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Faithful is He
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Bob Johnston
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Dec 10, 2003 04:18 PST
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~ Faithful Is He ~
This true story has needed to be told for over 15 years now. Though I
had only a small part, I have decided
to try to put into writing a testimony that will, I hope, build up
someone’s faith for another such miracle.
You may choose to believe or not. I just simply ask you to digest this
story and use whatever part you can
to build up your own personal faith in Christ’s blood.
We are told His stripes are for our healing. It happens all the time.
But, this one instance is very special to me.
_________________________
As it happened, I had a great heartache that was threatening to take
over my life. I sang in a gospel trio and the other two girls were like
sisters to me. In all our years, we never had a disagreement or an
argument. As they watched me pinning away, they had great empathy for
my heartache and prayed with me on numerous occasions.
One of the women in the church had a father-in-law who had been
stricken with lymphoma. Our prayer line had been activated several
times to pray for him the first time he had chemotherapy. The second
bout with it, we were called even several times a day. This man was a
full time preacher in a little country church.
One particular Wednesday night, I took my heartache, again, to the
altar for prayer.
That night, our lead singer, Reta, was also helping with those who
came for prayer. She began to pray with me and, soon, our tears were
mingled together. Shortly afterward, I felt her body swoon and she
collapsed on the floor ~ still weeping.
I stayed there awhile, then slipped back to my place in the pew.
But, she kept weeping and just lay there praying. This continued
throughout the service. Once, she made it to the altar, but went back
to the floor. Toward the end of the service, she got to the pew but lay
over; still weeping, quietly.
Later, Reta told me that, during this time, she saw hands. They
were oily, and she had recognized them as her own. When the service
ended, her face was swollen from tears and weeping, and she felt
compelled to pray for 'someone'. The father-in-law was mentioned. But,
he was in a hospital 120 miles away.
Another suggested we call the father-in-law's home and see if he
were home yet. Getting no answer, it was decided that our pastors and
Reta would go on to the hospital, even though it was already late.
As they started out the door, someone suggested, "Try one more
time." So, they rang the number, this time getting an answer. The
father-in-law had just arrived home. Some of the congregation had met
him and helped to carry Rev. Lloyd Mattocks in, and set him in his
recliner. Our pastors and Rita asked if they might come, right then,
and pray for him, and he agreed.
It was an hour's drive to his home and, when they arrived, they were
welcomed and offered coffee ~ which they declined saying, "We came to
pray."
Our pastor had brought the bottle of oil and, as we usually did, he
started to touch the tip of Reta’s finger to the bottle. She said, "No,
preacher. Just pour it over my hands." So, he did. They began to
pray, all together; some in the heavenly language.
Rev. Mattocks had a tumor in his stomach, large enough that he could
feel. This man was 6' 5" and, in his prime, weighed about 220. This
night, he weighed 127 pounds; a walking skeleton. Someone in a
concentration camp might have looked better.
Reta laid her hands on his stomach and they prayed on. Somewhere
during the prayer, they both looked up. "It’s gone!" he said and they
began to praise the Great Healer. Joy overflowed them all!
Rev. Mattocks never went to sleep that night. Instead, he prepared
sermons all night. Toward morning, he was still feeling good and
noticed the grass around the church needs mowing. So, he got out there
and mowed the grass.
Next, he decided to do the bar, ditch, and edge around the trees.
Then, he decided to mow the neighbor's grass, to wake them up and
surprise them.
Today, Rev. Mattocks stands tall and sturdy, with his full weight
back. Doctors have searched, a number of times, for any sign of the
cancer (which almost took his life 3 different times). But, no sign of
it has ever been found.
The first time the lymphoma was found, he went through chemotherapy
and his reaction to it was very adverse. Rev. Mattocks almost lost his
life.
The second time it came back, the chemo itself almost killed him.
The third time, the doctors said they had literally burned up his
blood vessels and they would certainly cause his death if they tried
again. They felt it more humane to just send Rev. Mattocks home to make
funeral arrangements. They gave him 10 days to possibly, but not
probably, 60 days to live; on that Wednesday morning. But, the evening
gave him a whole new life.
_________________________
Something serves as a catalyst for a raindrop.
Perhaps it’s that way for a miracle, too.
The yielding of Reta's spirit may have triggered it;
her sweet compassion for my ache.
I will ask when I get to Heaven.
Though, when God does a miracle, He does it well.
I do hope you can find the faith to believe it.
If so, your own miracle may not be far behind.
© 2003 by Joan Clifton Costner
http://underhiswings0.tripod.com
And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb,
and by the word of their testimony ...
Re. 12:11
May you be blessed today
Bob Johnston
Sand Dollar Publisher
Minneapolis
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