“And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” Mark 16:17-18
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The following challenging message is by Kenneth Copeland–good to recall when, as believers, we lay hands on the sick…
[For my determined purpose is] that I may know Him [that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly], and that I may in that same way come to know the power outflowing from His resurrection.
– Philippians 3:10, The Amplified Bible
The more you fellowship with God around His Word, the more you’ll know the “power outflowing from His resurrection.” You’ll develop joy. You’ll develop faith. You’ll start developing God’s own characteristics…just by fellowshiping with Him. You’ll begin to understand who you really are in Jesus.
I remember one day I was reading the story of the woman with the issue of blood who touched the hem of Jesus’ garment and was healed.
I’d read the story many times and pictured myself as almost everyone in the story, just experiencing how it would feel to be someone in the crowd or even the one who was healed.
Suddenly God spoke to my spirit and said, Read that again and this time picture yourself as the one wearing the garment.
I was stunned. “Lord,” I said, “how can I do that? I can’t take Your place!”
That’s just what’s wrong with the Body of Christ, He told me. That’s the reason the world doesn’t know anything about Jesus. You identify with everyone except Me. But I sent you to be My witnesses, to imitate Me, to stand in My place…not everyone else’s!
So, I read that story again. This time I pictured myself in the role of the one with the Anointing of the Holy Ghost. Instead of crawling up to touch the hem of His garment, I was the one wearing the garment, freely giving what God had given me. After all, the Bible does say, “Clothe yourself with the Lord Jesus Christ.”
Do you know who scares the devil most of all? Believers who’ve found out they can do that. Believers who, instead of begging for a little touch from Jesus, are letting His very life flow out to others.
Come on, give the devil a scare. Fellowship with your Father around the Word and start discovering who you really are today.
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Scripture reading: Luke 8:40-48
Reprinted with permission from Kenneth Copeland Ministries
“Fresh as a dewdrop,” My Word is to you. Go to it daily and find things new. You’ll find the familiar in it as well– Of comfort, wisdom, and truth it will tell. At times, for direction, it gives a faith hint, Bringing light to your path like a dewdrop’s glint. Fresh as a dewdrop, I want to impart More of its treasures into your heart. Like finding the dewdrops, you can depend On My being there always to instruct and befriend.
P. A. Oltrogge
“Thy Word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path.” Psalm 119:105 KJV
“I will never forget Thy precepts, for by them Thou hast revived me.” Psalm 119:93 KJV
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort….” 2 Corinthians 1:3
“But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all men generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.” James 1:5
“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:14 NKJV
“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.” John 14:26 NKJV
“Sanctify them in the truth; Thy word is truth.” John 17:17 KJV
“…I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:20
“You will keep in perfect and constant peace the one whose mind is steadfast [that is, committed and focused on You—in both inclination and character], Because he trusts and takes refuge in You [with hope and confident expectation].” Isaiah 26:3 AMP
“Such hope [in God’s promises] never disappoints us, because God’s love has been abundantly poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” Romans 5:5 AMP “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 charges against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies; who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, but rather, was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us.” Romans 8:31-34
“I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live….” Deuteronomy 30:19
“Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.’” John 14:6
“I have been crucified with Christ” is my Biblical decree….“and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.”
I need have no fear of death, for I’ve already “died.” Thanks be to God for eternal life through His Son crucified!
Not only that, but abundant life is mine today as well, for Jesus rose from the dead in victory over all the power of hell.
And by the Holy Spirit, He guides me day and night. In our God is the fountain of life; in His light, we see light.
P. A. Oltrogge
“I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.” Galatians 2:20 (NASB)
“I have been crucified with Christ [that is, in Him I have shared His crucifixion]; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body I live by faith [by adhering to, relying on, and completely trusting] in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.” (AMP)
“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” John 10:10
“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.” Psalm 23:4
“Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. For indeed He does not give aid to angels, but He does give aid to the seed of Abraham. Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.” Hebrews 2:14-18
“For with You is the fountain of life; In Your light, we see light.” Psalm 36:9
“…but we preach Christ crucified, [a message which is] to Jews a stumbling block [that provokes their opposition], and to Gentiles foolishness [just utter nonsense], but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks (Gentiles), Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God.” 1 Corinthians 1:23-24 AMP
“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.” John 5:24
“Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, ‘I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” John 8:12
“And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.” 1 John 5:11-13
“Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.’” John 11:25
“But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:4-10
“Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. We love Him because He first loved us.” 1 John 4:17-19
“There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.” Romans 8:1-2
“And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.” Revelation 1:17-18 (KJV)
Psalm 116:15 Isaiah 25:8 Matthew 10:28 Luke 10:19 John 3:16 John 5:24-30 John 14:1-3 Romans 6:1-14 1 Corinthians 15:51-58 Philippians 3:20-21 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 1 John 3:14 1 John 5
“We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe and therefore speak.” 2 Corinthians 4:13 KJV
If you were training a new driver who was going wrongly in reverse, you wouldn’t wait until you saw things get worse. You’d shout out, “Stop, put it in forward gear!” Likewise, using words of faith in life is the right way to steer– Not only that, it helps us to “drive away” from fear!
P. A. Oltrogge
photo/Unsplash
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” 2 Timothy 1:7 NKJV
“But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning, great is thy faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:21-23 RSV
“For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them. And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses.” Mark 11:23-25 NKJV
“…the just (the righteous man) shall live by faith.” (from Galatians 3:10-12, verse 11 NKJV and NASB)
“But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” Hebrews 11:6 NKJV
“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus in all generations, forever and ever. Amen” Ephesians 3:20-21 NKJV
Proverbs 18:20-21 Proverbs 21:23 Luke 18:1 Philippians 4:8
On this Mother’s Day, Mary’s life comes to mind as an example of trusting in God, as she learned of being chosen by Him to give birth to His Son, Jesus, Lord of all….
Mary changed the course of this entire earth, by accepting God’s plan for the virgin birth. Her agreement with the angel’s words affirmed God’s will, and the words that she spoke are often quoted still. She declared herself to be God’s handmaid or servant; in her, the Lord had found a heart that was fervent. She had faith the Lord loved her and all of mankind; she trusted in God’s heart and not her own mind. She was just a young woman of a tender age, but she stepped out in faith onto the world’s center stage. Though startled at first by the angelic visitation, her faith in God was strong enough to take up her station. Likewise, it’s wise today to ask the Lord to help us find the plans and purposes for our lives that He has in mind. By doing so, we ensure that we’re on His sure quest, for our loving Designer knows which plans are the best. Jesus called His disciples to leave earthly pursuits to follow Him and put down strong spiritual roots. What He has for our lives can be discerned by His Word; and through the power of the Holy Spirit, He also can be heard. The more that we listen to Him, the more we obey, the brighter the dawn grows to the full day.
P. A. Oltrogge
“But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, that shines brighter and brighter until the full day.” Proverbs 4:18 NASB
“And in the sixth month, the angel, Gabriel, was sent from God unto a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary. And the angel came in unto her, and said, ‘Hail, thou that art highly favored, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.’ And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. And the angel said unto her, ‘Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favor with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.’ Then said Mary unto the angel, ‘How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?’ And the angel answered and said unto her, ‘The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. And behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren. For with God nothing shall be impossible.’ And Mary said, ‘Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word.’ And the angel departed from her.” Luke 1:26-38 KJV
(Later, at a visit to Elisabeth, her cousin)
“And Mary said:
‘My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior. For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant; for behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed. For He who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is His name. And His mercy is on those who fear Him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with His arm; He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He has put down the mighty from their thrones, and exalted the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich He has sent away empty. He has helped His servant Israel, in remembrance of His mercy, as He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his seed forever.’” Luke 1:46-55 NKJV
“…The Lord is trustworthy in all he promises and faithful in all he does. The Lord upholds all who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down.” Psalm 145:13-14 (New International Version)
by J. Vetter Guest Contributor
Perhaps that’s where I first went wrong–believing walking with the Lord was just that–only a walk. Lately, it seems like the speed has increased, and I have to run to keep up! There have been a few times I’ve “hit the wall” too. So I searched out what it means to run a marathon.
First, you need to train–not just any way you want to, but by listening to experts and following a schedule. Then, you need to eat the correct foods, drink appropriately, and learn to pace yourself.
But the most important thing is realizing you will “hit the wall” sometime during your race; and that doesn’t mean it’s over. It means if you keep on going, you will make it! Others go through this and still finish the race.
Legend has it that marathons got their beginning when a Greek messenger was sent from the town of Marathon to Athens, announcing that the Persians had been defeated in the Battle of Marathon. He ran the entire distance without stopping, and then burst into the assembly exclaiming, “We have won!” before collapsing and dying.
We, too, have a message–that we have won–and to proclaim it fully, we have to die to only focusing on ourselves or the problem or, better put, the magnitude of our race.
One of the walls we hit in our Christian race is discouragement. There are times when we feel nothing is changing and our prayers are not being answered. Perhaps an affliction increases its grip with a fury that cries “unfair.”
We may think our race is just our own, but the Christian race is also a team effort. We’ve got to take a drink from that brother or sister on the sidelines. We’ve got to cheer and encourage others in their race and be able to accept words of encouragement from others along the road. One of the interesting aspects of participating in a marathon is that few people enter expecting to win. Their goal is to finish.
Another wall is believing the lie that we really can’t make it. I listened carefully to the interview with Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger as he described what he felt when he realized his plane was about to crash land in the Hudson River (January, 2009). His initial reaction was that he couldn’t believe this was happening to him. However, on the heels of that thought, he also proclaimed, “I was sure I could do it.” He was a man confident of his training and his experience. Because he was at the helm, 155 people survived that day. Incidentally, he also gave credit to the crew, passengers, and the first responders by sharing his belief that the miraculous outcome was a team effort.
Another stumbling stone is fear. Perhaps the fear of making a mistake. I believe a person who is afraid of making another mistake won’t make any significant steps further in his race. That’s why we are told in scripture to forget the past. “Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:13-14 (New King James Version)
Sometimes during our struggles, we forget the message of Hebrews 12:2-4, “Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how He did it. Because he never lost sight of where He was headed–that exhilarating finish in and with God–He could put up with anything along the way: cross, shame, whatever. And now He’s there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourself flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility He plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!” (Message Bible)
Part 2 (a continuation of Big John—I saw Jesus)…having left off at:
“John, I’m here. What’s wrong?”
“I SAW JESUS! I SAW JESUS!”
“Oh, John! What did He look like? I never saw Him. What color were His eyes, His hair?”
“I can’t tell you that. All I know is that He is love. Look, He’s here,” pointing to the left side of his bed. “You want to know something? That devil is a mean devil.”
“What do you mean, John?”
“You know all those fights I told you I was in? Well, I never fought so hard as I did with that devil. I was sweating buckets full. That devil almost got me, but Jesus saved me. So, then I asked Jesus if I could come back for a little bit. So then, Jesus went through the gate to the Dad and asked the Dad if I could come back.”
It was at this point that I felt it necessary to interrupt John and inform him that Jesus went to the Father. I thought it necessary to have a theological discussion about the trinity.
“Nurse Georgee, Jesus went to the DAD. He went to the DAD.”
I heard the Lord yell at me as loudly as John screamed my name earlier, GEORGIA, BE QUIET. LISTEN TO JOHN.
But I just had to ask one more question. “John, did you see the Dad?”
“Oh, no, I didn’t see the Dad, but I heard the Dad.”
“What did the Dad sound like?”
“Well…I guess it was like He was talking through a great big megaphone.”
“WOW! You mean like thunder?”
“Yeah, that’s what the Dad sounded like.” Then, John sat straight up in bed and pointed his finger at me, commanding my attention. “Nurse Georgee, I want you to know something. No one goes through that gate to the Dad unless Jesus takes them.”
I literally froze in amazement at what John just said to me. I’m sure my eyes were as big as cantaloupes. John had quoted my favorite scripture in the Bible. It is found in the book of the gospel of John chapter 14, verse 6:
…..”Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’”
My mind was racing with questions. John told me before his cardiac arrest that he never saw a Bible. He said he was never in church. Yet, he was quoting from the Bible a truth that I knew. How could this be? He couldn’t be making it up. He knew nothing about the Bible. Did he really see Jesus? I was so confused. I am ashamed to admit that I doubted his account of what happened to him. Was John hallucinating? When he said Jesus went to the Dad, I asked John if he saw the Dad. I asked him that question because I doubted his story. The Bible tells us in the gospel of John chapter 6, verse 46:
…..“No one has seen the Father except the one (Jesus) who is from God; only He has seen the Father.”
I knew this passage of scripture. Therefore, if John would have said he saw the Father, then I would know he was hallucinating. God forgive me. Why do You even bother with me? I battle fears, doubts, and unbelief. Is there any hope for me? Forgive me for doubting You.
John continued to yell at me at the top of his lungs. “Nurse Georgee, I’m telling you the truth. NO ONE GOES THROUGH THE GATE TO THE DAD UNLESS JESUS TAKES THEM!” It was like John knew I doubted his story. How much clearer can it be? JOHN SAW JESUS. Glory be to God. John had an encounter with the King of kings and the Lord of lords. Who am I to discredit his encounter? God forgive me.
Again, John very emphatically yelled, “Nurse Georgee, I’m telling you the truth. NO ONE GOES THROUGH THE GATE TO THE DAD UNLESS JESUS TAKES THEM. You don’t believe me. Nurse Georgee, I’m telling you the truth.”
“John, I believe. I believe.” Once John knew that I finally believed him, he was ready to tell the world he saw Jesus and that Jesus was for real. With the door wide open to John’s room and the nurse’s station within earshot, John yelled as loud as he could, “Is there anyone out there that doesn’t know Jesus?” Immediately, all staff and even some visitors gathered in John’s room. John radiated while he related his encounter with Jesus. Even his dear wife, who sat quietly in the corner of John’s room, took it all in.
Eventually, John’s room was cleared of nurses and visitors; however, the presence of Christ continued to permeate the atmosphere.
“John, let’s talk about what just happened to you. Jesus revealed Himself to you as the Lord of lords and the King of kings. John, are you now ready to surrender your life to Jesus?”
“I sure am. What do I need to do? I know that Jesus is for real. I want to be with Him forever.”
“John, you need to pray and invite Jesus into your life. You don’t need to worry about fancy words. Talk to Jesus just like you talk to me.”
“O.K., Nurse Georgee, here it goes. Jesus, it’s John, the one you just saved from the devil. Don’t leave me, Jesus. Forgive me of all the fights I was in. Sorry I beat my wife up. Come live in me. Thank you for loving me. I’m YOURS. Amen!”
God, You are so amazing and awesome. ThankYou for giving me the privilege to talk with a patient who has been in Your presence.You have blessed me beyond belief. I know, without a doubt, that every word is true in the Bible. Sorry it has taken me so long. Thank You again for Your patience with me.
For other compelling stories, Georgia’s book, Nurse Georgee, is available at Barnesandnoble.com and Amazon.com.
The following true account is told in a book written by Georgia Cohen, who was a nurse with a boldness to share her faith in Jesus with her patients. Since my having posted this a few years ago, Georgia has gone on to heaven to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
This particular story had been reprinted, with her permission, from her book, Nurse Georgee. Except for her name, names have been changed to protect privacy. Due to its length, it will be posted in two parts, but both of them today.
P. A. Oltrogge
The following is Part 1.
Big John—I Saw Jesus
Yelling at the top of his lungs, John screamed, “Nurse Georgee, get in here!” All the nursing staff raced with me to John’s room. We all had been involved in his CPR and knew it was a miracle that John was still alive. What solicited John’s screaming? Was he again experiencing chest pain? “John…John…what’s wrong?”
John was a 40 year old man, flown by helicopter to us from West Virginia. His condition was extremely unstable, necessitating transfer to a big city hospital. The life-flight crew remained in charge, barking orders at Ruthie and me as they leaped from the helicopter. “Lead the way. We have to stay with John until he is in CCU. His heart stopped five times during flight. Run as fast as you can.”
Ruthie and I were yelling, “Emergency! Move it! Out of the way!” to everyone in our path, as we raced like marathon runners to the CCU finish line. Ruthie and I literally threw ourselves against the two, large, mahogany doors that led to the entrance to CCU. The noise from the doors hitting the walls as they opened was deafening. All CCU staff immediately came to attention as we raced into John’s new home. Within minutes, John was hooked up to the CCU monitor, had a Swan-Ganz catheter inserted with new IVs hanging, and new CPR patches applied to his chest. John presented as a perfect text book picture. We were ready and able for anything that might happen, or so we thought.
The life-flight crew was now gone. John was resting as comfortable as possible with his blood pressure stabilized at 118/80. His heart rate, at 88, continued to have some extra beats (PVC’s), with intermittent short runs of ventricular tachycardia (VT). The atmosphere in his room was now one of serenity. Formally introducing myself, I oriented John to his new home. While bathing John, I sensed that the Lord was asking me to talk to John about his relationship with God. Okay, Lord, I will do it, you gave me another chance with Joe. Thank you for this opportunity. “John, has anyone ever introduced you to Jesus?”
Scratching his head with a somewhat puzzled look on his face, John slowly responded, “No, I don’t reckon anybody ever has.”
“John, may I introduce you to Jesus?”
“Sure.”
Sharing with John for only a minute or two what Jesus did in my life, John interrupted me.
“Now wait a minute, Nurse Georgee. I just don’t know about this Jesus. I have never been to church. In fact, I have never even seen a Bible. I just don’t know about Jesus.”
“John, that’s okay.”
“Nurse Georgee, you don’t know what I have done. Don’t get me wrong. I have been lying here thinking about my life. I want to change. I don’t want to beat my wife up anymore. I have been in terrible fights with the guys. I need to think about some things. I just don’t know about this Jesus.”
“John, that’s fine. If and when you are ready to talk about Jesus, you know where I am.”
John fell asleep for about an hour. Alarms started blaring, and the monitor showed that John was in VT, with a heart rate of 196, which increased rapidly into ventricular fibrillation. All CCU staff responded immediately with the typical CPR. Chest compressions, proper ventilation and shocking John’s heart all seemed to be to no avail. We were losing him, and fast. Even the IV pressors didn’t help raise his blood pressure, which was nearly nonexistent. According to his monitor, John was flat-lining. No heart rate, no blood pressure, and no response to the repeated shocking at even 400 joules of electricity. We refused to give up. I don’t remember how long we worked on John. It seemed like an eternity. The flat-line was ingrained in John’s monitor and was not disappearing. No rhythm was in sight. Just as we were about to call it quits, John’s monitor revealed a rhythm. John was coming back, unconscious, but back and breathing on his own.
Report time was rapidly approaching. Gathering my nurse’s notes, my mind was racing with John’s last words to me. “I just don’t know about this Jesus.” Report went well; however, it was longer than usual. I had a few loose ends to tie up before leaving for home. After getting my purse, I gave John’s monitor one last glance. All seemed well. Breathing a sigh of relief, I was off. Placing my hand on the big doors to CCU, I was stopped dead in my tracks. John’s loud, demanding voice echoed throughout CCU.
“NURSE GEORGEE…E…E…NURSE GEORGEE…E…E, get in here.” Immediately, I turned and ran to John’s room. I heard my name bouncing off the walls surrounding CCU.
Evidence of a creative Master is seen throughout the earth;
Jesus, who was called, the Master, came to teach us of the new birth.
Unless you are born again, He said, you can’t see the kingdom of God.
His heart is that of a caring shepherd, who guides with staff and rod.
The beauties and wonders of creation amaze, seeming never to cease;
such things are divine reflections, which point to the Prince of Peace.
Jesus told us to consider the lilies and also the birds of the air—
that they could show us how to serenely rest within His Father’s care.
What a wonderful God we have; He taught us the blessing of serving—
Jesus was our example, sharing God’s love, though we were undeserving.
In Him was life, and the life was the light of men—God’s very glory revealed.
We do have a beautiful Savior, who gave us the beauty of the lilies of the field.
P. A. Oltrogge
“All things were made through Him, and without Him, nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.” John 1:3-4
“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:14
“Jesus answered and said to him, (Nicodemus) ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.’” John 3:3
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” John 3:16-17
“…that word you know, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, and began from Galilee after the baptism which John preached: how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.” Acts 10:37-38
“Long ago God spoke many times and in many ways to our ancestors through the prophets. And now in these final days, he has spoken to us through his Son. God promised everything to the Son as an inheritance, and through the Son he created the universe. The Son radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God, and he sustains everything by the mighty power of his command. When he had cleansed us from our sins, he sat down in the place of honor at the right hand of the majestic God in heaven. This shows that the Son is far greater than the angels, just as the name God gave him is greater than their names.” Hebrews 1:1-4 NLT
“For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” 2 Corinthians 4:6
Remembering the Hymn, Beautiful Savior
Beautiful Savior, King of Creation, Son of God and Son of Man! Truly I’d love Thee, Truly I’d serve Thee, Light of my soul, my Joy, my Crown.
Fair are the meadows, Fair are the woodlands, Robed in flowers of blooming spring; Jesus is fairer, Jesus is purer; He makes our sorrowing spirit sing.
Fair is the sunshine, Fair is the moonlight, Bright the sparkling stars on high; Jesus shines brighter, Jesus shines purer, Than all the angels in the sky.
Beautiful Savior, Lord of the nations, Son of God and Son of Man! Glory and honor, Praise, adoration, Now and forevermore be Thine!
Author Unknown, 1677 Translated by Joseph A. Seiss, 1873
“The Lord is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him.” Psalm 103:13 NLT
On His way to Galilee, Jesus went through Samaria to a city called Sychar, near land given by Jacob to Joseph, his son. Jacob’s well was there, and being wearied from His journey, Jesus sat down by the well before His traveling would be done.
While His disciples went away into the city to get food, Jesus asked a woman of Samaria there to give Him a drink that day. How He, a Jew, could ask a Samaritan woman for a drink was her immediate question, and she wondered what He would say.
“If you knew the gift of God and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’” He said, “you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.” She noted that He had nothing to draw up water with and the well was deep, so where could He have gotten such to have brought her?
She asked if He considered Himself greater than their father, Jacob, whose well it had been, but which was later left to them. Jesus said that though she drank from Jacob’s well, she’d thirst many times more; but the water He could give would keep her from ever thirsting again.
This Samaritan woman must have believed He possessed some special water, for she asked Him to give to her of that kind. Then Jesus revealed personal things about her life that could only have been known by One with divine knowledge in His mind.
At that, she said she perceived He was a prophet and raised the question of where the worship of God should best be done. Jesus said the important thing was how people should worship, which would be “in spirit and in truth,” or by hearts that were truly “won.”
He said that God, the Father, seeks people with such a heart to worship Him and that she’d worshiped what she didn’t really know. He told her that salvation was of the Jews. Though she was a Samaritan and He a Jew, He was reaching out as a friend to her and not a foe.
The woman from Samaria said she agreed that the Messiah would come and would reveal to the world all things. Then Jesus said, “I who speak to you am He,” declaring He was (is) the One from whom the fountain of water to everlasting life springs.
Amazed, she left her water jug to make her way back to the city, telling the men of how He’d known all the pages in her life’s book. “Could this be the Christ?” she was inquiring and told them that they should really go out for themselves to hear and take a look.
In the meantime, Jesus’ disciples had returned with the food they’d gone to get, and urged that He should partake with them and eat. But Jesus said He had food of which they didn’t know–to do the will of His Father. Working to win the lost to God was His bread and meat.
He said the “fields” were white unto harvest! Then came out to hear Him many who’d been alerted by this “woman at the well’s” own story. And by hearing the Lord Himself, the life-giving “water” continued to flow greatly, as it still does to all today…to God be the glory!
P. A. Oltrogge
(from John, chapter 4)
“And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” Revelation 22:17 KJV
To view true accounts of encounters with the Lord in the lives of people today, see the 700 Club, available M-F at: www.700club.org
The Porch of the Lord 