I had a hospice patient in Rayville I visited recently. When I showed up at the patient's house he had back pain that was so severe that it reflected on his face. I led him to his chair and asked if I could pray for his back while the patient was still standing. I laid my hand on his back, after praying I asked him if he could tell any difference in his pain level. He said that the pain level had gone from an eight to a six. I visited with him and then prayed again, I did this four different times. The pain level went from an eight to a six, then to a four then to a two and then zero. The man had cold chills going up and down his back as I prayed the third time. That day God touched him and healed his back physically.
I returned a few weeks later to see the patient and the man told me that his back was no longer hurting, this was a non-solicited comment. I could tell that something was still bothering the patient. The patient told me that December was always a difficult time for him.
The patient went on to share how 30 years ago on December 24 his 10-year-old son was shot in an accident with a shotgun by a first cousin before going rabbit hunting. For many years the father has blamed himself for this incident. Wondering if he should have
allowed his son to go hunt. The son and the older brother never told their father that they were going to invite their cousin to join them.
Because of this incident there was a lot of hurt between him and the other members of the family. The family to this day has never apologized to the father. His son was rushed to the hospital in Rayville; there the doctor worked on him for hours and hours, giving him hope and then no hope. His 10-year-old son didn't make it; he and his wife went home that night and went to sleep only to be woken up by a gunshot sound from next door by the family's cousin that shot his son. The cousin and his father were rabbit hunting right near the Patient's home. The patient was deeply hurt and enraged by this lack of sensitivity. Many years went by and because of this accident bitterness and hurt affected their marriage
and the marriage eventually failed. The wife cheated on the husband, the father of the 10- year-old boy. Because of this most Christmas' seasons have not been enjoyable. Whit felt compelled to pray for this man, he got on his knees and began to hug him and hold him. He began to pray; the man began to sob as he prayed for the glory of God and the light of God to begin to heal the emotional wounds from the trauma, emotional pain, etc. With tears in his eyes he said "In 30 years I have never had a pastor do for me what you have done today".
I believes that God touched him and he will have a much better
Christian and Christmas experience.
In Jesus Service
Pastor: Whit Bass