Return to Him
“Come, and let us return to the
Lord; for He has torn, but He will heal us; He has stricken, but He will bind us
up” (Hosea 6:1)
We have more than our share of wonderful internet
friends and we are grateful for each and every one. You’ll be interested in what
we have discovered - kind and uplifting words are often likely to come from
those who need it most themselves. Here’s what we received recently from
“Irish,” our internet buddy, who calls, writes and encourages us:
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I wish I could still perform my
duties in my federal job.
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I wish I could hold a new born.
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I wish I could attend a wedding, or
-
Have been able to attend my
sister-in-law's memorial without having to have assistance in walking
and the pain my family and relatives had in seeing my frailty.
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I wish I could give horsy rides to
toddlers or give a piggyback ride to a child who has become too tired to
walk.
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I wish I could drive the ten miles
to my 80-year old mom's home.
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Work in my garden during the
summer, or
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Cook a meal without the need to
have someone assist me.
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Bring in wood for the fireplace.
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Be able to grocery shop without the
aid of my friends or family.
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Not have to park in handicapped
parking.
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I wish I could use the keyboard and
mouse on my PC.
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I wish I could still spell words or
properly structure a sentence. I wish there was a cottage industry that I
could do.
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Something to give me the
self-esteem I miss from not being able to work.
-
I am blessed I have no cancers yet
like my uncles and friends have died from.
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I am grateful for those who have
lifted me up and kept the despair away
-
I am alive and have a large strong
family and friends.
Irish thanks “Paul Sutton;
Genevieve Douglass-Beckham and Diane Bowles from the AOWAC, Sheila and Henry
from the Agent Orange Quilt of Tears, and Rich, her VVA NSO.” And she
thanks the Lord. Irish, whose life has been devastated by the effects of the
herbicide called “Agent Orange,” continues, “Thank you for being our voice.” The
latter expression is interesting. When the Lord commanded you and me to “love
one another,” He had in mind that we will be a voice for the one who cannot
speak. We are to be eyes for the blind and hearing for the deaf; and a strong
arm for those who have no strength. If you have a good mind, it is intended you
will help someone who is perhaps less gifted. And if the Lord is in your heart
and life, you’ll share Him with a friend.
There are concepts in Scripture difficult for us to
comprehend, such as: “In EVERYTHING give thanks; for this
is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thessalonians 5:18). As a
people, as the human race, it is hard to imagine always being thankful, but we
should be. We ought to be touched by the words of Irish, a fairly young woman
who has lost more than most, and yet, at the same time, she is better at
carrying out God’s will than we are. For in the midst of her sorrow, her loss,
she gives thanks to God for those He sends.
Please notice “our” Scripture verse for today: “Come,
and let us return to the Lord; for He has torn, but He will heal us; He has
stricken, but He will bind us up” (Hosea 6:1). God is not shy about who
He is and what He has done. It is true that there are often intermediary agents
involved in the trouble that comes upon this world, but God who is all-powerful,
says through the prophet Hosea, “It is My responsibility; I did it.”
You have to wonder: who and what would Irish have been,
if the troubles we all try to avoid had not limited her life? Or at least I
wonder such things. Do you? We are privileged to have friends who are considered
“disabled” by this world. Our Associate Pastor in the First Church On The Net is
Timothy Howard Burdick, who is blind and has been so since birth. He refers to
himself as our “Minister of Abilities.” - Instead
of measuring people by what they can-NOT do, he “sees” what others CAN do.
Notice the point of our verse for today - when God takes
something away from our lives, He will restore us; giving more in return. As we
have seen so often, it is something infinitely better than our lives could have
contained otherwise. Irish and Pastor Timothy have lost more than many could
endure, but God has enabled them to become people who give. Yes, God has “torn”
their lives, but they have also been healed, to lives that bring comfort to
others. Yes, He has “stricken” them, but He has
also bound them up, enabling them to help in ways they could otherwise have not
understood.
“Come, and let us return to the
Lord; for He has torn, but He will heal us; He has stricken, but He will bind us
up,” says the Lord through His prophet (Hosea 6:1). Context is important
and these words continue with a clearly “Messianic” reference: “After
two days He will revive us; on the third day He will raise us up” (Hosea
6:2). Jesus Christ, the Anointed One called “Y’shua HaMashiach” by His
followers, would come to this earth. He was to be killed, murdered by the very
ones He came to save, and then be buried in a tomb. For a portion of a day, a
full day, and then part of a third, He would remain in that place. The heavy
stone in front of the door was sealed with the imperial symbol of Rome. Death
seemed to silence this Man who shone forth with goodness and hope for the world.
But suddenly, He was ALIVE, revealing Himself to His followers; becoming for us
“like the rain, like the latter and former rain to the
(dry) earth” we call humanity (Hosea 6:3).
Are you parched for more in life? Do you feel “torn”
and “stricken” by limitations and cares, to the
point where you sometimes don’t even feel like you can go on? The three days
have passed and Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is alive: for Irish, for Pastor
Timothy, and for you. He has offered Himself and He is “like
the rain” for your parched life and mine. Let us offer ourselves to Him,
just as He has given Himself for us. It is a contractual relationship. He has
given His life for you, and He reasonably expects that you will give your life
to Him. The contract was written and sealed in His blood.
Lord, we are thirsty for You. Please be the “rain”
in our dry lives – we give ourselves to You, as You have given Yourself for us.
Forgive, heal & save us. In Jesus Name. Amen.
Ron
Beckham, Pastor
Friday Study Ministries
First Church On The Net
www.FridayStudy.org
Ron@FridayStudy.org
"While
we were yet sinners, Christ died for us"
(Romans 5:8)
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You are needed.
Help this Church on the Net by sending donations to:
Friday Study Ministries
P.O. Box 92131
Long Beach, CA 90809-2131 USA
