When the Soul Bleeds by Sharon Jaynes

When the Soul Bleeds
Sharon Jaynes

Today's Truth

[Jesus said] "Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering" (Mark 5:31-34 NIV).

Friend to Friend

When we read the story of Jesus healing the woman who had been bleeding for twelve years, it is hard for us twenty-first century women to imagine such a condition lasting for so long. Medical science has progressed far beyond the rudimentary knowledge of Jesus' day. It is simply unthinkable today.

Graphic Credit:
http://www.jeremiah-2911.com/2011/07/women-of-bible-woman-with-issue-of.html

But I suggest there are still many women with chronic bleeding of a different sort. We bleed from the heart.

From the time Sarah was six-years-old, her father crept into her bedroom in the dark of night and violated her little body. Now, as an adult, her heart bleeds.

When Beth was walking to her dorm room from the college library, a lurker jumped from behind the bushes, dragged her to a nearby shed and raped her at knife-point. Now, ten years later, her heart bleeds.

After twenty-years of marriage, Lucy accidentally stumbled upon an in-town hotel receipt in her husband's wallet. Suspecting the worse, she uncovered past e-mails, supposed meetings that never occurred and a trail of deceit. When presented with the evidence, her husband admitted to having a three-year long affair. And her heart bleeds.

Laura was laid off from her job and her mother's words re-emerge like sewage leakage from an underground septic tank. "You're no good. You'll never amount to anything. You're a loser just like your father." And because of the lies, her heart bleeds.

Melissa holds her newborn little girl in her arms and coos her to sleep. Interrupting the sweetness of the wee hours of the morning, she hears her aborted child crying from the grave. Guilt presses down as the ever-present weight deflates her joy. And her heart bleeds.

Women - hoping the pain will go away. Awakening each day with a memory that cuts a fresh wound. Women-longing to hear the words, "Go in peace and be freed from your suffering."

The woman with the issue of blood was no different from you and me. While her apparent illness was physical, her inward suffering ruled her life. She had lost her family, all her money, and her standing in the community. She was viewed as an unclean, untouchable outcast. But in one radical moment, one momentous decision, she reached out to Jesus and grabbed hold of her healing.

He wants to set you free from your suffering, but he will not push you out of the jail cell or yank the chains off your neck. He unlocks the door, but you must walk out the door. He unlocks the chain, but you must stop wearing them around your neck.

Graphic Credit:
http://cccooperagency.wordpress.com/
2012/03/16/what-are-you-looking-at/ 

We can choose to bleed. We can choose to remain in our suffering and pick at the scabs of the past. But hear me dear friend, it is a choice. Jesus said, "I have come that they might have life and have it to the full" (John 10:10). That's what he wants for each of us. But we have to embrace the truth and, like the woman with the twelve-year-bleeding, reach for our healing.

In John, chapter five, Jesus 
encounters a lame man sitting by a pool of water where the paralyzed, blind, and afflicted gathered. Then Jesus walked up to him and asked a strange question, "Do you want to get well?" (John 5:6b).

Perhaps it wasn't such a strange question. Many times we get used to being emotionally sick, and we wear the sickness like a shroud. We become walking wounded, picking at emotional scabs – not allowing them to heal.

Jesus said to the woman, "Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering." That is the same healing he offers to you and to me. What will you do?

Let's Pray

Dear God, I am sick and tired of being sick and tired. I reach forward today, touch the hem of Your garment, and receive my healing. Yes, I want to get well. Give me the faith to walk in freedom and victory.
In Jesus' Name,
Amen.

Now It's Your Turn

Is there pain in your life that you have refused to let go of?

Do you want to get well?

That is a risky question. It took a lot for the man who had been lying by the pool to get up off that pallet. He had to learn how to walk, get a job, and learn to live like a healthy person. That's a big change after 38 years. But you can do it! You can let go of the past and begin to live in victory and freedom! Let's start today!

If you are ready to reach out to Jesus and grab a hold of your healing, log ontowww.facebook.com/sharonjaynes and say, "I'm grabbing hold."

Re-posted by permission from Sharon Jaynes' blog at www.sharonjaynes.com

Today's devotion was taken from my book, What God Really Thinks about Women: Finding Your Significance through the Women Jesus Encountered.We tend to read the gospels with our twenty-first century eyes. But when we understand how oppressive the culture Jesus stepped into was against women, we begin to understand just how radical Jesus' ministry, messages, and miracles were at setting women free. He risked His reputation to save theirs…and yours.

1 Peter 4:11-13 

(New International Version) 

¹¹ If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.

Suffering for Being a Christian

¹² Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. ¹³ But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.

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Book Review - Christian Pain and Suffering Is Inevitable But There is Powerful Help from the Word of God By Kaye Swain

Book Review
Christian Pain and Suffering Is Inevitable But There is Powerful Help from the Word of God By Kaye Swain

As a member of the Sandwich Generation, caring for the elderly parents in my family as well as babysitting grandchildren regularly, I've learned from experience that, for the Christian as well as the non-Christian, pain and suffering will come. For some, it may be a life-long season. For most, it will ebb and flow, much as the ocean's tide. But for the vast majority of the population, by the time their life has come to an end after decades of living, they will look back and see seasons of pain, sorrow, and suffering intermixed with times of joy and happiness.

As a Christian, though, I am blessed to know that is not the whole story. It's not what happens to us that counts - it's what we do with the situation that makes the difference.

Kay Arthur agrees with that and has written an excellent book on this very topic. She does a great job answering the question in many people's minds, "Why does God allow suffering?" Not only that, she provides the tools and the encouraging Bible verses to help you move, step-by-step, through the vital process of dealing with the suffering you are experiencing.

She covers a wide range of trials - from physical illness such as cancer or Alzheimer's Disease with dementia symptoms to emotional distress - including a loved one's suicide. Those who are familiar with Kay Arthur's other books and Precepts Bible studies will recognize and appreciate the way she takes you through various Bible passages, verse by verse, using different techniques from her Bible study courses to help you internalize the lessons she is teaching in this book.

I was especially pleased to find several sections that related to my job of caring for aging parents, but I also noted several other passages that would be a help for a son going through completely different trials, or a young grandchild already learning hard lessons in life. In other words, this book is an excellent resource for the whole family and definitely worth buying for your personal library as well as using as gifts for friends and family who are going through difficult seasons of life.

 My own copy is full of bookmarks, underlines, and personal notes throughout, and I've already ordered a second copy for some dear senior relatives. I'm also planning on recommending it to my Bible study group for a future study, as it includes a section in back to help you use it for individual or small group study guide.

Whether you are currently in a season of life involving pain and suffering, or helping a loved one through that, or just planning ahead for the future, I highly recommend this book as a wonderful and useful tool that will bless you and others.

If you'd like more fun ideas & resources for teaching Bible memory verses to your children and grandchildren, along with specific ideas for teaching the Ten Commandments to your kids, be sure to pop over to http://www.SandwichINK.com.

We're smack dab in the middle of that project and would love to see you.

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Pain Along the Journey by Elizabeth Marks

Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may run swiftly and be glorified, just as it is with you, 2 and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men; for not all have faith. 3 But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one. 4 And we have confidence in the Lord concerning you, both that you do and will do the things we command you. 5 Now may the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the patience of Christ. 2 Thessalonians 3:1-5 NKJV

It’s all about the Lord, isn’t it? Everything is the Lord’s. He rules over it all. He is the one guiding our hearts toward Him. He gives us our very breathe. He provides for our every need. He guards us against the evil one. We do none of this on our own.

God is faithful. He will establish you. This section of scripture reminds me of 1 Peter 5:10: “But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.” After you have suffered a while it says. We can conclude suffering is part of growth journey. There are some things we can never learn without suffering.

In my own journey, I had to suffer the consequences of poor choices. I had many expectations in life, none of which came out the way I envisioned. I was disappointed most of the time. Then, again, I believe most perfectionists are disappointed constantly. It’s a sad condition to live in. As I became more critical of others and cynical about life, I resented everyone and I allowed bitterness to take up residence in my heart. I didn’t handle things well before and it brought me more pain, than I ever imagined.

During times of suffering, God is there, eager to show himself faithful, loving and kind. All He asks is for us to turn to Him, trust Him and He will lead us out of the difficulty, whatever it may be. I can say He was there for me. When I finally could stand no more of my life, sobbing in the shower one morning, I prayed “Jesus, I’ve messed up my life! Help me! The bible says You died for my sins and rose again to give me a new life. Please come into my life and give me a new life. Amen.” I didn’t know how my life could ever be good again, but a wonderful peace came over me anyway. He was there waiting for me to turn to Him. He was faithful to answer my prayer.

Lord, thank you for wanting to come into our lives and heal us from our poor choices. Thank you for your faithfulness to answer our prayers. Thank you for dying for our sins and rising again to give us a new life in Christ Jesus. Amen.

God will perfect, establish, strengthen and settle you. The Bible teaches us this, but the Spirit of God living in us, confirms it in our own lives. He did for me. He will for you. Are you trusting God today? If not, ask Him to convince you how good He is. He will not disappoint!

Copyright Elizabeth Marks, author of ThinkOnIt Devotions, has a heart for encouraging believers with God's Word. Please visit http://www.ThinkOnItDevotions.com for more devotions, bible studies, book reviews and more!

Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com-CHRISTIAN WRITERS