"A Touch and a Word"

Now when Jesus had come into Peter's house, He saw his wife's mother lying sick with a fever. And He touched her hand, and the fever left her. Then she arose and served them. When evening had come, they brought to Him many who were demon possessed, And He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet saying: "He Himself took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses." Matthew 8:14-17
     

I love that when Jesus came as a guest into Peter's house he did something that we all kinda take for granted if we have been in ministry for very long.  He took care of the home front. As He entered the house He saw that Peter's mother-in-law was sick with a fever. He went over and took her by the hand and the fever immediately left her whole and well and full of strength. Sometimes I think that we are so busy ministering to the world at large that we forget to make sure to bring Jesus home to our loved ones. In this case Peter's mother-in-law was sick with a fever and Jesus immediately took care of it. I love that Jesus doesn't just take care of all the needs of the world out there but the fevers, headaches, and colds in our homes as well. Big or small He cares about the things that affect us.

As I read this today it just made me smile as I thought about how Jesus cares about those that we do. He immediately took care of the fever and she was able to get about the business of her life as she started to serve them. It spoke to me about how He takes care of all the little things that effect us. We all know that He took care of blind eyes, deaf ears, leprosy and even raised the dead but in this case He took care of  a loved one who was sick with a fever. He cares about all the things that affect our lives. Even fevers!

It says that by evening, 'they brought to Him many who were demon possessed, And He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick.' With a word and a touch He healed and set free any and all that came to Him. The thing that I noticed is this .. as He healed everyone, and everything He was 'fulfilling that which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet saying: "He Himself took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses."

The word that Isaiah spoke all those years ago was being fulfilled every time Jesus touched a fever, a blind eye, a deaf ear. That word was being fulfilled every time Jesus spoke a healing word or cast out a demon. It was being fulfilled as He came into Peter's home and tended the fever of Peter's mother-in-law and it is fulfilled every time you or I as His disciples act in faith and speak a healing word or lay hands on the sick in His name. "Silver and gold I do not have, but in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk." Acts 3:6

He came in power and with a touch and a word... He took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses! It is our job to go and do likewise ... and fulfill the words He spoke to us ...And He said unto them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. he who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will follow those who believe. In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them, they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover." Mark 16:15-18

Runaway Fish Prophet, Part 9

His little structure looked like it might fall apart.

Jonah studied the booth, a collaboration of sticks and dead leaves. The small shelter wasn't much to look at, but it was only built to provide shade for him. As long as he could sit in the shade while he waited to see what would become of Nineveh, he would be happy.

Shrugging helplessly, Jonah made himself comfortable. The land was quiet, and Jonah had an excellent view of the city. He could see all of Nineveh. He was close enough that he could see soldiers manning a perimeter around the wall, but far enough away that if the Lord God decided to blast the city, he wouldn't be fried. 

Jonah heard a crunch in the dirt behind him, and looked around. Nothing. His eyes dropped to the ground around him, just in case a serpent was coming near him.

Nothing was there. Just a tiny little plant.

Jonah turned back to the city. He wasn't sure when, or how much time had passed, but he had fallen asleep. Nineveh was still safe and sound. Yawning, he sat up slowly. A nice shady area surrounded him.

Wait a second. There was no way his scrawny little shelter was providing that much shade.
Turning around, Jonah saw a large, green plant. Scooting towards the plant some more, Jonah rested comfortably in its shade.
____________________

Jonah jumped in his sleep and looked around. Whatever had startled him was gone now. Yesterday had gone by pleasantly enough. The plant provided the perfect shelter for him.

It was the second day he had been watching for the destruction of Nineveh.

Still nothing.

The sun beat down on Jonah. He must have rolled away from the plant during his nap. Jonah looked around for it, and panic started to claw at his heart. Where was the plant?

That's when Jonah saw it. He hadn't rolled away. It was still right behind him. Dead.

Jonah moaned. "This is the worst thing that could have happened to me today."
Just then a hot wind blew across his face.

Great. Just great.

Based on Jonah 4:5-8

"Now the Lord God appointed a plant and made it come up over Jonah, that it might be a shade over his head, to save him from his discomfort. So Jonah was exceedingly glad because of the plant. But when dawn came up the next day, God appointed a worm that attacked the plant, so that it withered. When the sun rose, God appointed a scorching east wind, and the sun beat down on the head of Jonah so that he was faint." Jonah 4:6-8a

What I really wanted to talk about today was the plant, the worm, and the wind.

I really love how these verses say "God appointed." God appointed the plant to grow. God appointed the worm to eat the plant. God appointed the hot wind to bug Jonah. God arranged it all!

Sometimes God uses the most bizarre things to make His point. Even worms. The question is, do you see the things that God is using? Jonah was so focused on the plant, that he completely ignored the fact that it just sprang up out of nowhere. God did that. Would we, like Jonah, completely miss it?

More importantly, do you completely miss the fact that God uses you? It may be in bizarre ways. God may call you to do something you never would have planned in a million years. It doesn't matter what, or how, or when, or even why. What matters is that you are ready and willing. God's appointed a time to use you, and just like that worm, you need to be ready to serve.

"For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end - it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay." Habakkuk 2:3

V. Joy Palmer

"Count The Cost"

Today, I just have a quick thought for you that I would like to share. I saw this sticky note yesterday online. I'm not sure who it is written too. Probably, his parents? When I saw it, it reminded me of a few years ago when WWJD was really big.

As you most likely know WWJD means (What Would Jesus Do?) It became a really big slogan with bracelets and everything. The idea was that no matter the situation you were facing you were to ask yourself (What Would Jesus Do?) and then do that because that way you would be making the right choice about what ever situation was before you.
 
Jesus told His disciples something that would get them thinking about making right choices as well and it was long before 

                                                                     came along!

Check out Matthew 16:24-27 "...If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what is a man profited if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works."
 
In Luke 14:27-30 He gave them this illustration in order to make His point to them a little clearer.  "...And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it -- lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, 'This man began to build and was not able to finish.'

All of this was Jesus' way of telling His disciple to 'look both ways' or as He put it to 'count the cost'. What this means is He wanted them and us to consider the two options we all have to make. We can choose to become His disciple and serve in the kingdom of heaven and therefore, reap the blessings that come with that choice, or we can choose the kingdom of hell and, of course, reap the unhappy results of that choice as well.

The truth is He isn't just talking about our Big Moment when we decide to accept Him as our Lord and Savior. He also wants us to 'look both ways' and choose which way we want to proceed in all the Little Choices we make along the way as well. We all know how important it is to look both directions and to make sure that it is safe to cross the street, after all no one wants to get hit by an oncoming car because we didn't take the time to look!

Jesus told His disciple to 'count the cost' of their choices for the same reason. He wanted them and us to make the right choices as well. He wants us to 'look both ways' in all the little choices that we make that might take our focus away from serving Him. If we step blindly without looking or rather act without thinking as believers, we might make a choice that causes us to be disobedient and walk into a place of sin. It is important for us to to look both ways and to count the cost so that we can walk safely with God instead of acting in a way that causes us to step into sin and away from God.

Remember, count the cost ...look both ways and STEP OUT SAFELY as His disciple!

"His Hand Upon Us"

Psalm 145:14-19

The Lord upholds all who fall,

And raises up all those who are bowed down.

The eyes of all look expectantly to You,

And You give them their food in due season.

You open Your hand,

And satisfy the desire of every living thing.

The Lord is righteous in all His ways,

Gracious in all His works.

The Lord is near to all who call upon Him,

To all who call upon Him in truth.

He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him;

He also will hear their cry and save them.

O Lord, ...For there is not a word on my tongue, but behold, O Lord, You know it altogether. You hedged me behind and before, and laid Your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is high, I cannot attain it. Psalm 139:4-6 

Lord, help us as Your people to understand just how much Your hand is outstretched toward us. Lord, today as we acknowledge Your touch upon our lives we give You the praise that is due Your name! 

Lord, we look to You, and You alone as the source that sustains us. You are our God and Yours is the everlasting kingdom that we serve. Today, Lord, as Your hand is extended towards Your people we receive with gladness all Your gifts and provisions! We say, "Yes!" to Your grace and mercy. We say, "Yes!" to the many blessings that flows from Your hand into our lives just because You love us. Lord, we are the works of Your hand! Let Your will be done in the 'due seasons' of our lives. Lord, let us as Your people faithfully declare that Your strength is always enough; that Your hand is never too short to save!

God Bless!!!

Staff of Snack Time Devotions

Our Perfect Leader

"This is what I order you to do: Love one another as I have loved you." John 15:12

 Jesus had so much focus on loving people, it's no surprise that He kept drilling it into his disciples. It was and still is such an important thing. He told us that the second greatest commandment was to love our neighbor as ourselves, but He is not just reiterating that again. He was reminding them of how much He loved them, and that they needed to follow his example.

I know that it is obvious, but then He goes on to say this...

"There is no greater love than to lay down one's life for one's friends." John 15:13

He has told them before that He was going to lay down His life, but this gives the disciples another glimpse into the mindset of their Master. He was showing them how much he loved them - that there couldn't be anyone who loved them more. That is a powerful image. I mean, Jesus wasn't the first one to die to save another person's life. Surely, there were thousands before Him.

But the thing that is astounding is this: He died for us all. For all of us - for me, for you. That's amazing. Sometimes, we have a hard time realizing this. I mean, we know that he died for us, but I was always taught that there was to be a degree of separation between leaders and the people that they lead. That they aren't supposed to be friends. Jesus throws out an entire principle of leadership.

"You're My friends if you do what I order you to do." John 15:14

Images of bossy girls from my elementary and high school years pop into my mind, but that's a little unfair. This is something that we have all done. How many times have we told someone how to do something, only to be ignored. Don't you get frustrated when a person has something bad happen to them, something that could have been avoided if they had just listened to you? Can you imagine how often we frustrate Jesus? I mean, He gave us a manual on how to live, and how often does it sit, unused, on a shelf?

But Jesus isn't like that girl on the playground years ago. He doesn't walk away from His friendship with us when we don't listen to Him. He gives us chance after chance after chance.

"I don't call you servants anymore, because a servants doesn't know what his master is doing. But I have called you friends because I've told you everything I heard from My Father." John 15:15

Jesus still wants to be our Friend. Regardless of whatever you have heard or experienced in the world, here is a Leader that loves us. That gave His life for us. That wants to be our Friend, despite our failings. He doesn't want to keep us in the dark, He tells us what is going to happen. He shows us in the Bible, and the Holy Spirit talks to us, if we listen.

He is so much better then any other leader that we have ever had to follow. And He wants us to follow Him! Now, I have been placed in a position of leadership in my job. There are some of the people under my authority that I wished weren't. Needy, uncooperative, disobedient... Sound familiar? It's a good thing that Jesus is Lord, not any one of us. Despite all the issues we have, will have, and will create, He still came for us.

"You didn't choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that doesn't pass away and to have the Father give you anything you ask Him in my name. This is what I order you to do: Love one another." John 15:16-17

Sam

"In Your Sight"

Psalm 33:1-15

Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous! For praise from the upright is beautiful.

Praise the Lord with the harp; Make melody to Him with an instrument of ten strings.

Sing to Him a new song; Play skillfully with a shout of joy.

For the word of the Lord is right, And all His work is done in truth.

He loves righteousness and justice; The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.

By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, And all the host of them by the breath of His mouth.

He gathers the waters of the sea together as a heap, He lays up the deep in storehouses.

Let the earth  fear the Lord; Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him.

For He spoke, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast.

The Lord brings the counsel of nations to nothing; He makes the plans of the peoples of no effect.

The counsel of the Lord stands forever,  The plans of His heart to all generations.

Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, And the people whom He has chosen as His own inheritance.

The Lord looks from heaven; He sees all the sons of men.

From the place of His habitation He looks on all the inhabitants of the earth; 

He fashions their hearts individually; He considers all their works.

      ----------------------------------------------

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer! —Psalm 19:14 

Please Lord, let my works reflect Yous as I submit them all to Your will in my life!

 

Runaway Fish Prophet, Part 8

He wanted to hurl a ball of fire into the side of that cracked, nasty city wall. It represented sin and destruction and every thing he hated.

Everything he had tried to stop.

He had known this would happen. Oh, how he had known! "I knew, God!" He shouted. He spun in a circle, screaming at the sky where he knew God was. "I knew this would happen!"

Stupid city. Stupid people. Once the king of Nineveh had declared a time of fasting and repentance, word had spread even faster. The change was genuine, too. Even Jonah could see that. For crying out loud, they were still praying and fasting! Jonah had just left a bonfire filled with idols and trinkets witches sold. He had been there for weeks, teaching, preaching, and declaring God's message to the people.

God had forgiven them.

"Lord," he emphatically waved at the sky. "Is not this what I said would happen when I was still in my country? That is why I ran to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful. Slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster. Now, God, take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live."

He heard the words of the Lord. Why, this time they even sounded in his ears. "Do you do well to be angry?"

Ha! Did he do well to be angry? Ha! 

He sure did.

It was late, late evening on Day Thirty-Nine. Jonah stalked away from the city to see what would happen.

Jonah 3:10-4:1-5

At last we have it. Jonah's real reason for being mad, running away, and being a twit in general.
Goodness, God having mercy on people? Who would have thought? What was this guy's problem? Why did he want judgment and death against all those people?

Jonah was suffering from a spiritual condition we all know, and have had at one time or another. If allowed untreated, it can be spiritually deadly.

Sinner envy.

"What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war among you? You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions." James 4:1-3

Jonah was angry that they could live the kind of lifestyles they had for all this time, and not pay the piece he had heard about for his entire life. He had to live by the rules, but they had enjoyed a lifetime of sin. It wasn't fair. It wasn't just.

Who decides what's fair and just? God.

Was it fair or just that God sent His only Son to die, so that whoever would believe on Him, would be saved? Was it fair, that Jesus died on the cross for us? Was it fair that He had to endure more pain and suffering then we will ever know? Was it fair that God even turned His back on Jesus because of our sins?

God's goal isn't to condemn and judge. It's what He has to do because of sin. His goal is to give every chance possible for someone to turn away from sin in order to choose eternity with Him instead. God's goal is to be with you.

Sinner envy can lead to terminal spiritual illness. The perfect medicine is to read about Jesus' death on the cross while asking yourself, "Was this fair?" It wasn't. He did it for us.

V. Joy Palmer