Dear Cherished Interested,
-
I need to share
this before we hit the plane for our unknown -
When
I was a young father of our four bio-children, there was an important learning
episode for me taught by one of our young children. I remember coming in the front door of the
house and this child immediately talking to me in earnest, almost pleading with
me, about a need. This child had
perceived a need and was taking that need to Daddy. What burst my heart open was that the need
was not for the child bringing me the news.
The perceived need on the heart of my child .. was for a sibling.
I
am convinced that what God allowed to happen in me, in response to my child bringing
me a need on their heart for someone else, is similar to what God experiences
when we plead in prayer for the needs of others. It is joyful proof of growing hearts
discovering a world full of loved people outside themselves, and then becoming
part of that love.
From Mark Chapter
2,”…After
a few days, Jesus went back to Capernaum, and people heard that he was at home. 2 So
many gathered that there was no longer space, not even near the door. Jesus was speaking the word to them. 3 Some
people arrived, and four of them were bringing to him a man who was paralyzed. 4 They
couldn’t carry him through the crowd, so they tore off part of the roof above
where Jesus was. When they had made an
opening, they lowered the mat on which the paralyzed man was lying. 5 When
Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Child, your sins are
forgiven!” (Common English Bible)
Because of the
faith of his friends, .. Jesus forgave the paralytic’s sins leading to the paralytic standing up, picking up his mat, and going home.
From Matthew Chapter 8,”… 5 When Jesus
went to Capernaum, a centurion approached, 6 pleading
with him, “Lord, my servant is flat on his back at home, paralyzed, and his
suffering is awful.” 7 Jesus
responded, “I’ll come and heal him.”
8 But the centurion replied, “Lord, I don’t
deserve to have you come under my roof. Just say the word and my servant will be
healed. 9 I’m a man under authority, with soldiers
under me. I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he
goes, and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and the
servant does it.” 10 When
Jesus heard this, he was impressed and said to the people following him, “I
say to you with all seriousness that even in Israel I haven’t found faith like
this. 11 I say to you that there are many who will
come from east and west and sit down to eat with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob in
the kingdom of heaven. 12 But the children of the kingdom
will be thrown outside into the darkness. People there will be weeping and
grinding their teeth.” 13 Jesus said to the
centurion, “Go; it will be done for you just as you have believed.” And
his servant was healed that very moment...”
(Common English Bible)
Because of the belief of the
Centurion, .. Jesus healed the servant.
This is what we
in our belief, in our love for each other, bring as we take things to our
Heavenly Father, our Lord and Savior Jesus, the gifted Holy Spirit, in prayer.
It has nothing to
do with life station or wealth. It has
everything to do with who God is and God’s loving willingness to respond to
you, me and that stranger over there.
Thank you, Thank
You, Thank You.. Prayers, your prayer, makes all the difference..
Vern W
