Get up!!!!!!
Jul 11, 2020
In November of last year, I was invited to a prayer breakfast by one of my mother’s hospice nurses. That day I was soooo tired and I REALLY did not want to get up and do a thing. I had to talk myself into getting up and going. It was such a struggle to get there! The GPS took me all over the place so I was late. I couldn’t find parking, I had to park on the street, and I had to pay so that made me more irritated. I walked into the church and had to get on an elevator to go to the basement where the prayer breakfast was. I got in the elevator with this man and guess what?!?! The elevator got STUCK! I was ready to go before I even got into the breakfast! The man on the elevator pushed a few buttons and made sure I got out safely. I walked into the breakfast and found my seat. I observed the worship service which was very different than what I was used to. The first few times I visit a new church I don’t interact as much because I like to make sure these folks aren’t in here playing with the Lord.(I said that last part in my old lady voice) So I’m listening to the message and I realized I had to move my car because of the 1hr limit. I didn’t plan on coming back because 1.) I was hungry (the food hadn’t been served yet) and 2.) I was supposed to go visit mom afterwards. I got in my car and God told me I had to go back to the church! I was sooo frustrated, like “Why God?!?” I just wanted to go be with my mom, but he said I had to go back so I found another spot and went back to the service. There was a woman who was preaching when I returned, I don’t remember what her message was, but I know she pointed at me and told me to come to the front. Now like I said before I like to OBSERVE not INTERACT when I visit a new church. I sat there and, in my mind, I wasn’t going up there to play with the Lord. (I’m joking) I don’t recall walking up to the pulpit but here I am looking this preacher lady in the eye. She mentions the healing pool in Bethesda. In the story it talks about people going to the pool to be healed. The preacher compared me to a man that had been paralyzed for 38 years who laid by the pool. Every time the man tried to reach the pool to get healed people would step over him and get ahead of him. Jesus saw the man lying by the pool and asked, “Do you want to get well?”-John 5:6. The man explained why he couldn’t make it to the pool and Jesus told him to “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk”-John 5:8 and the man was healed. The lady told me that God sees me laying by the pool, and he sees the things that others have done to me. When she mentioned the things that have been done to me, she began to weep! It was almost like she could feel the pain that I carried, she told me that God wants me to get up and walk! The whole church began to pray over me, and I physically felt something happening in my body that I had never experienced before. I knew that God was speaking to me through her because the enemy tried every trick to prevent me from going to the church and getting that message. I mentioned this story because I want you to think about what it is that’s causing you to be paralyzed. What is it that has you laying by the pool needing to be healed? We already know from the story that Jesus will find you and meet you where you are. You will encounter some obstacles but as long as you keep pressing your way he’ll be there. To be transparent my insecurities have me paralyzed. It has crippled me my whole life. Every insecurity that I have, I didn’t notice until someone brought it to my attention. The funny thing is the things that I’m most insecure about are the ones I get most complemented on. I believe that’s one of my biggest challenges, 1000 people can complement me on something but if I get a negative response it crushes me. My mother used to always say “Sticks and stones” but I don’t believe that, WORDS HURT! I could go on all day about things that have been said to me that impacted me so negatively that it changed me as a person. I’m sure many have the same story. So today I’m choosing to Get Up! I might stumble a little but the more I practice the stronger I will become. While I get into the position to be healed, I want to extend the journey with you all. We all need a little extra love right now. The world is so heavy, and we must support one another. While we get to the pool of Bethesda let us not step over our brothers and sisters to get there, lets help eachother. I encourage you to read the word of God. There’s nothing that you’ve gone through that you can’t find in the bible. As always continue to keep my family and I in your prayers. Kendra and I have a birthday on Thursday (7/16) I ask for a special prayer as it will be our first without mom. If you have any prayer request, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
“Get up! Pick up your mat and walk”-John 5:8
