Part 3: FEAR NOT

I have always disliked enclosed spaces and even now get a little panicky if my face is completely covered, so the thought of having to wear a mesh mask each time radiation treatment is done, sort of freaked me out to say the least. It seemed that each test I went through lead me to the inevitable – making my mask. That day arrived and as I lay down I said “Lord you have to help me get through this” or words to that affect. A warm mesh was stretched over my face and locked into position to allow it to form to the contours of my face. I could see and breath comfortably but the feeling of being trapped caused me to panic a little. I can’t say I remember talking to God about this situation, but I’m sure I did. Looking back, I now realize that a good size nose is a good thing. The young female technicians were amazing and talked me through the whole process which didn’t take nearly as long as it seemed to me. Colored lazar beams shined everywhere and the girls talked and put sticky patches on my mask to line things up. The mask was finally removed after a small mark was tattooed in the centre of my chest to further help with the alignment. I’ve been told that mouth and eye holes will be made and that after my treatments are completed, I can keep my mask. The next joy was having an MRI which is like being pushed into a long cigar tube. Ear plugs are provided to cut down on the noise which is like something out of star wars. As I was preparing for this experience, I remembered that my sister-in-law Sylvia had phoned a day or so earlier and had said FEAR NOT is written 365 times in the Bible - that's one FEAR NOT for each day of the year. After my mask experience, I knew the MRI would be a breeze, so I decided that I would FEAR NOT and use the time to pray. I spent the 15 minutes praying and interceding for everybody I could think of and towards the end of my ‘tube time’, I asked God to restore my relationship with my wife and son. We had not spoken for a number of years and within two days of that prayer, my son Michael was sitting in my living room. My relationship with my son and his mother has now been restored much to the delight of my daughter Candice.

It is when we see God answer a prayer so swiftly, that we know He will answer the other prayers in His perfect time. Isn't God good. "Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever." (Psalm 118 verses 1 & 29)

Part 2: I WILL LIVE AND NOT DIE

After finding out about my condition, I attended a small Sunday service at the Church of the Blue Mountains just outside of Collingwood, Ontario. During a time of prayer for each other, Pastor Bruce pointed to me and proclaimed prophetically, “You will live and not die; you will live and not die.” Another friend who was at that very time praying for me added the phase “and will proclaim the works of the Lord.” Little did I realize at that time that Psalm 118 verse 17 says the same thing. “I will not die but live, and will proclaim what the Lord has done.” I grabbed onto that verse and have been repeating it daily since then. Two days later I was in Barrie at a Pentecostal service lead by evangelist Bill Prankard. At the end of the service Bill proclaimed over the entire church the words, “You will live and not die.”
My friend Bruce grabbed me to make sure I had heard the same words again and we left rejoicing over what I know and believe is words of life for me. I have started to feel a lot better in the past few weeks and even today after having three teeth removed, I still feel great. Praise the Lord

Part 1: SICKNESS = FEAR

Most of us get sick occasionally with colds, the flu and various other minor ailments, but to really get sick, well then fear of the unknown kicks in. All of a sudden, prayer starts in ernest and reading the Bible becomes an ongoing search for scriptures that bring comfort and the hope of healing. A constant search of our past starts, "Did I confess this or repent of that?" " Have I any unforgiveness in my heart?" As a believer in Jesus Christ, I know that sickness is not of God but a result of man's fall in the Garden of Eden. Nevertheless, when it happens to you or me in this case, I had to start a journey of faith and trust in God like never before.
As a self employed gardener, I have never earned a high salary but have always managed to get by, but now at the busiest and most profitable time of the season, I find myself unable to work due to treatments starting in Toronto. How will I manage? How will I pay my rent or my bills with no income other than a small monthly government pension? To my amazement, family and friends rallied around. Cheques and cash arrived to help with my regular bills and offers to help with my cost of expenses for accommodation and drug costs while in Toronto came for my sister and her husband in the UK. Two close buddies offered to run my grass cutting business and deposit the revenue directly into my bank account to help keep the bills paid. My brother and his wife sent me a laptop so that I will be able to keep in touch by email and MSN while out of town. Other friends offered to come by during the week and look after my very fat cat and a very close friend who is a nurse has taken time off work to drive me to Toronto for various appointments and help me understand some of the medical terminology. This support has been overwhelming and I would like to express my sincere thanks to all. John