Captives ......

Captives.....

Isaiah 42:6-7 “I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles,
to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.

These verse came to mind as I was reading Mark 5...

First, Jesus meets a man with evil spirits who lives among the tombs in the region of Gerarsenes... He is so strong that chains are unable to hold him, so filled with evil spirits, crying out night and day, hurting himself....captive....then freed at the Word of Jesus...amazing all who heard his story...freed from the captivity of evil spirits....

Psalm 107:10, 14-16 Some sat in darkness, in utter darkness, prisoners suffering in iron chains, He brought them out of darkness, the utter darkness, and broke away their chains. Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind, for he breaks down gates of bronze and cuts through bars of iron.

Second, a synagogue ruler begs Jesus to heal his daughter who lay dying.  But, this scene is interrupted by a woman who has been suffering for 12 years...all she wants to do is touch Jesus' cloak, believing she will be healed by the touch...
Jesus stops his travels to the the leader's home to speak to this woman..."your faith has healed you"... Freed from the captivity of suffering...

Finally, back to the little girl....the message comes that she has died, but Jesus ignores the message, telling the father, "don't be afraid, just believe".
Jesus  again puts the extras aside, focusing on the family and the 12 year, telling her to "get up" and she does...freed from the captivity of death..

Freed from captivity....Jesus showed in more ways that he has the power to free captives, blindness, fear, and on and on...he says "don't be afraid" in so many ways....I am here...

Thank YOU...

John 16:33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Hebrews 13:5b-6, 8 .....because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”
So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?”
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

What legacy...

What legacy......

"What spiritual legacy would you like to leave for others  and why is this important?"

-Bible reading, listening....psalm 119, 2 Timothy 3:16-17

-spiritual gifts, love...1 Corinthians 12, 13

-fruit....Galatians 5:22-26

-important commandments...Matthew 22: 37-39
-counselor....John 14:15-16

-Reliance... Jesus calling, December 28, "As you grow closer to Me, I open your eyes to see more and more of My Presence all around you. Things that most people hardly notice, like shifting shades of sunlight, fill you with heart-bursting Joy. You have eyes that see and ears that hear, so proclaim My abiding Presence in the world."

-commission.... Matthew 28:19-20 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

-A friend who answered the question, said she wanted to "suffer well" through her various health issues...Job 36:15 But those who suffer he delivers in their suffering; he speaks to them in their affliction.
Romans 5:3-5 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

-My husband wrote that he wanted to "finish well"... He did...John 14:1-3 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.

-Transformed....2 Corinthians 3:18 And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

-hope....Psalm 25:5 Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.


Just beginning.....thank YOU....

Jesus....You  are the legacy....

Times ahead....

Times ahead...

Five years ago, we were having our last Christmas with my husband..
All our family was there, we had visitors coming And going... We shared meals, fun times, laughter, picture albums, lives...

The devotion for that day from Jesus Calling was...I am preparing you...I am preparing you for the times ahead...what is on the road ahead...

We were so naive...never having been down this road before...I was glad for any help, human or divine...we knew the pain of upcoming loss, but, it still was like living in another world, a bad dream one...this really couldn't be happening...this happened to others, not us...and we weren't prepared...

But, Jesus was saying he was preparing us...He gave us comfort, each other,     Friends, Himself, doctors, time, helpers, strength, the prayers of others around the world...so many things, seen and unseen...

Since that time, I have seen this happen again and again...God preparing, God strengthening, God comforting...God there through the storms of life, the joys of life....walking beside all who call...

Then I wonder what is He preparing me for now....but, I have to hold back and take each day, moment one by one...not getting ahead  with anxious thoughts or plans...just knowing that He is here and He knows tommorrow....

Thank YOU...

 Isaiah 64:4 Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him.

Psalm 139:23-24 Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Psalm 103:1-2 Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits—

The day after...back to the routine ....

The day after....back to the routine...

With Christmas on Sunday this year, it almost felt there was no holiday...as there weren't any days off for most people either before or after  Christmas Day...so back to the routine...back to work....the wrappings are thrown away, the long planned for food eaten,  the tree barren of gifts...the Santas are gone, no more bell ringers at stores....the "after" Christmas sales begin, the rush to get the bargains we may have missed before Christmas...

The poor are still with us...the world is still in turmoil...food is still needed at the shelters...thank you's maybe needed to be written...returns to be  done...Christmas store decorations quickly disappear giving way to Valentine's Day....maybe a few family activities before school starts again, but mostly the "routine" is established again....

I wonder what is was like for Joseph and Mary so long ago...the shepherds surprises were gone...did the local people whom they told come? No more angel chorus'...did the crowded inn clear out so they could have some comfort? How soon did they travel back to their home? Did baby Jesus fuss when he was hungry? Did his eyes focus on the loving parents chosen for this formidable and cherished parentage?   Were Mary and Joseph still pondering the night before?   Or tired from the ups and downs of new parenting? Now, as young parents, they needed to establish a routine....back to carpentry...daily meal preparations...caring for a newborn...

Routine....until the wise men came...another event to hold dear, another move to Egypt..fleeing the ruler bent on destroying their child...and establishing a new routine in a foreign country ....

In our day to day routine, help me not forget the miracle of the moments, the breaths that You give, the Gift that You gave and continue  to give until the last one comes to You...the Counselor You sent to reveal Your truth, the plans You have  prepared....the people You send across my path...the miracle of Christmas...help me to ponder your Word, consider the principles you have given...help me to know Your heart...

Thank YOU...

Psalm 77:12-14 I will consider all your works and meditate on all your mighty deeds.”
Your ways, God, are holy. What god is as great as our God?
You are the God who performs miracles; you display your power among the peoples.

Psalm 111:2-4 Great are the works of the Lord; they are pondered by all who delight in them.
Glorious and majestic are his deeds, and his righteousness endures forever. He has caused his wonders to be remembered; the Lord is gracious and compassionate.

Oh Holy night...

Oh Holy Night...

http://www.coolestone.com/media/16088/O-Holy-Night---Christmas-Day/#.WF_P3Os76K1

Something so mundane as another child being born...

New parents...
A crowded inn...
A simple manger...
Shepherds...

Mundane to world changing to life changing....

Isaiah 9:6-7 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.

Luke 1:32-33 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”

Luke 2:11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.

Thank YOU that you not only know our frame from beginning to the end, You sent a Savior for our souls...

An added thought...Christ spent his first night in a manger of an inn which had no room...to the last supper in an inn in the upper room with his disciples ...quite a change...

Anticlimatic....

"Anticlimactic "...

Our family does not necessarily celebrate Christmas on Christmas Day...
We just pick a day when we can all usually get together  that fits with work schedules...not everyone has Christmas Day as a day off..especially our wonderful public servants, the police or fireman and many others...

So I was contemplating this as we have had our Christmas and the set aside Christmas Day is yet to come...sort of anticlimactic...we have had our family gathering, everyone is either on their way to their respective homes or have completed the journey....through snow and ice again this year...

But, Christmas is still yet to come...imagine a world long ago waiting for the Messiah...he does comes quietly into the world into a stable, not a mansion..with a fan fare of angels, shepherds and later the wisemen...

This tiny child who came for all to have eternal life at his word, believing He is God of salvation, the redeemer...the creator of the universe, weaver of lives..planner of life paths...He held the world in His tiny pudgy  baby hands...such a mystery...

"This everlasting gift was the sole purpose of My entering your sin-stained world. Receive My gift with awe and humility." Sarah Young in Jesus Calling..

Psalm 119: 57a says, " You are my portion, oh, LORD.."

The real reason for Christmas is everyday...not just one set aside for yearly celebrations...HE came to give life all the days, abundant eternal life...a gift without measure...thank YOU...

"Open my eyes"

"Open my eyes".....

Psalm 119:18 Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.

I started in this place this morning and "open my eyes" caught my heart...so plugged those words into the program and out  came the following verses as well...some God was speaking and others, man...some pleading, others-declaring...

They all lead to God...worship...the Word...
Thank YOU....help me to see the "wonderful things"....being attentive to You...

1 Kings 8:29 May your eyes be open toward this temple night and day, this place of which you said, ‘My Name shall be there,’ so that you will hear the prayer your servant prays toward this place.

2 Chronicles 6:40 “Now, my God, may your eyes be open and your ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place.

2 Chronicles 7:15-16 Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place.
I have chosen and consecrated this temple so that my Name may be there forever. My eyes and my heart will always be there.

Nehemiah 1:6 let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer your servant is praying before you day and night for your servants, the people of Israel. I confess the sins we Israelites, including myself and my father’s family, have committed against you.

Psalm 119:148 My eyes stay open through the watches of the night, that I may meditate on your promises.

John 9:30-38 The man answered, “Now that is remarkable! You don’t know where he comes from, yet he opened my eyes.
We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to the godly person who does his will.
Nobody has ever heard of opening the eyes of a man born blind. If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.”
To this they replied, “You were steeped in sin at birth; how dare you lecture us!” And they threw him out.
Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and when he found him, he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?”
"Who is he, sir?” the man asked. “Tell me so that I may believe in him.” Jesus said, “You have now seen him; in fact, he is the one speaking with you.”
Then the man said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him.