Hey Guys,
God showed me a verse that greatly encouraged my belief in what God's will is in regards to healing. He has been convicting us of late to demonstrate this belief with opportunities that have really challenged me and my faith. I've found myself focusing more on the what than the why. I am to do what he leads me to do and have faith and trust when I don't always understand the why. I will propose a question at the end of these swirling thoughts.
Isaiah 53:4-5 goes as follows...surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed! That just means spiritual healing...right? I've always thought that and then God showed me Matthew 8:16-17...When evening came many who were demon-possessed were brought to him, and he drove out the spirit with a word and healed all the sick. This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: He took up our infirmities and carried our diseases!! Wow...I had never noticed that before...we are talking about Jesus purchasing our physical healing as part of the curse mentioned in Deuteronomy 28 that he took upon the cross with him. I have read Isaiah 53 many times during communion and had never made a physical connection as Jesus wants to heal our soul, mind, body, and spirit! The greek word for salvation that Jesus uses in the New Testament is SOZO which means holistic healing involving spiritual and physical.
Well, for some reason I had 3 different people come into my office yesterday asking if I always thought it was God's will to heal...that's a whole different conversation that I'm not going to go into here (if you want to know where I am on this, I can email you a document that gives you a good idea). It was a great conversation as contrary to what those in my family may think while reading this...God gives me the Spirit of peace and patience in conversations that people purposely attack or try to challenge my faith (ha). One said, "people who always believe it's God's will to heal just want the Health/Wealth gospel." I've been hearing the Health/Wealth gospel term a lot lately in the context of bashing Christians who pray for the Spirit of provision and those who pray against the spirit of infirmity. I've been praying those prayers a lot in the last couple of years for my family and their extended family. False humility can be a big barrier in our prayer life.
Here is my question that I finally am getting to that God spoke to me yesterday. Health/Wealth gospel??? What do you want to hear then...the Disease/Poverty gospel??? Something to think about as I realize people cry out for balance on most things and I understand the theological desire for balance...but there are some things God and Jesus are not very balanced on and to me; this is one of those areas. It's been hard for me to grasp as the Bible is clear to me that the Will of God for us is filled with blessings and the enemy is fighting against that. I realize the motivation of the heart is key but what is God going to say to us when we go to heaven and have always believed in the health/wealth even when people didn't always get healed due to the fallen world we live in as the perfect hadn't come yet..."You know what Todd, you just believed too much in me". Sounds crazy doesn't it? If I error on one side, Lord let me be in the realm of believing too much in you rather than on the side of unbelief that surrounds us. I have been on the unbelief side most of my life.
Just some thoughts that I felt compelled to share, not to convince. Jesus tells us in John 10:10, "the thief comes only to steal, kill, and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world cause by evil desires (2 Peter 1:3-4)...
Todd
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Swirling Thoughts
Hey guys! Assuming someone reads this blog...anyone? Anyways, we bought new rechargeable batteries for the camera so I could put the photos of us and Eli and our little Easter photo, but either it's the batteries or the camera not working...we haven't figured that out yet. So, if you are reading my blog, you get one of my many swirling thoughts of late written out loud.
They asked me to speak on "Real Faith - God is Real!", this weekend at the Men's Retreat. My faith has really been stretched and challenged more than ever this past year and a half and I'm actually asking God to keep making me uncomfortable. Kind of have to get comfortable with the uncomfortable sometimes in our walk with God and having faith that takes risks don't we? So, I've been asking God to lead me on this talk of faith as I've looked at the Inspired Word of late and my first inclination was to read Hebrews 11 and then simply sit down...enough said. Yet it stuck out to me in verse 39 that they had not received all that God had promised and we live under a different promise and covenant today that is better than those mentioned in the hall of fame of faith...wow!
This sent me on a search of the perfect theology...Jesus! God in the flesh is God's will and nature in action and is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Heb. 13:8). I was amazed at how big of a role our faith plays in receiving blessings from God! God can win with a pair of twos and can bless despite our unbelief...but the majority of the gospels display the important role our faith plays as co-laborers with God. If we take this seriously the Bible becomes more than black or white, it must become living color as God didn't stop being mighty and active when the apostles died off; He is living and active today. I hear at times the miraculous age has past...or may it be a miraculous faith has past? I have chosen to read the New Testament through the lens that it is meant for today as well, and not just for 2,000 years ago. Kind of changes things!
As much as faith plays an active role in receiving blessings and making it through tough times; unbelief can be just as active the opposite way. Read Mark 6:1-6...Jesus was amazed at their unbelief and couldn't perform any miracles (except lay hands on a few people and heal their sickness)...and he simply left. This really hit me in the gut yesterday as I dare say we have all witnessed people or elders anointing and praying for healing and it happening? Not to minimize that at all, but if it stops there and we are satisfied we are practicing a Nazareth level of faith that left Jesus in amazement at the unbelief. I realized I've been content with a Nazareth level of faith and God is calling us to be freaked out, challenged, and willing to go for the level of faith Jesus lays out in John 14:12-14...wow!
Closing thoughts: we won't need the spiritual gifts (all of them) when we go to heaven will we? So, what other time would we need them than now? When Jesus starts a sentence with I tell you the truth...we better listen. Matthew 17:19-21 says, "I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there', and it would move. Nothing would be impossible." I sure don't have all the answers but I know God is Real, Satan is Real, the Holy Spirit is real, and Satan doesn't stand a chance to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ living in me! Lord, we believe...help us in our unbelief and cast away doubt, fear, and comfort that get in the way of a radical faith in you...in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen. Have a blessed weekend!
Todd
They asked me to speak on "Real Faith - God is Real!", this weekend at the Men's Retreat. My faith has really been stretched and challenged more than ever this past year and a half and I'm actually asking God to keep making me uncomfortable. Kind of have to get comfortable with the uncomfortable sometimes in our walk with God and having faith that takes risks don't we? So, I've been asking God to lead me on this talk of faith as I've looked at the Inspired Word of late and my first inclination was to read Hebrews 11 and then simply sit down...enough said. Yet it stuck out to me in verse 39 that they had not received all that God had promised and we live under a different promise and covenant today that is better than those mentioned in the hall of fame of faith...wow!
This sent me on a search of the perfect theology...Jesus! God in the flesh is God's will and nature in action and is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Heb. 13:8). I was amazed at how big of a role our faith plays in receiving blessings from God! God can win with a pair of twos and can bless despite our unbelief...but the majority of the gospels display the important role our faith plays as co-laborers with God. If we take this seriously the Bible becomes more than black or white, it must become living color as God didn't stop being mighty and active when the apostles died off; He is living and active today. I hear at times the miraculous age has past...or may it be a miraculous faith has past? I have chosen to read the New Testament through the lens that it is meant for today as well, and not just for 2,000 years ago. Kind of changes things!
As much as faith plays an active role in receiving blessings and making it through tough times; unbelief can be just as active the opposite way. Read Mark 6:1-6...Jesus was amazed at their unbelief and couldn't perform any miracles (except lay hands on a few people and heal their sickness)...and he simply left. This really hit me in the gut yesterday as I dare say we have all witnessed people or elders anointing and praying for healing and it happening? Not to minimize that at all, but if it stops there and we are satisfied we are practicing a Nazareth level of faith that left Jesus in amazement at the unbelief. I realized I've been content with a Nazareth level of faith and God is calling us to be freaked out, challenged, and willing to go for the level of faith Jesus lays out in John 14:12-14...wow!
Closing thoughts: we won't need the spiritual gifts (all of them) when we go to heaven will we? So, what other time would we need them than now? When Jesus starts a sentence with I tell you the truth...we better listen. Matthew 17:19-21 says, "I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there', and it would move. Nothing would be impossible." I sure don't have all the answers but I know God is Real, Satan is Real, the Holy Spirit is real, and Satan doesn't stand a chance to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ living in me! Lord, we believe...help us in our unbelief and cast away doubt, fear, and comfort that get in the way of a radical faith in you...in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen. Have a blessed weekend!
Todd
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Fall through Winter Photos Part II
I wanted to share some more photos for your "viewing pleasure" as I still have several to share from the months of December through March. I will try and post tomorrow our visit to see Eli and Emmy a couple of weeks ago. Sorry about the lack of posting, but I just got done last weekend with the guys retreat as that consumed me the last couple of weeks in preparation. We love you and pray for you daily! I'll start with the Alabama/bad haircut picture of Isaac:
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