Thistlebend Quiet eMoment

by Laurie Aker

Focus Scripture: Luke 8:40-56 ESV

40 Now when Jesus returned, the crowd welcomed him,
for they were all waiting for him.
41  And there came a man named Jairus,  
who was a ruler of the synagogue.
And falling at Jesus’ feet, he implored him to come to his house,
42 for he had an only daughter, about twelve years of age,
and she was dying. As Jesus went, the people pressed around him.
43 And there was a woman who had had  
a discharge of blood for twelve years,
and though she had spent all her living on physicians,
she could not be healed by anyone.  
44 She came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment,  
and immediately her discharge of blood ceased.
45 And Jesus said, “Who was it that touched me?” 
When all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the crowds surround you  
and are pressing in on you!”
46 But Jesus said, “Someone touched me,
for I perceive that power has gone out from me.”  
47 And when the woman saw that she was not hidden,
she came trembling, and falling down before him  
declared in the presence of all the people why she had touched him,  
and how she had been immediately healed.  
48 And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith  
has made you well; go in peace.”
49 While he was still speaking, someone from the ruler’s house  
came and said, “Your daughter is dead;  
do not trouble the Teacher any more.”  
50 But Jesus on hearing this answered him,
“Do not fear; only believe, and she will be well.”  
51 And when he came to the house,  
he allowed no one to enter with him,
except Peter and John and James,  
and the father and mother of the child.  
52 And all were weeping and mourning for her,  
but he said, “Do not weep, for she is not dead but sleeping.”  
53 And they laughed at him, knowing that she was dead.  
54 But taking her by the hand he called, saying, “Child, arise.”
55 And her spirit returned, and she got up at once.
And he directed that something should be given her to eat.  
56 And her parents were amazed,
but he charged them to tell no one what had happened.
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Hurting, broken, bruised, discouraged sinner, come to Him.

Are you hurting?Are you lonely?
Are you afraid?
Are you guilty?

Do you awaken in the morning with a broken heart?
Do you struggle overcoming feelings of depression?

Do you believe that Jesus can heal you?
Do you believe that Jesus can forgive you?

Do you believe that He can heal all of your hurts,
even those hurts caused by others, or by your own sin?

TAKING THE TRUTH TO HEART

Where have you run before?
Where have you gone to meet your need or to relieve your pain?

Psychiatrists? Medicine? Shopping? Friends?
Clothing? Alcohol? TV? Facebook?

When there is a nagging ache or a hollow emptiness,
where do you go, what do you do?

Luke 8:43-44
43 And there was a woman who had had  
a discharge of blood for twelve years,
and though she had spent all her living on physicians,
she could not be healed by anyone.  
44 She came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment,  
and immediately her discharge of blood ceased.

Do you believe that Jesus is the Healer?
Do you believe that Jesus can heal you?
Do you believe that He holds not only the whole world
in His hands but also you?
Will you go to the Lord?
Will you touch the fringe of His robe?

Come to Jesus by faith and ask Him
to heal your heart, to forgive your sin.

Listen to Jesus:

Luke 8:48 
Daughter, son, your faith has made you well; go in peace.

Matthew 11:28-30
28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden,
and I will give you rest.
29 Take my yoke upon you,
and learn from me,
for I am gentle and lowly in heart,
and you will find rest for your souls.
30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

AND BRINGING IT TO LIFE

Choose one truth from today and apply it to your heart.
Take it with you throughout the day.

PRAYER
Lord Jesus, please heal those deep places in my heart
that only you can reach.

In His hands for His glory,
Laurie
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by Angie Thomas

I have to admit that often I do not feel blessed.  It is really sort of ridiculous because just temporally speaking I have so much!  A loving husband, three precious kiddos, a warm and comfortable place to live, plenty of food and clothing, wonderful friends and family, the list could go on and on.  But often my day to day circumstances do not scream out “BLESSED” to me, and I feel tired, worn down, pressured from within and without, etc., etc.  I allow my feelings to dictate my beliefs and I live defeated and not victorious.

O that we would really be able to take to heart these amazing truths from Ephesians:

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in himbefore the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us the Beloved. (Eph. 1:3-5)

May we walk by faith and not feelings and walk out our days as those who are truly blessed, full of the joy of the Holy Spirit!

 

 

by Susan Sampson

So how did we come to be in Christ?

It has been a difficult but sweet journey these past few years as I have wrestled with this question, seeking the Lord’s wisdom and truth in His Word.  Laurie talked about the truth of God choosing us bringing consternation and internal conflict.  For me it brought a lot of tears as well.  By God’s grace I have come to see this truth as beautiful evidence of His amazing grace.

As I write this, I continue to struggle with the sin of pride.  I shared with my group how I could hear myself speaking to my son when I was trying to help him learn how to floss his teeth.  Have you seen the movie Narnia?  If so you know who the White Witch is.  I can hear her say to Edmund in her condescending voice, “pray, how did you come to enter my dominion?”  I was ready to go to bed.  I wanted peace and quiet.  The queen did not want to be disturbed.  Teaching a 12 year old how to floss was not on my agenda for the evening!

Apart from Christ, there is no good in me.  There is no good in any of us.  As much as we so badly want to think so.  As much as my pride and ego want to be worshipped and adored and thought of as good, the reality is there is no good!  Paul makes this so very clear.  “None is righteous, no, not one…no one does good, not even one” (Rom. 3:10b, 12b).  Later in chapter 7 he writes, “I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh” (Rom. 7:18a). 

The flesh is worthless.  “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all” (Jn. 6:63).  Did this worthless flesh contribute in any way to where I stand now in Christ?  No!  It is all an act of God alone!  It is a free gift of salvation.  “For by grace you have been saved through faith.  And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast” (Eph. 2:8).

So back to pride.  My flesh still always wants the glory.  It wants the credit.  It wants you to think I’m so great!  Yet this is why God’s grace is so amazing.  I didn’t chose Jesus, He chose me, a wretched sinner deserving of eternal wrath in hell.  Paul explains the truth, “no one seeks for God” (Rom. 3:11b).  I wasn’t seeking God.  I was running my hell bound race as the song says.  “But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ — by grace you have been saved” (Eph. 2:4-5). 

This truth crucifies our pride.  No one can boast.  As much as my old girl so desperately wants the credit for bringing myself to life, that glory belongs to Christ alone!  That is why we truly are blessed beyond belief.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him.  In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved” (Eph. 1:3-6).

Blessed beyond belief by God’s amazing grace.