You Have Done Great Things

Luke 8:39 "Return to your house and describe what great things God has done for you." And he went away, proclaiming throughout the whole city what great things Jesus had done for him.

This is the story of the demon possessed man Jesus meets while in Gerasenes. As we read in Chapter 8 of the Gospel of Luke, the demons, "a legion" as described, recognized the Messiah and immediately wanted a way out. Just the sight of Jesus "brought torment" to their purpose as Jesus declared His authority. The surrender came quick as they begged to enter the swine feeding on a nearby hill. 

How appropriate. (No disrespect piggy fans). 

I always wondered. The swine became so agitated, they ran off the side of the cliff into the ocean and drowned. Did Jesus just finish carrying out his healing by the destruction of the demon possessed swine or did the swine just by nature, go crazy and stampede off the hill on their own because they became demon possessed?  

Either way, the demon possessed, crazy, tormented naked man, living in the tombs was now restored to sanity. Can you imagine witnessing all that? The people of the town did not take this too well. The scriptures tell us that they were "gripped with great fear." They wanted Jesus to leave. But, the healed man, all he wanted was to follow Jesus! 

Jesus, though, told the man of a different plan for him. He said, "Go home." We can  assume this meant--reconnect with your family and friends, build up trust again, discover what you've been missing, go have a nice, healthy life, you've been healed! He asked of him one thing, just tell people about what happened to you, tell them about the Great God who heals! 

~~~

We've been asked to return to our homes. The demon virus, COVID19 has possessed our world and caused sickness, fear--and death. As we are staying home, staying safe, I hope the many prayers God hears, call for Him to drown out this virus as well as the fearful voices of uncertainty, the voices that do not bring us hope. I pray for our sanity. 

Can you describe the Great things God has done for you? Can you begin to make a list? 
Maybe it's not casting out demons, but I know God brings healing, comfort, purpose, provision and grace upon amazing grace. He orchestrates Divine appointments and shows us His glory in nature. 

A few weeks back on a Saturday mid morning, my nephew and his new bride made a stop over, for no particular reason, a nice surprise. Chris, eating a take out meal he picked up, sat at the dining room table why Kylie and I went outside where work was going on in the garden, showing her some of our projects and flowers. 

She spotted it first. A huge Swallowtail butterfly flew through the orange tree. At first, she thought it was a bird, but as I went to grab my phone and take a better look--two swallowtails--engaged in mating, flew together. That's why it looked so large! One did all the flying for both of them. What a beautiful thing to see as they moved from tree to tree and rested inbetween as we snapped pictures. 

Many of you know the swallowtail butterfly is a grace gift of comfort to me received a few short months after our son Tim went to heaven--over and over again. 

I told Chris and Kylie that their cousin, my son, Timmy, was saying Hi, happy to see them."

It's all in the fun and the moment of making a connection and remembering our Tim. 

Chris and Kylie, one year married. 

As I contemplated sending  an e-mail today to a potential publisher, my phone rang, my nephew, Chris on the other end. 

"Hi Aunt Coke, how's it going? Kylie and I just want to tell you that everyday since we saw those butterflies at your house, we've seen the same kind at our house...yeah, like every day!" It's so cool!"  (Just one special encounter can make us very aware). 

I told him that when he sees one to know God loves him and He is always near as well as his cousin--his memory, family. God gave me opportunity to talk of Great things.

And God tells us to "return to your house and describe what great things God has done for you!" 

As I ended the phone call, I prayed for my family. As I typed out an e-mail, I remembered my son and my memoir I am hoping to get published, written from my home where gifts of comfort came flying in as I prayed for understanding and grace. 

Lord, As so many are home bound, my prayer remains for You to make a way into hearts and restore broken things, make our projects about our soul and our purpose, open our eyes to what has always been right in front of us, all around us, family, creation, memories and story---Your story becoming one with our story. You, God, are our Miracle, our Deliverer, casting out that which wants to drive us mad, all those worldy lies and directions. As believers, let us long to be by Your side, discovering all You are and let us speak of Your Goodness from our own rooftops, for You Lord are in all things and working in all things, all for Your glory. Thank You Lord for this time to bring You praise and worship as I anticipate all the Great Things still to come. Amen. 

Timmy and Chris as kiddos

You Have Done Great Things ~ Phil Wickham 

Preparedness

Psalm 10:17 NKJV "Lord, You have heard the desire of the humble; You will prepare their heart; You will cause Your ear to hear."


This week, we've seen some out-of-the-ordinary behaviors with the threat of the Coronavirus. Big box stores are running out of pallets of water and toilet paper, to mention a few of the essentials. Seems people are prepping for the possibility of self-quarantine and/or getting ill. Fights are breaking out, tension, anxiety.
Panic. 

Of course it is important to take the necessary precautions, practice common sense and protect those that are more suceptible. 

Humanity acting in fear.

Humanity acting impulsively.

Humanity weakend.

Humanity desperate.


~~~

I had a conversation with a dear friend this week. She shared an epiphany about herself, about life in the last few days. Reaching a place where she could relax, let go a bit, stand back, she felt things were falling into place. She could turn and look at her own reflection and say, OK, God, how about You and me; I want to seek Your purpose for me in this time of my life. I'm ready, for You have prepared me for more. I am so happy to hear this. She, more so of course. 

Humanity in Christ, long-suffering and redeemed. 

She felt at peace. 

When I think about this friend, she has ALWAYS brought me peace in our friendship, always reflecting her Lord. 

always serving Him in faith and love.

always persevering through trials.

always seeing a Good God through the hurts of life.

always sacrificing for others. 

She lifted her head and felt His sunshine after a very long winter. Butterflies are sure to come. 

Her prayerful spirit beams a ray of warmth on many, and now she wants to bask in His Love and Light for herself, concentrate on her own soul.  What more is she going to discover? I can't wait to hear about it, share with each other.  


~~~

One scenario is about fear and reaction and the other about love and trust. 
Both situations critical, for one person, for many. 

I know in the future, the conversations I hope to have will not be about what we fear, but how we received and reacted to God's provision and protection, how we allowed God to prepare our hearts and lives for His purposes when we followed His wisdom, how He is glorified in preparing us for more and our obedience in that calling. 

...how we saw in the darkness and came out the other side. 

...how we persevered through prayer and fellowship.

...how we prepared our own hearts to align with God's heart. 

Who among you is truly preparing for eternity? Do we daily prepare our hearts to hear and receive more from the Lord? Is panic setting in or peace? 

Lord, Thank You that Your Spirit continuously prepares us for Your good gifts. Our willing and humble spirits long for and hope to receive instruction, purpose, nuggets of wisdom and insight for this life. Lord, sometimes in preparedness actions, the road ahead may be even harder. You do not show us everything, but teach us to trust You. We see and delight in Your ways. Even in our preparing--obedience, we are shown where and taught how to see Your Grace and provident plan. We know there are seasons where our preparing is for the greater good and other times its for our own personal walk with You. Both Lord, glorify You when we cast out all fear and replace it with faith. We ask You Lord to calm us in times of anxiety, and call on You to lead us into a peaceful place of rest to receive more of Your plan and make You known, until we reach Your prepared Place for us, 

Thankful for Your preparation for me on the Cross.  Amen. 

Within These Hours

John 16:33 "These things I have spoken to you that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world." 






Yesterday, July 17, 2014, became a  "terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day." Remembering that title from a children's book*, it repeated itself in my thoughts as I listened to the news, read text messages and e-mails, talked to friends and scrolled social media. Within those hours I am shaken.



*



A flight plan deleted from the sky.

Terrorism vs. sovereignty.

A biopsy and a prognosis.

An addiction and a bus ticket.

A skateboard and life support.

Borders and tunnels

Ideals and bombs.

Grief and utter confusion.

Obama, Putin, Hamas, Israel, Russia, Ukraine, rebels, robbers, murder, abuse, border-crossers, gangs, cancer,  dementia, hospitals and chemo, substance abuse, missing persons, divorce, I could go on...

Yet, within those hours, I met with my writing partner and we submitted our goals for our 6th year leading "Aspiring Writer's Forum," a unique small group ministry...

and know His peace.

Within these hours, I continued to read scripture, pray longer, walk 3 miles, finish Chapter 10 of a manuscript in progress, watch the finches gathering seed in my butterfly garden, go grocery shopping, and look forward to two high school reunions...

and know His peace.

Within these hours, I stood at my kitchen window and watched the Swallowtail butterfly land on a lavendar hibiscus in the middle of a thought-prayer,  asking You for guidance.

                                                          (Swallowtail,  camera shy)

I know Your peace.

Jesus Christ, crucified on the cross: A Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day!  Yet, we rejoice in that day!
Within these hours, stretched over three days, He overcame DEATH, even death on a cross.

Because of His sacrifice, He turns our horrible into hopeful, our terrible into triumphant, our no good into grace, and our very bad into victorious beauty. 

and We can Know His Peace!  

Stay in prayer. Share His hope, have dialog, compassion, ministry, stay informed and stay strong. Worship in quiet moments and Read His Word!  Christ came to give us Life and Hope in this ever-changing, dark and frightening world. It's that eternal perspective I've talked about so many times.  Christ shall Overcome!



Lord,  News bombards us, frightens us, makes us mad, sometimes shuts us down. Every human being,  ever created; You took all our sin, every "terrible, horrible, no good, very bad days" and forgave!  You ask us to believe, love our neighbor and help us to know that same kind of forgiveness. Somedays really are just rotten and in that I am thankful that grace is always around the corner, asking for it,  receiving it and giving it as well. You never said it would be a piece of cake. What You did say:  You would never leave us nor forsake us. This, I believe. Within these hours Lord, help me to rest in Your peace and to be a peacemaker.  Thank you Lord that I can come to You with my deepest fears and draw on Your strength and pray for others in pain. Here our prayers, Oh Lord, Amen.

                                                                      ~~~  ~~~  
* Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst