Tag:

safety

He Touched Him

by TerryLema

Research has shown that it takes 8-10 meaningful touches each day to maintain physical and emotional health. Studies show that touching someone signals both safety and trust. For me, I didn’t mind the masks as much as I missed hugs during the pandemic when we were told to “maintain a 6-foot distance” from everyone.

Mark’s Gospel begins with a roar! Mark does not bother with genealogies; he dives right in with John the Baptizer and the Baptism and following Temptation of Jesus.

Then Mark goes on to ministry. Jesus calls disciples, drives out unclean spirits, heals and preaches. But just 40 verses in, Jesus does something so wonderful. Approached by a man described as having a serious skin disease (probably leprosy), the man falls on his knees and begs Jesus to “make me clean.”

“Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out His hand and touched him. ‘I am willing,’ He told him. ‘Be made clean.’  Immediately the disease left him, and he was healed.” [vs 41-42 HCSB]

Jesus touched a man who was untouchable. Lepers were required to announce their disease and warn people to “maintain a distance” from them. I often wonder how long it had been since this man had experienced a loving healing touch.

When Jesus touched him, it signaled safety and trust. There is no more meaningful touch than that given by the One Who is the Lover of our Souls! It healed the leper. It heals us.

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Safety!

by TerryLema

I apologize for getting all maudlin yesterday as I wrestled with God about my abundant hatred of death. I know that for those who place their faith in Almighty God through Christ Jesus, Savior and LORD, death is merely the conveyance into His Presence. There our bodies will experience the eternal life already enjoyed by our souls and spirits now. And Psalm 23 promises that as we walk through that Valley of the Shadow of Death, we will be comforted by the rod and staff of the LORD, our Shepherd.

The Gospel of John, Chapter 10, begins with Christ Jesus reminding His disciples that He is that Good Shepherd. He tells them that He will lay down His life for His sheep. It is a beautiful picture of the care we receive as His sheep.

Contained within that word picture of the Good Shepherd is an image that always brings joy and comfort to my soul. It is found in verses 27-29.

“My sheep hear My voice, I know them, and they follow Me.  I give them eternal life, and they will never perish—ever! No one will snatch them out of My hand.  My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all. No one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. [John 10:27-29 HCSB]

Two things comfort me in Jesus’ words.  First, that we will never “perish.” We may have to pass through a shadow of death, but we will never “perish.” We will enter into the Presence of our Father, knowing who we are and Who He Is!  What great delight!

In the meantime, Jesus reminds us also that nothing can snatch us out of His Hands and the Hands of our Father. The image is of cupped hands, one underneath us, and one covering us. Inside those magnificent, all-powerful, compassionate, and loving Hands, we are safe.

No one, nothing, is strong enough to over-power our Father and Savior. Today I rejoice in that! 

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The Hollow of His Hand

by TerryLema

Mosie Lister. You may not know that name, but hopefully you know some of the songs he’s written. One of my favorites is “Then I Met the Master.” I especially love the Booth Brothers rendition of it, which you can find on YouTube.

But this morning, the Mosie Lister song that ministers to my soul is, “Till the Storm Passes By.” The opening verse and chorus goes like this: In the dark of the midnight have I oft hid my face / While the storm howls above me, and there’s no hiding place / ‘Mid the crash of the thunder, Precious Lord, hear my cry / Keep me safe till the storm passes by. [Chorus] Till the storm passes over, till the thunder sounds no more / Till the clouds roll forever from the sky. / Hold me fast, let me stand in the hollow of Thy hand / Keep me safe till the storm passes by.

It seems every time the news comes on or there’s an update from CDC or government, the storm howls a bit louder. Every time a new death occurs from COVID-19, the thunder crashes again. It seems no one knows when this storm will end. We are told to stay at home, and in Idaho that directive ends on April 15, but if you are like me, there’s this nagging feeling that wonders if they will extend it past that original date. We can hunker down for three weeks, but what if it becomes six or even nine weeks. How will that “shelter-in-place” affect our spiritual and emotional well-being.

It is then I sing those last lines of Mosie’s chorus, “Hold me fast, let me stand in the hollow of Thy hand, keep me safe till the storm passes by.” And when I sing that chorus, I remember the words of Jesus.

“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.” [John 10:27-30]

I listen to the voice of the Shepherd. I follow Him. I shall not perish. And nothing, no one, can take me out of the hands of my Savior and my Father.

Be comforted, beloved, storms end, God’s care for us never does.

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=Till+the+Storm+Passes+by+Grace+Thrillers&&view=detail&mid=F6E71848C26ECF66805EF6E71848C26ECF66805E&&FORM=VRDGAR&ru=%2Fvideos%2Fsearch%3Fq%3DTill%2Bthe%2BStorm%2BPasses%2Bby%2BGrace%2BThrillers%26FORM%3DVDMHRS

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