Beauty for Ashes

By Kerri-Ann Haye-Donawa
        

I often wonder about the Samaritan woman who had the privilege of meeting Jesus at the well. What was she like before that day? I imagine she was beautiful; so beautiful that she stood out amongst her peers. Yet beneath the surface of her ravishing beauty, was a woman scorned and abhorred by those around her. I imagine she carefully hid a well of emotional pain beneath her veil, and her struggle with depression and low self esteem was safely tucked away from the curious glare of inquisitive eyes.

You see, her life story wasn’t like those of the other women in her village. No, far from it. Her personal life was in shambles and everyone knew it; but instead of embracing her, they derided her and made her the evening walk’s gossip. Undeniably, her hurt ran deep. And though she trained herself to become numb to the pain of rejection, her wounds grew still. And even when she taught herself to endure the heat of the midday sun in order to fetch water in isolation, her wounds grew still. And though to the naked eye she was a sight of beauty, from the viewpoint of the Spirit, she was a walking heap of ashes.

This Samaritan woman had a limp that no one perceived. She had issues that her peers were negligent of, and her value was discounted by everyone who whispered her name in anger. However, that day at the well, when she met with Jesus, her life was transformed and her broken spirit was mended.

For many, the trauma of our pasts act as a prison that holds us bound, and the truth is that many of us walk around hiding deep emotional wounds that fester behind the veil of our smiles. These wounds result from broken relationships, devastating past events, forms of abuse, rape, assault, rejection, abandonment, just to name a few. But Christ sees what we hide inside; He sees the wet pillowcases that bear the evidence that you cry even in your sleep. He sees the pang of rejection you feel whenever your mind drifts to certain memories, and He’s aware of the barriers you erect to protect yourself from ever being hurt again.

Today, God is calling for your attention; don’t hide from Him. No, really, don’t hide from Him that one place that hurts the most. Today, allow Him to reach deep inside and make all things new. He promises to give you deep emotional healing for your deep emotional pain. He promises to give you beauty in place of your ashes.

Scripture Of The Day: “The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me ... To console those who mourn in Zion, To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness.” - Isaiah 61:1-3 (NKJ)

Kerri-Ann Haye-Donawa is a writer and editor who is passionate about the word of God and how it is translated in our everyday lives. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Religious Studies and a Master’s Degree in Theological Studies, and is a member of Rhema Christian Ministries, Toronto, Canada. http://twitter.com/#!/KHayeDonawa…

Obeying God’s Nonsense

By Sharon Frame
        

“Just Do It” is Nike’s famous call- to-action slogan recognized around the world. It reminds me of another famous phrase that still echoes from the Bible two thousand plus years after it was uttered.

Jesus had given instructions to perform his first miracle in Cana during a wedding. He ordered wine jars to be filled with water. That baffled the wedding reception workers who thought it made no sense. But Mary the mother of Jesus said to them, “Whatever He says to you, do it.” (John 2:5)

Mary’s piercing words still challenge us today; whatever God told you to do, just do it! It doesn’t have to make sense. And oftentimes it won’t. 1st Corinthians 1:27 says, “God uses the foolish things of the world to confound (or shame) the wise.” He also uses nonsense to test our faith. The blessing is in obeying God no matter how strange or seemingly ridiculous His instructions may be.

Just ask the destitute blind beggar in John 9:6. Jesus spat in the dirt, made mud, rubbed it on the man’s eyes and told him to go wash in the pool of Siloam. By all logical accounts, that was nonsense. But because of his obedience, the man was healed.

God’s divine healing is not just reserved for the physical body. Let’s admit it. God, the Holy Spirit has whispered some amazing, off- the-wall ideas to us; some to cure our ailing finances, or to heal injured relationships. But we hesitate or lollygag, and talk ourselves out of taking action. How many creative, life-changing and God-ordained ideas have you dismissed as crazy? This time why not trust God, and “whatever He said do, just do it.”

The rich young ruler in Scriptures must have thought Jesus was off his rockers the day he met him. He had heard about the charismatic rabbi working miracles and causing quite a buzz around town. So he hunted him down to ask what he needed to do to inherit eternal life. He certainly didn’t expect Jesus to say, “Sell all you have, give it to the poor and come follow me.” That was just insane, he might have thought. The young man went away with a heavy heart. Sadly, he did not realize that you can’t give God anything without getting it back multiple times over, as Luke 18:29-30 makes clear.

Then there was Naaman, the Syrian general. He almost missed his miracle when he dismissed God’s method of healing as nonsense. 2nd Kings 5 describes him as a mighty man of valor. But he was also a leper looking to be cured from the devastating illness. He traveled a long distance to visit the prophet Elisha in Israel. Imagine how insulted he was when Elisha didn’t even come to the door. Instead, the prophet sent a servant to tell Naaman he should go down to the very dirty Jordan river and dip seven times to be healed. Naaman was furious and stormed away quite upset.

Fortunately, a young servant girl challenged him to believe God. The general laid aside his pride, humbled himself and dipped in the dirty Jordan seven times, just as the prophet had instructed. His turning point to a new life of physical and mental health came when he obeyed. He just did it.

You may have faith for your healing, whether mental, physical or spiritual. But faith without works is dead. Your obedience to “just do whatever God instructed you to do” is the works. So no matter how nonsensical God’s command may sound, just do it.

Scripture Of The Day: "His mother said to the servants, “Whatever He says to you, do it.” - John 2:5 (NKJ)

Sharon Frame is a former CNN anchor, Award-Winning Empowerment Speaker, a Media Coach and “Follow-Through” Expert. Her passion is to encourage and empower! Sharon’s latest book, “Wired to Win” teaches how to Plug In, Power Up and Push Through to Personal Greatness. Visit http://www.sharonframespeaks.com.…

Time For A Spiritual Check-up

By Bishop E. Earl Jenkins


We all know how important physical health is; here's a plan for keeping your soul in shape:

(a) Don't question your faith, question your doubts. We spend too much time dwelling on our misgivings, experiencing faith as an occasional flash-in-the-pan. God's promises are for 'believers.'

(b) Don't be a 'lone ranger.' It's no accident that the Old Testament contains the story of God's people, and that the Epistles were written to congregations. We grow as we relate -- not isolate!

(c) Guard your thought life. If your "thinking is controlled by the sinful self, there is death. But if [it's] controlled by the Spirit, there is life and peace" (Ro 8:6 NCV). Practice mind management!

(d) Fall asleep and wake up immersed in gratitude. It'll transform your day. "In every thing give thanks!" (1Th 5:18).

(e) Ditch anything that distracts you from God. Toss the junk reading material, and if you've got the guts, throw in the TV!

(f) Always err on the side of mercy. Philip Yancey writes: "I marvel at the humility of a God who descends to live inside...his 'flawed' creatures...Do I show that same attitude towards people of whom I disapprove?"

(g) Be specific and don't revert to generalities when discussing your faith. Paul wasn't "ashamed of the Gospel" (Ro 1:16); neither should you be.

(h) Be gracious to the people who irk you. God chose them too! Sometimes it's easier to be gracious to non-believers than to uptight, moralistic Christians. But that just makes you a different kind of judgmental.

(i) Forgive those who've hurt you. Harboring hatred hinders healing, so bring your hurts to God.


Scripture Of The Day: "Dear friend, I hope all is well with you and that you are as healthy in body as you are strong in spirit." - 3 John 1:2


Bishop Edward Earl Jenkins is the senior pastor and founder of the True Servant Worship & Praise Church located in Trenton, New Jersey. For over twenty years, Bishop Jenkins’ unique method of preaching and teaching has opened doors to allow him to touch the hearts of many lives near and far.

Jesus Is In The Healing Business

By Pastor Deborah L. Butler


You can draw the anointing of Jesus into your life to the point that it works all the time.

Jesus is in the healing business. We find that out in Matthew chapters 4, 9, 10, and 14. Matthew 14:14 tells us that Jesus was moved with compassion, and then healed all sicknesses and diseases. Now compassion is a manifestation of love. So He taught, He preached, He was moved with love, and He healed. Now, since He is the Son of Love, then He is Love. And you can't separate Him from love. For He is always moved with love. He is always moved with compassion. So He is continually healing us.

Now, your healing is not based on whether or not someone else failed to receive the manifestation of healing. It is based on God's word.

A lot of us don't have our healing because we know somebody that we thought was a great Christian and they didn't get healed. And because we can't measure up to them then we certainly can't get healed. But we need to understand, that is between them and God. You receiving your healing is between you and God. And God has provided for you His Word to read, meditate upon, believe and receive for yourself. He loves you so much that He sent Jesus, the Son of Love, to save you, deliver you, and heal you. Now, receive your healing today, not based upon another person, but based upon the word of God. Just know that Jesus is still in the healing business.


Scripture Of The Day: "He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed." - 1 Peter 2:24



Pastor Deborah L. Butler is the first lady of Word of Faith International Christian Center in Southfield, MI, where she serves in ministry with her husband, Bishop Keith A. Butler. She is a licensed and ordained minister of the Gospel. For more information, visit http://www.woficc.com.

The Believing Business

By Bishop Keith Butler


Get into the believing business. You have to get over into the believing business. When you get over into the believing business, then you will start having the manifestation of God's healing power.

In Luke chapter 4, the people went by what they thought they knew. And by what they thought they saw to determine whether the power was present. Jesus was requiring them to believe that the power was present without the aid of a miracle.

The healing power of God does not show up because of certain people (personalities). Jesus was requiring them to believe what He said before anything else. They said, show us a miracle and we will believe you. He wouldn't do it. He is still that way today. He has not changed. Somebody says, well, you know, if I ever saw a blind eye opened then I would have great faith.

Faith does not come by seeing. Faith comes by hearing. When I was overseas, I saw whole lines of blind eyes opened. Some of the people were blind from birth. But there were still blind people in the same line doubting. Faith does not come by seeing. Faith comes by hearing. The children of Israel saw the miracles and still doubted God in the desert. So you need to hear the Word.

I want you to take some time to lift your hands to the Lord. Lift your voice up to the Lord and say, thank you Lord the healing power of God is available wherever I go. It is available for me. And in Jesus' name I tap into it, anytime I want to. By faith I know Jesus is my Healer. I know healing is provided for me. And I know it's mine, right now, from the crown of my head to the very soles of my feet, in Jesus' name. Now, thank Him for it in faith.

Scripture Of The Day: "So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ." - Romans 10:17



Bishop Keith A. Butler is the founder and pastor of Word of Faith International Christian Center in Southfield, MI, and Word of Faith Christian Center in San Antonio, TX. For more information about Bishop Butler, visit http://www.woficc.com.