Day 233 - Garlic For All

"I think we first need to identify values. It will seep out of who we are. Then speak the values. Finally rehearse and reward the values."

I am a garlic lover. It just tastes great in almost everything. The only problem with loving garlic is that afterward everyone knows you love it. All you have to do is say 'hi'.  

Our values should be like that. They should be evident by what comes out of us in our words and actions. People who share our values will enjoy what they hear and see while those opposed to our values will be repelled by them. 

The easiest way to find out where your values are is to see where you spend. Where you spend your money and where you spend your time will show you most of what you value. If you spend time with your family then you value them. If you spend money on hobbies then you value them.

A good indicator of your walk with God is how much time have you spent with Him in prayer, studying His Word and  being in church and whether or not you tithe and give offerings. If you do all those things then most likely you value your relationship with God. 

Like I said in my quote from last year it is good to rehearse and reward values. We need to talk about them and share them with others. Additionally when we see our values being lived out in ourselves, our families or our organizations and businesses we should reward them. It will only strengthen the values. 

Take some time to identify your values. If you don't know where to start then look at what you spend time and money on. Then talk about your values with your family and friends. Finally reward yourself and others when you see the values being lived out. 

What are some ways we can reward values being displayed in ourselves and others? What are some other ways we can identify values?

Day 102 - An Education in Healing

"A few days ago in church I had the thought that sometimes, in order for a person to get healed their mind needs to be educated and their spirit edified in order for their body to be healed. We see this in Mark 6:5-6 that Jesus couldn't do many miracles except lay hands on a few sick people to heal them and He marveled at their unbelief. The next thing Jesus did was to travel in a circuit teaching so that faith would rise and people could get healed. Today while driving to church I had the thought that in the Bible we also see the reverse. Jesus sometimes healed the body so that the spirit would be edified and then the mind was educated. This was the instance of the man in John chapter 9. He was first healed. Then because of his healing he could boldly testify of what Jesus had done. Finally he had to be educated about who Jesus really was so Jesus revealed Himself."

This post pretty much speaks for itself. I think the thought that comes today is that there is a process that we must go through in our faith. Sometimes that process is education to faith (faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God) and then receiving the promise. Other times the process is a miracle beyond our understanding that catapults us into a realm where progress comes through education. 

We need to patient and endure the process. I find that healing is one area that people have a difficult time waiting. The simple answer is pain. I don't blame them either. Enduring pain for prolonged periods of time can bring doubt, discouragement and even depression. 

The answer is in what the Bible describes as endurance. The original word is a compound word that means to stand under a burden. If we have the Word of God as one leg and the grace of God as the other we will be able to stand under the pain of the pressure and process as long as it takes. May the Lord educate us Himself and give us grace to endure the pain of the process.

Have you ever been healed and then God showed you truth from that healing? What scriptures help you when you are believing for healing?