God Power and Light

By Cheri Cowell –

Several years ago we went without power at our Florida home for just a few days during our “hurricane summer.” I didn’t realize how dependent life had become on having electricity until we were forced to live without it. Not only is it the big things like A/C and lights, but it is also the little things, like a night light in the bathroom. Without power our whole lives were turned upside-down.

As Christians we talk about Jesus being our power source, but how many of us really live that way? One woman in the Bible did.

This woman knew in her heart Jesus held the power to heal her, so much so that she knew if she could simply touch the edge of His garment, she would be healed. She also knew touching Him would cause Him to be made unclean in the eyes of the religious rulers. She was afraid her sins would sully Jesus, yet her belief in His power caused her to push through her fears.

When we say Jesus is our source of power, are we really saying we believe He holds the power to cure us from all disease and free us from all bondage? When we are willing to risk it all, and push past our fears, just to touch the hem of His robe, then we will hear Him say, “Go in peace and be free.”

PRAYER: I praise you, God, for the power You hold and Your willingness to restore the power in life by the touch of Your hand. Help me become more bold in reaching out to secure the power for my life that You so freely give.

BIBLE VERSE: “At once, Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my clothes?” “You see the people crowding against you,” his disciples answered, “and yet you can ask, ‘Who touched me?’ ” But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it. Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth. He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering”  (Mark 5:30 – 34 NIV).

God’s Lincoln Log

By Cheri Cowell –

During the summer, hours can be spent with a set of Lincoln Logs creating houses, forts, and castles. If you play with more than one set you can even build a whole town. Of course, the real challenge is to see how big you can make your building before it falls over. We learn quickly if we set that first block securely, then we have a better chance of having our building stand tall.

God also likes to play with building blocks, and He, too, knows about setting that first one just right.

Today’s verse is placed within a parable. Spoken to the Pharisees before His arrest, Jesus tells the story of God planting a vineyard (representing Israel), and providing well for it. He then sends many prophets to speak to them about His plans, but the Israelites ignore these prophets. So, He sends His Son, Jesus, to give His message. Jesus tells the Pharisees He knows about their plot to kill Him, but He also predicts His return by talking about the capstone. The capstone or cornerstone of the building is the foundation upon which all other stones are set. The message is clear, if we need to be careful in setting that first block when building our play forts, how much more careful should we be in choosing the capstone or cornerstone for the building of our lives?

PRAYER: Lord, please help me place all my building blocks upon You as my Capstone so my tower will still be standing when all others have fallen to the ground.

“Haven’t you read this passage of Scripture: ‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes?” (Mark 12:10 NIV)

Jesus Christ, C.S.I.

By Cheri Cowell – 

One summer, I was seated as a jurist on a capitol murder case. For three days we heard evidence introduced by a CSI (Crime Scene Investigator). I love watching television shows based on real crimes that have been solved by good police work. By watching these shows, I’ve learned that one of the first things all good crime scene investigators do is take a look at the scene to determine if the criminal was someone the victim knew or was a stranger. Did you know Jesus was the first CSI?

In today’s scripture, the Pharisees could not accept Jesus was the Son of God, so they had to believe He was “in league with Satan” (verse 9:34). Jesus read their thoughts and responded to them saying, “Lets look at the evidence. Would a strongman or guard allow a thief to just waltz right in to rob him without first tying him up? Would a gang remain together very long if its members fought against each other?” If the Pharisees answered “no” to these arguments, then they couldn’t say that Jesus and Satan were on the same side. God has an advantage I’m sure today’s police would love to possess—He knows our thoughts. Jesus proved His case. The crime scene evidence didn’t match the accusation.

PRAYER: I praise You, God, for being able to see beyond the flimsy excuses I may use from time to time. Thank You for giving me eyes to see the evidence proving You are indeed the King of kings, Lord of lords, and Christ my Savior Immanuel.

“Or again, how can anyone enter a strong man’s house and carry off his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man? Then he can plunder his house” (Matthew 12:29 NIV).

Future Blessings Today

By Cheri Cowell –

A while back I received a great blessing. The mother of a teenager from one of my previous youth ministry jobs invited me to dinner. She told me of her daughter’s successes, and most importantly, her continued love for God.

“When Shannon comes to visit in a few weeks I know she would love to see you,” her mother said.

We never know the impact our lives are making on others. We hope, and we pray we are setting an example worthy to be followed. I was blessed by this mother who took the time to tell me I had done just that. She also shared that I had helped her, too.

Wow! God promises we will see the fruit of our endeavors, but not always when we think we should.

God promised Abraham that He would bless the world through his descendants, but Abraham must have wondered if he would really have an influence on those who followed. God made a similar promise to us. If we seek God with our whole hearts, minds, and souls, He will not forget us, nor the generations to come after us. We may not always know the good we are doing, but we know He has the power to multiply those deeds ten-fold.

PRAYER I praise You, Lord, for the promises You have kept through the generations. Because of one man’s faith, You were able to make us heirs to Your kingdom. Help me stay focused on the blessings that are to come and, if it be in Your will, allow me to catch a glimpse of a few of those future blessings today.

“Indeed, beginning with Samuel, all the prophets who have spoken have foretold these days. And you are heirs of the prophets and of the covenant God made with your fathers. He said to Abraham, ‘Through your offspring all peoples on earth will be blessed’” (Acts 3:24 – 25 NIV).

Delighted

By Cheri Cowell –

There are times I really miss my Dad. It has been many years since he went to heaven, and yet there are times it seems like last year. Usually those are the times I really need my Dad to do what only a father can do for his child; I need my Dad to tell me how proud he is of me. I need him to beam from ear to ear at what I have accomplished. I need him to say that no matter what others may think, he believes that I have no competition.

If you are a father, this is the gift you give your children. Scripture calls this “delight,” and if you think about it, who does not want to be ‘delighted’ in? Our earthly father’s relationship is supposed to be a small taste of what our relationship with our heavenly Father is to be like.

I hope your father delighted in you, as mine did in me. If you did not have that kind of relationship, I know it is harder for you to understand how much your heavenly Father adores, cherishes, and delights in you. He is proud of you; beams from ear to ear when He thinks of you, and believes that you have no competition.

In the scripture below, Paul’s prayer for us is that we deeply know the reality of God’s transforming love that surpasses knowledge. How can we come to understand such love? Through our earthly relationships. It is only through loving and being loved that we learn God’s love is real. And only then can we be truly filled with Him.

PRAYER I thank You, Lord, for my earthly father, regardless of how imperfect that love was, and for the relationships through which You show me Your love today. Help me more fully understand the depth of Your love and to experience what it means to be delighted in. Help me show this kind of love to my children and those You put in my path this week.

“My response is to get down on my knees before the Father, this magnificent Father who parcels out all heaven and earth. I ask him to strengthen you by his Spirit—not a brute strength but a glorious inner strength—that Christ will live in you as you open the door and invite him in. And I ask him that with both feet planted firmly on love, you’ll be able to take in with all followers of Jesus the extravagant dimensions of Christ’s love. Reach out and experience the breadth! Test its length! Plumb the depths! Rise to the heights! Live full lives, full in the fullness of God” (Ephesians 3:14–19 MSG).

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