I've Been Thinking

[UntoHim]

Originally Posted by Lost at Sea

UntoHim... mmm.... It's a threatening warning...what comes to mind is me 12 years old with two LC members that I know who are on fire for the L--d going door-knocking... all the rejection that went along with it... and the strangeness of entering a total stranger's home...and also have the pressure to share my testimony/experience of the L--d when I had none to give/say.

Ok, ok my friend, you win. Consider my words to you a threatening warning if you must...but please, please take them as a threatening warning, not from some silly old dude on some obscure Internet forum, but as from the Creator of heaven and earth, and the maker of your wounded soul.

As I was considering what to insert into the verse of the day module on the forum homepage, I thought of your post last night. I immediately was reminded about the Gospel story of "a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years" (Luke 8:43-48) I usually don't post such a large portion of scripture, but the moral of the story is lost if you only read a couple of the verses.

There are several strikingly unique aspects to this Gospel story. One unique aspect is this is the only instance of someone trying to get healing from Jesus unawares. Another unique aspect is Jesus' reaction. He had healed hundreds, maybe thousands of people up until this time, and yet this time he proclaimed "I perceive that power has gone out from me". This admission was as strange as it was unique. The third unique aspect is at the end of the story, he addresses the woman as "daughter" - The only woman in Scripture that Jesus addressed as “daughter.” He did not call her “daughter of Abraham” nor “daughter of Jerusalem.” He did not call her “woman,” a bland and generic label, which he even used to address his own mother. He called her “daughter.” His daughter. An endearing term. A term of relationship.

Before I lose you, I'll try to quickly tie this particular miraculous healing into your situation. This woman could have blamed God for her dreadful disease. Instead, she risked suffering further humiliation and rejection, and went all out to just make contact with the fringe of Jesus' garment. It was, almost literally, a leap of faith. This show of incredible faith did not go unnoticed by Jesus. In fact, he made an example out of her on purpose. But, unbeknownst to her, she was about to receive a bigger reward than getting healed from her 12 year long disease. She gained an eternal relationship with her creator, her God. He called her "daughter". No person, no thing, no circumstance no disease could EVER take that away from her.

Back to what Carol posted:

Originally Posted by countmeworthy

There is one thing I did not get from your post. That is did GOD ever reveal HIMSELF to YOU personally. I know you were taught to believe, to call on the Name of the Lord, to fellowship etc... but if you don't believe God is real I think it means He has not 'appeared' to you and pulled you to Himself.
Carol

You are in need of two things my friend, and only the God of the Scriptures can provide them for you. One thing is temporal and solely for your comfort in this life. The second thing is for the rest of your earthly life, and for eternity. You might be like this woman, she needed to make the leap of faith that Jesus could and would heal her and relieve her suffering. She then gained something infinitely greater - an eternal relationship with the Lord of heaven and earth. God is not asking you for a leap of logic, he is asking for a leap of faith. What do you have to lose?
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[tentmaker]

The initial post was the main factor for me joining this board. I know others who have and are going through similar things. If the original poster is viewing this, please consider the fellowship brother UntoHim just gave you. It won't hurt you any ....

[JJ]

"Lost at Sea" and tentmaker_21, a belated thanks for joining us, and sharing your experiences.

I'm praying that you find participation here to be helpful.

JJ