Your Suffering Is Now Over!

And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace. Your suffering is over.” (Mark 5:34 NLT) We live in a day in which the power of God is minimized and often shoved to side like an unwanted piece of clothing. Churches neglect this teaching are afraid that they might "offend" someone. This woman was tormented and harassed. She had been dealing with sickness and pain for many years. In desperation - she thought in her heart that if she could just touch the hem of His garment that she would be made well. And... She was right. She pressed through the crowd and reached in to just touch His garment and her suffering was immediately gone. As I read this today - I was quickened in my heart to encourage you to reach out for Jesus. He is never too busy for you and His power is definitely stronger than your present need. As she touched Him HER SUFFERING WAS OVER! I like what is said about Jesus in Hebrews 13:8 - "Jesus is the same, yesterday, today and tomorrow." The same power that touched and delivered this woman is the same power that will touch you and your suffering can go away today!

ARE YOU IN A STORM TODAY?

When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Silence! Be still!” Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm. (Mark 4:39 NLT) What is raging in your heart today? What has gripped your heart and mind over this last week? What are you worried about that you can't stop thinking about it and is making you sick? The early disciples were a lot like that - The boat they were in was in the middle of a storm and they thought they were going to die. In desperation they wake up Jesus (yes, He was asleep) and asked Him to do something about it. Their situation was dire. They needed help. They needed a Savour. Jessus spoke to that storm and immediately the storm lifted. You can do the same thing today. Call out to Jesus today and let Him speak peace over your situation. Let Him breath peace to whatever storm you are facing. Don't wait another minute. Call out to Him now and you will see what a might God He really is!

WHAT ARE YOU DOING WITH YOUR LIFE RIGHT NOW?

.You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” (Acts 20:35 NLT) At my dad's memorial service we asked people to write down their favorite memories of my dad. Of the hundred's of cards turned in - here are the top three: 1- His great smile that made everyone feel welcomed and loved 2- His jokes in which he couldn't get the punch line out because he was laughing so hard himself, and 3- He always had dollar bills to hand out to the kids. He had been doing this for many years. We figure that over time that he has "invested" thousands of dollars in young people's live one dollar at a time. Some are now adults themselves who remember receiving a dollar bill from him for memorizing their scripture verses. Someone once said that we should all do something that will outlast our lives on earth. What are you doing with your life right now? How are you affecting those around you? Is what you are doing with your life right now going to have eternal results or is it going to fade away like tonight's sunset? Think about that today and remember what Jesus said... "It is more blessed to give than to receive."

OUR DAYS ARE NUMBERED

You have decided the length of our lives. You know how many months we will live, and we are not given a minute longer. (Job 14:5 NLT) Obviously, because of the recent passing of my father, I have been thinking a lot about life on earth, the process of growing old, death and the hereafter. I was in a store yesterday and looked around at the great number of "older" people shopping and or just passing time. It struck me, in a funny way, that I am only one generation behind them and that will someday be Denise and I. There are a few things that strike me as interesting about death and dying: 1- We waste a lot of years on earth. At the end, our lives are measured by how we used our life while on earth , 2- Sickness and suffering is one of God's last acts of mercy for people to repent and come back to Jesus, 3- Death is the only portal between here and the hereafter. It is something we must all face. 4- Only God knows the amount of time we all have to live. We must follow and trust Him with all our hearts. Someone once said, When you we're born - that was God's gift to you. What you do with your life is your gift back to God."

THE POWER OF PRAISE

Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening. Suddenly, there was a massive earthquake, and the prison was shaken to its foundations. All the doors immediately flew open, and the chains of every prisoner fell off! (Acts 16:25, 26 NLT) Are you in prison today? No, not a physical prison but a spiritual prison of some sort. It could be a bad habit that you can't break or a bitterness you can't shake. It might be an oppression or a physical sickness that you are having to endure. It might be a relationship that is not healthy right now. The list could go on and on. Don't allow your present prison to define where God wants you to be. Don't let it be the place where you are going to spend the rest of your life. Like those in this Philippian jail - start to give and sing praises to God. THERE IS POWER IN PRAISE today. Your praise goes right to the heart of God and releases His resources to break you out of your prison - whatever it may be. Sing praise. Speak praise to God. Believe God and His power to free you today and then watch those prison bars sane right off your life.

CAN GOD TRUST YOU WITH WHAT YOU ALREADY HAVE?

"Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. (Luke 16:10 NIV) We live in such a consumer driven society. We already have so much but it seems that we always want more. Compared with most of the world we are abundantly blessed beyond measure, yet, it seems that we are the most dissatisfied. I think it is time for us to count our blessings with what God has already given us rather than complain about what we don't have. Are you thankful for your family? Your Heath? Your job? Your faith? Can you look back and remember God's faithfulness to you and the many miracles He's given you along the way? Try this today... Rather than asking God for one more thing - how about just thanking Him for what you already have? Watch how it will change your perspective and outlook about life and God. God will receive the glory and you will feel better about life!

GIVE GOD PRAISE TODAY!

The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy. (Psalm 126:3 NIV) There are so many miracles in my life that I couldn't even begin to count them. I have had physical healing miracles, financial miracles, family miracles, spiritual miracles, relational miracles, etc., etc. And... the list could go on and on. Oftentimes our focus is on what God hasn't done rather than what He has done. It is so easy for us to live our lives in a funk and only see what is right before us rather than look at the big picture. I challenge you today to stop for a moment and reflect upon all that God has done for you and is doing for you right now. Stop whining and complaining and give praise to God Almighty today. Stop looking for the bad in everything. Tell God that you are thankful today and want to be a person of praise and and thanksgiving. Push negativity down and start speaking positive things about your life and about God. Don't wallow in your self pity and problems. You have a great God that deserves your worship and praise. God is good - all the time. Give Him praise today!