What I do have I give you

What I do have I give you

Acts 3: Now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. ² And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms from those who entered the temple; ³ who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked for alms. ⁴ And fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, “Look at us.” ⁵ So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. ⁶ Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” ⁷ And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. ⁸ So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them—walking, leaping, and praising God. ⁹ And all the people saw him walking and praising God. ¹⁰ Then they knew that it was he who sat begging alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

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Desiring superpowers, I grabbed a towel and shoved one end in the back of my shirt as a cape. Holding my arms out in front of me, I circled the yard as if I were flying. I was invincible! Later, when I fell and skinned my knee, I went in the house crying.

• There were times when I wanted to feel special.
• There were times when I desired to be stronger.
• There were times when I wished I could be something more than what I was.

Peter had experienced GOD’s mighty power in his life on several occasions. He just witnessed tongues of fire and preached so boldly that thousands people believed. He was so filled with excitement that he told a lame man to walk and GOD healed him. This was done so others can see and believe in GOD.

• GOD wants me to be excited about HIM so HE can use me.
• GOD wants me to be ready to be used by HIM at a moment’s notice.
• GOD wants me to want others to see HIM, and not see me.

Wanting to perform miracles is nice, BUT GOD wants me to want the miracle to happen, whether through me or if GOD chooses to do it without a person. The goal of miracles is not to make a human feel special. GOD needs to be praised for that is where the power comes form.

Miracles cannot happen with half-belief. Peter had to be restored by JESUS and even then GOD had to show him that the power comes from HIM. Some people cry out things in the “name of JESUS” and nothing happens. GOD works through those who are fully restored. I am grateful GOD restores me.

• Are you calling on JESUS to heal and nothing is happening?
• Do you believe in GOD fully to restore you and that person to being whole?
• If you know you have a part of you that does not believe, then will you give the small part that does to someone today?

Looking for Thanks

Luke 17: ¹¹ Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. ¹² As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance ¹³ and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!”

¹⁴ When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed.

¹⁵ One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. ¹⁶ He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan.

¹⁷ Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine?18 Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?”¹⁹ Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.”

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Being angry at “that” person made it difficult to be thankful. I took the things offered to me but felt rage in my heart. I mean it was their fault so I have a right to be angry, right?

• Many times I had anger in my heart.
• Many times I had too many problems on my mind to be thankful.
• Many times I had an expectation that was not met.

JESUS cleansed ten lepers but only one returned to say “Thank YOU.” It was possible that the other nine were cast out of the church, according to the law,  and accepted mingling with the “foreigner” Samaritan. When JESUS sent them back to the church to be restored, they did not thank HIM.

• GOD wants me to be thankful for every little thing people do for me.
• GOD wants me to be thankful for all that I have, even through difficult times.
• GOD wants me to be thankful because hatred and bitterness can fill my heart and blind me to HIS wonderful plan.

“Thank YOU” is what GOD is looking for, but in many instances I give HIM complaints about not having enough. While HE can handle my complaints and requests for more stuff, HE does want me to say “Thank YOU” every now and then. A heartfelt thanks is in order for GOD from me today. “THANK YOU LORD!”

• Are you busy complaining to GOD about the latest problem?
• Can you recall the last time you really said “Thank YOU” to GOD?
• Will you take a moment today and praise GOD by saying “Thank YOU?”

Criteria

Luke 7: ²² Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and tell John the things you have seen and heard: that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have the gospel preached to them. ²³ And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.”

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“Write down your criteria for the person you are looking for” said Human Resources. I was searching for a candidate to hire and had to write a short list of standards the person needed to have in order to get the job.

• Sometimes I have set standards for how people will act.
• There were times when I set the conditions for how I expected people to behave.
• Sometimes I wonder what is the criteria for being GOD transformed into a human.

JESUS gives a shocking list that no human could do. HE healed the blind, lame, lepers and deaf people of their ailments. HE took it one step further and mention the dead are raised. One other strange item that JESUS added was “the poor have the gospel preached to them” as if not preaching to them was similar to the diseases and death HE just mentioned.

• GOD wants me to preach the gospel to the poor.
• GOD wants me to believe in HIS power over the physical body.
• GOD wants me to bold in my belief of HIM and the not be ashamed or offended by believing in HIM.

GOD’s standards are so far above mine. I mean, sometimes I just want GOD to give me a vacation or pay a few bills. HE is concerned about me and the other poor person HE sends me to, or the person who is sent to me. JESUS wants life and only HE can give it.

• Are you looking for something?
• Do you think you have the right criteria for your life?
• Can you allow GOD to guide you to the place HE wants you to be?

More Than a Visit

Luke 7: ¹¹ Now it happened, the day after, that He went into a city called Nain; and many of His disciples went with Him, and a large crowd. ¹² And when He came near the gate of the city, behold, a dead man was being carried out, the only son of his mother; and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the city was with her. ¹³ When the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said to her, “Do not weep.” ¹⁴ Then He came and touched the open coffin, and those who carried him stood still. And He said, “Young man, I say to you, arise.” ¹⁵ So he who was dead sat up and began to speak. And He presented him to his mother.

¹⁶ Then fear came upon all, and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has risen up among us”; and, “God has visited His people.” ¹⁷ And this report about Him went throughout all Judea and all the surrounding region.

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“Do you mind if my friend crashes on your couch?” was the question posed to me  one weekend. “Sure” was my answer. That weekend turned into a week which turned into a month. Soon the “guest” was eating up my food. “When is he going to leave?” I asked.

• There were times when I had unwanted visitors.
• There were times when I thought the “visit” was only going to be temporary.
• There were times when I wanted the visitor to go home.

Ancient doctors could claim to heal people when they did something and the patient got well, but no one had ever raised someone from the dead, until JESUS. When HE said “Young man, I say to you, arise” the dead man got up and spoke. The crowd said “GOD has visited HIS people.”

• JESUS became a human specifically to die in my place.
• JESUS gave up everything just to save me.
• JESUS has been placed above everything and has lifted me up eternally.

What the crowd did not understand was JESUS didn’t just stop by for a visit, HE came to HIS humans with a purpose, namely redemption. The thought HE was going to heal one or two people with magical powers.

Little did they know that JESUS would heal all of humanity with HIS death and resurrection. Those who believe in HIS sacrifice will be with HIM eternally. I am grateful for being saved!

• Do you think GOD leaves you when you have problems?
• Do you think GOD is doing some sadistic laboratory test on you to see things HE doesn’t already know?
• Can you stop thinking negatively about GOD and see the enormous sacrifice HE did for you today?

Healed

Luke 4: ³⁸ Now He arose from the synagogue and entered Simon’s house. But Simon’s wife’s mother was sick with a high fever, and they made request of Him concerning her. ³⁹ So He stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. And immediately she arose and served them.

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“GOD I won’t do that again!” I said clutching my chest. The pain was so intense; I thought I was going to die. I figured I had been hanging out, sinning too much and maybe it was GOD’s way of punishing me. Days later, when the pain went away, The thought of hanging with my “friends” came back to mind. I mean church people were so boring to hang around.

• There were times when I did not believe in supernatural healing.
• There were times when I questioned “If GOD exists, then why are people sick?”
• There were times when I lived my life doing anything “I” wanted to do without a thought of what GOD wanted me to do.

Everyone in the house of Simon (Peter) asked JESUS to do something about Simon’s mother-in-law. They had just heard some amazing words from JESUS calling HIMSELF GOD and they believe HIM. JESUS told the fever to go away and she was instantly healed. She got up and served JESUS.

• JESUS wants to heal me when I am sick.
• JESUS wants me to remember that HE is the one who heals.
• JESUS wants me to serve HIM when I do get healed.

Why get healed just to turn around and be the same lackluster person? If I am expecting supernatural healing, then I must also expect supernatural purpose in my life. GOD keeps me alive for some reason and that reason is HIS. Whether I am sick or well, GOD has a purpose for my life.

• Are you sick?
• Do you need supernatural healing?
• Will you stop living for yourself and start living for GOD so HE will heal your SPIRIT first?

Quiet Healer

Mark 1: ²⁹ As soon as they left the synagogue, they went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew. ³⁰ Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they immediately told Jesus about her. ³¹ So he went to her, took her hand and helped her up. The fever left her and she began to wait on them.

³² That evening after sunset the people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon-possessed. ³³ The whole town gathered at the door, ³⁴ and Jesus healed many who had various diseases. He also drove out many demons, but he would not let the demons speak because they knew who he was.

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“I’m going to really go fast this time” I thought to myself. As I stepped on the pedal, my pant leg got caught in between the sprocket and the chain of my bike. All I could do was cry. One of my neighbors came out, freed my pants from the relentless grip and rolled the pant leg up so I could ride continuously. I thanked him but he did not say much at all. I never saw him brag about it.

• Sometimes I need help.
• Sometimes I feel like crying out.
• Sometimes I need a healer or a comforter, or someone who can solve my problem.

JESUS was that quiet healer. HE healed thousands of people in this passage but what is intriguing to me is HE told the demons to be quiet because they knew who HE truly was. The timing probably wasn’t right to let people know HE was and is GOD so HE thanklessly served the people.

• JESUS protects me without thanks from me.
• JESUS heals me even when I am complaining.
• JESUS guides me to a better place even when I have freshly sinned.

Not once is it mentioned that JESUS scolded anyone for getting sick or demon possessed. HE simply showed compassion on the people without bragging about who HE was and is. JESUS is my quiet healer.

• Are you in trouble?
• Do you feel like crying out?
• Can you recognize all the times JESUS quietly brought you out of trouble without your thanks?
• Will you thank JESUS today?

Belief and Power

Matthew 9: ¹⁸ While he was saying this, a synagogue leader came and knelt before him and said, “My daughter has just died. But come and put your hand on her, and she will live.” ¹⁹ Jesus got up and went with him, and so did his disciples.

²⁰ Just then a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak. ²¹ She said to herself, “If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed.”

²² Jesus turned and saw her. “Take heart, daughter,” he said, “your faith has healed you.” And the woman was healed at that moment.

²³ When Jesus entered the synagogue leader’s house and saw the noisy crowd and people playing pipes, ²⁴ he said, “Go away. The girl is not dead but asleep.” But they laughed at him. ²⁵ After the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took the girl by the hand, and she got up. ²⁶ News of this spread through all that region.

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“Absurd” comes to mind when I read this passage. Dead means dead! Why in the world would this guy even think this method would work? I read on. “Absurd again” came to mind. How could a person think that touching a garment would heal the body?

• Belief seems absurd from the outside looking in.
• Belief seems like something only crazy people or poor people do.
• Belief seems to be a last resort rather than a first response.

What I like about this passage is the immediacy of those involved. The synagogue leader immediately went to JESUS, knowing JESUS could do something about the situation. He didn’t say she “may” live, he said she “will” live. The bleeding, ostracized woman said the same. She did not say “Maybe I will be healed and if I’m not then I will try something else.” No, she said “I will be healed.”

• JESUS showed HIS power over death in order to grow my faith in HIM.
• JESUS gave me an example of HIS power in order to make me believe HE can do anything in my life.
• JESUS healed people in order to tell me “Do not worry about your situation, I can handle it.”

If I could just touch HIS garment or get HIS attention then HE can heal anything, should be my way of thinking. I should act like JESUS has the power I read about. JESUS looks at me the same way HE sees these people. The little girl did not ask to be raised from the dead, nor did the woman ask JESUS to be healed.

JESUS wanted the best for them and wants the same for me. HE heals me daily.

• Are you wounded?
• Do you feel your life is dead?
• Can you stop believing in the worst and start believing that JESUS can heal your situation?
• Will you say “GOD WILL” instead of doubting HIM?

Label Me in Need of Mercy

Matthew 9: ⁹ As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him.

¹⁰ While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples. ¹¹ When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”

¹² On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. ¹³ But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

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“Those people are bad” I said. I mean look at “them!” “They” are doing [insert sin]. I better tell “them” about “themselves” so “they” will stop sinning!

• GOD said to me “Your righteousness is like a filthy rag.”
• GOD said to me “Your righteousness is like dung to ME.”
• GOD said to me “Your righteousness is a barrier to people accepting ME as their Savior.”

Pimp, hooker, gay, gambler, druggy and racist were convenient labels I placed on “those” people, meanwhile I forgot to say what I was, namely a lust-filled, greedy, power hungry blamer. I had stopped doing several sins only to pick up socially acceptable sins with honored labels.

People would label me as “One of us” or “Wealth Minded” or “Ambitious” or better yet “Calls ‘em as he sees ‘em.” BUT GOD wants me to have different labels.

• GOD wants me to label myself as a “sinner” who needs HIS mercy.
• GOD wants me to label myself as a “dead soul” in need of resurrection from HIM and HIM alone.
• GOD wants me to label myself as a “forgiven being” because I believe that HE (JESUS), died for me on purpose and now lives as my Savior.

“Our” FATHER and give “Us” this day “Our” daily bread show me how GOD wants me to think. HE doesn’t want me to label “those” people rather HE wants me to include myself in “that” crowd.

Drawing people back to GOD means I need to be transparent about my sins, not my accomplishments. GOD doesn't need another perfect sacrifice; JESUS was already the chosen one. HE needs a “sinner” to say “Isn’t GOD wonderful? I did all of this and HE forgave me for ALL of it!”

HE wants me to show what a changed life can be like by demonstrating hope in HIM no matter what the storm brings.

• Are you labeling people?
• Do you think “that” person is bad and you are “good?”
• Can you stop labeling people for a minute and label yourself before GOD?
• Will you ask HIM for HIS forgiveness today?

Well Placed Complaint

Habakkuk 1: ² How long, Lord, must I call for help,
    but you do not listen?
Or cry out to you, “Violence!”
    but you do not save?

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¹³ Your eyes are too pure to look on evil;
    you cannot tolerate wrongdoing.
Why then do you tolerate the treacherous?
    Why are you silent while the wicked
    swallow up those more righteous than themselves?

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“There’s nothing on TV!” I blurted out. I pay for hundreds of channels and you would think they would have just one I could watch! “My phone has no signal!” I exclaimed. I pay for a fast network and you would think I should be able to get coverage here on the moon! “Traffic is moving too slow because of that camper!” I said out loud. I wonder what I can do.

• Sometimes I complain about comfort.
• Sometimes I grumble about luxury items.
• Sometimes I grouse about things that are out of my control.

Complaining takes practice and after a while I had a PhD in complain-ology! It’s too cold, or it’s too rainy were whining statements I protested as I passed a homeless person without seeing them. “Man, my tire is low light is on again!” are words I have said while driving out of communities where people are murdered, overlooked and undignified. Should I complain?

• GOD says to me “Stand up for those who cannot stand up for themselves.”
• GOD says to me “Pray for those who have needs.”
• GOD says to me “Serve those who are poor and outcast and I will serve you far more than you know.”

Habakkuk complained about the mistreatment of his friends, family and community. He wasn’t asking for more riches rather some relief from the oppressors. He knew GOD was the only answer to truly difficult situations. GOD wants me to focus on some of these problems as well. HE wants me to have compassion when necessary.

Instead of complaining about traffic, HE wants me to pray for those who are involved in the accident. Rather than complaining about luxury TV, HE wants me to have a heart of thanksgiving that I even have TV and maybe open up my home to someone who doesn’t. GOD does not mind a complaint as long as the other side points to growing HIS kingdom.

• What are you complaining about right now?
• Are you complaining about your comfort?
• Can you reduce your complaints a little and point your frustrated words towards injustice?
• Will you genuinely pray for those you have overlooked today?

Freed from the Cage

Ezekiel 34: ²⁵ “‘I will make a covenant of peace with them and rid the land of savage beasts so that they may live in the wilderness and sleep in the forests in safety. ²⁶ I will make them and the places surrounding my hill a blessing. I will send down showers in season; there will be showers of blessing. ²⁷ The trees will yield their fruit and the ground will yield its crops; the people will be secure in their land. They will know that I am the Lord, when I break the bars of their yoke and rescue them from the hands of those who enslaved them.

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With shoulders slumped I went into the office defeated. “’Sigh’ I guess I will be here forever” I thought to myself. I kind of enjoyed the job, but did not like the city and I was young, single and still ready to enjoy myself. I felt trapped with no way out.

• There have been times where I felt caged in.
• There have been times where I felt trapped in a snare.
• There have been times where I felt my potential was being wasted away while being enslaved.

As I sat there staring at my cubicle wall a phone call came in with a job opportunity to move. I had not applied nor did I know where this person got my name. I received the information and immediately knew this was the place for me! I was rescued from the dungeon!

• GOD says to me “I will make a covenant of peace with you.”
• GOD says to me “I will make the wilderness and surrounding places safe for you.”
• GOD says to me “I will make place you in a growing tree in a field where there is a bountiful crop and there you will be secure.”

Looking back I can see many times where I thought “This is the end and I am stuck.” I felt like the momentum in my desire had stalled, BUT GOD said something different. HE is the one who says “That’s enough” and rescues me from the tempest. HE makes the waters of my life still and restores my soul. GOD is my shower of blessing!

• Are you feeling lost?
• Have you given up on everything, even GOD?
• Can you allow GOD to strengthen your faith again?

Putting 5 Senses to Work

Jeremiah 17: ⁹ The heart is deceitful above all things
    and beyond cure.
    Who can understand it?

¹⁰ “I the Lord search the heart
    and examine the mind,
to reward each person according to their conduct,
    according to what their deeds deserve.”

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Chocolate cake piled as high as the centerpiece was the decadent dessert placed before us. It was very tasty. As the conversation flowed, we discussed a person. The “stuff” about that person was juicy. My eyes spied the car I really liked and I said to myself “One day.” The car looked shiny. A person walked past me who could have used two showers and I was repulsed. They were smelly. When I got outside I grimaced because I got wet and felt cold. It was rainy.

• My senses can trigger my thoughts.
• My senses can start me on a path of thinking that many not be the best.
• My senses can kick off a sequence of opinions that could lead me to a not so good place.

Each day I am faced with the use of the five senses I am given. When I use my senses selfishly, pride, greed, lust, malicious envy, gluttony, wrath and slothfulness creep in. If I look at the wrong thing or touch the right thing I am sent on a path that is not pleasing to GOD. Is there any help?

• GOD says to me “I the LORD search the heart and I can cleanse it of all unrighteousness.”
• GOD says to me “I examine the mind and I can hold all thoughts captive.”
• GOD says to me “I will reward you for your conduct, not your thoughts.”

Just because a bad thought pops in my head does not mean I have to act on it. Now I can see why Paul says “pray without ceasing.” In the moment I listen to the gossip, I should be praying for the transmitter, myself and the person being spoken about who is not there. After the prayer, I can then excuse myself from the conversation.

Each time I use my senses for GOD I am rewarded. HE understands that I may sin, but HE is excited when I choose not to. As I mature in CHRIST I can make a choice to use my senses in ways that please HIM.

• Are you seeking pleasure?
• Do you think you “deserve” a break from being “good?”
• Can you hold a few more of your thoughts captive and ask GOD to have at least one more today?