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Issues
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My name is not important. All you need to
know is that I am a woman that has had several issues in my lifetime.
The bible tell you that I had a physical issue. But I also had a few other
issues as well. I had family issues, financial issues and faith issues and
they all stemmed from that one physical issue.
Allow me to explain:
The family issues were brought on by the fact that back in my day. anyone
who had my particular illness was considered "unclean" and could
not touch or be touched by anyone, nor could I touch anything that anyone
else had to touch. I could not prepare food for my family. I could not be
intimate with my husband. I could not snuggle up with my children and tell
them a bedtime story. Twelve years is a long time to be away from your
family.
I made up my mind that I would do anything to put my family life back
together again. That's where the financial issues started. I went from
doctor to doctor, healer to healer. I tried fixing up all kinds of home
remedies. Everyone was soooo helpful. Honey try this. Sweetie try that. At
the end of it all, the only thing i had left was the lint on the inside of
my pockets.
Then one day I hard that this man was coming through town. This man called
Jesus. The townsfolk were talking about this man who was more than a man. He
made the lame walk. He made the blind see. If he could do all that he could
surely help me. Right?
Well, that's when the faith issues began. That old sly devil was right there
trying to discourage me. He was telling me things like ... "what makes
you think he will help you?" ..."You will never get close
enough." ..."Give it up?" I was nervous and I almost stayed
at home. After all I had tried everything I knew to do, and who was to say
this would not be just another disappointment.
But this man was more than a man. He made the lame walk and the blind see,
and he was coming through town ...today!!!! I had to go. Something inside of
me compelled me to be there.
I
knew I couldn't just get up and go to the meeting. There would be people
there that I knew, and who knew me. they would know that I was
"unclean." No that would be to dangerous.
I reached back in my closet and found an old dress that i hadn't worn in
years. Something no one would recognize. Then I found and old shawl and
threw it over my head. I could not risk being seen.
Just as I walked out to the main road I saw this huge mob of people. All
these people came out to see this one man . This man that was more than a
man.
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There was that old devil again. "you'll
never get close." ..."Give up...you'll never be delivered."
Then I remembered that if the devil said it, it must be a lie. I pulled my shawl
a little tighter and made my way through the crowd. There wer so many people
there and just when i almost gave up I remembered something about the prophet
Elijah. He had a cloth and people were touching his cloth and they were being
healed. Surely this man had even more authority than Elijah did. I felt that if
I could just touch his clothes there would be power to heal in just the touch of
his garment.
I became more and more determined to touch this man. This man that was more than
a man. With just a touch or a word he had made the lame walk and the blind see.
Here he was right in front of me. I wa not about to miss my blessing. I made my
way to the middle of the crowd. I even threw a few elbows to get in closer.
All at once I looked up and there he was right in front of me . All I could do
was reach out... and...
I just stood there... All I could feel was sweet relief....I was healed ....I
stood there ....I couldn't move. this illness that had plagued me for 12 long
years was gone...
As I was turning to go back home, that's when it happened...
He turned around and looked at me. Then He spoke. "Who touched me?" He
said. He did not have to ask that question. He knew it was me. He was looking
right at me, and in His face I saw the kindest, most loving eyes i could ever
imagine. He knew exactly who it was that touched Him, and now everybody else was
going to know it too.
I had every intention of going quietly back to my home and resuming my life as
best I could. But that was not about to happen. I started telling everybody that
would listen and even some who wouldn't, what Jesus had done for me. How he took
my pain, hurt and ridicule away in one simple touch. The last thing He said to
me was that my faith had made me whole. Faith, ...after twelve long years, faith
was all I had left , and I almost lost that too. (Based on Luke 8:40-49)
Jesus is seeking to produce in you and me the kind of
faith that motivated the hemorrhaging woman to touch the hem of his garment.
But if we aren't quite there yet, he is entirely willing to prop up and
encourage our faith until it can grow some more.
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