Jehovah Rapha - The Lord that heals

Praise the LORD! I am so blessed to be able to share this with you.
I have a friend named Jeffrey. When I met him, he was dealing drugs in the Downtown Eastside, and I was chatting with him and invited him to come and have dinner with me. He came, and was quite content.
From then on I would stop to talk to him on the streets, invite him out for coffee, and he would come and things were great. He confided in me that he had HIV. He showed me all the scars on his legs and different ailments on his body. My heart broke for Jeffrey.
Some time passed and I tried to visit him a few times at his room, but was never successful. More time passed I wasn't seeing much of him. I kept praying for him, nonetheless.
About a month ago I saw Jeffrey – he wasn’t looking so good. He looked very drugged up. Usually he is high on crack and friendly and jittery, but this time he was really sedated. Jeffrey found out that he had full blown AIDS. He told me that he planned on drugging himself up like that until he died.
I was on my way to Kneedrill (a weekly time of prayer and worship in our community) and cried out to God. All I wanted was to be able to see Jeffrey in heaven, and I didn’t know how that was going to happen now. I prayed for him to have hope, I prayed for healing. I wept.
I didn’t see him for a few more weeks. I kept praying and pressing in.
This week I saw him. Something was different. He weighed about 115 lbs last time I saw him and this time he was up to about 145 lbs. He was smiling and perky. I gave him a big hug and asked him how he was doing.
He couldn’t wait to tell me (and I can’t wait to tell you!!!) – Jeffrey is HEALED from AIDS! The doctors say “in fully remission”, but I can say, he is HEALED. Praise the LORD!!! Is that not the craziest most exciting thing ever?
Please pray for Jeffrey’s salvation. I believe this is his second chance at life.
We serve a MIGHTY God. He is our Healer. Do I hear a roaring amen?!? Come on church, let’s celebrate :D

PLEASE PRAY

This morning, a fellow war college student, Joe West, had his laptop stolen from Re:Cre8 while we were praying in the next room. This laptop has heaps of projects and pictures on it. PLEASE PRAY that it will be found/returned, that the police will be able to get a hold of this laptop pronto. Please agree with us in prayer. Thanks!

Talk is cheap

I went to Cariboo Hill on Sunday morning and had the pleasure of hearing the Word of God brought by THE Michael Collins. What a guy. Seriously one of the most challenging speakers. He tells you how it is and does it in a way that brings so much conviction and no condemnation. Everytime I hear him speak it stirs me.
One of his big messages that God has laid on his heart is - Talk is cheap (love has feet).
One of the passages he was talking about was John 14:15-24. I suggest reading it. Letting it marinate a bit.
If you love Jesus - obey His commands. Jesus (in another passage) asked Peter three time if he loved Him. If you love Him - do something. Feed His sheep, take care of His lambs.
Not everyone who says "Lord, Lord" will enter into His Kingdom.
That's intense. Challenges me for sure.

I love Jesus, He knows it, I know it, but what am I doing with it. Matthew 25:31-46. Read it/meditate on it. I did, and I have to honestly ask myself if I am fulfilling this.

Lord help me not to be all talk. Teach me to be obedient and to love those you love. I don't want to misrepresent you in any way. Teach me to be more and more like you. Amen.

Update

Today we went to Needle Park to hang out with some people there and chat it up. Dan and I were talking to this man by the name of Yoyo (actualy name - Ronnie). We were laughing and having a good time and all of the sudden he takes out his rubbing alcohol bottle and takes a big swig.
No matter how many times I see that, it still gets to me. It's so sad to see. After Yoyo left we were talking to Lisa, who was in a lot of pain because of her kidneys. She was drinking rubbing alcohol too.
I wish I was able to help people see what their lives could be like. I wish that they could see how beautiful they really are.
I do feel like I am getting a lot closer to several people in my neighbourhood (on a positive note). It's nice that have deepening friendships. Mike comes in regularily to Re:Cre8 and he's really bright, fun guy to talk to. Brendan too, and Adam. Good guys.

Please continue to pray for the ministry of 614 Vancouver. It's beautiful to see flourishing friendships within this community, but at the same time so difficult to see so many things.
Also pray for PEACE for the downtown eastside. There have been several murders within a couple of blocks these past couple of months.
Blessings,

R.A.W.

Here are some shots that I took at R.A.W. (Ready and Willing)
One of the things that I have been learning/that God has been speaking to my life is about invisibility. It's all about God's glory, not my own. Praise the Lord!
(You can click on the images to see them larger)

Give it to Jesus

I often think that people are judging me, and thus I almost always feel a need to justify myself. Sometimes you need to learn to let things go and give it up to God.
People will always misunderstand you.
But it's okay, because God knows your heart, and you need to trust in Him.
That's what I am learning. I can't "prove" anything to anyone. Hopefully people will see Jesus through me at all times, and if not, then, if I've been obedient to Christ, I must let that go.
Please pray that I would continue to walk in this, and keep my eyes fixed on Jesus, on Life.
I pray this for everyone. It's so easy to get your eyes off of what Jesus is doing. Fight for it!

PS
I will be posting some pics of the wedding up shortly, thanks for your patience.

Home in VAN

Just had a great time in Toronto with the fam.
Little brother is now married and I have a new sister now. Welcome to the Ivany's Jenn! We are SO glad to have you.
Good to hang with friends and family.
Went to coffee with my mom and my dad (seperately - for some quality time), lunch with Rochelle, went to see Joel's play that he's directing, and of course saw Josh get married.
John came to my rescue in the wedding (I was the photographer) when I had a bit of a medical problem! Thanks again :)
I am very proud of my family and I know that they are proud of me.
I know that not everyone has that in their blood family, but we are part of a bigger family.
I am proud of my brothers and sisters in Christ. Sometimes we get caught up in the details of different ministry styles or leadership etc. So many things that can distract...
But family is family. It's about love, integrity, loyalty and commitment.

If you are in the fellowship of believers of Jesus Christ - you are family. You are loved. Let us act more like family, yeah?

In love,