February 23

today's reading: Mark 6: 30-56

Fame

Jesus' ministry and that of his disciples is really taking off in these passages.
The disciples have just returned from their first missionary journey, spilling over with the testimonies of all they had done and taught. Their hearts must have been bursting to share with their teacher, the stories of healing and deliverance!
Can you just see them, grinning from ear to ear, all talking at once, their voices animated and joyfilled,  as they shared their experiences with one another?

The Lord tried to find a quiet place to rest and listen to all that had taken place, but their fame had spread rapidly to all in the region; so that wherever Jesus and the disciples went, people came in droves bringing their sick relatives and friends for that precious healing touch.

As believers today in 2013, we must do all we can to bring our relatives and friends to Christ. People all around us, droves of them,  still need that precious healing touch!

With everything we do, let's be on a mission to spread Jesus's fame to everyone!



 

February 22

today's reading: Mark 6:1-29

Miracle Stopper

The Lord Jesus Christ, in his home town, was blocked from doing all the miracles that He wanted to do for them, because of their unbelief!

This says to me that UNBELIEF is a very powerful thing; powerful enough to refuse the miracle producing power of Christ Jesus!

Don't entertain unbelief in any form.
Use the weapons of the word of God and of prayer, when unbelief steps out of the shadows to attack you.

Speak scripture OUT LOUD to any unbelief that comes your way.
 
Pray asking God to help you in your unbelief, just like the centurion in another part of scripture did when he asked for healing for his family member.

Praise God for who He is to you. Praise is very powerful to ignite faith into action and is able to dispel doubt!

We don't ever want to allow unbelief to block the mighty works of the Lord Jesus Christ,  that He has planned for us!




 

February 21

today's reading: Mark 5:21-43

the Hem of His Garment

There is a lovely old song with this title ..........

If I could touch just the hem of His garment

then I know

I would be made whole.

 

 

If I could just touch the hem of His garment
I know I'd be made whole
If I could just press my way through this madness
His love would heal my soul

Making our way through this difficult earthy life,

we need that kind of faith!

The faith that says .... just a touch of the hem of His garment

just a touch of His holiness...

and I will be set free from my sickness,

released from my painful past,

set free from anxiety about my children,

free from worry over my finances

restored to emotional health

 

Just one touch of His garment.....

 of His holiness

 and I will be able to go on for another day....

because one touch of that Mighty power will keep me going....

 

One touch of the Hem of His garment.......

means I am reaching for Him ... stretching out my hands to Him so that

even if my grasping fingertips brush the edge of His Magnificent Holiness...

I will receive that healing power........

 

There will be no escape.

It will consume all my fears

worries

doubts

anxieties

illness

uncertainties

pain

frustration

self

There will be nothing but that POWER

washing over me and making me

whole and holy

like Him.

 

 

February 20

today's reading: Mark 4:26- 5:20

Show and Tell

As we read today's scripture notice the healing of the demon possessed man named "Legion".
What an extraordinary sight that must have been!

2000 pigs rushing down a steep bank into the lake as the farmers watched helplessly.

I am sure they were astounded, maybe really angry, but amazed at the healing of this poor demonized soul. The one that many had no doubt feared and steered clear of, was able to speak and act normally!

......but the pigs! What about those pigs?

The farmers and locals came out to investigate and air their opinions... and begged Jesus to leave them alone!

I don't wonder! They were surely afraid of what might happen next had Jesus stayed around any longer!

But there stands the man....free FREE !!!! SO VERY FREE at long last, able to live a normal life!
Jesus command to him was to go to the people of the region.... show yourself to them as healed and delivered..... tell of this amazing thing that has happened to restore you to life!

Are you ready to share what God has done for you with everyone your family and friends?
You may never know the impact YOUR STORY has on them and on their friends and families.... but you can KNOW  that it will have an effect on them for good.

So Go! Show and Tell your story to everyone who will listen!

February 19

today's reading: Mark 4:1-25

Hearing Check 

The Lord asks us again and again to truly LISTEN to Him.
We know that His Word and all of His teaching is completely trustworthy.

When the Lord speaks to us in parables, we must pray for ears to hear... the ears of understanding.

The meaning of these parables are hidden behind the words, but they are not completely obscured.
With the ears of understanding....which we are given when we seek them from the Lord, we are able to see "into"  the words and into the truth of the teaching.

Pray for those hi-tech "ears to hear"
             finely tuned to the sound of the voice of our Lord Jesus Christ !


 


 

February 18

today's reading: Mark 3: 7-30

Family Ties

Speaking of "family" brings up a whole gamut of emotions for most people.

There are many kinds of families. Some are healthy in their function, and some are not so healthy.

But ideally, "family" should hold a warm place in our hearts.

Family, functioning properly,  is a place of enrichment, a place of refuge in times of trouble, a place of joy in times of blessing.

Family teaches us how to love, how to play, how to fight, how to forgive.

Family, at it's best, shows us unconditional acceptance, and nurtures us to become confident in our abilities.

So after the Lord Jesus is told that his mother and brothers are waiting outside to speak to him, it seems odd that He does not respond with joy.

What do you think this scripture is revealing about the family relationship He had with them? Or was He just using this as a "teachable moment" for His followers?

Christ shows us, by his reaction, how precious those are to Him who believe in Him as the Son of the Living God, who receive Him as Savior and Redeemer, and who submit to His authority over their lives.

He is not ashamed to call us His own.
In all of our failure, all of our inadequacy, all of our complaining and misery, He loves us unconditionally and with an everlasting love!

Don't you want to live forever in HIS FOREVER FAMILY?

February 17

today's reading: Mark 2:13-36

The Sabbath


As followers of Christ Jesus, we consider it appropriate to  attend worship services on our Sabbath, either Saturday or Sunday, whichever is the custom for your denomination.

The keeping of the Sabbath has changed greatly over the past decade or two.
I still remember that many businesses were closed on Sundays when I was a child. Most gas stations, some restaurants, most clothing stores and other retail shops were NEVER open on Sunday.
That was before the "shopping mall" came into existence!

It is hard to even imagine that now, isn't it? These days, schools even hold sportsing events on Sundays. Most gas stations, restaurants, and retail stores in the shopping malls are open 7 days a week; Sunday's are no exception.

Jesus did not always keep the Sabbath as the religious leaders thought He should. And He was interrogated several times by the Jewish leaders who wanted to know why He would help people on the Sabbath.

In responding to their questions, Jesus seems to be saying that He, as the Son of God, determines the true meaning of the Sabbath,

and He determines how it is to be observed.  

He states, "it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath".

 

By emphasizing that the Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath, ( Mark 2:27 ) Jesus reminds us that this day is a gift to us from God the Father.

Just as the Father rested on the seventh day of Creation, He has given this day, set aside for us to rest and restore our body, mind and spirit. 

 As you observe the Sabbath today
 take some time to consider it's importance.  

• Determine to keep it well.
• Plan to observe this day with an attitude of worship and refreshment.
• Don't allow this special day to become a day full of mundane ritual or habit! 

What will you do today to rest and refresh yourself for the week ahead?

 

 

 

 

February 16

today's reading: Mark 1:29 - 2:12

A Little Analysis

Reading through the first four books( the Gospels) of the New Testament, you will see four unique narratives of the Life of Jesus Christ.

Having just begun the Gospel of Mark, I thought I would take today to share with you a brief overview of the book.

The Gospel of Mark is the shortest of the four books referred to as "the Gospels". 
Mark was a companion of Simon Peter and worked alongside him and the other apostles to build and encourage the early church.
Mark
Mark shows his desire to let the amazing works of Jesus provide testimony of His deity.
He also frequently alludes to the human feelings that the Lord experienced; such as disappointment, tiredness, weariness, as well as his affection for people.
Mark loves to share with us the mighty works of Jesus! And we will study them all in the next few days.  

In today's reading we see several miracles being performed, and notice that the communities began to respond to Jesus by coming to listen to him teach.
The population would travel to wherever He was staying to bring their sick to him for healing. They would listen to Him teach and preach for hours.
Also, most importantly, Jesus began to reveal his ability to forgive sin.

Immediately, we see the religious leaders of the day taking particular notice of His ministry; not because they wanted to know God the Father better or understand that Jesus was the Messiah.
But because they felt threatened by His popularity among the people and became jealous of His Power.

How you would you respond to Jesus coming to your town today?

You could sit under His teaching, and then witness the mighty miracles of healing people from all their diseases, see demons cast out, hear the Lord Himself say, "your faith has healed you. Your sins are forgiven."

What would your reaction be to this miracle man?
Would you believe Him to be the promised One; the Messiah?

Would you do everything possible to bring all your loved ones to Him for a touch or a word of truth?

Will you?











 

February 15

today's reading: Mark 1: 1-28

I hope you are pleased that you have completed the book of Matthew!
See how easy it is to make your way through scripture when you take it just a little each day!

I pray for each of you, that the Holy Spirit is revealing more and more of the nature and character of the Lord each and every day~!

I would ask that if you aren't already doing so, you would pray before you read, asking the Lord to open your heart and mind to whatever He would teach you today.

Stay with us as we dive into the book of Mark!
************************************************************************

• When you find yourself in the desert and temptations are threatening to undo you, realize that you too can use the weapon of scripture to overcome the enemy!

• Would you drop everything to be obedient to Christ?

• Know that YOU CAN TRUST HIM even when you don't see where to place your foot to take the next step.

         Just BELIEVE AND FOLLOW HIM..........


 

February 14

today's reading: Matthew 28:1-20

Love Story

There is no greater love than that a man would lay down his life for his friends.
John 15:13

It seems that the end of Jesus life on earth has several similarities to it's beginning.

The angel of the Lord comes to make the holy announcement........
            to confirm that prophecy has been fulfilled at this moment in history....
        The good news is given,telling where they will be able to find Jesus.......

There is hurrying away to share the news.........
       this time it is not shepherds, but the women who had followed Jesus
                running to tell the disciples all they had seen and heard...............

There is even the plotting of the shifty leadership .............
             to make sure that people were not allowed to know the truth...........
                    

When the disciples went to the mountain............
           they worshipped Him..........................


Just as in the beginning of Jesus life....so it was at the end..............
          He would be worshipped.
 
And so it is today................
         He will be worshipped, in love, by those who realize who He really is.

 

  What wondrous love is this, O my soul, O my soul!

What wondrous love is this, O my soul!
What wondrous love is this that caused the Lord of bliss
To bear the dreadful curse for my soul, for my soul,

 

February 13

today's reading: Matthew 27: 54-66

Afraid

It is amazing what fear will drive people to do, isn't it?

The fear of the unknown must have been suffocating in the hours surrounding the death of Christ.

Just before He died, there were three hours of utter darkness in the middle of the day! The "sixth hour" until the "ninth hour" was actually noon until 3pm. Not usually a time of darkness.

As soon as Jesus gave up His life, the curtain in the temple(which was a very heavy cloth) was torn from top to bottom.

 

The earth shook SO violently THAT ROCKS AND BOULDERS SPLIT!

 

The most unusual event was that tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were RAISED TO LIFE!

 

Now, that's one POWER FULL earthquake!

 

It is no wonder that Pilate wanted to be absolutely certain that the body of the One whose death would precipitate these earthly phenomena, would be securely sealed in that tomb!

 

His fear and that of the soldiers, elders, and priests, was that the body of Jesus would be stolen to make people believe that Jesus had actually risen from the dead.

 

Do you imagine that there might have been some fear in them that it
JUST MIGHT BE TRUE?
 ...that Jesus REALLY HAD RISEN JUST AS HE SAID HE WOULD?

 

But, they would not have wanted it to be true, would they?

 

They would not want to have..........

       crucified one who would rise from the dead on the third day.....
 

               just as prophecy had said would be the case for the Messiah......

                      just as Jesus Christ had said He would do.......
 

                       .......... that would be too much ................

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

February 12

today's reading: Matthew 27: 32-53

CRUCIFIXION


Simon, a man from Cyrene-forced to carry the heavy cross to Golgotha.
The only reason the brutal Roman soldiers would have removed this burden from Jesus, would be His complete inability to continue.
And after what had been done to His physical body, isn't it amazing that He could walk on His own?

Crucified alongside the Lord Jesus Christ, were two thieves who were guilty of the crimes for which they were perishing.

This was no ordinary crucifixion day, as if any could be described as "ordinary".

On this day...........

....the Lord of Heaven took the sin of ALL OF HUMANITY upon Himself.

Can we explain what this really means? 
................in those moments, He took every dark, wicked, evil thought or deed, committed by every living soul, from the beginning to the end of time, INTO HIS SINLESS SELF.............

..........................The agony of this would surely have been excruciating beyond anything our words could explain. 

Fall on your knees........
                     Receive the mercy
                                  bought with the blood of the precious Lamb of God.
                                              Receive the love
                                                          poured out of His life into yours.




 

February 11

today's reading: Matthew 27:11-31

Pontius Pilate

Today we are introduced to yet another key character in the historical account of the death of Jesus Christ, the Messiah.

Just who was Pontius Pilate? He was a Roman governor sent to rule over Judea.
He was a prominent figure of Roman rule, which was resented deeply by the Jewish population. He had been in power when Jesus began His ministry, so had no doubt been hearing the amazing stories that revealed Jesus Christ as the Messiah.

Scripture indicates that he was brutal and sacrilegious, but wished to avoid the problem of "Jesus" and squirmed , trying over and over again,  to find a way to release the Lord, rather than sentence Him to death.

Even Pilate's wife played a role, as she warned him to have nothing to do with "that innocent man", saying she had suffered greatly from dreams she had concerning Him.

Reading through today's events, we can see the power of the enemy to take over a situation where people are not seeking the Lord's guidance.

The "mob mentality" is played out to it's miserable end as the Jewish leaders exerted their influence over the crowd to demand the crucifixion of Jesus by the governor.  

Pilate must have seen the folly of it, as he washed his hands of the matter, literally. He looked for every excuse to set the Lord Jesus free, but that crowd would have none of it.

They wanted blood, and in the end, Pilate gave in.

We are called into the picture again as we witness, through the reading of the Word, the beating, humiliation, mocking, the degradation, the heartless and relentless injury.

How do we take it in?

How will you respond?

Do not give in to complacency.

Do not give in to fear.

Do not give in to any emotion

that would ever tear you away from the Savior

 who will never forsake you... not even as He suffers to pay for your sin.... 

 

February 10

today's reading: Matthew 26:67- 27:10

Buyer's Remorse

Today our character study takes a nasty turn as we highlight Judas Iscariot, a disciple- one of the Twelve of the "inner circle"...trusted friends and followers of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Judas is a rather unseemly character.

One telling scripture in John 12: 4-6, describes him as a thief.
He complained about Mary pouring an expensive perfume on Jesus feet. The scripture reveals to us that his complaint, that "the perfume should have been sold and the money given to the poor", was merely a cover. He did not care about the poor, but cared only for himself. He was oddly,"the keeper of the money bag and used to help himself to what was put into it."

Money was obviously very important to this exceedingly greedy fellow.
He was willing to sell Jesus Christ out to the chief priest and elders to kill, for 30 pieces of silver.

He also shows his willingness to lie. Earlier in this chapter vs 25, after having already made the deal with the chief priest to lead him to Jesus in exchange for money, he can say to the Lord in the Upper Room, "Surely it is not I who will betray you, Rabbi?"


These are the very same characteristics of our enemy the devil, whose goal it is to steal, kill, and destroy.

Judas has a moment when you may wonder if his heart had softened.
We only see him as a man filled with torment, after his betrayal of Christ. Seeing the Lord was condemned to death, his tortured mind caused him to throw the money down, acknowledge that he had sinned, and then unable to comprehend his heinous crime, his last act was to hang himself.

I would say that is a very sad case of buyer's remorse. 
He purchased the death of the Savior.
A sin for which there was no recovery.

We scowl at the mention of the name "Judas".
How could he have been so cold, so calculating?
How could he have handed over to death, the one whom had shown him the way to life?
The Messiah.......handed over to death by this man in his sin.

And yet

do we

sin

again

and again.

But for His own saving grace...

would we not consider

that we also

hand Him over to death by our

self

in

our sin?

 

Forgive us Lord. Help us to confess our sins daily to You,

 and to live in the freedom of Your very costly mercy.





 

February 9

today's reading: Matthew 26: 26-67

Driven

Our cast of characters becomes more clearly defined today.
Judas,the disciple who betrayed Jesus.....
The Apostle Peter...
Caiaphas,the Jewish High Priest.....
The Sanhedrin.........
And our main player in this scene......our precious Lord Jesus Christ.

Judas, driven first by irritation that Jesus was not going to storm the countryside, ridding it of the pesky Romans, would sell Jesus out .........

The Apostle Peter, driven by love for Jesus but not being able to truly grasp His mission, was then moved to fear to deny that he had any association with his master....

Caiaphas was driven by his own lust for power and position to want to get rid of this man who seemed to turn up everywhere healing people, saving people, teaching and preaching love and forgiveness; a thorn in the side of the religious leaders.......

The Sanhedrin.....this bastion of religiosity......lining up to blast away at Jesus...driven by their pride to drum up charges of blasphemy against the Son of God....

And Jesus Christ.

What was His driving force?
In prayer, vs 42, He submits to Father God....... ever obedient....  submitting even His earthly desire to escape what only He could perceive ........to the Father.

In His betrayal and arrest, vs 54 and 56, He lays down everything......so that the Scriptures would be fulfilled......so that the prophets would be proved right.....

Our Lord Jesus Christ was driven by obedience to the Father.
Not just obedient to live the right kind of life....
but obedient to suffer the most excruciating death .........to experience separation from his Father.........to experience the full weight of the sin of all of humanity for ALL TIME. for us.
We cant begin to comprehend.......
And I don't think He asks us to.........

But He does ask us to trust Him......to believe Him...

and to be

DRIVEN 

to live a Christ-like life.....

 

February 8

today's reading: Matthew 26:1-25

Casting Call

We are now called to witness the single most significant production in all of history outside of the creation itself.

The cast of characters is being assembled  for us in our scripture reading today.

Some characters, we have travelled with throughout the dusty desert observing miracles of love and healing; miracles of rescue and salvation. We have listened with them to the wonderful stories that Jesus told to reveal Himself and His Divine nature.

Some, we have met in synogogues and have become accustomed to their pride and their not- so- hidden- agendas. Their fear-driven malicious attitudes, we have come to expect.

And some, whose names are etched deeply as a scar across the pages of history, we meet today for the first time. You will remember them well, as they are the supporting characters for this historical production.

Let's move slowly though the upcoming pages of scripture.

I would recommend that, if you can physically do it, you should read these passages on your knees, in humble honor to the One whose sacrifice has forever changed death.

Surrender to the emotion you will no doubt feel as we wind our way through the crooked , crowded streets of Jerusalem to the CROSS.

You are now called to be part of the story. You are cast in a life changing part.... as yourself.

Surrender

 to

Him.
 

February 7

today's reading: Matthew 25:31-46

SEPARATION ANXIETY

This is a condition we hear about frequently these days. We joke about having a bad case of "separation anxiety" when we can't have our favorite soft drink, or fast food. If we run out of a familiar brand of cosmetic or coffee.
BUT the separation anxiety I see in today's reading in Matthew is no joke.

When the King of Heaven, our Lord Jesus Christ draws a line down the middle of the throne room and tells one group to stand on the right and another group to stand on the left, you just know that one of those groups is not going to have a good day.

A day of judgement.
Let the power of that fall on you for a moment.

As you read today's scripture did you hear the two groups both give the same response to the LORD when He pronounced their outcome?

It seems that neither group understood the relationship that exists between serving those in need and serving God.

And yet, one group chose to serve the needy souls of humanity out of love for God's people and obedience to the Lord.

The other group seemed to say, "Well, if we had known it was YOU! we would have done thus and so..."

In order to serve in sheep-ish fashion, we must get our minds right.
We must want to serve from our hearts; looking at the people around us through the loving eyes of our Savior King,
We must reach out to help those in need, and not out of duty but out of love for God.

Prepare now to be on the right side of the line, when your name is called summoning you before that throne of judgement.

You'll never have to face another anxious moment or feel the pain of separation again!
NEVER
 

February 6

today's reading: Matthew 25:1-30

GREAT EXPECTATIONS!

A very important aspect of our faith-walk is revealed to us in today's reading in Matthew 25.

Often we like to think that we can just "accept" Jesus as our Savior... end of story... go about our life....being saved.

The Christian life is so much more than simply BEING saved, as glorious as that is!
The Christian life is a LIFE FULL OF OPPORTUNITIES!

Eternal life is a wonderful matchless gift, that is for sure. And we do not have to do anything to "make it happen" beyond simply receiving it.

God offers the gift. We unwrap it... receive it... and it is ours!

But what happens in a life between the opening of that gift and the last earthly breath? That is where what we do DOES MATTER!

Will you serve God with your fingers crossed and your head turned away from Him, hoping He won't see your doubt and fear?

The Parable of the Talents causes me to reflect deeply on who God is and on who I am to Him.

Ask yourself, "What does this mean in my life?"

God gives us great treasure in His Word and unlocks the door for more and more as we grow in Him.
He wants me to ________________.
G  R  O   W

Many times in the New Testament the Lord takes the time to tell us that we need to stay connected to Him in order to grow and to produce "fruit".
When the Lord speas about a subjest many times it surely must be of vital importance to Him.
I urge you to meditate on today's scripture and to look up other scripture from your concordance under the word "grow".
The Lord has planted a seed in your heart! The great expectation is that it will grow! Be everything He planned for you to be. Do all that He has set you apart for!

 

February 5

today's reading: Matthew 24: 31-51

How can I do a better job of keeping watch over my heart?
over my actions? Will I understand that I must be accountable to Jesus Christ?

Can I anticipate the JOY of seeing His face...unafraid because I lived yesterday well?

Am I walking in the center of His will today, to the degree that I am aware of it?

Am I living my life with expectancy? ...Staying in constant communion with my precious Savior?

February 4

today's reading: Matthew 24:1-35

Sign of the Times
When you see the twigs get tender and the leaves come out, you know that summer is near. Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door." vs:32-35 

The Lord Jesus did not want us to be unprepared for the future.
He gave us many clues to watch for; things that would allow believers to gear up for the end of the age.
What do we really need to do to 'gear up' for what is to come? 
It won't do any good to have a large bank account, a nice home, new cars, to be able to climb mountains, have great computer skills, achieve any kind of greatness in the eyes of others. 
None of these things will have any value at the end of the age. 
What WILL BE OF VALUE? 
A heart yielded to God. 
A mind filled with His truth and the treasure of His Word. 
A life surrendered to Him. 
We don't know WHEN these things will come......but believing that they WILL COME...

PEOPLE, GET READY!