Jesus at the Beautiful Gate

s.3:1  Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.  2 And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple; 3 Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alm.

This man was lame since his birth.  All the people knew who he was, the lame beggar at the gate called Beautiful.  Many people had known him for his whole life and could testify that he was, indeed, a crippled baby, child, and adult.  There was no mistaking him for someone else.

 

4 And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us. 5 And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them. 6 Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.

The disciples often traveled with no money.  They depended on the generosity of those in place they visited to live.  They offered things money cannot buy; living water, and the bread of life. 

7 And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and anklebones received strength. 8 And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God. 

When Jesus pulled the man up from his mat, his anklebones became strong.  This in itself is a miracle.  Someone carried the man daily to the gate where he begged.  His legs would never have developed and he certainly would have needed extensive therapy to learn to walk.

9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God: 10 And they knew that it was he which sat for alms at the Beautiful gate of the temple: and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him.

Immediately he walked.  Not only that, but he leaped into the air and ran, praising God all the way.  This was a miracle.  Jesus did the impossible.  He still does today. 

 What miracle do you need in your life?  Does it sound impossible?  Think of a crippled man leaping and running.  That was impossible.  All things are possible with God.  Jesus is at the gate in your life.  He is waiting for you to open it and let Him enter.

Praises

Because He is worthy of all praise for who He is and what he has done for us.

I was sinking deep in the pits of despair
You reached down your hand and rescued me.
You set me free.

Praises to your name,
You are always the same,
Yesterday, today, and forever,
And you promise to never
Leave us or forsake us.
You are our hope, our reason
For persevering to the end.

No matter the hurt or the cost,
Each trial leads to a shining crown
We will lay them all at your feet
On that glorious day when you
Come to collect your own
And bring us home to live with you.

Copyright akalinus 2012

Is the End of the World Near?

Many people fear the end of the world is near.  The Mayan Calendar runs out on December 21, 2012.  Dire predictions foretell a runaway planet smashing the earth, or a natural disaster like a flood overwhelming it. Some think we may be fried by an angry sun, the magnetic poles might flip, or an unusual alignment of stars may end it all for us.

Even scarier, the escalating world situation threatens us with great harm and perhaps annihilation.  Many leaders, with short tempers, have one finger on the red buttons. Any one of them could start a string of events that lead to the destruction of mankind, and even the planet. It truly looks like the world could end on the date seen by the Mayans so long ago.

What is the truth?

The Bible tells us that, “But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.” Mark 13:32 KJV

All the predictions of the world ending on this day, or that day, are laughable. Throughout history people foretold the end on a certain day many times. We are still here. Only God the Father knows when the end will come.

What can we do?

Live our lives without fear.  God is the author of our days. He knows the number of hairs on our heads, and the number of our days.  Worry and looking to the skies for signs never changes our lifespan.  We need to use common sense in how we live our lives. The Bible tells us not to tempt God.

What else?

If the world ended tomorrow, what would happen to you?  How would you spend eternity? God designed you to live forever.  You can spend forever in heaven, or in a place of great torment.  It is your choice, but how do you choose?

If you believe Jesus is God’s son, you can invite Him to live in your heart. You need to acknowledge that you are a sinner and show that you are sorry for it.  Accept that He has already died for your sins.  Accept salvation as God’s gift to you, one that you cannot earn, but is freely given. Then you can live with Him always.

When you do this, you need not worry about when the end will come.

  

Jesus Touches People

MJ is a real person.  Her name or location is not important.  What happened to her is.

As an infant, no one touched MJ unless it was necessary.  Her mother fed her by propping a bottle with pillows.  Of course, mother bathed her and changed her but as quickly as possible.  She spent the rest of the time alone in her crib or playpen.

When she took her first steps no one picked her up when she fell.  When she was sick, she languished in her room.  No one held her or comforted her.  When bees stung her, her mother washed her and put ointment on the bites.  Then she left the child to cry herself to sleep.

MJ was underweight, skinny in fact.  She had trouble learning things as fast as other kids but she did the things normal kids do.  She attended school, had a couple of friends, went to movies, and even joined the swim team in high school.

All her life she longed for someone to touch her, hold her, say soothing words to her.  That got her into many difficulties when boys discovered her.  She liked the hugs, the kisses, and thought anything was okay when she wanted a loving touch.

One day a friend invited her to church.  Something happened there.  She met Jesus and He touched her with love unlike any she ever knew.  She heard about all the times Jesus touched someone.  She heard testimonies from people whom He touched.

Wherever He went, he touched someone, the leper, the sick, and all who sought Him. 

She heard Matthew 8:14-15 Matt 8:14-15 And when Jesus was come into Peter's house, he saw his wife's mother laid, and sick of a fever.

15 And he touched her hand, and the fever left her: and she arose.  

She knew that the same Jesus who touched Peter's mother-in-law those many years ago also touched her in that little church.

She found the thing she searched for all her life.  She received a touch from Him and it made her whole. 

Internet searches showed her that lack of touch kept babies from thriving and they sometimes even die.  As people get older some of their senses get duller.  They don’t taste as much, have trouble hearing, and their eyesight gets duller.  Their need for touch increases as they age. She read that older people sometimes go to church just so they can shake the preacher’s hand as they leave.

She knew that only God could fill the empty space in her heart.  And He did.

 Photos from Wikimedia Commons

 by Fanny J. Crosby, 1820-1915 -Jesus Cuddling Baby

Public Domain

Jesus and Girl

Jesus Washes Feet

Labor Day

God honors work.  He created the very first Job when he put Adam and Eve in charge of the Garden of Eden.  He also said that people need a day of rest, so He told them to honor the Sabbath and keep it Holy.

On Labor Day, we pause to honor the labor that built this country and the workers that strived so hard to do it.

Proverbs 14:23

King James Version (KJV)

²³ In all labour there is profit: but the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury.

All work is honorable.

As we stop our labors for a day, let us take

time to remember all laborers and thank them

for their contributions to our country and to our

well-being.

Thank you, workers of America, labor leaders,

entrepreneurs and small business owners.  You make our lives better.  We salute you!

Have fun on the last official day of summer.  Be safe everyone!