Prayerful Pondering

by Pat Luffman Rowland

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I don’t remember a time I didn’t believe in God or know that Jesus was His Son and our Savior, but I made my profession of faith and was baptized at age 12. I’ll never forget the experience of understanding I was the Lord’s! The sun became ten times brighter and it was as if I could hear angels singing. It was a supremely joyful moment. And I can still “see” my immersion baptism in the small Baptist church as if I were looking on. With certainty and gratitude, I can declare that God has never failed me, even though I have failed Him many times over. God has blessed me with family and friends, opportunities and health, freedom and education. He has been ever faithful and I look forward to the day when I can bow at the feet of Jesus and thank Him for His unconditional love that has made all the difference. I have an undergraduate degree in Healthcare Consumer Relations and a master’s in Religious Studies. In 1990, I received the designation of Fellow with the National Society of Patient Representation and Consumer Affairs of the American Hospital Association. I worked for 27 years in healthcare, retiring as Corporate Director of Patient Affairs with Methodist Healthcare in Memphis, TN in 1998. A major part of my career was teaching about patient concerns and needs, their rights, and ethical matters of healthcare. I taught through writing, as well as speaking from coast to coast. For several years, I authored a byline, Patient Perspective, for a healthcare journal. Other publications include Tennessee Hospital Association newsletter, Marketing Perspective, nursing and pharmacy newsletters. I received a writing award from the American Hospital Association in 1990. There are three things in my life that I count the most rewarding: my work with the mentally challenged from 1978-1983, my healthcare days establishing and directing patient advocacy for a large healthcare system, and my present work as a reading tutor. Most of my writings at present are devotional in nature. Devotional publications include Upper Room, Presbyterian Daily, and on my church website, www.famemphis.net. I am retired and live in a suburb of Memphis with my cat Chloe. My daughter and son-in-law, Kristi and Mark Hearn, live in Georgia and are the delights of my heart. Additionally, I am blessed with a spiritual family, Son (Tim) and Hien-Anh (Hannah) Le, their children, Rachel, Rebecca, and Esther, and Hannah’s mother, Phuong Hong. I am active in my church, First Assembly Memphis, and tutor second graders at First Assembly Christian School (FACS).

  • How God Our Father Sees Us

    “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17, NAS). This is what each one of us as God’s children will hear. As “heirs to the promise” (Galatians 3:29), we share in the blessings of Jesus.

    This is a lot to digest, the part of God being well pleased with me. I look at my life and see miserable failure in living the God-life. But if I take another view, I see it isn’t about the me I know, but the one God knows.

    Since God has forgotten our sins and removed them “as far as the east from the east” (Psalm 103:12), we stand only in the holiness of Jesus, the One we call Savior. God the Father sees us with clothes of salvation and righteousness (Isaiah 61:10) and we are beautiful in His sight. Though a lot to get our minds around, we look like Jesus. Standing in the Savior’s garment we radiate only good things, for He is only good. And that is all the Father sees. Imagine. All that grieves us about ourselves will not be a part of our final being. We will at last be revealed as the Father sees us. We will not be confused by the ploys of Satan. We will not walk with a rock of sin in our shoe. There will be no more guilt, no more shame and all because we did one thing: we chose to believe in Jesus (John 3:16).

    Perhaps the amount of detail to our garment will be reflective of all we have done in Christ’s name. It won’t be a garment of fine fabric, buttons and trim, but a different kind altogether. Our new garment will be of the little one we loved, the old person aided, the sick we attended. It will be the orphanage we helped build, the missionary we supported, the joyful surprise we prepared for a weary sojourner. The meal we cooked, the child we taught about God, the witness we gave in darkness. The stranger we made welcome, the lonely one we sat with, the one in need we walked with.  The time we spent in worship, the songs of praise to God we lifted, the words of encouragement we spoke. The times we sought and followed wisdom, the moments we forgave, the unconditional love we extended.

    Those acts in the Lord’s name will be the garment that cover us, for that is the righteousness of Jesus and that is what the Father has chosen to see when He looks on us in Spirit and not in flesh (Romans 8:27).

    Praises be to the One who forgives and loves us. Praises be to the One who made a way possible for us. Glory to God, for Redeemer is His name!

    jesus111

  • In the Presence of Jehovah

    The song, In the Presence of Jehovah, was written by Damaris Carbaugh (lyrics) and Becky and Geron David (music). When I hear it, I feel as if I am being escorted into the very throne room of God; it touches something inside me in a supernatural way. The words express the simple truth, that we can find healing for whatever our need when we get alone with God.

    I went through a very tough time some years back. One of the ways God restored health to my body and joy to my soul was through this song. A very dear friend and pastor’s wife sang it to me on a Sunday afternoon, touching directly the anguish I was feeling and from that moment on it became my anthem. I found an old tape by our church choir with “In the Presence of Jehovah” and played it over and over as I took long walks. It was like a release to pent-up anxiety and pain. One of our church soloists sang it with what seemed to me more frequency in a shorter period of time than usual. And I sang it to myself, letting the melody and words take the edge off the sharp, piercing pain I was experiencing. My entire being was calmed and soothed by this music with a solid truth.

    Because God fashioned us, He knows what will minister to our particular need. Without question, He gave this song to the writers that it might tell of Him and His grace. God laid it on Susan’s heart to sing so that His love could flow through her to me. He gave it again through Dianne’s sweet angel voice. Even the supplying of recorded music by our church choir before it was “my” church choir was by God’s hand. Over and over He drew me into a sacred space with Him and tended to my brokenness. It was (and is) like feeling the embrace of the Almighty.

    In the presence of Jehovah,

    God Almighty,

    Prince of Peace.

    Troubles vanish,

    hearts are mended,

    in the presence of the King.

    This is just the chorus. Follow this link http://youtu.be/ZgQX4lDzpWg to hear the very meaningful verses and the beauty of the music.

  • A Prayer Table

    At a women’s conference some years back, we were taught the value of having a prayer table, giving a focused way to draw into communion with God.  On the table we were to place things that reminded us of our spiritual journey, the concept coming from the book of Joshua where God told the Israelites to place rocks in certain places as acts of remembrance (see Joshua 4:6-7).

    The things I chose for my prayer table were these: an old hymnal that I had sung and played from so many times it was falling apart; a few small stones to remind me that just as God had been faithful to His Israelite children, He had been faithful to me; a candle whose flame would help me move into a quiet time; a small wooden angel, a reminder of the angels God has watching over me; a cross, the cost of my salvation; a favorite devotional book that has provided more insight than any other, “My Utmost for His Highest” by Oswald Chambers; a small plaque with the words of Jeremiah 29:11, words that encouraged me though an especially tough time in my life. And last, but the first thing chosen for my prayer table, a Bible given me at the time of high school graduation in 1961. This beautiful white Bible with a zipped cover was particularly special to me because it came from a neighboring church pastor and his wife and not my own; I had been remembered with the same gift he and his wife had given to the graduates of their church.

    A prayer table is only one way of establishing a focused place for prayer. Some have a rug or mat that they spread and lie face down on to pray. Others choose a closet or room without windows to remove all distractions. I find the music of a certain artist, Terry MacAlmon, a tremendous drawing power to the throne of God and his songs of praise are the first sounds that fills my house every morning. Whatever the mode, anything that helps us move deeper into God’s presence is a good thing. Jesus Himself taught us that.

    JesusPraying 1“Then Jesus got up early in the morning when it was still very dark, departed, and went out to a deserted place, and there he spent time in prayer” (NET).

  • I Believe in Heaven

    I am reading a book of near-death experiences, I Believe in Heaven: Real Stories from the Bible, History and Today. Written by Cecil Murphey and Twila Belk, it is a compilation of many people’s stories of going to heaven and returning to tell about it. In each case the individual did not want to return, but did so because there was work still to do.

    This is a captivating book and gratitude is due the authors for skillfully summarizing numerous stories on what heaven is like. The similarities are there: the glorious and indescribable beauty of heaven, the sounds of music like we have never heard, the appearances of Jesus, being greeted by family or friends now living in eternity, the total, embracing love of God and joy in being with Him. But it is the reasons for return that give pause to ponder—that work left undone.

    One person’s story says the sins he believed most grievous were not what was of concern in heaven; rather, it was the things he should have done and didn’t, the missed opportunities for service. And therein lies something for we who remain earthbound to think about.  Not to discount any sin, but to consider what we are passing by and leaving undone and the potential value of those deeds.

    It is a normal thing for individuals to want great things to accomplish. It gives a sense of knowing one’s purpose in living, provides a marker for their existence once gone. However it is important to remember man cannot see great things the way the Lord does, for God sees the beginning and the end of things and all the blessed offshoots along the way. An incident we may see as insignificant could lead to a trickle down effect of tremendous greatness for the kingdom of God.

    Colossians 3:17 says Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus. We are admonished to regard every action we take as opportunity to touch someone’s life in a positive way, to sow for the harvest of God, and build up personal treasures in heaven. Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might; for there is no activity or planning or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol where you are going (Ecclesiastes 9:10). In other words, a time comes when the door of opportunity is soundly closed.

    Holy Spirit, Counselor of God, we implore You to remind us moment by moment that we are the instruments of God. Press upon us the things You would have us do that we might not miss opportunities to do the work of the kingdom before us. Reform our hearts to submission and obedience and remove from us our attempts to determine what is valuable. In the name of the One who alone is worthy, amen.

  • Faith versus Fear

    It is in fear that faith is lost, confusion reigns and miracles are denied.

    When we close the door on God’s abilities because our own are inadequate, we hamper not just His love but the fullness of it.  He would provide so much, but we keep refusing Him in our little faith.

    David, the psalmist, declared the intention for those who revere God:  that He allows friendship “and reveals the secrets of His promises.”

    We long to be included in such a friendship, but while it is available, we refuse the secrets, crying out instead that there is no logic – and so we deny the whispers of the One who would befriend us.

    In self-induced pain, we toss and turn, we weep pitifully.  We say, “How could a loving God allow me to be so deceived?”  In fact, we should be thanking Him for the revelation and watching eagerly for its fulfillment.

    Oswald Chambers writes, “We have to live in the gray day according to what we saw on the mount.”  When God reveals a certain matter to us, we should live in faith until it happens.  We should trust His whispers in friendship.  Surely we stop a lot of miracles with our reluctance to trust wonderfully in our God.

    How carefully we tiptoe about, demonstrating more fear than faith, forgetting the power of our God.  His joy is in giving; His word declares that He is able.  “My purpose will be established . . . .  I have planned it; surely I will do it.”

    But we must hold onto the knowledge that without faith it is impossible to please God.  When we refuse Him our faith, we fail to activate all that our Lord would do for us.  J. Oswald Sanders said that “when sight brings no helpful vision and comfortable emotions are largely absent, the prayer of faith finds its greatest opportunity.”

    The words of Martin Luther enhanced such a statement when he wrote, “not the merits of my prayer but the certainty of Thy truth.”

    Just how many miracles do we deny when we stare dead center into the face of our problems and not into the face of the Problem Solver instead?  If we would but lift our chins upward and rest them in the palm of His waiting hand, we would unleash all the glory and truth of heaven.

  • Hearing from God

    When the Spirit does not open the Scripture,

    the Scripture is not understood even though it is read.

    –Martin Luther

    The Amplified Bible says that Selah (often used in the Psalms) means “to pause and calmly think about what you’ve read.” When we do this, we digest the words and their message, rather than move across them in rote fashion. Practicing Selah adds richness to our time with God. We go beyond a discipline and linger with Him while pondering. We allow nourishment to flow into our souls.

    The intention of scripture is to reveal the Lord and teach us His ways. It should be a matter of reverence for us each time we read God’s word, for we are opening communication with our Maker. To hear, we must keep still and pay attention to what is being said.

    When God’s word has our full attention, we will hear. An unfamiliar scripture may suddenly have a particular word for us, maybe one of encouragement or explanation of a trial we are going through. A recognizable passage may show us something we haven’t seen before, some broader way of thinking. That is the Holy Spirit in action! He is speaking to our hearts, our needs. And that is when we need to practice Selah. To take time to ponder God’s teaching moments and ask what is He saying that applies to us in a very specific way. I treasure these times and like to note the date and maybe a few words beside the scripture. On seeing this later, I may or may not recall why it helped me that day, but the one thing I will remember is that it was an intimate moment with God.

    That same kind of intervention of the Holy Spirit can come through Bible teachers. Dr. Charles Stanley says it this way: What we hear from teachers will be different because the Holy Spirit gives us what we need to hear. Isn’t that wonder-filled?  That God is not just able to speak to each of us individually, but that He desire it? I recall the time a pastor visited and I told him how much I appreciated something he had said from the pulpit. He asked what that was and after hearing it, he shook his head and said he didn’t remember it at all, but he got this feedback often–different people taking away different things from his messages. It is evidence of the Holy Spirit moving over us to bless us just as we need.

    God doesn’t give us this personal attention without divine purpose, however. He does it that we may be in relationship with Him. R. C. Sproul, in The Holiness of God, said The call to holiness was first given to Adam and Eve. This was the original assignment of the human race. We were created to shine forth to the world the holiness of God. This was the chief end of man, the very reason for our existence.

    In a society of self-centered people, it is sobering and necessary to remember that it really isn’t “all about us” and never will be. It is about Almighty God and our relationship with Him. It is about submission and obedience so that we may experience the love of God in the abundant ways He has planned.

    Let me leave you with these words of John Wesley:

    To candid, reasonable men,

    I’m not afraid to lay open what have been the inmost thoughts of my heart. 

    I have thought, I’m a creature of a day,

    passing through life as an arrow through the air.

    I am a spirit come from God, and returning to God: 

    Just hovering over the great gulf;

    til a few moments hence, I am no more seen;

    I drop into an unchangeable eternity. 

    I want to know one thing – the way to heaven;

    how to land safe on that happy shore. 

    God himself has condescended to teach the way;

    for this very end He came from heaven.

    He hath written it down in a book, O give me that book! 

    At any price, give me the Book of God.

  • Advance Directives Give You Control

    Advance Directives Give You Control

    Mr. Randall stood by his wife’s bed and watched.  She had been in a persistent vegetative state for weeks, but he had been unable to accept her condition.  Her doctor did his best to explain, but love and hope overruled.  On occasion, Mr. Randall talked about taking his wife off life-sustaining equipment.  Once he asked that I notify her physician, but by the time Dr. Speer arrived, Mr. Randall had changed his mind.  He simply could not get peace about what to do.  For five months this went on:  the faithful husband visiting almost daily and experiencing a roller coaster of emotions.  Then one day it was over; her body finally gave up.

    I knew many situations like the Randall’s.  Some scenarios included family conflict.  A spouse decided to remove life support and the children took issue with it.  Anger would take over, bitter words would be spoken, and grief was added to grief.  It happened with the Randalls.  By the end, the children were no longer speaking with their father and had long since stopped visiting their mother.

    There is a way that much of this kind of distress can be avoided, and that is by the use of advance directives.  Advance directives advise your physician of what you want when you are no longer able to speak for yourself and you can only be kept alive through artificial means.  In Tennessee, those forms are called (1) the Advance Care Plan, more commonly known as the Living Will, and (2) the Appointment of Health Care Agent, earlier known as the Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care or the Medical Power of Attorney.  The Living Will gives clear direction on how you want decisions made for you.  There are sections where you can be very specific with what you do and do not want.  The second form provides authority to someone of your choosing to make decisions for you.  You can download these forms, free of charge, at http://health.state.tn.us/AdvanceDirectives/index.htm.

    In September 2011, my husband had a stroke.  It was massive, and he deteriorated quickly.  When I was asked if he had a Living Will and I answered yes, the nurse gave me thumbs up.  During a very unexpected and difficult time, I didn’t have to wonder about what Richard would want—he had put it in writing.

    My husband and I had taken time years back to discuss what we wanted for ourselves in the way of end-of-life decisions.  We each had experiences to draw on to help us make our decisions and that was unquestionably a huge assist.  Neither of us wanted to be held on through artificial means, nor did we want a decision made for us by the other when a time was tumultuous and emotional.  We signed our directives, called our children and talked with them about our wishes, then mailed them copies.

    Having Richard’s decision in writing didn’t make my implementation of his Living Will easy, but it did take away any concern about what he wanted.  The whole purpose of what he had done was to ensure that his last wishes were carried out as he desired when he could no longer speak for himself.  He trusted me to stand firm, and he backed the Living Will up with the Medical Power of Attorney, naming me as proxy.

    I encourage others to take time to do what we did.  Have a discussion with your physician.  Ask him or her to explain how physicians come to decisions about end-of-life and probable outcome.  Ask what kinds of things might be done and what purpose they serve.  Ask every question you have so that you can make an informed decision with a calm and clear mind.  You may also want to discuss it with a clergy member of your faith.

    After you’ve made your decision, do the next important thing and talk to family members—at least your children.  The most prevailing argument I heard between children and parent was that the children had never heard their mother or father say what they wanted, and, therefore, they questioned the decision one parent was now making for the other.   It can tear families apart. I saw it happen too many times.

    (Other than my husband’s, names have been changed.)

  • Closing Thoughts on Jesus’ Healing Ministry

    How many people did Jesus heal in His days on earth? We have the stories of just a few (I count 26 separate individuals whose stories have been written), but there are scriptures that tell us the accounts reported in the gospels were a very small number of the entirety.

    In Matthew alone, there are eight references to Jesus healing multitudes of people with various diseases and afflictions. (See 4:23, 8:16, 9:35, 12:15, 13:14, 15:30, 19:2, and 21:14.)

    Hear Matthew 4:23: “News about Him spread all over Syria, and people brought to Him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed, and He healed them.”  And Matthew 15:30 says “Great crowds came to Him, bringing the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute and many others, and laid them at His feet; and He healed them.”

    Healing_the_Blind008 How could we possibly imagine the total sum of people healed by our Lord? He healed all who asked of Him, every single one.  The last thing the disciple John said in his gospel was this: “Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written” (John 21:25). We are told about 26 specific healings. It gives us some idea of who and what our Lord healed, but I suggest it is only that—an idea.

    We can’t close out without a mention of the one healing that would have been in higher number than all the rest. It was the most important healing then, and it is now. Spiritual healing. We can be sure that as bodies and minds were healed, so were souls. That which gives us quality of life is valuable, but it is spiritual healing that goes with us into all eternity.

    It was faith that released the power of the Lord. Over and over we hear Him say it is faith that brings about healing. Sometimes it was the faith of the one afflicted, other times it was the faith of the one bringing the one in need to Jesus.

    John Wesley said “When we have learned the process of faith for receiving healing, we have learned how to receive everything else God promises us in His Word.”

  • Casting out Demons

    Scriptures on casting out demons/evil spirits:
    Matthew 8:16, 8:28, 9:32, 15:22
    Mark 3:11, 5:2, 7:25, 9:17
    Luke 4:32, 4:41, 8:27, 9:39

    Of all the healing miracles, the one reported on most was of those possessed of evil spirits or demons. Matthew, Mark, and Luke give four reports each of the Lord casting out demons; some of the stories are repeated, but not all.

    Some of the people Jesus healed had afflictions that were credited to demons:  the woman bent over for 18 years, a child who was mute and deaf, a boy with seizures or epilepsy. Some lived among the tombs because they were out of control. We read of how they screamed and threw themselves into the fire so we know they lived in torment.

    There are those who question that demons were real then; they suggest these healings were of people with mental illnesses and simply told as they were for people to better understand their healing. Dr. Charles C. Ryrie, retired professor of systematic theology and dean of doctoral studies at Dallas Theological Seminary, and best known for the Ryrie Study Bible, has something to say about that in his book, Basic Theology: “A number of times during His earthly ministry our Lord cast out demons from various people. These instances, of course, affirmed His belief in their real existence. If we cannot accept the Lord’s testimony, then we would have to conclude that either (a) He was lying, or (b) He was accommodating His teaching to the ignorance of His audience (which in effect makes Him guilty of propagating falsehood), or (c) the early church redactors of the text added the parts about His teaching on demons. All the writers of the New Testament (except the writer of Hebrews) mention demons for a total of over 100 references” (p 157).

    Dr. Ryrie says that scripture points to the conclusion that demons are fallen angels. They have superior intelligence, experience, and powers.  They are spirit beings, although localized because they are limited and not infinite as God is. Generally, they are invisible to human beings, though on occasion, their presence has been apparent through various means (Acts 19:14; Revelation 9: 1-12, 16-13). They are not present everywhere, yet they are not as restricted as humans for the normal barriers of space. Dr. Ryrie warns that denying the existence and power of demons is ignorant and foolhardy (taken from pp 159-163).

    Dr. J. Vernon McGee (1904-1988) in his Through the Bible radio series, still popular today, said once that “it is difficult to explain what is taking place in our contemporary society without believing in the existence of demons.”  Consider that Dr. McGee’s comment was perhaps made at least 30 years ago and then think of the continuing progression of our society’s decline in morality.

    Dr. Scott Peck (1936-2005) was a psychiatrist best known for his book, The Road Less Traveled, but he also wrote a phenomenal book titled People of the Lie, the Hope for Healing Human Evil.  It is an unsettling, but importantly informing book on the evil in people. He draws on case examples from his psychiatric practice and reflection on those cases led him to have to consider whether there is such a thing as the devil. He thought not, but decided that in order to be thorough in his research, he needed to see “one good old-fashioned case of possession.” Dr. Peck says his disbelief was in common with 99% of psychiatrists and the majority of clergy. He sought out and eventually found cases of behavior that he deemed not to be mental illness. He saw something entirely different, people with evil in them, and through the witnessing of exorcisms, came to believe in Satan.

    Dr. Peck said before he witnessed his first exorcism, he read Hostage to the Devil by Malachi Martin. He says, “I was intrigued, but hardly convinced of the devil’s reality. It was another matter after I had personally met Satan face-to-face” (p 184).

    With information from revered theologian, Dr. Charles Ryrie, and widely respected psychiatrist and author, Dr. Scott Peck, we can better understand why these miracles were the most spectacular and reported of all the Lord’s healings.

  • Raised from the Dead

    Daughter of Jairus (Matthew 9:18, 23-25; Mark 5:22-24, 35-43; Luke 8:40-56)

    “Then a man named Jairus, a ruler of the synagogue, came and fell at Jesus’ feet, pleading with Him to come to his house because his only daughter, a girl of about twelve, was dying” (Luke 8:4-42 NIV).  The story is reported by three writers, but only Luke tells us the ruler’s child was his only daughter and was about 12. Because he was a physician, he would have investigated every story for details others might not have considered important. Maybe they weren’t, but they were interesting.

    When Jesus gets to the ruler’s house, He finds the grieving has begun. Funeral music is playing via piped instruments and the crowd of people in and around the house is noisy. The custom of that day was to grieve the dead by loud, woeful cries, continuing until they could emit no more than a sob. This would have been the noise of the crowd.

    Jesus tells the crowd that the child is not dead, only sleeping. They laugh at Him and He sends them away, allowing only the little girl’s parents and three disciples, Peter, James, and John, to go with Him to where the child’s body lay. How did He come to just these five? Perhaps He was surrounding Himself with only those of strongest expectation. Certainly the parents were desperate for their child’s restoration and Jesus had compassion for them. The disciples chosen were the three Jesus was closest to, and He needed them to see His power, for soon they would be sent forth to heal in His name.

    Scripture says Jesus took her by the hand and said, “My child, get up” (Luke 8:54)! Dr. J. Vernon McGee, preacher, teacher, and author, said those words could be translated “Little lamb, wake up.” (See Thru the Bible, notes on Luke 8:54, page 284.) That sounds like the way Jesus would speak to a child, doesn’t it? Full of love and compassion for a little one. Verse 55 says “Her spirit returned, and at once she stood up.”

    The royal official’s son in Capernaum (John 4:46-53), the son of a widow in Nain (Luke 7:11-17), Lazarus (John 11:1-6, 11-44)

    There were three other reports given us of Jesus raising the dead to life. Of all, Lazarus is probably the most familiar and the most spectacular because he had been in the grave for four days (John 11:17). This would mean a decaying body with a horrific stench.  It must have been a frightening thing for the family, even knowing of Jesus’ past miracles, to think of what would be revealed when the grave was opened. But Jesus was God! Four days in the grave to Him was no more than a child’s scraped knee. So after thanking God the Father for hearing Him, Jesus commands Lazarus to come out. And Lazarus, dead and buried for four days, walks out of the grave and goes home. (See vv 41-44).

    Would these four restorations from death be the only ones that happened? I doubt it. I suspect these are only representative of many.  We know Jesus healed many more than were reported for Luke 4:40 says “At sunset, the people brought to Jesus all who had various kinds of sickness, and laying his hands on each one, he healed them.”  And Mark 1:34 says “and Jesus healed many who had various diseases. He also drove out many demons . . .” In final support that we know only a little of His miracles, John said this in his gospel (21:25): “Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.”

    We will not know all the miracles our Lord did until we reach heaven. And as the gospel song goes, “Won’t it be wonderful there?”

    All scriptures are from New International Version (NIV).