Be Healed!

Luke 13:10 (The Message)

"Jesus was teaching in one of the meeting places on the Sabbath. There was a woman present, so twisted and bent over with arthritis that she couldn't even look up. She had been afflicted with this for eighteen years. When Jesus saw her, he called her over. "Woman, you're free!" He laid hands on her and suddenly she was standing straight and tall, giving glory to God."

These couple verses in the book of Luke are FULL of power. Don't know what I mean? Imagine if you were that woman. Twisted and bent with arthritis for 18 years. Hunched over so she couldn't even look up. And all it took were 3 words from Jesus and she was healed. Not just a little healed....completely healed. Imagine that. Imagine all the pain and suffering she must have had to deal with over 18 years. Nowadays she would visit doctors, holistic healers, chiropracters and massage therapists looking for one iota of relief for the screaming pain she experiences everyday.

It says that "Jesus saw her" which, to me, means that she wasn't desperate to get to Jesus, she wasn't pushing through the inevitable crowds that surrounded Him, trying to get Him to touch her. She was just there. And Jesus just "saw her" and called to her, just like that she was healed.

This is the kind of power that the name of Jesus holds. You,too, can be healed instantly, just like that. Jesus can and WILL heal you and your body no matter what. If you need healing in your body today, I encourage you to read these verses in Luke chapter 13. Read what Jesus can do for you. Read what Jesus WANTS to do for you.

What does that even mean?

Main Entry: bless·ed
Pronunciation: \ˈble-səd\Variant(s): also blest \ˈblest\Function: adjective
1: held in reverence, honored in worship : hallowed
2 : of or enjoying happiness; specifically : enjoying the bliss of heaven —used as a title for a beatified person
3 : bringing pleasure, contentment, or good fortune
4: used as an intensive

Have you ever heard this word before? I'll bet that you've heard it in a variety of usages, from good (I'm blessed in God!) to questionable (This blessed thing doesn't work!). But do you know what it really means? Here's the definition above from Webster's Dictionary. Something held in reverence, honored in worship, enjoying happiness, SPECIFICALLY enjoying the bliss of Heaven. Let's back it up, what does the bliss of Heaven mean? Let me break it down for you: The bliss of Heaven is enjoying all the GOOD things that Heaven has to offer. The bible says that in Heaven streets are paved with gold. Can you imagine what that would look like? Imagine driving down Wellington Avenue and it's paved in gold. Wouldn't that make you happy? Would your heart rejoice at the sight of it? That's what I'm talking about. Being blessed it about rejoicing (showing your happiness) for ALL the things that God has done for you. Maybe you haven't had the perfect life, maybe you're going through some kind of struggle or challenge right now. But let me tell you that God has something GREAT for you. And by great I mean like Heaven on Earth. Something that will make your heart truly happy, not just a fleeting emotion. Something deep rooted that changes you from the inside out. That's what being "blessed" means and looks like. A deep rooted joy that was put there by God for you to enjoy all things in life.

IS Jesus the "Reason for the Season?"

Wait a minute, you might say to yourself....isn't that saying just for Christmas? You know, the hustle and bustle of Christmas time sometimes overshadows the actual REASON for Christmas. No, it's not just to see Santa and get presents. Christmas is celebrated because Jesus was born, hence the "Reason for the Season" tagline. But what about Easter? Perhaps you weren't aware that Jesus did, in fact, rise from the dead and THAT is the reason Easter is celebrated. Not just for the Easter Bunny and chocolate. But for that amazing fact. Romans 8:6 in the Message Translation reads:

"Could it be any clearer? Our old way of life was nailed to the cross with Christ, a decisive end to that sin-miserable life—no longer at sin's every beck and call! What we believe is this: If we get included in Christ's sin-conquering death, we also get included in his life-saving resurrection. We know that when Jesus was raised from the dead it was a signal of the end of death-as-the-end. Never again will death have the last word. When Jesus died, he took sin down with him, but alive he brings God down to us. From now on, think of it this way: Sin speaks a dead language that means nothing to you; God speaks your mother tongue, and you hang on every word. You are dead to sin and alive to God. That's what Jesus did."

Now this is a pretty long verse so I'll break it down for you. When Jesus died on the cross, He made it so death is not the end. That means that when you die, you don't just get buried in the ground or spread someone picturesque. When you die, you get to join Jesus in Heaven. That's a pretty big thought. The way to get there is to believe in your heart and say with your mouth that Jesus is Lord. When Jesus comes to live in your heart, that gives YOU a safe passage-way to Heaven when you die.

This is the reason that I celebrate Easter. To celebrate the fact that Jesus is no longer dead, but that He rose and went up to Heaven so that we could have eternal life. I rejoice everyday in that fact; that I can know Jesus and have a relationship with Him because HE made it possible. I rejoice in the fact that He is alive and He made ME to have ever-lasting life because He loved me so much.

Something great within us

Just when I thought that living in Chilliwack and surrounding myself with wonderful people couldn't get any better, I visit downtown Chilliwack and am reminded of the beautiful souls that fill this town. Upon a visit to downtown yesterday I saw a lady who was obviously a little down on her luck. She had dirty, baggy clothes on and was pushing a buggy filled with various items, including a large bag of plastic bottles and cans. I walked by her and did my best to make eye contact and smile at her, just as I would anyone else, only to have her avoid my eyes and shuffle past. I watched her cross the street and come face to face (well actually, face to cart) with a teenage girl, probably around 17 or 18. The lady's cart got stuck on the curb and instead of just walking right by, the girl stopped to help her. Even when the cart tipped over and the cans spilled all over the sidewalk, this girl made it clear that she wasn't going to run away or turn a blind eye. She knelt down beside the woman and helped her clean up every last can and bottle. While I stood across the street and watched, my eyes filled with tears and I realized that this single action of the girl, which probably didn't have any significance to her, could possibly be a life changing experience for the woman. Perhaps she's dealt with criticism, hatred or judgement before. Maybe she's had a tough life filled with negative experiences. But this single act of love was enough to make this woman smile and say thank you to the girl.

Have you ever had a single act of love change who you are? Have you ever had that one defining moment where you can look back and know that was the moment that changed your life forever? I have. And it came when I realized for the first time that Jesus died on the cross for ME. To take away my sins. That He wanted to have a personal relationship with me, one where I could come to Him with anything and everything and know that I wouldn't be judged or ridiculed.

I encourage you today to read John 3:14-21. Don't just stop at John 3:16. Read all the verses through and realize the reason that Jesus was sent to this earth. Not to condemn or to judge. But to be THE light of the world.