Healing What Ails You

Earlier, I caught a nasty virus, the kind that plays havoc with your digestive system.

Of course, we were out of town when it hit. During our granddaughter’s dance competition, we sat in the balcony watching so many beautiful dancers. While waiting for her solos, it hit hard.

The closest bathroom was upstairs. I had to run up two flights of stairs to get there. Unfortunately, it hit every ten minutes for a couple of hours. I made many hurried flights up those stairs. Luckily, no one else was around, so I had some privacy.

Clearly, my body was trying to get rid of whatever was causing all these problems. Later, at the doctor’s office, I learned that norovirus was the culprit. After some prescribed pills, bowls of steaming hot soup, and a week of rest, I felt 100% again.

If only it were that simple with the soul. If only we could vomit out all the nasty thoughts and evil desires. If only that would happen without us even having to think about it.

Impure thoughts in? What if the soul would just automatically spit them out?

That would be easy, wouldn’t it?

Unfortunately, we can carry impure thoughts and evil intentions within us that poison our souls and harm those around us.

Unlike a virus, they don’t automatically purge themselves from our souls. But God, in His infinite wisdom, shows us how to purify our souls.

Prayer and self-reflection begin the process.

Asking God to forgive us cleanses our soul.

Opening the bible and reading God’s word continues the healing.

Just as our bodies get rid of the viruses and germs that cause illness, so our souls have ways of cleansing our sin and spiritual disease. God, our great physician, provides ways for us to draw closer to Him.

What are you doing to cleanse your soul of spiritual illness?

Thank you, healing God, for revealing our sin and spiritual disease. Thank You for providing healing for what ails our souls.

We Are All Sinners

Here’s your Tuesday food for thought. Have a wonderful day!

We are all poor sinners and unworthy even to mention your name, and so we beg our Lord Jesus Christ, your beloved Son, in whom you are well pleased, and the Holy Spirit, to give you thanks for everything.

~St. Francis of Assisi

Forgive One Another

Good Monday Morning!

I wonder with all of the dissention today, how many of us are following this command.

It is not always easy.

Lord, teach us to love others as you do, for we are all created by you.

He Bears Our Burdens

So I’m a wee bit (well a whole lot) late today. Even so, I hope y’all are having a great day. Here’s a scripture to help you keep your focus on your maker.

Thank you, Father, for carrying our burdens and giving us grace.

A Thunderous Voice

A Thunderous Voice

The bible tells us that God speaks in a still, small voice.  But sometimes when I enter a still, small state, His voice shouts and thunders:  How can my people be so blind?  How can you be so deaf?  Open your eyes!  Open your ears!  My glory is all around you and you ignore it.

Look!  Behold my glory in the sky:  The brightness of the sun, the vastness of the blue dome overhead.  The moon and the host of stars glow at night; all these reveal my glory.  Open your eyes to see Me.  The majestic, snow-topped mountains and the heaving waters of the oceans, their waves crashing against the shore, are all shouting out my greatness.  The brilliant bolt of lightning electrifies the night sky.  How can you not see Me?  Look in the eyes of an infant, in the caress of a loved one. Look at your own skin and hair.   My glory is everywhere.  See it and glorify my name.

Listen!  You will hear my voice.  Listen to the laughter of a child.  Listen to the wind in the trees.   Listen!  Everywhere you hear testaments of my greatness:  Hear the rumbling thunder in the midst of a storm.  Hear the early morning songs of the birds and the rushing waters of a mountain stream.

Listen to music: the piano, guitar, violin, and saxophone all sing of my glory.  Hear the voices of those who love you.  Listen to your heartbeat.  Hear your breathing.  All these provide testimonies of my greatness.  Open your ears; glorify my name.

O my people, how can you be so blind?  O people, how can you be so deaf?  Open your eyes; open your ears.  My glory resides all around you!  See it.  Hear it.  After you finally see it and hear it, do not be mute.  Tell others how great I am.  Open your mouth and glorify Me. Proclaim My majesty. 

Father, forgive me.  Forgive me for the countless times I fail to notice your glory all around me.  Forgive me for not listening for your voice.  Keep my eyes and ears open that I may behold your glory.  Let my mouth open in praise of my almighty God.

Job 37:2-5 “Listen!  Listen to the roar of his voice, to the rumbling that comes from his mouth.  He unleashes his lightning beneath the whole heavens and sends it to the ends of the earth.  After that comes the sound of his roar; he thunders with his majestic voice.  When his voice resounds, he holds nothing back.  God’s voice thunders in marvelous ways; he does great things beyond our understanding.”

Quiet Power

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Here’s a little something to contemplate today. Have a blessed day.

“It was the mighty power of the Holy Spirit dwelling in Him by which Jesus overcame the world–and that same quiet power, if it dwells in us, will make us win the same victory by faith.”
― Charles H. Spurgeon

Lord, teach us to yield to your Holy Spirit who can guide and teach us in all things.

Parched

Parched

Before my morning walk I guzzle 16 ounces of water, trying to adequately hydrate before walking in the heat. Summer heat is definitely not my favorite. Even though much of my walk is shaded, I slather on sunscreen and head out the door. Walking on the nature trails is relatively cool—the trees’ dappled shade provides a respite from the sun’s merciless heat.

As I walk, I notice the plant life around me. The trees still stretch their leafy canopies over the pathway, but signs of stress abound. Patches of yellow dot the overhead branches, and dry, brown, crunchy leaves litter my walk. Even though their roots reach deep underground, the trees struggle to find water in the unending heat and drought. Other than a brief sprinkle yesterday, I can’t remember the last time it rained.

The undergrowth shows evidence of the hot and dry conditions. Some of the once deep-green grasses have faded to pale, washed-out green. Those are the fortunate plants. Most are now brown and dried; the ones near the path crunch and crumble beneath my feet, becoming one with the dirt path.

When I reach the cement bridge over the little stream, I notice the creek has shrunk to half its normal size. Gone are the bubbling waters cascading over the rocks. Now the stream moves sluggishly along its path, exposing half of its muddy bed. Surely everything around me is parched and cries out for water. All the life around me waits for life-giving rain.

As I head toward home, I feel sweat dripping onto my neck. I too am parched and anxious to drink more water. Even though I stopped at a water fountain halfway through my walk, my mouth is dry and my thirst urges my feet to move quickly toward home and water. Unlike the forest plants and trees, I can turn on the faucet and quench my thirst whenever I choose. Nature must wait for rain.

So if I can quench my thirst whenever I want, why do I allow my soul to become dry? I can drink deeply from spiritual waters as often and as much as I please. Why do I allow my spirit to become thirsty? Just as I must replenish the water lost while walking, I must replenish my soul with Christ’s living water and not allow my soul to be parched.

Father, remind me to drink deeply and often from your living spiritual water.

Psalm 107:8 & 9 “Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men, for he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.”