Jehovah Rapha: Name of God

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Jehovah Rapha is found in Exodus 15:26 and means “The LORD who heals”. Our God is a God who heals ALL that is broken inside of us, our physical ailments, our emotional wounds and scars as well as our spiritual brokenness that keep us from Him.

While Jehovah Rapha is first stated in Exodus and is speaking of God the Father, we also know that God’s Son, Jesus, can also be known as Jehovah Rapha when He came to Earth in fulfillment of the numerous prophecies from the Old Testament. By sacrificing Himself on the cross, He took all of those sins and ailments and wounds and scars and brokenness and He healed us by His stripes. As long as we believe that Jesus is God’s Son, that He died and rose again, we are healed and whole and then can be with our God in Heaven when we pass from this Earth.

This time on Earth is the time that we should and need to come to worship and believe that we have a God who loves us so much that He will do anything to bring us to Him. He never forces us to choose Him. Instead, God wants us to show our love and gratitude for His care and sacrifice that He gave for us. Our God has always been present, yet some of us have turned our backs on God and have been rather cavalier in how we treat Him. Some prefer their worldliness over His Godliness.

Remember there are two sides to the same coin- on one side we have our God who loves us, heals us and provides for us and He invites us to be with Him in Heaven when our time on Earth is done. Then there is the other side which offers us only things that may satisfy the flesh temporarily but leaves the soul cold, empty, and alone. On that side, if some continue down that path, it only leads to hell and permanent damnation.

So, which side do you choose?

What did I learn from this? Of the two-sided coin, I know that I want the side that helps me to be with God at the end of my time. I want the side that gives mercy and love and who heals me from all of my brokenness. I AM broken, yet He heals me. I AM a sinner, yet He shows me mercy and forgiveness. So, why in the world would I EVER want the other side that cares nothing for me and wants to see me broken and alone? To that, I say, “No thank you!”. I have Jehovah Rapha who heals ALL that I am and loves me for the potential of who I can be in His presence.

So, what can you gain from this? Ask yourself this, are you happy where you are? When you look in the mirror, do you like what you see? A simple “Yes!” to God helps you to start the healing process. God knows what you need before you even say a word. He knows what’s in your heart before you speak it out. He loves you, but He waits for you to invite Him in. When you do, He takes all those broken pieces inside and makes a new picture. One that shows the potential for who you can be, as well. It’s definitely worth a shot. What do you think? Want to give it a try? I promise you that you won’t be disappointed at all with the results!

When God Promises… He Delivers

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It’s been on my mind for a bit now on how much our God does what He says that He will do. Sometimes, it’s an answer to a prayer and sometimes it’s acts that are not anticipated by those who love and trust in Him. I have been given permission by my parents to tell their story of something that was not anticipated but is such a blessing to them now.

My parents had a camp in an area that had developed a sinkhole, so that then changed the whole dynamic of the area. Mom and dad never felt right asking for money like others were doing and just asked that they be compensated for what they had put into their camp and to let them still come there until they had to leave. There was another area close by that was right by some beautiful waters where some others were allowed to stay. Some of those there had opted to move away and their houses were then available to others. One of those houses were offered to three others but was turned down for one reason or another. Here’s where it gets very interesting in my view…when they got to my mom and dad, they offered the new(er) house as a trade for their camp house. Another detail that is important is that their camp had been a 950 sqft house and this newer house was 2200 sqft and to take it “as-is”.

My parents are such stand up people that they actually asked all of us (my siblings and their spouses) if they think that they should! Of course, we said, “Yes!” and so they did. At that time, it was still a “camp” and not where they would live permanently, but the thought was there because of how beautiful it was. As that was being figured out, a long came a “hundred-year flood” in the area that they had called “home” and they had gotten 7″ of water there and their old house was no longer livable. Their camp now has become their home, and they are constantly telling themselves how blessed they are, which is so very true!!

You see, God knew what they needed, but they never asked for that. Yet, God delivered for them actually BEFORE they even knew about the flood that would make that their permanent home! I thank Him for that because all of us (my siblings and others) worried so much less than if they had been stuck in that 950 sqft camp as their house. (Related post: The Seasons of Change)

What did I learn from this? My prayer: Almighty Father, I ask that you help me to remember that You are in control. I pray that I know in my heart that when You promise, You truly deliver. I think of the story of my parents and I have seen the wonders that you provide to those who trust and abide in You and Your Holy ways. God, I know that I am not worthy of anything that You give me, so I humbly and joyfully hold out my hands for You to guide me in the way that You want me to go and that I walk down the paths that You lead me to. I thank you, Father, for giving me Your strength, love and courage when I feel weak. I know that You will always provide a way. In Jesus’ name, Amen. (Related post: A Leap of Faith)

So, what can you learn from this? We have a God who delivers on His promises. He knows our thoughts and wishes AND He knows what we truly need before we even ask for it. I pray that for anyone who reads this that you come to know our God and truly know that He loves you. Know that your miracle will look different than my parents but also know that He has something special planned just for you! Do you trust Him to deliver? I hope so and I can’t wait to hear the story that you have to tell others! (Related post: A Blessed Path)

A Leap of Faith

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When I look back on my life and the many twists and turns that it has taken, I have found that there are many places and ways that God has intervened. Of course, I never saw it at that time and in that way. It’s only in looking back and reflecting on it is where I see His hand in each turn of that timeframe. I’m very sure that you may feel the same way, if you look back on your own twist and turns that have occurred in your own life.

Now, I know, that not everyone is at the same place at the same time, but since I now see Him in each of those paths in my life, I KNOW in my heart that I rely on Him more and more now, to get me through the next juncture in that path as well. It reminds me of when Peter and the disciples were on a boat after the feeding of the five thousand and they were being tossed around by the waves. In Matthew 14: 28. Peter spoke with Jesus and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” Peter took a leap of faith and stepped out of the boat but grew frightened because of the strong wind and water and cried out to Jesus, “Lord, save me!” where Jesus reached out his hand and lifted him up and did not let him drown.

I think about that a lot and it makes me think about the courage that it took for Peter to do something that logistically shouldn’t have been able to happen, but God still provided a way. Here’s the thing, God ALWAYS has a way of making things right in our lives, even when everything else says it is improbable and even impossible. He knows what’s deep in our hearts. He knows our deepest wishes and desires. Maybe it’s things that we’ve never even said to anyone else. Moreover, He knows more than that…. He knows what we truly NEED. (Related post: God’s in the Details)

When we are choosing to trust God with everything that can and will happen in our lives, we are beginning to take that leap of faith. We have reverted to that childhood game of, “Catch me, daddy!”, just knowing that He will do just that because that’s what having faith is truly all about. (Related post: An Act of Faith)

What did I learn from this? I can try to do things on my own and sometimes they turn out okay, for a while. I have to battle my human nature, which causes me to worry about something (or anything) until I am consumed with it. Yet, I have discovered that with God, all things just turn out for the better, if only I had turned to Him first, then I wouldn’t have lived with all this stress that I put myself under. I also have begun to understand that there was purpose in the paths that I was on, although I didn’t know it at that time. So, what did I truly learn from this? I want to be brave like Peter when he first stepped out of the boat not even fully understanding or remembering that Jesus wouldn’t ever let him go even when he was afraid.

So, what can you learn from this? I tend to think that it’s a process that us humans need to go through before we get to that point to being able to take that leap of faith. My suggestion? Look back on your own journey and ask yourself about the times that our Lord and Savior showed up for you. Did He ever let go of you during those times? Maybe we think that He did, but instead it was us who closed the door on Him and then blamed Him for the choices that we had made. It takes a lot of humble honesty to see and admit where and when we didn’t trust God enough with our struggles. If that is the case, realize that our Lord and Savior is never so far away where He won’t help you out of the pit that you are in. It just takes a leap of faith and then He will hold you tight and never let you go. (Related post: “My peace I give you”)

A Reason to Hope

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Life sure can stink, sometimes! Here you are just rolling along, the sun’s shining, the wind is blowing, the birds are singing then BAM! Something happens that changes in your life and that can throw you into a tailspin. Unfortunately, that can and does happen a lot during our lifetimes. I am not here to get you down or have anyone thinking negatively; instead, I want to share that there is a reason to hope in better things to come.

To do that, let’s look at Hebrews 11:1-3 (New American Bible Version): “Faith is the realization of what is hoped for and evidence of things not seen. Because of it the ancients were well attested. By faith we understand that the universe was ordered by the word of God, so that what is visible came into being through the invisible.” Whichever version that you read, it all amounts to the same thing. These verses help us to know and believe that we can rely on God to hold true to His words and His promises for our lives. It’s our reason to hope in a brighter future even though we can’t see where that path is taking us, right now. (Related post: Knowing and Believing)

I like to think of it as a new chapter in our book of life. (Related post: A New Chapter in the Book of Life) You turn the page and it’s empty. Your journey isn’t finished because, it’s still going on. Sometimes, I feel as though I’m just along for the ride and knowing that I will eventually see some beautiful things, but I have to wait for what is as yet unwritten in my book. I also know that the waiting is the hardest part of having trust in the unseen. However, we should know in our hearts that we have a God who does what He says He will do. We are the impatient ones. We question and yell and beg God to show us, but sometimes we have to wait because the gift that He gives us is bigger than we’ve ever imagined. So by waiting, it can produce within us patience and endurance and a much firmer knowledge in Him.

What did I learn from this? I like to think that I am growing my “fruits of the Spirit” (from Galatians 5: 22-23) in my search to seek Him in all things. I’m here not for earthly things but for Godly things. I have many, many reasons to hope in a brighter future and not just for me but for all of us, together. Is change hard? Yes! I don’t always want to change to a new chapter in my book, but God asks me to trust Him, so I will. (Related posts: The Seasons of Change and A Blessed Path)

So, what can you gain from this? I get it! Change is hard! However, as you develop your own “fruits of the Spirit”, you will begin to see the change within yourself. You were meant to stand out, not to blend in with everyone else. We each have a choice to make in this world, so we need to ask ourselves some questions: 1) How much do I love God? 2) How much do I trust Him to write my next chapter in my book of life? 3) Am I willing to hand control over for something that I can’t see yet?

If the answers to any and all of those are yes, I love you God, yes, I do trust you, God and yes, I am willing to give your control, then I say that you are ready for the next step. Will it be hard? Yes, but know that you are not alone in your journey. You have a God who sees you and knows right where He wants you to be and that, my friend, is the biggest reason to hope.

The Hardest Lesson to Learn

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I know that the hardest lesson that ALL of us have to learn, especially when we are trying to walk through our Christianity, is to “die to self”. There are numerous verses that all carry the theme of ways that we are to “die to self” such as Galatians 2:20; Matthew 16:24-25; Romans 6:6; Luke 9:23; John 12:24 and Romans 14:7-8.

What does those words “die to self” mean, really? When we ask God to come into our lives, then we have to look within. We have to look at our hearts and our minds. We need to really delve into the person that we are now and decide how to “clean out” and get rid of those parts of us that don’t align with what God wants from us. We also need to look at all areas within (our thoughts, our actions, our beliefs, etc.) that need to be pruned and thrown into the fire. You see, they don’t match what you have now become. You have become a new creation.

It’s not easy to do that, at all! It takes us being honest with ourselves and seeing the parts of ourselves that need to be changed in order to be a follower of God. The most perfect example that we have is in His Son, Jesus, who came and lived with us on Earth. He loved and rebuked and taught and healed all of those who came to Him. He taught us about perfect love through the actions that he took. He didn’t die on that cross for His own glory, but for God’s glory and He took on our sin, so that when we take up our own cross and follow Him, we can then be with Him for all eternity.

Whew! That’s a whole lot of stuff to unpack, but it’s actually simple, really. just not the easiest thing to do. We need to take up our own cross, recognize that we have our own scars, as well as have our own crown of thorns in order to follow Jesus. Jesus is the perfect role model that we could ever have in dying to self. He humbled himself and took on our sin. That’s completely powerful stuff, right there! It doesn’t get more powerful than that, for sure.

So, my question to you is this…. are you willing and I mean TRULY WILLING to look within? Are you willing to get rid of those parts of you that don’t align with what God wants for you as well as from you? When you do clean out all that old yucky stuff…. trust me, all of Heaven will rejoice!

What did I learn from this? I feel like I am a better human because I have gotten rid of things that I have no more use for. They just don’t fit into who I am now. Oh, trust me…I still catch myself (not as often as I used to, though), so I’m not perfect, by any stretch of the imagination. I’m still me, just an updated and better version, like Jennifer 2.0!

So, what can you learn from this? I know that you will be such a happier person when you let go of your old self. You will become a newer and better version of yourself. You will begin to look at things differently. The world won’t have changed, but you will be changed. It can still be a struggle to walk that path, just keep your eyes on Jesus. He will NEVER, EVER steer you wrong! What do you have to lose? You lose nothing and can gain EVERYTHING!

“How did you salt someone’s oats today?”

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Yeah, strange quote, huh? So this is how it came about, then we can discuss the deeper meaning. as well. I was enjoying the beautiful sun recently at one of the schools that I visit for my job as a behaviorist and I met an amazing lady named April Dunnehoo who works in Early Literacy with the HeadStart-Kindergarten students and teachers within the same parish. As we talked, we found a lot of commonality even though we work in two different areas of education, but found that some of the problems that she sees with these young students tend to become bigger problems as the students age due to the lack of skills that may not have been able to have had addressed when they are or were younger.

Anyway…we began to discuss how we need to find the fun in education in order to encourage our students to WANT to learn not just for the sake of learning. So, here’s where that above quote comes in. April stated that her dad had had an uncle who was wise, not so much in learning but in other, more worldly ways. It goes something like this, “You know that you can take a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink. You have to salt their oats so they get thirsty enough to drink.”

What struck April and I both was that “salting someone’s oats” can ALSO be about finding ways to draw others in to something so that they want to learn more. This isn’t all about education either. This can apply to everyday moments, God moments, historical moments… whatever catches your attention and makes you say, “Hmmm… that’s really interesting. I need to learn some more about that!” The main point is that you never stop learning.

Why is that important?

When you are learning, you’re growing. You can become more knowledgeable on any given subject, just because you read up on it or studied it or talked and listened to someone who knew more. You can then help pass that knowledge on to others so that they in turn can pass it on down the line. You may never know the full impact that you had because you helped “salt someone’s oats” and opened a door that they didn’t know existed.

What did I learn from this? That, I think, is why I do this blog. It’s not for my glory… it’s for God’s glory. If I can help make someone say, “Hmmm…I want to know more!”, I have then salted someone else’s oats and made them thirsty to want to know more. Now how much fun is that!?!

So, what can you gain from this? Have you ever passed on a little nugget of information or knowledge that made someone start to stop and think? It sure is a beautiful feeling of knowing that maybe, just maybe, you helped someone. in some way! We don’t know the impact that we may have to help someone. Perhaps you helped them to turn a corner that they didn’t know they needed. So, again, think very carefully on, “How did you salt someone’s oats today?” or can it be also, “How can I salt someone’s oats today?” Sure is something to think on, huh?

Giving Glory to the God Who Lives in Me

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Philippians 4:13 (“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”) comes to mind when I am giving glory to God. “Well wait, Jennifer! You said through Christ. What do you mean giving glory to God? Didn’t Philippians say Christ? What gives?!?”

They are one and the same. Let me explain…

We believe in a God who is not just one being, but, in fact, is three in one. We have God the Father (in Heaven), God the Son (on Earth) and God the Holy Spirit (within us) and each One lives within me. He will come and dwell in each of us when we invite Him in. We have to open the door and invite Him into our hearts. That’s how I know that He lives in me…. my door is wide open for Him to find a dwelling place there!

It’s so hard to know how to handle this world that we live in. As humans, we struggle because living life is a struggle. This world shows us, at times, nothing but chaos and fear. While that will still exist when we ask God to come into our lives, He helps us through and gives us comfort in His Holy Word, the Bible. I once heard it said that the Bible is God’s love letters to His people. Just like we have a living God, we also have His living Word. We can read the same passage multiple times, yet it will mean something different depending on the circumstances that we find ourselves in, at that moment.

So, what do you think? Will you take that leap of faith? Will you welcome God to live in you, too?

What did I learn from this? I will give glory to God in my valleys and my mountaintops. I will give glory to God is my sadness and my joy. I will give glory to God in my singing and my silence. I will give God the glory in my wondering and my questioning. I will give God the glory in my strength and in my weakness. I will give Him the glory because He is ALL THINGS to me.

There is nothing in this world that can beat that! NOTHING!! (Related post: Only God….)

So, what can you learn from this? Will you take a chance? Will you surrender your will to God? Just know that God wants our questions and our wondering because that means that we are actively talking to Him. He wants to help us and He wants us to know that we can trust Him to get us through, especially when we are going through difficult times. Actually… what do you have to lose? (Related post: Stepping Out In Faith and “What do you have to lose?”)

What does it mean to be rich?

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Oh, yeah! That sure is a loaded question, right? Of course, we know what it means to be rich… it’s all about the money and what I own and what I can claim to have! Right? In a technical sense, yes. It does mean those things.

However, there is a different way of looking at it as well….

According to the Bible, our spiritual wealth is where our true wealth is. We specifically look to Ephesians 3:8, in which the Apostle Paul states, “To me, less than the least of all saints, was this grace given to announce to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ as the gospel.” In this statement, Apostle Paul emphasizes his humility in preaching God’s word, the gift of grace that he was given to do so (speak to others, for and about God), the blessings that can come from following God and His Words, as well as, gaining wisdom that can be found in Christ Jesus, God’s Son AND, get this, IS given to everyone!

When we are rich in and with God, then we can use that richness for His good, by ministering to His people through our generosity in sharing our love, faith, hope and comfort with others. Specifically, that means that we can show our love for one another, have our faith in a loving God, know that our hope is in a brighter future, and give the comfort that we can bring to others when they are hurting or needing help.

Yes, it’s good to be rich in money…but are you using it the right way? Is it all about taking care of only your wants and needs or does it also include using it for God’s children as well? It sure is something to think about…

What did I learn from this? As a teacher, when you are paid once a month, there always used to be this worry about stretching my money until my next paycheck. I did say “used to be”, right? I emphasize that because, within the last couple of years, I turned all that worry over to God, and, guess what? I haven’t worried since. I’ve also found that having trust in God also allows me to be more generous in numerous other ways as well through the giving and receiving of love, faith, hope and comfort to others. He’s opened my eyes to seeing His people and the world differently. He’s given me more of a discerning nature to see the good and bad. So, am I rich? In the money sense, not really, but that’s okay, because I am certainly rich in the spiritual sense! (Related post: An Act of Faith)

So, what can you learn from this? Being rich is so much more than about having money. Being rich is in trusting God to get you through but is also seeing others with the same love that our God has for us. It’s knowing and believing in the hope that comes from a loving God. It’s knowing and believing that comfort can be found through His Holy Word, the Bible. It’s also knowing and believing that we have a God who wants the very best for us and that we can trust His path to get us there. That, my friend, is where TRUE riches come from! (Related posts: The Faith-Fueled Journey and A Season of Perpetual Hope)

A Season of Perpetual Hope

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As I am writing this post, we are coming up on the Christmas season. Too often we get caught up in all of the lights and parties and present buying, so much so, that we may sometimes forget what this season is truly about. It’s about a loving God who sent His Son to be born of a virgin. It’s that untouched innocence in not only the Child but the Mother who carried Him. He didn’t come as a soldier to take away all of the things that were and still are wrong with the world. He came as a little baby.

I don’t know about anybody else, but there is something so magical about seeing a baby. For me, it’s about their innocence and their helpless need for us to take care of them. Imagine that…. the thought of Jesus as a small and helpless infant, who was totally dependent on the people around Him. That thought can, at times, be mind-boggling for us! Even though He was born on this Earth as a babe, He still represented and continues to represent a season of everlasting hope as a renewal for us to be made new as well.

This season of perpetual hope can also offer some healing as well for those who have lost loved ones and are going through their first year of separation during all of the holidays. That’s a struggle for sure. It makes it difficult sometimes to see that hope when we are sad. However, while we very easily see Christmas is a season of hope, we can’t dismiss that Jesus’ death on the cross at Easter is also another season of hope, as well. It was His death that has paved the way for us to be able to see our loved ones again. Before Christ died for us, we were separated from God and our loved ones by sin, but by dying on the cross, Christ took away that barrier. Now we know that this separation from each other is only temporary. So the cycle goes on and repeats as a reminder of how much our God loves us. He came as a child and died as a man…. all because of His love for us. (Related post: Jehovah-Jirah: Name of God)

What did I learn from this? It’s hard to put into words, how humbled I am. None of us are worthy of Him, but that didn’t stop Him from doing it anyway. No other religion can say that. It’s our faith in our God that gives us that hope for something better. It’s hard to see it now, but better days are coming and that is where my hope and faith lies. He hasn’t let me down yet and I know that He won’t.

So, what can you gain from this? I think and know and have experienced that as your faith deepens, our God shows up in miraculous ways. Things that seemed impossible before, now seem to have a new dimension. You experience miracles and wonders that give you hope for something that used to be just a dream. He gives you that hope and you know that it is real and true and genuine. (Related post: God’s in the Details)

“Takes a licking and keeps on ticking”

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The phrase above was an advertisement of the ability of a Timex watch to keep going even after it’s been through many “torture tests”. The phrase itself has actually become an idiom for an ability to endure hardship or stress and still continue to function.

So, why did that resonate with me?

As Christians, we are prosecuted and mocked and reviled for our beliefs. Yet, as Christians, we continue to persevere through those hard times. Once you understand and know and see the love of God, it’s value far exceeds any prosecution that you can endure. We want others to experience all of the joys and freedoms that we have experienced, knowing that He loved us so much that He even sent His Son, Jesus, to take up all of our sins on the cross so that we can be with Him for eternity. I don’t know about what you think, but that’s just absolutely AWESOME!

I also know that I’m not worthy of that level of love…. none of us are! Yet, He still became man, lived among us and then died. He never had to do that. The thing is, is that we have a LIVING God. He rose from the dead and visited with his disciples and others before going to sit at the right hand of the Father in Heaven. He didn’t leave us alone though; He sent us His Holy Spirit which guides us in our daily lives, especially when we invite Him to walk with us in the this earthly journey that we are in.

What I want to know is this…

Will you stand with God? When you fall down, will you get up and still give glory to our living God in the midst of it? When you fail, will you work harder to do better? When you recognize His love for you, will you talk about that same love with others? Will you do your best to live a Godly life, emulating the love that God has for us? Will you forgive those who have hurt you? Will you….

What did I learn from this? I am so humbled by the level of love that I have FOR Him and FROM Him. This blog that I write was done because He wanted me to do it. So, who am I to deny Him anything with all that He has given me? I see it so clearly now, where I couldn’t see it before! The twists and turns in the paths that I have traveled have all been preparation for right now. He was leading me to this moment. I will do anything and I know that while I don’t always understand His purpose, I have full confidence that He will show me in time what I need to see. (Related posts: A Blessed Path and Knowing and Believing)

So, what can you gain from this? Do you want to feel joy? Do you want to feel peace? Do you want to experience a love so deep that you weep in gratitude? Will you have difficulties? That I can answer with a firm “YES!” Just know this, once you give your life to God, there is NOTHING that He will not do to protect you! That you can rest assured in. You might take that licking, but He will make sure you will keep on ticking. He has a plan for you and He’s only just begun. (Related post: A New Chapter in the Book of Life)