Posts Tagged With: faith

Where’s the Joy?

Posted on December 3, 2024 by tricialathrop

December 2

Today, I had my husband back. Norm got up and moved around and joked with me. It’s a rare event since cancer entered our lives. I know he has a long way to go, but each day of respite is a delight.

Throughout this challenge, we have been supported, encouraged and prayed for by family and friends all over the US.

Before the diagnosis, Norm’s pain and overall body itching never stopped. He wanted to claw out of his skin. He was angry at God who could heal him, but chose not to. He knew people prayed for him, but in his mind, the prayers did no good. He walked in the darkness of pain and despair. Like a black hole, time seemed to stand still as he circled round and round without hope, closer and closer to the pit of absolute, overwhelming despair.

The prayers that Norm considered useless served as safety harnesses, holding him back from the pit, keeping him from giving up all hope. They not only kept him from falling, they pulled him back towards the light, eventually allowing him to see the light and restoring his hope. He recognized that the prayers lifted him up and that he was not alone in this walk.

Our prayers are powerful for those in need, piercing through the darkness, supporting the one who cannot see. A prayer at the right time delivers the mind and soul, drawing back the broken and feeble, who cannot survive on their own.

Thanks: I am grateful for family, friends, and those we do not know who have prayed and continue to pray for Norm and as we battle this cancer. I am also grateful for those who send kind thoughts and words of encouragement and support our way.

Prayer: Strength, wisdom, courage and hope as we continue this path God has chosen for us. Though tough days lie ahead, with the possibility of more despair, we pray that our hope does not diminish and remains near at hand.

Rejoice: Today, I rejoice that my husband had a day of hope and laughter.

Where’s the joy? It’s easier to be joyful when things go well. But we live in a world filled with broken people, and there will be times when things won’t go well. My joy is in the hope that is in Jesus Christ.

For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body.

For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope: for who hopes for what he already sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it.

In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?

Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies; who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us.

Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

Just as it is written, “For Your sake we are being put to death all day long; We were considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”

But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:22-39

Categories: Uncategorized | Tags: advent, bible, cancer, faith, god, hope, jesus, prayer | Leave a comment

Where’s the Joy?

Posted on December 2, 2024 by tricialathrop

December 1

Christmas comes with great joy and anticipation. The joyful narrative of Jesus’ birth, announced with the joyful words of the angels. “For unto us a child is born in the city of David, a savior who is Christ the Lord.” Children and adults sing joyful carols like “Joy to the World”, “Angels We Have Heard on High”, “Deck the Halls” and “Jingle Bells” everywhere we go. Our eyes delight in the colors of the season, red, green, gold, silver and rich blues and purples, even the whimsical pink ornaments. We joyfully give and receive gifts.

It’s my favorite time of the year. But this year will be different.

One month ago, the doctor revealed that my husband, Norm, after months of testing, had the dreaded C-word. It’s an aggressive cancer that requires aggressive treatment, three rounds of chemo in the last four weeks.

In the last four months, we’ve seen plan after plan fall to the wayside. Norm’s trip to photograph canyons and mountains in the west, fell to the wayside as he grew weaker and weaker. Plans to go north and see the fall colors in Vermont and follow the peak colors along the Blue Ridge Parkway and all through the Smokies, vaporized as we searched for answers. Christmas plans to celebrate the holiday with our children and grandchildren won’t happen until his treatment is complete. Norm will miss our traditional holiday events, “The Christmas Carol”, a play we’ve seen for the last 30 years…except for the Covid years, The Nativity Pageant, the lighting of the town Christmas Tree. While I’ll be able to participate in some of these events, it will be without him.

Where’s the joy? For a time, I focused on the losses of missed events and family connections. I continue to watch my husband struggle in health and attitude. My faith is challenged, knowing God can miraculously remove the cancer from his body, but has chosen to allow Norm to go through the pain of chemo.

So this year for the Advent season, I decided to search for joy and to write each day. It’s an unknown path, with an unknown result and there may be days I miss.

A verse that keeps coming to mind during this journey: “Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18.

My thanks for today: From September to October, Norm endured test after test. Along the way, doctors recognized his need for answers. Each one had a part in getting the ball rolling and keeping at it until an answer was reached. The oncologist sent him immediately to the hospital, where they discovered the cancer had advanced faster than anticipated. I am grateful for the doctors, nurses and support staff at the University of Tennessee Hospital cancer unit. Their care and concern is far above what I expected. My husband is alive today because of the care and intervention of these doctors: Dr. Semeco, Dr. Hayes, Dr. Wheeler, and Dr. Cutrer.

Prayer: That God will miraculously remove the cancer from Norm’s body. But if he chooses not to, prayer that Norm will have the strength of body, mind and spirit to endure and let the chemo do it’s work against the cancer with minimal side effects. We have two friends who are also traveling the cancer journey at this time, Tony and Donna, that they will find healing and refreshing as they walk the path before them.

Rejoice: Jesus Christ came into the world to live as a human. He revealed the character of God in his words and action. He suffered and died on the cross to provide a way for us to experience a relationship with God. While he walked among the people, he had compassion and mercy for all who suffered He healed the sick, delivered the oppressed, declared and demonstrated the love of God for all humanity.

Where’s the joy? “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him will not perish, but have everlasting life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him.” John 3:16-17.

Could God have delivered Norm from the cancer miraculously? yes. Why didn’t he? I don’t know. This I do know, God loves Norm and has him in the palm of his hand.

Despite the circumstances, I can have joy because the God who created all things, loves Norm and loves me.

In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls. 1 Peter 1:6-9

Categories: Christmas advent, Devotional | Tags: bible, faith, god, hope, jesus | 2 Comments

Desperate Faith

Posted on May 12, 2022 by tricialathrop

Day 25 of 49

Desperate Faith

Today, I’m going to look at the interactions of two people from the same narrative. The first, a ruler of the synagogue, in Jewish eyes, a man of honor, worthy of Jesus’ attention. His daughter in bed, dying.

The second, a woman, low in first century Jewish estimation, who also had an issue of blood for twelve years. For twelve long years, declared unclean, so she couldn’t visit the temple. Probably barren, if married at all. Isolated and alone. She spent all she had on doctors, and no one could help her.

And when Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a great crowd gathered about him, and he was beside the sea.

22 Then came one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name, and seeing him, he fell at his feet

23 and implored him earnestly, saying, “My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well and live.”

24 And he went with him. And a great crowd followed him and thronged about him.

25 And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years,

26 and who had suffered much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was no better but rather grew worse.

27 She had heard the reports about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his garment.

28 For she said, “If I touch even his garments, I will be made well.”

29 And immediately the flow of blood dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease.

30 And Jesus, perceiving in himself that power had gone out from him, immediately turned about in the crowd and said, “Who touched my garments?”

31 And his disciples said to him, “You see the crowd pressing around you, and yet you say, ‘Who touched me?’ ”

32 And he looked around to see who had done it.

33 But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling and fell down before him and told him the whole truth.

34 And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.” 35 While he was still speaking, there came from the ruler’s house some who said, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?”

36 But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not fear, only believe.”

37 And he allowed no one to follow him except Peter and James and John the brother of James.

38 They came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and Jesus saw a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly.

39 And when he had entered, he said to them, “Why are you making a commotion and weeping? The child is not dead but sleeping.”

40 And they laughed at him. But he put them all outside and took the child’s father and mother and those who were with him and went in where the child was.

41 Taking her by the hand he said to her, “Talitha cumi,” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.”

42 And immediately the girl got up and began walking (for she was twelve years of age), and they were immediately overcome with amazement.

43 And he strictly charged them that no one should know this, and told them to give her something to eat.

Mark 5:21–43

Since Jesus held celebrity status, everyone in the region knew when Jesus would appear in their village or town. They met him at every juncture.

There was an animated series of Bible stories done in the 1990’s. For this story they showed the crowds and the hands reaching out to touch Jesus as he walked by. Think of the Beatles at the height of their popularity and the lengths girls would go through just to touch one of them.

Jesus gets off the boat, and is immediately surrounded by a crowd. The crowd gave way to Jairus, an important man in town, a ruler of the synagogue. Desperately, he humbles himself before Jesus and asks him to come to his home and touch his little girl so that she could be healed.

We could compare him to the Centurion and say that he didn’t have the great faith to just ask Jesus to say the word, but Jesus did not condemn or comment, he went with Jairus.

It says the people thronged around him, looking for another miracle. What would he do at the home of Jairus?

To the dismay of Jairus, Jesus stopped in the middle of his journey to discover who had touched him. I can see why the people around him were confused. Jesus had been being touched ever since he got off the boat.

The woman had hoped to touch the Lord anonymously. As an unclean person, people avoided her, and a rabbi, even more so. But, she saw her only hope in Jesus.

Malachi 4:2 says “But for those who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings.” The word for wings, is also the word for the hem of a garment. Some considered this a messianic promise, that even the hem of his garment could heal.

She reached out to the Messiah in faith, and received her healing.

Meanwhile, Jairus received distressing news, his daughter had died while the Lord tarried dealing with an unclean woman. I love how Jesus intervened before this man could sink into the if only’s: if only Jesus had not stopped. If only this woman had not interfered…

He told the man to not fear, but believe. He continued to the house and healed his daughter, despite the disbelief of the people in attendance.

Each of these healings dealt with the touch of the Messiah. Jairus asked Jesus to come and touch his daughter, making a public appeal. Jesus healed her, but asked them not to tell anyone about it.

The woman with a blood issue reached out to touch the hem of his garment anonymously, and Jesus called her out publicly, telling everyone she was healed.

Both were desperate, they had exhausted all other sources. Jesus responded with kindness and compassion to both, no condemnation at all.

Lord, sometimes my faith is small. Sometimes I have no faith at all. When I am desperate, you are there. When I am needy, you are there. When I think I’ve got it all together, you are there. Thank you for your compassionate, merciful presence in my life, whatever the circumstances.

Categories: Uncategorized | Tags: 49 days, faith, jairus, woman with blood issue | Leave a comment

Great Faith

Posted on May 11, 2022 by tricialathrop

Day 24 of 49

Great Faith

When Jesus spoke to his disciples, he often said, “Ye of little faith.”

In Mark 4, as the storm raged and Jesus slept, the disciples feared for their lives. When Jesus woke, he asked, “Have you still no faith?”

At this point of the narrative, they have seen multiple miracles of healing. They have heard his teaching. They had even gone out on a journey where they themselves prayed for the healing and deliverance of many.

On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.”

And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him.

And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling.

But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?”

And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?”

And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”

Mark 4:35–41

By this time, with all their experience, they should have known that when Jesus said “we’ll go to the other side”, they’d get there.

However, they still held a superstitious view of the sea and its power.

After Jesus calmed the sea, they feared him. If Jesus could stop the wind on the sea, then he was greater than even the gods of the sea. Perhaps this is the first time they realized he might be the Lord God.

For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods. In his hand are the depths of the earth; the heights of the mountains are his also. The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land. Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker! For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand.

Psalm 95:3–7

Let’s contrast with some of Jesus’ interaction with Gentiles. The Jews grew up with the teaching of the Torah in which they learned of the power of God. They learned of the many miracles performed by God. They learned that God always kept his word. But God didn’t always act in the way they wanted, sometimes it seemed he was absent.

Gentiles in the land of Judea, learned about God from the people around them. They had limited access to worshipping God. They might listen at the synagogue, but could not participate. They could only go into the court of the Gentiles at the Temple.

God-fearers defined the Gentiles who desired to follow the Lord God. Despite their exclusion from the Temple worship, they still wanted to worship the Lord God of Israel.

One such God fearer, a Roman army commander, heard about Jesus. He approached Jesus in order to find healing for his servant. When Jesus said he would come, the centurion knew Jesus would be criticized for entering a Gentile’s home.

When he had entered Capernaum, a centurion came forward to him, appealing to him,

“Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, suffering terribly.”

And he said to him, “I will come and heal him.”

But the centurion replied, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof, but only say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I too am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes, and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”

When Jesus heard this, he marveled and said to those who followed him, “Truly, I tell you, with no one in Israel have I found such faith.

I tell you, many will come from east and west and recline at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, while the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

And to the centurion Jesus said, “Go; let it be done for you as you have believed.” And the servant was healed at that very moment.

Matthew 8:5–13

So what statement did the centurion make that received the praise of Jesus. The centurion understood the extent of Jesus power in the kingdom as the One who came in the authority of God. He knew that Jesus did not have to be present in order to work a miracle. He knew the power of the Word of God over the earth.

A Gentile in his heart, recognized truths about God that the Jews knew, but doubted in their hearts.

Lord, restore the awe and wonder of who you are. Let my heart’s desire be to always seek you, even when it feels like you are sleeping in the boat.

Categories: Uncategorized | Tags: 49 days, centurion, faith | Leave a comment

Healing the Official’s Son

Posted on April 23, 2022 by tricialathrop

Day 6 of 49

2^nd Sign, The Healing of the Official’s Son.

So he came again to Cana in Galilee, where he had made the water wine. And at Capernaum there was an official whose son was ill.

47 When this man heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went to him and asked him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death.

48 So Jesus said to him, “Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe.”

49 The official said to him, “Sir, come down before my child dies.”

50 Jesus said to him, “Go; your son will live.” The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and went on his way.

51 As he was going down, his servants met him and told him that his son was recovering.

52 So he asked them the hour when he began to get better, and they said to him, “Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.”

53 The father knew that was the hour when Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live.” And he himself believed, and all his household.

54 This was now the second sign that Jesus did when he had come from Judea to Galilee.

Jn 4:46–54.

After reading the passage, contemplating the passage, cross-referencing, and looking in commentaries, I came to this conclusion; I do not understand why John chose this miracle as an indicator of Jesus as the Messiah.

He returned from Passover in Jerusalem, and had done many miracles there.

In Jerusalem, he upset the tables of the moneylenders and livestock sellers. Researchers have come up with several reasons why this was a problem.

They set up in the Court of the Gentiles, therefore hindering those outside the Jewish faith from having an effective time of worship with the Lord.
They made the people transfer their money to the temple shekel, at a higher rate.
They told the people with animals they brought for sacrifice, those animals were not good enough, and offered to sell them another, at a higher rate.

Jesus had an encounter with Nicodemus and the Samaritan woman. It is interesting that the Samaritans believed because of his words, not the signs (Jn 4:41).

Perhaps Jesus rebuke dealt more with the word wonder than sign. The people were to look for signs of the Messiah. The prophets provided many proofs…some more spectacular than others. A wonder brings on an astonished reaction.

Did Jesus sigh as he commented that they would not believe without signs and wonders. It must have been refreshing in Samaria to see them so willing to believe him at his word.

The people in Capernaum welcomed him as an honored guest. (Jn 4:45). The news of the wedding wine in Cana and his works in Jerusalem had spread throughout the territory.

The official approached Jesus as a last resort. He believed Jesus could heal because of what had been said about him. Interesting that the man did not contradict Jesus when it came to the belief, he just persevered on getting his son healed. Perhaps he had moved from Jesus could heal to Jesus will heal in his belief.

So Jesus told him to go home and didn’t go with him. He said the son was healed. The official didn’t question anymore, he left confident that Jesus had healed his son.

We find two similar stories narratives.

Jairus’ daughter, Jesus went with him to his daughter’s side (Luke 8:40-56).
The centurion’s servant, “You don’t have to come, just say the word” (Luke 7:1-10).

He met his servants along the way, who confirmed the time, his healing occurred at the words of Jesus. He and his household believed in Jesus Christ.

I’m back to the original question, why did John call this a sign?

When Jesus turned the water into wine, only the servants, Mary and the disciples knew what happened.

When Jesus healed the boy, only the servants and official knew what had happened.

Perhaps the sign is in its simplicity. Jesus cared for and healed the son. He didn’t have to be physically present to make it happen. Will one believe without the elaborate miracle? We see later that many did not believe despite the elaborate miracles.

Thomas wanted to put his hand in Jesus’ side before he believed. Jesus said, Blessed are those who have not seen, yet believe.

Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came.

25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.”

26 Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.”

27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.”

28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!”

29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

Jn 20:24–29.

This official’s belief was revealed through his actions. He went home, believing what Jesus had said. Only after he was on his way did he get confirmation of the healing.

What do you really believe about Jesus? How do your actions reveal that belief?

Lord, I believe, help my unbelief.

Categories: Uncategorized | Tags: believe, faith, miracle healing, sign | Leave a comment