greater

Now as Peter went here and there among all the believers, he came down also to the saints living in Lydda. There he found a man named Aeneas, who had been bedridden for eight years, for he was paralyzed. Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; get up and make your bed!” And immediately he got up. And all the residents of Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord. Now in Joppa there was a disciple whose name was Tabitha, which in Greek is Dorcas. She was devoted to good works and acts of charity. At that time she became ill and died. When they had washed her, they laid her in a room upstairs. Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, who heard that Peter was there, sent two men to him with the request, “Please come to us without delay.” So Peter got up and went with them; and when he arrived, they took him to the room upstairs. All the widows stood beside him, weeping and showing tunics and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was with them. Peter put all of them outside, and then he knelt down and prayed. He turned to the body and said, “Tabitha, get up.” Then she opened her eyes, and seeing Peter, she sat up. He gave her his hand and helped her up. Then calling the saints and widows, he showed her to be alive. This became known throughout Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. (Acts 9:32-42, NRSV)

A man was bedridden for eight years, and Peter told him to walk and he did.

And Peter raised Dorcus from death in the name of Jesus!

Jesus told the disciples they would do greater deeds than Him, if they believed!

Do you believe you can do these things?

Jesus is working through us to do many wonderful things everyday.

So know there is power in you with the Holy Spirit living in you and allow Him to shine through your life so that they may see the good works of His hand through you and give Him glory!

Help my unbelief!

When they came to the disciples, they saw a great crowd around them, and some scribes arguing with them. When the whole crowd saw him, they were immediately overcome with awe, and they ran forward to greet him. He asked them, “What are you arguing about with them?” Someone from the crowd answered him, “Teacher, I brought you my son; he has a spirit that makes him unable to speak; and whenever it seizes him, it dashes him down; and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid; and I asked your disciples to cast it out, but they could not do so.” He answered them, “You faithless generation, how much longer must I be among you? How much longer must I put up with you? Bring him to me.” And they brought the boy to him. When the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. Jesus asked the father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. It has often cast him into the fire and into the water, to destroy him; but if you are able to do anything, have pity on us and help us.” Jesus said to him, “If you are able!—All things can be done for the one who believes.” Immediately the father of the child cried out, “I believe; help my unbelief!” When Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You spirit that keeps this boy from speaking and hearing, I command you, come out of him, and never enter him again!” After crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse, so that most of them said, “He is dead.” But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he was able to stand.  (Mark 9:14-27, NRSV)

Would you have the gall to say to Jesus, “if you are able.”

Isn’t Jesus able to do anything?

Jesus replies the way any sarcastic person would, “If you are able!—All things can be done for the one who believes.” So if it doesn’t happen for me, then I don’t believe enough? No we actually don’t believe…

And then the classic line of the father that I shout all the time, “I believe; help my unbelief!”

Help my unbelief!

Help my worries that your control isn’t enough.

Help my worries that your love for me will fail.

Help my worries that your grace doesn’t cover me.

Help my worries that your mercy isn’t there for me.

Help my unbelief! Help me to be who you created me to be, so that your will will be done!

All things

For I have learned to be content with whatever I have. I know what it is to have little, and I know what it is to have plenty. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being well-fed and of going hungry, of having plenty and of being in need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.  (Philippians 4:11b-13, NRSV)

This verse from Philippians is one of my favorite verses. But it also has the possibilities to be taken out of context.

2015-06-25 13.48.49The picture here is actually of a plaque I have on my desk. And I have seen this verse on many a sports poster with some athlete doing something amazing, because God gives me the strength through Jesus to do wonderful miraculous things. But that forgets verses 11b and 12.

You see God in Christ never promised us a rose garden to walk through. He never promised us our lives would be easy once we believed in Jesus. And that is something Paul got. Paul was one who was in and out of prison because of his belief in Jesus, but he never lost heart.

Paul tells us he has found the secret to being content. Not to having it all together, not to not having any problems. Paul has learned that even in the tough times, through the valleys that Christ is with him, and because of Jesus always being with him, any and all circumstances will be ok.

I love this verse in the Message by Eugene Peterson:

I’ve learned by now to be quite content whatever my circumstances.  I’m just as happy with little as with much, with much as with little. I’ve found the recipe for being happy whether full or hungry, hands full or hands empty. Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am. (Philippians 4:11b-13, Message)

“Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am.” If we can cling to Jesus we will make it through any and all circumstances.

So let us Gather in His name, Grow as His disciples, and Go into the world sharing His grace, mercy and love with all we meet, clinging to Him. And when we do this, we will be a beacon of hope for our community

when you will die…

In those days Hezekiah became sick and was at the point of death. The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz came to him, and said to him, “Thus says the LORD: Set your house in order, for you shall die; you shall not recover.” Then Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD: “Remember now, O LORD, I implore you, how I have walked before you in faithfulness with a whole heart, and have done what is good in your sight.” Hezekiah wept bitterly. Before Isaiah had gone out of the middle court, the word of the LORD came to him: “Turn back, and say to Hezekiah prince of my people, Thus says the LORD, the God of your ancestor David: I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears; indeed, I will heal you; on the third day you shall go up to the house of the LORD. I will add fifteen years to your life. I will deliver you and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria; I will defend this city for my own sake and for my servant David’s sake.” Then Isaiah said, “Bring a lump of figs. Let them take it and apply it to the boil, so that he may recover.” Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “What shall be the sign that the LORD will heal me, and that I shall go up to the house of the LORD on the third day?” Isaiah said, “This is the sign to you from the LORD, that the LORD will do the thing that he has promised: the shadow has now advanced ten intervals; shall it retreat ten intervals?” Hezekiah answered, “It is normal for the shadow to lengthen ten intervals; rather let the shadow retreat ten intervals.” The prophet Isaiah cried to the LORD; and he brought the shadow back the ten intervals, by which the sun had declined on the dial of Ahaz. (2 Kings 20:1-11, NRSV)

What would you do if you knew when you were going to die?

Would it make a difference if it was only a day away, or 15 years away?

Would you weep and ask for healing as Hezekiah did?

Because God told Isaiah to tell Hezekiah he was going to die, and he wept and asked the Lord to heal him, and He did! He gave him 15 more years.

So what could you do with 15 years if you knew that is what you had?

Or would you be fixated on how you would die?

Do you want to know?

Would it help?

Would it be a hinderance?

Here is the things, it doesn’t matter, because we are here for a set time to do a part of the Lord’s plan, so share His love, and do not worry about when you will be with Him, just let life happen, and live in His love showering others with what you have been showered with.

what do you need to know?

After this the son of the woman, the mistress of the house, became ill; his illness was so severe that there was no breath left in him. She then said to Elijah, “What have you against me, O man of God? You have come to me to bring my sin to remembrance, and to cause the death of my son!” But he said to her, “Give me your son.” He took him from her bosom, carried him up into the upper chamber where he was lodging, and laid him on his own bed. He cried out to the LORD, “O LORD my God, have you brought calamity even upon the widow with whom I am staying, by killing her son?” Then he stretched himself upon the child three times, and cried out to the LORD, “O LORD my God, let this child’s life come into him again.” The LORD listened to the voice of Elijah; the life of the child came into him again, and he revived. Elijah took the child, brought him down from the upper chamber into the house, and gave him to his mother; then Elijah said, “See, your son is alive.” So the woman said to Elijah, “Now I know that you are a man of God, and that the word of the LORD in your mouth is truth.” (1 Kings 17:17-24, NRSV)

What do you need to know that a person is speaking for God?

This woman needed to see her son raised from the dead. She may not have know that, but after Elijah did that, she believed he was from God.

So what do you need to know a person is from God, or is speaking God’s truth?

names

When Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a great crowd gathered around him; and he was by the sea. Then one of the leaders of the synagogue named Jairus came and, when he saw him, fell at his feet and begged him repeatedly, “My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well, and live.” So he went with him. And a large crowd followed him and pressed in on him. Now there was a woman who had been suffering from hemorrhages for twelve years. She had endured much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had; and she was no better, but rather grew worse. She had heard about Jesus, and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, for she said, “If I but touch his clothes, I will be made well.” Immediately her hemorrhage stopped; and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. Immediately aware that power had gone forth from him, Jesus turned about in the crowd and said, “Who touched my clothes?” And his disciples said to him, “You see the crowd pressing in on you; how can you say, ‘Who touched me?’” He looked all around to see who had done it. But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling, fell down before him, and told him the whole truth. He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.” While he was still speaking, some people came from the leader’s house to say, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the teacher any further?” But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the leader of the synagogue, “Do not fear, only believe.” He allowed no one to follow him except Peter, James, and John, the brother of James. When they came to the house of the leader of the synagogue, he saw a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. When he had entered, he said to them, “Why do you make a commotion and weep? The child is not dead but sleeping.” And they laughed at him. Then he put them all outside, and took the child’s father and mother and those who were with him, and went in where the child was. He took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha cum,” which means, “Little girl, get up! And immediately the girl got up and began to walk about (she was twelve years of age). At this they were overcome with amazement. He strictly ordered them that no one should know this, and told them to give her something to eat. (Mark 5:21-43, NRSV)

This is two stories, or actually a story interrupted by another story.

Jarius’ daughter is the main story interrupted by the unnamed woman’s story.

Have you ever noticed that she does not have a name. She is a woman who has suffered with a flow of blood, which makes her unclean, for 12 years, and the doctors have bled her dry (pun intended) of all her money. They have not helped her, but have kept her from being a part of the community. They have held her back and kept her nameless.

But her faith…

Her trust in Jesus’ power to heal her, made her think that if she only touched the fringe of His cloak she would get what no doctor or any money could get her over the past 12 years. Restoration.

But she not only got that, but so much more.

You see she went from being the woman with the flow of blood, or unclean, to daughter!

Not only did Jesus heal her, but He restored her, and named her daughter. She is now part of the family!

Do not listen to any of the names the world gives you, but cling to the name that Jesus gives you:

Brother!

Sister!

Daughter!

Son!

Child of the Living God!

awesome deeds

By awesome deeds you answer us with deliverance,
O God of our salvation;
you are the hope of all the ends of the earth
and of the farthest seas.
By your strength you established the mountains;
you are girded with might.
You silence the roaring of the seas,
the roaring of their waves,
the tumult of the peoples.
Those who live at earth’s farthest bounds are awed by your signs;
you make the gateways of the morning and the evening shout for joy.
You visit the earth and water it,
you greatly enrich it;
the river of God is full of water;
you provide the people with grain,
for so you have prepared it.
You water its furrows abundantly,
settling its ridges,
softening it with showers,
and blessing its growth.
You crown the year with your bounty;
your wagon tracks overflow with richness.
The pastures of the wilderness overflow,
the hills gird themselves with joy,
the meadows clothe themselves with flocks,
the valleys deck themselves with grain,
they shout and sing together for joy.
(Psalm 65:5-13, NRSV)

God silences the roaring seas!

God made the mountains for you to see!

God waters the earth so His creation can live!

God does everything so that you will have life and have it abundantly!

Even in the darkness and troubles of life, God is there, to calm the seas and raise the mountains, to enrich your life!

Live in the beauty He has given you!

And marvel in His awesome deeds!

Listened to me

When a moderate south wind began to blow, they thought they could achieve their purpose; so they weighed anchor and began to sail past Crete, close to the shore. But soon a violent wind, called the northeaster, rushed down from Crete. Since the ship was caught and could not be turned head-on into the wind, we gave way to it and were driven. By running under the lee of a small island called Cauda we were scarcely able to get the ship’s boat under control. After hoisting it up they took measures to undergird the ship; then, fearing that they would run on the Syrtis, they lowered the sea anchor and so were driven. We were being pounded by the storm so violently that on the next day they began to throw the cargo overboard, and on the third day with their own hands they threw the ship’s tackle overboard. When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest raged, all hope of our being saved was at last abandoned. Since they had been without food for a long time, Paul then stood up among them and said, “Men, you should have listened to me and not have set sail from Crete and thereby avoided this damage and loss. I urge you now to keep up your courage, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. For last night there stood by me an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I worship, and he said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before the emperor; and indeed, God has granted safety to all those who are sailing with you.’ So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will be exactly as I have been told. But we will have to run aground on some island.” When the fourteenth night had come, as we were drifting across the sea of Adria, about midnight the sailors suspected that they were nearing land. So they took soundings and found twenty fathoms; a little farther on they took soundings again and found fifteen fathoms. Fearing that we might run on the rocks, they let down four anchors from the stern and prayed for day to come. But when the sailors tried to escape from the ship and had lowered the boat into the sea, on the pretext of putting out anchors from the bow, Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, “Unless these men stay in the ship, you cannot be saved.” Then the soldiers cut away the ropes of the boat and set it adrift. Just before daybreak, Paul urged all of them to take some food, saying, “Today is the fourteenth day that you have been in suspense and remaining without food, having eaten nothing. Therefore I urge you to take some food, for it will help you survive; for none of you will lose a hair from your heads.” After he had said this, he took bread; and giving thanks to God in the presence of all, he broke it and began to eat. Then all of them were encouraged and took food for themselves. (We were in all two hundred seventy-six persons in the ship.) After they had satisfied their hunger, they lightened the ship by throwing the wheat into the sea. (Acts 27:13-38, NRSV)

I told you not to…

Have you ever heard those words before. If you are a guy the answer is probably a resounding yes!

Paul told them not to sail, but they did it any way. And now they are in a really bad storm, and are afraid they will lose it all.

But Paul comforts them, “Only the ship will be lost!”

Well that’s nice what will we do then?

We won’t have our transportation, but we will all be alive. It could be worse, right, we could all die, but that won’t happen so just keep heart and follow through.

Sometimes we go down a path, that we probably shouldn’t have, but God is always with us, and sometimes there might be collateral damage.

If we only but listen…

Sometimes easier said than done!

pass them by

Jesus_Walking_on_WaterImmediately he made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. After saying farewell to them, he went up on the mountain to pray. When evening came, the boat was out on the sea, and he was alone on the land. When he saw that they were straining at the oars against an adverse wind, he came towards them early in the morning, walking on the sea. He intended to pass them by. But when they saw him walking on the sea, they thought it was a ghost and cried out; for they all saw him and were terrified. But immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.” Then he got into the boat with them and the wind ceased. And they were utterly astounded, for they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened. (Mark 6:45-52, NRSV)

He intended to pass them by.

Even though He saw them struggling with the oars. And they were straining against the wind.

He was going to go around them to meet them on the other side.

But they saw Him. Or they saw something possibly were giving up their fight against the oars and the wind because of fear.

And He advised them it was just their master walking on the water. For they didn’t get who He really is.

And I wonder do we?

Sometimes we wish Jesus would jump in and save us, but it is in the struggle that our faith grows. It is in the darkness that His light is seen clearly.

Sometimes in order for us to grow we need to be under the impression He isn’t there, even though He is walking on the water next to us.

So do not be afraid if He is walking by, He is only helping your trust and faith in Him to grow.

stood still

When King Adoni-zedek of Jerusalem heard how Joshua had taken Ai, and had utterly destroyed it, doing to Ai and its king as he had done to Jericho and its king, and how the inhabitants of Gibeon had made peace with Israel and were among them, he became greatly frightened, because Gibeon was a large city, like one of the royal cities, and was larger than Ai, and all its men were warriors. So King Adoni-zedek of Jerusalem sent a message to King Hoham of Hebron, to King Piram of Jarmuth, to King Japhia of Lachish, and to King Debir of Eglon, saying, “Come up and help me, and let us attack Gibeon; for it has made peace with Joshua and with the Israelites.” Then the five kings of the Amorites—the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, and the king of Eglon—gathered their forces, and went up with all their armies and camped against Gibeon, and made war against it. And the Gibeonites sent to Joshua at the camp in Gilgal, saying, “Do not abandon your servants; come up to us quickly, and save us, and help us; for all the kings of the Amorites who live in the hill country are gathered against us.” So Joshua went up from Gilgal, he and all the fighting force with him, all the mighty warriors. The LORD said to Joshua, “Do not fear them, for I have handed them over to you; not one of them shall stand before you.” So Joshua came upon them suddenly, having marched up all night from Gilgal. And the LORD threw them into a panic before Israel, who inflicted a great slaughter on them at Gibeon, chased them by the way of the ascent of Beth-horon, and struck them down as far as Azekah and Makkedah. As they fled before Israel, while they were going down the slope of Beth-horon, the LORD threw down huge stones from heaven on them as far as Azekah, and they died; there were more who died because of the hailstones than the Israelites killed with the sword. On the day when the LORD gave the Amorites over to the Israelites, Joshua spoke to the LORD; and he said in the sight of Israel, “Sun, stand still at Gibeon, and Moon, in the valley of Aijalon.” And the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, until the nation took vengeance on their enemies. Is this not written in the Book of Jashar? The sun stopped in mid-heaven, and did not hurry to set for about a whole day. There has been no day like it before or since, when the LORD heeded a human voice; for the LORD fought for Israel. (Joshua 10:1-14, NRSV)

Do not be afraid, even if you think you are out numbered because I am with, declares the Lord!

How can one not fear?

When you know that the Lord, God is on your side, and because when He tells you to tell the sun to stand still and it does!

God will be with you, in your time of need and will answer your prayers, and will send you to do great things for Him, just listen and be ready!