healing

The Language of our Hearts

/ pastorpete51 / 3 Comments

Taking her by the hand he said to her, “Talitha cumi,” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.”. Mark 5:41 ESV

One of the first things I noticed when we visited friends in Switzerland, was how many languages everyone there could speak. In the years since our Swiss vacation, I myself have learned Portuguese and on occasion have acted as a translator. That experience has taught me that even for fully bi-lingual people, it makes a difference which language is best to use depending on the situation. For those used to speaking a single language the idea of effortlessly switching from one to another seems strange, but there is a simple reason behind the practice. We all have a native tongue and that one is the language of our heart.

In the story from which today’s scripture comes, a family had just lost a young child. The father had personally gone and begged for Jesus to come and heal her. But even though Jesus came almost immediately, by the time they arrived at the home it was too late. The man’s daughter lay cold and dead in her bedroom. The house was already filled with weeping neighbors, but Jesus had good news for that family as well as for us. It is that it is never too late for Him. There is no situation beyond His control. If we only will still our fears and quiet our hearts, we will hear Jesus calling for us to rise and He is speaking in the language that our heart understands.  “Don’t worry about who you are, what you face, or what others are saying. I have come just for you!”

When God Seems Silent

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 And behold, a woman of Canaan came from that region and cried out to Him, saying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely demon-possessed.”  But He answered her not a word …    Matthew 15:22-23a ESV

Did it ever feel as if God wasn’t paying any attention to you? That is undoubtedly exactly the feeling that the woman in today’s verse experienced. She cried. She begged. She fell to Jesus’ feet. But nothing she could do or say seemed to touch the Lord. Her story reminded me of the Bangladeshi people who come to work the gravel of the dry river banks in North India. They are rejected by most of the local people and forced to take the lowest and most menial jobs. Yet at the end of the story we find that not only did Jesus care but that He did answer her cry and in fact He had made this – His longest trip of His lifetime just for her . 

But when it feels like Jesus is not listening and other believers tell us that it is no use, we have a decision to make. Will we continue to pray or will we give up? For all of us there comes that single moment when we have to decide what to do God’s silence. This woman who appeared to have no background, no friends and no hope leaves us with a testimony of hope, not only that God is listening but that He cares enough to hear and answer prayer! Think of it as if Jesus made His trip to earth, just for you, and keep on trusting till an answer comes!

Then Jesus answered her, “O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed instantly. Matthew 15:28

How God Heals Broken Nations

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But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble. James 4:6

I have rarely posted a message from any pastor on my blog, not because I think there is anything wrong with it but because I do not consider this venue a productive place to do so. We all have our own churches with varying callings and visions for service in our local communities. However due to the urgency and depth of our nation’s crisis and because I personally was so challenged by Pastor Rick Warren’s message, I have posted it for you today. May God grant each of us mercy and may we with humble sincere hearts call out for God’s forgiveness, healing and restoration of our hearts, our families, our churches and our nation. May God bless you and I as we join together in humbly asking His help, His grace and His healing and direction for our future.