Beverly Rose - My Jesus, Your Jesus: Inspirational Messages of Hope and Healing

MY JESUS, YOUR JESUS: INSPIRATIONAL MESSAGES OF HOPE AND

HEALING by Dr. Beverly Rose

Published by Creation House

A Charisma Media Company

600 Rinehart Road, Lake Mary, Florida 32746

www.charismamedia.com

This book or parts thereof may not be reproduced in any form, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any meanselectronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwisewithout prior written permission of the publisher, except as provided by United States of America copyright law.

Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2010, 2011, International Bible Society. Used by permission.

Scripture quotations marked KJV are from the King James Version of the Bible.

Scripture quotations marked ESV are from the Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publisher. Used by permission.

Scripture quotations marked NLT are from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, IL 60189. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked NKJV are from the New King James Version of the Bible. Copyright 1979, 1980, 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc., publishers. Used by permission.

Design Director: Justin Evans

Cover design by Rachel Lopez

Copyright 2016 by Beverly Rose

All rights reserved.

Visit the authors website: www.docbeverlyrose.com and her Facebook page at www.facebook.com/DrBeverlyRose

Library of Congress CataloginginPublication Data: 2016933814 International Standard Book Number: 978-1-62998-527-5

E-book International Standard Book Number: 978-1-62998-528-2

While the author has made every effort to provide accurate telephone numbers and Internet addresses at the time of publication, neither the publisher nor the author assumes any responsibility for errors or for changes that occur after publication.

This book is dedicated to Nancy W. Johnson, a cherished friend who brings blessing and grace to my life every day.

I MAGINE A PLACE far above your troubles. A place of hope, joy, and healing. A place where promises really do come true. An eye of the storm. Where the winds are light, the sky is blue, and the sun is bright. A spiritual sweet spot of life. Where the veil between this world and the next is so thin that you can almost touch the very hand of God.

Ive been to this miraculous place, not just once but many times. Where Ive been lifted above my suffering, above my despair, and above my trials. Miraculously healed from my neuromuscular disease, if only for the moment. Thats because Im healed in moments, although Ive yet to be cured.

You too can discover this place when you come to know the one person who can take you there. The person who loved you first and keeps loving you to the last. Who believes in you, never leaves you, and gives you hope and a future.

Where can you find Him? You neednt search far. Hes already found you. Hes in your joy, your suffering, and your trials. Hes deep within your heart. You need only have eyes to see and ears to hear whos already there.

So come along. Find blessedness in brokenness. Experience healing when youre hurting. Discover the peace that transcends all understanding. You can change your life for goodforever. When you make Jesus your Jesus.

I T WAS JUST an ordinary morning this side of the other side. I gazed at the brilliant Colorado sunrise. The Front Range of the Rockies sparkled in a rosy glow. It was a captivating sight, especially for a captive like me. I shifted in my wheelchair and adjusted the thick foam pad. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a magpie perched on a low branch of the aspen tree outside my window. It was chattering happily. Its amazing how birds get up in the morning without complaint, I mused. If I were a bird, my first thought would be what a lousy night I had. Im shivering from the cold, my feathers are dripping from the rain. And I must fix that twig that keeps sticking me in the wrong place.

I stared at the blank computer screen. I knew I should start writing my devotional book, but I didnt know where to begin. How could I explain how meeting Jesus had changed my life? In one miraculous moment, I had gone from no life to new life. From insurmountable limitations to unlimited potential. From incapacity to empowerment. From victim to victor. All from the confines of a wheelchair, while battling a progressive neuromuscular disease.

The suns rays filtered through the blinds. Streaks of orange splashed across my bare white walls. My mind flashed back to a different time and place. Where rays of morning light streamed through stained glass windows, bathing the pews of the old eighteenth century church. I could see myself standing at the pulpit, leaning on my crutches. Trying to conceal my shaky hands, taking deep breaths, and daring myself to speak.

Good morning. Today is the greatest day of my life. And Im so grateful that Im here to share it with you. Why is this day so special? Did I just win the lottery? No. Am I being honored with an award? No. Am I getting married today? No. But Ill entertain all offers after the service.

I smiled, remembering the audiences laughter in the midst of such solemnity. I can never resist telling a good joke, I mused, even in a sanctuary. I refocused on the unlikely scene.

The reason today is the greatest day of my life is because the Lord lifted me out of a sickbed so that I could come before you to attest to the truth and boundless love of Jesus Christ.

I wiped the perspiration from my forehead. Seventeen years had passed since I gave my testimony. Yet I could still feel my anxiety rising as three hundred pairs of eyes in the sanctuary stared at me. Except for the guy in the plaid suit who was sleeping in the back pew. I rubbed my aching body as my mind continued to drift back in time.

Since many of you dont know me, Id like to tell you a little about myself. I had quite a number of accomplishments before falling ill many years ago. I earned a doctorate in clinical psychology. I held an academic appointment at Harvard Medical School. I owned a beautiful condo on a New England lake. I was only months away from earning a six-figure income as an associate director of a regional nursing home program. I thought I had it all. What I didnt know was that I was about to be stricken with a rare genetic neuromuscular disease at the height of my careerwhich would change everything. I was forced to resign my position, sell my condo, and move in with my parents in Florida. Two-and-a-half months later, my mother unexpectedly died. I had lost it all. I was only thirty-four years old.

I wiped a tear from my eye and stared out the window. A mountain bluebird swooped down and perched on the aspen tree, displacing the chattering magpie. His iridescent wings shimmered in the morning sunlight. Suddenly he took wing and soared high into the sky. I marveled at how the beautiful creature could fly so effortlessly without falling. He doesnt know what its like to suddenly plummet to the ground after reaching great heights, I mused. I could almost hear my mother sighing, as she uttered her favorite expression, Man plans and God laughs. If she only knew just how prophetic her words were, I thought. My mind flashed back in time, returning to that fateful day.

When you lose the seemingly most important things in lifemoney, prestige, profession, and especially a loving motherand are left to suffer the ravages of a devastating illness, you cry out for answers.