Jesus: The Great Healer

"...Afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; ⁹ persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed..."  2 Corinthians 4:8-9  /  New International Version [NIV]

Tomorrow is the day that my husband and I were to leave to go on our trip, a Healing Pilgrimage to Lourdes, France, but life really is chock full of surprises. Just 5 days before we were to leave, we learned from the medical director for the trip that it was determined that my health is too fragile to make the long Trans-Atlantic flight, and half packed, our trip was cancelled. 

Yes, like this Scripture passage, we were stunned, very disappointed, and in shock for a day or two, but through prayer, we are doing fine now. It did, however, serve as a reminder  that Jesus is with us, right here in this place and in our ordinary lives, and that He IS the Great Healer, Comforter and Protector. Though it would have been a wonderful adventure, one need not travel half way around the world to have their prayers heard and answered. Jesus is in our midst tirelessly working all things out for the good.

I know I will be healed one day, if not in a distant and wonderful place like Lourdes, then perhaps right here in Harford County, Maryland. With abundant opportunities for healing inside and out, He has healed me in so many ways already, and I look forward with great anticipation to see what He will do next in my life and the lives of those around me!

Meanwhile, I am determined not to let health matters be the end all and be all, the center of my life. It's time to expand my Chaplain ministry, for there is so much work to be done for the glory of God...Healing will come in time.

Adele M. Gill 2014  Copyright

The Blood Moon

 

 

As I'm sure you heard, last night was the latest occurrence of the  'blood moon.' Reportedly, this event normally happens about once in 800 years. However, this is the fourth time in a year we have experienced this extraordinary  natural phenomenon! Here is what the Bible has to say about this great event in the Book of Joel, Acts, and Revelations: 

 

"The sun shall be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the great and

terrible day of the Lord comes."

Book of Joel 2:31

 

"The sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the coming of the Lord’s great and glorious day. Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved." 

Book of Acts 2:20-21

 

^"When he opened the sixth seal, I looked, and there came a great earthquake; the sun became black as sackcloth, the full moon became like blood, ¹³ and the stars of the sky fell to the earth as the fig tree drops its winter fruit when shaken by a gale."  

Book of Revelations 6:11-13

 

Clearly an interesting Bible study read, indeed! The Bible is full of stories and reminders of what has been, what is, and what will be. Messages that help humanity to recognize that God is in control, and those that teach us  and encourage us to live each day to the fullest in the greatest sense of the word. In actuality, I think the message to come away with from these Scriptures is that God is kind & merciful, even and especially as He prepares us for the fullness of His plan for humanity. As seen in Acts 2:20-12, His greatest desire is to bring us close to Him, even as His Great Plan unfolds.

 

For no one knows the day or hour that God's plan will come to fruition. Absolutely no one...Yet we are called to be in a state of readiness, a state of Salvation, which is clearly the Lenten message we strive to embrace now, during the Lenten season, and beyond. Jesus is with us to help us in every way and on every level of our being... He IS our salvation...For the Bible tells us in Romans 10:9 >

 

"If you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and

believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved!"

 

It doesn't get easier than that!

Adele M. Gill  2014  Copyright

A New Creation

 "So if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new!" 2 Corinthians 5:17



I think we all have heard the word 'saved' many times. In my earlier years as a Christian Catholic, I never really understood what it meant to be saved...So what does it really mean? Well, first of all, whether or not to be saved is a very important personal decision. Being 'saved' means that you have dedicated your life to Jesus Christ. Specifically, the Bible tells us, according to Romans 10:9, "If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." 





Secondly, it means that the Holy Spirit of Jesus come upon you and will help you step up and embrace your new life in Him. In that way, you become a new creation, putting aside sinful old ways and walking away from things that used to distance you from God and others. You still have your free will, but the desires of your heart and your actions are what change, as they innately become reflections of Jesus Christ. 



If you sincerely hunger & thirst to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and have not already done so, repeat the following prayer aloud:

Dear Lord,

Please forgive me for all the things I have done wrong.    

 I choose to turn to You and away from sin.

                                                 Jesus, please be the center of my life,                                                     

I welcome you personally as Lord and Savior of my life.

I ask You to fill me and empower me with the Holy Spirit                               

to live according to God’s Divine Will for me.

I want to have Your grace to truly live a new life in You. Amen!

[Adapted Prayer from 'ChristLife' ]