Insights on Healing and God's Power- A Report on My Mission Trip to Colombia

God has asked only a few things of those of us that profess to be Christians.  First, and most importantly, that we would go and tell the world about His Son, Jesus Christ, and the sacrifice that He made for all of humanity. In exchange, He would give us freedom here on earth and life eternal with Him in Heaven.

 In Matthew 28:19-20 Jesus says to His disciples (us) "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you." 

Second, in Matthew 10:8, Jesus commanded us to "heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give."  

Those words weren't just meant for the disciples of Jesus' time- they were meant for all of us today who profess to love and follow God.

On my recent mission trip to Colombia, I had to question whether I am really living the life that God intended for me. I'm an introverted soul and I pray for people- but ministering to dozens of people daily in Medellin, I couldn't help but feel like this was more like what my life is supposed to look like on a regular basis.  

That is- praying, healing and loving the homeless and drug addicts; praying over neighborhoods; laying hands and praying for more than just two sick people in church every other Sunday afternoon, and visiting poor children in orphanages and elsewhere.  As worldwide evangelist Will Hart once said, "Your ministry (Christians) in not in the church. It's to that guy under the bridge who needs a sandwich." Amen! 

I've spent most of the last decade unwell, until recently, but I still have some physical challenges, so this trip was not easy for me. I slept 4-6 hours a night, and participated in activities day and night, for 10 days. 

I wasn't sure I could do it, but I'm glad I did, and not just because God gave me a reality check about what it means to serve Him. He also showed me how mighty, powerful and willing He is to save and heal people by His supernatural hand.

He used me and my team members to heal many, many hundreds of people of physical and emotional problems. Many others experienced the love of Jesus, and decided to make Him Lord and Savior over their lives. 

In fact, nearly everyone I prayed for who had physical pain of some kind - in the four churches we visited, as well as on the street, were completely healed of their pain. I'm talking dozens of people, and many of the 35 others on my team also saw God move in a similar way. It's amazing what God can do through those of us who are willing!.

Many others I prayed for experienced a powerful touch from the Lord, as evidenced by tears, laughing, words of gratitude or being overcome by the Spirit of God.

I prayed for many dozens of people with cancer, thyroid disease, fibromyalgia, gastrointestinal problems, back pain, depression, spiritual oppression, and relationship problems, and I believe God healed and set many of these people free, as well. Many felt heat or tingling or electricity in the areas of their bodies where they had pain, or were literally knocked over by the Spirit of God.  Complete healings from disease don't always occur just because someone feels a sensation in their body- but often, they do!

Much of our ministry time was in different churches- a large church of 8,000, where we ministered over people for several days- as well as in small churches of just 50 people. We also drove long distances to visit a few churches in small towns- some an hour and a half away from Medellin.

My favorite time of ministry, however, was when we ministered to the homeless, drug addicts, and alcoholics in a plaza in downtown Medellin that is known for being dangerous and a hangout for the "down and outs." 

People sometimes fear going to this place but since we knew the presence of God was with us, we felt we were protected. One woman who ministers there on a regular basis told us stories of drug dealers that she would minister to, who would fall to their knees under the power of God and get delivered from their addictions, even when they had no intention of giving their lives to the Lord. 

She also told us that some would go into churches with the intention of killing the pastors- only to be literally knocked to the ground by the Spirit of God. This woman, who has been involved in building several churches in the Amazon, has seen guerrilla fighters and the narcotraficantes (drug traffickers) be overcome by the love of God, time and again.

Perhaps the most memorable event in the plaza was when a witch got touched powerfully by God! I think my trip to Medellin would have been worth it for this event alone.  This man was seated on a bench in the plaza, and according to a couple of local team members, was apparently cursing us. He was looking right at me, actually, and muttering things from afar.  So in an act of boldness, I decided to approach him and ask him if he knew God.  

He said No, and that he didn't believe in God. He basically blew me off and said he had done terrible things, and that he didn't care about God or eternity or much of anything. After about 15-20 minutes of conversation, I was about to give up on him, since our bus had arrived to pick us up, and I felt the Holy Spirit asking me to get him to look me in the eyes. 

So I said "Look at me" and he glanced at me briefly, but mostly avoided my gaze.  So I kept asking him to look at me, while we talked. Several of my team members were standing around us and praying quietly during this time. Finally, our team leader asked me to ask him one more time if he wanted prayer. 

He reluctantly conceded and as he and I and our team leader laid hands on his head, the power of God hit him and he started to cry, then the Spirit knocked him over right there in the plaza.  I was amazed! 

I didn't have a chance to talk to him after that, since we had to leave, but I got on the bus and looked out the window, and saw the man waving at me with a smile and tears rolling down his face. I have no idea whether he will give his life to Jesus, but the experience showed me how powerful God is to touch even a witch's heart. And it had nothing to do with me, but everything to do with God in me. 

Speaking of witchcraft....our team spent some time ministering in a

neighborhood where really awful things used to happen- things I don't want to even mention here.

So four of my team members, along with five Colombians from a local ministry, did a prayer walk one night through this dangerous area. The leader, Guillermo, a powerful warrior for God who has spent the past 9 years tearing down territorial spirits and principalities through prayer, and who claims to actually see demons and angels- instructed us on how to pray. 

It was a bit intimidating, because before we set out, he said, "This is serious ministry. You must pay attention to the Holy Spirit as we walk this neighborhood. Don't analyze- just obey. There is no time to think, just listen to the Spirit and pray as He leads." And apparently a huge angel with a sword was walking with us.  Whoa!

He told us that because of his prayers and those of others in the local ministry, the bad activities have stopped and witch's covens have been torn down- and a children's foundation has been established in the area- for children of the prostitutes, poor and drug addicts. 

At the foundation, over 180 children are given a meal daily and taught about the love of Jesus Christ. The neighborhood is changing because of the local ministry, which is actually run by two Americans who came to Colombia 3 years ago to serve God. 

Guillermo told us that many people in the church don't want to do the prayer walks through the dangerous neighborhoods, because they fear the evil that is there. But he said, "If they only knew the power of the Holy Spirit that is in them, they would not be afraid."  God has given us all authority over evil!  He then shared stories of how God had changed other neighborhoods in Medellin due to his intercession and that of others. 

The prayer walk really impacted me because it gave me a greater revelation about the truth that the battle that we fight is not in the flesh or the natural realm, but in the spirit.  Ephesians 6:12 says- "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."  

But even more, it showed me how powerful our words and prayers are- and how much God will use us to heal people, cities, states and nations- if we are willing!

My hope and prayer is to do more of what I did in Medellin in my hometown in Colorado and in Dallas, where I spend a lot of time- in short, to do the works that Jesus did, as He commanded. The spirit world is real, and higher than the natural world. And by living in the Spirit, and with a little persistence and prayer- and by not giving up- we can overcome sickness, sin, addiction, soul wounds, and other problems of the flesh and the natural world.

Praise God!

5 Things You Should Never Say to a Person with Chronic Illness (i.e., Lyme Disease)

I'm often grieved when I hear about how some family members and friends treat their loved ones with Lyme disease, or other "invisible" chronic illnesses. They don't mean to be insensitive, but along with Lyme disease and other invisible chronic illnesses, comes a lot of unbelief by family members about just how much pain the person with illness is going through. I guess because, unlike a cancer patient, you can't see their body wasting away from illness, or dark circles fringing their eyes, and they may act relatively normal- so it's hard to believe that they are really THAT sick.

In their efforts to be helpful, they may unintentionally say things that make the afflicted one feel even worse.  If you are one of those well-meaning friends or family members who doesn't quite know what to say or do to help your loved one- I'd like to share a few tips about what to not say or do...followed by what you could say or do that would help them to feel better!

Do not say...

1) "But you look so good!" Yes, people with chronic illness often look quite normal, or even fantastic and trim, due to the extra pounds that disease often melts from their frame, due to malabsorption and other metabolic factors. But the problem with this statement is that the sufferer doesn't see it as a compliment, but rather, a statement of disbelief about how much they are actually hurting, since, if they look so great, they couldn't possibly be that sick. A more helpful suggestion? You could say, "Wow, it's amazing you look so good, considering how terrible you must feel inside." A person with Lyme disease has MS-like brain lesions, damaged organs- including the heart, liver and kidneys; a torn-up gastrointestinal tract, broken-down connective tissue, toxic cells, and severe malnutrition- no matter what they look like on the outside. Really.  Not to mention lots of bugs...

2) "You might feel better if you just exercised (or fill in the blank) more."  People with chronic illnesses such as Lyme disease cannot exercise (or work) and reap the same benefits from exercise as a healthy person, due to metabolic problems and a lack of cellular energy and properly functioning mitochondria, among other reasons. A day out jogging could land them in bed for a week. No, this is not a good thing.  It may be difficult for you to understand your loved one's limitations and struggles- no matter how compassionate or sympathetic you might be- so rather than assume that you know best how to help them, it's better to say something like, "I'm sorry you are going through this. I'd love to hear more about how this disease affects you, and find out if there's anything I might be able to do to help."

3) But don't just say...."Is there anything I can do for you?"  This is a wonderful sentiment, but the question is too generic and when asked such a question, your sick loved one, not wanting to burden you, will likely pause, and then say No.  In our "pull yourself up by your own bootstraps"society, it's hard for people to say Yes when offered help, and even if they are inclined to say Yes, they won't know what to ask you for, because they don't know what YOUR limitations are, and they don't want to oblige you to do too much for them. I think that's how most of us are, anyway.  So if you want to help them, say such things as: "I'd really like to help you. Could I come over this week and clean your house for you? Could I buy you some groceries?" Insist! "Are you able to pay for your treatments and basic needs? If not, I'd love to send you some money."  Insist! If they look sad or depressed, say, "It seems like you are going through a lot right now.  Would you like to talk? Or, can I just sit with you for awhile or pray for you? Would you like to watch a movie together at home?" And then emphasize how much you would LOVE to do this for them- as if it were a privilege or a blessing to be able to help them- not an obligation or burden.

4) "Just think more positive."  Trust me, if people with chronic illness could do this, many of them would. Their lives are plagued by day-in, day-out symptoms that sometimes make their existence feel like sheer hell.  It is a noble thing to want to think more positively, but when your biochemistry is a mess, you don't sleep for nights, are in extreme pain, or have pathogens pooping on your neurons, it's hard to be positive. Never mind find joy in a life of isolation and non-functionality.  I believe that God can help us to have more positive thoughts, but apart from God, and in our own human effort, and especially when chronically ill, it's difficult to achieve. Seek instead to empathize with your loved one. If they tell you they are depressed, say "Wow, I'm so sorry. It must be so hard to keep on going, day after day, and function, with such difficult symptoms. It makes me sad to hear of your suffering. Tell me more about what it's like to go through this on a day to day basis." And then-  "Can I pray with you, take you to see a funny movie (or for a drive to the mountains, etc..) or do something that might cheer you a little? Would you like to talk? Would you like a hug?"

5) "I already told you that last week. Don't you remember?"  Chronic illness will often make your loved ones spacey and forgetful. Their cognitive functions- memory, ability to process information, remember dates, names and locations- and respond effectively to you- may be compromised. So when it seems like they aren't listening to you, and they go all ADD on you or act like they don't remember what you told them last week, it may not be because they aren't interested in you or are trying to be disrespectful and forget your appointments with them- they just can't remember or "stay with it" all the time.

If you say things like, "Don't you remember?" or "As I already told you..." and/or act annoyed when they can't remember your friend's name, or where you were supposed to meet for dinner- they might feel stupid and condemned.  Instead, make things as easy as possible for them by not telling them detailed stories, or expecting them to remember dates, names, and events- or to give you their full attention at all times. This one is tricky, because often, the things that loved ones expect to be easy for the sick person, are not, and the things that are easier for the sick person to do, the loved ones doesn't expect to be easy (and so they assume the person isn't as sick as they say!).

By following these guidelines, you will help to make your loved one's journey toward wellness softer and easier, and help them to feel understood and loved in the process.

Why God Doesn't Just Rescue Us Out of Our Diseases

Maybe you can relate to this. You've begged and pleaded God for healing for years. You've fasted, had hundreds of people lay hands on you and pray for you, and still...here you are, waging a daily war with fatigue, depression, brain fog, pain or any other number of symptoms.

So if James 5:5 in the Bible says that "the prayer offered in faith will heal the sick" and Isaiah prophetically stated in Isaiah 53 that "surely He (Jesus) has borne our sicknesses" and "by His stripes we are healed..." and Jesus commanded his followers to heal the sick (not pray for the sick, but heal them!), as stated in Matthew 10:8, then why oh why, do some of us seem to get more healing than others? 

That's a huge question that can't be adequately answered, even in the best of books on healing, because God's ways are not ours, and life is full of unexplainable mysteries. That said, God does give us insights into the question, and I believe that one of them is found in Matthew 10:8, through Jesus' command to heal the sick.

When Jesus went to the Cross, He was made an atoning sacrifice not only for our sins, but also our sicknesses. He literally carried our diseases so that we would not have to...but the healing isn't always automatic or happen when one, or even 100, people pray for us, or we ask God to heal us. 

Through my current battle with insomnia, which has at times been agonizing, I have often cried out to God. The voice of misery manifests at times in such demanding phrases as "What do you WANT from me? I thought you said this was over!" 

In our humanity, when the pain is intense, we beg, cry and scream at God, wondering why He's rejected us or forsaken us, or why the promises of the Bible don't appear to be true. While He understands our pain,  if we knew the truth about what has been given to us, and what He gave up for us, we might not hurl so many angry words at Him, or beg, cry and give up, believing He doesn't want us well. 

This past weekend, during my prayer time, He brought to my memory a picture of the face of Jesus while He was dying on the Cross. A face of agony, torn, bruised and bleeding...and His body, lacerated, ripped to shreds and trembling in pain; ....from head to toe....and nails, driven deeply into His hands and feet, through the muscles, tendons and bones...as He suffered in indescribable emotional and physical agony...for me.  

And then, it was as if He were saying to me, "I did this for you so that you would have a weapon with which to fight disease...

... That weapon is sitting there, right there at your feet. Do you see it? That beautiful, powerful, shiny weapon, called the Sword of the Spirit....

I know it doesn't look like much, but do you know that it cost me My life? It is priceless, and it is yours. With it, you can win wars- the war against your body, and the war against disease in this world.... 

But you aren't picking up my gift and using it right now, and so it just sits there, at your feet...

...Still, I died so that you could have this gift. I didn't work 40 hours a day or sacrifice a retirement savings to pay for it...no, I gave up My very life so that you could have it!...

.... How can you ask me for healing from insomnia, when I have already said Yes by this gift that I have given you? I suffered indescribable pain and agony so that you could take hold of this precious gift, but you ignore it because you want something more. You want me to simply rescue you. Well...I already did rescue you, just not in the way you expect.  You see, I need you to pick up the weapon...because with it, you can be healed." 

And then I realized that begging God for healing was really another way of spurning His gift; of saying that Jesus' work on the Cross meant nothing to me, and that the sword of the Spirit; the Word of God, and the presence of His Spirit within me, were worthless. 

Because the deal was, "I'll give up my life for you, and if you receive Me as your Lord and Savior, you will receive My Spirit, and with the Spirit and My Word, you will have all that you need to fight sin and disease."

With such a great sacrifice made, and such a great gift given, why then, should He bend to my cries to just take away the pain? My wee pain, compared to His agony on the Cross. No, our suffering is not insignificant, but asking us to pick up the weapons of our warfare, such as praise and thankfulness, and by speaking and meditating upon the Word of God- so we can be free, really isn't asking much of us by comparison. 

Just speak a few Holy Spirit-filled words into the atmosphere, and trust in Him- quite often, that is all we need to do, and is all He asks of us, in exchange for the torturous death that He suffered. What a deal!

So can we blame Him when He refuses to simply rescue us? Or don't we know that He already did? It cost God the Father His Son's life to free us, but sometimes we need to appropriate that healing. How it must grieve Him to think that He gave up so much, and that we just disregard the sacrifice? 

Or maybe it isn't that we disregard anything, but that we remain ignorant of what His sacrifice means, not only for eternity, but also for our lives here on earth. 

I know that when I hurt, it's as if I totally forget about Jesus' sacrifice- and that not only did it purchase my salvation in Heaven, but also my victory on earth. But again...with the gift came a responsibility; a responsibility that He doesn't even expect me to carry out on my own, but with the help of His Spirit. Because His Word states that it is He who works in me to will and to do (Phil. 2:13)

It isn't about positive affirmations. It's about, supernatural, holy, Spirit-filled words, and the presence of God, and the healing power and love contained therein, which is released through those words, combined with an attitude of trust, belief, surrender and gratitude toward Him. It is something entirely different than positive thinking. It is about feeding, growing, healing and empowering our human spirits with His Spirit, and His love. 

And so God impressed it upon me to put a photo of Jesus on the Cross on the wall beside my bed, so that when I can't sleep at night, instead of getting mad and begging and crying for help, I might look up, and recall His suffering, and remember what that suffering purchased for me. And then, reach down into my spirit, and pick up my weapons, to fight the lies that assault me when I'm tired...

It's not an overnight thing. Change happens first in the spiritual realm, and then, over time, it manifests in the physical realm. Of course, God heals us sometimes without requiring a single utterance from us, but at other times, He wants to convince us by His Word of that healing. In my case, I believe that there's no other way that I will win the battle over insomnia- and no other way that I will know of His healing power for others, until I apply the Word to my own life.  Yes, He has used medicine to make me well, but He also wants me to see the body, soul and spirit healing contained within His Word; within Jesus' sacrifice, and through relationship with Him. 

Seek His face, and you will learn more about who He is for you, and how He can make you not only well, but whole, by His Spirit, and by His Word- the most powerful medicine there is. 

12-Webinar Series on How to Heal from Chronic Illness- In Body, Mind and Spirit

Beginning (approximately) October 1st, I will be doing a series of 12 webinar teachings on how to heal from chronic illness- using the power of prayer, inner healing methods from a Christian perspective, medicine, and more. 

The series will be bi-monthly on the first and third Wednesdays of the month, through March 2015, for approximately 1.5 hours, beginning at 6 PM PT, 7 PM MT, 8 PM CT, and 9 PM ET. (Dates occasionally may be subject to change due to holidays or unforeseen emergencies). 

Each session will include a teaching, and then an interactive healing session and/or prayer to practice concepts shared in the teaching, and to identify and heal hidden blocks to healing. The teachings will last approximately 45 minutes to an hour, and the interactive sessions will be approximately 20-30 minutes. I will leave 15-30 minutes of time at the end for questions and sharing. This schedule is subject to change but so far, this is the plan!

The topics include:

1) The Hierarchy of Healing- Spirit, Mind and Body. How to heal on each of these levels and why spiritual healing is the highest level and can effectuate change at the other levels.

2) Why God gave us healing as part of Jesus Christ's sacrifice and atonement; why it is always God's will for us to be well, and how we can appropriate that healing.

3) How God heals through relationship with Him, the power of His Word, and by blessing your spirit. 

4) Identifying and eliminating harmful inner vows, bitter root judgments and expectations, fragmentation, and other roadblocks to healing

5) Healing from rejection and abandonment (the principle emotions that open the door to Lyme disease, according to Drs. Cowden and Gilbert Renaud) and hopelessness.

5) Tailoring a diet to your unique biochemistry. Based on my upcoming book with Dr. Cowden, Foods that Fit a Unique You.

6) How to detoxify and keep your body and home clean and free of environmental toxins. Based on my recent book with Dr. Cowden, Create a Toxin-Free Body and Home...Starting Today.

7) Lifestyle strategies for wellness and overcoming a sickness/Lyme disease identity

8) Discovering and breaking generational curses that cause or contribute to disease

10) Using amino acids, nutrition and bioidentical hormones to heal from depression, insomnia, brain fog, anxiety, fatigue and other symptoms common to those with chronic illness.

11) Identifying and healing from a poverty spirit

12) Setting boundaries in relationships 

I will not be charging for the sessions; however, I will be taking donations, which you can send me via Paypal at: Connie9824@aol.com. (Setting up a Paypal account is easy if you haven't done this before). You can also send me a check or a one-time donation via credit card.  

Because of the immense amount of time, energy and expense involved in doing this six-month series, if I find that I'm unable to cover my expenses through donations, I may need to charge a nominal fee of $10 per person per webinar after the first webinar. If this happens, I will offer a discount to those who want to pay for the remaining 10 sessions as a package. I don't want finances to be a reason for anyone not to attend, however- as I believe that God wants to bless many through this teaching series- so if it becomes necessary to charge for the series, I will offer a limited number of scholarships to those who truly cannot afford it. And please don't be shy about asking- if you want to attend, God will make a way!

These are all topics that I'm passionate about and which I have learned to be essential to recovery. God placed this idea upon my heart so that those who have not found healing through their current medical protocol might find it through Him and these teachings. It is based on my 12 years of research and study on healing, personal experience of illness, and what I have learned from doctors, ministers and other health care professionals. Hope to "see" you there!

I will post sign up information here and on Facebook in September. 

The Path to Chronic Illness

This morning, I was reviewing some notes from a Lyme disease conference that I attended last year, and was struck by something that one of the doctors shared at the conference. I guess it's because what he shared is similar to a theory that I've believed for a long time, which is that Lyme disease, and many other chronic illnesses, aren't caused by infections - rather, the infections are the result of a body that's been broken down by stress.

This may not be true for everyone, but I can't tell you how many stories I've heard about people that have gotten sick from Lyme during an intense time of stress.  That stress can be from environmental toxicity, a bad diet, or a harried lifestyle, but more often,  it is the result of prolonged emotional stress.

According to this doctor, prolonged stress causes the sympathetic nervous system, or the body's fight-or-flight system, to activate and remain activated.  This causes the neuroendocrine (or hormonal and neurological systems) to de-regulate, which then causes problems in the GI tract, which then causes problems in all systems and organs of the body. A weakened body then becomes hospitable to infections and toxins. Therefore, toxins and infections are the result of stress, but the terrible catch-22 is that toxins and infections then add to the stress that was already there before.

The sympathetic nervous system is designed to save us when faced with a strong threat or fear- but it isn't meant to be continually activated. Continual activation of the fight-or-flight response, even if it is a low-grade activation, suppresses the immune system and gastrointestinal function, making us hospitable hosts for infection.

Unfortunately, the hurried, harried and isolated lives that many of us in the West (and especially in the United States) live, means that our sympathetic nervous systems are continually activated.

Perhaps even more damaging, however, is when we live in fight or flight mode, because of habitual patterns of harmful thinking and beliefs that were embedded into our limbic systems as a result of PTSD or trauma. Early-life trauma is especially damaging. Some examples of beliefs and emotions that result from trauma include fears of abandonment, rejection and not being able to survive in the world.

Lee Cowden, MD and Recall Healing practitioner Gilbert Renaud have linked the development of Lyme disease to a conflict of separation, or abandonment. In other words- lots of folks with Lyme disease have had the disease process triggered by a situation of abandonment, or an early life abandonment, the emotions of which were reactivated later in life and acted as a trigger for symptoms.

I don't know how often this is true, but I agree with the theory that chronic illness is often triggered by perpetual sympathetic nervous system activation. Or said more simply- FEAR.

Getting sick only adds fuel to the fire of fear, as when your ability to function and provide for yourself becomes compromised, many new fears enter the picture.

I believe this may be one reason why some people with chronic illness struggle to recover. Healing happens when the body is in relaxation mode, but Lyme disease (or any chronic illness for that matter) tends to perpetuate and magnify the stressors that initially caused the illness.

So what do you do, if you find yourself in this sinking boat?

Well...you go after the end products of the stress, and eliminate the toxins and the infections, but you can't stop there. You've got to go after the initial cause(s) of stress.

I'll tell you what I have done, and what I still do. I pray, and I ask God to show me the emotional conflict(s) behind the stressors that were the trigger for living in "fight or flight." Sometimes there are more than just a few, but usually, there is a relatively small core set of beliefs that keep the body in fear mode.

I then pray, and ask God to heal me of the lie-based thinking, or the beliefs that led me to live in a state of low-grade anxiety, or outright fear. I then work on replacing the lie-based beliefs with affirmations of truth, and practicing mindfulness of my thoughts as I go about my day.  The patterns of belief and thought are usually deeply embedded in the limbic system and the cellular memory, which is why I ask for God's supernatural hand to remove the programming from my DNA, and to help me re-wire my thoughts. I don't think it's something that most of us can do by willpower alone. We need Him to literally re-wire our belief systems, and feed His thoughts into our minds.

It sure isn't an overnight thing. I speak from experience. But it is worth the effort, as God promises to heal us, as we seek Him and acknowledge Him in all our ways.  (Proverbs 3: 5-6). And knowing that we don't have to do it alone- that it is He who works in us to will and to do (Phil 2:13) relieves any pressure on us to perform- another factor that feeds fear.

Sometimes, when life gets hard, I have to get off my computer, turn off my phone, and spend hours, or even days, in the presence of God. It's the only way I can get out of "fight or flight" mode, and when I do, I return to the demands of life with a greater sense of peace.  And it works. Twelve years ago, I suffered from such a terrible anxiety disorder that it was as if someone were holding a gun to my head 24-7. I lived in constant fear of dying of a heart attack. I even went to the ER once for a relentless panic attack.

Today, I no longer suffer from that kind of fear. I don't have panic or irrational fears. I still battle to not live in fight or flight, because a lifetime of harmful programming often takes years to undo, and the pressures of society and work lend themselves to SNS dominance. But when I spend enough time in the presence of God, my mind rests, and with that, my body.

If you haven't been healed by herbals, drugs, vitamins or other remedies, I encourage you to seek God for wisdom about any potential emotional conflicts behind your symptoms, and for the power and ability and wisdom and discernment to resolve those. This can help bring your body into a state of rest, so that you can experience deeper healing.

God and His Healing Power- He's Not Just a Form of "Higher" Energy, but Also a Person and the Creator of the Universe

As the premise of this blog states, I don't believe that healing from chronic illness is simply a physical endeavor. It is emotional as well as spiritual.  Most people who embrace holistic wellness would also agree.

Health care practitioners with a new age or Eastern medical perspective (which is popular in holistic and integrative medical circles nowadays) often advocate spiritual practices as an essential component of recovery. Practitioners might suggest to their clients, for example, that they do some yoga or meditation as part of their recovery.

In Christianity, spiritual healing is also central to the entire healing process, and is based on principles found in the Bible and a 24-7 relationship with a living God who leads and guides us in our decision-making, and transforms our thoughts so that they conform to His, not our own, which are subject to fallibility.

It seems to me that in some holistic medical circles, Eastern and new age spiritual practices are almost universally accepted as the best way to address the spiritual component of wellness.  Let's face it- it's cool to be a Buddhist; to channel energy, to be a medical intuitive; to do Reiki, yoga and the rest, but it's not so cool to be a Christian and to practice healing through Biblical principles and the Holy Spirit.

I could be wrong, but these are my impressions based on what I have observed at medical conferences and through talking with many health care practitioners, since I often hear practitioners advocating spiritual practices from the East, but I seldom hear talks about the power of Jesus or the Holy Spirit to heal.

Maybe the collective belief is that this sort of chatter is best reserved for the church, but that Eastern practices are okay because they are based on science or an intellectual philosophy rather than religion (which is not true).  Still, I can't help but wonder why it is okay to talk about God as a higher energy- as prana, chi or otherwise- but not as a person?

Is it because the belief among those in integrative medical science is that God is only universal energy, which we can channel at our will- but that God is not a person, with a will, thoughts and emotions?

Yet the Bible, which I believe is the infallible, inspired word of God, demonstrates that God is actually comprised of three persons- The Father, Son (Jesus Christ) and Holy Spirit- and they they all have a will, thoughts and emotions. 1 John 5:8 of the Amplified Bible states: "So there are three witnesses in heaven, the Father, the Word (Jesus) and the Holy Spirit, and these three are one..."8 

Christianity has earned a bad reputation in the United States among some people. And I don't necessarily blame those that have been turned away from organized religion, since Christians are often known more for what they are against, rather than what they are for. Indeed, some of us have done a better job of reprimanding people for who or what they are or are not, instead of loving them unconditionally with the love of God.

This has led some folks, I believe, who were once open to the idea of a loving God, to embrace the idea of universal energy instead. Which to me is sad because, well...I think that God isn't just energy, but the One that created the Universe and who longs to have a relationship with us! (Notice I did not say that God is human :) And God is the mightiest force in the Universe; the Creator, the alpha and omega; the beginning and end of all things (Rev. 22:3).

And though I consider myself part of the integrative, or holistic wellness community, I don't share the popular new age perspective that the Holy Spirit is simply Christianity's way of defining universal, or higher energy, or that Jesus was just another good man, or healer, on earth. Because the Holy Spirit is more than energy- He is also a person, with a will, thoughts and emotions, and He is part of the Godhead, as is Jesus Christ.

I respect everyone's right to believe differently, and I believe that all faiths have aspects of truth to them- but we let's face it, we all believe in an ultimate truth- and just as some believe in universal energy, so I believe that Jesus Christ is the ultimate "way, truth and the life"(John 14:6) - and not just the truth of life here on earth, but in the Hereafter.

I also believe that not all energy is created equal. Our bodies are comprised of electromagnetic fields, which we can channel for our healing and that of other people. But the higher, more powerful energy of the universe comes only from three sources- God, demons, or angels.

Which is one reason why I don't pray for people using any means or medium besides Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. And I don't allow anyone to pray over me using a random form of "higher energy"--because for all I know, no matter how well-intentioned the channeler might be, that energy could be demonic, or from a dark spiritual entity, if you prefer- which can then bring harm to me or someone that I pray over.

Anyway, I love praying through the Holy Spirit, since He is God, and as such, imparts not only physical healing to us, but also a profound revelation of His love, Jesus' love, and God the Father's love towards us. He doesn't just fix the broken bone- He shows us who He is for us, and His remarkable compassion towards us, through His healing touch.

Jesus Christ still heals through the Holy Spirit today, like He did when He walked the earth 2000 years ago, and abides in all those who believe in Him and who receive Him as their Lord and Savior. Do you know Jesus, God the Father and the Holy Spirit? If you don't, I invite you to put aside all prejudices and preconceived notions about who they are, and ask God to reveal them to you....You just might be surprised at the gentle, loving persons that you meet!

Why Toxins Are A Principal Cause of Most Chronic and Degenerative Diseases Today

According to renowned integrative medical doctor and osteopath Garry Gordon, MD, DO, MD(H), in the foreword that he wrote to Dr. Lee Cowden's and my just-released book, Create a Toxin-Free Body and Home...Starting Today , studies reveal that newborn babies today are born with more than 200 different types of environmental toxins in their bodies. It is a myth that when babies enter this world, their bodies are pristine and toxin-free.  If this is true, then just imagine how many more toxins those of us who have been on this earth 30, 40, 50 years or more have accumulated in our bodies!

Sadly, we have polluted God's green earth with a multitude of chemical, radioactive and electromagnetic toxins- which have soiled our food, air and water supply, and in turn, our bodies and homes. The truth is that we are all full of harmful toxins such as heavy metals, phthalates, PCBs, dioxins, GMOs, pesticides, herbicides, antibiotics, pharmaceutical drugs, radiation, and more.

Nobody is exempt from their influence. Even if you don't yet have symptoms, take it for granted that your body is storing a lot of junk from the environment, and that it is likely to affect your health down the road, especially since the amount of toxins to which we are all being exposed is multiplying exponentially over time.

Our exposure to environmental toxins has resulted in an epidemic of chronic, degenerative health conditions and diseases- everything from heart disease, to cancer, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, Parkinson's, ADD, autism, irritable bowel syndrome, migraines, and Alzheimer's- just to name a few. A hundred years ago, these types of diseases were rare, if they existed at all.  In conventional medicine, most of these diseases are managed with drugs, as their true cause remains masked and hidden to the afflicted.

So many of us with undiagnosed and chronic symptoms such as fatigue, pain, depression, anxiety, insomnia, headaches and allergies--are really suffering from the effects of environmental toxins upon our bodies. Toxins cause inflammation, disrupt and destroy enzyme systems, metabolism, and other biochemical and electromagnetic processes in the body.

Fortunately, by identifying and removing these toxins from our bodies and homes- we can heal from our "mystery" illnesses and experience a reduction in, or complete elimination of, our symptoms. Environmental toxins are sometimes only part of what is making us sick- but more often than not, if we will remove them from our bodies, we will experience radical, accelerated healing from whatever else ails us (such as cancer, Lyme disease, and other infectious diseases).

It's not always easy to identify the things in our environment that are making us sick. Toxins are often invisible  and we don't feel their effects at the time that we are exposed to them. But as we begin to remove them from our bodies and homes, we may notice our symptoms abating; our energy increasing, our thinking becoming clearer, our sleep improving, and aches and pains disappearing.

This process doesn't happen overnight. For me, it took years, but had I had the information that Dr. Cowden and I shared in Create a Toxin-Free Body and Home...Starting Today  years ago, when I first got sick, I believe I would have healed much faster.

Dr. Cowden and I wrote this book to provide a broad overview of the multitudes of types of toxins that we are all exposed to today, as well as do-it-yourself and doctor-assisted solutions for removing them. It is a short, easy-to-read book, but power packed with useful information and tips that are based on my long battle with chronic illness, and Dr. Cowden's over 25 years of working with patients with environmental illness.

It's not just enough to take some chlorella or do a sauna once a week. While doing one or two things to get rid of toxins is better than doing nothing, we seriously underestimate the problem of  toxins if we think that one or two therapies or supplements is enough to stay become, or remain, healthy.  Removing and avoiding toxins is a multi-faceted endeavor and we all need to understand the how, where and what of a variety of types of toxins, in order to live a long, healthy life, or recover from the health conditions that ail us.

I am passionate about this book, because I believe that it will save lives and cause those of us who follow the guidelines therein to be happier, healthier and stronger over the long run.

We need to all stop eating genetically-modified, contaminated food, and avoid talking on our cell phones and ipads for hours daily, if we want to be well. We need to get informed about how smart meters, mold and microbes are draining the life from our bodies. We need to understand that our bodies weren't created to ingest hormones, chemicals and antibiotics on a daily basis. We need to know that it's not okay to use household and personal care products that contain artificial chemicals, or these chemicals will eventually end up inside of us and make us sick down the road.

I don't want to sound alarmist, but I want my readers to understand the seriousness of this issue- because as you do, and follow the recommendations outlined in Dr. Cowden's and my book, I believe you will feel better, stronger and happier than you ever have before. Longevity these days depends upon maintaining a clean diet, and doing regular detoxification to remove accumulated toxins.

Dr. Cowden and I have tried to make this process easy, by sharing what we know, in simple terms, the different types of toxins to which we are all exposed, along with strategies and tools for eliminating them from your body and environment.

You can read the introduction to our book by clicking here.  Also, Dr. Cowden and I will be releasing two more books in the Journey to Wellness book series later this summer and in early fall. To learn more about these, I invite you to visit my homepage: www.ConnieStrasheim.com. The books in this series are designed to provide you with all the necessary tools that you need to be well- in body, mind and spirit.