I was speaking with my dad today on the phone. My love for my father is very overwhelming. He is such a compassionate man. He truly inspires me. He has sacrificed so much for me and my sisters it is ridiculous.
He reminded me of a card I sent him years ago, of a shepherd lifting up a sheep. "Feeling low? Let the Shepherd lift you up!" He found it comical that his father's day card this year from me had a dad lifting his daughter up in the air and said, "A father is one who lifts you up."
A father is one who lifts us up.
Praise be to God, who lifts me up!!
If it were not for Him where would I be.
Praise to the Lord who lifts me up!!
Luke 5 Message version
25-29A woman who had suffered a condition of hemorrhaging for twelve years—a long succession of physicians had treated her, and treated her badly, taking all her money and leaving her worse off than before—had heard about Jesus. She slipped in from behind and touched his robe. She was thinking to herself, "If I can put a finger on his robe, I can get well." The moment she did it, the flow of blood dried up. She could feel the change and knew her plague was over and done with.
30At the same moment, Jesus felt energy discharging from him. He turned around to the crowd and asked, "Who touched my robe?"
31His disciples said, "What are you talking about? With this crowd pushing and jostling you, you're asking, 'Who touched me?' Dozens have touched you!"
32-33But he went on asking, looking around to see who had done it. The woman, knowing what had happened, knowing she was the one, stepped up in fear and trembling, knelt before him, and gave him the whole story.
34Jesus said to her, "Daughter, you took a risk of faith, and now you're healed and whole. Live well, live blessed! Be healed of your plague."
There are so many things that separate us from experiencing that father-like intimacy of God. Many of the reasons in my life are due to my own doubts.
I would love to be in this woman's mind as she were getting ready to go out to see Jesus. All we get in scripture is that she knew Jesus would heal her, but as a woman I highly doubt she didn't question it for a second as she was leaving her home.
First off, she is hemorrhaging, pretty much embarrassing to even be seen out.
Secondly, she was a woman. Did she honestly think that it would be alright for her to speak to Jesus, much less touch him?
Thirdly, she was seen as unclean due to the bleeding, and to touch someone unclean you would become unclean.
This woman must have left her house that day with a mountain of insecurities.
Speaking with my sister today, I shared with some of her my insecurities. As I was speaking I felt God's assurance. Who cares what I look like, who cares who does or doesn't like me, who cares? God the creator of all things, created me with a passionate plan. He designed my face, he loves my personality, he loves me for me.
I love that this woman was not overlooked by Jesus. She touched Him and was healed. He felt the power leave Him and asked HIs disciples who had touched Him. I am sure the disciple thought He was crazy they are surrounded by people, everyone was touching Jesus. But you see, this woman's touch was different. She touched Him with expectancy in her heart. Due to that she was healed.
I am in a season of expectancy with the Lord. I am expecting change in my life. I am expecting healing. I am expecting a touch from Him. I am expecting for Him to lift me up, for He is my father.
Lift your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one, and calls them each by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing. Isaiah 40:26
No comments:
Post a Comment