DAY 9: God’s transforming presence – offering Christ to a hurting world
Posted: May 2, 2013 Filed under: 40 Day Walk With God, Bishop's Blog | Tags: 40 day prayer, annual conference, bill mcalilly, bishop, bishop mcalilly, mckendree, memphis, Methodist, Prayer, tennessee, UMC, united methodist 2 Comments
Luke 13:10-13
Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. A woman was there who had been disabled by a spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and couldn’t stand up straight. When he saw her, Jesus called her to him and said, “Woman, you are set free from your sickness.” He placed his hands on her and she straightened up at once and praised God.
As we reflect on the transforming presence of Jesus in our lives, what a remarkably sweet gift is the healing presence of Christ that is always with us! Jesus reminds us that many of us are bent over, weighed down, overwhelmed and burdened. Every now and then, we need someone to speak a word of encouragement and lay gentle hopeful hands on us in His name that we may be able to stand up straight and tall, liberated through faith.
What must it be like to not have to look down at the ground, but look up to the Lord because we have been set free?
What must it look like to no longer be looked upon as cursed, but blessed and highly favored because we have been healed in the place of worship and praise?
What would happen if all those who came to the House, the Temple, the Church where we gather each Sunday morning; and brought those who were bent over because they were nameless, faceless and voiceless; and they were able to leap and jump and praise God for deliverance?
What would healing look like in each congregation if we all came expecting Jesus to be present to do great things in us, with us and through us?
Prayer: Precious Jesus, hear us when we pray for healing that we might stand up, reach up, look up and hold out until our change comes! Your transforming presence gives hope that we are not forgotten, invisible, or helpless. Heal us of the things that cause us to stoop over and not look up to give thanks to you. In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. AMEN.
The Rev. Dr. Cynthia Davis
McKendree District Superintendent-Memphis Conference
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REFLECTIONS FOR THE DAY | Use a program on your computer, a traditional journal, or feel free to use the comment section of this blog post to record your reflections as a conversation with others…
READ – What spoke to me as I read today’s meditation?
REPENT – Where is God showing me that I have failed to be obedient to the call to discipleship today?
RECEIVE – What words of redemption and grace is God offering to me?
REMEMBER – Who and what is God calling me to remember in prayer related to today’s reading?
RESPOND – How is God calling me to respond today?
RESOURCES:
> DOWNLOADS – 40 Day Walk prayer guide (.PDF), 40 Days of Doodles kids journal (.PDF)
> CLICK HERE for sermon starters/suggestions
Greater Things Are Yet To Be Done 
For 5-years I have been s-l-o-w-l-y recovering from a crippling neuropathy. Today’s reflection only made me think that God doesn’t intend for me to be healed. I think some of us, who live with chronic incurable diseases, are meant to inspire others to do their best. After all, others who have the gift of good health, need to learn to appreciate it. I hope God is using me in this way. During my walk of faith I have been anointed many times for healing, and had laying on of hands — to no avail. I refuse to blame God for this condition, or for not being healed.
what would happen if all of us remembered to bring an extra offering for Golden Cross Sunday, May 12th – a ministry that is self-funded — and sports a new purpose by vote of the 2012 TN Annual Conference. 75% of the offering will now go to older adult ministries across the conference and 25% will be headed to Health & Welfare Committee serving persons who are weighed down with disabilities in this conference. What would happen? Lord, in your mercy.