It’s mid morning Valentine’s Day 2011 as I sit to write for our Tuesday time together. And I am hoping you all are experiencing the Love of your Life faithful to you. For HE surely is.

I have one more day of homework for my on-line study with Leah Adams; one part of our Scripture reading today was Isaiah 43. Would you read it with me?

Isaiah 43: (New American Standard Bible) 1But now, thus says the LORD, your Creator, O Jacob, And He who formed you, O Israel, “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are Mine! 2″When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they will not overflow you.  When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, Nor will the flame burn you. 3″For I am the LORD your God, The Holy One of Israel, your Savior;   via Is 43:1-4 – Passage Lookup – New American Standard Bible – BibleGateway.com.

Do not fear.

Why? Why should I not fear in this hostile, sin cursed, sinfully rampant place?

Because. Your Creator, the One who formed you has in CHRIST redeemed you. He calls you by name. He has claimed you as His own. He is not ashamed of you. He has put you on display before ALL creation as His very own daughter (or son). Why would we be afraid?

Here’s what I think. We get distracted by the winds and waves, or by the dry scorching hostile varmint infested deserts and when we are sorely distracted, we step into that pothole of unbelief and we stub our toe — sometimes we recover our balance quickly and pick right up moving on through the day; sometimes we take a tumble. 

The goal is to tumble less and less. And we are!

Still He says Do not fear. I am here.  

Did you notice verse two says WHEN not IF? It’s a given, water and fire are coming with the intent to drown us or burn us to a crisp!  The good news is it ain’t gonna happen! Look here. The Text says THROUGH! Through means there’s an end to the waves, we will not drown. Not in high seas or winding on ‘forever’ white water rivers.  And in desert heat with flames so licking hot we think the mascara on our eyelashes is going to melt — it aint!  We are promised the flame will not consume us.

My Sisters and Brothers, we in CHRIST JESUS are REDEEMED. We are gonna make it through this journey called LIFE and we are gonna be looking GOOOOD when we get to the other side! In fact, we ain’t looking too bad right now! Do you believe it? Yes, you do!

Praying for These

Thank You, thank You, ABBA, that in You, LORD JESUS, we are safe and we are coming through this in Your Robe of White (Righteousness) with nary a stain nor even a hint of smoke. Amen and amen.

Until then + + +
Kathie

Just a quick hello for our Monday time.

I think I have only a quick word for our Friday time together. And I confess a major factor in that is it is 8:59 PM Thursday night as i begin to write. I’m way off my schedule but as I say to my Girls: ‘It’ll be okay’.  In fact I said it to Little Girl just yesterday. Some years ago when I said it to her, she in a loving, yet exasperated tone said, “I’m gonna have that written on your head stone!” To which I replied ‘That’ll be okay’.  It’s a sweet memory.  But on to other matters.

Luke 17:14 When He saw them, He said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they were going, they were cleansed.

This is the account of the healing of the ten lepers. JESUS was on His way to Jerusalem passing between Samaria and Galilee and as He entered a village ten leprous men stood at a distance from Him and they cried out to Him, “JESUS, Master, have mercy on us!” (Luke 17:11-13).  And of course He did.

At some other time reading this Text I made a note in the margin of my Bible: ‘If they had refused to go they would not have been healed.’ 

I believe that. 

And I believe this: Some healings, particularly spiritual ones, like the breaking free of strongholds, requires that we walk an obedient path for some time (perhaps a long some time) before we see our healing.

Perhaps this is not a word that each of you need today, but to the one that it is — take heart, keep walking that obedient path He has laid out before you and as you go and keep on going those open wounds and sores will heal.

Praying for These

Thank You, LORD, that as we go with You and keep on going with You, we are healed. We bring our list of names, our IDOK Troops and all cares, our concerns, even our complaints and entrust them to You. We in faith proclaim and thank You for tending us so tenderly and faithfully. For taking care of us, watching and guiding and leading us. You are our Good Shepherd and we are the sheep of Your Pasture and we are grateful and pleased to be so. ABBA, thank You for each Dear One who gathers with us here to read and pray.  Thank You for inspecting us and healing us. As the weekend is before us I pray for our respective Pastors to minister Your Word faithfully and for we in our respective congregations to fail not to gather and worship You. I speak peace and a spirit of obedience over us in Your Holy and Blessed Name, LORD JESUS. Amen and amen.

Until Then + + +
Kathie