Resurrection from the Dead

I never thought of myself as person who could or would do miracles, especially raising someone from the grave. But, that is exactly what I have been called to do. I wonder if even Y'Shua experienced a bit of angst when he was called to Jairus' home. There were a lot of people with some heavy expectations. The air was weighty with suspense. Could He? Would He even dare to raise this dead child of the synagogue leader?

Here is how the story  played out:  While Jesus was still speaking, some people came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. “Your daughter is dead,” they said. “Why bother the teacher anymore?”Overhearing what they said, Jesus told him, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.”

He did not let anyone follow him except Peter, James and John the brother of James. When they came to the home of the synagogue leader, Jesus saw a commotion, with people crying and wailing loudly. He went in and said to them, “Why all this commotion and wailing? The child is not dead but asleep.” But they laughed at him.

After he put them all out, he took the child’s father and mother and the disciples who were with him, and went in where the child was.He took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum!” (which means “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”). Immediately the girl stood up and began to walk around (she was twelve years old). At this they were completely astonished. He gave strict orders not to let anyone know about this, and told them to give her something to eat (Mark 5:35-43).

Just like Y'Shua, I was in the middle of my day just living when a crisis of monumental proportions hit. Things were going well for me and Y'Shua. He had just came off the miraculous healing of a women with a bleeding issue for 14 years. In my case, I was the educator of the year and nominated for various awards, when bam, God says sell everything and start over. Leave your home and family all that you have known and builds schools for girls. When you hear this kind of pronouncement you want to make sure it is really God.

Y'Shua had not come for a show, so He simply put the people out of doors and began speaking to the child. Then He grabbed her hand and lifted her from death to life. 
He is asking me to do the same thing. No grand promotion or show, simply call the dead to life in  African girls -girls who have been traumatized beyond belief, abused by kin and foe, but somehow hoping to live again. They are waiting for someone to say, "Arise, walk."

After Y'Shua raises the little girl from the dead, He instructs her family to feed and take care of her. Today, someone mentioned the art of grafting a vine. The vines grow through the winter, but  for them to be fruitful,they must but cut off in order to be grafted to the new roots system that contains healthy nourishment.

Similarly, these girls for a while will leave their  homes and communities so that they can return with the life-given nutrients of a healthy environment. They will board at the school God is building It is my hope to return the girls to their homes where they can be appropriately be cared for  and nurtured.

Arising One Day at a Time,
MJ

Save Us From Ourselves

The message was clear; clean up, pack up, before it is too late. When Kim gave an impassioned plea to help clean out the church which had housed the Salvation Army for more than a hundred- years for vacancy, I had no idea what lay before me. Into a small space no larger than a walking-in closet, was a debris-filled room crammed with left-overs from decades ago. Old tapes, VHS, plastic cutlery, several vacuum cleaners, all in working-condition no less, CDS, bulletins, programs, tithing envelopes, old SantacCostumes, decorations from Christmas past, and even a Christmas tree found their way to the center of the room.



Assessing the Damage

Where do we start?



Our lives, unfortunately, are much like this ill-used room, crammed with un-dealt with issues, unhealed hurts, unmet needs, regrets, bitterness, and loss. When we think about facing the demons we have stuffed down emotionally, spiritually, and physically for years, we become faint-hearted. How could we bear to tackle the demons that reside in that dark closet of our hearts? Like children, we fear waking the monster of our past. But, there comes a time in everyone’s life, when they simply have to move.

That day dawned bright and early for Billie. Alas, the church was to be closed. Whether he was prepared or not, moving day was upon him.  He needed the help of friends and strangers to get him ready for his next journey. How like us, we can’t get where we are going without help. But receiving help means, we remain vulnerable. The world gets to witness our mess, our brokenness, our neediness.





Billie appraises  the progress.

  

Graciously, it was into such a mess that Y’Shua came. He knew all of our dirty little secrets, the pet demons, and licentious lusts, and yet He came.  He put on human skin and lived like one of us amongst the murk and dirt of society. One piece by dirty slovenly piece, He cleans out our closet. He washes the walls of our hearts with his blood, and vacuums about the broken decayed pieces of our tattered dreams. After He sets the room of our heart aright, He comes and resides there giving us piece. Now, that is quite a deal.

Still Cleaning,

MJ

1 Corinthians 3:16-17: "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are."