Hungry Again

 

I can remember being sick a few weeks before school was out for the summer. I had a headache and felt dizzy. I later realized that I had waited too long to eat. I had a hungry headache, and believe me, it wasn’t a good feeling. When I finally did eat, I couldn’t seem to get full. I ate, went to bed, and woke during the night hungry. I nibbled on crackers and went back to bed again. When I got up the next morning, I was still starving. After a few hours and some breakfast, this finally wore off. Strange, huh? But, what does this have to do with God?

So often we hunger for God, but we don’t recognize that hunger. We know we need something, but we just don’t know what. We think we need another drink…another car…a new house…to have another affair…to find a new man or woman. We don’t realize that what we are longing for is God. We are not longing for financial things or physical relief. We are longing to be held in God’s loving arms. We need a closer relationship with him. Things will never be able to fill that void. That is why after we have had that drink, we are still thirst. After that affair or midnight rendezvous, we are still lonely. We need a closer relationship with Jesus. So, yes, we are hungry again after we have over-eat and over-indulged. Things and people can never replace God.

And, yes, I am guilty too. I am guilty of trying to satisfy a spiritual need with a physical one. Earlier in my walk with God, I did not know how to recognize this longing for what it really was. I thank God that now I am able to realize that I need him. I need God. Just as Jesus explained to the woman at the well, He has living water and if you drink of it, you will never thirst again.

The woman at the well: John 4: 7-30

Out of your belly: John 7: 38

Revelations About the Blood

 

We have all heard that “there is power in the blood”. As Christians, we know that we can cover ourselves and our families under the blood. We also know that Jesus shed his blood for us on the cross. For we know that there must be the shedding of blood for the remission of sin. What I didn’t realize was that the blood had a voice. Don’t believe me? Well, check this out:

When Cain killed Abel, Abel’s blood cried out to God from the ground:

Genesis 4: 9-11~Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” He said, “I do not know. Am I my brother’s keeper?”¹⁰ And He said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood cries out to Me from the ground. ¹¹ So now you are cursed from the earth, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand.

Hebrews 11:4~By faith Abel brought God a better offering than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith Abel still speaks, even though he is dead

Jesus' blood also spoke:

Hebrew 12: 24~to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel

When Children Believe: The Way We Raise Our Children Does Count

No parent wants to see their child hurting or in pain. But, so often as parents we have to watch our children hurting and wounded. We have to help them up from falls, put balm on their injuries, stay with them throughout the long nights, and kiss their boo-boos. The most painful times are those when there is nothing we can do. Amazingly some of my most awe inspiring moments have come when my children were hurting.

My oldest son has considered himself grown for several years now (He is only 19). He likes to think that he is “hard”. So, I found it absolutely amazing that whenever he was really hurting-I mean really hurting-that he would always run to me. “Moma, moma, help!” What was even more amazing was when he was in severe pain, he would always ask for 2 things: holy oil and prayer. He shocked me the first time he said, “Moma, go get the holy oil and come pray for me. This hurts so bad. Pray.” And, every other time he was in severe pain, he wanted me to help him contact Jesus.

This let me know that he knows enough about Jesus to know that he can heal. As a child, he attended Sunday school and church regularly. He has witness me and my prayer partner and partners laboring in prayer. He knows just what Jesus can do. So, it doesn’t matter if he sings rap or wears dread locks. He knows Jesus. I did raise him in the way he should go.

My youngest son has been having knee pain all week this week. He has had to be out of school and stuck with my mother and father. These bouts of pain come and go in intervals and when they come, they are excruciating to him. He screams and cries, and I feel completely lost. Yesterday, when his leg began hurting, he did something that shocked and thrilled me. He called me over to the couch where he was lying. He said, “Moma, pray for my leg.” That’s when I knew that I had done something right. No, I am not the world’s greatest parent. I am not the most patient person. I am not the easiest person to get along with. But, my children do know that I love Jesus. They know that he can heal. They also believe in the power of prayer.

Raise up a child in the way that he should go...

Proverbs 22: 6

James 5:14-16

Accepting Life's Disappointments

Jeremiah 29:11

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future."

This is a scripture is that most of us have heard several times before. For some people, it offers them hope when life seems void and bleak. This scripture and I have had a long history, but it is not a good one. I can’t tell you how many times this scripture has been quoted to me by prophets and preachers alike. And, it was always at a time in my life when I was facing hurt and disappointment. It showed up at times when I was disillusioned and angry. At those times, this was not something I wanted to hear. Like any spoiled child, I wanted what I wanted at the time that I wanted it. So, hearing that God had a plan for my life that obviously wasn’t what I had planned didn’t set too well with me. Although this scripture is still not one of my favors, I have learned to accept that God knows best. Our times are not his times. And, our desires are not always his desires. Now, I don’t get as upset when disappointments come. I have learned to trust God and keep moving forward. All things work for my good.

Romans 8: 28: And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

Get Out of the Boat: Be a Water Walker

A favorite quote of mine from my pastor, Dr. Robert Nix, is “If you want to walk on water, you have to get out of the boat.” This comes from the story of Peter walking on the water to meet Jesus. This is a true saying. If you want the miracle that God has for you, you have to be willing to take a chance. You have to have the faith to step out of the boat. My grandfather used to say, “Reach for the moon. If you fall among the stars, at least you will be on higher ground.” This is true. Stop sitting back wishing on a star. Shoot for your dreams. If you are not sure how, then do some research. Google it. Ask for help. The bible tells us to study to show ourselves approved. So, read books on the subject. Pray. Step out on faith. Walk on water.

Matthew 14: 22-33