{"id":23262,"date":"2018-06-04T03:30:06","date_gmt":"2018-06-04T10:30:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.lccredding.org\/church\/?p=23262"},"modified":"2018-05-31T13:55:22","modified_gmt":"2018-05-31T20:55:22","slug":"june-4-2018","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lccredding.org\/church\/2018\/06\/04\/june-4-2018\/","title":{"rendered":"June 4, 2018"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"\"<\/p>\n

“He heals the brokenhearted and bandages their wounds.”\u00a0<\/em>Psalm 147:3<\/p>\n

Balm in Gilead<\/strong><\/h2>\n

I recently mentioned watching the royal wedding.\u00a0One of the highlights of the wedding was the sermon by Rev. Michael Curry, an Episcopalian bishop from the U.S.\u00a0He didn’t just deliver a message, he preached!<\/p>\n

I’m sure there’s never been a royal wedding with a sermon like his.\u00a0For 13 minutes he spoke about Christ’s love. I kept thinking\u2014this is being heard by millions around the world.\u00a0How awesome!<\/p>\n

He referred to a song: “There is a Balm in Gilead.” It’s an African-American spiritual sung by the slaves in the antebellum south in the midst of their captivity. It’s taken from Jeremiah\u00a08:22.\u00a0“Is there no balm in Gilead?\u00a0Is there no physician there?\u00a0Why then is there no healing for the wound of my people?”\u00a0<\/em>The slaves sang the song in reference to the saving power of Jesus\u2014the one true ointment that heals our spiritual wounds.<\/p>\n

The balm of Gilead was a rare perfume used medicinally.\u00a0It’s named for the region of Gilead where it was produced\u2014a mountainous region east of the Jordan River. Miracles were attributed to this rare ointment. It was prized for its healing power. It was taken on trade caravans all over the known world.<\/p>\n

Here are the words to the song:<\/p>\n

Sometimes I feel discouraged and think my work\u2019s in vain,<\/em>
\nBut then the Holy Spirit revives my soul again\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n

If you cannot preach like Peter, if you cannot pray like Paul,
\nYou can tell the love of Jesus and say, “He died for all”\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n

Don\u2019t ever feel discouraged, for Jesus is your friend;
\nAnd if you lack for knowledge, He\u2019ll never refuse to lend.
\nThere is a balm in Gilead to make the wounded whole;
\nThere is a balm in Gilead to heal the sin sick soul.<\/em><\/p>\n

Since hearing the sermon, I find myself humming and singing the song.\u00a0And then I find myself praying for that balm in my life.\u00a0There are days when I need His healing balm to take pain away.\u00a0And other times I need His balm to pour strength into my life.\u00a0I often need His balm to lift sorrow from my heart.\u00a0Recently I’ve needed His balm to help me carry the stress that has been continually present.\u00a0His “balm” is a rich, healing gift to us.<\/p>\n

As I’ve sung the song, I’ve pictured Him pouring His sweet smelling oil into my life, into my needs. He “revives my soul again.”\u00a0He heals my wounds.\u00a0And He meets me when I’m discouraged. Jesus is the balm in Gilead. He’s the One who makes us whole.<\/p>\n

There are so many difficulties, problems, needs that I’ve walked through on this unexpected journey. I couldn’t have managed without His balm being poured into my life over and over again.<\/p>\n

I’ve learned that\u00a0Jesus<\/strong>\u00a0is the “balm” for every need I have.\u00a0I can call out to Him any time, day or night, and He is there to meet me.\u00a0His Word<\/strong>\u00a0is a “balm” to my heart.\u00a0The promises, encouragements, and instruction of the Word minister into every situation that I face.\u00a0Worship<\/strong>\u00a0is a “balm” to my soul.\u00a0As I choose to honor and praise Him in the midst of my trials, it releases healing into my needs.<\/p>\n

\n\u201cJesus, oh how sweet Your balm is that floods into our souls in our times of need! We\u2019re grateful that there is a “balm in Gilead.”\u00a0You are our balm of healing, hope, and strength. Amen.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>

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