Answered Prayers from Day One!.

      When I arrived to my new job site on Monday morning, I was filled with excitement and welcomed the change from my usual routine. I’d worked fifteen years as a Special Education paraprofessional at an elementary school level and was now moving up to middle school. I met a new friend while signing in at the main office who was also a newbie to the school. We talked as if we’d been friends for years and toured the campus together while discovering more about each other.

     After the faculty meeting in the auditorium, we reported back to the office to inquire about our new assignments. The Coordinator informed us that no decision had been made and to sit tight until the end of the day. We were asked to assist families with school registration and stood behind the counter in compliance. Only a few minutes had passed when a familiar face walked through the doorway. It was the mother of a boy I had worked with at my previous school. We had confided in each other and prayed together over the years. She was surprised to see me and inquired if I was working at the middle school. She did not waste any time when I nodded affirmatively and headed straight to the Coordinator’s office. After ten minutes, the two women walked over to inform me that I was being assigned to work with her son during his first year. 

     I escorted her outside and she reached out to give me an enormous hug. She told me, “I prayed to God this summer to provide my son with a kind and loving person to assist him at his new school. I am so relieved now because I know he will be in good hands.” We both agreed that it was His perfect timing that brought us together again and marveled at how God answered our prayers. He is such a loving and faithful Father!

This past week was dedicated to developing a closer relationship with God and finishing Pastor Greg Laurie’s incredible book, “Revelation, The Next Dimension”. The house was quieter than usual because my husband was in Colorado riding in the Annual Triple Bypass Ride. (The name alone would have scared me off from registering)!

I’ve been on temporary disability this summer due to a hip injury that occurred at school. Once my surgery was scheduled for May, I verbally expressed my desire to move to another school this Fall to both friends and family. Yesterday during church service I asked our Almighty God to move me to a new position. When I received the mail this afternoon, there was a letter from the L.A. School District. I opened it and read the words twice before it sunk in; a transfer had gone through without my having to lift a finger. It will definitely be a big change to work at a Middle School after working in elementary for almost 15 years! 

Another miracle happened this week that I must share with everyone. Every Spring I plant tomatoes in our garden in the backyard so we can enjoy scrumptious, fresh produce throughout the summer. This year I was not able to physically plant anything and was really frustrated about it! Would it surprise you that I found six healthy thriving tomato plants in our front yard only a week ago? There must be eighty or more giant tomatoes growing on those vines! I could not believe my eyes!  God is always listening to our prayers even at those times when He seems silent. He will shower you with blessings and favor if you place your faith in Him!  

Living Out the Prophetic Word.

It was the Saturday of June 3rd, 2006 when I dropped a crystal vase from our wedding ceremony on my bare foot. The impact severed the tendon to my right big toe. Needless to say, Derrick and I postponed our honeymoon cruise to the Caribbean for six months while I recovered from a couple surgeries and then rehabilitated.

Only four days after the accident, I attended a Wednesday service at my church, Time In Destiny. I received prophetic word from Pastor Gary Zamora that evening. He began by saying, “I see where your injury is but I want to identify something up near your hip. I’m looking at a foot that’s bandaged but what God is addressing is your right hip. I speak the word of the Lord right now into your hip and I declare the pain leave your body in Jesus’ name; that the joint in your hip be completely restored and healed.” He repeatedly spoke of healing to my right hip during this prophetic word; although I had never experienced any pain in that area. To be truthful, I did not take those words to heart or believe they pertained to me. Even after I received another prophetic word from Pastor Zamora in June of 2007 that spoke of God’s healing power over my bones and hip joint; I ignored the obvious truth.

While packing a couple months ago before the move to our new home, I decided to type all of the prophetic word spoken to me and save it in the computer. As I was reading the handwritten words from my journal, it struck me that the words were alive today and had come to pass! I had arthroscopic hip surgery 11 days ago to repair a torn labrum. When I met with the assisting orthapaedic surgeon today, he showed me detailed photos from the surgery that revealed a huge bone spur that had been growing in size for years! Thankfully, they were able to shave it down to smooth out the hip bone.

As I reflect on this series of events, I am amazed by God’s goodness and grace. He will speak to us through the Holy Spirit to reveal the truth but our hearts must be open and receptive to Him. I have learned another valuable lesson about trusting in my Father completely! He is the past, present, and the future!

A Birthday To Remember.

 Since I was a small girl, I have always loved to celebrate my birthday each year. I especially remember my ninth birthday because my mom threw a surprise party for me and invited all my friends to our house to celebrate. However, my 50th birthday celebration superceded all the rest due to a fabulous party combined with my first book signing. Fifty years is quite a milestone and I was very comfortable with my life’s accomplishments.  

My perspective changed a little this year before May 3rd rolled around. I’ve been limping around due to a tear on the labrum of my hip. One of the special needs children at school gave me a hard shove in my back and I’ve juggled work with doctor visits, acupuncture, and physical therapy since the beginning of the year. This is the first time in my life that I’ve felt my true age due to this chronic pain.

I celebrated a wonderful birthday week with my loved ones and stayed grateful for this incredible life of mine! I choose to stay in prayer and close to my Father and give him praise for every breath…

Since I was a young girl, I’ve always had a lot of energy and it’s carried through to adulthood. I stay active and enjoy hiking, boxing, spin classes, and dancing.  My husband is a trainer so he keeps me on my toes as well. In mid-September, I was injured by a student with special needs who intentionally shoved me from behind in my lower back. I immediately scheduled several visits to our chiropractor for treatment and believed my body would bounce back from this minor setback.

In the past seven months, I have spent countless hours attending physical therapy, acupuncture, and doctor visits to improve my condition. My MRI tests show multiple tears in my back and right hip; resulting in chronic pain. I will meet with an orthopaedic surgeon this week and am hoping for a positive prognosis. My Father is the greatest healer of all and I have faith that I will be able to walk without limping and resume my normal lifestyle.
I believe that God is stretching me and causing me to grow through this pain. I have been given several opportunities to minister to people during my rehabilitation and try to keep focused on blessing others while I endure this challenging season.

A New Year Blessing.