Today’s Reading: Mark 3:1-6
This man just needed healing, but that didn’t matter to some. It didn’t matter that he was in need and Jesus was meeting his need---all that mattered to these Pharisees was catching Jesus doing something wrong. It is just like these men are saying…I don’t care that this man is crippled, I don’t care that you can heal him, I don’t care that this will change his life, the only thing I care about is you, Jesus, breaking the law of the Sabbath! No wonder Jesus was angry and bothered by the intentions of these men. How sad it is that these men didn’t truly care for their fellow man, they only cared about catching someone doing something wrong, catching someone breaking the law. We have to be so careful about what we think we know, we have to be careful about judging what others are doing. God speaks to his children and all of his children are more than capable of listening to him and following his will. We have to be so careful about questioning why someone is doing something in Jesus’ name. I am certain that some people may have questioned something I have did or said that I know within my soul that God wanted me to do. In fact, there has been times that God has spoken to me about doing something and I didn’t do it because I was worried about what others may think. It is hard to admit that and it hurts me to know that I failed God by not doing some things, but that is what this blog is all about. It is about me being honest with God about where I am at in my walk with him, its about me being very real in order to grow. What good would it do me just to write about all the good things I have done for God? It is only when I admit that I fail that I find myself humbled before my Savior---it is these times that deepen my dependence upon God----it is these failures that make me realize I am not capable of doing what I was called to do on my own. Laws were created to keep everyone regulated and in check, but we can never forget the creator of the world is greater than any law man can created. So many times laws are not stated, they are a silent, unwritten list of things Christians should or should not do---but we have to put all of our trust in the one who leads us, even when he leads us into territory that may not be comfortable---he is still our leader regardless of what everyone around us thinks. So when God places you before the crowd of doubters and says ' stand up and stretch out your hand’, don’t second guess God, just stand, stretch your hand forth and let the healer restore you!
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Make Everything New!
Today’s Reading: Mark 2:18-28
How’s my garment? How’s my wineskin? How’s my life? Am I asking God to just sew a new patch on this old garment, just a patch to fix what I think is broken. Am I asking him just to pour a little wine into this old wineskin, not to fill it because it won’t be able to handle too much at a time. How’s my life? Well it is only as good, only as blessed as I allow. God does not won’t to waste his time on an old garment, on an old wineskin. Why? Because he knows it won’t last. Just like Jesus says in the scripture the new piece will eventually pull away from the old, the new wine will cause the old wineskin to burst. If we only allow God to be a part of our life, our life will fall apart. When we choose God, when we decide to live for him, we have to accept all of him, we have to give up the old garment, give up the old wineskin. God wants all of us and he wants to give us a new garment to wear, a new wineskin to fill. He wants us to have a life filled with him and his love. He wants to make everything new for us. He doesn’t ask us to give up everything for him so that we have nothing, he wants us to give up everything so he can give everything back to us in abundance. What he gives back to us is so much more, so much greater than anything that we can or will ever give up. He is our God, he created us, we are his, and he is the only way for us to truly live the life that we were intended to live. Again I say, if we only allow God to be a part of our life, our life will fall apart. God is our life!
There comes a time when we have to say alright God, I surrender, I surrender my life and everything that I think I have to you, I am throwing off the old garment and I want to be clothed by you, I am tossing that old wineskin and I want a new one to be filled by you. There comes a time in everyone’s life when you have to decide you can no longer live like you're living, you have to live for God. Instead of fulfilling the plans that you have set for yourself, you have to live the life that God has put before you. God loves you and I more than we can ever comprehend and with that love he wants to give us a new life filled with new things---he wants you and I, he wants us now! Don’t put off what God has called you to do, don’t let fear hold you back from accepting the new, just turn to him, trust him and he will lead you through it all!
How’s my garment? How’s my wineskin? How’s my life? Am I asking God to just sew a new patch on this old garment, just a patch to fix what I think is broken. Am I asking him just to pour a little wine into this old wineskin, not to fill it because it won’t be able to handle too much at a time. How’s my life? Well it is only as good, only as blessed as I allow. God does not won’t to waste his time on an old garment, on an old wineskin. Why? Because he knows it won’t last. Just like Jesus says in the scripture the new piece will eventually pull away from the old, the new wine will cause the old wineskin to burst. If we only allow God to be a part of our life, our life will fall apart. When we choose God, when we decide to live for him, we have to accept all of him, we have to give up the old garment, give up the old wineskin. God wants all of us and he wants to give us a new garment to wear, a new wineskin to fill. He wants us to have a life filled with him and his love. He wants to make everything new for us. He doesn’t ask us to give up everything for him so that we have nothing, he wants us to give up everything so he can give everything back to us in abundance. What he gives back to us is so much more, so much greater than anything that we can or will ever give up. He is our God, he created us, we are his, and he is the only way for us to truly live the life that we were intended to live. Again I say, if we only allow God to be a part of our life, our life will fall apart. God is our life!
There comes a time when we have to say alright God, I surrender, I surrender my life and everything that I think I have to you, I am throwing off the old garment and I want to be clothed by you, I am tossing that old wineskin and I want a new one to be filled by you. There comes a time in everyone’s life when you have to decide you can no longer live like you're living, you have to live for God. Instead of fulfilling the plans that you have set for yourself, you have to live the life that God has put before you. God loves you and I more than we can ever comprehend and with that love he wants to give us a new life filled with new things---he wants you and I, he wants us now! Don’t put off what God has called you to do, don’t let fear hold you back from accepting the new, just turn to him, trust him and he will lead you through it all!
Monday, July 25, 2011
Light in the Darkness
Today’s Reading: Mark 2:13-17
So what made Levi different? Out of all those people, why did Jesus choose him? I don’t have an answer for that, but I have to wonder if I were there would he have picked me? While I don’t know Levi well, I wonder if these tax collectors and ‘sinners’ were friends of his or if they were some of the ones following Jesus. I say this because they were all at Levi’s house eating dinner, so I feel like they were probably friends of Levi. Anyway, I have always found it extremely interesting that Jesus associated himself with not only the common people, but with people that were not considered so upstanding in the community and churches. Why? Do you think if Jesus went directly to the synagogues and associated himself with the elders and priests that they would have believed that he was the Son of God? If he had done this do you think that the tax collectors, prostitutes, and sinners would have felt comfortable around Jesus---would they have even attempted to seek him? Jesus answered my questions when he said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but the sinners” (vs. 17). I am reminded that while it is nice, comfortable, and easy to be around Christians, those are not the people that I am called to witness to. While I know that my life is a witness, good or bad, to everyone that sees me, God has called me to be a light in the darkness and it is those people that are living in darkness that need to see the light of Jesus that shines within me more than anyone else. So as I read these scriptures and write this blog I feel the Holy Spirit speaking to my heart and reminding me that this path that God has set before me is not meant to be easy. In fact, it is too difficult for me to manage on my own, but with God the difficulties turn into faith and this faith gives me a Christ-like strength that I cannot get from the path of ease. I have a choice I can sit back, relax and take the easy path by not stepping out, but accepting where I am and never wanting to change or I can jump, jump onto the path that is meant for me, the path that was created just for me, the path already traveled by Jesus for my sake. Will I follow Jesus’ example and be the light in the darkness? Will I be the person that ‘sinners’ recognize as a Christian? Am I humble enough to make even the worst sinner feel the love that Jesus has given me to share? A light can only shine it’s brightest in the darkest of places, if we are called to be the light of the world, than we are meant to shine so that the ones who need the light the most can see it.
Friday, July 22, 2011
What a Friend!
Today’s Reading: Mark 2:1-12
Now that is some good friends! They not only carried their paralytic friend to see Jesus, but when the crowd was too large to get to him, they climbed on the roof, dug a hole through it, and lowered their friend down on his mat. Now I know the scriptures never mention the word ‘friend’ in this story, and while I can’t know for sure, I just get that feeling as I read this story. I mean can’t you just see these four men getting together to take their good friend who is crippled to be healed, not letting anything stand in their way---these men are determined to get him to Jesus. Besides listen to what Jesus says when they do this---“when Jesus saw their faith” he forgave the man his sins and healed him. Jesus saw not only their determination, but he saw the love that these men had for this man---it seems like they may have wanted this for him more than he did and isn’t that the truest, deepest love that you can have for your fellow man, to want more for them than they want for themselves. So between this and the fact that Jesus forgave him of his sins before he healed him, what is Jesus trying to show us here? Maybe reminding us of what is important, what should come first? Healing is wonderful and miraculous but it does no good if we have not been forgiven first, forgiveness actually is a healing---the healing of our soul and there is nothing better than that! And hasn’t Jesus been teaching us to put others first, put others before self and he will take care of the self part. Isn’t that what these four men did, they probably all had some kind of need, but instead of focusing on themselves they focused on the need of their friend and I have no doubt that they were abundantly blessed for their actions as well.
I have many friends that I love dearly, but as I write this I cannot help but think about the song What a Friend We Have in Jesus and the truest friend that I have....Jesus Christ!
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Not Much Time!
Today’s Reading: Mark 1
Wow, is this chapter written in high-speed or what? It seems that Mark is flying through all these things that Jesus did, or maybe he is just so excited about Jesus and what he is doing that he can’t write fast enough. I have heard many of these stories already from the book of Matthew, but it seems that while Mark may not be as detailed about telling these stories, the excitement that I feel while reading this chapter is undeniable. So many stories in this one chapter, but something other than one of the stories jumped out at me---the words of Jesus in verse 38. Jesus replied, “Let us go somewhere else---to the nearby villages---so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.” Why did this jump out at me? The last five words ‘that is why I have come’ is what really tugged at my heart. Isn’t Jesus kind of like Mark telling his story? Mark was writing this book because this is what he was called of God to do---so with excitement he wrote. Jesus came to this earth because God sent him---so with excitement he came. To me, with those 5 words Jesus is saying, come on now we don’t have long and I have got to share this message with as many as I can, let’s get a move on and go to as many villages as we can, I want everyone to know me, I want to give everyone an opportunity to experience this unbelievable love that I have to give them. Why these words? Because I think Jesus is telling me to come on and get going, we don’t have long and you have to tell as many people about me as you can, no time to waste---you have to show everyone the love that I have given you. So if you are reading this and you don’t know Christ or you may know him, but you don’t have a true relationship with him, than I am here to tell you that there is not much time left, your time is now and when you give everything up and choose him then you gain even more than the ‘everything’ that you thought you had. I could never put into words what it is like to live your life for Jesus Christ, but it is the most wonderful, satisfying, exciting thing that I have ever done, and when you choose to live for him and you truly give him your life each day it only gets better. I could never imagine not having him in my life, no matter what I am going through, I know without a doubt in my heart that he is there with me and that he will never leave me. So I challenge you, if you haven’t given your life to Christ then do it now and be prepared to live a life that is greater than you ever dreamed.
Wow, is this chapter written in high-speed or what? It seems that Mark is flying through all these things that Jesus did, or maybe he is just so excited about Jesus and what he is doing that he can’t write fast enough. I have heard many of these stories already from the book of Matthew, but it seems that while Mark may not be as detailed about telling these stories, the excitement that I feel while reading this chapter is undeniable. So many stories in this one chapter, but something other than one of the stories jumped out at me---the words of Jesus in verse 38. Jesus replied, “Let us go somewhere else---to the nearby villages---so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.” Why did this jump out at me? The last five words ‘that is why I have come’ is what really tugged at my heart. Isn’t Jesus kind of like Mark telling his story? Mark was writing this book because this is what he was called of God to do---so with excitement he wrote. Jesus came to this earth because God sent him---so with excitement he came. To me, with those 5 words Jesus is saying, come on now we don’t have long and I have got to share this message with as many as I can, let’s get a move on and go to as many villages as we can, I want everyone to know me, I want to give everyone an opportunity to experience this unbelievable love that I have to give them. Why these words? Because I think Jesus is telling me to come on and get going, we don’t have long and you have to tell as many people about me as you can, no time to waste---you have to show everyone the love that I have given you. So if you are reading this and you don’t know Christ or you may know him, but you don’t have a true relationship with him, than I am here to tell you that there is not much time left, your time is now and when you give everything up and choose him then you gain even more than the ‘everything’ that you thought you had. I could never put into words what it is like to live your life for Jesus Christ, but it is the most wonderful, satisfying, exciting thing that I have ever done, and when you choose to live for him and you truly give him your life each day it only gets better. I could never imagine not having him in my life, no matter what I am going through, I know without a doubt in my heart that he is there with me and that he will never leave me. So I challenge you, if you haven’t given your life to Christ then do it now and be prepared to live a life that is greater than you ever dreamed.
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Doubting?
Today’s Reading Matthew 28
Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20
How exciting this time must have been for the followers of Jesus---I can’t imagine the depth of excitement they must have felt. What about the women at the tomb who met the angel, I bet their hearts felt like it would jump out of their chest, but what did the angel tell them---“do not be afraid”. Then they saw him---I can just picture them face down on the ground with their hands holding on to his feet and worshiping him with everything they had in them. Their savior, their king, their father---my savior, my king, my father! I think if I would lie at the feet of Jesus and just worship him more often I would do so much better at living my life---let me restate that---I don’t think, I know I would!
And here we go again with the chief priests and the elders devising another plan---have they not learned yet? They are calling Jesus a deceiver and here they are trying to make a plan to deceive others about the truth of Jesus. Once again I think fear is what is causing these men to do this, they are now afraid of being wrong---instead of accepting the truth, they accept fear and do everything in their power to make themselves look good, regardless of the truth that stands before them. Sound like the world today?
What must it had felt like to stand before Jesus, the Son of God, who has just risen from the grave and listened to the great commission. How amazing that must have been. The word tells us that they worshipped him when they saw him, but it also says that some doubted. Can’t imagine how anyone can doubt at this point, but just another lesson for us to learn. As I read this I begin to think about the commission that God has placed on my life---no different than what he told these disciples all those years ago. I may have never had Jesus physically stand before me and tell me what to do, but his Spirit guides me each day and if I don’t do what he is guiding me to do, it is no fault but my own. Am I any different than the doubter when I don’t listen to his call? If I know that God knows what is best for me and I don’t do it---aren’t I really doubting him? I think so! So with all these events in the last chapter, my big “aha moment” comes from the one who doubted Jesus---God really does use everything for our benefit and his glory---we just have to be willing to see it.
I can’t believe it, I finally finished the book of Matthew, and it only took me 120 days and 78 posts, but I did it! When I began this I thought I would go through a book in a month, maybe 2, boy was I wrong and I am glad I was---God slowed me down and opened my heart along the way. Through this blog I have learned that you can’t have a schedule for everything, many things need to be on God’s time. I cannot even begin to express how God has used this blog to change my life, he has not only opened my heart, but he has changed it, he has molded it into something closer to him. I have many things to learn and many things to change about myself, but God is using this tool to conform me more into his image. He is using this instrument to make me more accountable, to make me more honest with myself and I am so, so blessed to have each of you who read this along with me on this journey of life.
With Much Love and Blessings,
Rosanne
Friday, July 15, 2011
My Savior!
Today’s Reading: Matthew 27:45-66
What did they think when the curtain tore? When the rocks split? When the earth shook? When the tombs opened? When the holy people were raised to life? Was their hearts pounding in their chest? Were their bodies trembling? Did they fall to their knees? While it does say that the centurion and others with him exclaimed that this was the ‘Son of God’, it also tells us that the chief priests and the Pharisees referenced Jesus as a ‘deceiver’ and that his life was a deception. Really? If you didn’t believe him before, how could you not now? I cannot fathom how someone could have been there and experienced everything that happened that day and not believe that he was the true Son of God. How? I guess it is no different than it is now. How can someone look in the face of a newborn child and not know there is a God? How can someone look upon the beauty of this earth and not know there is a God? How can someone love and not know there is a God? How can you wake up in the morning to a new sunrise and not know there is a God? I will never understand how anyone can believe that there is no God, that there is no Son, and that there is no Holy Spirit that dwells within us. While I am overjoyed that I can’t understand it, I am deeply saddened by the ones who don’t believe---they are truly missing out on the greatest, the most wonderful, the most joyous and grace-filled love that anyone can have. Unlike this moment in time, when Jesus does return for his children everyone will know who he is, everyone will bow at his feet, and everyone will believe that he is the Son of God.
Oh Jesus, thank you once again for opening my heart and my eyes to your very presence, thank you for loving me, forgiving me, and showing me more grace, compassion, and love than I deserve. I am so blessed to know you and to call you my Father. Thank you for taking all my sins upon you, thank you for walking those difficult paths for me and thank you for the suffering, the pain, and the death that you had to endure in order to make a way for me to be with you one day. Thank you for sending your spirit to dwell in me so that I can make it through this life. You are truly the Savior of the World, but today all I can think about is you being my Savior from this world. Thank you Jesus!
Thursday, July 14, 2011
The Suffering---The Love
Today’s Reading Matthew 27:27-44
The sacrifice that Jesus made for me! He did more than just die for me; he truly suffered for the costs of my life, my sins. He took on all this suffering for me, so that I would have a way back to him. Was I really worth it? When I look at everything he did, I can’t help but think that I am not worth all that, but the difference is, he did. He thought I was worth it. He thought you were worth it. Every pain he had to endure, he endured it with a heart full of love, love for you and I. I am sure words can never express the magnitude of suffering that he truly endured, but he did it without question. With all this I cannot help but think of how much love Jesus has to have for you and me to do this. So much love that I cannot even begin to understand the depth of it, as much as I try, as much as I want to think I know, I can’t wrap my mind around how great his love is for us. So as I read through these scriptures, as I picture the scene, as I try to feel the suffering, I can’t. While my heart aches as I read about the insults thrown at Jesus, the torture they put his body through, but with all that suffering I can only feel love. And isn’t that what God wants us to feel? We have to know the story, we need to know what he went through for us, but he doesn’t want us dwelling on the suffering but he wants the greatest love to dwell within our very soul. While the suffering that we encounter on this earth may be great, the love that Jesus places in us is so much greater than any suffering that we will ever face.
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Fear?
Today’s Reading: Matthew 27:11-26
Pilate knew---he knew Jesus was completely innocent, yet he allowed him to be sent away to be flogged and crucified. Why? Fear. He was the governor, yet he was scared of the crowd, the chief priests and the elders. While he subtlety tried to convince them that Jesus was innocent, the fear was too great to allow him to be bold. Although he knew the truth, he depended on his own strength to try to control the situation instead of depending on God---and that’s the difference. I get it! I will never be able to truly conquer my fears myself, I do not have it in me, as a child of God my strength does not come from independence but from dependence on Christ. So when fear arises, when I feel it coming, when it just seems like it will overwhelm me, I will rise up and proclaim that I can’t conquer it, I can’t remove it, but I know who can---Jesus Christ. He knows every fear before it even comes and he knows how to conquer it, control it, and use it to do great things in my life.
Pilate knew---he knew Jesus was completely innocent, yet he allowed him to be sent away to be flogged and crucified. Why? Fear. He was the governor, yet he was scared of the crowd, the chief priests and the elders. While he subtlety tried to convince them that Jesus was innocent, the fear was too great to allow him to be bold. Although he knew the truth, he depended on his own strength to try to control the situation instead of depending on God---and that’s the difference. I get it! I will never be able to truly conquer my fears myself, I do not have it in me, as a child of God my strength does not come from independence but from dependence on Christ. So when fear arises, when I feel it coming, when it just seems like it will overwhelm me, I will rise up and proclaim that I can’t conquer it, I can’t remove it, but I know who can---Jesus Christ. He knows every fear before it even comes and he knows how to conquer it, control it, and use it to do great things in my life.
Fear?
Today’s Reading: Matthew 27:11-26
Fear has continued to pop up all throughout this blog and so lately I have been really thinking about it. The Bible tells us time and again to ‘not fear’ and although I know that in my mind, it is extremely difficult not to have fear, especially when times are difficult. So what is God trying to tell us, how do we get rid of fear? We don’t---fear is going to rise up in us at times no matter how strong we are, no matter how faithful we are---it will because we are human and that is a good thing. You see, I believe that it is not the fear itself that causes us to not follow God, to not do something, or even do something we shouldn’t---it is our reaction to fear that determines where we stand with Christ. Our reaction to fear can hold us back and not let us do what we were called to do, or our reaction may cause us to do something wrong, against the will of God. Fear will arise, but when it does we have two choices. 1. Let it overwhelm us and drive all our decisions. 2. Confront it, admit that we can’t overcome it and allow Jesus to take over. Think about all the great people in the Bible, didn’t most of them have fear, but then they made that decision and did what God asked them to do. I am sure Noah was afraid when God asked him to build an ark, something no one had ever done, what about Moses in front of the burning bush, Esther when she had to go before the King, Jonah when God asked him to go to Ninevah, Mary when God asked her to carry and raise his son, the disciples when Jesus called them and the disciples when Jesus was arrested. There are so many more stories, but we learn from these stories and many more that Godly people rise up when fear arises. Satan wants to use fear to control us, sometimes to cause us to do harm, but sometimes he uses fear just to make us lazy, to not do anything at all and what good are we to Jesus if we do nothing at all?
I have run out of time, but God is definitely not finished with this message. I just feel that I need to go ahead and post this and then the rest later---so here it is, hope everyone has an extremely blessed day!
Fear has continued to pop up all throughout this blog and so lately I have been really thinking about it. The Bible tells us time and again to ‘not fear’ and although I know that in my mind, it is extremely difficult not to have fear, especially when times are difficult. So what is God trying to tell us, how do we get rid of fear? We don’t---fear is going to rise up in us at times no matter how strong we are, no matter how faithful we are---it will because we are human and that is a good thing. You see, I believe that it is not the fear itself that causes us to not follow God, to not do something, or even do something we shouldn’t---it is our reaction to fear that determines where we stand with Christ. Our reaction to fear can hold us back and not let us do what we were called to do, or our reaction may cause us to do something wrong, against the will of God. Fear will arise, but when it does we have two choices. 1. Let it overwhelm us and drive all our decisions. 2. Confront it, admit that we can’t overcome it and allow Jesus to take over. Think about all the great people in the Bible, didn’t most of them have fear, but then they made that decision and did what God asked them to do. I am sure Noah was afraid when God asked him to build an ark, something no one had ever done, what about Moses in front of the burning bush, Esther when she had to go before the King, Jonah when God asked him to go to Ninevah, Mary when God asked her to carry and raise his son, the disciples when Jesus called them and the disciples when Jesus was arrested. There are so many more stories, but we learn from these stories and many more that Godly people rise up when fear arises. Satan wants to use fear to control us, sometimes to cause us to do harm, but sometimes he uses fear just to make us lazy, to not do anything at all and what good are we to Jesus if we do nothing at all?
I have run out of time, but God is definitely not finished with this message. I just feel that I need to go ahead and post this and then the rest later---so here it is, hope everyone has an extremely blessed day!
Friday, July 8, 2011
Truth & Lies
Today’s Reading: Matthew 27:1-10
I never really felt sorrow for Judas before, but after really focusing on his story I do, well maybe it is more like pity, but regardless I see his story in a different way now. At some point Judas stopped listening to Jesus and let the riches of this world persuade him. He got caught up in the things of this world and then he became lost in the lies. From reading these scriptures you can just feel the regret that he has now, the shame for what he has done, so much so that he hangs himself. Why didn’t he ask for forgiveness? Would he have been forgiven? He knew Jesus, he talked with him, he had been by his side, yet he betrayed him. I have often wondered how someone can be so close to Jesus and then turn against him. How did it happen? I am sure it started with a thought, with a whisper from the lips of Satan convincing Judas that he deserved better, that he was smarter than the rest, that he could do something even greater than what Jesus was telling him. All lies, and Satan is more than obliged to tell us these lies, he would love nothing more than to cause us harm by these lies, to pull us away from Jesus with everyone that we listen to. Sometimes we concentrate on the ‘good stories’, the positive stories of the Bible, but every word is written for a reason, every story is placed within its pages for our benefit, a lesson for us, and this one is no different. There is song by Sidewalk Prophets that says ‘I was Judas’ kiss, but you loved me anyway’ and while none of us want to admit that we have betrayed Jesus, we all have! With every sin we commit we betray him, like or not, it is just the truth. And I will be perfectly honest, it makes me uncomfortable to write things like this, but every word matters, every story counts, good or bad. Judas’ story is there for us to learn from, Jesus shows us how to love, and Judas’ story makes us aware of how very dangerous Satan can be if we allow him in our life, if only for a moment. When we hear Satan’s name terrible thoughts come to our mind, but I want to tell you that his lies do not look or sound terrible, in fact, his lies are sweet and they are sometimes what I ears want to hear, and that is why we need to keep our mind on Jesus every minute of everyday. Jesus will only speak truth to us and while it may not always be what we want to hear, it is the truth and it is for our benefit. I have heard my whole life that Satan wants you, but I don’t think he wants any of us, to want something you have to care about it and he doesn’t care about us. The only thing Satan wants is to keep us away from Jesus, he doesn’t want us, he just wants Jesus not to have us. The truth is Jesus’ love is what we need to survive this world, we just have to receive it and then give it. Don’t let the sweet lies of Satan taint the love that Jesus pours over you.
I never really felt sorrow for Judas before, but after really focusing on his story I do, well maybe it is more like pity, but regardless I see his story in a different way now. At some point Judas stopped listening to Jesus and let the riches of this world persuade him. He got caught up in the things of this world and then he became lost in the lies. From reading these scriptures you can just feel the regret that he has now, the shame for what he has done, so much so that he hangs himself. Why didn’t he ask for forgiveness? Would he have been forgiven? He knew Jesus, he talked with him, he had been by his side, yet he betrayed him. I have often wondered how someone can be so close to Jesus and then turn against him. How did it happen? I am sure it started with a thought, with a whisper from the lips of Satan convincing Judas that he deserved better, that he was smarter than the rest, that he could do something even greater than what Jesus was telling him. All lies, and Satan is more than obliged to tell us these lies, he would love nothing more than to cause us harm by these lies, to pull us away from Jesus with everyone that we listen to. Sometimes we concentrate on the ‘good stories’, the positive stories of the Bible, but every word is written for a reason, every story is placed within its pages for our benefit, a lesson for us, and this one is no different. There is song by Sidewalk Prophets that says ‘I was Judas’ kiss, but you loved me anyway’ and while none of us want to admit that we have betrayed Jesus, we all have! With every sin we commit we betray him, like or not, it is just the truth. And I will be perfectly honest, it makes me uncomfortable to write things like this, but every word matters, every story counts, good or bad. Judas’ story is there for us to learn from, Jesus shows us how to love, and Judas’ story makes us aware of how very dangerous Satan can be if we allow him in our life, if only for a moment. When we hear Satan’s name terrible thoughts come to our mind, but I want to tell you that his lies do not look or sound terrible, in fact, his lies are sweet and they are sometimes what I ears want to hear, and that is why we need to keep our mind on Jesus every minute of everyday. Jesus will only speak truth to us and while it may not always be what we want to hear, it is the truth and it is for our benefit. I have heard my whole life that Satan wants you, but I don’t think he wants any of us, to want something you have to care about it and he doesn’t care about us. The only thing Satan wants is to keep us away from Jesus, he doesn’t want us, he just wants Jesus not to have us. The truth is Jesus’ love is what we need to survive this world, we just have to receive it and then give it. Don’t let the sweet lies of Satan taint the love that Jesus pours over you.
Thursday, July 7, 2011
The Love of Jesus!
Today’s Reading: Matthew 26:57-75
I will just have to be honest, after reading these 18 verses over and over again, I cannot get verse 67 out of my head. It says, ‘Then they spit in his face and struck him with their fists.’ It just hurts my heart terribly. I think about Jesus and how the disciples had just abandoned him and now this. He is Jesus and he loves like no other, therefore, he loves these people that are spitting on him and hitting him. How much more does it hurt us to be hurt by the people we love? I don’t think I have realized until this very moment the love that Jesus truly has for me, I thought I knew, but now it seems even more real. He stood there and let them do this to him. He is the Son of God, he could have stopped them at any moment. He could have threw his hands up and said never mind, they don’t even want me anyways---what’s the use in me giving my life for these people. But he didn’t---he didn’t do any of these things. He stood there, an innocent man, and took everything that they gave him. Why? Because his mind was on me, he was thinking I have to do this because I want Rosanne to be with me in Heaven, I want her to have the honor of knowing me, I want to be her Savior. His love for me and you was greater than what his accusers were doing to him. His love continues to be greater than anything that we face, but we have to accept it. We have to accept him and the love that he has for us and with that acceptance we will change, we will be better than we were, we will grow closer to his likeness, and we will eventually be with him.
These people were physically spitting and hitting, but we sometimes cause Jesus as much pain when we are not following his will, when we are not loving and living like he has taught us. With every hurtful word we say and with every bad action we take we are spitting in the face of Jesus. We are not perfect, but we are in control of our actions, in fact, we are the only one that can control what we say and do. Jesus will never force us to live for him, but he will guide our every step if we will let him. While I still have a lot to work on myself and I am no expert on the Bible, I can tell you without a doubt in my mind that Jesus loves you like no one else and he will fill your life with more love than you can even take in…you just have to let him.
I will just have to be honest, after reading these 18 verses over and over again, I cannot get verse 67 out of my head. It says, ‘Then they spit in his face and struck him with their fists.’ It just hurts my heart terribly. I think about Jesus and how the disciples had just abandoned him and now this. He is Jesus and he loves like no other, therefore, he loves these people that are spitting on him and hitting him. How much more does it hurt us to be hurt by the people we love? I don’t think I have realized until this very moment the love that Jesus truly has for me, I thought I knew, but now it seems even more real. He stood there and let them do this to him. He is the Son of God, he could have stopped them at any moment. He could have threw his hands up and said never mind, they don’t even want me anyways---what’s the use in me giving my life for these people. But he didn’t---he didn’t do any of these things. He stood there, an innocent man, and took everything that they gave him. Why? Because his mind was on me, he was thinking I have to do this because I want Rosanne to be with me in Heaven, I want her to have the honor of knowing me, I want to be her Savior. His love for me and you was greater than what his accusers were doing to him. His love continues to be greater than anything that we face, but we have to accept it. We have to accept him and the love that he has for us and with that acceptance we will change, we will be better than we were, we will grow closer to his likeness, and we will eventually be with him.
These people were physically spitting and hitting, but we sometimes cause Jesus as much pain when we are not following his will, when we are not loving and living like he has taught us. With every hurtful word we say and with every bad action we take we are spitting in the face of Jesus. We are not perfect, but we are in control of our actions, in fact, we are the only one that can control what we say and do. Jesus will never force us to live for him, but he will guide our every step if we will let him. While I still have a lot to work on myself and I am no expert on the Bible, I can tell you without a doubt in my mind that Jesus loves you like no one else and he will fill your life with more love than you can even take in…you just have to let him.
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Today’s Reading: Matthew26:47-56
So many thoughts running through my head, I don’t know where to begin or even where to go with it if I did. First of all, I wonder if Judas’ soul died the minute he kissed Jesus---I wonder if he felt everything leave his body at that moment. Then I think about Jesus and what he felt with the impact of that kiss, how hurt he must have been, for he knew more than anyone what the kiss really meant. You know I think about Judas’ sin and I think how big it is, but then don’t you think every sin hurts Jesus. As humans we classify sins, but I have yet to find anywhere in the Bible a chart with the levels of sin. When I think about what Judas did, it only motivates me not to sin even more, not to betray Jesus because I think the things of this world are more important. Now that I think about it, shouldn’t we be thinking about what we can be doing for Jesus instead of what he can do for us. Like I have said before salvation is enough, if that is all we ever received from Jesus than that would be more than enough.
Then I think about the disciples trying to protect Jesus from this mob and Jesus’ response. “Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels?” (vs. 53) Think about it. Jesus could at any moment stopped everything, he could have just spoke the words and been rescued from this situation, but he didn’t. He continued on to fulfill his purpose, to make a way for us. When I think life is not treating me fairly, when I think I can’t take anymore, I have to not only remember what Jesus went through for me, but I have to think about what I need to go through to draw closer to him. Maybe it is those things that are difficult that make me depend on him more and each tear may be what draws me closer to him.
When times became difficult the disciples deserted Jesus and fled the scene. Really? Wasn’t it just a few hours earlier that they were all telling Jesus that they would never leave him, never deny him? So what happened? Once again Satan used fear to overwhelm these men and keep them from holding on to their Savior. I know I have said it before, but we cannot let go of Jesus especially when times become even more difficult. In fact, it is in those difficult times that we need to be clinging even more to Christ.
Jesus went through all this for us, he not only suffered and died on the cross, but he experienced all the things that we experience too. With the actions of the disciples, he experienced abandonment by friends and I am sure loneliness as well. There is nothing we encounter that he has not experienced, there is no question, no problem, that he doesn’t have the answer for. Salvation may be enough from him, but it is not all we receive when we accept him. As we live our life for him, he blesses us with more than we could ever imagine, he fills our life with more joy and peace than we think possible. With everyday that we live for him, we conform more to his likeness and we are a step closer to fulfilling the plan that he has for our life.
So many thoughts running through my head, I don’t know where to begin or even where to go with it if I did. First of all, I wonder if Judas’ soul died the minute he kissed Jesus---I wonder if he felt everything leave his body at that moment. Then I think about Jesus and what he felt with the impact of that kiss, how hurt he must have been, for he knew more than anyone what the kiss really meant. You know I think about Judas’ sin and I think how big it is, but then don’t you think every sin hurts Jesus. As humans we classify sins, but I have yet to find anywhere in the Bible a chart with the levels of sin. When I think about what Judas did, it only motivates me not to sin even more, not to betray Jesus because I think the things of this world are more important. Now that I think about it, shouldn’t we be thinking about what we can be doing for Jesus instead of what he can do for us. Like I have said before salvation is enough, if that is all we ever received from Jesus than that would be more than enough.
Then I think about the disciples trying to protect Jesus from this mob and Jesus’ response. “Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels?” (vs. 53) Think about it. Jesus could at any moment stopped everything, he could have just spoke the words and been rescued from this situation, but he didn’t. He continued on to fulfill his purpose, to make a way for us. When I think life is not treating me fairly, when I think I can’t take anymore, I have to not only remember what Jesus went through for me, but I have to think about what I need to go through to draw closer to him. Maybe it is those things that are difficult that make me depend on him more and each tear may be what draws me closer to him.
When times became difficult the disciples deserted Jesus and fled the scene. Really? Wasn’t it just a few hours earlier that they were all telling Jesus that they would never leave him, never deny him? So what happened? Once again Satan used fear to overwhelm these men and keep them from holding on to their Savior. I know I have said it before, but we cannot let go of Jesus especially when times become even more difficult. In fact, it is in those difficult times that we need to be clinging even more to Christ.
Jesus went through all this for us, he not only suffered and died on the cross, but he experienced all the things that we experience too. With the actions of the disciples, he experienced abandonment by friends and I am sure loneliness as well. There is nothing we encounter that he has not experienced, there is no question, no problem, that he doesn’t have the answer for. Salvation may be enough from him, but it is not all we receive when we accept him. As we live our life for him, he blesses us with more than we could ever imagine, he fills our life with more joy and peace than we think possible. With everyday that we live for him, we conform more to his likeness and we are a step closer to fulfilling the plan that he has for our life.
Friday, July 1, 2011
Pray!
Today’s Reading: Matthew 26:36-46
That night in the garden, Jesus knew what he was facing, he knew the severity of the task that lie ahead, he knew everything, yet he prayed. As I read this I thought about the weight of sorrow that Jesus carried, how much was for me? How much more did I place upon Jesus? Jesus is praying and he does ask this to be taken away if possible, but then he says “yet not as I will, but as you will. Such selflessness! As hard as this is, Jesus knows the reason….us---you and I, and his love for us is so much greater than anything that he will face. I continue to think of the sins in my life that cause Jesus sorrow and pain, how many times has he shook his head when I disappointed him? I often wonder when I fail him, when I don’t do what I knew I was suppose to, what is Jesus thinking. Is he thinking why don’t she get it, I died on the cross for her and she knows that, yet she continues to mess up. You know he may be thinking that, but every time I come to him and ask for forgiveness---he gives it to me, he pours his grace and love down upon me and restores me when I am at my lowest.
I will continue to mess up, but Jesus knows that and that is why he is telling us to pray. He is telling us that no matter how much sorrow you carry, your answer is prayer! There is no burden too great for our Father, but we have to go to him, we have to lay it down before him. Jesus is trying to tell his disciples this, he reminds them that although ‘your body may be weak, your spirit is willing‘. He tells them to ‘watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation‘. Jesus knows that prayer will build our spiritual strength, prayer will get us through anything that we face. You know there is a scripture in the Bible that tells us to ‘pray without ceasing’ and I often wondered how to do that, but it is just telling us that we should always be in conversation with God, our mind should always be upon him and we should always be seeking him in all that we do. Prayer is our conversation with God. I think of all my conversations with one of my closet friends and how our relationship is built and strengthened by our communication with one another. Through prayer, our relationship with Jesus Christ only grows deeper, our faith grows stronger, and our spirit is renewed and strengthened with every word spoken.
That night in the garden, Jesus knew what he was facing, he knew the severity of the task that lie ahead, he knew everything, yet he prayed. As I read this I thought about the weight of sorrow that Jesus carried, how much was for me? How much more did I place upon Jesus? Jesus is praying and he does ask this to be taken away if possible, but then he says “yet not as I will, but as you will. Such selflessness! As hard as this is, Jesus knows the reason….us---you and I, and his love for us is so much greater than anything that he will face. I continue to think of the sins in my life that cause Jesus sorrow and pain, how many times has he shook his head when I disappointed him? I often wonder when I fail him, when I don’t do what I knew I was suppose to, what is Jesus thinking. Is he thinking why don’t she get it, I died on the cross for her and she knows that, yet she continues to mess up. You know he may be thinking that, but every time I come to him and ask for forgiveness---he gives it to me, he pours his grace and love down upon me and restores me when I am at my lowest.
I will continue to mess up, but Jesus knows that and that is why he is telling us to pray. He is telling us that no matter how much sorrow you carry, your answer is prayer! There is no burden too great for our Father, but we have to go to him, we have to lay it down before him. Jesus is trying to tell his disciples this, he reminds them that although ‘your body may be weak, your spirit is willing‘. He tells them to ‘watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation‘. Jesus knows that prayer will build our spiritual strength, prayer will get us through anything that we face. You know there is a scripture in the Bible that tells us to ‘pray without ceasing’ and I often wondered how to do that, but it is just telling us that we should always be in conversation with God, our mind should always be upon him and we should always be seeking him in all that we do. Prayer is our conversation with God. I think of all my conversations with one of my closet friends and how our relationship is built and strengthened by our communication with one another. Through prayer, our relationship with Jesus Christ only grows deeper, our faith grows stronger, and our spirit is renewed and strengthened with every word spoken.
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