Come Alone

A moment away.  A place where there are no distractions.  A secluded spot to think and concentrate.

Envision all that as Jesus says in Mark 6:31, "Come with Me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest."  NIV

A time with Jesus for Him to speak into our lives.  What do we want to hear?  Surely, we want to know He is with us.  He sees all and cares deeply about us.  We desire to know He heard our cry and will rescue us.

All those things are true but often we don't hear it because we haven't taken time to come to the quiet place alone with Him.  Strive each day for those times with the One who loves us most.

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Exposure Comes

Would we ever deliberately place a lamp under a bowl or under a bed?  What would be the purpose of doing such a thing?  What good is it under a bowl or bed? If we want to read under our bed, it might be helpful.  Who would do that?

Using that illustration Jesus wants to teach us something valuable in Mark 4:21-22, "Do you bring in a lamp to put it under a bowl or a bed? Instead, don't you put it on its stand? For whatever is hidden is meant to be disclosed, and whatever is concealed is meant to be brought out into the open." NIV

The light illuminates those things that are hidden in the darkness.  It's purpose is to bring expose. Indeed, Jesus told us that He was the Light of the world.  He wants to expose all things hidden and concealed with His love and His truth.  His desire is to rid our lives of those things that rob us of loving and serving Him fully.

What are we doing with our lamp?  Are we letting Him reveal to us those things that ensnare us to the hurts of this world or are we allowing Him to open us up to healing in Him?  The Lord loves His children enough to expose all those hidden things.  Let's do that sooner than later, ok?

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Put It Away

Simple words but difficult to live by.  Jesus tells us in Mark 5:36, "Don't be afraid; just believe." NIV

How do we do it?  We need to realize where fear comes.  It's not from the Lord.  It's from the enemy who wants to steal, kill, and destroy us.  We need to be honest about how we are feeling before the Lord.

Satan doesn't want us to believe in the One who has great and wonderful plans for our lives.  If he can trap us into believing the Lord doesn't truly care about us,  then we can stay in fear and not live in faith and belief.

Father, help us to put away all fear.  May we cast it on You and believe what You say about us.  Our life has value and worth, and You have a plan for us.  Thank You.  Amen.

What's It About?

Our society promotes self.  It's all about me.  What's best for me?  How could do we look?  What can we get?

Jesus promoted something entirely different. In Mark 8:34 He said, "If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me." NIV

We're instructed to deny ourselves.  We're to take up Jesus' cross.  We're to follow Jesus.  It's not about me, but about Jesus.  

What are we doing daily to follow Jesus?  Does our words, actions, and thoughts honor and glorify Him or self?

Father, help our lives to be all about You.  Amen.

What are You Considering?

Mark 4:24-25 gives us this warning, "Consider carefully what you hear," He (Jesus) continued, "With the measure you use, it will be measured to you--and even more. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him." NIV

What is the question to consider here?  There are quite a few that come to mind.  How much have we been given?  What are we doing with what we have been given? Are we trustworthy with what we have been given?  Do we even understand what we have been given?  

What have you heard? Does it line up with God's Word?  How do we measure what we hear?

May we carefully consider today.

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Watch and Pray

We are reminded in Matthew 26:41 that the way to avoid temptation is to actually be aware of it. Jesus was talking to the disciples He took to the Garden of Gethsemane with Him.  However, the warning is still for us today.  

"Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.  The spirit is willing, but the body is weak." NIV  

When trials and hurts come our way, it's natural to jump in with our responses.  When we're quick to respond, we can often say things we regret.  Once they're said, the damage is done. We can apologize but we can never undo what we said.  We need to be aware of our weaknesses, and we need to pray.

Let's not get caught up in the intensity and emotions of the minute that we don't stop and take a minute to pray before we speak.  Our body is weak, but the spirit that is willing gains strength to obey when one watches and prays.  

Are we aware what causes us to stumble and fall?  We must be honest and know our weaknesses and then depend on the Lord to overcome and take the route of escape that is always provided in times of temptation.

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Caught...

"But when they persisted in asking Him, He straightened up, and said to them, 'He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.' " John 8:7; NASB

The only one able to cast the first stone at the woman caught in the act of adultery, was Jesus. However, instead, He speaks compassion into her life and tells her to sin no more. He didn't ask any questions.  He made no accusation. He cast no condemnation onto her. He instead was loving, kind, patient, gracious, merciful, gentle, and filled with self-control in dealing with her.

How do we respond to those caught in the very act of sin?  

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Resurrection Sunday!

I wish to let all your readers know that I wish you all a very Happy Resurrection Sunday!

My thoughts are on the reality that the One that we love and serve isn't dead.  He conquored the death and the grave and is risen!  We have a hope for a life beyond this one because of the resurrection of Jesus.  We serve a living Savior!

May that truth sink in completely today with all the things we do this day!

Good News

How do we describe the one who helped us understand the salvation that was provided for us through Jesus Christ?  Do we understand all that took place at that moment when we transferred our trust to Him? Do we praise the Lord for the person or people He used in our lives to bring us the truth?

Paul wrote his description of those that share the gospel like this in Romans 10:15, "...it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!" KJV

May we praise You Lord for those You brought into our lives to preach the gospel to us.  May we be bearers of that good news as well.

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The Cross Means What?

It doesn't make any sense.  Isn't there a better way? How can that be the way?

1 Corithians 1:18 says that, "For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God." KJV  The Lord knows all things.  Sees all things.  He loved us enough to not want us to remain in our sinful state forever.  He desires relationship with us.

The cross doesn't make sense to those who haven't put their trust in not only the crucifixion of Jesus but the resurrected Lord.  It seems foolish to the heart absent of God's Spirit, but for those of us who are saved, the cross represents the power to overcome the destruction of sin in our lives.

Which are we?  Does the cross represent foolishness or wisdom?

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Are You Ready?

Over and over people give a testimony of the difference another person made in their coming to the Lord. People watch the lives of others. Some people call it "judging", but those without Christ are looking for a hope. They watch the lives of others going through difficult times, and they are curious as to "how" someone go through it.

1 Peter 3;15 says, "Be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear." KJV  If people aren't asking about our life, then we need to wonder if we are reflecting Jesus to a lost world.  If people are asking, then we can be assured that the Lord wants us to be ready at all times to tell others the difference He is making in our lives.  

Father, help me to always be ready to share the difference You have made in my heart and life.  Amen.

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Submission No Matter What?

Do we really trust the Lord?  Are we willing to submit no matter what it might mean?  

This is the week we remember the ultimate act of submission by the Son of God.  Was it easy? Matthew 26:39 gives us a glance into the struggle the human part of Jesus had with His upcoming death.  It says, "Going a little farther, He fell with His face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from Me.  Yet not as I will, but as You will." NIV

How willing would we submit to the Lord if we knew what our future held for us?  Would we choose submission if we knew it held deep suffering? If we're only a little hesitant, it reveals our lack of confidence that the Lord wants the best for us.  Do we believe the Lord is good "all the time" when we are going through difficult times?

Father, help our unbelief as we're human and frail.  We fail You, but you will never fail us. Amen.

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Ready to Go Yet?

How long does it take to get ready to go out?  Some can do it quickly, and others have to have lots of time of preparation to leave.

Matthew 24:44 says, "You also must be ready because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect Him." NIV  

We don't know when.  All we know is that we are told to be ready to go when He comes.  

Do we know what to do to prepare for His coming for us?  Certainly we need to be found faithful in all He has called us to do.  Are we ready right now if He comes?  Hopefully we are!

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Serving Others

It's only natural.  We come into this world being the center of attention to the parents who have been blessed to be entrusted with our lives.  After learning to say "mommy" and "daddy", the word "me" is not that further behind in our vocabulary.

Matthew 23:11-12 says, "The greatest among you will be your servant.  For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted." NIV The flesh cries out for attention, and for some with those outgoing personalities, humility is even more difficult. 

However, with the strength and power of the Holy Spirit working in each one of us, it's possible to put others before us and to serve them.  No matter whether we are shy or outgoing, the Lord wants us to be humble.  In His time and way, He always exalts the humble.

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