Does God Use Doctors?

Anderson Regional Cancer Center

 

About three years ago, Mr. Billy Mashburn, of Buckatunna Mississippi, was diagnosed with a tumor in his colon. Dr. Phillips of Meridian estimated the tumor to be “lemon” or “orange” sized. An MRI was done and an appointment was made at Anderson Regional Cancer Center. Mr. Mashburn’s treatment plan included 36 treatments of radiation and once a week chemotherapy for twelve weeks, and then surgery. The doctors were optimistic.

The night before his first scheduled treatment, Mr. Mashburn had the pastor and elders of Free Will Baptist Church to anoint him with oil and pray for divine healing.

When he arrived at his first appointment, Dr. Anderson greeted him with grave news. The doctors had studied the MRI for seven hours. They were perplexed. They couldn’t find a safe position to target the tumor without damaging healthy cells. They gave Mr. Mashburn no hope.

 

They performed a second x-ray. Dr. Anderson was amazed. The tumor had miraculously moved to the outside of the colon. It was in plain sight. Mr. Mashburn immediately praised God, but the good doctor cautioned him that he wasn’t healed yet. Mr. Mashburn was told to expect radiation sickness, he’d lose his hair, and become fatigued during the treatments. Only if the treatments were successful, did the surgery stand a chance.

God had his hand on Mr. Mashburn. He never lost his hair. He didn’t get sick. In fact, he never missed a day of work. He drove a school bus in the mornings, and then went for his treatment. He did miss the evening pickup, but only because of appointment times, not because of fatigue. The surgery was successful.

Though the doctor’s prognosis was hopeless. Mr. Mashburn survived his bout with cancer, and is now enjoying life with his two sons, seven grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.

Isn’t our God wonderful?

This is Mr. Billy Mashburn's testimony. I thank him for allowing me to share it with you.

Please leave a comment and share yours.

What I love about Mormons?

 

My daddy was a Mormon. When I was a little girl, we sometimes attended The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I don’t remember a lot about those services, except that we had two books; the Bible and The Book of Mormon. As an adult, I have to say that I don’t agree with their doctrine—or else I’d be a Mormon—but there is something that I absolutely loved about those people.

 

 

 

 

 

What do I love about Mormons?

The elders.

Mormon elders are different than other denominational elders in that they are young men ages 18 to 25. Elders are sent as missionaries into various parts of the world. If I remember correctly they do not have a say in where they go, and are almost always sent out in twos.

Although I don’t agree with their beliefs, I’d like to share my fond memories with the Mormon Church. I grew up in a small town. (Butler, Alabama) The elders would make house visits. I don’t remember why they came to our house. Maybe it was because our church time was divided between Mom’s Baptist church and their tabernacle? Anyway, I remember one Elder in particular. I wished I remembered his name. He had red hair and freckles. He was around 18. I was a little girl, a young tomboy, who hadn’t discovered “boys” yet, but there was something about this man that drew me.

He didn’t look pass me, but took the time to talk to me. Over the period of time he was in our area, he found out that I had a child-sized guitar and wanted to learn to play. He taught me a few basic cords, stretching my small fingers beyond their limits.  Every visit to our home, while the other elder would talk with my parents, he’d bring his guitar and we would play and sing. I can’t remember ever strumming a guitar after he left, but that boy instilled a desire of worship in my soul that never diminished. Even when I was living in sin, I’d find myself worshiping the Lord with songs.

I wish I could find him, to say thank you.

Why I Don't Wear Pants

When I was a teenager in high school, I made fun of girls who wore skirts down to their ankles. Although I didn’t attend a church at that time, my parents instilled some Christian teaching into me and my sisters. I knew that clothes can't get you into heaven. And they can’t. The bible clearly teaches that Jesus is THE way. No matter what we do or what we wear, we can’t earn a place in heaven. Our righteousness is as filthy rags. So why do some denominations have such a strict dress code? It didn’t make sense to me then and it doesn’t make sense to me now.

 Recently, I cohosted a radio show entitled Denominational Divides. It was a great show and great fun. But towards the end of the show, when the listeners heard that I didn’t wear pants, they attacked. I found myself on the defensive and I didn’t quite know how to answer.

 Let this blog post serve as my answer.

Why don’t I wear pants?

Let me say upfront that, I know many women of God who wear pants. I don’t doubt their salvation. I have seen God work through their lives to touch others. 

 

I have identified myself as a Pentecostal, but there are many different variations of my denomination. I would like to clarify my beliefs and why I believe them. Though I have many friends that are, I am NOT Apostolic. I am NOT Holiness*. I am definitely NOT Oneness.

 

Because I grew up with a mixed Christian heritage, I have studied many doctrines and visited many different churches. I have found that congregational beliefs are best determined by examining church leadership rather than their ordinances and bylaws. For example, I know of a Baptist preacher who speaks in tongues, and I know a Holiness preacher who doesn’t. I agree with the original 16 Fundamental Truths of the Assemblies of God, therefore I attend an AofG church. We do not have a dress code, but we do believe in sanctification.

 So, why don’t I wear pants?

To completely answer that question, I have to revisit the wonderful day Jesus saved me. My life was a wreck. I had everything that I wanted, but nothing that satisfied me. I had a great job, plenty of money, tons of friends, designer clothes, and about fifty pairs of shoes. I was miserable. Like Nicodemus, I went to Jesus and asked, “What must I do to be saved?” Jesus’ answer hadn’t changed in 2000 years. “You must be born again.” So at an altar I gave Jesus my life and let Him make me new. I was reborn. Over the next few years, radical changes took place in my life. I let Jesus place me on the potter’s wheel and mold me. Some changes were immediate and easy, some changes were difficult and occurred over time. But I am His and though I am not perfect, I try to be who He wants me to be.

A couple of years after I got saved and after I received the baptism of the Holy Ghost—with the evidence of speaking in tongues—I noticed that most of the ladies in our church didn’t wear pants. I wondered why, so I asked my pastor’s wife and she gave me her explanation with scriptural references. I went home and researched her answers. I didn’t agree with her opinions. I didn’t agree with her answers and decided skirt wearing wasn’t for me. But then a strange thing happened. Whenever I would dress in pants and leave the house an unseen hand would squeeze my heart. I couldn’t breathe. But if I wore a skirt, an inexplicable joy settled in my soul. I recognized this as conviction from God. Since I love Jesus, I changed the way I dressed to please Him. I have never regretted my decision. It was part of my sanctification, and because of it I grew closer to my Lord.

 I have since been criticized because my skirts are too short, because I cut my hair, because I color my hair, and because the female characters in my Pentecostal books wear pants. How I dress is between me and God. I don’t dress to please men. When I stand in judgment, I will stand alone before God. My goal is to hear Him say, “Well done.”

 

What is your goal? To please men or God? I know of some ladies who dress a certain way and are miserable, because they are pleasing their pastor, their parents, or their husband. This breaks my heart, because Jesus said, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28

Though we should dress modestly, we shouldn’t be burdened down by people’s expectations. I believe in modesty and personal sanctification* NOT legalism.

*In I Peter 1:16, Peter references Leviticus 20:7
"Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy: for I am the LORD your God."

I believe in Holiness living, because God calls his people to a higher standard.  I don't advocate dressing a certain way to please others. You will only make yourself miserable. I do believe we should strive to please our Savior. This includes our choice of clothing. Before I dress in the morning, I ask Him what He wants me to wear. 

I fell in love with Jesus, and I try to do the Father's will to please Him.

This is my story. Leave a comment and share yours.
 

The Answer?

The answer to the world’s problems is...

 

 

Addictions?                            Jesus delivers.

Alcohol bound?                      Jesus frees.

Unloved?                                Jesus loves.

Unwanted?                             Jesus cares.

Orphaned?                              Jesus adopts.

Abandoned?                           Jesus rescues.

Lonely?                                   Jesus indwells.

Confused?                               Jesus enlightens.

Hungry?                                  Jesus feeds.

Lost?                                       Jesus saves.

Never apologize for obeying God

The bible says, “Obedience is better than sacrifice.”

Oftentimes God uses strange vessels. A burning bush. A talking donkey. But what about us? How does He use His people?

Obedience sometimes comes with a higher price than sacrifice. Take for instance, the heartache suffered by Hosea when he married the harlot Gomer, the persecution of the first Christians when they preached the gospel, Peter criticized by the church for obeying the vision and going to Cornelius’s house, Jeremiah put in a pit for prophesying the truth, or the prophets of old punished and killed.

What about Phillip? Have you ever wondered why the early church didn’t reprimand him for preaching to the Samaritans? Was it because the Samaritans were half Jews? I don’t know. But I do know that when we obey God, we sometimes face persecution from the world and from the church.

One night, in a service years ago, the Spirit was moving and God told me to open the double doors to the entrance of the church. Immediately, Satan whispered in my ears, “Don’t.” He named three people and told me what they would think if I obeyed God. One would complain about the cool air escaping into the night. Another would be angry because of the insects entering the sanctuary, and yet another would worry about the young children wandering outside.

When I told God that I couldn’t open the doors because people would be mad, he didn’t contradict me. He didn’t tell me that everyone would be happy and applaud my efforts. No. He said some people won’t like it, but do it anyway.

I did. And he poured out an awesome blessing that night. A few nights later, I learned that the three people did complain about the wasted electricity, the bugs, and the danger to the children. (Though none escaped into the night.)

With this blog post, I’m reminding myself of God’s words. With everything that he’s done for me, how could I choose to do what men say over what God says? And though some people will complain, I will obey God and I won’t apologize.