Wonderful Jesus!

Tag: coronavirus

• A Canopy Of Glory- Revised!

  Posted at 7:00 am by wonderfuljesus8, on March 24, 2020

  Isaiah 4:5-6- “And the Lord will create upon every dwelling place of mount Zion, and upon her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night: for upon all the glory shall be a defense. And there shall be a tabernacle for a shadow in the day time from the heat, and for a place of refuge, and for a covert from storm and rain.” KJV

  I was thinking about my next post, when the Lord reminded me of this post from 2019. I went back and read it and was amazed at how it fit where we are today. So with a few revisions, I am reposting this blog today.

  I was reading in the book of Isaiah, visiting a beloved friend, when I read this verse. Isaiah was one who understood God. He understood His majesty, His heart, His plans, His purpose, His words, His desire to know us, His desire to be known by us. He understood God. I have said before, “If you want to understand Jesus, read the gospel of John; but if you want to understand God, read the book of Isaiah.” Sometimes I just want to read about the One who is the Lord of Glory! And tonight I want to talk a little about that glory!

  The word “canopy” can be defined as “a protective covering”, and for my blog tonight, it’s the meaning I want to use. Recently, I was teaching a literacy lesson using a text about the rainforest. In this text, it talked about how in a rainforest or even a jungle, the trees grow so close together that they create a canopy in its top branches. This canopy can be well over 100 feet from the ground. When you view this canopy from on top it looks like a large green field, but when viewed from underneath, it is where the plants and the animals live, the life of the rainforest.

  In the above verse, Isaiah is talking to Jerusalem of a time when they will be in utter desperation because of the hard times that they will experience. Hard times brought on by their sins. But then he goes on to write that the time will come when God will bring a cleansing to His people. And when they are cleansed they will be His holy people.

  Now before I go any further, let me remind you that if you have been washed by the Blood of Jesus and your sins have been forgiven that you are His holy people. Peter said it like this, “You are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that you should shew forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” So now this prophetic word that Isaiah spoke to the people of Jerusalem becomes a prophetic word for the believer.

  Isaiah prophesied, that once you were made holy, the land would produce for you it’s best. And if that is not enough, Isaiah prophesied that the Lord would place a canopy (a protective covering) of His glory over His people- a cloud by day and a fire by night! Now where have we seen this before? When the children of Israel left Egypt for the Promised Land!

  So here we see the Lord of Glory again promising that His Glory would be before us protecting us as it did the children of Israel! This is awesome news! If we can get in position in the canopy of His Glory, it is where we will find the best of life.

  Shocking news come across our ears daily and some unusual things have been happening in the world today because of the coronavirus, and if we are not careful, fear will grip our hearts. But the prophet Isaiah encourages us with these words that once again, His glory will go before us and be behind us, and He will place a canopy of protection over us! He promises to be our shelter, our protection from the storm and rain, and even from the heat. That promise includes protection from worldwide viruses!

  As we are at home on lockdown, I find myself in my prayer time thanking God for this promise. As I worship Him I thank Him that I, my family, my friends, my church, the Body are all under His canopy of Glory and that protection is ours. This is wonderful news, from a wonderful Savior, for His people because although we are practicing social distancing, the real truth is that God is our Protector. This message was relevant when Isaiah spoke it and it is surely relevant now! Thank God for His canopy of glory that is over you and me during this unusual time in our world. Hearing of the deaths of so many is almost unreal, watching the numbers of cases around the world is mind boggling, but I just keep focusing on the One who has promised me protection, and I am thankful for His canopy of Glory that is full of life. Wonderful Jesus!

  Posted in Believers, Christian, coronavirus, encouragement, protection | 3 Comments | Tagged Believer, Christian, coronavirus, encouragement, hard times, protection, provision, the Glory of the Lord

• A Special Occassion

  Posted at 7:00 am by wonderfuljesus8, on March 21, 2020

  John 2:7-8,10-11 – “Jesus said to them, “Fill the waterpots with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. And He said to them, “Draw some out now, and take it to the master of the feast.” And they took it…And he said to him, “Every man at the beginning sets out the good wine, and when the guests have well drunk, then the inferior. You have kept the good wine until now!” This beginning of signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory; and His disciples believed in Him.”
  NKJV

  Have you ever stopped and wondered why Jesus’ first miracle was turning water to wine at a wedding? I remember when our children were younger they watched the Superbook cartoons. I believe in one of the episodes they portrayed Jesus and His disciples at the wedding in Cana; the bride and groom was upset about not having enough wine, and Mary went to Jesus. Then He turned the water to wine and the first miracle happened.

  I don’t know if any of that really happened, but I do know that since this was the first miracle that Jesus performed and that this miracle is a sign that points to Him being the Son of God, that something else was going on. As I was thinking about this miracle, I had a thought that I want to share.

  First, let’s begin with the miracle, water was turned to wine. Mary told Jesus of the need and He remarked that His time had not yet come, and what did this have to do with Him? (In my blog, “Faith is a Time Changer” I expound a little more on this). Mary responded by turning to the servants of the wedding and telling them to do whatever He tells them to do. This seems to be one of the first steps in getting a miracle. When you ask for a miracle, listen for instructions from Him, then obey them!

  We are told that there are 6 water pots, each capable of holding about 30 gallons of water. Jesus told the servants to fill the water pots with water. They obey Him, filling the pots to the brim. He then tells them to dip water and take it to the master of the feast. (By the way, they have been celebrating for about a week already). From the time the water is dipped out of the pot to the tasting of the water, it becomes wine. Not only the water in the dipper, but in all the pots. A miracle has happened. No one has duplicated this miracle. If you want wine, you need grapes, not water!

  However, I did hear a testimony of a missionary who was driving through some dangerous terrain when he ran out of gas. While praying about the situation he saw water nearby and the thought came to him that if God could turn water into wine, He could turn water into gasoline. He got out of the car, got the water and poured it into his tank! And voila! His car started and he made it safely to his destination! Please don’t do this without His instructions!!

  The success of this miracle was in the obedience of the servants. Jesus gave instructions and they were followed to the letter. We don’t know why they obeyed Him, but we do know that they didn’t add to or take from His instructions. Neither did they stop to figure out why Mary asked for wine, and why He was telling them to get water. (Like some of us would gripe and complain about)!

  Why a wedding for the first miracle? I was thinking about that when God reminded me of an assignment I had in Bible School. I was given an assignment to write about the motifs of the Bible. Of course, I was clueless to what a motif was and google was yet to be discovered. I waited until a few days before the assignment was due and approached my professor. (I am still a little put out with him for giving me a grade of a D, then writing on the assignment that it was because I procrastinated. Humm, my principal would have my head)!! Anyway, he explained to me that a motif is a theme or a pattern that is in the Bible.

  When the Holy Spirit reminded me that He works in motifs I saw where He was going with that. Jesus started with a wedding because all that He did will end with a wedding. The wedding of the Bride of Christ! I have absolutely never thought of this before, so I will have to say I received revelation on this last night as I was thinking about this blog! And when you think about new wine, it is symbolic of the Holy Spirit! He provided new wine in abundance as He would release His Spirit in abundance upon His Bride! And water is symbolic of the word, Jesus! He can be so deep! All of this beautiful imagery of God the Father in what seems to be a simple answer to a need in someone’s life! Amazing!

  This is why I believe that the first miracle, which points to Jesus as the Son of God happened at a wedding! Why did Mary have to say anything? I don’t know for sure, but I do know that she pondered every thing that she was told about her son! I believe that she recognized that it was His time and it was up to her to use her faith to help and push Him into His purpose.

  This coronavirus is a terrible pandemic. What is going on around the world is hard to take in. But I believe that this is also a time of destiny for the Body of Christ. I believe that God will use all that is happening to strengthen His Bride in these last days. I also believe that for some of us, it is our time to step into our destiny for the time is getting short. If not now, then when? When we will begin to dare to believe in the Savior who gave so much for us? When will we step out into the unknown realm and dare to believe that a miracle is waiting on the other side!

  I just made that leap of faith and have officially started a teaching ministry, Wonderful Jesus Ministries! The funny thing about the name is that I meant to put Ministry instead of Ministries. I had to laugh at myself and say to the Lord, “How did I make that mistake? I don’t have a ministry let alone, ministries!” Anyway, during this time off I am using it for good, to identify what I am being called to do with this ministry, to spend time in prayer and fasting about it, and to send out words of encouragement and teachings to those of you who read my blog. Thanks for your continued support and know that I covet your prayers for this ministry! Wonderful Jesus!

  Posted in Believers, Christian, Faith, Jesus, John 2, miracle | 4 Comments | Tagged Believer, Christian, coronavirus, encouragemnt, Faith, Holy Spirit, Jesus, miraculous, obedience, supernatural, water turned to wine

• This is Such a Time!

  Posted at 1:44 am by wonderfuljesus8, on March 20, 2020

  Esther 4:13-14 -“And Mordecai told them to answer Esther: “Do not think in your heart that you will escape in the king’s palace any more than all the other Jews. For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” NKJV

  Today’s updates on the coronavirus are showing signs of decrease in China and increase in the United States, and everything in between around the world. In the natural, this virus is bringing the world to a solemn state of affairs. But there is good news! God saw this day afar off and made provision through Jesus!

  In 1918-19, the world experienced a similar pandemic. According to the CDC website: “…efforts worldwide were limited to non-pharmaceutical-interventions such as isolation, quarantine, good personal hygiene, use of disinfectants, and limitations of public gatherings, which were applied unevenly.” One hundred years later, with all the technological advances, we are still using the same methods? Go figure!

  Mordecai and the Jewish people were facing a genecide of epic proportions and he needed the queen, his niece, to help with a solution. He asked her for help and she told him that it could cost her life to go to the king. Mordecai responded with the above verse, I’ll paraphrase: “Don’t think that you won’t be found out and killed also. This thing will affect us all. But if you don’t say or do anything, then God will just have to use someone else to deliver us. But have you even stopped to consider that God placed you in the palace for such a time as this?”

  Where are you today? Are you in a business, a hospital, a university, a community, a church, or a government facility? ( I think most everything else is closed!) Are those around you antsy, wondering what will happen to them, to their families, to the world as we know it? Are they getting scared, worried, concerned about their finances or their eternity? Well, that’s okay, because you have the answer to the question! It was for such a time as this, that you were placed where you are! And since you know Jesus, your responsibility is to share the love of God and the gospel to those around you!

  This is your time to let your light shine! To do what you have been getting equipped to do during all of those Bible studies and Sunday morning worship services! Shine! If someone is worried about their future, offer them Jesus, pray with them. If they are concerned about having enough provision, let them know that they will be alright! He still multiplies fish!

  Sticking our heads in the sand and acting like nothing is going on, or worrying about ourselves (like Esther did at first) is not helping anything or anyone. We are in this earth to be a light set upon a hill. A candle on a candlestick. And we must be willing to hear the facts about what is going on and to share what God’s word has to say on the matter! No hiding allowed! And the beautiful thing is, you can do it with social distancing! It worked one hundred years ago and we are counting on it to help us now! Don’t over spiritualize this and feel that because you are a Christian or believe in healing, you are exempt from social distancing.

  Maybe you can go and get groceries for someone who is in quarantine for the virus, you don’t have to stay and visit. Do a shop and drop, it’ll go a long way in sharing His love. Maybe someone has been infected that you know, you can tell them that you’ll call and check on them and pray for them, you’re available! Maybe someone just need to share what’s going on in their life, what’s on their heart, offer to listen, then give them God’s counsel! Whatever those in your sphere of influence need, know that you are placed there for such a time as this! Remembering that you also help as you adhere to the things we are being asked to do: washing our hands, sanitizing our areas and the things we use, staying at home! It’s not a lack of faith, it’s a blessing to not be a carrier of the disease or to be exposed to it!!! So if you don’t know, please keep your distance!

  Daily, we’re checking on each, encouraging each other to keep the faith! To trust God with all the uncertainties. Don’t be flaky, or act superior, or like a religious nut, just be the best caring, praying, loving you, you can be for His Glory! And don’t get offended when people want to give you an air bump or just a wave. This is your opportunity to be an Esther in someone’s life. You can do it!!

  I am going to begin looking at the miracles of Jesus! I love reading and talking about them. Come along with me in the days to come (I just found out my time home has increased!) while I begin to focus on the Miracle Worker and His works! Too much attention to what the devil is stirring up isn’t good for any of us and if I am going to look at the virus on a regular basis, then I have to look at the One who is greater than the virus just as much! Wonderful Jesus!

  Posted in Believers, Christian, coronavirus | 2 Comments | Tagged Believer, candle, Christian, coronavirus, encouragement, Esther, Jesus, light shine, Mordecai

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