Reach out for Him Photo by Wesley Souza (Pexels.com)
I’m not sure if you’ve noticed it lately but my blog post has a similar theme. I want you to understand how much Jesus loves you! I have a passion deep in my heart to let you know how much Jesus loves you!
He gives us free will to reach out to him, so call out to him today, say Jesus I’m a sinner I want a relationship with you. Jesus, please forgive me for the choices in my past. Jesus, I want you in my life.
He will not force Himself on you. He wants you to choose. He knew you from the moment of your conception. He created you in His Image. He wants a relationship with you!! Yes, You!!!
But we must choose that relationship.! Choose that relationship today before time goes by before the day ends! Because you can’t get away from His unconditional love. Accept His Love today!
The song. “I Can’t get away”, by Melissa Helser, feat. Naomi Raine is just so cool, so deep, so amazing, it just feels like it reaches down into my soul. I hope it affects you in the same way.
I can’t get away!!!
Matthew 7:7-8 NLT [7] “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. [8] For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.
Jesus wants to be your protective shade. Let Him. The time is now!!
Psalm 121:5 NLT [5] The LORD himself watches over you! The LORD stands beside you as your protective shade.
I don’t know anyone who’s known by hundreds maybe even thousands of names other than our Lord: Faithful Father, Lamb of God, Creator, Jesus, Holy Spirit, Wonderful Counselor, Prince of Peace, King of Kings, Lord of Lords. The list is endless.
Something to meditate on: this is the same person; Jesus, Father, Holy Spirit, and Creator God who wants to know you.
I heard the song by Sean Curran “1000 names”, it’s so powerful to hear and take. Because it reminds me that within those thousand names, I can find the right name I may need for today, tomorrow, or my future.
If I’m in a happy content place, I might find the name King of Kings or Lord of Lords to be cool! If I’m in a time of confusion, Wonderful Counselor may be the correct name to impact my mind and life. If I’m needing relief through conflict, Prince of Peace may mean something to me. If you are struggling with mental or physical health, He is the Healer ( Jehovah Rapha)!
We need to share His infinite Names with those we love; friends, family, children, teens, young adults, and even strangers. It may be the beginning of their walk with the unchanging God of the universe.
I hope you enjoy the song as much as I did. The same God who has multiple names wants to know yours. Even though he has various names, there is only one King Jesus!
1000 Names Sean Curran
Amazing to think, God is immutable but His Names are multiple in the description of His reach.He will finish what He starts!He will not give up on You!Sing to Him who is worthy of praise.
Do you feel dehydrated? The summer through fall heat can surely parch us physically. However, the emotions and spiritual needs of our body need the help of our Creator God. The world culture and political climate alone can feel overwhelmingly toxic and heated with conflict. Are you seeking the only place for Peace, Jesus? He wants to guide our path with Living Water to replenish our lives.
Jeremiah 17:7-8 NLT [7] “But blessed are those who trust in the LORD and have made the LORD their hope and confidence. [8] They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit.
The story of the Samaritan woman stands the test of time. She went to the well to draw water in the height of midday, the sun was intense, the heat of the desert was exhausting. She went to draw water at hottest time.
Why would the Samaritan woman choose to avoid people In her town? Jews and Samaritans did not talk, it was forbidden. She did not feel worthy of their communication. She felt judged by all since she had more than one husband, she was known as an adulterer. Women judged and some men took advantage of her poverty.
Jesus knew who the Samaritan woman was, He planned to meet her at the well and share His unconditional love, she would have her testimony of grace, mercy and unconditional love. Jesus loved her and spoke truth into her life. He accepted she was a sinner. But He wanted to provide a new life. He even let her know “ you have had many husbands.” He gave her a chance to repent and receive His Living Water.
The story has not changed. Even today, humans can seek Jesus. He is not available for one people but for all. If our sins were revealed, not one of us could stand before Jesus.
Read the Samaritan story for yourself. It is a story of God’s grace and mercy on display. It is amazing.
John 4:1-15,23-24,26 NLT [1] Jesus knew the Pharisees had heard that he was baptizing and making more disciples than John [2] (though Jesus himself didn’t baptize them-his disciples did). [3] So he left Judea and returned to Galilee. [4] He had to go through Samaria on the way. [5] Eventually he came to the Samaritan village of Sychar, near the field that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. [6] Jacob’s well was there; and Jesus, tired from the long walk, sat wearily beside the well about noontime. [7] Soon a Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, “Please give me a drink.” [8] He was alone at the time because his disciples had gone into the village to buy some food. [9] The woman was surprised, for Jews refuse to have anything to do with Samaritans. She said to Jesus, “You are a Jew, and I am a Samaritan woman. Why are you asking me for a drink?” [10] Jesus replied, “If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you living water.” [11] “But sir, you don’t have a rope or a bucket,” she said, “and this well is very deep. Where would you get this living water? [12] And besides, do you think you’re greater than our ancestor Jacob, who gave us this well? How can you offer better water than he and his sons and his animals enjoyed?” [13] Jesus replied, “Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. [14] But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.” [15] “Please, sir,” the woman said, “give me this water! Then I’ll never be thirsty again, and I won’t have to come here to get water.” [23] But the time is coming-indeed it’s here now-when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way. [24] For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.” [26] Then Jesus told her, “I AM the Messiah!”
Today, could be the day you accept the free gift of Jesus your Savior. He wants to restore broken places, bring refreshment in Living Water, and guide you to a new life with Him. Get ready for a new beginning.
Be filled with the Holy Spirit! Refreshment is just a step away. He will restore and guide. Be like a well watered garden, be fruitful.
Isaiah 58:11 NLT [11] The LORD will guide you continually, giving you water when you are dry and restoring your strength. You will be like a well-watered garden, like an ever-flowing spring.
The Lord will give Living water, you will thirst no more. Say aloud: Jesus, I am a sinner, I need You Lord. I believe You are my Savior, I want You to change my life from the inside out. Please forgive my sins. Make me whole in You alone.
John 3:3-21 NLT [3] Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God.” [4] “What do you mean?” exclaimed Nicodemus. “How can an old man go back into his mother’s womb and be born again?” [5] Jesus replied, “I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. [6] Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life. [7] So don’t be surprised when I say, ‘You must be born again.’ [8] The wind blows wherever it wants. Just as you can hear the wind but can’t tell where it comes from or where it is going, so you can’t explain how people are born of the Spirit.” [9] “How are these things possible?” Nicodemus asked. [10] Jesus replied, “You are a respected Jewish teacher, and yet you don’t understand these things? [11] I assure you, we tell you what we know and have seen, and yet you won’t believe our testimony. [12] But if you don’t believe me when I tell you about earthly things, how can you possibly believe if I tell you about heavenly things? [13] No one has ever gone to heaven and returned. But the Son of Man has come down from heaven. [14] And as Moses lifted up the bronze snake on a pole in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, [15] so that everyone who believes in him will have eternal life. [16] “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. [17] God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him. [18] “There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son. [19] And the judgment is based on this fact: God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil. [20] All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed. [21] But those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants.”
If you have made this declaration aloud, I rejoice with you.
Praise You Lord for the new journey, it takes the first step, hold onto Jesus, turn your life over to Him daily. He will restore you.
I love you Jesus, You are the Living Water. There is no better place for refreshment.
Has anyone else witnessed increased rage behavior? Lately, I have been feeling more oppression, conflicts, unrest, and lack of understanding in community and personally, it is not just politically. Yes, it feels like spiritual warfare is ramping up.
The enemy of our soul wants us to live in fear and take our eyes off the Creator of the universe and everything good in it. The pressure cooker of relationship challenges or watching from the sidelines conflicts between children to young adults can exhaust. The devil is the leader of destruction, he wants to steal, kill and destroy each person created in the Image of God. If he can cause us to hate each other because of rejection, he brings on darkness.
I can almost hear the gnashing of teeth and furious temper tantrum of a two year old that didn’t get its’ toy. The raging person may be child, teen, young adult or seasoned one. This mindset of control comes from the enemy. No one should demand a relationship and rule in fear. This is unhealthy and those patterns must be broken. It can be the beginning of emotional abuse leading to domestic violence. Using force or coercion encourages the predator to get more controlling.
It is at these times when I feel this upside down world of war, I must stand firm in my faith in Jesus! Our youth, teens and young adults have had a marred few years in Covid lockdown. It hasn’t only been isolation for supposed community health sake but a mental health nightmare. We have all been effected in someway, even the most stable in our peer groups.
I believe our children need our input even more today. When we show healthy responses in disappointment, we are reminded we don’t do life alone but have each other to lift up the power of Jesus and the Holy Spirit to fight with His mighty army against the enemies schemes.
Psalm 103:19-22 NLT [19] The LORD has made the heavens his throne; from there he rules over everything. [20] Praise the LORD, you angels, you mighty ones who carry out his plans, listening for each of his commands. [21] Yes, praise the LORD, you armies of angels who serve him and do his will! [22] Praise the LORD, everything he has created, everything in all his kingdom. Let all that I am praise the LORD.
Teaching our children to stand firm in their faith, listen without talking, asking questions to clarify if they want help can be a great start. We want our kids to feel comfortable seeking parents or friends for help. Our kids need to know we are a safe place. We have to reflect self control like Jesus. Together, We can bring our concerns before God and He will provide His army along with wisdom. Silence allows violence. Sharing challenges can break the isolation predators use to trap another person and the unhealthy patterns can be broken in community.
I have on my battle armor. It comes from the Lord. This battle gear must be put on daily and at times I must speak aloud each part. Ephesians 6 describes the Armor of God, every morning I pray this over my family. There have been days I prayed this scripture over my kids at night as they slept or holding their hands while the battle raged. You can place your child’s name wherever appropriate in the scripture below.
Ephesians 6:11-18 NLT [11] Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. [12] For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. [13] Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. [14] Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. [15] For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. [16] In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. [17] Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. [18] Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.
Jesus is the only hope for each of us. Get on the Armor of God. Just like in an airplane, put on your armor first, then show your kids how to put on theirs. Take a deep breath that comes from God. Our continued prayers and communication with the Holy Spirit are power beyond our human understanding. There is a battle going on in the supernatural but in the end Jesus wins.
Romans 5:3-5 NLT [3] We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. [4] And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. [5] And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.
Paul writes the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life! The law can tell us the will of God but only the Spirit can give us the power to live it. Therefore, live by the Spirit of God and you fulfill the will of God for your life. Jonathon Chan The Book of Mysteries.
I never thought of my testimony as a letter of recommendation for Christ Jesus. My walk with Jesus took multiple decades. I understood the need for wisdom and peace beyond my human mind. I was raised in a religion with doctrine of law and regimented steps of route sayings, responses after the priest, and even songs dedicated to expound on the religion. However, I felt hollow inside, as if something was missing.
2 Corinthians 3:1-6 MSG [1-3] Does it sound like we’re patting ourselves on the back, insisting on our credentials, asserting our authority? Well, we’re not. Neither do we need letters of endorsement, either to you or from you. You yourselves are all the endorsement we need. Your very lives are a letter that anyone can read by just looking at you. Christ himself wrote it-not with ink, but with God’s living Spirit; not chiseled into stone, but carved into human lives-and we publish it. [4-6] We couldn’t be more sure of ourselves in this-that you, written by Christ himself for God, are our letter of recommendation. We wouldn’t think of writing this kind of letter about ourselves. Only God can write such a letter. His letter authorizes us to help carry out this new plan of action. The plan wasn’t written out with ink on paper, with pages and pages of legal footnotes, killing your spirit. It’s written with Spirit on spirit, his life on our lives!
My near death experience on a rafting trip in Colorado, brought a determination to seek the One true God and His plans for my life. Where I felt insecure or punished by life challenges I found a new perspective.
God uses everything in our lives to draw us to Himself and Jesus’ loving arms. He awaits our reliance on Him for all things. We must not be afraid, walk to Him.
He is peace, hope, wisdom, counselor, and a voice of life. I was asked by my child when I accepted Jesus and allowed Him to direct my life. I replied, “32! My child it took a while.” She replied, “what took you so long, Mom?” I said, “ I am stubborn and a control freak, but I am so glad I took the steps.”
I avoided the deep connection with Jesus. I was goal driven and relied on myself alone. I was wrong.
Psalm 139:7-12 MSG [7-12] Is there anyplace I can go to avoid your Spirit? to be out of your sight? If I climb to the sky, you’re there! If I go underground, you’re there! If I flew on morning’s wings to the far western horizon, You’d find me in a minute- you’re already there waiting! Then I said to myself, “Oh, he even sees me in the dark! At night I’m immersed in the light!” It’s a fact: darkness isn’t dark to you; night and day, darkness and light, they’re all the same to you.
Don’t wait until you feel near perfect, it is not possible, and that’s what the enemy bets on for your life on earth. Satan speaks lies, “you will never measure up, you will never be forgiven for the past.” These are lies!
Matthew 11:28 tells us Jesus extends His hand, saying, “Come to me all who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest”, He is patient, seek truth from the One who knows all things.
No limits – photo by Mary Mesikapp
Psalm 139:1-6 MSG [1-6] GOD, investigate my life; get all the facts firsthand. I’m an open book to you; even from a distance, you know what I’m thinking. You know when I leave and when I get back; I’m never out of your sight. You know everything I’m going to say before I start the first sentence. I look behind me and you’re there, then up ahead and you’re there, too- your reassuring presence, coming and going. This is too much, too wonderful- I can’t take it all in!
Let Jesus guide your steps! His Holy Spirit will not fail you.His love is unconditional. His gift is free just take it and live a life of freedom with Jesus. Your letter of recommendation is from His Holy Spirit to your spirit, His life reflected in you, amazing!
Titus 3:4-7 NLT [4] But- When God our Savior revealed his kindness and love, [5] he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit. [6] He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior. [7] Because of his grace he made us right in his sight and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal life.
Isaiah 64:8-9 NLT [8] And yet, O LORD, you are our Father. We are the clay, and you are the potter. We all are formed by your hand. [9] Don’t be so angry with us, LORD. Please don’t remember our sins forever. Look at us, we pray, and see that we are all your people.
We’re living in a timeframe where our culture wants us to choose death over life. The Creator of Life, our God made life; life for each individual with a purpose. Ephesians 2: 8 -10 reminds us, that we, each human, are His masterpiece created for something amazing, and yet our culture confuses this purpose with a prompt to put our needs before the amazing gift of life. Forgive us, Lord, for being callous about the right to choose ( life or death) for a child in the womb.
There are many of us called to be parents through adoption and it is an amazing gift! Making a difference in the life of a child with love, compassion, teaching, and discovery of the amazing world is precious. I loved the times my kids asked questions about nature, “where do thunder and lightning come from?” butterflies, “How does that pretty butterfly sleep in the cocoon?”, and even a praying mantis, ” it looks so weird, Mom, will it pinch me?”. It gave me the blessing of slowing down and sharing awe at the Creator’s unique bugs, animals, skies, birds, and environments. Being a mom has been a true honor; one that I don’t take lightly, I love their birthmothers, and I treasure our three blessings from God.
I see confusion, anxiety, and fear in the minds of young adults and teens because of the recent decisions of Roe v. Wade. God wants us to choose Him, He wants us to choose life and to live a life of abundance. He wants us to decide to follow His instructions and value life.
I have heard, “It is so hard to be pro-life around friends or family?” I know people who regret their abortions due to medical unhealthy babies and rape. (There can be emotional and spiritual healing from post-abortive personal and group programs). God can use the hard experiences of our lives for teaching. A child can be a messenger for God with an amazing voice that can change the world. It is an emotionally charged topic. It is not a problem for our times alone but occurred thousands of years ago.
Even in the Bible, multiple situations of the battle of life and death are discussed. Genesis; the first book of the Bible tells us the story of Moses, who was saved from death by the Pharoah when his own daughter found the baby Moses floating in a basket on the river. It is a story of adoption and reconciliation. Moses rose to be God’s leader of the Israelites, with his birth family when he was an adult. His physical environment and biological status were the stepping stones to God’s purpose in Moses’ life. When we step out of the way, the Lord can make amazing things out of hard times.
Life is tough and has challenges, some as a consequence of our sins and some because of the evil in our world. Jesus said, (John 16:33) “in this world, you will have trouble but I’ve overcome the world”. God said He would never leave or forsake us.
Deuteronomy 31:6 Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”
We have to love like Jesus and that means supporting people who are in an unplanned pregnancy that means loving a single parent by providing tangible resources, time, financial support; perhaps babysitting capabilities, or even taking them out to eat. Be open to whatever it is that the Lord lays on your heart.
But God wants us to love his people. He wants us to value the life of each individual created in the image of Him. He is the king of my heart. He wants to be the king of yours. The question is will you let Him? He sees all things.
The enemy ( Satan) doesn’t want you to choose life instead he wants you to choose death which brings along with it anxiety, shame, guilt, depression, along with anger, and can lead to cycles of unhealthy decisions and relationships. Mental Health and substance abuse can be a way of trying to cope with regret and sadness. I have seen this personally in others that I love.
Joy the Lord is our strength. I think our walk with Jesus can provide us with amazing miracles and opportunities around us when we choose life. We learn to trust God as our provider and our walk with Jesus gets stronger. It is trusting Him over our own abilities. For our family, having semiopen or open communication by phone, in correspondences: letters, email, and even in person for family gatherings has been a mingling of two sets of families. Our goal is to love our child as the Lord would guide our families.
There’s a song from Kutless: “The King of my Heart”, that really spoke to me this morning. May the lyrics wash over you like Living Water, Peace giving conformations that God is in the business of life, not death. Let Him be the wind beneath your sails, the anchor in the waves because He’s waiting for you to let Him.
King of my Heart by Kutless
He is good and He will never let you down when you trust Him for your life and the lives of your family! There is no other source to hold onto but God!
God is the God of the impossible. Our human mind can’t fathom how our future can come together. We see the future through the eyes of the past, it jades our belief that God can do a mighty thing with our broken pieces. Our disappointments in people, circumstances, financial status and consequences for impulsive choices leave us looking down instead of up to Jesus.
2 Corinthians 1:3-7 MSG [3-5] All praise to the God and Father of our Master, Jesus the Messiah! Father of all mercy! God of all healing counsel! He comes alongside us when we go through hard times, and before you know it, he brings us alongside someone else who is going through hard times so that we can be there for that person just as God was there for us. We have plenty of hard times that come from following the Messiah, but no more so than the good times of his healing comfort-we get a full measure of that, too. [6-7] When we suffer for Jesus, it works out for your healing and salvation. If we are treated well, given a helping hand and encouraging word, that also works to your benefit, spurring you on, face forward, unflinching. Your hard times are also our hard times. When we see that you’re just as willing to endure the hard times as to enjoy the good times, we know you’re going to make it, no doubt about it.
The enemy is pleased when we stop our forward motion in walking with Jesus. He practically bets on the fact we will not succeed. He places rocks in the path of our future. When we look down we can’t see forward to the sun that is illuminating the path, we just see the rocks, the tree roots, and the boulders getting bigger.We may feel ready to drown in the overflowing waters of despair.
It seems like an impossible future. But who is talking that smack into your head? The Father of Lies, the devil, of course!
“Turn off that frequency, cover your ears, and turn on the new solid foundation of truth, the Word of God”, this is what He says, Jesus, the One who really knows the end from the beginning.
I was amazed as I read another daily devotion, from The Book of Mysteries, by Jonathan Cahn, yesterday. He described these Hebrew words: Olam: means everything you see, the creation, the universe, and Davar: means the Word ( God’s). The setting was the discipleship of teacher to student, “Which is greater, the Olam or the Davar?” The student initially replies, “the Olam because it’s the universe”, however, the student was shown the truth in scripture by his teacher. “Psalms tells us: For He spoke, and it came into existence, He commanded, and it was established. Hebrews and John 1 confirm the fact the Word came before the universe was formed”.
Psalm 33: 6 – 9 6 By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth. 7 He gathers the waters of the sea into jars; he puts the deep into storehouses. 8 Let all the earth fear the Lord; let all the people of the world revere him. 9 For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm.
Hebrews 11: 1 – 3 also shares:
11 Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. 2 This is what the ancients were commended for.3 By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.
The next scripture is from John 1, the Word came first and the world came second.
John 1: 1 – 5 1 In the beginning, was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
The Bible is the Word of God, it is truly over all things in the universe. I hope that encourages you to remember we are not to be led by circumstances and events in our life, the world changes but God’s Word never does. Despite what we see, we must stand on the Word.
Let the Davar direct your steps.Meditate on His Word, and drown out the lies that may be filling your mind. It takes time but you can do it with God’s help.
Here are a few of my favorite scriptures: Isaiah 40, Zephaniah 3:17 (He delights over you), Jeremiah 29:11, Deuteronomy 31:6, 8
Isaiah 30:18-23 NLT [18] So the LORD must wait for you to come to him so he can show you his love and compassion. For the LORD is a faithful God. Blessed are those who wait for his help. [19] O people of Zion, who live in Jerusalem, you will weep no more. He will be gracious if you ask for help. He will surely respond to the sound of your cries. [20] Though the Lord gave you adversity for food and suffering for drink, he will still be with you to teach you. You will see your teacher with your own eyes. [21] Your own ears will hear him. Right behind you a voice will say, “This is the way you should go,” whether to the right or to the left. [22] Then you will destroy all your silver idols and your precious gold images. You will throw them out like filthy rags, saying to them, “Good riddance!” [23] Then the LORD will bless you with rain at planting time. There will be wonderful harvests and plenty of pastureland for your livestock.
Maverick City has become one of my favorite worship bands. They talk about real life, praise in joyful times, remind me to trust God as I praise and remind me that there are a million different miracles, as the song, Million Little Miracles shares.
It is truly a road of bumps, valleys, mountains, and sunsets, I hope this song brings you a blessed reminder, Jesus is in the little things.
Million Little Miracles by Maverick City
Amazing, when we pause to consider how Jesus is moving behind the scenes of our life. The question is, are we listening for His encouragement or believing His plans will unfold? It’s a miracle you are here, count all the miracles in your life.
It can be hard to have faith when troubles seem to chase us. But we must believe what scripture tells us.Here is are few to ponder:
Luke 17:6 MSG [6] But the Master said, “You don’t need more faith. There is no ‘more’ or ‘less’ in faith. If you have a bare kernel of faith, say the size of a poppy seed, you could say to this sycamore tree, ‘Go jump in the lake,’ and it would do it.
Matthew 9:20-22 MSG [20-22] Just then a woman who had hemorrhaged for twelve years slipped in from behind and lightly touched his robe. She was thinking to herself, “If I can just put a finger on his robe, I’ll get well.” Jesus turned-caught her at it. Then he reassured her: “Courage, daughter. You took a risk of faith, and now you’re well.” The woman was well from then on.
Have the courage to trust the source of all things, our Creator God? What have you got to lose, there is nothing greater than our God!!!
It’s hard to believe I used to be a big city girl. As I sit watching the integration of our white adult leghorn hens and a new batch of chickens, should I say chicks, I am mesmerized.
There really is such a thing as the pecking order. Each particular group of chickens: one set of six adults and one set of seven varieties of chicks, has their own pecking order.
The fabulous 7 chicks and buff Orington photos by Mary Mesikapp
There’s a big white Leghorn chicken, the dominant one, and there are the rest that follow. It really is survival of the fittest. There’s always got to be the leader and the rest are followers. That’s what makes a good coop.
Just like in parenting or life, the leaders job is to protect and keep the group moving especially in times of predatory behavior. Yes, we have fox,coyotes, hawks, and, of course, the dreaded huge great horned owls. Spring into summertime can bring black bear.
In our lives, our homes, and society, there are leaders and there are followers. As a parent, I do my best to guide my chicks. I know one leader that doesn’t change though, his name is Jesus? His wisdom is solid and never changes in over 2000 years.
Scripture tells us Jesus grieved over Jerusalem as he watched their continual turning from his ways and from godly wisdom. He even described it as despair and wanting to gather together these chicks under his wings for protection. Watching my chickens makes me imagine Jesus must grieve over some current events, however, He wants people to make the free will choice to follow Him.
Matthew 23:37-39 NLT. [37] “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones God’s messengers! How often I have wanted to gather your children together as a hen protects her chicks beneath her wings, but you wouldn’t let me. [38] And now, look, your house is abandoned and desolate. [39] For I tell you this, you will never see me again until you say, ‘Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the LORD!'”
You see in those times Jesus came and they believed he would be their King and his people didn’t know him. The Pharisees were threatened by His presence, and their communication to the people spoke hate and Jesus was crucified. He came to lay down His life for us all, sinners.His description of hen to chicks is heartfelt.
John 3:16-21 NLT [16] “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. [17] God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him. [18] “There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son. [19] And the judgment is based on this fact: God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil. [20] All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed. [21] But those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants.”
The Jewish people at that time thought he was going to save them in a human way. Jesus will come again.
Revelation 1:4-8 NLT [4] This letter is from John to the seven churches in the province of Asia. Grace and peace to you from the one who is, who always was, and who is still to come; from the sevenfold Spirit before his throne; [5] and from Jesus Christ. He is the faithful witness to these things, the first to rise from the dead, and the ruler of all the kings of the world. All glory to him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by shedding his blood for us. [6] He has made us a Kingdom of priests for God his Father. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen. [7] Look! He comes with the clouds of heaven. And everyone will see him- even those who pierced him. And all the nations of the world will mourn for him. Yes! Amen! [8] “I am the Alpha and the Omega-the beginning and the end,” says the Lord God. “I am the one who is, who always was, and who is still to come-the Almighty One.”
I know this is a serious blog post for serious times. Jesus knows the timeline of all things and what the future holds. Crazy times lead me to seek His wisdom through the book of Revelation. As parents, we must share what we learn from God so our children learn who to follow.
I am just a baby chick, however, I want to follow the lead Hen, the leader of my life, Jesus! Because I can’t imagine following anything else.
Who designed the earth, heaven, and stars? Who created each of us? Who is the only One who can heal our hurts, care for our burdens and bring us hope? It is the Creator of Heaven and Earth, the Lord.
Do you want to be healed? This was a question to a man who was unable to walk due to paralysis.
In scripture, Jesus asked the man if he wanted to be healed? It is the same question for us. Do You want to be healed?
John 5: 1- 15
Afterward, Jesus returned to Jerusalem for one of the Jewish holy days. 2 Inside the city, near the Sheep Gate, was the pool of Bethesda, with five covered porches. 3 Crowds of sick people—blind, lame, or paralyzed—lay on the porches. 5 One of the men lying there had been sick for thirty-eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him and knew he had been ill for a long time, he asked him, “Would you like to get well?”
7 “I can’t, sir,” the sick man said, “for I have no one to put me into the pool when the water bubbles up. Someone else always gets there ahead of me.”
8 Jesus told him, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk!”
9 Instantly, the man was healed! He rolled up his sleeping mat and began walking! But this miracle happened on the Sabbath, 10 so the Jewish leaders objected. They said to the man who was cured, “You can’t work on the Sabbath! The law doesn’t allow you to carry that sleeping mat!”
11 But he replied, “The man who healed me told me, ‘Pick up your mat and walk.’”
12 “Who said such a thing as that?” they demanded.
13 The man didn’t know, for Jesus had disappeared into the crowd. 14 But afterward Jesus found him in the Temple and told him, “Now you are well; so stop sinning, or something even worse may happen to you.” 15 Then the man went and told the Jewish leaders that it was Jesus who had healed him.
There may be those around you that do not want you to heal of physical, emotional, psychological, or spiritual brokenness because when you do you will be a force to be reckoned with. We are stronger when our faith will be in Christ alone and not in our own strength.
Greater is the Lord in you than He who is in the world. Jesus will give you strength, peace, and healing. You must believe He is Lord and Savior, repent of sins in the past and take your healing. He is the triune God: Father, Son ( Jesus), and Holy Spirit. When you let Him into your life He will bring good, including hope and a future ( Jeremiah 29:11). Take your brokenness to Him!!
I really loved this song, The Healing, by Blanca and Dante Bowe. We are all broken, some cracks can be seen on the outside, and some inside hurts are not as visible. He can heal you.As you praise and dance to this worship song, step into your healing!!
Father God, You never change. You love Your children and You have plans to bless their lives. Lord, sometimes we feel alone and unworthy of healing due to our sins. Help us to turn to You before it’s too late. Help us to believe in Your unfailing love. We need healing from our brokenness. You are Jehovah Rapha, our Healer. Help whoever reaches out to You feel Your Presence. Draw them to Yourself. In the Name above all names, Jesus!
Inspiring Light Through the Cracks 