Tag Archives: jesus

Today is the Day!

29 Dec

As the end of the year approaches, the Creator of all the heavens and the earth, says, “Turn to me and be saved, all you ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other” (Isaiah 45:22). I’m sure most of us have ignored the words of Isaiah for most of this year. Yes, we may have had spits and sputters along the way of calling out to the Creator for help and wisdom, but mostly we have ignored His help, leaving us short of where we wanted or hoped to be by the end of the year. However, today could be the day all that changes for our coming year, if we but open our ears to what the Spirit of the Creator is saying. Let me explain through a story.

There once were two kings. and each sought the advice of their counselors on how they should lead their respective countries or people. Both knew there was only one Creator of all things, but neither of them would turn to him for help. One rejected the wisdom of the older advisors and sought out the wisdom of younger men. The other, also sought the advice of his counselors, but neither, sought out the wisdom of the Creator. The result, destruction, defeat, and a terrible legacy. (You can find the complete story in 1 Kings 12-14, 2 Chronicles 12, and the books of the kings of Isarel and Judah). Maybe you have experienced the negative effects of relying on your own wisdom, experience, and advisers without consulting with the Creator. He, the Creator says, to turn to him and you will be saved.

Do you need to be saved? The Creator says, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:13). Call out to him! Who is the Creator, “The Lord Almighty, the Creator of Heaven and Earth. The King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. The Savior of the World, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace”. For He alone is God, the Creator! Call out to Him for wisdom for the coming year. Turn to Him, ask Him to reveal truth to you, obey His leading and instructions. For his “burden is easy and his yoke is light” (Matthew 11:13). He says to, “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it” (Matthew 7:13).

You see, salvation and prosperity are found in the Creators wisdom. In turning to Him and calling out to Him to be saved. If you want your new day and year ahead to turn out better than this past year, then turn to him, not to your own self, or the wisdom of this world. Call out to Him and be saved!

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Overcoming Disability: A Journey of Faith

12 Dec

Did you know there is a wonderful story of a woman in the middle east who had struggled with a physical disability for 18 years. The disability may have been a severe case of scoliosis, an abnormally curved spine. There is no way to know the correct diagnosis because the story does not give us one. The description is only that she was bent over and could not raise herself up. The description, however, does give us enough information to scoliosis.

Can you sense the pain this woman must have endured for 18 years. Not only the physical pain but the difficulty in getting a good deep breath. How about the emotional and mental pain. Just trying to imagine her dilemma would be hard for most of us, but there are those who can. Like those who suffer in their own disability, whether physically, emotionally, or mentally. Many of these disabilities are invisible, yet people are suffering. You might be asking, how this woman’s story has anything to do with those suffering with disabilities today? Maybe, just maybe finding or renewing their hope.

As the story goes, during the time of this woman’s life there was a man who traveled throughout the region in which she lived healing every kind of disease and illness, even those who were demon possessed, epileptic, or paralyzed. He healed them all. What’s interesting about this story is the cause of her disability. You see, this man happened to be teaching in the city she lived and saw her. He couldn’t help but notice her disability or sickness and called her over to himself. Once she made her way to him, he had compassion for her and told her she was healed of her sickness. He then touched her and instantly she could stand straight. He told those who questioned him about her healing, that she had been held in bondage by Satan for 18 years and that it was right for him to release her.

Wow, what a story! A story of healing and deliverance. And what’s even more exciting is that this same man lives today, being the same as he was then, today, and forever. Let’s dive a little deeper into this man. You see, this man’s coming was foretold years before by another. He described his appearance as nothing beautiful or majestic, nothing to attract us to him. He was despised and rejected, a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief. A man people would turn their backs on and look the other way, not even caring. Yet this man carried our weaknesses. Our sorrows weighed him down. He was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins, beaten so we could be whole, and whipped so we could be healed. Yet we ignore this back story. We’re blinded to the truth about this man. This man is Jesus, the son of God. God himself who came in the flesh. Who loved us and gave himself for us, so we could be made right with him.

This man, Jesus read from the scroll of Isaiah about himself, when he said, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that the captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, and that the time of the Lord’s favor has come” (Luke 4:18,19). You see, Jesus is the answer to our deepest need. The need for our sins to be forgiven, our lives to be made whole, and the healing of our body, soul, and spirit. Jesus also said, the thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. But his purpose is to give us a rich and satisfying life, an abundant life (see John 10:10).

Jesus is calling us all to himself as he did the woman in this story. He says, “Come to me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for you souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30).

The story of the woman with the disability can be found in Luke 13:11-33. Its truth will resonate with hope and an expectation of the possibilities of healing and deliverance for anyone who comes to Jesus, the Son of God!

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