Tag Archives: miracle

Is Anything Too Hard for God?

Posted on March 20, 2023 by expressyourself4him

I was introduced to the concept “is anything too hard for God” in the attached video from the film Facing the Giants. While the wording is slightly different, the same biblical truth applies nothing is impossible with God. Unfortunately, we live in an age where Judeo Christian practices have been under attack. This invisible war began in the 1960’s when public Bible readings and prayer was banned from public schools. Some may say faith in America has been all downhill ever since these court decisions.

And the Lord asked Abraham, Why did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I really bear a child when I am so old? 14 Is anything too hard or too wonderful [b]for the Lord? At the appointed time, when the season [for her delivery] comes around, I will return to you and Sarah shall have borne a son, Genesis 18:13-14.

The Bible’s version of is anything too hard for God begins with a surprise visit from three men. As Abraham welcomes these new guests, a feast is prepared. At some point during dinner, these men ask where Abrahm’s wife is, in the tent next door. According to Moses, God was present and speaks loud enough to make sure Sarah can also hear the news by this time next year she will give birth to her first child. As an old woman, well beyond the age of bearing a child, Sarah laughs sarcastically to herself, “yeah right.”

Then the angel said to her, The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you [like a shining cloud]; and so the holy (pure, sinless) Thing (Offspring) which shall be born of you will be called the Son of God. 36 And listen! Your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is now the sixth month with her who was called barren. 37 For with God nothing is ever impossible and no word from God shall be without power or impossible of fulfillment, Luke 1:35-37.

Whether you’re talking about a small undersized high school football team playing the defending champs, a barren woman hoping to have a child, or a virgin teen conceiving a child through the power of the Holy Spirit, nothing is impossible with God. Yet, doubt still persists as the longer you live without experiencing or seeing a miracle, your hope will disappear. As Moses writes in Genesis 18, this earthly trial sets the stage for God to shock the world. Therefore, the next time doubt creeps into your head, repeat the words above, “is anything too hard for God?” Absolutely not!

by Jay Mankus

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Igniting a Fire Inside Your Heart

Posted on March 1, 2023 by expressyourself4him

I didn’t understand the concept of a spiritual fire until my second semester of college. After indulging my sinful nature, the entire first semester, inside I felt like the popular Foreigner song “As Cold as Ice.” Despite warnings from older Christian friends, I had my own prodigal son experience, chasing popularity and the party scene. When you live a lie for three months, I began to feel dead inside or as Pink Floyd once sang, “Comfortably Numb.”

And he [Abram] believed in (trusted in, relied on, remained steadfast to) the Lord, and He counted it to him as righteousness (right standing with God), Genesis 15:6.

After most of my floor funked out, there wasn’t as many distractions so I began to turn back to God. This spiritual U-Turn began at James Madison University during a Fellowship of Christian Athletes Retreat. My roommate for the weekend was the quarterback of Delaware’s football team. Despite his size and stature, Dave had a great heart and welcomed me with open arms. Following Friday nights Icebreaker, my heart was receptive to the people I met and speakers which followed.

For His divine power has bestowed upon us all things that [are requisite and suited] to life and godliness, through the [[d]full, personal] knowledge of Him Who called us by and to His own glory and excellence (virtue). 4 By means of these He has bestowed on us His precious and exceedingly great promises, so that through them you may escape [by flight] from the moral decay (rottenness and corruption) that is in the world because of covetousness (lust and greed), and become sharers (partakers) of the divine nature, 2 Peter 1:3-4.

Like a series of building blocks, each session tied together, sparking a sensation in my heart that I had never experienced before. As Saturday night led into early Sunday morning, students gathered in a conference room for an open mic. One by one, athletes shared about how God touched them, reflecting upon Bible studies and keynote speakers. Just as Abram experienced a spiritual turning point in his life, this was the moment I made Jesus the Lord of my life, Romans 10:9-11. The Holy Spirit ignited a fire inside my heart that still burns today, prompting a stutterer to face my fear of speaking in public. Before graduating college, this spiritual fire sparked a miracle, healing me from my stammering past. While I’m still a sinner, this spiritual fire is real and still burns.

by Jay Mankus

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The Bible’s Version of Weird Science

Posted on November 29, 2022 by expressyourself4him

Weird Science provides a snapshot of life in the 1980’s. Two teenage nerds attempt to create the perfect woman on a computer program. Rather than pretend, these two push the limits of their minds, breaking the law to achieve their ultimate goal. After a chain reaction similar to a scene from Ghost Busters out pops a real-life Playboy Bunny wearing low cut underwear and shirt. After recently reading the Creation Story in Genesis, God provides the Bible’s version of Weird Science in the verses below.

And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam; and while he slept, He took one of his ribs or a part of his side and closed up the [place with] flesh. 22 And the rib or part of his side which the Lord God had taken from the man He built up and made into a woman, and He brought her to the man, Genesis 2:21-22.

Teenagers aren’t the only ones who push the limits of science. The world’s first “test tube” baby was born on July 25, in 1978, The child’s name of this artificial birth was Louise Joy Brown. This scientific feat was the Jurassic Park for creating human life. While this was impressive, creating a woman out of one of Adam’s rib and part of his flesh is a miracle. If Hollywood tried to capture this event on film, it would be unbelievable.

Then Adam said, This [creature] is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of a man, Genesis 2:23.

Rather than use anesthesia, God places Adam into a deep sleep. According to oral tradition, Adam had a similar reaction to the two boys in Weird Science. While the Bible doesn’t mention that Adam reached for his side, as someone who has broken a couple of ribs the words above suggest Adam placed his hand over the incision as he spoke. If you haven’t seen Weird Science, the attached trailer might enhance your ability to imagine Adam’s reaction to the world’s first full-grown woman.

by Jay Mankus

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S.A.N.S. Episode 281: The Healing

Posted on November 9, 2022 by expressyourself4him

Anyone who has experienced some sort of a miracle, knows the power of prayer. As someone who has been healed of stuttering and a rare ankle injury, I give God all the glory. Every step I take without pain and word I speak without stuttering is the sign of the healing power that Blanca and Dante Bowe sing about. Perhaps this song was inspired by Blanca’s father who was into drugs and alcohol until an encounter with Jesus,

Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved, for You are my praise, Jeremiah 17:14.

The prophet Jeremiah writes about the hope that the Lord brings in the form of healing. Unfortunately, there are countless souls who have never had their prayers answered. Hope for God to finally act and move on their behalf is growing dim. Part of me feels bad that God was able to help me and not others that I care about. Nonetheless, as you listen to the Healing, may the Holy Spirit touch your heart and stir your soul.

by Jay Mankus

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S.A.N.S. Episode 191: Look What You’ve Done

Posted on August 11, 2022 by expressyourself4him

Tasha Layton first emerged on the Christian music scene in 2019 with her hit song Love Lifting Me. Yet, it wasn’t until 2022 when I first discovered Tasha. One of my best friends had a daughter who was going through a difficult period in life. Since I’m on You Tube daily, he asked me if I could pass along as many encouraging songs as I could find. This search led me to uncover Look What You’ve Done.

I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who [g]infuses inner strength into me; I am [h]self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency], Philippians 4:13.

If there is one individual who was truly transformed in the Bible, its Saul from Tarsus. Saul’s background as a Pharisee led him to persecute the church and oversee the death of Stephen in Acts 7:59-60. On the Road to Damascus, Saul has an encounter with Jesus and is temporary blinded. However, by Acts 9 God does a miracle in Saul who changed his name to Paul to highlight what Christ has done in his life.

by Jay Mankus

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Recognize, Perceive and Understand

Posted on May 6, 2022 by expressyourself4him

A coincidence is a remarkable concurrence of events or circumstances without apparent causal connection. Over several decades of attending church, I’ve heard pastors refer to God instances where the hand of God is perceived to perform a miracle. Prior to 1555, the Bible did not contain individual verses. These were added to the Vulgate Bible to help readers identity memorable portions of a book.

By this we come to know (progressively to recognize, to perceive, to understand) the [essential] love: that He laid down His [own] life for us; and we ought to lay [our] lives down for [those who are our] brothers [[l]in Him], 1 John 3:16.

Everyone knows about John 3:16’s popularity as one of the most iconic verses in the Bible. However, do you recognize, perceive or understand a commonality between John 3:16 and 1 John 3:16? The latter is quoting the words of Jesus addressed to a first century Pharisee named Nicodemus. The passage above serves as a reminder so that you recognize, perceive, and understand God’s love for you.

 For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten ([d]unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life, John 3:16.

As I write blogs today, the Holy Spirit urges me to remind my readers of key biblical principles. I often question with a whisper, “are you sure you want me to address this again?” While you may be aware of certain biblical truths, using a new context or illustration often drives home this point in a more powerful way. This is the purpose of 1 John 3:16: serving as a clear reminder of John 3:16-17 so that another generation of Christians will understand the unconditional love of God.

by Jay Mankus

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From Shallow to Saved

Posted on March 28, 2022 by expressyourself4him

Shallow people often exhibit a superficial nature due to emptiness, ignorance, and or a tendency to be self-absorbed. Looking back at my adolescence, my bout with stuttering and stammering severely stunted my ability to communicate with my peers. Subsequently, I withdrew from society and hid my pain, so I didn’t embarrass myself in public. Meanwhile, I suppressed my feelings by focusing solely on sports which I began to excel at as I entered high school.

And as He was going into one village, He was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance. 13 And they raised up their voices and called, Jesus, Master, take pity and have mercy on us! – Luke 17:12-13

Following the decree in Leviticus 13:43-46, the ten lepers in today’s passage were forced into quarantine, banned from entering their village until their leprosy was healed. Whenever a healthy person approached, the Jewish law called for each man to proclaim, “I am unclean.” Jesus didn’t come to judge these lepers, but to free them from their contagious disease. Upon hearing the good news of being healed, perhaps the other 9 lepers were too shallow to thank Jesus for this new lease on life.

Then Jesus asked, Were not [all] ten cleansed? Where are the nine? 18 Was there no one found to return and to [d]recognize and give thanks and praise to God except this alien? 19 And He said to him, Get up and go on your way. Your faith (your trust and confidence that spring from your belief in God) has restored you to health, Luke 17:17-19

When I was in high school, I acted like the 9 lepers who failed to give thanks and praise to God. I was so consumed by what I wanted to do and where I wanted to go that I neglected the Lord. Rather than open my eyes to all the blessings in my life, my shallow nature prevented me from appreciating the obvious. Yet, when I made the decision to make Jesus my Lord and Savior in college, Romans 10:9-11, I was transformed from shallow to saved. A few years later, God completely healed me of my stuttering like the ten lepers who experienced their own miraculous healing.

by Jay Mankus

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Never Prioritize Rules over Goodness and Grace

Posted on November 6, 2021 by expressyourself4him

Legalism is preoccupation with form at the expense of substance. Biblical legalism appears to have had a theological origin in the seventeenth century, when Edward Fisher used it to designate “one who bringeth the Law into the case of Justification.” This comes from The Marrow of Modern Divinity which was published in 1645. While biblical laws distinguish right and wrong, never prioritize rules over goodness and grace. The passage below illustrates this point.

And [the Pharisees] kept watching Jesus [closely] to see whether He would cure him on the Sabbath, so that they might get a charge to bring against Him [[b]formally]. 3 And He said to the man who had the withered hand, Get up [and stand here] in the midst. 4 And He said to them, Is it lawful and right on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to take it? But they kept silence, Mark 3:2-4.

Jesus is at a local synagogue with other Jews celebrating the Sabbath. Perhaps, there were rumors that Jesus didn’t follow all of the religious interpretations of what it meant to keep the 4th Commandment. The Pharisees present on this Saturday were so consumed by religious traditions, that the substance of their worship was greatly hindered. Meanwhile, as Jesus approached a man with a shriveled hand, compassion and grace filled His heart. This is why Jesus responds with a question about the Sabbath.

So when he saw Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked them to give him a gift. 4 And Peter directed his gaze intently at him, and so did John, and said, Look at us! 5 And [the man] paid attention to them, expecting that he was going to get something from them. 6 But Peter said, Silver and gold (money) I do not have; but what I do have, that I give to you: in [the [a]use of] the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk! 7 Then he took hold of the man’s right hand with a firm grip and raised him up. And at once his feet and ankle bones became strong and steady, Acts 3:3-7.

Two disciples find themselves in a similar situation following Jesus’ ascension into heaven. A beggar who was an invalid was hoping the sight of his condition would result in pity and some spare change. Peter and John didn’t care about what any religious leaders in the temple thought. Rather, Peter seizes this opportunity to perform a miracle. Another way of viewing legalism is Jesus’ response in Matthew 22:34-39. The Ten Commandments serve as a guide to love God with all your heart and love your neighbor as yourself. This is the Golden Rule where goodness and grace trump the legalistic adherence to a set of rules.

by Jay Mankus

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When I Ran out of that Grave

Posted on September 12, 2021 by expressyourself4him

According to the apostle Paul, more than 500 people witnessed Jesus’ resurrection from the dead. Sometime before Passion Week, Jesus performed a miracle, raising his good friend Lazarus from the dead. While Jesus was dead for three days, Lazarus had been dead for four days. An eye witness of this amazing feat writes about the stench from Lazarus’ decaying body. Nonetheless, moments later Lazarus ran of this grave to embrace friends and family.

Jesus said, Take away the stone. Martha, the sister of the dead man, exclaimed, But Lord, by this time he [is decaying and] throws off an offensive odor, for he has been dead four days! 40 Jesus said to her, Did I not tell you and [a]promise you that if you would believe and rely on Me, you would see the glory of God? 41 So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. 42 Yes, I know You always hear and listen to Me, but I have said this on account of and for the benefit of the people standing around, so that they may believe that You did send Me [that You have made Me Your Messenger], John 11:39-42.

In one of the apostle Paul’s letters, he refers to Jesus’ resurrection as swallowing up death, 1 Corinthians 15:53-58. This one event has changed the course of history. While Jewish religious leaders bribed Roman soldiers to claim that Jesus’ disciples stole and hid his body, Matthew 28:12-15, those who saw Jesus ascend into heaven quickly disposed of this lie, Acts 1:8-11. When Jesus cancelled the written code of death, Colossians 2:13-15, this one miracle opened the door for eternal life.

When He had said this, He shouted with a loud voice, Lazarus, come out! 44 And out walked the man who had been dead, his hands and feet wrapped in burial cloths (linen strips), and with a [burial] napkin bound around his face. Jesus said to them, Free him of the burial wrappings and let him go, John 11:43-44.

In John 21, Jesus appears before his disciples for a third time in his resurrected body. Yet, the scars of the nails that held Jesus to a cross could be felt by a doubting Thomas. While 99.9% of human beings will never experience or see a modern resurrection, for those who pass away on earth, your grave clothes are temporary. For as soon as Jesus returns for His second coming, the dead will arise, run out of their graves and then lifted up to heaven for eternity.

by Jay Mankus

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Engaged and Energized

Posted on June 15, 2021 by expressyourself4him

While engagement is often associated with the process leading up to marriage, to be engaged refers to an active, engrossed and involved state. I’ve never thought of prayer in the context of being engaged. However, when the apostle Paul found an isolated spot to pray, Mark 1:35, his concentration was fixated on God. Paul wasn’t just hoping and wishing for an answer to prayer, he expected God to perform a miracle.

We are ever giving thanks to God for all of you, continually mentioning [you when engaged] in our prayers, 1 Thessalonians 1:2.

One verse later, Paul refers to being energized by faith. As Christians begin to pray with an unceasing desire, this is often accompanied with a sudden boost of energy. When you add and incorporate promises in the Bible to prayer, faith is strengthened. Prayer is an act of putting the needs of others before yourself as you pour out your heart to God. When prayer becomes a daily habit, a spirit of service is conceived.

Recalling unceasingly before our God and Father your work energized by faith and service motivated by love and unwavering hope in [the return of] our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah), 1 Thessalonians 1:3.

In the first century, there was a belief that Jesus would return in their own lifetime. For those individuals who witnessed Jesus rise from the dead, there was a sense of urgency to seize each day on earth, Galatians 6:9-10. This is the motivation that the apostle Paul refers to in the passage above. If you want to make the most of your life on earth, engage yourself in prayer so that your faith is energized to keep on serving Jesus.

by Jay Mankus

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