Only with Jesus

Risk-taking faith. Healing begins when we do something. Is it any something or must it be something phenomenal? Going to the doctor may not be enough. That perhaps is not a risk? Healing begins when we reach out, when we take a step. How big a step? How much?

God, Max Lucado says, honors radical, risk-taking faith. What is radical. Where can I find healing from the pain, relief from the pain. The pain that distracts me, that prevents a good night's sleep and through the day.

There are many, besides myself, who seek healing - from pain, disease, anything and everything. Many, many.

Leg pain, reoccurring leg pain, newborn surgery, foot surgery, diabetes, arthritis, carpal tunnel, shoulder surgery, cancer. So much, so so much.

And then there are answers. Thank you Lord for answers. You do answer. You provide the answers we seek. Sometimes we don't always see them staring us right in the face. Sometimes we are so blind. Our understanding takes so long, doesn't come as fast as we'd like. You know all. We are so slow.

But we pray. We continue to pray for our friends, our family, ourselves and we continue to praise you and give thanks for all you bestow upon us.

It does not come easily to thank you for the turmoils that come upon us. But when we seek you in their midst, we do find, perhaps, a bit of relief, possibly complete healing or remission. But best of all, we find peace. And rest in you Lord Jesus.

And because of You, we can overcome. Because of You dear Lord, because of You in us, we can overcome. Thank you Lord.

Thank you for helping me to remember that it is through You, in You, walking beside me, carrying me, I can overcome each struggle. Only by your power is it possible.

"The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, To all who call upon Him in truth." - Psalm 145:18

"With God, all things are possible." Matthew 19:26a

Security

Security

Is it
in another person
Is it
in 4 walls and a roof
Is it
in quantity of funds for work done.

Is it?

What is it?
What does it mean?
Where is your security?

Is it
in calmness
in peacefulness
in quietness
in solitude
in having no fear

Is it?

What is it?
What does it mean?
How do you obtain it?

Is it
in having a well-paying job
in being in good health
in having health and life insurance
in being surrounded with family
in having a husband or wife
in having children

Is it?

Is it
always being happy in everything going just as you planned
Is it
in contentment
in sleeping pain-free
in having no anxious moments
in assurance

Is it?

What is it?
Do you have security?
Where did you obtain it?
What does it mean for you?

"count it all joy when you fall into various trials ... ask in faith, with no doubting, ... Blessed is he who endures temptation; for when he has been proved, he will receive the crown of Life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him." - James 1:2a, 6, 12

Today's reading in "I Want to Live These Days with You" by Dietrich Bonhoeffer reminds me that security is found only in Jesus / God. No matter what befalls us it is only through faith that He can do what He says, what He promises. If we do not believe Jesus holds the key to all we ever need, then our security lies only in ourselves and that is not true security.

Being surrounded by fellow believers and studying His divine word and praising and praying to His holiness instills in us the necessity to stay totally tuned in and focused on Him.

For without Him we have nothing. All the fame and fortune and love we acquire is meaningless if we do not have Jesus first and foremost in our lives.

With Him we can achieve, we can overcome, we can be set free, we will have that security we so desperately crave.

"With God all things are possible" - Matthew 19:26a

"Only faith can sleep without a care, for sleep is a reminder of paradise; faith has its security in God alone. Faith does not believe in itself, ... but solely, completely in God -- whether there are storms or not." - Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Only God

"If God be for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31a)

"Who shall bring a charge against God's elect?" (Romans 8:33)

"Who is he who condemns?" (Romans 8:34a)

"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?" (Romans 8:35)

The answer ..... No One

God is in control of all, of all the earth, over all the earth. He knows our comings and goings, our desires and dreams, our sinfulness, our evilness. What! we say we have none. We deceive ourselves. We are not perfect. There is only one who is perfect. The great I am. The Lord Jesus. Unblemished and pure.

God knows our struggles, the misfortunes we are dealth. You think He doesn't care?! He cares. When we are one with Him, He is one with us. We have to rely on Him alone. Saying that is one thing. Doing that is entirely something else. He does not rejoice in our pain. It does not make him happy, only sad.

True Love for Him, the Lord Jesus, True obedience. Studying His word, not those of false teachers, not oral traditions handed down from one generation to the next. Being mindful of what the Lord God says in His word and through the Holy Spirit who lives in the hearts of His children.

Negativity downtroddens the best of us. We allow negative thoughts from others and from ourselves to overpower all of God's goodness and even though God has promised to be with us we fund it hard to believe that. We give in to depressing thoughts and wallow in self doubts and pity, grieving for what we don't have.

But Jesus says to us, "With God all things are possible." (Matthew 19:26a)

With God. Walk with Him, Talk with Him, Praise Him, Seek Him, Remember Him, Rejoice in Him, Pray to Him.

All things are possible ... with God.

But without Him, we are doomed.