If I could just touch the hem....

by Xylia Sparks-Davis on 09/13/12

Sometimes it feels that God is so far away. Mentally I know that He is right next to me in every situation and every crisis.  Emotionally the problems of my life seem so heavy that He feels light years away and I need to cut through the darkness just to get near Him and feel Him close to me. 

 I wonder if this how the woman with the issue of blood felt in Luke Chapter 8.  She was overloaded with medical bills, a seemingly incurable disorder that her doctors could not identify and one dashed hope of getting well after another.  She had tried everything she could think of to get well and restore her finances but nothing worked.  She hoped that tomorrow would bring a better day and sadly awakened to frustration the next morning.  Darkness was looming in her life with no end in sight.

 Her blood flow isolated her.  She was ritually unclean according to the rules that governed her community which limited what she could do and where she could go. She could not participate in corporate worship or temple ceremonies.  She could not start or add children to her family.  She should not have even been in the crowd surrounding Jesus that day. 

She was holding onto one thing – Faith.  The faith that her life would not always look like this; that God had more for her than merely being  bound by sickness, financial trouble and isolation.  She realized that though her problems were not solved, God was still with her.  If she could reach out and hope one more time...if she could just touch Jesus her life could be transformed.   She looked beyond this season of her life and focused on where she wanted to be – healed and whole on every level.  This is the woman who we find the crowd on that day seeking Jesus, a woman who was tired being bound; who knew there was more for her; and had just enough strength to reach out her hand.  One more time, she stretches out her hand and grabbed the fringes of Jesus’ prayer shawl.  Immediately healing flowed from His wings and she was healed.  Restoration would be the next chapter of her life.

So the next time you and I have a crisis that makes it feel that God is not near we need to press in closer; hold on to our faith in Him and reach.  Restoration can be our next chapter too.

Until next time

 Xylia

A Worthy Woman...a look at Proverbs 31

by Xylia Sparks-Davis on 09/11/12

I have always been in awe of the worthy woman of Proverbs 31. She is amazing. She has dazzling energy and stamina and seems to have the ability to consistently make wise decisions. She is also quite overwhelming to gaze upon sometimes with all things she is able to do. She is an able confidant. Her husband trusts her implicitly. She has her own clothing line. She negotiates trade agreements. She is a great cook; her home is clean and her household is well managed. Her spouse is well respected in the community. Her children praise her. She has figured out how to balance work and family and seems not to be stressed out. Her husband respects and values her opinion. She is wise and consistently knows just what to do and say in any situation.

Looking at her example use to wear me out. Can I really do all of this at once? This is a lot pressure. Until the Lord made it clear to me that this was not a day in Mrs. Proverbs 31's life but a reflection upon the seasons of her life. God was not trying to tell me that I had to be superwoman, batgirl or any other action hero to have a successful family, business or life. Actually Mrs. Proverbs 31 is a lot like you and me. She is not perfect like I thought, but striving everyday to walk in her Master's footsteps. She is setting goals, walking through adversity, and she is moving forward. She is doing amazing things, but she has help. The Lord is her strength. Her wisdom does not come from thin air, but from being tried in the fire of life with God at her side; and if He walked with her, He will surely walk beside you and me. Through Him we can do everything we have been called and chosen to do, one step at a time. The journey with Him is just as important as the destination.

Until next time, 

Xylia

mimi s said on 9/13/12 - 07:45AMI think younger women are smarter.Choice is the operative word here,we can make smarter God led choices and please the Lord our families and ourselves.