GOD Morning! Rotten (Fill in the Blank) / April 26, 2017

GOD Morning!


Rotten (Fill in the Blank)


April 26, 2017










John 11:30-57


30 Now Jesus had not yet entered the village, but was still at the place where Martha had met Him.31 So when the Jews who were with her in the house comforting her, saw how quickly Mary got up and left, they followed her, assuming that she was going to the tomb to weep there. 32 When Mary came [to the place] where Jesus was and saw Him, she fell at His feet, saying to Him, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.” 33 When Jesus saw her sobbing, and the Jews who had come with her also sobbing, He was deeply moved in spirit [to the point of anger at the sorrow caused by death] and was troubled, 34 and said, “Where have you laid him?” They said, “Lord, come and see.” 35 Jesus wept. 36 So the Jews were saying, “See how He loved him [as a close friend]!” 37 But some of them said, “Could not this Man, who opened the blind man’s eyes, have kept this man from dying?”


38 So Jesus, again deeply moved within [to the point of anger], approached the tomb. It was a cave, and a boulder was lying against it [to cover the entrance]. 39 Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to Him, “Lord, by this time there will be an offensive odor, for he has been dead four days! [It is hopeless!]” 40 Jesus said to her, “Did I not say to you that if you believe [in Me], you will see the glory of God [the expression of His excellence]?” 41 So they took away the stone. And Jesus raised His eyes [toward heaven] and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. 42 I knew that You always hear Me and listen to Me; but I have said this because of the people standing around, so that they may believe that You have sent Me [and that You have made Me Your representative].” 43 When He had said this, He shouted with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” 44 Out came the man who had been dead, his hands and feet tightly wrapped in burial cloths (linen strips), and with a [burial] cloth wrapped around his face. Jesus said to them, “Unwrap him and release him.”


Lazarus was rotten. He was stinky. Dead for four days. This dead body has to be up there in the top ten impossible scenarios in the Bible. But Jesus raised the rotting body to life.


Does your life stink? Does your marriage stink? Does your relationship with your parent, sibling, or child stink?


Rot rät


verb


gradually deteriorate through lack of attention or opportunity.


Wow. Marriages can gradually deteriorate through lack of attention. That’s for sure. My husband and I can relate. Just a few years ago our marriage was rotting away. Neither of us had any answers. We had many conversations about what to do. We finally gave up and started seeking God desperately every morning. Slowly but surely God turned our stinky, sinking boat around and headed us toward healing. We are now stronger and better than we ever have been. Our love for God and each other is solid and sure. Jesus raised our dead, hopeless marriage to life.


Is there a rotten relationship in your life? A family member, friend or a co-worker? What about a brother or sister in Christ?


Sometimes when we keep trying to reach out, we get absolutely nowhere.


Sometimes the rotten relationship just sits there and stinks.


Sometimes we must simply turn the person over to Jesus Christ. Which is hard for me. Because I want everyone to like me. But I have learned the hard way that some folks are never going to like me. Why? I may never know the answer to this question.


One reason is that they may have a heart issue that only they can solve. I can’t change anyone’s heart. Only God can change a heart.


What is my advice to myself? Pray for them and continue to love them. This sounds so hard. But once I make the decision to love them, knowing that our relationship may never change, the frustration vanishes.


One way to love unconditionally is by fasting. I’ve tried it and it works. When I focus on changing ME, I can relax, in spite of the ongoing situation. I must turn the hopeless relationship over to God and let Him raise it to life in His time, not my time.


Sometimes I know without a doubt that the stinky relationship is God’s scalpel. He is doing surgery on my heart. Sometimes in the midst of the stink, I feel His sweet presence, assuring me that He is working on me. Surgery is not fun, but once the cancer is cut out, I can be made new again, by the washing of His word.


Jesus was hated. By a ton of folks. Surely I can be okay with some folks disliking me.


Are your prayers stinky?


In the midst of my prayer time one morning, I felt uneasy. I was praying a distracted prayer. I was praying a rushed prayer. I was praying an interrupted prayer.


Psalm 141:2 (AMP)


Let my prayer be counted as incense before You;


The lifting up of my hands as the evening offering.


in·cense


a gum, spice, or other substance that is burned for the sweet smell it produces.


inˈsens/


perfume with incense or a similar fragrance.


"the aroma of the candle incensed the air"


Are my prayers incense to God, or are they stinky?


Isaiah 43:24


You have not brought me fragrant incense or pleased me with the fat from sacrifices. Instead, you have burdened me with your sins and wearied me with your faults.


Ouch. This scripture cuts me to the core. I may have taken it out of context. Still, I am taking it to heart.






“My dear, precious Jesus, today’s subject could go on and on. I absolutely love finding answers for absolutely everything in Your word. We all encounter rotten, stinky situations in our lives. This is a part of living here on earth. When the stink goes on and on endlessly, I have to remind myself that this life is only a vapor.


“whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.” James 4:14


This sometimes stinky, smelly life will vanish and then I will live forever with You, my King of kings and my Lord of lords. My very best Friend. I want to shine Your love all around.


What is so amazing is that You brought this subject right back around to my stinky prayer. When I work on my relationship with You, I have a beautiful peace. The most important relationship here is You and me.





Oh God! Thank You for Your conviction! Thank You for shining the light of Your word on my heart this morning! Please forgive me! I need Your mercy this morning! How I love You my precious Jesus. AMEN.”