Tag: needs

The Great Provider, Jehovah Jireh

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The name of God for today is one that has been very precious to me ever since I first encountered it, Jehovah Jireh in Hebrew and The Lord Will Provide or Provider in English. This name of God first appeared in Genesis and comes at the end of the story of Abraham and Isaac. Isaac was the only son of Abraham and Sarah, the son promised to them by God. At this point in the story Isaac is a young man and goes with his father to sacrifice to the Lord. God told Abraham to go to Mt Moriah and sacrifice his son. So they took everything they needed but a lamb. When questioned about this, Abraham told Isaac that the Lord would provide. Abraham laid Isaac on the altar and was preparing to sacrifice him when this happened. Genesis 22:13-14. “ And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him was a ram, caught in a thicket by his horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son. 14 So Abraham called the name of that place, “The Lord will provide”; as it is said to this day, “On the mount of the Lord it shall be provided.”

For many years I did not like this story as I could not imagine God asking Abraham to sacrifice his son nor Abraham trusting God enough to go through with it. But, my thinking has changed as I grew to realize that Abraham trusted God completely and knew that Isaac was the son of promise. If Isaac was killed, God could surely bring him back to life as he provided his life when Abraham was 100 and Sarah was in her nineties. He was a miracle from the start. Abraham knew God was a promise keeper and did not go back on His Word. Next, I thought Abraham knew God and knew he did not condone human sacrifice so he trusted God to provide. Abraham’s faith was definitely greater than mine and as I’ve grown I’ve learned to trust in the Provider more and more.

We see repeatedly throughout scripture that God provides. God provided a son for barren Hannah as she prayed and asked God to favor her with a child. (1 Samuel 1) God provided for the widow and her son when Elijah came to live with them- the oil and flour did not run out. (1 Kings 17) He provided food and protection for David as he fled from King Saul for 14 years as he awaited to be king. Psalm 23, written by David, shows his dependance on the great Provider. “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.2     He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters.  3He restores my soul.”

God provided for Paul and those shipwrecked sailors on the way to Rome. Acts 27 13 Now when the south wind blew gently, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, they weighed anchor and sailed along Crete, close to the shore. 14 But soon a tempestuous wind, called the northeaster, struck down from the land. 15 And when the ship was caught and could not face the wind, we gave way to it and were driven along. …18 Since we were violently storm-tossed, they began the next day to jettison the cargo. 19 And on the third day they threw the ship’s tackle overboard with their own hands. 20 When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope of our being saved was at last abandoned. 21 Since they had been without food for a long time, Paul stood up among them and said, “Men, you should have listened to me and not have set sail from Crete and incurred this injury and loss. 22 Yet now I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. 23 For this very night there stood before me an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I worship, 24 and he said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar. And behold, God has granted you all those who sail with you.’ 25 So take heart, men, for I have faith in God that it will be exactly as I have been told. 26 But we must run aground on some island.” …..

39 Now when it was day, they did not recognize the land, but they noticed a bay with a beach, on which they planned if possible to run the ship ashore. 40 So they cast off the anchors and left them in the sea, at the same time loosening the ropes that tied the rudders. Then hoisting the foresail to the wind they made for the beach. 41 But striking a reef, they ran the vessel aground. The bow stuck and remained immovable, and the stern was being broken up by the surf. 42 The soldiers’ plan was to kill the prisoners, lest any should swim away and escape. 43 But the centurion, wishing to save Paul, kept them from carrying out their plan. He ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and make for the land, 44 and the rest on planks or on pieces of the ship. And so it was that all were brought safely to land. God provided a place for them to land, a way to get ashore and the kindheartedness of the governing soldiers. He is the great provider.

Throughout the ages God has shown Himself to be Jehovah Jireh, The God who Provides. Because Christ died on the cross and rose from the dead, I can know the Lord Who Provides personally and walk each day trusting in His provision.

May He show Himself to you during this Lenten season and may your trust in Him grow.

Linda

Ask Jesus, He has the Answers You Need!

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John 5:2-8 recounts the healing of a man Jesus encountered at the Pool of Bethesda. The man was disabled and could not get into the pool fast enough when the healing spirit stirred the waters. He was feeling sorry for himself and voiced his complaint to Jesus when Jesus asked him if he wanted to be healed. “Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, in Aramaic called Bethesda, which has five roofed colonnades. 3 In these lay a multitude of invalids—blind, lame, and paralyzed. 5 One man was there who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be healed?” 7 The sick man answered him, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, and while I am going another steps down before me.” 8 Jesus said to him, “Get up, take up your bed, and walk.” 9 And at once the man was healed, and he took up his bed and walked.”

As I meditated on this story, I asked myself what am I not doing because I expect others to do it for me? Am I not exercising because I don’t have anyone to walk with me? (Boy that really hits home.) Am I not serving because I feel the jobs they need done are not enough or maybe they won’t miss me if I’m not there? Am I not calling or visiting friends because I am too busy? Do I want to let someone else visit or call who has more time? Jesus wants us to identify our needs and ask Him. Go to the source for help and not blame inactivity on circumstances or others. Jesus says when we have needs to ask Him. In Matthew 7:7 Jesus said, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” It is our responsibility to ask our heavenly Father when we have needs. I also want to add in James 4:3 “You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.” When we ask, we need to consider why we are asking, is our motivation godly or pure and unselfish? God won’t just give us what we want, especially if we are asking with the wrong heart attitude.

The man in this story had a need and asked Jesus for help. Jesus answered him directly with his command- take up your bed and walk! What do you need to ask Jesus about? Whether it is motivational, spiritual, or physical, Jesus has the answer and will answer. You may have to wait (hard part) but Jesus promises to answer our prayers. If His answer is ‘NO’, then we need to trust in His plans for the future and cling to Him. Psalm 4:3 “But know that the Lord has set apart the godly for himself; the Lord hears when I call to him.” Call upon Him. He has the answers to all our needs.

Because Christ died on the cross and rose from the dead, I can ask my heavenly Father to meet my needs with confidence and hope, knowing He will answer.

Linda

Ruins at Bethsaida today.

What do you need? Your name, a touch…Jesus has it for You!

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One of the most touching post-resurrection appearances of Jesus was when He appeared to Mary Magdalene in the garden.  It is recounted in John 20:14-18.  She was at the tomb, had seen the angels and heard them say that Jesus was not there but risen.  However, she was so overcome with grief it had yet to truly register with her brain.    They (the angels) said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” 14 Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus.  Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing him to john-20-16be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher). 

This scene touches me as it only took Jesus saying her name for her to recognize Him.  In John 10:27 Jesus told the disciples that the ones who know Him will recognize His voice and follow Him  ” My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.”   Mary knew immediately that it was her Lord saying her name.  She was instantly comforted and wanted to touch Him.  He cautioned her not to touch him, but to go and tell the disciples that she had seen the Lord!  Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to Have-seen-Lord-daffodilmy Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” 18 Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”—and that he had said these things to her.

Mary needed to have the Savior’s touch.  He touched her with His voice and He gave her the reassurance that all would be well.  Jesus confirmed He had indeed risen, was the Messiah and that  He was alive.  Jesus showed her that there is eternal Hope in Him!  She got all of those reassurances from Jesus saying her name!

Jesus what needWhat do you need Jesus to say to you today?  Do you need Him to call you by name, give you a word of encouragement, a word of guidance, or simply a word of Hope?  He can say and do it all- if you just ask Him.   Seek Him today and He will be found!    

  Linda 

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Today the garden tomb is a very peaceful spot in Jerusalem.