Jehovah Rapha Will Heal Your Broken Scarred Heart:

Ok, so I was reading out of the book of Deuteronomy today for my quiet time.  In chapter 29 I was reminded of a scar I have.  When I was little I had kidney surgery that left a rather large scar on my abdomen.  Odd place because most scars for kidney surgery are on your side.  Mine however is across my abdomen.   That scar reminds me of the problems I had as a kid, and all that was associated with the kidney problems I had.  I wet my pants day and night, I had surgery, I was bullied because I pee’ed my pants often, and on and on.  I won’t go into details because I have shared all of this in my testimony through status on my blog, Google+, and HOPE for the Hopeless Facebook page.  I will say this, that scar reminds me of a lot of other scars in my life.

Have you ever stopped to think about the scars in your life?  I am not just talking about physical scars.  I am talking about emotional and psychological scars as well.  Scars that maybe you had no control over and maybe scars you brought upon yourself.  Maybe your scars have to do with abuse, mistakes you made, accidents you had, regrets, anger, lies, bitterness, strife, addictions, failures, disasters you may have faced, and the list can go on and on.  Maybe these scars have kept you from trusting God, maybe they have prevented you from experiencing the LORD’s presence, and maybe they have kept you from trusting Jesus Christ.

 I don’t know what your scars have done to you, but I do know some of my scars became calloused and hard.  Many of my scars kept me from trusting the LORD Jesus Christ.  There are scars in my life that left me with pain on a daily basis.  I have physical scars, emotional scars and even psychological scars.  These scars affect my appearance, my mind and my emotional well-being.  Many of them have one thing in common, they hardened my heart.  With a hardened heart, I am kept from experiencing the healing power that the living God the LORD Jehovah Rapha (The Lord is my healer) can offer me.  Through His healing, He has brought me life and set me free from the scars of my heart.

The picture is our DRAMA QUEEN puppy Maddie, she was sick last winter from too much snow exposure. 

 

Deuteronomy 30:6 The LORD your God will circumcise your hearts and the hearts of your descendants, so that you may love him with all your heart and with all your soul, and live.

May my life be the proof and evidence of Christ’s Love!

Fasting From Fleshly Desires

Recently I have been going through the Beatitudes in the book of Matthew and preaching on them in our Youth group.  This past Wednesday I preached on Mathew 6:16-18 where Jesus preached about fasting.  Theologically I know there is a lot of depth and breadth to fasting that can be discussed.  However, one thought that came to me as I was studying that I would like to share; fasting from fleshly desire. 

As I was reading through Isaiah 58, fasting from fleshly desires caught my attention.  For one I understand that fasting should not only be for our benefit spiritually, but also for the benefit of those in need.  Our doing without should benefit those in need.  Isaiah 58:6 reveals this truth; however I see another purpose in this verse.  Fasting from fleshly desires.

Isaiah 58:6 "Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?

There is no doubt that fasting is commonly associated with food, but not limited to nutritional intake.  Jesus came into this world to set us free from the bondage of sin.  He offers us another option to sinful fleshly desires.  He offers us His way, truth and life.  Jesus spoke this as it relates to salvation; “Unless you repent, you too will perish.” (Luke 13:3,5). 

Repent is to turn from sin.  In other words it is to eliminate and even deny yourself sinful behaviors and practices.  Fasting is to deny yourself food or other physical needs.  Both are practiced for the purpose of drawing nearer to God.  They are practiced so that your spiritual life can be renewed and transformed.

Romans 12:2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Let me share this thought with you; fasting from fleshly desires.  When you fast, eliminate, and deny yourself sinful and fleshly desires, then are you not set free from the yoke of oppression?  Think about it, sin is a yoke that keeps us in bondage to the flesh and ways of this world.  Sin is the yoke that oppresses you spiritually.  Sin is an addiction and addiction just as damaging as drugs, alcohol and sex. The only cure for any addiction is to eliminate and deny yourself whatever it is you are addicted to.

May I encourage you to fast from your fleshly desires so that you may be set free from the oppression of sin?  In doing so my prayer is that your life will be renewed and transformed in the likeness of Christ.

The picture is me and Laura.  Laura was once oppressed by abandonment and abuse in another country.  She was adopted by and American family. I was blessed with the opportunity to share Jesus with her during a youth mission trip.  Laura has been set free!

 

Romans 13:14   Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.

May my life be the proof and evidence of Christ’s love!

Memorial Day 2013

Recently I was blessed to visit the war memorials in Washington DC and Arlington Cemetery.  I never imagined what would come over me as I approached each of the memorials and entered through the gates of Arlington.  There was this sense of awe and raw emotion.  It was so surreal as images went through my mind of men and women in the military were dying for me.  Each of the thousands of lives was willingly given to protect the freedom of a fellow country man they did not even know.  Many gave their lives before I ever existed.  Every one of them willingly paid the ultimate price to protect the country they loved.  A country founded on Godly principle and religious freedom. I love what Abraham Lincoln said during the Gettysburg Address “this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.   I am not writing this to debate any religion, I am writing this to honor those who died for you and for me. 

To all those who have gone before me into the eternal, I say thank you.  My words will never be enough. My hope and prayer is that my life will honor those who have died for me.  Thousands gave their lives for those they didn’t even know; past, present and future.  They all died for friends, family and fellow countrymen.  May my life be worthy in honoring your ultimate sacrifice.

I writing this, I would not be justified if I also did not honor the one who not only died for His friends, but His enemies as well.  Over two thousand years ago Jesus Christ, God’s one true son willingly gave up His life to save those from not a temporary but an eternal war.  A war between sin and salvation.  He died to bring us freedom from the penalty of our sin.  He died to set you free.  Free from the bondage of sin and the gates of Hell.  Will you honor Christ as well? Not just with words, but with a life worthy of His ultimate sacrifice to set you free.

I took both pictures at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery.

 

 

John 15:13 Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.

Romans 5:10 For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! 

May my life be the proof and evidence of Christ’s Love!