A New Garment

Mark 2: 21-22
"No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. If he does, the new piece will pull away from the old, making the tear worse. And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the wineskins will be ruined. No, he pours new wine into new wineskins."

Do you find that each year you keep trying to start over in your faith, let bygones be bygones, make that New Year’s resolution and find yourself on December 31st, doing it all over again? I do. Every year I make all these deals with myself. I’m going to do this or that. The problem is, I’m building on something old. I haven’t really gotten rid of the things that held me down the year before. I still clutch onto them and then expect the next year to be different. And it never is. This year, I pray that I can give up all those things that have a hold on my life and start fresh, new. Jesus gave us this verse about wineskins when asked about fasting. This year, let us remember that the most important thing we can do in the New Year, is to give our time to Jesus. This is through prayer, Bible reading, fasting and attitude. Don’t think of it as a resolution, but rather, a commitment. Resolutions are assumed to be broken, commitments are meant to be kept.

Blessings to you and your family in 2008.

FOCUSED ON THE OBVIOUS

John 11:32 "When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died."

The faith of this woman was great. She knew that Jesus had the power to heal and she believe that if He'd been there, that is exactly what would have happened. And yet, she totally misses the boat. She is focused on the obvious. She has probably experienced Jesus heal someone before, so she knows he is capable of that. But she can't see beyond that. "If only you'd been here Lord..." Mary's faith could only go so far.

I like what Jesus says even before he gets to Mary. "No, it is for God's glory so that God's Son may be glorified through it." He knew Lazarus would die. But He allowed it to bring glory to God.

How often do we have things in our life where we think, if only God had stepped in, I wouldn't have lost my job. If only God had stepped in, I wouldn't be in court. If only God had stepped in, maybe I wouldn't have been divorced. God allows bad things to happen. It doesn't mean He loves us any different. But He is in the helicopter, we are in the car. He knows that if He allows certain things to happen, it will draw you closer or someone else closer to God. That whole bumper sticker that said, "Be patient, God isn't done with me yet," takes on a whole new meaning.

I'm sure I've shared my push up story with you before, but here it is again. When I went in the Army, I had to be able to do 1 pushup to go into basic training. I trained with a Marine. Doing one pushup...please, cake. But I couldn't. I pushed out 15 or more, none to the drill segarents satisfaction. Bam! I hit the table and was shipped off to 2 weeks of 8 hour a day physical training. I was SO angry at God, but that two weeks ended up saving me from the Panama situation, going to Saudi Arabia and the LA Riots. I missed all of those wars by guess how many weeks...you guessed it...two. We can't focus on what is right in front of us, because that isn't the end of the story. God is the author. We just need to trust Him to write the best possible story.

FOCUSED ON THE WATER?

Read: John 5:5-8
“One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, ‘Do you want to get well?’
‘Sir,’ the invalid replied, ‘I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.’ Then Jesus said to him, ‘Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.’ At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked.”

The great thing about this story is here is a man who is looking for a miracle, but doesn’t have the ability to get to the pool that will give him one. When Jesus comes to him, the man is still focused on the pool. He doesn’t ask Jesus to heal him, he simply states he can’t be healed because he can’t get to the pool. Jesus speaks two words, “Get up!” and the man is healed.

How often do we focus on what we think will bring us our miracle without once looking to God? Oh, we may say a prayer here and there, but are we really focused on Jesus or on our problem?

I just walked through a trial where I found myself looking to every worldly solution there was and only making my situation worse. Finally I stopped and realized, I can’t get to the “pool” by myself, I need God’s help. I began to pray and Jesus made a way.

Do you have a trial today and your solution seems out of reach? Stop trying to get to the solution and let Jesus be the solution.

—K .Mendoza

The Battle Belongs to the Lord

Exodus 17:8-12

The Amalekites came and attacked the Israelites at Rephidim. Moses said to Joshua, “Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hands.”
So Joshua fought the Amalekites as Moses had ordered, and Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the top of the hill. As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up—one on one side, one on the other—so that his hands remained steady till sunset.

When you read this story, what do you think about? I think about this...As long as Moses had his hands raised toward God, the Army of the Lord was winning. The same is true for us. We all have battles in our life. Situations, people and things that rage against us and without the Lord, could defeat us. But as long as we keep our hearts raised towards heaven, Satan cannot win the victory.

“...the battle belongs to the Lord...”
(I Samuel 17:47)

The other thing I see in this scripture is the fact that Moses couldn’t do it alone. He had to have his brother’s help. Sometimes the pain we’re enduring is too much. We need to rest our arms on our friend’s shoulders and allow them the help with the burden. That is why Praying Wives and Mom’s Club exists. So, when the battle is great, we can keep our hearts lifted high, helping hold each other up in prayer.

What is your need today? Remember, you are not alone and God has already gone ahead and prepared a battle plan in your name. Just trust in Him and He will help you win this war!

JUST REACH OUT

This last week during my prayer time, I came across a story that I’ve heard a hundred times before. But this time I really thought about the meaning behind this story to women. Here it is:

Matthew 9: 20-22 Just then a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak. She said to herself, “If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed.”

Jesus turned and saw her. “Take heart, daughter,” he said, “your faith has healed you.” And the woman was healed from that moment.

The woman was suffering and she realized all she had to do was touch his garment. The same is true for us today. We all have the things in our lives that weigh on us. They are things that are out of our control. Without a miracle, we will continue to suffer. I started writing these down. What are the things I can’t change. They varied from my son’s eye to my unsaved family. None of them can change by anything I do. Yes, I can change my attitude, ask forgiveness for my sin, commit myself to praying daily...those are things I CAN do...but the final outcome is the Lord’s.

Mark 10:27 says, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.”

So whatever your going through today, just remember you can’t fix it, but you CAN reach out and touch the garment of Christ. Notice that when Jesus saw her and spoke, from THAT MOMENT she was healed. And it was her FAITH, that warmed the heart of Christ.

Reach out and believe that your problems are in His hands. Remember, the battle belongs to the Lord!

—Kimberlee

IN HIS PERFECT TIME

As some of you may know, my youngest son was born with one eye that doesn’t work. When we first went to the eye doctor, he couldn’t see the big "E" close up. The past two years have been difficult as we blur the good eye and cover it with a patch. For a whole year, no change occurred. Then we began to really pray and at his last doctor’s visit, he could see the third line!
A few months ago, our church held a healing service. I believed if I took him down front, poof! he’d be healed. (I do believe this happens, since it has happened to me.) But afterwards, my son went back to his seat the same. I struggled with this for days. Was my faith lacking? Did I have something in my life holding back the blessing? Was I doing something wrong? Then it hit me...I wasn’t doing anything wrong.

Look at this story in Mark:
"They came to Bethsaida, and some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him. He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. When he had spit on the man’s eyes and put his hands on him, Jesus asked, "Do you see anything?"
He looked up and said, "I see people; they look like trees walking around."
Once more Jesus put his hands on the man’s eyes. Then his eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly." [Mark 8:22-25]

My son sees the "trees walking around." Jesus is healing him, but the process is like this blind man in Matthew 8. People have asked for centuries, "Why didn’t Jesus just heal the man outright?" In Mark 20 "[Jesus] touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight." He has the power to do it, but chose not to. Why? How can we know the mind of God?
There is a reason my son (and me) are going through this. He prays for his eyes every night and he is being healed. I can’t second guess God, I just need to have faith. Faith that He loves my child and faith that He is healing him in His time. In the end, the blind man "saw everything clearly." And I believe my son will too. It is a matter of patience, perseverance, faith, and prayer. And when it is all said and done, my son’s testimony will be right here in this newsletter!
We all have our "miracle" that we need from God. We don’t always understand why He hasn’t made it happen. But God always hears us and always answers. Like a Father to a child, sometimes he says "yes," sometimes, "no," and sometimes "wait"—because there is something He wants to do in us, for someone around us, or through us.

Patience is hard when we’re hurting. But just remember, God’s timing is always perfect. We just need to wait on Him.

Sidebar: An interesting "thing" happened the other day. My mom sent me a web link to where one can type in their birthday and it gives them a life verse. I punched in Ethan’s birthday...and it was the verse about when Jesus healed the blind man. [Gasp!] No one can tell me that God hasn’t heard my prayer. He gives me reminders all the time!!!

HANGING OUT WITH OUR GROOM

Katy found the man of her dreams. "In love" would be an understatement. He swept her off her feet and made her past melt away. He cared about her unlike any guy before. He made her feel good about herself as he actually listened to her needs.

At first, Katy spent every waking moment with her new friend. But, after a while, she found herself forgetting to call him or getting too busy at work to take his call.

Determined to make the relationship work, he asked if they could at least have certain time of day that would always be theirs. Yes, an appointment was just what she needed in her hectic life. He was an important part of her life and she wanted to make it work. Eight O’clock every day, she’d drop whatever she was doing and call him. They’d talk about her life and his life and how the two fit together.

This went well for months but, as time went on, she began to get carried away with other things and she’d miss their appointment. Slowly, she began to realize that they were drifting a part. She found it harder to talk to him and to be faithful to only him. Though he never broke it off, it was apparent that they were drifting apart.

Have you ever been like Katy with Christ? He comes into your heart and cleans away your past. At first you want to spend every moment with Him, but life takes over and you just can’t seem to make time for Him. A relationship always takes two. Jesus isn’t going anywhere, so it is up to us to make an effort to spend time with Him.

Often in relationships, we begin to mirror those we hang around. We pick up mannerisms and begin to talk in similar ways. As we spend time with Him, we will pick up His attributes. In order for our relationship to be strong, we have to "hang out" with our Groom. If we don’t, we’ll find ourselves waking up one morning wondering what happened to our relationship with God.

WHAT'S NEEDED

Martha couldn’t believe the Lord was actually sitting in her living room.Let’s see … where did I put that pitcher? It’s my best pitcher and only the best should be used to serve the Master. After all, it isn’t every day that the future Messiah is feasting at your table. There’s so much to do. As a matter of fact, there is too much to do. And why is it, that I am the only one doing it?She peeked around the corner of the kitchen doorway and spotted Mary sitting comfortably at Jesus’ feet.Why does Mary get to sit and entertain our guest while I am stuck in here preparing all the food? I wouldn’t mind a break myself, but somebody has to do the work. I mean it isn’t going to get done by itself.Look at her. I have to say something. Imagine what the Lord must be thinking—A Jewish woman sitting with the men while there is supper to be made.She stepped forward. "Excuse me, Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Please tell her to help me!""Martha, Martha!" Jesus said. "You are worried and upset about many things. But only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better."What a hard lesson for any woman to hear. We wear so many hats! We’re busy, like Martha, making dinner, serving our family, doing ministry, etc. There are things that must be done!This story gives us a simple reminder. As you take care of your family, get involved in ministry, and go to work, always remember the ONE thing that is needed. It isn’t enough to work to exhaustion if we’re not spending time with the Master. We have to find time to sit at His feet. He will give us strength, wisdom, and energy to do all that must be done.

JOURNEY OUT OF EGYPT

After being slaves in Egypt for years, the Israelites were finally freed and started their journey to the Promise Land. But their long trek through the desert was far from rosy. Hungry, thirsty, anxious, and bored, the Israelites were not happy with the journey and began to complain. Their grumbling reached God’s ears and He mandated that their whole generation would never see the Promise Land.What does this history lesson have to do with us? We too were slaves to our sins and have been set free. And our "promise land" are those blessings God promises to those who walk in faith with Him. But sometimes the journey can be long and hard. We may begin to feel parched and malnourished. Maybe we complain about our circumstance, rather than get on our knees before God.Since God has revealed some things to me this year, I’ve found myself restless. But, last week, I realized if I want to get out of the desert, then I need to seek God—not focus on myself or the blessings.The journey, the timetable, isn’t always what we expect, but God knows where we are and where we’re going. Jesus said to hunger and thirst after righteousness and we will be filled. So, if we get frustrated in the desert, we only need to seek God—not focus on our surroundings or the things that keep us from our dreams. Focus on God, for He has has promised to never leave or forsake us. Remember, if we seek Him, He will eventually lead us out of the desert into the land filled with milk and honey.