Fr. Phil Ashey: What God can do from fragile beginnings: Part 3

September 10, 2010 edition of the AAC Weekly Update
By The Rev. Canon Phil Ashey, J.D.
Chief Operating and Development Officer, American Anglican Council

Dear Friends in Christ,

Over the months that our eldest daughter Carol was recovering in the neo-natal intensive care unit (NICU), Julie and I learned some valuable lessons about “fragile beginnings.” These lessons have served us well as we have faced other fragile beginnings in life and ministry.

While praying for Carol as she struggled for her life, I learned one very important lesson: although the life support monitors could be mesmerizing, they were also helpful signs of what God was doing while we prayed. For example, one of the screens monitored her oxygenation level—that is, the amount or percentage of oxygen her lungs were actually absorbing at that moment. As the nurses and doctors explained to us, higher readings meant that her lungs were getting stronger, absorbing more oxygen, and thereby making her whole body and respiratory function healthier.

Almost every time I reached into her isolette and gently laid hands upon her to pray, her oxygenation readings went up. We know the healing power of Jesus Christ is mediated through touch, just as it was in Jesus’ own ministry. Sometimes when words failed and I began to pray in the Spirit, the readings would go up—again, a sign that God was doing something to heal and strengthen her. Still other times, as I would sing a hymn or a song over her, I would watch those readings go up. One song in particular—“Yahweh, I know you are near”—seemed to bring an immediate response whenever I sang it. So I sang it a lot. I wanted to enter into and participate in the healing that God was doing, and follow in every way that I could every visible sign of his leading and blessing. the rest-very encouraging!

Part 1 Part 2