Being Found in Him

“The Attack” John 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy… The attack began in January 1997, I remember driving from the airport in Dallas thinking and praying about the certain activities at Maryland Correctional Institution for Woman (MCIW). My hands were getting stiff and very sore as I drove to the house. A couple of days later, I was awakened to intense pain as I turned using my hands. My hands were so tender, and knots had begun to develop on my fingers and joints. I began to inquire of the Lord, “What is this?” They hurt all the time. About a week later I was at the church and Dr. David Schum and the Associate Pastor (Tom) were there. I went over, spoke and showed my hands to David. He felt them and said that the condition was called Reynard Phenomenon -- a crippling Arthritis. Then Dr. Schum and Tom prayed for me. When I left the Church later, my spirit was grieved and I was “mad.” As I stepped out of the church door and proceeded to the parking lot, my mouth opened and I said, “Devil, I dare you try to cripple me!” I told him that he was a liar and I came against that attack upon my hands in the name of Jesus. I immediately felt a change. I did not have any other problem with my hands throughout that year. Fast-forward to October 1997, I am returning from a revival feeling exhausted. I had never felt like this before. I thought within myself that I had just been going too much and I needed a vacation. After a couple of days of experiencing the same feeling of exhaust, I remembered had been about two years since my last checkup so I made an appointment and went in. I remember feeling like I wanted to faint during the examination. The staff was troubled about my appearance so they offered me food and did blood work. At the time, I was still working in dentistry. I managed to get up that next day and go to work. Sometime in the afternoon I received a phone call from the clinic. When I answered the phone, the voice on the other end said, “We have gotten your results back from the lab and you need to check yourself into the hospital because you are dying.” I replied, “I am not, and I will not!” They went on to tell me why I was dying, but I would not accept their words as the end of the matter. My co-workers were amazed, and Dr. G. thought someone had lost their mind. The idea that I was dying was crazy! When I had a moment to think about it, I thought the manner in which the clinic communicated my results was very inappropriate and unprofessional. The young lady that called was not giving up on me though. She knew that my blood work was serious and she needed to get my attention so that something could be done. Within an hour, I received a second call and this time she spoke a little calmer, but she was still adamant that I was dying. She asked me if I would not go and check myself into the hospital, would I go see another doctor? She said that she had called an Internist, Dr. O, and that his office was awaiting my call. To that request I said, “I can do that.” I knew that something was going on within my body, but what? I had no clue. I continued to feel fatigued and my ability to focus on my job was decreasing, though I had not done anything out of the ordinary. I was just doing what God had called me to do. I hadn’t changed my diet. I was a mother with three children and a husband at the house. I had favor at my job so that I could take off a week here, three days here, whatever was needed for my travels to preach, teach, and counsel across the U.S. Souls were coming to Jesus. People were receiving hope and healing in the revivals whether I was in the prisons or in the churches. God was opening more doors and I was stepping in them and bringing others with me to assist in the ministry. Dr. O’s office got me in immediately. I was told that my body was making too many antibodies, and they were attempting to destroy all foreign objects in my body. Within a week’s time, my eyes began to become very sensitive to smells and scents. They began to swell and ache very much, and they would burn constantly until, finally, they began to get a clear gel-like build-up and became infected. After this, my right leg was attacked and fluid began to build-up in my knee to the point that my ability to walk was affected. It is about March 1998, I have been placed on medication that causes me to be sleepless at night. (Oh, by the way, I am also in college so I have work, school, home and ministry.) Next, I was not able to eat. I would lay on the couch and just be sick to my stomach. When dinner was ready (I had a great cook as a husband) I would end up with my head on the table because I just had no desire or energy to eat food. It was really horrible! By this time, both of my hands are consistently swollen, as well as my right knee and my eyes. Almost daily I kept a fever, had chills and nose bleeds. I could hardly get out of bed, but I would make my way to the living room and make every attempt to pull down those strongholds. I told the devil to whom I belong and that I trusted God. Believe it or not, while going through all of this I continued to fulfill my engagements. I remember the first day of a Revival, one of the ushers came over to me and asked me if I was okay. She said that I looked bad. I remember one of the members of the Church came to me a different day and asked me if I thought that maybe I should stop ministering. I told him that God hadn’t told me to stop. The next week Jacob Kurien ministered at the Church. Though he did not know what was happening, laid his hand on me and began to prophesy to me. Some of the words were: My daughter, do not listen to the people. I need you to be like a horse. A race horse. Guard your faith, your eyes and ears. Every time the enemy sees you he roars against you. You are taking too many people from darkness and bringing them to my kingdom. You will have one battle after another and each will be more severe than the other…… So you see, I had a lot to look forward to! (lol) At an engagement in New Castle, Delaware, I sat in the Pastor’s office before going to the pulpit. While waiting I told the Lord, “I feel like nothing, I have no strength, and your people are out there.” I reminded Him of a prophesy He gave me and I stood on it and took that service by faith. The whole revival was supernatural. While my dad and I were returning from the revival I became even sicker. It was still very hard for me to eat; I got a fever and my hands began to stiffen and ache. I did not share this with my dad. I had to trust God and press on. After returning home, I became photosensitive and my doctor told me to stay out of the sun. On Father’s Day we all went out to eat, and the next day my face was huge! My eyes were so swollen that they were almost shut. I had a face full of dark blemishes. The blemishes were also on my hands, fingers and elbows. I told people that I looked like an ugly bull frog. When I went in to see Dr. O and removed my glasses he said, “What have you done to yourself?” He sent me to the Rheumatologist and he confirmed that I had become hyper-sensitive to the sun. I was then sent to a Dermatologist who gave me creams to put on before the sun block and recommended certain fruits. It is July now, and I am eating less and less but I am gaining weight. I am looking like I am about seven months pregnant and stay with nausea and fever. My girlfriend flew from Washington D.C. to spend two weeks with me for my birthday on July 4th, but I was not able to entertain. My condition continued to worsen, and I was back and forth from the doctors. I am given more medication, but nothing is working.