My dear Amanda
Let me tell you something about our Lord and Savior, how much He truely Loves You, how truely Precious You are:
Luke 8:43-48
As Jesus went on his way, the crowds almost crushed him. And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years, but no one could heal her. She came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped.
" Who touched me?" Jesus asked.
When they all denied it, Peter said," Master, the people are crowding and pressing against you."
But Jesus said," Someone touched me; I know that power has gone out from me."
Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at his feet. In the presence of all the people, she told why she had touched him and how she had been instantly healed. Then he said to her," Daughter, your faith has healed you. God in peace."
Back in those days Amanda, a woman was unclean while she bled. Everything she touched became unclean, whether it was a person, a item, whatever. She was not allowed in the Temple to worship, because she was unclean. She couldn't do anything.
We know that she sought healing, sought physicians, because " no one could heal her." She became an outcast, the untouchable, that one that couldn't even be hugged by her husband, nor her children. For twelve years she lived with a broken heart. For twelve years she was looked upon badly, when she walked by, there were whispers, there were stares, people avoided her.
Now, here comes Jesus, the one man, who she knows can heal her. He's surrounded by a crowd, people that she's avoided for twelve years. Do you think she wanted to turn and run? I bet she did. Yet in that moment, that second, she decided to go foward, and touch his cloak. And she was healed! She was healed from twelve years of torment, twelve years of pain, of anguish. Think of how she must of felt!
Then Jesus turns, and asks who touched me? She doesn't come forward, why? Perhaps its because she fears his reaction, she an unclean person, has dared touch a holy man. But Jesus Presses on, You see Amanda, He isn't angry, He isn't upset, He is Happy for this woman, and He wants her to know that it wasn't his cloak that healed her, it was Him. He knew her disease, He knew her burdens, and He healed her.
Finally she comes forward, and what does he say?
" Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace."
Daughter, it is a word of kindness, of love. He called her Daughter. The same for You my sister, You are the Daughter of the King. You are the Loved on of The Almighty God.
Your heart has bled for so long, You, like this woman, believe that no one can love you. That you are the outcast, the one who doesn't deserve the good things. Yet, like this woman, God can heal You. He will take your heart which is broken, and he will heal it, making it whole again.
Isaiah tells us :
" A bruised reed he will not break,
and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out."
We are bruised, bruised by words, by actions, by demons in our lives, that have take us and bruised our hearts, our souls, our spirits.
Yet He promises, he will not break us.
You know, one of the most fragile things is a bruised reed. It stands next to the river, tall and errect, but once it is bruised, it's bent, bowed towards the water, ready to break off at the slightest touch.
A smoldering wick? We've all seen it... it's the slight ember left once it's been blown out. It's still on fire from all the passions, all the heat of yesterday, yet when it's smoldering, it's barely hanging on, one slight movement, and it's snuffed out. Yet He promises, " a smoldering wick, he will not snuff out." That is how gentle our Lord is. He knows all that has wieghed upon you. He knows all the burdens, all the torment, all the evil that has been done to you. And He promises you, I will not do that. I will never call you 'ugly' I will never say youre 'worthless' because to me, You're the most beautiful person. To me, youre the most important person. Because I made you. Because I love you.
Almighty Father, I come before You this day, seeking Your Refuge for our dear sister Amanda. Seeking Your Arms to surround her, holding her, keeping her from all the destructive words, all the lies others fill her mind with. Lord God, teach this young girl of Your Love, of Your Grace and Your mercy. Let her know that the words of man are nothing, but Your Words are Truth. Father, guide my sister this day, let her read Your Word, learn Your Ways, so she can stand firm in all that You have for her, stand strong in the midst of the enemy's attacks. Lord, cover Your Child this day, in the shadow of Your Wings, let no harm come to her, let no evil prosper in her life. Bring to her all the goodness that You have for her. Rebuild her my God, let the years of lies, the years of manmade thoughts and troubles flee from her, renewing her in Your Love, Your Wisdom, Your Strength, and Your Truth. In the Mighty name of Jesus Christ I pray, Amen
i was the black sheep in my family and my parents were distant and uninvolved because they had too many problems - i am sure they tried to do their best as parents. i was always told i was ugly and bad. there was one aunt who loved me. when i accepted Jesus in my heart and i read the bible, i feel like i am the ones who are called hypocrites in the bible because i have so many negative thoughts in my head and i really don't like people. when i read the stories about the bad ones like jezebel, i think that is me and God does not like me very much.
