Author: meghanewhite

God, Jesus, Prayer, Trials, Uncategorized

Praising God in Prison

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“The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
    because he has anointed me
    to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
    and recovery of sight for the blind,
to set the oppressed free,”

Luke 4:18, NIV

 

Have you ever been in a prison? Maybe you, or a loved one has served time in prison. I was in a prison once as a little girl, watching my mom’s tap dance group perform for the inmates. I don’t recall giving it much thought at the time, or being fearful. They were trying to do some good for the incarcerated.

Prisons are terrible places. They are supposed to be. They are designed to punish. Prisoners spend countless hours inside tiny cells. Freedom is gone. Our modern American prisons look like a hotel stay compared to the old Roman ones. Ancient Roman prisons were horrific.

The most famous Roman prison can still be visited today. It is located just outside the Forum Romanum buried at the foot of the Capitoline Hill. It was Ancus Marcius, the fourth king of Rome, who, sometime during his reign (640-616 BC) constructed this dark, damp and foreboding subterranean structure.¹

Roman historian Sallust described it as about twelve feet deep into the ground. “Its appearance is disgusting and vile by reason of the filth, the darkness and the stench.” It was into this room, 6 1/2 ft. high, thirty feet long and twenty-two feet wide, that prisoners who had been condemned to die either by strangulation or starvation were thrown. One attributes the phrase “to be cast into prison” had its origins here.²

Roman prisons were not used to punish criminals, but instead served only to hold people awaiting trial or execution.

 

Paul and Silas in Prison

While in Philippi, a slave girl who had a spirit that could predict the future was following Paul, Silas, and their entire group.

17 She followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved.” 18 She kept this up for many days. Finally Paul became so annoyed that he turned around and said to the spirit, “In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!” At that moment the spirit left her. (Acts 16:17-18, NIV)

The slave girl’s owners were angry since she made them a lot of money. They grabbed Paul and Silas, and brought them to the authorities. (Acts 16:19)

20 They brought them before the magistrates and said, “These men are Jews, and are throwing our city into an uproar 21 by advocating customs unlawful for us Romans to accept or practice.” (Acts 16:20-21, NIV)

The crowd goes crazy and joins the attack against Paul and Silas. They are flogged, and thrown into the inner cell of the prison. Their feet were placed in stocks. (Acts v.22-24)

Paul and Silas were wrongfully accused, stripped, beaten, and severely flogged. Their backs would have been bloody, raw and ripped to shreds. The pain would have been unimaginable. After being beaten, almost to death, they are thrown into a horrible Roman prison. Things were looking bleak. If that were me, I would have given up. I would have asked, “Where are you God?” “You have abandoned us.” “You don’t care.”

Paul and Silas never curse God.

Paul and Silas never question God’s will or His plan.

Paul and Silas never give up.

Paul and Silas trust God.

Paul and Silas pray and sing hymns to God!

25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. 26 Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose. 27 The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped. 28 But Paul shouted, “Don’t harm yourself! We are all here!” (Acts 16:25-28, NIV)

And the best, most exciting part is God did a miracle! All the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose. Not just Paul’s and Silas’ chains. Every prisoner who was in the prison that night experienced a miracle. Their chains came loose. Prison doors flew open. What were all these prisoners thinking? What were Paul and Silas thinking? I can only imagine the unexpected joy they all must have felt. God showed up mightily.

29 The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

31 They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” 32 Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. 33 At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his household were baptized. 34 The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God—he and his whole household. (Acts 16:29-33,NIV)

In the morning Paul and Silas get released and everybody lives happily ever after. At least for that moment.  If you want to read the entire story it’s Acts 16:16-40.

Because of being wrongfully accused, beaten to near death, and thrown in prison, a bunch of people accepted Jesus Christ as Savior. Paul and Silas remained faithful. God answered their prayers and did a miracle. The jailer, and his entire family, and all other occupants in his house got saved. Who knows how many of those prisoners and guards came to know Jesus as their savior. They all witnessed a miracle. How could you not be forever changed. They experienced the mighty hand of God.

Do you have chains of affliction? Are you in your own kind of prison? You’ve prayed, and prayed, yet feel trapped. Hopeless. You stopped praying. Stopped believing.

Your prison has a purpose. God wastes absolutely nothing. Whether you put yourself there by your choices, or circumstances out of your control put you in that prison, God is still able to make a way. He opens prison doors.

God is a chain breaker.  

If you are bound up in chains then pray, and sing hymns to God. Look to Him. Declare the truth of His word over your life and circumstance. Surrender everything to God and wait to see what He does with your mess. No one can do for you what God can. Keep trusting Him.

Jesus came to set prisoners free. 

 

Father God,

I love you and praise you. Thank you for being in the miracle business. There is none like you. I lift up every person who is in chains right now. They are trapped in their own prison. Comfort them. Reveal yourself to them. Open those prison doors and loose those chains. Set all those captive, free. And for those in actual prison, set them free too. Even if they have years left of incarceration, they can still experience your freedom. Come Lord Jesus to the prisons, and to homes, and hearts. You came to set all of us free.

In Jesus mighty name,

Amen!

 

 

Love you all,

Meghan

 

 

Photo credit Pixabay Desertrose7

  1. &  2. https://www.unrv.com/government/roman-prisons.php

 

Family, Food, Uncategorized

Check Out My Brand New Column

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I am so excited to share my brand new monthly column “Meghan’s Corner“, featured in Mustard Seed Sentinel. I love writing about my faith on here, but this new column will have a variety of topics, with my faith woven through. This first article is about my love of cooking. It’s something I am passionate about. Cooking is a fun, creative outlet for me, when I’ve got the time. I’ve included two very easy recipes. I was inspired by spring, and the fresh ingredients available. I used the cilantro from my garden for the pico de gallo.

It’s a blessing for me to have an opportunity like this. I am truly grateful to Joanne, the publisher of Mustard Seed Sentinel. Thanks for dropping in, and sharing in my good news. I hope you enjoy my article and recipes. Your support means so much to me.

https://www.mustardseedsentinel.com/single-post/2019/05/22/Meghan%E2%80%99s-Corner-For-the-Love-of-Cooking

 

Love you all,

Meghan

 

Bible, Faith, Family, Uncategorized

For My Mom

meghanewhite

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“I begin to love this little creature, and to anticipate his birth as a fresh twist to a knot, which I do not wish to untie.”

Mary Wollstonecraft  

(1759-1797) English Writer

 

A mother’s love is unending. It begins in the womb, with the anticipation of a new life growing inside. Excitement, and fear at times too, as a baby develops in a mother’s body. Mother’s feel the great responsibility to care for the fragile little life on board. Taking vitamins, going to the doctor for checkups, and dealing with morning sickness, stretch marks, weight gain, swelling ankles, and countless trips to the restroom are just a few of the sacrifices mother’s make for our precious babies. “It’s worth it” we are told. Our hearts grow as the baby grows. It’s all part of God’s plan. Mother’s already love our babies before we see them.

I know a very special mother that I call “Mom”. My mom is the best mother. There I said it. I feel better now. Sorry to all the other mom’s out there. The best mom role is taken. Let me tell you a little about this very special woman. Dorothea Louise Tanyer was born in Jeanette, Pennsylvania a few years back. OK, more than a few, but that’s beside the point. She grew up with both of her parents working. It was uncommon to have a mother work outside of the home back in the day, and my mom was left on her own a lot. Little Dorothea had to get herself ready for school and pack her own lunch at six years old. This would set her up to be strong, and face adversity with courage.

Her family called her “Peaches” because of her beautiful skin, which she still has. Seriously, the woman has the most gorgeous skin. No wrinkles! Pretty incredible for a woman in her seventies. Oops! I gave away her age. My mom always looks beautiful and put together. Even when we were little, and she would wear curlers out in public (the horror!), she looked great. Oh, and she loves hats. She wore many a hat on Easter, or Mother’s Day, or Saturday. And she looks great in them. I would look like a fool in a hat. She has the class to wear them.

Mom always made dinner every night for all seven of us. We sat down together as a family with Mom’s great home cooked meals. Many times she was working a full-time job as well. I have no idea how she accomplished this every day. God gave Dot (that’s what most people call her) an extra dose of energy. He knew she would need it to handle five children and a demanding husband. (You can read about my dad here I love you Dad! )  Mom is very organized. I remember coming home from elementary school, and in the kitchen there were little bags with our names on them containing after school snacks. That is some serious planning right there.

When we had horses and farm animals Mom would give them their shots. She would have made a great veterinarian. If we found stray dogs and cats, Mom took them in. Sometimes people we knew needed help, Mom helped them too. Her heart is as big as her non-stop energy. Like a lot of mother’s, Mom wore a lot of hats. Taxi driver, chef, counselor, cheerleader, doctor, nurse, horse trainer, vet, maid, disciplinarian. I can see the wooden spoon now. I don’t recall getting spanked, but I’m pretty sure one of my brothers felt the end of that spoon a few times.

Dancing is something she has loved since her childhood. Mom tap danced in her 30’s and 40’s with a few other ladies her age. They would perform around Riverside County in Southern California. I watched many of my mom’s performances as a little girl, always impressed with the colorful costumes. Not long before her tap dance years, she was diagnosed with sarcoidosis, an autoimmune disease. Most of her lungs are covered in this awful disease which makes it hard to breathe. This never stopped my mom. She danced, took care of five rambunctious children, and my alcoholic father, and took care of horses, and all our many animals, and worked, and helped a whole lot of people along the way.

Mom loves singing and has been part of several church choirs over the years. She loves playing games, especially card games. She is a talented artist who can draw and paint very well. Mom loves to decorate. Many times we would come home from school and the living room would be completely rearranged, or painted, or wallpapered, depending on her mood. There are so many things to tell you about my mom, but there’s not enough time to cover it all. She’s kind of a go-getter, jack of all trades type of lady.

I came to Christ because my mom did first. Actually, my whole family came to know Jesus as savior because Mom led the way. I shared this story in my post My Bible. I can vividly see my mom diligently reading her Bible. She was part of an evangelism team at our church where they would go door to door sharing the Good News. I would get so embarrassed when her gospel music was blaring in the car if she was picking up me and my friends. I was an immature junior higher. Now I get it. Mom was excited about Jesus, and she still is.

Mom lost two babies before I was born. One was a miscarriage, and the other a stillborn. Her baby boy was named Patrick. Mom will meet both babies in heaven. I share this not to make anyone sad; Just to show some of the difficulties my mom has faced with dignity. Mom’s a fighter. She’s had to be her whole life. Right now, she is fighting lung cancer. Her attitude is positive. Mom has a strong faith, and trusts God. She is resilient. Mom has faced many, many difficulties in her life, yet she gets up. She keeps going. She looks to Jesus. I admire her strength and her fight. I hope I’ve inherited some of that.

A mother’s love never ends. It’s part of the deal. That’s just how God made us. We fight for our children, always. Mother’s never give up. I know that I am loved by my mother, and that she loves all five of her children. I am grateful for my mom.

“Her children rise up and call her blessed,” (Proverbs 31:28, ESV).

 

Happy Mother’s Day to the best mom in the whole wide world!

I love you Mom.

Meghan

 

Please say a prayer for my mom as she battles cancer. Thank you!

 

Photo credit: Pixaby

‘The Child’s Caress’, oil on canvas c. 1890, Mary Cassatt

 

Bible, Faith, God, Jesus, Trials, Uncategorized

God Makes Dead Things Alive

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Have you ever had a dream die? You were sure that “thing” was going to happen and change everything. But it never did, and you gave up. Too much time passed. Too much heartache. It’s dead and buried. You even marked the tombstone with the title of your dream. Gone forever. Or is it?

God is in the miracle business. He can bring dead things to life. It may be that the dream was supposed to die, so that God can turn around and raise it up again. Some things are just supposed to die. Dreams that are not from God should be left alone. Sure, we can pursue all sorts of endeavors in the name of God, that really have nothing to do with Him. I’m talking about the deep desires that He places in our hearts. The ones we barely tell anyone about. The seeds that He has planted.

We get impatient. We think, “It will never happen”. And so we walk away. We give up. We bury the dream. God does things different than we do. He’s God, and we are not.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
    neither are your ways my ways,”
    declares the Lord.
As the heavens are higher than the earth,
    so are my ways higher than your ways
    and my thoughts than your thoughts,” (Isaiah 55:8-9, NIV).

It’s easy to think we’ve got God all figured out. Like there’s some formula, and if we follow it, we get everything we want, whenever we want it. Following Christ means surrender to Him and His plan. And He does have plans for each of us (Jeremiah 29:11). And He does have dreams He gives us. God’s plans cannot be stopped.

“I know that You can do all things, And that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted,” (Job 42:2, NASB).

 

Lazarus

The story of Lazarus in the book of John is well known, and is the only place in the Gospel’s it’s told (John 11:1-44). Jesus gets word that his friend Lazarus is sick.“When he heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s son may be glorified through it,” (John 11:4, NIV). I can only imagine that Lazarus’ sisters, Martha and Mary, were sure that Jesus would show up and save the day. God had a different plan.“Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. Yet when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days,” (John 11:5-6, NIV). 

Jesus tells the disciples it’s time to go back to Judea. They think this is a bad idea since the Jews there tried to stone him. This doesn’t stop Jesus. “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I am going there to wake him up,” (John 11:11b, NIV). The disciples tell Jesus that Lazarus will get better if he sleeps. They thought he meant natural sleep. Jesus was talking about Lazarus death (John 11:12-13). He finally tells them Lazarus is dead and they must go to him (John 11:14).

By the time Jesus and the disciples arrive, Lazarus had been in the tomb for four days (John 11:17). The damage was done. Death won and there would be no victory for Lazarus, or so it appeared. Martha went to meet Jesus, but Mary stayed home. “Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask,” (John 11:21, NIV). 

“Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again,” (John 11:23, NIV). Martha and Mary still didn’t understand that Jesus was about to do something miraculous. Jesus asks to see Lazarus tomb. “Take away the stone,” he said (John 11:39a, NIV). Martha thinks this is a very bad idea since Lazarus body had been in the tomb for four days. She tells Jesus it’s going to smell pretty bad (John 11:39b). “So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have always heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me,” (John 11:41-42, NIV). 

“When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go,” (John 11:43-44, NIV). 

Wow!! Jesus could have immediately healed Lazarus when he was sick. Instead, he waited, even when the sisters asked for Jesus help. He had a bigger plan; To raise Lazarus from the dead. Your God-given dream can be resurrected too!

God makes dead things alive. He is the same God as during Lazarus time. God does not change (Malachi 3:6). What has died in you? Faith. Peace. Hope. Trust. Maybe the dream that God gave you died. For your marriage to be restored, a loved one who’s not following the Lord, physical healing, emotional healing, fill in the blank. What is it that you need God to breathe life into once again?

 

 

Dear Lord,

I lift up every hurting soul right now. You see them. You know them. You love them. Bring new life to their God-given dreams. The ones that died. You are in the miracle business. We love you, thank you, and praise you for who you are. Perfect, Holy, God.

Amen

 

 

Love you all,

Meghan

 

P.S. The picture is from Elvis’ grave site at Graceland.

 

 

 

 

 

Jesus, Salvation, Uncategorized

Torn

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“At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.” (Matthew 27:51, NIV)

The temple curtain, or veil, was torn from top to bottom at the moment Jesus gave up his spirit (Matthew 27:50). Why is this significant? Let’s go back to Exodus and the Tabernacle. This was a place God’s spirit could dwell, and the Israelites could worship God.

8 “Then have them make a sanctuary for me, and I will dwell among them. 9 Make this tabernacle and all its furnishings exactly like the pattern I will show you.” (Exodus 25: 8-9, NIV)

God gave specific instructions to Moses for the Tabernacle and the Most Holy Place.

31 “Make a curtain of blue, purple and scarlet yarn and finely twisted linen, with cherubim woven into it by a skilled worker. 32 Hang it with gold hooks on four posts of acacia wood overlaid with gold and standing on four silver bases. 33 Hang the curtain from the clasps and place the ark of the covenant law behind the curtain. The curtain will separate the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place. 34 Put the atonement cover on the ark of the covenant law in the Most Holy Place. 35 Place the table outside the curtain on the north side of the tabernacle and put the lamp stand opposite it on the south side.”(Exodus 26: 31-35, NIV).

This curtain was beautiful but strong; Separating the people from God’s presence. Only the High Priest was allowed behind the curtain, and only once a year (Exodus 30:10). The priest had to wash himself, wear special garments, burn incense, and bring sacrificial blood to atone for sins (Exodus 28-30). Aaron, the first high priest and Moses’ brother, was told not to come to the Most Holy Place whenever he chooses or he would die (Leviticus 16:1-2). Going into the Holy of Holies was not to be taken lightly and very few even entered the sacred space. God was protecting the people.

But,” he said, “you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live” (Exodus 33:20, NIV).

The first temple was built by Solomon, and had forty-five foot high walls (1 Kings 6:20). Fast forward to Jesus’ time on earth. Herod refurbished the second temple making it taller. According to the historian Josephus, Herod’s temple veil was close to sixty feet high, and the temple curtain was at least an inch thick. Some claim the curtain was four inches thick.

At the moment Jesus took his last breath the temple curtain was torn from top to bottom (Matthew 27:51). God tore the massive, thick temple curtain. Not man. The separation between us and God was destroyed because of Jesus sacrifice on the cross. Jesus is the great high priest.

“Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. 16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need,” (Hebrews 4:14-16, NIV).

We can come boldly to the throne of grace. No more curtain. We have the joy and privilege to approach God with confidence all because of precious Jesus. He empathizes with us since He lived for a while among us, yet He never sinned. He took on our sin and atoned for us. Jesus was the perfect, sacrificial lamb for the entire world.

“He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world” (1 John 2:2, NIV).

Love! Love! Love! Jesus died for us because of His great love for us. The most beautiful love story in all human history. The curtain is never going back up. We do not have to atone for our sins. Jesus did that on the cross. Thank you Jesus!

Do you know Jesus? He already knows you. He loves you. He paid your sin debt in full.

We praise you Jesus! There is none like you.

 

Love you all,

Meghan