My daughter and her friend called from Pittsburgh to ask for prayer for Rebecca, a 24 year old single mother of a 3 year old girl.

She had been admitted to hospital to have fluid drained from her brain last weekend. They were planning surgery to remove a brain tumor on Tuesday, but it was looking very bad. So, my ladies group and some of the pastors began to pray.

Before they did the surgery, the doctors did another scan of her brain. The word I got was “either the tumor was never there or God removed the cancer.”

Praise God for the miracle He did for this young Christian woman!!!

The brain surgeons came to see her afterwards and told her that if they had performed the surgery, she would have come out a vegetable.

He is our Healer and Protector!

Starting in September, I began to get sick.

At first, I thought it was just a cold, then the flu and then everything in my body started to rebel. I would see my doctor on a weekly basis with new symptoms and quickly worsening conditions.

They would sometimes give me medicine to take but it never helped. They had no idea what was going on with me.

Around the start of November, I began to have trouble walking. I would lose my balance randomly and sometimes have to support myself with chairs to make it across the room. It got to the point that simply walking across campus was impossible.

It all got really bad one night so I called my doctor who directed me to the emergency room. It was then I was told I probably had either Lyme disease or multiple sclerosis because all of my symptoms don’t normally happen to an 18 year old.

I was so scared but I knew God had me and whatever happened He would see me through.

After I left the emergency room, I had three churches praying for me as well as numerous people fasting for me. Four days later, about two days before my neurology appointment, I woke up and was totally fine.

One day I could barely walk, the next I was running with no problems.

The doctors have no idea what was wrong with me or why I’m better, but I do. God moved because of people praying and fasting for me.

A few weeks later, the doctors told me I was “absolutely perfect.” God built my faith in so many ways and taught me the power of fasting. This year, I was planning on fasting for my healing but God took care of that in advance.

I go back to the doctor next week to make sure it’s all gone and I’m fasting for my healing to continue. But I know it’s all gone and I am completely normal.

God is so faithful and true to His Word.

“This kind only comes out by prayer and fasting.”

And it does!

The first day of the fast I prayed that my dad would be healed. He was having same heart tests and there was a possibility he would need open heart surgery. On Friday, the week that the fast started, my father called me to tell me that his test results came back and he did not have to have any kind of heart surgery.

I was so thankful to God!

It was that Wednesday that I got filled with the Holy Spirit and received my prayer language. I thank the Lord for saving me from drugs. I have been without drugs for about 5 years now and it is all because of God’s grace and mercy. God truly saved me and my 3 year old son. I thank God that we are here and living a life for Him.

AMEN!

Last year in August I found out my best friend’s son Zach (age 7) had a very rare and deadly cancer. Zach and his sister are more to me than my best friend’s kids; they are my children.

The Hawaiians have a saying: different tribe same vibe. That means we are family even though we are not blood related. That is how I feel about them all.

They live in Seattle. But I had moved from Seattle to Florida at the end of July. In August 2006, Zach was diagnosed.

My family and I were very new to Celebration church. After a Wednesday service I spoke to Pastor Stovall about my Zach. I was crying so much that my son had to speak for me. Stovall told me to believe that Zach would be healed. He said God was the Ultimate Healer!

It has been a long year. Many challenges and struggles. Many prayers, tears, laughter and praise.

I have had so many people from the church praying for Zach.

In November 2006, Zach had a 14 hour surgery. The surgeon removed 70% of his liver and re-constructed his bowels. He went through 9 more months of chemo after this surgery. Not only did his liver grow back but so did his spirit.

The cancer is GONE!

His body and mind are healing. His hair has started to grow back thick. The color is back in his face. His mom and 3 sisters are recovering as well from this long journey.

Now for the AWESOME news.

Before Christmas this year, I went on a Disney cruise made possible by Make a Wish with Zach and his family. Every time I saw him smile or run or play I knew I was witnessing a MIRACLE!

Only God can make a liver grow back. Only God can cure cancer. Only God could bring my Zach!

I have made a website for Zach. I uploaded the pictures from the cruise. Please feel free to see our miracle.

Thank you!!!

This is my first year sticking with the fast and God has truly blessed me! I’ve had two wonderful experiences as a result of this year’s fast.

The first one was a direct answer to one of the 3 prayer requests I wrote down the Wednesday before the fast: Bring my husband and I closer and make our marriage stronger.

We’ve struggled with “arguing” about everything for a long time. Well, about 4 or 5 days after the fast started my husband spoke to me that evening that he didn’t want us to argue anymore, especially with the kids around. I agreed and we’ve actually been able to walk away at the point of it getting heated only to come back later and be able to calmly resolve the issue.

It’s been amazing!

The second happened during the last Friday night prayer service. In 2003 I was involved in a 4 car accident. I was hit from behind two times. As a result, I wound up with 4 pinched nerves at the base of my neck. After 10 weeks of physical therapy I was still dealing with pain and discomfort in my neck and shoulders.

Also, after the birth of our 3rd child, who is now 8, I developed chondromalacia in my knees. Simply put, the cartilage was softening in both of my knees. It was very painful at times and I couldn’t do simple things such as jumping, squatting, or even walking up stairs without a lot of discomfort.

I was 24 at the time.

Well, I went down for the healing prayer believing that God would restore both of these things and He did!!!!

As soon as I was anointed I felt a shot go through me followed by heat in both areas. That night was the first night in 4 years that I’ve been able to sleep peacefully!

Also, I had a physical on Tuesday for a new job I’m pursuing. The doctor made me squat down. I went all the way down with no problem and stood back up quickly and smoothly! I’ve been unable to do that for 8 years!

Praise God!

He is too good to me!

During the Christmas break, my family went with the Hayes family to Wintergreen, Virginia to ski. The first day of skiing I got in a ski accident and the day after Christmas, I found out I had completely torn my ACL in the knee.

The doctors were saying intense physical therapy and more than likely surgery. But I knew that God could heal it and I really didn’t want surgery. So I dedicated my fast to healing my ACL. But then another problem came up - tendinitis in my left wrist. So I prayed over my wrist and the next day the pain left COMPLETELY!!! I was so overjoyed!

But the day before, I had popped my knee out of place and the doctors said that it had gotten worse and significantly unstable. I was so sad I got home and cried and became very discouraged. So I told everyone to please keep me in their prayers. I got a message from the intern youth pastor at my church and he was praying for me, so I started praying intensely for about 15 minutes and when I started moving my knee the pain was COMPLETELY gone!!!

I got up and started crying, AMAZED at the power of the Lord!

My testimony is of miraculous healing.

My mother had to have emergency surgery Christmas Eve on her cervical spine because degeneration had caused arthritis to compress her spinal cord.

Early Christmas morning, a large blood clot had developed and was now on the spinal cord causing paralysis on her right side. After that surgery, the surgeon told us that she now had a spinal injury and it was uncertain if that would be reversed. I called one of my friends in the worship ministry who did a blast email out to everyone on the worship team.

My mom was sent to a rehab hospital on December 28th. At that time she could not move on her own. I flew back to Indy to meet with the surgeon and neurologist and on 01/06/08; he said that she would not be able to lift herself up to a sitting position for at least 10 weeks.

I spoke with Amery Baygents about the situation and she immediately put her on her personal prayer list as well as the church’s.

By 01/08, my mother was able to move herself to a sitting position without assistance. By the end of the week, 01/11/08, she was already walking with the assistance of a walker. The doctors, nurses and therapists are all amazed at her recovery.

She went home on 01/19/08.

She still has much healing to do, but by God’s grace, she is not paralyzed. Even though my mother has had some complications, God has stepped in and healed her body. We are currently still believing and praying for recovery, especially for the nerve damage from the spinal cord injury that causes severe pain in her arms and hands.

I could hardly wait to write and give you my marvelous news.

To give you a little background, I am a single mom with two boys and we have been attending Celebration since June 2005. The recent series explaining “Margin & Purpose” really touched my heart. I knew that I had purpose, but never had room for margin. I knew that I had to find a way to make room and I just did it, I started to tithe (December 2007).

In March 2006, I was diagnosed, battled and was healed of breast cancer.

Two weeks ago during regular check-up another spot was found. I called my friends that I knew would pray and submitted a connection card with my prayer request(s).

On Sunday morning, January 6th, my friends surrounded me, walked with me to the altar, layed hands on me and boldly prayed for my complete healing. My eight year old son asked his group in Celebration Kids to pray that his mom would not have cancer again, too.

They did the biopsy last Wednesday on the first day of prayer and fasting. I got the call on Thursday that the test results were negative. No cancer!

I am overwhelmed with joy and my faith has been renewed! I am truly grateful for family, friends & church family that will believe in faith with me and go to God on my behalf.

I have been a believer since 1989, but I feel like I have re-born all over again! I expected a miracle and got one.

As I sit here meditating on your first Awakening message, I’m reminded of my own testimony of release from drug addiction. I was a stripper and twice convicted prostitute. I had tracks on my arms from shooting cocaine for years.

One day my mom begged me to go to church with her for Mother’s Day. I showed up at that little Baptist church in my strapless dress with slits up the sides (it was the only kind of clothes I owned).

I can’t remember what the message was or who else was there that day, but I know that something was tugging at me the whole service. As I sat and tried not to cry, tears streamed down my face. They had an altar call at the end, and I remember just hurrying down front to meet whatever it was that was calling me forward.

Jesus met me as I knelt down and asked him to help me. I never stuck a needle in my arm again, and I never went to that strip bar again.

I moved in with my mom and dad and served the Lord with all my heart for many years. That was in 1987.

In February of 1991, my father died of cancer and 10 weeks later my brother died of AIDS. I prayed for healing for them, but God took them home anyway. I was so crushed, I punished God with the silent treatment for 5 years.

During that time, I drank alcohol to blot out the pain and grief. My employer intervened in my situation and sent me to treatment, ultimately landing me in a 12 step recovery program.

I have not had a drink in 11 years.

I knew in my heart for a long time that God wanted to use me in women’s 12 step recovery ministry and use the despair of my life to help other hurting women coming out of the dark.

God placed me at Celebration Church three and a half years ago during the “Unleashing the Power of Everyone” series. I attended leadership training and began living God’s amazing call on my life by leading a small group. The “Spiritual Journey” small group has seen God work in nearly 90 women’s lives. They have experienced freedom in the areas of emotional pain, abuse, resentment, childhood trauma, drug and alcohol addiction and eating disorders.

Praise God for moving Celebration into the areas of healing many churches are not willing to go. And thank you Pastor Stovall for being so open about your own life. It gives others the courage and liberty to face and share their own truths.

For 12 years I suffered from endometriosis, a painful, incurable disease that affects the female reproductive system. Over the years, I had several surgeries to help reduce the pain, but inevitably the disease would always grow back within a year or two. I was told by all of my doctors that I would probably never be able to have children because of the severity of my condition and that my only treatment options were maintenance surgeries every couple years and large doses of medication to control the debilitating pain. My next maintenance surgery to clear out the endometriosis was scheduled for January 18th, 2006.

My testimony of healing began during the 21 days of prayer and fasting of 2006.

My husband and I went to the Friday night prayer meeting on Jan. 6 to kick off the 21 days of prayer and fasting. At the very beginning of the service, Pastor Stovall related to everyone that he really felt like some of us needed to be believing for supernatural healing in our bodies. My immediate thought was, “That’s great! Maybe some other people will be healed, but that kind of healing is not going to happen for me.”

With my next surgery coming up in days, I remembering feeling disappointed that I would never be healed. I have to admit that deep down, if I was being really honest with myself, I thought that supernatural healing in the body was only for people of biblical times or at least only for the “super-spiritual” Christians that have these amazing gifts of faith.

Well, as I was trying to push these thoughts of unbelief aside and worship, the Holy Spirit started to gently and then very strongly convict me of my unbelief - to the point where I couldn’t even worship anymore. I finally sat down to focus in and listen to what the Holy Spirit ways trying to speak to me. During that time, the Holy Spirit just flooded me with the Truth of who God is, His amazing power, and how God’s yearns for me to believe, truly believe, that he could do anything for his children who love Him. As I completely surrendered and asked God to give me the faith it required to believe in Him for supernatural things, He began to stir up a faith in me like I had never had before.

At the end of the prayer meeting, it was settled in my heart that I was believing that my doctor would not find any endometriosis in my body during my surgery scheduled a couple weeks away.

On January 18th, 2006, my doctor went in to laser out all of the diseased tissue and he found none!!! He didn’t know how to explain it, considering what my condition looked like during previous surgeries, which was some of the fastest growing, worse endometriosis they has seen in someone my age. All he could say is that he looked everywhere for the endometriosis and all he saw was a very healthy and normal reproductive system - words I had never heard before.

Needless to say, I was as ecstatic as you can be coming out of anesthesia and in a little bit of shock and awe at how God moved. This amazing testimony could have ended there, but God continued to confirm the healing in a surprising way.

My husband called our friends David & Taryn Stine immediately after my surgery and told them the great news. David then proceeded to tell Pastor Stovall about my healing and Pastor Stovall cut him off in the middle of David explaining all the details of what endometriosis was. Pastor Stovall began to tell David that the night before, he felt the Holy Spirit prompting him to change the sermon he had already prepared for Wednesday night. He explained that he felt God leading him to speak out of the Gospels about when Jesus healed the women who bled for 12 years. Pastor Stovall continued to tell David that he and Kerri researched what kind of disease this women had and figured out that this women in the Bible had what we would call today, endometriosis!

God is so good in how He not only healed me, but then gave me that extra confirmation that I had faith and, therefore, I was healed.

So today, because of our mighty and powerful God, I am still free from the symptoms and pain of endometriosis.

I believe that our God is always wanting to move mountains in our lives and is only held back by our little faith. So I urge anyone who is reading this . . . believe God for big things in 2008.