Highlighting God's Presence to Inspire Your Life!
Are you one, like so many of us, who is afraid to ask for help when you really are in need of some?
Have you ever been in a supervisory type role–either at work or in some type of ministry– and really dreaded asking people for the help that you really needed?
Maybe in your personal life you were going through a struggle and really needed to vent or have someone join you in prayer to make it through but were afraid to ask? Continue reading “ASK AND RECEIVE”
A community where we can learn from others, share experiences, encourage one another, share burdens and prayer requests, join in thanksgiving, and love others as God loves us.
This community can come in different forms–our families, our friends, our local church community, a small group or subdivision from our church community, maybe even friends from cyberspace that we have never met in person.
…Maybe you just could not muster the faith to believe things would turn out okay?
…Perhaps you could not find the strength to really pray while enduring your trial? God just seemed so distant though you know He never leaves us.
There are two Bible stories that are recorded for us that demonstrate the importance of faith and how the faith of our friends can intervene for us in our lives.
Take a moment to read them below and reflect on the lessons for us to emulate in our lives.
The first is from Mark 2:3-5. (NIV)
Some men came, bringing to Him a paralytic, carried by four of them. Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus and, after digging through it, lowered the mat the paralyzed man was lying on. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”
Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, “Why does this fellow talk like that? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
Immediately Jesus knew in His spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and He said to them, “Why are you thinking these things? Which is easier to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat and walk?’ But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins….”
He said to the paralytic, “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” He (the paralytic) got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”
Thoughts to reflect on:
These four men were determined to take their friend to Jesus because they desperately wanted to help their friend.
In fact, they were so desperate that they made a hole in the roof of the house where Jesus was because the crowds were so great!
I love the line, “When Jesus saw THEIR faith….”—these men were standing in faith that Jesus could heal their friend.
Jesus met the man’s deepest need: forgiveness first.
Jesus performed another miracle by healing the man physically…..The man left the house walking, and I have to think his life continued to reflect the great faith that he shared with his friends that day!
The people left praising God for His healing!
The second story is from Luke 7:2-10 (NIV)
There, a centurion’s servant, whom his master valued highly, was sick and about to die. The centurion heard of Jesus and sent some elders of the Jews to Him, asking Him to come and heal his servant. When they came to Jesus, they pleaded earnestly with Him, “This man deserves to have you do this, because he loves our nation and has built our synagogue.” So Jesus went with them.
He was not far from the house when the centurion sent friends to say to Him: “Lord, don’t trouble yourself, for I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”
When Jesus heard this, He was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd following him, He said, “I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel.” Then the men who had been sent returned to the house and found the servant well.
Thoughts to reflect on:
The centurion, though high in rank in charge of soldiers, was genuinely concerned about one of his slaves.
The elders were standing in faith for the man who was about to die…they were sent to find Jesus.
The centurion knew that Jesus was the one that could save his servant. He respected Jesus’ authority, even though the centurion was of an elite status himself.
The centurion was humble; he knew that Jesus only had to say the word right where He was, and the servant would be healed.
Jesus rewarded the faith of the centurion and healed his servant.
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It seems both of these stories also show the importance of sharing faith with a local community of believers.
The last few years I have been blessed to be involved in a few Bible studies through my church. We end the study each week partnering with a specific person to be prayer partners for the week.
This has been a very meaningful experience for me. Taking time to listen to someone’s prayer request and then lifting that intention up to the Lord during the week for that person is a blessing. It shows how connected our faith is…to fellow believers and to God.
Checking in with the person via email or a phone call during the week is another nice touch to show we care and reminds the person their intention is being prayed for. Praying and standing in faith with others allows us to think of others more, to realize our faith can help intercede on another’s behalf, and to extend the love of God to them.
What thoughts come to mind if I said those words to you? Because, actually I am! 🙂
Continue reading “HOLY GROUND”
It is feasible that you might already live your life doing this daily which is wonderful if you do! If so, thanks for the great example with the way you live your life.
But then again, maybe you need this challenge.
Read on and see which category you fall into….. Continue reading “FIND THE GOOD”
In your life, have you ever experienced times when you look back on an event in your life and later see how God closed one door and a new one opened for you?
Personally, I am a person who usually finds it hard to make decisions, especially if it is a bigger, life type decision. Isn’t it hard to know sometimes whether you are making the “right” decision or not? So, it is actually easier if through natural circumstances or events in life that you can see it was really the Lord closing one door and opening another. Continue reading “DOORS”
In this life, it is so vital to reach out and share with others–to show thyself friendly. Being an introvert, it is a lesson that has taken me a long time to learn.
Growth in our lives and faith can occur more rapidly as we make time to share the Lord working in our lives, specific needs we have, the simple everyday ups and downs, and just as important, our struggles. Continue reading “S.A.F.E.”
Did any of you readers watch that TV show this season?
Through the years I have enjoyed watching the regular So You Think You Can Dance show. I do enjoy being graced by the talent of the choreographers and the elegance of the dancers even though I am not personally musical or artistic. Continue reading “MENTORS”
We all know that our time on this earth is limited but that doesn’t make it any easier when we face the death of a loved one or special friend, does it?
I shared this experience this past week attending the funeral of a special friend who suffered greatly especially the last few weeks of his life. I was truly blessed to see how his wife took care of him at home so patiently and lovingly, as well as their son who kept vigil 24/7 at his hospital bedside the last six days of his life. It was always an honor to visit them, and they certainly enriched my life by their loving example. Continue reading “LEGACY”
Spending time near bodies of water, like the ocean, always renews my spirit. I see and feel God’s presence in the living waters that He has created and blessed us with.
A week at the beach this summer brought me time to read some inspiring books and time to reflect on…. Continue reading “LIVING WATERS”
Have you ever been fearful of a new beginning in your life?
Has fear or being scared of something ever stopped you from taking a new step in your life?
Maybe it is related to something God is calling you to do but you’re not sure how.
Maybe it is the not knowing what to expect that is difficult.
Maybe you were too scared to take that leap of faith because you didn’t know what you would find.
As I was recently traveling home solo from a Third Day concert (my favorite Christian band..in case you didn’t know!) on a ride that took four hours, thoughts of having a traffic delay made me think about uncharted waters in our lives.
The prior day, I was very thankful that I was not going in the opposite direction where there was a little construction but then what seemed like miles and miles of traffic backed up. They were even to the point of a stand still though I am really not sure why.
It was kind of “funny” how another friend of mine happened to text me about something and I mentioned the traffic I had seen the first day. She had actually been traveling the same direction the same day and noticed it as well.
She said maybe I should consider seeking an alternate route. Because of her saying that, I did end up pulling over on way home when I noticed there was a 20 minute stopped traffic notification on the GPS. I had just paid a toll so had a good place to pull over to see if there was an alternate route.
I really didn’t think there would be but the GPS said there was though it added 15 minutes to my trip. I figured it was worth it to be able to keep moving instead of coming to a standstill in traffic.
Continue reading “UNCHARTED WATERS”