ARE YOU CRIPPLED?

Jesus said, “Arise, pick up your mat and walk!” - John 5:8

The scripture above is from the passage that tells the story of Jesus healing the lame man. This man had been lying crippled for 38 years near the healing pool called, “Bethesda” which means “house of mercy.” Once a year the pools waters would stir up and the people believed that the first person to enter the pool would be healed. There were many lame and disabled who gathered around the pool hoping to be the first one in. This one crippled man was not able to move and no one in the crowd helped him.

I believe there are two messages to be learned from this passage. The most common lesson and one that probably most of us hear, is that the crippled man was having a pity party, feeling sorry for himself and making up excuses that no one will help him and he is too weak to crawl over on his own. But, when Jesus arrived on the scene he told the man to get up. Then he told him to pick up his mat, and lastly to walk. Jesus instructed him to take action. The crippled man first had to get up, take his first step of faith then pick up his mat and carry his own load in life. Basically, be responsible for yourself and stop blaming the world. I do think this message can apply to those who think of themselves as a victim and don’t really want to do what they can do to help themselves, always making excuses. But, I believe there is a far greater message in this story, one that my mother shared with me, a message of compassion.

But first, let me share a story. A few months ago I experience being paralyzed. It was a Saturday afternoon, I went out to the beauty supply store, and as I walked back to my car, I felt a slight twinge in my back. I knew something was wrong. I was able to get home safely. I called my mother and told her I wouldn’t be driving down to Orange County. Shortly after, I made some lunch for myself and while carrying the plate in my hand, the next thing I knew, the plate tossed in the air onto my couch and I fell to the floor between my couch and coffee table. I had never felt such excruciating pain in my life. My mobile phone was on the coffee table, but I was facing the opposite direction. I tried to roll over onto my back, but the slightest movement caused the pain to increase. I was so terrified. All I could do was cry out to Jesus for help. Somehow, I had the courage to roll over and reach for my phone. (“It hurts just thinking about it”.) I called my mother, in tears. I can only image how worried and scared she was when she heard my voice in such fear and pain. She called my father and brother and they called me right away. I could barely speak between my crying and the pain I was feeling. I know they all felt so helpless because they live about an hour away from me. I tried to call 911 but I wasn’t getting a signal. My mother called me back and she had to call 911 for me. I felt so alone and scared. My mother stayed on the line with me, praying and comforting me until the firemen and paramedics arrived. One of them broke through a window, without breaking the glass and another jimmied my back door to get in. I had six brave men in my house attending to me. Did I mention handsome, too? This was my first experience being in an ambulance and high on morphine! My parents met me at the Emergency room as soon as possible. The cause of my pain was due to severe muscle spasm in my lower back that was putting pressure on the nerve. I share this incident of mine because I don’t know if anyone has ever felt such pain to the point of being physically paralyzed, but I experienced it for a few hours that day, and it took a few months of physical therapy for me to be back on my feet walking normally.

I believe the greater message of this story of the crippled man is about the compassion of Jesus. For 38 years this poor man couldn’t move. I’m sure he too was in severe pain. But, Jesus, the great physician, had compassion on this man and healed him. The message here is that Jesus is the healer, not some pool of magical healing waters. Also, I believe, a message of shame to all the spectators who didn’t try to help this man. Where was their compassion? I wonder how many of us walk past a crippled man because we don’t have the time and can’t be bothered. It could be a homeless person, a friend, co-worker or family member in need, and how many of us just turn away and don’t want to get involved. Or, we might just say, “I’ll be praying for you.” and just walk away, instead of meeting the need. Yes, prayer is powerful, but does it ever occur to us that maybe God wants us to do more.

Romans 15: 1&2 we who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Each of us ought to please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.

1John 3:17 if anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in them?

I think we have to think twice about judging or criticizing a person who is hurting, broken or who just can’t get up. Unless we have actually suffered in their pain, who are we to not understand and not show a little compassion. Crippled, could be someone not only with a physical disability, but maybe it’s someone you know who is bound by drugs, alcohol, depression, abuse, fear, poverty, or any stronghold that is keeping them paralyzed and they just don’t have the power within them to get up. They need someone's help.

My recent personal experience of pain has given me a greater compassion for people who suffer constant pain, whether it’s physical, mental, emotional, it shouldn’t matter what is paralyzing them, we simply need to be more like Jesus and show a little compassion.

Isaiah 58:6&7 Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to see the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and provide the poor wanderer with shelter, when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?

Who Do You Think You Are??

As a man thinks in his heart, so he is. Proverbs 23:7

Have you ever heard that story that goes something like this: You can bring a pig inside, give it a bath, dress it up in a tuxedo, but the minute you open the door, it will dash outside and jump right back into the mud. - Basically, once a pig always a pig. I don’t know who came up with that version, but I just love the analogy. It’s so visual. I dated someone like that once, or rather, he was a wolf in sheep’s clothing, but that’s a whole other story. (lol!)

Growing up, my father always taught my brother and I to never forget who we are. In fact he still reminds us of that. He would tell us the history of our family and our lineage that goes back to royalty and how our great, great grandfather was the King of Persia, the Kadjar family. Often times, he’d go over all the photographs and our family tree and explain who’s who and where we all fit in. It’s quite fascinating and I appreciate it so much more now than when I was younger. I use to get embarrassed when my father spoke of these things because I thought he was just boasting. In my home, I have photographs and paintings of our ancestors, but I never talk about it unless someone takes an interest and asks me who they are. I guess that’s just my nature, I’m not one to just start talking about myself. But, as I grew up and matured, I came to understand my father’s intentions all along. My father never said these things out of arrogance, but only to encourage my brother and I. He was teaching us these things to build our confidence in knowing who we are and where we came from, so we will always believe that we can accomplish anything in this world. That we can be and do whatever it is we so desire to do. Nothing or no one can stop us and even through the worst of times we can stand back on our feet and reach for those stars, because we know where we come from. My father speaks this with such conviction because he is a walking testimony of such a life. His life story is of one who’s had it all, lost it all and got it all back because he’s never forgotten who he is. Even now, he tells his only granddaughter the same thing. I’m so proud of my father and the things he has accomplished, and I am truly blessed to have a father who believes in me and has always shown his love and support in all that I do.

I share this story because I believe it is the same with our Heavenly Father. Once you have become born again in Christ Jesus, you are a new creature and have a new family. You can now call the God of the universe your father, who loves you so much and wants to give you everything according to his glory and riches. You are now sons and daughters of the King of all Kings, the God of all creation. You have been adopted through Jesus and now an heir to his kingdom. Romans 8:15-17 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba,Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ,
This also means that your old self and old ways have passed away and now you can put on the new and improved you, who can do all things through Jesus Christ! You can now walk in confidence knowing that you are a child of God’s and have been given all of His promises and the assurance that you’ll be spending eternity in heaven. The Word of God (The Bible) is now your family heritage. Galatians 3:29 If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. It is the history of your lineage, your inheritance, the bloodline that bought and paid for your transgressions, and you have access to the power of the Holy Spirit that now lives in you, so you can be more than a conqueror! Do you believe this is who you are? I think many who have accepted Jesus Christ, as their Lord and Savior, don’t actually walk in that power because they don’t truly believe who God says they are. 1 John 3:1 See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!

As the saying goes, a pig will always be a pig, but that’s because it’s an animal and was created a certain way. Humans on the other hand, were created with a mind to think on their own and make choices. Some people think a person can never change their ways, and yes, I believe they are right, a person can’t do it on their own. But, I believe and know that there is only one who can change a person’s heart and way of thinking. His name is Jesus Christ, and in Him old things are passed away and all things have become new. (2Cor. 5:17)

Unfortunately, I think many Christians don’t actually believe God can change those things in their life that keep them in bondage. They don’t actually believe that “by His stripes we are healed!” The suffering Jesus endured at Calvary was not only for the forgiveness of our sins, but he took away all sickness, disease, oppression, and any power that Satan has over us. As born again Christians we need to have that confidence of knowing who we are in Him and that Jesus defeated the enemy, for good! You are a child of God, so act like it! If we don’t believe that, then we will not live a victorious life and those old things will continue to rule over us.

I love what one pastor said, that our body can only do what our mind tells it to do. Scientifically, this is true. God knew exactly what he was doing when he created this intricate and most incredible organ called the brain. It does in fact control all functions of the body. So, what information are you feeding your brain with? What are you telling it to do? Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

Recently, it seems every time I turn on the TV to one of the Christian Channels all the preachers and evangelists I’ve listened to were speaking about “renewing the mind.” Romans 12: 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. It truly is the key to how we are living our life! Until we actually stop listening to those negative voices in our head telling us how terrible we are, and start listening to God’s voice and his Word, and believe all the good things that the Lord says about us is true, then we will continue living in our old way of life. If we don’t know who we are in Christ, then we wont be much different than that pig.

Psalm 139: 13-18 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.

Psalm 103: 1-5 Praise the LORD, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the LORD, my soul, and forget not all his benefits who forgives all your (my) sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

No matter who your family is or was, whatever your lineage, whether they came from Kings, Queens or Rulers, at the end of it all, there is only one blood line that truly matters, and is above all. I pray and hope that everyone will one day come to know their true heritage and be adopted into the family of God, through Jesus Christ, so you too can experience your inheritance in God’s glorious Kingdom! And you too can walk in confidence, knowing who you are!

A Man After God’s Heart

Psalm 119: 14 –16 I rejoice in following your statutes as one rejoices in great riches. I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways. I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word.

Now, I understand why God called David a man after his own heart. Yes, David sinned and made many mistakes like any other man, but he always came humbly before the Lord with a broken and contrite heart. But, after reading Psalm 119, David’s heart goes beyond that. His words are so incredible! It put me to shame. I mean, honestly how many of us believers can say we speak as David did? Who of us, from the depths of our heart say these things to the Lord, as David does in Psalm 119? Words like: Oh, how I love your law! I long for your salvation. Your law is very delightful! I live to abide by your law and my heart is set to keep your decrees! Direct me in the path of your commands, for there I find delight. Turn my heart toward your statutes and not toward selfish gain. My flesh trembles in fear of you; I stand in awe of your laws. Give me discernment that I may understand your statutes…..

Psalm 119 is the longest passage of scripture in the Bible, and its 137 verses are David’s words of praising, honoring, and loving God’s laws and covenant. We don’t praise God’s laws like that! We don’t wake up every morning excited for the opportunity to live according to God’s decrees! We are so focused on pursuing our own desires, dreams, goals, selfish gains, and we hope those things are what God wants for us too. Instead, it should be the other way around. Why is it that we so don’t desire to know God’s word inside and out, to know what he’s all about so we will know the life He wants us to live? And yes, it may mean that we have to change some of our old ways. God wants us to live Holy, as He is Holy. That doesn’t sound so bad to me. What’s wrong with that? It may not always be easy, but, shouldn’t we want to strive for that? Shouldn’t we as believers live a life "set apart" from the rest of the world? Shouldn’t we want to live a life that’s pleasing to our Heavenly Father? The scriptures say: 1 John 2:15 - “be in the world, but not of the world...” Romans 12 – Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

I recently had a discussion with a friend about our lifestyle being a reflection of our relationship with the Lord. We weren’t in complete agreement, but we did agree that at the end of the day, it’s between you and God. Another friend of mine has this analogy of “being set apart.” She says, “if I can’t tell you apart from the drunk man sitting at the bar, then how has Jesus changed your life?” I think you get the point. I know that none of us are perfect. That's why God sent Jesus. I personally, don’t think we will ever be perfect like Jesus, as long as we are living in this world and in the flesh. But, we should want to try our best, right?

Reading this passage truly convicted me and made me stop and search within myself, and ask myself, how much do I desire to know God, and do I love Him so much, that I want to live a life pleasing to Him?” I hope that when God looks down on me He sees a woman after his own heart. How awesome it would be for God to say those words, “Now that’s a woman after my own heart!”

Psalm 119:133 Direct my footsteps according to your word; let no sin rule over me.

Frozen Feet

Psalm 42:5 - Why are you cast down, Oh my soul and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.

It’s the beginning of a new year, and I wanted to write something brilliant and profound about entering 2011, but I just wasn’t feeling anything from within. Suddenly, I was receiving various materials on fasting, so I decided to start my year off fasting and praying. The first day of my fast, I read the scripture above in my devotional time. I, actually read the entire chapter and then I read it again out loud. It was so amazing. I felt the words piercing my heart and soul, and I just wept. It was as if the words that David wrote, were my own cry out to the Lord. See, I have been in that same place. My soul has been down cast and hurting. I haven’t felt inspired to write about anything, especially about faith. You’ll notice my last blog entry was posted on May 10, 2010.

Funny isn’t it, my blog title is Feet of Faith, but lately my feet have been stuck in one place or rather frozen. There’s the saying “cold feet” but mine are more like ice-cubes. Honestly, these past few months have caused me much grief, heartache and disappointment, which in turn has made me question and doubt many things concerning my faith. I know the scripture says we only need faith the size of a mustered seed to move mountains. (Matt. 17:20 Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”) If that is the case, then it would seem most of us probably don’t even have a pinch of a mustered seed. I don’t think most of us can honestly say we are moving mountains, and if you are, please share your secret! I always thought of myself as someone having a good amount of faith, but not so much lately. When I see loved one’s prayers not being answered, change not happening, actually some things getting worse and see them still hurting and suffering, it’s hard not to wonder what faith is all about and where is God in all of it? I know that God’s timing is not our timing, that we may not see change on the outside but God is working on the inside. I know all the clichéd answers, and yes those are all true, but I don’t think that is always the case. God is the creator of all things. He defeated Satan at the cross. God can choose to intervene at anytime, but why so often does it seem that the enemy has the upper hand? If I’m a child of God, I can ask anything in his name, according to his will, and it shall be done. The righteous shall not be forsaken or go begging for bread. If I ask for bread, He will not give me a stone. I can go on with these scriptures and I know them all to be true, but I know some whose lives completely contradict all of this, and they are no worse than you and I. In fact, I know them to have hearts more like Christ, than most. So then why are they not favored and being blessed?

What I’ve been seeing and experiencing first hand, has truly discouraged and confused me. Please let me first be clear, and don’t get me wrong, no matter what happens or doesn’t happen in this life, I will always put my hope and trust in the Lord. I certainly, would not put it in mankind. People will always let you down. Look back at history and look around at the world today, mankind has and will continue to destroy itself. The scripture says that the love of man will grow cold. (Matt. 24:12 Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold – Jer. 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?) I see it more and more everyday, and unfortunately, I see it a lot in the church (people), but that’s a topic for another blog. I will always love Jesus. Nothing will separate me from his love. There is a certain peace that only comes from having a relationship with Jesus Christ. That will never change for me. Words cannot describe it, but one must experience it to know what I mean. At the end of the day, that is really all that matters, knowing Him and how much He loves us. The extremely high price Jesus paid for my iniquities, for a wretch like me.

I know that “faith” is hope in things unseen (Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen.) and faith without works is dead. Meaning, that we need to continue to pray, step out and do our part in the physical sense, and then let God do the rest. But, what exactly does that mean? I’ve always believed it to mean that God does his supernatural work. He opens the right doors, brings the right people into your life, that thing that you are believing for just happens with ease because His hand is guiding it along. When that thing you are hoping for is in His will, God will bless it. You have his favor. I’ve personally experienced that in my life. I can only speak of what the Lord has done in my life and those supernatural things that only He could have done. But, when I look at the lives of certain people in my life, they seem to defy all of that. Unfortunately, we can’t have faith for someone else. I often wish that my faith could help another, or even just add a little extra faith on top of theirs, but it doesn’t work that way. Faith is an individual practice. God gives each of us the same measure of faith, but it’s up to us individually, to exercise it and put it into action. I don’t think we can really ask God for more faith, but we can ask Him to help us and forgive us in our unbelief.

There is only one person I know who loves the Lord with all of their heart and soul, more than anyone I’ve ever met. Who can’t wait to sit at the feet of Jesus. Who is so faithful and desires the Lord more than anything else in this world and has been so self sacrificing and such a light and inspiration to so many others, but in the physical sense, I don’t always see favor, blessings, prayers being answered, or living that abundant life that run-eth over. It is truly discouraging to me and I can’t help but to question what God is doing? Yes, I know, who do I think I am to question God the creator of all things, right? It always brings me back to Job. I love when God speaks back to Job and puts him in his place. (Job 38 Then the LORD spoke to Job out of the storm. He said: “Who is this that obscures my plans with words without knowledge? Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me. “Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? Tell me, if you understand…) If you ever start to think too highly of yourself, just read all of Job 38, it will set you straight! We will never know all things, and that’s why God is God and we are not! But, it’s because I know how awesome and mighty God is, and know that He can do all things, that cause me to ask why not this one thing? (Isaiah 55:8 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD.)

I know it is not good to compare our lives to others, but in this world you can’t help but notice some people are more blessed than others? They seem to have been anointed with some magical pixy dust, or as my one friend describes, they have been sprinkled with rainbows. Everything just falls into place for them, such favor. They live this charmed life. And it’s not because they live a more godly life than others. Trust me, I know many who have abundance in the material world, and yet I don’t see much of Christ in them when it comes to having compassion for others. Yet, somehow they are well taken care of in this worldly life. I think of the scripture that says, where your treasures are there your heart lies. (Matt 6:21 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.) Maybe since they are placing so much desire and importance in the material things of this world, that’s where their heart truly lies, and their rewards are here on earth. Maybe, they won’t have great rewards in heaven because they wanted it all here on earth. I don’t really know that to be true, but that’s just one of my own speculations. I do believe we have the whole blessings and favor thing wrong. I don’t think it has anything to do with materialism, but all to do with spiritual things (another topic for another blog). But, I do know what the scripture says about true religion and what truly matters: (James 1:27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. – Also Isaiah 58: 6&7) This is storing up your treasures in heaven.

A few Sunday’s ago , I heard a great message that spoke to my heart. The pastor, started off talking about what a horrible and tragic 2010 he had and that if some of us are still in that boat we need to keep trusting the Lord. I immediately felt negative and started doubting and questioning again. But, the Holy Spirit truly convicted me, when the pastor spoke of when Moses questioned God about using him to lead the Israelites out of captivity, and didn’t think he was the man capable of handling the task. Actually, Moses wasn’t able, but this story is not about what Moses did, but it’s the story of what God did through Moses. God told Moses to lay his staff on the ground, and when he did, God turned it into a snake, to show Moses His power. The pastor went on to say that like the staff of Moses, God wants us to set before him, all that we are, all that we have and follow Him and let him lead us. It’s not about who we are, what we do, what we have or don’t have, but it’s about a personal relationship with Him and trusting Him. I have been so focused on the things my eyes can see, on the material things, the worldly things manifesting in the lives of my loved ones, and that’s not what it’s about. That’s not what faith is about. It’s about God wanting to be first in our lives. He created us for relationship with him. When we get back to that, to loving the Lord above all else, drawing closer to Him, then our faith will remain great! I took my eyes off Him. I don’t know if that makes sense to those reading this, but for me, I have faith because of who Jesus is to me, because I know Him, his character, and how he’s changed my life on the inside, it’s what he did for me at Calvary, it’s not about the things in my life. Things don’t give me strength or hope, Jesus does.

I really wasn’t sure if I was going to post this blog because I was concerned that it may cause others to doubt, and I don’t want to cause anyone confusion. But, as I was looking up some of the scriptures, God brought to mind the disciples. These were men who walked, talked, ate and slept with Jesus. They were taught by the Great Master, himself! They saw Jesus do miracle after miracle, and yet they still doubted. “Oh ye of little faith.” I love when Jesus asked the disciples, after many followers left because they didn’t believe, Jesus asked them, “will you go too?” and the disciples replied, “Where else are we to go?” (John 6:67 “You do not want to leave too, do you?” Jesus asked the Twelve. Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.”) That is where I’m at right now, having some doubts, but at the end of the day…. where else shall I go? Who else am I going to believe and put my faith in, but Jesus. I know He will never leave me nor forsake me and His plan is so much greater than mine.

One thing I know and can attest to, is that if you have been discouraged and if you are in that same place, doubting, questioning your faith, frozen feet, do as the psalmist David did, and speak those words out loud, even sing them if you can, speak to your soul and tell it to “Bless the Lord, O my soul and all that is within me! Why are you cast down, oh my soul? Hope in God. As the deer pants for the water, so my soul longs for thee!!” It will lift your soul! God hears your cries and sees your tears and he will care for you, comfort you and give you strength to endure whatever you are going through, even if it’s watching your loved ones struggle. Don’t lose focus. Just keep your eyes on Him and your faith will be restored…as mine has!