The Hem of His Garment

As Jesus was on his way, the crowds almost crushed him. ⁴³ And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years, but no one could heal her. ⁴⁴ She came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped.

⁴⁵ “Who touched me?” Jesus asked.

When they all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the people are crowding and pressing against you.”

⁴⁶ But Jesus said, “Someone touched me; I know that power has gone out from me.”

⁴⁷ Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at his feet. In the presence of all the people, she told why she had touched him and how she had been instantly healed. ⁴⁸ Then he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.”

Luke 8:42-48

This is one of my favorite stories in the Bible!  I love the faith this woman had, don't you?  

The precious woman had been ill for twelve years.  Twelve years she had bled.  That sounds miserable, doesn't it?  She tried to get help.  No one could help her during that time.  But this woman knew that Jesus could help her.

Had she heard of his healing people and his miracles? 

Had she been waiting for him to come to her region?  

She knew she had to see him.  She knew she had to touch him - even if just she could barely get to him. Even if it was just the edge of his cloak.

Jesus knew immediately that power had gone out from him.  The woman was instantly healed.  After twelve long, long years.  What a change in her life!  What a burden had been lifted!

When Jesus asked who touched him, the woman could have been afraid and denied that she had been the one.  But she didn't.  She worshipped him.  She fell at his feet. She told him why she had touched him and how she was immediately healed.  Jesus commended the woman.  He was pleased by her faith.  He sent her away...in peace.  

What a celebration must have taken place in that woman's house that day!

Like this woman, we have sicknesses and illnesses.  Maybe our problem is worse....maybe it's less.  But, what are you and I doing about our problems.  Are we reaching out to Jesus?  Are you and I asking God to heal us?  Or are we trying to figure it all out on our own?  Are you and I leaving it to the earthly physicians or even to our own feelings on how we can be healed?

Jesus may be waiting for you and I to reach out for his power.  Our Heavenly Father is ready to reward our faith.  Perhaps He is waiting for you to ask Him to heal you.  Perhaps He is waiting for me to ask.  Or maybe He is telling you and I to wait.....that it's not our time to be healed.  Either way, we must reach out and touch Him.  We can feel His power in us.  He's expecting you and me.

Let's reach out in faith!  

Two Meals and One Supper

Since school started a few weeks ago, I had been making lunches for one of my children only.  The youngest usually likes eating at school and the older two get to come home for lunch.  Yesterday the younger one wanted his lunch made, too....and he did again this morning.

As I was making the two lunches this morning, my oldest son said, "Mom, how are you liking making lunches again?"  He asked because by the end of the school year, it's certainly not my favorite activity!  It's much better making two that in was making four for several years.

Thinking about how I feel about the monotony of making lunches, my mind went to the Lord's Supper.  Each and every Sunday, I - along with my brothers and sisters in Christ - partake of this communion meal together.  It's done to remember Christ's death on the cross and to reflect on what that meant for each of us.

Do I ever get complacent partaking in this meal every week?  Does it become monotonous where I'm no longer thinking about what it means?  I'm sure I do.  I'm sure I don't always keep in mind - as I should - just what that communion time means for me and for this whole world.

Sometimes it's good to think back.  Sometimes it's good to go back to that true account of His death.  Think of the nails.  Think of the thorny crown.  Think of the pain and agony that He went through...for YOU and for ME.  It doesn't take long to realize that the Lord's Supper should never be monotonous or thought of to be less than what it really is - communion together with our Lord and Savior.

As you read the following passages, think about when He did for you.  And Sunday, as you commune with your brothers and sisters in Christ, reflect back to the cross.  Think of the significance of the bread and the cup.  Think of what it means for you.  I'll be thinking about what it means for me.

 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.”

²⁷ Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. ²⁸ This is my blood of the covenant,which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. ²⁹ I tell you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it anew with you in my Father’s kingdom.”

Matthew 26:26-29

²³ For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, ²⁴ and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” ²⁵ In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” ²⁶ For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

²⁷ Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. ²⁸ A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. ²⁹ For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself. 

1 Corinthians 11:23-29

Lauren & Kalli - Friends Forever and Always

When my daughter was born I was working part time....three days a week.  I was fortunate to have my mother-in-law take care of Lauren (and later two of her younger brothers) the majority of the time.  My mother-in-law also took care of three other children whose parents were both school teachers.  Their oldest two were twins and were two years old, then a baby girl named Kalli.  Kalli was exactly a month older than Lauren so it was almost like having two sets of twins to care for!  Not a problem for my mother-in-law who had six children (plus 15 or more others when they were house parents for a children's home) - the first two being twins!

Fast forward 18 years.  Recently Kalli celebrated her 18th birthday and Lauren will be 18 in a few weeks.  You see....Lauren and Kalli were best buds from their cribs.  They're actually more like cousins than just friends.  Their friendship has lasted, grown, and even changed and blossomed over the years.

Kalli moved away after 3rd grade, but the girls have remained very close.  Thankfully they've been able to enjoy many activites together, even though they live two hours apart. For Kalli's birthday, Lauren made her a special scrapbook.

Since my goal is to eventually print out a book for each of my children with posts from this blog about them, I wanted to share the book with you.  Here is the slide show of the book.

I hope you enjoy looking at the adventures of Lauren and Kalli!  At the end there are a few pictures of the inside of their "A-Z Designs" book.  Not sure when they made that book, but I remember it!  So cute and special!

I am GRATEFUL for this special friendship between these two girls.  What a blessing to have such as special friend!

To see what others are grateful for on this GRATITUESDAY, visit Heavenly Homemakers!

CLICK ON BOOK SLIDESHOW TO MAKE IT LARGER!

Southwest Oklahoma Opry Show

Last night in Altus, Oklahoma, the 5th Annual Southwest Oklahoma Opry Show was held at the Altus City Auditorium.  The show is produced by one of my daughter's fellow-classmates, 17-year-old Mikayla Jo, with help from her mother, Traci.  

Mikayla Jo has been singing practically all of her life.  One of my favorite songs she does is "Cowboy Sweetheart" because I remember her singing that when she was really young and being impressed with her yodeling skills!  Be sure to go to YouTube and search for Mikayla Jo to listen to her music.

Much of the show had a special emphasis on FFA - an organization that Mikayla Jo and many of the other performers are involved in or support.   Being a rural part of Oklahoma, FFA is a big part of all of our communities. 

Our local FFA Chorus, consisting of my daughter, Lauren (left), Mikayla Jo, and Kennedy sang "Bridge Over Troubled Water".  These three girls were part of the Oklahoma FFA State Convention last spring.  I have a feeling that they will be singing it on graduation night in May.  I hope so, anyway....even though I KNOW I'll cry! 

Here is the YouTube link for their amazing performance: 

http://youtu.be/wWxM0nF7j3o

Special guest star for the night was country music artist, Bryan White.  Bryan grew up in southwest Oklahoma, so coming back home is special to him.  He is going to be releasing another album soon, so be sure and click on his name above, which will take you to his website.  

There were so many great performances!  So much talent!  Truly a great evening!

Peace that Passes Understanding

This morning my husband and oldest son left early to join a few other family members for a golf game. I got up around 7:30 a.m. and began cleaning house and doing laundry.  The other three children are still sleeping so it iss really quiet - except for the chirping cricket (Grrrr!  I'm gonna find him as soon as I finish this post! :) and the dryer running.

As I have cleaned this morning, I've been thinking about the quietness.  I noticed that there is a calmness.....the feeling of knowing that the three that are here with me are sleeping...instead of being gone.  Some of my family is still here, even though a few are gone.

Of course, like most moms,  I enjoy the times of no one in the house for a little while.  It's rare, and I'm glad.  It's nice to clean up and straighten without it being messed up and cluttered as I go, but when my whole family is gone from home, there is a hole.  Something important is missing.  Several "somebodies" that are important are gone. There is a big space in the home and my heart that is empty knowing they are away.

But not this morning knowing they're here with me.  There's a sense of peace.

Why is it that when we're alone - really alone - that we don't realize that we are never truly really alone?  Why don't we realize that God is always with us?  That we should have that same peace of knowing God is with us when we're physically alone?  I don't think that it's that we don't believe Him when He says He is always with us.  I think we want to have that peace.  I just think we can't comprehend with our human minds just what that really means.  We can't comprehend what a great and awesome God He really is!

By prayer and meditating on God's Word, we can come to know God in a way that will bring that inner peace....the peace of knowing we are never, ever truly alone.  We can feel calmness knowing that all is well because He is there.

What an AWESOME, AWESOME GOD we serve!!!

Now, it's back to more cleaning.....laundry.....and finding that chirping, annoying cricket (that God made :)....!!!

Happy Saturday!

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:7