Luke 18:35 ~ They are on their way to Jerusalem. It's a throng surrounding Jesus passing between villages where blind men can make the most money in more traffic. Almost to Jericho, not quite. The blind man inquires about the unfamiliar noise, the commotion. What is it? Jesus of Nazareth is passing by. Oh for a heart like this to cry out with the four words that can change our life. The blind man yells it: "Have Mercy on Me!" God, you know where we sit this day in our own blindness. Would you please have mercy on me and my friends?
Those in the front rebuked him---do you suppose it was the Pharisees? But, the blind man just cried out ALL THE MORE. "Son of David---Messiah---Have Mercy on Me." What raised the ire was that a blind man identified Jesus as The Messiah! A blind man who couldn't see. But those pharisees who could see were the ones who were so blind.
Jesus replied to the blind man that day, and it's for this day: "What do you want Me to do for you?"
And immediately he recovered his sight and followed Him. And all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God for they recognized this was no ordinary man. He was their Messiah.
What do you want God to do for you? Have Mercy on me, a sinner.
Well, it's Monday, the day after Easter and after going to a live "Stations of the Cross" presentation, the most touching Good Friday Service I've ever seen, an Easter Service at a "seeker" church where many testimonies were shared, sharing a wonderful meal with my husband's family (where I really was more like Mary than Martha for what seemed like the first time--didn't freak out as much), I still don't feel like I grasp what Jesus did for me. I still had a hard time loving my husband. We have been struggling with power struggles so much lately and I missed my kids or any of my side of the family being here so there was something missing. What is up with that? Long story short, if I saw with my own eyes Jesus heal the blind beggar I have a feeling I would still have doubts. I want to be a changed person more than anything. I want a softer heart. As I took my bath last night (like every night) I had a little cry by myself. I am "supposed" to be the Christian one? Life is hard. This is not Heaven, so I better start my day right here looking for Jesus with you Godly women!
ReplyDeletep.s. Jesus, Have Mercy on Me! :)
ReplyDeleteAng, what a precious heart you have! We all struggle and that is what brings us closer to Him and to each other. Can you imagine a "perfect life"? We would all be like robots who never changed. Just the fact that you have doubts means that God is doing powerful works in you heart, your life and in your family dynamics. I will keep you in my prayers today. I am also praying for my friend, Cheryl who is having hip-replacement surgery. I planned on being with her at the hopsital, but came down with a cold on Thursday, so I am praying for her at home.
ReplyDeleteWe had a very unsual Easter dinner yesterday, since I didn't feel like cooking, we had pizza and salad. We enjoyed it, and God was still there. It's funny, how traditions seem important, but really, if you eat with ones you love, that's all you need.
Lord, Have Mercy on Me!
ReplyDeleteThis has been an unusaly difficult day. Situations happen and at the moment there is really nothing I can do or so it appears. What I wanted to do was not received well, so I found another way to express and continue.
It helps me to remember I am an alien on this planet. That is so hard to remember. Recognizing the control freak I learned to be growing up and now being in a situation that I have no other choice but to just Trust Jesus for how ever the current situation is today and eventually will play out is not easy.
The one thing I know is true Jesus is always faithful no matter what. Therefore I choose to trust Him to provide the whatever, He is my Jehovah Jireh. I must live in the presnt today is all I am guarentee is the current moment.
Ang, I so appreciate your open heart and spirit. I will also say my scripture memory verses along with my listing of 1000 Gifts (now up to over 300) is a great encouragement for me.
Bev, Deborah, Jan, Mary Lou, Michelle, Annette just knowing you and all the issues we individually have and are going through gives me great courage and hope. We each are one day at a time getting through the issue(s). Thanks for sharing with me. You are all such wonderful Pearls of Wisdom for me.
Eventually I will work on Sylvia's Song Blog and maybe I can get it working again. Right now God is telling me to Wait for Him and just Trust Him. Only God can make my experiences beneficial for me as I give Him more control of my life.
Grace and Peace to you all.
This is a Song I must Sing. HE IS RISEN!
Sylvia
I felt it too--Sunday evening and the letdown. One daughter told me she stopped having expectations of holidays when she was about 10. This hurt my heart for her so much. We try so hard to make days special and maybe we try too hard. Is it too much to ask everyone to enjoy each other? Yes. Yes, it is.
ReplyDeleteGoodness, how can I not be changed? Yesterday was the pinnacle of our story where our Savior changes everything--nothing will ever be the same again, and I make it about everyone getting along around the dinner table.
Forgive me, Lord. Have mercy on my blindness and give me Your heart to see and love better.
And this is why I should write my comment first thing in the morning. Sorry I whined.
ReplyDeleteJesus! Son of David!
ReplyDeleteHave mercy on me!
What in the world would we do without his mercy?
That man may have been blind, but He was perceptive. Wonder what gave it away to him that Jesus was the Son of David?
Just that revealed the blind man's faith.
Jesus, Son of David.
Not Jesus, son of Mary...
And Jesus knew the blind man's faith and healed him.
Easter brings so many feelings to me. As much as I want to feel the joy of it, I can't quite get past the horror of what Christ went through. Especially when I make it personal and see Him suffering in my place.
We are human. I'm so glad He still loves us in all our real needs and failures. Makes us need His grace all the more.
Have Mercy on Me!
ReplyDeleteI know Angie read my other blog, but you can read my blog to see that Easter didn't go down like I wanted & I had to deal with disappointment of being home alone for 3 days. When older siblings' jobs cut into our plans, even younger ones decided not to come home---and Britt lives 2 miles away. I picked him up @ the dorm on Sunday for church cause i had a responsibility a this other church---we couldn't even go to same church where Bob was preaching. But our car broke down (4th time this week---I'm w/o wheels) and so Britt & I ate Easter lunch at his dorm---at Jester! At Wendy's!!! And we made a hysterically funny conference call to the siblings from Wendy's. I was way-too-sad but laughed through it. I was either crying or laughing through Easter. I wrote on my blog from my heart about trying to encourage yourself in the LORD when there is literally no one around and you eat Easter lunch at the dorm. We did go to another dinner after Bob rescued us which I really enjoyed. Still, I so missed my children! This emptynest thing is so hard for me. I titled my blog post "10,800 Days of Being a Mom" and that threw me---why am I not a better wife and mom after living with these people for more than 10,000 days???? I'm a mess. Oh, wait, I am a glorious mess! I'm laughing at myself over here. And if you made it this far, thank you!
Lord, Have Mercy on Me!
PS And I really enjoyed reading your comments today---as always---cause you make me smile and laugh and want to love my God and family and world all the more!
ReplyDelete