Offering women a biblical solution for inner healing
by Aliene
With Love From Jesus Ministries provides food, clothing, prayer, and hope to needy families in Wake and Johnston Counties in North Carolina.
Listen as Aliene interviews Linda Williams, founder and director of With Love From Jesus, and discover how God not only uses this ministry to meet the practical needs of others, but also as a platform to promote and display unity in the Body of Christ.
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by Aliene
In Jesus’ day, rabbis did not teach women. In fact, a rabbi would not speak to a woman if he passed her on the street. But as we peer into the gospels, we see story after story about how Jesus broke through every cultural barrier and social boundary to reach out to women and nourish their hearts with life-giving truth.
I love that about Jesus – don’t you?
Mary Magdalene called him “Teacher.”
“Teacher!” Mary Magdalene could have called him Savior, Healer, Lord—but she called him “Teacher.” The gospel of John records that precious moment when Mary Magdalene could not bring herself to leave Jesus’ empty tomb. Weeping, she turned from the angels still in the tomb and saw a man she assumed to be a gardener. But when Mary realized the truth—that her Savior was standing before her—she turned to him and exclaimed, “Rabboni,” which is teacher in Hebrew.
Mary of Bethany also called him Teacher.
Martha pulled her sister, Mary of Bethany, away from the mourners, whispering, “The Teacher is here and He wants to see you” (John 11:28). Mary’s heart, saturated in sorrow, did not understand why Jesus had not come in time to save her brother, Lazarus. “Why” was echoing endlessly in her heart when Martha took her to Jesus, who wept with her. A short time later, Christ resurrected her brother from the dead.
Yes, women in the Bible who held Jesus close to their heart called him “Teacher.” Jesus is the Lamb of God, the Prince of Peace, the Bread of Life, the Good Shepherd, Emmanuel (God with us), the Redeemer, King of kings and Lord of lords, but in these moments of great despair, these women called him “Teacher.”
Jesus loved and valued women.
He taught them.
And with his words of truth, women were empowered to walk in a new way—by faith and not by sight. Through eyes of faith, these women began to see themselves differently. They saw their circumstances differently. They saw God differently. Their lives were never again the same because of their Teacher.
Today, women around the world continue to encounter Jesus as their Teacher . . . and their lives are forever changed. Through Jesus, these women have overcome all sorts of obstacles, adversity, and challenges with a strength the world cannot offer them.
Still today, when we allow Christ to redefine our identity and the purpose for which we were created, not only are our lives impacted—but also the lives of those around us. From that place of abundance, we can give to others the way God intended. We will join those who came before us, realizing Jesus laid his life down to fight for our heart, releasing us to live fearlessly for his glory as we look to him as our sole source for life.
Let’s step boldly forward to live out our authentic identity and leave blessings in our wake as we lean into and learn from Jesus. Only the Holy Spirit can teach us truth and package it to make a lasting impact on our hearts.
As we call on our Teacher, we will hold our heads a little higher today. We will walk a little wiser. And we will find direction for our decisions today—as we lean on and look to Jesus as our Teacher.
As we call on our Teacher, we will navigate through this storm today. We will find courage to carry on. And we will understand how to walk through this valley we face today—as we lean on and look to Jesus as our Teacher.
Yes, brave heart, today and every day the Teacher is here to see you. Let us, like women of old, treasure the fact that Jesus wants to teach us as we seek truth through his Word.
ONWARD!
Nourish Scripture: Luke 10:38-42
Connect to God’s Word and find the truth you seek. Download Nourishing Your Heart today!
Blog written by Aliene Thompson. Aliene Thompson is the founder of Treasured Ministries and the Author of the Nourish Bible Study Series. © 2019 Treasured Ministries.
by Aliene
The things we feel ourselves wanting to hide from God are often times the things that should be propelling us into His presence.
What the enemy wants us to keep hidden in our hearts is defeated when we bring it to the feet of Jesus, there is victory found when our knees hit the ground at the throne of God.
In Luke 7 we find Jesus, surrounded once again by the “perfect people” of that time, yet His focus is not on those with their heads held high, it is on the precious daughter that has lowered herself in His presence.
This woman, with the reputation that proceeded her, had nothing to give, yet gave everything she could.
“A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume. As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.”
This woman, rather than running from Jesus in fear, was propelled by the darkness she carried, she was drawn to His feet and she brought with her the only thing of value she had. Her name, her reputation, her life had wasted away, she had run out of herself and so she ran to new life. She drew so close to Jesus that her hair was at His feet, and in that place of vulnerability she was not met with condemnation.
When the world around her met her act of love and devotion with judgement, Jesus was quick to affirm her in verses 41:47
“Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.”
When she drew near to Him He became her ADVOCATE, He became her DEFENDER.
It was her appreciation and acknowledgement of all her shame and all of His forgiveness that brought her to her knees, fearlessly thankful.
When we are willing to recognize just how dire of a situation our hearts were in before salvation, before Jesus, we are able to rejoice that much more in the freedom of our soul.
It is the understanding of how heavy our burdens are that makes the act of casting them at the feet of Jesus so beautiful. Jesus will never be disappointed to find us at His feet, we are never unwelcome at the base of His throne, and our burdens, pain, and shame will never be left on our backs after we stand up.
May our hearts never be fooled into believing that the feet of Jesus are for the perfect, they are for everyone, they are for the weary hearts, they are for the wandering spirit, they are for the hidden pain.
Bring your heart, may the shame that binds it be the pain that propels you to call on Jesus again and again. May the still small call of the Father drown out the screaming lies that tell you to stay hidden, that tell you that you are too far gone.
The truth is, by all understanding of this world, we are too far gone, but that cross reached into the grave, into the “far gone” to pull you out. And no one can take that away from you.
Recognize forgiveness for what it is, the great pardon from death, and live as one who knows they have been pulled from the “far gone” into glorious life with Jesus.
Nourish Scripture: Luke 7:36-50
Enter into a glorious life with Jesus by finding nourishment in God’s Word. Download Nourishing Your Heart to discover the key!
Blog written by Millicent Phillips. Millicent is part of the Treasured Ministries writing team. © 2019 Treasured Ministries.
by Aliene
No more holding back.
I wonder if the widow in the temple heard those words whispered in her soul as she clutched the warm coins in her hand. Pressing the precious metal into her perspiring palm, she held them tightly for the last time. They were all she had to live on—dropping the coins would declare her dependence on God.
Was she tempted to pull back?
Did insecurity or intimidation grab her thoughts as she was surrounded by the well-to-do?
Did they even notice her?
Her two tiny copper coins were so small compared with the heaps of money the wealthy religious placed in the offering as they paraded by.
But Jesus noticed and asked his disciples to study this wise woman. Through his eyes—the only eyes that mattered—her offering was far greater than the vast amounts of money given for show.
The widow was getting ready to give her all—no holding back.
As she dropped her coins to be captured by the treasure table, the tapping and clinking must have rang out in heaven like a symphony. Jesus watched and beheld the beauty of a woman giving her heart without reservation to him, for where her treasure was, her heart was also (Matthew 6:21).
The widow’s giving was a picture of the principle Jesus had recently taught to a teacher of the law asking which of the commandments was the most important. Pulling in words spoken to the Israelites in the wilderness on the brink of their Promised Land arrival, Jesus captured the essence of following God: no holding back.
‘”Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ (Mark 12:29-31, emphasis mine).
Jesus said the widow in the temple truly gave because she gave all she had. No holding back. Anyone can give out of abundance, but how much more precious is our offering when we are giving Jesus our all. It’s easy to give out of a harvest, but it takes faith to give our last seed when the harvest is yet to come.
As the Bridegroom beheld this sacrificial offering, notice he did not stand in the way of her giving. He did not run toward her, grab her hand, and say, “Are you crazy? This is your very last—your very last! Hold back some to see you through the coming days!”
This passage has always caused me to pause. If our Bridegroom loved the widow, why would he stand back and watch her give everything she had to the temple treasury?
Christine Cain, founder of A21 Ministries, helped me understand why Jesus did not prevent the widow from giving her all in a podcast she recorded. As I listened I learned that it was not that he did not want her needs to be met. Jesus knew her true needs would be met through her giving. Christine Cain said this “her need was met through her seed.” I love that – don’t you?
If Jesus can make money come from the mouth of a fish, he can provide for us in creative ways when there seems to be no way (Matthew 17:27).
Jesus knew the widow’s giving was not about money. It was about her heart. Jesus did not stand in her way because he knew that those who choose to live for the Lord with no holding back are blessed beyond measure.
Often when we have nothing – we discover He is our everything.
She trusted him with all her heart…her brave heart.
When I am down to my last mite of money, my last mite of strength, my last mite of time – let me not pull back in fear but press in to trust you with everything.
Nourish Scripture: Mark 12:29-40
Connect with God’s Word in a way that transforms your life. Discover how by downloading Nourishing Your Heart today!
Blog written by Aliene Thompson. Aliene Thompson is the founder of Treasured Ministries and the Author of the Nourish Bible Study Series. © 2019 Treasured Ministries.
by Aliene
Our senses gather evidence from our surroundings to reason what is right. However, our conclusions may be true, but not necessarily God’s truth. Reasoning vs. relying on the Holy Spirit often left me feeling powerless, depressed, angry and all alone to figure out life. But when Jesus invited me to live differently by seeing differently, everything changed. (BTW -this did not mean throwing my brains out the window!)
In today’s podcast, braving a broken world by redirecting your reasoning to rely on the Holy Spirit to walk by faith and not by sight. Use your grit to see with eyes of faith and boldly become the woman, God created you to be one grace-filled step at a time. #graceovergrit #followingjesusfindinglife.
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by Aliene
He went to great lengths to reach her. Jesus crossed all cultural boundaries and social norms to journey to the well at Samaria and wait to speak with just one woman. He was weary from his long trip, but she was worth his journey (John 4:4-8).
Great lengths just for one. I just love this about Jesus—don’t you?
“Suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Won’t she light a lamp and sweep the entire house and search carefully until she finds it? And when she finds it, she will call in her friends and neighbors and say, ‘Rejoice with me because I have found my lost coin.’ In the same way, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels when even one sinner repents.” (Luke 15:8–10, emphasis mine).
Sometimes when we make great efforts but reach only one, we may become weary from our journey. We might even question if we are really making a difference.
Are all our efforts worth so much time and energy?
The world would say success is found only in the fulfillment of great numbers. However, Jesus found fulfillment in just being faithful to do his Father’s will (John 4:34). Sometimes this meant going to great lengths for just one.
Do you feel defeated because you don’t see the results you expected? Take heart today by considering his heart. Jesus went to great lengths for just one. And now He calls you and me to do the same.
“So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.” (1 Corinthians 15:58)
Nothing you do for the Lord is useless, brave heart. Nothing!
If you measure results with the world’s value system of numbers, you may become frustrated and feel defeated. When you are tempted to lose heart, remember the heart of Jesus, who went to great lengths to go after one.
Focus on being faithful and let Jesus take care of the fruit.
Your labor to share his love with others is never wasted—even if it reaches just one. Remain strong and immovable in your calling by remembering the heart of Jesus, who went to great lengths for just one.
In our world where success is measured by amounts and numbers, isn’t it refreshing to look through the heart of Jesus to find fresh wind for our sails?
True success is never determined by numbers but by knowing and fulfilling God’s will for your life.
When you are tempted to lose heart in your labor to share his love, remember the heart of Jesus, who went to great lengths to go after ONE.
Onward!
Nourish Scripture: John 4:4–34
Discover how to dive deeper into God’s Word by downloading Nourishing Your Heart today!
Blog written by Aliene Thompson. Aliene Thompson is the founder of Treasured Ministries and the Author of the Nourish Bible Study Series. © 2019 Treasured Ministries.
by Aliene
Brave hearts beware – Modern Day Pharisees are alive and well. They no longer throw stones but hurl judgmental words that can wound the soul. Who is your modern-day Pharisee? What words feel like stones against your soul causing shame? Honestly, as much as I try to use my grit to rise above what others say, sometimes it’s not enough. Ahh, but Jesus has something better. His grace is more powerful than my grit. His words have the power to make those words-like-stones fall.
In today’s podcast, using grace to handle a modern-day Pharisee so they don’t and hinder your God given right to shine! NEVER let a modern day Pharisee dull your sparkle. #graceovergrit #follwingjesusfindinglife
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by Aliene
The call that we hear to come to Jesus, to taste freedom, and to lay our burdens down is persistent through every stage of life. Often times the voice of the Father seems drowned out by the burdens we carry, it’s hard to hear the call of freedom when we allow chains, already broken, to hang to us.
The call to Jesus is as persistent as the burdens on our backs, but the call of the Father, when answered, is faithful in breaking the burdens every time.
In Luke 13:10-17 we see Jesus, surrounded by the “righteous” calling to the woman “crippled by a spirit for eighteen years.” It was a room full of the “perfect” and His eyes found her.
“When Jesus saw her, he called her forward and said to her, “Woman, you are set free from your infirmity.” Then he put his hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and praised God.” Luke 13:12-13
Jesus did not see her, doubled over in darkness, and turn away to rather look to the perfect. He saw her, and he called. This is a perfect God, persistently facing our imperfections throughout His life, and reaching out to them.
He did not stop at calling her and speaking freedom over her life, He reached to her and touched her. He loved with His words, with His deliverance, and with His touch. She had no doubt been left aside by the righteous and abandoned by religion. All too fearful of her burdens, and here she is, being called out to among those who had left her behind, by the King of Kings.
There was no shame or condemnation attached to the voice that called to her, there was only the intention to see her freed of her pain.
After healing her, the leader of the synagogue was ready to cast judgement on both Jesus and the woman for the act of healing taking place on the Sabbath.
“The Lord answered him, “You hypocrites! Doesn’t each of you on the Sabbath untie your ox or donkey from the stall and lead it out to give it water? Then should not this woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has kept bound for eighteen long years, be set free on the Sabbath day from what bound her?” Luke 13:15-16
Notice that Jesus did not see breaking her free as work, but rather as a given. To rescue us is his delight. It’s what He came to do, it’s what He wants to do, to see His beloved free. He freed her and brought her to stand straight and look Him in the face, allowed her to worship freely.
Notice also that Jesus’ FIRST identification of her was not her burdens, but rather her lineage and identity in relation to Abraham. Christ sees through our burdens to who He has created us to be. He calls to the identity that He has placed in our hearts to be free and then deals with the burdens that are covering our hearts.
When our hearts are weighed down with the burdens of the enemy it can be hard to hear his voice calling to us. It takes faith to believe that the call to us from Him is still there. The promise he gave to us is that it is.
The question is not whether we are being called to freedom, but if we are walking toward the voice that is calling us. Are we letting the call reach our ears? Are we letting ourselves be held or are we too burdened to even look him in the face?
Nourish Scripture: Luke 13:10-17
Discover how to connect with God’s Word in a way that transforms the way you live. Download Nourishing Your Heart today!
By Millicent Phillips. Millicent is part of the Treasured Ministries writing team. © 2019 Treasured Ministries.
