Pick up your Mat

John 5:6 Paraphrased with Margi’s Commentary

Jesus asked the paralyzed man at the pool,

“Do you want to be made well?”

He didn’t answer directly, but Jesus said,

“Stand up, take your mat and walk.”

Sometimes we are in a similar situation. We have a problem that we have had so long it seems natural. We have suppressed the anger for so long, that we have forgotten what it was all about. In fact, we would rather complain about it and be a martyr than have it go away. We feel that we are in control of our situation and feel no need to change.

Nevertheless, Jesus is standing there beside each believer, asking that same question,

“Do you want to be made well?“

What is required is that we ask Jesus to take control,

and then we obey his command.

We make a conscious choice to surrender to the Lord.

It is an act of the will. It may require a change in attitude to be able to turn it over to Jesus.

ps. Jesus later the same day reminded that man, “Do not sin any more, so that nothing worse happens to you.” The man then went and told the Jews that it was Jesus who healed him.

Note: the mat in the story is a symbol of the problem.

Enjoy!

Margaret
http://www.inspirationalcreationsbymargi.com/

For publishing or design needs, visit: http://www.rpjandco.com/.

God is Love

Love is not just feelings; love is a choice. God, who is love, chose to make it possible for everyone to be reconciled to Himself. His Son, Jesus, suffered, died and rose from the dead to provide the Way. Jesus paid the entire price to redeem us.

When we believe God’s Word about His Son, we have salvation. That means that our sins- past, present, and future are forgiven and forgotten. We also receive Eternal Life at the same time. It is not something that we must wait for until our mortal bodies die. It begins “here and now.” God’s love is unconditional, and we are not dependent on our own efforts to make ourselves worthy. Because Christ did everything required, we receive His righteousness. Therefore, God loves us, and He does not change His mind or leave us forsaken.

Romans 5:8 - But God proves his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 6:14 - For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.

Margaret
http://www.inspirationalcreationsbymargi.com/

Design and publishing services by http://www.rpjandco.com/.

Needs

As we live our days we sometimes find ourselves in the midst of trouble and turmoil that results in great pain and intense suffering. It is among those tears (shed or unshed) that growth is born. If we have needed courage, then power to embrace the future is born. If we have needed faith, then confidence to battle the fear is born. If we have needed healing, then hope for ultimate wellness is born. If we have needed to show mercy, then compassion for the hurts of others is born. God knows our needs and moves to provide them. If we have needed direction, then the Word of God speaks; either a logos or rhema word from God.

Isaiah 30:21 …Your ears shall hear a word behind you saying, “This is the way, walk in it.”

Matthew 6:33 - But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Margaret
http://www.inspirationalcreationsbymargi.com/

For Christian publishing and design services, visit http://www.rpjandco.com/. To purchase any of our books and calendars, visit http://www.amazon.com/ or http://www.store.rpjandco.com/.

Choices

Everyone is born with a physical, and I believe, a spiritual self.

While none of us consider that we live in a Garden of Eden, we do, however, have the same choice to make as in the Biblical account of Adam and Eve.

There are two very special trees in everyone’s garden of life. One is the tree of knowledge (of good and evil) and the other is the tree of life. In modern society, it can be clearly seen that many people have chosen the fruit of the tree of knowledge to find answers to life’s questions. Many philanthropic organizations support research and compassionate endeavors. Certainly, I would not criticize those efforts.

On the other hand, there is the fruit from the tree of life. This I choose. I believe that Jesus is God’s Son and because I believe in Him, I have received eternal Life. This is the result of choosing, freely, to have faith in Jesus Christ. When I believed, my spiritual self was born into the kingdom of God, and it is perfect because of what Christ did for me on the cross. In my human life, I am not perfect, but I am forgiven. I am loved by Almighty God, the Father, because I believe in His Son.

Now, it is your choice.

Romans 10:9, 13 Revelation 2:7

Margaret
http://www.inspirationalcreationsbymargi.com/

For Christian publishing, visit: http://www.rpjandco.com/

Pain - Birth - Joy

Some choose paths that lead inexorably to pain… the pain described by T. S. Eliot as “blind men groping.” There lies the rock strewn mountainside of devastation. There in the deepest pain, blind eyes, deaf ears, arms reach to escape until finally, I cease struggling. Like the fly in the spider’s web that expends all its life force in the hopeless effort to escape.

Then---God!!!

When the pain has seared my senses and the mind and the spirit lie still, the Holy Spirit of God in His unlimited grace, reaches into that secret place only He knows in order to breathe a new life- a new birth- into my spirit, my soul, my psyche- that unseen essence of who I truly am- vibrant and eternal.

I rise and dance, twirling, smiling, singing praise to my dear Lord Jesus Christ. While I move with rhythm and grace in the natural world, God, even God, dances over me as the angelic chorus echoes my tiny sounds of praise. Heaven throbs with joy over my birth into the kingdom of joys and pleasures evermore- in communion with God.  Zephaniah 3:17

Margaret
http://www.inspirationalcreationsbymargi.com/

For Christian publishing options, visit: http://www.rpjandco.com/

Wedding

It is no mystery why David, Paul and other writers of the scriptures speak of the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. Consider all the other metaphors of human marriage and the believer’s union with God. Very simply, the believer’s union with Christ is oneness with God. Believers (both men and women) are called the Bride of Christ. When the Groom (who is Jesus) comes for the Bride of Christ, she will have no spot or wrinkle. The bride is made perfect, not by her efforts, not by any works she may perform, but by the sacrificial love of the Groom.

God himself seeks out every person, desiring to give that individual faith to believe in Jesus who is the Christ; He is the only way to God. Each person has the opportunity to choose whether or not to believe.

Please join us at the Wedding Supper.

Revelation 19:9 And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.”

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Journey

My soul’s journey has been etched with encounters that were fired by deep love, but then frozen by hate.

Holy Spirit, I give to you the keys to my heart and ask you to cleanse your temple. Tidy up the clutter of wasteful activities. Pick up the broken pieces of dreams and put them in the Father’s hands. My Father loves me dearly, and He will heal the deep wounds- even those of childhood. By the blood of Christ, remove my iniquities. By the stripes of Jesus, make my body whole and healed.

Dear Spirit, as you wash away the layers of life’s detritus, the shimmering gifts you gave me so long, long ago are being revealed. Now, I walk alone and the cleansing becomes a renewal – a renewal of life, hope, and purpose. I put my heart, all my heart, into your hands, Father. I trust Your love, and I depend upon your grace.

Psalm 103:5 (The Lord) who satisfies you with good as long as you live so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

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everettmj@cfl.rr.com

For options in Christian publishing, visit: http://www.rpjandco.com/