Thank You, Father, for being with us this morning in worship. I would pray that Your touch would remain with each receptive heart, that each one would have an insatiable hunger to deepen their personal relationship with You – myself included. Oh, Father, may it be so!

Matthew 8:14-17 (<<click the green)

So often in life, Lord, we make mountains out of molehills; we take simple things and complicate them to our detriment. A note in my study Bible* gives me cause to stop and ponder.

As I have read the story of the healing of the leper and Peter’s mother-in-law You “touched” them. In casting out many evil spirits You did so “with a word.” There were no elaborate rituals or wordy incantations proffered. In Your interaction with those who needed You, Lord, You did so simply and directly.

So it is with our salvation, many of us have this notion that we’ve got to make ourselves presentable – we’re dirty, we’re disgusting – how could God ever love us the way we are. But He does, He most assuredly does!

Tears fill my eyes as I type… Matthew goes on to state in verse 17,

He fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah: “He Himself took our infirmities [upon Himself] and carried away our diseases.”

Oh, Lord, that verse says so much, You “took our infirmities [upon Yourself]…”

On top of it all, Lord, as I type I am listening to a compilation of inspirational piano music on Spotify and what song should play but one which so clearly highlights what You have done for me. Here is a portion of the text and the refrain of How Great Thou Art. (Click on the title and listen to the beautiful rendition I enjoyed.) Lord, You bring everything together for my good. Thank You for Your love and all that You have done, and continue to do, for me!

And when I think that God, his Son not sparing,
Sent him to die, I scarce can take it in,
That on the cross, my burden gladly bearing,
He bled and died to take away my sin.

Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to thee:
How great thou art! How great thou art!
Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to thee:
How great thou art! How great thou art!

Feb 25th, 2018, Sun, 6:52 pm