Category Archives: God’s Grace & Love

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May 20, 2015

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Faith & Hope, God's Grace & Love, God's Plan, Knowing Him, Miracles

THE GREAT PHYSICIAN

I am the Lord who heals you. [Exodus 15:26b (NLT)]

Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous – how well I know it. [Psalm 139:14 (NLT)]

5-20-15jasmine (star)- naples442-1webShort of seeing his incision, steri-strips and a small bandage on his back, one would be hard put to know that my husband had surgery less than a week ago! When commenting on his quick recovery, a neighbor said, “You must have had a good doctor!” Of course he did; we wouldn’t have deliberately chosen a bad one. Better yet, my husband has a Great Physician! God made our bodies wonderfully complex and, in the process, gave them the ability to heal! Wounds can close, broken bones can mend, and weak hearts can get stronger. We have an immune system to fight infection and platelets and plasma to help blood clot. Cancer cells can be defeated and, in my husband’s case, peripheral nerves can regenerate and repair themselves.

From a quick Internet search, it seems that we humans have anywhere from 15 to 70 trillion cells in our bodies. Like all living things, however, those cells don’t last forever. Muscle cells may function as long as 25 years, liver cells might last 18 months, and red blood cells can live up to four months; the cells in our gut, however, survive only four or five days! I read that an adult male loses roughly 96 million cells per minute (and not just from his rapidly balding head). Yet God, in his infinite wisdom created a body that can replace those same cells in that very same minute! Literally, out with the old and in with the new.

God did an outstanding job when he put us together. Granted, He allowed parts to break, wear out, deteriorate and fail, but he also gave our bodies the amazing ability to heal! Moreover, he gave us the art of medicine along with healers and researchers who are constantly finding ways to keep these bodies of ours working a bit better and longer.

Even though our bodies have an incredible ability to heal, not everything that goes wrong with them can be fixed. Not all pain can be alleviated, not every poison has an antidote, not every disease can be cured, and not every medical condition has a remedy. Our bodies will eventually be broken beyond repair and God will take us home.

Jesus was a healer and, while He healed the physical ailments of many, He wasn’t in the medical business. His business was that of the soul and, no matter what happens to our mortal bodies, His presence in our lives keeps our spirits healed and whole. While we may not be restored to physical health, he renews our spirit, eases our fears, turns our weakness into strength, our sorrow into joy, and our pain into peace. Thank you, Father, for the gift of healing, both of body and soul.

Prayer for Health of Body and Soul: May God the Father bless you, God the Son heal you, God the Holy Spirit give you strength. May God the holy and undivided Trinity guard your body, save your soul, and bring you safely to his heavenly country; where he lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen. [Book of Common Prayer]

My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever. [Psalm 73:26 (NLT)]

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May 9, 2015

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Family, Friends & Fellowship, God's Grace & Love, Holidays & Holy Days, Knowing Him, Nature

HIS LOVE – Mother’s Day 2015

DSC05555-2redHe spreads his wings over them, even as an eagle overspreads her young. She carries them upon her wings – as does the Lord his people! [Deuteronomy 32:11 (TLB)]

These last few years, I’ve been blessed to watch a family of swans who nest in a nearby park. I’ve observed them take turns sitting on the nest, taking their babies for a swim and even teaching them to fly. Last year, I saw a mother swan actually taking her baby for a ride on her back, sheltering the cygnet with her wings. Moses probably never saw a swan because, if he had, he might have mentioned the swan in Deuteronomy as well as the eagle.

Thank you, God, for being like a mother bird, protecting us from harm, carrying us when we’re too weak to do it alone, and teaching us to fly. Thank you for our mothers and for every other woman who has acted in your place and boldly watched over and protected our young, helped them through the challenges of childhood and taught them the skills they need to be independent adults.

A mother’s love for her child is like nothing else in the world. It knows no law, no pity, it dares all things and crushes down remorselessly all that stands in its path. [Agatha Christie]

There is no friendship, no love, like that of a parent for the child. [Henry Ward Beecher]

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May 6, 2015

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Attitudes & Behavior, Family, Friends & Fellowship, God's Grace & Love, Love & Works, Wisdom & Guidance

WHAT’S WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE?

 Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious – the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. [Philippians 4:8 (MSG)]

5-16-15mottled duck - IW583-cropwebI remember playing a game called “What’s Wrong with this Picture?” with my children when they got their Highlights™ magazine. We’d look at a drawing and try to spot all of the weird and wacky things that didn’t belong in the picture. Sometimes, we continue to play that game as adults but, instead of looking for oddities, we simply seek out everything that seems wrong.

As I recover from my foot surgery, I have to remain off my feet as much as possible. That means giving up all sorts of domestic duties to my patient and loving husband. This reversal of roles has required an attitude adjustment on both our parts. Although he is at my beck and call, I know better than to abuse my role as patient (especially since he will soon have surgery and our roles will be reversed!)

This morning, I looked around the house and saw all sorts of things “wrong.” Fortunately, before I opened my mouth, I pondered the meaning of “wrong.” Certain things like adultery, theft and murder are clearly wrong. Certain things, like faithfulness, tithing, and compassion are clearly right. There are, however, a great many things that are neither exactly right nor wrong and they’re certainly not worth getting one’s undies in a bunch. These things include a tablecloth that is askew, dust on the tables, and crumbs on the countertop. There are even more things that are simply “wrong” because I have arbitrarily defined what is “right.” While my “right” includes towels that are folded in thirds, throw pillows always attractively arranged on the bed, and smoothies made with almonds and flaxseed, not everyone agrees!

We must  accept the disappointing truth that we are far from perfect. Moreover, the world around us isn’t perfect and, in spite of our best efforts, it’s never going to be. Finally, we need to remember it’s likely our definition of “perfect” or even “correct” has little to do with anyone else’s definitions of those words.

Jesus was the only perfect person and something tells me that things like less than stellar housekeeping or food not prepared his favorite way didn’t concern him. Unlike the Pharisees who spent much of their time deciding what was “wrong,” He was much more concerned with issues like love, compassion, healing, truth, righteousness and salvation. When He saw what was undoubtedly wrong, like the money changers at the temple, He reacted. When He saw the woman at the well, however, He didn’t see a woman who was wrong; He lovingly saw a soul to be saved and offered love and forgiveness.

Thank you, Heavenly Father, for those who help us in our daily walk and offer their loving care. Give us appreciative hearts and voices. Stop us when we are tempted to complain, whine, or correct what truly doesn’t need correction. Give us the eyes and heart of Jesus and the discernment to know what is truly important in life.

A happy home is one in which each spouse grants the possibility that the other may be right, though neither believes it. [Don Fraser]

Watch what God does, and then you do it, like children who learn proper behavior from their parents. Mostly what God does is love you. Keep company with him and learn a life of love. Observe how Christ loved us. His love was not cautious but extravagant. He didn’t love in order to get something from us but to give everything of himself to us. Love like that. [Ephesians 5:1-2 (MSG)]

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April 21, 2015

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Bible Stories, Forgiveness, God's Grace & Love, Obedience

UNCONDITIONAL FORGIVENESS

If any of your fellow Israelites become poor and are unable to support themselves among you, help them as you would a foreigner and stranger, so they can continue to live among you. Do not take interest or any profit from them, but fear your God, so that they may continue to live among you. You must not lend them money at interest or sell them food at a profit. [Leviticus 25:35-37 (NIV)]

If you lend money to one of my people among you who is needy, do not treat it like a business deal; charge no interest. [Exodus 22:25 (NIV)]

birdsfoot trefoil--LkGenWI14webIn the Old Testament, God commanded the Israelites to give help to one another freely and not to expect a profit from their assistance. The purpose of a loan was to help a person in need, not to increase one’s wealth. Avarice, of course, killed that concept. People being people, greediness quickly replaced concern when loans were made. Although the lender was to give out of love not out of hope of gain, rates of interest became exorbitant and poor debtors became helpless. Sound familiar?

In the New Testament, debtors and creditors were often used to illustrate the concept of forgiveness of sins. Sin is a debt that must be paid or canceled before man can be free. Jesus taught us to ask God to forgive our debts (or trespasses) as we forgive the debts (or trespasses) against us. Sometimes, however, we want something more before we’ll forgive. Often, as a condition of forgiveness, we want an apology from the offender; we may want him or her to eat some “humble pie” or we may want them to make amends. We want them to pay for their offense! Not that the offender shouldn’t apologize or try to make things right but, as the forgiver, we are not allowed to demand or expect it!

Jesus freely repaid our debt on the cross. God doesn’t expect us to grovel and beg for His forgiveness; he readily hands it out to all who repent. We are to be as equally forgiving of our fellow man!

And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. [Matthew 6:12 (NIV)]

For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. [Matthew 6:14-15 (NIV)]

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April 18, 2015

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Faith & Hope, God's Grace & Love, Holidays & Holy Days, Holy Spirit, Nature, Salvation: A New You

RESURRECTION FERNS

4-18-15resfernWEB
I lift my hands to you in prayer. I thirst for you as parched land thirsts for rain. [Psalm 143:6 (NLT)]

The question was asked, “How did the message of “Resurrection Day” [Easter] impact you specifically this year?” I never answered. The last two weeks have been hectic and, unfortunately, I allowed the busyness of life to keep me from feeling Easter’s complete impact. We had house guests until the day before Easter. After they left, laundry, cleaning and prep work for Easter dinner kept me from prayer and preparing my heart to receive the next day’s message. Easter morning arrived and we rushed to church where I took over 200 photos for the church website. Returning home, I had those photos to edit and post before our six dinner guests arrived. About the time the house was again clean and I’d nearly caught up with everything that hadn’t been done the week earlier, we had a second set of house guests. It wasn’t until today that I finally gave serious thought to how the Easter message has impacted my life.

We took a walk in the swamp this morning and I saw the resurrection ferns. Two days ago, when we walked the same boardwalk, the ferns’ fronds were brown and shriveled. While I reassured my guest that they were not dead, I’m not sure she believed me. It rained last night and I wish she could have seen the ferns this morning. Within thirty minutes of receiving rain, those shriveled leaves uncurl, green up and look “good as new.” Because of last night’s shower, the resurrection ferns in the swamp were lush and lovely today.

The Easter message is one of resurrection and renewal. Just as the rain water gives new life to the ferns, the living water of the resurrected Christ brings new life to us. The ferns, however, will again shrivel in the heat of the day; once we receive the Holy Spirit, we can thrive and blossom, even in hot dry spells. Jesus defeated death and by His power, we can defeat life! I have drunk of his water, been refreshed and renewed, and will never thirst again!

Thank you, Heavenly Father, for taking the shriveled bits of our lives and making them new again. With your living water, there is no need to wither and die. By the power of your Holy Spirit, we can always flourish in your garden!

Jesus replied, “Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. 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.” [John 4:13-14 (NLT)]

Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, “Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.” [John 7:38 (NLT)]

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April 13, 2015

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God's Grace & Love, God's Promises, Salvation: A New You, Today: Make it Count

ENOUGH FOR EVERYONE

Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I was going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. And you know the way to where I am going. [John 14:1-4 (NLT)]

apple-sirenWI281webJust hours after its introduction, all models of the new Apple smartwatch sold out. Delivery is at least two weeks away and many customers will have to wait six weeks or more before receiving their new purchases. While all the Apple stores have the luxury Edition models on display (priced from $10,000 to $17,000), they can be tried on at only twenty-one stores. That limitation didn’t seem to deter buyers because, within forty minutes, the rose-gold Apple Watch Edition was sold out until July. It appears that people aren’t even concerned about the first-gen shortfalls of this new technology (like a battery that barely lasts a day); they just want one now. In fact, demand is so high that the new devices are already being resold (above the list price) on EBay. Admittedly, this new tech/fashion accessory is remarkable and far superior to the two-way wrist radio that Dick Tracy wore in the comics when I was a child. What I find interesting, however, is Apple’s marketing strategy. I’ve read that Apple spent $38 million in advertising this product and yet they didn’t produce enough watches to fulfill the expected orders. I admire Apple’s understanding of the simple economic concept of “supply and demand:” a limited supply creates a high demand!

What would it have been like if Jesus had a marketing department like Apple’s? They probably would have advised him to reconsider telling people there were more than enough rooms in his Father’s house. What if He’d said only a limited number of rooms were available, God’s house would soon be completely booked, and it would be a long time before any more could be offered? Would people have waited hours in line for his blessing so they could claim a coveted reservation in heaven? Would some have resold their spots for a profit?

Before its release date, when still officially unavailable to the public, singer Pharrell Williams was spotted wearing an Apple smartwatch on “The Voice.” If Jesus had a marketing department like Apple’s, they might have selected a few Judean celebrities and arranged special meetings for them with Jesus. Think of the buzz around Jerusalem if a well-known Pharisee or the wealthiest wine merchant had become one of Jesus’ followers. Plenty of people would have wanted to get on the Jesus train then! Instead of the rich and famous, however, Jesus had a disparate group of ordinary men and women as his followers: people just like you and me.

Unlike Apple, Jesus made one simple offer to all of mankind: believe and be saved. Since God wants everyone to have a place with him, there is an unlimited supply of rooms in heaven. Christianity isn’t an exclusive club, everyone is welcome and there’s always space for one more. Moreover, there is just one model of salvation. The wealthy or well-known won’t get nicer rooms, be better loved, or more forgiven. Jesus wasn’t interested in impressing a few people, he was interested in saving us all.

A common marketing strategy not used by Apple was the “limited time offer.” Don’t worry; if you couldn’t get a smartwatch Friday, you will be able to get one eventually; in fact, it may be an even better version. Unlike the smartwatch, however, Jesus’s offer isn’t going to improve with time. Moreover, it is for a limited time only; we just don’t know the date his offer will expire. While God will never run out of room in heaven, we may well run out of time here on earth. Don’t wait too long!

For this world is not our permanent home; we are looking forward to a home yet to come. [Hebrews 13:14 (NLT)]

After this I saw a vast crowd, too great to count, from every nation and tribe and people and language, standing in front of the throne and before the Lamb. They were clothed in white robes and held palm branches in their hands. And they were shouting with a great roar, “Salvation comes from our God who sits on the throne and from the Lamb!” [Revelation 7:9-10 (NLT)]