Mark 5

Halleluia, What a Savior to condescend to men of low estate?

The lowest estate of the Gadarene Demoniac, that none would venture to socialize with. No one would go into the tombs to make his acquaintance, but Jesus. The informed and the grieving parents are outcasts by their infirmity, but not to Jesus.

He comes to us. We have no friend so true as to follow us and to make our acquaintance when we have been the outcasts. He recreates us and makes us monuments of the grace of God. He cleanses us and heals our hearts and makes us testimonies of His help and hope in a life.

I would prefer to be the one who is seeking to be with Jesus greater than any other great person. No help is greater than his help. Some might have money to assist, some might have healing. Only Jesus has transforming power. He allows us to see our depravity and infirmity clearly, all along our path, so that we would be swift to flee to Him for cleansing and healing.

It is me, oh Lord, Standing in the need of Prayer!

Ultimately, in that day, we will be with Him in heaven. But now, we are bid to live out our deliverance in a dark and sin-sick world. Help us to be patient waiting to be with You and live the right way until then.

Gestures of Prayer: Speak Lord, Your servant is listening!

I was blessed meditating on the faith expression on Judy Murray's head in that hat. I've been ribbed for wearing hats to some of my family functions, but at my son's wedding I do hope that I can find a hat like Judy's, "DV". I think it was a corporate maternal prayer that our ears will be open to God, when our task of maternal guidance is retired. I pray that I would be hearing from You, dear Lord! I pray that I would follow you, more for the gratitude that I have a son who followed me, to some degree. I pray that he sees me following You in this season of my life, when all within me wants to follow my own whims.

God, you promised to keep me in perfect peace. I wear my tympanic membrane for You to see that it would say, Here I am, being your child now. My motherly reflexes are submissive to You! Make me a woman who is living for Your Glory. In Jesus Name, Amen.

The beginning of how the world sold it's body to Egypt and God bought our soul's back by the Sacrifice of His Only Begotten One!

Genesis 47--- Joseph was shrewd with those people. He didn't give them for their losses, He sold it to them for, even their own selves. He bought them for Pharaoh and in a similar way we sharecrop for Jesus, for the souls of people. What do we have that God didn't give to us? It must be subject to Christ or it is an idol. All belongs to Jesus. He is our Lord and King and our souls are far more of value, because of the price of Christ's blood that was paid for us.

Souls to Jesus is the cropping of our sharecropping! Halleluia, that Jesus has counted us worthy to condescend to pray for us everyday! He is mighty to save!

Shine On Us, Lord!

And She shall be saved through the childbearing?

If there ever were a wonderment about such words, it is at our sons' marriage. {As I imagine the feelings of Judy Murray at the wedding of Andy and Kim, I pray with her, as if it were my Baby Ben} Can I ever survive, sharing him with her? Can I ever know why God would allow me to pour myself into a project for someone else to enjoy?

Prayer and growth and leaning on God in such a season for Him to subdue our passions of femininity is essential and helpful at such times. Give me grace dear Lord. Words cannot express my love and hope for these people, as they embark on the impossible journey of marriage. We have seen You carry our children through the mines of education and their faith is still in tact{somewhat}. God give me grace to keep my faith in tact, through this!

I don't hate her. I just feel like a lost shoe. I have to find my purpose in his life and in mine. I want to be there for them, but not too much. I want to coach him through this, but that is not my place. Shut your mouth, I say to myself and cast your burden upon the Lord. I cast my identity upon You, dear Lord. I cast my endeavors and expectations upon You. You know the reality of my labors and my idolatries that I have confessed to You. I trust You to take my efforts and my labors and use them for Your glory in their family. I trust You, God to set my feet on high with You and not to lose my trust in You for my griefs at seeing the wisking away of my established identity. I want to find my new identity in glorifying You as a faithful servant for You and the growth of Your church. Give me grace as never before, Lord, to do that. I want to be with You and I want You to be my greatest joy and hope. This is harder than I ever expected, I need Your grace and mercy to be with me in this transition of life. I love You, Lord and You are my all. Help me to show You that! in Jesus' Name. Amen

Bow the Knee... Praise to the Lord the Almighty...

God's closeness to Jacob did not preclude real trials and tears. Judah, here experiences the real trial of loss of 2 wicked sons after having participated in the "Joseph Saga"...

Genesis 38

Joseph is on his life's journey and Jacob is beyond comfort. Judah experiences the parallel grief with his father of having sons whose way is wicked first, a first death and then the knowledge that God killed them. That is a sad reality

There is none righteous, but, when light has dawned of God's mercy and we don't imitate that mercy and grace in our lives, there is no story sadder than that. Ninevah, Sodom, Gomorrah, etc. they perished in blindness of the reality of God's standard. Not Er and Onan, they were privy to the goodness of God in every way that was available. They had state of the arts revelation of God and still it didn't change their behavior. The scripture doesn't say what their wickedness was?

Still, my meditation carries me to believe that it had to do with covenant breaking. I often meditate on the deviancy of my own heart in such matters and how high God's standard is for this reflection of His commitment on earth. He has much light for us, who love Him. He also has much correction of sin for us to create in us His likeness.

Jesus paid it all for us. How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation that we have received? Genesis 38, my reading today...

Like a Beacon in the Night??? Grace!