#SpreadTheGospel

Hey! Hey! Hey!

The countdown to the end of the year has officially begun and some malls in Nairobi have already set up their Christmas trees!

It’s been a long time coming since my last article and it sure feels great to be back! 🙂 I was to publish this blog post on the first day of this month but an interesting thing happened as I was preparing this article…. I fell ill!  I was writing about healing then I got sick. Ironic, right? But in all things, God remains Supreme.

On 1st November, 2019; after days of experiencing debilitating chest pains, laboured breathing and incessant coughing, I was diagnosed with bronchopneumonia.

I was in and out of hospital and spent most of my days either in bed or sitting on a recliner chair.

In spite of the ailment, God sent His angels to take care of me. Also, God made sure that I was engulfed with so much love and concern all around me from friends, family and colleagues. I was so touched!

My total recovery took fourteen days and during the period, when I was not in hospital, I spent my time at my sister’s place because I live alone hence there would be no one to take care of me. My parents live in Mombasa and thus big sister came to the rescue … 🙂

I was extremely weak and performing basic functions such as talking and eating were excruciating. While at my sister’s place, my niece and my nephew never left my side. They would always come and snuggle me and tell me that they love me and that I am their favourite aunt. ❤ God bless them! My nephew would keep smooching my face all day long. This, my dear readers, really blessed my soul. God sent those sweet children to reassure me of His ever constant care for me.

I thank God that I am healed, I am happy and that Jesus died so that by His stripes, I could claim my healing.

But he was pierced for our rebellion,
crushed for our sins.
He was beaten so we could be whole.
He was whipped so we could be healed.

Isaiah 53:5 (NLT)

I resumed work on Monday this week and God had a sweet surprise lined up for me!

As I had mentioned earlier on in this post, I had started working on the Healed & Heels article even before the bronchopneumonia afflicted me but now, I have more to testify about God’s healing power!

A few years ago, I had been diagnosed with a terminal illness and before I move on to the cracks of the matter, I would like to set the tone by having you listen to the song below. I encourage you to listen to it till the end

The year was 2011, I was in campus at the time. One fateful day as I was walking in the Students’ Centre with my friends, I heard a snap sound & I fell to the ground. I felt a sharp pain in my left knee. Turns out that the snap sound came from my knee.

My friends picked me up & took me to the school’s sanatorium for some first aid and further check up. I was told to rest my knee that day and in the evening, I was “discharged” from the sanatorium after a daylong rest.

That incident was unusual but definitely not something to get concerned about. Little did I know that it marked the onset of an unusual change in my body. My joints would swell ever so often especially when the weather changed drastically. These swellings would be red and so painful. Any kind of movement proved to be debilitating & would result in me being bed ridden.

Hospital visits became more frequent as the symptoms kept worsening but there was still no diagnosis… yet. Painkillers and anti inflammatory drugs became part of my diet. I was referred to an orthopedic surgeon who prescribed some X-ray tests for me and the results showed that I had early spiking of tibial bones. You’re wondering what early spiking of tibial bones means huh? Well, I’m glad to answer that:

“Tibial spiking (i.e., spurring of tibial spines) is reported as a reliable marker in the detection of early osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis is a degenerative disease that involves articular cartilage and targets certain joints such as the knee. Radiographic findings of osteoarthritis include joint space narrowing, marginal osteophytes, bone cysts and subchondral bone sclerosis, and the absence of bone atrophy …”

Source: Skeletal Radiology 

In 2013, I was advised to visit a rheumatologist and after a few tests, it was discovered that I had early osteoarthritis.

“A rheumatologist is an internist or pediatrician who received further training in the diagnosis (detection) and treatment of musculoskeletal disease and systemic autoimmune conditions commonly referred to as rheumatic diseases. These diseases can affect the joints, muscles, and bones causing pain, swelling, stiffness, and deformity. Rheumatologists treat joint disease similar to orthopedists but do not perform surgeries. Common diseases treated by rheumatologists include osteoarthritis, gout, rheumatoid arthritis, chronic back pain, tendinitis, and lupus.”

Source: American College of Rheumatology

The cause of the condition was a mystery because my case could not be placed under any of the causative agents. As time passed, the arthritis became worse; it developed to become reactive osteoarthritis. Mobility was becoming laborious and my immune system was starting to fight itself. I was subjected to taking several pills a day, numerous hospital visits and continuous medical tests.

I could no longer wear my fancy stiletto heels and walking in itself became a tedious task. It got to the point that I could even lose grip of things and at times I was not even able to hold anything. I had to be fed, I was bed ridden and in excruciating pain.

Even in that scenario, God was so gracious to me. I received the best  medical treatment. I went to the best rheumatologist in the region, whose bills cost a hefty amount but God used my mother to cater for everything. The drugs, physiotherapy treatment, consultation fees and all medical-related expenses were taken care of. There was no fundraising whatsoever and I attribute that to God’s providence.

Another aspect that I am grateful for was that God always kept a smile on my face in spite of the pain that I was in. Most times, I would be all alone in the hospital room so I would take several selfies – as you can clearly see!  Little did I know that I would use those pictures for my testimony years later!

(I am in the same blue gown the difference in the pictures is my hairstyle)

The hospital became my second home as I could be there for 6 days a week for almost a whole month. I was familiar with most of the hospital staff; from the caretakers to the receptionist to the therapist, you name them. My doctor even suggested that I should get married to his son! My presence was so familiar in the hospital that when I did not show up for a few days, my hospital buddies i.e the staff members there, would call to tell me that they had missed me.

When I got born again in 2015 and started going to church, the first thing that struck me was how the choir members were able to sing and dance in high shoes when I could barely stand throughout the Praise & Worship session. The soles of my feet would be on fire but I was hopeful that one day, I would get to sing and dance in high shoes just like the choir members.

Shortly after my salvation, I joined a Discipleship Class. It was there that I was taught about deliverance and I realized that my health afflictions were all stemming from the works of Satan.

As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth.  His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”

“Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him.

John 9:1-3 NIV

As the course of my deliverance continued, the symptoms of arthritis were reducing by and by. I was anointed for new bones and the Lord spoke over my body.

Then he said to me, “Prophesy to these bones and say to them, ‘Dry bones, hear the word of the Lord! This is what the Sovereign Lord says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life. I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin; I will put breath in you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the Lord.’”

Ezekiel 37:4-6 (NIV)

I was so encouraged by this Word and I would confess it over myself each and every day. Lo and behold, the general status of my health improved tremendously! Not only could I sing and dance throughout the Praise & Worship session, but I was doing so in my super high stiletto heels!

The swelling became a thing of the past and the pain was no more. I threw away all my drugs and I never went to another physiotherapy session again. I now do all activities without any assistance; I feed myself, I walk, I cook and so much more.

“Unless the Lord had helped me, I would soon have settled in the silence of the grave.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭94:17‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I am happy to be alive and in perfect health. I give God all the glory and honour. I thank Him for saving me from the snare of the enemy. My life is forever His.

“Let me clearly state to all of you and to all the people of Israel that [Amanda] was healed by the powerful name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene…”

‭‭Acts of the Apostles‬ ‭4:10‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Those who knew my condition sometimes ask me what I did to “get better” and I always respond that it is God who healed me. No amount of drugs, no amount of physiotherapy could ever get me to where God has placed me in life. I am healed! I am free! No more arthritis!

“He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭103:3‬ ‭GNT‬‬

So why am I talking about heels so much? I have a knack for shoes thus when arthritis took away my ability to wear high shoes, it was indeed a dark time for me. Also, Healed & Heels rolls off the tongue quite nice, don’t you think? 😉

For the record, the cover picture of the boots is a cropped version of a picture that I took with my bestie during my birthday photo-shoot. The photographer liked our shoes so much that he took a snap of our shoes alone.

Arthritis was only one of the numerous things that were going wrong in my body. I had asthma, acne, chest complications and a host of other conditions that would weigh me down. Yes, I was that sick.

If you see me right now, you would never know that I was once riddled with diseases and that is why I am writing to testify that who the Son sets free is free indeed! My skin is clear and much brighter now, the arthritis is gone, the asthma is gone and whatever else that I was suffering from is all gone in Jesus’ Name! I am evidence that God heals; He is Jehovah Rapha —my Healer!

““Return home and tell how much God has done for you.” So [Amanda] went away and told the world how much Jesus had done for her.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭8:39‬ ‭NIV‬‬

There is lots more that I can testify about but I tried to summarize as much as I could. If you are going through a tough time at the moment; be it sickness, family matters, work-related squabbles and so forth, I pray that your faith has increased after reading my testimony. So, by faith, I would like you to commit your hardship to the Lord and let Him handle it for you. God is able to do exceedingly, abundantly above all that you ask or imagine. Search for Scripture that pertains to your area of need and declare it over yourself each and every day. For me, it was Ezekiel 37:4-6 and I know if you ask the Holy Spirit, He will give you the Word for your specific situation.

Today’s post is longer than usual because I had so much to share with you and I am glad that you kept reading till the end.. 🙂 There’s a special blessing for you just for doing that! 😉

I speak forth an upcoming week full of God’s favour. I decree and declare that whatever you are hoping for, according to God’s will, will come to pass this week in Jesus’ Name.

If you would like to get born again, you could comment below and I will reach out to you. Also, if you have a specific prayer request that you would like me to pray with/for you, please feel to comment as well. Alternatively, you could send me a message on my social media platforms: Twitter and Instagram.

Once more, thank you very much for reading this article. You are blessed and highly favoured and God loves you more that you could ever fathom.

XO,