Let us be humble shepherds

Luke 2:8-15: And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great company of the heavenly hosts appeared with the angel, praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” When the angels had left them and gone back into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

These humble shepherds were not looking for glory or recognition. There was just a few of them on a mountain, taking care of their sheep. Nevertheless, God chose them and sent them an angel to announce the birth of Jesus. The angel gave them instructions to go find Jesus and worship Him. They did not understand how big of a role they would play in announcing to the people that Jesus the Savior was born. God could have chosen a king or someone of great importance to witness the birth of the most extraordinary baby in the entire world. No, God in His great wisdom chose these simple and humble shepherds to participate in this very important event.

In 1 Corinthians 1:27, the bible tells us:"God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong... so that no one may boast in the presence of God"  At times, God intentionally chooses and uses weak, or people that might seem unqualified. He does this so that His own power and glory are displayed rather than human pride.

So my friends, if you are at a place of “nothing” on your own “mountain” just doing what you are called to do, never think you have no value.  Do not let men determine your value because where you are called to serve, even if it is behind the “curtains” where nobody sees you, nobody gives you a compliment or nobody notices you…..do not get discouraged because the Lord notices you. He knows you are a humble servant.  He also knows your heart and your qualifications. Even if you think it is not possible, it is possible. He will use you. When you least expect it, He will take you off “your mountain” and He will use you in ways that will completely amaze you. He will bring you to a place where you will have absolutely no doubt that He is using you for His glory and for the benefit of His kingdom.

Those humble shepherds were “unknown” to everyone but not unknown to God. After that night, they have been known by everyone that reads about the birth of Christ. I call them “unknown” to the world but “chosen” by God.

Conclusion: Friends be encouraged. Being a humble shepherd is a most important calling. There is no better place to be than knowing you have been chosen by God Himself to do the specific call He has on your life. Then, it is no longer important if people know about you or not. God knows you, He loves you. You are so very special. God remembered you when you were on your “mountain”. He knows you worth and value. You are and always will be remembered as a humble shepherd by a most faithful and loving God.

Denise

I took the notes for this article that I had written in my prayer journal back in 1992, never thinking at the time that I would one day in 2026 publish them on my own BLOG. At the time I felt I was on a “mountain”. But the Lord in His great mercy took me off that mountain. Now, as I look back, I am so very thankful for what the Lord has permitted me to do for His kingdom. Being a humble shepherd is indeed a privilege. Amen!

Bible references taken in the New International Version.

 

BE YOURSELF

 

1 Corinthians 15:10(NIV) says: “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.” 

The Lord has created everyone of us as a unique individual. Therefore, as a individual we are absolutely unique and different from everyone else in many various ways. In the physical aspect, some are tall, others are short. Most have a full head of hair, but other are bald or slowly getting there. Some are white and others are of a different skin color.

In the area of character, some are quiet and soft spoken. Most of the time, this group of persons keep their opinion or their understanding on various issues private or low key. Others are more outgoing and outspoken. Their opinion is shared without restraint and at times without consideration for the opinions and feelings of other people. Some people are charitable and always ready and wanting to be helpful.  Others, their world revolves around themselves with no consideration for the needs of others.  

What is most important is that you feel secure in being who you are because you are unique!

Always strive to be the best person you can possibly be and in every situation stay strong and positive. Always let the Lord guide you every step of the way. Learn to love yourself and forgive yourself when you make a mistake. Learn to be comfortable with who you are because the Lord only made one of you, that alone makes you special and precious.

Do not permit anyone’s personal opinion bring you down or discourage you. Do not let people's critical spirit invade your soul and steal your peace and joy.

But under no circumstance, do not hold on to bitterness and anger towards people that are judgemental and critical of you because doing so will only hinder your happiness.

BE YOURSELF! Life is too short, and you are too precious to spend another minute worrying about someone that cannot see or appreciate your worth and value.

Instead, forgive and release them to the Lord. Continue to live with peace in your heart.

Learn to carefully and even diplomatically walk away from relationships that are high maintenance. If you remain forgiving, you will become a peaceful, better and stronger person.

In any case, please persevere, because the Lord will bring people in your life that will love and appreciate you for the beautiful and precious person that you are.

 BE YOURSELF and at all times remember what the Lord says in Jeremiah 29:11:“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Conclusion: As I was finishing this article, I read the following comment and I thought it made a good conclusion to what I had in my heart to share with you. “The rule to stay happy every day is to love yourself and be yourself.  Be joyful, be yourself and you will enjoy your life.”

God bless you. 

Denise

Bible references from the New Internantional Version

TOTAL SURRENDER

 

At one time or another, we all face situations we would very much like to avoid or could be resolved differently.  At times, we have all felt the Lord leading us down a path without clear instructions, but at the same time, we had a strong sense of moving forward, knowing that He would guide us every step of the way.

It is in these difficult times that we must totally surrender to God. It is also on these occasions that it is important to remember the verse in Jeremiah 29:11 which says, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” 

Like all of you, I have experienced many such situations where I honestly didn't know the why, the how, or the direction in which the Lord was sending me. I must admit that many times I resisted and struggled with not knowing the why and the how.

Nevertheless, over the years, I've learned that struggling and resisting have only brought me anguish, moments of discouragement, and even despair.

In the bible we have a good example of surrendering to God in Genesis 12:1, where the Lord tells Abraham: “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.” If you notice, God told Abraham to go, but He didn't give him a list of instructions. Abraham had to activate his faith and go before the Lord gave him further instructions.

Isaiah 55:8-9 we read: “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”  As God's children we can be assured that since the Lord promises to meet our needs, a temporary silence from heaven has a purpose. A temporary silence from heaven teaches us to completely trust our Heavenly Father.

When we encounter worries, anxieties, fears and sorrows, we should not complain… at least not for long. In times such as these the Holy Spirit reminds us that these bible verses are to be a declaration of total surrender. Myself personally, I find that declaring those verses out loud gives me the confidence and the peace that no matter what I am facing, the Lord is taking care of me. Having this assurance makes is easier for me to totally surrender.

Complaining gets us nowhere. But a declaration, even without immediate changes the situation, brings peace to our souls. Declaring these verses also gives us the certainty that the Lord is taking care of us and that He is dealing with the dilemmna we are experiencing. 

On many occasions, I have found myself in difficult situations, situations where I didn't know what to do. These emotional and difficult circumstances would drain me of all physical strength. But over the years, I have learned that in these stressful times, when I declare these verses, peace returns, calm returns, and even if I do not have all the answers, by faith I surrendered myself to the Lord, because I had learned that He is taking good care of me.

To this day, when I face a difficult predicament as soon as I surrender completely and begin to thank my Heavenly Father for the amazing way He will resolve my situation, I have complete peace to move forward without immediately knowing all the answers.

In His infinite goodness and with my complete surrender, I can say that my Heavenly Father has taken care of me in ways that only He knows and is able to take care of me.

In Matthew 28:20b, Jesus tells us: “I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” What a wonderful and reassuring promise.

Over the course of the last 45 years, I have found it easier to say, "Please allow this, Lord…" I declare in faith in my own words: "For HIS thoughts are not my thoughts, neither are HIS ways my ways." Every time I have let go and trusted the Lord completely, the problem or situation has been resolved in a much better way than I could have imagined. Even in circumstances that did not turn out the way I would have wanted, and there were several of those, He gave me the strength and the peace I needed to move forward under His guidance. He always kept His promise to be with me at every step of the way.

Conclusion: It is always better to surrender and say, “Lord, please allow this.” Then, we are always amazed how faithful the Lord is to each one of us and how peaceful we are knowing how well He takes care of you and of me in every situation and circumstance we all encounter during our daily lives.

Yes, it is always better to totally surrender and say, “Lord, please allow this.” Once we totally surrender we can then say: "All is well with my soul."

Take care,

Denise

Please note that there are many other bible verses that apply to the benefits of total surrender, the ones mentioned in this article are some of my favourites.

Bible verses taken from the New international Version

 

Never alone! Revised including old Hynm

                          Never alone! (Revised)

See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands;
    your walls are ever before me.

(Isaiah 49:16 NIV)

Alone, I must admit that before 2006 I did not understand the real meaning of that word. That all changed after Roger was diagnosed with lung cancer in January 2006. The word “alone” started to float in my mind. I tried to push it out of my head, but it would come back especially on days when Roger struggled to breathe, or the coughing that would rob him of his strength.

I was believing God for a miracle. But I also had to look at the reality of the situation. Roger had already been though six chemotherapy protocols. He had also endured thirty-three radiation treatments. None of these treatments had managed to stop or even slow down this cancer from ravaging his body. Unless a miracle happened soon, the word “alone” was becoming a difficult reality I now had to face.

Roger was very courageous. He very seldom complained.  Every day he tried to go through this battle without worrying me. I can honestly say that we had some silent conversations, many silent conversations. When a couple has a healthy relationship which we had, it is possible to have a conversation with each other without saying a word.

His palliative doctor brought reality straight to my face when he took me aside and gave me the booklet: “Learning to live without you”. Reality would cruelly set in when Roger died on March 14, 2008. I had to face the harsh reality that I was going be alone for the first time in 44 years.

As the days, months and years passed I have found great comfort in my faith. Being alone made me pursue my relationship with the Lord in a more intense fashion. Joshua 1:5b was one verse I repeated often. “As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.”  

In Deuteronomy 31:6, I even made that personal by added a few words…… ^“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, (of the fear of being alone) for the Lord your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.”

The Lord was there in my kitchen when I would set the table for two just to realize I was alone. He was there when I had to walk up the stairs and go into our room and stare at the empty bed. The Lord was there, when I woke up during the night struggling to get my blankets off me because I thought I heard Roger call my name. The Lord was there with me when I had to walk in our master closet and see Roger’s clothes hanging as though they were waiting for him to pick something to wear. The Lord was there when I tried to mow the lawn and could not even get the electric cord to be in the right place. He was there when I had to learn to put gas in my car.  HE WAS ALWAYS THERE.

One morning I read Isaiah 49:16: “See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me.”  Because I am inscribed on the palm of His hands, automatically I am always in His presence. He is present with me, and I am present with Him. There is never a moment when I am not on His mind and on His heart.

I wrote down Isaiah 60:1 on a piece of paper and set it on my night table. For weeks, the first thing I did as I woke up was to read that verse: “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.” I must admit that most morning I read this verse out of faith, because my emotions, I did not feel like I was shining.

People went on with their lives as they should. My three gown children were great, but they had families that needed them. They also had to go back to work. Some people understood. Others did not understand the degree or the depth of my pain. When people put a time limit on grief, that person has never lost anyone close to their heart.

But the Lord never forgot about me. He always understood my pain. He has never let me out of His sight or stopped helping or providing for me.

Psalm 63:1 says: “You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; My soul thirsts for You; My flesh longs for You. In a dry and thirsty land, where there is no water.”  David wrote this Psalm when he was in the wilderness of Judah! Sometimes, when we pray, we find ourselves in our own “wilderness”. We feel alone, we only find silence, it is like our prayers are hitting a wall. But, on those days, our answer comes in Psalm 91:14: “Because he has set his love upon Me, (says the Lord) therefore, I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name.”

Psalm 16:8-9 says:“I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With Him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.  Therefore, my heart is glad, and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure,” I decided that with the Lord's help as so well written in this Psalm, I would be to move forward, I would continue to serve Him and continue with the calling on my life to help people in need. 

Therefore, because He knows my name, I am never alone.  Having the Lord in my life is my strength, my peace and the assurance that indeed as I continue my journey on this earth, I am never alone.

Lord, thank you because knowing You love me is always of great comfort to me.

         Because of You, I AM NEVER ALONE!

P.N.: I wrote this article not out of self-pity, rather with the desire it might be helpful to someone who might be feeling alone.

Denise

My good friend Ralph Woodrow, pastor, evangelist & author, read my Blog article Never Alone and he sent me the words to an old hymn that I had never heard before called No, Never Alone

I thought it was important that I added it to my Blog article.  Thank you Ralph for sending me the words to this hymn.

No, Never Alone

1 I’ve seen the lightning flashing
And heard the thunder roll,
I’ve felt sin’s breakers dashing,
which tried to conquer my soul;
I’ve heard the voice of my Savior,
He bid me still fight on:
He promised never to leave me,
Never to leave me alone.

Refrain:
No, never alone,
No, never alone;
He promised never to leave me,
Never to leave me alone:
No, never alone,2 The world’s fierce winds are blowing–

Temptation’s sharp and keen;
I have a peace in knowing
My Savior stands between;
He stands to shield me from danger
When all my friends are gone:
He promised never to leave me,
Never to leave me alone. [Refrain]

3 When in affliction’s valley
I tread the road of care,
My Savior helps me carry
My cross so heavy to bear;
Though all around me is darkness
And earthly joys are flown,
My Savior whispers His promise:  Never to leave me alone. [Refrain]

4 He died on Calvary’s mountain,
For me they pierced His side,
For me He opened that fountain,
The crimson, cleansing tide;
For me He’s waiting in glory
Upon His heavenly throne:
He promised never to leave me,
Never to leave me alone. [Refrain]

 Bible references are from the New International Version unless otherwise specified.

 

 

The Desires of Our Hearts

In Psalm 37:4-6 the bible says:“ Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart. ⁵ Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him and He will do this: He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun.”

In verses 4-5, we find a promise. These verses implies that when we make God our primary joy and delight, He aligns our desires with His will and fulfills them. But, although it is a promise of spiritual alignment, please note that it is not a guarantee of selfish wants. 

Why is it important to understand the desires of God's heart? When we understand the desires of God's heart, we can then begin to know Him better, or to know Him more intimately.

When we draw closer to God, we learn to see Him as He is, a loving heavenly Father who always wants the best for each of His children. We also can better understand what HE wants to accomplish in us, in our hearts, in our lives and through us. He has individual plans for each one of HIS children. When we draw closer to God is also the best way to communicate the desires of our hearts to Him. He is a very attentive Father. He always listens when we share with Him the desires of our hearts.

When we delight in the Lord, is how we truly find peace, satisfaction and value. This is the place to be so we know that we know that when or where He calls us, we will be ready to go wherever He wants us to serve. When we truly understand the greatness and immensity of His love for us, it also frees us from negative and inferiority feelings that the enemy would want you to believe.

Now, does this mean that if we go to church every Sunday, if we read our Bible, even if we are faithful with our tithes, God will give us a new car, or a big house in a nice part of town? No, not at all! When we understand this verse and other verses on the same theme,  when we delight in eternal things, in the things of God, when we pursue a daily intimate relationship with our God, we will see God's goodness and provision in every aspect of our lives, even in the smallest details… He gives us what our hearts desires…and it is still possible that He will give you a car and a house…

However, if the desires of our hearts are not aligned with the Word of God, we should not expect the Lord to grant all our heart's desires. Matthew 6:33 provides a great explanation: “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

Some of the desires of our hearts sometimes take time to be fulfilled, therefore, having an unwavering faith is very important. It is important to remember that everything happens in God's perfect timing. God does things in His own time because He know the beginning to the end of our lives. At times we pray for the salvation of people in our families, and it seems that things are going in the wrong direction instead of what we expect. This does not mean that our prayers are not being answered.  At times, the enemy of our soul will try to discourage us from praying. It also can mean that God’s perfect timing has not yet arrived. Therefore, this is the perfect reason to pray even more and draw closer to God with great confidence. Victory is near. In the 1980’s there was a song  that said: “don't give up on the eve of a miracle, God is still on the throne”

John 15:7 says :“If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.” 

Instead of filtering our prayers to only include what seems "important" to us, we can bring the full spectrum of our hopes into the light of the love God has for each and everyone of us. This allows us to move through the day with a settled spirit, knowing that if it matters to us, it certainly matters to our Heavenly father. The desires of our hearts have already captured His attention.

In my personal life, my conclusion is found in Jeremiah 29:13:“ You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”

Sincerely,

Denise

 

All scripture references are taken from the New International Version unless otherwise indicated. 

 

Lord, grant me your favor.

Recently during my quiet time, the Lord gave me this theme. It was such a blessing to me that I want to share this with all you wonderful people.

In Psalm 86:15, it reads: “ But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.”

In the Amplified Bible Version, it reads: “But You, O Lord, are a God [who protects and is] merciful and gracious, Slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness and truth.

I found an explanation to support this verse, and it is the following: The Lord is always good, ready to forgive, generous to all who call upon Him. At all times He expresses His divine goodness. It describes His will to forgive and His generosity towards those who call upon Him. It highlights His merciful nature in the face of the psalmist's distress. And I add, His merciful nature in the face of the specific problems and even distress of the some of you who are reading this article.

This verse describes a God full of compassion and mercy, a God who is always ready to respond with love and generosity, with tenderness to those who turn to him in their time of need, trial, illness, financial problems and all other problems that we each of us go through.

We do not need to make a special appointment or prepare a complicated conversation, no, not at all. Our God is always available to His children. Without exception He loves us just as we are and where we are in our walk with Him.

His compassion, His mercy, His goodness, His faithfulness, His tenderness, His forgiveness, and His grace are always available to us.

His tenderness touches me deeply. Why? Because in my life, I have gone through some very difficult times. But His tenderness has always been there to pick me up and surround me with His love. He always reaches out to me to reassure me which gives me the strength to continue to move forward in my personal walk with Him.

His unwavering love is always available when life brings us difficult times. Sometimes it is even difficult to pray. Yes, sometimes we shed tears and that is an acceptable emotion. At times tears flow because crying is how our heart speaks when our lips cannot explain the pain we feel. Neverteless, even in these situations, His unwavering love is always available to encourage us especially when we feel discouraged.

In Exodus 34:6 we read: “And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness,”

Psalm 121:2 says:“ My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.” Therefore, each one of His children has an absolute certainty that He is our help, always and at all times.

During the course of our day, we can declare the following verses as they will keep us strong and at peace. They will also reassure us that indeed He grants us His favor on an ongoing basis.......not because of who we are but because of who He is.

Psalm 91:2 says:“ I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”

In Isaiah 41:10 we read: “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

In Joshua 1:5  is such an encouraging scripture:“ No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

My conclusion is: When we pray, we can say with complete confidence, “Lord, grant me your favor.” His divine favor will keep us strong, whatever situation life throws our way. It is important to always ask respectfully and never forget to express our gratitude to such an awesome God.

Take care everyone,

Denise

 

All scripture references are taken from the New International version unless otherwise mentioned.

 

 

 

Gratitude to a faithful God for the year 2025!

 

My year end BLOG article.

I want to thank the Lord for what He has done for us in 2025. It is very so important to have gratitude towards our God.  

I recently read this passage:“What does gratitude have to do with God?” Well, above all, gratitude is a tool God has given us to combat the most destructive forces that come against our lives. Gratitude aligns our thoughts with His will. Gratitude reminds us of His goodness and breathes life or infuses us into the things that lead and help us to achieve our objectives, our calling and the purpose the Lord has for each one of us.”

Therefore, for me, gratitude and thanksgiving are the breath of life. It's like the air I breathe for my body; thanksgiving is the breath of life I breathe for my soul.

The Bible speaks a lot about gratitude. In various verses, it explains and describes the gratitude of giving thanks to God, of being thankful for small things as well as for great things. Having a grateful heart encourages us to focus less on ourselves and more on God and the people around us.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 in the New International Versions says:“In all circumstances give thanks, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” In my French bible it says “exprimer” which translates “to express” your gratitude.

Psalm 118:24: in the New King James version reads:“This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”  

Psalm 136:1: in the Amplified version says:“Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; For His lovingkindness (graciousness, mercy, compassion) endures forever.”

During our times of prayer, it is important to put aside our problems, our sadness, our difficult situations and take time to praise the Lord, to give Him thanks, to show Him our gratitude for all His goodness and for all that He does for us. After we have expressed our gratitude, then we can come to Him with our needs and petitions.

Giving thanks to the Lord is not only a once-a-year tradition on Thanksgiving Day. Giving thanks to the Lord is and should be something we do every day. Because every day He gives us strength for our day. He opens doors that only He can open! He closes doors that only He can close. He understands our fears and our apprehensions. He knows our every need.  

Now that we have arrived at the end of 2025, let us take a few minutes to thank the Lord for our lives, our families, and our friends. Let us thank the Lord for the good times He has provided all through 2025. Let us thank the Lord that when we faced struggles in our health, finances or other areas of our life, He was always there for us.

Isaiah 49:16:(NIV) says:“ See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me.”

Let us thank the Lord for all He has done for us in 2025 and for all He is waiting to do for us in 2026.

In closing, join with me in reading Psalm 69:30:(NIV)

“I will praise God’s name in song and glorify Him with thanksgiving.”

MAY THE LORD ABUNDANTLY

BLESS ALL OF YOU IN 2026!

DENISE

 

Jesus Rapfa, the One who heals !

Jesus Rapfa, the One who heals !

In John 14:27 the bible says: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

I start this article with this verse because these words coming from Jesus himself are an encouragement for us His people.  On a daily basis. these words help us, but they are especially helpful if we are going through difficult situations. When we call upon HIS name, HE is listening. HE is always available. In John 14:1: Jesus tells us:“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me.”

The the reason I chose this theme is because I do not want my heart to be troubled, neither do I want any of you to have a troubled heart. 

In Hebrew it is Yahweh Rapha. In French it is Jésus Rapha, le Seigneur qui me guérit.  In English we say : Jesus Rapfa, the One who heals me. I write these words in three different languages, but the meaning is the same in various other languages. Therefore, whatever language you may speak, Jesus is the same, He is Jesus Rapfa, the One who heals you, everyone of you!

In the world we live in we can find the word healer attached to a various individuals or organizations that used this word, but in an inappropriate manner. There are people who call themselves "healers," but realistically these individuals allow themselves to be influenced and used by the devil. Anyone surfing the internet can find sites about sorcerers, fortune tellers, or certain traditions attached to non-biblical beliefs. Many of these persons have no understanding of the diabolical consequences of their words or actions. I could spend more time on this subject, but this article is written to encourage people to believe that only Jesus Rapfa, is the One who heals you and me.

Jesus, Rapha means to heal, restore, repair or make whole. It symbolizes the belief that Jesus brings healing in the physical, emotional, mental and in the spiritual. He also brings wholeness to everyone of us, His people.

Rapha is an extraordinary word to describe the Lord who heals us! Jesus is the great and wonderful physician who restores our body, soul, and spirit. The sacrifice that Jesus made on the cross for me and for each of you is that He forgave our sins and opened the gates of heaven for all of us.

In Luke 8:43-48, we have a good example of a person who had tried every human method to cure her hemorrhages. But after 12 years, this lady still suffered from her affliction. When she heard that Jesus healed the sick, she made her way through the crowd hoping to only to touch the hem of Jesus' garment. She understood that Jesus was the One who heals. To her, Jesus was Rapha, the One who healed her.

The sacrifice that Jesus made on the cross for me and for each of you is that He forgave our sins and opened the gates of heaven for all of us. 

In Proverbs 4:20-22 it says:“ My son, pay attention to what I say; turn your ear to my words. Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; for they are life to those who find them and health to one’s whole body.”

He paid for every illness that afflicts our body. There is no part of our body that is not covered by the blood of Jesus Rapha, the one who heals us.

Pastor Joseph Prince says: “In Hebrew the word marpe means healing, health or cure. God’s Word is healing to all our flesh. It is healing for our eyes. It is healing to our kidneys, It is healing to our bones. It is healing to our skin. It is healing to our lungs. It is healing to all of our flesh! Not a single part of our bodies will be left untouched by the healing power of God’s Word.” ***

Jesus, our Rapha, the One who heals us, is always faithful.  In some situations, there is not a physical healing. Believers die. It is not a lack of faith, it is reality. My husband Roger died of lung cancer in 2008, but he believed that the best healing was to be in the presence of the Lord. He is forever healed!

In conclusion, here are a few verses that we need to declare for our life and over the lives of our loved ones that need healing may it be physical, emotional or spiritual.

Isaiah 53:5:“ But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.

Psalm 30:2:“ Lord my God, I called to you for help, and you healed me.”

1 Peter 2:24:“ “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.”

Exodus 15:26:“ He said, “If you listen carefully to the Lord your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, who heals you.”

My prayer is for everyone reading this article, is: May Jesus Rapfa, the One who heals, be your healer in whatever situation you need healing.

Denise

 All Scriptures references taken from New International Version

*** Quotation from Pastor Joseph Prince book “Live the let-go life”.

 

Échangez leurs déchets pour de la bonne nourriture

Dans les années 1990, parmi les bidonvilles que nous aidions, trois d’entre eux étaient situés près du plus grand dépotoir de la ville de Tijuana, au Mexique. Pendant quelques années, nous avons travaillé avec un merveilleux couple de pasteurs retraités qui possédait une maison et un poste d’alimentation à la sortie du dépotoir dans le bindonville de Salva Tierra. Chaque semaine on apportait de la nourriture pour nourrir les enfants. Ont avait aussi des études bibliques avec les enfants. Debout à l’arrière de la camionnette avec Roger et le pasteur âgé qui tenait nos feuilles de chant, nous chantions avec les enfants. Avec les yeux fermés et essayant de ne pas respirer les mauvaises odeurs provenant du dépotoir, ont tentait de s'imaginer que nous étions une belle chorale dans une grande église., 

Travailler avec ces enfants a été une expérience unique et bien précieuse. Beaucoup d'entre eux n'allait pas à l'école. Dans ce dépotoir, les enfants travaillaient avec leurs parents. Ils ramassaient et essaient de vendre toutes sortes d'objets qu'ils trouvaient en fouillant parmi les tas d'ordures. Ils faisaient cela tous les jours, du lever du jour jusqu'au coucher du soleil. Ces gens sont appelés Pepenadores, ce qui signifie:“ramasseurs de déchets.” Ce sont des gens de la communauté qui gagnent leur vie en fouillant dans les ordures laissées par les camions de vidange de la ville de Tijuana. Presque tout ce qu’ils possèdent, portent ou même mangent viennent du dépotoir. Dans les ordures, les familles travaillent pour trouver ce dont elles ont besoin pour survivre. Certaines de ces familles avaient construit des cabanes et vivaient sur le site même du dépotoir. Comme ce quartier était considéré comme illégal, il n'y avait absolument aucun service municipal disponible dans cette zone. Il n'y avait ni égouts, ni eau courante. L'électricité était connectée illégalement à des poteaux électriques situés en dehors du dépotoir. 

En travaillant avec ces enfants, nous avons rapidement appris à avoir un estomac solide et à désactiver notre odorat. Ils venaient directement du dépotoir au poste d'alimentation. Même s'ils étaient sales et puants, leurs grands sourires gagnaient nos coeurs semaine après semaine. Ils faisaient partie des enfants les plus reconnaissants que nous avons aidés pendant notre séjour sur le champ missionnaire. Nous avions aussi un autre poste d'alimentation dans un autre bindonville un peu plus loin. Un jour, après avoir livré de la nourriture à cet endroit, nous avons remarqué une famille pauvre que l'on connaissait qui marchait sur le bord de la route. Les trois enfants venaient régulièrement à notre programme de d'alimentation et à nos études bibliques dans cette zone. Dès que les enfants ont vu notre camionnette rouge, ils ont commencé à faire signe de la main pour attirer notre attention. Roger a arrêté la camionnette et nous sommes sortis pour parler à la famille. La mère nous a dit qu’ils revenaient d’aller au dépotoir pour essayer de trouver de la nourriture. Les enfants avaient chacun une petite chaudière en métal dans laquelle ils avaient de la “nourriture” qu'ils avaient ramasser au dépotoir. Pour ne pas les offenser, nous avons jeté un rapide coup d’œil sur le contenu des petits seaux. Même si nous étions tous les deux sous le chocs, nous avons dû faire comme si tout était normal. Leurs petites chaudières étaient remplies de morceaux de tortillas sales et cassés, de morceaux de pain moisi, de légumes à moitié mangés et des insectes. C’était complètement dégoûtant. Notre première pensée a été de jeter ces seaux dans le ravin au bord de la route. Mais cela aurait offenser cette famille.

Roger était le diplomate de notre couple. Moi, au contraire, j’étais plus directe. Il me disait que parfois, ma diplomatie était accompagnée d’une brique. Au cours de  nos 44 années ensemble, s’il pensait que j’allais utiliser mon genre de diplomatie, il me disait simplement: “Denise, laisse-moi m’en occuper.” Cependant, ce jour-là, sur ce chemin de terre, à quelques pas du dépotoir, il n'était pas certain comment gérer cette situation. Par contre, il savait que nous avions de la nourriture dans la camionnette, y compris des biscuits. Donc, il a demandé aux enfants s’ils  voulaient des biscuits. Les enfants étaient bien contents. Il a ouvert les portes arrière de la camionnette. Il a pris la boîte de biscuits et m’a tendu un sac pour chaque enfant. Pendant que Roger sortait les biscuits, les enfants avaient déposé leurs petits seaux sales à l’arrière de la camionnette. Avec un timing parfait, le Saint-Esprit est descendu comme une douce brise dans l’esprit de Roger avec une bonne idée. Mon mari a demandé aux enfants s’ils pouvaient lui rendre un service. Je n’avais aucune idée de ce qu’il faisait, mais il avait l’attention des enfants, alors je suis restée là sans dire un mot et j’ai attendu de voir ce qui allait se passer.

Les trois enfants étaient très enthousiastes à l’idée d’aider hermano Roger. Il a dit : “J’ai une proposition à vous faire à tous les trois. ” Il a ensuite placé une boîte en carton vide près des petits seaux sales des enfants et leur a demandé s’ils étaient prêts à échanger ce qu’ils avaient dans leurs seaux pour de la nourriture que nous avions dans la camionnette. Les enfants étaient enthousiastes et bien sûr leur réponse a été oui. Les enfants savaient que notre nourriture était bonne parce que nous leur donnions régulièrement des provisions.

Avec précaution et douceur, Roger a pris chaque petit seau et l’a vidé dans la boîte en carton. Ensuite, il s’est tourné vers moi et m’a demandé de l’aider. Nous avons rempli trois sacs de plastique avec du riz, des haricots, du pain, ainsi que des tortillas. J’ai ensuite remis les sacs de bonne et propre nourriture aux trois enfants. Le sourire sur leurs visages était toute la récompense dont nous avions besoin. Ils ont dit merci et nous avons chacun reçu un gros câlin.  Pendant ce temps, les petites chaudières sales étaient toujours à l'arrière de la camionnette. Ne pas les redonné aux enfants n'était pas une option. Comme Roger avait commencé ce “projet”, je n'allais pas intervenir. Il prit un autre sac en plastique et y mit les petites chaudières sales. Puis, il tendit le sac à la mère des enfants sans faire de commentaires. Il ferma ensuite les portes de la camionnette et après avoir reçu une autre série de câlins, nous sommes remontés dans la camionnette pour nous rendre à notre prochaine destination.

Lorsque des situations comme celle-ci se présentaient, et après y avoir fait face, nous n’avions souvent pas envie de parler. Les émotions pouvaient être accablantes. Le silence était comme un refuge où nous pouvions absorber ce qui venait de se passer. Donc, en silence nous avons pris la route pour se rendre à un autre de nos postes d'alimentation. Avant de décharger la nourriture, Roger a pris un sac de poubelle et a mis la boîte de carton contenant la nourriture du dépotoir à l’intérieur du sac. Puis, il l’a laissé sur le bord de la route près du poste d’alimentation afin que le camion de poubelle puisse le ramasser. L’ironie était que cette nourriture avariée venait du dépotoir et c’est là qu’elle retournait. 

Je suis tellement reconnaissante que le Seigneur nous ait permis d’être sur cette route, exactement au même moment où cette famille rentrait chez elle avec cette mauvaise nourriture. Ce n’était certainement pas une coïncidence, c’était plutôt un rendez-vous divin. 

Dans Matthieu 25, verset 35a, la Parole de Dieu dit :“ J’ai eu faim et vous m’avez donné à manger…et le verset 40 dit: “ En vérité, je vous le dis, dans la mesure où vous l’avez fait à l’un de ces plus petits de mes frères, c’est à moi que vous l’avez fait.”

Comme chrétiens, nous devons toujours être attentifs à toute personne que nous rencontrons qui sort de son propre “dépotoir”. Une personne qui a besoin de notre aide. Lorsque nous tendons la main à l’une d’entre elles, c’est comme si Jésus lui-même leur tendait la main. Cette pensée devrait toujours nous motiver à être gentils, attentionnés et rempli de compassion.

Que Dieu vous bénisse,

Denise

(exemples de situations de “son propre dépotoir”: la drogue, la boisson, sans travail, sans famille, sans-abri, séparation où divorce ect ect)

Sortez de votre tente! (version française)

Dans Genèse 15:1-5 la Parole nous montre l’alliance de Dieu avec Abram.

Après ces événements, la parole de l'Éternel fut adressée à Abram dans une vision, et il dit:“ Abram, ne crains point; je suis ton bouclier, et ta récompense sera très grande.” ² Abram répondit:“ Seigneur Éternel, que me donneras-tu? Je m'en vais sans enfants; et l'héritier de ma maison, c'est Éliézer de Damas.³ Et Abram dit:“Voici, tu ne m'as pas donné de postérité, et celui qui est né dans ma maison sera mon héritier.” ⁴ Alors la parole de l'Éternel lui fut adressée ainsi: “Ce n'est pas lui qui sera ton héritier, mais c'est celui qui sortira de tes entrailles qui sera ton héritier.” ⁵ Et après l'avoir conduit dehors, il dit: “Regarde vers le ciel, et compte les étoiles, si tu peux les compter.” Et il lui dit:“Telle sera ta postérité.”

De l’intérieur de sa tente, Abraham ne pouvait même pas imaginer ce que le Seigneur avait prévu pour lui. En restant à l’intérieur de sa tente, il s’est retrouvé accablé par les situations négatives de sa vie. Il s’est senti accablé parce que le Seigneur ne lui avait pas encore donné d’enfants, ni à Sarah.

Souvent, c’est la même chose pour nous. En restant dans notre tente, nous concentrons davantage sur le problème au lieu de faire confiance à Dieu. En faisant cela, nous oublions que nous avons un Dieu fort et puissant.

Parfois, il est bon et normal de réévaluer notre vie, nos choix, nos priorités et même nos erreurs. Mais ce n’est pas bon de passer trop de temps sur les « regrets ». Apprenez de vos regrets et ensuite passez à autre chose. Sinon, vous leur donnez la permission de devenir un cancer émotionnel dans votre vie. Vous ne pouvez pas changer le passé. Vous ne devez pas laisser le passé assombrir votre avenir. Même si vous avez des doutes sur les choix que vous avez faits au fil des ans, les leçons que vous avez apprises ont fait de vous la personne que vous êtes aujourd'hui.

Nous ne devrions jamais nous concentrer sur l’ampleur du problème, mais plutôt sur la grandeur de notre Dieu. Nous devons cesser de nous concentrer sur nos circonstances et nos difficultés. Nous devons tous “sortir de notre tente” et croire que Dieu est toujours plus grand que nos situations ou nos problèmes.

Trente-quatre ans passés, le Seigneur a ouvert une porte pour que Roger et moi puissions Le servir. Il ouvrira certainement une pour vous aussi. Les gens peuvent essayer de vous mettre dans une boîte, et essayer de vous faire faire ce qu'ils pensent que vous devriez faire, mais ne désespérez pas, continuez à prier, continuez à croire que le Seigneur a quelque chose de spécial pour vous. Le Seigneur a un endroit spécial pour chacun de vous afin que vous puissiez Le servir. Possiblement, que ça sera dans un endroit ou un pays auquel vous vous attendez le moins, mais quand c'est un appel de Dieu, vous franchirez cette porte et vous ne regarderez jamais en arrière, sachant que le Seigneur est en charge et qu'Il prendra soin de vous pour le reste de votre vie.

Nous devons aussi prier. Lisa Bevere dit: (***)“Rien ne fait autant peur au camp de l'ennemi que de fermer nos yeux et de venir avec AUDACE devant le trône de Dieu. Lorsque vous priez, vous êtes DANGEREUX pour le monde des TÉNÈBRES. Lorsque nous prions, Dieu nous ouvre des portes. Des portes que personne d’autre ne peut ouvrir ou fermer.

Le Seigneur a pourvu à nos besoins dans le passé et Il continuera à pourvoir pour notre « aujourd’hui » et a aussi pour tous nos « lendemains ».

Alors, comme Abraham, sortez de votre tente, regardez vers le ciel et comptez les étoiles. Le Seigneur a une étoile spéciale pour pour chacun et chacune de vous.

Une chose que je peux vous promettre, c'est que vivre pour Jésus est certainement une merveilleuse aventure.

J'inclus des versets pour vous encourager:

Psaumes 28:7 :“L'Éternel est ma force et mon bouclier; En lui mon coeur se confie, et je suis secouru; J'ai de l'allégresse dans le coeur, Et je le loue par mes chants.”

Psaumes 3:3-4: (3:4) “Mais toi, ô Éternel! tu es mon bouclier, Tu es ma gloire, et tu relèves ma tête.”

Colossiens 3:23-24 :“ Tout ce que vous faites, faites-le de bon coeur, comme pour le Seigneur et non pour des hommes, 24)  sachant que vous recevrez du Seigneur l'héritage pour récompense. Servez Christ, le Seigneur.”

Matthieu 25:21 : Son maître lui dit: “C'est bien, bon et fidèle serviteur; tu as été fidèle en peu de chose, je te confierai beaucoup; entre dans la joie de ton maître.” 

Denise

Versets dans la version Louis Segond,

****** Lisa Bevere est pasteur et auteure à succès.