Jody's Devotionals

Alone? Never!

Posted on March 6, 2014 by Jody Neufeld

I, John, am your brother and your partner in suffering and in God’s Kingdom and in the patient endurance to which Jesus calls us. I was exiled to the island of Patmos for preaching the word of God and for my testimony about Jesus. It was the Lord’s Day, and I was worshiping in the Spirit. Suddenly, I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet blast. It said, “Write in a book everything you see, and send it to the seven churches in the cities of Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.” Revelation 1:9-11 (NLT)

Can you see this Scripture in your mind? John has been sent to a small island in an attempt to shut him up! John is in his old age. He is the last of the Twelve. He is isolated physically and and those who have been his family and friends are gone. He is alone. Maybe you can even identify with this season of his life. Alone.

Being alone isn’t just about whether anyone is with you or not. It is a reality in which I feel I am the only one in my situation in this time and I cannot see anyone to whom I can reach with my outstretched hand – or even my smartphone.

This passage from John reports he was “worshiping in the Spirit.” John made a definitive choice to worship God. His surroundings did not draw him into worship. His feelings didn’t pull him in. He- turned to God and His Spirit was the place of John’s worship.

Two days ago, I shared some free advice – make time for God every day. Here is an account of John who has been making time for God for many, many years. His commitment did not produce a “sweet life,” did it? And yet John is worshiping God. I believe it is because God had proven Himself to John. John spent time with the LORD every day and when John suffered, whether physical or in his heart or spirit, God came near to listen and bring His healing power and comforting love to John.

In times of great pain, isolation, overwhelming burdens, and all I can do is weep and “give up,” that is exactly what I should do – give – it – ALL – up! Pour it all out of me and give it all to God. Allow Him to sift all the muck and guide me, heal me, and teach me. It is God’s love I can always, always trust when all others stumble.

Write what you see. This is what I see today: A loving LORD who will never let me down and who will never leave me. I love You, LORD!

Love Came Down written by Brian & Jenn Johnson, sung by Kari Jobe

Posted in Revelation | Comments Off

Are You Saved?

Posted on March 5, 2014 by Jody Neufeld

[reprinted from November 17, 2011]

[Jesus said] “For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.” Luke 19:10 (NLT)

If someone asks, “Are you saved?” what do they mean?

I first heard this question when I was 14-years-old. I had been raised Catholic. I knew Jesus was God who came to earth to die for my sins and three days later rose from the dead and now lived in heaven. I had a young teen crush on a boy who walked me to class and ate lunch with me in the public school we attended. He invited me to a revival. I had never been to a church service with “Amens” and loud, shouting preaching. I had never seen an altar call and found myself the focus of people (4-5) that came up to me asking, “Are you saved?” I had no frame of reference to know what they meant. And now, 40 years later, I can say, “Yes, I am saved” but my meaning and any 20 other people can mean 20 different things. What did Jesus mean? His meaning is the one that matters, isn’t it?

Jesus was clear in Matthew 4:17 that there was a need for us to “make a change” (repent) because God’s Kingdom was coming and God and sin did not mix! In the Luke passage Jesus said He came to save those who were “lost.” If my Creator and I are not living together, then one of us is lost. Jesus also told the leadership of the Church that He came to call sinners, not the righteous (Matthew 9:12-13). Throughout the gospels Jesus brings the message from the Father that He desires to be with His children. He loves His children. He sent His own Son to bring us to the safety of the sheep pen (John 10). So when someone speaks about Jesus and questions a person, “Are you saved?” I believe Jesus’ answer is more encompassing than the answer most of us require.

Too often my requirements for someone to be “saved” from their sins is more about their relationship with me not God. I want to hear the person say the “right words” so I know they are “right with God.” I want them to agree with my interpretation of specific important Scripture passages. (Which Scriptures are more important?) I want them to stay away from “certain sins.” Sins that aren’t a temptation for me so I can’t see how they could do such things! I want people to be “clean” inside and out before they attend my church. (Hmmm. Jesus said He came for the “sick” so doesn’t that make a church = a spiritual hospital?) Do I eat with those who are “unsaved”? Jesus did. Do I spend time sharing everything Jesus has shared with me – including His love? That’s what Jesus said to do (Matthew 28:19).

Am I saved? Yes, because I am a sinner loved extravagantly and unconditionally by God Himself. He loved me before I loved Him. I cannot do anything without my LORD. I cannot “save” myself from sin. I need Jesus. He came, died for me, and now guides me with His Holy Spirit to live my life as a servant until He brings me home with Him forever. I am saved by Love.

For this reason I bow my knees before the Father from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named. [I pray] that He may grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, and that the Messiah may dwell in your hearts through faith. [I pray that] you, being rooted and firmly established in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and width, height and depth, and to know the Messiah’s love that surpasses knowledge, so you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Ephesians 3:14-19 (HCSB)

The Cross, covered in the Blood of God’s Son, is also the symbol of His Love – not condemning but convicting as it comes with complete forgiveness for all God’s children who will hear His voice to “Repent! Come to Me! for the Kingdom of God is near.”

Give Me Jesus written & sung by Fernando Ortega

Posted in Ephesians, Luke | Comments Off

Will You Consider Some Free Advice?

Posted on March 4, 2014 by Jody Neufeld

Everyone on this earth, now listen to what I say!
2 Listen, no matter who you are, rich or poor.
3 I speak words of wisdom, and my thoughts make sense.
4 I have in mind a mystery that I will explain while playing my harp.

5 Why should I be afraid in times of trouble,
when I am surrounded by vicious enemies?
6 They trust in their riches and brag about all of their wealth.
7 You cannot buy back your life or pay off God!
8 It costs far too much to buy back your life.
You can never pay God enough 9 to stay alive forever and safe from death.

10 We see that wise people die, and so do stupid fools.
Then their money is left for someone else.
11 The grave will be their home forever and ever,
although they once had land of their own.
12 Our human glory disappears, and, like animals, we die. Psalm 49:1-12 (CEV)

If you put my name in Google, it will probably send you to one of my blogs or it will make some connection with Energion Publications. If you see a picture of me, you know I am definitely in the “autumn” of my life! For some this may indicate I have had enough life experiences to gain wisdom and for others I will just seem really old! When I offer advice to my now grown children, I always add that I hope they will learn from my mistakes and not repeat them. So today I am sharing free, maybe even unsolicited, advice.

Make time for God in your life. That’s it. Pretty simple and maybe even obvious, but it is wisdom I have to intentionally choose to follow every day. There is always something trying to crowd my day and distract me from time to pray, to talk to God and listen. Could it be Satan who orchestrates these distractions? In this case I think I would be giving him too much credit. Life is just really busy.

If you are age 10-40, you might be reading this and thinking, “Lady, you have no idea what busy is!” And I could text my two children and have them relate to you all the activities they were involved in and how it was my responsibility to get them to all of them! So yes, even as I near what some call “retirement age,” I haven’t forgotten the insanity of holding a full time job, children, and a home. Despite that legitimate takeover of time, I would say to you most urgently and passionately how much I wish I had spent time with God every day. I know so many things would have been different, better, in my life. If it meant getting up 30 minutes earlier or closing myself up in the bathroom after the children were in bed to have 30 precious minutes to hear what God wanted to say to me every day – it would have been worth the loss of sleep.

It is not enough to go to church every week. No matter how wonderful the preacher is or even if you also go to a small group class, it isn’t enough. It has to be some daily contact. If you have a 30 minute drive every day to work, count yourself blessed to have alone time in the car to pray and listen to God.

God doesn’t want to spend time with you because He is lonely. He wants to spend time with you for the same reason you want to spend time with your spouse or your children. It’s all about love. He wants to hear your troubles. He wants to hear what’s on your heart. He wants to comfort you. He wants to heal your bruised spirit. He wants to give you the wisdom and strength you need for each day.

Give it a try – spend time with God every day from now until Easter. See if you notice any differences. Hey, this was all freely given advice (Matthew 10:8)!

Faintly written by John Barnett & sung by Lindell Cooley

Posted in Psalms | Comments Off

His Love Never Ends

Posted on March 3, 2014 by Jody Neufeld

If I speak human or angelic languages but do not have love, I am a sounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith so that I can move mountains but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 And if I donate all my goods to feed the poor, and if I give my body in order to boast but do not have love, I gain nothing.
4 Love is patient, love is kind. Love does not envy, is not boastful, is not conceited, 5 does not act improperly, is not selfish, is not provoked, and does not keep a record of wrongs. 6 Love finds no joy in unrighteousness but rejoices in the truth. 7 It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never ends. 1 Corinthians 13:1-8 (HCSB)

I have been meditating on this Scripture this weekend. I wrote a blog yesterday as I considered love and marriage. But today I am considering more personal questions. I believe it is the Holy Spirit asking me to honestly examine how well I love.

Do I have God’s love? 1 Corinthians 13 is arguably one of the most beautiful passages of prose in the Bible. I can hear Paul’s emotion as he shares what he has learned about having God’s love in his heart. I suspect he might have wept as he remembers the transformation his heart has undergone. When I accepted Jesus as my Savior, He came into my life and brought His love. I too experienced an extraordinary heart transformation.

But in this world, I need to continue to be connected to God so I continue to receive His love. You see, I leak.

What am I doing with God’s love? God lavishes His love on me and in me. It heals. His love comforts and strengthens. But God intended His love to flow through me to others. Freely it has been given to me and freely I am to give to others (Matthew 10:8). God’s love is active in my life. It heals, comfort and strengthens as God opens opportunities for me to serve His children.

Am I attracted to those with God’s love? As I live my life choosing to stay connected to God and living in His love, I learn how wonderful that can be. In this world there will be suffering and trials, “trouble” Jesus says (John 16:33), but when I choose to live in God’s love, there is peace because He has given me an eternal Hope.

While I serve and give testimony to whomever and wherever God sends me, it is so important that I spend time with others who also are soaked in God’s love. I cannot be just a conduit of God’s love. I must also spend time with those who are not there to drain me but who will be a part of my recharging and refreshing.

As I stop again to read and meditate on this passage, tears come to my eyes as I am wrapped in the handmade quilt of God’s love. Maybe that is a fanciful picture metaphor but I know His love for me is unique and made to fit and fill my every need, like a quilt made by a loving mother. And so I am going to stay here awhile longer and be held by my Father. Maybe I will whisper to Him about what is in my heart. Maybe He will rub my back, reassuring me He will always be here and always love me. “I love You, too, Father.”

Your Love is Extravagant written & sung by Darrell Evans

Posted in 1 Corinthians | Comments Off

Ancient Words? Eternal Words!

Posted on February 26, 2014 by Jody Neufeld

You are my portion,Lord; I have promised to obey your words.
58 I have sought your face with all my heart;
be gracious to me according to your promise.
59 I have considered my ways and have turned my steps to your statutes.
60 I will hasten and not delay to obey your commands.
61 Though the wicked bind me with ropes, I will not forget your law. Psalm 119:57-61 (NIV)

I remember when I was a teen how I thought my parents were so old! And actually they did have me a bit late in life but I was only interested in what was “Groovy!” and not old-fashioned. When I had the opportunity to travel a bit in Europe, I discovered a whole new definition of what was really old as they counted the age of homes and buildings not in decades but in centuries!

After I accepted that I was a sinner and needed Jesus to save me, I devoured His Word. I read Scripture at least an hour every day and that was in addition to the 3-5 hour worship service that I attended every evening. I just could not get enough of God’s words to me. There was so much there! And I was astounded how the message, the wisdom wasn’t out of date! They were written for me and what was going on in my life right then! Amazing!

And God’s message is still fresh and relevant to me nearly 20 years later. I read passages that I have read over and over and – God has something new to say to me again! It is like another miracle to me that words written thousands of years ago, applies to me right here in the 21^st century! The words speak into my heart and change my stinky thinking! They correct and discipline me. No matter if I have read 2 Corinthians 1 twenty times, I still feel the healing balm of God’s comfort when I read it.

I love to read so it is no hardship for me to read texts. I know there are many for whom reading is not enjoyable or relaxing. So invest in your spiritual life and get an App for your phone. There are some great suggestions (many free) ShareFaith.com. Remember: “The best Bible translation or version? It is the one you read.” – Henry Neufeld

Much of the contemporary worship music is Scripture set to music (much like the “old” hymns). As I have been writing this devotion, I am listening to “the best of Michael W Smith” on YouTube. There is a musical style for everyone in Christian music with the Bible providing the lyrics.

God’s Word is there to help me celebrate. It is there to correct me and teach me God’s way for my life. It is there to comfort, encourage, and strengthen me when I am beat up and exhausted. Timeless. Perfect. God in His Word.

Ancient Words written & sung by Michael W Smith

Posted in Psalms | Comments Off

Do I Have Time to Garden?

Posted on February 25, 2014 by Jody Neufeld

[reprinted from July 11, 2011]

One day, Jacob was cooking some stew, when Esau came home hungry and said, “I’m starving to death! Give me some of that red stew right now!” That’s how Esau got the name “Edom.” Jacob replied, “Sell me your rights as the first-born son.” “I’m about to die,” Esau answered. “What good will those rights do me?”

But Jacob said, “Promise me your birthrights, here and now!” And that’s what Esau did. Jacob then gave Esau some bread and some of the bean stew, and when Esau had finished eating and drinking, he just got up and left, showing how little he thought of his rights as the first-born. Genesis 25:29-34 (CEV)

“how little he thought.” As I look back on what these devotions and all the other personal time that God and I spend together have been saying to me – the thread that I see is “priorities.” It isn’t any surprise actually. Every day of my life, I make decisions based on priorities. How will I spend my time. To whom and what will I give the finite amount of time I have. What is important to me?

No matter how much a parent may tell a child, “I love you,” if the parent does not give of their time and attention, the child knows that the parent’s love is questionable. If the parent doesn’t put the needs of the child before their own, the child receives that message of what is really important to the parent.

Esau chose to meet his immediate needs. He wasn’t going to literally “starve.” He was hungry so he decided food was more important than his birthright. Oh, how often I have made that same decision. Chose food instead of _____. Yes, Jacob was a manipulative little twirp but if Esau had sought wisdom before making a choice, Jacob could not have tempted him with a bowl of bean soup.

God promises me wisdom. As much as I need. His wisdom will not run out. Jesus promised that the Spirit would remind me of Jesus’ words (John 14:25-26). No matter what the circumstance, I have a Helper. I have whatever I need to make good choices, to set good priorities.

Then he taught them many things by using stories. He said: A farmer went out to scatter seed in a field. While the farmer was scattering the seed, some of it fell… Matthew 13:3-4 (CEV)

Jesus taught using stories that the people of the time could relate to. Maybe it’s because I’m a farm girl at heart but I get these stories, too. I see “priorities” in this passage also.

Jesus said that my “job” as His disciple is to go and make disciples, teaching them all that He has taught me (Matthew 28). God sows the seeds into lives. People aren’t all sitting around in a church, ready and willing to hear God and obey Him. They are out in their world with terrible events happening, seductive distractions, and their own willful, rebellious spirits keeping them from hearing and accepting God’s words. As a disciple-maker, it is my job to break up the hard ground, chop down the weeds, and cut out the thorns. With the guidance of God’s Spirit, I am given opportunities to share and teach others about who and what has changed my life.

When the LORD calls me home, what will be my legacy? What footprints will I leave behind? Will it be about the “stuff” I have? Will it be how many books that I was a part of publishing that made money? Or will it about about how many disciples love Jesus just because I was willing to be used by Him?

Priorities.

History Maker written by Martin Smith &sung by Lindell Cooley

Posted in Genesis, Matthew | Comments Off

Freedom From Sin

Posted on February 24, 2014 by Jody Neufeld

So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. 2 And because you belong to -him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death. Romans 8:1-2 (NLT)

Am I free from sin? I have been meditating on this passage since I listened to a sermon online yesterday. It’s been some time since I’ve been able to attend worship services and I have appreciated the opportunities to worship through the music and sermons I can access throughout the country. This week I was listening to an Anglican bishop in Gainesville, The Rt. Rev’d Ronald Dent Kuykendall, who began his sermon with this passage. He brought up some points that I had not thought about.

If I look at this passage in context, Romans 7 has a rather “infamous” passage that never fails to make me smile as Paul is lamenting that the very things he does not want to do are the things he does. I can so identify with what Paul is saying. When I come to Jesus and confess my sins, it is the same sins over and over that I am confessing! I cannot seem to break the habits. And there is the problem.

I have read this passage frequently and rejoiced with the words “there is no condemnation for those who belong to Jesus.” I weep when I take my sins to Jesus and ask His forgiveness. There is no condemnation from my Savior who died for me. It is because of Him I can ask for forgiveness when I surely do not deserve it. It is because of Him that forgiveness is given and I am restored to walk into the presence of God again. But now there is more!

I cannot break my sinful habits. I can’t. I am not strong enough. And here is Paul telling me he cannot stop committing the same sin over and over. And he shares the revelation – the Spirit is there to make it possible to truly repent, change directions.

God made me. God knows my strengths and weaknesses. God knew I would need help after I accepted my need for a savior. He knew the importance of what I would need the day after I accepted and received the life-saving, eternal gift of Jesus in my life. He rejoiced with me as I came up out of that water baptism feeling so clean and new. And within 24 hours I was in this struggle like Paul, trying not to do the things I was doing – sin. Jesus brought the message that when He left to return to the Father, the Spirit would come and remind us, His disciples, of all He has taught us (John 14:15-25). And the Spirit of God is faithful to do that. When I call out to Him in the morning, “This is the day You made, LORD. Help me to walk in Your footsteps. Keep me from temptation. Remind me of Your promises today. Remind me of Your great love and mercy. Keep me close to You today, LORD.”

No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you:
to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God. Micah 6:8 (NLT)

And so I walk today with my LORD because He is here to show me how. Father God provided the Way to Him through Jesus Christ and also gave me His Spirit to continue to lead and teach me until I join Him forever in heaven. Freedom – another priceless gift from my Father.

Holy Spirit Rain Down written by Russell Fragar and sung by Hillsong

Posted in Micah, Romans | Comments Off

Marriage Gift

Posted on February 21, 2014 by Jody Neufeld

[reprinted from May 8, 2012]

Some Pharisees came to Jesus and tried to trick him. They asked, “Is it right for a man to divorce his wife for any reason he chooses?” Jesus answered,”Surely you have read in the Scriptures: When God made the world, ‘he made them male and female.’ [Genesis 1:27] And God said, ‘So a man will leave his father and mother and be united with his wife, and the two will become one body.’ [Genesis 2:24] So there are not two, but one. God has joined the two together, so no one should separate them.” Matthew 19:3-6 (CEV)

I am no expert on marriage, whether from a theological or sociological viewpoint. I have had some experience from a life-lived view. And I have spent a fair amount of time praying and studying about what God has and has not said about marriage. I have learned to keep going back to Jesus’ classroom to listen more about subjects that trouble me and areas that I need more from Him. Marriage is one of those. Marriage is not easy. I need all of Jesus’ help I can get!

Out of the 57 years of my life, I have been married 31 years. I was divorced after 19 years of marriage. I am now remarried and have been so for over 12 years. I have learned from my mistakes. I do not want to make those again. And while I have no doubt that I will, at best, make plenty of “new” mistakes, I pray daily and humbly for God’s Presence in our marriage to guide us in His wisdom and with His extravagant love and forgiveness.

A “Covenant marriage” is an essential. To me this means, that God and Henry and I entered into an agreement together. God will be the head of our house. It is God that we both seek first in prayer. No item is too “small”. It can be the “little things” like making time to talk to each other or pray together that can grow into a huge wall that separates and destroys. It is this covenant that also takes the pressure off that we in our frail humaness have to make this work. Henry and I have had times in our marriage when I thought “Uh-oh, what can I say to fix this? I don’t understand him!” and God has intervened and we have had an extra-ordinary conversation when suddenly our words become clear.

God can bring you through days of great trial. I’m not going to go into details because I believe many who are reading this have their own stories of great trials and discussing which trial is greater is not only silly but irrelevant. It is a personal experience and can only be quantified personally. I will say that there were days of grief and many days of putting one foot in front of the other with no end to the difficult path that we were walking when Henry and I were so depleted individually that we had nothing left to offer each other. It was God who had the strength to reach out and draw both of us in and kept us going.

There are no shortcuts and marriage must be in your Top 3 Priorities. Here are the Top 3 Priorities in my life. They have been the Top 3 for the last 13 years and they will not change.

My personal relationship with God
My mission that I have been called to do by God for His Kingdom
My relationship with my husband, Henry

You can ask Henry, but he will tell you that he is OK to play #3 behind God. The reality is that when I am where God wants me to be in the first two, my marriage is also where it needs to be because Jesus has been teaching me about things in my life that will make my relationship with Henry – better than “good”. And where are my children and grandchildren? Right after Henry. Whether my children are grown or infants, if I do not put time and effort into my relationship with God and my relationship with my spouse, then I will not be successful with my children. I speak from personal experience. Children need to learn at an early age that their mother and father spend time with God and it is important. They need to see their parents pray and study with Jesus. They need to know where their parents turn for answers and what it means to make a commitment. Children need to see their mother hold their father as a priority in her life. And that their father holds their mother in high esteem and respect.

Jesus goes on to say in Matthew 19 that divorce came about in the days of Moses because our “hearts were hard”. That is still true today. Divorce is a part of our fallen world. A marriage succeeds because all three parties in the covenant commit to keep their promises. God is faithful and will always keep His part and is willing to help us keep ours. It’s the other two parties who decide their “way” or their “pride” is more important. In my life and in the lives of those whom I know who have gone through divorce, one or both parties fall away from their commitment to each other and their commitment to God and decide not to put in the hard work it would take to reconstruct the covenant. There are no shortcuts and we can’t be lazy in our intentions.

As I read back over this devotion, I can read phrases that may seem harsh. I don’t mean to be judgmental and I certainly do not have all the answers or even now have a perfect marriage. I have a covenant marriage and I would pray that for everyone who is or wants to be married. It is a glorious gift to know that God, all-powerful, all-loving is a party in our marriage. It’s the best wedding gift I have every received.

The Wedding Song Written and Sung by Paul Stookey (1969)

Posted in Matthew | Comments Off

Is My Neighbor Calling?

Posted on February 20, 2014 by Jody Neufeld

One day an expert in religious law stood up to test Jesus by asking him this question: “Teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?”
26 Jesus replied,“What does the law of Moses say? How do you read it?”
27 The man answered, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.’ And, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”
28 “Right!” Jesus told him. “Do this and you will live!”
29 The man wanted to justify his actions, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” Luke 10:25-29 (NLT)

Oh, how I look for some wiggle room just like this “expert.” And what does Jesus answer regarding the identity of my neighbor?

Jesus tells the story of a man (Phil) who is mugged and left for dead on the side of the road. A pastor and a deacon are also out walking during their lunch hour and both ignored Phil because they could tell he was – gay? A drug addict? A Democratic president? A Republican senator? A young praise and worship leader, Alex, in jeans with a scruffy beard who belongs to that new non-denominational group who meets on the beach, rode his bike down the same lane and he stops. He rips his clean extra t-shirt he has in his guitar case and makes a bandage and then flags down a cab. Alex takes Phil to the local Emergi-center for care and even pays the $100 deductible. Other members, Sal and Virginia, a sweet elderly couple, comes in answer to Alex’s call and take Phil to their home to rest and recover for a few days before he returns to Washington. Phil won’t be joining their church and he won’t be paying any tithes. But he will remember how Jesus took care of him when he needed Him.

Who is my neighbor? Who do I see begging on the side of the road and make the call not to help? How many teenagers want to hang out together, eat pizza and ask questions about the Bible and Jesus but aren’t welcomed and nurtured because they do not have parents who are members of my church? Who is my neighbor?

Who did Jesus minister to? Were they all Jews, members of His faith? No. Were they all well-behaved men? No. Did other people approve of who Jesus fraternized with? No. Jesus fed the bodies and souls of people who were hungry. He did not drag people in to listen and He did not throw people out because they were sinners. Jesus said He came to heal the sick and the sinners (Matthew 9:13, Mark 2:17), not the righteous.

I am a disciple of Jesus Christ. I am His follower. I am His ambassador. What will I do? If I say I am willing, are there any conditions to my answer to His call on my life?

Not everyone reading this has been gifted to physically care for someone who is ill. But all have been called to do something. It may be writing a card of encouragement. We may join a fellowship group and invite someone who is lonely or provide a dish for someone who has no money to bring a dish themselves.

May we feel the conviction of the LORD to stop our excuses and step closer in our relationship with Jesus. We complain about what everyone else isn’t doing to please God but Jesus wasn’t about correcting the government or the atheists. Jesus wants me to get my spiritual life in order so I can testify to what He has done in my life.

They Will Know We Are Christians By Our Love written by Father Peter Scholtes & sung by Jars of Clay

Posted in Luke | Comments Off

Do You REALLY Believe?

Posted on February 19, 2014 by Jody Neufeld

[reprinted from April 28, 2011]

In the crowd was a woman who had been bleeding for twelve years. She had gone to many doctors, and they had not done anything except cause her a lot of pain. She had paid them all the money she had. But instead of getting better, she only got worse.

The woman had heard about Jesus, so she came up behind him in the crowd and barely touched his clothes. She had said to herself, “If I can just touch his clothes, I will get well.” As soon as she touched them, her bleeding stopped, and she knew she was well. Mark 5:25-29 (CEV)

I love this story. It is one that no matter how many times I read it, I get tears in my eyes and, unconsciously, bow my head.

Here is a woman, that alone in her society makes her ‘less than’, who has been ill, very ill, for 12 years. She has been ill in such a way that has isolated her from her family, friends, and neighbors. She is like a leper but she doesn’t even have a ‘colony’ of like-people with whom she can associate. No one can be around her because she is unclean. If that wasn’t bad enough, she has spent all her money on every powder, incantation, prayer, and quack that might help her. She is destitute, maybe even suicidal at this point.

In those days, the homes did not have windows. Maybe she heard people outside her home talking about this Jesus who had “healed many” (Mark 3:10), set a demon-possessed man free(and killed some pigs!), and calmed storms on the Sea of Galilee. And she is desperate. She has no other options. Going out into a crowd like she did was inciting the crowd to stone her for contaminating them. But she takes the chance.

I believe it is desperation that is the perfect catalyst for faith that Jesus will respond. Do I really believe? Am I desperate? It is not the beauty of my prayer that brings a response from Jesus. It is not the perfection of my life that makes me worthy of His response. It is the cry of my heart. It is my weakness; my inability to do anything that brings Jesus’ response of compassion and extravagant love.

Not all of us who have cried out to God received the answer that we desperately wanted. Only God can answer my “Why” questions. Only God can judge my heart; my prayers.

God’s answers are in His plan and in His timing. As I spend time with Him, our lives come closer together and I hear His voice and see His heart. My spirit grows in His Spirit. My spiritual sight begins to become sharper. The ‘dark mirror’ that Paul spoke (1 Corinthians 13:12) becomes lighter as I accept and bring the Light of Jesus closer.

Don’t punish me, LORD,or even correct me when you are angry!
Have pity on me and heal my feeble body.
My bones tremble with fear, and I am in deep distress. How long will it be?
Turn and come to my rescue. Show your wonderful love and save me, LORD.
If I die, I cannot praise you or even remember you.
My groaning has worn me out. At night my bed and pillow are soaked with tears.
Sorrow has made my eyes dim, and my sight has failed because of my enemies. Psalm 6:1-7 (CEV)

Cry out to God today. As Jesus told Thomas, “Stop doubting and believe!” Jesus’ hands will be there waiting for your hand. His ears are already tuned to your voice. His heart already sees and hears your heart. Allow Him to dry your tears and pick you up when you are too tired and weak to do it for yourself. Do not listen to anyone but listen to the One.

From the Inside Out written by Joel Houston & sung by Hillsong

Posted in Mark, Psalms | Comments Off