Jeff & Angie

Luke 8-40-42a, 49-56

Girls have you had the opportunity to pull something from your memory of some of the material we have studied so far? I did…just this morning. I was overwhelmed with joy at the fact that I REMEMBERED it! I have been praying for the “remembering ability”–to latch on to what we are learning and allow me to use it again in studies, blogging, sharing, or just plain trying to help someone else!

Let’s get on in the study. Desperation is what Beth titled it. Fitting.

As a parent who has been in a “desperate” situation with my own children before…I know the feeling.

Traveling at a high rate of speed in order to get to my youngest daughter who had been in an automobile accident that took the life of the driver at fault—I was desperate for God to enable my truck to sprout wings. My wings didn’t come…but what He did was pave the way. He cleared the highway before me of any oncoming traffic.

As amazing as it was, I look back and see the miracle in that. I was praying and crying out to God and driving about 85+ miles per hour. This mother was distraught. I wasn’t thinking about anything but my baby girl. God was there. April saw the horrified look on my face when I looked at her in the ambulance and she instantly reassured me. “Mom, I’m fine.”—bloody face, cuts, bleeding from her neck…“Mom, I’m fine, stop worrying.” God was faithful. He had her in His hands. No, He didn’t prevent it—but yes He could have. He had a reason. I just don’t know what it was—and may never…that has to be okay with me….I must live my life with my COMPLETE TRUST in HIM! God heard the desperation in my voice. He knew my heart. He answered.

Fast forward a few years and again—with extreme desperation in my voice—I called on God. Our oldest daughter is about to either give birth 2 1/2 months too early or die. And possibly both. As she lay in the hospital bed, her husband was a basket case—she looked at me with swollen eyes from crying and said–“call Grandleria”. That is our name for Mother. “Tell her to pray”. I did and she did. God heard the desperate plea in our hearts and voices. Yes, He could have prevented all of the trauma of this child birth. But He didn’t. Reason? I may never know this side of heaven. Maybe we needed some sifting in our lives. Maybe our attention was not fully focused on what it should have been. Maybe someone else needed to see Christ at work IN US. Maybe my child needed to KNOW in Whom we all believe. Maybe it was time that she got an up close and personal visit from the heavenlies. Whatever the reason—He alone knows.

Girlfriends, I don’t know what you may be facing. I know that our family has endured many hardships–from financial collapse to major sicknesses and death, to the loss of a home and even runaway teenager….but through every single hardship or trial, we have turned to our Source of strength. He has never failed. Although the trials may have lasted far longer than we thought necessary, it is sometimes very necessary to complete whatever process He may be working in our lives. And, in the scheme of things, we don’t know the “whole” of what is actually going on anyway. We only see a small portion of the picture.

Tomorrow, when Aimee talks about the “in-between” miracle—she will shed more light on this story. The fact was that while Jesus was on His way to Jairus’ house, a miracle takes place—all because of the faith of one woman….in desperation. He could have healed Jairus’ daughter without ever being present…but the happenings were all for a reason. There are times in our lives when we call on Him in desperation for a need in our lives…and there are times when we are literally crawling before Him and reaching with desperate hands for a touch of His garment.

I love Psalm 121:1, 2 “I raise my eyes toward the mountains. Where will my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.”

Thank you Father, for being here….and there. Wherever we are is where You are. You wrap us in the arms of Your strength and hold us with the everlasting peace. I ask today that You will wrap up each life that is reaching out to You. All the girls that have joined with us in the study to know You more. As we learn more of You, help us to learn more about what You have for us. We live such lives that rarely do we reach out until we are in desperate need. When every single day You long for conversation and time alone with each of us. Help me Lord to take that time more. Use my time wisely. For You. So that I can KNOW YOU MORE. Help me retain what I learn. Hold it in my heart—and give it away at the same time. In Jesus precious name I pray~Amen.

Keeping the Faith,

Angie

A great web tool can be found here: God’s Yellow Pages. You may have seen it. I sometimes use it at work for a quick and handy reference for certain passages. When you click on any verse, it will take you directly to BibleGateway.

I’m going to tell you something about me that is quirky. I really, really like the number 3. I have a friend who buys 2 of everything…because she loves 2. Well, I don’t go that far…but I I really like the number 3. Weird huh?…Oh well. You learned something. I’m not sure why. Maybe I associate the number 3 with God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost. For whatever reason…I love three. And look here—today is Day THIRTY-THREE!

Okay. Now to the lesson. Today’s Scripture reference is found in Luke 7:49-50. When I first saw that it only encompassed two verses I thought—-wow. Must be a power packed two verses! And I was not wrong. Beth highlights the end of verse 50. “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.” Hang on…I’m going to type it from the Amplified Bible….you’re really going to enjoy this

“Then those who were at the table with Him began to say among themselves, Who is this Who even forgives sins? But Jesus said to the woman, Your faith has saved you; go (enter) into peace [in freedom from all the distresses that are experienced as the result of sin].”

When I read this study today, the sins of my life flashed before me. As if the enemy was reminding me of what my past entailed. As if I needed reminding. I didn’t. I know full well what my past days consist of. But the Lord doesn’t. He has cast it far from Him. Never to be remembered again. Once you confess your sin to Christ, He forgives you of that sin, and expects you to not return to that sin. His blood that He freely gave, was the payment—the price of the freedom from sin— that we are so blessed to have today! I am one thankful girl.

Let me show you a picture of what happens in my house on Saturdays—most of them anyway. We entertain at least one little boy. A grandson. And they LOVE to play outside. In playing outside they get mighty dirty. When they come in for a meal, they know they must be washed. Cleaned. Hands, face and arms. So we trek to the bathroom. I run water in the sink and get a fresh bath cloth. (Yes, Aimee corrected me once, in these parts—it is referred to as a “wash rag”.) Anyway, I add baby soap and squeeze the cloth to release excess water. I start with the face and move on from there. The bubbles are soft and the soap makes quick work of cleaning a cute, albeit dirty face. After his hands and arms are clean —he is free to go to the table and enjoy what I’ve prepared. And it feels good to be clean.

Can you relate? I can both spiritually and physically. When I’ve worked outside and gotten hot and sweaty—and the dirt from being on my knees in the flowerbed clings to me—really telling what I’ve been doing—when I go inside, I take a long shower. Removing all the grime of the day. And when I come out and put of fresh clean smelling, comfy clothes (my favorite is loosie-goosie p.j.’s), my whole being is relaxed. No matter how tired I am. Spiritually the same is true.

When I came to my senses and realized where my life was headed all those years ago, I prayed that prayer, I had that faith that Jesus spoke of to the sinful woman. The woman who was so brave, but knew that Jesus had the answer to her life’s issues. He had the soap that was needed to clean her completely. When He looked into her face, He saw repentance there. He saw faith there. Possibly faith that He’d not seen in days. And her act of faith, became her covering of peace.

Let me share a favorite passage as I close and this will be our prayer, from the Amplified Bible found in Ephesians 3:14-21

14) For this reason [seeing the greatness of this plan by which you are built together in Christ], I bow my knees before the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
15) For Whom every family in heaven and on earth is named [that Father from Whom all fatherhood takes its title and derives its name].
16) May He grant you out of the rich treasury of His glory to be strengthened and reinforced with mighty power in the inner man by the [Holy] Spirit [Himself indwelling your innermost being and personality].
17) May Christ through your faith [actually] dwell (settle down, abide, make His permanent home) in your hearts! May you be rooted deep in love and founded securely on love,
18) That you may have the power and be strong to apprehend and grasp with all the saints [God’s devoted people, the experience of that love] what is the breadth and length and height and depth [of it];
19) [That you may really come] to know [practically, through experience for yourselves] the love of Christ, which far surpasses mere knowledge [without experience]; that you may be filled [through all your being] unto all the fullness of God [may have the richest measure of the divine Presence, and become a body wholly filled and flooded with God Himself]!
20) Now to Him Who, by (in consequence of) the [action of His] power that is at work within us, is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams]–
21) To Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations forever and ever. Amen (so be it). (emphasis mine)

Keeping the faith,

Angie

Ya’ll have a blessed weekend! Be sure and pray for one another! And remember Denise’s (Samaritan Women) niece, Sandy and her family, Denise (Shorty Bears Place) for continued improvement in her health, and a special need of Judy, a friend from Ohio who was just diagnosed this week with ovarian cancer. They started aggressively treating her with chemo today. After 3 rounds of chemo, she will undergo surgery after Christmas. I am believing God for a miracle!