My Christmas present from my brother was a Kindle Fire.  I barely knew what a Kindle was, much less what the Kindle Fire is capable of.  But thanks to Amazon.com I have downloaded cheaply and reread some of the New Testament Expositions which guided me deeper into my faith in Christ back in my prison days, 1999-2002.  Most importantly as it pertains to my Praise report today, I'm speaking of the Authority of the Believer in Christ Jesus!  And I began asking the Holy Spirit to lead me into all truth about this, again.  Just my seeking the Lord immediately began to have physical results.

At Christmas 2011 I weighed 360 pounds and was continuing to gain weight despite dieting and some limited exercise.  My NP at the VA clinic approved my increased daily dosage of the diuretic furosemide.  After a week of increased urination I noticed I could breathe more easily and could walk farther, faster without becoming winded and without angina (chest pains.)  This encouraged me to greater levels of mild exercise than had been possible before.

She requested -- perhaps demanded is the better word -- that I get serious about checking and recording my blood glucose levels at least four times per day.  And she expected to receive a copy of my record every week!  I realized that my new NP intended to be a serious accountability partner, and I went for it!  My records were at first a total mess as I included details of what and how much I ate, and how I thought that had affected my glucose levels.  By now my records are neat and tidy because I only record known lapses from my intended diet plan.  But the bottom line is I could not escape making my diet and blood sugar monitoring a very high priority in my daily routine.

Later my NP suggested a change to my regular insulin injections, from Novolin N to Lantus, from an intermediate to a longer acting insulin.  And to this she added the Novolog Pen, fast acting insulin injections to correct high blood glucose levels just before eating.  This change was accomplished in March with a noticeable improvement in blood glucose control.

Three weeks ago my Helpmate strongly suggested  I weigh myself, something I had avoided because it had become a discouragement.  But on that day I weighed 348 pounds, meaning I had lost 12 pounds since Christmas.

That following weekend I experienced extreme and sharp pain in the lower part of my spine.  Treatment with heat packs and Motrin only made the pain slightly more tolerable, prompting me to seek an appointment with my NP for a prescription for a stronger pain reliever.  The earliest appointment I could get was eight days away on April 24th.  Damned frustrating!!!  And I admit I was feeling desperate, which I confessed to my Lord Jesus.  Why?  Because I know He heals in response to faith and NOT to desperation.  I actually felt my faith rising within me, anew and refreshed.

I'm embarrassed to report here that I finally, at this point, began to pray again in the manner I was taught by Kenneth Hagin Sr. many years ago.  In Jesus' Name I commanded the unclean spirits causing me pain and illness to depart and not come back.  And I continuously command them now using the automatic pilot which Lord taught me personally in 2001, that my prayer of command be repeated born upon my every breath. And, I praise God for all things He is doing in me!  I acted upon my faith in Jesus Christ and my knowledge of the authority He has given me and every believer who knows about and acts upon it.  The result: The back pain began to spread out and weaken in intensity and then went away, and with it many other pains with which I had simply grown accustomed to and tolerated.

I had thought I would cancel my appointment with my VA NP care provider, opening it up for a more needy veteran than I.  But Helpmate insisted I keep the appointment and share other concerns with my NP, most notably the continuing persistent  problem with cellulitis in my left calf.  The result: I'm now in the fourth day of taking Augmentin and already seeing improvement in my leg.  I'm also awaiting delivery of Borow's Solution to soothe the discomforts of the skin on both legs.

This morning I weigh 341 pounds and feel really good.  Thank You Jesus Christ for all that You are doing in me!

...

I haven't posted here for awhile.  Or anywhere else, for that matter.  It's because my mind is in a whirlwind since I began to see that the Pharisees-among-us-Christians problem has its root, at least partially, in the New Testament Epistles attributed to Paul the Apostle!   It is clear to me that Paul, even as he himself matured in Christ, progressively becoming more-and-more led by the Holy Spirit and writing astounding truth upon truth inspired by the Spirit of God, remained very much a carnal Pharisee during much of his ministry!  And it is very clear to me now that not everything Paul wrote to the churches he planted in the first century is intended by God as instructions in right Christian living to us today! 

This is a dilemma for me because I am a believer whose belief is deeply rooted in the power of God's inspired and written words in scripture.  But, as I ponder and pray through these recent realizations, the Lord assures me that He is continuing to teach me how to "rightly divide" His Scriptures.  And He has, for the present, suspended His mandate to me to teach more specifically regarding the victorious life in the Spirit.  He is teaching me more now day after day.

"Lord, I hate to take Your time, 'cause You've heard it all before;

There are questions on my mind I can't find the answers for.

In spite of how it may appear, You know that my heart is true,

And I find the Truth I'm searching for in You;

"Cause Everything You Are, Is All I'll Ever Need!

There Is Not A Path I Take, Where You Cannot Lead!

How Can I Be Less Than What You Ask Of Me,

When Everything You Are Is All I'll Ever Need!"                                        (Song recorded by Larnelle Harris)

However, I can at least reaffirm what I've posted here earlier:  We Christians are guided by no law other than the Laws of Christ: 1.  Do Not Judge One Another!  Even as Leaders and Teachers in the church!  The Spirit of Christ IS Our Judge!   2.  Love God with all our hearts, souls and physical strength.  3.  Love One Another as we would have others love us.  And 4.  Love One Another As Christ Himself Loved Us, putting the needs of others ahead of our own.

Keeping the Laws of Christ as we are led by the Holy Spirit of God will inevitably get us into trouble with the  Pharisees and other "still carnal" believers surrounding us, not to mention the critics of Christ and His elect.  They will inevitably stumble over our lives in Christ  even as they stumble over the completed work of Christ.  This is the cross we are called to take up daily. 

...