Author Archives: jsjdevotions

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July 10, 2014

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Love & Works, Miracles, Sharing Our Faith

WE CAN HEAL

So the apostles went out and traveled through all the towns, preaching the Good News and healing people everywhere. [Luke 9:6 NCV)]

There are a few Christians who truly have a healing touch; they can lay hands upon a person and physical healing will result. Most of us, however, don’t have that gift. Nevertheless, we all have the ability to heal and restore others. Healing may occur when we hold a hand in a hospital room, write notes of encouragement or sympathy, visit a shut-in, or when we offer a smile or a few kind words to a stranger. We offer healing when we greet a visitor at church, remember a birthday with a card or call, provide a helping hand, advocate for someone who needs a voice, or bring food to a family in need. Healing can begin when we dry a child’s tears, drive someone to a doctor’s appointment, give relief to a stressed mother, offer a listening ear, and open a door or lighten someone’s load. When we share our experiences with those who will find them helpful or encouraging or when we graciously accept an apology and readily forgive, we help restore spiritual health. I’ll never cure a case of leprosy as the apostles probably did but, Lord, show me how to be a healer.

The greatest healing therapy is friendship and love. [Hubert H. Humphrey]

I am not a God and I cannot perform miracles. I am simply a person who has been given the rights and responsibilities to be a Healer. I pledge to myself and all who can hear me that this is what I shall become. [From “The Oath of the Healer” by Louis Weinstein]

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July 9, 2014

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Bible Stories, God's Grace & Love, Knowing Him, Obedience

A BOY’S LIFE

          His parents didn’t know what to think. “Son,” his mother said to him, “why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been frantic, searching for you everywhere.”
          “But why did you need to search?” he asked. “Didn’t you know that I must be in my Father’s house?” But they didn’t understand what he meant.
          Then he returned to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. And his mother stored all these things in her heart. Jesus grew in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and all the people. [Luke 2:48-52 (NLT)]

Do you suppose Mary and Joseph “grounded” Jesus (or the 1st century equivalent of grounding) once they got back to Nazareth?

In the gospels, Jesus seems to jump from babyhood to manhood in one fell swoop so we rarely think of Jesus as a boy. Except for this story of his staying behind in Jerusalem at the age of twelve, we know nothing of his youth. Since he was a boy, however, it is quite likely that he had skinned knees, bloody noses, bumps and bruises. He probably had stomach upsets and fevers; he knew what it was to be hungry and tired. He played and laughed and cried and experienced the full range of human emotions. In spite of being the Son of God, he was obedient to his earthly parents. In spite of being the Prince of Peace, he lived in obscurity in a humble home in a small village. His tears were dried by Mary as she held him in her arms and he learned the art of carpentry at Joseph’s side. And, through the years, he “grew in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and all the people.”

Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. [Philippians 2:6-8 (NLT)]

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July 8, 2014

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Challenges & Difficulty, Family, Friends & Fellowship

SHARPENING

As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend. [Proverbs 27:17 (NLT)]

God sends challenging tasks into our lives when we least expect them. Fortunately, He often sends special people into our lives, as well, whose job is to encourage (and push us) to meet those challenges. In 2012, our Florida church had a fund raising event, “Art from the Heart.” Although I had never shared my photography with anyone outside of family, I felt compelled to do two 16 x 20 photos and donate them. The following year, I donated what I called “baskets of blessings” with a variety of items created from my photos. Because of those donations, our church photographer, Arlene, wanted to meet me. She asked me to take photos for our church website. This request took me out of my comfort zone; I only took pictures of flowers, birds and my grands, not real people! Arlene, however, wouldn’t let me wiggle my way out of the challenge. Thanks to her patience and encouragement, I actually began enjoying the opportunity to do something for a church I attend only a few months a year. At the end of the season, I gave her a photo/prayer book I’d written, asked if she would like my daily messages, and started sending her my morning emails.

Last fall, when I returned to Florida, this wonderful woman kept encouraging me to have a website for my messages. I know enough about computers to send emails and edit photos, but this whole web presence thing seemed beyond my ability and I balked. Good friends, however, sharpen one another as iron sharpens iron, and Arlene persisted. Today, because of her determination and hard work, fantastic computer skills, and patience in teaching me, we are pleased to welcome you to Devotions of the Heart.

Thank you (and a big hug) to Arlene, who made this possible. Thank you to my email family, many of whom I have never met, for encouraging me. Thank you, God, for sending me both challenges and friends to encourage and sharpen me. I am blessed.

Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. [Hebrews 10:24 (NLT)]

 

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July 8, 2014

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Attitudes & Behavior, Holy Spirit, Patience & Perseverance

BE AN EXAMPLE

We show that we are God’s servants by our pure lives, by our understanding, by our patience, and by our kindness. We show it by the Holy Spirit, by genuine love, by speaking the truth, and by depending on God’s power. [2 Corinthians 6:6-7a (ERV)]

Father in heaven, fill us with your Holy Spirit. May we always live so that people will be able to see Christ within us.

Few things are more infectious than a godly lifestyle. The people you rub shoulders with everyday need that kind of challenge. Not prudish. Not preachy. Just cracker jack clean living. Just honest to goodness, bone-deep, non-hypocritical integrity. [Chuck Swindoll]

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July 7, 2014

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Attitudes & Behavior, Family, Friends & Fellowship, Knowing Him

THE THIRD STRAND

DSC09119-webTwo people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. Likewise, two people lying close to one another can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken. [Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 (NLT)]

When I first read this section of Ecclesiastes, I thought it applied beautifully to marriage. But then I got to the words, “Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.” How could that relate to marriage? Was Solomon advocating a ménage a trois or bigamy? Personally, if there is supposed to be a third person in my marriage, I’m voting for a maid. It seemed to me that Solomon was simply talking about the importance of friendship and having the support of other people in our lives. Indeed, we certainly need to have friends; we’re not meant to be alone.

As I pondered that third strand, however, I found it can apply to marriage. Could that third strand be God? Certainly, with God in a marriage (or any relationship), there is a triple-braided cord: a cord that “is not easily broken.” Every marriage needs three parties to be successful: husband, wife, and God. It takes only two to be wed, but it takes three to make a strong marriage, one that will not be easily broken.

But God made them male and female from the beginning of creation. This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one. Since they are no longer two but one, let no one split apart what God has joined together. [Mark 10:6-9 (NLT)]

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July 6, 2014

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Prayer

KEEP IT SIMPLE

The Lord sees the good people and listens to their prayers. [Psalm 34:15 (NCV)]

Prayer doesn’t have to be complicated. The simpler it is, the better it is. God has lots of prayers to hear so let’s not consume his time trying to impress him with verbiage or flowery language. This morning, let’s take a few moments to have the most important conversation of our day. Let’s talk with God. We don’t have to be eloquent or grammatically correct. Our words just need to be genuine and heartfelt. We mustn’t forget, however, that good conversationalists are also good listeners. We’ll have to stop talking long enough to hear what God has to say to us.

Here are the two best prayers I know: “Help me, Help me, Help me,” and “Thank you, Thank you, Thank You.” A woman I know says, for her morning prayer, “Whatever,” and then for the evening, “Oh, well,” but has conceded that these prayers are more palatable for people without children. [From “Traveling Mercies: Some Thoughts on Faith” by Anne Lamott]