My Divine Passenger!

Hey ya'll!
I'm not sure what kind of weekend you had, but mine was really not fun at all! I've really been dragging for several weeks but when I started running a temp of 102+, congestion in my chest, bad rattling cough last Thursday......This meant WAR!!! I mean, I went through this last Summer and was very ill for six weeks with acute bronchitis and bronchial spasms, absolutely could not breathe and ended up in the ER, with breathing treatments, inhalers, numerous perscription med's to attack the "bug" as my doctors called it that was causing such inflamation in my lungs and bronchial tubes. There were weeks of recovery and then weeks of laryngitis because my larynx had been so strained from such violent coughing!! The fear that tried to come against my mind and emotions was off the charts! I'm very serious when I tell you, the bronchial spasms were like being smothered to death. The natural reaction to being smothered is panic and let me tell you, the first couple of times these spasms started, even though only brief, the panic and fear that came against my mind and emotions was VERY real and everything in me would literally fight the panic and cry out to God for help! As each spasm passed, I was exhausted from gasping and fighting for my bronchial tubes to OPEN UP so my lungs could FILL UP! I clung to the faithfulness of my Lord and the power of His Word and the Mighty Name of Jesus, let me tell ya!!


At this point last Summer I had only experienced the bronchial spasms a couple of times and was really standing against them with the Word and spending time in His Presence. It was a Monday morning, my husband and I were standing on the healing promises of God, he left for work. I did a breathing nebulizer treatment, used my inhaler and went to the porch to try to relax, drink lemon w/honey hot tea and get into the Word. Now typically, my Bible of choice is my lovingly marked, old and tattered King James Bible but for "some reason" on this day I decided to grab my Message Bible. I had no particular scripture or chapter in mind so I turned to my fav "go-to" book, Psalms, and just began reading. As I turned the pages, I randomly stopped upon Psalm 71 and was just reading along when verse 23 nearly jumped off the page.......

"When I OPEN UP in song to You,

I LET OUT LUNGS FULL of Praise

My rescued life a song"

Psalm 71:23 Message (emphasis added)

If ever I knew that this was a Word from the Lord for me....this was one!!! I wanted to run, jump, do a cartwheel and twist and shout BUT Wisdom said remain calm, take easy breaths and rest! Let me tell you, I was obedient to the Spirit of Wisdom's direction but on the inside my heart was happy dancing all over the place before my King!! Glory Hallelujah!! Praise His Name for Evermore! Thank you Jesus!

Little did I know that just a few short hours later I would be in the ER with reoccurring horrible bronchial spasms - the worst yet....gasping for air, fighting to fill my lungs!! The enemy tried to hit me with his big guns this time but even if I couldn't get the breath to speak out the Word the Lord gave me just a few hours earlier I'd come up swinging from the very core of my being and whisper, gasp, or mouth these words....."In the Name of Jesus, I WILL let out lungs full of Praise and I will open up in song to Him!! And devil that means I'm gonna be filling up my lungs and Praising Jesus!!

It was a fight! The scripture and Word the Lord gave me was a weapon...a mighty unstoppable weapon. I had to fight the fight of faith with the promises of God and the Name of Jesus for my healing. For weeks after that, whenever my chest would tighten and I'd start to loose my breath, I'd wield the weapon of His promises and stretch my faith one more time, trusting Him that I AM THE HEALED OF THE LORD!! Oh, and thank God for prayer warrior friends who layed hands on me and prayed and interceded/warred with me! That's what the Body of Christ should always do.....I'm so humbled and grateful! To God be All the Glory!

And then, one day lead into the next and the next and the next and I had no more bronchial spasms, my breathing returned to normal and I realized that I no longer had that feeling or fear of having to guard my breathing. And then my voice returned to normal and I'm Praising Him everyday!!

So that brings me to last weekend. Man was I fighting that cough and chest conjestion and then the rattle and high temp manifested and along with that the enemy began to rewind the old tapes from last summer and tried to lead me into fear. I'd be lying if I hadn't felt a little scared over the last weekend. My husband and I prayed the prayer of healing and felt it was wisdom for me to quickly get in to see the doctor. This was Friday afternoon, no more appointments available so an appointment was scheduled for Monday and was told to go straight to the ER over the weekend if I felt short of breath or had bronchial spasms. Oh great, here we go again .....Honestly, that's how my emotions wanted to respond. BUT all of a sudden Psalm 71:23 raced through my heart and mind and I spoke it out......"The Lord Jesus gave me the promise of Psalm 71:23 then and it's still alive and working on my behalf now, so......In the Name of Jesus, I WILL praise Him with lungs full of Praise!! From the moment I spoke those living words, I knew I'm gonna be OK!! Hallelujah!! Thank you Jesus for Your Living Word!!!

By Friday evening I was running 103 degree fever and went to a Walk In Clinic Saturday morning. After evaluating my decreased oxygen intake level, fever and lung rattle and congestion I was sent to the ER for a chest x-ray. The doc said I have pneumonia and immediately started aggressive treatment to hit the infection hard and clear my lungs and bronchial tubes of inflamation so I will not have a reoccurance of the bronchal spasms and limited breathing like last summer. When they told me the diagnosis, I can honestly say I was not alarmed, or even rattled (God thing, God thing)! Inside my heart and mind I spoke Psalm 71:23 and continue to confess and stand upon it now!

Which brings me to yesterday morning! The morning's sky was the same as it is almost every morning in beautiful Arizona - absolutely breathtaking. But as I got in my car and began driving to my doctor for follow-up, it was as if my sences had been so heightened to all of God's gloriouis creation everywhere I looked! I mean yesterday's morning's lapis blue southwestern sky seemed particularly radiant and the mountain ranges were absolutely gorgeous! It was like I was seeing them for the first time! I put my new Kari Jobe CD in and clicked to my two fav's "The Revelation Song" and "You are for Me" and began croaking and coughing out Praise to the Lord and THEN IT HAPPENED! HE was there, His Presence was in my Jeep - so close, so wonderful.....so amazing! I felt such Peace, Comfort and Joy! I continued to Praise Him - My Wonderful Divine Passenger and when the track changed to "You are for Me" hot tears began to flow - He's always there for me and for you!  I realized He was really with me as I was really "doing" Psalm 71:23.....Even though it was difficult to do so, I was opening up in song to Him and letting out lungs full of Praise....and He joined me - in my Jeep! Jesus and Jackie in the Jeep! Hallelujah!! Hey, this gives me an idea, maybe I need a new license plate that simply says "3 J's"! PTL!


Everywhere I looked I was reminded of the Majesty and the Wonder of His Creation. It was as if we were just spending time together and He was reminding me of Who He Is and how Great and Faithful He is to His children!


I grabbed my camera and began just driving and clicking - rolling down my window here and there and just clicking all along our way. I share a few of my photos below of the beauty He pointed out on the way to and from the doctors office.  You can double-click on each photo to get the fuller view if you'd like!........


The deer just "peeked" out and posed for me before I was even out of my neighborhood....

The Sovereign Lord is my strength;

He makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights

Habakkuk 3:9

Still in my neighborhood......

So you'll go out in joy, you'll be led into a whole and complete life.

The mountains and hills will lead the parade, bursting with song!

Isaiah 55:12 Msg

Nothing is impossible with Him......

He brought streams also out of the rock

and caused waters to run down like rivers

Psalm 78:16

This is my fav! I was pulling off the exit ramp and trying to get a clear shot of the cross, free of traffic signs and didn't even realize this sign until I loaded it for this post......amazing God thing!

Don't fear, Don't panic!

Always Stop and Look Up to the Cross!!

Love, Jesus!

So, that was my Monday with My Divine Passenger and oh, what a wonderful road trip it was!!

Things went well for my follow-up - lungs clearer, oxygen level normal, bronchial tubes still congested but getting better, so I'm following doctors orders, meds, breathing treatments, rest and most importantly - I'm standing on the Promises of God! He is Faithful!

I know this has been a long post, but I just had to share and pray that it blessed and encouraged you. I've included the video below of the Kari Jobe song that always melts my heart before the Lord. It is the song "You are for Me" that I was singing (croaking) yesterday when He joined me......If you have just
a few more minutes, please simply listen to the words and let them usher your heart into His Presence.....He loves you! He is Faithful! He is for you!



Sweet Blessings!