Faith That Heals

“Jesus turned and saw her. ‘Take heart, daughter,’

he said, ‘your faith has healed you.’

And the woman was healed from that moment.”

Matthew 9:22 (NIV)

We read several accounts of Jesus healings where he commends someone’s faith. Jesus told the people that the Centurion possessed faith to such a degree that he had not seen in Israel. He spoke to the woman with the bloody discharge, saying she was healed  because of her faith.

What does it take to have the kind of faith that allows us to be healed? Honestly speaking, at this point in my life, I can’t fully explain it.

Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.(Hebrews 11:1 NIV) Bible scholars tell us we have two words to describe faithsure and certain . Faith combines assurance and anticipation.

In our walk with Jesus, we find ourselves discovering peace about certain issues that enter our lives. During the first Gulf War, a friend worried about her son and her younger daughter who were over there. One day she stood in her kitchen praying for them. She felt led to remember earlier times when God had intervened and spared these two young people. God reminded her of these benchmarks of their relationship. Just knowing that God had done so much for her children strengthened her faith that He would keep them safe.

In order to have a growing faith in God, we have to have a close relationship with Him and His Son. A relationship can only come about by persons spending time with each other. Before people can spend time together, they have to be introduced to each other.

Faith Others Can See

“When Jesus saw their faith, he said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven”

Luke 5:20 (NIV)

Jesus drew a large crowd-Pharisees and teachers from all over Galilee and from Judea and Jerusalem. The Lord’s presence allowed Jesus to heal the sick.

Four men entered the venue carrying their paralyzed friend on a mat. The crowd was too great for them to enter the house and lay their impaired friend before Jesus. These four friends got creative and cut a hole in the roof of the house and lowered him on his mat through.

Jesus saw the faith these men possessed and forgave the paralytic his sins.

Can people see our faith? Is what we possess so strong that others know it is real? Do we rely on God to carry us through the difficult times?

As children of God, we should have a faith that is strong. We need to rely on Him to help us resolve issues in our lives.

The faith we possess should be what guides us in relationships to the point that others can see our faith propelling our actions and attitudes as we deal with others.

Our faith should be the anchor that keeps us safe from harm. It should guide us through the stormy days of our lives.

We have times we don’t know the outcome of the issues we face. It is then that our faith comes into play and gives us the strength, the courage, and the wisdom we need to see us through to the end.

Our Deliverance

“For he will deliver the needy who cry out,

The afflicted who have no one to help.”

(Ps 72:12 NIV)

When we sit in the midst of a snow storm. The weather creates issues about the safety of homes and the well-being of individuals who have to be out during this difficult time.

In re-reading a book I found and purchased at the grocery store, I ran across the scripture .The main character reflects on his childhood as he visits his birthplace after being away for four decades. During a remembrance of time spent with his paternal grandpa, the main character quotes the verse above.

I found myself caught up by the words. King David said it so many centuries ago. He (God) WILL come to the rescued of those who cry out to Him. He doesn’t say He might, or He should, David said He WILL, that’s a faith statement. But there is also a special group of people this verse singles out-the afflicted-the hurt, the oppressed, the lonely-those who have no one to help them.

We see this verse put into play as we see God move through the lives of those who call out to him. People caught in natural disasters, those hemmed in by personal trials, and individuals who realize their mistakes in life all have called out to God and asked for His help.

God answers the pleas of those who call. But when He answers, it is according to His plan. We don’t always get the answer we want-it might be yes, no, wait a while or God may choose to answer us in a way we don’t expect. He will respond in His time-not ours. But God WILL answer.***

We had two major snow storms back to back. After few ‘normal’ days, we await a third. A few days ago each of the lower 48 states had snow on the ground all at the same time. An historical first.

God has to answer prayers for our city’s school system. The plan the school board has decided upon will layoff all teachers with less than 12 years seniority. What bothers me is this. If a teacher has taught for 12 years, they might have young children and maybe student loans. In usual years, the administration sends out a quantity of pink slips and waits until it receives retirement requests before making final layoffs. I am concerned about those who will receive the final layoff notice, how many retirements will have to happen before those caught in this financial crunch will still have jobs.

All this cut back in school budgets is going on state-wide. Our governor mandated an across the board cutback of $300 million statewide. This seems to stem from the property tax ‘realignment’. Did people realize that the taxes they paid on their homes allowed the schools, and the libraries to provide education and quality materials for their children? Do these people complain when the roads and streets aren’t maintained?

Father:

Please guide us as we progress through these times. A lot of us want the right things done but we don’t really know what they are. We know You do and we trust in Your decisions about these issues.

In the name of Jesus, I pray. AMEN

HE IS RISEN:HE IS RISEN, INDEED.

 A dear friend sent me this link. I hope you receive a blessing from it. I know I have. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5ddoyfn6g4

Jesus’ Portion

“ Therefore I will give him a portion among the great,

and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he

poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the

                       transgressors. For he bore the sins Of many, and made

                       intercession for the transgressors” Isaiah 53:12 (NIV)

God allows Jesus to share His home. Jesus Christ sits at the right hand of the Father because He gave up His life so that we may be considered sinless and enter into the realm of Heaven when God calls us.

But, in order to do this, Jesus had to endure accusations of stirring rebellion against the Roman government and overthrowing it.

At this writing, I am aware of two families who have lost a loved one. One was suddenly taken from us. But we know he was ready to go. He was a servant in the mission field. Last year he went on two missions trips. The other, a lady, had been ill for several months. Her diagnosis came as a shock. But, God called her home. She served where she could. Taking care of family members both where she lived and out of state. Both of these saintly people were able to serve their Lord because of what He did on Calvary.

Jesus received His reward from the Father because of what he endured. The Son chose to be counted as evil in order to allow us to be deemed worthy to enter God’s presence.

Jesus, The Guilt Offering

“Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him

to suffer and though the Lord makes his life a guilt offering,

he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will

                of the Lord will prosper in his hand.” Isaiah 53:10 (NIV)

God had to allow His Son to die such a painful death and put Jesus through the suffering of the Cross. The religious leaders of the people of Israel wouldn’t listen to Him. The Father used the Son as an offering to absolve the people’s guilt. Jesus was the ONLY one who was worthy and pure enough to bear the burden. He took this abuse willingly. Because Christ shed His blood for us, we will be able to see Him again. Also, God’s kingdom will enlarge as people thankfully follow Him and His Son until the day they will see Him.

God made Jesus the offering for our guilt. As His children, we should acknowledge this selfless act of the Son each and every day. Everything we are and everything we have are given to us by God through His son. These things are made precious when we remember how it is we have them.

He Had No Deceit

“He was assigned a grave with the wicked

and with the rich in his death, though he had

done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth.”

Isaiah 25:9 (NIV)

Our Lord didn’t have a special grave, it was a cave in a garden. Someone donated it. The grave belonged to a rich man by the standards of the Hebrew people. Jesus hadn’t done anything wrong And he never told a lie.

I had a phone conversation with a relative by marriage one day. She told me something her mother had told her when she was growing up. “There are three kinds of lies. Little white lies, acceptable in society, they don’t hurt anyone. Gray lies, stronger in intent, might hurt someone. Black lies, the worst kind, hurts a lot of people.”

I don’t agree with this way of thinking. I feel a lie is a lie. I believe a follower of Christ should never have to resort to lying in order to get his or her way or to get ahead.

He should be our example as we travel through our lives, conduct business, and, establish relationships with others.