Renungan Harian - House Of Peace

Moody Abraham

Psalms 40:5
Many, O Lord my God, are thy wonderful works, which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward.….if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.

I was born in a small village in India to Abraham K. Abraham and Aleyamma Abraham. My father named me Moody, hoping that someday I will be an evangelist like D.L Moody. Even though my father was a schoolteacher, he spent most of his time preaching to the people about the love and saving grace of Jesus Christ. My parents taught me about the love of Jesus Christ and the importance of living a life that is pleasing to Him. I knew the love of Jesus Christ and accepted him into my life when I was nine years of age. Ever since I made that decision, the devil was after me. He has tried to destroy me several times.

One day, it was a very hot summer afternoon; my parents told one of our workers to clean our open- well. The well was about thirty feet deep. The worker was emptying water, tying a bucket on the end of a long rope. He was pulling the water for a long time and because of a good spring under the well, he was not getting anywhere. I told him to tie another bucket on the other end of the rope and I will climb into the well, you pull one bucket up and I will fill the other with water. He thought that would be a good idea. I climbed into the well after talking to my father about the idea. While I was filling one bucket, somehow, the other bucket got stuck on the pulley on top. The movement of the rope made the bucket to fall on to my head. I didn’t feel the pain because of the shock. I thought everything was spinning around me. My dad climbed down on a ladder and took me out from the well. The doctor told my dad after the surgery that it does not look very good. If he makes it through a week, he will be fine. Every night my dad knelt by my hospital bed and prayed for me. After a week, Dr. Benjamin, the surgeon came to my room. He had a smile on his face. He told my dad that I would be fine. God saved me from that terrible accident.
Two years later, I got sick. I had boils all over my body, from head to toe. I was in pain I couldn’t lay down on the bed, I couldn’t bend any of my joints, I couldn’t hold anything with my fingers. My dad was in a Seminary in North India. My aunt took me to different local doctors. They gave me medicines to drink and to apply to my skin. Taking a shower was almost impossible. When I took a shower, blood started to come out of the boils. I knew how Job felt. My aunt took me to a hospital. The doctor said I have nephritis- infection of the kidneys. The doctors, husband and wife, were relatives of ours. They were kind to me. They tried everything to make me feel better. Nothing worked. I knew the end was near. My aunt, Sara, put my head on her lap and prayed and I felt the teardrops falling on me. She knew she was about to lose her nephew. I was getting weak. Someone suggested to my aunt to take me to a bigger hospital. I told her, “I don’t want to go to another hospital. I just want to go home and die peacefully in my own bed.” I didn’t have a choice. My loved ones took me to a modern hospital with all the latest medical equipment and doctors whom are trained in western hospitals. I spent almost a month in that hospital, nothing happened. While I was in the hospital, my father was studying in a Bible Seminary. He had a dream one night. He saw that I was really sick and I was saying, ‘I want to see my father before I die.’ The next morning, he left his Seminary to see me. When he came, I was really sick. He talked to the specialists. They said I would need new kidneys. My kidneys were damaged because of the infection. There was only one hospital in South India that did kidney transplant at that time. It was too far and we couldn’t afford the expensive surgery. My dad took me home and he, along with my mother and a few believers, started praying for me. God completely healed me. The devil failed to get me. Our family moved to the U.S.
God saved me several times from bad accidents. One time I was driving from Washington DC to Oklahoma with another family. It was around 2:00 A.M. We were all very tired. I went to sleep while I was driving. When I woke up, my car was already in the shoulder. I looked to the right there was a deep ditch. In a second, I would have been in the ditch along with the others. God was there to help me. I went to Ohiopyle, Pennsylvania to do rafting, in Youghiogheny river. The river runs through the mountains of Western Pennsylvania. We had fun in the rubber raft going over strong rapids all morning. Late in the afternoon, after lunch, we all decided to swim in the river. I can swim, but I am not an expert swimmer. Somehow, I got into a whirlpool. Next thing I knew, I was going around and around deep inside the river. I tried everything to come out. I knew I was trying in vain to come out. God saved me from there. God gave me an idea. Instead of trying to go up, I went down to the bottom and crawled a few feet away from the whirlpool. Once I was away from the whirlpool, I got out in no time. The devil failed again.
When my wife Lali was pregnant with our second child, she complained about pain in the backside of her stomach. I took her to the hospital. They ran some tests and couldn’t find anything. It was late in the afternoon. They took her into the operating room. Around 9:00 P.M., one of the doctors, Dr. Indu Mital came out of the surgery room. She said, “I have bad news for you. Your wife has acute pancreatitis, infection of the pancreas. She is going to die either tonight or in the next few days.” (My wife was only six months pregnant then God, through the Holy Spirit helped me in that terrible time and gave me the strength to make right decisions. I felt the comforting presence of Jesus Christ that might. Just because I insisted, they put my baby in the incubator. He was a tiny little human form. He weighed close to 1 kg. He was only big enough to fit in the palm of a hand. They kept my wife in the intensive care unit, on a life support system in one floor of St. Joseph’s Mercy Hospital in Pontiac, Michigan and my son in another floor in an incubator. There were IV stands, monitors, tubes, wires and respirators scattered throughout the room. My wife lay unconscious for days.
Dr. Khan and her team worked very hard on my son in the pediatric ICU. I believed God sent Dr. Khan and Dr. Tyagi to help us. My son, Shawn, (the name Shawn means gift from God) had all kinds of problems. My wife was unconscious for several days. One day, when I was holding her hand, she moved one of her fingers. That was the first lively sign I experienced after she went in for surgery. I asked her, “can you hear me?” She moved her finger again. I was very happy. They removed the respirator. She started to breathe by herself. The doctors were very optimistic. They said it looks like she is going to come out of this problem but she will be in a wheelchair. She will not be able to perform her everyday chores. The God I believe on, He is plenteous in mercy. He provided her strength to walk out of the hospital.
I experienced God’s love and healing when we went through sickness and sufferings. I believe that Jesus Christ died for our sins and sicknesses. Isaiah 53:5 says, “He was wounded for our transgressions, and was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.” The love and care we experience from others will only last for a short time, but God’s love is everlasting. From all these experiences I went through, I can tell you that God sometimes let us go through pain and sufferings to teach us His love and care towards us. When nobody is there to help you in your painful situations, God will be there to help you. The Bible says, “God sent his only begotten son,” Jesus Christ to save us. “He is our refuge and strength in our time of trouble.” When your friends and loved ones leave you and try to cause problems in your life, He will stay with you and comfort you. When the doctors cannot cure your sickness, He will heal you completely. When you face violent storms and difficulties, He can give you calmness and peace within you. When you say I cannot take it anymore, He is there to carry the weight for you. When people falsely accuse you, He will say I know your heart more that anyone else. When you say, I cannot trust anyone, He will be there as the greatest friend you can trust. “He will never leave you, nor forsake you.” Dear reader, would you give Jesus Christ a chance in your life? Would you ask him to come into your heart? He can take away all your problems and can give you peace and salvation. Just pray a simple prayer. “Jesus, please come into my life and forgive me from all my sins and I accept you as Lord of my life”.
When I went through all these problems, I did not know that God was preparing me to be a testimony for His glory in others lives. Whenever I get a chance I go to different churches and testify to them about the love of Jesus Christ and how He still heals people from terrible sicknesses when doctors cannot help us. God gave me opportunities to testify about His love and healing in Africa, United States, Asia, Middle East, and South America. I am not doing enough for what Jesus Christ has done for me. He saved me from eternal hell and saved me and my family from different sicknesses and problems. I just want to glorify the name of Jesus Christ for what He has done for me wherever and whenever I get a chance.
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As I rang in the New Year in January 2004, I just didn’t feel “right.” I couldn’t understand why, I mean, I ‘d graduated from one of the top universities in Florida two years prior, I was gainfully employed, and I was engaged to the only man I’ve ever loved, but I was not happy. Things weren’t right with my health. In the months prior I’d had pains, strange sensations, and sounds coming from my chest. By the New Year, I’d developed a cough that just wouldn’t go away.

I was 25 years old and thought that I was indestructible, as so many young people think before something hurts them. I believed in God at that time and accepted Jesus as my savior, but I did not necessarily have a foundation in Christ.

I went to see my doctor. After a month of x-rays and CT scans, my doctor determined I had a large mass in my chest cavity which “Could be cancer,” she said.

After a failed attempt at a needle aspiration biopsy (AKA “closed” biopsy), my PCP explained that, to help determine whether or not I had cancer, I would need to have a serious operation so that the mass could be examined.

Instead of celebrating Valentines Day 2004 with my betrothed, I was diagnosed with Stage II Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Just as the doctors had to cut open my chest to biopsy the tumor, my heart felt ripped open and exposed. My doctor told me that I had a 17 X 9 CM tumor in my chest cavity.

I was discharged after a few days at the hospital. I was in pain and had a hard time breathing as I lie in my bed that night. I began thinking about death and became scared that I would not make it to see my next birthday. In the darkness of my bedroom, tears rolled down my face and I called out to my Lord.

“Lord,” I cried, “I can’t breathe, I am in pain, and I’m scared I’m going to die–I’m not ready. Please help me to breathe and help me to get through this.” In the darkness, I felt the presence of the Holy Spirit who said, “Everything will be okay. There will be ups and downs, but you will get through this,” He promised.

My fiancée was sleeping beside me. I whispered to him that everything was going to be okay. In his sleep, he smiled and excitedly said “That’s good!” I was immediately able to breathe, the pain in my chest ceased, and I fell asleep. The next morning, I got out of bed and told my mother, with tears of joy in my eyes, about my experience.

God guided me to an Oncologist who specialized in Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma (he is a Christian!). I went through Chemotherapy and Radiation treatments from February until August 2004. I got sick, lost my hair, and felt tired. The radiation treatments burned my skin, but I never feared death again after that night.

My cancer has been in remission since August 2004. I am so thankful for the man God sent to me. I love and will cherish him forever for fighting the cancer with me and for making me laugh during those hard times. He took care of me in so many ways and seeing that made our relationship stronger and made me love him even more. On October 2, 2004, God saw to it that I married that fine man.

I’m glad I had cancer.

The previous statement may sound crazy to some people, but if not for cancer, my relationship with God, with my husband, and with my family and friends would not be as strong as it is now. I would not have a story of faith and courage to help someone else who is going through something similar. I know the power of prayer, and I speak with my Lord often. God loves me despite all of my faults. He loves EVERYONE. All you have to do is talk to Him, pray to Him, love Him.

God has continued to bless me and my husband. My life has changed–I know I live and breathe because God wants me to. I love life, and I am happy unlike I have ever been before. God is my Father and my best friend. He is truly great and merciful!
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Jan 25, 2005 I am diagnosed with stage IV lobular carcinoma breast cancer. Wow! I was 39 years old. Too young to go through something like that!! This past year has been a whirlwind of God’s grace, mercy, and healing power. I started with chemo, at that point the tumor was inoperable and needed to shrink before I under went surgery. The amount of prayer I received from my church, family, and other believers was absoultely overwhelming (in a good way!) I was anointed with oil and laid on of hands. (James 5:14) As strange as this may sound I knew God was going to heal me so that I would not need a mastectomy. I had a peace but yet was still scared. Satan would of wanted nothing less than for me to turn my back on God.

(John 10:10) I under went 8 treatments of chemo ( now I understand why they call you a survivor!) I had an extremely difficult time with that. Through all that God proved Himself faithful to me over and over again. Three weeks after my last round of chemo I went through another PET and CAT scan. The results read,” the hypermetabloic lesions identified in the left breast, left axilla, and the left supraclavicular region have resolved.” “There is no evidence of malignancy.” My oncologist was thrilled and quite surprised with the results. I saw the surgeon and he said that he could not do a lumpectomy because there was no lump. He leaned toward the mastectomy due to the fact of my family history and a high possibility of recurrence. He also said to do what your heart tells you. It was time to stand on the promises of God. I had memorized 26 Bible verses of life and healing. Talk about really stepping out on faith. I do not doubt God at all. James 1:6 Some may say that I read into that final report. Whose report shall I believe the report of the doctor or the report of the Lord? My radiologist thinks I do not understand the seriousness of this cancer and that I am quite ****ish to not have a mastectomy. I did go through 28 treatments of radiation. He told me that he would not be surprised if I was to have cancer again this past Christmas. (I didn’t!) One doctor believed that I would be dead in 7 months. In the human eyes and medical field it is absurd for me not to have a mastectomy. 1 Peter it says that by His stripes I am healed that doesn’t mean by his stripes I am healed only if I have a mastectomy. Yes I could still have a mastectomy and I know that Lord would be with me, but if you know without a shadow of a doubt that you heard from the Lord why put yourself through that. Some may say that this process is not complete without a mastectomy. The Word of God says, “I will not die but live and proclaim what the Lord has done.” Psalms 118:17. Also “Every Word of God is flawless, He is a sheild to those who take refuge in him. Prov.30:5 That is what faith is all about. Faith does not make sense to someone who may not believe.The Bible says to prove God. And let me tell you I will prove Him until my time here on earth is done.
I had a mammogram last week. Went back to the surgeon. There is some thickness that he says is due to the radiation. However, he wants me to do another test. I will because I know without a doubt that I am healed. He could not see anything on the ultra sound. The doctors look at me like I have 3 heads when I tell them about the healing power of my God! Don’t get me wrong I would never tell a women not to have a mastectomy. That is something between you and God. I will continue to stand on the promises of God. There are so many wonderful promises. It was time for me as a Christian to put them into practice for my life. I had another doctor tell me that most women who die of breast cancer have a strong faith. Satan will use any means to make you feel that you have not heard from the Lord and to make your faith unsettled.
I turned 40 last month. Never thought I would be so excited to be 40!
“AndI will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.” John 14:13-14. To God be the glory great things He has done and will continue to do!
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The purposes of a man’s heart are deep waters, but a man of understanding draws them out. Proverbs 20: 5. It has been said that to be careful what you ask for you just might get it. The Bible says; ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. Matthew 7:7. What a blessing to know that whatever you ask for you will receive it as long as it is in line with the word of Jesus Christ. Did you know that we have powerful tools we can use which is our speech, and minds. The Bible tells us over and over again that if we ask for anything in Jesus name we shall receive it.

Lets look at James 3:4 it says Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are drive by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed by man, but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. It says at Proverbs 15:1 A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. Proverbs 17:20 it says A man of perverse heart does not prosper; he whose tongue is deceitful falls into trouble.

It is also mention in 1Peter 3:10 For, whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech. He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil. Wow!!! Is that wonderful or what to know that Jesus listens to your prayers. Now look at Mark 11:24 it says
Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that you Father in heaven may for give you your sins.

Do you remember the fig tree? You can read it at Matthew 21: 18, but look at Matthew 21:21 Jesus replied, I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, Go, throw yourself into the sea; and it will be done. If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer. Now look
At Ephesians 3:20 it says Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

We all need to know; By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not make out of what is visible. Hebrews 11:3 Take a look at Matthew 12:36 it says But I tell you that men will have to give account of the day of judgement for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned. At Proverbs 28:23 it says He who rebukes a man will in the end gain more favor than he who has a flattering tongue. So please build up a strong faith in Jesus Christ, and keep praying and asking in Jesus name.

Love Always,
Your Sister in Jesus Christ
Mellody Davis
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The Lord has blessed me abundantly throughout my life. During my studies, when I was sure that I will fail for my exams, God help me and I passed with very good marks. For my 10+1 exams, I was sure that I will not be promoted to 10+2 because I did my exams very badly and the previous year, thery were very strict in promoting students to 10+2. The Lord helped me, that year the Head Mistress was getting a trasnfer so she said that all the students should me promoted. Praise the Lord! During my engineering also he has done wonders.

I always used to ask God for a very good husband from my 10+2. When I was in the last year of my college I had to do my project work. I went to a computer center and joined there. Actually I didnot want to join there because I had one very near my home but something was forcing me to join there. There God showed me my life partner. He was my computer sir. I was getting attracted to him and he also used to talk to me. I asked God to help me. After 6 months we both shared our minds. I had to keep this a secret for a long time because I was sure that my parents wouldn’t allow. I prayed and prayed for God to help me. He also was looking for a better job. We tried very hard for a job. Many marriage proposals were coming for me but by Gods grace nothings was suitable. He went to Middle East and tried for a job there, but it was in vain. By that time my parents had doubt and I told them everything. My father was very abgry. He did not speak to me for almost 2 and half years. I prayed and prayed and finally he got a job close to his home. God then changed my parents mind. After 6 months we got married. Praise the Lord!
We love each other a lot. God has blessed our family life. Now it has been almost a year. We are praying to God to bless us by giving us children. I know that God will hear our prayers.
Trust in God and pray to him. Talk to him. He will answer our prayers. Have faith in him. Ask God to give patience. He is our Father and nothing is impossible for him. Praise the Lord!
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Though I accepted the Lord as my Savior around age 7, my parents, 3 younger brothers and I moved around too much to become established at church or anywhere else. 12 schools in 13 years.

The top priority in our household was to stay out of my parent’s way. Dad had a nasty temper and Mom was overwhelmed with having 4 kids in 5 yrs. We never heard “I love you” or got hugs from our parents, but there was plenty of abuse to go around. Leather belts on bare behinds sting terribly but ridicule and sarcasm hurt even more. I was sexually molested by an uncle repeatedly. I felt pretty worthless a lot of the time and had little reason to think differently. This is what’s known as a “textbook setup” for lots of relationship trouble as an adult.

I retreated to my bedroom frequently as a teenager for many long hours, sewing cute clothes and stringing teeny-tiny seed beads into great long necklace ropes. It was therapeutic somehow.

Though I did well in school, there was no money for college and loans were never mentioned as an option. I did however win a scholarship to go to beauty school for free based on an essay that I wrote. So I went and I did very well, though my parents indicated that hairdressing was beneath me.

Over the next few years, life got tougher. A brother died in an accident. Someone slipped and told me that my dad was not my biological father. By the time I was 34, there would be two marriages, 2 divorces, and two children. And a year at business school, paid for courtesy of NYS taxpayers while I was on welfare in between husbands. It was at business school I met and became fascinated with the computer. Being on welfare was humbling but taught me how to budget.

Professionally, there would be many jobs, either doing hair, selling department store cosmetics or office reception work. There was also a lot of partying, a lot of dating and a lot of self-absorption. I was a work-out queen and had abs of steel. Everywhere I went, people would tell me I looked like Julia Roberts. Once I focused on hairdressing, my career became quite successful…130 clients and about $13-1500 a week coming in. My self-worth was defined by my looks and my reputation as a good hairdresser.

God was nowhere in the picture (or so I thought) and hadn’t been for over 20 years. I had even begun to doubt His existence. I was becoming cynical and bitter in other ways as well. But I was having fun, doing what I wanted, working hard and looking good.

Then something strange happened right before I turned 40. My hair started falling out, for no apparent reason. In 3 months, pretty much all the hair on my head, eyebrows, eyelashes and body hair simply fell off. The diagnosis was an autoimmune disease called alopecia areata, and I had the most severe type – alopecia universalis. Sounds almost pretty, doesn’t it?

Now, I could lose a leg, or an eye or my hearing maybe, and it wouldn’t have affected me as deeply. But my hair? This shook me to the core. What would I be without my long, thick wavy auburn hair? The hairdresser with no hair? A bald Julia Roberts???

I fell to my knees in my little apartment and cried to God to help me. I knew this was going to change everything, and I knew I couldn’t get through it without His help. I asked forgiveness for doubting Him, for leaving Him and for my sinful lifestyle. The pain of my hair loss and the consequences of my sin culminated that day in a recommitment to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I found a church home and family and craved His truth.

During that time I quoted Phillipians 4:13 a lot. “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” And He did. It wasn’t easy doing hair all day while mine was falling out, and later, when it was all gone.

But by God’s grace, I found great wigs wholesale and even sold a few here and there to cancer patients and a woman with this same disease who had heard about me though the idea of selling wigs as an adjunct to my business seemed too bizarre.

Though I had sworn off men because of the likely rejection I’d face when they found out I was wearing a wig, THIS was the time the Lord chose to bring a most special man into my life. He placed his life in Christ’s hands shortly after we met. And a year and a half later, we got married. And quickly, before he had the chance to think about what a bald old lady with wrinkles would look like.

My hair grew back, we put a salon in our home and had a baby girl. Then about half of my hair went again. I had hoped it would be a one-time incident – sometimes it is. This second bout proved that I would most likely cycle in and out of hair loss for the rest of my life. Though more annoyed than devastated by it this time, I dragged my wigs out of storage and thanked God it wasn’t a more serious disease.

Then a series of amazing things happened – things non-believers would call coincidence (but we know better!). The Lord used a good friend’s experience with breast cancer and a host of other things to bring me to a decision.

Now, about 10 of the 18 hours I work every week are devoted to cancer patients, women with alopecia areata and others struggling with medical hair loss . I take no profit on the sale of these wigs. If they didn’t know it before I met them, they learn within about 15 minutes that I deal every day with what they are facing. If someone can’t afford a wig, my church will buy her one (local residents only).

I fit these women with beautiful, stylish “alternative hair” while gently making the point that they will gain an entirely new perspective on what beauty is over the next few months. There are tears and laughter, anger and prayers, shaving and primping. And hopeful smiles. I give God the glory every chance I get and get more hugs in a week than I had the first 18 years of my life. What an incredible honor to be used by God in this way.

I still sew, but now it’s silk linings into wigs that irritate sensitive scalps. And I still string beads, but now with silver, gold, crystal, semi-precious stones and vintage beads. Women have been donating jewelry that can be taken apart and born again (pun intended!) into a new creation and then sold to support the wig ministry. The #1 seller is The Salvation Bracelet. It’s been very rewarding to design a web site promoting this ministry click here and I hope to get my testimony on there soon.

My abs are soft now but so is my heart. My 3 yr old daughter enjoys parading around the house in Ma-ma’s hair and shows great interest in hairdressing. My 18 yr old son just changed his college major…for the 3rd time…to computer science. My oldest son has a legacy from my biological father – schizophrenia. My husband and I rely on the Lord every minute of every day for strength with that.

Most importantly, it doesn’t matter who my earthly father is. My heavenly Father has redeemed me, loves me, provided me with clear purpose for my life and has brought everything together for good. Because Jesus suffered for me, I don’t have to suffer anymore. Leaving my pain, shame and guilt at the cross frees me from the mess I had made of my life. With the clean slate provided by the blood of Christ, I can now get past myself and help others in their suffering. Praise God for taking our broken-ness and making something truly beautiful with it – a reflection of Him – a reflection that has nothing to do with an image in a mirror.
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