As I readied to attend "the gathering" Saturday night; God revealed that the testimony I was about to give, a Testimony of Jesus Christ,  was to be  prefaced with what He was about to give me on faith and joy.  

This would prepare those who hear to receive the reward thereby extending His Kingdom. 

These words are prophetic words that actually equip us to have our own heavenly experiences. The reward is to see and hear what the Spirit is doing and to receive the Joy of the Lord by sharing another's joy in the Lord.

The following is how God explained it to me.

"Faith is natural expression of the Believer - why we are called Believers

Faith is not from the mind.  It comes form the heart.

We just choose faith - it is the result of surrender to God.

There is no building effort - The Word of God produces faith -  (Hebrews 11:1)

When we get divided in our thinking that is when things get complicated

We must be careful what we entertain."

"So now, when one member shall suffer, all of them shall share the pain. And if one member rejoices, all the members shall rejoice."  1 Cor 12:26

"He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward." (Matthew 10:41) 

TESTIMONY to the Goodness of God

It will be two years ago come May since I asked God for more spiritual vision - to open my eyes to see things I have not seen. A couple weeks later I heard Him say, "I AM going to make me stronger than you ever thought you could be."  I said, "I didn't ask for strong I asked for spiritual vision." Then He repeated it and fright came over me and I said, "you know that scares me Lord because when I have to be strong it is because I have to go through something," and He repeated it one more time; "I AM going to make you stronger than you ever thought you could be." 

In July God used me to help a friend be delivered from persistent migraine headaches and 5 days later I lost my vision in my right eye.  It took a couple of weeks before I realized it was my vision as I kept cleaning my glasses thinking there was something on the lens.  When I finally realized it was my eye and went to the doctor I felt to get a second opinion.  Four doctors later I decided to go to St. Luke's and begin treatment for a Branch Retinal Vein Occlusion. Before I started treatment I felt God saying,  "your will be restored,  you will see again." 

By October I had another stroke and Thanksgiving Eve I had yet a third one. Each time not only lessened my vision but it also lessened my chance of recovery according to the eye specialists.  And now it wasn't just blurry vision I was legally blind in my right eye and my left eye was decreasing in vision. But, I heard God as He continued to say,  "I will make you stronger than you ever thought you could be" and I remembered His promise of sight.  

I received injections of Avastin and capsules of an anti-inflammatory every month to 6 weeks month after month there was marked progress.  My retina was regaining the original shape and my vision was less skewed. My vision acuity went from legally blind to  20/80 - I could actually read a little but now the differential between my left eye and my right eye was sufficient to cause double vision and for me to be off balance, especially in wide open spaces. After a couple weeks of being off balance Pastor Cindy prayed and I recovered, only to be troubled once in while in wide open spaces. 

Over the months the meds I was given to heal the retina and clear the edema caused cataracts to grow and I once again, I lost my vision.  The doctors all agreed it is too dangerous to do surgery because my eye was so unstable.   Finally,  my retina was healed, the cornea inflammation was gone, the edema in the macula was cleared, the branch vein was holding it's own, my optic nerve is very weak but I was told to have the cataracts removed.  The biggest concern was having another stroke again.  No medical guarantees as the optic nerve is very weak. The surgery was scheduled.

Once again I remembered the words of the Lord "your sight would be restored."  

After the surgery the previous problem from the differential  between my eyes returned and, halos and strobe lights. My gait was off, my balance is just as lacking and and my brain can't adjust the two images so I can't see out of either eye- my sight is blurry.

Mid morning Saturday after the surgery, Pastor Cindy sent a text  decreeing I would be cleared by noon.  I felt  God say me, "Praise Me" and as I did I felt I was to contact the optician, Aaron.  However, I knew  Aaron wasn't in on Saturday's so I dismissed the idea as mine not God's leading. After the third nudge I called the office only to learn he was in the office for a short time and I could get my lenses removed for the right eye to help reduce the complications of double lenses for my brain.  After having the lenses removed I slept and upon awakening my vision was greatly improved and my balance returned.  I could even read medium size letters.  

Even as I type now this size type is becoming legible -  there is still some swelling and edema that has to clear which will take the better part of month but, the Good News is, I know God will completely restore my sight!

Praise God who opens the eyes of the blind!