Tag Archives: sinner

It Is Finished

Posted in Cancer, Family, Healing, My thoughts by

My husband and I were invited to a friend’s seventieth birthday recently. Many of the people there had grey hair like ourselves and were ex hippies. I introduced myself to a man called Tommy. He told me a bit about himself.

He grew up in Belfast in the sixties but when the troubles started he moved to London. There he got involved with others who were drinking and taking drugs. He became homeless, living on the streets of London. His health deteriorated. His body became covered in sores. I was reminded of the man in the bible, Lazarus, who was covered in sores that the dog licked. Somehow Tommy returned to Belfast.

His mother welcomed the prodigal home and she washed his sores till he was healed. He was just eighteen years old at the time. He was invited to a friend’s home where someone was speaking about Jesus Christ and what he did for mankind. Tommy heard the words “It is finished”. These words stuck in his mind.

I was reading these words from the bible today.
The one sitting on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new!” And then he said to me, “Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true.” And he also said, “It is finished! I am the Alpha and the Omega—the Beginning and the End. To all who are thirsty I will give freely from the springs of the water of life. All who are victorious will inherit all these blessings, and I will be their God, and they will be my children.”
‭‭Revelation‬ ‭21:5-7‬ ‭

The One sitting on the throne is God our Father in heaven. Jesus is the Alpha and Omega. Jesus came on earth to show us the Father. He came on earth to destroy the works of the devil. He showed the kindness of the Father by forgiving people their sins and healing their diseases. He died on the cross and shed his blood to forgive sin and heal us who are alive today. God sent the Holy Spirit who comes to us when we believe in Jesus. He is still working today over the earth.

We have just finished feativities all over the world celebrating the birth of Jesus.  Do we realise why he was born?  In the middle of our sumptuous meals in our comfortable homes, do we remember he was born with animals and his bed was made of straw.

God made everything new for Tommy that day. He believed Jesus forgave his failings and he received Jesus forgiveness. He was healed body, soul and spirit. He got a new beginning. He was delivered from the drink and drugs.

God made everything new for me ten years ago.  I was dying form fourth stage cancer.  I am healed by the power of the blood of Jesus and staying alive.

Is there any better day than today, the beginning of a new year to have a new beginning in your life? Jesus is offering you that new beginning. Are you thirsty? Jesus told the woman at the well that he would give her water so that she would never thirst again. Jesus promises to give us waters of life, which is the Holy Spirit.

We may make New Year resolutions to be good. After a few weeks we fail miserably. We can’t do it ourselves. We can do nothing with out Jesus. We are living on the earth. There are many unseen forces against us. The devil and his demons are out to rob, steal and destroy. We are born in sin whether we realise it or not. There is a heaven and hell. Jesus is the only one who can bring us to heaven. The Holy Spirit brings about the change in our life on the earth and promises to bring us to heaven when we die.

Jesus is speaking to you today as he spoke to the woman at the well. Will you receive the water today so that you will never thirst again! It doesn’t cost any money to be free from your burdens of sin. There is power in the blood of Jesus.

That is what happened to Tommy. He went on to get married and raise a family. He is amazed how God was gracious to him and is forever thankful.

May you have a happy New Year indeed.

Forgiven Much, Loves Much.

Posted in Healing, My thoughts by

 

Today I experienced a little of what it is like to be forgiven much and to love much.

Abraham returned to Scotland today.  I was leaving him to the ferry at the Port of Belfast.  Hannah warned me that 1000 cyclists were out somewhere in the Ards Peninsula today, Sunday.  To avoid hold ups or upsetting cyclists because I try to overtake them, I decided to take the ferry to Strangford.  After farewells to family at home, Abraham and I set off.

We boarded the nine forty five ferry from Portaferry to Strangford.  There were about eighteen cars on board.  The ticket master came to check my card.  One can buy a card for twenty journeys for half the price.  He said “Your journey have been paid for.”  I looked around to see if there was someone who knew me and kindly paid for my fare.  But no.  The ticket collector told me someone has paid for everyone on the ferry.  A gentleman had bought a card and would not be using it again.

Abraham and I looked at each other.  Whoa!  That was an unlooked for blessing.  It felt unusual to receive this kindness from a complete stranger.  Abraham commented that anyone on board who has to pay the full fare will benefit the most from this man’s generosity.

For a moment I felt the love and presence of God.  I thought this is what it feels like for someone to pay the price for something I was responsible for.  I was able to go free.  I experienced a little bit of what Jesus paid for on the cross when he died to forgive my sins, heal my diseases and give me  eternal life in heaven.  He paid the price for me to go free instead of having to suffer for my wrongdoings and go to hell.

Here is a reading from scripture which tells us about Jesus forgiveness.

“When one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table.
A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume.
As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.
When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner.”
Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.” “Tell me, teacher,” he said. “Two people owed money to a certain moneylender.
One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty.
Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he forgave the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?”
Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt forgiven.” “You have judged correctly,”
Jesus said. Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house.
You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair.
You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet.
You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet.
Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.””

I did not argue with the ticketmaster and say, “I don’t want to accept this man’s offer.  I insist on paying for my own passage.”  Perhaps one can feel as if one doesn’t deserve this kindness.  One has to learn to receive.  Sometimes we say something like that to Jesus when we don’t accept his sacrifice on the cross to pay for one’s sins and go free.  Let us be like the woman who washed Jesus feet.  She received Jesus forgiveness. Having been forgiven much let us love much.
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