Friday, February 24, 2012

Bottled Tears

You keep track of all my sorrows
      You have collected all my tears in your bottle.
      You have recorded each one in your book.  Psalm 56:8 NLT

I was in the cosmetic department of Fred Meyers searching for some black mascara and reading all the labels looking for one that doesn't run when I cry.  Many packages say "waterproof" but don't say tear proof.  No guarantees that I will not see black streaks dripping off my cheeks.

I never really cried much but now the tears always seem to be at the surface ready to release the pressure of pain.  There is relief in the tears but also uncomfortable loss of control.  Often times little thoughts run through my mind and out flows the tears. My tears are a close companion during these days of suffering.  Tears are what make us human.  Jesus said there will be no more tears in heaven. He will wipe them all away.  It is something we experience on earth in our human bodies.  Sometimes we think that if our faith was big enough we wouldn't be so sad. Tears don't show a lack of faith.  You've lost something or someone who is valuable to you or you were forced to let go of a dream or maybe you are living in a nightmare.  That is something to be sad about.  Let yourself be sad.  It is a cleansing of your soul.

God doesn't dismiss your tears.  He bottles them up in heaven. I like to think they are stored in sealed diamond cordials.  They are precious to Him.  You are precious.  Isaiah 25:8 says that God will wipe away every tear and remove our disgrace.  Picture God reaching His loving hand out to you and gently wiping away your tears.  He doesn't ignore them or tell you if you had enough faith you wouldn't cry. He not only wipes the tears away but all the sorrow that caused them (Rev. 21:4).  God's plan is that He will destroy all evil that has caused all pain for you and live forever in a place lovingly prepared for you where there are no more tears. Jeremy Camp has a song that really touched my heart.  It's called "There Will be a Day". Here is a link to the youtube video.



Dear Tear Collector, remind me that my tears are precious to you
and you will wipe away every tear and destroy the very evil that
has caused my suffering and pain.

Friday, February 17, 2012

Miraculous Healing

Heal me, LORD, and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved,
   for you are the one I praise.  Jeremiah 17:14 NIV

        Thursday morning started the same as the other 150 days of school.  My third graders arrived in my classroom and were engaged in their morning procedures.  What was unusual was my cell phone rang.  “Hello, Mrs. Blocker, this is the nurse from Houston High School, I have Valerie in my office.”  Nurse Nancy informed me that my 17 year old daughter, Valerie, had severe stomach pain and she was getting worse by the minute.  After I got off the phone I called a friend close to the High School to pick Valerie up and bring her into the hospital.  While our friend was on his way, Valerie’s condition worsened and we decided to call 911 and have her transported by Ambulance.  Nurse Nancy thought the pain was either appendicitis or an ovarian cyst.
        Nurse Nancy was correct in her diagnosis.  After several tests a doctor determined Valerie had a cyst on her left ovary that had probably ruptured.  The cyst was just under 4 cm and there was a possibility that her body could absorb it and life would resume pain free.  I believe God made our incredible body to heal itself, so this is how I prayed.
        However, two months later Valerie had another painful episode.  The ultrasound showed the cyst had almost doubled.  She was in great pain.  The doctor called me at 8:30 p.m. (not always a good sign when a Doctor calls late).  She informed me that the cyst had infected her left ovary and Valerie would need surgery to remove her ovary.  The Doctor referred us off to a specialized surgeon.
        I immediately sent out a group email asking people to stand with me in prayer. It is a comfort to know there is such a caring group of friends.  Many pastors put Valerie on their church prayer lists. 
        Valerie went in for her pre-op ultrasound at the hospital.  She was admitted in case there was a need for emergency surgery after the results of the ultrasound. A procedure that normally took about 10 minutes dragged out to about 3 hours and 3 ultrasounds later.  The technician had a difficult time finding her ovaries.  This had me a little perplexed, but I trusted that God knew this and it was in his plan.
        Valerie and I saw the surgeon the next morning.  The doctor explained that the cyst should have shown up, especially as big as it was.  There was nothing there!  No cyst!  It had vanished!  God had healed my daughter’s body and she did not have to go through surgery.  Praise the Lord!   Prayers had moved the hand of God in the miraculous healing of my 17 year old daughter. She is healed to this day, 4 years later.

I am so grateful for your miraculous healing power, Lord!

Friday, February 10, 2012

Compassion's Price Tag

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

Can you care for those who hurt you? Can you look beyond people’s selfishness or obnoxiousness and see their needs?  Can you see where they have been hurt?  Now, can you see the grace of God that cuts the root of sin and alienation and brings healing to wounded people?

If you can see these things then you are beginning to look at the world through the Father’s eyes.  You are most like Christ when you overlook personal injury and offense, resist the invitation to anger, then reach out in grace and compassion to heal. Christ’s price tag for this kind of compassion was his life.  He sacrificed His life on the cross for your sin and mine and, yes, the people who have hurt you.  We have hope of eternal life through his resurrection.

As a Kingdom Rebel, it’s not enough to know the truth.  People can be bludgeoned by truth, but that was not the way Jesus moved throughout the earth.  Jesus’ ministry was consistently marked by love and compassion…and yours must be as well. As the old saying goes, “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care!”

This was our motto in ministry.  Every person that came to our church’s Community CafĂ©, Kid’s Cafe, food bank, free clothing give-away, Family Fun Nights, small home groups, Youth group activities or outreach community events was to know they were cared for and we had compassion on them.  They were made to feel important and feel valued.  It was then we were able to share the gospel with them and see their lives change for the Kingdom of heaven. Many people submitted their lives to Christ because of our team's compassion followed by loving actions.

God intends you to be a channel of comfort and compassion.  Receiving deeply for your own needs first and then giving out generously to others. What qualifies you to minister to others is having received the same ministry from Jesus yourself.  It may flow directly from His Spirit or it may come to you through other Kingdom Rebels.  Trouble is guaranteed in our fallen world, so you will have unending opportunity to care for others with compassion.

Thank You for Your kindness and compassion toward me, God. Now, give me Your perspective and help me to see others as You do
and be a source of Your care to them.

Friday, February 3, 2012

Letter from Jesus

The LORD came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!”
   Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening." 1 Samuel 3:10

What do you want to say to me today, Jesus?  Speak Lord, for your servant is listening.

Dearest Beloved,
        I have loved you with an everlasting love.  A love that never fails, never gives up and never runs out.  We are walking this journey together.  I have never left your side. I will never leave you or abandon you.   You are precious.  You are being refined in this fiery trial and are coming out pure.  I've made you to endure this refining fire.  You are strong, courageous and have praised and worshipped Me through it all.  I am so pleased with you, my love.
        You are being persecuted because you bear my name.  Be truly glad. I live in you and I am being put on trial.  I have the strength to stand against this evil.  Rest in Me, rest in my strength.  The joy I give you will be your strength.  You have passed many tests and there are more yet to come.  Have NO FEAR! What can man do to you?  Remember I, the Lord, am on trial and I, your King, will WIN! You've asked Me to amaze you, my child.  I will do more than that! Abundantly more than you can ask or even think!
        You are my chosen one.  You will come out of this trial shining like a precious gem.  I am carrying you through this.  When you feel hard pressed, cry out to me.  I, the Lord, will bring you into a spacious place.  I am with you constantly, always and forever.  Do not be afraid. Again, I ask what can mere man do to you?
        This battle is Mine. No weapon formed against you will succeed.   You will not need to fight.  Stand firm, hold your position, and see Me deliver you.  Do not be afraid.  Go out against the enemy and I, the Lord, will be with you. I will tell you what to say. You will silence every voice raised up to accuse you.  This is what you can expect Me to do. Begin to expect Me to show up in everything you do and everywhere you go so I can support you, endorse you, assist you, and make things easier, provide you with advantages and grant special privileges. I'll see to it that everything works out for the best.  I, the Lord, promise to bless you with victory!  I will be glorified.  My name will be exalted.  I, the Lord, have spoken!

Love Everlasting,
Your Beloved Lord Jesus

(Psalm 118:5-6, Isaiah 54:17, 2 Chronicles 20:17, 1 Peter 1:6, Jeremiah 31:3, Hebrews 13:5-6, Ephesians 3:20, Matthew 5:10, Romans 8:28)