Two Questions

Once when Jesus was on his way with Jairus, a synagogue leader to heal his dying daughter, a large crowd followed them. Among the throng was a woman who had been constantly bleeding for twelve years.  

As if that were not enough, she had spent all her money on doctors and had only gotten worse. This anonymous woman was unclean according to Jewish law.  She could not throw herself at the feet of Jesus in public and plead for mercy as Jairus did but her courage and her faith led her to believe if she could touch his robe she would be healed.  

So, she did and she was. Jesus felt the power go out from Him and asked “Who touched me?  

His disciples said how can you ask that for everyone is pressing against you.  

I am intrigued by His question. I believe He knew exactly who touched Him and why.

She told Him everything and He told her to go in peace her suffering was over. (Mark 5:25-29)

But now they are in Jericho in another large crowd. Bartimaeus, a beggar is calling out to Jesus for mercy.  He was told to be quiet but he only shouted louder.  

Our Lord called Bartimaeus to come to Him. Did you catch that?  

Jesus said “come.”  And when Bartimaeus did, Jesus asked, “What do you want me to do for you.”  

I don’t know about you but that question brings me to my knees. What Bartimaeus wanted was obvious but Jesus wanted him to ask. (Mark 10:46-52)

My sisters, Jesus knows us inside and out, what we need, when we need, and why we need.  

He wants us to come to Him first and then He wants us to tell Him what we want Him to do for us. He wants to hear it from us.

Tell Him now.

Waiting on God

The Bible has a lot of stories about waiting on God. Abraham waited 25 years for the promised heir. He was 75 years old when God made the promise and one hundred years old when Sarah gave birth (Genesis 21:5).  

We don’t know how long Noah waited for rain, but it was a long time. Once the rain stopped his family waited many more months before setting foot on dry land. (Genesis 6-10)

Waiting in a checkout line, in heavy traffic, for a promotion or some other event or milestone pales in comparison to those Bible characters who waited on the Lord.

There are two ways to wait.  

We wait passively when we are in our car, on the phone – or in the checkout line.

We wait actively, however, when we wait for a weekend, a vacation, a cruise, retirement, or the birth of a child.

In those instances, we continue to work and prepare for that event much as Noah did when building the ark and preparing for the flood.

“Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord (Psalm 27:14)

“But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint” (Isaiah 40:31)

“The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him.” (Lamentations 3:25)

“Our soul waits for the Lord; He is our help and our shield.” (Psalm 33:20)

“From of old no one has heard or perceived by the ear, no, no eye has seen God besides you, who acts for those who wait for Him.” (Isaiah 64:4)

Perhaps you are in a season of waiting, hoping something good will happen. You wait. You pray. You trust.

More importantly, you believe. Your heart is full of hope, and your faith is strong.

Here is a message for you from the Bible. “Dear friends, don’t overlook this one fact: With the Lord, one day is like a thousand years and a thousand years like one day.

The Lord does not delay His promise as some understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:8-9)

Waiting on the Lord is not always easy, Sisters, but it is always worth the wait.

Whom Do I Have But You?

Whom have I in heaven but you? I desire You more than anything on earth. My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; He is mine forever.” Psalm 73:25-26

This Psalm was written by Asaph, the choir director, one of the Levites David appointed as a singer in the temple.  Asaph’s perception at the writing of this Psalm was that bad people were getting a much better deal than the good people.  He saw the wicked prospering and the righteous suffering.  

Fortunately, Asaph was able to come to the conclusion that living a righteous life has rewards that transcend time and space and stretch way into eternity while there is a tragic ending for those who lead wicked lives.

Matthew 5:45 reminds us that “. . . He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.”

We can all have thoughts like Asaph and come to the conclusion that life’s just not fair and wonder why bad things happen to good people.  The principle of sewing and reaping is a reality of how the world works.

Sometimes the trials we go through are consequences of earlier bad decisions or bad seed planted.  Other times it’s just that sun or rain falling indiscriminately.

I pray that you can reach the Asaph conclusion and never forget our health may fail and our spirit grow weak, but God is the strength of our hearts forever.