Healing Peter's Mother-In-Law | Miracle of Jesus Christ

Most of the people Jesus healed were not mentioned by name. I think it could be in part so that we can relate to these miraculous stories. Much like when one goes to purchase a home, the house will be staged and most of the homeowner's personality is missing so others can easily see themselves living there. Today we are talking about a miracle of Jesus Christ as He heals a woman He is very familiar with. We do not know her name but we do know that she is the mother of Peter's wife. We pick up the story in Matthew, Mark and Luke's gospels.

Matthew's Account:

Matthew 8:14-15 And when Jesus was come into Peter's house, He saw his wife's mother laid, and sick of a fever. And He touched her hand, and the fever left her: and she arose, and ministered unto them.

Mark's Account:

Mark 1:29-31 And forthwith, when they were come out of the synagogue, they entered into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. But Simon's wife's mother lay sick of a fever, and anon they tell Him of her. And He came and took her by the hand, and lifted her up; and immediately the fever left her, and she ministered unto them.

Luke's Account:

Luke 4:38-39 And He arose out of the synagogue, and entered into Simon's house. And Simon's wife's mother was taken with a great fever; and they besought Him for her. And He stood over her, and rebuked the fever; and it left her: and immediately she arose and ministered unto them.

Jesus was God in the flesh. Matthew shows us the power of God in this exchange. Jesus had authority over the fever and with one touch of the Master's hand she received healing. She was able to get up and serve others. This shows us there was no weakness or lingering sickness. She was not only afebrile but she was healed! In Mark's account we see the fever immediately left her. There was no waiting on the fever to break or a medication to work. The dominion Jesus has over all sickness and disease is demonstrated in this miraculous healing. And finally Luke tells us the fever was very great. This was no low-grade fever and as a doctor it was important for Luke to detail this. Luke says Jesus stood over her. Again this shows the position of authority over the illness. Jesus rebuked the fever and it left her. Again we see the immediate effect that this woman was then able to minister to her guests in her home.

We are not given details about how long she had been sick, what caused the fever, or anything further. What we know is that this woman was a server. She desired to minister to those in her home. The mother has a pivotal role in the Jewish family. She attends to needs and makes sure everyone is taken care of. She was no longer able to do any of that when she was laying sick with a high fever. Jesus shows us that He cares about everyone, including women, including mothers, and including families.

You may be sick and have suffered for a long time. Maybe you do not know what is causing your illness and maybe you do, but today we have assurance that Jesus cares about us. He does not want us to remain sick. He does not want our energy drained and unable to minister to those around us. Will you ask Jesus to heal you? He will do it! Ask a friend or family member to anoint your head with oil and lay their hands on you and pray in faith and God will raise you up. James 5:14-16 says, Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in name of the Lord: and the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. Confess your faults one to another, and pray for one another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

If you need healing, please leave a comment below or feel free to email me at bridgettowens78@gmail.com and I will pray for you. I know that Jesus will heal you. He is a wonderful Savior and He cares for you.

I hope today's blog post has been strength for your journey and light for your way. God bless you!

Bridgett Owens

Healing Paralysis | Miracle of Jesus Christ

I have had the privilege to work for many different organizations through the years. It has been my experience that not every employer is kind and caring toward their employees. While some were fair, not every boss had compassion for the welfare of their workers. When we think of military leaders, compassionate and generous may not be the top two adjectives that come to mind. Yet, in today's reading we will see how Jesus was impressed with a Gentile Roman Centurion's faith, more than anyone else in Israel.

Matthew and Luke are the two disciples who chose to record this miracle. You can read along in Matthew 8:5-13 and Luke 7:1-10. The miracle Jesus performs is for the servant of a Roman soldier. We do not ever know the servant's name, if he was a Jew or Gentile, or if he even knew Jesus at all. We learn a great deal about the unnamed Centurion, though, and it is his great faith that moves Jesus to grant this man's request.

Centurions were not just soldiers. These were leaders over 100 or some accounts say several hundred. This man of war knew how to submit to authority and how to exercise his authority over others. He understood the power of a command. Beyond his military experience, we read in Luke that this man was also generous. He loved his country and funded the building of a synagogue for the Jews to worship. 

MATTHEW 8:5-6 And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto Him a centurion, beseeching Him, And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented.

LUKE 7:1-5 Now when He had ended all His sayings in the audience of the people, He entered into Capernaum. And a certain centurion's servant, who was dear unto him, was sick, and ready to die. And when he heard of Jesus, he sent unto Him the elders of the Jews, beseeching Him that He would come and heal his servant. And when they came to Jesus, they besought Him instantly, saying, That he was worthy for whom He should do this: For he loveth our nation, and he hath built us a synagogue.

The centurion sent for Jesus but he did not tell the men to say nice things about him. They spoke of this man's character and integrity because of who this man was publicly and privately. He was deeply concerned about his servant and the Bible tells us that the servant was dear to him. He is not worried about losing a good worker or how this will impact his bottom dollar. He genuinely wants his cherished servant to be well.

Jesus must have been asked to a lot of people's homes to perform miracles and to heal diseases. Yet, Jesus did not hesitate to go this man's home. Just like Jesus told the leper who asked to be healed, Jesus is saying to this centurion, "I want to. I will."

MATTHEW 8:7 And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him.

LUKE 7:6a Then Jesus went with them.

What would you do if you found out Jesus was coming to your house? Would you be glad? Would you panic? The Roman soldier humbled himself to request this healing but he did not want to trouble Jesus. He had deep respect for Jesus. But he did not want Jesus to come to his home. He wants Jesus to heal the servant but his faith is so strong that he tells Jesus to just command the miracle to be and he believed that it would be just as Jesus said. He knew the power of Jesus' words could bridge the distance and his servant would be healed. 

MATTHEW 8:8-9 The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that Thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed. For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.

LUKE 7:6b-8 And when he was now not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to Him, saying unto Him, Lord, trouble not Thyself: for I am not worthy that Thou shouldest enter under my roof: Wherefore neither thought I myself worthy to come unto Thee: but say in a word, and my servant shall be healed. For I also am a man set under authority, having under me soldiers, and I say unto one, Go, and he goeth; and to another Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.

Remember the centurion did not speak to Jesus face to face. He did not feel worthy to even be in His presence. He just wanted the Lord to command the illness to leave his servant and he had no doubt that it would be done. Scripture tells us what Jesus thought about that. A Gentile career military officer had so much faith in Jesus to heal his servant that Jesus said this man had more faith than anyone else in all of Israel!

How is our faith? What are we asking God for? Do we believe in the authority Jesus has over cancer, chronic pain, financial distress, chaos with our children, anxiety and depression? Can Jesus do what we are asking of Him? The centurion did not doubt for one moment what Jesus could do. He was bold enough to ask and courageous enough to believe. We must ask ourselves if we are that bold and courageous.

MATTHEW 8:10-13 When Jesus heard it, He marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and the west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the Kingdom of heaven. But the children of the Kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so shall it be done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour.

LUKE 7:9-10 When Jesus heard these things, He marvelled at him, and turned Him about, and said unto the people that followed Him, I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. And they that were sent, returning to the house, found the servant whole that had been sick.

Why did Jesus say all that about Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob? What could that have to do with healing the centurion's servant? The point Jesus is making is that not all the Israelites would be in heaven. This man was not a Jew and yet he would be sitting at the table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the Kingdom of heaven. The children of the Kingdom who are cast into outer darkness refer to the lost sheep who refuse to listen to the Good Shepherd. The Gentile has a place in God's Kingdom because he had great faith in Jesus. We all have the opportunity to make heaven our Home. Have you believed on Jesus? Do you recognize that He is the Son of God, the Holy One? If you do, then you are saved. If you do not believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Christ, the Savior of the world, then you need to put your trust in Him today. Let today be your day of salvation.

This is a wonderful miracle that impacted the centurion and his servant and countless others connected to these two men. We know that it is to increase our faith that Jesus can do anything we ask, think, or even imagine. There is more to this story, though. This is an invitation for whosoever will to receive the free gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Do you know Him as Lord and Savior? I pray that you do!

I hope that you are encouraged today as you read this miracle of Jesus Christ. Jesus healed the centurion's servant who was paralyzed and near death. What a Savior indeed! May today's blog post be strength for your journey and light for your way. God bless you!

~Bridgett Owens

Jesus wants to. Jesus will. | Cleansing A Leper Miracle

Matthew, Mark, and Luke each share a glimpse into what happened when Jesus changed one man's life forever. Mark gives the most details on the background story. Let's look at it together.

Mark 1:35-39 And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, He went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed. And Simon and they that were with Him followed after Him. And when they had found Him, they said unto Him, All men seek for Thee. And He said unto them, Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also: for therefore came I forth. And He preached in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and cast out devils.

    Matthew confirms Jesus comes down from the mountain where a huge following of people are gathered.

Matthew 8:1 When He was come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed Him.

    Before doing great miracles or ministering to the masses, Jesus got up early in the morning a long time before the sun was coming up. While others slept, Jesus rose early to be alone and pray.

    There are so many amazing things we can do for the Kingdom of God. It is important to share our testimony, offer words of encouragement, and do great things to honor Jesus, but we must first begin our day with Him. How often do we scramble to the kitchen for a quick breakfast as we rush kids off to school and run through the morning routines without first stopping to talk with the Master?

    The disciples went looking for Jesus and when they found Him, they let Him know everyone wants to see Him. They did not ask about His solitary prayer time. Jesus did not ask how many followers there were, sign autographs and take photos with "fans." He is clear on His mission to preach the Gospel. We cannot let followers sway us from keeping our shoulder to the plow. This is not the time to get caught up in the numbers. Instead, let's remember why we are here and allow God to work through us.

    Luke's account begins with one man's story. Let's read it.

Luke 5:12 And it came to pass, when He was in a certain city, behold a man full of leprosy: who seeing Jesus fell on his face, and besought Him, saying, Lord, if Thou wilt, Thou canst make me clean.

    Mark shares how this man is so desperate for Jesus to heal him, he begs Him.

Mark 1:40 And there came a leper to Him, beseeching Him, and kneeling down to Him, and saying unto Him, If Thou wilt, Thou canst make me clean.

    It is repeated in Matthew's account:

Matthew 8:2 And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped Him, saying, Lord, if Thou wilt, Thou canst make me clean.

     We do not know this man's name or how he knew Jesus and the power of His touch, but it is clear in all accounts this man has faith. He tells Jesus, "If You want to, You can heal me." Have there been times you have had such tremendous faith? Do you believe that if Jesus wants to, He can heal you, save you, forgive you, restore you, deliver you, or love you? If you ever wondered if Jesus wants to do those things, we will see what Jesus' response always is to those who have faith in Him.

Luke 5:13 And He put forth His hand, and touched him, saying, I will: be thou clean. And immediately the leprosy departed from him.

Mark 1:41-42 And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth His hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will: be thou clean. And as soon as He had spoken, immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was cleansed.

Matthew 8:3 And Jesus put forth His hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.

  “I will.”

  “I will.”

  “I will.”

  Each account, Jesus tells the man, "I want to heal you," and immediately the leprosy is gone. Jesus is saying the same thing to each one of us today. If we have faith that Jesus has the power to heal, save, forgive, restore, deliver, and love, His response is, “I want to. I will.”

  Jesus gives the man specific instructions on what to do according to the Old Testament law, then He tells the healed man to tell no one else. That may seem strange to us. Wouldn’t Jesus want others to know what the power of God can do? Wouldn’t the man’s family and friends, coworkers, others in his life who knew he was once a leper, wouldn’t they all know something miraculous happened? How could he keep this to Himself?

 Matthew 8:4 And Jesus saith unto him, See thou tell no man; but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.

Mark 1:43-45 And He straitly charged him, and forthwith sent him away; And saith unto him, See thou say nothing to any man: but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing those things which Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them. But he went out, and began to publish it much, and to blaze abroad the matter, insomuch that Jesus could no more openly enter into the city, but was without in desert places: and they came to Him from every quarter.

Luke 5:14-16 And He charged him to tell no man: but go, and shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing, according as Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them. But so much the more went there a fame abroad of Him: and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by Him of their infirmities. And He withdrew Himself into the wilderness, and prayed.

  Jesus no longer had the freedom to walk into a city and preach the Gospel. Now people sought Him for miracles. Yes, it is wonderful when Jesus performed miracles and helped so many people, but salvation is not in physical healing alone. The most important thing Jesus wanted to share was the free gift of salvation for whosoever will.

Sometimes we get so caught up in wanting to experience something supernatural and miraculous that we forget about the most miraculous thing…salvation. We can pray for others to be healed, delivered, set free from addictions or perhaps get a financial miracle. Those are great things to pray for. How often do we pray for their salvation? How often are we asking our friends and family about their walk with God? How concerned are we about where our loved ones will end up in eternity?

I have had a lot of prayer requests this year from others about specific needs being met and just like Jesus said to the leper, He is saying to us, “I want to. I will.” How about we pray just as much for our lost loved ones and acquaintances because His answer is the same. He wants to. He will.

I pray this blog post has been Strength for your journey & Light for your way. God bless you!

Bridgett Owens

Home Sweet Home | Thankful Thursday

Today is Thankful Thursday and my family and I have a LOT to be thankful for. On Saturday we finally get the keys to our new home. We are going to be renting a house in town and the four of us can hardly wait. Javan has an away football game Saturday, so we want to go support him and show him some love and then we can start moving in!!

PSALM 40:1 says, “I waited patiently for the Lord; and He inclined unto me, and heard my cry.”

We have been praying and seeking God for 22 months to give us a home. We had one disappointment after another. We tried to buy a house and that all fell through over and over. We tried to find a home to rent to no avail. We sought God with tears and many times in desperation. Friends and family were praying for us. Sometimes we were judged and treated unfairly because people thought they knew us and that living in a crowded environment where we were told we were not welcome was more appealing to us than having our own home. The comments were meant to hurt us. It just caused the four of us to become closer. 

People will talk; let them! It may be giving someone else a break. Keep your eye on God and you will find His Word is full of promises He will keep! Don’t give up!!!!

Today my family and I are finally free. The shackles that held us for so long did not stunt our spiritual growth. These chains that held us much longer than we wanted are finally gone!! God has provided for us like only He can and we are blessed beyond measure.

If you’re still in the  waiting season; do not give up and do not lose heart!! God is up to something!! What are you thankful for today? God bless you!

~Bridgett Owens

Psalm 34 | Bible Study Wednesday

I was able to return to work last week and worked three shifts. It was exhausting but I am so thankful to God for how He touched my body!

Today I want to continue with our Bible study through Psalms. We are in Psalm 34. If you haven’t already done so, take a moment and ask Holy Spirit to open the Scriptures to you. Next, read through the 22 verses in this Psalm. It is a Psalm of David referring to what happened in the second half of 1 Samuel chapter 21. I encourage you to read that short chapter as well. 

David traveled to a place called Nob. He goes to the priest Ahimelech. David is hungry and unarmed. He manages to get the showbread for himself and the men with him. They leave with the sword of Goliath, too. How fitting for David to receive the sword from the giant he slew in the famous battle. 

Achish is the king of Goliath’s hometown and so when the king’s servants recognized David and recalled the song the people sang about Saul killed thousands and David killed ten thousands, David started to feel fear. 

David had to do some quick thinking on his feet. 1 Samuel 21:13 “And he changed his behaviour before them, and feigned himself mad in their hands, and scrabbled on the doors of the gates, and let his spittle fall down upon his beard.”

David’s performance was Oscar-worthy. The king believed he was mentally unstable. He questioned his servants as to why they would bring that kind of man into his home. So David was spared. And now we pick up in Psalm 34. 

VERSES 1-7: David is rejoicing that God delivered him from king Achish. God saw David fearful of the king of Gath and God rescued David in a very unique way!

VERSES 8-10: David remembers how God used the priest to feed him and his hungry men. David is an eyewitness of the goodness of God.

VERSES 11-14: Much like other psalms we have studied this year; David is giving us instruction. Don’t speak evil. Keep your conversation pure. Run away from wickedness and do good things instead. Seek peace and pursue it. David says by doing this it is fearing the Lord God!

VERSES 15-22 David compares the way God responds to His children and the way He responds to those who are not His children. There are blessings for His children and curses for the wicked. Notice verse 19 says many are the afflictions of the righteous! Not the wicked but the righteous are facing many afflictions. Not just a few hard times. There will be many but the great news is God delivers us out of every single one of them! That’s something to shout about!

Friends I don’t know what all of you are going through but God is greater and stronger than anything we face. I hope you are encouraged today. I pray this is strength for your journey and light for your way! God bless you!

~Bridgett Owens

Where’s the Good Things? | Fuel for the Weekend

JEREMIAH 5:21-25

Hear now this, O foolish people, and without understanding; which have eyes, and see not; which have ears, and hear not:

Fear ye not Me? saith the LORD: will ye not tremble at My presence, which have placed the sand for the bound of the sea by a perpetual decree, that it cannot pass it: and though the waves thereof toss themselves, yet can they not prevail; though they roar, yet can they not pass over it?

But this people hath a revolting and a rebellious heart; they are revolted and gone. 

Neither say they in their heart, Let us now fear the LORD our God, that giveth rain, both the former and the latter, in His season: He reserveth unto us the appointed weeks of the harvest. 

Your iniquities have turned away these things, and your sins have withholden good things from you. 

My son has a football game tomorrow. Fall has arrived and I am so thankful! The trees are changing colors and it is a sight to behold! As you start your weekend, I want to give you something to ponder and maybe discuss with those around you!

God is speaking in the fifth chapter of the book of Jeremiah. He is talking to those of us who have eyes but we are blind to the truth. We have ears but we are not listening to what God is saying. 

God asks, “Don’t you fear Me?” He is God! He is Holy! He is Sovereign! Will we not tremble at the presence of God? He is all around us? He made a decree that stands year after year that the sand serves for the water to be bound in its’ limits. Even when the waves throw themselves at the boundaries, God said they have to stay in the confines of His borders. Even though the rush and roar of the ocean sounds off, they are limited by God’s design. 

Even though God gives us boundaries and guidelines, the spiritually blind and deaf are rebellious and force their way wherever they want to go! They don’t respect God who blesses them with everything they need to be sustained.

Friends, let’s not be like those rebellious people! In fact, let’s go to them and try to help them!!!

Verse 25 says their sins have turned God’s provisions away, and it has withheld good things from coming to them. 

Perhaps we all need to look around. Are we in turmoil and distress? Are we missing out on the good things of God? Could it be He is near but we are not looking for Him; not seeking His face? Could it be He is speaking but we are so loud in complaining we drown out His still, small voice? Maybe we have slapped away God’s bountiful gifts because it did not look like we thought it should! 

Let’s seek God’s face this weekend! Let’s reach out to Him in love and repentance and watch how He makes all things new. Let’s take the blinders off and remove the earplugs and sit in His presence with reverence and Holy fear. I will. How about you?

God bless you!

~Bridgett Owens 

Toughest Trials | Thankful Thursday

When I was younger, not even sure how old I was, I found myself being ridiculed, hatred spewed from an adult’s mouth, and I was hit multiple times. Screaming in my face about how worthless I was and how I would never amount to anything covered my face like a dark cloth. I collapsed to the floor, but refused to stop fighting back as I tried to defend myself. I would fall to the floor in a crumpled ball. Determined to prove my point I got back up. The adult began beating me with a belt and fists balled up. “If you get back up, you’ll get it again!” The threats were made good as I tried again to stand up for myself. God did not spare me that day. I wish that was an isolated case and not a routine part of my childhood. But I never blamed God.

Today I am an adult in my 40’s. For the last three years it feels like I continue to get knocked down and kicked. I try to stand up and just get beaten back down. My family and I have sacrificed so much for God. We have tried doing all the right things and we continue to lose. Others around us who could not care less about God get so many blessings and it seems like it is really unfair. Today I asked God why. I wanted to know why we have to suffer and get attacked every time we turn around. And I actually think He told me. 

One person after another said that this great suffering is for a great testimony. We didn’t ask for a testimony. In the middle of the beating and in the middle of the pain, it just does not feel like a very good answer. 

I do not understand ANYTHING God is doing in our lives. It feels like the very worst timing. Today I tried to remember a happy time and a good thing that happened so we could be encouraged. I even asked my daughter. She couldn’t remember one either. The past 3 years has been the hardest, scariest, most painful season of our lives. 

So what am I thankful for? I am thankful for my husband who is so strong and courageous. I am thankful for my children who are kind and loving and they really want to have hope again. I am thankful they have faith because right now I do not know if I even have mustard seed faith.

Like the traumatic memory I shared earlier, I finally was weak and collapsed in a heap in the floor. Beaten into submission I laid in a ball, sobbing and so confused about why that person would not listen to me. And I feel that way now. I feel like we have no choice about what happens to us right now. We try to do what we believe is best and we suffer dearly for it. I wonder why isn’t God listening to us. I feel defeated and discouraged. 

But Jesus asked God to let the bitter cup of suffering pass from Him in the garden. Jesus said nevertheless not My will but Thine be done. God said No! to Jesus. He had to do the hardest thing in the world. He had to suffer. Jesus asked God, “Why have You forsaken Me?” I feel like asking that, too. 

But unlike Jesus, I have not been asking from a place of submission to His will. I have been asking because I can’t take the pain and suffering any longer. I can’t stand to not have stability or our own home any longer. I do not understand one single thing about this nightmare that never ends. It has actually gotten worse so far and the week isn’t even over. 

I am not thankful for the hardness of this test. I am not thankful for God telling us no when we have a fundamental need that His Word says He will supply. I am grateful that He loves us. I am thankful that there are a lot of examples in the Bible that relate to what we are going through. I am grateful for Job, David, Daniel, Joseph, and Jesus who also endured much on this earth. 

I am choosing to believe it will not always be like this. I really hope it changes soon. My body is filled with physical pain. My husband and our children are battling various physical issues and now another blow. I am thankful that I have my own little family to walk through  the fire with. And I believe God is good and Sovereign and He sees much more than I can. 

This is definitely an unusual Thankful Thursday and I am sorry if it is not encouraging or uplifting today. I know that life sometimes just feels really bad and that will never change on this side. But it’s important to not get it twisted. God loves us, all of His children. He never promised me a life without suffering, sacrifice, and submission. He said He would be there and fight for us. So I am thankful for that. 

What about you? Are you thankful today? Are you struggling? Have you been wounded? Trust God to help you, even when you have no clue what He is doing. You may never know but just trust Him. His track record is perfect. 

Psalm 23:4

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me. 

Do you know the next verse?

Psalm 23:5

Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of my enemies: Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. 

I am waiting for that part. 

~Bridgett Owens