53 When Jesus had finished these parables, he moved on from there. 54 Coming to his hometown, he began teaching the people in their synagogue, and they were amazed. "Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?" they asked. 55 "Isn't this the carpenter's son? Isn't his mother's name Mary, and aren't his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? 56 Aren't all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?" 57 And they took offense at him.
But Jesus said to them, "Only in their own towns and in their own homes are prophets without honor."
58 And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith.
Matthew 13:53-58
Sometimes it is the people who have known you the best, the people with whom you have experienced life prior to your conversion who are skeptics concerning your new life in Christ. Do not be discouraged today as a result of other people’s actions as we live in a fallen and broken world at war where there is hate and jealousy and pride and anger present all around you. The only one you should be concerned about pleasing today is the One who lives inside of your heart of hearts who is waiting anxiously to open your eyes in such a way that you can see Him at work in your very life in order that you can play out your part by loving Jesus and loving others as He loves you. Spend some time with the Father today, focus on Him and He will give you the strength to persevere as His love is all that you will ever need!
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Surrender All
44 "The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.
45 "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. 46 When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.
Matthew 13:44-46
The only way that you will ever truly experience an authentic relationship with Jesus Christ and the only way that you will ever fully realize the abundant life that your Creator and Father so desperately wants for you to have is to be willing to surrender everything that you have over to the direction and control of the One who lives inside of your heart of hearts. You see, it is only when you let go of yourself and when you let go of all of the lies with which your enemy will try to cloud your mind, that you will truly be free to live your life in such a way that your words and actions are a reflection of God’s love to the world around you. As you trust completely in the One who gave His life for you it is then that you will experience a peace and love that is indescribable but very real and ever so sweet to the soul. Surrender all that you have today to the One who sets your heart free!
45 "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. 46 When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.
Matthew 13:44-46
The only way that you will ever truly experience an authentic relationship with Jesus Christ and the only way that you will ever fully realize the abundant life that your Creator and Father so desperately wants for you to have is to be willing to surrender everything that you have over to the direction and control of the One who lives inside of your heart of hearts. You see, it is only when you let go of yourself and when you let go of all of the lies with which your enemy will try to cloud your mind, that you will truly be free to live your life in such a way that your words and actions are a reflection of God’s love to the world around you. As you trust completely in the One who gave His life for you it is then that you will experience a peace and love that is indescribable but very real and ever so sweet to the soul. Surrender all that you have today to the One who sets your heart free!
Friday, May 22, 2009
Wheat among Weeds
24 Jesus told them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. 25 But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. 26 When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared. ,,,,,,
27 "The owner's servants came to him and said, 'Sir, didn't you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?'
28 " 'An enemy did this,' he replied.
"The servants asked him, 'Do you want us to go and pull them up?'
29 " 'No,' he answered, 'because while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.' "
36 Then he left the crowd and went into the house. His disciples came to him and said, "Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field."
37 He answered, "The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man. 38 The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the people of the kingdom. The weeds are the people of the evil one, 39 and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels.
40 "As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. 41 The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. 42 They will throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears, let them hear.
Matthew 13:24-29;27-43
Maybe it is a result of the weeds that are present in this world that can be blamed for my computer problems this week! :) I often hear the question from skeptics as to why God would allow so much evil to be present in the world that we see and experience on a daily basis. Well, maybe the answer is as simple as the reason that Jesus gives here to his disciples in the parable of the weeds. It is important for us to coexist with evil in order that God can continue to work on perfecting, renewing and healing the brokenness that exists in each one of us while at the same time using our very lives to illuminate the darkness that surrounds us all through His light that is present in our hearts in an effort to make more and better disciples of Jesus. Light your world today as you live your life for Him!
27 "The owner's servants came to him and said, 'Sir, didn't you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?'
28 " 'An enemy did this,' he replied.
"The servants asked him, 'Do you want us to go and pull them up?'
29 " 'No,' he answered, 'because while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.' "
36 Then he left the crowd and went into the house. His disciples came to him and said, "Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field."
37 He answered, "The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man. 38 The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the people of the kingdom. The weeds are the people of the evil one, 39 and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels.
40 "As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. 41 The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. 42 They will throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears, let them hear.
Matthew 13:24-29;27-43
Maybe it is a result of the weeds that are present in this world that can be blamed for my computer problems this week! :) I often hear the question from skeptics as to why God would allow so much evil to be present in the world that we see and experience on a daily basis. Well, maybe the answer is as simple as the reason that Jesus gives here to his disciples in the parable of the weeds. It is important for us to coexist with evil in order that God can continue to work on perfecting, renewing and healing the brokenness that exists in each one of us while at the same time using our very lives to illuminate the darkness that surrounds us all through His light that is present in our hearts in an effort to make more and better disciples of Jesus. Light your world today as you live your life for Him!
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Words
33 "Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit. 34 You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. 35 Good people bring good things out of the good stored up in them, and evil people bring evil things out of the evil stored up in them. 36 But I tell you that people will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken. 37 For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned."
Matthew 12:33-37
The words that you speak today are a direct reflection of what’s going on in your heart of hearts. If your words have not been uplifting, positive, honest and real lately then maybe it is time to let Jesus Christ who came to heal the brokenness of your heart do His thing in your life in order that all the “good” things that He has created in you can finally be seen and reflected to the lost world around you. He is waiting to hear your cry for help in order that He can perform a miracle in your life through the healing touch of His Spirit. Spend some time with your Creator this morning, let Him do the work on the inside in order that His love can be reflected on the outside through the words that you speak to a lost world in need of Him.
Matthew 12:33-37
The words that you speak today are a direct reflection of what’s going on in your heart of hearts. If your words have not been uplifting, positive, honest and real lately then maybe it is time to let Jesus Christ who came to heal the brokenness of your heart do His thing in your life in order that all the “good” things that He has created in you can finally be seen and reflected to the lost world around you. He is waiting to hear your cry for help in order that He can perform a miracle in your life through the healing touch of His Spirit. Spend some time with your Creator this morning, let Him do the work on the inside in order that His love can be reflected on the outside through the words that you speak to a lost world in need of Him.
Monday, May 4, 2009
Life in the Spirit
29 "Or again, how can anyone enter a strong man's house and carry off his possessions without first tying up the strong man? Then his house can be plundered.
30 "Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. 31 And so I tell you, people will be forgiven every sin and blasphemy. But blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. 32 Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.
Matthew 12:29-32
Don’t you know that the Spirit of God is your life line today? The direction and control of God’s Spirit who lives inside of your heart of hearts is at the very core and purpose of everything that you do today. And for those of you who are being wooed by the Spirit of God, those of you who have not yet accepted this miracle of the risen Jesus into your heart through the redemptive power of His Holy Spirit who is knocking right now at your heart's door asking to come in, for those of you who are teetering on the edge of salvation but have not yet taken that step of faith, don’t you know that today is the day of your salvation, don’t wait any longer, it is time to start living your life as you were created to live. It is time to receive this wonderful gift of love in order that you too can be forgiven and freed to live an abundant life that is full of purpose and meaning and grace. Pray a prayer today, right now, right where you are and join the family of God as God’s Spirit is wooing you today as a result of His incredible love for you. Invite Him in this morning and you will never be the same.
30 "Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. 31 And so I tell you, people will be forgiven every sin and blasphemy. But blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. 32 Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.
Matthew 12:29-32
Don’t you know that the Spirit of God is your life line today? The direction and control of God’s Spirit who lives inside of your heart of hearts is at the very core and purpose of everything that you do today. And for those of you who are being wooed by the Spirit of God, those of you who have not yet accepted this miracle of the risen Jesus into your heart through the redemptive power of His Holy Spirit who is knocking right now at your heart's door asking to come in, for those of you who are teetering on the edge of salvation but have not yet taken that step of faith, don’t you know that today is the day of your salvation, don’t wait any longer, it is time to start living your life as you were created to live. It is time to receive this wonderful gift of love in order that you too can be forgiven and freed to live an abundant life that is full of purpose and meaning and grace. Pray a prayer today, right now, right where you are and join the family of God as God’s Spirit is wooing you today as a result of His incredible love for you. Invite Him in this morning and you will never be the same.
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