Healing, Responsibility...and Redemption

How often have we come upon situations where all we want to do is scream: If God wanted to heal me, He would! If God wanted a painful relationship saved, He’d do it! If God loved me, if I’m His precious child, He would want me healthy, and whole—in body, spirit and emotion. So, why is there pain? Why is there suffering?

Does a seeming “lack” of healing—in our health, our relationships, our jobs, our finances—mean God doesn’t love us? Is He, perhaps, angry with us? Punishing us?

While I believe we bear the weight of the choices we make in life—for good and for bad—I can’t think of God as a scorekeeper. I don’t hold to the image of Him seated on an unapproachable throne in the heavenly realm, scepter in hand, watching intently, waiting for sin and evil to mess us up so he can add another “sinned again” checkmark to that space next to our names, or shake his head in righteous regret.

Instead, during those moments when I most need His forgiveness and healing, I like to think of Him as a compassionate and forgiving friend. I like to think of Him like the best parent you could ever pray for. He knows me, and most important of all, He loves me—no matter what my “illness”—be it physical or emotional. His healing comes in the fact that when I turn to His absolute goodness, when I open myself to His Word and pray to him in words or in silence, his presence is real, and life-changing.

‘He sent His word and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.’ (Psalms 107:20)

‘O Lord, my God, I cried out to You, and You healed me.’ (Psalms 30:2)

Do these verses mean He works a magical touch and heals all afflictions? That He keeps bad things from happening? He can, and He will, if that ‘magical’ touch is part of His overall plan. However, life is imperfect, and so are we. He holds the plan, not us (thankfully!). To me, these passages reflect the truth that He gave us the Bible as a living, breathing means by which He wants to care for us, and instruct us in ways to best handle our life circumstances.

God’s grace and love gives me strength by which I learn to work through those healings I crave.

That brings me to part 2 of this post: Responsibility.

I’ve learned that I need to take responsibility for healings needed in my life. Is my health in question? Don’t be afraid to get to a doctor and get their input and help! Is a relationship in need of healing and forgiveness? Take the initiative (hard as that may be!) and step up to the plate. Offer the opening needed, and let God do the rest.

‘Jesus said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” The man stretched out his hand, and it was restored’ (Matthew 12:13)

When I read this verse, I realize Jesus is ready to heal the man—He stands waiting and able. But He asks the man to move first. Jesus never enters where He’s not asked, or wanted. BUT—when we reach out to him in trust and faith, He will answer the call. Maybe not in the exact ways we expect, but His grace has always led me to a place where I look back on events in my life—good and bad—and think to myself, ‘He always leads me to what’s GOOD.’

In the end, I look at the fact that Christ’s journey was seldom easy. He cried out to His Father for healing, and comfort, and He received it. How? By being the example, and bridge, we all need to follow in living our daily lives, because with nothing but love to hold him there, he died upon a cross, and brought about the ultimate healing of us all in one powerful beautiful word: REDEMPTION! Happy Easter, everyone!

Marianne

PS – It’s springtime, and love is blooming! A group of White Rose authors has teamed up to give you a free gift, a series of short romances centered around a delivery snafu! Intrigued? Then please pay a visit, in order, to the following websites on April 27th:

Part 1 - Tanya Stowe: www.creativewritingforces.blogspot.com

Part 2 - LoRee Peery: www.whiterosesinbloom.blogspot.com

Part 3 - Anne Greene: www.whiterosesinbloom.blogspot.com

Part 3 - Mary Manners: www.marymannersromance.com

Part 5 - Marianne Evans: http://www.marianneevans.blogspot.com

Enjoy the fun—and romance!

Love's Healing Power

I love the month of April, and the rains that bring flowers in May. I celebrate my birthday, my born-again anniversary, my first book contract, and release of my first book available in print, which arrived on my birthday. God is so good, he renews my soul.

April is also the anniversary of the unsolved homicide of my father. Talk about the healing power of God’s love. Such trauma can change a life forever, if that life isn’t turned over to receive God’s grace, and pass that grace on to others. I’ve been disturbed many times over the years, wondering how a killer could be walking around free. I’ve had to accept God’s answer to this prayer for resolution as “no.”

I would say in the case of my father, God has healed my mind. The unsolved answers could have eaten me up. Instead, I realize that God is God and I am not.

For reasons only God knows, I walked around in constant physical pain for several years. I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia. The leaden, heavy leg and back pain were corrected with fusion. I have learned to live with limitations, and am so very grateful for what I am able to do. At the time of this writing I am not pain free, but most days He enables me to handle the aches.

And because of God’s sovereignty, He chose me to spend eternity with Him. I call that healing of my spirit, which He has healed many times over the years, because I am weak and sin every day.

So when it comes to God’s healing power, I’ve been there, and I hope to bring that awareness to the characters I create. Inner conflict is painful, especially when it comes to spiritual things. In the case of Geneva Carson in Rainn on My Parade, she’s torn between following her dream to make her business a success and her instinct to come to the aide of a special needs child. Toss in the reality of falling for a younger man in a small town where she has lived her whole life.

Rainn Harris has spiritual issues as well. I don’t want to give them away, but he faces guilt, ill feelings toward his father, and taking up Geneva’s time when he knows where her priorities lay.

No relationship is flawless and follows a smooth path. The road is bumpy with hills to climb and ruts to avoid. We are emotional creatures. Our characters need to be as well. So there is a lot of healing that needs to be done during misunderstandings, careless words, thoughts taking over words and actions.

I claim Isaiah 12:2 as my lifetime verse: “Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid: For the Lord God is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation.” My goal is for that theme of renewal, that healing of the spirit, to be experienced through my stories.

Love heals. We can see the fruits in our lives. And we can write that happily-ever-after into our romances. Can you think of a specific time of healing in your life? Be it mind, body, or spirit, I’d like to hear about it.

Christianity - It's A Topic Worth Pondering

Hello, WRiB blog followers! I hope you're finding the time and ability to enjoy the blessings of this Easter season. Do you savor the rebirth of the world around us as spring quite literally erupts? Do you take joy in the long days and lazy nights as, at long last, spring and summer take hold following winter's term?

This past weekend, as my DH and I prepared our home (and hearts!) for a college graduation party for our daughter, I got to thinking. I'm a child of ritual, and, to a degree, there's comfort in that truth, and in the heartbeat of nature's timeless cycle.

For example, before I go to bed each night, I have my own little cycle, or routine. 1. I pray and, if so inspired, journal in my 'Book of Thanks." 2. I read the day's passage from "Daily Word." 3. I read the day's passage from "Living Faith." 4. I read from my most current TBR. 5. At long last, I doze off.

A couple nights ago, the readings from "Living Faith" came to me from the Acts of the Apostles, and it hit me hard. It speaks to the durability of Christianity, and it's one of my favorites:

‘If this endeavor is of human origin, it will destroy itself. But if it comes from God, you will not be able to destroy it. In fact, you may find yourselves fighting against God.’ (Acts 5:34-42 NIV)

The verses bear enormous impact on all of us as believers, and is, without doubt, one of the most underrated, yet powerful words to be found in the Bible.

The truth is this: Christianity is 2000+ years strong - and came to be in an age far removed from any form of mass communication. Yet, to this day, it powers, connects, challenges and enlightens so many millions, offering love and hope to those who seek. Believer or not, the fact remains: Something "happened" all those thousands of Easter’s ago.

If not, Christianity wouldn’t have survived for long following Christ’s death on the cross.

Throughout the ages, many false prophets performed powerful deeds, and spoke powerful words, but their followers soon died out. That never happened with Christianity. Instead, followers of Jesus became stronger. Think about that! What made a group of people (who were so scared they denied Christ and locked themselves in an upper room for days) go out into the world and enthusiastically proclaim the Gospel – knowing they were putting themselves in grave danger?

The Apostles were willing to risk death by gruesome meas. You don’t do that just to preserve someone’s “reputation.”

These were the actual first-hand witnesses to Christ’s life, death and resurrection. They didn’t back down. They all suffered and died for the Truth, yet they spread the gospel like holy wildfire! That is not only powerful, it transformed the world.

When I find myself frustrated by world events, and the culture in which we live, I keep this verse handy . While we live in times that seems to go against many of Christ’s teachings, we already know the end of the story. We already rest sure in the knowledge of God’s mercy, grace, guidance and love.

Is there any greater gift to consider as we continue to travel the resurrection path?

Blessings, everyone!

Marianne Evans

Jesus Christ is Risen Today!

Thine be the glory, risen, conquering Son;
endless is the victory, thou o'er death hast won;
angels in bright raiment rolled the stone away,
kept the folded grave clothes where thy body lay.

Lo! Jesus meets us, risen from the tomb;
Lovingly he greets us, scatters fear and gloom;
let the Church with gladness, hymns of triumph sing;
for her Lord now liveth, death hath lost its sting.

Edmond Budry (1854-1932)




"Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen."
Luke 24:5 NRSV

Christ has risen indeed!

Happy Easter to All

Easter Is...

Does anyone remember the cartoon special Easter Is...? It was shown on television when I was a child. In recent years, our pastor used it as an aide to help my youngest daughter, who has Down syndrome, to understand communion.

A quick aside here about my daughter's first communion. She has a very sensitive gag reflex. When the pastor offered her the bread for the first time, she put it in her mouth, realized she wasn't going to be able to swallow it, spit it out and handed it back to the pastor. I was embarrassed but our wonderful pastor simply put the bread in her robe pocket and continued on.

Anyway, for some reason, I've been thinking about this cartoon with Easter fast approaching. For those who may not have seen or don't remember it, here's a quick summary from the DVD 3 Easter Classics at CBD.com - Easter Is — Benji must make a poster portraying the meaning of Easter. Frustrated for lack of good ideas, he pushes Waldo, his dog and pal, away. When Waldo later becomes lost, Benji's dad tells how the disciples thought they would never see Jesus again. In the end the good news of Easter is shared — that just as Waldo comes back to Benji on Easter morning, Jesus also returned!

Easter is... I've been trying to finish that sentence in my mind. There are many good endings to that from "the day I get a chocolate bunny in my Easter basket" to "the day Jesus returned, triumphant over death."

Where I live, in Wisconsin, there is generally still snow on the ground, especially when Easter is as early as it is this year. As people come into the church on Easter Sunday, they shed their heavy winter coats to reveal their colorful, new spring clothes. Easter is the time when we shed our mantle of sin and death and God reveals the new, vibrant life buried underneath.

As the weather warms, people come out of the houses where they hidden away all winter from the cold and snow. Yard work is being done. Gardens are being planted. flowers are beginning to grow and bud. Neighbors begin to talk again.

This all makes me think that Easter is...
The awakening
The renewing of relationships
The beginning...again.

Easter is...

Now it's your turn to finish the sentence.

God is everywhere

Two weeks ago, I went to Las Vegas for the weekend. My husband and I go every year with the partners at his office as part of a trip to entertain clients. Not being a big gambler, I spend most of time on these trips lounging by the Bellagio pool or shopping – because yes, the shopping in Vegas is fabulous.

This year I wanted to try something different. Vegas is surrounded by gorgeous mountains, something I never see since I’m from South Central Texas. I thought it would be fun to go horseback riding and see some of the scenery. So, I scheduled a two-hour trail ride through Red Rocks Canyon. My only challenge would be getting there from the Las Vegas strip. If there’s one thing I dread about going to Vegas, it’s the cab rides. I remember reading somewhere that at least one pedestrian a week is hit by a car in Vegas and I believe it. Those cab drivers terrify me.

I entered my taxi that was to sweep me off to mountain paradise with more than a little trepidation. Red Rocks Canyon was a good 25 minutes away so I was in it for the long haul. But as soon as I slid across the cracked vinyl seat, a beautiful sound came to my ears.

Caught a glimpse of your splendor
In the corner of my eye
The most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen
And it was like a flash of lightning
Reflected off the sky
And I know I’ll never be the same

It was one of my favorite songs playing on the taxi’s radio.

“Is this K-Love?” I asked the driver.

“No, it’s SOS,” he said.

“Oh.” I smiled at him through the rear-view mirror. “This is Third Day. My favorite band.”

His eyes lit up and he turned around. “Are you a Christian?”

His question struck me somewhat by surprise. I live in the Bible belt. Texas – the land of the mega-churches. Not very often has anyone asked me if I’m a Christian. Interestingly enough, I would be asked that question no less than three times on my weekend trip to Las Vegas. “Yes!”

He turned the music up. All the way to the canyon, we talked about Jesus, even though sometimes we had to yell above the praise music. It was a wonderful ride. And when I went on the trail ride, my guide was a Mexican cowboy who told me all about his struggle to fit in and find a good Christian church in Vegas.

As we approach Easter – the original Third Day – try to remember that God is everywhere. He turns up in even the most unexpected places, even the back of a taxi cab in Sin City.

To celebrate the holiday, I’m giving away a free print copy of my Easter romance Love, Lilies & the Unbroken Straw. For your chance to win, simply visit my personal blog at www.teriwilson.net. Leave a comment on the most recent blog entry and you’ll automatically be entered in the drawing. I will choose the winner’s name at random on Easter Sunday.

Have a glorious Easter rich with God’s blessings,

Teri

Teri Wilson ~ Romancing the pet lover’s soul