People always like to say “when it rains, it pours”; we all go through those times. I have had a few weeks of this. Two weeks ago our sump pump failed in the middle of the night in the midst of several days of rain. We woke to splishy-splashy carpet throughout the finished basement. A week of tearing up/drying up our basement and relocating our daughter’s room to our living room ensued. The rest of our mountain of basement contents are packed in our garage. My husband got sick, my son got sick and my dog had some kind of seizure or sickness that did not look good. My daughter’s car wouldn’t start. We learned that we forgot to add towing coverage on her policy. All this happened during one of the busiest times at work for me and my husband and while we are in the middle of another real estate transaction requiring dealing with house inspections, appraisals, and negotiations. After picking out some replacement carpeting, we decided we really needed to paint and fix the walls in the basement. Just about 1000 square feet of painting became part of our Memorial Day weekend plans. Years ago I would have really questioned all of this, “Why is this happening, what did I do? What are you teaching me God?” However, I have found those questions to typically produce dead works. They lead to self-preoccupation and trying harder in my own strength. My eyes become fixed on myself and the problem. I actually become alienated from the ability of God. Now, I simply choose to trust in His goodness. Instead of heaviness, I have a river of peace that grows more consistently with time because I believe that God is Love. I believe that he is for me and not against me. I believe He took my punishment on the cross and I no longer believe He is training me through punishment of any form. He may be training me through His Spirit but He is not the source of pain. Instead I believe that He does make all things to work together for good. His burden is light and his yoke is easy. Now I hear the voice of Jesus saying "in this world you will have many troubles but cheer up. I've overcome. As I approach a mountain in my way, I find myself saying "ok, God. How will we overcome this? Thank you that somehow you have a way. I am excited to see how this will work out for my good and I am so thankful that you are faithful". It is those time that I most vitally need to rest in His goodness. He is and will remain “the High Priest of good things to come” (from Hebrews 9:11) His gospel is always “good news”. The Pharisees weighed people down. Jesus lifts them up as long as they are not trying to work according to their own strength. He invites us to rely up His strength. With the perspective that God is always for me and that trials and set-backs are simply the result of a fallen world, I can receive His wisdom. More importantly I can know He still loves me and is blessing me incredibly and I can connect to His joy. His joy provides the strength. His peace allows me to be at rest and actually recognize His gentle wisdom that always shows me the way through or the way out. Instead of seeing the cup half empty I begin to see it half full when I realize Jesus’ work on the cross more than makes up for my problems, even when I create them myself. I have found that there is much less worry, much less fear and much more strength when we simply believe God is good. No matter what situation, He is your ally. The Holy Spirit is your defender. He overcame death, hell, the grave and every form of sickness for you. Although your life may look unfinished and ugly at times, although we may seem to be falling, going under, or going backward, He is committed to our good. Open up your heart to believe in the dreams He places in your heart. More importantly give the burden to Him and receive the joy He will give you today. For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” Romans 14:17 People always like to say “when it rains, it pours”; we all go through those times. I have had a few weeks of this. Two weeks ago our sump pump failed in the middle of the night in the midst of several days of rain. We woke to splishy-splashy carpet throughout the finished basement. A week of tearing up/drying up our basement and relocating our daughter’s room to our living room ensued. The rest of our mountain of basement contents are packed in our garage. My husband got sick, my son got sick and my dog had some kind of seizure or sickness that did not look good. My daughter’s car wouldn’t start. We learned that we forgot to add towing coverage on her policy. All this happened during one of the busiest times at work for me and my husband and while we are in the middle of another real estate transaction requiring dealing with house inspections, appraisals, and negotiations. After picking out some replacement carpeting, we decided we really needed to paint and fix the walls in the basement. Just about 1000 square feet of painting became part of our Memorial Day weekend plans. Years ago I would have really questioned all of this, “Why is this happening, what did I do? What are you teaching me God?” However, I have found those questions to typically produce dead works. They lead to self-preoccupation and trying harder in my own strength. My eyes become fixed on myself and the problem. I actually become alienated from the ability of God. Now, I simply choose to trust in His goodness. Instead of heaviness, I have a river of peace that grows more consistently with time because I believe that God is Love. I believe that he is for me and not against me. I believe He took my punishment on the cross and I no longer believe He is training me through punishment of any form. He may be training me through His Spirit but He is not the source of pain. Instead I believe that He does make all things to work together for good. His burden is light and his yoke is easy. Now I hear the voice of Jesus saying "in this world you will have many troubles but cheer up. I've overcome. As I approach a mountain in my way, I find myself saying "ok, God. How will we overcome this? Thank you that somehow you have a way. I am excited to see how this will work out for my good and I am so thankful that you are faithful". It is those time that I most vitally need to rest in His goodness. He is and will remain “the High Priest of good things to come” (from Hebrews 9:11) His gospel is always “good news”. The Pharisees weighed people down. Jesus lifts them up as long as they are not trying to work according to their own strength. He invites us to rely up His strength. With the perspective that God is always for me and that trials and set-backs are simply the result of a fallen world, I can receive His wisdom. More importantly I can know He still loves me and is blessing me incredibly and I can connect to His joy. His joy provides the strength. His peace allows me to be at rest and actually recognize His gentle wisdom that always shows me the way through or the way out. Instead of seeing the cup half empty I begin to see it half full when I realize Jesus’ work on the cross more than makes up for my problems, even when I create them myself. I have found that there is much less worry, much less fear and much more strength when we simply believe God is good. No matter what situation, He is your ally. The Holy Spirit is your defender. He overcame death, hell, the grave and every form of sickness for you. Although your life may look unfinished and ugly at times, although we may seem to be falling, going under, or going backward, He is committed to our good. Open up your heart to believe in the dreams He places in your heart. More importantly give the burden to Him and receive the joy He will give you today. For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” Romans 14:17 photo credit: David Blackwell. via photopin cc

photo credit: David Blackwell. via photopin cc

People like to say “when it rains, it pours”; we all go through those times. I have had a few weeks of this. Two weeks ago, our sump pump failed in the middle of the night in the midst of several days of rain. We woke to splishy-splashy carpet throughout the finished basement. A week of tearing up/drying out our basement and relocating our daughter’s room to our living room ensued. The rest of our mountain of basement contents we packed in our garage.

My husband got sick, my son got sick and my dog had some kind of seizure or sickness that did not look good.

My daughter’s car wouldn’t start.

We learned that we forgot to add towing coverage on her policy.

All this happened during one of the busiest times at work for me and my husband and while we are in the middle of another real estate transaction requiring dealing with house inspections, appraisals, and negotiations. After picking out some replacement carpeting, we decided we really needed to paint and fix the walls in the basement. Just about 1000 square feet of painting became part of our Memorial Day weekend plans.

Years ago I would have really questioned all of this, “Why is this happening, what did I do? What are you teaching me God?”

However, I have found those questions to typically produce dead works. They lead to self-preoccupation and trying harder in my own strength. My eyes become fixed on myself and the problem. I actually become alienated from the ability of God.

What If I simply trust in His goodness. Instead of heaviness, I discover a river of peace that grows more consistently with time because I believe that God is Love. I believe that he is for me and not against me. I believe He took my punishment on the cross and I no longer believe He is training me through punishment of any form. He may be training me through His Spirit but He is not the source of pain.

Instead I believe that He does make all things to work together for good. His burden is light and his yoke is easy. Now I hear the voice of Jesus saying “In this world you will have many troubles but cheer up. I’ve overcome” (John 16:33). As I approach a mountain in my way, I find myself saying

“Ok, God. How will we overcome this? Thank you that somehow you have a way. I am excited to see how this will work out for my good and I am so thankful that you are faithful.”

He is and will remain “the High Priest of good things to come” (from Hebrews 9:11) His gospel is always “good news”. The Pharisees weighed people down. Jesus lifts them up as long as they are not trying to work according to their own strength. He invites us to rely upon His strength.

With the perspective that God is always for me and that trials and set-backs are simply the result of a fallen world, I can receive His wisdom. More importantly I can know He still loves me and is blessing me incredibly and I can connect to His joy. His joy provides the strength. His peace allows me to be at rest and actually recognize His gentle wisdom that always shows me the way through or the way out.

Instead of seeing the cup half empty, I begin to see it half full when I realize Jesus’ work on the cross more than makes up for my problems, even when I create them myself.

There is much less worry, much less fear and much more strength when we simply believe God is good.

No matter what situation, He is your ally. The Holy Spirit is your defender. He overcame death, hell, the grave and every form of sickness for you. Although your life may look unfinished and ugly at times, although we may seem to be falling, going under, or going backward, He is committed to our good. Open up your heart to believe in the dreams He places in your heart. More importantly give the burden to Him and receive the joy He will give you today.

As you rest in Him, He will watch over your dreams. As your heart believes in His goodness, you will receive.

“For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” Romans 14:17

“I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 New Living Translation

https://www.flickr.com/photos/katerha/

I am not an expert on healing and sometimes I find it very challenging to receive when symptoms run rampant and doubt seems to multiply effortlessly. Yet I know what helps me find a place where I can more easily receive.

It is not up to me to have mega faith. It is not about me. Perhaps it takes a decision to trust. Perhaps it takes effort to persuade my heart. Yet I am to come as a child to Daddy. I guess this is one of those paradoxical things. It is light and easy yet sometimes it takes work to get to that rest.

So, I will fill up on good words that keep me from getting too serious and too concerned that I need more faith.

I choose to redirect my thoughts upon His love. The scripture that comes to me most is “He who did not spare His son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall He not also with Him freely give us all things” Rom 8:32

If I can’t figure out anything else, I can simply meditate on this truth for the entire day. If He did not spare His most valuable possession and His greatest love for us, He simply would not withhold healing.

I think about how Jesus assured the leper that He was willing and then He healed him (Mt 8:3). The woman with the issue of blood was able to reach out to the very tassel of Jesus’ robe and receive healing because she was reaching for His righteousness (Mt 9:20). She believed in who He was.

“The Lord said to Moses, ‘Speak to the Israelites and say to them: Throughout the generations to come, you are to make tassels on the corners of one’s garments, with a blue cord on each tassel. You will have these tassels to look at and so will remember all the commands of the Lord, that you may obey them and not prostitute yourselves by going after the lusts of your own hearts and eyes. Then you will remember to obey all My commands, and will be consecrated to your God. I am the Lord your God.'”(Numbers 15:37-41)

He did this for us. He remembered all the commands of the Lord and obeyed them perfectly that we could be made “the righteous of God” and that we could be healed. We receive the blessings of a perfect life in Him. We have nothing to offer, but He has offered more than enough. Before the cross, people came to Him, but now He has come to us and brought salvation which includes many dimensions but definitely one is healing*.

I am reminded of Isaiah 53:4-5.

“Surely our sicknesses he hath borne, And our pains — he hath carried them, And we — we have esteemed him plagued, Smitten of God, and afflicted. And he is pierced for our transgressions, Bruised for our iniquities, The chastisement of our peace is on him, And by his bruise there is healing to us.” (Young’s Literal Translation).

Do you hear the Father’s tender voice of reassurance? He knows we have doubts and He knows there is a battle for our heart to be at rest. To that storm he speaks “Surely” meaning “truly” with strong assertive emphasis. Surely He has born our sicknesses and our pains. He is offering you a place to rest. A place to turn from your fear. Just as He spoke to Peter to come walk on the water, he is releasing a word for us to hold on to by faith. Surely.

I remember to let Him be my focus. Whatever I gaze upon becomes magnified in my life. I see His perfection, His love, His willingness and the complete work of obedience that offered the perfect sacrifice. I see the woman with the issue of blood reaching for her Savior. I think about the hope that she had in her heart as she reached toward Jesus and then I see myself in her, but then I stop and realize

that really

He has turned to me and reached into my life and now the Healer lives in me and He will never leave.

Surely.

*note: In reference to Ephesians 2:8 which states we are saved by grace through faith, the Greek word for saved,”sozo,” includes being rescued, made whole, and healed.

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