The Power of Prayer

Wow. This weekend was amazing on a couple of levels. On Saturday, some friends of ours asked some friends of theirs to come over and pray for us. This couple (particularly the man) was reputed to have some healing powers. Its his spiritual gift. I believe that God has the power to heal. No question. I wanted to see if this guy was one of those preachers you see on TV that shout "Hallelujia you are HEALED!" and touch them and the people fall over and shake etc etc. Not so with this couple. Very soft spoken and real. I was impressed. They had no pretenses, no money was involved, nothing like that. They came and talked with us for about a half hour then asked to pray for Barry. No problemo....I say go for it!! I'll take any prayer any time for my husband. So, they anointed Barry with oil and then laid hands on him....praying for about a half hour. They were very quiet....no loud voices ....just quiet and very intense prayer. The man placed his hand on Barry's chest and back and prayed the entire time. The wife sat at Barrys feet and prayed as well. I was praying also. While they were praying at one point, the man stopped and asked..."Do you feel how hot my hands are on you?" Barry said he did. It felt like a huge heating pad turned up all the way. The man said he felt like he was touching at hot iron. He finished praying and told Barry and I that they Lord told him that we were to take communion for the next 7 days together and to watch uplifting things on TV, like clean comedy, stuff like that. No problem!! They left after we thanked them for their time and Barry was exhausted, so he went to take a nap. Later that evening, I tried to get him to come eat dinner. He was in terrible pain. He got up and ate but I could tell it was a HUGE effort on his part. I helped him back to bed and he said he was in horrible pain and could not take a breath without every part of his body hurting. His breathing was very shallow and he could not find a comfortable position in which to lay and not have his breathing hurt him badly. All night long, it went on...shallow, hurting breaths and me praying for him, laying my hands on him. I didn't sleep much, because I didn't want to sleep until he was asleep. I asked him if we should go to the hospital and get some break-through pain meds and some oxygen but he kept declining. In the morning I had to get up early and sing with the praise group. Barry seemed to be doing a bit better, but he still hurt badly and couldn't breathe and the decision was made for me to go to church and he would stay home. Our daughter was there, so I knew if there was a real problem, someone would be there to help. I told everyone at church that Barry was not doing well and wouldn't be there for Father's day service. Halfway thru the service, Barry walks down the aisle and sits next to me. Astounded, I asked him what he was doing here. He looked at me with tears in his eyes and said "Its gone. The pain is gone. I can breathe. Here...watch!" and he took a deep breath. I wanted to cry my eyes out right then and there, but had to get up and sing with the group, so I quickly composed myself and sang. Barry asked our pastor if he could say a few words after the service was over and Pastor graciously let him. Right then and there, he declared the Lord is good and that because he asked God to help him and he (figureativly) put on the armor of God during his shower he breathed out and suddenly the pain just disappeared....enough for him to hurry up and put on his clothes and join me at church. It was very touching and I was so proud of him. After the service a bunch of the guys at church laid hands on him and prayed too. What an amazing bunch of friends! We had a great Fathers day with my folks coming over and all the girls were there as well. The girls gave Barry a very sweet card and wrote all over it saying how much he meant to them. The best blessing was that Barry could breathe again. The pain was not gone entirely, but it was sooo much better than before. He may not be entirely healed, but to him and to me....it was miracle enough that in one breath, literally, the pain disappeared just like that. God is good. He has shined a light on us and given us hope again. Soooo, once again....we continue to pray and pray and pray.