This weekend I scratched my big toe. It hurt for the moment--I thought but when I was getting ready to go to church today, the shoes I put on made it hurt more to the extent that I changed shoes! Of course, I told my wife, wanting a little consideration and petting but didn't get much. But nobody else could tell that my toe was hurting. Oh, I could have pulled off my shoe and asked people to look at my hurt but you just don't do things like that.
Now think about the hurting of those in the church that wish they could show someone that they were hurting but are a little embarrassed to do so. And then again, some people know that others just won't understand or think that their hurt is bigger. Don't you just (I started to say hate!) want to avoid those people who tell you that their hurt is bigger or worse.
And then there are those that would not ever let anyone know that they are hurting. They hurt way down inside. Maybe for things that happened months or even years ago. As the doctor asks "where does it hurt?" we cannot do that. But please rest assured, the great Physician Jesus knows where it hurts. Oh praise be to the LORD.
The 'woman at the well' knew hurt but the disciples did not recognize it when they met her going to draw water. How long did she hurt? The WORD does not say but I believe she may have been looking for someone to help her in the hurt is the reason she had 5 husbands. Now she was living with another man she was afraid to commit to because the hurt was still there. But oh how wonderful she felt when Jesus let her know that he knew her hurt and the water He offered would heal her hurt. With excitement she reentered the city to say 'come see a man that is healing my hurt' and He can heal yours too.
Jesus did not condemn her but He showed her love that could heal her hurt. Are you showing that love that can start the healing process in someone? An arm around the shoulder, a kind word, a sweet smile can be the key to open the door to healing the hurting. Love them. Who? The hurting.
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Saturday, February 6, 2010
he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted
Did Isaiah know what he was writing there in Isaiah 61:1? I don't think so. I do believe that he was in the spirit or moved by the Spirit of God to write the words because they were words that describe my Jesus. He fulfilled this prophesy. He even read this passage in the temple.
How many people do you pass everyday that are brokenhearted and yet they are wearing a pasted on smile so that others will not find out how broken they really are? I teach in a high school and come in contact with young people everyday that many are broken. They come from broken homes. Some don't even know who their father is. For a long time I have had this thought on my mind that I would like to minister to these broken ones. Not just in high school but at the grocery store, gas station or wherever. What can I do? Most of the time I just whisper a prayer for them knowing that my Father in Heaven hears and will answer.
Many years ago while in a foreign country, I was called to take one of my church members to the hospital because of major pain. While I waited for him, I noticed that the fire trucks were approaching the hospital and I wondered as others, 'Is the hospital on fire?' I walked around the side of the building and there were the firemen looking up at the building. I saw no smoke or blaze and asked the chief what was happening. He told me, "There's a girl on the 16th floor window ledge that is about to jump she says. "We cannot get to a good place for the net to do any good." He said. I said, "I'm a pastor, can I help?"
He immediately ushered me into the hospital elevator along with some nurses and a doctor. The doctor wanted to know the problem since she was the night doctor. The story was told. We arrived at the room with an opened window where we could see this hurting young lady. The doctor tried talking with her and several times I heard the doctor almost scream "No, don't jump! Please!" Then she turned to me and said "See what you can do."
I asked the girl's name and began telling Maria that I loved her and Jesus did too. My Spanish was not perfect and I told her this and she said "Speak to me in English. I can understand some." I spoke in English and then in Spanish the same phases: I love you and Jesus loves you--Te amo y tambien Jesus te ama. She began to move toward me. As I touched her fingertips I grabbed her wrist and brought her inside to safety. She was hurting, no nothing physcial but she had a broken heart. I stayed with her until she was sedated and placed in a room. For the next several days, I visited her and her heart began to be healed with the prayers of God's people.
She came to visit me several years later at the church and expressed to me how she had been hurting until someone told her that Jesus loved her and someone else did too. No I don't know where she is or how she is but I do know that her life did not end at 16 years with a broken heart.
Find a broken heart and help with the healing. You won't have to look far.
Until next time, love the hurting.
How many people do you pass everyday that are brokenhearted and yet they are wearing a pasted on smile so that others will not find out how broken they really are? I teach in a high school and come in contact with young people everyday that many are broken. They come from broken homes. Some don't even know who their father is. For a long time I have had this thought on my mind that I would like to minister to these broken ones. Not just in high school but at the grocery store, gas station or wherever. What can I do? Most of the time I just whisper a prayer for them knowing that my Father in Heaven hears and will answer.
Many years ago while in a foreign country, I was called to take one of my church members to the hospital because of major pain. While I waited for him, I noticed that the fire trucks were approaching the hospital and I wondered as others, 'Is the hospital on fire?' I walked around the side of the building and there were the firemen looking up at the building. I saw no smoke or blaze and asked the chief what was happening. He told me, "There's a girl on the 16th floor window ledge that is about to jump she says. "We cannot get to a good place for the net to do any good." He said. I said, "I'm a pastor, can I help?"
He immediately ushered me into the hospital elevator along with some nurses and a doctor. The doctor wanted to know the problem since she was the night doctor. The story was told. We arrived at the room with an opened window where we could see this hurting young lady. The doctor tried talking with her and several times I heard the doctor almost scream "No, don't jump! Please!" Then she turned to me and said "See what you can do."
I asked the girl's name and began telling Maria that I loved her and Jesus did too. My Spanish was not perfect and I told her this and she said "Speak to me in English. I can understand some." I spoke in English and then in Spanish the same phases: I love you and Jesus loves you--Te amo y tambien Jesus te ama. She began to move toward me. As I touched her fingertips I grabbed her wrist and brought her inside to safety. She was hurting, no nothing physcial but she had a broken heart. I stayed with her until she was sedated and placed in a room. For the next several days, I visited her and her heart began to be healed with the prayers of God's people.
She came to visit me several years later at the church and expressed to me how she had been hurting until someone told her that Jesus loved her and someone else did too. No I don't know where she is or how she is but I do know that her life did not end at 16 years with a broken heart.
Find a broken heart and help with the healing. You won't have to look far.
Until next time, love the hurting.
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