19 years old. I then started to hear teachings regarding God's will that His children be well and that I was no longer under the curse of the law (Deuteronomy 28 lists the curses and the blessings). I learned that while I had this illness it ought not be there. I was new in the Lord then and of course there was much fear. For some reason God allowed the most violent of trials (sicknesses) in the earlier years of my walk with Him. I was newly married. I remember that I wished to trust Him but it was more of a legalistic trust because I do not believe I was fully persuaded of the scriptures regarding His will to heal yet I felt pressure to trust. Nevertheless, He met me. I had suffered in this sickness which got very bad and I remember people at my house praying that I would be healed. I trusted His words "that He would put none of these diseases upon me that he put upon the Egyptians that He was the Lord who healed me" (Exodus 15:26). I tried to ignore the circumstances as best as possible as Abraham who was strong in faith considering the circumstances He was more persuaded of God's word for Him (Romans 4) and what He would do for Him (heal His reproductive organs). One must renew their mind with His word. Get the concordance out and look up all the scriptures on the area you need His promise in. In my case it was healing! I stepped out in faith and also learned to hold fast in spite of what I felt or what the circumstances dictated. This is faith (Hebrews 11). "What things soever you desire when you pray BELIEVE you HAVE RECEIVED and it shall be given” (Mark 11:24). The hard part is not doubting (James 1) because if one is wavering in His faith and does not stop he will not receive. You can repent of doubt and just get up and move on. I learned faith through my struggles with sicknesses.

I walked out tremendous times not wanting to eat but forcing myself as this affected my stomach. It was never as bad as it was when I gave up the medicine in trusting God. He delivered me then after some time. I remember a release of the worse part of this illness. He showed me over the years that whenever I worry or have anxiety it would start in my bowels. As time went on I gained total victory over my mind and thoughts. I could tell when I was in distress and worry and that I was to immediately give the burden to him. "Casting all my care on Him for He cares for me" (1 Peter 5:7). I have not had this problem reoccur again but I must be on guard with my thoughts and the thoughts affect the bodily functions especially if one is in anxiety. God wants us to put on the shoes of peace it is part of our armor (Ephesians 6).

The next trouble was after I had my first child. I did not want children. I lost the first child with a miscarriage and did not get pregnant for three years because I was in such fear of not wanting a child. I used no birth control. When I had my first child and had submitted my will to God's in this area, I developed a black spot on my right leg which got larger and larger and gradually opened to a very large wound which stunk. I did not know what this was. I did not question God. For seven months my leg started to rot and it spread all the way around this leg. I lived in fear not faith. I was afraid to go to the hospital. Every time I looked at it, I was in fear. I wanted to be in faith and not doubt but every time I considered the circumstances, I doubted and feared. Doubt and fear are the devil's biggest tactics against the Christian. I had help with someone coming in to care for my child. I probably could have gone to the hospital looking back but was serving God in a more fearful way then. I would hop painfully to go to the bathroom and getting out of bed was horrible. People would tell me from our church that I needed to go to the hospital because I was not in faith and that I needed to walk to act my faith. This was not right. Acting one's faith must come from within and the fact that I was laying there was acting my faith really. I did what I could do. I was scared to go to the hospital because the wound was large and I didn't know what would happen. I made a decision to have my husband carry me and no longer tried to walk and hop to the bathroom. I stayed on the couch and did not go to bed any longer. I saw the scripture in James 5 that said to call for the elders especially since I was bedridden and that the prayer of faith would heal the sick and that I would be raised. I remember calling them and they came and anointed me with oil and prayed. This was seven months later. I believe I released faith when I called. God honored that.

The next day when the two ladies came to wash the leg which could not be touched for the open wounds when I put the leg down instead of excruciating pain there was no pain! I knew He had touched me and from that day forth it slowly manifested. It took a long time. The people from my church later told me it was gangrene. I did not know. I borrowed a crutch to hop around on once this started to manifest and probably should have used one in the beginning. I also had started to have problems with my joints and started getting arthritis in my joints. It started at this same time. Over time the Lord showed me the cause was bitterness toward my first child because I could not play with Him and felt he did not love me. There was resentment there. It took some time before I realized this was the cause. This illness went on for six years though I believed God to heal me right away but especially when I repented and realized sin was blocking the healing. Still the enemy had a foothold in my life and did not want to give up easily. While this was going on some days better than others, I had a second child. After five weeks I noticed black spots again on my right leg and this time on my left leg too. Oh, I was horrified and knew another trial was about to begin. Oh dear I have two children now. The black spots started to open and the wounds became larger and again it seemed like it would go on perhaps again. This time though the difference was that I believed God and did not understand why it had to happen again though. I remember going over scriptures on doubt and God immediately gave me the grace to not doubt once during the time of this trial. It was His grace. The thoughts would come in and I would pull them down immediately no matter how logical they were. The loins of my mind actually ached with such strong warfare and that is where the battle is won or lost. I had joy this time and knew He heard me and knew He healed me. I was able to ignore the circumstances. I had the same lady to help with my children while my husband went to work. Our small church assembly fasted and prayed for three days for me and I had such an expectation that I would see a change in my body. I thought of Elijah sending his servant to check for rain...it was not in unbelief but in total belief and expectation. I remember the next day looking at my legs and seeing no sign of a change but the following day looking and noticed that there was a change just an overall look that it was turning. It had been a while since this started. I remember it to be some months. This manifested and I became pregnant again. Arthritis got very bad my husband having to cut my meat and dress me. Getting out of the bed was horrific one painful step at a time. He would go to work and I had my two boys home. It was most difficult. I would confess the word in faith thanking Him I WAS healed WHEN I PRAYED many years before. When this started to manifest remember I had repented of sin and it was some time later before it even began to manifest.

One morning I remember I went to sit on the edge of the bed which was very difficult because my knees had been swollen for four years and my joints pained me so. I remember getting up from the bed and my knees did not hurt!!! The pain was gone the swelling was gone! I also kept my confession for my other joints and some would manifest while some had not yet manifested. I remember one arm would manifest and I would just keep thanking Him that I would not give up until all He paid for me to have was mine...it was destroyed at the cross. Jesus paid for the whole man. Isaiah 53 said, "with His stripes we were healed". Matthew 8:17 being a fulfillment of Isaiah 53, "Himself took our infirmities and bare our sicknesses". Mark 10:18 part of the great commission says, "they shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover."

I had also had all four children at home with two ladies from our small assembly in attendance. This too is by faith. My first labor was 47 hours but He caused me to endure. We need to understand roots of fear and that it is the devil that would bind us with fear. Any fear as a stronghold is from the pit and needs to be overcome by renewal of the mind with His truth in the area you are struggling with. We need to realize this is a ploy and tactic to steal our faith and our inheritance. I also remember nursing trials that I went through believing God would not open my womb and got persuaded of the scriptures in this regard not saying anything to anyone not wanting to hear any negative information of doubt and unbelief from other Christian women. We never used birth control and I believed God to keep my womb closed. This took a real walk of faith and also the devil by fear would tell me I had not enough milk and I would nurse each time crying out to God and learned in a major way that fear was a feeling and not the truth and that I could resist the devil even though my mind was under tremendous assault. This was a major trial.

I remember one night my breast was swollen but would not tell anyone and I would force my child through the pain to nurse anyways and confessed the victory for days until the pain would leave. I had learned of a woman in our church that had a problem with this but did not get the victory. I remember this condition tried to come on me one night and I was awakened and cried out to God that this would not start again and refused to let it get worse; in my spirit I laid hold of God. I remember actually seeing the swelling go down!! I want you to know that the spacing between my second and third child was 3 1/2 years and so it was between my last two!! This was all by faith. I would watch women getting pregnant around me and their children being so close together in birth and hear their lack of expectation and no belief for anything in this area. It does take a great cost and each time I got pregnant I knew I had to endure a daily mental battle with this fight for another three years and what I believed was one of His many promises. It doesn't come cheap. God is faithful if we are not in willful sin and are fully persuaded of His promises. Do not move until you are persuaded. If you know it is His will as revealed in His word then get your minds renewed (Rom 12:1, 2) and please step out a little at a time. God will encourage you in love and not fear. He will never condemn us. This is the devil.

While I was going through the first leg trial my son also was afflicted with hernia and would cry in pain so often my husband holding him and praying. God over the years has delivered our children from much sickness. I remember my second son being sick for five days not eating and just believing God. Even recently my daughter now 17 had serious flu symptoms and some even said if you don't take her to the hospital she could die if it is swine flu. It was several days of prayer and pushing down negative thoughts. She was even aware that when I or my husband would stand against fever that it would go. It would come and it would go. "For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us." (IICorinthians 1:20) So be it!!

The Wise Woman of Tekoah

II Samuel 14:13-14

And the woman said, Wherefore then hast thou thought such a thing against the people of God? for the king doth speak this thing as one which is faulty, in that the king doth not fetch home again his banished. For we must needs die, and are as water spilt on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again; neither doth God respect any person: yet doth he devise means, that his banished be not expelled from him.

Absalom was King David’s third son (II Samuel 3:3), and he was the most handsome young man without a blemish (II Samuel 14:25). David’s oldest son Amnon, involved in an evil act against Absalom’s Sister Tamar. Absalom avenged his sister Tamar by killing Amnon, his half-brother. After this, Absalom fled and went to Geshur and was there three years (II Samuel 13:38). King David’s soul longed for Absalom but the King forbid his son’s re-entry into Jerusalem.

Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was the captain of King David’s army. He perceived that the King’s heart was toward Absalom (II Samuel 14:1) although he was guilty of fratricide. In a way, David banished his son Absalom from entering the kingdom and did not extend his grace for the return of his son. Joab came up with a plan to fetch home King David’s banished son, Absalom. He appointed a wise woman from Tekoah and put the right words in her mouth to explain King David the importance of bringing Absalom back into Jerusalem.

The wise woman of Tekoah feigned herself as a widow mourning the loss of her husband and one of her two sons. She narrated a story wherein her two sons revolted against each other and one slew the other. The whole family rose up against her to deliver her only living son so that they could kill him. She won the favor of the King to protect her only heir, who alone has the potential to leave her husband his name. The King promised that he will not allow one hair of her son to fall to the earth. Having won King’s favor, she sought his permission to speak unto the king.

She boldly says that by judging this the king was guilty for not bringing home his son Absalom. She brought home the point that King has to make an effort to bring back his banished son. She further explains that one day every human being has to die. We are all like water spilled on ground that cannot be gathered again. But God doesn’t operate that way. He gathers us back even when we go astray. Adam and Eve committed the sin of not heeding the commandment of God to refrain from eating the fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. By disobeying God they committed what is called “SIN”. Sin separates man from God. They were banished from the beautiful Garden of Eden by doing so. Although all our actions are only worthy of separation from God, God still loves us so much that He longs to see us abiding with Him forever. God so loved us that He sent His only begotten son, Jesus Christ so that we could be united with God forever. Christ paid the price on the Cross once for all, for the entire human race so that we through Him might gain eternal life. God’s plan of salvation brings us (the banished from the beautiful Garden of Eden) back in communion with God eternally!

The Wise Woman of Tekoah says, “For we must needs die, and are as water spilt on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again; neither doth God respect any person: yet doth he devise means, that his banished be not expelled from him.” This speaks that this wise woman discerned the heart of God, His love for us, His enormous grace unto us, and His desire to bring us in unison with Him. She articulated her speech so well that she was able to home in on the mission, just perfectly. Joab chose the woman who was best fit for this mission. This woman was the mouth of God to King David and is also unto us. She carried the message of salvation in this simple speech. God is not a respector of persons (Romans 2:11) and that His will is that none should perish but that everyone should come to the knowledge of repentance and embrace the free gift of salvation through Jesus Christ! Will you be the mouth of God to the people around you?

We all should be the mouth of God by speaking the words of life to everyone, we should be the hands of God by helping those in need, we should see each other with the eyes of Jesus Christ, we should refrain from evil thoughts and our entire being will be transformed by God if we yield to His work in our lives. Yes, we are all human beings that are prone to wander from our First Love (God), yet when we reflect on God, He will expose the areas of our lives that need God’s refining process. Are you yielding to God by resisting the enemy (Satan) or are you resisting God and yielding to the enemy? This message spoke to my heart directly and I long to die to my flesh everyday so that the Spirit of God will manifest in me. Lord, have your way in me and in all of us! Selah…

God’s Grace in my Recent Trial

I am in awe of God and His goodness in my life. Looking back I can see God walked me through various trials of my life. He extended His gracious hand and lifted me up when I knew I was in the miry clay and could not see a way out. The quagmire of problems that surmounted me at several points in my life taught me lessons that I cherish from within. I am here today, jotting down a little about my recent trial. I am able to do this merely by God’s grace and mercy! As I start typing this, I am filled with mixed emotions of happiness, utter gratitude for my life, and worship to God in toto; God so graciously is walking me through this new journey of mine. His immense grace is simply sufficient, for He is with me all through.

Seven months back on September 12th of 2009, I woke up with a weird numbness in my legs. I tried stretching and walking a bit. I tried striking my legs to relieve me of this numbness. No matter what I did, the weird feeling intensified and my anxiety joined in a chorus. All this started on a day when I so wanted to go to church and meet my cousin’s husband that afternoon. I prayed within my heart and managed to get to church and later had a memorable time with my cousin’s husband Mr. Enoch Era. He shared some of his poems and his book with me. I finished reading the book the very night. Just before it was time to go to bed, I again prayed that God would give me a good night’s rest so I could be at work in the morning.

I struggled in the bed with numbness, creepy sensation in my legs, pain in my back and right then a sudden surge of fear rushed in me. My husband, who was noticing me, knew that something was terribly wrong. We both prayed together just so that we could pass that night to see the doctor next morning. Amazingly enough, God gave rest to my weary body and soul.

The next morning I informed my gracious boss and colleagues about my situation. I took an appointment with my neurologist and he checked me that evening. Initially, he and I thought it was some spinal problem and a few compressed nerves. After several weeks of physical therapy, I did notice some improvement in my condition but the weird feelings in my legs and arms did not fade away. A few times I noticed that I had to think a lot to express myself. On several occasions, my speech was slurry and I struggled to speak clearly. I groaned many times with intense pain and soaked my pillow with tears. But when I lifted my voice and praised the King of Glory, He filled my heart with anthems of praise that made me wonder where these praises flew from. Two nights I had tremors in my body and I thought it was due to cold temperatures outside. I shook violently and needed help to stay calm. My husband, a man of great patience, stayed by me and I knew there was nothing anybody could do but my God.

One morning when I was in shower, I prayed a sincere prayer from the depth of my heart, with tears gushing through. This was my prayer… “Lord, reveal how you will bring healing to this aching body. That day you healed Naaman by using a little servant girl. Today how are you going to heal me? My God, forgive me, cleanse me, heal me and make me whole”. After this prayer I had a great relief in my Spirit even when my body was suffering greatly. The next evening, I called up my cousin Dr. Sunil Mahanthi in India. While speaking to me, my cousin said, “God healed Naaman using a little servant girl. He is using me to heal you now!” This was a confirmation for my prayer. This man is a man after God's own heart. His prayers and support reached me at a time when I needed the most! My cousin administered homeopathy medicines to me without seeing me or without knowing what my exact condition was. After using the medicines my condition definitely improved. But, I could see that there was something wrong with my body. I was getting tired easily and my body was not the same any more.

I had to go through several tests even while I was taking homeopathy medicines. I had MRI of cervical spine, brain, thoracic spine, lumbar spine and some had to be repeated with contrast. Every time I went into the tunnel (although the first time I was scared), I felt like God covered me under His protective umbrella. Even though the equipment made all sorts of scary sounds, right in the tunnel I dozed off several times. I know not how this happened but some special warmth always surrounded me there. I had a spinal tap late December 2009. God put me in the hands of a compassionate doctor, Dr. Brian Apatoff, who prepared me mentally and gave me ample time to rest before and after the test. Spinal tap confirmed that I had Multiple Sclerosis. On Jan 7th 2010, the doctor confirmed that it was Multiple Sclerosis and he put me on corticosteroids for ten days. I started taking Copaxone shots starting on Feb 1st 2010. My cousin sent homeopathy medicines for Multiple Sclerosis to me and I am using them.

Shortly before I started Copaxone, I woke up one morning with “Collard Greens” on my lips. I asked my husband to get collard greens and started having them. God spoke to me about diet through this dream. After this dream, my friend Ruth Jen Wright spoke to me about Juice Fast and on bitter herbs. I did not know how I should do this. As I waited on the Lord and sought His guidance, He guided me with His eye and led me by His hands thus far. I was always a conscious eater but I had to make substantial changes in my dietary habits to cope up with my MS symptoms. Another friend of mine, Kathy Houghton mentioned to me about toxins and the Multiple Chemical Sensitivity. I gained some understanding in this area as well. A very dear friend in Christ, Shelly Krull, spoke to me about avoiding specific grains. Later I got to know how a gluten-free diet could benefit an MS sufferer. I can say that all this is still a work in progress but my Master, the Super Physician (God) has touched me and I have touched the hem of His garment. Every bit of change I have made is helping me.

When I couldn’t go to the House of God to worship, God brought the messages to me right in my bed through “The Healing and Resting Place”. Pastor Troy Clerk delivered messages that addressed my need directly. Although he wasn’t aware of my situation personally, God used Pastor Troy Clerk to speak to me the great words of comfort from the Holy Word of God. The Healing and Resting Place has become a ministry very dear to my heart and all my family members as well.

I cannot thank enough all the dear friends in Christ who cried and prayed with me. The list of family, friends and colleagues that were with me during my tough battle is never ending. There are some that I haven’t met personally but I will meet them some day here on earth, God willing (if not in heaven for sure!). The support rendered to me by my parents and in-laws is inexpressible. My heart wells up with deep gratitude for everyone in my family starting with my siblings and their families, my uncle, my cousins, aunts, uncles, friends far and near. God brought well meaningful men and women my way through this ordeal. Special heartfelt thanks to my boss and colleagues who are very understanding and highly cooperative; God blessed me with wonderful colleagues who are all full of grace!

Over years I have had many severe pain experiences. In 2002 when I had my first attack with a stabbing pain in my right shoulder, God brought me closer unto Him. The orthopaedic surgeon in El Paso gave me a cortisone shot that brought some relief to me. After my diagnosis, I can see some explanation to the various pain episodes I have had. I can say gladly that all these years my body was waning but the inner man was renewed by the Spirit of God, during and after each and every ordeal. I fix my eyes on my Savior, Jesus Christ who died on the cross to bring spiritual and physical healing to our hearts and mortal bodies. By His stripes I am healed and so are you!