Laurie Hopkins

There were two things that stood out to me this morning when I read this.  

1) The woman with the issue of blood pressed through and pressed in, in order to encounter Jesus.  She went out in public even though she was bleeding (was considered impure) and required to stay inside; she pressed through the crowds in what we can imagine was a weakened condition; and she humbled herself, as she would have had to get close to the ground to reach out and touch the hem/border of Jesus’ garment.  

Sometimes we just need to get to a point where we are willing to press through and press in. 

2) When the woman with the issue of blood touched the hem/border of His garment, Jesus knew He had been touched and that power had gone out of Him, despite the fact that He was in the middle of a crowd and being jostled by many.  

But the touch that pressed through and pressed in caused a reaction and Jesus recognized it as the power flowed from Him.  

Jesus knows when we press through and press in and touch the hem/border of His garment.  

Despite the millions of people in the world jostling for His attention even now, when we reach out and touch Him in faith, He knows our very touch.

Are you ready and willing to press through and press in today?  Jesus will recognize and know your very touch as you reach out in faith!

Rest is something that eludes many of us.  

We fill our time with tasks and time moves quickly before us. Even in the night our mind moves in and out and through those things left undone or still to accomplish. 

Jesus offers rest in the midst of our daily lives. 

He offers rest in the midst of our “to do” lists and schedules.  

He offers rest in the midst of our coming and our going.  

When we learn to yoke with Jesus rather than with the world, we will begin to seek and hear His direction for filling up that calendar; what tasks are necessary, what tasks can go and what tasks are negotiable.  

We will learn to manage our time wisely, allowing for those activities that reinvigorate as well as those that take time and energy. 

We will learn to say “no” to those things we can’t manage and “yes” to those things we can truly dedicate ourselves too wholeheartedly.  

Jesus doesn’t require performance or perfectionism.  

He won’t love us any more or any less for that which we “do”.  

As we learn to separate who we are from what we do, we will learn to be who we are and we will grow into who we were created to be.  

Jesus offers rest.  

Won’t you take Him up on this offer this year?

Happy New Year! 

Today will be a tucked in the house, laid back, eat the rest of the Christmas leftovers, pack away the decorations, watch some football, get ready for work tomorrow and make some lists on brand new, shiny, blank paper kind of day! 

It is also a great day to sneak away with the Lord all by yourself for some quiet time; time to reflect on the year past and to ask for wisdom and direction for the year ahead.  

A good place to start is to ask the Lord for a Bible Verse for the year. 

2 Chronicles 7:14 will be one of my verses for the year.  

A verse is a good way to keep yourself grounded and focused in the word throughout the year. 

A way to remind yourself of where you are and where you are heading!

Do you have a verse for the year?  

Pop it right here in the comments section and share it with us – tell us a bit about why that verse is important for you this year.

So here it is – a final farewell to 2018.  

A year of much growth and learning in the midst of all that went on and all we pushed through.

We thank you for all your lessons!

And a hello filled with anticipation to 2019. 

A year of much to come!