He is God. He is the One who heals those who believe (Exodus 15:25-26 KJV). Even with Him that is doing the healing, it doesn't take away from His character of who He is. He chooses the way He will do the healing (Psalm 25:4 AMP). All that is required of us in the way that pleases Him and what will cause Him to move is faith (Hebrews 11:6 KJV).
When the woman with an issue of blood decided to go see Jesus, she crouched down low so not to be noticed but also to get through the throngs of people. She had done all she knew to do and still the issue of blood plagued her (Luke 8:43-48 KJV). In the Old Testament, there is a passage of a man going to a physician for healing and died anyway because he sought help from a man rather than putting his trust in God (2 Chronicles 16:10-12 KJV). It wasn't the same for the this woman. It couldn't have been. She didn't all of a sudden have faith for Jesus to heal her. She had to have her faith at work or the same result would have occurred with her as it did with the man seeking the physician. Why then wasn't she healed in any of those previous 12 years? Why did God choose at that moment for her healing to take place?
A Christian woman was diagnosed with a number of chronic physical problems, sought God to be healed. Her condition got worse, according to her, and to add to her troubles, her family was experiencing the loss of a loved one. It was much for the woman to bare. She prayed crying out to the Lord for some peace or at least a reason why. One day she was slowly progressing through her day, she was about to have a meal with some people she knew. One of those people saw the food she ordered and made a private comment to her knowing her condition and that certain foods would only exacerbate the problem and cause her discomfort. The woman replied, "What? It's my favorite and the doctor said it was fine." What more could the person say to her if she was determined to do as she pleased?
There is healing in practical study. Whether it is in the scriptures or in textbook knowledge. God will choose how He decides to heal. What we must do is have the ears to hear (Mark 4:23 KJV).
Why be annoyed or irritated in accepting knowledge from someone younger if it is to assist in getting you to where you would like to be? If modern medicine isn't helping, is it insanity to keep using it and not change certain habits? If one has smoked cigarettes for years and is diagnosed with emphysema, why keep taking the meds while still smoking the cigarettes? It doesn't make sense!If bleached food items are the culprits to some diseases, why keep eating them? If carbonated drinks have no nutritional value, why drink them? If eliminating caffeine from a diet will cure migraine headaches, why not do it? Why does one choose to be in discomfort when Jesus left for the Comforter would come (John 16:7 KJV)?
Examine yourself (2 Corinthians 13:4-6 KJV). Being annoyed or irritated with someone for giving practical advise could be something you must eliminate and fight through to get to the healing you seek. It could be as simple as watching a comedy, so you can laugh (Proverbs 17:22 AMP). Pray about it and seek peace so there can be marrow to your bones and health to thy navel (Proverbs 3:7-8 KJV).
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Venting
A vent is placed in a building or house for air to circulate. It keeps the house or building from being stuffy - assuming that the vent is open to fresh air. That same circulation can work against in keeping the rooms stuffy if there is smoke or a bad smell in one room or another - it begins to circulate and is in the entire building or house.
The terminology venting came from the world. It is used supposedly for health reasons so not to suppress feelings and issues that need to be let out and dealt with. Holding it in and not letting anyone know what the trouble is causes mental anguish, resentment, tension headaches and a host of other problems that no one would like to deal with. So once done, we are told that we feel better that the burden was discussed, resolved, and lifted off of the shoulders of the one carrying it. It felt so good that why not speak it out every single time an issue arises so mush so that there aren't any issues anymore? Sounds wonderful doesn't it - only even that becomes an issue. Why? Because of the attention that having an issue got. You've met them before. The kind that fabricate, or embellish stuff just to be a part of a conversation.
What is it called when the vented issue is resolved and it still needs to be mentioned? Isn't that complaining?
I thought that instead of venting to others about what bothered me, I could talk it over with Jesus. You know how the song goes, "talk it over with Jesus; tell Him about your troubles..." It did me the world of good when I was finished. I didn't have to say anything to anyone else. God handled it and that settles it. I began talking to the Lord about everything. I got so use to it, I decided I didn't have to go through the formalities of prayer, just having that alone time and letting it rip. Oh, there was so much that people would do that just got on my last nerve... and on and on and on and on. Phew! What a friend we have in Jesus. It just felt soooo good until I realized something. As much as I didn't like to nag to my children - they knew I would give them instruction and expect it to be done. There wasn't any reason to micro-manage. I trained them well, yet here I was sounding more of a nag in my venting to the Lord. What happened to my prayer life?
Well, what was I going to pray about? How such and such irritated and me and give them a clean heart O God? Or should I tell God how someone else needs this, that or the other and bless them Lord so they will stop asking me to pray for them every time they see me? Doesn't God already know these things? So there, I can go back and have my venting sessions. After all, its good for my mental health and there is some Spiritual happenings going on there too - right?
There is this resident in the building where I am employed. Every now and again, she comes to the office and tells me how she doesn't like a certain person in the building. It is over some mundane asinine reason, but I listened to her. Again and again she would tell me as if I didn't hear her the first time. That woman didn't open the door to the building when she was standing right there. Why didn't you have your key, I would ask. And she would say, "I had my key. That's not the point, she was right at the door and wouldn't open it!" Just get over it, I would say to her. I validated her point when she said it to me the first couple of times, but when I asked how long ago was that she said, "years ago." YEARS! I screamed in my mind. I just couldn't hear it anymore. Why come to me and tell me this over and over again? Wouldn't it be better to just forgive and forget it? No she wasn't having any of that. Oddly enough, the other woman with whom she was referring felt the same way. I asked them both to forgive the other or else how can God forgive you? The had no answer when put in that manner.
As time went on, short as it was, one of the women passed on. The other that used to come to the office to complain, found something else to complain about. Something completely arbitrary of her yet with the same intensity as she had with not being let in the front door. I asked her about the woman that passed that she complained about before. Her voice softened and she answered, "well, she wasn't so bad." "She wasn't so bad! SHE WASN'T SO BAD!!! Do you know how many times you complained about her to me much less to anyone else. I asked you to forgive her and you refused. Do you know how much she would have appreciated hearing you say a kind word to her? Why now when she can't hear it? Why say anything nice now?" "Well, she sheepishly began, she wasn't all bad." That's it! She had nothing else to say about the deceased woman. She would have rather complained about a person that says nothing to her and minds her own business.
How patient should I be to hear such foolishness? How long does one tolerate the words of others when you know they are wrong. When is there as much correction as there is foolish words and when does one just walk away leaving the person there to deal with their own mess?
God listened to me. He never left all the time while I went on and on. I had some one to listen to me and not interrupt with all of their issues. He heard everything I said and it felt so good to tell it without it coming back to bite me in the butt. There were no embellishments, there were no vague ambiguity, no nonsensical advice. He listened. Sometimes when things just were too frustrating to put into words, He gave me peace about it and Wisdom to overcome the situation. It was just so nice even with the faintest whisper of my confession or the prayer that I was to continually be in. I just like the talking all the more.
So why would I be frustrated with this woman (2 Corinthians 9:7 AMP)? She was only doing what I was doing to God (Galatians 6:7 KJV). Her issue seemed just as important to her as mine was to me. To God it is all nonsense unless spoken in the Spirit where we aren't using the lusts and affections of the flesh (Galatians 5:24 KJV). We like to hear our own selves talking. Not such a delicious thing to do when we don't understand what we are saying.
The terminology venting came from the world. It is used supposedly for health reasons so not to suppress feelings and issues that need to be let out and dealt with. Holding it in and not letting anyone know what the trouble is causes mental anguish, resentment, tension headaches and a host of other problems that no one would like to deal with. So once done, we are told that we feel better that the burden was discussed, resolved, and lifted off of the shoulders of the one carrying it. It felt so good that why not speak it out every single time an issue arises so mush so that there aren't any issues anymore? Sounds wonderful doesn't it - only even that becomes an issue. Why? Because of the attention that having an issue got. You've met them before. The kind that fabricate, or embellish stuff just to be a part of a conversation.
What is it called when the vented issue is resolved and it still needs to be mentioned? Isn't that complaining?
I thought that instead of venting to others about what bothered me, I could talk it over with Jesus. You know how the song goes, "talk it over with Jesus; tell Him about your troubles..." It did me the world of good when I was finished. I didn't have to say anything to anyone else. God handled it and that settles it. I began talking to the Lord about everything. I got so use to it, I decided I didn't have to go through the formalities of prayer, just having that alone time and letting it rip. Oh, there was so much that people would do that just got on my last nerve... and on and on and on and on. Phew! What a friend we have in Jesus. It just felt soooo good until I realized something. As much as I didn't like to nag to my children - they knew I would give them instruction and expect it to be done. There wasn't any reason to micro-manage. I trained them well, yet here I was sounding more of a nag in my venting to the Lord. What happened to my prayer life?
Well, what was I going to pray about? How such and such irritated and me and give them a clean heart O God? Or should I tell God how someone else needs this, that or the other and bless them Lord so they will stop asking me to pray for them every time they see me? Doesn't God already know these things? So there, I can go back and have my venting sessions. After all, its good for my mental health and there is some Spiritual happenings going on there too - right?
There is this resident in the building where I am employed. Every now and again, she comes to the office and tells me how she doesn't like a certain person in the building. It is over some mundane asinine reason, but I listened to her. Again and again she would tell me as if I didn't hear her the first time. That woman didn't open the door to the building when she was standing right there. Why didn't you have your key, I would ask. And she would say, "I had my key. That's not the point, she was right at the door and wouldn't open it!" Just get over it, I would say to her. I validated her point when she said it to me the first couple of times, but when I asked how long ago was that she said, "years ago." YEARS! I screamed in my mind. I just couldn't hear it anymore. Why come to me and tell me this over and over again? Wouldn't it be better to just forgive and forget it? No she wasn't having any of that. Oddly enough, the other woman with whom she was referring felt the same way. I asked them both to forgive the other or else how can God forgive you? The had no answer when put in that manner.
As time went on, short as it was, one of the women passed on. The other that used to come to the office to complain, found something else to complain about. Something completely arbitrary of her yet with the same intensity as she had with not being let in the front door. I asked her about the woman that passed that she complained about before. Her voice softened and she answered, "well, she wasn't so bad." "She wasn't so bad! SHE WASN'T SO BAD!!! Do you know how many times you complained about her to me much less to anyone else. I asked you to forgive her and you refused. Do you know how much she would have appreciated hearing you say a kind word to her? Why now when she can't hear it? Why say anything nice now?" "Well, she sheepishly began, she wasn't all bad." That's it! She had nothing else to say about the deceased woman. She would have rather complained about a person that says nothing to her and minds her own business.
How patient should I be to hear such foolishness? How long does one tolerate the words of others when you know they are wrong. When is there as much correction as there is foolish words and when does one just walk away leaving the person there to deal with their own mess?
God listened to me. He never left all the time while I went on and on. I had some one to listen to me and not interrupt with all of their issues. He heard everything I said and it felt so good to tell it without it coming back to bite me in the butt. There were no embellishments, there were no vague ambiguity, no nonsensical advice. He listened. Sometimes when things just were too frustrating to put into words, He gave me peace about it and Wisdom to overcome the situation. It was just so nice even with the faintest whisper of my confession or the prayer that I was to continually be in. I just like the talking all the more.
So why would I be frustrated with this woman (2 Corinthians 9:7 AMP)? She was only doing what I was doing to God (Galatians 6:7 KJV). Her issue seemed just as important to her as mine was to me. To God it is all nonsense unless spoken in the Spirit where we aren't using the lusts and affections of the flesh (Galatians 5:24 KJV). We like to hear our own selves talking. Not such a delicious thing to do when we don't understand what we are saying.
For Christ's Sake
There is this bible study at my place of employment. I had started it a couple of years ago because it seemed like something that was needed plus I was told they used to have it but the information was vague as to why they no longer did. When it began, I was truly enjoying getting the lessons together and the questions that stirred among those who attended. It caused them to study and question all that they thought was the truth over the years. I suppose it was necessary back then as we were babies but we just can't stay that way forever.
Be as it may, after only a few months, I had to give it up. It was the Lord telling me to do this. I hemmed and hawed and assumed because I was starting school. God knew better than I what I could handle, so I stopped it. One of the other residents felt that it was much too important to stop and continued with the classes but I didn't have peace about still attending. Two weeks later the administrator called me into his office to ask about said bible class and who gave me the permission to conduct it. I honestly proclaimed, "I am not conducting any bible study." With that he replied, "I don't care that you are having a bible study class, its just that it is not on the calendar and some of the residents have complained to the CEO as to why they cannot have a bible study class anymore?" I still repeated what I originally said. The matter was dropped.
Since then the class continues. The one who took it over reported to me how well things were going and even requested if I could make her some lesson plans to give to the other participants. I was only too happy to comply. Even though I wasn't in the class at least I can help with the lessons. I waited almost 2 years before seeing how the class was going. Some of the residents have left the building while new participants joined with a much more demonstrative personality. As I came in quietly, they all lifted their heads and acknowledged me in the room. They continued back with the class. I knew I couldn't just come in and resume where I left off but figured with some time, I could nudge my way in if things weren't flowing as smoothly.
I thought I could just sit there and listen, but the topic of suffering came up and that archaic way of thinking resurrected and I just couldn't keep quiet. I couldn't let them grow at the pace God had set for them. I had to put my ways in there so we all could be up to speed. So there I went. Spouting off the way God gave it to me. It was all fresh and new and they were all going to be grateful for getting that fresh spiritual food. It went well for the first 20 minutes. Everyone seemed happy. Then I realized that that a new resident took over the meeting and the one who was suppose to be conducting it, took a passive role. I didn't expect that. In fact I was a little annoyed that she thought she could do such a thing being new to the group and all. While she spoke, I prayed as I did before coming. After all, we are all children of the King; so we can hear His voice. When I finished praying in the Spirit, she was initially opposing my view but she stopped, smiled and said very little.
The next meeting, the really quiet ones had studied and came at me with scripture and verse. I was surprised and a little excited that there was actually some feedback to what I said from last week. The new leader also chimed in. We were still on the subject of suffering. We went back and forth with what I knew and what they learned. They were determined to suffer no matter what Jesus freed them from. Though I knew what they were saying and hoped they were getting what I was saying we both didn't disagree with the other knowing it did not promote righteousness. But that new resident, that was taking over the class, she kept using one derogatory statement after the other to undermine everything I was trying to say. I prayed like before in the Spirit, and it got worse instead of better. It got to the point where I was wasn't going to say anything just use my eyes and stare at her while she spoke. We established eye contact and she knew.
When the class was over, I don't know what the other participants thought. It wasn't on my mind. I continually sensed how I was annoying this woman and how much she was irritating me. When everyone else was gone, I spoke to her and told her that our behavior would have to stop. She asked me in class that because I was the newest member there she was going to extend for me to speak about the chapter reading first. I felt it was necessary for me to tell her that I was the one that opened the bible class before she got there and if anyone was new it was her. She told me boldly that I was annoying her. I didn't expect her to say that but I replied that I know. I also added that the repartee we were having had to stop. There was no reason for her to give a derogatory statement every time I said something. Though we were suppose to be making peace with one another, she was justifying what she had to say and why. I stopped defending myself and it became quiet. She hugged me and said that next week there would be a different topic that we wouldn't have to do that sort of discussion anymore. She decided that. She was able to justify herself. She was conducting the bible class. She took my peace offering and made it her own.
She walked away feeling better about the matter. It is what I was hoping for but at the same time get her to see that she has to let the class run according to the flow of the Holy Spirit (translation: give me back MY class!).
In a nutshell, it wasn't for me to go back to. They were perfectly happy at the pace they were going. I know I stirred things up a bit. When I came to the class the second time, the new woman conducting it, was falling asleep as the scriptures were being read. When I sat down the verses were still being read but she saw me and was wide awake after that. Before I came to those two sessions, she didn't have nothing but her bible. That second session she had a note book full and announced to the class she had been studying the lesson for 4 hours straight.
I smiled not because I saw the challenge but because she found it necessary to announce that. Why wasn't she studying like that before? She had to go over each verse that opposed mine. Why didn't she use the verses that agreed with me? So I listened and heard that the rest of the participants studied too. And they had questions of their own. I hope she studied enough to answer them. If not, God will have a bunch of people making requests that weren't before. Just like I did for more Spiritual food.
The point I was making in class and even here in that scenario, we suffer for Christ's sake. Not with whips and chains like it has been taught for so many years. If that is what we will have to go through, then why not let sinners know that when we witness to them? Why keep it secret until they are mature enough not to turn around? We suffer for Christ's sake because of the flesh. He said to pick up your cross and follow Me (Mark 8:34 KJV). The cross is where the flesh must die. We have ways that are not always right but we justify them as if that is enough of a defense. It is those new ways (God's way) that goes against the grain - the world's way of doing things. Some don't like change. Blessing those that spitefully use you (Matthew 5:44 KJV). Keeping quiet when our natural response is to defend ourselves (James 1:19 KJV). Allowing someone to take advantage of a situation and not raise a hand back against the other (Matthew 5:40 AMP). Winning an unbelieving spouse with our countenance when the flesh would rather go and get a divorce (1 Peter 3:1-2 KJV). You see there is a suffering for Christ's sake but it doesn't mean to be accepting of sickness and disease or enduring domestic violence.
Jesus came to set the captives free. And who the son has set free is free indeed.
Be as it may, after only a few months, I had to give it up. It was the Lord telling me to do this. I hemmed and hawed and assumed because I was starting school. God knew better than I what I could handle, so I stopped it. One of the other residents felt that it was much too important to stop and continued with the classes but I didn't have peace about still attending. Two weeks later the administrator called me into his office to ask about said bible class and who gave me the permission to conduct it. I honestly proclaimed, "I am not conducting any bible study." With that he replied, "I don't care that you are having a bible study class, its just that it is not on the calendar and some of the residents have complained to the CEO as to why they cannot have a bible study class anymore?" I still repeated what I originally said. The matter was dropped.
Since then the class continues. The one who took it over reported to me how well things were going and even requested if I could make her some lesson plans to give to the other participants. I was only too happy to comply. Even though I wasn't in the class at least I can help with the lessons. I waited almost 2 years before seeing how the class was going. Some of the residents have left the building while new participants joined with a much more demonstrative personality. As I came in quietly, they all lifted their heads and acknowledged me in the room. They continued back with the class. I knew I couldn't just come in and resume where I left off but figured with some time, I could nudge my way in if things weren't flowing as smoothly.
I thought I could just sit there and listen, but the topic of suffering came up and that archaic way of thinking resurrected and I just couldn't keep quiet. I couldn't let them grow at the pace God had set for them. I had to put my ways in there so we all could be up to speed. So there I went. Spouting off the way God gave it to me. It was all fresh and new and they were all going to be grateful for getting that fresh spiritual food. It went well for the first 20 minutes. Everyone seemed happy. Then I realized that that a new resident took over the meeting and the one who was suppose to be conducting it, took a passive role. I didn't expect that. In fact I was a little annoyed that she thought she could do such a thing being new to the group and all. While she spoke, I prayed as I did before coming. After all, we are all children of the King; so we can hear His voice. When I finished praying in the Spirit, she was initially opposing my view but she stopped, smiled and said very little.
The next meeting, the really quiet ones had studied and came at me with scripture and verse. I was surprised and a little excited that there was actually some feedback to what I said from last week. The new leader also chimed in. We were still on the subject of suffering. We went back and forth with what I knew and what they learned. They were determined to suffer no matter what Jesus freed them from. Though I knew what they were saying and hoped they were getting what I was saying we both didn't disagree with the other knowing it did not promote righteousness. But that new resident, that was taking over the class, she kept using one derogatory statement after the other to undermine everything I was trying to say. I prayed like before in the Spirit, and it got worse instead of better. It got to the point where I was wasn't going to say anything just use my eyes and stare at her while she spoke. We established eye contact and she knew.
When the class was over, I don't know what the other participants thought. It wasn't on my mind. I continually sensed how I was annoying this woman and how much she was irritating me. When everyone else was gone, I spoke to her and told her that our behavior would have to stop. She asked me in class that because I was the newest member there she was going to extend for me to speak about the chapter reading first. I felt it was necessary for me to tell her that I was the one that opened the bible class before she got there and if anyone was new it was her. She told me boldly that I was annoying her. I didn't expect her to say that but I replied that I know. I also added that the repartee we were having had to stop. There was no reason for her to give a derogatory statement every time I said something. Though we were suppose to be making peace with one another, she was justifying what she had to say and why. I stopped defending myself and it became quiet. She hugged me and said that next week there would be a different topic that we wouldn't have to do that sort of discussion anymore. She decided that. She was able to justify herself. She was conducting the bible class. She took my peace offering and made it her own.
She walked away feeling better about the matter. It is what I was hoping for but at the same time get her to see that she has to let the class run according to the flow of the Holy Spirit (translation: give me back MY class!).
In a nutshell, it wasn't for me to go back to. They were perfectly happy at the pace they were going. I know I stirred things up a bit. When I came to the class the second time, the new woman conducting it, was falling asleep as the scriptures were being read. When I sat down the verses were still being read but she saw me and was wide awake after that. Before I came to those two sessions, she didn't have nothing but her bible. That second session she had a note book full and announced to the class she had been studying the lesson for 4 hours straight.
I smiled not because I saw the challenge but because she found it necessary to announce that. Why wasn't she studying like that before? She had to go over each verse that opposed mine. Why didn't she use the verses that agreed with me? So I listened and heard that the rest of the participants studied too. And they had questions of their own. I hope she studied enough to answer them. If not, God will have a bunch of people making requests that weren't before. Just like I did for more Spiritual food.
The point I was making in class and even here in that scenario, we suffer for Christ's sake. Not with whips and chains like it has been taught for so many years. If that is what we will have to go through, then why not let sinners know that when we witness to them? Why keep it secret until they are mature enough not to turn around? We suffer for Christ's sake because of the flesh. He said to pick up your cross and follow Me (Mark 8:34 KJV). The cross is where the flesh must die. We have ways that are not always right but we justify them as if that is enough of a defense. It is those new ways (God's way) that goes against the grain - the world's way of doing things. Some don't like change. Blessing those that spitefully use you (Matthew 5:44 KJV). Keeping quiet when our natural response is to defend ourselves (James 1:19 KJV). Allowing someone to take advantage of a situation and not raise a hand back against the other (Matthew 5:40 AMP). Winning an unbelieving spouse with our countenance when the flesh would rather go and get a divorce (1 Peter 3:1-2 KJV). You see there is a suffering for Christ's sake but it doesn't mean to be accepting of sickness and disease or enduring domestic violence.
Jesus came to set the captives free. And who the son has set free is free indeed.
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