A lot has happened since my last blog entry in May.
It has been a busy time.
I was privileged to be in Nassau, Bahamas in July for a missions trip and dance conference.  While there the Lord did many amazing things in me, including calling me once again to early morning devotions.  The sun rises were breathtaking, the sand and the waves calming and the Presence of the Lord so sweet.   I have continued with that dedicated early morning devotional time since arriving home and have been so blessed by it.

This morning, as I read in Luke, about the woman with the issue of blood and how she was healed by stepping out in faith and reaching for the hem of Jesus’ garment, I took note of something that I seen many times but hadn’t really thought through before.

This miracle took place in the midst of another miracle.

So it was, when Jesus returned, that the multitude welcomed Him, for they were all waiting for Him.
And behold, there came a man named Jairus, and he was a ruler of the synagogue. And he fell down at Jesus’ feet and begged Him to come to his house, for he had an only daughter about twelve years of age, and she was dying. But as He went, the multitudes thronged Him. Luke 8:40-42

Jesus was on his way to the daughter of Jarius.

As far as Jarius was concerned, Jesus was on his way to heal his daughter.

Jarius and his daughter were about to receive their miracle.

But in the midst of his journey the multitudes thronged Him. (v. 42)

Miracle delayed!

We read further:

Now a woman, having a flow of blood for twelve years, who had spent all her livelihood on physicians and could not be healed by any, came from behind and touched the border of His garment. And immediately her flow of blood stopped.
And Jesus said, “Who touched Me?” When all denied it, Peter and those with him said, “Master, the multitudes throng and press You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me?’ ”
But Jesus said, “Somebody touched Me, for I perceived power going out from Me.”
Now when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling; and falling down before Him, she declared to Him in the presence of all the people the reason she had touched Him and how she was healed immediately.
And He said to her, “Daughter, be of good cheer; your faith has made you well. Go in peace.” (v 43 -48)

Miracle interrupted!

This woman with the issue of blood reached out in faith to touch the hem of Jesus’ garment and in doing so power went out from Him and she was immediately healed.  What a wonderful miracle was performed in her life at that very moment.  She steps forward and declares her healing and Jesus takes the time to speak peace into her life!

But what of the miracle Jesus was on His way to perform? What of Jarius and his daughter?

The text tells us:

While He was still speaking, someone came from the ruler of the synagogue’s house, saying to him, “Your daughter is dead. Do not trouble the Teacher.” (v. 49)

What?  How can this be.  The Master was on the way to heal this girl.  Jarius had been sure of it even as he fell to his knees before Jesus and begged Him to come; even as Jesus had headed in that direction.  But then…….

Someone else’s need appeared before Him
And He stopped
And then He took time to speak words of life to this woman.

And while He spoke words of life to her
The young girl died

And the people from the household came and said
Don’t bother the Master further, for it is too late

Can you imagine how Jarius felt in that moment?
The miracle was coming
He knew it
He believed it
He was walking with the Master
Heading in that direction
Heading toward the miracle

And then

Another need
A pause
A healing
Words of life and peace

And his miracle, interrupted, appeared as though it would not come to fruition.

How many times in our life do we find ourselves in a similar situation?
We have fallen on our knees before the Master in faith
Begging Him to come, to attend to our dying thing
And He agrees and begins to move with purpose in our direction
And we move with Him, staying close and moving with purpose
And then the delay
The people throng around and things don’t seem to be moving as fast as they were
And then the interruption
Everything comes to a standstill
The Master appears to turn away
And while He speaks into the life of someone else around us
Our thing dies.
And our people come and say,
“Don’t bother the Master further, for it is too late.”

And what do we do in that moment?

The text doesn’t tell us what Jarius did.

But it does tell us what Jesus said!

But when Jesus heard it, He answered him, saying, “Do not be afraid; only believe, and she will be made well.” (v 50)

And so, in focusing on the words of the Master, the text exhorts us to do that very thing – not to look around at the dead thing, or our people as they come with the news of our circumstance, but to focus on eyes on the Master and hear what He has to say.

And then the Master moved forward for the text tells us, “When He came into the house”

He may have been delayed and even interrupted but He still arrives
It doesn’t matter that the girl has died
For He is the Master
And His timing is not our timing

And look what happens!!!!!

But He put them all outside, took her by the hand and called, saying, “Little girl, arise.”
Then her spirit returned, and she arose immediately. And He commanded that she be given something to eat. (v. 54, 55)

He may have been delayed and even interrupted
But when the Master is in the house
Dead things rise up and live again!

What miracle has been delayed or even interrupted in your life?
And what are you doing, even now, as the Master speaks life into someone else’s life?
Are you focusing on that dead thing?
Are you listening to the voice of the people who say, “Don’t bother the Master further”
Or are you focusing your eyes on Jesus as He says,
“Do not be afraid; only believe, and she (it) will be made well.” (v 50)

Delay doesn’t mean denial
And interruption doesn’t mean unattainable

When the Master in in the House
Anything is possible!

Be encouraged today
Jesus is able to speak words of life into others even as He is on His way to raise up dead things in our lives
His healing Hand on those around us doesn’t diminish His compassion for or healing touch on our situation.
Both Jarius and the woman with the issue of blood came to the Master in faith
And both received their miracle.

A lot has happened since my last blog entry in May.
It has been a busy time.
I was privileged to be in Nassau, Bahamas in July for a missions trip and dance conference.  While there the Lord did many amazing things in me, including calling me once again to early morning devotions.  The sun rises were breathtaking, the sand and the waves calming and the Presence of the Lord so sweet.   I have continued with that dedicated early morning devotional time since arriving home and have been so blessed by it.

This morning, as I read in Luke, about the woman with the issue of blood and how she was healed by stepping out in faith and reaching for the hem of Jesus’ garment, I took note of something that I seen many times but hadn’t really thought through before.

This miracle took place in the midst of another miracle.

So it was, when Jesus returned, that the multitude welcomed Him, for they were all waiting for Him.
And behold, there came a man named Jairus, and he was a ruler of the synagogue. And he fell down at Jesus’ feet and begged Him to come to his house, for he had an only daughter about twelve years of age, and she was dying. But as He went, the multitudes thronged Him. Luke 8:40-42

Jesus was on his way to the daughter of Jarius.

As far as Jarius was concerned, Jesus was on his way to heal his daughter.

Jarius and his daughter were about to receive their miracle.

But in the midst of his journey the multitudes thronged Him. (v. 42)

Miracle delayed!

We read further:

Now a woman, having a flow of blood for twelve years, who had spent all her livelihood on physicians and could not be healed by any, came from behind and touched the border of His garment. And immediately her flow of blood stopped.
And Jesus said, “Who touched Me?” When all denied it, Peter and those with him said, “Master, the multitudes throng and press You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me?’ ”
But Jesus said, “Somebody touched Me, for I perceived power going out from Me.”
Now when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling; and falling down before Him, she declared to Him in the presence of all the people the reason she had touched Him and how she was healed immediately.
And He said to her, “Daughter, be of good cheer; your faith has made you well. Go in peace.” (v 43 -48)

Miracle interrupted!

This woman with the issue of blood reached out in faith to touch the hem of Jesus’ garment and in doing so power went out from Him and she was immediately healed.  What a wonderful miracle was performed in her life at that very moment.  She steps forward and declares her healing and Jesus takes the time to speak peace into her life!

But what of the miracle Jesus was on His way to perform? What of Jarius and his daughter?

The text tells us:

While He was still speaking, someone came from the ruler of the synagogue’s house, saying to him, “Your daughter is dead. Do not trouble the Teacher.” (v. 49)

What?  How can this be.  The Master was on the way to heal this girl.  Jarius had been sure of it even as he fell to his knees before Jesus and begged Him to come; even as Jesus had headed in that direction.  But then…….

Someone else’s need appeared before Him
And He stopped
And then He took time to speak words of life to this woman.

And while He spoke words of life to her
The young girl died

And the people from the household came and said
Don’t bother the Master further, for it is too late

Can you imagine how Jarius felt in that moment?
The miracle was coming
He knew it
He believed it
He was walking with the Master
Heading in that direction
Heading toward the miracle

And then

Another need
A pause
A healing
Words of life and peace

And his miracle, interrupted, appeared as though it would not come to fruition.

How many times in our life do we find ourselves in a similar situation?
We have fallen on our knees before the Master in faith
Begging Him to come, to attend to our dying thing
And He agrees and begins to move with purpose in our direction
And we move with Him, staying close and moving with purpose
And then the delay
The people throng around and things don’t seem to be moving as fast as they were
And then the interruption
Everything comes to a standstill
The Master appears to turn away
And while He speaks into the life of someone else around us
Our thing dies.
And our people come and say,
“Don’t bother the Master further, for it is too late.”

And what do we do in that moment?

The text doesn’t tell us what Jarius did.

But it does tell us what Jesus said!

But when Jesus heard it, He answered him, saying, “Do not be afraid; only believe, and she will be made well.” (v 50)

And so, in focusing on the words of the Master, the text exhorts us to do that very thing – not to look around at the dead thing, or our people as they come with the news of our circumstance, but to focus on eyes on the Master and hear what He has to say.

And then the Master moved forward for the text tells us, “When He came into the house”

He may have been delayed and even interrupted but He still arrives
It doesn’t matter that the girl has died
For He is the Master
And His timing is not our timing

And look what happens!!!!!

But He put them all outside, took her by the hand and called, saying, “Little girl, arise.”
Then her spirit returned, and she arose immediately. And He commanded that she be given something to eat. (v. 54, 55)

He may have been delayed and even interrupted
But when the Master is in the house
Dead things rise up and live again!

What miracle has been delayed or even interrupted in your life?
And what are you doing, even now, as the Master speaks life into someone else’s life?
Are you focusing on that dead thing?
Are you listening to the voice of the people who say, “Don’t bother the Master further”
Or are you focusing your eyes on Jesus as He says,
“Do not be afraid; only believe, and she (it) will be made well.” (v 50)

Delay doesn’t mean denial
And interruption doesn’t mean unattainable

When the Master in in the House
Anything is possible!

Be encouraged today
Jesus is able to speak words of life into others even as He is on His way to raise up dead things in our lives
His healing Hand on those around us doesn’t diminish His compassion for or healing touch on our situation.
Both Jarius and the woman with the issue of blood came to the Master in faith
And both received their miracle.