flannel board stories

So, I decided to look back through my old blogs and re-post a previous note I had written on MySpace. (Yes, that tells you how old it is!) I was encouraged by it today and I hope you are too.

12/23/06
you know those bible stories some of us learned about when we were a kid-- the ones about Jesus raising Lazarus, or healing the woman with the issue of blood, or putting mud on the blind guy's eyes to restore his sight? well, i used to think they were great stories and all, but i had a hard time relating. i mean, i had never had leoprosy (and wasn't planning on contracting it), never been blind or lame (well, it depends on what definition you use for that one), and never had to have my friends carry me around on a mat (unless it was for recreational use). so, needless to say, i didn't quite grasp the stories for all they are worth. after all, things have changed over the past couple thousand years. now, we don't lay around at the healing pool to get well and we don't go seeking out local prophets to touch us. however, does that mean that i cannot relate to these stories? do they not pertain just as much to me now as they did to those people 2 thousand years ago? how am i any different than the blind, mute, lame, and deaf that were healed by the touch of Christ? for you see, i have my own infirmities in my life, as we all do....we are all bound by things at one point or another. there are times when we are blind--when our perspective is skewed, or we just can't see things clearly. other times, we are mute--we have lost our voice, or can't find the words to speak. we are lame--bound to our mat, paralyzed by fear, shame, or guilt that keeps us immobile. we are deaf--seemingly unable to hear the voice of God or others despite our efforts to listen. so, no matter how circumstances are different, no matter how much time has passed since then and now...i am that person--the man with the shriveled hand--his disability keeping him from doing all the things he would like to do, the woman with the issue of blood--desperately reaching out to the only One she knows has the ability to heal her, the paralzyed man on the mat--relying upon his friends to bring Him to Jesus when he can't carry himself. i can find myself in the midst of these people, their issues, their circumstances, and yes, even their infirmities. and just as Christ looked at them with compassion, reached down and spoke to them, so He does to each of us: "get up, take your mat and go home." (matt. 8:6)..."take heart daughter, your faith has healed you"(matt 8:22)..."I am willing. be clean!"( matt. 8: 3)..."be opened!" (mark 7: 34)..."according to your faith, will it be done to you" (matt 9:29)

so i guess those flannel board stories will never be quite the same again.