Healing Power

I feel like quite a few of my posts have been about me being frustrated with various things. One of the things I have been overly frustrated with is the fact that I have been on crutches due to a broken leg for the past 10 weeks. I moved to Florida, for school, on crutches and I have not been able to do a lot of things. I have not been able to go to the beach, rock climb, skate, surf, and I haven't even been able to do laundry without help. I consider myself a pretty active person so not being able to do all of these things has left me extremely frustrated. I got my cast off and started going to physical therapy 4 weeks ago. When I got there the physical therapist said it would take a couple months for me to be able to walk again without crutches. If you know me, I was not satisfied with this at all. I made it my goal to be off the crutches in a month. I figured a realistic goal for myself would be to ditch the crutches by the last week of October. According to the doctors and my physical therapist, this was not a realistic goal. Little did they know, I had an advantage. I have a relationship with a God that heals.

Since I broke my leg I tried to view it as a learning experience. I knew that if I was open, God could use this to teach me something. I began praying for healing, a quick recovery, and patience (something I often lack). I learned so much about myself and my relationship with God through these past 10 weeks (and it's still not over). I won't go into great detail about that in this post because it would take a long time to list everything and that is not what I want this post to be about. Through all of this prayer and growing closer to God, He has worked miracles. Last Thursday I told my physical therapist that I was going to stop using my crutches and walk without them by the upcoming Saturday. Upon telling her this she kind of laughed and said good luck. I took that as a challenge and knew that if I really believed that God could heal me then He would. The next day, Friday, I started walking around campus without my crutches. By Saturday I did not use them at all and I even went to the beach for the first time. God answered my prayers in a BIG way and I have be able to do more than I thought I would be able to because He has been healing me! 

In Luke there is a story about Jesus healing ten men with leprosy. I found this passage very moving and relevant to my situation. It says:

¹¹ Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. ¹² As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance ¹³ and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!”

¹⁴ When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed.

¹⁵ One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. ¹⁶ He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan.

¹⁷ Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? ¹⁸ Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?” ¹⁹ Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.” 

Back in this time, people with leprosy were required to stay away from everyone because their disease was contagious, but if the person believed they no longer had leprosy they could go to the priest and the priest could declare them healthy enough to interact with other healthy people again. All ten of these men still had leprosy when Jesus told them to go see the priest, but they went anyways out of faith. It was their faith that healed them. The odd thing is that only one of them came back to thanks Jesus. There is good news in that though. This shows us that people can be healed even with an ungrateful spirit, but there is something even more interesting going on with the one that did come back to thank Jesus. At the end of verse 15 it says, "...and he was a Samaritan". I did not know the significance of this, but it struck me as odd that Luke decided to include that small bit of information. Upon looking into it farther, I discovered that the Jews had a deep hatred for the Samaritans because the Jews believed they were pure, direct descendants of Abraham, while the Samaritans were a mixed race of Jews that had intermarried with other people after Israel's exile. Samaritans were thought to be the last people to act in a "correct" way. When Luke adds that the one man that come back, he is showing us that God's grace is for everyone and not just a select few people. How incredible! Also, when this Samaritan came back, he learned that it was his faith that had healed him. 

I feel kind of like this Samaritan because I have been thanking God for what he has done and I have realized that it is my faith that has healed me. I have been in a constant state of awe and thankfulness that God has been healing my leg faster than anyone, including me, thought was possible. 

I want to challenge you to pray for something specific that you need healing from. It might be a physical, emotional, or mental need. When you ask God for healing, do not doubt but have faith that He will heal you and work miracles in your life. "But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind" (James 1:6). Pray BIG!

Always Rambling,

Jonathan

Sleepless Peace

Truly my soul finds rest in God;
my salvation comes from him. Truly he is my rock and my salvation;
he is my fortress, I will never be shaken. How long will you assault me?
Would all of you throw me down—
this leaning wall, this tottering fence? Surely they intend to topple me
from my lofty place;
they take delight in lies.
With their mouths they bless,
but in their hearts they curse. Yes, my soul, find rest in God;
my hope comes from him. Truly he is my rock and my salvation;
he is my fortress, I will not be shaken. My salvation and my honor depend on God;
he is my mighty rock, my refuge. Trust in him at all times, you people;
pour out your hearts to him,
for God is our refuge. Surely the lowborn are but a breath,
the highborn are but a lie.
If weighed on a balance, they are nothing;
together they are only a breath. Do not trust in extortion
or put vain hope in stolen goods;
though your riches increase,
do not set your heart on them. One thing God has spoken,
two things I have heard:
"Power belongs to you, God, and with you, Lord, is unfailing love";
and, "You reward everyone
according to what they have done." (Psalm 62:1-12 NIV)

Lately I have found myself stressed, overwhelmed, irritated, and even angry. I caught myself asking, "where are you, God?" The answer is that He never left me. I was just not seeking Him.

Tonight I decided to go to bed early because I had a bad headache and I needed to catch up on some much needed sleep. One thing you may not know about me is that if I do not get sleep I become very irritated and angry extremely easily. I had finally managed to get to sleep and my roommate comes in. He was quiet because I did not notice him at first. Then a girl came in. I briefly awoke to this but fell back asleep. Not too much longer another one of my roommates comes in the room and is very loud. He is well aware that I am trying to sleep but he stated that he simply did not care. Now I am fully awake and extremely irritated. I lay there for a few more minutes hoping he would exit the room so I may go back to sleep. He did not leave so I did. Upon leaving, my roommate asked where I was going. I replied by telling him I was going to the beach. He asked why and I told him something along the lines of "our other roommate can't keep his mouth shut". Was this an appropriate reply? No. I could have and should have just asked them politely to be quiet so that I may sleep but I didn't. One thing I hate more than being woken up is to feel like i am being disrespected. In this moment i felt completely disrespected by my roommate. Unknown to me, God was going to use this to show me a few things.

I drove across the bridge to go to the beach and pray (oh, the advantages of living a mile from the beach). While in prayer I felt an overwhelming inner peace that I had been longing for. God convicted me of how I handled the situation and I reflected on how I need to handle things like that in the future. After some prayer and solitude with God I opened up my good ole bible app. The verse of the day was Psalm 62:1. "Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from him." It was one of those lightbulb moments. Through all of my stressing and irritation I need to seek God because that is where I will find peace because he is my source of light and salvation in this dark world.

Through all of this I have also realized that I need to have a servant's heart and love people even when I feel like I have been wronged. This is one of the hardest things for me to do because I seem to have a high sense of what I think is right and wrong and I have a low tolerance for anything less. I need to work on that and humble myself before others. I need to put them first and make myself nothing before them so that I may serve them out of love like Jesus came to serve everyone on earth. I think Philippians 2:3-7 sums it up great. My prayer is that I remember this and act differently next time a situation like this occurs.

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing
by taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness. (Philippians 2:3-7 NIV)

I want to challenge you to pray and ask God for a servant's heart. Look for ways to serve others even if they aggravate you.

Always Rambling,
Jonathan

Collisions

Did you know that we (the human race) had a chance to live forever in the perfect Garden of Eden and walk alongside God? I was re-reading Genesis the other day and came across this verse: " ²² And the Lord God said, “The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever” (Genesis 3:22). Adam and Eve only had ONE rule while living in the Garden of Eden. That rule was to not eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil in the middle of the garden. Upon eating from this tree, Adam and Eve were banished from the Garden of Eden. Had they not listened to the serpent, they could have stayed in the garden. If they would have listened to the one rule they had been given, they could have eaten from that tree of life and lived there forever with God. 

     We have rules we have to abide by everyday, and these rules are put in place for very good reasons just like the rule God gave Adam and Eve. Every morning we wake up we have to decide if we are going to live for ourselves (earthly things), or if we are going to live to honor and  glorify God. These "collisions" in life can ,and will be, some of the biggest struggles we face. For those of you that know me, you have seen my sleeve tattoo. That is what my tattoo is all about. I must wake up everyday and figure out what kind of decisons I will make, how I will speak, and how I will act. God gave us free will to do whatever we choose. I was struggling with addiction for a couple of years. I had chosen to live for myself, and I felt really convicted of this. I began trying to stop drinking on my own without success for a few months. Finally after getting some help, I have been sober for 8 months now. My tattoo represents certain "collisions" I struggle with and how I need to be intentional about seeking God for help and living for him everyday. We all face these rules and "collisions" of life, and we must decide if we want to abide by these rules or be subjected to the "collisions" on our own. 

     When we decide to honor God and abide by the rules he has put in place for us, He will honor that in ways we cannot even comprehend, but we must choose to do this. We must put God first. Romans 8:32 says, "He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?" Then, Psalm 37:4 says, "Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart". When we choose to put God first He will give us the desires of or heart. The thing about putting God first is that when we do this, we grow closer to him. When we grow closer to Him our thoughts, goals, and dreams become the same goals and dreams God has for us. I was listening to Ben Courson speak and he used an analogy I will never forget. He said when we draw closer to God, God rubs off on us and instills His plans for our life in our heart like second hand smoke "rubs off" on us and affects our lungs. This is when God does more and bigger things in our lives than we could ever imagine. 

     Now, don't read this the wrong way by thinking it is all about rules. God gave us free will to do whatever we want. We choose to either follow these rules or not follow them. But when you have genuine faith and you pursue God you want to follow these rules or guidelines. James, Jesus' brother, says that you cannot have faith alone. Having faith is believing there is one God but even the demons believe that. In James 2:26, James says, "As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead". So, faith is more of what you believe and the deeds (i.e. following the rules or guidelines) are how you show your faith. It brings more glory to God, and makes Him even happier, when we choose Him over the earthly things. Put it this way. If you are in love with someone, would it flatter you more, or make you happier, if they loved you back for who you are no matter what, or if they loved you because you told them they have to love you? It is the same with God. God could make us love Him if he wanted to, but he gave us free will because He wants us to choose to love Him. 

     What are some of the "collisions" you face? I want to challenge you to really think about this. Pray that God reveals something to you, and pray that he changes your heart towards whatever this may be.

Always Rambling,

Jonathan

     

Sheep Love

I had an interesting, yet brief, conversation a few weeks ago with a friend. She seemed upset so I asked her what was wrong. Eventually she told me that she was learning about the ten commandments and she felt like she was going straight to hell. This comment really made me sit and think for a few minutes. I think it is safe to say a lot of people have thought this at one point in time. It really made me realize how unworthy we are and how much God really does love us!

In fact, God loves us so much He sent His son, Jesus, to live a perfect life in order to be a sacrifice for all of us. "This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins" (1 John 4:9, 10 NIV). We did nothing to deserve this unconditional love. Actually, we have done everything to mess that up, yet God still loves us regardless of what we have done, will do, or who we are. God always welcomes us with open arms. We are forgiven and are able to have a personal relationship with God because of Jesus Christ. 

God loves when we come running back to Him. Jesus tells the Pharisees a parable that is recorded in Luke 15. "Then Jesus told them this parable: "Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn't he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.' I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent" (Luke 15:3-7 NIV). Most of us have been that lost sheep at one point in time. God continues to pursue us even when we run away and have our back to Him. We will take the easiest way back to God that we allow ourselves. (Aside: this is often a much longer and harder path for those of us who are stubborn and hard headed). 

During a late night conversation with one of my cousins, we were talking about hardships in life. He had an amazing thought that provided me with an image I will never forget. He was telling me how shepards would go off to find their missing sheep. When they found them they would often break the sheep's leg to teach them to not run away and then carry them around on their back until the leg healed. He went on to say that God does almost the same thing. Because we have free will, He allows us to make certain decisions and experience certain things in life so we can be saved or rescued by Him. God then "carries us" and helps us through the hardships to strengthen our relationship with Him and remind us of how much he loves us. 

Always Rambling,

Jonathan

Gifts (No, not Christmas gifts)

 I ended my last post briefly talking about how God uses us when we think we are unusable. I was thinking about what that looks like. I have found that when we think we are unusable God uses us and we grow in Him tremendously. In those times we are forced to rely on him and live out 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18. We must be in constant prayer and thank God for what He is and can do in us. So what should we do when we think we are unusable? How have people in the bible responded to similar situations?

     

     I had a friend call me last night, and he was telling me how he was really wondering if what he was doing was what God wanted him to do. I had talked to him numerous times about what he was studying at school and what he was doing to share the love of Christ. When talking to him he was always extremely passionate about what he was studying and doing. He is one of my closest friends and a strong man of God. Hearing this from him however did not surprise me because I had thought the same things not too long ago. Everyone goes through this many times throughout life. I think this is the devil trying to derail us from God's plan for us. Even if we continue to do what we know is right but we have doubts about it, we will not be able to fully honor God. This is one of the many ways the devil distracts us form doing the work of God. My friend was feeling unusable at this point because the devil had put these negative ideas in his head. I was there to speak truth into him and reassure him that he is glorifying God by doing what he is passionate about while gaining influence with people so he can share the gospel. He may have been wondering who he was to take on such a task, but he is not the first. Moses had the same concerns and even felt he was not the best person for the job (unusable). 

     I was doing some quiet time and studying Exodus 3 when God speaks to Moses and tells him to go to Pharaoh to free the Israelites. When God tells Moses to do this he responds with "Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?" (Exodus 3:11). I do this all the time! Who am I to do such great things? The answer, I am no one without Christ. It is only through Christ I have these opportunities, and I must rely on him to do these things. God responds to Moses in verse 12. And God said, "I will be with you. And this will be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God on this mountain" (Exodus 3:12). In the end God delivers the Israelites from Egypt. All of this because Moses trusted God, and Moses did what God asked of him. 

     When we question if we are usable or not we should first seek God. We are here for no other reason than to make His name great and worship Him! You may say that you feel like God can not use you where you, but you can be used where ever you are when ever as long as you are open to God's instruction. We have all been given gifts from God, and we must use them to share His love with everyone we come in contact with. In Romans, Paul tells the Romans, "We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully" (Romans 12:6-8). Everyone has gifts from God and you must discover what these gifts are to apply them to your daily life. All of these gifts Paul listed can be used on a daily basis no matter where you are. You can use these gifts in the workplace, a sports team, or at your school. Paul talks about these gifts again in 1 Corinthians 12, as well as how they are all distributed by the same spirit. God uses all these gifts together to glorify him. Though people have different gifts we must not discount one versus another. Paul uses this metaphor to explain how every gift has an important place in God's overall plan: "Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be" (1 Corinthians 12:15-18).  God has strategically placed all of us in the position or situation we are in for a reason. We are surrounded with people with all kinds of different gifts. By using our gifts we will inspire and encourage others to  use their gifts as well. 

     I really want to end all of these posts with a challenge. For this post, I want to challenge you to spend time reading Romans 12 and 1 Corinthians 12 and spend time talking with God about what gifts he has given you. When you find out what gifts you have, use them. Intentionally put yourself in situations to use these gifts to the fullest potential. 

     There was alot more I wanted to write on this but at this time I have other things I need to work on. Maybe there will be a part two. Also, please ignore all spelling and grammar mistakes, as well as all my incomplete thoughts.

Always Rambling,

Jonathan 

Difficult Joy

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. (James 1:2-4 NIV)

What is pure joy? When James was writing this did he mean the literal definition of "joy". Are we supposed to be happy and cheerful when things aren't going right?

For example, if someone close to you is diagnosed with terminal cancer it is easy to be mad at God. There is no joy in cancer. Or is there? There are many different situations in which joy can be found here. 1) This person is a believer. If that is true, he/ she is eventually going home to their heavenly Father. Their work on this earth is done and they are being called home where there is no pain, suffering, or sorrow. 2) This person overcomes the illness. Glory to God! God has healed them so they may continue to glorify and honor Him here on earth. 3) This person is not a believer. This is a hard one and honestly, one I struggle to understand. God is a sovereign God. His plan goes beyond what we could ever imagine. I have seen people completely be transformed in Christ because of this. It has made me, and others, realize our life could end at any moment. When people realize this they often try to fill the void inside of them. A void that can only be filled by God. Almost indirectly this non-believer has essentially saved someone's life. What great joy! 

I am currently in a situation where I cannot change my surroundings. These immediate surroundings are dark and filled with evil. The not so immediate surroundings are filled with like-minded believers. I am constantly asking their opinion on what to do or how to handle a certain situation. God strategically placed these people in my life for moments exactly like this. I know God has put me here for a reason, but I have yet to see why and I may never know. Finding joy in this is extremely difficult for me. Finding myself in constant prayer and communication with God has proven to lighten the load, yet I'm struggling to find any joy. Could joy just be as simple as seeking Christ and trusting him? I think it may be. 

This situation has definitely been testing my faith! James says that this testing of my faith develops perseverance. We are to let this perseverance work in us so that we may become mature and complete and we will not be laking anything. James goes on to say if we are lacking anything we should just ask God for it and it will be given generously. I am continually asking God for patience and wisdom in this situation as well as seeking wise council from the more mature, experienced, and God-fearing people God has placed in my life (thank God for those people!). I am in no way complete. I know I am still lacking in many areas of my life and this may just be a time for me to be open and let God teach me. I am finding everyday that I need to just trust God and trust in His plan, even if that means difficult situations and dealing with difficult people. 

In Paul's letter to the church in Thessalonica he tells them, " Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus" (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). This week I am going to try an concentrate on doing these three things. Always rejoice, continuously pray, and give thanks to Him ESPECIALLY when things are hard. I need to try my best to be more teachable and open to what God has planned. There are people and situations where I feel I have no influence, but this gives me even more of a reason to practice and live out 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18. 

If you are reading this I want to challenge you to do these things throughout this week to see what God has for you. It is not easy, but I firmly believe when we are open and willing God can and will use us in situations we think we may be "unusable". 

P.S. This is my first time doing anything like this. Ignore all the grammer and punctuation errors and any incomplete thoughts. Like the blog says, I am just rambling...

Always rambling,

Jonathan