Walk Whole

Is 53:4-5. 

“Surely he has borne our infirmities and carried our diseases; yet we accounted him stricken, struck down by God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the punishment that made us whole, and by his bruises we are 

The verbs give us hope. Surely Jesus has endured our infirmities - pain in our body, and carried our dis eases - the sufferings of our mind. He was wounded for our violations of laws, commands, sins. And was crushed for our iniquities- those are the injustices, the violations of rights, duties, sins. 

He took our punishment, and that allows us to live forgiven, to live whole. Whatever was in pieces, has been made whole by Jesus. Isaiah prophesied the ‘already’. Walk in your wholeness. Treasure what has already been done in order that you live full. enough for now.

What do You Stand On?

Matthew 16:15&16 NRSV

“13 Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 14 And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, but others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

Go back and read through verse 19. Bottom line, Peter recognized Jesus’ messianic identity, and was given the keys to the kingdom. To proclaim the good news. That place where this happened is so significant because it was against the backdrop of pagan worship starting with Pan. 

The rock still stands, the church still stands, the church still has power, the church still has authority. When you know who Jesus is there is power. You are the church. Walk in your power and authority. enough for now.

One More Night

Exodus 8:8–11 (NRSV) “Then Pharaoh called Moses and Aaron, and said, “Pray to the Lord to take away the frogs from me and my people, and I will let the people go to sacrifice to the Lord.” Moses said to Pharaoh, “Kindly tell me when I am to pray for you and for your officials and for your people, that the frogs may be removed from you and your houses and be left only in the Nile.” And he said, “Tomorrow.” Moses said, “As you say! So that you may know that there is no one like the Lord our God, the frogs shall leave you and your houses and your officials and your people; they shall be left only in the Nile.” 

This is about the plague of frogs. Go back and read it. Pharaoh had the opportunity to help his people be rid of the frogs. Moses asked him when, and he chose to stay one more night with the frogs. 

What are the frogs in our life? Those issues that plague us? And we look for help everywhere but God. Yet, he gives us an opportunity to be rid of them. 

Yes, sometimes we are still in but not alone. Sometimes he walks us through, sometimes he removes us from the frogs. But whatever he does it is for our best- when we accept it. Sometimes we can’t trust God with it because we don’t trust him. Let’s be real. But when we give him those issues - we can watch and wait knowing that he has us. Whatever it is. Don’t wait! We don’t have tomorrow- we have right now.  We don’t want to spend one more night with our frogs. enough for now.

Hang in There

Hebrews 12:1-3 NRSV

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God. 

Consider him who endured such hostility against himself from sinners, so that you may not grow weary or lose heart.”

This is just a reminder that because of the heroes and sheroes of the faith we can drop any weight that hinders us, hang in there, focus on Jesus. Faith is our key that unlocks how we do what we do. We can trust what God is doing in our lives. enough for now.

Great

Lamentations 3:20-24 NRSV

“My soul continually thinks of it and is bowed down within me. But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning;great is your faithfulness. “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.” 

There is so much happening around us, but God moves us in the midst. We do not despair - Great! We do not give up - Great! We stay prayed up - Great is his faithfulness!  We continue to watch what God is doing in our lives. He is our keeper, our healer, our guide, our hope, in spite of it all. enough for now.