"Just a Touch"

When God created us, he gave us a spine to be able to hold ourselves up. Much like books have a spine to hold the pages together. He gave us a "cover" and a couple of pages to begin our journey but left the other pages blank, so He could draft our stories as we grow in Him. As I think of stories I think about the story I recently read about the woman who had been, "subject to bleeding for 12 years, but no one could heal her." (Luke 8:43).

I have heard this story so many times throughout my life, but it has never had the significance that it rings now. 12 years! WoW!!! If I would subtract the last 12 years of my life I would be 11years old, and to be honest I don't really remember a whole lot of my childhood, but it's been a while since I have been 11, and I don't really remember a whole lot that has happened in the last 12 years of my life. 

12 years of time seems like an eternity, but for people to treat you, like this woman was treated for that long is something I can't grasp. According to Jewish law she was in a state of uncleanliness and a social outcast. No one would talk to her. She tried EVERYTHING she possibly could to be healed from this disease and spent every penny she had, yet every attempt failed. YET, she STILL had faith that if she could get close enough to Jesus that just a touch would heal her. The power of Jesus had healed her, and Christ knew it by just a touch. A moment later Christ calls her out and despite the embarrassment and her past health condition she comes forth proclaiming what He had done for her.

But wait, how does Jesus respond to this? With the most tender words, he says (NLV), "Daughter, your faith has HEALED you."

With just a touch, His daughter (our sister) was healed. And it wasn't a physical touch, it was a faith touch. Christ didn't say because you touched me you are healed...he said by your FAITH.

So is this the answer?

Could it be that simple? 

Could it be just a touch of faith?

100,000 miles and counting...

I remember when I bought my very first car...I probably remember so well because I am still paying for it. But it only had 23,482 miles on it, when I made the commitment to make this 04 Honda Civic (Also known as my "Plain" Jane) a part of my life, that would take me from point A to point B. It will be an even better mile stone when I have the lovely thing paid off, but for now I cherish a moment. I have hit over 100,000 miles... I have put over 76,532 miles on this car since I went to the dealer and drove it home for the first time 5 years ago, that is roughly 19,000 miles a year.

Assuming that each mile was going at a rate of 60mph, that would be 1,147,980 mins a a year. That is approximately 52 miles a day or a total of 317 hours year. Assuming that most of the miles I drove were at 60mph I would have spent about 1,276 hours in my car since I bought it, which would equal about 53 consecutive days. It's hard to believe that I have driven that far in just my car. All math aside, my point is, I have spent so much time in my car. I have traveled to Florida twice, back and forth from college most weekends, back and forth from Goshen to Van Wert several times when I lived with my brother and sister-n-law for the summer, and now back to Van Wert, OH from Harrisburg, PA. Those were the times when I put the most miles on my car. I have laughed, sang so many songs at the top of my lungs, and have even cried. I have left a lot of places in my review mirror as I've said goodbye, and I experience new scenes out my windshield every day. Every day is a brand new adventure.

Every day I trust God will get me and those around me safely from point A to point B. But is our everyday journey just to make it from point A to point B. Our destination or point B shouldn't be our ultimate goal, it should be what we do with the miles and time it takes us to get there. I'm not sure that I spend this time wisely everyday.  I know I haven't used it wisely as I've "yelled" or "honked" at the driver who just cut me off, as I've cursed the red light that turned from green ever so quickly and made me late for a meeting, or the times when I've found myself at an annoying stand still in traffic. All opportunities I was given and blown just as much as the driver behind me honking at me because the light turned green and I didn't notice it as quickly as he did.

I want the journeys I experience to mean just as much as the point B's that I experience, because if I don't love, if I don't serve, if I don't share God's love along the way, what good will it be when I land at yet another point B and haven't used it for His glory?

שם חדש, מטרה חדשה, עתיד חדש

New Name...New Purpose...New Future...

2 Corinthians 5:17 says, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a NEW creation; the old has gone, the new has come."

When is the last time you stopped to smell the roses? Really, who has the time? I could not even tell you the last time I saw a rose and thought to stop and enjoy its wonderful fragrance. What a wonderful God given creation that I couldn't even describe to you the smell. Sad I know...

Well whether you've taken the time out of your schedule to stop or you've passed by without the slightest recognition, it's there. If I am not careful this is the state in which I can so easily find myself. The state of just being there. I guess they would call it, "Going Through The Motions". At any moment of your life you could be living the "normal". When times are hard, and you are just barely able to keep your head above water...you go through the motions to stay afloat. When things are easy and you like to keep them that way...you go through the motions to stay comfortable. When things are "normal"...you go through the motions to keep the normality. Whatever the reason, let's face it...we can go through the motions.

Different circumstances drive us to different actions , but only the circumstance where God has created in you a new life and you are using it for His glory can you really stop going through the motions and begin a fragrance full life of smelling the roses!

As you begin or continue your journey with Christ, despite your past, if you choose Christ he will give you a NEW name. You will no longer carry the name your past labeled you as, you will no longer be seen how man sees you, and you will no longer be seen how you see yourself. You will be given a "New God-Centered View of You!"

With this NEW name, comes a NEW purpose.... Matthew 16:17, "Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Judah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in Heaven." Like Simon (Peter)- He was given a NEW name, and instead of being a fisherman all his life, God gave him a NEW purpose "To be a fisher of "men".

Just like Simon (Peter), God has given us a NEW name, whether that is forgiven, saved, healed, found, whatever name it is, it comes with a purpose. And once you find the purpose you will be able to live radically amongst a world worth saving, and watch as your NEW Christ-Centered future unfolds.