Hiking in Pearls

Tag: Endure

  • The Miracle of The Crumbs

    The Miracle of The Crumbs

    Is it ok to be absolutely honest with you?

    This walk, life as a Christian hasn’t been the journey I had expected.

    I have moments of complete joy, faith surging through my veins, knowing within my innermost being that my God will fulfill the good work He began in my life (Philippians 1:6), for The One who spoke it, is Faithful and True (Revelation 9:11). Yet, I have sat in moments of doubt, because it seems the call on my life will never be fulfilled. Gloom knocks on the window of my heart, refusing to leave in anticipation that I will throw back the curtains and allow the darkness of despair to enter and suffocate the music of hope that I desperately cling to.

    Moments of this precious life now lost because my sight was focused on a future I envisioned. A future that hasn’t manifested the way I thought it should. I was too proud to eat the crumbs. I missed the miracles, treasured moments placed in front of me, because my eyes were locked on the loaf.

    And she said, “Truth Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.” Matthew 15:27 KJV

    This women from Canaan had sought out Jesus in need of healing for her daughter who was vexed with a devil. Jesus seems cold and uncaring as He spoke,

    “I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel…It is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it to dogs.” Matthew 15:24, 26 KJV.

    Yet this woman responds, “Truth Lord, yet the dogs eat of the crumbs…” this Canaanite woman received the miracle she set out for because she was willing to embrace the small things. She understood that the crumb had all the same ingredients in it as the loaf. She was content with little, and The Lord blessed her with much.

    I am humbled by this scripture, as I see how many miracles I have missed because I was not willing to be thankful for the crumbs. The small opportunities I am given each day to operate in the calling on my life; to share the gospel of Jesus Christ.

    How about you? Have you too, missed the miracles, moments to operate in your calling because they appeared as crumbs? Walking past them, eyes set on what is esteem to be a greater call.

    I can’t help but think of the scripture in Luke 16:10 KJV that says,

    “He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.”

    How can we expect the big if we have been unfaithful with the little?

    Father God, please forgive me for being ungrateful for the crumbs. Open my eyes to see the priceless opportunities available today to walk in the call you placed on my life, in Jesus’ name, amen.

  • Lessons From The Silence

    Lessons From The Silence

    And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy;

    Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.

    And, behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth. And Jesus knowing their thoughts said,

    Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts? For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk? But that you may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up they bed, and go unto thine house.

    And he arose, and departed to his house. (Matthew 9:2-7 KJV)

    Read it again. Did you catch it?

    Salvation came before the healing.

    There are so many scriptures that swirl through my mind as I read the passage above. I think of Proverbs 13:12 KJV Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life. My heart sinks with the man who had the palsy and the hearts of his friends, hope deflated as they looked on. They knew this man Jesus of Nazareth would heal their friend.

    I can almost hear the banter as they carried their paralyzed friend to Jesus, “You know, after the Rabbi heals you, you can carry me around for once!” “Yes, you can use your legs and bring me a meal!” another jested as laughter filled the dusty streets.

    But the healing didn’t come at first.

    “Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.”

    Were the words uttered before the room fell to a deafening silence. It is in this brief moment of silence that a great lesson is uncovered.

    It was never about the healing.

    Jesus came to show us the way to The Father and bring salvation to the captives. Yet it seems in the process of time, in the moments of silence we have forgotten our joy should be rooted in our salvation. We have left our first love and we have run after the gifts, after the blessings rather than The One who Blesses and in doing so, our hope is deferred and our hearts sick.

    We mumble of our discomfort as our Heavenly Father allows a burden to be placed on our back. We buckle under the weight and joy is erased from our minds. I think at times, the healing doesn’t come and the silence stretches on through the months and often years because we have elevated the healing to the place of a god and we chase after it rather than pursuing the Lord God. We no longer meditate on the Lord, but on our sickness. Our discomfort has been given place to dominate our thoughts.

    Jesus reminded the seventy in Luke 10:20 KJV,

    Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.

    It has always been about Jesus and the salvation that He alone offers. My prayer is that as trials and tribulations come, we learn to suffer well. I am reminded of the words of Paul in Philippians 4:11-13 KJV, Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state that I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

    Jesus, being our living example showed us how to suffer well as His blood poured into the earth from the cross. The very place from which a new word, excruciating meaning “at the cross” had to be created in an effort to communicate the pain in which He endured on our behalf. It was here, He prayed for those who parted His raiment and cast lots as He offered,

    “Father, forgive them; they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34 KJV)

    He gave hope to the thief beside him when He uttered the words,

    “Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise,” (Luke 23:43 KJV)

    In a time of great distress for Mary, Jesus brought comfort to His mother as He called out,

    “Woman, behold your son!” Then to the disciple, “Behold your mother!” (John 19:26-27 KJV)

    Father God, I thank You for Your patience with us, Your children, as we learn to suffer well. As we learn to endure. Father forgive us for the many things we’ve allowed to distract us from You, the joy of our salvation. Teach us Lord to glorify You in the moments of silence and to offer hope to those around us just as Jesus did from the cross. Remind us again that it is the Joy of the Lord that is our strength. (Nehemiah 8:10 KJV) Lord, we love You and praise none other but You alone, our Lord, King, Savior and God. May we abound in all things as You strengthen us whether the healing comes or not. Lord let us wait on You alone. May our hope rest in the salvation You have so freely given us. Let us hope in nothing less, so that when we lay down this flesh and step into eternity with You that our desire will be fulfilled and be a tree of life as we stand in the courts of heaven. Let us never forget the words of Your Son Jesus Christ, “Be of good cheer, thy sins be forgiven thee.” Amen.

    For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. (Romans 8:18 KJV)