The Daily Scroll

 

The Daily Scroll

 The world is watching, the world is waiting. The Earth is turning and life goes on. We live our lives and find our joy. We overcome when the cares of life beset us. They’re is coming a one in whom all the difference will be made. He will split the eastern sky and His foot will touch upon the mount. Then all will be made right in the world. The evil one will be vanquished and love and His righteousness will reign supreme. 

The Daily Scroll

 Jesus asked them, “Do you believe I can make you see?” 

“Yes, Lord,” they told him, “we do.” Then he touched their eyes and said, “Because of your faith, it will happen.” Then their eyes were opened, and they could see!“ (Matthew 9:28-30)

Don’t give up. Have faith that it will happen. - gene

The Daily Scroll

“No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” (Matthew 6:24)

The Daily Scroll

“But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:44-45)

The Daily Scroll

 “Feed the hungry, clothe the naked, help the sick, visit the prisoner, help the homeless, share the good news of Jesus Christ.” This is pleasing to the Lord.

The Daily Scroll. The LORD’S PROMISE of MERCY

“Then those who feared the LORD spoke with each other, and the LORD listened to what they said. In his presence, a scroll of remembrance was written to record the names of those who feared him and always thought about the honor of his name. They will be my people,” says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies. “On the day when I act in judgment, they will be my own special treasure. I will spare them as a father spares an obedient child. Then you will again see the difference between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not.” (Malachi 3:16-18)

The Daily Scroll

 Love your wife as Christ loves the Church. Everything else will work out. 

The Daily Scroll

 “The day of judgment is coming, burning like a furnace. . . . But for you who fear my name, the Sun of Righteousness will rise with healing in his wings. And you will go free, leaping with joy like calves let out to pasture” (Malachi 4:1, 2).

The Daily Scroll “Our Hearts Desire”

At last, the time was here. Her body told her it was time to go to the hospital. We were having a baby! Our first. It was a joyous occasion made even more joyous by the long 19-year wait that proceeded this day. 

Yes, for 19 years of marriage, we served the Lord in church, in ministry, and held onto our faith that God would fulfill His promise by giving us the desire of our heart. 

“Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you your heart’s desire.” Psalm 37:4 (NLT)

All of that is behind us now, but reflection is enlightening. We watched as our siblings and friends started their families, all the while hurting, as we were unable. Being around other’s children at church and family events was often painful, especially as well meaning elders would ask, “So when are you having children?”

Only someone who has been through this can truly understand the embarrassment and pain. But today is a new beginning! 

How long must we wait Lord, was ever in our prayers. My wife was driven and it was so frustrating as we tried everything including Doctors. During my morning walks I would pray, ”Lord, if you’re not going to give us a child, then please take the desire from our hearts.” He never did.  

After medical procedures and the first pregnancy, our hopes were dashed with a miscarriage of twins. She had been through the wringer physically and emotionally long enough. I decided that she needed a break. 

After a few weeks being emotionally exhausted, my heart cried out to the Lord, “ Well I guess I’ll never be a father.” I gave up from deep inside. Moments later the Holy Spirit prompted me to open my Bible and so I did, at random. My eyes fell on a verse concerning barrenness with a promise,

“From this day onward I will bless you.” Haggai 2:19 (NLT)

Instantly, hope sprang forth from my soul and I knew that my dear wife was pregnant, now. God did it today! I came home and shared with her the promise God had just made and we also shared with some friends as a witness to the testimony. In a few weeks we did the test on Christmas Eve and yes, she was pregnant! Incredibly enough, the time line matched the day that God blessed us. 

Looking back on those 19 years, I realize that though they were tough, we gained joy and a bond that cannot be broken, a bond between a couple and their God.

Now our daughter is a University Graduate pursuing her career. 

Many times I thought of Abraham and Sarah, and how he was 100 years old and she was 90 when they had their son. (See their story in Genesis 16-17) I’m glad we didn’t have to wait that long. Never lose hope. Glory to God! 

Copyright © December 2018 Gene Markland

The Daily Scroll. “The Mothering Arms of Forgiveness “

Yolanda, a mother who carries a deep relationship with God, mindfully raised her family in the love and admonition of the Lord. Her faith sustained her through every trial, but nothing could prepare her for the trial that lay ahead.

One day a young man coming from a college party made a decision that changed her world forever. He was experiencing road rage. A car had innocently pulled out in front of him and he hit the rear end of the car; causing a horrible accident. This car carried two of Yolanda’s young sons. Both tragically lost their lives that day.

The authorities brought the proper charges. However, the guilty young man was given mercy by the court and placed on probation. After five years of an excruciating ordeal, Yolanda received a call from her lawyer. A meeting had been arranged for the young offender to come face to face with her and give an account for his actions on that tragic day.

They met in a conference room, facing each other across a table while the attorneys and staff carefully observed. The young man spoke. Holding his head down to avoid eye contact, he tried to give justification for himself. He complained that her sons had pulled out in front of him. He clumsily fumbled out unacceptable excuses for his actions, blaming her sons for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Some of the things he said didn’t even make sense. And he did not ask for forgiveness.

The attorneys, the court recorder, and everyone in the room sat in silence, anticipating what Yolanda would say or do. After five years of suffering, she now sat across from the source of her pain, and her heart cried out to the Lord. Like so many times before, the Lord Jesus spoke gently to her and gave her guidance.

“Yolanda,” He said, “That boy is lost. He needs me. He has no one here. His family let him come here alone. He needs me.”

“But Lord,” she asked, “What do I do?”

“Daughter, I have you. I have always had you, and I’ll never let you go. But he needs me. He has nothing, no one. Forgive him Yolanda, forgive him.”

Scripture rang in her ear. “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful” (Luke 6:36NIV).

She asked herself. “How can I forgive him? How can I? Yet I know that Jesus forgave me.”

After a moment of reflection, Yolanda took a deep breath and broke the silence in the room. She looked him square in the face, which was still lowered toward the table, and said, “I love you with the love of the Lord. I forgive you!”

Everyone looked at her. Shocked and stunned, they couldn’t believe what they were hearing. Slowly the young man raised his head and for the first time their suffering eyes met. His confused and bewildered expression displayed the inner turmoil that he was struggling to understand.

With grace, which could only come from the Lord Jesus, Yolanda stood to her feet, spread open her arms and said, “I forgive you!”

With that, the young man bolted around the table and into her arms. He buried his face in her chest and covered her with his tears, crying in convulsions. Yolanda held him tight like one of her own. Mothering him, she patted him tenderly on his head and said, “It’s alright baby. It’s alright baby.” He wept uncontrollably.

Then she prayed, “Jesus, take the anointing for ministry that was upon my sons and place it upon him. Give him a double portion! He came in here as a Saul, let him leave as a Paul!”

As she prayed, his knees buckled. Yet she held him up firmly in her mothering arms of forgiveness. There wasn’t a dry eye in the room as the miraculous love of Christ was displayed in this incredible act of forgiveness. They were both freed to continue their lives in peace.

Our God, who is love, displayed His forgiveness as He sacrificed His only begotten son for us. Through Christ, we receive His incredible forgiveness that frees us from sin and shame. Jesus said, “Father forgive them for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34 KJV).

Because of Jesus, we too can hold our head up, walk in the love of God, and experience the mothering arms of forgiveness.

Copyright © Gene Markland.  

The Daily Scroll

 Sweet simple child like faith. This is what the Lord wants from us.. Not faith where you have to work yourself into a mental agreement that something will happen because of your prayer, but making prayer a simple request that you believe will be heard by your heavenly father because of your simple child like faith. When you pray in simple childlike faith, you submit your will to the will of the father. Will he answer your prayer? Yes. Will you always like to answer? No. Does the answer always come when you want it to come? No. But the answer will be there in time, and on time, according to God‘s will. Submit yourself to him with simple childlike faith and you will never be disappointed, because over time you will learn that your heavenly father hears you and answers your prayer, He’s always on time. And He is always fair.  He proves over and over again how much he loves you and that he will go to any length, any miracle, to do what is best for you. Just have that simple childlike faith. - gene

The Daily Scroll

 Close your eyes in the peace of prayer, 

Walk with the Lord by the lake in the forest,

Step by step in Heaven

Breath by breath in the Spirit

In unity together. 

He wraps His arm around with His hand on your shoulder 

And says…

“I’m here. I have you. You’re safe.

Your relief is expressed in a sigh…and you walk….