Bringing the kidnapped Nigerian Girls Home

Our area was hard hit by the recent tornados, and we are still reeling from the destruction. In the midst of gathering stories, comforting victims, and volunteering in the rescue effort, I have not had time to think about the rest of the world. That is unfortunate, because the world has needed our prayers, too. 

Many days, I know the topic for the evening blog by mid-afternoon. This evening, I was eating supper and still praying for a topic. "Lord, I have no idea what to write about. What's on Your mind?" The answer was immediate and clear. "Check the news." I laughed out loud, and clicked on my WTVA app. I read all the local news, the Mississippi news, the Alabama news. Nothing caught my eye. I was almost to the end of the national news when I saw it. First, Hillary Clinton and then Michelle Obama had weighed in on the kidnapping of school girls in Nigeria. Now THAT seems like the kind of news that would be on God's mind.   

Boko Haram is an Islamic militant extremist group in Nigeria. This is a band of terrorist thugs who have been creating havoc in the region for years. Recently, they have been kidnapping Nigerian schoolgirls and are threatening to sell them. In a few short weeks, they have kidnapped nearly 300 girls and are holding them captive. I cannot imagine how they are treating those girls, but I am outraged. How cowardly they are to kidnap school girls rather than take their battle to someone with guns and rockets who might be able to defend themselves. I am surprised by their extreme evil. I would like to go to Nigeria, find those maniacs, and rescue those frightened girls, then deal with those hoodlums. I recognize that I would be no help in Nigeria, of course, and the Nigerians are already working to rescue their girls. They don't need that kind of help from me. 

There is outrage around the world. More than one million hashtag tweets (#bringbackourgirls) have been sent in support of the girls. Our country has sent a team to help rescue the girls. A serious effort is underway, but a serious effort was already underway, and they are still missing. 

A quick scan through the first twenty-seven articles about "Kidnapped Nigerian schoolgirls" revealed not one request for prayer. Dear ones, we need to get with it here, and get on our knees. I was a schoolgirl myself once, and I would be beyond terrified. I hope you will stop whatever you are doing and pray for these precious missing schoolgirls. 

First of all, we know that fear (though certainly expected in this frightful situation) does not come from God. Pray that those girls will not have a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a clear mind. Pray for perfect peace that passes all understanding and for the wisdom to recognize a chance to escape and the courage to take that chance. Also pray that not one escaping girl will leave another behind, but that EVERY girl can get away. 

Kidnapped girls must be in some sort of confining place. I'm calling it a prison of sorts. Pray that God will send an angel to open the prison doors, wake the girls, and lead them out tonight. Let's don't ask for soon. Let's ask for now! The time in Nigeria is six hours ahead of my local time. It's the middle of their night and a perfect time to escape. 

Kidnapped girls have captors and guards. Those guards must be incapacitated in some way so that the girls can get away without intervention on the part of the guards. God has good experience with incapacitating guards throughout Scripture and I, for one, am asking Him to be creative in disabling the guards. 

It would be a travesty if human hands got credit for rescuing girls for which God has intervened. Let's pray that no one gets credit except God, and that He gets the credit He so richly deserves. 

That brings us to the captors. They are the enemies of the girls and of our brothers and sisters in Nigeria. Scripture is clear on this. We have to love our enemies and pray for those who spitefully use us. I am praying for a spirit of conviction to fall on those captors, that they will repent of their crimes, and be burdened to make restitution to all they have harmed. Let's pray that the spirit of conviction breaks their hearts over their sin and that they never go back to terrorism again Pray, too, that their reign of terror will come to an end immediately. 

While we are praying big things, we should also pray that the escape of the girls is so remarkable that it causes an amazing revival in Nigeria that brings many people to Christ. 

While the world is busy trying to save the girls with hashtags, someone needs to do the one thing that can make a difference. That someone is you. It is me. Dear ones, start praying now and do not stop until those young girls are reunited with their parents and the reign of terror is at an end!

Healing, God's Way (Luke 7:10)

When those who had been sent returned to the house, they found the slave in good health. (Luke 7:10 NASB)

As Jesus headed out with the elders to see the slave, He was planning to heal him. When those friends arrived and asked Him to heal Him with a word, Jesus was amazed by the centurion's faith. Those who knew Jesus surely knew that the servant would be healed. After the friends returned to the centurion's house, that is exactly what they found. The servant was not recovering in his bed, he was up serving, his good health restored. 

Can you imagine Jesus saying to the friends, in response to the centurion's great faith, "No, I don't feel like walking over there.  I'm not doing any healing today"? Of course not. When a prayer of faith is uttered, He hears and answers. 

The problem we have is two-fold, and includes both impatience and arrogance. We not only want our prayers answered immediately, we want them answered our way. It's incredibly bold and foolish to think, much less tell the God of the Universe, that our way is better than His. His Word tells us that His ways are not ours and that they are better. He knows that it is hard to receive what we do not understand, but He expects us to trust Him anyway. 

Do you need an intervention from Jesus? Ask Him to do what only He can do, and invite Him to do it His way.  Don't dare to tell Him how to do His job. Trust Him to do what is best. You may be surprised to see that His best is far to superior your best. 

Pray today that God will move in the lives of our loved ones to bring healing and wholeness and do to it His way, not ours. 

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Link to last might's post: http://leannahollis.blogspot.com/2014/05/tupelo-tornado-battered-but-blessed_6.html

Saved to serve

When those who had been sent returned to the house, they found the slave in good health. (Luke 7:10 NASB)

After the servant was healed, he was still a servant, and he was still expected to serve. He was a walking, talking miracle, but he remained a servant in the house of a Roman officer. In that same way, the miraculous intervention of God may render us a trophy of grace and healing, but it does not promise us an easy, carefree life, nor a better job. 

We are saved to serve, and we are healed to serve. Understanding that truth makes a huge difference, doesn't it? No matter what age or what overall condition, when Jesus intervenes in our life, He does it in a way that we can still be useful in the Kingdom of God. Even when we cannot go, we can pray. We can make a difference, if we will. 

The recently kidnapped Nigerian schoolgirls are a perfect example of a need in which we all can make a difference. Soldiers and detectives have failed in their attempts to find them, and the hunt continues. We, frail and weak though we be, can become actively involved in the search through our prayers. Do not be deceived into thinking that your prayers will not be worth much. Scripture tells us that our prayers can accomplish more than we think. 

"...The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much." (James 5:16b NASB)

Saved to serve. Healed to serve. Are you serving in the way God intended?

Pray today for servant hearts (for us and our loved ones) that begin to serve with prayer and continue to serve by reaching out to those in need. 

Tupelo Tornado: Battered but blessed, part 2

Last night, I wrote about an elderly woman and her son who requires custodial care. She has spent a lifetime caring for others with a heart full of love and hands open with generosity.  Her losses in the recent tornado were devastating. She and her son have been making do in the two rooms of her home that are still standing, daylight visible through one of the remaining walls. Her church family had been providing meals, water, clothing. They had secured a tarp on her roof and provided dry mattresses.

There was one other thing they had been doing. Although the elderly woman and her son had no idea, church leaders had quickly realized that the needs were far greater than their small congregation could meet. They decided to do the only thing that made any sense at all. They asked God to send help, and lots of it. In fact, they asked God to send enough help to meet all the needs. 

This morning, I learned about their prayers and today, I watched with joy as the answer began to unfold. The director of the brotherhood ministry for their county and the pastor from another church went to assess the situation at the request of someone unrelated to her church. The house is a total loss. The man from the brotherhood "just happened" to have blueprints for a small house that meets all the codes in our state. They contacted the woman's praying pastor, who was thrilled to hear from them. A member of his congregation had offered to provide concrete for the foundation as well as the plumbing. One part of the project after another came together. 

By early afternoon, there was amazing news!  I was told that, if volunteers will do the work, a new home can be built for them and likely completed in thirty days! A work crew has already been making plans for finishing touches, interior design, and landscaping. 

How's that for answered prayer?  

Friends have helped her gather what could be salvaged and the bulldozer work has begun. She and her son will live in a small apartment until their new home is ready. I can't wait to see their faces when they see inside their finished home for the first time. I hope they are as thrilled as those who are a part of making it happen. 

This answered prayer has not come because of government intervention or FEMA provision (both of which are very helpful to those in need). It appears, at this point, that their home will be built without any disaster relief funding at all. It has come directly from the hand of God through the body of Christ working together as Jesus intended. How do you like that? 

People with hearts full of compassion have looked around, seen her and her son's need, and embraced their suffering. They are giving from their hearts, and making a difference for those who are hurting. They are not waiting around. Instead, they have set to work and are accomplishing great things in a very short time. 

These volunteers understand what we all need to realize. None of us can meet every need, but all of use can meet some need. When we work together, and all do our part, no need should be left unmet. The question we all should answer is, "What need will be unmet without my help?" Dear ones, how can we turn aside from the one depending on us? Let's step up and do what only we can do. 

Don't hesitate. Look for a need you can meet and get started. When it gets too big, ask God for help, but don't stop until all the need is met and the rejoicing is done. 

Worth the wait (Luke 7:6)

Now Jesus started on His way with them; and when He was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends, saying to Him, "Lord, do not trouble Yourself further, for I am not worthy for You to come under my roof; (Luke 7:6 NASB)

We are retreating a few verses today to catch something we missed the first time though. 

When the centurion first sent the elders to get help for his slave, he sent them to Jesus. Just Jesus. The man with power. The waiting, however, was used to yield a wonderful result. When he sent the second group, his friends, to Jesus, the term of address he used was kyrios, or Lord. 

It is one of the most common terms of address used for Jesus in the New Testament. It is used by servants for their master and can be used to signify respect toward one who owns something, especially a slave for an owner. As he waited, this powerful slave owner had become enslaved by Christ and he acknowledged that by the word he chose to use.  

We live in an instant gratification society. No one likes to wait, and we disparage the waiting. It is not always a sign of inefficiency or lack of caring, however. In this instance, Jesus was already enroute to the servant. What the centurion had requested was underway, and his prayer was in the process of being answered. The waiting, however, provided the time the centurion needed to move from master of many to mastered by the One. 

Waiting can be, perhaps should be, a precious time of growth in our faith and in intimacy with our Lord. When God allows waiting in our lives, especially that hardest of all waiting, the waiting for answered prayer, we must choose to embrace the wait and allow it to have its perfect result in us. 

How patiently are we waiting? Are we enslaved by the Master, willing to wait for His perfect timing to accomplish His perfect result?

Today, pray that we will persevere in waiting and in prayer until the healing we so desire for our loved ones is fully accomplished. 

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Here's the link to last might's post: http://leannahollis.blogspot.com/2014/05/tupelo-tornado-battered-but-blessed.html

Tupelo Tornado: Battered but blessed

An elderly lady who has spent a lifetime providing custodial care for her very sweet son had just returned home from a visit to his doctor when the tornado roared through their area. In seconds, it ravaged their home. When the raging stopped, they were imprisoned in their simple house, trapped by the trees that usually provided summertime shade. Not only did their home sustain major damage, but also their older model car, which was flattened by a falling tree. 

Part of the roof was gone but the doors were held tight by the trees. It was not until the next day that this frail woman managed to use a crowbar to pry open a door so they could escape. Surveying the damage, she found that, although she had lost almost all her worldly possessions, there were two rooms that were still somewhat inhabitable. Daylight was visible along one wall, but the roof and other walls were relatively intact. 

With no way to drive for help, all she could do was pray and ask God to send the things they so desperately needed, and that is exactly what He did.  Friends from her church came to check on them. Teams of men helped cut trees, clear debris, and secure a tarp to cover the damaged roof. Church members brought food and fresh water, as well as new clothing. Someone brought dry mattresses. Over the last few days, her electricity has been restored and, though non-potable, they have running water again.  

She has worked hard all her life, and, at more than 80 years old, still manages to provide everything they need. Until now. She has no debt, but her resources are nearly non-existent. Her homeowners insurance was cancelled, she said, because her house is heated by an old space heater. She has no idea what the future holds, but she has anchored her hope in the One who has provided for every need for the better part of a century.  

When asked how they've been doing, both she and her son give the same quick answer. "We are so blessed. You can't believe how good God has been to us!" They are incredibly grateful to have two inhabitable rooms. There is not one complaint about the rooms that are not inhabitable. There is not one complaint about all she has lost. 

Listening to her, I wanted to weep in shame. I, who have so much, have not been grateful enough nor concerned enough about those who have lost so much. I recognize that life's storms, if allowed, will be used to make us stronger, more resilient, more Christlike. I have no doubt that this storm will work such a result in this dear woman's life. Already, she has seen God's hand at work. Teams are being assembled to assess the damage at her home and, if I'm not sadly mistaken, a safer, more secure home will be built to replace the one she has lost. I don't yet know how that will happen, but I plan to see it does. 

The question for those of us who were not affected by recent tornados is what difference will this storm make in my life? In our lives? Will we be more giving, more Christlike, more passionate about being the hands and feet of Christ? Oh dear ones, we must not allow the suffering of our friends and neighbors to be wasted. It can be like a seed planted by streams of water, growing a tree of fruitfulness in our hearts that yields results for years to come. It can be, if we let it. 

Look around you, see the need, and embrace the suffering. Give from your heart, and make a difference for those who are hurting. Don't wait, dear ones, do good now. 

Recognizing Our Unworthiness (Luke 7:6-8)

Now Jesus started on His way with them; and when He was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends, saying to Him, "Lord, do not trouble Yourself further, for I am not worthy for You to come under my roof; for this reason I did not even consider myself worthy to come to You, but just say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I also am a man placed under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to this one, 'Go!' and he goes, and to another, 'Come!' and he comes, and to my slave, 'Do this!' and he does it." (Luke 7:6-8 NASB)

This centurion was an officer in the Roman army. He commanded at least 80 men, and, if he was a high ranking, or senior, centurion, he would have had 480 men under his command. (Because he built the synagogue, he almost certainly had the authority of a senior centurion, thus a larger command.) In Roman-occupied Israel, he was "important" by almost anyone's standards. 

What is truly amazing is that this professional soldier saw himself as unworthy to make a request of Jesus in person. Eventually, it would be Roman soldiers who carried out the crucifixion of Jesus, but this soldier would not even approach Him because of his own unworthiness. 

His attitude is more than just humility. He had a clear sense of his own unholiness in contrast to the absolute holiness of Christ. He saw his unrighteousness in comparison to Christ's righteousness and found himself sadly lacking.  He saw himself as a sinner in need of the sinless lamb of God. 

I'm not sure how it has happened in our culture, but there has been a diminution of the understanding of our position before a holy and righteous God. It seems that sin is not viewed with the same abhorrence with which God views it. Ours has become a culture that demands instant gratification and indulges in the disposable, ranging from plates and cups to relationships and lives. The problem is one of values and priorities. Our desires have become more important than God's, and it has changed the priorities of our lives. We are the worse for it, and the problem is not just one of those outside the church. 

The question for us today is how do we see ourselves in comparison to Almighty God? Do we "just want what we want" or do we most desire what God wants? 

Pray today that God would allow us and our loved ones to see our hearts, our desires, our priorities in comparison to His own. Pray that we, like the centurion, would recognize our own worthiness and approach Christ with the humility that comes from an understand of who we are not and who Jesus is. 

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Here's the link for last might's post: http://leannahollis.blogspot.com/2014/05/the-tornado-relief-effort.html

When Knowing becomes Trusting (Luke 7:9)

Now when Jesus heard this, He marveled at him, and turned and said to the crowd that was following Him, "I say to you, not even in Israel have I found such great faith." (Luke 7:9 NASB)

In the previous lesson, we read that the centurion recognized he was unworthy to approach Jesus. The more he thought about it, the more he realized that he was not even worthy to ask Jesus to enter his home. He knew Jesus could heal his servant, though, so he initially asked that the Jewish elders in Capernaum make the request of Jesus instead. 

After the elders headed out to speak with Jesus, the centurion considered the situation further. All he could think about was Jesus. He began to ponder his own authority over the soldiers under Him. Jesus seemed to have authority, too. His authority was not over soldiers, though. It seemed to be over demons and illness. That was exactly the kind of authority needed to heal his servant. It was his "ah ha" moment, when he finally understood Who Jesus was. 

Immediately, he took a giant leap of faith. Jesus could just say the word, he thought, and healing would happen. He was sure of it, and he immediately acted on his faith. That's when he sent his friends to Jesus. 

When Jesus heard what the centurion had said, He marveled at his faith. He turned to the crowd and said, "I haven't even seen this kind of faith in all of Israel!" Because theirs was a religion that "walked by faith and not by sight", worshipping an unseen God, it should have been easier for them. Their Scriptures were filled with prayers and the recorded conversations between their unseen God and man. If they had understood Who Jesus was, they should have understood the power He had, but they didn't. It was a Roman soldier who finally made the leap of faith that incorporated all Jesus had taught with all that He did. 

Even for the centurion, the unfolding of his faith was a process, just like it is for us. He didn't arrive at great faith that very first moment, nor do we. When he finally understood Who Jesus was and what that meant for him, it changed everything! That centurion knew he could trust Jesus with the life of his servant, even when he did not see Jesus. He could trust Jesus, no matter where He was. 

Our faith should change everything for us, too.  It should bring us to the point of trusting Jesus with our loved ones without reservation. He can handle it. He can handle their problems and their bad decisions. He can handle their doubts and their questions. The question for us is not whether Jesus can take care of our loved ones, the question is whether or not we trust Him to do so. 

Today, pray that our faith would be so increased that we would be filled with faith to trust Him with every need of our loved ones. Pray, too, for peace as we wait for Him to move. 

The tornado relief effort

Well before dawn this morning, I headed out to meet my family in Starkville. We were going as a group to volunteer with the tornado/disaster relief effort in Louisville MS.  After Katrina, I had done manicures on victims of the storm. It was a soothing touch and gave me a chance to hear their stories and pray with them. That moment of calm and hope in the midst of utter destruction was very effective, and greatly appreciated. I had my manicure kit packed, fully expecting to do the same thing again.  

Today, we arrived at the volunteer processing tent, and it was immediately apparent that I'd be working there today. Workers had been there for days, they were exhausted, and not everyone had eaten breakfast. It was a little tense in the tent. They were very surprised when I announced that I was working with them. "We don't need any help," someone said. I just laughed and bossed my way in. "Oh yes, you do. I'm bringing peace and sunshine to this situation here!" I said. I'm not sure they knew what to think, but they let me stay. 

A fresh perspective really was helpful, and pretty soon everyone was laughing and sharing their stories with me. This was the most incredible group of people you can imagine, and I am humbled to have been in their presence. 

The Knights of Columbus are coordinating the volunteer registration, and they are the sweetest bunch of men of every age you will ever meet. Jen is a volunteer from Food Corp. She has put her own project on hold to take care of a greater need and has been working all week coordinating volunteers. Miss Susie has also been working for days. She's retired and volunteers quite a bit. She has a servant's heart and never stopped serving. 

Aaron is a young man I would adopt in an instant. He is with Team Rubicon and I will blog about them later. Suffice it to say, this young man's passion has touched my heart. He intends to change the world and he's doing a good job of it. When a woman was sobbing her eyes out over her unbelievable losses, I hugged her and prayed for her. Aaron was standing in line right next to me for his turn to hug her and offer help. His passion and kindness were breathtaking. When I saw this twenty-one year old student hug that sobbing woman, I thought to myself, "I want to partner with this young man. We CAN make a difference!" He, of course, doesn't need me to accomplish his mission in life, but I hope to somehow help him along his way. 

There were more wonderful volunteers than I can relate tonight. There will be more stories to come. There are more needs to meet. 

It was a tiring day. It was emotionally exhausting. It was, however, one of those great days you never forget. I saw people from all across this country come together for one purpose: to help those in need. With servant hearts that beat as one, that's exactly what we did. 

Why don't you join us next time? You will be so glad you did. 

The walking miracle

Somehow, I have digitally misplaced  the Friday Night with Friends post. It is saved to the blog file, but I can't find it there. While I'm retrieving it, I've decided to tell you about an experience I had today.

I had delayed much needed errands because of the storm.  However, because of the storm, I needed to run those errands to have supplies to take with me to Louisville tomorrow.  I'm meeting my family in Starkville and we are going as a group to help with the disaster relief effort. 

One of my stops was at Sam's, which was incredibly busy. I finally managed to find a self-check line with only two people in it. For some reason, the guy in front of me peeled off and ended up in a longer line. This was not at all sensible, as he was next in the line to check out. Regardless, he left me next in line, and I was grateful.  

The man checking out had some sort of problem with the machine and a very nice lady came to help. She ended up doing his self-check for him. As she did, she was talking to him and his wife. Someone said something about not being able to count on machines and the helpful, happy lady said, "Oh honey, there is no sense in putting yo' trust in a machine!  I'll tell you what. You best be putting yo' trust in God Himself. I can say that because I am a WALKING MIRACLE!" This lady was thrilled to be a WALKING MIRACLE and she wanted everyone to know. She was marvelous! 

I was interested to know what kind of miracle she was, and she was happy to share, as she self-checked me out, too. Two months ago, she had a heart attack, followed by a blood clot, followed by a clot in her lungs and so many other complications that I was just astonished. In the period of eight short weeks, she had experienced a heart attack, more complications than three or four people combined could've expected, recovered, and made it back to work. By the time she finished her story, I was speechless. From a medical standpoint, it was simply amazing. Her smiling face and her healthy appearance added support to her claim of WALKING MIRACLE. 

I recommend everyone going to Sam's in Tupelo just to meet this nice lady and hear her marvelous testimony. She is the best! This lady not only understands what God has done for her, and is grateful, but she also wants to be sure He gets ALL the credit. She's telling everyone she sees. 

The thing about walking miracles is that being saved by the mercy and grace of God makes us WALKING MIRACLES, too. Every one of us should be just as excited about what God has done in us as that sweet lady is about how He has healed her. We should be telling everyone we meet, and giving God every bit of the credit. 

Just in case you haven't heard me say this before, I am also one of those WALKING MIRACLES!  God saved and cleansed me from more sin than three or four people should have gotten into, and He is constantly having to work on me to keep Me straight. The good news is that you can put your trust in Him to do the same for you! 

How about it? Are there any more WALKING MIRACLES out there? 

Just Say the Word

Now Jesus started on His way with them; and when He was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends, saying to Him, "Lord, do not trouble Yourself further, for I am not worthy for You to come under my roof; for this reason I did not even consider myself worthy to come to You, but just say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I also am a man placed under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to this one, 'Go!' and he goes, and to another, 'Come!' and he comes, and to my slave, 'Do this!' and he does it." (Luke 7:6-8 NASB)

The only way to get the full flavor of the centurion's message to Jesus is to read it in it's entirety, rather than parse out the sections.  Let's set the scene first. Jesus had just finished a preaching trip and returned home to Capernaum. He was settling down, when some of the Jewish elders arrived and asked Him to go with them to a Roman centurion's house to heal a gravely ill servant. There were many things about this request that interested Jesus, so He headed toward the sick man. He was almost to the centurion's house when a group of the centurion's friends arrived with a new message. 

The centurion had been thinking about authority. He knew that, as a Roman officer, what he commanded was done. There was not a struggle about it. He said it, and it happened. The centurion could recognize a fellow officer by the air of authority in their manner and the results when they spoke. He saw that same authority in Jesus. When He gave a command, it was carried out. The centurion didn't necessarily understand it, but he could see it clearly, and he knew that all Jesus had to do was say the word of healing, and it would be done. 

The centurion also recognized that his own authority was not dependent upon his proximity to the place of implementation. He did not have to be in a spot for his orders to be carried out there. If Jesus had as much authority as the centurion, and he believe that He did, then proximity to the servant was not needed for healing. It was one of those "Ah ha!" moments, and very exciting. Immediately, the centurion sent a friend to Jesus. "Don't come," he said. "Just say the word and my servant will be healed." 

Was the centurion running a test to see if this was right? No, of course not. He highly valued his servant, so he was taking no chances. He was acting upon what he knew at the deepest point in his heart. He knew Jesus could do what was needed, and from watching Jesus heal all who came to Him, he knew He not only could heal his servant, but also that He would. 

I wonder if we come to Jesus with that certainty when we pray. Do we understand with such assurance that God not only hears our prayers but never fails to answer them?  If we did, perhaps we would be bolder in approaching Him with needs, both our own and the needs of those around us. With a word, just one word, He can do what needs to be done.  We serve a mighty God. He can handle anything that comes our way. 

Today, pray for certainty. Pray that we will know for certain that our God hears and answers our prayers. Pray, too, that He will speak a word of healing for all our loved ones and heal the place that keeps them from Him.  

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Link for last night's post: http://leannahollis.blogspot.com/2014/05/mustard-seeds.html

Mustard Seeds

There are piles of old stories, transcripts of old talks, and manuscripts of books not-yet-published in a very large stack next to my desk, mostly arranged in three-ring binders. I found this excerpt from a talk I gave in 2000. It seems pretty applicable today, as well. 

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Jesus told several stories about little things that meant a lot. Do you remember what He said about the mustard seed? The first story is that the Kjngdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed. It is a little bitty thing at first, but when it is planted, and nurtured, it grows and grows and grows. It becomes a tree with big branches and lots of leaves. Birds come to rest in the branches, build nests, and make their homes in it. 

I think what the story means is that, when we first meet Jesus, we make a little room for Him in our hearts.  The longer we know Him, the more room we make for Him, so that the "seed of faith" grows.  It grows enough to become a safe haven, a place of protection, comfort, and abiding. Maybe it means we bear fruit. Maybe it means that little helpless creatures, and lost helpless people, can find a safe place with us. 

There is another mustard seed story I really like. You, like me, may have forgotten what started the lesson on faith that day. A man had a son who was had seizures, and was very ill. He would often fall into the fire and other times fall into the water. The man took him to Jesus's disciples, but they couldn't cure him. The father was, needless to say, pretty upset. His hope was just about gone.

Finally, he spotted Jesus with His disciples, heading into a big crowd of people. He ran up to Jesus and fell on his knees, begging for mercy and healing for his son.  Jesus, of course, cured the boy at once.

Later, when no one was around or listening, the disciples asked Jesus why they couldn't cure the boy. He told them it was because "of the littleness of their faith". He said that, if they had faith the size of a mustard seed, they could've told a mountain to move to a different place and it would have had to move. That mustard seed is mighty little. Mustard seed faith  must be a mighty little bit of faith, too, but Jesus said it can accomplish big things. 

How big is your faith? Are there any mountains you need to move? A mustard seed of faith is all you need. 

Jesus came anyway

"Now Jesus started on His way with them" (Luke 7:6a NASB)

The elders came to Jesus with skewed perspective, improper motives, and an appalling lack of concern for the servant who was gravely ill. Jesus recognized it all. What's truly wonderful is that He swept past all the chaff to get to the wheat of the matter. There was a man in need. 

Jesus did not criticize the elders for their perspective, their motives, or their lack of concern. He heard the need and responded to it with compassion and action. He started out to see the sick man. Actually, He started out with the elders to see the sick man. 

It's so encouraging to me to know that, when I bring a need to our Lord, wrapped in wrong motives and poor insight, He can cut through all my mess and get to the heart of the matter. In fact, He can cut through all my mess and respond to the need in the best possible way. 

Here's what's truly amazing: Jesus does not need me to "get it right" for Him to do so. His perfect intervention does not depend upon my perfect intercession. The centurion sent men who did not understand the depth of his faith nor the intent of his heart to request healing from Jesus for his servant. Their words to Him could not in any way be construed as an example of wonder-working intercession. Jesus started out to see the servant before the demonstration of faith on the part of the centurion and despite the wording of the elders. He simply responded to the asking, as awkward as it was. 

As we bring our loved ones to Jesus, take heart, dear ones. He cares more than we care. He loves more than we love. He does not need a "formula prayer" to accomplish redemption. He does not need us to pray perfectly or be perfect to accomplish redemption in the lives of those we love. Simply tell Him the need in your heart and know that He will respond. You can trust Him. 

Pray today that our Lord will see the need in the lives of our loved ones and bring healing to every sick and hurting place in their hearts. 

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The link to last might's post is here: http://leannahollis.blogspot.com/2014/04/finding-blessing.html