MY AFFLICTION HAS A SOUND: Discover the powerful connection between sound and our suffering

By PENNY FRANCIS

Since the dawn of time, mankind has used sound to receive information from the environment, to communicate with each other and to heal and transform. Almost all ancient cultures believed, and still believe, that sound is the creative, generative force which brought the Universe into being.  In the New Testament John 1:1 states &quot

• Language: English
• Publisher: Sekal Publishing
• Release date: Jan 7, 2019
• ISBN: 9780995799950

PENNY FRANCIS

Co-Pastor Penny Francis is the wife of the Bishop John Francis, the founder and Senior Minister of Ruach City Church which she pastors alongside her husband. She is an anointed vessel gifted with an ability to preach and speak as the oracles of God. Experiencing this gift to the body of Christ is a powerful, life-changing experience which leaves a tangible residue of a divine encounter. Her whole desire as she ministers is that lives will be supernaturally touched by the unchangeable power of God and that God, in all things, will be glorified. Pastor Penny, together with her husband, Bishop John Francis, hosts the popular, 2B1 Seminars for engaged couples and those contemplating marriage. Pastor Penny is not only an anointed Preacher but also a capable and experienced Teacher. In the past, she has lectured at the First Born Church Seminary School, UK. She presently lectures for Ruach City Church on various courses such as their Leadership Training Programmes, Self-Development Courses and the Five-Fold School of Ministry. She also lectures for the Ruach City Bible Institute covering the following Topics - Church History, Church Ordinances, The Kingdom Agenda for Church Leadership, Church Strategy, Co-Leadership to name just a few. Writing is a passion of Penny's and she is known by many as an accomplished writer and playwright. She is also a gifted poet and she loves to pen her personal experiences in verse, often with a hint of humour. Pastor Penny has never claimed that she is specifically called to minister to women but rather to the whole Body of Christ. However, she knows that because she is a woman, the lives of many women will, undoubtedly, be touched and divinely changed. In addition to the call of God on her life, she is also mother to three lovely daughters, Juanita, Teleisa and Charisa. Pastor Penny always insists that her first call is to the nurturing of these young souls whom God has blessed her with and placed in her care. Her life is a testimony of God's healing power, His regenerative spirit, and His principle of process, making her message relative to all. Co-Pastor Penny Francis is without doubt an anointed Woman of God. Her style is unique and effective and invariably brings truth and life to every soul who comes into contact with her ministry. She is honoured and humbled by His choice to use her and confirms this always with this prayer - Use me, Lord, until You use me up.

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Other Titles

By The Author

Your First Steps

From Pen to Paper

Shame Is Not Your Portion

For more information visit:

www.pastorpennyfrancis.com

My Affliction Has a Sound

Copyright © 2018 Penny Francis

Published in United Kingdom

by Sekal Publishing

All rights reserved.

This book is protected under the copyright laws. This book may not be copied or reprinted for commercial gain or profit. The use of short quotations or occasional page copying for personal or group study is permitted and encouraged. Permission will be granted upon request.

Print ISBN: 978-0-9957999-4-3

Ebook ISBN: 978-0-9957999-5-0

www.pastorpennyfrancis.com

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated are taken from the Holy Bible, King James Version.

Graphics by Justin Foster

Dedication

This book is dedicated to my husband, Bishop John Francis— my biggest fan! I decided to dedicate this book to him because he asked me to write it! He kept talking about a message I preached at our church and every time he kept saying, you should write the book — So I did!

We have been married for nearly 30 years and he has always celebrated me and has wished, prayed and hoped that this literary piece would happen. He has watched me write so many pieces on so many occasions but never for myself. This time he is so excited that I have finally taken the time to make this happen.

John, you saw so much more in me than I saw in myself. Thank you for never giving up on me — for your persistence and insistence but most of all thank you for trusting my gift. You know I have a passion for writing but just knowing that this book was one that you particularly wanted me to write helped me to keep typing. You never stopped talking about me writing this book and it worked — Darling, I wrote the book! I hope you enjoy reading it.

Thank you for pushing me firmly but gently so my dreams could come true too. I love you, forever and always.

I also dedicate this book to my daughters, Juanita, Teleisa and Charisa — my three angels. Thank you so much for your encouraging words. I love and appreciate all three of you. Never lose your uniqueness and individuality — it’s your strength. I hope when you hold this book in your hands and read it, that you will remember to never give up on your dreams no matter how long they take to materialise. My love always,

To my sister, Paula, my brother, Philip and my niece and nephew, Panache and Pierson. Thanks for understanding the pull of ministry on me and for all your unconditional love… Love you loads.

To the family who I don’t see as often… We may be separated by distance and circumstances but every family life experience no matter how brief or small, has touched my life in some significant way.

To my mother, the late Ida Aurora Turner, who started me off writing. She would dictate her letters or should I say long epistles to me and I would have to make sure it had the right grammar and punctuation! ’Penny, go and get your pen and paper’ she would say! And if I complained she would say, ‘Why do you think I send you to school!’ I can remember sitting at the table as a child on many occasions with the dictionary trying to find the right words to fit into the sentence I was constructing — Thanks Mum, for igniting my passion for writing. I know you would have loved to see this moment.

To my Dad, the late Herman James, how wonderful it was to have you back in my life and how sad I feel that you couldn’t stay longer – 10 years wasn’t enough. I know you would have been so proud of your Pen! Well, Dad, I finally put pen to paper! See you later Dad...

To Ruach City Church and friends thank you for your prayers, expressions of encouragement and continued interest. As promised, my first book – I hope you enjoy reading it! I know you were expecting the poetry one… Watch this space – it’s on its way!

I couldn’t finish this dedication without writing a few words in appreciation of my mother-in-law, the late Mother Elfreda Francis. A true mother in Zion but I just call her Mum! She was an encouragement to me in more ways than she knew. She was my shadow, routing for me in every service and smiling with pride as I ministered the Word. I will miss her affectionate slaps and her private parables of correction and wisdom. I miss not seeing her in my rear-view mirror as I drive to church. Thank you Mum for all your prayers and words of affirmation. God bless you always. Love you!

Foreword

By Bishop John Francis

I have been waiting to see this day — my wife has finally published this book. I’ve observed her over the years and I have seen her blossom and grow into this amazing woman. To be honest, I thought she was really amazing when I first met her over 30 years ago! In fact one of my first remarks was, ‘he who finds you will obtain favour from God,’ not knowing that I would be the one to have the privilege of this treasure in my life. I knew when I married her that she was a precious gem.

Apart from all the wonderful gifts and talents my wife has and there are many, she is an incredible communicator. I know this book will be life-changing for anyone who reads it, not just because Penny wrote it but because it’s filled with revelation for life.

I am so glad to finally see her book in print and I’m really excited because I know there are more to come. I can’t wait to see what else she’s going to come out with. If you could see me right now, I have a big grin on my face! I could go on and on and on but I won’t… Start reading — You won’t be disappointed!

Contents

Dedication

Foreword

Introduction

An Affliction Story

What Is Affliction?

Affliction That Touches God’s Heart

Affliction Connected to Music

What Is Sound?

More to Sound Than Meets the Ear

The Science Of Cymatics

Sound Therapy — Science Or Myth?

Sympathetic Resonance

I Think I Hear A Sound

Leannoth — Let’s Sing Together

Music Therapy — An Alternative Miracle

Affliction Is Good!

Sing Anyway!

Bible Inspired Prayers

Your Personal Prayers & Thoughts

Reference Sources

Introduction

This book is birthed out of a couple of messages I preached at my church. The book actually carries the title of the message which was preached at our first Super Sunday Miracle & Healing Service in 2015. It was a powerful service and God moved amazingly and people were deeply touched and moved by the Word. After the service, my husband, Bishop John Francis said that I should write a book and when I thought about it, it seemed like a good idea. It has taken me a bit of a while to get round to writing it.

In 2016 I preached another message entitled ‘There’s a Purpose to My Affliction’. This book is a culmination of these two powerful messages. As you read, I do take you on quite a journey of research and discovery, which some of you may find questionable but hopefully you will enjoy these areas of exploration! When it comes to my study and research of the Bible I have never been a conformist. I like to see where my questions take me which the majority of the time can be quite interesting and fruitful. In essence ‘My Affliction Has A Sound’ is all about the powerful connection of sound to our seasons of difficulty and how God responds to the sounds of His people but we do embark on quite a scholarly and investigative voyage to get there.

I hope you enjoy observing from my perspective and come to a similar conclusion — simply that when we go through times of affliction, even when we don’t cry or make an audible sound, we still cry… because our Affliction Has A Sound!

An

Affliction Story

And the angel of the Lord said unto her, Behold, thou art with child, and shalt bear a son, and shalt call his name Ishmael; because the Lord hath heard thy affliction

—Genesis 16:11

The backdrop and setting