SPLASHES OF …HOPE! 18th October 2013
Hello dear “women aglow” J I do hope you’ve shone brightly through the week with the SON’s Power. Our loving Lord’s promise not to “put out the dimly burning flame” =Isa. 42:3, splashes us with renewed hope when days are “cloudy” with the stuff that happens, as it does, at regular intervals on our journey through life!
So there I was, listening to a message and making notes as the preacher preached, and into my mind pops the word “touch”! Don’t ask me how, but I just knew it had something to do with today’s Splashes!! Over the next several days my devotions often revolved around this word! Confirmation! Okay, thanks Lord, now please lead me on from there! Well, needless to say, all sorts of things began popping into my mind, so I’m hoping you will be splashed with meaningful encouragement with what the Lord wants to bless your day with.
The first thing that came into my mind was anything but “spiritual”! I thought of my son Paul, who was injured rather badly a couple of weeks ago playing touch rugby! What was he thinking? Is he “touched” to be playing such a physical sport at age 42 for crying out loud?!! Teenagers think their parents are “out of touch” and “don’t understand them”! It’s a sad thing to “lose touch” with loved ones, and sometimes of friends who we once held dear. It “touches” our emotions to see and/or hear of abuse /neglect of children, the elderly and animals. So we see that there are many things “out there” that do “touch” our lives in different ways.
You and I began our life-changing journey by the transforming touch of Jesus Christ = 2 Cor. 5 : 17. I recall a favorite old Worship “chorus” = “To get a touch from the Lord is so real . . . If you draw near to Him He will draw near to you”. Throughout the Bible there were events taking place that brought the touch of God = in the O.T., and Jesus = in the N.T. This tells me that God is not a distant God, but has to be nearby considering all the touching He’s done that we read about in His Word.
Many viewers avidly watched the long ago TV series “Touched by an Angel”, but what is that compared to “the real deal” when we read about Jacob?! He was somewhat of a “rogue” who stole his Brother Esau’s birthright, and then he deceived his father into believing HE was Esau – with his mother’s help mind you! As a result he went “on the run” [once again his mother was involved!], being in fear of his brother’s wrath and threats of a revenge killing! You can read all about their interesting and intriguing family sagas and dramas in the book of Genesis –Ch. 25 onwards. In Ch. 32 we pick up where the story takes a turn, for the better, when he met and wrestled with A Man [God] all through one night, and The Man [God] “touched the socket of his hip, which became out of joint and left him with a limp”! That Divine Touch changed his life forever, right down to God even changing his name, from Jacob to Israel, in Ch. 35 vs. 10! What a story! Sisters, we have a story to tell too, since Jesus came into our hearts and touched and changed us! J
Jeremiah had been “ordained a Prophet by God before he was even formed in the womb”! > Jer. Ch. 1 < but he did not think he was able to ‘do the job’ = that was until the Lord God “put forth His hand and touched [his] mouth and said: “Behold, I have put My words in your mouth” = vs. 10. The same goes for you and me, when He touches us and gives us Spiritual Gifts. He does it for HIS purposes, and expects us to use them!! I pray you and I will have a desire welling up inside us to want to use them, and to remain God’s Glow-women for His Kingdom and Glory always!
We read of a Leper, in Mk. 1 : 40 – 45 , who came to Jesus, “fell on his knees begging Him : “If You are willing, You can make me clean” and we see the Lord Jesus’ touch of compassion as He willingly “reached out His hand and touched him”, and “immediately he was cured”. Now sisters, can you imagine this, ‘cos I can’t, “the woman who was bent over and couldn’t straighten up, crippled by an evil spirit, for 18 years”?! Ouch! With just a touch of Jesus’ Hands on her, she immediately stood up straight”! Luke 13 : 10 – 13. WOW! Wherever He went, Jesus was “doing good” by touching lives in one way or another, and forever changing them Spiritually / physically / mentally, and He is still willing and able to do the same today.
What do you need Jesus to touch you for today? Ask Him! You may not get the result you want immediately, but “keep praying, be watching out for it , and thanking Him” =Col. 4 : 2. Now be splashed with hope, okay?!
Reaching out and touching you with love, dear glowing girl–friends! Jesus loves you too!
Rose xoxo