Sent out...

Sent out...

When I go out on an errand with for myself or another, I expect good results to happen...no trip ups, no harassment, no problems, or "no worries" ....so when rereading Matthew 10, these disciples were warned of all kinds of potential troubles in being sent out..but all kinds of blessings as well...

I like the part of "freely you have received; freely give"...here are men from all walks of life going about  their business  and then are called into another path, not looking back, but going forward doing something totally different. Handing out grace, healing, proclaiming the Kingdom...with good and bad expectations ...warnings of persecution and blessings...always being on guard....not knowing when they would be received peaceably or not...

What an errand!  And this was just the trial run for the rest of their lives...

In college, many degrees have internships somewhere in the process...trying out what we think we would like to do for out future....student teaching, working in the field of our choice...this may show us this is not where we are supposed to be or will be a tremendous success...

These disciples already had a career before they became followers of Christ...He knew their hearts, their devotion and he chose them..for his internship..his proclamations...his friends...they had a huge responsibility to fulfill, which they did ...

They did face all of these warnings, but they faced crowds who received their message as well..(Acts)..they believed what they were sent out to proclaim ...their errand was a success and continues to be down through the centuries...

What is my response in being sent?  Am I cowering in the corner, listening to the warnings only..afraid to speak?  Or do I boldly go forth...?

Thank YOU for examples of bravery, calling, giving freely...to the path You have  chosen for me....I look back over places I have been, things done, and wonder how I ever made it, but for Your grace and strength, love...

Matthew 10:1, 5-14, 17-20, 28 Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness. 

These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. 

As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. 

Freely you have received; freely give.

 “Do not get any gold or silver or copper to take with you in your belts— no bag for the journey or extra shirt or sandals or a staff, for the worker is worth his keep. 

Whatever town or village you enter, search there for some worthy person and stay at their house until you leave. As you enter the home, give it your greeting. If the home is deserving, let your peace rest on it; if it is not, let your peace return to you. 

If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, leave that home or town and shake the dust off your feet. 

Be on your guard; you will be handed over to the local councils and be flogged in the synagogues. 

On my account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. 

At that time you will be given what to say, for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. 

Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. 

Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. 

Word of God, speak...

Word of God, speak.....

word of god speak lyrics, you tube, by Mercy me...

TP,day it was raining...an unusual thing for Central Oregon...it usually cold, snowy, windy or nice...it fit my mood...

In fact, it rained as I drove the 100 plus miles to the Willamette Valley, where it is raining as well...gray, dull, overcast...even the beautiful, blooming trees and flowers are not as bright in the rain...

Three years ago, we had my husband's second memorial on this day...we were so blessed by so many coming to pay their respect and wish our family well...

Today, as I arrived in town where he is buried, I picked up flowers....red..he had to have red...and took them to the cemetery...they were brilliant against the green grass, but stood alone in the vast graveyard...it was still raining as I was as well... The song playing, " Word of God, Speak" was the last solo song I sang, another loss....but it was speaking to me again...speak God's word into my sad heart...speak hope, speak joy through the rain and tears...speak your comfort again and again as You have over and over through these last few years...speak grace..love...I need to hear it again...

Thank YOU that you do come close, hold my hand again...thank you that You comfort yet again...

Psalm 32:6-8, 10b-11 Therefore let all the faithful pray to you while you may be found; surely the rising of the mighty waters will not reach them. 

You are my hiding place;you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance. 

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you. 

.......but the Lord’s unfailing love surrounds the one who trusts in him. 

Rejoice in the Lord and be glad, you righteous; sing, all you who are upright in heart! 

Healing, touching...compassion ...

Healing.....touching...compassion....

Matthew 9:2, 6, 18-22, 24-30, 32-33, 35-36 Some men brought to him a paralyzed man, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the man, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.”

 But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the paralyzed man, “Get up, take your mat and go home.”

 While he was saying this, a synagogue leader came and knelt before him and said, “My daughter has just died. But come and put your hand on her, and she will live.” 

Jesus got up and went with him, and so did his disciples. 

Just then a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak. She said to herself, “If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed.” Jesus turned and saw her. “Take heart, daughter,” he said, “your faith has healed you.” 

And the woman was healed at that moment.

 he said, “Go away. The girl is not dead but asleep.” But they laughed at him. After the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took the girl by the hand, and she got up. News of this spread through all that region.

 As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him, calling out, “Have mercy on us, Son of David!” When he had gone indoors, the blind men came to him, and he asked them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?”“Yes, Lord,” they replied. Then he touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith let it be done to you”; and their sight was restored. Jesus warned them sternly, “See that no one knows about this.”

 While they were going out, a man who was demon-possessed and could not talk was brought to Jesus. And when the demon was driven out, the man who had been mute spoke. 

The crowd was amazed and said, “Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel.”

 Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. 

Whenever he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 

Something was said a couple of weeks ago..."if we are to give out the gospel, we need to be in the gospels, regularly"....it resonated within me , so decided to start reading through Matthew each day...a chapter at a time..finding what was spoken to me that day..today it was chapter nine..I have read it many times before and each time a new lesson is waiting there to put away in my heart ...today it was all the  healings.....Jesus "went through all the towns and villages....healing..."

He was met with wonder, resistance of the leaders, desperation, helplessness, hope...emotions that reach over the centuries...ones we still deal with now...and He still reaches out his hand to us now...still heals, still lifts up...still touches ....through His Word, through His people..His ambassadors to the world...He breathes life to the helpless...He is the Victor...

Thank YOU for the hope, help, healing You give...have given and will give in all years, past, present and future... 

Leprosy....

Leprosy.....

Matthew 8:1-4 When Jesus came down from the mountainside, large crowds followed him. A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” Immediately he was cleansed of his leprosy. Then Jesus said to him, “See that you don’t tell anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”

There are several accounts of leprosy in the Bible..there were even rules about it care in Leviticus. 

The lepers who got the spoils of the running army...

Miriam's punishment ...

2 kings 5- Naaman has leprosy...and his story....

The ten lepers in the New Testament ....

Those who cried out side the city gates...

We don't hear much about it these days, but it still exists and is still be treated...

I remember as a teen, there were books about the Hawaiian treatment center and the Philippines' one..there was an old movie, that described and showed people entering the caves of the lepers in Israel ...people hiding with their sores and disfigured bodies... Calling, "unclean,,unclean"'wherever they went...they were not to be touched....

 And here in Matthew,,Jesus touched this leper...the Creator of the Universe came down to touch this untouchable man...with healing...

The touch of Jesus....not rejected...but touched...how long has it been since anyone touched him? What did he feel? Warmth? Electricity? care? What does immediate healing feel like???

But, oh that touch by Jesus ....there is nothing like it...

Thank YOU that You touched lives and continue to do so ...

You tube, "children of leprosy".  .....humbling ....

http://www.leprosy.org/leprosy-history/

"History of the Disease

Leprosy was well recognized in the oldest civilizations of China, Egypt, and India. The first known written reference to leprosy appeared in an Egyptian papyrus document written around 1550 BC.

Throughout history, leprosy has been feared and misunderstood, and has resulted in significant stigma and isolation of those who are afflicted. It was thought to be a hereditary disease, a curse, or punishment from the gods. During the Middle Ages, those with leprosy were forced to wear special clothing and ring bells to warn others as they walked by.

A cumulative total of the number of people who, over the millennia, have suffered its chronic course of incurable disfigurement, physical disabilities, or psychological trauma can never be estimated. There are many countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America with a significant number of leprosy cases and 1 to 2 million people worldwide are visibly and irreversibly disabled due to past and present leprosy.

The nation’s first leprosarium, located in what is now known as Carville, Louisiana.

In 1921, the U.S. Public Health Service established the nation’s first leprosarium, located in what is now known as Carville, Louisiana. The leprosarium served as an institution for people with leprosy and a hospital for experiments with treatments for leprosy as well as a laboratory to study the organism. The center, which became known simply as “Carville,” became a refuge for leprosy patients and one of the premier centers of scientific research and testing in attempts to find a cure for the disease.

In 1941, the discovery of Promin, a sulfone drug, was shown to successfully cure leprosy, but this treatment also involved painful injections. Promin became known as the “Miracle of Carville.” In the 1950s, dapsone pills, pioneered by Dr. R.G. Cochrane at Carville, became the treatment of choice for leprosy. Dapsone worked wonderfully at first, but Mycobacterium leprae bacteria eventually began developing dapsone resistance.

In the 1970s, the first successful multidrug treatment (MDT) regimen for leprosy was developed through drug trials on the island of Malta. In 1981, The World Health Organization began recommending MDT, a combination of three drugs: dapsone, rifampicin, and clofazimine. The completion of MDT takes from 6 months to a year or even more, depending on clinical manifestations of the leprosy infection.

In 1986, the Carville facility became known Gillis W. Long Hansen’s Disease (Leprosy) Center, named after the distinguished U.S. Congressman, close friend, and associate of the people working and living with leprosy. During its century of service, Carville was home to several hundreds of patients, some of whom met and married there and spent a majority of their lives on the picturesque campus. When the hospital at Carville closed in 1998, its few remaining patients were reluctant to leave. The buildings and grounds were transferred to the State of Louisiana in 1998, and the clinical center relocated to Baton Rouge. A museum archiving the history of the Center and a National Cemetery remain open to the public. Some elderly patients continue to live at the facility."

On Eagles ' wngs....

Happy Mothers Day!

so good, it was sent to me this morning...had to share ...as we each face those times when we need those Eagles wings to lift us up and carry us through ....that strength that only comes from God alone...

when the weariness is over powering ....from whatever life event has happened...

YOu tube,,,on Eagles wings..so good ....lyrics with HIllsong...

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=jorJh8DTMVM.            Wind beneath my wings....

But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint. — Isaiah 40:31 Mother's Day: On Eagles' Wings by T. Suzanne Eller, Encouragement for Today: Devotions for Everyday Living HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY from all of us at Devotionals Daily! We pray for moms, grandmothers, soon-to-be mamas, step-mothers, moms-in-law, foster mothers, and those who step in to fill the mother gap for the motherless that you would be celebrated and loved on today. * * * But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint. — Isaiah 40:31 My children ran up the steep path, unaware Mom was left behind. Their shouts of “I’ll beat you to the top!” filtered down. I sat on the large rock, my head on my arms, tears running down my face. The park was our favorite place to picnic and explore. My children and I hadn’t visited in a long time because chemotherapy, radiation, and two surgeries had overtaken my calendar. With my treatments finally ended, I wanted nothing more than to return to normal life again. But I was exhausted. Things that once came easily now seemed impossible. Like climbing the steep, rocky path to the top of the hill. I used to run up these rocks, laughing with my children. Now I could only walk partway up. My stamina dipped below zero. As I sat there, I wondered: Will life ever be the same? Will I ever be the same? It’s now been two decades since I sat on the rock and cried. It hardly seems possible! My young children are grown and I’m a grandma to four beautiful babies. Advanced-stage breast cancer robbed me of much — certainty about my future, the security of my children, and for a time, my health. But it didn’t rob me of my faith. When I remember that moment on the rock, I don’t see a young mom sitting alone; I see a woman whom God is holding tight. There are times when our strength isn’t enough, when our wings feel heavy. In those times God invites us to rely on Him. God’s promise through the prophet Isaiah is that when we are weary, we can soar like eagles. It’s not our strength that causes us to soar, but God’s strength as He lifts us up and out of our weary places — in His might. It took months before I recovered fully and could once again run up the trail with my children. But the path I learned to follow closely during that time was into the pages of His Word, where encouragement filled this embattled mom with hope. After two surgeries, chemotherapy, and radiation, I wasn’t physically strong enough to do anything on my own, but I found spiritual strength in God’s promises. I depended on God to give me energy when I felt weak. And I celebrated the smallest of victories even when they didn’t seem like much. Are you exhausted today? You aren’t alone. You can trust Him to lift your wings, to give you new strength and power, as you depend on Him each moment. Dear Father, I’m tired and I cannot do this on my own. Today, I take my eyes off of what I cannot do and I place my focus on You — on Your promises, on Your Word. Lift my wings with Your strength and help me fly again. In Jesus’ name, Amen. Remember You were never intended to fight life’s battles alone. It’s not your strength that causes you to soar, but God lifts you up and out of your weary places — in His might. Reflect How will you celebrate your smallest victory today in a big way? Respond Invite God into your challenge, but with a twist. Choose a day to celebrate. Share God’s faithfulness with a friend who is facing similar challenges. Power Verses Psalm 103:1, Psalm 103:5; Exodus 19:4 Excerpted with permission from Encouragement for Today: Devotions for Everyday Living by the women of Proverbs 31 Ministries, copyright Zondervan.  * * * Your Turn All of us go through seasons of life that are wearying beyond our ability to handle, seasons when we don’t have the strength endure. Maybe that’s you today. Go back and reread God’s promises, ask Him for help, and pick one thing the Lord has done for you to celebrate.  If you’re not in a season of exhaustion, look around and ask the Holy Spirit to show you who needs encouragement today and reach out to them. It’s Mothers Day! Is there a mama you know whom you could bless today? Join the conversation on our blog! ~ Devotionals Daily Special Offer  Save 30% off Encouragement for Today: Devotions for Everyday Living Regular Price: $14.99 Sale Price: $10.49 Pull away from the things that pull you down and find lasting encouragement for today.  The women at Proverbs 31 Ministries offer 100 devotions of wit, wisdom, and encouragement for women. For twenty years the P31 team has equipped and encouraged nearly a million women to live in the power of God’s truths that apply to their everyday life.  Written by women from every walk of life, you will find inspiration to live authentically and fully grounded in the Word of God. The P31 Team shares from the realities of everyday life including highs and lows, humorous stories and tender moments. You will be drawn toward the truths God offers and enabled to rise above and become all God created you to be. Shop now and save Inspired by today's devotion? 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Ask, seek and knock....

Ask, seek and knock.....

In our last home together, I had these words painted on the wall In our bedroom, most of Matthew 7:7-8.  They were a surprise to my husband.   He really liked those verses among so many...he liked it in context of finding minerals available to mine and where to seek them....that was one of his passions in life...finding mineral riches to invest in the true riches of life...

at the end of his life, people associated with both the mineral riches and the heavenly riches were still coming through the door to shake his hand and say, "well done, thank you and goodbye".  And many came to the memorial services as well....and as many came, they heard the gospel as well, the true riches of life...

I don't know all the implications or the thoughts of all who came, I saw tears, laughter, .....do any of them ask, seek or knock...as we are implored to do?  Only heaven knows...

Thank YOU for simple words....humbling words...that You give...telling us to ask, seek and knock ...with promises of receiving, finding and opening...thank You that give so much....and are willing to help us...

Matthew 7:7-8, 28-29 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. 

When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law. 

In secret....

In secret....

The sun is streaming through the windows,  lighting the darkness  after the night...the rooms brighten up. The only places that are dark are those shut away from the sunlight..closeted, shut doors...where, unless the light is turned on, remain in darkness....

But God sees even in the dark and secret places of the heart, mind and soul...He sees the prayers whispered in the secret places, the giving done in secret...the thoughts we have in secret...all the things we do...the things we may say...He is faithful and trustworthy...and fills the heavens and the earth...nothing is hidden....

That is awesome and scary in one...there is nothing we can do that He doesn't know about...nothing we can think that He doesn't know...

So my question to myself, is there anything I say or do that is dishonoring to the King of Kings..my creator, my Redeemer... Are my accounts with Him Short?  Is my conscience clear? In the light as well as the darkness? I am here to please Him....not man...

Thank YOU for bringing light to the darkness...thank You for knowing my inmost thoughts and prayers...help me to be reminded of You in all I do..say..

Matthew 6:1-6 “Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. 

“So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. 

Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. 

Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. 

Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 

Deuteronomy 29:29 The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law. 

Psalm 44:21b.....since he knows the secrets of the heart....

Proverbs 11:13b?....but a trustworthy person keeps a secret. 

Jeremiah 23:24 Who can hide in secret places so that I cannot see them?” declares the Lord.“Do not I fill heaven and earth?”declares the Lord. 

Luke 8:16-17 “No one lights a lamp and hides it in a clay jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, they put it on a stand, so that those who come in can see the light. 

For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open.