The Stories I Love

Some of my favorite stories in the Bible are  about Jesus traveling from place to place and touching the lives of those that He encountered.
I love how He walked along the beach and called out to Simon and Andrew saying "Come with me. I'll make a new kind of fisherman out of you. I'll show you how to catch men and women instead of perch and bass." Simon and Andrew didn't even ask questions, they just dropped their nets and followed Him!
I love how the leper came to Him and fell at His feet.  The leper said "if you are willing, you can make me clean!" Jesus was moved with such compassion that He stretched out His hand and touched him,  Jesus said to him "I am willing, be cleansed." And, he was cleansed.
I love the story of when He traveled across the Sea and as soon as He got out of the boat He came face to face with a man that was possessed with demons. A lot of demons. This man was so crazy that the towns people had tried to tie him down to contain him.  He didn't have any clothes to wear, he didn't have a house to live in. He was alone, dispaired, and unable to think clearly. He would roam the graveyard at night screaming and cutting himself with sharp stones.  I love how this man, after Jesus commanded the demons to leave, sat quietly at the feet of Jesus! He had been transformed! He wanted to travel with Jesus, but Jesus said to him"Go home to your own people. Tell them your story-what the Master did , how He had mercy for you."
I love the story of Jesus walking in the storm across the lake. He was walking towards the boat where His disciples were. When Peter realized it was Jesus, he got out of the boat and walked on water towards Jesus.  All was well, at first, until he started to sink! Then he called out to Jesus and he was rescued!
I love the story of Mary Magdalene.  She was brought to Jesus and basically thrown at His feet.  The pharisee's stood around them, condeming her for her actions.  Jesus, in His ever present mercy and love, started to write in the dirt.  Slowly, Mary's accusers walked away, their heads hanging.
I love the story of the women at the Well.  I love how Jesus went out of His way to travel to her town, and how He sat at the well.  I love how He compassionately began to tell her all that she had done, and she felt loved! I love how He offered her living water, how his desire to fill her up like she was a bucket, was overflowing in Him.  I love how she ran back to her village and spread the news of her salvation, and His love!
I love the story of the women that bled for years and desperately wanted to be healed.  She knew that if she could just touch the robe of Jesus as He traveled through, she would be complete In Him!  I love how she pushed her way through the crowd and reached out to grasp the hem of his garment, and she was healed.  I love how Jesus knew instantly that something was different, and even though hundreds of people were touching Him, he asked "Who touched me?"
I love the story of the man who brought his son who was mute for Jesus to heal.  The man had first asked Jesus' disciples, but they were unable to deliver the boy. The man said to Jesus "if you can do anything, have a heart and help us!"  Jesus said in return, "IF? there are no IF's amoung believers. Anything can happen."  The man cried out to Jesus saying "Then I believe, help me with my doubts!"  Jesus commanded the dumb and deaf spirit to get out of the boy, and he was healed.
I love how Jesus was hanging out with a crowd that was considered disreputable. Several of them had become His followers, and the Pharisee's were unhappy and critical of the company that He kept. They began to complain to His disciples saying: "What kind of example is this,  acting cozy with the riff-raff?  Jesus heard their complaints and was quick to say "Who needs a doctor: the healthy or the sick? I'm here inviting the sin-sick, not the spiritually-fit."
I love the story of how God has changed my life from sinner to Saint! I love how He has traveled with me on my journey of life, and given me freedom.  I love how He has never abandoned me, but kept me close to His heart.
Say That Again, Jesus, You are traveling with me. Your freedom is my life. You will never leave!