Thoughts on Hope

Hello. I decided to separate these two "thoughts" so I could share them...separately(!)...but they definitely connect somewhat (which is why I included today's earlier message at the bottom). This came from reading Titus this morning:

For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works. (Titus 2:11-14)

Sometimes it seems SO hard to live in this world due to the warrings that go on both internally and externally (and correct me if I'm wrong, but I think the battles are getting heavier). But God has given us a way, by the sanctifying power of His Spirit (Ezekiel 36:26-27), to essentially deny ourselves and everything that comes with that (the pains, the lusts, the depressions, the despairs, the pride...the WARS!) in order to be transformed into the likeness of Jesus (and everything that comes with that: the love, the peace, the joy, the kindness, gentleness...[Galatians 5:22-23], but also the perseverence to fight for and live in the Truth! [1 Timothy 6:12; 2 Timothy 4:7). This is the "people group" God wants to cultivate: those who are lights in this dark world and who exhibit a love that could only be perceived as supernatural by those seeing it (John 17:20-23). In the midst of our trials, THIS is our "blessed hope"...that Christ is doing that work in us and WILL bring it to completion (Philippians 1:3-6), and that in this work we are being drawn ever closer to Him.

In His Love,
Terri


From earlier today:

No matter what is going on in your lives right now, whether light, heavy, difficult, fruitful, dry, up, down...whatever...Jesus is still the Great I AM. Your...our...situations do not eradicate the Truth that Jesus is still here with us, in His full Beauty...and it is to that Beauty which He urges us to look in any and all circumstances. In fact, it is only BY fixing our heart, eyes, and mind on the reality of His Beauty...that is, His PRESENCE...that we can truly continue to walk and survive in this increasingly challenging and very hard world. He is here no matter what...praise God.

Looking away [from all that will distract] to Jesus, Who is the Leader and the Source of our faith [giving the first incentive for our belief] and is also its Finisher [bringing it to maturity and perfection]. He, for the joy [of obtaining the prize] that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising and ignoring the shame, and is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:2)

In His Love,
Terri 

Jesus

"But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ." (2 Corinthians 11:3)

This devotional somewhat connects with the previous one that asked if one had been "bumped" by Jesus. The question in this devotional is when He does (and He will) bless us with His Presence (He is doing it all of the time)...Who exactly are we encountering? Who is this One Whose name falls so easily from our mouths, yet Whose Love-filled Presence is so powerful that, as we are, we couldn't remain in it for even seconds without being overwhelmed by its supremacy?

Scripture presents Jesus in many ways. In fact, Jesus portrays Himself in a variety of conditions:

He told the leper...He guarantees us...: "I am willing..." (Matthew 8:3; Mark 1:40-42; Luke 5:12-13).

On the heels of violently rebuking the cities in which He had performed miracles yet that did not repent, Jesus refers rightly to Himself: "I am gently and lowly in heart" (and that only in Him can we find true rest) (Matthew 11:20-24, 28-29).

Using highly relevant metaphors, Jesus offers: "I am the bread of life...the living bread" (John 6:35, 51)... "I am the light of the world" (John 8:12, 9:5)... "I am the door..."... "I am the good shepherd"... "I am the true vine..." (John 10:7, 11, 14, 15:1, 5). All of these things is He to and for us.

Jesus reveals His humanity, His diety, and His royalty when He shares with us, "I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star” (Revelation 22:16)...and "I am King" (John 18:37).

To the soldiers who came to arrest Him...and to us, yet for a somewhat different purpose, Jesus responds to His own question "Whom are you seeking?" with the definitive answer, "I am He..." (John 18:5-8)

And His disciples, when asked the question by Jesus who they thought "He" was, replied, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God" (Matthew 16:13-16; see also Mark 14:61-62)...

...Who assures us, "I am with you always..." (Matthew 28:20)

And confirms this when He promises us that, “Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last. I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore" (Revelation 1:17-18).

"I am with you always..."

"I am alive forevermore..."

"I am He..."

"I AM..." (John 8:58)

The enormously powerful simplicity of Jesus our Messiah is this: when we encounter Him...or when He places His Hand on us...we no longer have to, in our own imagination or efforts, ascribe any particular characteristics to Him. He just Is. He is everything He tells us in His Word...He is with us...He is Alive...He Is. We no longer have to talk about Him because we are right here with Him. And He is here...right here...right now. Thank you, Lord. You are Beautiful.

Amazingly, minutes after beginning this devotional (and then setting it aside rather discouragingly because I did not know if I was on the "right track"), I happened to open up to where I was in Brennan Manning's The Ragamuffin Gospel, and this is what I encountered:

Who is this Jesus of Nazareth - this Nazarene carpenter in whose name vast theological systems have been developed, worldwide churches organized, crusades, reforms, and renewals launched? Church councils have rendered their opinions, as have historians, theologians, emperors, film directors, and all manner of believers and doubters. But other people cannot answer on our behalf. You must answer and respond for yourself...Describe not the diety you have heard about or been taught to believe exists, but only the Christ you have actually encountered... (p. 235)

Jesus asks, "But who do you say that I am...?"

"...who do you say I am...?"

In His Love,

Terri

Have You Been Bumped?

Many will bump up against Him as He makes His way through our world...

HE IS RISEN...HE IS RISEN INDEED!

Recall the last devotional, shared with a pastor whose writings, coupled with the Holy Spirit, inspired it, in which the question was asked: How Close? will we come in our relationship with the risen Jesus?

This very same idea was brought to mind as I was praying several days ago, but from a very new and exciting perspective. This time the thought posed was: what happens when Jesus bumps up against us? Realistically, the answer to this question should be very different for the believer (the one who has already come to know Jesus as his brother and Lord) and the not-yet-believer (he or she who only knows about Jesus in one form or fashion). But for both, the profound experience of being "bumped" by Jesus has the potential of bringing you both to the knees (and face) in wonder and love, and that Reality is what I hope to (even somewhat) translate here.

For those who don't know the Real Live Jesus (and by this, I mean those who have not been born again: [John 3:3, 5-7; Romans 6:4-7; Colossians 2:11-12]), and who perhaps see him as only a historical figure or maybe as nothing at all, having Jesus "approach" can take many forms and incite different reactions. For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities - his eternal power and divine nature - have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse...For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him (Romans 1:20; Colossians 1:16). Whether realized or not, that "thrill" when being presented by a particular vista; that profound sense of peace when feeling like one is "in the (exact) right place at the (exact) right time"; that nearly other-worldly experience of being "known" when someone says or does something that, unbeknownst to that person, goes straight to the core of your being...is, quite often, a supernatural "bump" from Jesus. He is attempting to communicate to you His Presence...His Love...His desire to come close to and commune with you. What will your reaction be? Some will brush it off as an "emotional experience." Others will try to grab the beauty, the tranquility, the "being known" feeling and possess it...use it in the attempt to enhance what is perceived as an emotional high. And there are those who, without really even knowing why, will be repulsed by the touch of the One who wants them for His Own, since this means an agonizing yet beautiful surrender (Mark 8:35; Luke 9:23), to which our self-centered natures are vehemently opposed. But some...will recognize it as Something or Someone that is attempting to get their attention...and will hopefully pursue the hazy sense of familiarity with the feel of the Hand that formed them from the beginning (Psalm 139:15-16).

For those who know You, Lord, when you bump up against us...that is, when we have been stilled enough (Psalm 23:1-3) to take time to call out to You (Psalm 91:14-16)...to open the door to You (Revelation 3:20)...to enjoy sweet, precious time together (Luke 10:38-42)...the response is to know that we are indeed at the (exact) right place at the (exact) right time: with You. Additionally, as the old-but-always-true hymn professes, "the things of earth...grow strangely dim, In the light of (Your) glory and grace" - the things of this world that mattered so incredibly and terribly much just moments before suddenly lose their harsh edges and do, in fact, become "strangely dim" in Your Presence. No wonder this lyricist asserts that it is "In Your Presence" where he...where we...belong. I like how Brennan Manning in his amazing writing The Ragamuffin Gospel describes this "bump" from You, Lord. He refers to a time when being encountered by You was called "being seized by the power of a great affection" (p. 195). And that's exactly what it is, Lord, isn't it? You come to us to share Your Presence...Your Love...and You are longing for a response...

 

 

...What will our response be...?

Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to Him, “Rabboni!”... (John 20:16)

I pray for all of us that more and more, instead of being side-swiped and side-tracked by the million and one distractions that exist both externally and internally, we can "turn our eyes upon Jesus (upon You, Lord), look full in His wonderful face (and You are so, so beautiful), and the things of earth WILL grow strangely dim, in the light of YOUR glory and grace."

Blessings on all of you.

In His Love,

Terri

How Close?

It's neat when devotionals from one sister or brother inspire extrapolations, resulting in a whole new, but related, "penned" (or in this case, typed) praise to God. Thank you to the pastor/brother who shared his thoughts about the different levels of intimacy one can share with Jesus...and therefore with whom I share this devotional.

"Then Jesus said to them, 'Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life...'" (John 6:53-54)


"Take me into the holy of holies, Take me in by the blood of the lamb, Take me into the holy of holies, Take the coal, touch my lips, here I am..." (Kutless, "Take Me In" )

Not many people will argue over the fact that Jesus was real. "He was a teacher," "He was a good man," "He was a prophet," "He was a blasphemer," "He was a kook,"... "He was (is)...our Messiah/Savior." To those who perceive Him to be any one of the first five (or anything else similar to these), Jesus was really just a historical figure. To some a good one, to others not-so-much-so. And evidence does exist that Jesus was, in fact, part of history. However one cannot have an intimate relationship with someone who was just part of history.

For those who believe both that Jesus walked the earth AND that He did so...as God's Son...to rescue a sinful and dying world, there are different levels of intimacy with Him that can be shared. (Thank you, Pastor C., for illuminating these in your writing...)...

Many will bump up against Him as He makes His way through our world...

It is sad these days the ease with which churches encourage their congregants to declare Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Jesus Himself, in one of the many parables He shared with the multitudes, warned that before submitting to being a follower of Him, one needed to "count the cost" of precisely what this meant (Luke 14:27-29). Without the Holy Spirit-given understanding of what walking this narrow path entails (Matthew 7:13-14), many will in fact just "bump up against" Jesus as they hear about Him in church, talk about Him in small groups, and read about Him during quiet times. Not that any one of these things couldn't be used by God to draw a person nearer to their Lord and Savior (John 6:44); but unless this occurs, there will be very little intimacy with Jesus...if any at all.

Many will encounter Him, amid the curious crowd of on-lookers...

This description fits the many who came (and still come) to Jesus seeking "things": those who sought miracles and signs (Luke 11:29), the many who brought their maladies to Him to be healed (Matthew 4:24) and the multitudes who sat and listened to His teachings (Mark 1:21-22; Luke 9:10-11). Although there were some from this bunch who did end up, because spiritual sight was imparted (Ephesians 1:17-20), seeing something much deeper in Jesus and thus a greater reason to continue to follow Him, a great majority of these "on-lookers" may (or may not) have just gotten what they needed or wanted and gone back to their original lives (Luke 17:11-17). Does this still happen today?

But few will...fight their way close enough to be able to let their finger tips graze the hem of His robes...

And then there were those such as the woman who had been bleeding for many years (Matthew 9:20-22), or the sinful lady who washed Jesus' feet with her tears:

"Then He turned to the woman and said to Simon, 'Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has washed My feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head. You gave Me no kiss, but this woman has not ceased to kiss My feet since the time I came in. You did not anoint My head with oil, but this woman has anointed My feet with fragrant oil...'" (Luke 7:44-46)

How many of us will actually touch, or grasp on and hold on to, Jesus' robe? Rub our cheek against His foot? Sit with Him as the world rushes wildly on around us (Luke 10:38-42)? How many will dare to go into the holy of holies, where only one's self is allowed to enter, carrying nothing except a cross and a yearning to meet with the Savior there (Luke 9:57-62, 14:25-27)? And it is a fight: against the world's ridicule (John 15:18-20), against the multitude of satan's obstacles (Ephesians 6:12; 1 Peter 5:8) , and against our lack of desire to take up our cross, which is His cross, and follow Him wherever He leads (Romans 7:18-25; Galatians 5:16-17; Psalm 51:10)...

...but it's worth it...

...after 12 years (and many doctors), a bleeding woman was instantly made well (Matthew 9:22). The uninvited lady (who far surpassed the pharisee in his lack of welcome to the teacher) was recognized by Jesus as having a love for Him exploding in her heart (Luke 7:47). And from nowhere else can solid love, peace, and joy (John 14:26-27; Galatians 5:22-25; 1 John 4:10)...and Eternal Life (John 10:10)...meaning Real Life...come but by sitting in the Presence of...with our Lord and Savior, Jesus.

How close will you come...?

"Then Jesus said to them, 'Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life...'"

"Jesus said...'come, follow me...'" (Matthew 19:21)

In His Love,

Terri

Sanitized

Sanitize: to make more acceptable by removing unpleasant or undesired features (Merriam Webster's Dictionary)

^"Then Jesus said to them, 'Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you.'" (John 6:53)

The other day I was sitting in a local Target and watched as people walked in and yanked hand sanitizer towelettes off the rolls provided, wiping off the handles of the carts used by previous shoppers. I thought to myself, "we spend so much time trying to protect ourselves from this and that germ, attempting like never before to keep ourselves as cleansed as possible, when all along there is a much deeper and more critical problem going on..."

Relationships with one another, and God, are being sanitized.

But then I had to consider, how does this perception fit in with the actual definition of something being sanitized? (And quite honestly, I'm still pondering that right now, so if anyone has any of their own ideas they would like to share, PLEASE feel free...). Several thoughts occurred:

One is that due to the fear of exposure; the risks involved in becoming intimate with someone; and quite frankly, the self-centeredness that God Himself warned would permeate our world-apart-from-Him (Matthew 24:11-12; 2 Timothy 3:1-5), we have (even beyond our own consciousness) chosen to engage in more sterilized interactions, making the deep fellowship and yes even sometimes resulting pain become the "unpleasant and undesirable features" we remove. Now relationships are easier...more "acceptable"...often more in line with our own needs and schedules. Facebook and Twitter, for example, tend to minimize the sound and touch of those with whom we "communicate." Replies are brief and entries are often self-centered, and both often get lost as they move down on the person's "wall." People are satisfied to accrue "friends," often who never even "talk" with one another. And the process itself causes us to sit in front of a computer screen, giving us the control of being "on" or "off" (line). It's scary to think that this may be becoming (already is?) the norm of relationships in our society. But it didn't start nor does it end there. Blinds of homes are shut; car windows rolled up; tv screens are hypnotizing; and hearts are being encased and hardened within the very tombs we are creating for ourselves, or which are being constructed for us:

For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power.

And yes, this sanitizing has definitely found its way into the Church/Body of Christ, satirized in this video attached here. The video is funny, but the message is tragic.

...And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.

The second thought that occurred (intricately entwined with the first) is that satan - in whom "lawlessness" is made manifest, and which is running rampant these days - plays orchestra conductor of these sanitized relationships. Satan works directly and he works through people, and he can definitely "encourage" the mass production and advertising of those things that can then separate us from each other (2 Corinthians 11:13-14: "You can't live without it!"). He also takes fear, mistrust, and hatred and redirects them onto and toward one another instead of allowing them to remain in their rightful places: on him and his demonic army (Ephesians 6:12). And all of these are part of his strategy to divide and conquer, to blind, and to dehumanize, so that when he manifests himself in the form of the antichrist - his one last clarion call before Jesus appears again - many will follow him, caring more for their own self-preservation (which he will deceptively offer) and unable (and perhaps unwilling) to rescue one another from the surrounding chaos, which will be disguised as peace (Revelation 17:8). And it makes total sense that satan would be involved in this sanitizing of relationships, since surely real love and intimacy with one another and with God are not only unpleasant and undesirable, but detestable to him since they challenge on the deepest level his master plan of destruction. Hair, clothing, and individual personality were considered undesirable to Hitler when he was led to annihilate millions. So he sanitized, and thus dehumanized and then ultimately destroyed, not only Jewish people, but all of those whom he perceived to obstruct his master plan. This is one highly visible event representing what satan is doing and will continue to do (John 10:10) until his own demise has come. And unless we turn to God, who is ready and willing to protect and empower us against these onslaughts (2 Chronicles 7:14), we too will fall prey (we are falling prey) to satan's holocaust (1 Peter 5:8).

So now why include the scripture verse above, spoken by Jesus Himself, about having to eat his flesh and drink his blood?

Because by contrast, this is about as intimate and unsanitized as you can get when it comes to having a relationship with someone. And in fact many ran from it (John 6:66; and I don't frequently go by these things, but notice that the very verse in which many turned from Jesus and walked the other way contains the same numbers as the mark that will be assigned to those who likewise are not covered by Jesus' blood, and therefore prone to follow satan's representative: "666" -- Revelation 13:16-18/worth reading is all of 1-18). God intended for our love for one another and our relationship with Him to go deep (John 13:34-35), so deep that He would have His Son tell us that unless we consumed Him, we would have no life in us. This is incredibly unsanitary, but this is how close we need to be with Him (and He invites that). And this is just about as close as we could be to one another (indwelled by Him). We must hear and believe this, because it's getting late.

If anyone has an ear, let him hear... (Revelation 13:9)

...Please...

In Jesus' Name,

Love,
Terri

Breathe In...Breathe Out

This is the air I breathe..."

"Keep in mind, there are other options.  I can breathe hatred into the world.  I can breathe suspicion.  I can breathe revenge.  I can breathe divisiveness...(or)...I can breathe life" ("The Little Black Book: Six-minute meditations on the Sunday Gospels of Lent [Cycle B], February 28, 2012).

This devotional was actually inspired by a devotional (portion above) written by Bishop Ken Untener.  In it, Bishop Untener spotlights the Spirit - the Holy Spirit of God - who comes to dwell within anyone (John 14:16-20) whose heart is turned back to God (Ezekiel 36:26); brought back Home to Him by the drawing of that very same Spirit (John 6:44)!

In the lyric which precedes the Bishop's quote, it is that very same living, loving, eternal Spirit about which the author sings.  It is only by "breathing in" the Holy Spirit of God that he is able to truly live; not attempting to survive on the increasingly polluted "air" (sustenance) the world has to offer, but turning his entire self (Matthew 16:25) in the direction - into the realm - of He Who fills our lungs...our whole person...with Life (John 10:10; Ephesians 3:20-21; Philippians 4:19).

This is why I liked Bishop Untener's devotional.  He takes the "breathing in" process a step further.  He emphasizes that the Life that is born (John 3:5-8; John 1:12-13) and that blossoms (Matthew 13:31-32) within someone who turns his or her earthly life back over to God (Mark 8:34-35) is refreshment and renewal that can be shared with others.  Instead of the myriad of other things that can be "breathed out" (complaints, condemnations, gossip, judgments, profanities, slander..."and the like" - Galatians 5:19-21), it is a sweet smelling aroma that can be exhaled by someone who has and knows the Holy Spirit of God (Ephesians 5:1-2).  He or she can truly breathe life onto others; and then, if that same Spirit intervenes, the fresh air within which those on the receiving end find themselves can awaken them to their own need for Him.  And once accepted, then they too will know the acquiescing and Life-giving "Ahhhhh" that comes from having Him Who is Eternal Life abiding within. 

"This is the air I breathe..." 

Thank you, Lord, for giving your life (and then coming back) so that we could become truly Alive: like Pinocchio being transformed from a wooden puppet into a real live boy, or the Velveteen Rabbit being loved so much, and by that love, receiving Real Life.  That's how much You have loved and love us...but oh so much more.  And for those who have in fact received this Life from You, may we constantly be humbled by Your Love, and then be willing to breathe out Your Life and Love...the Holy Spirit...to others. 

Thank you, Lord.

(In His Love), 

Terri

The Peace of Knowing

"Let's say that you were there in the garden with Him (Jesus) and spoke to Him, 'Excuse me, Sir, but it would appear that You have lost Your peace that You speak of so often. Have You?...'" (from Lifetime Guarantee by Bill Gillham, p. 149)

"And being in an agony [of mind], He prayed [all the] more earnestly and intently, and His sweat became like great clots of blood dropping down upon the ground." (Luke 22:44)

"And after He got into the boat, His disciples followed Him. And suddenly, behold, there arose a violent storm on the sea, so that the boat was being covered up by the waves; but He was sleeping..." (Matthew 8:23-24)

"Excuse me, Sir, but it would appear that You have lost Your peace...

Have You?..."

Bill Gillham, in his outstanding book Lifetime Guarantee, distinguishes between a peace that is identified through the emotions - one could say a quiet that results when the waves of life are relatively calm - and a peace that lives much deeper within; one that results, as he states, from knowing something (p. 149). Gillham illuminates this distinction using Jesus Himself, and His highly emotion-filled encounter with the Father. Anyone who perceives or portrays Jesus as having no emotions need only go with Him to the Garden of Gethsemane. There, he pled with His Father to reconsider the amazing act He was being asked to perform: to receive the entire weight of the world's Sin upon Him (Isaiah 53:6), and from this to be temporarily but completely severed from His beloved Father's Presence (Mark 14:32-36, 15:34, 37). He told three of His disciples that his “soul (was) exceedingly sorrowful, even to death..." (14:34); and because of His agony, he prayed so fervently that it was reported that He began sweating drops of blood (Luke 22:44). Have you ever been in such anguish? Has your own spirit or soul ever been so distressed that it felt nearly like your heart was going to burst out of your chest?

And suddenly, behold, there arose a violent storm on the sea, so that the boat was being covered up by the waves; but He was sleeping...

...at peace...in the midst of turmoil...

Even in your agony...even as the storm blew viciously around Jesus and His disciples...even as drops of blood spilled from His beautiful face...there was (and is) a peace; a peace that comes from knowing something. A peace that comes from knowing Someone, and that at the center of the raging storm (of emotions), He is completely and permanently Present and will not allow anything to happen through which He will not take you as long as you remain in Him (Psalm 23; John 15:4-5). You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You...is a promise from God to anyone who has committed him or herself to Him (Isaiah 26:3), but it is one that is based on a condition: whose mind is stayed on You. Once our heart/mind gaze is removed from Him and set on the myriad of emotions that can occur at any particular moment, that deeply settled peace which comes from knowing God's Presence is "exposed to the elements" and can now be blown around if refuge back in Him is not sought. However, grab onto the hem of His garment (Matthew 14:35-36)...set the heart and mind on things above (Colossians 3:1-2)...sit at His feet (Luke 10:38-42)...practice His Solid and Eternal Presence (Brother Lawrence)...get to Know Him (John 17:3)...and no matter what tempest may arise, in spite of the emotions that may result, you too can "sleep"...that is, your spirit can truly remain at rest. The result? Just as Jesus was able to pronounce to His Father, as the blood-sweat fell from his brow, "Not as I will, but as You will" (Matthew 26:39), we too can yield to our Father, peacefully...full of peace, in just the same way.

Scott Krippayne, Jeremy Camp, and Mercy Me all have songs that share this Reality of the Peace of His Presence. I pray you'll take time to listen...and have His Peace.

"And when the men of that place recognized Him, they sent out into all that surrounding region, brought to Him all who were sick, and begged Him that they might only touch the hem of His garment. And as many as touched it were made perfectly well."

You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You...

In His Love,
Terri