I have to start off by telling everyone that I was actually going to type this post the morning of the fire. I had been woke up by the smoke alarm and decided to just stay up so I could spend some time with the Lord. After the time with the Lord I was going to type this Memorial Box Monday post, because it had just been the anniversary of a very special date in our lives…January 10, 2006.
If you are new to A Place Called Simplicity and are wondering what in the world a Memorial Box is, then read about it here.
As many of you may or may not know that I have Mulitple Sclerosis. I was diagnosed in 1991. I grew up in Buffalo, NY and Buffalo is known as a ‘hot spot’ for MS. My cousin has it, friends of mine from high school have it, a girl Dw dated for ages while in college has it and Dw’s cousin, Narda even died of it. Infact my sister-in-law, Mary, has three sister-in-laws with it. Really, it’s everywhere.
Well my MS started out slowly, but after about 10 years it got much more aggressive and I was having exacerbation after exacerbation on a regular basis. I soon needed a cane to walk. I had exacerbations that affected my hearing, my speech (slurring for weeks like I was drunk), my vision, my balance (I would fall into walls regularly) and so on.
I had also had an exacerbation that had left my right arm and hand trembling and shaking 24/7. It was definitely embarassing. It shook boldly all the time. There was a never, ever even a moments break from it. I could not lay on my right side because my body would shake so much that I couldn’t sleep. I love to write longhand letters to special people in my life but I did not like to write anymore because of how awful my handwriting looked. It was embarassing to be in a prayer circle and hold hands with someone who didn’t know me because of how my hand and arm bounced and trembled. I would accidentally knock things over without much effort. It did this for years, without ever a moment of reprieve.
The MS continued to make my body a mess and we had to build a handicapped accessible home for my wheelchair. I affectionately named him Charlie, as I would have to, from time to time, spend a day or two in him.
In June of 2004 we moved to Colorado to pastor. We had been told by doctors that it would slow the progression of an autoimmune disorder like MS to live in a drier climate.
THEN one day, January 10, 2006 to be exact, and Dw and I were on a four way call with treasured friends of ours (Dan and LaVonne) who live in San Antonio, TX. They had wanted to pray with us about a prophetic word that the husband, Dan, had had about me. It’s a long story, maybe for another day (but probably not), but suffice it to say that what we were praying about had nothing (directly) to do with the MS. It was a monumental time of prayer, but we didn’t really know just how monumental it was about to be.
I prayed, Dw prayed and then our friend Dan prayed. We were asking the Lord to move in the supernatural in a huge way about something from 40+ years before. When we finished praying we hung up and I walked out to the kitchen. As I was walking over toward the island where Graham was sitting I felt like the Lord said, “Look down at your arm/hand.” I looked and there my right hand and arm, that had only seconds before shook uncontrollably, was now completely and perfectly still. I started to squeal and turned to Graham, “LOOK GRAY! LOOK!” He looked down and there both hands of mine were positioned next to each other and both were absolutely still.
Graham started gasping and screaming along with me and everyone came running….yes, my hand and arm that had trembled and shook for years was now perfectly still!!!!
We called our grown kids and friends around the country – it was a true miracle!! Everyone who knew me was in shock!! I felt like the man with the withered hand that is mentioned in scripture. When we told our church during the services people stood and cheered. God had moved in a mighty way – and we hadn’t even been praying for the MS to be healed.
What I believe is that when we asked God to move in the supernatural He moved. I felt like he was saying, “I am doing what you asked in the supernatural and I am going to evidence it in the physical by healing your arm/hand.”
From then on I would stand many times a day and just stare at my two hands. That right hand was just as still as my left now – after all those years. It was a miracle.
And then……I had used my cane for many years at this point. And before long, after the instant healing of my hand/arm I began to notice that my legs felt stronger. They were actually feeling really strong!! I was wondering what was going on.
Within four months even people at church were commenting that it looked like I hardly needed my cane. By July I felt like I should take the courageous plunge and try a day without my cane. The rest is history and I have never, ever used my cane again.
I call my arm/hand healing “my microwave healing”…done in an instant!!
I call my legs healing “my crock pot healing” (slow and steady). There are some days when I know that my legs are still not 100% healed….and if times get really stressful they still can go a teeny-bit “funky-chicken” like. BUT I still have never used my cane since that day in July of 2006.
So on this Memorial Box Monday I thank the Lord for His miraculous healing of my arm and hand and legs. He is truly the Miracle-Working, Mountain-Moving, Awe-Inspiring, Gasp-Giving God – Jehovah Rapha the healer of trembling and shaking arms and hands, Jehovah Rapha the healer of broken hearts, Jehovah Rapha the healer of broken dreams, Jehovah Rapha the healer of painful pasts, Jehovah Rapha the healer of blind eyes, Jehovah Rapha the healer of deformed limbs, Jehovah Rapha the healer of traumatic memories, Jehovah Rapha the healer of wounded relationships, Jehovah Rapha the God of the universe!!
The symbol for this Memorial Box story is a rock…as rocks are steady and solid….and I usually sign emails to our friend in TX who prayed with us:
Your steady friend,
Linn
“Where there is great love, there are always miracles.” – Willa Cather
I’d say that quote fits you, Linn!
With Much Love, Amy
Linn,
Our minister had us come up recently to the altar and pick up a rock as a symbol of how God was going to lead us in this new year. We have our rocks on our bookshelf. Your stories of your healing and journeys to your children are steady reminders of God’s goodness.
Our agency called yesterday with news about the CCAA’s ruling on my husband’s cancer history for a possible new adoption with China. Betty from our agency said, “Well, I didn’t get the answer I expected. CCAA didn’t say yes or no. They said commit to a waiting child, and then we will see!” God hasn’t closed the door to China! Praise be to our Lord!
Janet and Kevin
God is awesome! I thank Him for your miracle healing! I too have been healed in a “crock pot” way. It has been nearly 5 years now since my miracle began. Thanking God with you!
WOW! God is so awesome! I’m so happy for you and thank you for sharing this story.
~Lynn
Oh,Linn! I just wept as I read this today. I will never forget the phone call after your healing and then witnessing it first hand on my next visit that summer. Your story of faith and miracles always touches my heart and I know that we can all have the same miraculous encounters with God when we pray and know that our prayers will be heard. Thank you for sharing your story with the world. I am so grateful we are friends. Love, Lori L.
Wow! I had never ever known that about you Linn! But what a fantastic MIRACLE! He definately never ceases to AMAZE me!
OH PRAISE GOD!!! PRAISE GOD!!! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU FATHER GOD!! OK, this post has just REALLY moved me! I’m sitting here with tears running down my face! LOVE IT!
Beautiful post Linn! I don’t know why I don’t just grab the box of Kleenex before I start reading your blog!
DawnS
Linn I can’t tell you how this story of the awesome powers that our Father above has touched me. What an incredible testimony you have and I thank HIM for healing you in this way. You are an extraordinary woman with a just as extraordinary family. Just a coincidence but I live about 20 minutes outside of San Antonio, so if you are ever there , maybe we can have lunch. God bless all of you.
Love,Kristy
Wow what a beautiful story. Thanks so much for sharing that with us….God Bless!!! (obviously He does)
Amazing. Thanks for your Memorial Box Mondays! And I hope you were not up at 1:47 AM, but you probably were!
THANKS for your note of encouragement! I really appreciate it. Charlie, my DH not your chair! LOL!, asked me what to pray specifically for “that preacher and his big family with the blog” and I told him to pray for a rental home and for all your babies to not be scared right now. Any other specifics right now?
BTW, Charlie just does not “get the blog thing”, so I hope his comment made you and DW laugh! That was my hope anyway! I guess you’d have to know Charlie to really laugh (he RARELY asks about my bloggy buddies), but it made me laugh so I hope it did you too! Hugs!!!!!!
What a awe inspiring miracle and thank you for sharing it. God is good!!
Linn,
What a blessing to read this post and celebrate the work of our mighty God with you. Yesterday, I was reading Exodus 4 in my Bible time where God tells Moses to put his hand inside his cloak and he pulls it out and it is diseased and then he puts it back and it is perfect again. God’s word tells us He will use these things as a testimony of his power and presence. How awesome is it that the God of yesterday, is the God of today, and the God of tomorrow!
Blessings my friend,
Teresa
http://www.journeytojeremiah.blogspot.com
http://www.jochebedshope.org
That’s AMAZING! You look so beatiful and healthy, one would never know! Blessings!
thank you for the gift of your memorial box. it is awesome to see Him move mountains. i have enjoyed getting to know your heart and continue to lift up your home situation. i know wherever you are it is home. and he is preparing just the place for you. i hope to see it sometime on ABC!!
Wow!! That is an awesome story! I didn’t realize it was such a relatively short time ago that you were struggling with your MS. God is amazing!
what an amazing story and testimant to God’s Divine Powers!
Wow – Praise God!
Praise be to our MIGHTY HEALING LORD! I think I’ve read just about everything that you’ve ever shared (reading into the midnight hours on several occasions) so I had read about your amazing healings . . . but what PURE JOY to read it again!!! WOW! What HOPE you give others by sharing your life Linn. I have a dear friend at church right now with MS (mama to three between 8 and 13) she has advanced to using a cane, and each time I see her I think of your testimony, and I know that HE IS ABLE to heal my sweet friend. Thank you for always sharing HOPE!
I love rocks, and I absolutely love the image of God as OUR ROCK!
And I must say, “you rock” dear STEADY friend ~
Love you,
Tina
Praise be to our MIGHTY HEALING LORD! I think I’ve read just about everything that you’ve ever shared (reading into the midnight hours) so I had read about your amazing healings . . . but what PURE JOY to read it again!!! WOW! What HOPE you give others by sharing your life Linn. I have a dear friend at church right now with MS (mama to three between 8 and 13) she has advanced to using a cane, and each time I see her I think of your testimony, and I know that HE IS ABLE to heal my sweet friend. Thank you for always sharing HOPE!
I love rocks, and I absolutely love the image of God as OUR ROCK!
And I must say, “you rock” dear STEADY friend ~
Love you,
Tina
I love, love, love good miracle stories! What an awesome experience for your kids to see first hand the power of our amazing God.
Even though I have heard you share this testimony at church and I have read it before on your blog, I was still blown away reading again about these miraculous healings! I am in awe of God’s mercy, grace and healing power! Praise be to Jehovah Rapha, the God who HEALS!!!
YEAH!!!! Praise God for your miracle and your healing!!!
I’m so thankful that you posted a Memorial Box Monday post! It is so encouraging to remember what God has done, praise Him for bringing this miracle back to your remembrance! And thank you so much for sharing!
I’m praying God provides a rental house soon!
Wow, Linn. I think I read about this in your journey to Isaiah but it still makes me say, Yippee Jesus! Our God is an awesome God! Thanks for sharing again. Rock on, Steady friend!
Hugs,
Robin
God is using your life in some many ways!!!
I refer to Robert as my rock all the time. He is steady and strong all the time! I love that image!!!!
Praise God for your miracle and your testimony!
With Love,
Barbara Lyman
Marysville, WA
I am new to your family. This is truly an amazing story about our amazing God. I have family in Texas with MS and know how very horrible it can be.
Seems to me that you need to be strong and healthy to minister to those little children…ha-ha.
Linn,
donate that cane to a charity right now, get rid of it, wheel chair too! Thank you for sharing this miracle. Judy and I cry everytime we tell someone about your healing. Praise God for His ever lasting love for us.
I absolutely love that telling of your miracles! God is so good! You can just picture Him chuckling and full-out laughing as you and your family began rejoicing!
Linn
Awe inspiring, that is all I can say. You inspire me, and for that I thank you.
Linn, That is such a beautiful story!!! Thank you for bringing us your memorial box Monday stories. I share them with my entire family! My husband will from time to time, as we are driving down the street, shake his head and laugh saying, “walked up and petted the mountain lion ….” then chuckle. He asks about you as often as do the rest of my family! I really do appreciate you being so open with all of us and sharing all that God has done in your life. Still praying for a rental. Many blessings, Lisa C
Thank you for sharing, Linn! What a Mighty God we serve!!!
What an amazing story. Thank you for sharing your wonderful story of God’s healing in your life. We continue to pray for you and if you were only closer we would offer our rental house. Knowing God will provide one soon. Blessings to you!
I too am a fairly new reader of your blog and I have to say that you bless me everyday. God continually amazes me at his goodness and mercy. I am praying for a rental house for you and also that God’s hand will be on a permanent home for you and your precious family. Many many blessings, Martha V
Thank you for sharing this testimony of God’s great love and faithfulness! Whenever we hear a story of the mighty love of God at our house, we all cheer and shout in praise of God. So, I am praising Him here at my house in response to your story. He is good!
Blessings,
Sarah
Amazing … God is amazing! I love miracle stories. My sweet Grandma passed away over 30 years ago from complications with her MS-related ALS/Lou Gehrig’s. I was a little girl then, but I do remember her so well, and I have always had a heart for MS stories, especially the happy ones. Thanks so much for sharing!
All the best,
Nicole A. in OH
Wow – Praise Jesus! He is AT WORK!
Praise the Lord! I wondered how you have been (physically) and it is spirit lifting to read how wonderful you are doing!
Thanks be to God!
As a note – as an environmental scientist, its curious to me that so many people from a small area have MS – seems it could be environmental – virus – or something similar – we need to know so much more about illness and affliction. However, there is no question that people can go beyond medical expectations with God’s help through prayer. What JOY we can have.
Thank you for the wonderful reminder of how great God is! And, I love so much that you are my steady friend!!! Love and miss you!
A beautiful story and a wonderful reminder of God’s power and love for us. Thank you for sharing. Praying for your needs.
Julie Hoagland
Linn,
Thank you so much for your comment, I feel blessed you too the time to encourage me while you are going through such a hard time! My prayers are with you & your family as you travel along God's journey for you… I pray you find housing soon! God bless you & your family.
In Christ-
Kelly
thank you Linn for sharing that story… that is an icredible testimony! I am believing God with you for many more miracles in this day!
Thank you for sharing your story! Once again our amazing God in His infinite wisdom has shown why He sent me to your blog. I was diagnosed with ms in the fall of 06 when my youngest was 8 months old. I was blessed to hear that you struggled for a long time before you were healed (don’t take that the wrong way!) Sometimes I feel people think I am doing something wrong and that’s why I haven’t been healed. I believe He will heal me in His time. It won’t be because I want it but because it will be a testament to His power and love for others. I already know these things. If I can be an instrument I can wait. Your story has spoken to my feelings of loss… I have been feeling that I have had to give up on dreams that I thought God had given me. (adoption is one… ms is pretty high on the no no list, as well as age) But, you have debunked each of these! I thank God everyday that He uses you (and you allow Him to!) to bless all of us. Maybe someday we can have a bloggie retreat and meet! Sheri
I found your blog just after your fire, read it for hours one night, and then forgot to bookmark it. Tonight, I found it again, caught up on the past month, and am placing it on my blog sidebar before I lose you again. 🙂
I loved this miracle post. Our family’s lives have been filled with God’s amazing, supernatural power … multiple healings (both microwave and crockpot … love the description).
Even thought I “lost” your blog for a bit, I have been praying for your family. The Lord has brought you to mind many times over the past month.
Many prayers, hugs, and blessings to you and the family!
Laurel
mama of 13
3 from Ghana
1 who served in Iraq for 2 1/2 years