How many times have you heard the phrase, “Well, it’s just my cross to bear”…usually accompanied by a resigning bitterness or claim to martyrdom.

Perhaps you’ve said it, too. I have.

The Apostle Peter keeps us humble when he reminds us in his first letter-- chapter 4 verse 12--that we are not to think our fiery trials as strange things happening only to us.

For the word, “strange”, let’s substitute unique.

We’re not singled out by God--either to be picked on or deemed special enough to suffer.

Suffering (identifying with Christ’s self-denial) is every Christian’s calling.

Being willing to fellowship (experience) this suffering in your own life qualifies you to share in the power of His Resurrection (Philippians 3:10).

Let’s look at Jesus’ words:

"And he that doth not take his cross and follow after me, is not worthy of me.” Matthew 10:38 (ASV)

“Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man would come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” (Matthew 16:24 ASV)

"And he called unto him the multitude with his disciples, and said unto them, If any man would come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” (Mark 8:34-35 ASV)

“And he said unto all, If any man would come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.” (Luke 9:23 ASV)

“Whosoever doth not bear his own cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.” (Luke 12:47 ASV)

Putting these passages together, we find:

1) It is not Jesus’ Cross we take up, but our own.

2) Taking up our cross is indeed, self-denial.

3) We are to take it up with the purpose of conforming to Jesus.

4) It is a daily discipline.

5) It is optional—only for those who want to be a disciple rather than just a follower.

6) Any confessing believer who doesn’t, however, is not “worthy” (Greek-deserving) of Jesus.

Since we each have unique situations and circumstances that involve cross-bearing, our focus should not be on WHAT we carry as much as HOW we bear it. The Apostle Paul warned in II Corinthians 10:12 that it is unwise to compare ourselves to other Christians!

However, bearing one’s own cross IS NOT:

1) The consequences of sin

2) The consequences of God’s chastisement

A homosexual once told me he believed God gave him his lifestyle; therefore, the social and even physical problems he suffered were just part of the cross he had to bear.

No! You don’t “bear” sin--you repent of it, and then cooperate with the Holy Spirit in disentangling your mind, emotions, and behavior patterns from its effects. You allow Him to peel back the layers and address the root of what caused you to step outside of God’s original purpose for your sexuality.

Conversely, any Christian who is currently reaping what they have sown needs to quit misleading people and just repent for the seeds they planted. God will be merciful! There is no glory, says the Scriptures, in being buffeted for our sins (I Peter 2:20).

What is a genuine cross to bear?

It is being compelled beyond the pain of self-denial towards a greater purpose than our personal happiness or comfort!

Jesus struggled in the Garden of Gethsemane…not with WHAT He had to do, but HOW the Father chose for redemption to be accomplished. The Gospel of Luke records that this battle to surrender His will to the Father’s was so intense that His sweat became as drops of blood! (Luke 22:44)

In the end, Jesus was able to say: “Nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will."

Cross-bearers are nevertheless Christians!

The WAY you bear your cross through sickness, grief, lack, loss, estranged relationships, a difficult marriage, slander and persecution conforms you to the image of Christ. It will be your gift to Him when faith becomes sight. (I Peter 1:7)

In addition, your cross-bearing, if borne in humility, can influence others for Christ better than your strengths. Peter reminds us that unsaved men may be won by the conduct of their believing wives (I Peter 3:1).

When I was still in broadcasting, a Christian co-worker said she was embarrassed for others to know her husband had left; she was faced with mounting debts and raising two kids alone. She considered it a bad testimony.

I told her it could be her BEST witnessing yet! Unbelievers need to know that Christians are not immune from similar problems because we all live in a fallen world where people are free to exercise their flawed wills for good or bad—including Christians.

However, HOW we handle a crisis as Christians should be different; our suffering should be joyful because it has a redemptive purpose--even if we don’t have the first clue as to what God is accomplishing through our situation.

The essence of authentic cross-bearing is dying to self in big and little ways. We often find it less troubling to give up time or allow for occasional interruptions in our daily plans. At other times, we all enter our own Gethsemane (place of pressing) alone to surrender our dreams, relationships, comforts, and even our safety.

“Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to Him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.” (I Peter 4:19)

I can bear your burdens, but not your cross.“Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ…” (Galatians 6:2)

Yet, in just a few verses later, the Apostle Paul says, “For every man shall bear his own burden.” (Verse 5)

This definitely appears contradictory at first, but the key is in the translation of the word burden.

In verse 2, the Greek word baros is used. It means “weight”. The heaviness of your cross is my concern, and I should look for ways to continually strengthen and encourage you.

Phortion is the Greek word used in verse 5. It represents an "invoice, task, or service". Since God gives the task, no one should attempt to lessen or remove another’s cross.

In Gethsemane, it’s difficult to see the gift we’ve been given. Our faith in the goodness of God is severely tested, much like that of Jeremiah’s:

“Why is my pain perpetual and my wound incurable, refusing to be healed? Will you indeed be to me like a deceitful brook, like waters that fail and are uncertain?"

“Therefore thus says the Lord [to Jeremiah]: If you return [and give up this mistaken tone of distrust and despair], then I will give you again a settled place of quiet and safety, and you will be My minister…

“…and if you separate the precious from the vile [cleansing your own heart from unworthy and unwarranted suspicions concerning God's faithfulness], you shall be My mouthpiece…” (Jeremiah 15:18-19 Amplified)

In my Christian life, the two commands in the above passages have helped me stay the course when I could see the storm, but not the hand of God:

Give up this mistaken tone of distrust and despair

Cleanse your own heart from unworthy and unwarranted suspicions concerning God's faithfulness

God delivers us from some things--out of others. “Why” may remain in His sovereign knowledge during our earthly lives. If we do get a glimpse into His ways for us, it is often AFTER we have passed through the troubling event.

For instance, my friend Nancy prayed for her infant son who had a heart defect. His life expectancy was bleak. God healed him to the amazement of the doctors. He is in his twenties today and doing fine!

Years later, Nancy was ill and the doctors wanted to do surgery. Again, she prayed for healing, but grew worse with the passing of time. She finally arranged for the surgery, trusting herself to God’s will in the situation.

After being prepped, Nancy was waiting to be wheeled into the OR. Another surgery patient was on the gurney next to her. The elderly man heard Nancy quietly praying.

“Are you a Christian?” he asked.

“Yes,” answered Nancy, turning to look at the man.

“I…I ain’t right with God, ma’am. I don’t even know how to make it right.”

My friend led him to the Lord—right there. Later, Nancy discovered that he died on the operating table.

You see, God still healed her…His way. And God’s ways address issues far beyond what’s going on in our world!

Cross-bearing is optional. We can always refuse the opportunity; thereby refusing the gift and the power we possess to turn it into a blessing for others. We can selfishly refuse and grow embittered over our circumstances.

“Though He (Jesus) was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered.” (Hebrews 5:8)

The Greek word Manthano, rendered in English as "learned", more accurately suggests that Jesus “mastered” obedience.

Yes…Jesus, the Son of God had to do this!

Although He was fully God and fully man, the Son voluntarily limited all advantages of being God when He assumed human flesh to live in our world. He did this in order to serve the redemptive will of the Father as a perfect substitute for sinful humanity.

We, too, must master obedience through cross-bearing. Jesus did not assert His rights as God during His earthly mission, and neither should we demand our rights to any special privileges and blessings as we continue His ministry.

How does God view our cross bearing?

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable (rational) service.” (Romans 12:1)

No one likes his or her cross. The Bible records that Jesus endured His Cross because of the joy set before Him (Hebrews 12:2).

Humanity was that joy before Him! We loomed larger in His vision than the pain and shame of His Cross.

Now, this same passage in Hebrews exhorts us to reciprocate…and keep our eyes on “Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our Faith”. Now…HE is our joy!

The cross we once desperately petitioned God to remove can actually become an indwelling joy (much deeper than happiness)…enabling us to endure until God’s purpose is accomplished.

Don’t refuse it; don’t waste it. Just pick up your cross and follow.

"I assure you: The one who believes in Me will also do the works that I do. And he will do even greater works than these, because I am going to the Father." (John 14:12)

Prior to the institution of the Church, people only received a miracle if they were in the presence of Jesus or one of the twelve disciples during His earthly ministry.

When He ascended in triumph to the right hand of the Father, the third Person of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit, was released to convict, convert, guide, and sanctify.

He is making the finished work of Calvary a reality in those who believe, and overseeing the manifestation of the Kingdom of God in the earth until Jesus returns. He empowers the Church to witness and gives gifts to help Christians grow and serve.

As the guardian and guide of the Church--the un-embodied Holy Spirit fills and enables EVERY believer to continue Jesus' ministry on earth...even surpassing Him in QUANTITY!

So, where is the Church during our country's greatest economic disaster since the Great Depression?

Here's an excerpt from one of my earlier articles, "Wild, Wild Weather: God's Creation Cries Out":

"His Church is to be a shining city of refuge set on high ground that people can easily reach for safety, but it's also to be a mobile search, rescue and revive unit.

Thank God for the Red Cross and other organizations helping thousands right now pick up the pieces from Hurricane Ike.

First, I look for the Church. I know that sacrificial efforts from local churches and ministries get very little press coverage. The notoriety itself is not important. What is imperative, however, is that the Church's presence is foremost--out front with rolled-up sleeves--viable, visible, and vivid in the memories of those she serves.

What if: The churches in an area get together AHEAD OF TIME and lay aside their misinformation and suspicions in order to:

a. Have an intercessory prayer network in place-before, during, and after the storm
b. Develop and finance a corporate recovery plan for their community
c. Start packing donated supplies into available storage

And all of this worked so well that the Church gets there ahead of the government and other secular organizations)--better organized, efficient, and with MORE THAN ENOUGH!" *

Yeah, I know what you're thinking; it's the same thing many others are wondering:

 "So, where is this mighty Church"?

Jesus said the gates of Hell would not prevail against it, but please... we have to quit thinking only in terms of a "place" with fire and brimstone. Even though I believe in a literal Hell, I urge Christians to pay more attention to the hell on earth people are going through right now.

The Gospels record Jesus instructing His disciples to come aside from their busy ministry and rest a while. They went out into the desert, but multitudes of people followed. There were 5,000 men gathered, not to mention women and children.

Having compassion on the crowd, He taught them many things about the Kingdom of God. Later in the day, His disciples said...

"This is a deserted place, and already the hour is late. Send them away, that they may go into the surrounding country and villages and buy themselves bread; for they have nothing to eat.

"But He answered and said to them, ‘YOU give them something to eat.'

"And they said to Him, ‘Shall WE go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread (forty dollars) and give them something to eat'?

"But He said to them, ‘How many loaves do you have? Go and see.' (Mark 6:30-38)

Let's stop in our story to make a few observations.

1) THE INTENT WAS TO REST, BUT COMPASSION MOVED THEM TO MINISTER.

Was the Church in America at rest in the 1930ˈs when FDR's "New Deal" gave power to the government to intervene, initiate, and manage massive programs to pull the nation out of a depression?

Many believe what could have been the Church's finest hour passed, as it was caught off guard and at ease behind her stained glass walls.

If the Church had been watching on the wall, listening to its prophets and preparing, it could have stepped in to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, visit the sick, and care for orphans and widows.

I wonder...if we had done our job back then, would we have the outlandish welfare system and entitlements we have today.

By the way, welfare for individuals was NEVER the founding fathers intention for this nation!

The word "welfare" appears twice in our constitution, once in the preamble and again in Article 1, Section 8. Both times, it refers to the "general welfare" of the government so it can serve the people appropriately.

The preamble to the Constitution states:

"We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."

Article 1, Section 8 states:

"The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defense and general Welfare of the United States; but all Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be uniform throughout the United States."

Sorry, there is no concept of individual welfare in the Constitution of the United States.

"General" welfare of the UNITED STATES--not the citizenry--is to be promoted. Article 1 says that we can impose taxes for the government to be able to operate in such as way as to defend us and secure the blessings of LIBERTY. This included postal services, coining money, establishing military, patent and copyright offices and a host of other services that helped the government operate efficiently in interstate matters.

A thorough study of the writings of the founding fathers reveal they believed the primary "blessing of liberty" was the freedom of private ownership and the engagement in enterprise--free from oppressive and invasive control!

When our nation was young, families remained connected and took care of one another from the cradle to the grave. However, if someone was alone, the Church was the next strong haven for help.

Today, families quickly separate or are torn apart by abuse and abandonment. The Church has a much wider gap than ever before to cross, but His grace is sufficient for every need and every situation.

Benevolence is not up to the government, it is up to the Church.

If we don't get a Kingdom perspective on our earthly mission, we will join my friend Monica, who hails from Germany. The notion of universal health care is appealing until you realize that 45% of her income went to pay for this and other government-controlled programs. 

The German government even rid Monica of the burden of tithing every week, automatically deducting it (9%) since her church was on the government registry.

Part of her salary additionally went to make sure that legal prostitutes had monthly, mandatory physicals-courtesy of the government-and all for the "well being" of its citizens!

Have we been given another opportunity to pass the test we failed in the 1930ˈs? Yes.  And we're failing again as President Obama signs the so-called Stimulus Package into law. Will we have yet another chance? Only God knows!

Could this be America's own "Mark of the Beast"? Our socialistic-looking government now owns the biggest banks that have your money. Sam can give you a job...even your electricity!

I've never wasted precious time in hunting down THE Anti-Christ. John told us plenty of them were already loose in the world back in his day (I John 4:1-5).

Since the word "anti" actually means "instead of" and not "against" (as so many Christians believe), I just try to live every day so that my choices are "for" Christ and not "against". I confess...I have seen the "anti-Christ" in my own mirror!

While others look for microchip implants, I believe the "Mark of the Beast"-on the forehead (the mind) and the hand (our works)-to already be among us, represented by "instead of" philosophies...particularly humanism and public school indoctrinations.

And look at what we have wrought with our own hands; look at what comes out of Hollywood, the internet, and yes-our government!

You can "take the mark" (swallow their lies and join in their works, which many gullible Christians have done) or take a stand.

However, I've never feared for our country as I do now.

Soon, If you don't drive the right kind of car and keep your house at an acceptable temperature (new power grid program), you can be penalized. And that's just the tip of the iceberg.

Yes, all one has to do is turn on the TV and see how people react in town meetings with President Obama to see who is America's Savior. When the Church failed to fill the need, the State--with its charismatic leader--stepped in.

At what cost will Americans get relief? Will it be the precious liberty won after spilling blood to break the chains of tyranny... along with the blood spilled ever since to protect it?

Christians have been talking about judgment coming to our land. Many are looking for another terrorist attack. But could this stimulus package be the "warning shot"?

In other words, can the government itself be God's instrument of chastisement and cleansing?

In another one of my articles, "President Elect Solomon"**, I warned that we in America are in many ways under a "Solomon". His ungodly wives (alliances) led him to finance the building of idols to pagan gods.

He built an altar to the god Molech, whose rituals demanded child sacrifices. Later, we see that Solomon attended the sacrifices with his wives; then, towards the end of his reign, was actually worshiping with them! (1 Kings 11:1-8)

(Although the Bible does not record that Solomon allowed any of his children to pass through the fire, future kings Ahaz and Manasseh did, along with countless thousands of other parents...first influenced by Solomon's hypocrisy.)

Solomon's "Golden Age" soon crumbled. The people, although prosperous, grew restless under Solomon's heavy taxation, as well as having their children in servitude to the state. The citizens eventually revolted, and the kingdom was split in two-Israel and Judah.

Captivity is always a mark of judgment. First, God's people were held captive by oppressive powers within their land (Book of Judges). Ultimately, they were taken from their land-Israel by the Assyrians and Judah by the Babylonians.

 Are we about to be held captive by our own government? Will we become so distressed that men and women will finally cry out to the Lord for mercy?

"When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan. " (Proverbs 29:2)

Right now, people are groaning. But I am convinced it is nothing compared to the groaning that is to come if the Church remains at rest!

Christians are not immune to suffering, and the pain can often distort our spiritual discernment and reasoning. All we can think about is ending the discomfort!

Jacob was cooking a meal when his brother Esau arrived from a hunting venture. He was very tired and oh, so hungry! He begged for a bowl, but his cunning brother asked for his birthright in exchange (double inheritance and head of the family). Esau, thinking he was going to die of starvation, gave away his future! (Genesis 25:29-34)

God often allows adversity to get our attention. He is far more interested in our character than our comfort. At times, He temporarily removes the latter in order to expose who we really are under pressure. It's much like a beautiful lake. You can't see the dangerous stumps and tangled weeds underneath until a drought hits.

Are we propping up what God prefers to let collapse? It's a frightening thought. Yet, God in His mercy removes the harness of misery once repentance is complete and begins to bear fruit.

In the 1930ˈs, we propped up the sinful stewardship of man rather than correcting it.

Today, it has come back to haunt us. We have sown the wind and are now reaping a whirlwind (Hosea 8:7). What are we leaving for our children to reap? God forbid!

We are a people that want freedom without responsibility. We desire success without the risk of failure. We want someone else to remove the consequences of our bad choices-whether it's a pill or an unborn baby or a government bail out. We are spoiled, childish, self-absorbed Americans. Moreover, our behavior stinks in the nostrils of a holy God!

(Please continue with Part II...)

* "Wild, Wild Weather" Post:

http://www.xanga.com/StumblingOx/675947313/wild-wild-weather-gods-creation-cries-out/



** "President Elect Solomon" Part I and II

http://www.xanga.com/StumblingOx/681794636/president-elect-solomon-part-i/

http://www.xanga.com/StumblingOx/681794443/president-elect-solomon-part-ii/

Something was bound to happen.

Tying off one bullet wound after another so you can stay in a gunfight eventually catches up with you.

Where to begin?

My dad died suddenly in 1986. For the next two years, I drove to my nearby hometown two or three weekday evenings and every weekend to take care of my ailing mom.

My husband and I were quietly in the throes of a divorce. I found myself trying to raise a very confused and angry six-year-old on my own. I was hurting over my husband’s rejection of everything I was as a woman and a Christian.

Nevertheless, I continued my work as a radio announcer at a Christian radio station--still smiling, praying for others, speaking at churches, and…bleeding to death on the inside.

At the time, I knew no other way to handle my problems. I didn’t want to let people down or ruin their expectations of someone who serves in full-time Christian ministry.

So, my body spoke for me.

Another busy day was planned—home from work, drop off my son to his father, grab fast food on the road to see mom; afterwards, pick up Jeremy, head to the apartment, get ready for bed and do it all over again the next day.

I was thumbing through a magazine in the Intensive Care waiting room at Anderson Memorial.  Mom was in the hospital again with lung problems, and I still had a few minutes before the family visiting hour began.

Suddenly, my heart began to race. Everything around me started to slowly spin. I waited. The feeling subsided for a few moments, but then returned.

I got up and walked out into the hall. “Father, please help me!” I whispered, still trying to maintain my composure. A nurse recognized me earlier and commented on my daily program. I was always “on”.

A few minutes passed. I gripped the rail, standing still—waiting, praying.

Then, it happened. The “spin” accelerated; I broke out in a sweat. I felt that at any moment I was going to be sucked out of my body into a long, dark tunnel.

I stumbled to the nearby back elevator. When the doors opened five floors below, I fell into the arms of the ER’s security guard.

I was immediately put on a gurney, taken to a cubicle, and hooked to monitors.

It was as if a giant wave traveled through my body every thirty seconds or so. When it “crashed”, I could barely hang on to consciousness.

Was it a heart attack? A stroke? No one was with me. Mother had no idea what was happening…neither did anyone else. I was dying alone (or so I thought).

My life was full of loose, frayed ends. My son was only six and needed me more than ever. My mother needed her only child. I was thirty-two years old and full of hopes and plans for better days. Yet, in that cold, little room, I surrendered.

 Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, Lord.

Just then, one of the alarms sounded!

(Now let me digress a bit. This happened in the late 80ˈs, and digital technology was not standard. The EKG (electrocardiogram) still printed results that rolled out like toilet paper.)

No doctor had been in yet, but I assumed the alarm would send a team of specialists running down the hall! Yes, I’ll see my curtain flail any moment now…

Nothing. No one.

BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!

How can they NOT hear it?

I watched all the medical shows on TV. I knew an alarm on a monitor meant something was seriously wrong. On an EKG, I expected the flat line at any moment.

I prepared for the trip. I closed my eyes.

I guess I’ll stop breathing and then… What? An angel? God, I’ve never done this before…

My celestial homegoing was interrupted by a forceful yank at the curtain that sent the rings screeching across the metal bar like nails on a blackboard.

“*&#*!,” she spit in disgust. “I would’ve been in here sooner, but I got tied up.”

Not quite the angel I expected and the greeting—oh, well…

I turned my head to see a frustrated nurse at the EKG machine, picking up rolls of tangled paper.

“What’s wrong?” I asked, dreading to hear the truth.

“Sorry you had to put up with that alarm, hon,” she explained, patting me on my shoulder. “We’ve been real busy tonight and I got back here as soon as I could. The doctor’s on his way now.”

I grabbed her hand. “Nurse, but…but the machine, the alarm--”

“Oh, it aggravates me,” she said. “ I could have sworn there was enough paper in that thing! Stupid machine runs out at the worst times!”

I tried to sit up on my elbows to get a better look at the culprit.  “So the alarm…”

“…means we’re out of paper!” she scowled, rolling her eyes. “Now lay back down, sweetie.”

I was embarrassed. The waves were still coming and the room was still spinning. But I cracked a smile, and then laughed. I actually laughed. And I think God chuckled, too.

I survived—obviously. It wasn’t a heart attack or a stroke, but it WAS a wake-up call.

I was not John Wayne who could take bullets all day and keep on fighting, nor was I the Bionic Woman who could carry everyone else’s problems on top of my own.

And more importantly, my pride almost killed me. I was bleeding to death emotionally. I felt like the woman with the issue of blood—unacceptable; so, I relentlessly tidied myself every day to keep others from noticing, judging, and rejecting.

Physically, I was diagnosed with Adrenal Exhaustion, brought on my sustained stress. Each “wave” I experienced was a super-release of adrenalin. After that initial attack, it took me over a year to recover. At times, smaller attacks would occur. In between these episodes, my adrenal glands barely functioned, and I was bed-ridden and fatigued.

Healing emotionally and spiritually was paramount to my physical recovery. I am still on the journey. I’ve been detoured and delayed—all at my own doings—but God is merciful to show me the way back to the main road when I’ve had enough trudging through the back woods.

However, a significant turn around began when I repented and became willing to show my feet of clay. I had to dare to touch the hem of the Savior’s garment and risk exposure…revealing myself as a “bleeder”—a very needy and desperate woman!

Let’s look closer at the story of the woman with the issue of blood in Mark 5: 24-34:

We see that she had been suffering from internal bleeding for twelve years. She consulted many doctors, but her condition grew worse and her resources were depleted.

Satan will come with deceptive distractions—anything or anyone to keep you from receiving thorough wellness and freedom. He’ll surround you with “doctors” that offer solutions to your problems, but in the end, you’ll be worse.

These “doctors” can be well meaning friends, pastors or Christians teachers, but if--in your crisis and cry for help--THEY become the answer and not just a tool towards healing in the hands of Jesus, you will despair even more.

Some of these “doctors” are unwittingly bound by the desire to control others, and you are a prime candidate in your weakness. You’ll get enough relief to be grateful. If not discerning and strong enough to resist, you’ll obligingly prop up your benefactor--spending your money, your talents, and your dreams to make him or her appear successful.  

Jacob was cooking a meal when his brother Esau arrived from a hunting venture. He was very tired and oh, so hungry! He begged for a bowl, but his cunning brother asked for his birthright in exchange (double inheritance and head of the family). Esau, thinking he was going to die of starvation, gave away his future! (Genesis 25:29-34)

You may be talked into surrendering something you’ll regret later…for just a little relief now!

I learned the hard way to press beyond people and keep my focus on touching Jesus. My one desire was to be made whole, not to be secure, well liked or always understood.

“Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth…” (Mark 5:33)

To end your suffering, you have to fall at HIS feet, willing to tell him to whole truth—the reality and depths of your emotional pain--confessing how you turned time and time again to people for a cure, but to no avail.

Would you like to hear these words?

“Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering." (Verse 34)

Bleeding without remedy in Israel made one an outcast. The community considered them “unclean”. Jesus publicly proclaimed this woman’s healing so that she could re-enter society and live a normal life.

In Luke’s account, Jesus called her, “daughter”--a particularly tender term (Luke 8:43-28). She was the only woman Jesus addressed in this manner.

I don’t know about your situation, but I had a crowd of folks that loomed large over my vision. They blocked my ability to see Jesus.

Consequently, to get past others and myself and exercise my faith, I had to:

1) Lighten the load!

I thought I was dying, but the monitor (designed to keep track of my condition) was simply signaling for a refill.

Remember the nurse’s excuse? We all get busy and don’t take regular inventory of the important things.

God first speaks in softer tones all around us, but when we fail to hear, a nerve-wracking, yet necessary alarm goes off!

I let go of a tremendous amount of baggage—false responsibilities, religious burdens, and other people’s crosses—stuff I was never commanded by the Lord to carry. I practiced saying the most anointed word in the Kingdom of God—“NO”, and then used it.

When I did, some people panicked, others cursed. High-minded, super-spiritual folks who benefited from my dependency upon them thought I’d been hoodwinked by the devil.

Alarms go off all the time in people’s lives…even in churches and ministries.

May I speak frankly?

You can pull the plug and silence the alarm. This will enable you to live in denial and make up all kinds of spiritually impressive excuses for your problems.

You can let the obnoxious noise drive everyone around you crazy while you, the martyr, wait for the angelic hosts or…

 You can stop the drama and decide to live authentically--not perfectly, but truthfully…like the woman in our Scripture who finally fell at the feet of Jesus, not men.

Don’t misunderstand! We need each other. But I can’t really help you until I, too, am at the Savior’s feet, telling the whole truth and seeking healing for myself.  

2) Lighten up!

You’re not out of hope…you’re probably just out of paper!

Repent; then, get a good laugh with God about your skewed perceptions.

Get up and head towards the crowd. See their smiling faces? They’re eager to keep you needy to make them powerful. But you know that now, right?

Why don’t you really surprise them?

Press past them; don’t stop until Jesus is within your reach…

Fall at His feet.

Be made whole.

Go in peace.