It is time for people (me too) all around the world especially here in the Bahamas to sit and reflect on the devastating storms and of how Yahweh divinely intervened not only where you are but right here on the island of Grand Bahama in the city of Freeport!
Many are without a job and businesses are foreclosing, eviction notices seem to be multiplying yet as you reflect you are still alive and you may not be able to explain it to anyone how Jehovah Jireh has provided everything you needed throughout 2013! He did not allow you to go to bed hungry even though it may not have been your choice food, “it hit the spot” so to speak! Reflect on how bare the cupboards maybe but the essentials are there Reflect on Abba Father’s favour even in the midst of tragedy!
Some have lost everything and what looked like the end became a new beginning! As you reflect God has turned the pages of your life and as you are about to enter into 2014 these words are echoing, “You can make it!”
Pause for a moment right where you are to read the story of a woman who became so gravely ill she was not able to take of her husband and her little children read of how God instrumentally used one of her sons so mightily to get her attention. It was me (the gravely ill mother in the story)! You too can make it! May the Holy Spirit comfort you where ever you are on your journey and as you reflect lets pick up the story!
Wandering around in the lowest valley there seemed to be nothing there suddenly my attention shifted to a man dressed in pure white. He beckoned me to join him at the top of the mountain; quickly I made the decision to accept his invitation but there were two paths up the mountainside. The smooth and green path lead slightly away from him and the rough path led straight to where he was standing. In a flash my feet began climbing the rough side of the mountain, miraculously my feet became like hinds feet to make the climb. Yet when I reached the top he was not there! Determined to find him feet escaping some deadly traps. I found myself face to face with the most beautiful river my eyes had ever seen! Then beheld an unusual and majestic sight a sea like glass and people were walking on it. I awoke saying these words, “I can make it, I can make it!” It was a dream yet it seemed so real. For you see before I had drifted off into a deep sleep my body ached with excruciating pain, I had whispered to the Lord, “I did not think I was going to make this one.” I stopped by just to tell you, you can make it!
One day a woman grew very ill in bed and as she lay there for a while. Her little children became extremely hungry, so the oldest of them ran to his mother bedside and said to his mother, “Mommy, please tell me how to prepare the chicken.” He wanted to clean and season it. Apparently the little boy had completed this. He then went back to his mother and whispered in her ear, “Mommy, please tell me how to cook the beans and rice.” Well upon hearing this the mother who was very sick prayed to Abba Father to give to her the strength to get up to go and cook something for her children to eat. She prayed, “Lord, I can make it!” You know what, the Lord gave her the strength to get up out of that bed. When she arrived in the kitchen the little boy had already seasoned the chicken and was in the process of cooking the beans and rice! God used the little boy to demonstrate to his mother she could make it in spite of her sickness. In fact because of the little boy’s persistence it changed this mother’s perspective! The mother began to see from God’s perspective as a result she was healed and was able to care for her family again!
What about you? The Doctors may have given you the grim report there is nothing more they can do for you! The electricity may be off. To make mattesr worse the water supply may have been disconnected too. There may not be any food in the cupboards and every other bill is past due! Still I say to you, you can make it! Your spouse may have left you and you are thinking, “Lord, I just cannot take any more of this!” I tell you, you can make it. Dare I ask you, “Whose report will you believe?” There I dared you and I repeat, “Whose report will you believe?” Dare to believe the report of the Lord. To you, who the Doctors can do no more for I am a living witness God can and will heal you. Just believe like the little boy who became so hungry he believed he could cook something to eat even though he could not reach the stove nor the sink but he used a chair to stand on to clean and season the chicken; yes, he used the chair to turn on the stove and he began to cook the beans and rice! You can make it! Jehovah Rapha is your Healer! Activate your faith right now like the woman who had the issue of blood read it for yourself from the book of Luke 8:43-48. She had spent every penny she had and the Word says she grew worse. The Doctors could do no more for her. (I am paraphrasing) One day Jesus came to her town and it became known to her that He was there; she said within herself, she did not ask anybody if Jesus could heal. This what she really said in Matthew 9:21 “For she said to herself, ‘if only I may touch His garment, I shall be made well.” Then she did something as sick as she was, she got up! I believe she said within herself, “I can make it to go to where Jesus is.” I believe she pressed her way through crowds and crowds of people. She touched the hem of Jesus’ garment. Immediately something miraculous happened she was completely healed! Yes, you can make it! You, who do not have a job Jehovah Jireh, He will provide that job for you. He is even now making provisions for your utilities to be reconnected and for food with other necessities for you and your family. You can make it. Dry your tears. Do not pull another strand of hair out if your head! When you lay your head on your pillow tonight you will sleep. For Abba Father will give to you sweet rest. You can make it for the breaker has already gone up and has broken through on every side for you! You can make it! What you are walking is only temporary it will pass.
I am reminded of the story of the four lepers in the book of 2 Kings chapter seven whom God used to fulfill His Word lets go to verses 3-4 of chapter 7, (3)”And there were four leprous men at the entering of the gate: and they said to one another, why sit we here until we die?´ (4)”If we say, we will enter into the city, then the famine is in the city, and we shall there: and if we sit still here, we die also. Now therefore come, and let us fall unto the host of the Syrians: if they save us alive, we shall live, and if they kill us; we shall but die.” These four lepers did something they had never done before; they got up and dared to go against the norm not knowing God had already made provisions for them and for the rest of His people. It is such a comfort to know Abba Father does not discriminate! He loves all of us in spite of where you have been and all you have done He still loves you! God used four lepers to carry the good news with the evidence that the famine was over. Of course these lepers got their provisions and hid them. Listen to what they said to each other after they had secured their provisions in verse 9 of 11 Kings. “We do not well: this day is a day of good tidings, and we hold our peace: if we tarry the morning light, some mischief will come upon us: now therefore come, that we may go and tell the king’s household.”
I recall growing up on the Island of Eleuthera in the settlement of Rock Sound where my grandmother would bake bread and as she would give a loaf to all of her neighbors. Someone else who raised sheep and goats would make sure every neighbor had a piece of meat or a fish to cook. Today it is time for each of us to care about our neighbors. When you cook, carry a plate of food to your neighbor, call each other on the telephone; whisper a word of hope. Tell every person you meet, “you can make it!” Make happen for others what you want God your heavenly Father to make happen for you!
Yes, you can make it but not without each other! We need each other. Abba Father wants to make you and me instruments of His peace! Let us from this day forward use our mouths to speak blessings and kind words to each other. Let us use our hands willingly to help others and may your feet be swift in running to rescue souls who are in need: and do not tell anybody about what you do for God. He will give to you great rewards! Yes, you can make it!
There is a resounding, it is time for you (me too) to take time out to reflect on the many dangers, storms and disasters, heartaches and the grief of losing loved ones and yes, you may have lost everything especially here on the island of Grand Bahama! Pause and calmly think about this as you reflect, focus and you will see clearly God’s divine intervention in your situation! You can make it! I leave with you this poem entitled Don’t Quit written by Judith Bulock Morse
Sometimes life isn’t easy
Mountains you must climb
It’s easy just to say “I quit”
Until a more convenient time
But if you do, you will miss the view
From that glorious mountain top
So step in faith, keep looking up
And give it all you got!
You can make it!