May 7, 2010 | The Good Word
In Matthew 15 and Mark 7, the story is recorded of a Syro-Phoenician Woman who asks Jesus to heal her daughter. Every time I read this story, I see something new. And as we’ve been speaking of pressing through it seems yet another lesson is here, waiting for us to get it.
The woman asks Jesus to heal her daughter, but at first it seems as if Jesus is saying He won’t do it. “Let the children be filled first, for it is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.”
My translation: “Look lady, I am supposed to come first, as it was prophesied, to tell the children of God, the Jews, the Good News that their Messiah has come. [Then the message will be shared with everybody else.]”
The woman heard Jesus was able to heal. Faith comes by hearing. Even though at first it seemed as if she was not going to receive what she asked for, yet because of her faith, she pressed through what could have been a great discouragement, to continue to believe in the goodness of Jesus when she wasn’t yet seeing it.
“Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs under the table eat from the children’s crumbs.”
Wow. She just got really humble. She got really low, and she pressed through to seek the miracle she so desperately needed.
Jesus’ response “For this saying go your way; the demon has gone out of your daughter.”
My translation: “That kind of heart is exactly the kind of heart I’m looking for. You kept believing even when you were met with discouragement. Now people for generations to come will read your story and be encouraged by your boldness and great faith. I knew you would do it! And your daughter is healed!”
Do you have the faith to press through and believe God is who He says He is, and can do what He says He can do, even when you don’t see it? I want to have that kind of faith! Ask God to help you press through…and believe!
xCC
P.S. I talked about this same story a while back right here, if you want to read more.
May 5, 2010 | The Good Word
Sometimes when trials come my way, it would be my preference to go around them, rather than through them.
I read this quote in my study Bible the other morning: “The Bible points to the conclusion that instead of taking us out of adversity God is much more interested in taking us through it, using the adversity to effect something good in our lives.â€
The truth is, it’s natural to want to go around a mountain, around a body of water, around an obstacle when we come to it. It seems like the easier route. But the Lord says:
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you. (Isaiah 43:2)
He says He’ll be with us as we walk through the trials that life brings our way. And over and over again (sorry, I know I use that phrase all the time) we see Him in Scripture, bringing His people through trials and adversity, not removing them from the situation.
Daniel makes it through the trial of being in the Lion’s den — and God is with him, stopping up the mouths of the lions. Shadrach, Meschach and Abednego go through the trial of being thrown in the fiery furnace — and God is with them in the fire. Esther walks through the trial of being called to deliver her people from genocide — God is with her, guides her steps and gives her wisdom on what to do. The Israelites pass through the Red Sea, and the trials of their season in the desert — but God is with them, parting the waters, and showing up miraculously to provide food and water, and to lead His people.
I often want to go around the mountain that’s ahead of me, but James says:
My brethren count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. (James 1: 2 – 3)
And Romans 5: 3-5 says:
And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance, and perseverance, character, and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
The Sermon in a Nutshell: God’s promise is that He’ll be with us through the trials. So let’s learn to count it all joy, and embrace the gift of the trials we face. Hold on to the hope that God will bring you through. The results will be glorious!
xCC
May 4, 2010 | Travel..ling Tuesdays
Happy Tuesday! How’s it going this week? A couple weeks ago we visited an area called Mfuleni, not too far away from Cape Town, where we shared a a few gifts with some kids who live there: a message of hope, a foot washing, a moment of prayer and a new pair of shoes. And though we keep giving, we keep receiving, from an un-outgiveable God.
Would you like to enjoy a photographic review of the day, mayhaps?
We were on top of Table Mountain last Tuesday. Here’s a different view of Cape Town’s most famous peak, from Mfuleni, near where the shoe distribution was hosted:
As always, the joy and exuberance and spunk of the kids tugged at my heartstrings. This little one is sooo sweet.
Getting ready for their big moment…
So much beauty in a water basin waiting to clean some feet.
Hero Hubs has candy!
Today, as I unwrap the joy of giving alongside an un-out-giveable God,
I’m starting to think the gift isn’t just all that we have,
it’s all that we have to give away.
xCC
Keen to join in the Travelling Tuesday fun? Woo-hoo! Just link up a fresh slice of good blogging including some Travelling photos of your own! Whether they’re from a trip last year or a backyard shin-dig last week, we’d love to see them. Make sure you link up to your post (not your blog’s home page) and that you add a link back here so everyone can join in the fun!
This post might be linked up to Chatting at the Sky’s Tuesdays Unwrapped, if I find a way to link up this Tuesday!
Apr 28, 2010 | Uncategorized
I have another story to share with you. I just wish I knew more of it to share.
I had the privilege of washing these tiny feet.
I’m not sure if this little one understood English at all. But Hero Hubs, being the Hero he is, managed to get her to smile.
Isn’t she beautiful?
The Sunday School teachers told us the kids went to borrow clothes and shoes to come to the distribution, and were probably wearing their very best when we came. That was really humbling to hear.
She was missing most of the top row of teeth, my best guess is due to malnutrition or a lack of hygiene. It also seemed that her eyelids had perhaps been infected and healed in a jagged fashion.
I wish I knew more of her story to tell.
But it was a privilege that our stories converged for a moment one sunny morning in the Western Cape.
Every person has a story.
It’s amazing to think that God knows them all.
xCC
Apr 27, 2010 | Stories, The Good Word
After spending time in the townships and taking a good look at how different my life could be were I born in a different place to a different family, I am suddenly newly thankful for things that I haven’t really thought to be thankful for before. The other morning, Hero Hubs was on an airport run, so instead of my special HH latte, I had a french press cup of coffee.
As I sprinkled in a little cinnamon, gave the coffee a stir and let it sit still for a bit, I was washed over with a wave of thankfulness for the simple pleasures that I enjoy day after day. I think it is really, really good for our souls when we take a moment to realise that we have so very, very much to be thankful for.
We are constantly bombarded with images that create in us a desire for more, for different, for newer and for better. We’re taught discontentment from an early age. But if we take a moment to consider that almost everything we have is something that many, many people around the world don’t, it might really change our attitudes.
When you realise that something as simple as this can mean so much to someone…
something as simple as this
might make you realise your cup is overflowing.
Might I leave you with some lyrics from a beautiful Waterdeep song?
A thankful heart prepares the way for you our God…
Come fall on us, we fall on you.
A thankful heart will be our rhythm.
Come fall on us, we fall on you.
A thankful heart will be our song.
Lord, let it be so.
xCC
Folks all over cyberspace are unwrapping thankfulness today. Join in the joy @ Chatting at the Sky. Don’t forget to come back Friday for the giveaway!!
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