The Healing Jesus

A few days ago, I invited you to come and sit at Jesus feet each morning as we learn about Him and from Him.  I think I would like to know just what kind of Man He was and is, I think I know but let's see how He treated the sick and that should help us understand His heart a bit more, don't you think.  Try to put yourself in the place of the sick person as we read these wonderful stories of healing.  I am just going to relate a few today, there are so many, maybe tomorrow a few more if God is willing.  I know God wants us to know what kind of a Son He has and these stories will tell us.

Matthew 8:2,3  "And behold a Leper came and worshiped Him, saying, If You are willing You can make me clean'. Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, 'I am willing be cleansed,'  Immediately his leprosy was cleansed."  In the Bible Leprosy was a hideous disease, and sometimes it is used to illustrate sin in our lives. Jesus' love went out to him in healing and he was blessed, I am sure that spiritual healing transpired too.

Matthew 8:5  "Now when Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, pleading with Him, saying, 'Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, dreadfully tormented,' And Jesus said to him, I will come and heal him."

Matthew 8:14  "Now when Jesus had come into Peter's house, He saw his wife's mother lying sick with a fever.  So He touched her hand, and the fever left her, and she arose and served them."

Matthew 8:16  "When evening had come, they brought to Him many who were demon possessed, and He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick."

Matthew 9:2  "Then behold, they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed.  When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, 'Son, be of good cheer, your sins are forgiven you.'  And at once some of the scribes said within themselves, 'This Man blasphemes!'  But Jesus, knowing their thoughts said, 'why do you think evil in your hearts? For which is easier to say, 'Your sins are forgiven you' or to say, 'Arise and walk'?  But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins -- then He said to the paralytic 'Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house."

Do you see how the paralytic man was healed of his sin and then his physical condition.  That story seems to tell me that spiritual healing is more important than physical healing.  Jesus knew what he needed most and He knows what we need most, doesn't He?  But he was rewarded for his faith by both spiritual and physical healing.  That's the love of Jesus, all these stories show how much He cares for humanity and still does. His love is overwhelming to me, how about you?  This is only just a few of His healings, there are many more.
It would be a good study to get into the Bible and find these healing stories, it encourages us and strengthens our faith in Him for the trials we go through.  Most of them you will find in Matthew, Mark and Luke, so why not study them and see the benefit they will bring to your hearts.  They really help me.  Grandma Joan

To spend and be spent.

We all know what it is to spend, specially money.  It's fun for some, it's hard for others and some people are just plain misers and don't spend anything much and survive on very little if anything.  I knew a man years ago that lived in an old broken down house and lived out of garbage cans and dressed like a pauper.  Everyone thought he was poor as poor can get.  Then he died.  Some kids in their late teens decided to snoop around the only house and and shed etc.  At the time my husband worked in an auto parts store and these teenagers brought in their cars and was having stereo's, boom boxes and all kinds of things to upgrade their cars, and someone got suspicious and turned them in and yes it was the teenagers that were snooping around the old house and had found cans of money, and of course they were arrested.  I don't know what became of them, but I would guess they had to make restitution.  They were spending stolen money.

Some people like to spend every penny that they have every month and some people like to put something away every month.

Now 'spent' is another matter, it means 'exhausted'.  Did you know that God exhausted all heaven when He sent is most prized Possession, His Son to save us. He was willing to spend and be spent and He is our example.  In fact when His Son came, His example was the same, He was willing to spend all His life here and His time to heal and save those who came to Him for salvation.  He was also willing to be spent for us.  His life was exhausted on Calvary for us.

Remember He was our example and still is our example.  The example of an unselfish life, willing to spend and be spent for us.  Am I willing to spend and be spent for others?  That is a tough question.  How do you feel about it?  Are you willing.  It takes more than human strength to be that unselfish for others.  But we have God's promise that, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me".  Philippians 4:13  So we can spend and be spent for Him, can't we?  We can make the slightest effort and Christ will pitch in and do the rest, sometimes we just have to put our feet in the water first before He steps in and does it for us.

Remember that is what happened at the Red Sea for the Israelites and at the Jordan river when they crossed over both on dry ground.  God is good isn't He? Willing to spend and be spent for us and we can live an unselfish life for others too.  He will step in and strengthen us to do it.  How about it, are you willing?  In a little book I love called, 'Steps to Christ', the author says that we need to be willing to be made willing. I think that is me, I need to ask to be made willing. Sounds good to me.  Grandma Joan.

Come and Sit With Me

I am extending a blanket invitation to everyone who views my blog to come and sit with me every morning at the feet of Jesus, where we will learn things eternal.  Things that will lead us on to eternal life.  That is my goal and I hope it is yours.  Please don't ignore my invitation, it means a lot to me to know that others are searching for eternal life along with me.  I have had viewers from all over the world and some have stayed by me each day and others come and go.  My invitation to you means that we are both or all of us are seeking life eternal together, and what greater goal could we have that life forever with the One who loved us so much as to die for us so that we might live with Him forever.

It's not complicated to sit at Jesus feet and learn of Him and from Him, is it?  To spend a thoughtful hour each morning when your mind is fresh from the burdens of the day, when you can welcome Him into your heart to spend the day with you.  No, it's not complicated, it is the best thing I have ever done or will do and I am inviting you to join me every morning to sit at Jesus feet and learn of Him and from Him.  I know many of you have been blessed as you sit with me, some of you I know personally and others are good friends of mine and still others I have never met, BUT, someday I am planning on meeting you in the kingdom of our God.  Will you be there?  I surely hope so.

Today, I am extending to you another invitation.

Isaiah 1:18  "Come now, and let us reason together," says the Lord, "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be white as snow, though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool."  Is that a complicated invitation?  It is a wonderful invitation and a wonderful promise of forgiveness.

Matthew 11:28-30  Jesus speaking.  "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."  He is not just speaking to those who work hard, but our burdens could be mental, emotional, Spiritual, or physical, but they could weigh upon us heavily and if we come to Jesus, He will yoke up with us and carry them for us and give us the rest that we so much are in need of.  Oh, to be free from the worries and frustrations of life!!  Do you think that is a complicated invitation?  Oh no, it is a loving invitation to give them all to Him and let Him carry them for you and me and be worry free with no frustrations or cares.  His yoke is easy and His burden is light.  He doesn't lay heavy burdens on us, never.  It is Satan that does that and is always trying to weight us down with them.
Turn them over to Jesus and resist the devil and he will flee.

Hebrews 4:16  "Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need."  Isn't that another wonderful invitation?  And it's not a complicated one either.  We don't have to be timid to come to Jesus, He says to come boldly to the throne of grace.  So don't be timid to come to Jesus, He wants to help us in our times of need and He wants to pour out upon us His mercy and His grace.  He is just waiting for us to come and sit at His feet to learn of Him and from Him how we can live a peaceful, fulfilling life in Him.  Nothing complicated about this at all.

All these invitations, even mine to come and sit with me at Jesus feet, are all simple invitations that anyone can do and you will be forever grateful for the mercy and grace and peace that we will find there.  I am finding more and more of His love gifts just sitting at His feet each morning.  Won't you please heed my invitation and come and sit with me each morning to learn of Him and from Him.  I am inviting you with a heart full of love to come and join me each day, when you have an opportunity.  You won't be sorry, it will not be time wasted.  I am always blessed, and you will be too.  Grandma Joan

A Healing Balm

Balm, is an aromatic oil or ointment used medicinally.  Usually rubbed on an area of the body to bring relief to aching joints, muscles, bruises, and sometimes burns and open injuries.  It's used for lots of things for healing.  I especially like a black ointment that is put out by 'Nature's Way', it's called Dr. Christopher's black ointment.  It takes pain away from injuries very fast and helps close them up if they are open.

Another simple one that I use is 'Vicks', now you are going to say, 'whatever for', well, it is excellent for burns, even third degree, my daughter took hold of an exhaust pipe on our camper when she was young and it burned her hand so bad it curled her fingers up, I ran in and got my 'vicks' and filled her palm with it and in 30 minutes the pain was gone, it was third degree and to my knowledge there is no scar.  It's good for chapped skin like when you have a cold, it keeps your nose from getting raw from blowing, good for chapped lips. My son when he was small licked his lips a lot and they were always chapped and I bought him a small jar of 'vicks' to put in his pocket and he used it all the time to heal his lips.

Another good skin remedy is 'Coconut Oil', it softens the skin and is good on the face, you can take a kleenex and blot the excess oil if you want but I leave it on and in about an hour there is no shine left.  My skin simply absorbs it all.

Did you know that God has a healing balm?  Jesus is our healing balm. I would refer you to Psalms 103: 1-5.

"Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, Bless His Holy Name.
     Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits,
Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases,
     Who redeems your life from destruction,
Who crowns you with loving kindness and tender mercies,
     Who satisfies your mouth with good things,
So that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.

So far, I see a balm for those who forget all the benefits that God gives us day by day,
     There is a balm for our iniquities and our diseases,
There is a balm to redeem our life from destruction,
     There is a balm of loving kindness and tender mercies,
There is a balm for hunger, and a balm to renew our youth like an eagle's.

Jesus is our healing balm.

Jeremiah 8:22  "Is there no balm in Gilead, Is there no physician there? Why then is there no recovery for the health of the daughter of my people?

God is asking us a question.  Is there no balm, is there no physician?  Why is there no recovery for the health of My people?

My answer to this question would be, because we are not seeking the Lord like we should be and we are not remaining in His presence.  Is there a balm for you?  Of course there is.  Is there a Great Physician for you?  Of course there is.

Isaiah 9:6  "For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given;  And the government will be upon His shoulder.  And His name will be called, Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."  This is our balm for healing.  I pray that He is yours too.  We need Him so very much and cannot really exist without Him, don't you agree?  Grandma Joan

It's God!

When you look at the beautiful flowers, do you think 'it's God' who causes the flowers to bloom for our pure enjoyment, nothing more?  When you see the beautiful blue sky, do your think, 'it's God' who makes the sky blue and allows the sun to shine so beautifully? When you see a beautiful tree laden with it's bountiful fruit, do you think, 'it's God' who gives us the wonderful fruit we have to eat? When you see a beautiful garden of vegetables, do you think, 'it's God' who causes the plants to grow and mature for our eating enjoyment?   When you see a beautiful dress or a suit, do you think, 'it's God' who made the material and the dyes that things were created from?  When you see the vast ocean and seas, do you think, 'it's God' who made these vast waters and who controls the tides and keeps them in their bounds, day and night?  You can say the same thing about your home, your car, the bed you sleep in, the heat that keeps you warm on cold days and nights.  Everything is God's doing and not only His doing but His delight.

David found out the same thing only on a different level, we must remember when David lived on this earth, he really was a 'man of war'. In those days, they were commanded by God to overthrow the wicked nations around them and take possession of their land.  I found these verses in Psalms 18:31-36.

"For who is God, except the Lord?  And who is a rock, except our God?  It is God who arms me with strength, and makes my way  perfect.  He makes my feet like the feet of deer, and sets me on my high places, He teaches my hands to make war, So that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.  You have also given me the shield of Your salvation;  You right hand has held me up, Your gentleness has made me great.  You enlarged my path under me, so my feet did not slip."

Verse 46 says, "The Lord lives! Blessed be my Rock!  Let the God of my salvation be exalted."

Do I exalt God for all the things that He has done, and is doing in my behalf and yours?  Do you exalt Him as you should, I don't think I do and I pray that I will be more willing to exalt His name above all names and praise Him for all the wonderful things that He does for me.  'It's God", let us praise His wonderful name.
Grandma Joan

A Prayer for Healing

Have you every prayed for healing?  Oh, yes, I have prayed that prayer so many, many times I can't count them.  And I have been healed several times of severe problems.  I think I told you about the time I injured my back and I call it a 'blown vertebrae' because it was swollen and about two and a half inches across and red.  I couldn't walk, only with crutches and swinging my feet and then only with someone beside me in case I lost my balance.  I laid there for eleven days and then I read these verses in Psalms 6.  This described me to a Tee.  Put yourself in my place and feel my frustration.

"O Lord, do not rebuke me in Your anger, nor chasten me in Your hot displeasure, Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I am weak; O Lord heal me, for my bones are troubled, my soul also is greatly troubled, but You O Lord--how long?"  (How long am I going to lay here and not be able to use my legs?  I had no idea.)

"Return, O Lord, deliver me! O save me for Your mercies sake! For in death there is no remembrance of You; In the grave who will give You thanks?  (I must have been thinking about it being the end of my active life, for I was a very active person.)

"I am weary with my groaning;  All night I make my bed swim; I drench my couch with my tears, My eyes waste away because of grief; it grows old because of all my enemies."  (my enemies being Satan and his evil angels.)

"Depart from me, all you workers of iniquity;  For the Lord has heard the voice of my weeping.  The Lord has herd my supplication;  The Lord will receive my prayer.  Let all my enemies be ashamed and greatly troubled; let them turn back and be ashamed suddenly."

I thought about this and contemplated it with all my being.  I knew God heard my plea and it says He will receive my prayer, so why not trust Him with my healing.  I submitted my condition to Him who loves me with all the love possible, and told Him that I was willing to be like this the rest of my life if that was His will.
Suddenly the pain was gone and I sat up and then I stood up and I have to tell you I was in shock but I shouldn't have been should I?  God's word is faithful.  When my husband came in I asked him to look at my back and the swelling and redness were all gone and I was healed.  I was so happy, wouldn't you have been?  I gave my testimony at church the following Sabbath.

If you need healing and you feel discouraged.  Read Psalms 6, that was my healing balm for that particular time and I still praise the Lord for that, I was around 47 years old at the time.  It's been a few years ago, like thirty some.  I'm still walking.  I love that Psalms, memorize it if you have to.  It is a wonderful Psalm to keep in your thoughts if you are down and out.  It covers about everything.  God loves us so much and wants us to read His word and use it for our healing medicine, regardless of what the condition of our lives may be at the moment.  Psalms 6 is a wonderful prayer for healing.  Try it, you may be blessed as I was.  Grandma Joan

Another Tool for Good Health

  Sometimes before we get well, we  seem to get worse for a time, it's called a healing crisis.  Have you every been through one?  It's pretty severe at times.  I went through a real one some years back when we were pretty sure that I had colon cancer.  I went on a real drastic cleansing diet and regime.  It lasted for weeks, doing all the right things to bring healing.  Then one night in the middle of the night I woke up in chills, I could not get enough covers on me, it was awful, I was beginning to think that I was dying right then, but if finally fell back to sleep when the shaking stopped.  I awoke in the morning well.  I will never forget it, we had a house full of family from out of town, and they were all really concerned about my health and when I walked out feeling great, there was rejoicing in my husbands heart and mine, and everyone else.  We knew the treatments I had endured had paid off.  It was a wonderful time.  A a great proof that God's plan does work.

In our Christian walk sometimes before we get well physically, we need to get well spiritually and there are times when we will have a crisis in our life to test our spiritual growth.  Yes, God wants to know if we really mean business with Him.  He doesn't leave us, He is there beside us all the way through it, encouraging, and holding us up all the time.

Romans 1:16  "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek."  The Gospel is Good News about Christ being sent here as a baby and growing up in His Father's will and submitting to the death of the cross to save us and then to be raised again to sit at His Father's side in heaven interceding for us day by day, hour by hour in our behalf to plead for our lives as He sends His Holy Spirit to guide and help us through the trials of this life, until He comes again to receive us to Himself in glory.  That is the gospel in simple language, and Paul said he was not ashamed of the gospel of Christ for it is the power of God to salvation.  Are we ashamed of the gospel of Christ?  It is powerful to save us.

Philippians 1:27  "Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel."

I believe that my faith in Jesus and His gospel is a healing power in our lives because Paul says it is the power of God unto salvation.  If we are not totally healed now in our walk with God, we know that when He comes we will be like Him because the Bible says we shall see Him as He is and if we are like Him we will be well, because He is well.  Not all healing takes place now and in this time but it will take place if we stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel.  We know for sure that we can be healed spiritually and spiritual healing many times brings physical healing so let's build ourselves up in the faith and stand fast in the gospel of Christ so that we will experience spiritual healing and physical healing, as He sees our need for both.  May God bless you as you strive to be like Him and experience His love for you as you walk with Him day by day.  Grandma Joan