Luke 8:30 - "What is your name?" No name. Naked. Homeless. Camping in a cemetery. No friends. No present family. The demons inside of this man bowed low before the Son of the Most High God. Even the demons believe...and someone once said that it's strange how men seem to have NO FEAR of the Coming Judgment but the demons tremble about it. Jesus drove all those demons out into a herd of pigs ... and the townspeople threw a fit and asked Him to leave when they saw the demoniac clothed and sitting in his right mind. They were more concerned about destroying their property---2,000 pigs---than they were concerned about the life of this tormented guy. Jesus left their town immediately and he left behind a witness for Him!
Jesus walks into Capernaum and the crowd around Him is so thick that they could hardly get to Him. A welcomed crowd here. And with Infinite Tenderness to an afflicted woman of 12 years, He heals her first then reveals her dreaded disgusting disease. With Infinite Mercy, He walks with a Centurion about 30 miles to awaken his daughter from death.
Real life stories that so grab at us all. In our community tonight, there's a funeral going on tonight. A handsome college student took his own life. Our children's friend. There are demons who drive us beyond the brink like this no-clothes young man with no name. Embrace the One Who keeps us all in our right minds. Things get so distorted, so blown out of proportion. The crowd presses in on us every day. Sometimes there's not even anyone there. People can be so cruel.
May you find Infinite Tenderness, Infinite Mercy this day. Here's a verse that was tucked into my Inbox this morning. It's meant so much to me:
The Spirit Lifted Me Up and Took Me Away
I went in turmoil.
But the LORD's Hold on Me was Strong
Ezek 3:14
Oops-accidentally posted this on yesterday's--
ReplyDelete"Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you."
Up to now, Jesus had asked those He healed not to say anything because His Time had not yet come. Most of the time, they did run and tell even though they were instructed not to. When God touches your life, it seems counter-indicative not to speak out. You can't help but testify. Yet I hear believers every day downplay miracles in their lives. "Well, maybe it was going to happen anyway," or "everything just lined up right." Whatever, they are not giving God the glory He deserves. Even if it is explainable, it's still God.
"Nothing is to be done "without Christ"; without his Spirit, grace, strength, and presence; or as "separate from" him. Were it possible for the branches that are truly in him, to be removed from him, they could bring forth no fruits of good works, any more than a branch separated from the vine can bring forth grapes; so that all the fruitfulness of a believer is to be ascribed to Christ, and his grace, and not to the free will and power of man."--John Gill.
Let's go and tell today--how much God has done for us!
God has done so many miracles in my life and yet until I began my intentional hunt each day looking for God's miracles in the everyday of my mundane life I have missed so many opportunities to just Praise Him.
ReplyDeleteJust a few minutes ago I didn't realize how full I had filled my hot cup of coffee and managed to tip it slightly. In God's grace and mercy I just spotted my lap top and was able to clean it up immediately. No damage to my laptop. PTL!!! That was due to nothing on my part. That is due to friends praying for me. Yesterday I started writing the invocation for a business meeting in San Antonio next weekend. I must have this ready in the next day or asap. I am seeking the LORD and I am slow in hearing him. I just want to declare this day what the LORD has done for me. (like the woman who had been healed from her twelve years of bleeding and realized she was not hidden anymore) I am believing in Faith as He has done in the past for me His words will come right on time.
I stand so in awe of Bev as she writes so beautifully the post each day what a huge gift of God she brings to me and our Family of Pearls.
I am also praying for Bev & Bob's children as they greive the loss of their friend's death. And for Bev and Bob as they love on those around them inspite of their own needs.
Each Pearl Blesses me richly. This is a Song I must Sing, Sylvia
The thought of demons could frighten me and if I witnessed what these folks did, I believe I would be scared too and want to avoid situations like that. I don't know but I relate to the fear they had. The Lord has brought a high school teacher to me. She sought me out for unknown reasons (we have no personal relationship and/or church connectioin) to pray for her and her husband's job loss. So I have been praying for her. In the last 2 weeks she had a student approach her who is actively involved in a satanic church and is "calling" out for help. At first she was afraid and I certainly understand. As I am trying to encourage her from the Word, please pray for wisdom for her and for me. This young man is afflicted, but I know, I know, God is more powerful and something in this young man knows that too. Please pray for Cody and ask the Lord for protection for him and for his teacher, Kay.
ReplyDeleteBev, thanks for sharing your Tweet the other day. We all need to encourage one another in these things! Sylvia, thanks for the notes. The last three days of scripture reading have had something relevant to current situations in which I find myself. Thank you, Lord, for Your Word, that is alive and powerful and useful.
Enjoy the day!
Good day, pearls!
ReplyDeleteSo many rich verses in today's reading! Annette, your thoughts make me ponder the miracles in my life. God thrilled me this morning when I watched two wild turkeys strut through my yard. What a blessing it was to watch them. He knows how excited I get about His creation. So many daily needs of mine are met by God's generous hand. I have a list in my journal of things I need Him to provide for me, and He is faithfully answering each one.
Sylvia, thank you for the note about storms. It was very good (and timely). We had hard winds all night long here in my area...one man lost his life. The local interstate was closed by downed trees. Storms are scary! Your thoughts were a reminder to seek Christ in our storms.
Michele, praying for you. I would highly recommend reading Stormie Omartian's biography. Amazing story of the power of Christ in healing emotional and spiritual control.
One thing I keep thinking about today's reading...the name of the demon. I won't give more attention to the enemy, but I will say that the beautiful Name of God from the Message...God of the Angel Armies...just was so very pressing on my heart as I read about this sad man Jesus heals.
Our God is Mighty. He is Awesome to save! He speaks and the whole earth trembles! One Word from Jesus healed that man who was tortured by the enemy. We will be speechless when we see our God face-to-face.
Bev, I offer my sympathy and prayers at the loss of the friend of your children. Praying that grace will abound.
ReplyDeleteIn our little community here, three young teenagers have taken their lives this week. Unimaginable! They couldn't find hope to live. I am so grieved! Please pray for their families in the wake of the poverty that has washed over their family and friends.
ReplyDelete