Page 62 - RiseUpWarrior

61 Chapter 26 the year, the last 2 ½ month sprint to the fnish line. Then out-of-the-blue 3 months later, God started talk- ing to me again one Sunday. “Kristi, I’m going to heal Thankfully, the nuero-muscular weakness drifted away, just like all the studies said it would, and I was just left your body now. I want you to believe and trust me for with just some miscellaneous symptoms and the juggle healing.” I talked it over with Dwight and we prayed of medications that wreaked havoc with each day. together. I felt that God was asking me to stop taking the medications for my thyroid. I had an alarm system set on an ipad with 5 different alarms during the day, each labeled with what I should Now, I cannot recommend to anyone that they just stop take. One of the pills was very sensitive to the timing, taking their medications. Of course you could get into and if I missed it, I have a day full of crying! Another real health troubles. What I would like to recommend to pill kept me from over-activity, so if I miss that one, you is that you trust God. It takes practice to be able to I’d be like the energizer bunny on a red-bull, who also hear His voice, and it takes practice to be able to obey ate some Starbucks coffee-bean chocolates. And some- hard orders. And this one has hurt pretty badly. I chose times, even though I would take my pills regularly, I’d to obey God, and it has been painful. have strange days of mood-swings or too-much energy There were some symptoms and problems related to or anxiety. stopping those medications. Nothing I haven’t been through before (from the time my appendix exploded!) One Sunday I was talking with Dwight, and I said, “You know, it is kind-of weird that God didn’t prep me for But still, very painful, and time-consuming. Some of this illness. He would usually say something, and some- the symptoms are the same as what I might have for times He asks my permission.” (Of course He doesn’t the hyperthyroidism. And so here I am writing about a have to.) healing that I do not yet see. But I believe this time, God healed me. Last time, He warned me that there would Half an hour later, during worship, God said to me loud be no healing. and clear, “I DID ask your permission and you gave it to me!” Ahhh, all of a sudden, I remembered. A while On two occasions, I had to do a children’s ministry con- back I recalled God asking me if I was ready for more, ference with a migraine. I could tell that God was test- and if I was willing! Apparently He was referring to ing me to see if I would quit. As I lay in the hotel bed, this new sickness! I assumed He meant more work or asking God if there was any way out of this, the answer something. was NO. “Will you be faithful to me and my church, even when you are in pain?” Of course the enemy is the one who gives these things, but God allowed it on purpose and had a plan in place for There was no choice for me. I will answer God with a our beneft. Who only knows why God wanted to take YES. me out of commission for several important months, So at the end of the year, at my gift-exchange with God, but just looking around I can take a wild guess. I was given the book of Job. God had in fact allowed this sickness for His glory. My job was to endure and I have been writing curriculum basically by myself for 9 years straight. My sister Suki has come down in the then write it down in this book. God was pleased with summer and has helped me for two months of every me. year with design elements and websites, but the rest of And so, this has been my story of illnesses. God uses the year, I alone was the “creative team.” Then this year them for training purposes and to stretch me. He also Suki moved down full-time, Mike and Vickie moved down full-time (my parents), and then Jon and Angie Remember that this Kangas moved down full time, all of whom wanted to be a part of the creative team. I went from a team of 1 to body is just a tool while a team of 6, and everyone excited about participating. I honestly tried my best at delegation, but something here on earth. Eternity wasn’t working smoothly, and I believe that God decid- ed for the sake of the team, it was best to take me out of is what matters. commission for a few months. It seemed that God was forcing everyone else to step up and cover for me.