Prayers of Nicole

Hebrews 12:12-16 “Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed. Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled; lest there be any fornicator or profane person like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright.”

Over Thanksgiving, we drove out to amazing Arizona to visit my brother and his family for the long weekend. On my birthday, August 2, of this year, my niece Nicole was involved in a terrible roll-over accident on her way to start her first semester at Northern Arizona University in pursuit of her degree to become a Veterinarian. Her vehicle experienced a blown out rear tire and her boyfriend, who was driving as she slept, lost control on the highway. The SUV swerved, flipped and rolled, ejecting Nicole from the vehicle. She was Medi-Vac airlifted from the accident scene to a hospital in Flagstaff, Arizona, where she under-went multiple surgeries. Many prayers went up for Nicole, by family, friends and you Readers too. This Thanksgiving trip was my first chance to see Nicole after this horrific incident for this young lady, and the family. The four months of recovery and rehabilitation have been hard, but now I can give a first-hand report on her status.

Acts 28:25-27 So when they did not agree among themselves, they departed after Paul had said one word: “The Holy Spirit spoke rightly through Isaiah the prophet to our fathers, saying, ‘ Go to this people and say: “ Hearing you will hear, and shall not understand; And seeing you will see, and not perceive; For the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, And their eyes they have closed, Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, So that I should heal them.”’

I was blessed to find my precious niece in wonderful physical and emotional shape. She seems excited to show us her surgical scars and X-rays images showing the metal in her shoulder, as battle scars of victory. She spent most of our two day visit being with us, as we explored a desert ghost town, small shops and dining out was no visible sign a pain or handicap, outside of (understandably) not being able to hike rough & hilly desert terrain. It was wonderful to experience her passion and high spirits, as she spoke of her determination and efforts to return to college next semester to resume her dreams. Full of life and vision, the future is definitely “right in front of her”, the hurdle cleared and she is pressing toward the goal. The next chapter begins. I thank you all for the many intercessory prayers and the blessings for Nicole from them. They were and are cherished. Glory to God!

Romans 8:1-9 “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.”

Why did I choose these Bible verses for this message? Because, as important as it is to renew our physical vitality, is the renewing of our spiritual vitality. Let us not focus completely on the physical, but may we always see the physical through the spiritual with an eternal perspective. We must not take life for granted; this one or the next. The healing of our body is a great gift, absolutely. Of course, the greatest gift of the Great Physician was proclaimed John 9:19b “One thing I know: that though I was blind, now I see.” Praise be to God!

In Christ, Brian