After reading Luke 9, I had a light bulb moment through verses 1-3. (Jesus, called His disciples and then empowered them with authority to share the gospel.) He told them to "take nothing for the journey" and then spelled out the no, nos. But they were to take faith and His authority. I rendered this to mean; take nothing with you but FAITH. They were to trust that God would provide all they needed.

I recall a faith lesson as a fledgling believer. Lorretta experienced a heart flutter which took us to one of the best cardiac units on the west coast, said a nation wide publication. Tests in the hospital indicated she had a heart blockage and her heart was out of rhythm. Her room mate age 73, was facing 5 by pass surgery. The room mates sister from southern Cal. had arrived and the family was escorted to a consultation room. Soon they returned and I stepped out in the hall to find the young sister against the corridor wall looking quite feint. I asked if she need a doctor and she said no. She explained that the surgeon had just told the family her loved one faced an 80% chance of death during or following the surgery.

I was startled at the words that I said to the sister and the authority with which I said them. "God is not impressed with man's statistics or percentages. Your sister is going to be fine, because we are going to pray." Upon saying those words,
I felt a little feint myself. Who am I to speak for God! The surgery was successful and the woman was out of ICU within hours eating hospital toast. The doctors were amazed at her progress.

Months later we received a letter from the sister saying she had been a believer for many years and had fallen away from her faith. But God had used the circumstances to restore her faith and she was serving her Lord once again.

Lorretta's heart returned to rhythm and the doctor couldn't explain how the blockage was gone without causing a blockage elsewhere. We concluded the "journey" to the hospital was not just about us, though the Lord used it in our own growth process. For your journey, take nothing but faith with you.