Gift of Life (Mk 1:31) by Pastor Don Bird

14 Jan Gift of Life (Mk 1:31) by Pastor Don Bird

“He approached, grasped her hand, and helped her up.  Then the fever left her and she waited on them.” ~ Mk 1:31 (full readings)
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Pastor Don’s Reflections:  I love the healing stories of Jesus.  They remind me of the purpose for which Jesus came and they reveal to me the heart of Jesus and the way in which He calls us to live our lives.  We identify the healings throughout the Gospels as miracles, events that are beyond explanation and scientific possibility.  Is it really possible for the blind to see, the lame to walk, the withered to become whole, and the dead to rise, without divine intervention?  God, through Jesus, makes the impossible possible.  But, what I love most about the healing stories, is how Jesus heals.  He heals through the power of His word, which is often accompanied with His touch.  Through His touch, light overcomes darkness, life overcomes death, despair is overcome by hope, and brokenness discovers wholeness.  As ambassadors of Christ in this world, miracles happen when we embrace the life Christ offers and we are willing to share it with others – especially those who are experiencing darkness, drowning in despair, feeling broken, and staring death (in all of its forms) in the eye.  Keep giving the gift of life and allow Christ to touch the depths of others’ souls.
* Pastor Don Bird is the Lead Pastor at Hope United Methodist Church in Greenwood Village, CO.  He lives in Aurora, CO with his wife of 18 years, Mandy, and his two children, Ethan and Haleigh..

Faith Challenge:  In what ways are you giving life to the people and world around you?

Counter-Culture News: LifeSiteNews, LifeNews, American Family, Vatican, Project Rachel..
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Our Prayers: Pray LIFE Runners Creed to End Abortion.  Add Prayers. Pray with meals, bedtime, wake up, unceasingly. Consider mid-week Family Rosary (17 min). Let’s pray now.
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Feast Day:  St. Felix of Nola
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Faith Quote:  “I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” ~ John 10:10
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Through Christ our Lord,
Pastor Don Bird
1 John 3:18