Created For Him by Christina Calvache

When we stop to admire the wonderful and vastness of God’s creation, we can’t help to stand in awe of his marvelous works. Whenever I’m on the beach whether it’s raining, cloudy, sunny, or even at night, I can’t help but think of how God’s creation is so beautiful and so perfect. As magnificent and majestic as nature may be, there is one whom God calls a masterpiece (Eph 2:10). Us!

God fearfully and wonderfully created each one of us (Psalm 139:14), our frame (body) was not hidden from Him when we were “intricately woven” (verse 15). In fact, before conception He saw who he intended for us to be.

Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were for me, when as yet there was none of them (verse 16).

God created you to do great works that were predestined for you to do (Eph 2:10). God created you to worship Him (Isaiah 43:21). God created you to love him with all of your heart, with all of your soul and with all of your mind (Matt 22:37). Anything that interrupts or prevents you from doing these things should be brought to question. Search me, o God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting! (Psalm 139:23-24)

Although God created us with such esteem, we are not the final product of His plan until we allow Him to work in us to be the individuals He created us to be for His glory. I’m reminded of this scripture: Psalm 51:5 (NLV) “See, I was born in sin and was in sin from the beginning.” Because of our sinful nature, we need the Creator to continue creating in us. Malachi 3:3 refers to God as a ‘Refiner” and states, “He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver”. During the journey when we face challenging trials and hardship, and go through the various seasons of our lives, we can remember God is refining us.

God promises in Philippians 1:6, “He who began a good work in you will carry it out to completion.” God doesn’t want us to conform to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of our mind (Ro 12:1). But this life is full of choices considering the free will that He gave us. Children of God are faced with this decision - You can either walk in your destiny or walk away from it. The farther you walk away from it, the longer it will take for the Lord to complete His creation in you.

Phar-i-see or Fair-I-See

PHAR’ISEE, n. Heb. to separate. One of a sect among the Jews, whose religion consisted in a strict observance of rites and ceremonies and of the traditions of the elders, and whose pretended holiness led them to separate themselves as a sect, considering themselves as more righteous than other Jews. Definition from Webster’s American Dictionary of the English Language, 1828.

Based upon the statement above, are you, or have you ever been a Pharisee? Well, let me begin by admitting I have.

Unfortunately, I have looked upon the sins of others, and become bitter and judgmental. In that moment, I was a Pharisee. But this just isn’t “fair I see”, because self-examination reminds me that I sin too.

A story in Luke 7 (36-50) introduces us to Simon, a Pharisee who – until Jesus reminded him, forgot that he sinned as well.

This Pharisee invited Jesus to his home for a meal. “Just then a woman of the village, the town harlot, having learned that Jesus was a guest in the home of the Pharisee, came with a bottle of very expensive perfume and stood at his feet, weeping, raining tears on his feet. Letting down her hair, she dried his feet, kissed them, and anointed them with the perfume.” (The Message Bible Version)

Her tears, I believe, expressed sorrow and regret for the life she lived, and for the love she had for Jesus. She cared not that she would be judged by Simon, the Pharisee. She had met The Savior, and in that moment nothing else mattered.

Yet, those tears had a cleansing, victorious impact. For she cried at the feet of the One who has the power to forgive, restore, heal and deliver. She cried at the feet of the One who blessed her with new life.

Simon the Pharisee’s limited vision only saw the woman’s past. Jesus saw her future.

Simon’s self-righteousness clouded his vision. He failed to follow custom and honor Jesus as his guest, neglecting to wash his feet, to greet Him with the customary kiss and to anoint Him.

Simon did not see Jesus as Lord and Savior. He thought “if” this man Jesus were a prophet, He would have known the woman was a sinner. Simon’s blinded eyes caused him to forget he too was in need of this Savior.

The love Jesus has for us is not “fair I see”, because it includes me, and you, and everyone else too, despite our sin. The love of Jesus does not bind people with a past. It releases them to write His-tory, to live abundantly, to love Jesus. And to love others. It’s the kind of love that’s not fair, but thank God we can see, and love.

Prayer: Gracious Heavenly Father, forgive me for the times I was a Pharisee help me to love you so much that my eyes and heart are open to love, not judge those around me. May I always remember that I am saved by grace, and as Your Ambassador, extend this grace to others that they too would be saved, for your love isn’t fair I see, it’s fabulous. Make me more like you. In Jesus name. Amen.

Don't Go it Alone by Christina Calvache

When I was a young girl, I saw God do many miracles of healings. Every Sunday, people would go to the altar desperately hoping that God would heal them. I remember a woman who was told she couldn’t have children, a young man dying of cancer who was told he had 3 weeks to live and another man dying from full blown HIV, pleading for God to spare his life. All healed in the name of Jesus.

As a teenager, I saw early on how fragile life is. I also saw the supernatural power of God often enough that hearing testimonies of healings became of no surprise to me. It was easy for me to believe healing is in the atonement (Isaiah 53:5). Some say, “I’ll believe it when I see it”, but I can say, “I’ve seen it so I believe it”. Either way, as children of God, we need to renew our thinking and “Walk by faith and not by sight” (2 Co 5:7). It would be foolish to adjust our theology to match our life experience over the written Word of God.

It always astounds me how little children believe everything their parents tell them. With wide eyes of wonder, sometimes gasps of excitement, children have a tendency to believe in the silliest things when told to them by their parents. Jesus said we must “become as children” (Mat 18:2) in order to enter the Kingdom of God, which is “in your midst” (Luke 17:21 NIV). What is our Heavenly Father telling us? “Do not be weakened in your faith and do not waiver in the promise of God (Ro 4)”, and “I will take sickness away from the midst of you” (Ex 23:25). Does hearing this make your eyes widen and fill you with excitement?

Believing this is easier said than done when we are suffering with disease and in pain. I have never been bed ridden for more than 4 days and can’t imagine what I would feel or think if I had to endure prolonged physical suffering. I can imagine feelings of isolation, betrayal from our body, and even abandonment from God can creep in. These things distract us from setting our minds on things above (Col 3:2). They rob us from thinking of things that are true, right and pure (Phil 4:8). Ultimately, they block us from that childlike faith, and fill us with doubt that we will be healed.

Going to the altar and having believers pray over you for healing can be a matter of life or death, as it was for the three mentioned earlier. In the book of James 5, we are taught that the elders of the church are to pray for the sick, anoint them with oil and that the prayer of faith will save the sick. And in Mark 16, believers are instructed to lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.

Sickness and disease take such a toll on our faith and is a battle not to be faced alone. Jesus is interceding in Heaven on your behalf (Ro 8:34) and your church family is interceding at the altar on your behalf. Don't go it alone!