Fighting for Ivy

“For nothing is impossible with God.” Luke 1:37

When I accepted a job offer at a local elementary school, a couple of months ago, I knew that God had placed me there for a reason. I didn’t know what it was, but there were way too many tiny pieces that fell into place one after another, for it to be a coincidence. My faith walk has taught me that there are no coincidences.

I have been blessed to be welcomed by a wonderful community of teachers, administrators, kids and their parents at my new school. But, perhaps the person who has welcomed me the most has been our nurse, Ivy.

She’s a quiet soul with one of the kindest hearts I have ever seen and a true healer. She loves every child who crosses the threshold of the clinic. She made it her business to tell me almost everyday how glad she was that I was there and I would tell her how glad I was to be there and I meant it.

The two of us would start the day in the office, at 7:00. The lights were still off and it was quiet, the way it rarely is in an elementary school. We would each talk about what was going on with our families in those few minutes of quiet and then we would pray together.

Afterwards, we would turn on the lights and begin the day.

Ivy, is a woman of great faith and an inspiration to me. She has recently received a diagnosis of ALS. You may remember all of the, “ice bucket challenges,” that covered social media last year. That’s ALS. The prognosis is not good. But, Ivy is a woman of faith and faith changes everything.

She confided in me that she had prayed about it and she believes she will be healed. So do I.

The odds are not in her favor. Fortunately, our God doesn’t play by the odds. We worship the God who created the earth, the God who created the human body, the God who parted the Red Sea, the God who sent us Jesus, who raised the dead and healed the sick. Do I believe He is capable of healing Ivy?

I do.

Everyone at school is asking how they can help her. Meals have been lined up and money is being raised and I know my sweet friend is grateful beyond words. She has told me so.

But, I also remember about this time last year, asking for prayers, here in this space, for a friend of mine’s sister-in-law who was going to Africa to help fight the Ebola virus, even though it would be dangerous for her. She too, was a woman of faith. God protected her and I believe we all had a part.

When we pray, we are standing in the gaps. When we pray as a group, the miraculous can happen. It has been said that while miracles do not produce faith, faith does produce miracles.

I am asking all of my readers to become prayer warriors with me for Ivy. I am asking that we remember who the God we serve is and what He can do, and the things that are possible with prayer.

One of the last scriptures that Ivy and I prayed together before she was put on medical leave was from Mark 5:34. Jesus was speaking to a woman who had been suffering for twelve years. No doctor could help her. The woman simply touched Jesus’ cloak. Jesus turned to her and said, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.”

Let’s pray that prayer for Ivy and wait expectantly for big things.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂