Saturday, October 29, 2011

He Heals!




Jesus answered them, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick."  Luke 5:31

(Picture source at the bottom of posting)

So, I haven't been feeling well lately.  Tummy troubles that have only gotten worse as I've gotten older, seasonal allergies, anxiety, and depression.  These are all things that deteriorate my body, mind and spirit.  This deterioration, I suppose, is to be expected, since Jesus tells us in the Book of John chapter 10 verse 10, "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."


So, God gives life, and the thief (Satan) destroys.  So where does sickness come from?   The thief!  Who takes sickness away?  God does!!  As I am making doctors appointments and visiting my local pharmacy to tackle these sicknesses in my body, I am prompted to read about the amazing healing Jesus did in the New Testament.

I went to the book of Luke, in search of the mentioning of Jesus healing and found quite a bit!

Luke 6:6-11
Luke 7:1-10
Luke 7:11-17
Luke 11:14
Luke 13:10-17

And one of my favorites, which I will read to you: Luke 8:40-56

Now when Jesus returned, a crowd welcomed Him, for they were all expecting Him.  Then a man named Jairus, a ruler of the synagogue, came and fell at Jesus' feet, pleading with Him to come to his house because his only daughter, a girl of about twelve, was dying.  As Jesus was on His way, the crowds almost crushed Him.  And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years, but no one could heal her.  She came up behind Him and touched the edge of His cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped.  "Who touched me?" Jesus asked.  When they all denied it, Peter said, "Master, the people are crowding and pressing against you."  But Jesus said, "Someone touched me; I know that power has gone out from me."  Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at His feet.  In the presence of all the people, she told why she had touched Him and how she had been instantly healed.  Then He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has healed you.  Go in peace."  While Jesus was still speaking, someone came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue ruler.  "Your daughter is dead," he said.  "Don't bother the Teacher anymore."  Hearing this, Jesus said to Jairus, "Don't be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed." When He arrived at the house of Jairus, He did not let anyone go in with Him except Peter, John and James, and the child's father and mother.  Meanwhile, all the people were wailing and mourning for her.  "Stop wailing," Jesus said.  "She is not dead but asleep."  They laughed at Him, knowing that she was dead. But He took her by the hand and said, "My child, get up!"  Her spirit returned, and at once she stood up.  Then Jesus told them to give her something to eat.  Her parents were astonished, but He ordered them not to tell anyone what had happened.


Something I see when I read about Jesus healing people, particularly this passage: it took faith on the part of the person being healed for the healing to occur.  I must believe that He can heal me if I have any hopes of actually being healed!  Because ultimately, it is not the doctors I visit or the medicine I take that does the healing in my body, it is Him.  A way to my healing might be by my obeying Him to visit the doctor or to take the prescribed medication, but He is the ultimate Healer.
But, something else I noticed is that Jesus does not just cleanse people of their sickness, but He offers them a place with Him in Heaven also.  I was moved to read Jesus call the woman with the 12 year sickness "Daughter."  And He called the little girl that He raised from the dead "My child."  So Jesus is not just an awesome Doctor, but He, being God, is also a very awesome Father.

So as I seek Him to heal me, I know and believe that He can and will heal me, with all the love of such an awesome Father.  I can picture Him taking my hand and gently teaching me how to live without these sicknesses.  And if He doesn't heal me in a time frame that I think I would be comfortable with?  Well, I have to remember "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28


Are you struggling with a sickness, big or small? Guess what?  He can heal!  Talk to Him, tell Him how you feel, and let Him lead you to healing.


Song for this post:
I Will Rise -Chris Tomlin

Blessings!
~A

Stethoscope picture source
http://healthcaremonitors.info/

Saturday, October 22, 2011

He is the Light




For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. Romans 3:23-24

(Picture source at bottom of posting)

You've seen them, those beautiful Christmas tree ornaments that shine light. These ornaments are the ones that, instead of pushing a button to make it light up temporarily, you attach it to one of the light bulbs from the string of lights, so that it shines as long as the light is on. As long as that ornament is attached to the string of lights, it will emit a light. Not its own light, because apart from the string of lights it cannot shine at all. No, it will shine the light of the string of lights, and its unique shape and design will allow it to shine that light in a way no other ornament can.

What would you say if I told you that you are an ornament? This example is very similar to the truth that we an find in the Book of John 15:1-8

I [Jesus] am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit [shine His light] He takes away; and every branch that bear fruit He prunes, that is may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear uch fruit; so you will be My disciples.
(emphasis mine)

So if we break it down, Jesus is that string of lights on the Christmas tree. You, being an ornament cannot be seen without being plugged into Him. Oh sure, maybe in the daylight you can kind of see you, but your beauty shines greatly when you are plugged into Him, and even more so when there is no other light in the room but that of the Christmas tree. No one will see you unless you are plugged into Him. But check it out, while God is glorified when you are plugged into Jesus, you also gain a great benefit, because "you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you."

Truthfully, I cannot do this analogy or group of Bible verses justice. I can only present them to you, and hope that you go in search of His truth for yourself. I pray you will seek Him so He will open up this truth fully in your heart. And if you are not plugged into Him, I hope it encourages you to become plugged into Him, because there is honestly no better place to be! (Check out my previous post if you are not plugged into Him, but would like to be).

Other readings:
Matthew 5:13-16
Isaiah 58: 1-10

Song for this post:
Let Your Light Shine (Hillsong Kids)
(A simple song, with a simple message!)

Blessings!
~A

Thursday, October 20, 2011

Like a rock in the desert am I without the Living Water. When I allow the Living Water to flow through me constantly, I become like a moist sponge, able to survive in the dry desert until the Living Water submerges me in Him for eternity.
Anonymous

I have felt led to start this blog, updating as often as I can, simply to share God. He personally is my everything, and I have realized this year that He has a lot to say that deserves to be spread.
I am just an average person. I am a student, working a part time job. I have bills to pay, relationships to maintain with others, food to buy and pray over, an aging car to tend to, and many other average earthly concerns. But as my Dear Lord teaches me more about Himself, I will spread that word as He gives me the strength to.

I encourage you to draw close to Him, and He will draw close to you (James 4:8). If you do not have a personal relationship with Him, now is a great time to start one! You can simply ask Jesus into your heart by praying this simple prayer:

“Dear God,

I’m a sinner. I’m sorry for my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I believe that Jesus Christ is your Son. I believe that He died for me. That He rose from the grave. That He’s alive. I want to invite Him to come into my heart to take control. From this day forward forevermore. And I pray this in the name of Jesus.


Amen”

If you said that prayer , believing with your heart the words you spoke, I just want to say CONGRATULATIONS!!! You are now personally joined to the most loving One in this world, and He is now yours and you His forever! You are in for an amazing journey! If you have any questions about the prayer you just made, or if you have any questions before you pray the prayer, I encourage you to visit http://peacewithgod.jesus.net/ (which is the site that this prayer is from).

I will share a Bible verse with you for today, and I hope that you will desire to look it up and maybe even read a few more scriptures while your Bible is open, it certainly can't hurt!

For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. John 3:16

I will also leave you with a song, Trust and Obey by Hillsong Kids. A simple song to sing to the King.

In Him,

~A