and it feels like I am getting nothing done. Some days, for me as well as for you, the days seem to blend into each other and there is no time left over to do things you enjoy doing. I guess because I leave the house at 6AM to beat the traffic and then don't leave until around 4:30-ish (give or take 15 minutes), getting home usually an hour later, then having dinner, by the time all that is over with it is usually 6:30 - 7:00 and then what? I'm too tired to do anything!
I've put myself in a challenge this past week to walk 20 miles a week. I'm up to 12 and last night I just couldn't do anything. I was fried. My shins hurt and I was tired. So while hubby was having his meeting, I curled up on the futon and watched Facing the Giants which is one of my favorite movies. Yeah, it's about football, but I enjoy the message of dependence upon God and it was a good reminder that if I do my BEST, God will do His part. The movie finished up about the time the meeting broke up so it was good. Then I remembered I have a huge chapter to read in The Seven Habits of Effective Leaders - Habit 2, I think it is, and got started on that. Our group meets this Friday so want to get it read before then.
And, of course I have my message for Sunday I need to finish up BEFORE Sunday. At least I'm at one location on Sunday - and the following Sunday I'm at another - so I can use the same message with a few tweaks. But, i do need to finish this one and get it together. I'm hoping to find time tonight to work on it. Hubby has church so I should have a little time to myself.
What is my message about? It is about Healing for Hidden Hurts. With my lack of experience in school to learn how to put these messages together, I need to go to other sources to pull messages, and then what I do is I "tweak" them to make them mine. I take out some things, I add some things, and it ends up something that is usable. I'm grateful God takes it and uses it. I certainly couldn't do it on my own. This week the scripture is on Mark 5: 21-34. It's about the woman who had an issue of blood for 12 years.
It's amazing how we let these 'issues' of pain, of hurt, take over our lives. Of course the woman in our story didn't cause the issue, but can you imagine that back in Biblical times anyone with sickness could not go out in the crowd - they must stay away from people, holding up their hands, and yell "Unclean" so that people could get away from them. Yet, when she heard Jesus was near, she snuck into the crowd until she got close enough just to touch the hem of Jesus' robe. And was healed instantly.
That's what Jesus does when we get close to Him. He heals us. It may not be instanteous. It may not be the healing we desire. But He heals us. He restores us. He cleanses us. He loves us. "Who touched me?", He asked. The disciples couldn't believe Jesus asked such a question with all the people around Him, pushing Him, touching Him, bumping into Him. But Jesus knew that someone had touched Him who needed healing.
When the woman came forward and said it was her, and told all that was wrong with her and that she knew she was healed the moment she touched Jesus, He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering."
Does that mean everyone who has faith gets healed? No. Some religions say that if you don't get healed, you don't have enough faith. That isn't always true. You can believe with all your heart that you will be - or are - healed. BUT, I feel that if it is God's will for you to be healed, with your faith, you are healed. However, if God wants to use you for another purpose, He may choose to heal you another way, by even death. Some very solid Christians I have known to have great faith, have suffered with diseases and died. Did they have faith they would be healed? Did they - and others pray for their healing? Absolutely. But we trust in the One who can deliver us - and if He chooses to use us that others will turn to Him, He will.
I often wonder what life would be like after I die. I guess I think of it more since I am older. Would it cause those who have turned from the faith to turn back? Will they become embittered and angry I was taken? Would they turn their life around? Would it make any difference? I don't know. My job is to be sure that I am ready when that time comes. I continue to pray, and will until my dying day, for those who need Him. I can only entrust their lives to Jesus. The rest is up to them.
I have learned over the years that nothing is of any value except serving and loving Jesus. Not just going to church, not just tithing, not just preaching occasionally. It's serving others and loving others unconditionally. It's making amends when I feel defeated, abused, crushed. It's believing that God will take my efforts and hold them to my account. A friend once told me years ago in one of our family disputes that if I have done all I can to make amends with that sibling, and I still get turned aside, that releases me from guilt. It puts everything in their corner. It took me awhile to make sure I had covered all my bases with this person, that I had apologized, that I had repented of any wrong-doings. That I wanted to be friends. It took awhile, but God took that and he turned the relationship around although it did take a few years.
And now my thoughts are rambling and I still need to get working on my binders so .... hope that you have a great day! Enjoy the beauty God has to show you today.
Blessings!
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