Peacemakers

9 Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
Matthew 5:8




Pastor Mike Moses gave an awesome sermon this Christmas Eve that was all about how to find peace in the turbulent times in which we live. The basic premise of his message was that peace can be found in the midst of any storm that comes your way as long as you are living your life under the direction and control of God’s Spirit who lives inside of all who believe in and call Jesus their Lord and Savior. There is something supernatural that happens when you submit to the call of God on your life, no matter what that call is or what He may be asking you to bear or no matter what He may be asking you to do or where He may be asking you to go as He will never ask you to endure anything without giving you all of the power that you will need to complete the task and to finish well, and to reflect his peace upon a lost world who is watching in amazement as you live your life for the King. Paula and I have just taken our home off of the market after having it for sale for well over a year in hopes of moving to uptown Charlotte. Over the holiday we have decided to stay here on Lake Norman, despite our crabby neighbors and long commute into the office. We really feel like for whatever reason that God would want us to stay right here and that He will give us the strength and the power to be a light to our neighbors and to make life work right here where we are. This decision would not be our first choice, however, since it is God’s choice, there is a peace that I have about this decision that can’t be explained and that goes much deeper than any superficial peace that I could muster up myself. I am excited about the journey that God has us on and I am so thankful for His strength and for His peace that fills in for my inadequacies and somehow makes me whole. I now pray that God would enable us to reflect this same peace of His to others in such a way that they would see and know that He is God. Live under the direction and control of your Savior today and you will find the peace that your heart is longing for and you too will be called a child of God as you reflect His peace to a world around you which is crying out for the love that Jesus gives!

Jesus Brings Purity

8 Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.

Matthew 5:8




More than 2,000 years ago, Jesus was born on this very night in a little town called Bethlehem. With his glorious birth came the opportunity to be transformed from the inside out as a result of the awesome sacrifice that he made on the cross for you and me. Don’t miss the miracle this Christmas of a relationship with Jesus Christ where he would come into your heart of hearts and begin to transform you into the beautiful and pure creation that God originally intended for your life. The journey that starts with the birth of Jesus is all about getting to know your Creator so intimately through a relationship with His Son that you will begin to see God as He opens your eyes to His love and perfection that is all around you. As you draw near to him you will begin to see His grace and power in the lives of others; in the beauty of His Creation; in the small miracles that happen every day as a result of His love that most people miss completely. A headline on the front page of the paper this morning reads “as many struggle this Christmas, the story of Christ is a reminder that we are not alone in this mess.” This is a small miracle, that a major newspaper would speak the name of Christ on the front page in today's politically correct world, and it is so refreshing and even amazing to me. You are not alone this Christmas – God is here, He has come to redeem you as His son or daughter, and if you let Him, He will make you pure and holy from the inside out in such a way that you will see God and you will know and experience His love and He will hold you in His arms, forever.

Mercy this Christmas

7 Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.

Matthew 5:7




The Christmas holiday is about giving and loving and forgiving and showing mercy. God has shown you and I so much mercy that it continues to blow my mind when I consider all that He has done and continues to do for me. First and foremost to send His Son, Jesus, into this world, knowing the disbelief and cruelty that He was going to encounter and yet sending Him anyway in order that you and I could be free from the power of sin in this fallen world. Secondly, to forgive me and to show me mercy, time and time again when I choose in small ways and in big ways to live my life apart from his direction and control, His love and mercy for you and I are never-ending and incomprehensible. When have you proactively shown mercy to a family member or loved one or colleague who has harmed you or hurt you intentionally or unintentionally? Wouldn’t this Christmas be a great time for you, through the power of Jesus Christ who lives within you, to show some mercy and forgive that one person in your life who has been so incredibly hard to forgive? Be proactive today and reach out in love as this is exactly what Jesus has done and continues to do for you as he pursues and courts a relationship with you all because of His amazing love and mercy!

Appetitie For God

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
Matthew 5:6




What do you hunger and thirst for today? Are you hungry for peace and contentment in your life? Are you thirsting for some sort of purpose and meaning in this life? Maybe you are hungry for real food as you are uncertain of where you next meal is coming from. Do you know that that emptiness that you feel inside of your heart of hearts has been constructed by God for a reason? God wants nothing more than for you to hunger and thirst for Him. He wants to fill that hole in your soul that you try so desperately to fill with temporal things of this world with His awesome love and power. All it takes is a desire to let God take the reigns of your life, once you have this desire and you communicate that desire to our Father in heaven, you will see how He will supernaturally fill that void in your life with his Spirit and a love and peace that is eternally fulfilling, and He will give you everything that you have been secretly longing for all along but most likely did not even know it. Relationship with Jesus Christ is what your soul is longing for today – hunger and thirst for Him, seek Him today with all of your heart and you will experience His love and power in your life like never before and you will be filled and satisfied, forever.

Proud Owner of Everything

"You're blessed when you're content with just who you are - no more, no less. That's the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can't be bought.
Matthew 5:5 (The Message)



I can remember a time in my life and career when I, embarrassingly enough, would try to portray an image to other people that was so far removed from who I really was that it was probably clear to everyone else but me that I was just living a lie. God has slowly but surely changed my heart to be just a little more like His in order that I could be so joyfully and humbly content with who I am in Him and who He has made me to be. When you finally discover the purpose that God has for you in this life and when you finally start living out that purpose through the power of His Spirit who lives inside, it is then that you will receive everything that you have ever hoped for or desired in this life. You see, what your heart is longing for, deep down in the caverns of your soul, is to be the man or woman that God created you to be and to live your life in relationship with Jesus Christ in such a way that His Spirit could guide and direct you, every minute of every day, in order that you could receive this great gift of love that will become your greatest desire and will eventually replace all of the other things that this world has to offer that will fulfill you for only a short time and will eventually lead to heartache and despair. Reach out for the love of our Savior today – be content with who God has made you to be and soak up this amazing blessing of life with Christ for He is indeed all that you will ever need!

Comfort by the King

4 Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.

Matthew 5:4



There have been times in my life when I have experienced deep mourning as a result of my path somehow crossing the path of this fallen world and unfortunately having to live with the consequences of wrong choices by others. I can remember one time in particular as a young man in my late teens when I had to experience something that happened in my family that for a million years I would never have imagined could have happened to anyone related to me. I can remember feeling numb and not being able to do anything else but to cry out to God with a question of “why”. That question has never been answered, however, in the midst of my sorrow and emptiness I also experienced a calmness and peace that could not be explained as it was indeed the ever so sweet comforting of my Lord and Savior in the midst of a terrible storm. You may not ever understand why God has allowed certain things to happen in your life until you are one day on the other side with Him where He will make all things clear; however, know today that you are not alone and that God loves you more than you could ever imagine and He will hold you in His arms of love and He will catch every tear that you cry on this earth until that great day when all things will be made new and the pain and hurt of this world we will be gone, forever. Jump into His arms of love today and they will never let you go!

More of You - Less of Me

"You're blessed when you're at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule.
Matthew 5:3 (The Message)


With the uncertainty of the economy, the unemployment rate rising rapidly each day and with the reality of broken relationships and broken homes and hurting people all around, it is not uncommon to feel like you are at the end of your rope and losing control. The good news today is that this is exactly where your God would want you as His strength is made perfect in your weakness and it is only through weakness that God’s love and power can be revealed to such an unbelieving generation in which we live. Let God’s love flow through you this morning and let His Spirit give you power and direction to find your way as His love will prevail in your life and His Spirit will bear fruit through you as you surrender completely to God’s strength and power. Draw near to Him today!

For you - In you - Through you

18 As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 19 "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will send you out to fish for people." 20 At once they left their nets and followed him.
Matthew 4:18-20



Right in the middle of an ordinary day, two ordinary men who are doing an ordinary job encounter the God of this world, in the flesh, as the Master Designer plays out the first scene in this most important chapter of this epic script where Jesus begins to build his team of disciples that will eventually change the world as we know it. Our God was working “for them” and “for you” and “for me” as He inhabited this world through His only Son in order to redeem all of us and reconnect us with our Creator. Later on in the story you will see how God works in the lives of these men as He slowly but surely changes their hearts and lives to be a reflection of His love. And finally, in the grand finale of the Gospel as we know it, Jesus begins to work through these two fisherman and many others in order that the whole world would see and know His awesome love for mankind. Similarly, today, right in the middle of an ordinary day, doing an ordinary job, our God is working for you today and you can see the evidence of his love all around you. The chirp of a bird in the early morning or the calming sound of a pianist who is creating beautiful music in the midst of a busy airport on a Monday morning, through the littlest things you can see and experience God if you are indeed paying attention and seeking him with all of your heart. In addition, God is working in you to change your heart and mind to be even more like His in order that He can then work through you to touch the lives of lost people who so desperately need to see and experience His love. Draw near to God today with all of your heart as He is near and He loves you and He will hold you in His loving arms, forever!

Change for the Better

17 From that time on Jesus began to preach, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near."

Matthew 4:17


Dictionary.com defines the word “repent” as: “to feel such sorrow for sin or fault as to be disposed to change one's life for the better; be penitent.” The first thing that needs to happen in order to start the process of restoration and renewal in regards to your relationship with God ironically enough happens to be the very first words out of Jesus’ mouth at the beginning of His ministry after being baptized by John the Baptist. To start on this incredible Journey with God you need to “repent”. You must understand the depravity of your sin that has separated you from your Creator and then in turn be willing to let God’s Spirit change your life for the better through the power of the resurrected Jesus who will come and live inside of your heart of hearts in order to bridge the gap that has kept you from experiencing God’s power and love in your life. If you never admit that you have a sin problem then you will never accept the miracle of God’s incredible grace and love in your life. If you have never done so, then I would encourage and challenge you today to start on this incredible journey of knowing God and experiencing His power and love in your life by first being sorry and asking forgiveness for your sin that has separated you from Him and then by ultimately making a commitment to let Him change your heart and life for the better by accepting God’s free gift of Jesus into your life in order that your relationship with God could be restored and renewed - once and for all, forever.

Away from me, Satan

8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 "All this I will give you," he said, "if you will bow down and worship me."
10 Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.'"

Matthew 4:8-10


This temptation that Jesus faced is not unlike the temptation that you and I face on a daily basis to put the things of this world above our relationship with God. When you spend more time at work for example than you spend with your family then in a way you are communicating to your family that you love your job and that you love the accolades that come from being successful in your career more than you love your family and this is a form of worshiping the world as God has commanded you to love your wife and family with the same love and intensity that you love Him. When your thoughts are consumed with how you can get more stuff or when all you think about is getting that next promotion or buying that bigger house or how much your financial portfolio has plunged in the past year, when these thoughts replace thoughts of how you can reflect God’s love to others with whom you come into contact with today then in a way you are worshiping the world instead of worshiping our Awesome God by filling your mind with unselfish thoughts that are full of grace and love and peace and joy. This reminds me of a quote that I have heard from various people on a number of occasions that says: “The best barometer as to the condition of your heart is to identify what you think about most throughout your day and to have a look at where you spend your money.” Guard your heart today by filling your mind with God’s Spirit and God’s love; ask him now to begin to renew your mind in order that you could love and worship Him like never before by surrendering all and by letting His love reflect onto others as they see Jesus in you. God can change your whole perspective on this life by the power of His Spirit who lives inside if you would only let Him by opening your heart and jumping into this whole new life of love.

Eloi, Eloi, Lema Sabachthani

33 At noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. 34 And at three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?" (which means "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?").
35 When some of those standing near heard this, they said, "Listen, he's calling Elijah."
36 Someone ran, filled a sponge with wine vinegar, put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink. "Now leave him alone. Let's see if Elijah comes to take him down," he said.
37 With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last.


Mark 15:33-37


In order for our sins to be forgiven, Jesus had to take on the sin of the world and be put to death for the punishment of our sin. The worst part was having to be separated from God as God can not have any part of sin since He is holy and pure and perfect. How horrible that must have been and yet he did it out of love for me and love for you in order that we could once again be reunited with our Father in Heaven who wants nothing more from us than a relationship where He can love us and guide us and take all the bad and broken pieces of our lives and turn them around into something beautiful and good. In the end, this is what Thanksgiving is all about. As President Lincoln wrote on October 3rd, 1863:
“I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquility and union.”

Be thankful this week for all that God has done for you, remember Jesus and the price that He paid in order that we all could be free to have a relationship once again with our Creator and Friend who loves us dearly and will never let us go!

May God bless you and your family as you give thanks to the King this holiday season.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Envy

1 Very early in the morning, the chief priests, with the elders, the teachers of the law and the whole Sanhedrin, reached a decision. They bound Jesus, led him away and handed him over to Pilate.
2 "Are you the king of the Jews?" asked Pilate.
"You have said so," Jesus replied.
3 The chief priests accused him of many things. 4 So again Pilate asked him, "Aren't you going to answer? See how many things they are accusing you of."
5 But Jesus still made no reply, and Pilate was amazed.
6 Now it was the custom at the Festival to release a prisoner whom the people requested. 7 A man called Barabbas was in prison with the insurrectionists who had committed murder in the uprising. 8 The crowd came up and asked Pilate to do for them what he usually did.
9 "Do you want me to release to you the king of the Jews?" asked Pilate, 10 knowing it was out of envy that the chief priests had handed Jesus over to him. 11 But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have Pilate release Barabbas instead.
12 "What shall I do, then, with the one you call the king of the Jews?" Pilate asked them.
13 "Crucify him!" they shouted.
14 "Why? What crime has he committed?" asked Pilate.
But they shouted all the louder, "Crucify him!"
15 Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. He had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.

Mark 15:1-15


Envious of His love; envious of His following; envious of His radical words and actions that would change the way that the world would interact with God, forever, they crucified Him. If they only knew who they were crucifying and why He had come; if they only knew that they were envious of the very person that could give them so much more than the self fulfilling pride that caused them to treat the only one who really loved them the way that they did. In the end, the joke was on them, as we who follow him know, all of this had to happen in order for you and I to be restored and to be forgiven as He took our place on the cross. Jesus took our place and suffered all of this pain and rejection and humility and shame in order that we could once again live in the ever so sweet relationship with our Heavenly Father whose love is unimaginable and never ending. How could we not want to serve Him today; how could we not want to give Him our hearts and let His love shine through us as we journey together to know and love Him more. Be thankful today for all that God has done for you and for all of the blessings in your life, stay clear of the sin of envy as you see how it can blind the eyes and the hearts of all who give in to it’s deceiving lure. Don’t make the same mistake that the Chief Priests made so many years ago, give your life away for the King and He will give you everything in return.

Fallen World

66 While Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came by. 67 When she saw Peter warming himself, she looked closely at him.
"You also were with that Nazarene, Jesus," she said.
68 But he denied it. "I don't know or understand what you're talking about," he said, and went out into the entryway.
69 When the servant girl saw him there, she said again to those standing around, "This fellow is one of them." 70 Again he denied it.
After a little while, those standing near said to Peter, "Surely you are one of them, for you are a Galilean."
71 He began to call down curses, and he swore to them, "I don't know this man you're talking about."
72 Immediately the rooster crowed the second time. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken to him: "Before the rooster crows twice you will disown me three times." And he broke down and wept.

Mark 14:66-72


As a result of this fallen world in which we live and as a result of your brokenness and what the Bible calls your flesh, you will unfortunately, as we see evident in Peter’s life here in the story, not always make the right choices in this life. The encouraging thing this morning is that our God already knows, as he knew how Peter was going to deny Him way before it happened, that you are not always going to live a perfect life. Let me tell you that He loves you anyway! As a fellow ministry partner at our church so eloquently recited yesterday, “you didn’t work yourself into a relationship with Christ, and so you can never work yourself out.” If you could live a perfect life then Jesus would have never had to die and you would not need Him in order to experience God. Peter, after denying Christ, went on to win thousands upon thousands for the Lord and in addition wrote several books of the Bible. God could use Peter to have a huge impact on this world for Him because Peter finally learned to trust in God’s strength working through him and not to trust in his own strength which would only fall short of the righteousness of God. Surrender your whole heart to God today – accept His grace and accept His awesome unconditional love into your life as you set out to live a life that reflects His love and His strength to a world in desperate need of a Savior. Go in peace and live your life for the King.

He Is

60 Then the high priest stood up before them and asked Jesus, "Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?" 61 But Jesus remained silent and gave no answer.
Again the high priest asked him, "Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?" 62 "I am," said Jesus. "And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven." 63 The high priest tore his clothes. "Why do we need any more witnesses?" he asked. 64 "You have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?" They all condemned him as worthy of death. 65 Then some began to spit at him; they blindfolded him, struck him with their fists, and said, "Prophesy!" And the guards took him and beat him.

Mark 14:60-65


Jesus, knowing the hearts of those who were accusing Him and knowing what was about to happen, simply answered, “I am.” There is something that is very soothing to me about those two words by Jesus. “He is” the Creator of the Heavens and earth. “He is” our hope for salvation and for peace and for abundant life here on this earth. “He is” everything that we will ever need to be happy. “He is” our Healer and the transformer of our hearts. “He is” the one who guides and directs and the one who is in control of everything that happens today. “He is” our Lover and our Friend and the one who sat in front of these men having done absolutely nothing wrong, knowing the humiliation and pain that He was about to bear and He sat there and let it happen ever so graciously, all on account of your sin and my sin in order that we could once again have a relationship with God, forever. How could you not want to follow Him today and how could you not want to receive His love and walk in His grace and live your life for Him? He is worthy and He is waiting for you to accept Him into your heart of hearts – ask Him now and He will respond, and your life will never be the same.

Naked and Ashamed

51 A young man, wearing nothing but a linen garment, was following Jesus. When they seized him, 52 he fled naked, leaving his garment behind.
Mark 14:51-52


Please allow me to veer off of the main premise of this book being the words spoken by Jesus in the New Testament for just one moment here as I love this verse and could not get past it this morning without including it here in today’s devotion. The details and description that are found in God’s Word just blow me away at times as it amazes me how God is concerned about the smallest details of our every day life. This young man that the Apostle Mark mentions here is obviously very disturbed and fearful after viewing the arrest of Jesus and so he decides to run as fast as he can the other direction, away from Jesus, even leaving his garment behind and fleeing naked. Isn’t this a true picture of how we as Christ followers feel at times when we decide to go our own way and make decisions that are not in sync with God’s will for our lives? Without the power of God guiding and directing us and without the peace and love that His Holy Spirit brings as we choose to walk in obedience and follow promptings on our hearts, we do indeed feel naked and ashamed as God’s purpose for our lives always completes us and makes us whole and secure. Are you feeling at peace with the direction of your life this morning? Maybe you are feeling naked and ashamed as you have gone your own way and have chosen to obey your flesh instead of obeying God’s Spirit who wants nothing more than abundance and peace for you today. Take some time right now in prayer to redirect the actions of your life back toward the only One who makes you whole and gives you peace.

All Alone

43 Just as he was speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, appeared. With him was a crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests, the teachers of the law, and the elders. 44 Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: "The one I kiss is the man; arrest him and lead him away under guard." 45 Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, "Rabbi!" and kissed him. 46 The men seized Jesus and arrested him. 47 Then one of those standing near drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear. 48 "Am I leading a rebellion," said Jesus, "that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me? 49 Every day I was with you, teaching in the temple courts, and you did not arrest me. But the Scriptures must be fulfilled." 50 Then everyone deserted him and fled.
Mark 14:43-50


For many of you, I know that there times when you feel all alone in this world. For a number of you I understand that there are times when you feel like everyone has deserted you and you are left to struggle through these difficult times all alone. If this is you then please know this morning that Jesus has experienced that same pain and emptiness as He was betrayed by one of His closest friends and if that wasn’t bad enough, at a time when he needed His core group of friends the most they all deserted Him for fear of losing their lives. Paul tells us that as Christ followers we will be aliens and strangers in this fallen world as a result of our commitment to live a life that honors our Father in Heaven. Jesus, having experienced more pain and loneliness than you and I could ever imagine, can understand your feelings this morning as He has been there. He would tell you this morning that He is here to hold your hand today that He is here to be your friend as he guides you through this difficult time in your life in order that his love would shine through in the end. It is only in times of solitude and in the realization that you cannot do this life thing on your own that you will truly see God, know that He is real and experience His healing and transforming power and love! Cling to Jesus today with all of your heart and all of your soul and all of your mind and He will replace your emptiness with an unspeakable love and peace that will carry you through.

When the Going gets Tough

39 Once more he went away and prayed the same thing. 40 When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. They did not know what to say to him. 41 Returning the third time, he said to them, "Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough! The hour has come. Look, the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners. 42 Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!"
Mark 14:39-42


Well I can certainly relate to what the disciples were feeling this morning with heavy eyes as my day in the office has begun at a very early hour after watching my favorite football team get yet another victory on Monday night football last evening! I am encouraged and challenged this morning as I read again how Jesus spent all of the final hours of His ministry here on this earth in prayer. The times did not get any worse for Him as He knew what was about to happen and He went through something that you and I could only hope that we will never have to face here on this earth. He spent his final hours in prayer, communicating with the Father, asking for strength and power to face the horrible crucifixion and death that He was about to face, all because of our sin. What do you do when the going gets tough? Do you have a few more glasses of wine than you would normally have? Do you let your emotions get the best of you and lash out at your family or colleagues or friends? Do you go on a shopping binge or maybe an eating binge or maybe you spend all of your free time asleep as we find the disciples doing here? Do you go to the Father when the going gets tough – God is waiting for you this morning to hear your cry; He is waiting to listen to you as admit that this life is much more than you can handle on your own and He is waiting for you to ask for His help. God wants more than ever today for you to rest in His arms of love as He fills your life with His strength and power to overcome and be victorious in this life. He loves you more than you could ever imagine – spend some time with Him today before you do anything else and you will see what a difference His love can make!

Watch and Pray

37 Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. "Simon," he said to Peter, "are you asleep? Could you not keep watch for one hour? 38 Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak."

Mark 14:37-38




I had one of those nights last evening, you know, the kind where I had so much to do today at work that I couldn’t get to sleep as a result of my mind spinning out of control about all of the activities that will be happening today in the office. Sometimes, our best efforts to either go to sleep or to stay awake are not good enough to keep our bodies from responding the way that we would want them to respond. Similarly, if we try within our own power to obey God and to live our lives in such a way that honors Him, we undoubtedly will fail. The two key words here in this example by Jesus are “watch” and “pray”. First we should always be watching with the eyes of our heart the world around us in an effort to discern how the Spirit is working in our lives and how God would want to use us in the lives of others that we encounter today. Second, and no doubt the most important task on our part as Christ followers is to always be in prayer as prayer and communication with God is what the Christian life is all about. It is through prayer that the power of God is revealed in and through our lives; it is through prayer that we begin to understand the heart of God; it is through prayer that we are healed and transformed from the inside out to be more like Jesus. Watch and pray today as God uses your life to have an impact for Him in this fallen world in which we live!

Not my Will but Yours

35 Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him. 36 "Abba, Father," he said, "everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will."

Mark 14:35-36



Jesus, being fully man and fully God and knowing that He would shortly be humiliated and abused and beaten to the point of death and then finally crucified on a cross, pleaded with God the Father to not have to go through such a horrible and painful experience. For a brief moment in time Jesus asked for the cup to be taken from Him in order that he wouldn’t have to be separated from the God and Father that He so dearly loved and that He wouldn’t have to endure such pain and humiliation and suffering, all on account of mankind's sin. But then, knowing the end of the story and knowing the victory that would encompass all who believed in Him after His resurrection, He willingly agreed to do the will of the father and not to give in to the will of the flesh which would want no part of what was about to happen. “Not my will but your will”, is how Jesus responded and that is all that God would ask of you and of me today as His followers, to surrender to His will in every part of our lives in order that His Spirit could go to work to restore and to renew our relationship with the God who loved us so much that He gave the life of His very Son to set us free! Will you surrender today? Will you accept this awesome gift of love into your life in order that you could be changed from the inside out in a way that God’s love could be reflected through you onto others who do not yet know Him as their Savior? Jesus is waiting – He endured much pain and suffering to make this day possible – He is knocking on your heart's door and wants to give you an eternal life with him that is full of abundance and joy and peace and love like you have never experienced before. Surrender to His call today and live your life for the King!

Sorrow Before Great Victory

32 They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, "Sit here while I pray." 33 He took Peter, James and John along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled. 34 "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death," he said to them. "Stay here and keep watch."

Mark 14:32-34



Jesus was about to give His life in order to redeem you and me and everyone who would accept this awesome gift of life until that day when he returns again to take us all to paradise. As we read, He was deeply distressed and troubled and filled with sorrow just prior to this great miracle and battle and victory coming to fruition. How often do we as Christ followers experience a similar sorrow and similar trouble and stress just prior to God using us in an awesome way or just prior to God performing a miracle in our midst? Know today that this sorrow and trouble is not by accident as we live in a spiritual battle that is raging all around us. There are angels and demons in a 3rd realm who are fighting for control and attention of your heart and mind. The last thing that the enemy would like to see is for God to use you in an effective way for His Kingdom, and so, the trouble and sorrow comes as the enemy would try to discourage you and sideline you in this battle that we are all in for the cause of Christ. If you are sorrowful today; if life seems to be just a little too hard for you to handle; if trouble and stress seem to be coming your way by the truckload and you feel like giving up and giving in and throwing in the towel then be encouraged because this sorrow could very well be a sign that something big is about to happen in your life. The trouble that you are facing may very well be a foretelling of God using you in an extraordinary way to have an impact on this world for Him. Draw near to God and keep pressing on as God will give you the strength to endure and He will indeed use your life in such a way that would have an eternal impact on the world around you. Jesus felt the same sorrow that you are feeling today and yet He pressed on, knowing the pain and humiliation and trouble that lurked ahead of Him all because of His awesome love for you – do the same today as a result of your love for Him and you will see and experience the power and love of God!

Unimaginable Grace and Forgiveness

29 Peter declared, "Even if all fall away, I will not." 30 "Truly I tell you," Jesus answered, "today—yes, tonight—before the rooster crows twice you yourself will disown me three times." 31 But Peter insisted emphatically, "Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you." And all the others said the same.

Mark 14:29-31



Jesus, at a time when he would need the support of His closest followers the most, knew that they would disown Him and in fact is even able to describe to Peter the circumstances of His personal rejection of Jesus that was about to happen in the coming days. The rest of the story as we will read later is that Peter did just as Jesus had described. The story doesn’t end there though, the most amazing part and unimaginable thing that followed in the weeks and months and years to come is a true reflection of the heart of the God we serve. Jesus, forgave Peter for disowning Him and above that even, He used Peter to be one of the pillars of the church that you and I enjoy and worship in today. See, God understands the brokenness and sin of this world in which we live. He understands that there will be times of defeat, times that we struggle and fail despite our best efforts. What Jesus is communicating to us through this passage this morning is that He knows already how we will respond and choices that we will make today and He knows that not all of those choices will be in the best interest of our relationship with Him and yet He loves us anyway. See, the moral of the story is that it is not about us. No, it is not about our own efforts to achieve through our own strength some sort of “Super Christian” status or to be a person who lives a perfect life. It is about Jesus and the price that He paid for each and every one of us in order that we could be free to live a life with Him where we are forgiven completely and eternally for sins of the past as well as the future. It is about this amazing and incomprehensible grace and forgiveness that reaches down to the innermost parts of our soul and somehow starts the healing process in order that slowly but surely our brokenness and sin and shame can be healed by God’s Spirit who lives inside as we one day at a time learn what it means to know and love Jesus more - rest in this amazing love and forgiveness today as you start anew your journey with God.

Jesus is Leading the Way

27 Jesus told them, "You're all going to feel that your world is falling apart and that it's my fault. There's a Scripture that says, I will strike the shepherd; The sheep will go helter-skelter. 28 "But after I am raised up, I will go ahead of you, leading the way to Galilee."

Mark 14:27-28



I can’t imagine how the disciples must have felt when Jesus was crucified. These men had left everything in order to follow Him and at this point in the story they really didn’t understand what was happening and why Jesus had to die in order that we all call could be restored in our relationship to the Father. Jesus is warning them here about what is going to happen and I love the last part of His statement which says that He will go ahead of them and lead the way. Jesus is leading the way for you and I today. He has already planted a seed in the hearts of people whom we will come into contact with today that need to hear about and see in action the love of God in our lives. Jesus has already gone into that boardroom this morning to pave the way for that meeting that has been such a burden on your heart; He has gone before you to that job interview; He has gone before you to the school where your kids will learn and grow in their relationship with Him; He has gone already before you to touch the heart of that friend whom you have hurt; He leads the way to healing both physical and spiritual in the hospital and in your home. God knows exactly the circumstances that you will face today and in fact, He has already done His work in order that you can rest in His love knowing full well that His will, will be done in your life and that His power will shine forth as you journey with Him to know and love Him more. Walk with confidence today as your Savior and friend is leading the way to abundant life with Him.

In Awe

12 On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, when it was customary to sacrifice the Passover lamb, Jesus' disciples asked him, "Where do you want us to go and make preparations for you to eat the Passover?"
13 So he sent two of his disciples, telling them, "Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him. 14 Say to the owner of the house he enters, 'The Teacher asks: Where is my guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?' 15 He will show you a large room upstairs, furnished and ready. Make preparations for us there."
16 The disciples left, went into the city and found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover.
17 When evening came, Jesus arrived with the Twelve. 18 While they were reclining at the table eating, he said, "Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me—one who is eating with me."
19 They were saddened, and one by one they said to him, "Surely not I?"
20 "It is one of the Twelve," he replied, "one who dips bread into the bowl with me. 21 The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born."
22 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, "Take it; this is my body."
23 Then he took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and they all drank from it.
24 "This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many," he said to them. 25 "Truly I tell you, I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God."
26 When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives

Mark 14:12-26 TNIV


The Kingdom of God is like new wine – it is sweet to the taste and ever so satisfying as it will quench your thirst and fill your empty and lonely heart with a love that is so real and so genuine and so perfect that you won’t be able to contain it within yourself, you will want to share and reflect it to everyone that you meet. This morning, I am in Awe of God as I remember the sacrifice that He paid for me. I am in Awe this morning of the Spirit with which He has filled my life in order that His power could be made perfect in my weakness. I am in Awe of how He has healed my broken heart and how He is slowly but surely helping me to understand who He is and how much He loves me. I am in Awe of His unconditional love and acceptance of me, despite my many failures and shortfalls. I am in Awe of the privilege of being called His son and the honor of being a broken vessel that He can somehow navigate through this crazy world in such a way that His love is seen through me. I am in Awe of my God, my Lover, my Savior and Friend – He is my everything, the reason I live and breath and I vow this morning to give Him my whole heart, forever!

I love you Lord – thank you for who you are and all that you have done to restore us and set us free to rest in your magnificent love! – Amen.

Betrayal

10 Then Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Jesus to them. 11 They were delighted to hear this and promised to give him money. So he watched for an opportunity to hand him over.

Mark 14:10-11 TNIV



In the business world, this type of betrayal from someone who appeared to be a close friend is not uncommon and seems to happen more than any of us would like. The lesson that we can learn from Jesus is how to respond when this happens. Jesus, knowing all along that Judas would be the one that would ultimately cause His death and crucifixion, still loved Him as one of the 12, even until the very end when Judas kissed Jesus on His forehead in order to point Him out to the chief priests. Jesus knew the condition of Judas’s heart; Jesus knew that Judas was lost and broken; Jesus knew that Judas was the product of a fallen world and so, as much as it hurt to experience such a horrible betrayal from one of His closest friends, Jesus knew that all of this had to take place in order for Him to heal and restore us all into a new relationship with our Creator. When you look at the world today; when you look at that person that has betrayed you; when you look at that loved one who continues to pierce your broken heart; when you gaze into the eyes of a colleague or family member or close friend who has broken your trust one too many times, remember the example of Jesus and through His power, remember their brokenness and love them even more knowing that they are lost and in desperate need of a Savior.

Money - Not so Important

1 Now the Passover and the Festival of Unleavened Bread were only two days away, and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were looking for some sly way to arrest Jesus and kill him. 2 "But not during the Festival," they said, "or the people may riot."
3 While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head.
4 Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, "Why this waste of perfume? 5 It could have been sold for more than a year's wages and the money given to the poor." And they rebuked her harshly.
6 "Leave her alone," said Jesus. "Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. 7 The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. 8 She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial. 9 Truly I tell you, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her."


Mark 14:1-9 TNIV


People were rebuking this lady for acting out of a heart of worship that is beautiful and true and full of love for God. Jesus rebukes them, and rightfully so, as her act of worship went much deeper and had so much more value than a years worth of wages. What our God wants, what our Lord and Savior longs for is not your money and not your works and not even your façade of Christianity, no, what He longs for is a heart that loves Him deeply and wants more than anything to spend time with Him and communicate with Him and worship Him by journeying together with Him in this life. Jesus longs for relationship with you; He died shortly after this beautiful anointing of perfume in order that your love relationship with God could be restored, forever. Seek Him today with all of your heart and He will meet you right where you are and He will love you and restore and heal your broken heart as you rest in His awesome love.

Celebration

24 "Following those hard times, Sun will fade out, moon cloud over, 25 Stars fall out of the sky, cosmic powers tremble. 26 "And then they'll see the Son of Man enter in grand style, his Arrival filling the sky - no one will miss it! 27 He'll dispatch the angels; they will pull in the chosen from the four winds, from pole to pole. 28 "Take a lesson from the fig tree. From the moment you notice its buds form, the merest hint of green, you know summer's just around the corner. 29 And so it is with you. When you see all these things, you know he is at the door. 30 Don't take this lightly. I'm not just saying this for some future generation, but for this one, too - these things will happen. 31 Sky and earth will wear out; my words won't wear out. 32 "But the exact day and hour? No one knows that, not even heaven's angels, not even the Son. Only the Father. 33 So keep a sharp lookout, for you don't know the timetable. 34 It's like a man who takes a trip, leaving home and putting his servants in charge, each assigned a task, and commanding the gatekeeper to stand watch. 35 So, stay at your post, watching. You have no idea when the homeowner is returning, whether evening, midnight, cockcrow, or morning. 36 You don't want him showing up unannounced, with you asleep on the job. 37 I say it to you, and I'm saying it to all: Stay at your post. Keep watch."

Mark 13:24-37 (The Message)


Some of the greatest times in my life have been times when I have celebrated with family and friends and colleagues, successes, milestones and achievements in my personal life and business career. These celebrations however don’t even come close to the awesome celebration that all who call Jesus Lord and Savior will experience on that day when He comes back to take all who have put their faith in Him to paradise! All of the pain and suffering and brokenness of this world will finally be forgotten as you and I will be perfected once again in relationship with our Creator and Friend and Lover – Jesus Christ. What a day to look forward to as we strive as God’s children in the meantime to experience just a hint of His grace and as we strive to share our lives in a way that we could, through His power, love others in order that they too could join us in this awesome celebration of eternal life and flawless reunion with the One who gave His Son to set us free! Keep watch today – make every minute count as no one knows when the final bell will ring and the battle for human hearts will be over. Are you ready? Have you surrendered your heart? Don’t wait any longer, ask Jesus Christ into your heart and life today and your journey to this great day of celebration will begin as you start to live your life for the King!

End Times

14 "But be ready to run for it when you see the monster of desecration set up where it should never be. You who can read, make sure you understand what I'm talking about. If you're living in Judea at the time, run for the hills; 15 if you're working in the yard, don't go back to the house to get anything; 16 if you're out in the field, don't go back to get your coat. 17 Pregnant and nursing mothers will have it especially hard. 18 Hope and pray this won't happen in the middle of winter. 19 "These are going to be hard days - nothing like it from the time God made the world right up to the present. And there'll be nothing like it again. 20 If he let the days of trouble run their course, nobody would make it. But because of God's chosen people, those he personally chose, he has already intervened. 21 "If anyone tries to flag you down, calling out, 'Here's the Messiah!' or points, 'There he is!' don't fall for it. 22 Fake Messiahs and lying preachers are going to pop up everywhere. Their impressive credentials and dazzling performances will pull the wool over the eyes of even those who ought to know better. 23 So watch out. I've given you fair warning.

Mark 13:14-23 (The Message)



On the way home from work last evening, right in the middle of a traffic jam the bus for one of the presidential candidates came storming up through the middle of the traffic causing cars on both sides to pull off into the median and onto the side of the road. It was rather impressive, I must say, with at least 40 police cars, 20 in front and 20 in back, several of them unmarked and all of them with their lights active. After being awed by the display of power in being able to speed through one of the worst traffic jams that I have seen in awhile, I began to ponder today about the upcoming election and the importance of choosing the right candidate to receive the power to run our country. Jesus told us himself during His time on earth that there would be deception in the last days and to be on guard for false prophets and preachers with the wrong motives, etc. The encouraging thing in all of this is the fact that “God has already intervened!” God is in charge and through His Spirit He is working in and through the lives of those who believe and have put their faith in Him. So today, as the future of America is unsure and the leader for the next 4 years will be determined, don’t get so caught up in the election that you take your eyes off the One who really matters, Jesus Christ. Pray that God would stir the hearts of all who vote today in order that His will would be done in this election and that the candidate of His choosing would take office and lead this great country through the tough times that we are currently facing. God has already intervened, He is in control and His love can be seen in the lives of other believers all around you today! May God Bless America!

Stay with It

As he walked away from the Temple, one of his disciples said, "Teacher, look at that stonework! Those buildings!" 2 Jesus said, "You're impressed by this grandiose architecture? There's not a stone in the whole works that is not going to end up in a heap of rubble." 3 Later, as he was sitting on Mount Olives in full view of the Temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew got him off by himself and asked, 4 "Tell us, when is this going to happen? What sign will we get that things are coming to a head?" Jesus began, "Watch out for doomsday deceivers. 6 Many leaders are going to show up with forged identities claiming, 'I'm the One.' They will deceive a lot of people. 7 When you hear of wars and rumored wars, keep your head and don't panic. This is routine history, and no sign of the end. 8 Nation will fight nation and ruler fight ruler, over and over. Earthquakes will occur in various places. There will be famines. But these things are nothing compared to what's coming. 9 "And watch out! They're going to drag you into court. And then it will go from bad to worse, dog-eat-dog, everyone at your throat because you carry my name. You're placed there as sentinels to truth. 10 The Message has to be preached all across the world. 11 "When they bring you, betrayed, into court, don't worry about what you'll say. When the time comes, say what's on your heart - the Holy Spirit will make his witness in and through you. 12 "It's going to be brother killing brother, father killing child, children killing parents. 13 There's no telling who will hate you because of me. "Stay with it - that's what is required. Stay with it to the end. You won't be sorry; you'll be saved.

Mark 13:1-13 (The Message)



Over this past weekend, I learned of the extent of a broken relationship between two very close friends of mine and it broke my heart as well. Don’t ever forget that we live in a world at war and there is a spiritual battle happening all around you where the enemy is trying his best to corrupt your mind with bitterness and sin and shame; he (the enemy) wants to replace the focus of your life from God’s grace and love and Lordship over to focusing on self. The enemy would want you to judge others and to see their brokenness as unforgivable faults in order to build a wall between your life and the lives of others who are broken and hurting and who are in desperate need of the same saving grace that Jesus has offered you. I plead with you not to let this happen as other people in the world need to see the love of Jesus through your life, now more than ever keep your mind on others and don’t ever forget to extend the unconditional love and forgiveness God has given you to absolutely everyone in your life, no matter what they may have done to hurt you. Others are broken and hurting just as you are and the time is short for them to see the miracle of God in and through your life by the way that you love them. Stay with it today, fight the good fight and follow Him!

Sacrificial Offering

41 Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. 42 But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny. 43 Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, "Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. 44 They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on."

Mark 12:41-44


What a lesson from Jesus here that gives us a clear view into the heart of God. God is not as concerned about the amount of our offering as He is about the attitude of our heart. In reality, everything that we have belongs to Him and it pleases Him when we are willing to trust Him with not only all of our money but even more so with everything that we are, our secret innermost longings and desires, our deepest hurts and pains, our biggest dreams and hidden fears, everything that we think about or speak about or do to earn a living, our family members, our loved ones, our child that has not yet been born – absolutely everything belongs to Him and what Jesus is really looking for is a sacrificial offering of all to Him. Do this and He will take what you have to give and multiply it 1,000 times over in order that you could truly experience the love and power of God!

Servant's Heart

38 As he taught, Jesus said, "Watch out for the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, 39 and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. 40 They devour widows' houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. These men will be punished most severely." Mark 12:38-40


Back in the days of Jesus, the teacher’s of the law were not paid a salary, they were dependent on donations from their patrons for their daily needs and thus many of them were corrupt and they took advantage of people, especially widows for financial gain. As you can see, this behavior was just the opposite of what Jesus was teaching about how to live a Godly life. Jesus, by the very nature of what He did during his ministry on earth, teaches us to be servants rather than seeking to be served. It is only in serving others out of a genuine heart that reflects the unconditional and agape love of God that God can use your life for His Kingdom in this world. Jesus came to earth to serve us by offering His very body as a sacrifice in order that you and I could somehow be reconnected to God in a very real and tangible way. In the same way, you and I should follow Jesus’ example and offer ourselves to others, taking on the nature of a servant and always searching for how we can meet the needs of other people in this world who are lost and in desperate need of the greatest gift of all that we have been grateful to receive, Jesus Christ. Stay focused on others today and strive to be a servant of all – do this and you will begin to understand and know the very heart of God!

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Lord of All

35 While Jesus was teaching in the temple courts, he asked, "Why do the teachers of the law say that the Messiah is the son of David? 36 David himself, speaking by the Holy Spirit, declared:
" 'The Lord said to my Lord:
"Sit at my right hand
until I put your enemies
under your feet." ' [h]
37 David himself calls him 'Lord.' How then can he be his son?"
The large crowd listened to him with delight.

Mark 12:35-37


Jesus was implying here by this question to the Jews whom He was teaching in the temple courts that He, the Messiah, was much more than just a descendant of David but that the Messiah was indeed the Son of God, the Lord of all creation. All who call themselves Christ followers are in a sense surrendering the control and ownership of their lives to Jesus Christ. The dictionary defines “Lord” as: “A person who has authority, control, or power over others; a master, chief, or ruler.” If you call yourself a Christ follower and claim to have a relationship with Jesus, then Jesus should be the Lord of everything that you say and do. Your decision making for even the smallest decisions should be based on discerning the best choice that you can make in regards to how that decision will affect your relationship with Jesus Christ. You are not your own, you have been bought with a price and Jesus Christ is the Lord of your life if indeed you have accepted His awesome gift of love into your heart and life. When the world looks at you do they see Jesus? Surrender to His Lordship today as you rest in His love and live your life for the King!

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Love God - Love Others

28 One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, "Of all the commandments, which is the most important?"

29 "The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: 'Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. [e] 30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' 31 The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' [g] There is no commandment greater than these."

32 "Well said, teacher," the man replied. "You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him. 33 To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices."

34 When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, he said to him, "You are not far from the kingdom of God." And from then on no one dared ask him any more questions.

Mark 12:28-34

Love should be the one thing that consumes the mind, the heart, soul and actions of every believer. This whole idea of being a Christ follower is rooted in love. For it is because of God's compassionate love for His Creation that He created a way through Jesus Christ for you and I to be restored to Him in relationship. God, knowing full well how mankind would turn on Him and choose to live apart from His Holiness, created you and I just the same, with a free will and mind of our own in order that we could choose to love Him of our own accord. Then, when sin was committed by Adam and Eve, who made a choice to be separated from God's will and dominion over their lives, God immediately engaged His plan of redemption that involved the ultimate act of love and sacrifice as He became one of us and died a horrible death of shame and humiliation on a cross in order to restore us and set us free from the bondage of sin and separation from Him. God is love and it is because of his extraordinary love for you and me that we even exist or that we even have any hope for the future or any eternal home in heaven where we will be perfectly reunited with our Creator, Lover and Friend for the rest of eternity. Express your love to our well deserving God today, give Him your heart, give Him your will and your plan for your life today as He will take your love sacrifice and turn it into something indescribable and amazing as He uses your life to share His amazing love with the world around you.

We love you Lord and we long to serve you and worship you and live our lives for you until that day when we can be forever together in perfect peace and happiness!

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God of the Living

18 Then the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to him with a question. 19 "Teacher," they said, "Moses wrote for us that if a man's brother dies and leaves a wife but no children, the man must marry the widow and raise up offspring for his brother. 20 Now there were seven brothers. The first one married and died without leaving any children. 21 The second one married the widow, but he also died, leaving no child. It was the same with the third. 22 In fact, none of the seven left any children. Last of all, the woman died too. 23 At the resurrection whose wife will she be, since the seven were married to her?"

24 Jesus replied, "Are you not in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God? 25 When the dead rise, they will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven. 26 Now about the dead rising—have you not read in the Book of Moses, in the account of the burning bush, how God said to him, 'I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob' ? 27 He is not the God of the dead, but of the living. You are badly mistaken!"


The Sadducees, just as some of us do from time to time, were more concerned about their interaction and relationship with God in heaven than they were about what God would want to do in their lives right then. Here was Jesus Christ, the son of God, standing in front of them, in the flesh and they just didn't get it. Jesus is standing if front of you and me today, in His risen form, by His Spirit. Jesus wants to love you with an everlasting love, not just in heaven, but right now, right where you are He wants to wipe away away your tears and start the process of healing and restoration to your hurting heart. Our God is indeed the God of the living and He wants nothing more than a relationship with you today - a relationship where you put your trust in Him and you seek His will for your life and you live by the power of His Spirit who will come and live inside of everyone who believes and invites Him in. Seek Him today with all of your heart; tell Him your worries and ask Him for guidance as Jesus cares about every little detail of your life and He knows everything that you will encounter today. He can indeed be trusted as His love will never fail. Jump into this awesome love relationship today!

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Trickery

13 Later they sent some of the Pharisees and Herodians to Jesus to catch him in his words. 14 They came to him and said, "Teacher, we know that you are a man of integrity. You aren't swayed by others, because you pay no attention to who they are; but you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it right to pay the imperial tax [b] to Caesar or not? 15 Should we pay or shouldn't we?"
But Jesus knew their hypocrisy. "Why are you trying to trap me?" he asked. "Bring me a denarius and let me look at it." 16 They brought the coin, and he asked them, "Whose image is this? And whose inscription?"
"Caesar's," they replied.
17 Then Jesus said to them, "Give back to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's."
And they were amazed at him.

Mark 12:17

The Pharisees here tried their best to trick Jesus into making a statement that would make Him very unpopular with the Jews that were indeed listening to His teaching. They even used words of flattery to start in an effort to portray that they actually believed in Him and who He was, when in fact they were only trying to subdue the effectiveness of His ministry by trapping Him into making a statement that would not be popular among the Jews. Jesus, as He always did during His ministry here on earth, completely amazed both the Pharisees and those who were listening by His answer. In essence, a relationship with Jesus Christ involves much more than just being obedient with your money. A relationship with Jesus is a daily walk of Faith whereas you think and act under the control of the Spirit who lives inside the heart of every believer. A relationship with Jesus means that you obey the rules of the land, knowing full well that everything that you have and everything that you are belongs to Jesus as you have been bought with a price, the price of Jesus’ blood on the cross. A relationship with Jesus means that you willingly pay taxes, knowing full well that all of the financial resources that God has blessed you with are His and that you are just a steward and manager of what God has given you. Be a good steward today by staying connected to Christ who lives inside and who is longing for a life that would surrender completely to Him.

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Cornerstone

Jesus then began to speak to them in parables: "A man planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a pit for the wine press and built a watchtower. Then he rented the vineyard to some farmers and moved to another place. 2 At harvest time he sent a servant to the tenants to collect from them some of the fruit of the vineyard. 3 But they seized him, beat him and sent him away empty-handed. 4 Then he sent another servant to them; they struck this man on the head and treated him shamefully. 5 He sent still another, and that one they killed. He sent many others; some of them they beat, others they killed.6 "He had one left to send, a son, whom he loved. He sent him last of all, saying, 'They will respect my son.'7 "But the tenants said to one another, 'This is the heir. Come, let's kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.' 8 So they took him and killed him, and threw him out of the vineyard.9 "What then will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and kill those tenants and give the vineyard to others. 10 Haven't you read this passage of Scripture:
" 'The stone the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone;11 the Lord has done this,
and it is marvelous in our eyes' "Mark 11:15-17

Yesterday I was feeling a little rejected, a little unloved and unappreciated as a result of my beliefs on a certain subject that is closely related to my faith. This morning Jesus reminds me through this parable how He was rejected and how He was unjustly tortured and killed all the while knowing that it was going to happen and yet willing to suffer through it in order that our relationship with God could be restored and renewed through His sacrifice. And now today, His love abounds, even to those who nailed Him to a cross and even to you and I as we, at times, nail Him to a cross all over again through our sin. He continues to pursue us and to love us in the midst of rejection and in the midst of choices that are not in alignment with His will for our lives because He is love and because His love is so much bigger and so much greater than we could ever begin to comprehend or imagine. Jesus is our cornerstone today as we are forever anchored in His almighty, unconditional and unfailing love that will never let us go!

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Trying to Outthink God

They arrived again in Jerusalem, and while Jesus was walking in the temple courts, the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders came to him. "By what authority are you doing these things?" they asked. "And who gave you authority to do this?" Jesus replied, "I will ask you one question. Answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things. John's baptism—was it from heaven, or of human origin? Tell me!" They discussed it among themselves and said, "If we say, 'From heaven,' he will ask, 'Then why didn't you believe him?' But if we say, 'Of human origin' . . . ." (They feared the people, for everyone held that John really was a prophet.) So they answered Jesus, "We don't know."
Jesus said, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things."

Mark 11:27-33

The cool thing about God is that you can never outthink Him! Even your most compelling intellectual argument that your mind may dream up about why this Jesus thing couldn't possibly be true will be seen as foolish nonsense when filtered by the All Powerful Word and Spirit of our Father in Heaven. There have been many who have set out to prove that the Bible and that the accounts of Christianity are wrong and in the process have turned their life over to the power and authority of Jesus Christ. The problem, or better yet, the blessing is that there is something supernatural that happens as you read the Word of God. There is something supernatural that happens as you surrender and do His will out of a heart that is committed to serving Him no matter what the task. There is something supernatural that happens as you set out to do the improbable or even the impossible when measured by human standards of logic and reason and you just trust and obey with a child like faith that will always prove true. Don't try to outthink Him today, just surrender, believe and obey!

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Faith - Belief - Forgiveness

"Have faith in God," Jesus answered. "Truly I tell you, if you say to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and do not doubt in your heart but believe that what you say will happen, it will be done for you. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your

sins."

Mark 11: 22-26

We hear from Jesus this morning how there are two reasons that our prayers as his children are not answered. 1.) We pray with doubting hearts that do not believe 2.) We pray with bitterness in our hearts toward other people, not forgiving them as Christ has forgiven and continues to forgive us for our sins against Him. So, today, pray with confidence out of a sincere heart that God can and will answer your cry for help and be sure to always forgive others and show them the unconditional love and Grace that your Father in Heaven has so lovingly shown to you, though you are undeserving, time and time again. As you communicate with God out of a heart that is truly seeking and surrendering to His call on your life you will find the power within to forgive and to believe in God's loving kindness and providence. Your prayers will change to prayers that honor Him and seek His will and oh how He will answer and come through for you no matter what your circumstance, if you would only believe!

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Hunger and Thirst for Righteousness

The next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. 13 Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs. 14 Then he said to the tree, "May no one ever eat fruit from you again." And his disciples heard him say it.

Mark 11:12-14

“Jesus was hungry”, our God knows what it was like to feel pain and hunger and emptiness as the Bible says that Jesus was fully God and fully man at the same time. Jesus understands the condition of the human heart that has been separated from God as a result of original sin. He understands our brokenness and need for restoration and healing and reunion with our Creator. He knows what the future holds and how we will reject Him and spit on Him and eventually murder Him and He understands that all of that needed to happen in order for you and I to be free and alive and restored in relationship to our Father in Heaven who is the only one who can fulfill us and make us whole. Knowing all of this we sense Jesus’ frustration with the Jewish nation and we see by this act here His disappointment in their unbelief and fruitless deeds that were of selfish intent and that yielded no fruit for His Kingdom. Jesus wants you and I to bear fruit as a result of His Spirit being in control of our lives today! He wants you to experience the fulfillment and joy and indescribable peace and love that only come as we let His will and His Spirit shine forth in our lives through surrender. He wants us to hunger and thirst for righteousness in such a way that we are healed and restored by The Master Healer and thus can help to feed all of the other empty and lonely souls with whom we come into contact every day; not by anything that we do ourselves but by simply surrendering our will to His and through surrendering our thoughts to His thoughts in such a way that He can be seen through us and have a positive impact on the lost and lonely and hurting people that are all around us who are in desperate need of a Savior. Let your life bear fruit today for the Kingdom as you live your life for Jesus!

Jesus Has the Crystal Ball

As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples, 2 saying to them, "Go to the village ahead of you, and just as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. 3 If anyone asks you, 'Why are you doing this?' say, 'The Lord needs it and will send it back here shortly.' "

Mark 11:1-3

I love the beginning of this story as it is a good reminder of how our God knows exactly what we are going to encounter today. In fact, God knows how your entire life will play out; He knows the failures that you will make, the successes that you will enjoy, the hurt that you will encounter – He can see it all because He created it; He created you and He loves you despite your shortcomings and brokenness. He has a plan to mold you and shape you and use your life in an extraordinary way as you just learn to love Him more. So, keep your eyes and your mind focused on God’s Spirit today who lives inside and He will guide and direct your path into the abundant life with Him that He had planned for you before the beginning of time. There is no need to fear the future as Jesus has the crystal ball and His faithfulness is perfect and complete and never-ending and His love will consume you, restore you and never let you go.

Ask Him

Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus (which means "son of Timaeus"), was sitting by the roadside begging. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!" Jesus stopped and said, "Call him." So they called to the blind man, "Cheer up! On your feet! He's calling you." Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus. "What do you want me to do for you?" Jesus asked him. The blind man said, "Rabbi, I want to see." "Go," said Jesus, "your faith has healed you." Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.

Mark 10:46-52

Sometimes, the realization of a miracle in a person’s life is as simple as having the boldness and humility to ask God to come into your situation and then having the faith to believe that He will answer your call for help. I love how Jesus, who is all knowing, on various occasions throughout His ministry asks questions of people, questions to which he already knows the answer, but questions that prompt faith and action on the part of His followers. What Jesus is longing for more than anything today is for you to cry out to Him with all of your heart; He wants you to tell Him your needs and your hurts and your deep desires in order that His Spirit can come in and do a miracle of restoration on your doubting heart. Sometimes the miracle will be in changed circumstances in your life that are very real and tangible and other times the miracle will be in a changed heart that has been stirred and quieted by our awesome God! Cry out to Him today.

Leadership is to Serve Others

They were on their way up to Jerusalem, with Jesus leading the way, and the disciples were astonished, while those who followed were afraid. Again he took the Twelve aside and told them what was going to happen to him. "We are going up to Jerusalem," he said, "and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles, who will mock him and spit on him, flog him and kill him. Three days later he will rise." Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. "Teacher," they said, "we want you to do for us whatever we ask." "What do you want me to do for you?" he asked. They replied, "Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory." "You don't know what you are asking," Jesus said. "Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?" "We can," they answered. Jesus said to them, "You will drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with, but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared." When the ten heard about this, they became indignant with James and John. Jesus called them together and said, "You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

Mark 10:32-45

As I think about the upcoming election, I wonder what the true motives are of the two candidates; I wonder what the true motives are of my own heart in choosing one candidate over another. I was at a business seminar last week where I heard a speaker suggest that voting for a particular candidate would undoubtedly assure a huge rise in taxes for me personally and at first that sounded like a good enough reason for me to choose the other. After a wake up call this past Sunday from a leader who I respect and admire very much, I am convinced that to base my vote on personal gain is not how God would want me to choose. No, Jesus is very clear here that to be His follower, to be a leader, to be a citizen that reflects His image is to make decisions that are based, not on my own personal gain but on the personal gain of others who may be just a little less fortunate or who may be lonely or lost or unemployed or most of all who need to experience God in the same way that I have been so richly blessed. As you ponder the election in the coming weeks, remember this quote from NBA legend Michael Jordon who once said:, “Heart is what separates the good from the great”. Where is your heart? Is it focused on yourself or focused on others as a result of the great and awesome God that you serve? Choose today to be great by living your life today and every day with a heart that is servant of all.

All Things are Possible

The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, "Who then can be saved?" Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God." Peter said to him, "We have left everything to follow you!" "I tell you the truth," Jesus replied, "no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields--and with them, persecutions) and in the age to come, eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first."

Mark 10:26-31 (TNIV)

Our God is so amazing! He is so powerful, so loving and so truthful to His word and promises. All things are possible for those who believe and put their trust in Him! I sit here this morning at my desk with tears of joy in my eyes as a result of God’s providence and hand of blessing on my and Paula’s life as a result of activities that have happened this week that were very scary and that could have gone either way. I’ve done nothing to deserve such amazing love and am so humbled by God’s presence and the direction and care that He has for me as He guides my steps and directs me with His love through this crazy yet awesome journey that we have been on together. I give God all the Glory and vow to live for Him and to share His love with everyone that I meet for the rest of my days here on this earth until that wonderful, glorious day when we will meet face to face and spend the rest of eternity together. Praise God from whom all blessings flow, praise Him all creatures here below; Praise Him above, ye heavenly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Surrender your whole heart to Him today, for He is worthy and His faithfulness and love are so amazing and never-ending. I love you Lord!

Child-Like Faith and Obedience

“Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the Kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”

Mark 10:15 (TNIV)


Once again Jesus describes here to his disciples how the attitude and acceptance of Jesus into the life of a believer should be one comparable to that of a little child. God is continually teaching me in a very real way how this child-like faith looks in my every day walk and journey with Him. This past week, Paula and I had a couple interested in purchasing our house that has been on the market for over a year. After two trips from a far away state to have a look, several inquiries on the neighborhood and home owner’s association and countless other questions and emails they decided against it. The cool thing is that a year ago if this had happened I would have been very discouraged and upset and would have had a feeling of helplessness and defeat, however, in a way I am very encouraged as I know deep in my heart that my Father in Heaven has a master plan and that His timing is perfect and that His love is all that we need to sustain us and carry us through. Similarly, today and tomorrow I am going through an assessment process at work that is undoubtedly one of the most important processes that I will go through or have gone through so far in my 20 year career in the tire industry. I feel totally inadequate and have a fear of the unknown and it is just like Jesus to remind me here this morning as I continue on in the book of Mark how this is exactly the way that He would want it; me totally and completely dependent upon Him and on His strength, providence, plan and direction for my life; having the attitude of a little child. God wants you today to do the same, to put your faith completely in Him, to rest in His love and to trust completely in His plan for your life. Remember His words in Jeremiah 29:11 when He says, “For I know that plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.” Trust and rest in God’s amazing love today as you live your life for the King.

Soft Hearts becoming One

Some Pharisees came and tested him by asking, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?" "What did Moses command you?" he replied. They said, "Moses permitted a man to write a certificate of divorce and send her away." "It was because your hearts were hard that Moses wrote you this law," Jesus replied. "But at the beginning of creation God 'made them male and female.' 'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.' So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate." When they were in the house again, the disciples asked Jesus about this. He answered, "Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her. And if she divorces her husband and marries another man, she commits adultery."

Mark 10:2-12 (TNIV)

In exactly two weeks and one day, Paula and I will celebrate 14 years of God softening our hearts in such a way that He is molding and shaping us to become one in Him in this beautiful and blessed gift that He has given both of us in the covenant of marriage. I had an opportunity to share with a colleague yesterday who has been married only for a short time and is struggling just a bit with this process of change and restoration in His marriage how the years with my beautiful wife Paula have not always been easy but how with a little effort and a little help from God’s Spirit that He can and will make it through the tough times in his marriage and will realize that marriage is the most awesome gift from above that he will ever receive from our Father in heaven. God’s plan never meant for us to change spouses like we change cars or houses or to give up when the going gets tough in the sacrament of marriage, no, His plan is to let His Holy Spirit sacrificially change us from the inside out in a way that the bond between a husband and wife would reflect His love, power and grace to the lost and lonely world around us in such a way that they would see and know that Jesus is our Lord and Savior and that He is very much alive and working in the lives of men and women who have committed to love and enjoy each other forever. Let God’s Spirit soften your heart today as you thank Him for the awesome gift of your spouse and as you commit once more to sacrificially love your husband or wife just as Jesus loves you. In the end you will realize as I have that as hard as this process of change in your marriage has been that it is the best gift that you will ever receive on this side of heaven.

Salt - The Power of Grace and Love

Everyone will be salted with fire. "Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with each other."

Mark 9:49-50 (TNIV)

Salt is used to cure, to preserve to add flavor and taste. Our relationship with Jesus, as we walk daily with Him, being directed by His Spirit somehow mysteriously restores our broken hearts in a way that our life with Christ is appealing to others by God’s grave covering up our own sin and weakness and deficiencies. God calls us as his children to be the “salt of the earth”, to be set apart from the sin and selfishness that exists all around us in a world that has chosen to live for themselves instead of surrendering to the miracle of Jesus Christ and the abundant life and relationship that He offers all who call on His name. And so, it is up to you today to live in such a way that your life is so surrendered to the will of God and to the direction of God’s Spirit who lives inside that the world would see Jesus who’s love is so appealing, preserving and so undeserved, but nevertheless, alive and piercing and penetrating the hearts of all who do not yet know Him as their Lord and Savior. Die to yourself today, surrender your life for the cause of Christ in order that the rest of the world could taste and see Jesus through you.

Intentional Holiness

If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, where the fire never goes out. And if your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two feet and be thrown into hell. And if your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell, where "'their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.'

Mark 9:42 (TNIV)

Understand today that living a Holy life which enables you to experience God’s presence and love in an extraordinary way does not just happen in this life. Yes, of course, God through His Spirit who lives inside of you will give you all of the power that you need to be victorious and to die to your own selfish and fleshly desires, however, it is up to you to engage this power by intentionally putting boundaries in place that will keep your old ways of the sinful nature at bay. Jesus is very clear here that it takes some intentional action on our part as His followers to resist temptation in order that we could be free to live for Him and in order that we could really live the God given purpose for our lives that is full of abundance, peace, love and every good thing that you could ever imagine! Personally, I want more than anything to be used by God and to experience His love and power in my life and I understand that it is up to me to walk the narrow way that is not always easy at times and that may cause pain to my flesh as I die to my own selfish desires and as I die to my own will in order that God could enact His will in and through my life. Although this process is not easy and there will be times when you will fail, keep in mind two things as you pursue this life of Holiness. 1.) God’s grace and love is big enough to cover any defeat or any shortfall that will happen to you along the journey. 2.) The rewards for your efforts to move toward God and to obey His commands in such a way that you die to your self in order that you could live for Him and begin to really know Jesus in a personal way, don’t even compare to the short lived perceived pleasure that you will experience if you choose to live for yourself. Be intentional today concerning your relationship with Jesus Christ – put aside the things of the flesh that will only cause you pain and separation from God and move toward the narrow road which leads to a love relationship with your Creator that is indescribable and never ending!

Mindful of Others

"If anyone causes one of these little ones--those who believe in me--to stumble, it would be better for them if a large millstone were hung around their neck and they were thrown into the sea.

Mark 9:42 (TNIV)

Be careful today, and every day, how you live if you call yourself a Christ follower. Always pay attention to how your actions and your words may be perceived by other Christians as we read here this morning a very strong warning from Jesus pertaining to how our actions may be a stumbling block to other Christ followers who have different areas of brokenness than you and I do. I recently was blessed by an opportunity to celebrate the release of my first Journey Bread book at a nearby gift shop. The shop owner had offered to supply champagne to the guests from a very sincere and heartfelt motive of just wanting the celebration to be the very best and first class. After praying about this decision as to the refreshments as well as the owner discussing the details of the event with her staff, we all decided that the best thing to do would be to serve punch as to not offend anyone or be a stumbling block to other brothers or sisters who may have a problem with alcohol. You see, it may be perfectly fine for you to have a glass of wine with dinner for instance while to another, a glass of wine would be a sin as it would cause a domino effect in their lives as one glass would not be enough and a downward spiral of drunkenness and separation from God would occur. Always live your life in a way that encourages others to draw near to God, in a way that promotes living a Holy life that is very different from the world around you. The apostle Peter describes how our lives should appear to the world around us in 2 Peter 2:11 when he says: “Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.” It is easy to forget in these days of relativity and social acceptance that as a Christ follower you are called to a higher standard; a much higher calling that will indeed cause you at times to appear as a stranger to this lost world of sin that is crying out for something different, for someone to share with them this supernatural love that you have been blessed with by our Father in Heaven which causes you to live much differently than other colleagues and friends and family members. Step out and be different today, let your light shine in this dark world so that others may see and know that Jesus is alive and believe.