Jesus Christ lifts up a prayer for the ones who have already believed in Him and the ones who will believe in Him and follow Him, "My prayer is not from them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you." John 17:20-21. What a teaching of prayer and care. Jesus Christ, the God of gods, the King of kings, the Light of lights and the Lord of lords praying for all of us. He himself prayed for every one of us. What an example and responsibility we have, to spread the good news of our Lord Jesus Christ and be united in "one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Farther of all, who is over all and through all and in all" Ephesians 4:4-6 Praise Him!
Armando Perdomo
April 1
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
John 15-16
The Truth Guide.
The Holy Spirit.
The Spirit of Truth.
The Counselor.
The convictor of guilt from sin.
He will not speak on his own.
He speaks only what he hears.
He tells of the future.
He brings glory to Jesus.
He does this by revealing to us the things of Christ.
The prince of this world stands condemned. Jesus is alive. Come, Lord Jesus.
Nathan Tillotson
March 31
The Holy Spirit.
The Spirit of Truth.
The Counselor.
The convictor of guilt from sin.
He will not speak on his own.
He speaks only what he hears.
He tells of the future.
He brings glory to Jesus.
He does this by revealing to us the things of Christ.
The prince of this world stands condemned. Jesus is alive. Come, Lord Jesus.
Nathan Tillotson
March 31
Monday, March 29, 2010
John 14
It’s gotta be divine providence that I was assigned the blog for today. This is one of my top ten favorites in the Bible! I memorized the first three verses in elementary school. King James Version, of course! “Let not your heart be troubled; ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions...” The NIV says the word “rooms” instead of “mansions”. I remember all the discussions about what each of our mansion might look like and how big they might be. How awesome! Can you believe they are in Heaven getting ready for us? I can’t even comprehend what that means---but I sure do seem to enjoy the idea of it. God wants us with him for all eternity and he’s making sure everything is the way it should be.
I’m preparing for a marathon at the end of April. What that means is that I’m trying to get 30-40 miles of running every week, I’m doing at least one long run a week, and I’m trying to get some other exercise to “cross train” the rest of my body. It’s a lot of work, but if I don’t do the training and preparation---I will not make all 26.2 miles on race day. Even with the preparation---it’s gonna be rough!!! I’m so thankful that our preparations for Heaven are not nearly as grueling as running 30 miles a week. I’m even more grateful that Heaven is no marathon to be endured. Instead it’s an eternity of praise to be enjoyed! Get ready----Jesus is coming back to get us!
Jim Bales
March 30
I’m preparing for a marathon at the end of April. What that means is that I’m trying to get 30-40 miles of running every week, I’m doing at least one long run a week, and I’m trying to get some other exercise to “cross train” the rest of my body. It’s a lot of work, but if I don’t do the training and preparation---I will not make all 26.2 miles on race day. Even with the preparation---it’s gonna be rough!!! I’m so thankful that our preparations for Heaven are not nearly as grueling as running 30 miles a week. I’m even more grateful that Heaven is no marathon to be endured. Instead it’s an eternity of praise to be enjoyed! Get ready----Jesus is coming back to get us!
Jim Bales
March 30
Saturday, March 27, 2010
John 13
Facebook was unveiled in all its glory my junior year of college and I immediately and impulsively decided that it was a ridiculous waste of time and I would not be participating. One of my four roommates joined the online social network the day she heard about it and the others were slowly convinced of its usefulness in peering into the lives of childhood friends and estranged family members. I stood my ground for a month or two, then when I found myself borrowing one of my friends’ passwords to scope out this web-world, I finally created an account. I was probably as neurotic about checking my facebook as many of your kids [or you…admit it!] are for the first year of my facebook ownership, but the excitement wore off fast for me. In recent days I avoid signing on at all costs. I believe the evolution of facebook left me in the dust. I type www.facebook.com, enter my name and password and I am immediately confronted with decisions…Do you want to own a farm? Which Star Wars character are you? Do you want to send Bobby a gift? It’s serious virtual-sensory overload.
In the last couple of days I’ve read John 13 a few times. Every time I read it I intend to have a deeply spiritual experience…but the only experience my head was allowing me to have was visual imagery of signing onto facebook and being asked to take the “Which Disciple Are You Quiz?” I would labor over 10 profound, personal questions and after answering all of them it would be revealed that I am Peter. I hope facebook never stoops that low…besides I didn’t need a cyber-quiz to expose my sinful heart--just the Holy Spirit. I am so thankful that God saw fit to include so many gut-wrenching stories about Peter’s misadventures in His word, as I always relate to his hasty behavior.
It’s in verse 37 that Peter epitomizes the human condition, “Peter said to Him, ‘Lord why can I not follow You now? I will lay down my life for you.’” It is so like us to assume that we know God’s timing and what He wants with us. Peter responded to Jesus’ announcement that He was going where no one could follow, with such honesty and righteousness but also with such ignorance. He believed with all his heart that it was time for Him to follow the Messiah. I am Peter. I run around assuming what work the Lord has set aside for me and I try to tell Him I am ready for Him to be the Lord of my life. And Jesus responds by knowing me better than I know myself…just as He did with Peter. He simply replies, “before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times!”
John 13’s ending sheds light on its beginning for me. Just after washing the disciples’ feet Jesus says, “You call me 'Teacher' and 'Lord,' and rightly so, for that is what I am…I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master.” Teacher, Lord, and Master. These words have little place in my vocabulary…I prefer to call Him: Savior, Friend, Healer. But in that moment with Peter, Jesus defines his Lordship. He knew Peter better than Peter knew Himself. That is my Lord! I take comfort in the fact that my master understands the most isolated depths of my heart and is able to fully satisfy them. He has heard every wavering thought and solved every problem in my mind. To have a master and teacher who lavishes His love and guidance on us and choose to not take advantage of it…sounds crazy…but it’s human. It’s Peter. It’s me. It’s you.
I have realized that my earthly devotion only goes so far. It may have taken me to the foot of the cross but it cannot make a disciple out of me. Peter relied on his own earthly devotion in this exchange with Jesus, and he goes on, in all of his self-sufficiency, to deny his master three times. It is at this point when we stop believing ourselves and what WE know about God and we learn to yield to the Spirit and sacrifice our desire to be our own master.
Jenna Trapasso
March 28
In the last couple of days I’ve read John 13 a few times. Every time I read it I intend to have a deeply spiritual experience…but the only experience my head was allowing me to have was visual imagery of signing onto facebook and being asked to take the “Which Disciple Are You Quiz?” I would labor over 10 profound, personal questions and after answering all of them it would be revealed that I am Peter. I hope facebook never stoops that low…besides I didn’t need a cyber-quiz to expose my sinful heart--just the Holy Spirit. I am so thankful that God saw fit to include so many gut-wrenching stories about Peter’s misadventures in His word, as I always relate to his hasty behavior.
It’s in verse 37 that Peter epitomizes the human condition, “Peter said to Him, ‘Lord why can I not follow You now? I will lay down my life for you.’” It is so like us to assume that we know God’s timing and what He wants with us. Peter responded to Jesus’ announcement that He was going where no one could follow, with such honesty and righteousness but also with such ignorance. He believed with all his heart that it was time for Him to follow the Messiah. I am Peter. I run around assuming what work the Lord has set aside for me and I try to tell Him I am ready for Him to be the Lord of my life. And Jesus responds by knowing me better than I know myself…just as He did with Peter. He simply replies, “before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times!”
John 13’s ending sheds light on its beginning for me. Just after washing the disciples’ feet Jesus says, “You call me 'Teacher' and 'Lord,' and rightly so, for that is what I am…I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master.” Teacher, Lord, and Master. These words have little place in my vocabulary…I prefer to call Him: Savior, Friend, Healer. But in that moment with Peter, Jesus defines his Lordship. He knew Peter better than Peter knew Himself. That is my Lord! I take comfort in the fact that my master understands the most isolated depths of my heart and is able to fully satisfy them. He has heard every wavering thought and solved every problem in my mind. To have a master and teacher who lavishes His love and guidance on us and choose to not take advantage of it…sounds crazy…but it’s human. It’s Peter. It’s me. It’s you.
I have realized that my earthly devotion only goes so far. It may have taken me to the foot of the cross but it cannot make a disciple out of me. Peter relied on his own earthly devotion in this exchange with Jesus, and he goes on, in all of his self-sufficiency, to deny his master three times. It is at this point when we stop believing ourselves and what WE know about God and we learn to yield to the Spirit and sacrifice our desire to be our own master.
Jenna Trapasso
March 28
John 12
ten•sion
[ten-shuh n] –noun
1. the act of stretching or straining.
2. the state of being stretched or strained.
3. mental or emotional strain; intense, suppressed suspense, anxiety, or excitement.
4. a strained relationship between individuals, groups, nations, etc.
Have you ever put on a pair of Chinese handcuffs? Chinese handcuffs only work if there is tension. As long as you are trying to pull your hands apart they will keep you bound, but the second that you push your hands to the center, you are free.
When I think of Jesus, I think of perfection. It is rare that I think about his humanness. My mind seems to focus more on His divinity. It is very rare that I ever think about the war that was going on inside of Jesus. It is very common for me to think about the war that is going on inside of myself. What do I mean when I use the word war? I mean the battle that Romans 7:15-21 talks about. The battle of what I want to do verses what God wants me to do. Listen to it in Jesus words from John 12:27-28 "Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say? 'Father, save me from this hour'? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name!" Jesus is like me. Jesus is like you. He has a battle going on. How does He get to the point where He says “NO” to Himself? I think the answer lies just a few verses before when He says: (John 12:24-25 NIV) I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. {25} The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.
What is God calling you to say NO to so you can say YES to Him?
How is God calling you to say NO to your addiction so you can say YES to Him?
How is God calling you to say NO to your body so you can say YES to Him?
How is God calling you to say NO to tension and push towards HIM?
I love God’s response after Jesus chooses correctly: (John 12:28-30 NIV) Father, glorify your name!" Then a voice came from heaven, "I have glorified it, and will glorify it again." {29} The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him. {30} Jesus said, "This voice was for your benefit, not mine.
Father glorify your name through us as we die to ourselves in your community!
Brad Childers
March 28
[ten-shuh n] –noun
1. the act of stretching or straining.
2. the state of being stretched or strained.
3. mental or emotional strain; intense, suppressed suspense, anxiety, or excitement.
4. a strained relationship between individuals, groups, nations, etc.
Have you ever put on a pair of Chinese handcuffs? Chinese handcuffs only work if there is tension. As long as you are trying to pull your hands apart they will keep you bound, but the second that you push your hands to the center, you are free.
When I think of Jesus, I think of perfection. It is rare that I think about his humanness. My mind seems to focus more on His divinity. It is very rare that I ever think about the war that was going on inside of Jesus. It is very common for me to think about the war that is going on inside of myself. What do I mean when I use the word war? I mean the battle that Romans 7:15-21 talks about. The battle of what I want to do verses what God wants me to do. Listen to it in Jesus words from John 12:27-28 "Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say? 'Father, save me from this hour'? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name!" Jesus is like me. Jesus is like you. He has a battle going on. How does He get to the point where He says “NO” to Himself? I think the answer lies just a few verses before when He says: (John 12:24-25 NIV) I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. {25} The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.
What is God calling you to say NO to so you can say YES to Him?
How is God calling you to say NO to your addiction so you can say YES to Him?
How is God calling you to say NO to your body so you can say YES to Him?
How is God calling you to say NO to tension and push towards HIM?
I love God’s response after Jesus chooses correctly: (John 12:28-30 NIV) Father, glorify your name!" Then a voice came from heaven, "I have glorified it, and will glorify it again." {29} The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him. {30} Jesus said, "This voice was for your benefit, not mine.
Father glorify your name through us as we die to ourselves in your community!
Brad Childers
March 28
Friday, March 26, 2010
John 11
My Favorite Verse… in 1965
I remember what the pencil looked like: It had golden lettering and a beautifully perfect red eraser on the top. In bright lettering the side read “God Loves You!”. And all I had to do to get Mrs. Henderson to give me on was to memorize a verse of scripture. Any verse of scripture… so long as someone else hadn’t already chosen it. Unfortunately the easy targets were already gone: John 3:16, Genesis 1:1 and the like.
But I had a secret weapon: John 11:35! It’s right in the middle of the reading for today. After Jesus gets the news of his good friend Lazarus’ illness, he and the disciples head to Bethany. This is no small decision as the opposition to Jesus was definitely at threat level red. Thomas is so worried about the trip that he thinks their heading there to join Lazarus in death.
But Jesus had other plans.
He amazes the world and marks his divinity with a sentence: “Lazarus, come out!” But And the dead man walked out of the tomb.
But that wasn’t the most amazing moment. That comes in John 11:35.
Two little words that show me the heart of Christ.
Two little words that make his humanity real.
Two little words that let me see that he really cares…and still does.
“Jesus wept.”
Think about it: Isn’t it amazing that though Jesus knew he was about to bring his friend back from the dead he still wept. Why not just get on with the healing? Why go through the emotion of weeping when he was about to end the mourning and start the party?
I think those two little words happened because Jesus really did care about the grief Mary and Martha were feeling. He wept because he was touched by the pain of being human and the loss that every death brings. He wept for every friend, mother, brother or child who loses someone dear to them to mortality’s cold grip.
And because of that, they are still two of my favorite words in the New Testament.
Here’s my advice: Memorize them!
Jeff Walling
March 27
I remember what the pencil looked like: It had golden lettering and a beautifully perfect red eraser on the top. In bright lettering the side read “God Loves You!”. And all I had to do to get Mrs. Henderson to give me on was to memorize a verse of scripture. Any verse of scripture… so long as someone else hadn’t already chosen it. Unfortunately the easy targets were already gone: John 3:16, Genesis 1:1 and the like.
But I had a secret weapon: John 11:35! It’s right in the middle of the reading for today. After Jesus gets the news of his good friend Lazarus’ illness, he and the disciples head to Bethany. This is no small decision as the opposition to Jesus was definitely at threat level red. Thomas is so worried about the trip that he thinks their heading there to join Lazarus in death.
But Jesus had other plans.
He amazes the world and marks his divinity with a sentence: “Lazarus, come out!” But And the dead man walked out of the tomb.
But that wasn’t the most amazing moment. That comes in John 11:35.
Two little words that show me the heart of Christ.
Two little words that make his humanity real.
Two little words that let me see that he really cares…and still does.
“Jesus wept.”
Think about it: Isn’t it amazing that though Jesus knew he was about to bring his friend back from the dead he still wept. Why not just get on with the healing? Why go through the emotion of weeping when he was about to end the mourning and start the party?
I think those two little words happened because Jesus really did care about the grief Mary and Martha were feeling. He wept because he was touched by the pain of being human and the loss that every death brings. He wept for every friend, mother, brother or child who loses someone dear to them to mortality’s cold grip.
And because of that, they are still two of my favorite words in the New Testament.
Here’s my advice: Memorize them!
Jeff Walling
March 27
Thursday, March 25, 2010
John 10
John 10: 9-10- I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved.[a] He will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
Have you ever noticed the struggle between what the Bible calls the "flesh" or "sinful nature" and the Spirit of God who lives in the Christ-follower? Have you ever had a callous? That area of skin has become desensitized to heat, cold, and pain because of exposure to the elements. The thief in verse 10 does that--- he tries to expose the Christ-follower to the world and to make him or her conform to what the world has to offer. The thief is clever--- he slips into our home, work, friendships, marriages, churches, and relationships by feeding us the junk food that the world has to offer. The more we take in the world and conform to its "standards", the more desensitized we are to the Holy Spirit and His leading.
Jesus only wants what is good for us for His glory. I Peter 2 says "Beloved, as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul, having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles that when they speak evil against you, they may, by good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation."
Who will we serve in our homes so that Charlotte is changed 1 family at a time? May we serve our Shepherd, Jesus Christ.
Jack Exum
March 26
Have you ever noticed the struggle between what the Bible calls the "flesh" or "sinful nature" and the Spirit of God who lives in the Christ-follower? Have you ever had a callous? That area of skin has become desensitized to heat, cold, and pain because of exposure to the elements. The thief in verse 10 does that--- he tries to expose the Christ-follower to the world and to make him or her conform to what the world has to offer. The thief is clever--- he slips into our home, work, friendships, marriages, churches, and relationships by feeding us the junk food that the world has to offer. The more we take in the world and conform to its "standards", the more desensitized we are to the Holy Spirit and His leading.
Jesus only wants what is good for us for His glory. I Peter 2 says "Beloved, as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul, having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles that when they speak evil against you, they may, by good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation."
Who will we serve in our homes so that Charlotte is changed 1 family at a time? May we serve our Shepherd, Jesus Christ.
Jack Exum
March 26
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
John 9
I Was Blind, But Now I See
The actual miracle Jesus performs to give the blind man sight takes up only 2 of the 41 verses in this story. John spends much more time sharing what happened before and after. While the interplay between the blind man, Jesus, the Pharisees, and even the man’s parents is fascinating, and many have written about it, what challenges me is how Jesus’ disciples view this situation.
Although the blind man doesn’t cry out for Jesus to heal him, Jesus stops, takes compassion on him, and changes his life forever. The disciples, though, show no compassion whatsoever for the man. They don’t plead with Jesus to heal him. They view the man as a theological puzzle, not a hurting outcast who needs their love.
The disciples think this is a golden opportunity to get Jesus’ perspective on an age-old problem – is suffering the result of sin in our lives? The disciples are much like Job’s “friends” – Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar didn’t really seek to comfort Job, nor bring relief for his suffering, but instead tried to convince him he was somehow at fault for the tragedy that had befallen him. They were much more interested in Job as an object lesson than as a person.
I’m afraid I, at times, look at someone in need, or hurting, or poor, and ponder the social ills of our nation, or the welfare system, or what will it take to break the generational poverty cycle. Instead, like Jesus, I need to see each individual, and follow His lead – how can God be glorified and pain alleviated, right here, right now? How can I bring “the light of the world” to shine in someone’s dark life? How can I help this person see that the “works of God might be displayed in him”?
Maybe I, like the Pharisees, am blind after all.
Lee Thrasher
March 25
The actual miracle Jesus performs to give the blind man sight takes up only 2 of the 41 verses in this story. John spends much more time sharing what happened before and after. While the interplay between the blind man, Jesus, the Pharisees, and even the man’s parents is fascinating, and many have written about it, what challenges me is how Jesus’ disciples view this situation.
Although the blind man doesn’t cry out for Jesus to heal him, Jesus stops, takes compassion on him, and changes his life forever. The disciples, though, show no compassion whatsoever for the man. They don’t plead with Jesus to heal him. They view the man as a theological puzzle, not a hurting outcast who needs their love.
The disciples think this is a golden opportunity to get Jesus’ perspective on an age-old problem – is suffering the result of sin in our lives? The disciples are much like Job’s “friends” – Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar didn’t really seek to comfort Job, nor bring relief for his suffering, but instead tried to convince him he was somehow at fault for the tragedy that had befallen him. They were much more interested in Job as an object lesson than as a person.
I’m afraid I, at times, look at someone in need, or hurting, or poor, and ponder the social ills of our nation, or the welfare system, or what will it take to break the generational poverty cycle. Instead, like Jesus, I need to see each individual, and follow His lead – how can God be glorified and pain alleviated, right here, right now? How can I bring “the light of the world” to shine in someone’s dark life? How can I help this person see that the “works of God might be displayed in him”?
Maybe I, like the Pharisees, am blind after all.
Lee Thrasher
March 25
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
John 8
“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” – Jesus
Sunshine! Blue skies! I am ready for spring. How ‘bout you? The gloomy winter days have reminded me of the times when I have tried to head off in my own direction and ended up wandering in the dark.
In John 8 Jesus faced many questions about his testimony, his authority, and his promises. The Pharisees and others seem determined to continue to rely on their limited perceptions and pride in their lineage. They had held the Father at arm’s length for so long that they did not recognize the embodiment of his mercy in the person of his Son. They were stumbling around in the darkness of misplaced judgment and short sighted vision.
There are so many hurting people that have lost their bearings and become afraid in the dark. Following Christ will flood our souls with light! What a mercy it is that He has shown us what true love looks like. The light that Jesus shines on our path can order our steps. As we walk with Him we can reach down and offer a hand to those whose hope is dim. I pray that today we will speak the words of hope and mercy that someone needs to hear.
Kathleen Tatro
March 24
Sunshine! Blue skies! I am ready for spring. How ‘bout you? The gloomy winter days have reminded me of the times when I have tried to head off in my own direction and ended up wandering in the dark.
In John 8 Jesus faced many questions about his testimony, his authority, and his promises. The Pharisees and others seem determined to continue to rely on their limited perceptions and pride in their lineage. They had held the Father at arm’s length for so long that they did not recognize the embodiment of his mercy in the person of his Son. They were stumbling around in the darkness of misplaced judgment and short sighted vision.
There are so many hurting people that have lost their bearings and become afraid in the dark. Following Christ will flood our souls with light! What a mercy it is that He has shown us what true love looks like. The light that Jesus shines on our path can order our steps. As we walk with Him we can reach down and offer a hand to those whose hope is dim. I pray that today we will speak the words of hope and mercy that someone needs to hear.
Kathleen Tatro
March 24
Monday, March 22, 2010
John 7
Home. There’s no place like it!
Not even one verse into today’s reading and already the wheels are turning in my head! Verse one starts out, “after this…” “After what?” I ask… after many of His disciples turned back and no longer followed Him, that’s after what! (John 6:66). What did Jesus do “after this”? He ‘went around in Galilee’. Galilee was ‘home’ territory. There are other verses that help me understand how Jesus must have felt about Galilee: It’s where He performed not only His first miracle (John 2:1-11), but His second as well (John 4:43-54). Most of Jesus’ miracles were performed in and around Galilee. It’s where the 4000 and the 5000 were fed. In fact, Matthew 4:23 tells us that Jesus went throughout Galilee teaching and preaching and healing EVERY disease and sickness among the people!! Galilee is where He called the twelve and they were all Galileans (Acts 1:11) and the women who cared for Him were also Galileans. (Matthew 27:55) Galilee is where Jesus first shared his coming betrayal, death and resurrection with His disciples (Matthew 17:22-23) and it is where He told them to meet Him after His resurrection (Matthew 26:32). All that history in Galilee helps me understand why Jesus would want to go back there “after this”. Every memory from there was not perfect, everything done there was not the way He would have wanted it, He wasn’t accepted by every single person, but it was home. Where do I go when I’m discouraged and lonely? I have my own Galilee….it’s the church that meets at Providence Road. No, not the physical building, but YOU. Jesus had family in Galilee, not just His physical family, (turns out they weren’t always the most supportive anyway)! I have family in the body that meets at Providence Road! Thank you for being here for me so that coming to PR is like coming home and there is no place like it!!
Ok, I got through seven words in chapter 7! I love how every word of Scripture is intentional and full of impact!
Julie Hallman
March 23
Not even one verse into today’s reading and already the wheels are turning in my head! Verse one starts out, “after this…” “After what?” I ask… after many of His disciples turned back and no longer followed Him, that’s after what! (John 6:66). What did Jesus do “after this”? He ‘went around in Galilee’. Galilee was ‘home’ territory. There are other verses that help me understand how Jesus must have felt about Galilee: It’s where He performed not only His first miracle (John 2:1-11), but His second as well (John 4:43-54). Most of Jesus’ miracles were performed in and around Galilee. It’s where the 4000 and the 5000 were fed. In fact, Matthew 4:23 tells us that Jesus went throughout Galilee teaching and preaching and healing EVERY disease and sickness among the people!! Galilee is where He called the twelve and they were all Galileans (Acts 1:11) and the women who cared for Him were also Galileans. (Matthew 27:55) Galilee is where Jesus first shared his coming betrayal, death and resurrection with His disciples (Matthew 17:22-23) and it is where He told them to meet Him after His resurrection (Matthew 26:32). All that history in Galilee helps me understand why Jesus would want to go back there “after this”. Every memory from there was not perfect, everything done there was not the way He would have wanted it, He wasn’t accepted by every single person, but it was home. Where do I go when I’m discouraged and lonely? I have my own Galilee….it’s the church that meets at Providence Road. No, not the physical building, but YOU. Jesus had family in Galilee, not just His physical family, (turns out they weren’t always the most supportive anyway)! I have family in the body that meets at Providence Road! Thank you for being here for me so that coming to PR is like coming home and there is no place like it!!
Ok, I got through seven words in chapter 7! I love how every word of Scripture is intentional and full of impact!
Julie Hallman
March 23
Sunday, March 21, 2010
John 6
"I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty". In his own words, our Lord Jesus Christ is extending us an invitation to believe in Him. "But I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe "John 6:35-36. How hard it is for us to believe in Him."Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood will have eternal life, and I will raise him."John:6:53-54. Brethren and friends, it is about having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, what is all about. It is such an intimate relation that he wants us to have with Him, that he stresses as the importance of being in communion with Him at all times. He wants us to be a part of Him and with Him forever in heaven. Praise Him!
Armando Perdomo
March 22
Armando Perdomo
March 22
Saturday, March 20, 2010
John 5
This is a hard chapter for me because it flies right in my face. Like in the story of the man at the pool I’ve been healed. Jesus has washed my sins away. I’m free. But sometimes I run face to face with Jesus and I’m sinning all over again. Has this ever happened to you?
During this 99 days I’m struggling with believing in Jesus. I’m not doubting the claims of the Gospel, but I’m finding myself too often not fully believing because I’m not doing what Jesus says to do. Sure, I’ve got the big things covered, it’s the small stuff that’s a struggle. You may be able to relate. As of late, I haven’t used my time wisely. No, I’m not doing bad stuff it’s just that Jesus is not getting out of me what I know He deserves. For example, rather than getting in a good work-out at home or at the gym I’m piddling around the house not doing much of anything. I’m thankful for my basketball buddies who encouraged my to play this morning.
In the rest of this chapter Jesus is concerned about our not believing in Him yet believing everything else around us. He plainly says, "I do not accept praise from men, but I know you. I know that you do not have the love of God in your hearts” (John 5:41-42 NIV).
God, today help me to love You and You only. For in loving You I find peace and the true love of all that is good and right. In Jesus name, amen.
Nathan Tillotson
March 21
During this 99 days I’m struggling with believing in Jesus. I’m not doubting the claims of the Gospel, but I’m finding myself too often not fully believing because I’m not doing what Jesus says to do. Sure, I’ve got the big things covered, it’s the small stuff that’s a struggle. You may be able to relate. As of late, I haven’t used my time wisely. No, I’m not doing bad stuff it’s just that Jesus is not getting out of me what I know He deserves. For example, rather than getting in a good work-out at home or at the gym I’m piddling around the house not doing much of anything. I’m thankful for my basketball buddies who encouraged my to play this morning.
In the rest of this chapter Jesus is concerned about our not believing in Him yet believing everything else around us. He plainly says, "I do not accept praise from men, but I know you. I know that you do not have the love of God in your hearts” (John 5:41-42 NIV).
God, today help me to love You and You only. For in loving You I find peace and the true love of all that is good and right. In Jesus name, amen.
Nathan Tillotson
March 21
Friday, March 19, 2010
John 4
AHH “The Woman at the Well” a classic story of treating others well; even if they aren’t the same as you. (I want some of that living water!) In this chapter I never really paid attention to what Paul Harvey would call “the rest of the story”. It tells in verses 39-42 about the Samaritans response to Jesus following his interaction with the woman at the well. It says they asked Jesus to stay with them ---and he did for two days. This was not just a service project so to speak---this was a full blown mission trip! It all started with Jesus meeting the needs of one woman. Then she told people and they told people and in the end many people believed. And that, my friends, is the rest of the story. Hallelujah!!!!
Jim Bales
March 20
Jim Bales
March 20
Thursday, March 18, 2010
John 2-3
I love hiking. There is something so right about being in the woods, isolated from all things complicated. I embrace it…I love losing myself to nature…instead of watching the hours and minutes creep by on an office clock, I watch the sun move across the sky with such conviction. I trade in a previously-timed breakfast, lunch, and dinner for intermittent snacking on trail mix and beef jerky—the timing determined only by my stomach’s desires. My favorite amenity to relinquish, though, is the daily shower. I know there are some readers who just decided I’m a sicko…but I’m hoping there are others of you who will testify to the freedom of not showering. It’s the same wonderful feeling you get as a child when you jump with all your might off of a curb into a puddle and watch as the murky, brown water covers your pants and sometimes face. You don’t know about laundry or stains, or money for that matter, and so you live a little more freely. That is the gift of lightness. Not showering gives me that gift, wrapped loosely with no bows.
I would have been John the Baptist’s number one fan. I would have started a club and we would’ve followed J.B. like groupies. We would’ve worn matching camel’s hair clothes and we would’ve roasted locusts over the camp fire and then drizzled them with wild honey [Matthew 3]. It sounds like the perfect dose of lightness. J.B. wasn’t Captain Cool and he wasn’t on anybody’s plan [except God’s]. He was the poster child for self-expression…he knew about non-conformity long before gothic teenagers. I love that the Lord chose to send John the Baptist, an unkempt, less-than-impressive mountain man, to prepare the way for His son—the savior.
I guess if you’ve spent even a little bit of time reading the gospels you already know that God doesn’t care about appearance…and while I think God intentionally selected John the Baptist’s attire as he walked through the woods exclaiming his position as the “one who comes before the Christ,” I think it was J.B.’s heart that God was really putting on display.
How was John the Baptist so grounded? He was ordained to be the guy that paves the way for the Messiah and yet he was so quick to declare his own unimportance. His followers came to him expressing concern about the nerve of Jesus to start a baptism contest across the Jordan river and John the Baptist served them up a warm slice of humble pie, “A man can receive only what is given him from heaven.” He was so sure of His role in the big picture because he recognized that the only reason he had a role at all was because of God’s grace and sovereignty. I treasure humility like that of John the Baptist…it is so refreshing. He continues to explain to his disciples that, “The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom's voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete. He must become greater; I must become less.”
And we must take a lesson from John the Baptist.
Jenna Trapasso
March 19
I would have been John the Baptist’s number one fan. I would have started a club and we would’ve followed J.B. like groupies. We would’ve worn matching camel’s hair clothes and we would’ve roasted locusts over the camp fire and then drizzled them with wild honey [Matthew 3]. It sounds like the perfect dose of lightness. J.B. wasn’t Captain Cool and he wasn’t on anybody’s plan [except God’s]. He was the poster child for self-expression…he knew about non-conformity long before gothic teenagers. I love that the Lord chose to send John the Baptist, an unkempt, less-than-impressive mountain man, to prepare the way for His son—the savior.
I guess if you’ve spent even a little bit of time reading the gospels you already know that God doesn’t care about appearance…and while I think God intentionally selected John the Baptist’s attire as he walked through the woods exclaiming his position as the “one who comes before the Christ,” I think it was J.B.’s heart that God was really putting on display.
How was John the Baptist so grounded? He was ordained to be the guy that paves the way for the Messiah and yet he was so quick to declare his own unimportance. His followers came to him expressing concern about the nerve of Jesus to start a baptism contest across the Jordan river and John the Baptist served them up a warm slice of humble pie, “A man can receive only what is given him from heaven.” He was so sure of His role in the big picture because he recognized that the only reason he had a role at all was because of God’s grace and sovereignty. I treasure humility like that of John the Baptist…it is so refreshing. He continues to explain to his disciples that, “The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom's voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete. He must become greater; I must become less.”
And we must take a lesson from John the Baptist.
Jenna Trapasso
March 19
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
John 1
What time is it?
What time do I have to be there?
How much time do I have left?
Can you believe how much time that took?
How can I save time?
How old are you?
How much time do you have left…..
Everything I do is in the context of time. It is the most valuable resource I have. I believe it is one of SATAN’S greatest tools to use against me. “If time is all I have,” Satan whispers in my ear, “then maximize it to get the most of what YOU want now.” “When your time is up, the game is over.” Life becomes a game like catch phrase with the timer ticking. The timer starts off really slow and gradually increases. With every second your pulse quickens, the stress heightens, and then the buzzer blows…… what a pressure cooker!
When I read the first five verses of John chapter 1, I realize that I need to see life in the context of GOD’S time – not Satan’s. God is not father time. He is the creator of time. In fact he was before time and will be after time ends. Life is about joining God on His mission, not creating our own and selfishly maxing it out till the buzzer blows. Life is meant to lived like…… well how Jesus did it. He was born and time started. He lived for God’s PURPOSE not His own and now lives with Him forever. Can’t measure forever in time…..
What context are you living time in? Yours or God’s?
If you want to find out your PURPOSE in God’s will, read Rick Warren’s book Purpose Driven Life to find out what is NEXT for you.
Brad Childers
March 18
What time do I have to be there?
How much time do I have left?
Can you believe how much time that took?
How can I save time?
How old are you?
How much time do you have left…..
Everything I do is in the context of time. It is the most valuable resource I have. I believe it is one of SATAN’S greatest tools to use against me. “If time is all I have,” Satan whispers in my ear, “then maximize it to get the most of what YOU want now.” “When your time is up, the game is over.” Life becomes a game like catch phrase with the timer ticking. The timer starts off really slow and gradually increases. With every second your pulse quickens, the stress heightens, and then the buzzer blows…… what a pressure cooker!
When I read the first five verses of John chapter 1, I realize that I need to see life in the context of GOD’S time – not Satan’s. God is not father time. He is the creator of time. In fact he was before time and will be after time ends. Life is about joining God on His mission, not creating our own and selfishly maxing it out till the buzzer blows. Life is meant to lived like…… well how Jesus did it. He was born and time started. He lived for God’s PURPOSE not His own and now lives with Him forever. Can’t measure forever in time…..
What context are you living time in? Yours or God’s?
If you want to find out your PURPOSE in God’s will, read Rick Warren’s book Purpose Driven Life to find out what is NEXT for you.
Brad Childers
March 18
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Luke 23-24
Two Men on Either Side of the Cross
Dr. Luke doesn’t miss details. He wants us to see the picture on Golgotha in all its horror, honesty and hope. And while he puts the spotlight squarely on Jesus, did you notice the two others held up beside him? The two thieves. We’re all familiar with the three crosses on the hill. But if you dismiss the two men beside Jesus as wicked twins who only act as contrasts to the holiness of the Lamb of God, you miss something I think Luke would have us see.
We don’t know their names, but early Christian writers called the thief on Christ’s right Dismas and the one on his left Gestas. While they are often spoken of as “the thieves”, the two men on either side of the cross are really very different. They are as different as heaven and hell. As different as lost and saved. In fact there may be no more important difference in the world than this: Which side of the cross are you on?
The first of the thieves to speak, Gestas, “hurls insults” at Jesus. Not a strange thing for a person in pain to do. People injured and in shock are likely to take it out on anyone nearby. Loving wives, while giving birth, have been known to cuss out their shocked husbands. But this guy’s insults aren’t random: They’re personal. He challenges Christ’s divinity. He dares Jesus to do something about their situation. He is an angry mocker who speaks the thoughts of an unbelieving world with spit and venom. Gestas has no trouble calling Jesus out and few there would have disagreed with his rant.
But at least one person one did: The other thief.
Dismas was on the other side of Jesus… in every way. He reaches past the unbelievable pain he was enduring and blocks the mocking words from Gestas. He defends Christ as having done “nothing wrong” and rebukes Gestas for his attitude. It is the perfect picture of the person who sees who Jesus really is. And he knows that being this close to the Son of God at the moment of one’s death is a privilege that should not be wasted. He asks for help and mercy and its no surprise when he gets it.
What do you want to hear at the moment of your death? “This day you will be with me in Paradise” sounds pretty good to me.
And we can hear those words from a loving Savior… as long as we are on the right side of the cross.
May God increase your faith today and may we all be ready to hear words of welcome because we have claimed the grace of the Christ on the cross.
Easter is coming… have you invited someone to come hear His story?
Jeff Walling
March 17
Dr. Luke doesn’t miss details. He wants us to see the picture on Golgotha in all its horror, honesty and hope. And while he puts the spotlight squarely on Jesus, did you notice the two others held up beside him? The two thieves. We’re all familiar with the three crosses on the hill. But if you dismiss the two men beside Jesus as wicked twins who only act as contrasts to the holiness of the Lamb of God, you miss something I think Luke would have us see.
We don’t know their names, but early Christian writers called the thief on Christ’s right Dismas and the one on his left Gestas. While they are often spoken of as “the thieves”, the two men on either side of the cross are really very different. They are as different as heaven and hell. As different as lost and saved. In fact there may be no more important difference in the world than this: Which side of the cross are you on?
The first of the thieves to speak, Gestas, “hurls insults” at Jesus. Not a strange thing for a person in pain to do. People injured and in shock are likely to take it out on anyone nearby. Loving wives, while giving birth, have been known to cuss out their shocked husbands. But this guy’s insults aren’t random: They’re personal. He challenges Christ’s divinity. He dares Jesus to do something about their situation. He is an angry mocker who speaks the thoughts of an unbelieving world with spit and venom. Gestas has no trouble calling Jesus out and few there would have disagreed with his rant.
But at least one person one did: The other thief.
Dismas was on the other side of Jesus… in every way. He reaches past the unbelievable pain he was enduring and blocks the mocking words from Gestas. He defends Christ as having done “nothing wrong” and rebukes Gestas for his attitude. It is the perfect picture of the person who sees who Jesus really is. And he knows that being this close to the Son of God at the moment of one’s death is a privilege that should not be wasted. He asks for help and mercy and its no surprise when he gets it.
What do you want to hear at the moment of your death? “This day you will be with me in Paradise” sounds pretty good to me.
And we can hear those words from a loving Savior… as long as we are on the right side of the cross.
May God increase your faith today and may we all be ready to hear words of welcome because we have claimed the grace of the Christ on the cross.
Easter is coming… have you invited someone to come hear His story?
Jeff Walling
March 17
Monday, March 15, 2010
Luke 21-22
The Widow's Gift
My section of Scripture for today is Luke 21-22. I want to focus on chapter 21, verses 1-4. In these verses it says, "As he looked up, Jesus saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. "I tell you the truth," he said, "this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on." At the end of each year, I do an equity worksheet to determine our finances "Net Worth". Some years it grows, some years it shrinks, but each year, my family has been blessed. We have more than most on the Earth! You are probably like us in that matter. Read again what Jesus said about the widow- "She gave out of her POVERTY... all she had to live on." One commentary says that "all she had to live on" was equivalent to 5 minutes of a normal day's wages. That is equal to $2 to live on if a "normal day's wages" was $50,000! and she gave it. Who does she trust? Who is her hope, refuge and shepherd and provider? I will bet that she had a close walk with God and we know from this Scripture that He took a personal interest in her!
Jesus is comparing her to the Pharisees and Scribes who tithed everything they had, but were filled with pride and did not trust God to provide as Jehovah-Jireh. From these verses, we should:
- Be generous and look for opportunities to privately have a giving spirit toward others
- Seek 1st God's kingdom and His righteous
- Not worry about things- trust God to provide for our needs
- Not set our heart on riches nor trust in them
- Tithe because of what God has done for us through Jesus (not out of obligation)
May He bless you today as you seek Him and love others!
Jack Exum
March 16
My section of Scripture for today is Luke 21-22. I want to focus on chapter 21, verses 1-4. In these verses it says, "As he looked up, Jesus saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. "I tell you the truth," he said, "this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on." At the end of each year, I do an equity worksheet to determine our finances "Net Worth". Some years it grows, some years it shrinks, but each year, my family has been blessed. We have more than most on the Earth! You are probably like us in that matter. Read again what Jesus said about the widow- "She gave out of her POVERTY... all she had to live on." One commentary says that "all she had to live on" was equivalent to 5 minutes of a normal day's wages. That is equal to $2 to live on if a "normal day's wages" was $50,000! and she gave it. Who does she trust? Who is her hope, refuge and shepherd and provider? I will bet that she had a close walk with God and we know from this Scripture that He took a personal interest in her!
Jesus is comparing her to the Pharisees and Scribes who tithed everything they had, but were filled with pride and did not trust God to provide as Jehovah-Jireh. From these verses, we should:
- Be generous and look for opportunities to privately have a giving spirit toward others
- Seek 1st God's kingdom and His righteous
- Not worry about things- trust God to provide for our needs
- Not set our heart on riches nor trust in them
- Tithe because of what God has done for us through Jesus (not out of obligation)
May He bless you today as you seek Him and love others!
Jack Exum
March 16
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Luke 19-20
A Wee Little Man
The story of Jesus and Zacchaeus makes for a fun VBS song. But his story is really our story.
You know that Zacchaeus was a chief tax collector, and he got rich by extorting taxes from his fellow Jews on behalf of Rome. He was hated as a traitor to his people.
But in spite of how the people around him looked at him, felt about him, treated him, he had the courage to go out into the crowd, risking his neck to catch a glimpse of the Rabbi he’d heard about who ate with tax-collectors and sinners. Had he heard from Levi, a fellow tax-collector, this Galilean carpenter might really be the Messiah? And if, on the remote chance He was, was it even thinkable that He could care about a despised and rejected outcast such as Zacchaeus? Or would Jesus just walk right on by, roll His eyes and smirk in his direction, knowing Zacchaeus was the kingpin of the Jericho tax cartel, an abomination to his people?
We, too, are up a tree. We, too, know deep down inside we aren’t good enough to warrant a passing glance from God. We’ve failed, miserably, repeatedly. We’ve said we’d do better, and then we come up with creative ways to embarrass ourselves. We sink to new lows. Even if we could attract God’s attention, why would He give us a second thought? He, like everyone else around us, would shudder if our true nature was exposed.
But God does indeed know us, and He’s not surprised at the kind of person we are. Our sins don’t catch Him off guard. He doesn’t say, “well, if I’d only known you had done that sort of thing, I certainly wouldn’t have wasted My time with you.”
Instead, Jesus wants to come into our house and enjoy time with us. With us! And, like Zacchaeus, it is necessary for Jesus to slow down and pay attention. Because that is His mission – bringing hope to the hopeless, seeking and saving we who are very, very mis-placed without Him. He doesn’t ignore us, speed up and act like we aren’t there, and hope He doesn’t have to alter His agenda to deal with the likes of us - because we are His agenda! And, like Zacchaeus, we are forever changed, our priorities re-arranged by an encounter with the living Son of God.
Lee Thrasher
March 15
The story of Jesus and Zacchaeus makes for a fun VBS song. But his story is really our story.
You know that Zacchaeus was a chief tax collector, and he got rich by extorting taxes from his fellow Jews on behalf of Rome. He was hated as a traitor to his people.
But in spite of how the people around him looked at him, felt about him, treated him, he had the courage to go out into the crowd, risking his neck to catch a glimpse of the Rabbi he’d heard about who ate with tax-collectors and sinners. Had he heard from Levi, a fellow tax-collector, this Galilean carpenter might really be the Messiah? And if, on the remote chance He was, was it even thinkable that He could care about a despised and rejected outcast such as Zacchaeus? Or would Jesus just walk right on by, roll His eyes and smirk in his direction, knowing Zacchaeus was the kingpin of the Jericho tax cartel, an abomination to his people?
We, too, are up a tree. We, too, know deep down inside we aren’t good enough to warrant a passing glance from God. We’ve failed, miserably, repeatedly. We’ve said we’d do better, and then we come up with creative ways to embarrass ourselves. We sink to new lows. Even if we could attract God’s attention, why would He give us a second thought? He, like everyone else around us, would shudder if our true nature was exposed.
But God does indeed know us, and He’s not surprised at the kind of person we are. Our sins don’t catch Him off guard. He doesn’t say, “well, if I’d only known you had done that sort of thing, I certainly wouldn’t have wasted My time with you.”
Instead, Jesus wants to come into our house and enjoy time with us. With us! And, like Zacchaeus, it is necessary for Jesus to slow down and pay attention. Because that is His mission – bringing hope to the hopeless, seeking and saving we who are very, very mis-placed without Him. He doesn’t ignore us, speed up and act like we aren’t there, and hope He doesn’t have to alter His agenda to deal with the likes of us - because we are His agenda! And, like Zacchaeus, we are forever changed, our priorities re-arranged by an encounter with the living Son of God.
Lee Thrasher
March 15
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Luke 16-18
Thankfulness opens a door to our hearts in a way that nothing else does. Have you ever noticed that it is easier to give thanks when we are humble? Humility is not popular. Our society seems to value boldness and self-sufficiency. When I am humble, I have a deep sense of the majesty of God and of my utter dependence on Him. It is in this frame of mind that I can best experience grace.
A life lived in grace became a reality for us when we put on Christ in baptism. Through the blood of our Savior we live and breathe grace. I don’t know about you, but sometimes I lose sight of this reality.
Jesus longed for us to live in such a way that grace would be a palatable experience. In Luke, Jesus uses several character sketches to illustrate the attitudes that can harden our hearts and keep us from tasting grace. He also gave us glimpses of those who walked in the light.
As I read about the rich man who was steeped in regret and longed to warn his brothers, I remember the times that I ignored the Spirit prompting me to speak.
I long to be the one leper who returned to offer praises and give thanks. I am embarrassed by the busy times that I went off with the other nine lepers and took for granted the blessings that I had received.
I cringe to think that I have ever compared my path to that of others without begging for mercy as the tax collector did.
I rejoice that Jesus welcomes me as He would a little child.
Above all, for today, my heart will echo the blind beggar, “Lord, I want to see!”
Kathleen Tatro
March 14
A life lived in grace became a reality for us when we put on Christ in baptism. Through the blood of our Savior we live and breathe grace. I don’t know about you, but sometimes I lose sight of this reality.
Jesus longed for us to live in such a way that grace would be a palatable experience. In Luke, Jesus uses several character sketches to illustrate the attitudes that can harden our hearts and keep us from tasting grace. He also gave us glimpses of those who walked in the light.
As I read about the rich man who was steeped in regret and longed to warn his brothers, I remember the times that I ignored the Spirit prompting me to speak.
I long to be the one leper who returned to offer praises and give thanks. I am embarrassed by the busy times that I went off with the other nine lepers and took for granted the blessings that I had received.
I cringe to think that I have ever compared my path to that of others without begging for mercy as the tax collector did.
I rejoice that Jesus welcomes me as He would a little child.
Above all, for today, my heart will echo the blind beggar, “Lord, I want to see!”
Kathleen Tatro
March 14
Friday, March 12, 2010
Luke 13-15
Wow, when the first words I encounter in today’s reading are the heading, “Repent or Perish”, I know I’m in for an interesting read! I find myself feeling such a range of emotions as I read today’s text. Anger at the way the Pharisees consistently tried to trick and trap my Lord, fear at how easily some I love are content to miss the door Jesus has opened for us, amazement at how connected the spiritual and physical are in the life of the crippled woman, sadness and admiration for the love Jesus feels for the very ones trying to kill Him. Then Luke shares some of Jesus’ amazing parables. Jesus emphasizes the attitudes and actions of two camps: Things Lost: lost coin, lost sheep, lost son. Things found: UNRIVALED love, a cross to carry, forgiveness. Jesus explains to us the cost of following Him…and the cost of not following. While the cost of following is high, don’t miss that each of the parables discussing those who find Jesus end in amazing joy: Rejoicing by angels, rejoicing in heaven, and rejoicing by our Father!
Julie Hallman
March 13
Julie Hallman
March 13
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Luke 11-12
Jesus Christ, our Lord, gave us the example in how to pray. In the book of Luke, Chapter 11 he starts by saying, 1) "Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come." Accepting the sovereignty of God, 2) "Give us each day our daily bread, " Giving thanks to Him at all times 3) Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us" Confessing how short of the glory of God we are, " And lead us not into temptation". and finally, supplicating Him to protect us from the evil one," The Lord says to us to be in continuous prayer, helping us, through His Spirit, who dwells in our hearts, to be transformed and be more like Jesus.
Our God wants us to be like his son, Jesus Christ our Lord, and not like the Pharisees and teachers of the law. It is not about how much we know but how much we practice the word and teachings of God. In Chapter 11, verse 42, the Lords woes the Pharisees, "Woe to the Pharisees, because you give God a tenth of your mint, rue and all other kind of garden herbs, but you neglect justice and love of God. You should have practiced the latter without leaving the former undone". Sometimes we might be like the Pharisees or do we really want to please God in everything that we do and say?
Our Lord continues on His teachings, by warning us in Luke 12:15, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kind of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions". He wants us to be more like Him, caring, loving and fully focused on the unseen, the spiritual life, than the things of his creation.
"Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourself that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where our treasure is, there your heart is also" words of Jesus in Luke 12:32-34.
What a great way to pray, asking God to forgive us for hoarding what has no eternal value and guiding us daily to a life filed with His Spirit.
Armando Perdomo
March 12
Our God wants us to be like his son, Jesus Christ our Lord, and not like the Pharisees and teachers of the law. It is not about how much we know but how much we practice the word and teachings of God. In Chapter 11, verse 42, the Lords woes the Pharisees, "Woe to the Pharisees, because you give God a tenth of your mint, rue and all other kind of garden herbs, but you neglect justice and love of God. You should have practiced the latter without leaving the former undone". Sometimes we might be like the Pharisees or do we really want to please God in everything that we do and say?
Our Lord continues on His teachings, by warning us in Luke 12:15, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kind of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions". He wants us to be more like Him, caring, loving and fully focused on the unseen, the spiritual life, than the things of his creation.
"Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourself that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where our treasure is, there your heart is also" words of Jesus in Luke 12:32-34.
What a great way to pray, asking God to forgive us for hoarding what has no eternal value and guiding us daily to a life filed with His Spirit.
Armando Perdomo
March 12
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Luke 9-10
One of the hard things about reading scripture is seeing past the chapters and subtitles found before stories and segments. This makes it difficult to see how stories fit together to teach broader themes. In Luke 10 we find two classic stories: the story of the person who acted “neighborly” and Jesus at the home of Mary and Martha. Together these two teach us concurring themes in Luke of going and doing as well as sitting and listening.
There are moments in life when we must act, perform some good deed or serve someone or persons in a special way. And yet there are other times, like the one your experiencing now by reading scripture, when we must stop, sit and listen to One who teaches us how to live. You guessed it! One of these is a L2 way of life and the other L1.
As you live today may God supply you with wisdom to know when to act and when to sit and listen.
Nathan Tillotson
March 11
There are moments in life when we must act, perform some good deed or serve someone or persons in a special way. And yet there are other times, like the one your experiencing now by reading scripture, when we must stop, sit and listen to One who teaches us how to live. You guessed it! One of these is a L2 way of life and the other L1.
As you live today may God supply you with wisdom to know when to act and when to sit and listen.
Nathan Tillotson
March 11
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Luke 7-8
So here’s what I learned in seminary about the book of Luke. Three things. First, the authors of this book and the book of Matthew both used the book of Mark as part of their source materials. He wasn’t there with Jesus so he had to rely on other “accounts.” That would explain why my reading today matches very closely with DAY 4 and DAY 14 that I already wrote about. So, go look there again for some witty comments! Second, the book of Luke is part one of a two-part mini series written to Theophilus. Who knows what part two is? If you said Acts—you are a winner! Too bad they didn’t make a movie of it!! Three, Theophilus is a man...or is he?!? This word is translated “one who loves God” and it could be that Luke is writing in general to any Christian reading his mini-series... Hmmmmm! That’s about all the seminary smarts I can share with you at this time. Hope you enjoyed it.
Now, my favorite one-liner from Jesus in today’s reading. Just imagine the scenario of the crowds all crushing in on Jesus trying to see him and hear him and be healed by him. Everyone wanted a piece of him. Instead of being overwhelmed and frustrated Jesus chose to have a sense of humor about it. Understatement of the day, “Who touched me?” 8:46.
Jim Bales
March 10
Now, my favorite one-liner from Jesus in today’s reading. Just imagine the scenario of the crowds all crushing in on Jesus trying to see him and hear him and be healed by him. Everyone wanted a piece of him. Instead of being overwhelmed and frustrated Jesus chose to have a sense of humor about it. Understatement of the day, “Who touched me?” 8:46.
Jim Bales
March 10
Monday, March 8, 2010
Luke 5-6
I’m such a sucker for excitement and thrill. I love surprises and adrenaline. I even kind of like being scared because the feeling of nervous anticipation closely resembles that of excitement. I love the feeling I get when the waitress is finally heading towards my table after I’ve been eyeing her every time she rounds the corner to make an analysis of the food on her platter to see if it might be mine. I love the imposing sound of the lion roaring in the movie theater revealing that the movie is about to begin. I’m rereading this and realizing I sound like a freak but I’m telling it like it is: I love to be excited!
Ok, with that admission in mind let me confess that I was a bit bummed when I realized that this week I’d be blogging the same section of Jesus’ life for the THIRD time. So selfish, I know. Another thing I love is clarity and it became clear to me that God wanted me to read and re-read and re-re-read the beginning of Jesus' ministry. I'm not sure yet, but I have a feeling I have one more re-read coming my way when I get to John.
I felt convicted about feeling bored with God's word that He tells us is living and active and sharp [Hebrews 12] and once again I bowed my shameful head and my hollow heart to God and asked for newness and a fresh perspective on the scripture...and He didn't give it to me but what He gave to me was better.
I read in Luke 5 that "Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed" and then in Luke 6 "One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God." My first reaction was to wonder why Jesus, the son of our almighty God, had to be lonely? I was kind of sad for Him...speculating that the burden of ministering to countless lost souls was so much that Jesus had to be alone to deal with all of it...and then God graciously offered me contentment. He didn't give me an exciting, earth-shattering revelation about the scripture. He gave me contentment and the realization that Jesus CHOSE the time alone with His Father.
I am humbled by God's word and Jesus' wisdom -- I feel so small and self-absorbed as I sit here in front of this computer screen attempting to even describe the fullness of God. Jesus went to lonely places to be with God but He wasn't alone...He was in the presence of the One who makes life have purpose. It just plopped it into perspective for me. There was no point to Jesus' life on Earth if He wasn't praying to do only what God sent Him to do. His prayers weren't for the purpose of equipping Him to do God's work. His prayers were the work.
Our prayers shouldn't be dependent upon where God has placed us or what we're currently going through. No matter what we should continually offer up prayers to Him. And He promises, "Whatever you ask in My name, that I will do . . ." [John 14:13]. Yet we refuse to pray unless it thrills or excites us, which is the most intense form of spiritual selfishness.
Oswald Chambers put it like this, "There is nothing thrilling about a laboring person’s work, but it is the laboring person who makes the ideas of the genius possible. And it is the laboring saint who makes the ideas of his Master possible. When you labor at prayer, from God’s perspective there are always results. What an astonishment it will be to see, once the veil is finally lifted, all the souls that have been reaped by you, simply because you have been in the habit of taking your orders from Jesus Christ."
Jenna Trapasso
March 9
Ok, with that admission in mind let me confess that I was a bit bummed when I realized that this week I’d be blogging the same section of Jesus’ life for the THIRD time. So selfish, I know. Another thing I love is clarity and it became clear to me that God wanted me to read and re-read and re-re-read the beginning of Jesus' ministry. I'm not sure yet, but I have a feeling I have one more re-read coming my way when I get to John.
I felt convicted about feeling bored with God's word that He tells us is living and active and sharp [Hebrews 12] and once again I bowed my shameful head and my hollow heart to God and asked for newness and a fresh perspective on the scripture...and He didn't give it to me but what He gave to me was better.
I read in Luke 5 that "Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed" and then in Luke 6 "One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God." My first reaction was to wonder why Jesus, the son of our almighty God, had to be lonely? I was kind of sad for Him...speculating that the burden of ministering to countless lost souls was so much that Jesus had to be alone to deal with all of it...and then God graciously offered me contentment. He didn't give me an exciting, earth-shattering revelation about the scripture. He gave me contentment and the realization that Jesus CHOSE the time alone with His Father.
I am humbled by God's word and Jesus' wisdom -- I feel so small and self-absorbed as I sit here in front of this computer screen attempting to even describe the fullness of God. Jesus went to lonely places to be with God but He wasn't alone...He was in the presence of the One who makes life have purpose. It just plopped it into perspective for me. There was no point to Jesus' life on Earth if He wasn't praying to do only what God sent Him to do. His prayers weren't for the purpose of equipping Him to do God's work. His prayers were the work.
Our prayers shouldn't be dependent upon where God has placed us or what we're currently going through. No matter what we should continually offer up prayers to Him. And He promises, "Whatever you ask in My name, that I will do . . ." [John 14:13]. Yet we refuse to pray unless it thrills or excites us, which is the most intense form of spiritual selfishness.
Oswald Chambers put it like this, "There is nothing thrilling about a laboring person’s work, but it is the laboring person who makes the ideas of the genius possible. And it is the laboring saint who makes the ideas of his Master possible. When you labor at prayer, from God’s perspective there are always results. What an astonishment it will be to see, once the veil is finally lifted, all the souls that have been reaped by you, simply because you have been in the habit of taking your orders from Jesus Christ."
Jenna Trapasso
March 9
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Luke 3-4
Tiger Woods…..
The world is in need of a new role model. Can I get an amen?
I was listening on the radio yesterday about how to feed you children vegetables. The first thing the lady said was that you (the parent) had better be eating your vegetables. Isn’t that a great truth, we must model what we want others to do.
Luke 3:21-22 says, “When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened {22} and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: "You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased."”
Jesus, our model, was baptized. Why did Jesus, the spotless lamb, get baptized? Matthew 3:15 NIV says, “ Jesus replied, "Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness." Then John consented.” Jesus was fulfilling the law so that the perfect God-man could take the place of us all. Jesus wanted to model what we, man, were supposed to do.
Jesus goes on to model a few things for us in his temptation in Luke 4. The first is man does not live on bread alone. At the end of Jesus forty days in the desert he was hungry. Jesus, our model, tells us not to be led by our belly or our desires. Mark 4:19 says, “the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful.” Jesus refutes Satan with scripture: 'Man does not live on bread alone.' Jesus is referred to in scripture as being both the word of God and the bread of life. Let us all feast on Jesus, His word, and his example. Then, let us be the countercultural example for those who look up to us…. and the world.
Brad Childers
March 8
The world is in need of a new role model. Can I get an amen?
I was listening on the radio yesterday about how to feed you children vegetables. The first thing the lady said was that you (the parent) had better be eating your vegetables. Isn’t that a great truth, we must model what we want others to do.
Luke 3:21-22 says, “When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened {22} and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: "You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased."”
Jesus, our model, was baptized. Why did Jesus, the spotless lamb, get baptized? Matthew 3:15 NIV says, “ Jesus replied, "Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness." Then John consented.” Jesus was fulfilling the law so that the perfect God-man could take the place of us all. Jesus wanted to model what we, man, were supposed to do.
Jesus goes on to model a few things for us in his temptation in Luke 4. The first is man does not live on bread alone. At the end of Jesus forty days in the desert he was hungry. Jesus, our model, tells us not to be led by our belly or our desires. Mark 4:19 says, “the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful.” Jesus refutes Satan with scripture: 'Man does not live on bread alone.' Jesus is referred to in scripture as being both the word of God and the bread of life. Let us all feast on Jesus, His word, and his example. Then, let us be the countercultural example for those who look up to us…. and the world.
Brad Childers
March 8
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Luke 1-2
The Sound of Silence
That’s how Luke begins his telling of Christ’s story. It starts with a 400 year silence that was about to be broken. God’s people had not heard form a prophet in four centuries. Not since Malachi had promised that a great leader would come had they heard a word from the Lord. And now that silence would at last be broken.
And they were ready! Herod, who the detail-driven Dr. Luke names as “king of Judea”, was a scoundrel. We think he’d had ten wives and history says at least one he had executed for no apparent reason. He was known as a godless, selfish man who was above the law. He ruled a puppet kingdom and feared anyone taking it from him. Remember Matthew’s story of his attempt to kill Christ? It was indeed a dark and silent time in Israel when the light of hope had all but been extinguished by wicked rulers and Roman occupation. Where was the voice of God?
Silence.
So in this silence we meet the first prophet in Luke’s gospel: Zechariah. It’s no wonder that when this old priest, who would become John the Baptist’s father, heard that promise from the angel Gabriel that he was a touch skeptical. “How can I be sure this will happen?” Gabriel’s response tells me he didn’t get asked for his ID very often. And so he gives Zechariah a sign he wouldn’t soon forget: He could speak a word until his baby was born. He was condemned to 9 months of…
Silence.
I can relate. If God struck me with silence, I wouldn’t know what to do. (My wife and son might rejoice…) But I’d sure have a lot of time to remember that when God makes a promise, even when he is silent for a time, I must not doubt him. God’s silence is often the prelude to the healing or hopeful words I need. And when they come, I need to be ready to trust and obey. And rejoice, just like the second prophet in Luke’s story, Simeon. This old man had been waiting through the silent dark years. Waiting for God to speak again, and yet speak as he had never before. His words always make me smile. Here’s this old, faithful man who finally gets to see Jesus. And then he’s ready to go be with God because…
The silence was over.
"Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace.
For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel."
Luke 2:29-32
May we listen for God’s voice this week so that I may be ready to trust and follow what he has NEXT for me!
That’s how Luke begins his telling of Christ’s story. It starts with a 400 year silence that was about to be broken. God’s people had not heard form a prophet in four centuries. Not since Malachi had promised that a great leader would come had they heard a word from the Lord. And now that silence would at last be broken.
And they were ready! Herod, who the detail-driven Dr. Luke names as “king of Judea”, was a scoundrel. We think he’d had ten wives and history says at least one he had executed for no apparent reason. He was known as a godless, selfish man who was above the law. He ruled a puppet kingdom and feared anyone taking it from him. Remember Matthew’s story of his attempt to kill Christ? It was indeed a dark and silent time in Israel when the light of hope had all but been extinguished by wicked rulers and Roman occupation. Where was the voice of God?
Silence.
So in this silence we meet the first prophet in Luke’s gospel: Zechariah. It’s no wonder that when this old priest, who would become John the Baptist’s father, heard that promise from the angel Gabriel that he was a touch skeptical. “How can I be sure this will happen?” Gabriel’s response tells me he didn’t get asked for his ID very often. And so he gives Zechariah a sign he wouldn’t soon forget: He could speak a word until his baby was born. He was condemned to 9 months of…
Silence.
I can relate. If God struck me with silence, I wouldn’t know what to do. (My wife and son might rejoice…) But I’d sure have a lot of time to remember that when God makes a promise, even when he is silent for a time, I must not doubt him. God’s silence is often the prelude to the healing or hopeful words I need. And when they come, I need to be ready to trust and obey. And rejoice, just like the second prophet in Luke’s story, Simeon. This old man had been waiting through the silent dark years. Waiting for God to speak again, and yet speak as he had never before. His words always make me smile. Here’s this old, faithful man who finally gets to see Jesus. And then he’s ready to go be with God because…
The silence was over.
"Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace.
For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel."
Luke 2:29-32
May we listen for God’s voice this week so that I may be ready to trust and follow what he has NEXT for me!
Friday, March 5, 2010
Mark 15-16
These chapters describe the trail, crucifixion, burial and resurrection of Jesus. One verse that catches my eye is this one as Pilate is trying to get Jesus freed: "Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. He had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified." (Mark 15:15) I used to think peer pressure was something that only younger people had to deal with, but I was wrong. All of us in every age deal with it.
- Am I a God-pleaser or a people-pleaser?
- Am I more concerned with what others think or with what God thinks?
- Am I proud to be a Christ-follower or am I shy about it?
Pilate knew the right thing to do, but he did what he knew the crowd wanted him to do... who will I be today? A God-pleaser or a man-pleaser? What about you?
Jack Exum
March 6
- Am I a God-pleaser or a people-pleaser?
- Am I more concerned with what others think or with what God thinks?
- Am I proud to be a Christ-follower or am I shy about it?
Pilate knew the right thing to do, but he did what he knew the crowd wanted him to do... who will I be today? A God-pleaser or a man-pleaser? What about you?
Jack Exum
March 6
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Mark 14
Jesus is sometimes depicted as a mild-mannered religious teacher who was hardly a threat to anyone (except for that atypical outburst in the temple with the moneychangers). He was an illegitimate, uneducated child of a laborer, growing up on the wrong side of the tracks. He had no social or political power - who would ever feel threatened by Him?
Apparently, the religious leaders who plotted his demise were. On the eve of His crucifixion, a “crowd” went with Judas to arrest Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. Who was in this crowd, whose sole purpose was to arrest Jesus?
John tells us (John 18:3, 12) that a Roman cohort was part of the crowd. A cohort is 600 men – a Roman battalion - easily 20% of the soldiers under Pontius Pilate’s command. Can you imagine 600 of the best trained soldiers in the world showing up at your front door to arrest you? They were led by a commander, a chiliarch – a man over a thousand troops - one of Pilate’s top military aides.
Those enlisted by the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders were also in the crowd. These are three distinct sections of Jewish religious leaders. The chief priests came from the tribe of Levi, and were the beneficiaries of all the perks of being a priest at the temple. The scribes were the lawyers, highly educated, entrusted with preserving the Law. The elders were the community judges, drawn from among the common folks. These three never got along – except apparently when it came to eliminating Jesus, who threatened their power over the people.
John tells us (I know, this is about Mark’s account, but it helps to see the composite picture) that this crowd “drew back and fell to the ground” when He announced He was the one they sought (John 18:6). A mere man, confronted by 600+ tough men ready to do him harm, causes them to fall down in fear? Fear of what?
Of the Holy Son of God. Of the Creator of the Universe, in the flesh. Of the One who could call “twelve legions of angels” to His side in a nanosecond (BTW, a legion is 6000, so Jesus could be surrounded by 72,000 angels instantly. One angel killed 185,000 in one night in 2 Kings 19:35 – a rather formidable army was available to do His bidding).
Let us never forget that while we serve the Lamb of God, He is also the Lion of Judah. And as C.S. Lewis put it, “He is not a tame lion”.
Lee Thrasher
March 5
Apparently, the religious leaders who plotted his demise were. On the eve of His crucifixion, a “crowd” went with Judas to arrest Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. Who was in this crowd, whose sole purpose was to arrest Jesus?
John tells us (John 18:3, 12) that a Roman cohort was part of the crowd. A cohort is 600 men – a Roman battalion - easily 20% of the soldiers under Pontius Pilate’s command. Can you imagine 600 of the best trained soldiers in the world showing up at your front door to arrest you? They were led by a commander, a chiliarch – a man over a thousand troops - one of Pilate’s top military aides.
Those enlisted by the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders were also in the crowd. These are three distinct sections of Jewish religious leaders. The chief priests came from the tribe of Levi, and were the beneficiaries of all the perks of being a priest at the temple. The scribes were the lawyers, highly educated, entrusted with preserving the Law. The elders were the community judges, drawn from among the common folks. These three never got along – except apparently when it came to eliminating Jesus, who threatened their power over the people.
John tells us (I know, this is about Mark’s account, but it helps to see the composite picture) that this crowd “drew back and fell to the ground” when He announced He was the one they sought (John 18:6). A mere man, confronted by 600+ tough men ready to do him harm, causes them to fall down in fear? Fear of what?
Of the Holy Son of God. Of the Creator of the Universe, in the flesh. Of the One who could call “twelve legions of angels” to His side in a nanosecond (BTW, a legion is 6000, so Jesus could be surrounded by 72,000 angels instantly. One angel killed 185,000 in one night in 2 Kings 19:35 – a rather formidable army was available to do His bidding).
Let us never forget that while we serve the Lamb of God, He is also the Lion of Judah. And as C.S. Lewis put it, “He is not a tame lion”.
Lee Thrasher
March 5
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Mark 12-13
The view from our front porches is often limited. If we were able to stand on the roof of our homes and look out through telescopes, the view would be vastly different. The twelfth and thirteenth chapters of Mark remind me of the dichotomy in which God has called us to live.
In chapter twelve Jesus answers some questions about common, “front porch” topics including taxes, marriage, priorities, and giving sacrificially. The gentle wisdom of Christ explains that our daily lives should be guided by the ultimate priorities of loving God and loving others. (L1 and L2 – Haven’t we heard that somewhere before?!) It is when we allow this type of holy love to flow out of our hearts, that we are able to step off of the porch and live fruitful lives.
In chapter thirteen Jesus gives us a view through our telescopes at the chaos that will ensue before His second coming. Jesus urges us to keep watch and to look forward to the day that He will return.
Our Lord understands that most of the time we are prone to focus on what we can see from our own front porch. He encourages us to use His Word as a telescope through which we can renew our vision of the glory that is to come.
Kathleen Tatro
March 4
In chapter twelve Jesus answers some questions about common, “front porch” topics including taxes, marriage, priorities, and giving sacrificially. The gentle wisdom of Christ explains that our daily lives should be guided by the ultimate priorities of loving God and loving others. (L1 and L2 – Haven’t we heard that somewhere before?!) It is when we allow this type of holy love to flow out of our hearts, that we are able to step off of the porch and live fruitful lives.
In chapter thirteen Jesus gives us a view through our telescopes at the chaos that will ensue before His second coming. Jesus urges us to keep watch and to look forward to the day that He will return.
Our Lord understands that most of the time we are prone to focus on what we can see from our own front porch. He encourages us to use His Word as a telescope through which we can renew our vision of the glory that is to come.
Kathleen Tatro
March 4
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Mark 10-11
It’s hard to choose where to focus in Mark 10-11. Many things in these two chapters touch my heart in a huge way; Jesus’ question to the rich young ruler, for example. “Why do you call me good?” “No one is good except God alone.” I want to cry out, “but wait Jesus, YOU ARE GOD!” What was He saying? As I look at the life Jesus lived in His time on this earth I come to the conclusion that he was the perfect personification of Good. Hmm…personification of Good…Jesus was God in a body… Maybe Jesus was trying to get the rich young ruler to see, truly see to whom he was speaking. He wasn’t just speaking to some person who did good things; he was speaking to Goodness in the flesh! I don’t know very much about the origin of words, but I think it’s interesting that “good” and “God” are only one letter apart, two “O’s” instead of one. It’s almost like when I add an extra letter for emphasis or exclamation, like “Ooh!” or “Hmm”. God equals Goodness, Goodness equals God. The two are inseparable. And not one of us can claim either title for himself; they equally and only belong to the Father!
I’m learning to speak Creole, se tre difisil pou mwen (it is very difficult for me!). In a recent lesson I learned something interesting about the Creole word for “God”. The word is “Bondye”. “Bon” means good. “Dye” comes from the French “Dieu” and means God. Haitians never separate the two. When they mention the name of God it is always Bondye: Good God!!! “Dye” is almost never used alone. That’s something for us to remember when things happen that we don’t understand; things like earthquakes in already impoverished countries, or new struggles for someone already struggling mightily. God and His Goodness cannot be separated. He just doesn’t DO GOOD, He IS GOOD!
Julie Hallman
March 3
I’m learning to speak Creole, se tre difisil pou mwen (it is very difficult for me!). In a recent lesson I learned something interesting about the Creole word for “God”. The word is “Bondye”. “Bon” means good. “Dye” comes from the French “Dieu” and means God. Haitians never separate the two. When they mention the name of God it is always Bondye: Good God!!! “Dye” is almost never used alone. That’s something for us to remember when things happen that we don’t understand; things like earthquakes in already impoverished countries, or new struggles for someone already struggling mightily. God and His Goodness cannot be separated. He just doesn’t DO GOOD, He IS GOOD!
Julie Hallman
March 3
Monday, March 1, 2010
Mark 8-9
Sometimes in life we are so concerned about the things of the creation that we leave the Creator behind. When he fed the 4,000, the disciples had seven loaves of bread. Jesus prayed and the loaves of bread were enough to feed the 4,000 and there were seven basketfuls of broken pieces left over.
Once the disciples went away they forgot to bring the bread and Jesus took the opportunity to teach them about believing in Him, Jesus, the bread of life. He reminded them of what he did feeding the 5,000 and the 4,000 but still they could not understand that Jesus was God himself and the Creator of heaven & earth.
In their way to Capernaum, Jesus asked the disciples: "What were you arguing about on the road? But they kept quiet because of the way they had argued about who was the greatest". Jesus again took the opportunity to teach them and told them: "If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all". Let us give praise to our God. It is all about Him and not us. Jesus is the example to follow. He himself is the Creator and the one to honor in everything we do or say. Praise Him!
Armando Perdomo
March 2
Once the disciples went away they forgot to bring the bread and Jesus took the opportunity to teach them about believing in Him, Jesus, the bread of life. He reminded them of what he did feeding the 5,000 and the 4,000 but still they could not understand that Jesus was God himself and the Creator of heaven & earth.
In their way to Capernaum, Jesus asked the disciples: "What were you arguing about on the road? But they kept quiet because of the way they had argued about who was the greatest". Jesus again took the opportunity to teach them and told them: "If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all". Let us give praise to our God. It is all about Him and not us. Jesus is the example to follow. He himself is the Creator and the one to honor in everything we do or say. Praise Him!
Armando Perdomo
March 2
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