The Blind Receive Sight

Stephanie Stocks

December 1, 2018

Calvary temple, Calvary temple pastor Scott, Healing, Pastor Scott, Prayers, Uncategorized

The following testimony was submitted by Donna Martindale

And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee. Luke 18:42 (KJV)

My sight was declining.

Last year, I visited my regular optometrist because my vision was no longer correctable with a new prescription. I was referred to an ophthalmologist for some detailed exams. My left eye was diagnosed with a disease called macular pucker.

Macular Pucker is a condition where scar tissue forms on the macula, located in the retina, causing blurred and distorted vision.

The only cure is a delicate surgery which is not always successful, and the post op is very grueling. The ophthalmologist referred me to a retina specialist. After a week, I wrote a letter to my doctor telling her that I appreciated her expert advice, however, I would not be seeing a specialist at this time.

I was going to make it a matter of prayer, and believe that the Lord would heal me, and that I would see her in a year for another check-up.

Last week I went in to see her again, trusting that the Great Physician had done a good work. As the doctor checked the new images taken of my retina, she turned and looked at me and said, “Donna, a healing has definitely taken place!” I was so excited, I cried out. “Oh, praise you Jesus!” and she replied, “And I am praising Him right along with you!”

I am so very grateful, humbled, and excited because of the goodness and faithfulness of our God! I want to shout it from the house top with my hands lifted up, “Thank you Father, thank you Jesus, thank you Holy Spirit!” Lamentations 3:25&26 says, The Lord is good to those who wait for Him; to the soul who seeks Him. It is good that one should hope and wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord. To God be all the glory for the things he has done! I love you Lord!

ABOUT CALVARY TEMPLE

Calvary Temple is an independent church which holds to all Assemblies of God tenets of faith. Calvary Temple ministries include Discipleship Training, adult Bible college, media ministry, and an aggressive missions program.

Pastor Star R. Scott is Senior Pastor of Calvary Temple in Sterling, Virginia, where he has ministered since 1973. In addition to the pastoral gift, Pastor Scott functions in the five-fold offices of apostle and prophet. He has planted churches, and currently oversees the pastors and ministries of numerous satellite churches.

Visit Calvary Temple online on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube,Flickr,Instagram

calvary temple miracles Suicide Hope Salvation

From Suicide to Salvation: The Path of Hope

Stephanie Stocks

June 11, 2018

Hope

“The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” Deuteronomy 31:8

The following is a testimony of Salvation and Hope after suicide attempts

I don’t think I really wanted to die. I needed hope.

I was desperate to get people to see how badly I was hurting. I wanted them to change, and in turn my life would change. I wanted love, peace and hope. I wanted to live. All the things I had used to fill my emptiness were either gone or had lost their effect. Popularity from my looks, the attention I got from guys, drugs, partying, relationships, none of it satisfied me and none of it was lasting. I was trapped in despair and I came to a place of hopelessness that I had never known before. I was sick of living.

I started making a real suicide plan. One that would get the job done.

The only thing holding me back was the fear of dying. I thought maybe a new start was what I needed. So, I moved down to Atlanta to live with my mom. I met new people to party with and was able to distract myself for a while from the terrible ache in my heart. I was still trying to read the devotional books my aunt had given me over the years, so I would wake up, make my coffee, roll a joint and have my devotional time.

I also started hanging out with a woman I had met through my mom. She was very charismatic and seemed very spiritual. She always had her little New Testament Bible with her. She believed that smoking weed was the secret knowledge to knowing God. She had told me one time that she was an angel, and a prophet sent by God. That she was not from this world. It was a little weird, but I thought, if I can keep smoking pot and still be right with God, you can be whoever you want to be.

I believed in God. I believed that Jesus died on the cross. I believed he rose from the dead. I knew everything the Bible said was true. Somehow, I thought I was right with God and that I would go to heaven when I died. I didn’t want anyone to have full control of my life except for me. I had wanted to know God and be right with God on my terms. Yes, I clearly committed all kinds of sins, but I reasoned that God knew why I did what I did. I had been neglected, mistreated, rejected, betrayed. I was a victim. I expected God to overlook my sins and allow me to come into heaven just as I was.

Soon things took a turn for the worse. My mom lost her apartment, and she moved in with her boyfriend. I moved in with the charismatic woman, her boyfriend and her children. But she started getting weirder and weirder. She was involved with demonic influence and it was terrifying. I started getting sick a lot. I was breaking out in weird skin rashes, and I couldn’t sleep at night.

The word of God that I had been taught in Sunday school and all the things I learned from my Aunt kept coming back to me.

I started to feel very wrong about smoking pot and the life style I was leading and saying it was okay with God. One day I confronted my friend and told her how I felt. She told me I was not free enough in the spirit to sin, and God was disgusted with me. She started getting not only weird but scary. She was very aggressive, and I was worried that if I didn’t agree with her she would hurt me or call up her spirits to try and persuade me. I needed to get away from her. My mom and I planned a trip to Florida for thanksgiving. I told the woman I was going for a long weekend, but while she was not home I packed my few belongings and made my escape. I never saw her again.

With my mom in Atlanta

I didn’t know what to do. I needed to stay away from the crazy woman. I was sick of smoking pot. It wasn’t fun anymore, but I just didn’t know how to stop. And honestly, I was scared to stop. How would I exist in reality without any kind of defense from the fear and anger and emptiness that consumed me? My Aunt had told me, “Jesus can satisfy you.” So, I stepped out in faith, and put Jesus to the test. I said out loud, “Okay Jesus, you say you can satisfy me, so come and do it.” I threw my cigarettes and the last of my weed away. Nothing magical or mystical happened right away, but I had strength to take another step. I called my aunt to tell her what i had done.

I remember very clearly the realization in my heart and the change that took place when I encountered Jesus for the third time.

All my life I had made God into who I wanted him to be. I had been a victim and I felt God should give me a free pass. I didn’t want anyone to have full control of my life except for me. I had wanted to know God and be right with him, but on my terms, not His. And it had never worked. Until God opened my eyes, and I saw Jesus as the victim of my actions and sins.

The reality that God loved my while I was in that miserable state of sin and independence was what led me to repent and turn form my own ways.

I was captured and captivated by the loving kindness of a holy and just God who would be right in sending me to hell, but because of what Jesus did on the cross, he embraced me and welcomed me to be his child. I had never known love and acceptance before. But now I had the peace and joy I had been desperately searching for since I was four years old. It was Jesus. He was the answer. I was born again Praise God!

I no longer wanted to die. For the first time in my life I had hope and it didn’t come from anything or anyone but Jesus.

Jesus delivered me from drugs and drinking, and my life was completely different. I still had to deal with a lot of my emotional struggles that I had carried for a very long time. But instead of getting high or turning to a boyfriend, I learned how to run to Jesus. I spent many nights face down on the floor crying and pouring my heart out to him. He always met me right where I was at and as I trusted in him, he healed my heart day by day. I learned how to look to the word of God and live by the scriptures, and not my emotions or circumstances. My hope was no longer dependent on people or things, but on Jesus alone, and because of that I had hope regardless of my situations.

Cheerleading Coach for Vacation Bible School

Suicide is something that is becoming more and more rampant in our society especially among teenagers. Recently in the news we’ve heard of the deaths of Robin Williams, Kate Spade and Anthony Bourdain. All taken by their own hands. There are so many who are fighting the same battle I once was. So many who are empty, lost, and hopeless, desperately searching for peace and purpose in life. We try to fill our hearts with so many things, but the Bible says that we were made by God and for God so only he is able to fill us.

Jesus is our only Hope for deliverance.

My circumstances definitely contributed to my struggle with depression. And my situation made me more aware of the hopelessness of this life and led to thoughts of suicide. But the real reason for my miserable existence was because I was in the world without God and without hope. My constant turmoil was because I was not right with God. I wasn’t happy because my sins weren’t forgiven. Even during the times when things were going the way I wanted, and I had something to look forward to, there was still a void inside.

Best Friends and Sisters in the Lord

Its been 18 years since Jesus did a miracle in my heart! I have never been the same. He is a good and faithful God. He is my greatest treasure. He has blessed me with so much more than what is necessary and what I deserve. He placed me in this church at Calvary Temple where I have attended for 15 years. I’m loved, and cared for by the body of Christ, and continue to grow in my walk with the Lord.

With my friend Sarah and our girls

God has blessed me with an amazing husband who I met at my church. He is a Man who loves God with all his heart, and who loves me with a love that is beyond what I thought possible. We’ve been married for 10 years now and through good times and not so good, he is still the delight of my heart, and I’m his because Jesus is first in both of our lives. We’ve been blessed with two children who are our treasure. I am so thankful for the beautiful life God had prepared for me since before the beginning of time.

I never dreamed of the blessings the Lord had in store for me

During those years of suffering and sin, I never in my wildest dreams thought I would have the life that I have now.

If you can relate to my story on any level, I want to tell you, God is full of compassion and tender mercies. His loving kindness is better than life. His love is limitless and he loves you. God sees you, and he cares. He knows every tear you’ve ever cried, and every heartache you’ve ever had. He knows every fear that haunts you, and every bondage that holds you. He also knows how to comfort you, and how to heal you. There is nothing you have done that God cannot forgive. His hand his strong and he is mighty to save! He will not turn you away when you come to Him. He wants to give you a new life. All you have to do is step out in faith and put your trust in Him. Jesus will meet you where you are. Let him do a miracle in your heart and in your life! You can read more about God’s plan of salvation for your life here.

Don’t miss Part 1 of Candace’s story, Drug Addiction, Depression and Suicide.

ABOUT CALVARY TEMPLE

Calvary Temple is an independent church which holds to all Assemblies of God tenets of faith. Calvary Temple ministries include Discipleship Training, adult Bible college, media ministry, and an aggressive missions program.

Pastor Star R. Scott is Senior Pastor of Calvary Temple in Sterling, Virginia, where he has ministered since 1973. In addition to the pastoral gift, Pastor Scott functions in the five-fold offices of apostle and prophet. He has planted churches, and currently oversees the pastors and ministries of numerous satellite churches.

Visit Calvary Temple online on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube,Flickr,Instagram

Drug Addiction, Depression and Suicide

Stephanie Stocks

June 4, 2018

Calvary temple, Deliverance, Healing, Prayers, Salvation

“Remember that you were at that time separate from Christ…having no hope and without God in the world.” Ephesians 2:12

The following is a testimony of deliverance and hope after multiple attempts to commit suicide

I first heard about Jesus in Sunday School at 5 years old.

The teacher stood at a felt board with a cross and a heart. She shared the simple story of how God sent his son Jesus to die on the cross for our sins. If we asked him into our heart, he would come in and he would save us and forgive us, and we could be in heaven with him when we died. I remember feeling like I was different from the other children. I felt like I was dirty, and they all seemed so wholesome. It became real to me that morning that Jesus loved me. That was the first of many times I would ask Jesus to come into my heart and save me.

I was not a happy care free child, always sad and anxious. I spent many sleepless nights crying and full of anxiety, praying to the Jesus I’d heard about at my grandparents’ church. Please keep my mom safe, and send me to live with her one day. And I would ask him to come into my heart and save me over and over.

By the time I was nineteen I would have tried to commit suicide three times.

As a teenager, I started drinking and smoking pot very heavily. There was not a day that went by that I didn’t get high. I got high when I woke up, I got high on the way to school. I would walk out of school during the day to get high, I got high after school, and I got high into the evening. My friends started calling me Cannabis. Most of them partied on the weekend just for fun, but I got high to survive the sadness and anger over my childhood. Getting high was an escape from all the bad feelings inside of me.

My life was going downhill and becoming more reckless.

I was constantly in trouble at school, being called to the Vice Principal’s office several times a week. Punished with detention for not doing assignments, for being late, for disrupting class and for being a clown. Getting suspended for being a loud mouth and disrespecting authority. I said and did whatever I wanted. If my teachers crossed me, I would verbally assault them in front of the class. I absolutely hated authority and I loved creating conflict with them. I knew I wasn’t going to suffer any consequences or discipline at home. It was empowering. No one could control me, and I could do whatever I wanted. I thought I had nothing to lose, but I was failing school, I was caught smoking and kicked out of cheer leading, and I was deeply unhappy.

The only time I knew any of peace or walked in any kind of sanity was when I would go to visit my Aunt and Uncle who were Christians.

From the time I was 12 until I was 16, I would stay with them for 2 weeks every summer. There would be no smoking, drinking or getting high. I would go to church, read my Bible, read my devotional, and loved to listen to Christian music. There was such a peace during those weeks. I didn’t have inner peace, but I was surrounded by the peace that radiated from their home and their lives. I purposed that when I got home, I was going to be good. No drugs, alcohol, or partying. I was not going to have relations with my boyfriend, I was going to go to church and do my devotions every day. But every single time, within hours of getting home, I was back to my old lifestyle, and worse than I was before, powerless to do what I knew was right.

The first time I tried to commit suicide I was 14.

I spent a week in Intensive Care. It was there that I had my second encounter with Jesus. A girl from my grandparent’s church had come to see me. She had been praying for me at their request when they became concerned about my lascivious lifestyle. I remember when I opened my eyes and saw her face. She looked so peaceful. With love in her eyes and compassion in her voice, she took my hand and said “Candace, Jesus loves you.” I knew it was Jesus talking to me and reaching out to me through her.

I didn’t receive the Lord then. I continued partying and got involved with an older man. At 15 I became pregnant. He told me it was him or the baby. I didn’t want to abort my baby, I wanted to at least give it up for adoption, but he did not. I was young, and I didn’t want to lose the only person who had ever made me feel loved, he was my whole world. By the time I made the choice to abort my baby, I had convinced myself I was making the best choice for everyone including the baby, so I went through with it. Immediately after the abortion, I felt an incredible emptiness inside. I hated myself even more intensely than before. Anytime regret or grief came up I justified my choice with all the reasons why I did the right thing.

I also began to get high more and more to drown out my guilt and shame. I had dabbled with cocaine, mushrooms and LSD from time to time in the past, but I mostly smoked pot because that was the drug always available in my home town. Living in the city meant more types of drugs were available to me and I could get them in greater volume. My whole life was one big party. During this time my relationship with my mom was at its worst. I had so much anger and bitterness toward her. She started trying to do what was best for me and saying a word I was not used to, “No!” Well, I was not having that. I had gone my whole life doing what I wanted, and I wasn’t about to change. But I was 16 and living the fast life was getting old.

I was deeply depressed, and when my boyfriend broke up with me, I tried to commit suicide by overdosing for the second time.

Again, I ended up in the hospital and it was one of the lowest points of my life. When I was released, I was sent to a juvenile psychiatric ward. I begged my mom to let me come home, but she did what she knew would be best for me. She left me there to be evaluated, and to ensure I wouldn’t be able to harm myself again.

I hated every minute of that place. It was very depressing. I had no way to do drugs or distract myself from my inner turmoil. It was also very disturbing. I shared a room with a girl who would wake up screaming and hallucinating.

I knew that unlike her, my depression was not a mental condition but a heart condition.

After a few weeks I was finally able to go home, but with some stipulations. I had to continue seeing a psychiatrist and stay on antidepressants, and I had to go back to school. I despised all the stipulations, but anything was better that being a prisoner in the psych ward. Emotionally fragile, and afraid of returning to public school, the psychiatrist recommended I attend a small tutoring center for teens who didn’t do well in social situations, or who had “emotional disabilities.”

I worked hard, and eventually applied and received acceptance to the Rochester School of the Arts alternative program. My Junior year of high school began with a new hope. But I still did not give up drugs altogether. Every day, as soon as I finished my homework I would get high. On the weekends I would party hard and try to recover on Sunday to get ready to go back to school on Monday. As time went on, it became harder and harder to not get high and party as much as I use to.

The emptiness in my heart was glaring and consuming.

The antidepressants were making me feel like a zombie, so I stopped taking them. My grades started slipping and I couldn’t wait for summer break to be free from the responsibility and discipline I had put myself under to do well at school. I returned to my home town to party with my old friends.

By Christmas, I moved out of my dad’s house and moved in with my friend and her boyfriend. I started using a lot of cocaine and dropped out of the School of the Arts. My friend’s boyfriend kicked me out because I couldn’t keep a job and wasn’t contributing in any way. It was the dead of winter in western New York and I spent a few miserable nights sleeping in my car. My dad had pity, and rented a small apartment for me above a store on Main Street. I didn’t have a job, but in exchange for doing dishes at a friend’s place of employment I would get a meal.

I was beat up by life and felt very alone, hard, and numb. No matter how much alcohol I would drink or pot I would smoke, I couldn’t get the high I was looking for. I was paranoid and anxious; an empty shell at 19. I had no tears, no passion, no vibrancy. I didn’t care about anything. I was without hope.

But this is only the middle of my story. With Jesus, there is always HOPE.

Read Part 2 of Candace’s testimony: From Suicide to Salvation: The Path of Hope

If you are struggling with thoughts about committing suicide, or feel hopeless with nowhere to turn, Jesus is the answer! He loves you more than you can even imagine. Reach out to him today and he will radically change your life and fill you with peace and joy. You are not alone. Read more about God’s love for you and the Hope you can have in Jesus here.

ABOUT CALVARY TEMPLE

Calvary Temple is an independent church which holds to all Assemblies of God tenets of faith. Calvary Temple ministries include Discipleship Training, adult Bible college, media ministry, and an aggressive missions program.

Pastor Star R. Scott is Senior Pastor of Calvary Temple in Sterling, Virginia, where he has ministered since 1973. In addition to the pastoral gift, Pastor Scott functions in the five-fold offices of apostle and prophet. He has planted churches, and currently oversees the pastors and ministries of numerous satellite churches.

Visit Calvary Temple online on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube,Flickr,Instagram

God Heals Autoimmune Disease Pt.2

Stephanie Stocks

November 22, 2017

Calvary temple, Calvary temple pastor Scott, Healing, Pastor Scott, Prayers

Sarah was diagnosed with autoimmune hepatitis. The doctors stressed that there was no cure. But our God is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think according to his power that works in us.

Go here to read God Heals Autoimmune Disease PT 1

It was February of 2016. I was in the hospital reeling from the news that i had an autoimmune disease that had no cure. We started the conventional treatment of Prednisone and discharged from the hospital. I had a terrible reaction to the steroids and had to stop taking them immediately. My doctor then wanted me to try some other medications, but I declined.

I believed that the Lord had put in my heart not to take them. I continued to have weekly blood work taken and my liver enzymes began to come down. But I was still in an extremely dangerous health crisis. The GI specialist told me I would need a complete liver transplant in the near future. I transferred to the head physician of the liver transplant center at the University of Virginia.

In April 2016, I had my initial consultation and we began preparations to get on the liver transplant waiting list.

The Transplant Center performed a liver biopsy. It confirmed that I had an active autoimmune disease that was attacking my liver cells. My cells were dying faster than they could regenerate. The head physician of the liver clinic, Dr. Northrop, straightforwardly informed us that my condition was dire. I was in end stage liver failure and needed to start steroids right away. My liver cells were dying faster than they could regenerate.

He told us that if I didn’t start the medication, I would certainly be dead within 2 years.

As Taylor and I talked and prayed about what to do, I still felt very strongly that I shouldn’t take the medication, but continue to look to the Lord. But, I told my husband that I knew God had put him over me as my God-given head and covering. I would start the medication if at any time he felt that I should.

Together we decided to trust the Lord moment by moment, and if God wanted us to change our course He would let us know.

The song, “Bless the Lord, Oh my Soul…Worship His Holy name…Whatever may pass and whatever lies before me, let me be singing when the evening comes…” strengthened my heart during this time. I hung it on my refrigerator and sang it to myself almost every day.

As time went on, I began to research alternative ways to slow the progression of the disease. I became very strict about my diet hoping that would help. Even though I wasn’t taking medication I continued to have regular blood work and follow ups at the UVA Liver Clinic.

Seven months later, in November 2016, Dr. Northrop informed me my liver enzymes were spiking again and it was imperative that I start steroids immediately or I had less than a year before a liver transplant or death.

He also recommended I go to John Hopkins and Georgetown Hospitals to get more opinions. Maybe they could “convince me of the severity of my disease to start medication.” I hung up the phone, and for the first time during the illness, I felt crippled by fear and confusion. I had tried as hard as I could in the natural with a healthy diet, exercise, rest, eliminating my exposure to toxins, but it wasn’t enough. I felt scared, alone, and in the dark.

That evening we met with our Pastor and his wife. We shared the grim report we had just received. They encouraged and prayed with us, but I was still feeling very downcast. Near the end of our conversation, Pastor Scott spoke these simple words to me. “Sarah, just make sure you’re abiding in the vine.” Those words hit my soul like a load of bricks.

At that moment, I realized I just needed to get back into God’s presence. Without even realizing it, I had allowed the cares of this life to crowd out the presence and Spirit of God, and now I found myself feeling lost, alone, and in the dark.

I began to fast and pray. I needed to hear the voice of the Lord again.

On the third day, while my kids were napping and I was painting, the Lord spoke one word to my heart – REPENT. I instantly fell to my knees, broken before the Lord as He began to show me that there was still so much in my life that was displeasing to Him. My pride, my independent spirit, my vanity, how easily I steal God’s glory when I do something “good”, how I say I’m trusting Jesus with my illness, but at the same time I was putting more trust in perfecting a healthy diet and lifestyle than I was in Him for the healing of my body. As I began repenting, the Lord brought true remorse and change over the sins and weights in my life.

In January, Taylor and I began seeking the Lord specifically as to whether I should start the steroids and go to John Hopkins or Georgetown to see more specialists. After a few weeks of seeking the Lord and wisdom from other counselors in our lives, we still hadn’t felt the Lord leading us in a specific direction.

My husband decided that if we didn’t sense a specific direction by the end of that week, then I should start the medication.

A few days later while I was folding laundry and praying in the Holy Spirit, I felt a prodding in my spirit to call my primary care doctor and schedule an appointment to have all my blood work checked again. It was also during this time that I began to experience a worsening of the liver disease symptoms again. Feeling hopeless and discouraged, I decided to step out in my own wisdom and reach out to holistic liver practitioner to start 6 months of holistic therapy and supplements. I was scheduled to start the alternative therapy on the exact day my blood work results came back.

The blood work showed that my autoimmune disease was completely gone, and my liver enzymes were normal.

My kids were in the car with me when I read the results and we began shouting out PRAISES TO GOD! I then called my husband and drove to my Pastor’s house to share the news. I called the liver clinic at UVA and told them about the incredible bloodwork results – the nurse was shocked, speechless. She passed the message on to the doctor and he called me 5 times that day with different questions. The doctor said that, “I had proved him wrong every step of the way. He had never seen someone come back from end stage liver failure to perfect health. Especially with having taken no medications.” However, because he is a man of science; I must still have the disease since it doesn’t just “disappear” and there is no cure. He wanted me to get routine blood work done and come back to see him if I get worse again.

He discharged me from the liver clinic because I definitely did not need a liver transplant anymore.

There was indisputable proof that a supernatural healing had taken place in my body. And it had nothing to do with medication or human ability. “..for I AM the Lord that heals thee.” Exodus 15:26

In the following months, I continued to have routine blood work done as my doctor requested. The liver tests improved even more, confirming that my liver was functioning and healing from all the damage. My increased energy and vitality alone is undeniable proof of the miracle God has done.

If you’ve been blessed reading the testimony of what our Lord has done, check out the other posts on my homepage.

ABOUT CALVARY TEMPLE

Calvary Temple is an independent church which holds to all Assemblies of God tenets of faith. Calvary Temple ministries include Discipleship Training, adult Bible college, media ministry, and an aggressive missions program.

Pastor Star R. Scott is Senior Pastor of Calvary Temple in Sterling, Virginia, where he has ministered since 1973. In addition to the pastoral gift, Pastor Scott functions in the five-fold offices of apostle and prophet. He has planted churches, and currently oversees the pastors and ministries of numerous satellite churches.

Visit Calvary Temple online on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube,Flickr,Instagram

God Heals Autoimmune Disease Pt. 1

Stephanie Stocks

October 31, 2017

Calvary temple, Calvary temple pastor Scott, Healing, Pastor Scott, Prayers

Sarah Kain began having unusual symptoms in the fall of 2015. Her health deteriorated quickly and launched her family down a road of medical tests, discovery and faith. This is the harrowing story of her mystery illness and near death. But God’s hand was always there to heal, and set her free.

The following testimony was submitted by Sarah Kain

Having always been a healthy, strong, energetic young woman, I knew I hadn’t felt like myself in a while. I kept blaming it on the fact that I was now a mom of 2 young kids. This constant state of exhaustion was my new normal. Everything I ate or drank gave me pain, reflux or nausea. My body ached, I had zero energy and I was covered in bruises. I experienced intense itching all over my torso. My abdomen was extremely bloated even though I’d unintentionally lost 10 lbs. I had swelling and pitting in my legs from fluid. My skin and eyes had a yellow hue, and some other disturbing symptoms I’ll spare you the details of.

I told my husband one Sunday as we were leaving church, “I feel like my body is shutting down.” It wasn’t until January 2016, after I’d experienced a miscarriage that I couldn’t seem to recuperate from, that I finally had to see a doctor.

One morning I was feeling very discouraged about the mysterious condition I was in. I began pouring my heart out to the Lord. I opened my Bible and began reading about the life of King Asa. Immediately the words on the pages came alive and spoke to my spirit.

2 Chronicles 15:12-13 Asa in the thirty-ninth year of his reign was diseased in his feet, until his disease was exceedingly great: yet in his disease he sought not LORD, but looked to the physicians.”

It was in this moment that the Lord impressed so clearly upon my heart that I was to seek GOD and not solutions from the doctors for whatever illness was going on in my body.

I shared this with my husband and although we didn’t fully understand all that would entail at the time; I was fully persuaded that this was the direction God had for me. All I knew was if I kept my eyes on the LORD, no matter what was going on in my body, everything was going to be OK regardless of whether or not I was healed.

On February 15, 2016, my primary care doctor told me that something was terribly wrong with my liver and I needed to go to the Emergency Room right away. When we arrived at the ER, they informed us that I was in liver failure and they didn’t know why. I was an otherwise healthy 28-year-old female that had never smoked, drank alcohol, or done drugs.

Normal liver enzymes are between 0 and 55. My liver enzymes at the time were 961. Normal bilirubin levels which causes jaundice are between 0.2 and 1.2. Mine was 10.6. The doctors were very concerned and began running every test checking for hepatitis, liver diseases, genetic diseases, parasites, cancers etc. I was immediately hooked up to heart monitors because when your liver doesn’t function, your blood becomes very toxic and can lead to heart and brain failure as well.

My husband sent a message asking our church family for prayer. Soon after the message went out for prayer many of the terrible symptoms, discomfort, and exhaustion I had experienced for months began to subside.

So much so, that I wanted to go home, but the doctors objected. They kept me in the hospital for a week as they closely monitored me, ran tests, and consulted with many physicians and specialists from other hospitals and liver clinics. During this seemingly turbulent time, my husband and I were in complete peace. I hated being stuck in the hospital, but there was no fear, no crying, no asking why.

I felt like the Lord had me cradled in His hands above the storm.

During my hospital stay, the Lord gave me multiple opportunities to minister to others with severe illnesses, as well as, many of my doctors and nurses. My Pastors, family, and friends visited me daily in the hospital, cared for my husband and babies while I was unable too, and offered up many prayers on our behalf. I am so thankful for my brothers and sisters in Christ.

I was diagnosed with autoimmune hepatitis, and likely had battled it longer than we realized.

There appeared to be extensive damage already done to my liver. Autoimmune hepatitis is not contagious. It’s a rare, but serious condition where your immune system attacks healthy liver cells which ultimately leads to cirrhosis and liver failure as I was experiencing. The MRI showed that my liver was extremely swollen and had hardened masses in it, which meant this disease had raged in my body for some time. The specialist explained to us that the only treatment option was to try to slow the progression by suppressing the immune system and reducing inflammation in the liver. There was no cure.

^“Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.” Mark 9:23

Read Part 2 of Sarah’s amazing testimony next time on Calvary Temple Miracles

If you’ve been blessed reading the testimony of what our Lord has done, check out the other posts on my homepage.

ABOUT CALVARY TEMPLE

Calvary Temple is an independent church which holds to all Assemblies of God tenets of faith. Calvary Temple ministries include Discipleship Training, adult Bible college, media ministry, and an aggressive missions program.

Pastor Star R. Scott is Senior Pastor of Calvary Temple in Sterling, Virginia, where he has ministered since 1973. In addition to the pastoral gift, Pastor Scott functions in the five-fold offices of apostle and prophet. He has planted churches, and currently oversees the pastors and ministries of numerous satellite churches.

Visit Calvary Temple online on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube,Flickr,Instagram

A Perfectly Straight Spine

Stephanie Stocks

January 8, 2017

Growing up Calvary, Healing

“Let the little children come to me” Matthew 19:14

The Following Testimony was submitted by Hannah Heglund

When Braden was 6 years old he began complaining of lower back pain. We noticed a muscle mass on the right side of his lower back. His doctor referred us to a Pediatric Orthopedist at Children’s Hospital. We were able to get an appointment with the head of the department in November of 2014.

At that appointment, Braden was diagnosed with scoliosis. He had a 17 degree curve in his spinal column. The specialist said the curvature would undoubtedly increase drastically as Braden continued to grow. We would likely be looking at a full time brace for his back in the near future. He also prepared us for the likelihood that Braden would need surgery as time went on.

We were all upset at this diagnosis and immediately made it a matter of prayer.

Braden was especially upset about the diagnosis. He began to be fearful about what his future might look like and what he may have to endure. As a family we began to speak wholeness over his body and we reached out to our friends and church family for prayer for him. He began Physical Therapy weekly, and had daily exercises to do at home to combat the scoliosis.

Six months later, a new x-ray revealed he now had an 18 – 19 degree curvature. On one hand, this was a praise because for having grown several inches, the specialist expected the curvature to be worse than it was. On the other hand, this was discouraging, especially to Braden, because he had fervently been asking Father to touch his body and heal him.

A few months later, Braden began to have a flair ups of the pain in his lower back, despite the therapy. We took him to a chiropractor for muscle testing and adjustments to provide him with some relief from the muscle spasms.

The chiropractor discussed Braden’s case with the doctor who owned the practice. The said that Braden’s treatment would be about 2 – 2 1/2 years. We decided to begin with treatment, and again enlisted our prayer warriors to battle for Braden’s back. At this point, our main concern was for the daily discomfort he had to live with.

We were hoping the adjustments from the chiropractor would help with some relief.

Throughout these months, Braden had been faithfully praying for the Lord to touch his back, as I know many of our family and friends were also praying. We got to know the chiropractor really well and we were able to share with him our faith and trust in Jesus. The kids constantly invited him to our church outreaches and I had many conversations with him about Jesus and who He is to us as well as several opportunities to pray for him for various trials.

After just a few months of treatment I remember the chiropractor continually commenting on how well Braden was looking and that he would like to take another x-ray ahead of the scheduled one in the Fall. On April 14, 2016 he examined Braden before adjusting him and asked if he could take a quick x-ray prior to the adjustment. I remember vividly standing behind the little protection wall as he snapped the x-ray and watching the film immediately pop up onto the screen.

There it was, a perfectly straight spine.

Braden had NO scoliosis. It wasn’t “improved”, it wasn’t “resolving”, it was healed.

Braden and I had a little praise session right there in the x-ray room! We went back out into the exam room to have an adjustment. We watched as several doctors streamed in and out of the x-ray room. Our regular chiropractor joined us a few minutes later and told us that he and the rest of the staff had been comparing Braden’s previous films with today’s films. They all were in disbelief at how quickly Braden’s back had straightened.

He was, of course, basking in the glory of his patient who was doing so well under his treatment. I smiled at him and gave him a big hug and said, “I am so so thankful for you and how well you have taken care of my little boy. You are amazing with him. However, I think you know that I have to tell you why Braden’s back is so straight!” He laughed and said ” I am pretty sure I know what you are about to say!”

He was right. I was able to share with him again how many people had been praying for Braden’s back and how, while we were extremely grateful to him for his expertise and his gentleness with Braden, that the true reason for his straight spine was answered prayer from a God who hears. He didn’t miss a beat and was still grinning from ear to ear and said ” I believe that to be true.”

If you’ve been blessed reading the testimony of what our Lord has done, check out the other posts on my homepage.

ABOUT CALVARY TEMPLE

Calvary Temple is an independent church which holds to all Assemblies of God tenets of faith. Calvary Temple ministries include Discipleship Training, adult Bible college, media ministry, and an aggressive missions program.

Pastor Star R. Scott is Senior Pastor of Calvary Temple in Sterling, Virginia, where he has ministered since 1973. In addition to the pastoral gift, Pastor Scott functions in the five-fold offices of apostle and prophet. He has planted churches, and currently oversees the pastors and ministries of numerous satellite churches.

Visit Calvary Temple online on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube,Flickr,Instagram

The Blind Receive Sight

Stephanie Stocks

December 19, 2016

Calvary temple, Calvary temple pastor Scott, Healing, Pastor Scott, Prayers

“One thing I know, that once I was blind, now I see.” John 9:25

The following testimony was submitted by Jerry Brooks

In December of 2015, I went to my usual 6-month eye doctor appointment. When looking at the eye chart with my left eye, I read the letters with no difficulty. When they covered my left eye to read the chart with my right eye, I thought they had moved the chart and turned out the light. It was all dark! I said “there is nothing there!” She said “you don’t see any letters?” I said “no, nothing at all!” After the doctor examined my eye, they said that I needed to see a specialist.

Jerry Brooks hole in eye

The very next morning, the specialist found a hole in my eye. They didn’t know what could have caused the issue, but I was not worried. I just had peace! I told them that Jesus could heal my eye. Meanwhile, I began praying for myself and others to be healed.

My next appointment with the specialist was in March of 2016. They took a picture to see if there were any changes and the hole was shrinking! I told them that Jesus was healing me!

They scheduled me to come back three months later. Weeks before the appointment, as I was praying, I told the Lord that even if He didn’t heal my eye, I would be faithful to Him only. I prayed, “Lord, please have compassion on the others!” Their healing was way more important than my eye. Then I felt the Lord heal my eye! I couldn’t wait to go to my next appointment to hear the good news! I was so excited!!

On June 29, 2016, I went to my next appointment and they took another picture of my right eye.

“The hole was no longer there! Jesus healed my eye! I could see!”

Mark 5:19 — Jesus said “Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you.” I am so excited to tell others about what the Lord has done for me!!

If you’ve been blessed reading the testimony of what our Lord has done, check out the other posts on my homepage.

About Calvary Temple

Calvary Temple is an independent church which holds to all Assemblies of God tenets of faith. Calvary Temple ministries include Discipleship Training, adult Bible college, media ministry, and an aggressive missions program.

Pastor Star R. Scott is Senior Pastor of Calvary Temple in Sterling, Virginia, where he has ministered since 1973. In addition to the pastoral gift, Pastor Scott functions in the five-fold offices of apostle and prophet. He has planted churches, and currently oversees the pastors and ministries of numerous satellite churches.

Visit Calvary Temple online on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube,Flickr,Instagram

The Prayer of Faith Shall Save the Sick

Stephanie Stocks

December 8, 2016

Growing up Calvary, Healing, Pastor Scott, Prayers

“And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Phillipians 4:7

The following testimony was submitted by Gwen Wotring

What started as a routine physical turned into a nightmare! But it was miracle that we will never forget!

I took Sydney for a routine physical. Her Pediatrician felt that her spine was curved a bit so she wanted to check for h. The x-ray process went smoothly. The Radiology office automatically sends the pediatric films over to Children’s Hospital for them to review.

When Children’s reviewed the films, they noticed something that concerned them. They saw a shadow on the left side of Sydney’s lower back that they were very concerned about. She used the words, “Possible mass that is pressing against her spine and she definitely has scoliosis.”

They were so concerned that they wanted Sydney to get an MRI as soon as possible.

The Pediatrician was going to schedule the MRI at Children’s Hospital, and we would be hearing from them soon. I was scared. I called my husband, Matt, to tell him what the doctor said but I couldn’t get through it without crying.

When we told Sidney what the doctor’s were concerned about, and that we were believing for God to do a miracle in her body. Her attitude the entire time was one of, “God’s got this! I’m not at all worried!”

I’ve never seen a child so calm about anything.

We got the call that the MRI was scheduled for Thursday morning. Matt really felt strongly that we should have Pastor Scott lay hands on Sydney Wednesday night in church, and pray for her to be healed. We wanted everyone in our church to be believing with us.

So that night, Pastor Scott anointed Sydney with oil and prayed over her in the name of Jesus. Again, the peace of God was on her and us. It was an amazing feeling!

During the check in process at Children’s Hospital, Sydney was so calm that even the workers were amazed.

I was able to share with them that we had prayed, and a lot of people were praying for her. We believed that we wouldn’t be back, Jesus had healed her! When they took her back for the MRI, I sat in the waiting area praying that whatever was ahead for us as a family, that God would give us the grace to stand through it. Father gave us all such a peace that we will never forget. They called us 90 minutes later and said that the MRI was finished. Then they informed us that it would be a few days before we heard any results.

We really didn’t want to have to wait over the weekend to find out if our child may have cancer, but Father again gave us peace about it. Sydney’s pediatrician, however, woke up Friday morning thinking about Sydney and wanted to know what the results were, now! She called them first thing to put a rush on the results. I received a call from her about 1 o’clock that afternoon. She said, “I heard back from the hospital, and I wanted to give you the news. There’s no mass and the scoliosis is only showing as a mild case!”

What showed on the original x-ray as being a severe case of scoliosis showed on the MRI as a mild case. What showed on the original x-ray as being a large mass pressing against her spine was completely gone!

If you’ve been blessed reading the testimony of what our Lord has done, check out the other posts on my homepage.

About Calvary Temple

Calvary Temple is an independent church which holds to all Assemblies of God tenets of faith. Calvary Temple ministries include Discipleship Training, adult Bible college, media ministry, and an aggressive missions program.

Pastor Star R. Scott is Senior Pastor of Calvary Temple in Sterling, Virginia, where he has ministered since 1973. In addition to the pastoral gift, Pastor Scott functions in the five-fold offices of apostle and prophet. He has planted churches, and currently oversees the pastors and ministries of numerous satellite churches.

Visit Calvary Temple online on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube,Flickr,Instagram

God Can Restore What Was Lost

Stephanie Stocks

January 4, 2016

Prayers, Salvation

“I will restore the years that the locust has eaten” Joel 2:25

The Following Testimony was submitted by Rodney Smith

I have a son that I did not see for almost 20 years.

Because of my sin and selfishness, I had not had a relationship with Nathan from birth. I had only met my financial obligations. But after my repentance, the Holy Spirit began to weigh it heavily on my heart to reach out to him. Through hours of prayer and biblical counsel I chose to write Nathan a sincere letter of apology and told him about how God had changed my life. I wasn’t sure that he would even read the letter, but in it I told him that if at any time he wanted to contact me I would welcome it.

Through the mercy of God, it wasn’t long before Nathan contacted me. He told me that he was a born-again believer and attended a spirit-filled church. He told me that he forgave me. Even though he had never met me and could have been bitter and resentful, instead he had been praying for me and my salvation for 13 years. He had wanted nothing more than to meet his dad and for him to know Jesus.

“I am confident that my salvation was an answer to the persevering prayer of a child moving in faith for 13 years, Hallelujah!”

God has blessed me with the opportunity to be reconciled with my youngest son, and now we are getting to know each other.

If you’ve been blessed reading the testimony of what our Lord has done, check out the other posts on my homepage.

About Calvary Temple

Calvary Temple is an independent church which holds to all Assemblies of God tenets of faith. Calvary Temple ministries include Discipleship Training, adult Bible college, media ministry, and an aggressive missions program.

Pastor Star R. Scott is Senior Pastor of Calvary Temple in Sterling, Virginia, where he has ministered since 1973. In addition to the pastoral gift, Pastor Scott functions in the five-fold offices of apostle and prophet. He has planted churches, and currently oversees the pastors and ministries of numerous satellite churches.

Visit Calvary Temple online on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube,Flickr,Instagram

With God All Things Are Possible

Stephanie Stocks

September 28, 2015

Calvary temple, Calvary temple pastor Scott, Healing, Pastor Scott

“For we know that all things work together for good to them that love God.” Romans 8:28

The following testimony was submitted by Shelly Perozich

“There’s been an accident.” Five words a mother never wants to hear.

Our youngest son was at a friend’s house where the parents were going to supervise the teenagers playing with BB guns. In the course of “patiently” waiting for the parents, the BB guns were handled, and one of them went off. My son was accidentally shot in the eye. Our friends rushed him to the emergency room where we thought we would be dealing with, at worst, a scratched cornea.

The local hospital performed a CT Scan which showed the BB still lodged in the eye-ball. He was taken by ambulance to Children’s Hospital. The next thing I knew, my son and my husband were gone with lights and sirens blazing.

When I arrived in the ER, the first doctor was explaining the surgery. “We’ll try our best,” she said, “but, he will probably lose his eye.” The Lord’s grace was very tangible upon us. We told her that we were sure that she was a good doctor, and that she would do everything she could, but that our God was going to allow our son to keep his eye.

My husband had heard from the Lord that morning while fasting and praying. The Lord made Romans 8:28 very real to him. God says that…”all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purposes.” Talk about the great timing of our Heavenly Father!

We always knew our steps were ordered, but this confirmed in our hearts that Jesus had allowed this in our lives at this time.

It was late at night, and we were waiting for the eye surgeon in pre-op. Our anesthesiologist arrived and we started talking with her. It turned out that she was a Christian! How assuring it was, as a mother, to know that a sister in the Lord was taking care of her baby.

The surgeon arrived with an even more negative report than the one we had received during the first consult, but we kept believing. After what felt like many hours of surgery, although I think it was really only about one, the surgeon approached us with a very perplexed look on his face. He said that he had to draw us a picture of what he saw during the operation because he couldn’t believe it himself.

He said that when the BB went into our son’s eye it tore a half-moon shaped rip in his cornea, and when he went to sew it back up again the two sides matched exactly. When he put in the last stitch, the eye became instantly water tight. He said, “This never happens. The torn pieces never match and hold fluid like that.”

We got to tell him that Jesus is in charge of this and that with Him all things are possible!

Letter from the Anesthesiologist

At this point, there were probably a thousand people praying for our son, and we KNEW that he would keep his eye!

When we arrived in post-op, there was a letter from the Christian anesthesiologist. She wanted to comfort us with the verse, Romans 8:28…”all things work together for good to those that love God, to those called according to His purposes.” Our Jesus is so good to us. This was just the first of many miracles that He has done for us on this journey with our son.

If this testimony has blessed you, check out the other posts on my homepage.

About Calvary Temple

Calvary Temple is an independent church which holds to all Assemblies of God tenets of faith. Calvary Temple ministries include Discipleship Training, adult Bible college, media ministry, and an aggressive missions program.

Pastor Star R. Scott is Senior Pastor of Calvary Temple in Sterling, Virginia, where he has ministered since 1973. In addition to the pastoral gift, Pastor Scott functions in the five-fold offices of apostle and prophet. He has planted churches, and currently oversees the pastors and ministries of numerous satellite churches.

Visit Calvary Temple online on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube,Flickr,Instagram