Saturday, April 11, 2009

Who Heals All Your Diseases

Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits- who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases. (Psalm 103:3)

I have a sinus infection and I'm feeling pitiful. Morning sickness aside, I'm not sure I've ever been this sick since I became a mom. Last Saturday I had that weird tickly feeling in my throat and I knew it was coming. Sure enough, things started going downhill on Sunday. Curt was getting over a cold that wasn't too bad, but had made him very hoarse. I was sure that's what I was getting. On Monday I felt much better, but on Tuesday it came back with a vengeance and got worse each day.

Never mind the baby, I've spent an hour or two awake each night this week just trying to clear my head of all the stuff. Mornings have been rough. I thought I should probably go to the doctor but since I felt better during the day, I always talked myself out of it. Today I could take no more. I had chills and achiness, I was sore from coughing so much, my ear hurt, and my face felt like it might explode with the sinus pressure.

After a quick trip this morning to see my cousin Joe at a firefighter and EMT fundraiser, I went to an urgent care clinic. They didn't take my insurance, but that $120 seemed like pennies compared to feeling better. So now I'm on an antibiotic along with Mucinex, which makes you very sleepy. I took the meds as soon as I got home and conked out. Oh my word. When I woke up it was like I was sleep walking. I kind of wanted to blog, but I was afraid of what I might type!

I'm hoping that on Resurrection Sunday God is going to resurrect my healthy self. This has been miserable. On top of feeling bad, I hate not being able to kiss my babies. Annabeth has a touch of the cold and it makes me so sad that she got it from me.

I've been reading the Gospel of Mark in my quiet times to get ready for Easter. It's amazing how much time Jesus spent just healing people of their maladies. Can you imagine spending your life blind, deaf, or in chronic physical pain and one day you meet this traveling teacher who heals you with a word? Or a touch? How amazing would that be? And how would you feel when you heard that He had been crucified like a criminal? And then how would you feel when you heard the rumors that His body went missing and He was appearing to people. He had risen from the grave! How thrilling it must have been for the people who had contact with Him on this earth. I'm really jealous of them. But Jesus said those of us who had not seen Him, yet believed in Him are blessed. Check out what happened when "Doubting Thomas" saw the resurrected Christ for the first time.

Now Thomas (called Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord!"

But he said to them, "Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it."

A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!" Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe."

Thomas said to him, "My Lord and my God!"

Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."

Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. (John 20:24-31)


I hope y'all have an amazing Easter! We're supposed to have nasty weather tomorrow, but I think it will help me focus on the pure joy of our Lord's resurrection instead of getting all of us looking cute or taking pretty pictures in the yard.

He is risen!

34 comments:

Anonymous said...

Happy Easter!
Praying that you get well very soon and baby too! :)

Lisa @ The Preacher's Wife said...

I've always loved that John said there was so much Jesus did that the world couldn't contain the volumes. Don't you wonder what else they saw that wasn't recorded? As if what I DO know isn't enough.

Looking forward to Resurrection Sunday with you!

Lisa @ The Preacher's Wife said...

Oh, and I hope you are feeling better soon..:( Nothing worse than a funky head cold.

Heather said...

Ah Amanda, one of my favorite verses in the Bible and the conversation Jesus had with Thomas!
I was just thinking about these verses today as a matter of fact. I can't imagine how the people felt being healed from their sickness and all of a sudden it is gone. Thank you for sharing this, and I am praying that the Lord heals you quickly so you can go back to kissing your sweet babies. Happy Easter to you and hopefully the weather won't be too bad for us tomorrow!

Andrea Moore said...

I'm praying for you and Annabeth to get well quickly. I loved reading your blog post about our risen Lord!

Anonymous said...

And I'm so happy He appeared first to the women who came to look after his dead body. *sigh* How could you not love that!

Sister Lynn said...

Good Morning, Amanda!

its 3:55am. We are about to begin our Easter Service - may the Rise Lord heal you - body, mind and spirit!

Know that we are keeping you and all your family in our prayers this Resurrection morning.

much love,
Sister Lynn

Kristi said...

I hope you feel better. It's hard being a mom and feeling sick. Great verses-I just read them this week doing the Living Beyond Yourself Bible study. I have adorable, matching dresses/sweaters for my 2 year old and 5 month old BUT we won't get to go to church because my 2 year old is recovering from a tonsilectomy. Like your weather-this keeps me focused on the real importance of Easter....Happy Easter!

creative gal said...

Praying you are better soon! That is one of my favorite passages. . . Thanks for sharing a good post.

Rhonda said...

Amen to that. We do get distracted with the stuff. Praying for your healing and protection for the rest of the fam!

valerie said...

I am praying you're feeling better. I can relate. Last weekend I had a terrible headache for two days & I woke up in the middle of the night Sat. with a stomach virus and had chills & fever. Thankfully I could sleep all day yesterday and am feeling fine this Easter morning.

There's 100% chance of rain here in Oklahoma today. We need it though. The fires that destroyed over 100 homes is evidence that we need moisture. (please keep those families in your prayers)

I pray you and your family have a wonderful Easter!
Thanks for all you do. I love your family.

Love,
Valerie

Anonymous said...

It is ugly weather but it is a glorious Sunday. Hope you are feeling much better. Blessed Easter Sunday to you, Curtis, Jackson, and Annabeth! Love, Annette

fuzzytop said...

Love that verse...!

Praying that you are feeling better, and that you have a wonderful Easter...

Love,
Adrienne

Laura SanchezQuan said...

Amanda, hope you are able to attend services at First today or watch the webcast. You are in for a treat as Pastor Gregg taught out of John 20 about 'doubting Thomas'. He had some interesting points that apply to us. May you feel much better soon and may God stop the sickness with you.

melanie said...

i'm so sorry you're feeling yucky. you looked great this morning at church, so you disguised it well. hope you guys have a happy easter. hopefully next week laney will join annabeth in the nursery. i hope they're in the same room!

Lauren said...

Amanda, I hope you get to feeling better!!! And hope you and your precious family have a wonderful Easter :o)

Beth Herring said...

Amanda,

This was a great post. It is exactly what my husbands sermon was on today.

Praying that you feel the healing power of Jesus today.

Beth

Kiki said...

Whoa! You and Pastor Gregg were along the same lines of thinking this past week!

Heather said...

Hoping and praying that you continue to feel better...and that your family had a blessed Easter!

Mary H. said...

So sorry that you are not feeling well. I hope that you have enjoyed your Easter Sunday anyway.

Thinking of you. Happy Easter!

Moose Mama said...

Well, crudsky. I know the pain of sinus infections...even your teeth hurt. I'm so sorry. Will definitely pray for a healing.

Today is Sunday Amanda! He is risen! God Bless You.

Melana

Jan said...

Bless Your Heart! I had that two weeks ago and passed it on to Hubs who was recovering from open heart surgery. I know what you mean about giving it to Annabeth.

My prayer is that you heal quickly.

Happy Easter!

Angela said...

He has risen indeed!
Hope you feel better soon.
I am praying for healing in my daughter. She has a disease that is treatable, but I hope that when she goes for her surgery on Friday that the surgeon says she's healed and can be normal starting to today! Please pray for her this week. Thank you!

Lindsee said...

How fun that you posted this verse last night, and then today (or tonight in my case) Pastor Gregg taught on this. It was a great service! And everything he said was so good. Hope you are feeling better. Having a head cold type thing is just miserable! Happy Easter!

Missy said...

Hope you are feeling better! I can't wait to see Annabeth's precious dress. :)

Jennifer said...

Hi Amanda,
So sorry to hear you are not feeling well...

I have been a regular reader of your blog for quite some time now and enjoy it very much. I hear your heart come through your posts, and it is beautiful. Thank you so much for sharing.

I know you enjoy blogworld and I'd like to invite you to check mine out. It is at www.abundanceinhim.com

May God bless you and your precious family.

He is risen!
Jennifer

Alana said...

There is not much worse than a sinus infection! Hope you feel better soon.
Thanks for including those verses too...

Yolanda said...

Heaven is going to be pure b.l.i.s.s.

Shelly said...

Well to be completely vain, you were looking mighty wonderful despite being this sick. I hope the antibiotic has kicked in by now...

Mark's Gospel is goooood stuff. It's like your heart and mind begin to grasp the reality of Christ's Kingdom coming down to our fallen Earth...and now, His kingdom dwells within me, and you. Mind-boggling...

The Ugly Beautiful said...

God sure did inspire with you this post as this was just what Gregg talked on yesterday...amen! :) It was good seeing your adorable little family briefly yesterday! I hope that yall had a wonderful Easter! It's just like Jesus to open up the skies for us after the rain! :) I also hope you feel better! Coming from an allergy freak, here is what helps me..mucinex, clearing my sinus' with the neil med stuff, sudafed sinus, and maybe a z-pack antibiotic.... :)

MITZI said...

Did you try your mom's remedy, the Nedi-pot?

katiegfromtennessee said...

This scripture is encouraging, Little Momma, especially the part that says, "Peace be with you!":)

katiegfromtennessee

Debbie said...

Hi Amanda,

I have been reading your blog for awhile now and praying for people that you mention on here. This past Monday I had a stroke at the age of 34 and my pastor husband and I witnessed a miracle. You can read about it (if you have time) at www.debbiewhidden.com or www.johnbunn.net.

As I was first diagnosed on Wednesday and told I was taking an ambulance to Chicago, I was reminded of your friend Kristi and all that she went through. The book that you made her and the prayers that were lifted up were so very important. I'm used to being on the other side of the prayers and not in a hospital bed. We don't understand so many times why we have to go through tough times, but I do know that I told the Lord that if my condition will reach just one person, "I'm in."

Thanks for your blog and the way that it ministers to people who need encouragement and prayer.

Carol said...

I know you wrote this over a week ago, but I'm just catching up. When I read your last line, I had to comment. When I hear the words "He is Risen", I have to shout back "He is Risen Indeed!"