Steven remembers, “And I was just about to pull the trigger and kill him. A light comes on in the house across the street. So, in that second, he turns around, he sees the gun trained at his head. He is terrified.”

Steven Spellman had known nothing but abandonment, rejection, anger, and violence. His mom, a crack addict, left him and his brother in a hotel room when he was 11, and never returned. His dad had long since left, leaving the two brothers to the foster care system.

Steven shared, “If my mother didn't want me and my dad didn't care about me, certainly God wouldn't; nobody else would. It didn't hurt me that no one loved me. I didn't expect love. I was worthless.”

And now at 17 years old and selling drugs to put himself through community college, he pulled a gun on a police officer investigating a crime in a neighborhood. Steven was ready to face the consequences.

Steven recalls, “So we're standing in the stalemate, 'put your gun down, drop it. You drop your gun!'” yelled the officer.

Lying on the street and bleeding from three gunshot wounds, Steven thought about one of his foster mothers, Ms. Francis, who read the Bible to him and was the only person to ever show him that he mattered.

Steven says, “When she talked to me, I wasn’t a burden. That’s the thing I remember most. I was wanted. And she would tell me, it’s because God wants you. As I stared up at the stars, I said to the Lord, ‘I’m coming home. Save my soul. But don’t let me live. Don’t let me wake up.’ He answered my prayer and didn’t answer the next one; He saved my soul and He let me live.”

The wounds would cost Steven 40% of his right lung, two ribs that were removed, and a bullet lodged in his spine that left Steven confined to a wheelchair. Steven would spend four years in federal prison for his crimes. He used that time reading his Bible and getting to know his newfound Savior. Even then, the voices of his past continued to plague him, leaving him little hope that God would heal him.

Steven shares, “I was to suffer through hell on my way to heaven. And I was just grateful that I was going to heaven instead of hell.”

After Steven was released from prison, he married his teenage sweetheart, Susanne, and they soon had two daughters. Steven’s inability to hold a job because of his disability opened the door to depression. Susanne, a CNA, began working 16-hour shifts. Still, she loved her husband and did what she could.

Susanne recalls, “I couldn’t encourage him. He was depressed. His countenance was low. I was always praying that the Lord would heal him.”

At the suggestion of his wife, Steven started writing and he also took care of their two daughters. By the summer of 2019, Steven, now 39 years old and overweight, could only walk short distances with the aid of a cane. So he began taking martial arts classes to strengthen his body and for self-defense. One day, his instructor, Scott, prayed for God to heal him. Something Steven had long given up on.

Steven remembers, “'So like, do you feel anything? Has anything changed?' And I told him, 'no.' He began to ask me, ‘Well, what is your relationship like with God? How do you see your Savior?’ And I told him, 'My savior is a harsh task master. And I am a tool in His toolkit and not a particularly well-kept tool.'”

Scott’s wife, Lynn, who was also there, spoke up. Steven recalled, “'No. You are beloved of God. His thoughts towards you are more than the grains of sand upon the sea. He knew you before you were ever born.' That resonated with me in a way that was spiritual.”

Scott prayed again. And then…Steven shares, “I lifted my cane above my head and I'm looking in astonishment. So the pain is gone.”

He told Susanne about how God healed him.

Susanne remembers, “I would see him walking around and he was standing taller and he wasn't using his cane. I had my husband back full of life again.”

Eventually, Steven was fully mobile and began working at Scott’s martial arts studio. He also continued writing which allowed Susanne to quit her job and stay home to take care of her family something she always wanted. Then, three years after his healing Steven went to get x-rays.

Steven recalls, “And she was like, ‘Your right lung, the one you claim was 40% removed is more robust. The two ribs you claim are removed are more robust than the others.’ So, I asked her, 'What is the significance of the...this bullet?' And she was like, ‘Your spinal column has calcified around it. It's like rebar now. Your spinal column is actually stronger because of it.’”

Today, Steven continues his work as an author and also has a ministry where he prays for others to get healed, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. He and Susanne encourage everyone to trust God’s love for them so they can receive His miraculous touch too.”

Susanne shares, “God is there. Even when it doesn't seem like He’s there, He hears every word that you say. God hears you. He sees and there is hope. And that is why Jesus is our hope.”

Steven shares, “The power of prayer is immeasurable. The Bible says all things are possible to him that believes. So if you believe, you can ask whatever you will and you will have it.”

Discover more about Steven and the books he has written at www.StevenSpellmanBooks.com. You can also email Steven at spellman@live.com. 

For information regarding Steven's martial arts instructor and prayer partner, please email Scott Gilbert at Savior Martial Arts: scott.gilbert@saviormartialarts.org

Elmer and his wife Rosa were devastated to learn that their first-born son Christopher was born with club feet.  

“I went outside the hospital and cried the day he was born,” said Elmer with tear filled eyes. “I saw how the parents were going home with their healthy babies. It was very difficult.”

“The first thing I thought was that my son would never be able to walk with his feet like that,” added Rosa.   

Clubfeet affects a child’s feet, ankle bones, muscles, tendons and blood vessels. Christopher’s case was so severe that the bottoms of his feet were turned sideways and inward. The doctor urged the family to schedule surgery right away. But with the operation costing more than $2000, Elmer knew they could never afford it.   

“I did now know how we could get such a large amount of money,” he said. Elmer works as a security guard in Honduras and only earns about $300 a month: not enough for the procedure to repair his son's feet. “I could think of nothing else except Christopher’s feet,” he added.

Then Rosa remembered hearing about Operation Blessing at the hospital. So they called and asked if we could help. “They opened the doors for us, so that we could have hope that our child would one day walk normally!” Elmer recalled.  

Soon Operation Blessing arranged for Christopher to receive the surgery and casting needed to correct the misalignment in his feet and ankles.   

“I am thankful to God for the people who did this surgery for my son,” said Elmer with tears in his eyes. “I thank my God because He touched people’s hearts so they would help us,” added Rosa. 

We went back a few weeks after the surgery and Christopher was doing great!  In fact, doctors said they are optimistic that Christopher will be able to walk normally without any more treatment or physical therapy.  

“Thank God for the people who have given us this help for our baby, thanks to God and Operation Blessing,” said Elmer.   
 

CBN Israel’s, Nicole Jansezian, explained, “CBN Israel is in Sderot, which is a city in southern Israel that for the past 20 years has come under a constant rocket bombardment. We spoke with pastor, Michael Beener, of City of Life Ministries. After October 7th, most of the city’s residents evacuated. Michael and his congregation are working hard to help those who remained.”

Michael Beener, with City of Life Ministries, said, “In the year 2001, when the terrorists from Gaza start to send rockets daily, they proclaim that we want to do the city of Sderot City of Death. And somebody write on the first junction in the city of Sderot, “The City of Death,” and we said, ‘Okay, the name of our congregation will be City of Life,’ because we want to proclaim blessing instead cursing, life instead death. Having this food, personal helping, psychological support that is so important in such a city as Sderot, so traumatized, families, childrens, parents. Now team of volunteers coming around the world to bring to the people who stick in the city.”  

Alice Mizrachi, with CBN Israel, said, “Today, we're delivering to 120 families. You literally don't leave your bomb shelter. Going to the grocery shop is risking your life. So, one of the projects that we decided to do was say, ‘Okay, let's provide food,’ but not just cans or stuff like that. You can actually cook a hot, normal meal with chicken, and potatoes, vegetables, and all fresh, all the stuff that people are used to eating every day, that is just normal and taken for granted.” 

Michael Beener explained, “The people who still stay in Sderot, they lose their help that they have in the ordinary life. How they feel, they're not alone. Somebody came who really love them, as a Messianics or Christians. And now we continue also with your help, guys. Thank you for holding our hands and also part of this work. This is you, because you help us. It's so important for us during the, the years. Yours, your faithful, faithfulness in it.”
 

FASTING DEFINED

Fasting is a spiritual discipline that is not talked about in churches regularly. However, God expects us to fast. Although prayer is powerful there are times when prayer in and of itself is not enough. “There are some realities in our lives that are simply not going to shift without both prayer and fasting,” shares Tammy. If you are new to fasting, Tammy answers the following questions below on why and how to choose biblical fasting:
    •    Why do I fast? - Jesus fasted and taught his disciples to do the same. Some things only come out through prayer and fasting. Fasting is a powerful key to open doors of opportunity God has for you. Fasting shows you how to desire the things of the spirit. You are asking God to do something for you supernaturally.
    •    What do I fast? – The word fast in the Hebrew means to “abstain from food.” There are several different types of fasts you can do. For example, the Daniel fast consists of only eating grains, fruits and vegetables. Or, an absolute fast is when you only drink water. Consult your physician before taking part in any fast.
    •    How do I fast? – Fast is an offering to God. There is a war inside of you. Physical cravings come and that is when you pray and press into God. To distract your hunger pangs, go on a prayer walk. Give in to the spirit, not the flesh and you’ll get stronger. 
    •    When do I fast? – When you need breakthrough, a burden lifted, or a blessing. 
 
CHANGE IS NECESSARY

According to Webster’s dictionary, the word change defined means to make (someone or something) different or, to replace (something) with something else, especially something of the same kind that is newer or better; substitute one thing for (another). The soul craves transformation. “We need to seek God in prayer and fasting for the personal growth and development that we want and need. We need to ask God to show us the areas in our lives in which we are not yet all that He created us to be,” reveals Tammy.

Many people want to see change in their lives, but few do. The reason for this is because people lack desire (the fuel for change), discipline (the practice of change) and accountability (the structure for change). For example, fear, bitterness, or pride can keep you from the life God wants for you. Fasting is necessary to bring about change or breakthrough in certain areas of your life.
 
IMPORTANCE OF FASTING

God teaches us in the Old Testament and the New Testament that part of our victory over spiritual warfare comes through the practice of fasting. Fasting is the discipline to know how to say “no” to our flesh and “yes” to God. It teaches us how to suppress our cravings and turn to Christ for our answers. Fasting is a two-part strategy that God put in place for His followers to win the battle with the enemy. In Matthew 17:21 Jesus said: “However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.” The disciples were trying to heal a boy of a demonic spirit and were unsuccessful. Jesus schooled them in the truth that some things need both our prayers and our fasting. Tammy believes, “Fasting is a vital key to our success in winning the war with both our flesh and our enemy.” 
 
BIBLICAL FASTING VS. INTERMITTENT FASTING

Although Tammy believes in intermittent fasting, which does offer health benefits, it is not the same as spiritual fasting. Biblical fasting can produce results such as rest, clarity, and physical well-being, but it also brings another dimension. Fasting is also a practice of spiritual warfare. It empowers us to suppress our physical cravings and turn to Christ for our answers. The craving of the soul for change can only be brought about through fasting. Ask God to show you the areas in your life in which you are not yet all that He created you to be.
                                                                                                                                                  
21 DAY JOURNEY

Tammy has been a prayer warrior for many years, yet it wasn’t until ten years ago when she needed a miracle for a loved one that she combined the discipline of fasting with prayer. She says, “While we often discover fasting out of desperation, it should not be just a last-resort option…it is not seasonal. It is intended to be a regular part of the rhythm of our lives.”

In 2020, she also led her church on a spiritual fast (through twenty-one days of the names of God) and out of that journey wrote her first book on fasting. The next year she wrote her second book on fasting. She and her church fasted, believed, and sought the supernatural realm to become their reality. 

In her latest book, Fasting for a Change, Tammy shares, “Healthy habits and positive characteristics that lead you to become the person God created you to be. Healthy choices combined with spiritual fasting are the two edged sword you need in order to see your breakthrough and to become your personal best.” She explores twenty-one qualities through the lens of three Biblical figures like: Moses, Elijah, and Jesus over a 21-day journey. Tammy also has daily coaching videos on her website, www.TammyHotsenpiller.com to encourage you each day and help you stay strong in your fast. 
 
    •    Moses, the man who led the people of God out of Egyptian bondage. When he went up to the mountain to receive the ten commandments he fasted for forty days and forty nights without bread or water. When the commandments were complete he took them down the mountain, but because of his disgust of their worshipping foreign gods he threw the stone tablets on the ground. Once again, Moses went back up the mountain and fasted for forty days and forty nights as he sat in the presence of God, going even deeper. Tammy says, “Fasting will do that – it will take you into the depths. Your desires will move from the things of this world to the things of God.”
    •    Elijah, a prophet of God, battled the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel. He felt exhausted and defeated. An angel was sent to feed Elijah and encourage him to rest. Then Elijah took time to fast for forty days. “Fasting is a time for refuge, a time to refuel,” reveals Tammy.
    •    Jesus – He died on the cross for the sin of humanity. “Fasting helps to usher us into the kind of Christlike humility that allows us to experience the full victory of God. When we humble our bodies and our souls, God will exalt us.”
 
Tammy shares, “I truly believe we need a change in America. We need a change in our our churches, we need a change in our communities, and we definitely need a change in our culture. I’m believing God for more in 2024. I’m fasting for a change.”
 
ABOUT TAMMY

Tammy is an author, speaker, life coach, and the founder of a national women’s movement, Women of Influence. She has a passion for equipping others to embrace their natural abilities, personal passions, and spiritual gifts. She is the President of Total Life Coach, LLC, a coaching company with an emphasis on life balance, purpose, and reinvention. Tammy and her husband, Phil, are the co-founders of Influence Church in Anaheim Hills, California. 

To purchase your copy of Tammy Hotsenpiller's book, Fasting for a Change, please visit her website: www.TammyHotsenpiller.com.