And behold, there was a woman who had had a disabling spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not fully straighten herself. When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said to her, “Woman, you are freed from your disability.” And he laid his hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, and she glorified God. Luke 13:11-13 

My USA phone currently is in airplane mode. I only have coverage in the States and if I don’t want to be charged a ton of money, I have to keep it on wifi feature only in order to use it. Stephen’s USA phone on the other hand has an international plan that allows you to enable all phone features with free unlimited data (thanks T-Mobile). His phone is how I’m currently writing these blogs :) While my phone is disabled from making calls and requires wifi for any additional features, Stephen’s phone is enabled to function as it would back home. One is completely restricted and limited and the other is just as if it had never left home. It made me think about this woman’s condition.

I can’t even imagine the freedom this woman experienced. To go from being disabled to enabled to do anything in one moment. One encounter with Jesus has the ability to alter your life entirely. This woman was bent over and a minute later she was standing straight up. What a perspective change!

Can you imagine looking at the ground everyday? Here in Kenya there are gorgeous trees and plants you would miss. I know my heart would grieve if I couldn’t see a spectacular Oklahoma sunset because I was disabled. You might not be looking down naturally at your feet, but maybe you need an alteration in your view point. Maybe for so long you’ve been staring at the wrong thing because you’ve believed lies that have disabled you from walking in victory. Maybe you feel you’re defeated and can’t be set right again. What hope is in these verses! What joy in a perspective change. You could be looking down at your circumstances and failures and then a word from Jesus sets you straight and enables you to see rightly.

Today I believe there is freedom for you like there was for this lady. You too can go from seeing one way to being set straight so you can see what Jesus sees. Let Him give you an adjustment today. You’ve been weighed down and held back for too long. Allow Jesus to switch off the disabilities of your “airplane mode” and free you to aline with the network of heaven(cheesy? Maybe, but it’s true) ;-)

“And the scribes of the Pharisees, when they saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, said to his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”” Mark 2:16-17

I’ve been in more doctors offices in the past 18 or so months than I can count. In some offices, I’m sure some were fine and in need of a routine checkup or physical. However in the majority of situations, the patients are usually experiencing some sort of symptoms or else wouldn’t be there. Even those there for a routine visit need a clean bill of health to continue their activities and work life.

It would be ridiculous for me to schedule an appointment like I went to today for nerve conduction if I had no reason to believe there was a problem. It would certainly be a waste of mine and the doctor’s time as well as a waste of finances. I would have no need to have his expertise if I already knew that nothing was wrong.

Jesus had no problem advising people that they needed the kingdom of heaven. All kinds of people drew near and heard His truth and received His love and gift of right standing with Father God. Many believed and many were healed. Yet many scoffed and assumed they were right with God already and rejected what Jesus advised. Those who addressed Him in this passage should’ve known Jesus as they were the religious leaders in that day and were looking for the “Messiah”, the promised One who would deliver them. They missed Him. They failed to draw near and seek his “medical attention” and as a result, they charged Him as a criminal and crucified Him.

I would hate to end up in the wrong doctor’s office and receive treatment based on my own diagnosis. From sprained and broken bones growing up, to my unknown allergy to carrots, I wouldn’t have been able to properly diagnosis my body. Furthermore, my righteousness is found in Jesus Christ and His right standing before the Father. I’m glad that He came to call me to repentance as I would’ve misdiagnosed the condition of my sin. The truth is I needed a savior, I still need a savior and I will always need a savior. I’m in need of the Great Physician both spiritually and physically. I need the finished work of the cross; salvation and healing. I’m glad that by this scripture’s definition that I am, “sick”, so that I have need of Him and that He might “eat” with me.

If you have ever wondered if you were “good enough” to approach Jesus, I have news for you you’re not and you never will be. This is good news because there is grace extended to you, empowerment to living in right standing with God when you make Jesus Christ your all and all and live for Him. He dines with the sinners and the tax collectors. He loves seeing the darkest of sin washed as white as snow. Are you sick and in need of the Physician today? :)

But now even more the report about him went abroad, and great crowds gathered to hear him and to be healed of their infirmities. But he would withdraw to desolate places and pray. Luke 5:15-16

These aren’t “words in RED” per say, however this text comes in between a lot of words in red;) I really felt ministered to tonight as I studied out Jesus’ alone times and then loneliness in scripture. There are many points made from the scriptures of how Jesus would retreat alone to pray and how it should be an example of how our pray lives should be. I agree with those teachings and I know that we must focus on the audience of One like Jesus did.

Tonight however, as this scripture came alive to me, I thought about the difference between Jesus in a crowd and Jesus with His Father. He was in crowds all of the time. He had men that followed Him and learned from Him often. Miracles and signs and wonders were performed constantly. Those who He discipled and who knew Him intimately on earth still didn’t know Him like His father did.

While I’m sure Jesus was off praying glorious prayers for mankind at times, sometimes I wonder if in the fully man state, He cried out to God with raw emotions. We see in the garden of Gethsemane this type of agonizing prayers, but what about the day to day? Did He retreat and say,”Father, no one quite understands me here” or “why do I have to keep explaining myself? Why doesn’t anyone understand the kingdom of God?”. I don’t mean to imply that Jesus was complaining, but I do think He could relate to the Father in a way He couldn’t with anyone else.

No matter how close we are with someone else, they’ll never fully understand us or our lives. Even those who live in our home. The Bible is full of accounts of people feeling lonely or misunderstood. Lev 13:46 clearly commands that if someone has an infection they must live alone. 1Tim 5:5 talks about how widows have needs. Jeremiah sat alone because he gave a critical message from God. Elijah felt so alone that he wanted to die (1 Kings 19). We knew from the prophecy in Isaiah 53:3 that Jesus would become a man “despised and rejected by men”.

While being misunderstood or feeling lonely will look different person to person, we can find peace that Jesus identifies with where we are. Not only does He identify with that, but He showed us the best thing to do and that is to go to our Father in Heaven. Only there will we find the strength to face others in our lives with the love and confidence in who we are as sons and daughters of God.

“While he was still speaking, there came from the ruler’s house some who said, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?” But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not fear, only believe.”” Mark 5:35-36

Here we have someone seeking Jesus and others telling him not to bother or trouble Jesus. Often I have heard of words similar to this that have discouraged people from coming to Jesus. They are given harsh statements by others such as, “Jesus would never forgive what you’ve done!”, “You want to go to a church?! Watch our for lightening!” and various other remarks that keep them from walking in faith.

I once had someone ask me to pray for them and their words continue to stick with me. They remarked how they could pray to God for their spouse and kids, but didn’t think that He thought about or cared about their problems. Somehow praying for others was the right thing to do and somewhere along the line praying for yourself was selfish. I watched tears pour down their face as I prayed and shared how God wanted a personal relationship with them and that part of that was being able to pour out His love and goodness and be with us in hard times.

I think of these words in red today, “Do not fear, only believe”. I wonder how many people are bound in fear instead of experiencing freedom and peace in coming to Jesus. There are many things that can keep us back from just believing His words and living our lives for Him.

What is holding you back from believing today? Maybe you’re one step away from an answered prayer and another’s words have sought to deter you. I encourage you with these words today, have faith, seek Jesus! If you only believe, you too can see faith made sight like this ruler who later saw his daughter live!

“Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.” John 17:24

In light of Father’s Day, I thought I would find some words in red of our loving Savior talking to His father. These happens to be some of my favorite words in scripture. Jesus prays these words to His father right before He is betrayed by Judas and delivered over to the soldiers.

“Father I desire…” I once heard someone preach that those three words could be meditated on for months and you’d never exhaust the revelation of love. When you read the whole verse in context, it can certainly display a great love. Jesus has desire that those who belong to Him would be with Him forever and partake of the glory of fellowship with the Holy Spirit in the same way. It’s so powerful to see His free will here. He wasn’t praying a robotic pre-programmed prayer. He had desire for us. He had desire that we would be saved eternally. He had desire to get up from this prayer and give His life away so that we could be joined to Him. Wow!

I desire to be with Him not just in the eternity to come, but even now. I desire to have fellowship with His Holy Spirit today and to walk in all that He has for me. I desire that my desires would be His desires. I desire to know His love more fully and to embrace His love.

“Father I desire…”

“But he answered them, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it.””Luke 8:21

Going off of yesterday’s entry of how we know that we are His because we hear His words, this scripture is a great follow up. In this passage of Luke’s account, we see Jesus’ natural family coming to see Him while he spoke to a crowd. He is informed that they want to see Him and that is His reply. It seems a little harsh, but Jesus was considering the eternal here. I think that the Nike’s slogan comes in very fitting here, “Just do it!”

We are His true family when we hear His instructions and obey them. It’s one thing to hear something. No doubt Mary, Joseph, and any siblings would’ve heard many clear things from the Son of God Himself, yet hearing isn’t the end all. We must obey. The word of God tells us that obedience is better than sacrifice in 1 Samuel 15:22.

It’s one thing if we hear the word of God, but it’s another thing to be moved to action. We can go to conferences, great church services, hear podcasts, and even hear our husband preach (oh wait I was thinking of myself;) ) and yet not do anything with the word that we received. Let’s be those that Jesus sees listening and doing His words. Let’s be brothers and sisters of the words in red.

Have a great Sunday tomorrow—hear and obey! This could look as simple as writing down 2-3 things you got out of the sermon. Pray about them and maybe even discuss with a friend or family member. Figure out a practical way you can walk out the application of the word.

“Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word. Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God.”” John 8:43, 47

Last night Stephen and I were talking a walk outside. We stood still for a while as we talked. It was dusk and only a little light around us. I kept seeing a black thing darting around. For the longest time I couldn’t make it out with my eyes and thought maybe I was seeing something. One time Stephen asked what I was making a face about and I thought what I was seeing was a bat, but I decided against it and told him maybe a bird. A few minutes later we both saw it. Indeed it was a bat! Eeeeeek! It then zipped right above our heads barely missing Stephen’s 6’3 frame. Amazed by it’s speed and agility, I remembered that bats might be blind, but their incredible sonar hearing has the ability to guide them. I began researching the levels of frequency they can emit and other “bat facts” (which I don’t recommend particularly if you live in Madagascar or Europe with blood seeking bats

“He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”” Matthew 16:15-16

If I had known what my initial “yes” to Jesus would cost me or will cost me, I wonder how much more weight it would’ve held.

When I think of the tough times behind closed doors, the misunderstandings because of my faith, the harsh words from close friends, the disappointment
of others in the body of Christ, and the lack of understanding the “why” behind God’s ways, I wonder if I would’ve said yes. When I consider the health struggles and aspects of difficulties few know about and I know my “yes” is as resolved as ever, it’s a mystery even to me.

I can find myself in similar shoes to Peter. I know what zealous and sincere love for Jesus looks and feels like. I also know what deeper and more intimate love forged through trials looks like. I know Peter’s reply here warranted a joyous response from The Lord, yet only a few verses later he is rebuked for more remarks. That must have been a whirlwind for Peter.

“Who do you say that I am?”. I’m sure these words rang deeply in Peter’s heart. He contemplated his reply and his first response utilized who other men said He was. Jesus asked again as another man’s revelation of who they suppose Him to be will never work a a substitute for who we know Him to be. This time Peter responded from his own revelation and said that Jesus Christ was the son of God.

Who do I say that Jesus is? Have I gained a clearer perspective of who He is in my life. In my sorrow, do I know that He is joy? In my pain, do I know He is healing? Does my trust run deep in trials as it does in victories?

I’ve come to learn that no matter the season, the good times and the difficult times have the potential for me to know more of Him. I look at Peter’s highs and lows and even though he denied Jesus at his death, this uneducated fisherman became a man of fire when marked by the Holy Spirit. The joy of walking with Jesus on this earth and the persecution Peter later faced because he defended Jesus produced such deep personal revelation that caused Him to say yes initially and continue to say yes until he ultimately give his life.

Who do you say that Jesus is? Do you say what other men say in that He is only a good man, a teacher, or a prophet? Or do you personally have the revelation that He is the Christ, the way the truth and the life, the Son of God?

You must know who you say that He is, for another man’s revelation will never carry a commitment to say yes to Him again and again.

“For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it. For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?” Mark 8:35-36 

Some piercing words in red…While I don’t think it’s possible for any man to quite “gain the whole world”, one might sure die trying to. It is so simple to seek to gain a lot in this life like fame, fortune, a good name, but what will that matter at the end of our life? Jesus says here that even if we do gain the ENTIRE world, but we lose our soul, it profits nothing. All that we earn, all that we are known for, all the possessions we’ve acquired will mean nothing. Sadly, most would rather profit in this life without considering profiting eternally.

In a few discussions and reflections recently, I can see how easy it is to compromise and change who we are called to be. A friend of mine studying psychology is currently taking a class on communications. Our conversation about this class led to discussions of how in particular, teenagers are prone to change or compromise their identity to gain acceptance and popularity. This person mentioned how they’d even lied about their father’s name in school because they didn’t have a dad involved in their life. This was done all to impress others and gain their approval.

We can so easily fall prey to losing who we are and what we are called to do when we are consumed with what this world has to offer. I’ve learned that the pleasures and comforts God has to offer us are far greater than anything we could ever find on this earth. If we are giving up our lives to be spent for the sake of the name of Jesus and for the gospel, then we have an assurance that we will gain eternity with Him. Such a backwards way of thinking and it goes against the grain of modern thinking. We lose our life to find it. We give up our life to save it.

It’s time to consider our profits and savings so to speak. What are we holding onto? What are we seeking after? What will be saved in eternity when all our earthly things are left behind? What will Jesus say of our lives? Will He even know us?

And they went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” And he awoke and rebuked the wind and the raging waves, and they ceased, and there was a calm. He said to them, “Where is your faith?” And they were afraid, and they marveled, saying to one another, “Who then is this, that he commands even winds and water, and they obey him?” Luke 8:24-25

Here we see the story of the storm on the lake and Jesus rebuking the storm as the disciples were amazed. These are the same disciples who just witnessed Jesus bring about healing, raise the dead and now in process of crossing the lake, it’s as if they lose their faith.

I love that Jesus asked,”Where is your faith?” This question provokes my heart. Where is my faith? Is it left in a previous season? As I’m crossing over to the “other side of the lake”, am I aware that the same Holy Spirit that was with me before is with me now? When I don’t see the “miraculous” in action and I’m just “in a boat”, do I sense His nearness? When the storms are raging and I’m in an unknown situation and overcome with fear, do I realize His peace is available?

“Where is your faith?”…what a question to ask these followers of His. I believe it made them snap out of the chaos of the storm and realize, “oh ya…Jesus is with us…the same One who just raised the dead. I think we are going to be just fine”. Once they remembered WHO was with them and they saw the storm dissipate, they found their faith again and were able to move forward. On the other side of the storm/lake were other lives that needed Jesus.

Where is your faith today? Are you stuck in a storm and feel overwhelmed? Did you get into a boat with Jesus full of faith and vision and then find that you’ve left your faith on the shoreline of yesterday’s victories? Fear not. He is with you and one word from Him can calm any storm. You’re not alone and victory is on the other side.