[an account of assurance]
part VI :: James 5
posted by codi bennett , Feb 14, 2011
My surgery date was scheduled, I had educated myself, we had researched and prepared...the only thing left to do was respond to James 5.
It was following our annual Staff Christmas Party and we had communicated to Rick + Michelle the details of my situation. We gathered a few people to pray with us and it was a powerful time for not just James and myself, but for all those involved, I believe. I was anointed with oil and the Lord was petitioned to move. He showed up, His presence was powerful in that room that evening. It wasn’t overelaborate or conjured - it was genuine and fervent. I believe the Lord responded likewise.
The morning of December 15, 2010, James and I headed to Conway Regional Hospital. My emotions were the most interesting mix of apprehension and eagerness. I was apprehensive because of the new experience, and eager due to the fact that I had so much anticipation stirring for what God was accomplishing through the raw situation. I was propelled by several scriptures throughout this entire experience. At this point I was holding to two specifically in Psalms 27 and Romans 8:
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James 5:13-15 [NIV] 13 Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise.14 Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord.15 And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven
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The morning of December 15, 2010, James and I headed to Conway Regional Hospital. My emotions were the most interesting mix of apprehension and eagerness. I was apprehensive because of the new experience, and eager due to the fact that I had so much anticipation stirring for what God was accomplishing through the raw situation. I was propelled by several scriptures throughout this entire experience. At this point I was holding to two specifically in Psalms 27 and Romans 8:
Psalm 27:1[MSG]
We checked in and I was taken to a small recovery room where the nurse gave me my gown and instructions. I changed and crawled into the sterile hospital bed. The mood was fairly light and not long after that we had friends arrive to pray over the procedure and keep James company. I’m so grateful for the people that came to visit with us that morning. I had to have a series of tests done before the actual surgery and then they drew on me with fancy skin markers like I was having plastic surgery.
Afterwards I felt great. I recall jumping out of the surgery bed in the recovery room, getting redressed and thinking to myself, ‘well that wasn’t bad at all!’ Of course I was still under the influence of several medications. As I returned home and the drugs wore off and the sensation returned to my body I realized how serious surgery is!
I guess I had this [uneducated] perception that they would just snip or shave a trivial piece of skin out and then I’d be on my way. Not so. I had an area of about 8 inches by 4 inches removed, surveying the full thickness of my skin. In addition, I had two lymph nodes removed from my groin. Rather than making a second incision to remove the nodes the surgeon accessed them via the initial skin excision opening. Needless to say, I was a naive young lady in a good bit of pain… and a good chunk of skin missing.
to be continued… [click here to start from beginning]
-cjb-
1 Light, space, zest— that’s God! So, with him on my side I’m fearless, afraid of no one and nothing.Romans 8:26-31[NCV]
26 Also, the Spirit helps us with our weakness. We do not know how to pray as we should. But the Spirit himself speaks to God for us, even begs God for us with deep feelings that words cannot explain. 27 God can see what is in people’s hearts. And he knows what is in the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit speaks to God for his people in the way God wants. 28 We know that in everything [italics mine] God works for the good of those who love him. They are the people he called, because that was his plan. 29 God knew them before he made the world, and he chose them to be like his Son so that Jesus would be the firstborn of many brothers and sisters. 30 God planned for them to be like his Son; and those he planned to be like his Son, he also called; and those he called, he also made right with him; and those he made right, he also glorified.I have no doubt that I could know write a complete dissertation on each of these verses because I have so recited them and written them indelibly on my heart. I am forever grateful for the Word of God and the way I’ve been taught to use it in such circumstances to strengthen my faith and to speak truth to my heart when my ears fail to hear it clearly.
We checked in and I was taken to a small recovery room where the nurse gave me my gown and instructions. I changed and crawled into the sterile hospital bed. The mood was fairly light and not long after that we had friends arrive to pray over the procedure and keep James company. I’m so grateful for the people that came to visit with us that morning. I had to have a series of tests done before the actual surgery and then they drew on me with fancy skin markers like I was having plastic surgery.
Afterwards I felt great. I recall jumping out of the surgery bed in the recovery room, getting redressed and thinking to myself, ‘well that wasn’t bad at all!’ Of course I was still under the influence of several medications. As I returned home and the drugs wore off and the sensation returned to my body I realized how serious surgery is!
 |
I guess I had this [uneducated] perception that they would just snip or shave a trivial piece of skin out and then I’d be on my way. Not so. I had an area of about 8 inches by 4 inches removed, surveying the full thickness of my skin. In addition, I had two lymph nodes removed from my groin. Rather than making a second incision to remove the nodes the surgeon accessed them via the initial skin excision opening. Needless to say, I was a naive young lady in a good bit of pain… and a good chunk of skin missing.
to be continued… [click here to start from beginning]
-cjb-
I am so glad you are sharing this story, Codi. I can't wait to hear the rest of it. :)