I just want to end my time with the sock adventure this evening by saying that there is nothing more important in this life than being prepared for the next. We can gain the whole world and lose our very own soul. And then what do we have? Nothing. This world has nothing to offer a true child of the living God as far as material things. Our families are our most priceless gifts here. And, yes, it's nice to have a lovely home and good clothes, a reliable car. There's certainly no harm in that. But nothing is so valuable as our salvation. And we must not hold too tightly to anything material.
Soon the Lord Jesus will be returning to this sinful world to take away His own. We who have received Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and made Him Lord of our lives will reign forever with Him in our heavenly home. The fact that He is coming back for us should keep us prepared and ever watchful.
The word of God tells us no one knows the hour of his return. If we know Him it is an exciting event and something to look forward to. I love to just think about Jesus returning and every eye seeing Him and every knee having to bow and every tongue confessing that He is Lord! He will lovingly wipe away every tear and there will be no more sin, sickness, or sorrow. What a time that will be!
On His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, King of Kings and Lord of Lords!
Come quickly, sweet Lord Jesus!
Sandy
Showing posts with label Sandy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sandy. Show all posts
Monday, March 11, 2013
Friday, March 8, 2013
Full Salvation
This is my third post and I do hope to have at least one more. We will see how the weekend goes.
Seeing as how mine and my husband's lives revolve around the constant care of our precious son, Shaun, it's hard to write about anything else when sharing about my walk with the Lord. So, I thought I would give my beliefs regarding salvation and healing and how it pertains to us. I realize some do not share my views and that's fine, but this is how I interpret His Gospel of Good News for His children.
The gospel of Jesus Christ is so profound, yet so simple. He even tells us in Matthew 18:3 that we must become like little children to enter the kingdom of heaven. Think about a little child, perhaps a special little one in your own life. When you tell them something they believe it. They love you, you told them, so they believe your words. That's what we have to do when it comes to our Heavenly Father...take Him at His word. His word is truth. It's like Peter in John 6:68 when he asked the Lord where else the disciples could turn because he knew only Jesus had the words of eternal life.We have no where else to go! Our son needs help and we have tried for twenty-two of his twenty-six years to find help in the form of doctors, psychiatrists, specialists, doctors who turned out to be quacks, special diets, supplements, you name it. We even took him across the United States when he was five and paid thousands of dollars for a treatment that turned out to be bogus. And, he tried to climb out the windows of the plane on the trip out to Oregon. On our return trip he at least stayed in his seat. These are things you never forget.
Our son was detoxed from prescription drugs, that never helped him, only made him worse, in a special developmental center about an hour from our home. He just returned in December after being away from us for nine long months. This is the first thing that has ever been helpful. He is remarkably better but we are holding out for a full recovery. How can we say that? The blood of Jesus. Nothing speaks a better word than His blood. The name of Jesus Christ is above the name of autism or any other sickness or disease.
We did all of this not just to see our son healed but because we believe Jesus came to give life and life abundant, as the word tells us. It is satan (I refuse to capitalize his name) who came to steal, kill and destroy. The church gets that wrong much of the time by saying God puts sickness and disease on His children to teach them a lesson. I cannot find such a thing in Scripture and we do not glorify God when we remain ill when His Son poured out His divine blood to bring us healing.
This is where I think so many Christians fall short, including myself, many times. I hear His word, I read and study His word, yet I fail to always take it to heart, yes, to believe it. I think if we always believed we would always receive. Didn't Jesus tell us in Matthew 11:24 that when we pray we are to believe we receive? Do you always believe you are going to get what you pray for? I wish I could say I do, without fail. But, no, at times I fail.
I believe when Jesus was on the cross and He cried out "Tetelestai" He was declaring "It is finished" and He didn't mean only His human life. The work of His cross was then completed as He died. He had given all of His precious blood to save us, heal us and deliver us from all sin, sickness and disease. It was a true completed work of salvation to the fullest extent. Jesus paid it all. All to Him I owe. I woke up singing that beautiful old hymn the other morning and it carried me through the entire day. He comes to us like that, so often and so unexpected, to bless and encourage.
Unless it is our appointed time to die, I believe it is always God's will to heal. We should never just settle for ill health. The fault is not with God. He is perfection. It lies with man's inability to simply receive the blessing of healing. It is a package...salvation and healing. They go hand in hand.
Both are ours, paid for in blood.
Isaiah 53 is one of the most beautiful passages in the Bible and we need look no further to have our questions answered regarding what was purchased for us by Jesus.
Surely He has born our griefs (sicknesses, weaknesses, and distresses) and carried our sorrows and our pains.... (v. 4)
But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our guilt and iniquities; the chastisement [needful to obtain] peace and well-being for us was upon Him, and with the stripes [that wounded] Him we are healed and made whole. (v.5)
Many other verses tell us that healing is ours:
Who forgives [every one of] all your iniquities, Who heals {each one of] all your diseases...
~Psalm 103:3
He sent His word and healed them.
~Psalm 107:20
Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.
~Matthew 10:8
Is anyone sick among you? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will heal the sick and the Lord will raise him up.
~James 5:14-15
Verse after verse promises healing for us. But should we feel condemned if we have not been able to receive our healing? No. In fact the word tells us in Romans 8:1 that there is now no condemnation to those who are in Christ.
So, we keep asking, seeking, knocking and refusing to give up! Salvation is ours to the full!
Sandy
Seeing as how mine and my husband's lives revolve around the constant care of our precious son, Shaun, it's hard to write about anything else when sharing about my walk with the Lord. So, I thought I would give my beliefs regarding salvation and healing and how it pertains to us. I realize some do not share my views and that's fine, but this is how I interpret His Gospel of Good News for His children.
The gospel of Jesus Christ is so profound, yet so simple. He even tells us in Matthew 18:3 that we must become like little children to enter the kingdom of heaven. Think about a little child, perhaps a special little one in your own life. When you tell them something they believe it. They love you, you told them, so they believe your words. That's what we have to do when it comes to our Heavenly Father...take Him at His word. His word is truth. It's like Peter in John 6:68 when he asked the Lord where else the disciples could turn because he knew only Jesus had the words of eternal life.We have no where else to go! Our son needs help and we have tried for twenty-two of his twenty-six years to find help in the form of doctors, psychiatrists, specialists, doctors who turned out to be quacks, special diets, supplements, you name it. We even took him across the United States when he was five and paid thousands of dollars for a treatment that turned out to be bogus. And, he tried to climb out the windows of the plane on the trip out to Oregon. On our return trip he at least stayed in his seat. These are things you never forget.
Our son was detoxed from prescription drugs, that never helped him, only made him worse, in a special developmental center about an hour from our home. He just returned in December after being away from us for nine long months. This is the first thing that has ever been helpful. He is remarkably better but we are holding out for a full recovery. How can we say that? The blood of Jesus. Nothing speaks a better word than His blood. The name of Jesus Christ is above the name of autism or any other sickness or disease.
We did all of this not just to see our son healed but because we believe Jesus came to give life and life abundant, as the word tells us. It is satan (I refuse to capitalize his name) who came to steal, kill and destroy. The church gets that wrong much of the time by saying God puts sickness and disease on His children to teach them a lesson. I cannot find such a thing in Scripture and we do not glorify God when we remain ill when His Son poured out His divine blood to bring us healing.
This is where I think so many Christians fall short, including myself, many times. I hear His word, I read and study His word, yet I fail to always take it to heart, yes, to believe it. I think if we always believed we would always receive. Didn't Jesus tell us in Matthew 11:24 that when we pray we are to believe we receive? Do you always believe you are going to get what you pray for? I wish I could say I do, without fail. But, no, at times I fail.
I believe when Jesus was on the cross and He cried out "Tetelestai" He was declaring "It is finished" and He didn't mean only His human life. The work of His cross was then completed as He died. He had given all of His precious blood to save us, heal us and deliver us from all sin, sickness and disease. It was a true completed work of salvation to the fullest extent. Jesus paid it all. All to Him I owe. I woke up singing that beautiful old hymn the other morning and it carried me through the entire day. He comes to us like that, so often and so unexpected, to bless and encourage.
Unless it is our appointed time to die, I believe it is always God's will to heal. We should never just settle for ill health. The fault is not with God. He is perfection. It lies with man's inability to simply receive the blessing of healing. It is a package...salvation and healing. They go hand in hand.
Both are ours, paid for in blood.
Isaiah 53 is one of the most beautiful passages in the Bible and we need look no further to have our questions answered regarding what was purchased for us by Jesus.
Surely He has born our griefs (sicknesses, weaknesses, and distresses) and carried our sorrows and our pains.... (v. 4)
But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our guilt and iniquities; the chastisement [needful to obtain] peace and well-being for us was upon Him, and with the stripes [that wounded] Him we are healed and made whole. (v.5)
Many other verses tell us that healing is ours:
Who forgives [every one of] all your iniquities, Who heals {each one of] all your diseases...
~Psalm 103:3
He sent His word and healed them.
~Psalm 107:20
Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.
~Matthew 10:8
Is anyone sick among you? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will heal the sick and the Lord will raise him up.
~James 5:14-15
Verse after verse promises healing for us. But should we feel condemned if we have not been able to receive our healing? No. In fact the word tells us in Romans 8:1 that there is now no condemnation to those who are in Christ.
So, we keep asking, seeking, knocking and refusing to give up! Salvation is ours to the full!
Sandy
Thursday, March 7, 2013
Growing Us Up
As the plaque on my kitchen wall reads, "Grow Where You're Planted", that's just what the Lord has been doing in our little family these last twenty-six years. Growing us! I've heard that we are to minister in our realm of influence and that's what my husband and I have done. As we have ministered love, compassion and care to our autistic son God has grown us up into people we never saw ourselves as being. He has and continues to grow us into the likeness of His dear Son, Jesus Christ.
We are to allow God to use us wherever we are, even if that is not particularly where we want to be!
We do not accept this situation as permanent, but rather we focus on living day by day in the peace of God which truly passes all our understanding.
I like this quote, not sure who said it, but it goes like this:
"What doesn't kill us only makes us stronger."
We get up every morning, often after only three hours of sleep, and have a choice as to whether we will come under the burdens of life or let ourselves be lifted above them. And, the way to be lifted high above them is to come into the presence of the Lord. And, how do we do that? With praise! When we lose ourselves in praise to our glorious God and Father our faith is strengthened and we know that we know that we know that His name is above every other name and every trial we face. Nothing can separate us from His love for us!
When we go through the hard places in life our enemy, the devil, will always come and try to cause us to doubt God's love for us. He will throw out his lies such as...
If God really loved you He wouldn't just let you suffer like this.
If God was compassionate He would heal your son.
What kind of God sits by and just watches people linger in sickness?
Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.
~James 1:2
Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.
~Romans 12:12
The worst thing we can do as believers in God is to allow ourselves to become bitter and angry at Him. Our human nature is to do just that when we cannot understand why bad things happen. But, I urge you to love Him all the more, cling to Him, confide in Him, pour out your weary heart and watch Him work. God will work and turn everything that touches our lives around for good. His heart is to give us a hope and future in Him.
And we know that God causes everything to work for the good of those who love God and are called
according to His purpose for them.
~Romans 8:28
Sandy
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Beautiful Feet
Well, I received a red, white, and sparkly silver striped sock in the mail today from sister Diane in Tennessee. So, now I guess it's time to
"rock the socks!!"
Also, thanks Diane, for the very pretty lavender "Believe" mug that you included. Who told you that is a favorite color of mine? I am enjoying a cup of chocolate hazelnut tea from my mug right now as I write. Thanks so much! Each time I drink from my mug I will think of you and say a prayer.
I have been giving some thought as to what I would want to share when my turn came around with the socks. Since our main theme is Romans 10:15, and the beautiful feet of those who spread the gospel, I began to meditate on the word "Gospel".
gospel...The proclamation of the redemption preached by Jesus and the Apostles, which is the central content of Christian revelation.
gospel...Something, such as an idea or principal, accepted as unquestionably true.
Jesus told His followers to go into all the world and preach His good news, the gospel. Though I have never actually been on a mission trip to spread the gospel, I do try to speak about my Lord in the day to day goings and comings of life. More than speaking, many times actions do speak louder than words and people are watching. So, I try to let my life be my "tract" that I hand out wherever I go.
I also consider my blog "Faith Hope and Love" to be my small way of spreading the Lord's good news of salvation to whoever might come upon it and choose to read.
Probably not all who read the sisters' blog are aware of my family's circumstances due to our oldest son being autistic. As he needs constant supervision, we only leave our home a couple of times a week, usually for grocery shopping and errands. If we want to accept an invitation from friends for dinner we must plan a couple of weeks in advance for someone to stay with our son for a few hours.
I bring up our situation not to complain, rather, to give glory to God for all His provision and care during these last twenty-six years of dealing with autism. Though the road has been very steep and difficult, He has never left our side and has proven over and over again how He can turn bad situations around for our good and His glory.
During the next few days while I have the sock I will share some of the many ways I believe caring for our son has to be viewed as a mission. Here in our home my wonderful husband and I extend the tender love of Christ to our son as we do our best to help him reach his potential. We are not only parents, but teachers as well.
"Both of your socks should be the same color, or at least both should be fairly dark."
~comedian Dave Barry
What does Dave know, anyway?
Sandy
"rock the socks!!"
Also, thanks Diane, for the very pretty lavender "Believe" mug that you included. Who told you that is a favorite color of mine? I am enjoying a cup of chocolate hazelnut tea from my mug right now as I write. Thanks so much! Each time I drink from my mug I will think of you and say a prayer.
I have been giving some thought as to what I would want to share when my turn came around with the socks. Since our main theme is Romans 10:15, and the beautiful feet of those who spread the gospel, I began to meditate on the word "Gospel".
gospel...The proclamation of the redemption preached by Jesus and the Apostles, which is the central content of Christian revelation.
gospel...Something, such as an idea or principal, accepted as unquestionably true.
Jesus told His followers to go into all the world and preach His good news, the gospel. Though I have never actually been on a mission trip to spread the gospel, I do try to speak about my Lord in the day to day goings and comings of life. More than speaking, many times actions do speak louder than words and people are watching. So, I try to let my life be my "tract" that I hand out wherever I go.
I also consider my blog "Faith Hope and Love" to be my small way of spreading the Lord's good news of salvation to whoever might come upon it and choose to read.
Probably not all who read the sisters' blog are aware of my family's circumstances due to our oldest son being autistic. As he needs constant supervision, we only leave our home a couple of times a week, usually for grocery shopping and errands. If we want to accept an invitation from friends for dinner we must plan a couple of weeks in advance for someone to stay with our son for a few hours.
I bring up our situation not to complain, rather, to give glory to God for all His provision and care during these last twenty-six years of dealing with autism. Though the road has been very steep and difficult, He has never left our side and has proven over and over again how He can turn bad situations around for our good and His glory.
During the next few days while I have the sock I will share some of the many ways I believe caring for our son has to be viewed as a mission. Here in our home my wonderful husband and I extend the tender love of Christ to our son as we do our best to help him reach his potential. We are not only parents, but teachers as well.
"Both of your socks should be the same color, or at least both should be fairly dark."
~comedian Dave Barry
What does Dave know, anyway?
Sandy
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