Daily Treasure

“And when Jesus came into the ruler’s house, and saw the minstrels and the people making a noise, He said unto them, Give place: for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn. But when the people were put forth, he went in, and took her by the hand, and the maid arose.  And the fame hereof went abroad into all that land” (Matthew 9:23-26).

Picture this scene. Jesus enters the home of Jairus.  There are minstrels playing funeral music and people lined up against a wall wailing.  They thought Jairus’ daughter was dead.

Jesus knew better so He cleared the home of all this “noise.”   This included those who were “laughing him to scorn.”  Jesus took Jairus’ daughter by the hand and told her to rise up.  God demonstrated His power over death.  God received the glory as everyone stood in utter amazement.

There are those who may feel God no longer performs miracles today. I dare to differ. Some of us have seen His power displayed many times.  I believe God’s greatest miracle occurs when He raises those dead in their trespasses and sins to newness of life.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: This Sunday marks the U.S. observation of the annual Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church. Pray for organizations such as Open Doors USA and Voice of the Martyrs who track instances and levels of persecution and make these known to other believers.

“While he spake these things unto them, behold,there came a certain ruler, and worshipped him, saying, My daughter is even now dead: but come and lay thy hand upon her,and she shall live.  And Jesus arose, and followed him, and so did his disciples.  And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood  twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment” (Matthew 9:18-20).

Jairus had run to seek Jesus.  He fought the crowd and fell at the feet of Jesus.  His heart was breaking as his daughter lay at death’s door.  He knew Jesus could work a miracle of healing. However, Jairus’ miracle was interrupted.  A woman with an issue of blood for 12 years also was seeking a miracle.  Jesus demonstrated His power by giving healing to the woman.  I think this solidified Jairus’ faith.  There was no doubt God could heal his daughter as well. Someone has said, “God’s delays are never God’s denials.” We will explore tomorrow how God worked another miracle.

If you stand in need of a miracle, don’t lose hope.  You may feel your faith being tested.  Jairus didn’t give up.  You shouldn’t either.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray for Thanksgiving outreach preparations in local churches. Then get involved in an outreach effort near you.

“Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof” (Matthew 6:34).
As I reflected on this verse, I thought about this summary: “Don’t borrow sorrow by worrying about tomorrow.”  As was mentioned, “We need not worry about the future beeause, as one popular song suggests, ‘He’s already there.’”

Some people try to look too far down the road of life.  They worry about things that haven’t even happened yet.  I have found the things I fret about most, never play out the way I think they will. It’s wasted time and energy to worry.  Sadly, worry shows a lack of trust in God.  It’s a lot easier to trust our sovereign God and cast our cares upon Him (1 Peter 5:7).

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray that many churches and women’s groups will observe and participate in the 2013 PreThanksgiving Week of Prayer and the Mission: North America Offering. Pray specifically about your part in these efforts.

“But seek ye first the kingdom of  God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matthew 6:33).

Our November study’s central character is the twelve-year-old daughter of a synagogue ruler named Jairus. She lay near death while her frantic father went to find Jesus.  He could have sent servants, but he went himself.  He realized Jesus could meet his need.  As our first week introduction states “The first step in discovering or recovering hope for any future involves seeking for the source of hope—Jesus.”

It looked like Jairus’ daughter’s future was bleak; she would miss so much of life. However, her father was running to the One who was their only hope for the promise of a brighter tomorrow.

So many times people will exhaust all possibilities, then finally turn to Jesus to meet their needs. How much lighter the burden if they would seek Christ first.  I’m reminded of the beautiful old song, “It Is No Secret What God Can Do.” If we are willing to put Christ first in our lives, we will find we worry needlessly.  Christ alone is our only hope for the future.  That hope is to spend eternity with the One we chose to seek first.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray for these women in the FWBIM family: Rachel, who delivered a new baby by Caesarean last week (Both mom and baby are healthy); Alicia (baby due this month), who has endured a difficult pregnancy; and Jenny, who is awaiting renewal of a residency card for the country in which she is serving.

“Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved: for thou art my praise” (Jeremiah 17:14).

Look to God for healing. He only can save and heal.  Give Him praise for being the One and Only Healer. I have often heard this phrase, “God will take the disease out of the body or He will take the body out of the disease.”  As a child of God, you are a winner either way.  You will find either immediate or ultimate healing. The chorus of the beautiful song,  “A Winner Either Way” says this well.

 
I’m a winner either way,
 If I go or if I stay;
For I’ll still have my Jesus each passing day.

I’ll have my healing here below,
 Or life together if I go.
Oh, Praise the Lord, I’m a winner either way.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: A Google search of almost any topic related to Christianity nearly always pulls up a Christian woman’s personal blog site. Pray for women (especially any you know) who regularly blog. Ask God to use their words effectively to encourage other believing women and influence unsaved readers to follow Christ.

“….The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much” (James 5:16b).
In week two I shared the first part of James 5:16. I return to www.biblegateway.com for these comments on the remaining part of our verse. “The term righteous is a call for every believer to reach towards righteousness.  All along James has been urging his readers to resist the temptation to compromise righteousness in their trials. Now, with the designation of the one praying as righteous with the shift in terms from general “prayer” to specific “entreaty,” the implication is as follows:  In your trials, you don’t need the power gained by money or favoritism or selfishness or fighting or swearing; use the power of prayer, for which you need righteousness.”  Later in the article we find these words: “James is merely convinced that genuinefaith will express itself in righteousness, and, the prayer of genuine faith is the prayer that is effective….confident beelief in God’s grace will makeme strong for acting righteously in the midst of trials.”

I’m thankful that, through the years, I have been surrounded by genuine prayer warriors.  I value their prayers for me. Often times we intercede in behalf of others that God would give them physical or spiritual healing. However, we might neglect praying for our own needs. Never be ashamed to reach fellow Christian to pray for your own healing.  It’s been proven, “the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: On this darkest of days, pray that God’s light would shine forth brightly through believers’ efforts to share the gospel and goodness of God with children who come trick-or-treating.

“My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;  Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing” (James 1:2-4).

The Living Bible says this about today’s verses. “Dear brothers, is your life full of difficulties and temptations? Then be happy, for when the way is rough, your patience has a chance to grow. So let it grow, and don’t  try to squirm out of your problems. For when your patience is finally in full bloom, then you will be ready for anything, strong in character, full and complete.”

We  all encounter times when our circumstances bring us down.  We feel anything but joy.  However, if we will exercise our faith in our sovereign Lord, we will find He will give us the strength to face uncertain days.  I  find great comfort in these words “…weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning” (Psalm 30:5b).

Take comfort in His Word.  Rest in its promises and the joy to come when we will ultimately be made complete.

Sue Winchester
Missouri

PRAY TOGETHER: Pray for Trunk or Treats, Pumpkin Parties, Harvest events and other evangelistic outreaches this week in churches and mission works across the nation.