feasting on all He has provided

1 Peter 2:24
He personally bore our sins in His [own] body on the tree [as on an altar and offered Himself on it], that we might die (cease to exist) to sin and live to righteousness. By His wounds you have been healed.

So first news is first, Jesus heals! (in case you didn't already know) I've been sick with typhoid, ick. Last week it got pretty bad and I couldn't get out of bed to walk five steps without getting dizzy and almost passing out. Every side effect came my way, even a rash on the stomach. But I learned a thing or two through it. First I was totally frustrated, I don't get sick often, why this and why now?! Even though this similar situation happened this past summer during a team being here. Then I trusted Jesus would heal. It didn't happen right away. I started feeling sorry for myself and doubting one morning. It was pathetic, really. Isn't that what is so tempting to do when we are sick? To participate with those thoughts the enemy brings to our mind, thoughts of feeling down and out right sorry for ourselves. Agreeing with sickness and sometimes bringing it upon ourselves so that others will feel sorry for us too. What you believe to be true, you will often manifest. Our thoughts and words are powerful.

Then Jesus reminded me not to let my circumstances define what His word says.

I'm no bible scholar, but I know the Great Physician personally. Sometimes my heavenly Daddy gives me pictures. I got a picture of him holding me and it lifted me from the inside out. Like a fire in my stomach, but a good warm cozy type of fire. I started listening to a teaching which also reminded me of some truths. Jesus died and completed it ALL on the cross... sin, sickness, our brokeness, all of it. And in every circumstance in the gospels in the new testament, every time someone came to Jesus to be healed, he healed them.

Mark 6:56

And wherever He came into villages or cities or the country, they would lay the sick in the marketplaces and beg Him that they might touch even the fringe of His outer garment, and as many as touched Him were restored to health.

Luke 6:19

And all the multitude were seeking to touch Him, for healing power was all the while going forth from Him and curing them ALL[ saving them from severe illnesses or calamities].

Matthew 4:23,24. Matthew 12:15. Matthew 21:14. Matthew 14:34-36. Mark 6:56. Acts 10:38. Matthew 8:1-3. Matthew 8:16,17.

And often when the gospel was preached, signs, wonders, healing, and casting out of demons happened. Luke 9:2, Luke 9:6 and many more

This one time I went through the new testament and highlighted every thing on healing. There was A LOT of highlighting going on! One of the greatest parts about what Jesus did on the cross, is that it was a gift to us, to walk in all he provided. We are his children, he is our Father, and we have an inheritance that starts as soon as we say YES to him... we don't have to wait till we get to heaven! Eternity starts now for those that say yes to Jesus. And this means there is no striving. Now, healing doesn't always happen every time we pray for it. And there are people I know that truly believe for it and it doesn't happen. Why? Well I have no idea, but I know His word is true and he is our Healer. Do I think Jesus gives us sickness? Absolutely NOT. Think about it. How can God give us sickness if he doesn't have it to give? You can't give something you don't have. I could really get into it on this, but that's not my point. I realize this is a common debate and I really don't intend to make this a point of argument but more of encouragement to those that have lost hope in healing. Because Jesus heals and he already conquered all sickness. We don't beg for healing, it already happened. Just like we don't fight for victory in spiritual warfare, because victory already happened. We stand in it and claim what already was done! We are fighting from victory not for it.

Saturday night Jesus impressed on my heart to get up the next morning and in faith go to church at Mattaw knowing He healed me. So I did it. It was my first time out at Mattaw in over a week. And since Saturday I haven't felt one ounce of weakness, sickness, nada. I say this to give Him glory for what He has done. But not only did I go to church, but in the middle of worship I started getting scriptures and words of knowledge on healing. Then I talked to Betsy about it since she is very passionate about these truths and this aspect of Jesus. So we were getting all whacked up by the Holy Spirit just letting Him teach us and remind us of these things. So then I knew Jesus was saying to get up and speak these things and bring Betsy with me. So without even telling Sylvanos (house one dad), he already knew I was to speak and called me up. Why oh why do these things surprise me that we all have the same Spirit within us that speaks the same things and confirms it?! So I just had to write it all out on here too. Because its one of those things that I will just explode if I don't share it! It's just too good to keep it to myself :-)))).

Matthew 10

⁷And as you go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand!

⁸Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, drive out demons. Freely (without pay) you have received, freely (without charge) give.

Some random photos that I have taken over the past week...

This is raw honey I bought on the side of the road on our way back from the coast to Nairobi. It just cracked me up that a bee came out when I poured it. Can't get more raw than that!

Elisha helped me plant my herb garden. He's a great little helper. We're about to start back to preschool soon when our printer is fixed. For now though we're just dong little projects and reading books. Works for us!

Yum, can't wait to cook with these. Having an herb garden is very easy. You can google it or look on youtube for some instructions. If I can do it, anyone can. No, seriously, my thumb is so not green.
I pulled out candy land to teach Elisha for the first time. He was pretty frustrated at first...

But then after some perseverance and patience, he got the hang of it.

He was especially happy that he beat his momma.

And I mentioned it was my birthday. Bud got up and made me french breakfast puffs and coffee. It was one good sunny morning.

A few days ago we had the Mattaw girls for a slumber party. Brittany hosted it at the team house (their house right now). She made sugar cookies and Betsy made icing to ice the cookies and I brought sprinkles to top them off. The girls played outside many games. Brittany made them dinner. Then we watched a movie. (fyi: do NOT show girls the movie Troop Beverly Hills, for reals?! i didn't recall it having curse words while watching it growing up) So we watched Tangled and I made cinnamon and sugar popcorn over the stove. It was a sweet time for them to just be girls and have a getaway. Betsy almost cried when her and I talked about how sweet it was for them to just get to be girls and do what every girl deserves... to have fun, giggle, and be girls! (just had to throw that in Betsy :-)) The next morning they came to our house to jump on the trampoline, ride bikes, play volleyball, swing, and watch cartoons. We fed them sandwiches and chips with kool-aid then they went back to Mattaw. They were very happy girls! We haven't done something with them since their last school break so it was great timing. In a few weeks Bud and Austin will take the boys up mount Elgon for an overnight camping venture.

I did not take many pictures at all.

Elisha was in paradise, having 20 girls over to play with and have a ton of attention from.

Love y'all! And will update again soon...