Devotional Blog

Thankful for the power of His words, His touch

Posted on by richlyspeaking
The touch of His words bring healing and salvation

There were ten of us… we were forced to live just outside the gates of the city. One by one our group had grown to its present ten. I think I was the fourth or fifth to join the community.  We spent most of our days begging for scraps of food by the road under the shade of a single tree. At night we huddled together and slept in the dust around its trunk. My family had last seen me three years prior.

I’m not even sure how I got it… my skin began to itch and scratch… my fingers and toes began to look different, blood oozed from the simplest scrape.  I had heard about leprosy… who hadn’t? Believed that those who had it were responsible for it somehow… surely they had sinned or chosen a lifestyle that wasn’t appropriate.  Next thing I knew, I was scolded, yelled at, spit upon, cursed at… told I was “unclean!” And I was forced to the edge of town.

For 12 seasons I had learned to deal with this awful affliction. The touch of my wife? Gone. Holding hands and walking with my daughter? No more. Wrestling with my son? Not a chance. Oh, how I longed for their touch. For anyone’s touch.

I had little in common with the others. They were Jews.  I was from Samaria.  As castoffs, they observed their traditions as best they could. I just wanted to be normal again.

One day the Teacher they called “Yeshua” walked by. We weren’t really sure what He could do for us. After all, what could anyone do for us? It was so unfair. It wasn’t my fault I was unclean! Oh, how I wanted to be clean… but no one ever recovers from the incurable.

We shouted the same words to him as we called out to everyone: “Have mercy! Have pity!” Ironic now, looking back… we did not cry out “Heal us!”

He broke His stride, stopping long enough to show compassion in His eyes and love on His face.  He had nothing to give us. But His look… it was heartfelt, deeply sincere. His followers urged him to move along, but he motioned toward them as if to say “I want to linger here for awhile.”

We kept crying out: “Have mercy! Have pity!” though I, for one, did not know what He could do.

Then He spoke just six words. Six words. “Go. Show yourselves to the priests.”

We were stunned… I was not really sure what that meant. I wanted food. I craved a touch. But all we got from Him were words. Then the murmurings began. The Jews gathered together and moved as one.  Like a sheep, I followed the flock.  As we shuffled down the road I asked one of the Nine what the priests could do? “Don’t you see,” he said, “the priests can declare that we are clean.”

“But…” I stammered… “we are unclean…”

And with a second and third look, one at a time, we each began to realize the lesions had disappeared. One’s face was not blemished. Another’s hands were no longer bloody. The crusty sores up and down my legs were gone. What was happening?

The pace quickened as the whole group began to see a miracle right before our very eyes. We were being healed! We had been healed!

Suddenly I stopped in my tracks. The others ran ahead. I turned and looked back and saw the Master with a grin from ear to ear. Such joy! Such compassion… I looked as the Nine galloped toward the temple.

“I must go back and say thank you!” I said outloud to no one in particular.  “Praise God!” I shouted as I looked and saw my now-healed, outstretched hands.

The thoughts started to swim in my head: Do you know what this means? I can go back and tackle my son. I can squeeze my young daughter’s hand. I can hold and caress my bride again. “Praise God!” I shouted over and over.

I sped with the urgency of a sprinter on the final lap back up to the crest of the hill where He stood. His followers and He… all smiles as I topped the knoll with little breath left. I threw myself at His feet. I couldn’t believe what was happening, what had happened. “Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!” I cried. “You don’t know what this means to me!” I said through my tears of joy and relief. And yet, somehow I knew that He indeed knew what it meant to me…

And as He put His hand in my tangled and matted hair He asked, “Were not ten healed? Where are the other nine?” And He looked at His followers and asked with an air of genuine perplexity, “Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?”

Not being a Jew, I didn’t fully grasp what he was saying… I was so thankful… I was healed! I was going home!

Then He said the most intense thing anyone has ever said to me.  With an outstretched hand and loving eyes: “Get up. Go. Your faith has healed and saved you.”

Me? Faithful? Me? But I’m a Samaritan. I’m a sinner. Yes, I believed. Yes, I had faith… but it was only because my need was so great. I was desperate! Me? Healed? Yes! And saved? Yes, saved…

I had heard both Jews and Gentiles talk about being saved. It is something everyone longs for, I suppose. I’m not really a religious man… but  do I want to spend eternity with Almighty God? Absolutely.

I went on my way as He directed… ran up to the gates of my home, ripping off the ragged bandages with each step.  “I’m healed! I’m clean!” I shouted. “Praise God! The Teacher has healed me!”

My wife could not believe her eyes. My daughter squealed with delight. My son, now a young man whom I hardly recognized, gave me the biggest hug of my entire life. Ah, their touch… so sweet.

That was 25 years ago. I’m still clean… not a trace of the disease ever since.  And I still believe that what the Teacher did that day —  He touched me with His words — is reason to believe He will touch me for all eternity.

__________________

My interpretation of Luke 17:11-19.   May you be one to give thanks today, and every day, for His words, His touch!

New Book for Advent (my first!): Be Born in Me.

Posted on by richlyspeaking
Available at amazon.com in paperback or Kindle

A little more than a year ago, the worship planning team at Oak Hills Church began planning our Advent season. Worship Minister Jeff Nelson recommended a theme around the song, Be Born in Me (Mary). It was written by Bernie Herms and Nichole Nordeman and beautifully recorded by Francesca Battistelli. It is on the album Music Inspired by The Story from Word Entertainment.

I admit, I was hesistant at first.  “We’re going to preach a song for Advent?” But the more I meditated on the words, the more I let the Holy Spirit work in my heart, the more enthused I became.

Each week the ministers at OHC’s five campuses would unpack a certain line from the song.  I had the honor of preaching all four weeks at the North Central Campus.

This booklet is essentially that sermon series.

Have you ever prayed the prayer: “Be Born in Me!”?

It is every Believer’s cry from the depth of our heart as we ask Jesus to take over our lives.  We need Jesus to be born in us, fully and completely.

From the Preface of the book:

Can you see her? The angel Gabriel had just left this young teenage girl with the news that in today’s language is an announcement that would “rock her world.”  She would become pregnant. The Biblical text says she was “confused” [1] or “shaken.” [2] She was engaged to a man named Joseph, of the lineage of the Tribe of David. She had a deeply devout faith and had found favor with Adonai. 

We can imagine in the moments after the angel’s ascension that she is standing alone, dazed and numb. She looks to the heavens and offers a prayer, a song. She completely gives herself to the Father in heaven and cries “Be Born in Me.”

Let’s take a close up look at four lines from the song, four prayers.  They were cries from Mary’s heart.  Can they be ours?
  1. Be born in me.
  2. Somehow help me see with Heaven’s eyes.
  3. Trembling heart, somehow I believe that You chose me.
  4. Make my heart your Bethlehem.

My prayer for you this coming Christmas season… that you will be able to embrace these prayers and believe all that they capture. May you let Jesus be born in you!

With great joy,

-rich

The booklet is divided into five sections and includes discussion questions so you can use in a weekly small group, family devotional or class setting.

Here’s the link to the amazon web site: http://amzn.to/SNOkND.

And here’s the link to the Kindle site: http://amzn.to/RI7ODe.

[1] Luke 1:29, CEV.

[2] Luke 1:29, The Message.

Lessons from the Fathers’ Hearts: Jacob

Posted on by richlyspeaking

A devotional look at eleven Biblical dads and what we can learn from them.

We are all blessed, not so we can hang on to the blessing but, rather, so that we may bless others.

Jacob is the third father of the Patriarchs of the Faith. Remember Rebekah, the wife of Isaac? The Word says that Rebekah had twins as a result of the fervent prayer of her husband. The first born was Esau, but the second, who was born at the same time was Jacob…which means “heel” because he was grabbing on to the heel of his older brother as they were born.

Twice Jacob does what he must in order to gain the edge over his brother. Esau was a wilderness man. He loved hunting and the outdoors. Jacob not so much. But all his growing up years Jacob was jealous of the birthright of his older brother.  Genesis 25 tells the story.  One day Esau came in from the field and saw that Jacob was cooking stew.  The hunter asked for some and Jacob would only give him something to eat if Esau would give Jacob his birthright as a first born.  Esau shrugged off the importance of being the first born, and because he was very hungry, gave away his rights.  Some have suggested that Jacob stole the birthright or tricked him.  That was the first step in getting what he wanted.

Later, with their father old and blind and dying, Jacob tricked his father into giving his blessing, something that was deeply significant in the Ancient Days.  Isaac indeed blessed his sons… but gave the blessing of the first born, to the second born, and the blessing of the second born to the first born. And there was nothing Esau could do about it, because earlier he had given away his birthright for a bowl of soup. And, so there is a parallel in this generation similar to that of the generation of Isaac and his half brother Ishmael.

The blessing Jacob receives:

Now may God give you of the dew of heaven,

And of the fatness of the earth,

And an abundance of grain and new wine; 

May peoples serve you,

And nations bow down to you;

Be master of your brothers,

And may your mother’s sons bow down to you.

Cursed be those who curse you,

And blessed be those who bless you.”

                        Genesis 27:28-29 (NIV)

Continue reading Lessons from the Fathers’ Hearts: Jacob

Lessons from the Fathers’ Hearts: Isaac

Posted on by richlyspeaking
Isaac was almost the Bible’s first human sacrifice. But God honored his father’s faith and all of Israel was spared.

A devotional look at eleven Biblical dads and what we can learn from them.

The next in the line of the three great fathers of the Hebrew faith is Isaac… son of Abraham and Sarah.  Named Isaac, which means “laughter,” because the two were so old when they conceived.

Now the Word says in Genesis 22 that God chose to test Abraham.  God told him to take his son Isaac and sacrifice him as a burnt offering.  Are you kidding me?  What kind of God would ask a man to do that?  As we learned, Abraham was a trusting man. He believed that God knew what He was doing. And God did…

I’ve often been curious about this story.

They arrived at the place to which God had directed him. Abraham built an altar. He laid out the wood. Then he tied up Isaac and laid him on the wood. Abraham reached out and took the knife to kill his son. (Genesis 22:9-10, The Message).

Of course, an angel stops him and God provides a ram, stuck in the thicket, for the sacrifice.  Abraham trusted. God delivered. Blow the shofar! This story is where the ram’s horn originates and I’m guessing Isaac might have given it a blast or two with a huge smile on his face since his life was spared.  And in his place, a sacrifice. A ram. A lamb? Jesus again? Yes, another example of our Messiah in the Old Testament!

Continue reading Lessons from the Fathers’ Hearts: Isaac

Lessons from the Fathers’ Hearts: Abraham

Posted on by richlyspeaking

A devotional look at eleven Biblical dads and what we can learn from them.

Abraham was called “Friend of God.” You too are God’s friend!

The story of Abraham begins at the end of Genesis 11.  He was the son of Terah, who Scripture tells us was at a minimum an idol worshipper, possibly a man who made his living as an idol maker. He lived in Ur, a thriving metropolis, a place full of the excitement of a city.  And it is on this stage where we hear God’s call.

Genesis 12:1-3 (The Message):

God told Abram: “Leave your country, your family, and your father’s home for a land that I will show you.

 I’ll make you a great nation 

      and bless you. 

   I’ll make you famous; 

      you’ll be a blessing. 

   I’ll bless those who bless you; 

      those who curse you I’ll curse. 

   All the families of the Earth 

      will be blessed through you.”

 And then, verse 4: “So Abram went.”

Just like that.  He left the only city he ever knew.  He took his things and his wife and left.  And he journeyed through the wildernesses of the land of Canaan.

And next, verse 7:

God appeared to Abram and said, “I will give this land to your children.” Abram built an altar at the place God had appeared to him.

First, have you noticed that Abram, and a lot of the people of the Old Testament, built altars to God… to worship Him… to acknowledge that God moved supernaturally in their life at a certain point? I believe it is important to remember to do that regularly. If we do nothing else when we go to a church building on Sunday morning, my prayer is that the time spent there is a time of remembering and thanksgiving — worship!

Continue reading Lessons from the Fathers’ Hearts: Abraham

Lessons from the Fathers’ Hearts: Caleb

Posted on by richlyspeaking

A devotional look at eleven Biblical dads and what we can learn from them.

Setting the table for your children’s success will certainly mean lending a helping hand.

The next father I want us to look at is Caleb.  You may recall it was Joshua, Caleb and ten others who Moses sent to spy out the Promised Land.  Ten reported that the Promised Land was a land full of giants and that the Hebrews could never conquer the land.  Caleb believed God’s word and told Moses, “yes, the land is full of giants, but our God is bigger and we can defeat them.”  (Numbers 13:30 paraphrase.)

So, Caleb and Joshua were the only two to be given God’s blessing to cross the Jordan River and enter the Land of their Inheritance.

Fast forward now some years and look in the book of Judges, Chapter 1.  Caleb has seen the giants in Caanan up close.  They are “Nephilim” — half breeds — children of fallen angels and women.  They are giants. And the land that Joshua gave Caleb had four known Nephilim cities. Caleb and Joshua had fought hard and long and defeated three of the four, but in his old age he needed help to defeat the last of these villages, Kiriath Sepher.

So, Caleb offered a challenge:  To the man who would defeat this enemy village, he would give his daughter in marriage.  You might think that offering his daughter’s hand would be something of a prize or property. However, Caleb was smart.  You see, he was killing two birds with one stone, so to speak.  He would rid the region of the cities of giants, and gain a God-fearing warrior husband for his daughter at the same time.  He loved his daughter and only wanted a good husband for her.

Continue reading Lessons from the Fathers’ Hearts: Caleb

Lessons from the Fathers’ Hearts: Joshua

Posted on by richlyspeaking

A devotional look at eleven Biblical dads and what we can learn from them.

JOSHUA

He is the great warrior.  A protégé of Moses.  He was one of the 12 spies that Moses sent out to scout out the Promised Land.  He and Caleb were the only two who told the truth about the giants.  Only he and Caleb believed that God was bigger than the giants and would indeed give them the Land.  And so, Joshua and Caleb were the only two, of all the Hebrew people who left Egypt at the Exodus, they were the only two who were permitted to enter the Promised Land.  All the other men and women and children who left Egypt with Moses died in the wilderness.

And Joshua is appointed by Moses to lead the people into the Land for he was a capable military commander. He also became a strong spiritual leader.

Joshua’s story is told throughout the 24 chapters of the Old Testament book that bears his name.  There are numerous stories of his faithful belief in God.

Continue reading Lessons from the Fathers’ Hearts: Joshua

Lessons from the Fathers’ Hearts: Noah

Posted on by richlyspeaking
If there was a bumper sticker on the Noah’s ark it would have said “I Love My Family”

A devotional look at eleven Biblical dads and what we can learn from them.

NOAH

The next Old Testament dad we’re going to look at is Noah.  Everybody knows his story.

The Lord saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time. The Lord regretted that he had made human beings on the earth, and his heart was deeply troubled. So the Lord said, “I will wipe from the face of the earth the human race I have created—and with them the animals, the birds and the creatures that move along the ground—for I regret that I have made them.”  But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.  This is the account of Noah and his family.

Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked faithfully with God. (Genesis6:5-9)

Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.  He was righteous, blameless and he walked faithfully with God.  He was all these things when the rest of the world was not.  It would have been easy to join with the rest of the worldly crowd, but he loved God… and God rewarded him for his faithfulness.  God chose to pluck Noah out of a crowd of “all evil all the time” and God started over with one who was without fault.

And Noah was patient.  A detail oriented man who followed instructions well.  Do you remember how long it took him to build the ark?  100 years.  And why did he do it?  Yes, he wanted to save his life.  Yes, he wanted to obey God.

Noah was a family man… a good dad.

Continue reading Lessons from the Fathers’ Hearts: Noah

Lessons from the Fathers’ Hearts: Enoch

Posted on by richlyspeaking

Is it really possible to walk with God 24/7/365?
A devotional look at eleven Biblical dads and what we can learn from them.

ENOCH

Who is Enoch?  Well, we find his story in Genesis 5. It’s just a few verses…

When Enoch was sixty-five years old, he had Methuselah. Enoch walked steadily with God. After he had Methuselah, he lived another 300 years, having more sons and daughters. Enoch lived a total of 365 years. Enoch walked steadily with God. And then one day he was simply gone: God took him. (Genesis 5:21-23, The Message)

Enoch is the father of Methuselah and other sons and daughters.  Who is Methuselah? Methuselah is the trivia answer to “What Bible character lived the longest?” Methuselah.  Who lived 969 years.

But, what do we learn here about Enoch, the man?  A good dad. He walked steadily with God.  Other translations say he walked “continually” with God.  That’s non-stop.  He was with God 24/7/365.  He didn’t compartmentalize God into a little here and a little there each day.  I’ll be frank with you.  I used to be the best waffle Believer out there.  I’d let God have one or two or more compartments of my life, but not all of them.   I would carefully build walls to separate certain areas of my life from others.

But not Enoch. He didn’t say “God you can have my Sunday morning, but not my Saturday night.” Or “God, you can have this relationship, but not that one.” No, Enoch was there, with God, every minute of every day.  When have you spent every minute of every day with someone?  What was the result?  You got to know them, didn’t you? You really got to know them.

And as a result, “God took him.”  “One day he was simple gone.”  And obviously this story became well known throughout the Ancient World. Fast forward about 1500 years and we find the author of Hebrews notes Enoch in the “Faith Hall of Fame.”

Continue reading Lessons from the Fathers’ Hearts: Enoch

Trust Your Instruments. Trust God.

Posted on by richlyspeaking
One can get easily disoriented at night. Pilots trust their instruments. We can trust God.

“Trust your instruments”

About 30 years ago I was a pilot.  A student pilot really.  While I had enough flight hours to get my license, college got in the way and I never obtained the ticket.  But I did get to experience many cool things most pilots experience at least one time or another. Soloing.  Taking off and landing in front of, and behind, jumbo jets in a little single engine prop.  Stalling. Flying without power.  And even vertigo.

Yep, I was flying with my instructor on a night-time cross country flight just south of Indianapolis.  My head was buried in the dimly lit cockpit studying the sectional maps.  I looked up quickly to check my bearings and saw the bright red flashing lights of a TV tower.  It suddenly felt like we were heading in a nose down position racing toward what I thought were runway lights.  I panicked. “Helen!” I screamed at my instructor, “We’re going down!”

Cool headed  Helen told me to look at my instruments and to trust my instruments.  Meticulously, but quickly, she took me from left to right across the instrument panel.

“Airspeed?”

“110 knots,” I replied with great fear.

“Trust your instruments. Attitude?”

“Straight and level,” I said with some surprise.

“Altimeter?”

“3700 feet,” I answered looking out the window still seeing the red lights that were no longer there.  “Helen!”

“Trust your instruments.  Vertical Speed?”

“Zero.”

“Zero. So we’re not going up or down? See? Trust your instruments.”

Something about hearing that phrase for the third time. It was then that I snapped out of the vertigo experience.

Continue reading Trust Your Instruments. Trust God.