I hope last week’s 5-minute exercise has been working for you, because inactivity bring a lot of discomfort and sicknesses. Also, there are not many stories in the Bible where inactivity works with healing and forgiveness. Upon receiving forgiveness, some of the Biblical patients would even crawl away, climb down a tree, run to the church, etc. Undoubtedly for the Samaritan woman at the well, immediate actions ensued as well. Imagine the Samaritan woman rhapsodizing Jesus’ power: “You’ve got to meet this man!” and galloping and frolicking as her soul is no longer ladened with guilt and shame. Instead, her focus shifted from everyday needs, relational dramas, and polarization in the church to God’s presence, the Messiah—the Promised Deliverer. Unlike cultural norms and expectations, the Promised one did not condemn but rather ignited faith. This paradigm shift from problems to promises is the healing the woman at the well needed—the fountain of joy overflowed upon receiving forgiveness—is also available to us today. Truly, ask and you shall receive. Contemplate on John 4:34 with me for a few minutes: “My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.” Do you think it is possible that Jesus implied healing and forgiveness as His calling? Challenge: Ask God if you need forgiveness and ask for strength to forgive both yourself and those who have caused pain and destruction. Then, share one blessing you’ve received from God with a friend, co-worker, or family member. You don’t have to share with your entire neighborhood, but that one person you share your blessings with might end up sharing Christ to the entire city. Written & Edited by
Covered & Kept Ministries
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Growing up at church taught me to eat whole healthy foods, dress appropriately, be a good steward, and treat others with kindness. While my church promoted wholesome, healthy living, exercising was not elevated like the other components. Sometimes, I wondered the reasons for such differences. But instead of delving deeper, I decided to elevate the importance of fitness for myself. This started two years ago, when challenges at work turned into Goliaths. Then, exercising became a prerequisite for a clearer mind and not (just) another item piled onto my to-do list. One Bible verse that had inspired the leap was found in 1 Corinthians 6:20, “You were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.” Knowing the many benefits that exercising brings to our bodies, I started running 5 mins in the afternoon. Sometimes my workout lasted 25 minutes, but they lasted 5 minutes on most days. Like Dr. Michael Miller suggested, starting with as little as five minutes a day of walking or any activity you enjoy can turn our lives around. Eventually five minutes will become ten minutes, and ten minutes will turn into fifteen minutes. He was right, and I felt more equipped to honor God with the body He had created. Contemplate on Luke 16:10 with me for a few minutes: “If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in larger ones…” The 5 minutes and the little things in life can change us. Why? It’s not that the little things or minutiae of everyday life contain fairy dust, but rather it’s the habits we form while being faithful in little things that shape our character, and eventually determine our destiny. Challenge: Spend 5 minutes brisk walking or jogging and 5 minutes on studying the Bible. If you already have an exercise and bible studies routine, we challenge you to encourage others to do the same. Written & Edited by
Covered & Kept Ministries Board & Team “Am I supposed to stay? Do you want me to leave?” Picture a woman clothed in robes, hidden from the crowd, and filled with terror that her health will be snatched away. “Did he really meant stay and show up?”, she thought. Filled with apprehension, she stayed and showed up, and Jesus said, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace.” (Luke 8: 48) I didn’t bleed for 12 years like the woman in the Gospel, but I, too, wondered if God really meant for me to stay. My question grew stronger as my landlord said she’s got to sell her house. I thought, “My conditions prevented me from work for 6 months already, how am I going to afford moving costs and new rental costs?” How can I find affordable accommodations in an unfamiliar environment in two weeks? Who’d defray the extra expenses?” A few hours later, I received this text: A family from church just heard about your situation and they want to host you. There’ll be no charges. I was bursting with joy, excitement, life (you name it)! God answered! He said stay. Sometimes, the answer we want shows up in 12 mins, and sometimes, 12 years! The answer may seem uncertain, and the wait drags on, but one thing is certain—God always shows up. So, trust when Jesus says “the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.” (Luke 12:7) Yes! We’re worth more, because God promised to send His Son to stay with us for good. Written & Edited by
Covered & Kept Ministries Board & Team |
AuthorDetails will be updated soon. ArChives
March 2020
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