My Testimony - Part 10 - With God NOTHING Shall Be Impossible!

My testimony is very long so I have divided it up into parts. Don't forget to read:

Part 1 - God Calls A Child!

Part 2 - A Path Of Sin!

Part 3 - Redemption ... God's Amazing Grace!

Part 4 - Angel's Among Us!

Part 5 - 300 Days And Counting!

Part 6 - Sometimes You Just Have To Laugh!

Part 7 - My Darkest Days And God's Forgiveness!

Part 8 - An Adoption Story ... Well Sort Of!

Part 9 - Chemo And The "C" Word!

"For with God nothing shall be impossible!"

Luke 1:37

For years I have suffered with chronic fatigue and insomnia. I always figured it was because of all my surgeries, but it got so bad my primary care physician sent me to a neurologist. He did several tests and discovered that I had heart disease and sent me to a cardiologist. He said in a 30 minute test my heart beat was completely chaotic and no two beats were the same. I guess he was very concerned, I wasn't, because he made an emergency appointment for me for the next day. I took the stress test and I was very healthy by that standard! Ha I knew it! But he wanted to do the tilt table test. I told him fine whatever, there was nothing wrong with me anyway! The tilt table was to prove whether my BP dropped low enough for me to have fainting spells. Come on this is not Hollywood, I DO NOT FAINT!! I endured the test and used every bit of will power I had. I was going to prove him wrong. Finally after over a half hour, he put nitro under my tongue, and I passed out within seconds! Let me tell you the movies have it all wrong! There is nothing graceful about it at all. I had the worst headache EVER and just wanted to vomit. He was almost laughing at me after the test. He had never seen someone with so much will power to fight! LOL Guess he didn't know all that I had already been through. I was diagnosed with NeuroCardiogenic Syncope. A fancy name for saying that my BP drops too low and I faint. Seriously I was being diagnosed with a fainting disease. I thought it sounded stupid. (As you know by now I'm not very good when doctor's try to diagnose me. LOL)

I was put on a bunch of Blood Pressure pills, and as much as I hate to admit it, I did feel a lot better! I had always had low BP, but now that my large intestines were gone I had a hard time absorbing liquids, so my veins couldn't pump my blood to my head fast enough. It's not really as bad as it sounds. When I get up too fast, all my blood rushes to my feet and kinda sits there for a few seconds. Then my heart has to work super hard to try to get it to come back up. During those few seconds my brain doesn't have enough oxygen and I black out. Usually I can feel it happen and I have a split second to grab the wall or something until it passes. A few times it has caught me off guard and I fell on the floor, usually bumping my head pretty hard. (shh don't tell my doctor! LOL)

About a year and a half after I was diagnosed with heart disease I had a vision. (Before I go on I should tell you it's pretty common for me to have visions and dreams. I usually have one every couple months or so. It just seems to be one of the ways God talks to me.) Anyway so I had a vision and there were many things God showed me. And one of them was that I am already healed. I no longer have to rely on doctors for treatment. Just because I can't see the miracle yet, doesn't mean it's not there! I just have to stand with every ounce of my being, and believe! Don't look at circumstances or what my body is telling me, but trust what God has told me. He promised me my child was on the way, and my body is completely made whole. He was even going to grow back my intestines, and men and doctor's will wonder at the miracle he has done! AWESOME!

Well I was so excited when I woke up. Many people had told me these same things, but somehow God had made it so real to me. God has never lied to me, or failed me. I realized that I had already been healed and I had to start acting like it. I started buying maternity clothes and baby stuff. I was walking by faith that I was healed! I made an appointment with the cardiologist and told him I didn't need my medication anymore. He did a bunch of tests and told me I was healthy and I didn't need to take the medication anymore. He also showed me a picture from my first test and my most recent test. The most recent scan had showed perfect heart beats for a 30 minute period. Truly a miracle! God had done it again!

I was really hoping that I would see results of the baby immediately, but it was not to be. It has been over 3 years since this happened. But I have not doubted and wavered. I KNOW what God said! He promised to heal my womb and give me a child, and I KNOW it will happen! He promised to grow back my intestines, and every morning I look for that to happen! I don't know how or when these things will happen. All I know is that God told me to stand and believe that I am already healed and these things ARE going to happen!

Here is a prophecy God gave me on March 20, 2005

"I have done a complete healing from your mind, to the very bottom of your feet. From the very bottom of your feet to your mind. From the inside to the outside, I, your God, have done a complete healing. And the very thing that I have promised, this child, shall come to pass! Continue to stand and do not be afraid to speak it. For when you speak it, it will come to pass. When you believe with all your heart and with all your might and know that I can not lie. That I will not lie! It is impossible for me to lie! And what I said will come to pass. Just stand and believe and it will come to pass. And I am not done. I have completely healed your body. And men and doctor's shall wonder at what I have done. Because I am God and I am able to do anything. I created man out of the dust of the Earth. I can sure do it again. I am God and I am able to do it. And I can do it. And I will do it! If you will stand on my word, I will cause the very thing that man took out, I will put back. For I AM GOD!"

Sarah & Dustin summer 2010!

God has been so good to me and healed me many times. He has also given me many promises of what is to come, if I have enough faith to believe! I truly thank God for all he has brought me through and the lessons he has taught me along the way. I don't wish any of these trials away because God has used them to make me who I am today. I KNOW he can heal diseases, he healed ME! I KNOW he can heal cancer, he healed ME! I KNOW he can deliver from addictions, he delivered ME! I KNOW he can override doctor's reports, he has done it to me over and over again! And I KNOW I will have my own child soon! He has NEVER failed me and I KNOW HE NEVER WILL!
Thank you for reading my story! It has meant so much to me to share it with you! If you have enjoyed reading this series, please share with your friends! You never know who needs to hear this today. I'd love to read any comments you have! God Bless you and remember: GOD STILL PERFORMS MIRACLES!

Join me tomorrow as I share some "tips" I have learned to walk by faith day by day basis!

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My Testimony - Part 9 - Chemo ... And the "C" Word!

My Testimony is very long so I am posting it in parts. Don't forget to read:

Part 1 -  God Calls A Child!

Part 2 -  A Path Of Sin!

Part 3 - Redemption ... God's Amazing Grace!

Part 4 - Angel's Among Us!

Part 5 - 300 Days And Counting!

Part 6 - Sometimes You Just Have To Laugh!

Part 7 - My Darkest Days ... And God's Forgiveness!

Part 8 - An Adoption Story ... Well Sort Of!

"Is any sick among you? Let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall rise him up; and if have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him." James 5:14-15

Because I had had so many complications after my surgeries I was sent to another specialist in Boston. He thought I should try a new Chemo treatment that was used to treat Crohn's. I technically am diagnosed with undetermined Crohn's/Colitis because all my tests show inconclusive results. So I agreed to try the chemo and see if it would help. I became so deathly ill and most of my hair fell out. I couldn't imagine why anybody on earth would agree to do this. After the first round of treatments my body had not responded the way they had hoped, so we all agreed to stop them.

Dustin, Sarah and Mazie!

Shortly after J.T. left I went to see an infertility specialist. (I have NEVER claimed that I have infertility! To be infertile is to be unable to become pregnant. And I believe that I will be able to become pregnant. I always tell my nieces and nephews, some babies just take longer to grow.) I knew I wasn't really healthy at the time, but wanted to start the process and see what they could do. Ever since I was a teenager I had a problem with ovarian cysts on my right side. When I was very sick, thankfully, most of this calmed down. But the healthier I got, the worse these became. The infertility doctor determined that I had a blockage in my left tube and a dysfunctional right ovary. Neither side was working properly. Also TONS of scar tissue was blocking the eggs from even getting to the tubes. The cysts on my right ovary had developed into strange looking black masses. They told me black always means cancer. The "mass" (I NEVER claimed it was cancer!) was totally surrounding the ovary and it would have to be removed, as well as the left tube. A left ovary and a right tube doesn't make a great recipe for conception. I was not pleased. The "mass" was extremely painful and was pinching the nerves in my right arm. I needed another miracle!

I went home and quoted every scripture I remembered about faith and believing for the impossible!(I will make a post with them all!) I fasted and prayed asking God to show me His plan in my life.

At the same time my pastor's wife and another woman in church were diagnosed with Breast Cancer. The three of us went in front of church and were prayed for and anointed with oil. As the bible tells us to in James, quoted above! For the first time in my life I felt my healing! Instantly ALL pain was gone! It was beautiful!

I called my doctor and told her nothing would be there, that I was healed! She still wanted to do the surgery and make sure, she didn't really believe me. I decided to go ahead and have the surgery, that way she would KNOW what God had done for me. I had the surgery and she was amazed! NO MASS! Not even a hint that one had ever been there! THANK YOU JESUS!! They did remove my left tube because it was slightly open and if I got pregnant on that side it would 100% be a tubal pregnancy, and they knew emotionally I could not handle that. My doctor tried to say after the surgery that they had mistaken shadows for a tumor, but the ultrasound tech would not budge. She knew what she saw and it wasn't a shadow!! I wish I had the pictures to post for you!

My pastor's wife and the other woman said they also felt pain leave their body, and God healed all 3 of us that day! There is POWER in prayer and in obedience to the word of God!

Two years later I was having pain again in my shoulder. I went to my OB/GYN and he did an ultrasound. It showed another mass over 10cm. In cyst world this is HUGE! It was very dangerous and would need to be removed. And of course they always like to throw in the "C" word whenever they can. I knew God had already healed me and there was no reason for me to have surgery. I went to church to get prayed for again and I knew God would do it. I told my doctor I was healed and he wouldn't need to do surgery. He was not convinced. So I told him to take another ultrasound and he would see. The new ultrasound showed that the mass was growing even bigger. But I did not falter. Every day for a month I cried and prayed, Lord I know you healed me and I don't want to have another surgery.

Whenever I felt pain in my body, I would not acknowledge the pain, but I would say, "Thank you Jesus I am healed". Many days the pain was so bad, all I could say was "Thank you Jesus I am healed! Thank you Jesus I am healed!" over and over and over. The day of surgery was approaching and I was getting upset. I did not want any more surgery! There was no need to have surgery if nothing was there! I consulted my husband and he prayed about it and felt that I should go ahead and have the surgery. I wanted to stand by faith and not have the surgery. I cried and prayed, and cried and prayed. I knew my husband would not make a decision that would hurt me or be bad for me, but I was just not seeing things his way.

So I prayed and asked God to give me peace. And I clearly heard a voice answer back, "Sarah, I'm going to use you to show other people a miracle" Thank You! Now I felt that the surgery had a purpose, it was not for nothing! God gave me the peace I so desperately needed.

The day of my surgery I told my doctor there would be nothing there. This time I was still in pain, but I stood on my faith in Jesus Christ that I was completely healed. "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen" Hebrews 11:1. My doctor had tears in his eyes and told me he had not slept all weekend because he was trying to figure out how to save my ovary. I only had a right tube, so the right ovary is essential! I just smiled back at him. Time would tell. I wish I could have seen his face after surgery! He came out to the waiting area and just shrugged. There was nothing there! HAHAHA Oh God is so good. Although the doctor never did admit to me it was a miracle I knew God was talking to him.

Just recently I had another ultrasound and my doctor found another "mass" on my ovary. I went back to the same OB?GYN and he just said, "I am not worried. I know with you there's really nothing there!!!" Even my doctor is now speaking faith! Hahahaha I love it!!

I am so thankful that my pastor taught me not to have confidence in a doctor's report, but to have confidence in God! What a GREAT and MIGHTY God I serve!! It does not matter what situations come your way, or what death sentence a doctor tries to put on you! God's word says to speak life!

Pro 18:21a "Death and life are in the power of the tongue:"

I SPEAK LIFE!

REFLECTIONS:
~Did you know you DO NOT have to accept the doctor's diagnosis as truth! God can change your diagnosis if you stand by faith!
~God's answer may not always be what you want to hear. I did not want to have another surgery, but God wanted to use my as a vessel to reach someone else. How humbled I am that God can use me as his servant!
~Submission is so important! I asked my husband for godly council and he gave it. I did not initially agree with his answer, but after prayer I realized God had given him the correct answer. Trust those that are your leaders and covering. They have a great task to watch out for us and give us godly wisdom. I believe my obedience to my husband was key to my healing
~If you are having difficulty making a decision, PRAY about it! Do not make a move one way or the other until you have peace from God about it. Be open to hear the answer God has for you, whether it is what you want to hear or not. God talks to his people, we just have to listen and hear the answer he has for us!


Thank you for following along with my story! If you are enjoying this series, please share with your friends. You never know who needs encouragement today! If you would like prayer please leave a comment below or contact me via email (in my tabs above) and I will gladly pray with you for direction! Please join me tomorrow for Part 10 - With God Nothing Shall Be Impossible!

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Preparing for RAIN!

I heard a story of two farmers. Both farmers prayed for rain, but only one went to prepare his fields. Which one do you think believed that God would answer his prayers?

I love this little parable, it's so simple and yet drives it's point home. If you really believe God will answer your prayers, you'll act upon it!

You may or may not know that I've been praying for God to heal my womb so that I can conceive and have children. Several years ago God pressed upon me to "prepare" for my child. I actually set up the nursery, crib and everything. But we have a very small house and it wasn't long before the space was desperately needed. I know that God will provide when we need a bigger house, so I had to be creative and think of something else that was putting my faith into action.

Here are some of my cloth diapers and accessories!
 YES I have more! :)

I decided that at least once a month I was going to buy something baby related. Anything from maternity clothes to cloth diapers. I had to limit myself because I confess, it's REALLY fun to shop for babies!! I am very selective and only purchase things that I know will not go out of style or will work for boy/girl. My wish list is HUGE and I am absolutely aware that most things on it are frivolous and not necessary at all. But it is fun shopping! And I love reminding myself that God's promises are "Yea and AMEN!" 2 Corinthians 1:20. It's just up to me to keep on the straight and narrow path and believe! He does the rest! (I surely know that after almost 15 years of marriage there is nothing I can do to make it happen!)

I don't pray that God will answer my prayer and heal me. Isaiah 53:5 says "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." He already paid the price when he took the stripes on his back (Mathew 27:26). So instead of asking for a healing, I thank him and praise him for already healing me! And slowly I fill my tote of baby items "preparing for rain".

I also have been spending time preparing my heart. Raising children is not easy these days and I've been blessed with time to read, study and learn as much as possible before I am placed in the situation. I am completely aware that no matter how much "preparing" I do, I will still have much more to learn that only experience can teach me. But what a blessing it is that God is preparing my heart now so that I can be the best mom that I am capable of. I spent most of the beginning of our marriage in the hospital and I am thankful that my child(ren) did not have to see me suffer and be raised by somebody else!

I still have days where I have to fight to prepare the my fields. After all, the devil wants my fields to be dry and barren and not "be fruitful and multiply!" Genesis 9:7 (Hahaha Sorry I couldn't resist!) He will try to use every opportunity to "walk about, seeking whom he may devour" 1 Peter 5:8. But I do not fear him, I know he is a liar! I used to spend time telling him he was a liar and to leave in Jesus name, and I do still do that on occasion. But mostly I simply ignore him and start praising God. You see he can not harm me if I keep myself under God's protection by being obedient to his word. So I have nothing to fear from him. The only way he can rob me is if I allow him to. And I've fought too long and hard to give up now.

Indeed, I've been standing 14 years. But I believe two things about my miracle. Number one, God has a set time for it to happen. Number two, there is a bigger picture and this miracle is not only for me. I don't know if it is for a friend, family member or stranger. I'm sure it will bless many people. But God's getting some other things aligned before my child can arrive. God is also preparing for the rain!

I confess all summer I've been in a "mini panic" about my 15th anniversary coming up! 15 years of marriage and still no children in my home, let me tell you it can be depressing if I let it. But God has been working on my heart in this area also. The time that the devil "thinks" he is robbing me is actually the time God is allowing me to prepare my fields. Many people would have given up on their miracle after 15 years, but I am more determined then ever to hold on! You see the longer I wait, the bigger my miracle will be. And the more lives will be touched through my faith and obedience. What a privilege and honor to be able to walk in this great calling!

Is there something in your life that you have been praying for, believing for? Have you been "preparing for the rain?" Have you thanked him for meeting your every need, even if  you haven't seen the results of it yet? Keep standing and believing, it will come! And you never know who else God will touch through your faith!