How Does This Grab You?


something in him wanted to change
This one may ramble a bit. I am up late after a day surgery for removal of a cancerous growth from the back of my head. And subsequent plastic surgery. Excellent treatment with a good spirit from all. I am thankful.

Later this evening in a hodge-podge of reading I continued with Mark's Gospel, and particularly chapter 5.

A demon-tormented young man is now sitting, clothed, clear-thinking and asking Jesus if he might follow and be with Him. The Master smiles and suggests rather that he return from the beach to the village that had scorned him, and speak happily of his deliverance.

A herd of pigs had been used as the exit route for the spirits. They had all died in the waves.

News spreads and people come out to the shore to examine the phenomenon. Busy, healthy, enterprising, seemingly self-sufficient people. Their reaction is shocking! They ask Jesus to depart as soon as possible. They have suffered in pork.

Amazing isn't it? One says “may I be with you Jesus” and kneels. The others remark as they cover up a yawn, “Not today thanks. See ya another day...or not”. Talking to Jesus now. Perhaps down the road the show will change. It often does.

When the need is felt, when the hurt is recognized, when self steps aside and is replaced by earnest petition, then Jesus arrives with a smile and compassion and power. And he may be using physicians and positive nurses, I.V.drips and scalpels in the process.

...Now back to day surgery. Up early this morning while shaving, I took particular note of a little card stuck in the frame of the mirror. It read “Be still and know that I am God” (taken from the mighty Psalm 46). It helped more than a little. Registered in a special way. I relaxed to a significant extent and let the Pros at Grand River Hospital, Kitchener proceed with excellence.

Beginning of the day: Psalm 46

End of the day: Mark 5

A good envelope for some good help and a Gracious* conclusion. (precious wife and daughter alongside as allowed)

*Dr. Richard Grace


Comments

  1. Clinging to Jesus in every situation. Believing for a swift recovery. Amen.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Reform School Reformed

Image
I read a moving article on the power of love in a delightful devotional of classic Christian writings entitled “Show Me Your Love” (Barbour Publications, 2004).

A friend of American evangelist Charles Finney (1850’s) ran a reform school in his town. He was called away and struggled with how to leave his charges for a short while.

Approaching the town fathers, he pledged that if any of his boys ran away or caused trouble he would forfeit his town lot and property. A meeting was called at the school and the boys were told the extent of his trust, and the cause of his family which was now left to the boys and their honour. He departed.

The appointment in the other community ended earlier than expected. The principal arrived at the school late Saturday evening. One of the boys shouted “It is Father”, and the entire school gathered, clean, orderly, smiling and overwhelmed with the transformation of trust.

This is the kind of response which love and trust will elicit. We see it in the Gospel. G…
Read more

A Look at Madam Bubble

Image
(Taken from Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan)

STANDFAST: Aye, aye, I saw Heedless and Too-bold there; and for ought I know, there they will lie till they rot. Prov. 10:7. But let me go on with my tale. As I was thus musing, as I said, there was one in very pleasant attire, but old, who presented herself to me, and offered me three things, to wit, her body, her purse, and her bed. Now the truth is, I was both weary and sleepy. I am also as poor as an owlet, and that perhaps the witch knew. Well, I repulsed her once and again, but she put by my repulses, and smiled. Then I began to be angry; but she mattered that nothing at all. Then she made offers again, and said, if I would be ruled by her, she would make me great and happy; for, said she, I am the mistress of the world, and men are made happy by me. Then I asked her name, and she told me it was Madam Bubble. This set me further from her; but she still followed me with enticements. Then I betook me, as you saw, to my knees, and w…
Read more

Crissy is Clean

Image
A weekly entertainment magazine (In Touch) got me looking into the following article. The title of the release was "From Porn to Reborn" and it featured Crissy Moran, 35 year-old former porn star, telling of an encounter with Christ and a total change in life's direction.

The decision was made in 2007. A Jacksonville newspaper article tells of the earlier journey into darkness:

"It began in a hotel room in Jacksonville. The pretty girl took off her clothes in front of a stranger for the first time and posed for the camera.

It was the fall of 1999 and Moran was desperately searching for something. A string of bad break-ups left the 23-year-old office clerk depressed. She'd worked at The Jacksonville Landing's Hooters for a while but found it degrading, after being chastised for not jumping rope or throwing Frisbees to entice customers.

"I was probably the only one there who wore glasses," she said.

She jumped to a string of jobs at a local retail s…
Read more