Category Archives: Knowing Him

Standard

Posted by

Posted on

May 20, 2015

Posted under

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)]

Standard

Posted by

Posted on

May 19, 2015

Posted under

God's Word: The Bible, Holy Spirit, Knowing Him, Wisdom & Guidance

HE SPEAKS

And you said, “The Lord our God has shown us his glory and his majesty, and we have heard his voice from the fire. Today we have seen that a person can live even if God speaks with them.” [Deuteronomy 5:24 (NIV)]

The voice of the Lord is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the Lord thunders over the mighty waters. The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is majestic. [Psalm 29:3-4 (NIV)]

rabbit-naples39awebGod speaks to us in many ways. The most obvious way He does, of course, is through the Bible; indeed, it is “God-breathed.” Sometimes, however, it is simply through coincidences, circumstances or “Aha!” moments like the one I wrote about in yesterday’s message. Sunrises and sunsets, births and deaths, chance encounters, close calls, and even bunnies and bright green anoles: they can all be the voice of God. Some people are sure they’ve actually heard God speak. While it didn’t sound like the thunder mentioned in the Bible, I’ve heard His voice telling me things like, “One step at a time,” “Patience,” and even “Stop!” In addition, God often speaks to us through the voices of others. How many times have you read a devotion, sat through a sermon, heard a song or listened to friends and known that the message (even though it may have been shared with many others) was meant specifically for you at that very moment? Sometimes, we have those instances we just “know” what to do (and not to do) or say (and not to say). That small inner voice that tells us what action to take or clearly convicts us when we’re wrong can also be God speaking to us through His Holy Spirit. It’s called many things: intuition, discernment, conscience, insight, or even “gut feeling.” When we think we’re hearing His voice in our innermost thoughts, however, it is wise to proceed cautiously and return to the first way He speaks to us: the Bible. It’s often difficult to know the difference between our own thoughts and desires and His direction and plan. We need to compare what we think that inner voice is saying to scripture and reading His word is the way to test what we think we’re hearing against what He’s already told us. How God speaks to us, however, is nowhere near as important as how well we listen to Him and how often we heed what He says!

All Scripture is God-breathed and He doesn’t waste His breath. [Jim McCotter]

All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work. [2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NLT)]

Standard

Posted by

Posted on

May 18, 2015

Posted under

Joy, Knowing Him, Nature, Thanks & Praise, Today: Make it Count

“AHA!” MOMENTS

aha2webPraise the Lord from the earth, you creatures of the ocean depths, fire and hail, snow and clouds, wind and weather that obey him, mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars, wild animals and all livestock, small scurrying animals and birds, kings of the earth and all people, rulers and judges of the earth, young men and young women, old men and children. Let them all praise the name of the Lord. For his name is very great; his glory towers over the earth and heaven! [Psalm 148:7-13 (NLT)]

We had a plane to catch but, before spending hours sitting on an airplane, I wanted to take a quick walk. Knowing my tendency to lose track of time whenever I have camera in hand, I deliberately left it at home. A blue jay was perched on a low branch and never moved as I walked past. Also apparently oblivious to my presence, a great blue heron stood quietly while river otters played at the edge of the pond. Unmindful of me, a red-bellied woodpecker started hammering on a nearby tree, a baby bunny stopped in the grass beside me, and then an enormous bright green Cuban knight anole slowly crossed my path. Peeved at missing these great photo ops, I complained: “God, how can you torment me this way? I’ve been trying to get shots like these for ages; now you give them to me when I have no camera!” At first, it seemed like God had a wicked sense of humor and was messing with me. That, however, wasn’t the case. He was telling me something important and it wasn’t, “Always take your camera!” I was being told that appreciating God’s splendid handiwork is far more important than taking pictures of it. A good photograph is not the purpose of God’s “Aha!” moments; those occurrences are to remind us of the magnificence of his creation and His overwhelming presence in our lives. Although I took no pictures that morning, my breath was taken away in awe, wonder, praise and thanks; I felt God’s powerful presence and returned home filled with joy.

Later that day, while reading 1 Romans, I came across the following verse: “For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.” [Romans 1:20 (NLT)] Those words helped me recognize the truth of what I thought God was telling me through that morning’s circumstances. Since that day, I’ve managed to get most of the shots I missed that day. The anole, however, while spotted by neighbors several times in front of our house, has eluded me. I hope God doesn’t have another lesson planned when it decides to reappear, unless, of course, it’s has to do with patience: “I waited patiently for the Lord to help me, and he turned to me and heard my cry.” [Psalm 40:1 (NLT)]

Honor and majesty surround him; strength and beauty fill his sanctuary. O nations of the world, recognize the Lord; recognize that the Lord is glorious and strong. Give to the Lord the glory he deserves! [Psalm 96:6-8a (NLT)]

P.S. The day I finished writing this devotion, I felt the urge to walk outside and check out the tree in front of our house. The anole was there and I even had my camera ready. Not satisfied with the shot, however, I stepped closer and he quickly scampered up the tree and out of sight. Perhaps God was telling me that there are some “Aha!” moments that are simply meant to be kept in our memories and not in pixels on the computer! You can’t tell me He doesn’t have a sense of humor!

 

Standard

Posted by

Posted on

May 9, 2015

Posted under

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]

Standard

Posted by

Posted on

April 10, 2015

Posted under

Attitudes & Behavior, Church & Worship, Joy, Knowing Him, Trusting God, Wisdom & Guidance

DIG INTO GOD

IMG_2114-crop-horz-cropweb
People brought babies to Jesus, hoping he might touch them. When the disciples saw it, they shooed them off. Jesus called them back. “Let these children alone. Don’t get between them and me. These children are the kingdom’s pride and joy. Mark this: Unless you accept God’s kingdom in the simplicity of a child, you’ll never get in.” [Luke 18:15-17 (MSG)]

Earlier this year, our son’s family visited us with their 20-month old son and his three-year old sister. I recently looked through photos from their visit and recalled how entertaining it was to watch the children play. They enjoyed every new thing encountered and were determined to learn new skills. Whether it was climbing the monkey bars, dressing the dolls, riding the trike, pushing the doll stroller, frosting cupcakes, setting the table, making sand castles, being chased by waves, or playing in the pool, they attacked each activity earnestly. Of course, there were moments of frustration and a few tears, but the little guys never abandoned their exploration of the world around them. The youngest even figured out how the locks on the lanai doors worked; fortunately, the doors were too heavy to open, but he tried anyway. Nothing deterred the children’s quest for knowledge. Interested in everything around them, there was never a moment of boredom; they eagerly approached each day as an adventure waiting to happen.

I wondered why we adults are so easily bored, prone to discouragement and world-weary. How many times have we said “Been there, done that,” “Tried it, didn’t like it,” “Same old, same old” or something similar? Unfortunately, sometimes that attitude carries over into our faith and church life. We often blame our pastors, worship team, choice of music, organist, band or choir when our relationship with God wanes. If we’re missing out on having glory moments with the Lord, it’s not their fault. We’re the ones responsible for keeping our faith alive and interesting, not them. If my faith is lifeless, if my worship experience lackluster, if my prayer life dull, or my Bible study boring, I have no one to blame but myself and my attitude. A relationship with God is never unexciting or monotonous. We, however, have to do our part to keep it going; we need to approach God with the eagerness of a child.

I didn’t have to prod my grandchildren to discover the world around them; they were keen to learn. Hungry for everything that life has to offer, they eagerly met each day with enthusiasm. If we crave those glory moments with our Lord, if we’re hungry for a deeper faith, if we have an appetite for the Holy Spirit, we need to bring that same childlike enthusiasm to God’s table. It’s not our fellow Christians’ job to spoon feed us and it certainly isn’t God’s. Everything we need is right in front of us: worship and serving opportunities, Bibles and Bible study, prayer, praise music, and our church family. We, however, need to pick up our spoons and dig in zealously the way a child does a bowl of ice cream! Better yet, get out a shovel and whole-heartedly dig in the way a child does when digging sand castles at the beach! Every day with God is truly an adventure waiting to happen; we just need to dig in!

You’re blessed when you’ve worked up a good appetite for God. He’s food and drink in the best meal you’ll ever eat. [Matthew 5:6 (MSG)]

God wants us to grow up, to know the whole truth and tell it in love—like Christ in everything. We take our lead from Christ, who is the source of everything we do. He keeps us in step with each other. His very breath and blood flow through us, nourishing us so that we will grow up healthy in God, robust in love. [Ephesians 4:15-16 (MSG)]

Standard

Posted by

Posted on

April 7, 2015

Posted under

Bible Stories, Challenges & Difficulty, Fear & Doubt, God's Promises, Holidays & Holy Days, Knowing Him, Sorrow, Grief & Regrets

WILL WE RECOGNIZE HIM?

He came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him. [John 1:10 (NLT)]

?????????????????????????????The Gospel of John tells us that Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early that Sunday morning only to find it empty. Puzzled, upset, and thinking that someone had stolen the body of Jesus, she started to weep. When she saw a man, thinking he was the gardener, she asked what had been done with Jesus. It wasn’t until He spoke to her that she recognized the Lord.

Luke tells how, that same day, while walking to Emmaus, two of Jesus’ followers were talking about the crucifixion and the week’s events. Frightened and disturbed by the confusing news, a man joined them as they walked. The two, preoccupied with their sadness and disappointment, failed to recognize Him. It was not until Jesus sat down with them, broke bread and blessed it, that they finally recognized their Lord.

These men and Mary Magdalene were Jesus’ followers, yet they failed to recognize him at first. Were they so blinded by their grief or so focused on their disappointment that they couldn’t see their Savior? Were they so preoccupied by their troubles that they failed to see their solution in Jesus? Did they miss seeing Jesus simply because they weren’t looking for him? Was it because, in spite of Jesus’ promises, they weren’t even expecting him?

If we ever hope to experience Jesus’ power and hope, we must remember to look for him when we are grieving, disappointed or troubled. I wonder how many times I have seen Jesus and failed to recognize him, never realizing He was right beside me all of the time.

If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. [Jeremiah 29:13 (NLT)]