#75 – Ice Cold Hand Warms-up 

“When people praise you, don’t let it go to your head. When they criticize you, don’t let it get to your heart”. Nicky Gumble

     Seventeen folks came out to minister this Thursday.  Several of our regular team members were missing as they were attending the ‘Women On The Frontlines’ conference which started Thursday night.  It was a Jet’s Game night at the MTS Center, which is across the street from Portage Place, so parking was at a premium.  Normally parking is $4.00 but on Jet’s nights, it goes up to $12.00.  I drove around several downtown blocks until I found a free spot, but I had to walk a good distance, and it was well after 7 when I got to Portage Place.

     I handed out scarfs and prayed with 3 different people.  Mary wanted prayer for the pain in her heart – her son had died and she was taking care of her 2 grandchildren.  She also was in a wheelchair, because her right leg had been amputated due to diabetes.  We prayed a blessing of inner peace for her, and we prayed for her pancreas.  She said her heart felt better, but we had no way of knowing about her pancreas.

     I was then called over to join a team that was praying for Jocelyne.  She is a Christian known to us and had come to Portage Place to find us.  She is addicted to meth, and is involved in court trying to get her children back from CFS.  Seven of us spent a long time with her.  Chelsea had a vision for her, and I received part of the meaning of it.  We prayed for her release from her addiction, and she experienced what she described as a kind of numbness throughout her body.  We knew that was the Holy Spirit at work in her, freeing her of her addiction.  My hand was on her shoulder and I could feel twitching or vibrations in her body.  Gaylene then coached her on how to stay ‘clean’, reminding her that as long as she was on meth CFS would not return her children to her.  Ryan had a word of knowledge that we needed to pray into the court proceedings.  After listening to her heart, and several more prayers, we had her pray into her situation.  I then put a scarf around her neck and told her to wear it and use it as a reminder that she is free.  I advised her whenever someone is pushing drugs on her or when she is being tempted, to grab the scarf and remind herself that she is free – I told her that tonight was a new start for her, and the scarf was to remind her of that.

     While I was still praying for Jocelyne, Simon came and asked if he could talk to me.  I told him I would join him as soon as I could.  Simon is a homeless man whom I have known for several months, he sat at a table nearby and waited for me.  His lower left arm and hand were damaged in an industrial accident many years ago.  He wears a mitt because his hand is always cold.  We have prayed for his hand before and he says every time we pray it improves.  I asked him to remove the mitten so others could see.  His fingers are curled like he was grasping something, the hand is thin and not normal looking, and he has very limited ability to move his hand, fingers or thumb.  I held his injured hand and found it to be extremely cold.  I had other team members hold his hand so they could also feel how cold it is.  I then announced that they were about to witness a miracle.  As I commanded healing, Michelle exclaimed that her hands were suddenly very hot.  We all felt her hands and she was right – not just warm, but hot.  I took that as a sign that she should pray for Simon.  As she prayed and held his hand, he said he could feel twitching in his left arm.  We continued to pray and slowly his hand warmed-up, and his fingers straightened somewhat.  Each team member again felt his hand and confirmed, it was definitely no longer ice cold but warm.  I’m believing for a complete healing, can hardly wait to see him next week.

     As I write this, I am amazed all over again about how God brings people to us.