My Testimony-Cancer Free!

It was Friday, September 25, 1998 the day the earth had literally shook (an Earthquake was reported in the news), it stretched from Ohio to Michigan; and I was celebrating my 30^th birthday, with some coworkers, at the Detroit Water & Sewerage Department-Main Office Building, 10^th fl. Meter Read Audit.  As we stood at the counter singing, “♫Happy Birthday to you♫”, the building had shaken and we all said, “What was that?”  An Earthquake, on my birthday, and this big ole’ lump (the size of the palm of my hand), protruding underneath my skin on the left side of my knee: what a day to remember, one   I’ll never forget!  That was 12 ½ years ago.

The 1^st biopsy had been done on a Friday, Sweetest Day-October 16, 1998.  “Ok Lord there’s beginning to be a pattern here, dates of remembrance.”  The diagnosis had already been delivered: “Osteosarcoma (High Grade-Bone Cancer); and we’re only going to give you a 20% chance of living!  Also, you’re going to have chest X-Ray’s done every week to make sure that the cancer didn’t spread to your lungs!” Ok!  I was scared—for real!  I cried, I was mad, and I was angry at God!  I was confused, and I had questions!  What did I do wrong?  Lord, what will my mother and brothers & sister do?  “Wait a minute!  I haven’t been married yet nor do I have children!” I was afraid that I was going to die from this disease.  

I had been a member at Word of Faith Int’l Christian Center-Southfield, MI; Bishop Keith Butler was my Pastor at that time.  I remembered how embarrassed I was to tell the Bishop and ask for prayer, didn’t want anyone to know.  I was so nervous walking down the aisle in church, (with my mother as a comfort by my side), to talk to Bishop Butler.  I was trembling in my voice and my body while telling him that “I’ve been diagnosed with Bone Cancer”—and he immediately saying to me, “There’s nothing to be afraid of.  I want you to go and see my secretary, Minister Herd—tell her I sent you!”  And the Fight was on!

I was scheduled to have 8 treatments of Chemotherapy (which I was hospitalized for 5 days, during treatments).  At that time, I battled with hair loss; slight loss of hearing; spots on the palms of my hands and bottom of my feet; extreme weight loss; body sensitive to the touch; low Potassium; and an allergic reaction to morphine.  I even had the audacity to shout at the devil, “COME ON, YOU WANT A FIGHT! I’M READY TO FIGHT!  YOU’RE NOT TAKING ME OUT LIKE THIS!”  And if that was not enough, I had the nerve to say, “THAT’S ALL YOU GOT!”   Whoa!  What was I saying?  I was out-of-my-mind!  And yes, the fight got worse! At one point my body temperature had reached up to 104 degrees.  I experienced “hot flashes”; boils on my body and sores in my mouth; numerous blood transfusions; Septic Arthritis; was on Antibiotics (according to my doctor-indefinitely); a ruptured esophagus; developed ulcers; and the ultimate-I loss my leg bone (left femur & knee-replaced with Titanium Metal).  Talk about a Job experience!

The Prayer Warrior within me was just as amplified as the fight.  I stood on scriptures like:

(Ps.118:8-9 kjv) For thou hast delivered my soul from death, mine eyes from tears, and my feet from falling.  I will walk before the Lord In the land of the living.

(John 11:4 kjv)  “…This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.” 

(Is. 53:4-5 kjv) But He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.            

I was confessing that the cancer was DEAD!  I didn’t want remission because it was subject to come back.  I used every arsenal of weapons I could: I had to “Put on the whole armor of God…”  I was “fighting against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” (Eph. 6:10-17).  I prayed in my natural language and I prayed in the spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues (Eph. 6:18).  I also laughed a lot!  (Prov. 17:22) “A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.”  I would plead “The Blood of Jesus”; pour anointing oil on my bald head; put oil on a red cloth and taped it onto my body and prayed!  My family was actively involved in praying for me and even my doctors would say, “I’m praying for you!”  The days when I was at home I would open the blinds and lay prostrate, on the floor, and allow the sunlight in-to soak in the sun.  You see, I did this because I heard a story about an eagle: when it got sick and had poison in its body, it would fly to the highest part of the mountain and lay prostrate and spread its wings and allow the sun to penetrate its body-to draw out all the poison from it.  Like the eagle, that’s what I did! 

The Miracle was made known!  The Cancer was dead and I only had 4 aggressive Chemo treatments along with the surgery, February 23^rd, 1999 (just 3 days before my mother’s birthday), to remove the cancerous bone.  I didn’t have the 8 treatments that they planned!  I’m no longer on Antibiotics either.  Praise God!  Everything is functioning, in my body, the way it was designed from the beginning of time, except for the loss of my left femur & knee.  They said that I cannot wear heels-well!  I stride in 2 up to 5 in. high heels (only for a short period of time).  My doctor called me his “Miracle Baby”, because he said that he never had a case like mine.  There are times you’ll see me walking with a limp, or taking my shoes off, because my knee is swollen and I’m in pain or some discomfort due to the pressure from climbing the stairs and sitting/standing too long.

I could see the hand of God all in my struggles and him teaching me how to strategically fight in his Army…wait-a-minute, I just took a praise break—Hallelujah!  Thank you Jesus!  A war was waged and I WON!  Did I want to go through this?  Absolutely NOT!  I may have come out with some battle scars and lost a bone but God has kept His promise: that I would not lose my life or my leg; that he would keep my feet on the ground; and that I would share my Testimony.  My prayer is for those that has been or have been diagnosed with Cancer—for you to be empowered by my story.  I am walking before the Lord In the land of the living.  Amen! ◘

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Writing Is Inviting!

Well, what can I say!  Day one of the Life Lesson’s-Writer’s Workshop, at DWO was a success!  Another level of praise; another level of prophecy fulfilled; another level of promises revealed; another level of people being empowered to share, write, express, and fellowship with those of like-minded-faith.  There was a fresh wind of God in the room, as we came together to glean from our teacher, instructor, Author, worshipper, and friend, Ms. Darlene C. Dickson.  Thank you for allowing me and others the opportunity to gain the insight and wisdom coupled with the creativity that God has afforded you, as a “Ready Writer”! 

What I hope to glean from this class?  I hope to reach the masses, in this field of communication, with another level of anointing and impartation.  It was refreshing to see the people come and sign in, with an expectation awaiting there thoughts: and I, hearing the voices of some of those that said, (with excitement or surprise in the tone of their voices), “We have to create a blog!  What’s a blog?”  I truly commend our Season Saints for stepping up to the plate.  I applaud everyone that made it to the session and I’m thankful for those that spoke of their interest to Darlene—I can tell you, she is Very Pleased!

With my heart-felt expression of love, I would like to say, “Thank you Darlene for allowing me the opportunity to be a Facilitator in this workshop; the impartation that you’ve given is well received and I’m rejoicing about it!  Also, I cannot end this letter without thanking my Bishop, Ben Gibert for giving the church this opportunity that the world would grab in a heart-beat!  Thank you Bishop for your openness of heart, love, care, and concern for your flock!    As our catch phrase, in the class says, Writing is Inviting!  ◘

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Laughter is Good!

A + ☺+   ♥=A Merry Heart!  Ok everyone, I got a chance to see, Madea’s Big Happy Family.  If I were Siskel & Ebert, giving you my commentary about this movie, this is what I would say:  Aside from the ‘choice words’ that you may not want your children to hear, this movie was Hilarious!  I love watching Tyler Perry’s plays and movies. Cora and Mr. Brown—they argued, they tried to help one another, and they were funny.  I don’t know about you but I like to hear Mr. Brown try to pronounce big words and I love to look at the clothes that he wears.  Who picks out his clothes?  Too funny and colorful—I loved his multi-colored socks, check them out!  Loretta Devine played her part very well, and so did “Bow Wow” as Byron, good job!  Ok, Byron’s past and present girlfriend was a hot mess, LOUD, inconsiderate, and most of all—“Gold diggers”!  Young men, ‘pleeze’ pay attention—just because she looks good on the outside doesn’t mean that she’s gold on the inside.  Not a great catch!  And Madea’s brother, Charles—a terrible hot mess!

“Any-hoo,” The female characters in this movie was angry, contentious, and disrespectful, however, the male characters were loving, yet passive, and not in control!  What’s up with that?  As we all know that Madea tends to fit the angry, contentious, aggressive, and disrespectful Matriarch of the bunch.  However, she manages to bring the family together in an “involuntarily” manner, to get some things straighten out amongst themselves.  And the Maury Polvich scene-DNA testing was, “Screaming-hilarious” to me!  I couldn’t stop laughing, even when the movie was over, while on my way to the car.  My stomach muscles were hurting from laughing so hard!  I’m giggling now, just thinking about it.

Was there a moral to this movie, (aside from the broken-“proper-English” that Madea so eloquently tries to instill in her great-nephews) like, “Hellerrr” or “Good Mornting” or “Get the dishes ready for Dinterrr”!  Now, that’s proper English, according to Madea.  And don’t let her get mad at you, cause she just might, “Purrnch” you in the face—too funny!  Yes, there was a moral to this story: unforgiveness breeds contention, strife, anger, resentment, and arguments, against your loved ones for something that was done to you by someone else-communication is key; taking responsibility for your actions instead of trying to make a quick buck by selling dope on the streets, and hoping that everything will be handed to you is another valuable lesson; also, take the leadership role in your family. You don’t have to be controlling to be a leader; and balance faith & prayer with discipline.  When you spare the rod you spoil the child!

Do I think that this movie deserves 2 thumbs up? Absolutely!  This movie is for mature-adult audiences only, PG-13 (due to language content). You might want to wear a pair of depends when you go and see this movie.  Shall I say more—Laughter is good!  ◘

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Man's Favorite-God's Choice!

The Prophet Samuel was instructed by God to go and anoint the next king which He will show him; have a sacrifice and make sure that Jesse and his son’s are invited.  Everything was set, so Samuel thought, but only God knew that one of the son’s was missing.  Jesse, David’s father, one of the Elders of the town of Bethlehem and a well respected man was told to bring his son’s to the sacrifice; but there was one son that he didn’t invite.  How many times have God spoken to our leaders to invite this person to this event, or that function, or have them attend this or that class and the leader becomes selective on who should excel.  Choosing their favorites!  The very one that the Lord wants to appoint and anoint is the very one that our leaders shout within and is acted outwardly, in subtle, non-suggestive ways, “NO!  Not that one!  I really don’t like them, I don’t think he/she qualifies-according to MY standards!”  But how many of you know that God knows all and sees all.  …“God does not see the same way people see.  People look at the outside of a person, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (ncv-1Sam.16:7)

Even though David was not invited to the Sacrifice (he tending the sheep) the Lord would not allow the oil to be poured out until HIS choice was in the room.  There are some ministries that will not flourish to its fullest potential until the one that the Lord has selected and anointed be in place.  Jesse had seven of his son’s to pass by the Prophet, and nothing happening.  He had to eventually ask the Elder, Jesse,  “Are these all the sons you have?”  Jesse answered, “I still have the youngest son.  He is out taking care of the sheep.” (ncv-1 Sam. 16:11)  Now why wouldn’t Jesse, David’s father be honest to the man of God and call his youngest son in to participate in the sacrifice?  Was it because he thought that David was too busy?  Or was it because David was not Jesse’s choice?  There are times that our leaders can turn a deaf ear to God and get “Spiritual”, thinking they are doing God a favor.  Giving David “busy work”, or not keeping him up to date-keeping him stagnate causes our Lord to frown.  For those leaders out there that are participating in this so called “Spiritual Service”, do not think for one moment that the victim is not aware of what’s going on.  I’m a witness and victim of that spiritual abuse.

When the Lord is ready for you, He will hold up the service until his man or woman arrives.  He/she will be able to get in places that man has strategically kept them out of.  You see, when the Lord calls you to a specific place at a specific time, he has need of you: your skills, your talents, your flare, your looks, your anointing.  Your everything!  What he has created in you is fit for the assignment that’s ahead.  Think about a puzzle.  The predominant colors of the puzzle are blue (for the water), with white (for the waves and sail boat) and a hint of  green (for the grass on the Island).  You’re putting the puzzle together and you find a yellow odd shaped piece that was on the floor, due to the last puzzle you frustratingly tried to put together.  So you grab the yellow piece and try to force it onto the blue, white and green puzzle-because you like the color yellow even though it doesn’t fit.  But the piece that you need is the blue one you placed in the corner, because you thought it was too bright of a blue, but it was the one that was made to fit the puzzle.  And when in place, the puzzle is complete and the outcome is this beautiful Sailboat riding the waves near the Island of Engedi.  God’s Choice! ◘

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