About five weeks ago, my big toe which has a pin inserted in it from a surgery many years ago, began to hurt. This pain lasted for a few weeks and it was to the point where I was ready to go to a doctor since it was hurting abnormally too much. Maybe there was internal bleeding? Maybe something had gone wrong? The pin, maybe it had moved?
One day, I went out with a friend and spoke to some college students about God and his Son Jesus. We spoke with several people all to different degrees.
When I went home that night, my toe was causing a great deal a pain. I took off my sock and analyzed it. It loooked a little swollen and purple. I was going to have to see a doctor the next day.
That is when I got down on my knees, I confessed all my sins and the I cried out to God to stop the pain. And guess what? The pain went away. It'sbeen about three weeks and the frustrating pain hasn't came back. I still feel a little discomfort now and then, but nothing like what I was experiencing. Better yet, the discomfort brings my focus back to God.
Once, a man with leprosy came and knelt in front of Jesus and said, "Lord if you are willing, you can make me clean."
Jesus touched the man and said, "I am willing. Be clean." Immediately the man was cured.
Jesus heals many times, and what I learned from these miracles is that:
1. It takes FAITH.
The man with leprosy had faith. Notice what he says. He believes that if Jesus was willing, he could heal him. We must BELIEVE in the power of God.
As Jesus tells a Centurion when he asked for his servant, who was paralyzed, to be healed, "Go! It will be done just as your BELIEVED it would." (Matthew 8)
For myself, I believe it takes FAITH, sometimes humbling myself to crying out on my knees. I also believe it takes LOVE for Jesus. Jesus says to show our love for him, we must obey his commands. When he says go out and spread the good news, I felt that was what was I doing that day, in talking to college students. I was expressing my love for Him.
And these are the reasons for healing.
Lord provide us the grace to strengthened our faith. Let us love you by following your commands. Then let us be witness to your blessings.
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Sunday, August 17, 2008
What seed do we have?
The parable of the sower (Matthew 13):
A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, the seed fell on different places.
Some seed fell on the path. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. Other seed fell among thorns. Still others fell on good soil.
What do you think happened to each seed??? (Gardeners and farmers should know)
The seed on the path- the birds came and ate it up.
The seed on the rocky places- it sprang up quickly in the shallow soil, but then the sun came up and scorched it because it had no root. It withered.
The seed among thorns- the plant grew up, but was choked out.
The seed on the good soil - it produced a crop many times what was sown.
In our life:
When anyone hears of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches what was sown in their heart. Which seed is this?
Some of us hear the word and at once receives it with joy, but since we have no root, when trouble or persecution come because of the word of God, we quickly fall away. Which seed is this?
Some of us hear the word, but the worries of life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful. Which seed is this?
Some of us hear the word and understands it. We produce a crop,yeilding much more than what was sown. Which seed is this?
Where is our seed planted?
Let us pray to communicate with God, let us listen to the word of God, let us produce a crop and spread our faith to others. Let us be the seed sown on good soil.
Father, let us be the seed on the good soil. Through your grace strengthen our faith. Give us our daily spiritual food. Let us be honest with you and repent our faults to you. Grant us salvation and lead to us living faithful lives.
A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, the seed fell on different places.
Some seed fell on the path. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. Other seed fell among thorns. Still others fell on good soil.
What do you think happened to each seed??? (Gardeners and farmers should know)
The seed on the path- the birds came and ate it up.
The seed on the rocky places- it sprang up quickly in the shallow soil, but then the sun came up and scorched it because it had no root. It withered.
The seed among thorns- the plant grew up, but was choked out.
The seed on the good soil - it produced a crop many times what was sown.
In our life:
When anyone hears of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches what was sown in their heart. Which seed is this?
Some of us hear the word and at once receives it with joy, but since we have no root, when trouble or persecution come because of the word of God, we quickly fall away. Which seed is this?
Some of us hear the word, but the worries of life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful. Which seed is this?
Some of us hear the word and understands it. We produce a crop,yeilding much more than what was sown. Which seed is this?
Where is our seed planted?
Let us pray to communicate with God, let us listen to the word of God, let us produce a crop and spread our faith to others. Let us be the seed sown on good soil.
Father, let us be the seed on the good soil. Through your grace strengthen our faith. Give us our daily spiritual food. Let us be honest with you and repent our faults to you. Grant us salvation and lead to us living faithful lives.
Sunday, August 10, 2008
In Secret
Do we do things to be honored by man or by God?
I, myself know I am at fault for doing things to be honored by man. And man's honor leads to my pride which leads to destruction. This is how we do things genuinely for our Father.
Matthew 6
Be careful not to do your 'acts or righteousness' before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.
Give to the needy... in secret
Pray to your Father ... in secret
Fast ... in secret
Do not do these things to be praised and honored by man. Do these things genuinely for your Father, who sees what is done in secret, and the Father will reward you.
Father, let me continue to focus on these words of yours and actually put them into practice. I repent for all the times I have done 'acts of righteousness' to be honored by man. Have mercy on my soul. Thank you.
I, myself know I am at fault for doing things to be honored by man. And man's honor leads to my pride which leads to destruction. This is how we do things genuinely for our Father.
Matthew 6
Be careful not to do your 'acts or righteousness' before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.
Give to the needy... in secret
Pray to your Father ... in secret
Fast ... in secret
Do not do these things to be praised and honored by man. Do these things genuinely for your Father, who sees what is done in secret, and the Father will reward you.
Father, let me continue to focus on these words of yours and actually put them into practice. I repent for all the times I have done 'acts of righteousness' to be honored by man. Have mercy on my soul. Thank you.
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