Such a sweet promise from Him.
May you find yourself resting in His peace today.
He loves you so much.
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
Monday, September 24, 2012
broken at His feet
I love love love this song.
While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of Simon the Leper, a
woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume,
which she poured on his head as he was reclining at the table.
-Matthew 26: 6-7
Sunday, September 23, 2012
made clean
I don't know about you, but one of my biggest struggles is believing God. Believing I am who He says I am. Meaning, when He says He has made us white as snow through the blood of Jesus, He means it. It is fact. Just like it is fact that it was while we were still sinners Christ died for us (Romans 5:8).
"Now when Jesus returned, the crowd welcomed him, for they were all waiting for him. And there came a man named Jairus, who was a ruler of the synagogue. And falling at Jesus' feet, he implored him to come to his house, for he had an only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she was dying.
As Jesus went, the people pressed around him. And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, and though she had spent all her living on physicians, she could not be healed by anyone. She came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, and immediately her discharge of blood ceased. And Jesus said, “Who was it that touched me?” When all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the crowds surround you and are pressing in on you!” But Jesus said, “Someone touched me, for I perceive that power has gone out from me.” And when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling, and falling down before him declared in the presence of all the people why she had touched him, and how she had been immediately healed. And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace.”
While he was still speaking, someone from the ruler's house came and said, “Your daughter is dead; do not trouble the Teacher any more.” But Jesus on hearing this answered him, “Do not fear; only believe, and she will be well.” And when he came to the house, he allowed no one to enter with him, except Peter and John and James, and the father and mother of the child. And all were weeping and mourning for her, but he said, “Do not weep, for she is not dead but sleeping.” And they laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. But taking her by the hand he called, saying, “Child, arise.” And her spirit returned, and she got up at once. And he directed that something should be given her to eat." -Luke 8:40-55 ESV
I love the fact that God included the part about the woman with the blood issue in the middle of raising the dead. This woman's issue wasn't important to anyone except her. And that is my first point.
You are not hidden before God. It is impossible for you (or your life) to go unnoticed by Him.
Most pastors that I've been around don't preach on this story. In fact, when I have heard it preached the woman with the blood is often left out. It's not a favorite Sunday school lesson for the kids. It's not that verse you see on someone's facebook status. It's an uncomfortable story. It's gross. It's awkward. It's probably not what someone will say when you ask them their go-to miracle for comfort. We don't like to talk about. But I think, hidden within all that stigma, is part of the beauty of this miracle. The woman's issue was deeply personal. Isn't that like so many of us? That our need for the most healing in our lives is often related to things that are intensely private. They are your secrets. Your deep, dark, ugly ones. The ones that no one else knows about. I've got them. You've got them. We've all got them. But He sees them, and He can heal you from them.
Another point I want to make about this story is that the woman was considered "unclean." She was ceremonially unclean and in Jesus' day that was a big deal. This meant several things, but I won't go into all of those. Instead I'll just tell you, one of the things associated with "uncleanness" was that whoever she touched would be considered unclean. In other words, she would defile people if she touched them. Furthermore, the fringe of Jesus' garment that this woman grabbed was an outward representation that Jesus (and other Rabbis) were ceremonially clean (see Numbers 15:37-41). That is to say, when she decided to reach out and grab hold of Jesus, she took a risk. A big one.
Do you ever feel like that is true of you? That you are so bad you can't reach out for Him? You can't bear the thought of bringing yourself before Him, bruised and battered, because of how nasty you feel? I know I have definitely been there. Multiple times. But you've gotta know the beauty of it. You've gotta see that YOU CANNOT MAKE JESUS UNCLEAN. You do not have that kind of power, my friend. Yes, you've sinned. Yes, you've fallen short. But He bore your sin before you ever saw the light of day. So, cry out to Him from the slime of your mess. So many Christians believe they must get their life together before they can present themselves to the Holy of Holies. What a twisted cycle that is! The only way to get that mess cleaned up is if you go to Him. In the middle of that mess. You're not going to surprise Him. He sees it. "If you go to God with anything more than nothing, you come with too much" -Mike Donehey. To think you can redeem yourself is pride. So don't get caught up in the lie that you have to get your ducks in line before going to Him. He sees them. Flapping in that water, not listening to you. He is waiting for you to call out to Him.
Jesus made Himself easy to grab. He knew the woman was in the crowd. He knew she had a need that was personal to her. He knew. And what did He do? He made Himself easy for her to grab. I don't doubt that He intentionally walked close to her (despite that huge crowd). You know, that is what He does with us? He makes Himself accessible to each and every one of us. God came to earth so that He could be touchable. I love that about Him. It's so humble on His part. That He would make Himself available to us 24/7. ALWAYS.
My friends, He knows what kind of person you are. He knows those things you bury deep down. He knows what you like and don't like. He knows how many hairs are on your head! He knows what kind of man you are. He knows what kind of woman you are.
19 Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. -Hebrews 10:19-23 NIV
I will confess to you that sometimes I wonder how it's possible that I'm not forgotten by Him. It's nothing He does wrong, I just look around at the problems in my family's life, my friends lives, and the world; and I wonder so why would He care about me when He's got all this to deal with?
So take your messy self and get up and under the cross, hold your head back, and let His sweet blood pour over your face.
It was that woman's faith that drove her to reach out and touch His precious garment.
Jesus said, "If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it will obey you." -Luke 17:6
"Now when Jesus returned, the crowd welcomed him, for they were all waiting for him. And there came a man named Jairus, who was a ruler of the synagogue. And falling at Jesus' feet, he implored him to come to his house, for he had an only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she was dying.
As Jesus went, the people pressed around him. And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, and though she had spent all her living on physicians, she could not be healed by anyone. She came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, and immediately her discharge of blood ceased. And Jesus said, “Who was it that touched me?” When all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the crowds surround you and are pressing in on you!” But Jesus said, “Someone touched me, for I perceive that power has gone out from me.” And when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling, and falling down before him declared in the presence of all the people why she had touched him, and how she had been immediately healed. And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace.”
While he was still speaking, someone from the ruler's house came and said, “Your daughter is dead; do not trouble the Teacher any more.” But Jesus on hearing this answered him, “Do not fear; only believe, and she will be well.” And when he came to the house, he allowed no one to enter with him, except Peter and John and James, and the father and mother of the child. And all were weeping and mourning for her, but he said, “Do not weep, for she is not dead but sleeping.” And they laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. But taking her by the hand he called, saying, “Child, arise.” And her spirit returned, and she got up at once. And he directed that something should be given her to eat." -Luke 8:40-55 ESV
I love the fact that God included the part about the woman with the blood issue in the middle of raising the dead. This woman's issue wasn't important to anyone except her. And that is my first point.
You are not hidden before God. It is impossible for you (or your life) to go unnoticed by Him.
Most pastors that I've been around don't preach on this story. In fact, when I have heard it preached the woman with the blood is often left out. It's not a favorite Sunday school lesson for the kids. It's not that verse you see on someone's facebook status. It's an uncomfortable story. It's gross. It's awkward. It's probably not what someone will say when you ask them their go-to miracle for comfort. We don't like to talk about. But I think, hidden within all that stigma, is part of the beauty of this miracle. The woman's issue was deeply personal. Isn't that like so many of us? That our need for the most healing in our lives is often related to things that are intensely private. They are your secrets. Your deep, dark, ugly ones. The ones that no one else knows about. I've got them. You've got them. We've all got them. But He sees them, and He can heal you from them.
Another point I want to make about this story is that the woman was considered "unclean." She was ceremonially unclean and in Jesus' day that was a big deal. This meant several things, but I won't go into all of those. Instead I'll just tell you, one of the things associated with "uncleanness" was that whoever she touched would be considered unclean. In other words, she would defile people if she touched them. Furthermore, the fringe of Jesus' garment that this woman grabbed was an outward representation that Jesus (and other Rabbis) were ceremonially clean (see Numbers 15:37-41). That is to say, when she decided to reach out and grab hold of Jesus, she took a risk. A big one.
Do you ever feel like that is true of you? That you are so bad you can't reach out for Him? You can't bear the thought of bringing yourself before Him, bruised and battered, because of how nasty you feel? I know I have definitely been there. Multiple times. But you've gotta know the beauty of it. You've gotta see that YOU CANNOT MAKE JESUS UNCLEAN. You do not have that kind of power, my friend. Yes, you've sinned. Yes, you've fallen short. But He bore your sin before you ever saw the light of day. So, cry out to Him from the slime of your mess. So many Christians believe they must get their life together before they can present themselves to the Holy of Holies. What a twisted cycle that is! The only way to get that mess cleaned up is if you go to Him. In the middle of that mess. You're not going to surprise Him. He sees it. "If you go to God with anything more than nothing, you come with too much" -Mike Donehey. To think you can redeem yourself is pride. So don't get caught up in the lie that you have to get your ducks in line before going to Him. He sees them. Flapping in that water, not listening to you. He is waiting for you to call out to Him.
Jesus made Himself easy to grab. He knew the woman was in the crowd. He knew she had a need that was personal to her. He knew. And what did He do? He made Himself easy for her to grab. I don't doubt that He intentionally walked close to her (despite that huge crowd). You know, that is what He does with us? He makes Himself accessible to each and every one of us. God came to earth so that He could be touchable. I love that about Him. It's so humble on His part. That He would make Himself available to us 24/7. ALWAYS.
My friends, He knows what kind of person you are. He knows those things you bury deep down. He knows what you like and don't like. He knows how many hairs are on your head! He knows what kind of man you are. He knows what kind of woman you are.
19 Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. -Hebrews 10:19-23 NIV
So, do you have the faith to reach out and grab Him?
I will confess to you that sometimes I wonder how it's possible that I'm not forgotten by Him. It's nothing He does wrong, I just look around at the problems in my family's life, my friends lives, and the world; and I wonder so why would He care about me when He's got all this to deal with?
Isaiah 6 says that His robe fills the temple.
That means He has enough robe for each and every one us.
So take your messy self and get up and under the cross, hold your head back, and let His sweet blood pour over your face.
It was that woman's faith that drove her to reach out and touch His precious garment.
Jesus said, "If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it will obey you." -Luke 17:6
Remember, if you are in Christ YOU HAVE BEEN MADE CLEAN.
*I got a lot of this from a sermon by Beth Moore. If you want to hear it, let me know and I'll set you up.
Saturday, September 22, 2012
Fall is here!
Fall is in the air!
Pumpkins! Crisp breezes! Spiced lattes! Yellow, orange, red, and brown! Boots!
Long sleeves! And colorful trees!
It is a season full of change.
So much has changed for me over the summer.
God has altered the make up of my family.
He has made Himself known in new ways.
How I long for Him to change me even more.
My soul is longing to know Him like never before.
I hope to get back into the habit of blogging regularly.
Be on the look out for new posts coming soon!
Until then, rest in the truth that...
He knows where you are in life right now.
And when He has tested you,
you will come forth as gold.
- Job 23:10
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