healing

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.

The Hem of His Garment

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And suddenly, a woman who had a flow of blood for twelve years came from behind and touched the hem of His garment. Matthew 9:20 ESV

My wife has completed many a long sewing project by placing a hem on the material she is working on. In a traditional men’s shirt there are a least a dozen hems, but on the garment of Christ there was only one. We know this because the soldiers gambled to see who would get his robe because it was all one piece. The only hem available for this woman to touch was the very lowest point of the robe of Jesus Christ.

Like this woman in the crowd, our own needs may have dominated our focus for years. Friends, family, and even her ability to enter a place or worship all were affected by that need, until the day Jesus passed by in the crowd. We are not told if she had listened to Jesus’ words herself or if she had simply believed what others had told her about him. What we do know is that the message she had heard about Jesus Christ was enough for her to determine that she would do anything to get to Him. For that one single moment, the power of her need had no ability to prevent her from pressing through the crowd and falling to her knees to reach up and touch the hem of His robe. The miraculous healing and acceptance of Christ was the good news for her that day. The good news for us, is that our invisible God gives us a visible point of contact but it is often only found in the lowest of places. When we are ready and willing to kneel down to touch the hem of His garment He will pass by and give us a visible point of contact to His invisible power and grace!

Therefore He says: “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble James 4:6