Apr
12
What Does It Take?
By Julie B Cosgrove | Comments Off
Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. (Matthew 28:16-17 ESV) (Emphasis mine).
What does it take to convince some folk, right? The stone had been rolled away. His burial linens were all that were inside. Disciples had reported seeing Him on the road to Emmaus and eating fish with Him . Jesus had told them these events would unfold as they walked the byways of Israel towards Jerusalem and broke bread together in the Upper Room. Even as Jesus appears in risen form and they bow down to worship Him, some doubted – some, not just poor old Thomas. He was the only one to voice his thoughts.
Feb
13
Faith+Action
By Julie B Cosgrove | Comments Off
Jesus’s miracles of healing came in two types. There were those who put out great efforts to seek Him, touch Him or catch His attention. They Had an urgent need for themselves or someone they loved. The woman who had been hemorrhaging for years who stretched out to touch the hem of his robe is one example. Jarius whose child was ill is another. Then, there were those like the blind man Jesus and his disciples encountered along the road. Scripture does not tell us the blind man called out to Jesus. Yet, Jesus used this man to show illness or deformity was not a consequence of sin, by the man or his parents. It is not a punishment but an opportunity for God to work in lives. He dabs the man’s eyes with mud and his spittle, and then tells him to go wash it off in the pool. I see that as a way to get the man to prove his faith. There are two parts to the miracle – Jesus’ act and the man’s faith response. For the woman with the bleeding problem, it was her faith response and Jesus’ act. In both cases, faith and action had to be present.
Oct
2
Just Sniffles?
By Julie B Cosgrove | 4 Comments
“Blow, don’t sniff.” I heard an exasperated mother’s voice as she bent over her toddler with a tissue to her nose. The child shook his head and dashed back to the swings on the playground where his peers’ giggles beckoned. The mother sighed and stuffed the tissue into her pocket.
“Allergies. He’ll get an earache or sinus infection, I just know it.”
May
17
Up All Night
By Julie B Cosgrove | 2 Comments
In these days he went out to the mountain to pray, and all night he continued in prayer to God Luke 6:12
When was the last time you were up all night? I can count on both hands when I was. The first time was prom night, and afterwards a group of us went out to breakfast at an all night diner and watched the sunrise. It was bittersweet because we knew we each now had different paths. I’ve been up all night with a sick child, or by the hospital bedside of someone who just had surgery. There have been a few times I was up all night (or almost) tossing and turning because I couldn’t sleep. Worry or angst over something wouldn’t release itself from my brain. A few times pain has kept me from sleeping. But praying all night?
Mar
18
Roll Away the Stone
By Julie B Cosgrove | 6 Comments
Matthew 27:55-66 And Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen shroud and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had cut in the rock. And he rolled a great stone to the entrance of the tomb and went away. (vs.59-60 NIV)
Have you ever tried to bury Jesus? Many Christians do. They receive Him in their youth, then the world begins to seep in. Slowly their Christian beliefs erode, like water can to rock over time. They bury Jesus deep inside, seal Him up and walk away. They try to deal with the world on their own, ignoring what once spurred their souls.
Aug
3
Changing If only to Only if
By Julie B Cosgrove | 1 Comment
So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. John 8:36
Whenever I read this passage from John’s Gospel in the past, I concentrated on the words Son, set, or free. But today, God pointed out the word if. It doesn’t say when Jesus sets me free, but if.
Life can be full of ifs, can’t it? Many people if their lives away in day dreams. But they usually add a word to it -only.
Jul
5
Preparing for His Presence
By Julie B Cosgrove | 1 Comment
After this the Lord appointed seventy others, and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to come. Luke 10:1
The “after this” was after several people asked Jesus if they could follow Him, that is after they took are of some other things. He basically said that following Him was much more important. If you do that, the rest will take care of itself - He sees to that. I think that carries over into this sentence. Many sermons skip over it and go straight to the sow/reap part that follows. But, here I see Jesus sending people out to prepare the soil ahead of Him, so it can be sowed, then reaped. I believe that is what He calls us to do today after we decide to follow Him.
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