Throwing Off

October 31, 2008

There he was, a blind man on the side of the road. He has heard about Jesus, this man who heals people. But being blind he can not go to Jesus. He does not want to be a burden, to beg for what he needs. He wants to see so he can work. He hears now that Jesus will be passing by and he gets excited. He hears the crowds and tries to cry out to Jesus, but the people around him try to shut him up. Jesus stops and calls him. Then, the moment of truth, what does he do?

Mark 10:50 Common
50 And throwing aside his garment, he rose and came to Jesus.


He threw aside the garment. The garment was a cloak that he wore to identify him as a beggar. All beggars had to wear them. As long as he wore it, it identified him as a beggar. He threw it off, nothing was going to get in his way to get his sight.

We all want something in our life that needs to come from God. In order to get it, what do you need to throw away?

Read through the Bible in historical order
Today

Matthew 19:1-30, Mark 10:1-52

Tomorrow

Matthew 20:1-21:46 KJV
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Mad at the one

October 30, 2008


Luke 17:11-16 ISV
11 One day, Jesus was traveling along the border between Samaria and Galilee on the way to Jerusalem.
12 As he was going into a village, ten lepers met him. They stood at a distance
13 and shouted, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!”

14 When he saw them, he told them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” While they were going, they were made clean.
15 But one of them, when he saw that he was healed, came back and praised God with a loud voice.
16 He fell on his face at Jesus’ feet and thanked him. Now the man was a Samaritan.



This story always kind of bothered me. Here is Jesus healing the people and then getting mad at them for going to do what He asked them to do. In Old Testament law, any type of skin disease was considered leprosy, so it was a common disease. But the people were still considered outcast and could not be near normal people because others could get it. So the priest would act like a doctor, examine where the disease was and then determine if the person was healed. This was to be accompanied by a sacrifice, some of which the priest kept. So what Jesus was asking them to do was normal. It was, in fact, Jewish law. When he told them to fulfill the law like a good Jewish person did, 9 kept going, 1 came back. Wasn't the one guilty of not doing what Jesus asked him to do. Get mad at the one who was breaking the law.

Jesus however had a different agenda then I do. While it was quite clear that He came from the kingly line of David, He is also our high priest. And the one who came back realized that if Jesus had the power to heal, then Jesus was his priest as well. The priest would talk to God for the people, and so it is with us. We are to bring our prayers to Jesus who as a high priest will bring them to God for us. When we pray, we do it in Jesus, our high priests name.

Take some time to meditate on the dual nature of Jesus today, He is our King and our High Priest. What exactly does that mean?

Read through the Bible in historical order
Today

Luke 17:11-18:14

Tomorrow

Matthew 19:1-30, Mark 10:1-52
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The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few... or the one

October 29, 2008

[Spock, having saved the ship, is dying]
Kirk: Spock.
Spock: Ship... out of danger?
Kirk: Yes.
Spock: Don't grieve, Admiral. It is logical. The needs of the many outweigh...
Kirk: ...the needs of the few.
Spock: ...Or the one. I never took the Kobayashi Maru test until now. What do you think of my solution?
Kirk: Spock...
Spock: I have been and always shall be your friend.
[Holds up his hand in the Vulcan salute]
Spock: Live long and prosper.

So says Spock in what I consider (but some may argue) was the best of the Star Trek movie series, Star Trek 2:The Wrath of Kahn. In it, Kahn has destroyed the Enterprise and the only hope is for someone to sacrifice themselves to get the reactor under control. Kirk forbids anyone to do it but Spock does it anyway. And in this touching ending scene Spock dies.

The sentiment is Biblical, but not in the same way.

John 11:50 BBE
50 You do not see that it is in your interest for one man to be put to death for the people, so that all the nation may not come to destruction.

Caiaphas is speaking here. Jesus has just raised Lazarus from the dead. Some unbelieving Jews have reported to the priest council that this is going on and that Jesus is gaining popularity among the Jews. So Caiaphas speaks what seems to be a logical thing. The needs of the many (the Jewish race that will destroyed if Rome sees this happening) outweighs the needs of the few (the council) or the one (Jesus).

It really does sound noble doesn't it? Jesus will die so that the people will live. And in a way, Caiaphas was prophetic. Jesus would die so that all would live, just not in the same way. Look behind the words though.

Why did Jesus have to die. Jesus was becoming so popular that they feared the Rome would notice and sell an army to quell the rebellion. They would loose their authority. It was not the many that they were really concerned about, it was the few, themselves. If you remember, Jesus stood in front of Pilate about a week later and Pilate said that he could find no fault in Jesus. Rome was happy with Jesus. He told the people to give to Ceasar what belongs to Ceasar.

When you start to rationalize things, do you look at what God needs, or what you need? Do not be like Caiaphas. Look at the picture the way that God does.

Read through the Bible in historical order
Today

John 11:1-57

Tomorrow

Luke 17:11-18:14
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To forgive?

October 28, 2008

Forgiveness. It is a word that strikes a bit of fear in people. They make themselves vulnerable if they ask for it, and also if they give it. To ask for it means that you did something wrong. Now, I may not have learned much from my dad, but I did learn one thing. If you make a mistake, admit it and move on. Though I learned it, it took years to bring it into practice.

On the other hand, forgiving someone else. That gets hard. What did Jesus say about forgiveness?

Luke 17:3-4 LO
3 Take heed yourselves: if your brother trespass against you, rebuke him; and if he reforms, forgive him;
4 and if he trespass against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day return, saying, I repent, you shall forgive him.


The word trespass here is offense. It is something that someone does to you that offends you. In today's world, I do not think that any one of us can go through any day without being offended. All I have to do is turn on the TV to one of the cable news channels and listen long enough. Someone will say something that I do not agree with and I will be offended. Here is when the words of the Bible come into play. We are to rebuke that person. We are to tell the person that they have offended us. Now it obviously isn't an admonishment when I talk to the politician on the TV, he can not hear me. But it is an admonition if I talk to the person next to me and tell them what they did bothers me. It could be a spouse, a child, a parent, or a friend. It does not tell you to get in there face and yell them down, it just says to tell them.

Next comes the trick part, we are to forgive them! Forgive, to lay aside, omit, those are hard things to do. Part of me wants to hold on to that sin of the other. Maybe as a weapon to be used against them later, maybe as a protection so that I will not be hurt again. But Gos is not in that, we are to forgive, even up to seven times in one day. Seven in the Bible is a number of completion, it is a a sign that things are finished. You need to let go of that offence and leave it to God.

Now that does not mean you will not remember it, you will. I have a scar from an operation a few years ago. If I had picked at it like most people do an offense against them, it would have become infected and been worse. But I let it heal and it did not. Like the scar healing I have to leave the offense against me alone and take no action. Now my scars are small and I do not notice them at all unless I see them in a mirror. Do I still have them, yes! Do I let them run my life? No. Like wise when I forgive someone, I have to let it go so that it does not infect me.

Forgiveness, pass it on.

Read through the Bible in historical order
Today

Luke 16:1-17:10

Tomorrow

John 11:1-57
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Father I wish you were dead!

October 27, 2008


Father I wish you were dead!

Now those words are not in the Bible, but the sentiment is. We so often will skip past the opening verse of the story of the prodigal son that we ignore what the son was saying to his dad. We feel that it is just a setup for the rest of the verses.

Luke 15:11-12 WEB
11 He said, "“A certain man had two sons.
12 The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of your property.’ He divided his livelihood between them.


Now stop and think about this for a moment. The young man wants what is going to come to him. This is called an inheritance. When do you get an inheritance? Do you get it before the person dies? This man wants want what he is going to get when his dad dies. He is really saying to him, 'dad, I cannot wait for you to die, give me your money now.'

Now, I know how I would feel as a dad if one of my kids said that to me. But God is different. He, represented by the elderly man saidOK, here it is. You all know the rest of the story, if not look at Luke 15 for it.

The point to look at here is that God can give us what we want, and when we get it we can turn away from Him. I know this firsthand. I am a prodigal son. I ran from God and ruined a lot of good people's lives in the process. I said God I am tired of you giving me just enough to get by on, I want happiness. And I ran away from Him. Guess what? I came to my senses later. I said, God take me back, please. And He did.

If you just happened on these words today, it was not an accident. God wants you back. Like the father, he is looking for you every day. Return to Him and He will welcome you with open arms.

Read through the Bible in historical order
Today

Luke 14:1-15:32

Tomorrow

Luke 16:1-17:10
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Am I fertalizier?

October 26, 2008

While God wants us to be harvesters, know that not all people will be saved. Some people will continue to hear the word but ignore it and they will not produce the fruit in their lives. Look at this parable that Jesus teaches:


Luke 13:6-9 DRC
6 He spoke also this parable: A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it, and found none.
7 And he said to the dresser of the vineyard: Behold, for these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find none. Cut it done therefore: whycumbereth it the ground?
8 But he answering, said to him: Lord, let it alone this year also, until I dig about it, and dung it.
9 And if happily it bear fruit: but if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.


God plants some people where they can hear the word. It is up to them to take the nourishment that He provides and follow Him. At one point, God will turn to the Holy Spirit and say, waste no more time on that person. The Holy Spirit will say, let me try one more time, I know from the people praying for him that he needs this salvation. If it does not work, they we will remove him from the garden.

You may know some people that are on the edge. God may have given up on them but prayers are still being made. So the Holy Spirit fertilizes him and tries to get the growth.

Will all grow. No, but a second chance is given. If you see someone near the edge and God prompts you to witness to them, do not be scared to do it. You may be the fertilizer that person needs.

Read through the Bible in historical order
Today

Luke 12:1-13:35

Tomorrow
Luke 14:1-15:32

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Lord of the harvest, burn your fire in me

October 25, 2008


We all have friends and loved ones that we want to come to know God, right? How do you pray for them? Do you pray that they will leave their ways to become a Christian, or do you pray that they will have someone cross their path to tell them about Jesus? Which is scriptural?

Luke 10:2 Montgomery
2 And he thus addressed them. "The harvest is abundant, but the harvesters are few. do you therefore pray the lord of the harvest to send forth harvesters into his harvest.


There are a lot of people out there that need to know Jesus. Jesus tells us that we need to pray that the harvest is there but there are not enough workers. In Biblical times, when it was time for the harvest, if there were not enough people then the person overseeing the harvest would go to the lord of the harvest to get enough workers to do the job. Jesus is the Lord of the Harvest. He tells us to pray that there will be enough people to work the harvest.

There is one thing to notice here. If we all pray for there to be enough harvesters, and no one does the harvest, then we will reap nothing. There will be times in your prayers for others that you will be asked to witness to others. The man who went to the lord of the harvest was also one who did the harvest as well. Likewise, when we pray to Jesus for more workers, we must be prepared to become ones that help in the harvest as well.

Read through the Bible in historical order
Today

Luke 10:1-11:54, John 10:22-42

Tomorrow
Luke 10:1-11:54

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Who sinned?

October 24, 2008


John 9:1-5 (GodsWord)
1 As Jesus walked along, he saw a man who had been born blind.
2 His disciples asked him, "Rabbi, why was this man born blind? Did he or his parents sin?"
3 Jesus answered, "Neither this man nor his parents sinned. Instead, he was born blind so that God could show what he can do for him.
4 We must do what the one who sent me wants us to do while it is day. The night when no one can do anything is coming.
5 As long as I'm in the world, I'm light for the world."

I have seen people use this verse to back up what they believe. That being that evil things can come from God. The people asked who sinned so that this man was born blind. Jesus replies that neither did but it happened so that God could heal him. We have made to say that God put it on the man. A few days ago we read that Jesus said a house divided can not stand. If this is so, isn't God and/or Jesus dividing a house. How can the Father and the Son be working to inflict the blindness and then to remove it.

There are any numbers of reasons why this blindness happened. I do not know the man, his family, or the history of either. I do know that Jesus later says to the people:

John 10:10(GodsWord)
10 A thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy. But I came so that my sheep will have life and so that they will have everything they need.


Satan is the thief. He would be the one who took the sight of the man. Why Satan could do it is debatable, but he is the one who did it. Why? Because the Jesus I know came to give me what I need. He does not necessarily give us what we want, but what we need. If there is problems in your life it may be time to see what is going on with your relationship with Satan. Then get rid of it and move on to the relationship with God.

Not all problems come as a result of sin, but a whole lot of them do.

Read through the Bible in historical order
Today

John 9:1-10:21

Tomorrow
Luke 10:1-11:54, John 10:22-42

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GOD'S WORD ® is a copyrighted work of God's Word to the Nations.
Quotations are used by permission.

He said volumes with saying a single word

October 23, 2008


John 8:1-11 GNB
(1) [Then everyone went home, but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.
(2) Early the next morning he went back to the Temple. All the people gathered around him, and he sat down and began to teach them.

No matter where he went Jesus taught the people. Some people do not like to be taught. Others cannot understand and want to run away. Jesus taught. If we listen to Him we will learn lessons.

(3) The teachers of the Law and the Pharisees brought in a woman who had been caught committing adultery, and they made her stand before them all.
(4) "Teacher," they said to Jesus, "this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery.
(5) In our Law Moses commanded that such a woman must be stoned to death. Now, what do you say?"

There were many sins that were worthy of stoning. Why did they pick this one. Well, if Jesus said to stone her then He was advocating that they should break Roman law and they could turn Him over to Rome for a trial. If He did not advocate the stoning, then He was breaking God's law and was not from God. What to do?

And yet, it is amazing that they knew the law so well yet did not follow it. Not only was the woman to be stoned, but the man was to be as well. Where was the man? If she was caught committing the sin, there must have been someone else she was doing it with. Where was he?


(6) They said this to trap Jesus, so that they could accuse him. But he bent over and wrote on the ground with his finger.
(7) As they stood there asking him questions, he straightened up and said to them, "Whichever one of you has committed no sin may throw the first stone at her."
(8) Then he bent over again and wrote on the ground.

What was He writing. Did it speak volumes for Him when He did not say a word. My thoughts are He wrote all the sins of the people there, some worthy of stoning as well. Whatever it was, it was powerful.

(9) When they heard this, they all left, one by one, the older ones first. Jesus was left alone, with the woman still standing there.
(10) He straightened up and said to her, "Where are they? Is there no one left to condemn you?"
(11) "No one, sir," she answered. "Well, then," Jesus said, "I do not condemn you either. Go, but do not sin again."]

As we talked about yesterday, forgiveness comes from God. The people could not forgive, but Jesus showed them He did. When forgiveness is received from God, it is good that you do not go and do the same sin.

Read through the Bible in historical order
Today

John 7:1-8:59

Tomorrow

John 9:1-10:21
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70 X 7

October 22, 2008

As I said the other day, Jesus' teachings are hard.

Matthew 18:21-22 GNB
(21) Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, if my brother keeps on sinning against me, how many times do I have to forgive him? Seven times?"
(22) "No, not seven times," answered Jesus, "but seventy times seven,


I so often have a hard time forgiving people who have done me wrong just one time. So what does it mean to forgive them anyway? The Greek, according toStrong's, means to send. This is not just to say that I accept your apology and then have anger towards you. It means, when we forgive someone, we send that hurt away from us.

This is not an easy thing to do. When we hurt, we want to sit in our pain and make the other person hurt. But if we can not send their sin to us away, can God send our sin to Him away?

Read through the Bible in historical order
Today

Matthew 18:1-35

Tomorrow

John 7:1-8:59
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I think to myself, what a wonderful world

October 21, 2008

Jesus taught some really hard things.

Mark 9:33-35 GNB
(33) They came to Capernaum, and after going indoors Jesus asked his disciples, "What were you arguing about on the road?"
(34) But they would not answer him, because on the road they had been arguing among themselves about who was the greatest.
(35) Jesus sat down, called the twelve disciples, and said to them, "Whoever wants to be first must place himself last of all and be the servant of all."


Such a hard teaching, but why? Our flesh does not like it, that is why. We want our needs met. But think about a life where all were a servant to others.

Think of a marriage like that. A married couple would do for each other what would make the other happy, both getting their needs met as they meet the needs of the other one.

Think of a church like that. No one person has to do many things in the church or get burn out because all are helping where there ability matters most.

Think of a business like that. Customers get what they need as do workers and bosses. Everyone can afford to live at the wage they are earning.

So if it is so great a world idea, why don't we do it? Oh yeah, the flesh. Pesky thing isn't it.

Read through the Bible in historical order
Today

Matthew 17:1-27, Mark 9:1-5, Luke 9:28-62

Tomorrow

Matthew 18:1-35
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Who do you say that I am? Answer real quick if you can.

October 20, 2008

There is a question that we all need to answer. As Christians we supposedly have answered it. But there are many people who profess to be Christians that avoid it. Jesus asked it of Peter:


Luke 9:18-20 GNB
(18) One day when Jesus was praying alone, the disciples came to him. "Who do the crowds say I am?" he asked them.
(19) "Some say that you are John the Baptist," they answered. "Others say that you are Elijah, while others say that one of the prophets of long ago has come back to life."
(20) "What about you?" he asked them. "Who do you say I am?" Peter answered, "You are God's Messiah."



C. S. Lewis, yes, the one who wrote the Narnia series, said that everyone has to decide at one time if Jesus was a liar, a lunatic or if He was Lord. That is a question that you will have to decide also. If you are not a Christian, you have to look at it and say why would people follow a mad man or a liar. If you are a Christian, you have to decide if you are going to call Him Lord or not. In not doing so you now run your own life with all its faults. Personally I have made enough of a mess of my own life.

Read through the Bible in historical order
Today

Matthew 16:1-28, Mark 8:1-38, Luke 9:18-27

Tomorrow

Matthew 17:1-27, Mark 9:1-5, Luke 9:28-62

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Tea or coke?

October 19, 2008

Matthew 15:17-20 ALT
(17) "Do you* not yet understand that every [thing] entering into the mouth goes into the stomach and is cast out into a latrine?
(18) "But the [things] coming out from the mouth come out from the heart, and these [things] defile the person.
(19) "For from the heart come out evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, sexual sins, thefts, false testimonies, blasphemies:
(20) these are the [things] defiling the person, but to eat with ritually unwashed hands does not defile the person."



My dad was an interesting character. I have talked about here a few times. He had grown up having been taught that if you you could not sin if you did not have full control of the will. This teaching was introduced into his church to allow for people who were mentally challenged to not have to fully understand the teaching of the church to have salvation. If you are not in your right mind how can you sin?

This teaching however let him off the hook in his sin. See, he drank a lot. And if he sinned when he was drunk then obviously he was not a fault as he did not have full control of his will. It does not matter that he was the one that drank, he was off the hook. Of course I grew up believing that was true as well. Except that I did not drink. So my way of excusing myself was that if you pushed my buttons, and I got mad, then it was not me sinning, I was not in full control of my will.

Jesus shows us that the idea does not wash out for us. We have control over what comes out of us. It does not matter if it is anger or booze, we have the control.

Years ago, when I was a baby Christian, a pastor told me that, 'when you put a tea bag into hot water, you do not get Coca-Cola'. What he was trying to say was tea bags when under pressure produce tea, not something else. When under pressure, like someone getting angry at me, I should produce the fruits of the spirit in me, not anger and then an excuse. If I produce anger, then what was in me in the first place.

Jesus tells us today that what comes out of us, if it is normal or under pressure, is what defines us not only to others, but to Him as well.

When the pressure is on you, what comes out?

Read through the Bible in historical order
Today

Matthew 15:1-39, Mark 7:1-37

Tomorrow

Matthew 16:1-28, Mark 8:1-38, Luke 9:18-27

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Sorry this is so late.

From Parable to real life

October 18, 2008

The other day we looked at the parable that Jesus told about the sower and the seeds. Jesus made a point of telling us that there were many different types of grounds that the seeds could fall on. Today we see living proof of these types of ground.

John 6 (KJV)
65 And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.
66 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.
67 Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?
68 Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.
69 And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.

Jesus taught them some very hard things. When He did many people thought the teachings were too hard. They were like the seeds that had no roots, or like the ones that grew among the weeds. Jesus' disciples however, stayed with Him.

How much of a root system do you have. At the first sign of a tough teaching do you have to run away. That is a shame. You know how I know? I was like that once. I ran from God when I should have stayed put. God forgave me and He allowed me to come back when I asked to return. That time away was one of the most depressing times of my life. If you are there, turn back now. If you are still walking with Him do not let tough teaching get you down. Stick with it, God can help you.

Read through the Bible in historical order
Today
John 6:1-71
Tomorrow
Matthew 15:1-39, Mark 7:1-37
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Self Giving

October 17, 2008

It had been a long day for Jesus. After ministering to a lot of people, He now hears that his cousin. John the Baptist has been killed by a coward of a King and now He just wants to be alone to meditate and recharge.

Mark 14 (KJV)

13 When Jesus heard of it, he departed thence by ship into a desert place apart: and when the people had heard thereof, they followed him on foot out of the cities.

14 And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick.

Many of today's preachers would have said leave me alone, but not Jesus.

If you are in ministry, know that there will be times when you are hurting inside. But Jesus did not give on the people and you should not either.

And it is troe of people not in ministry also. Be ready to give to others in your greast time of need.

Read through the Bible in historical order
Today

Matthew 14:1-36, Mark 6:1-56, Luke 9:1-17

Tomorrow

John 6:1-71

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'I only want to see you there...'

October 16, 2008

I have led a fairly quiet life as a Christian. One day a song by the late Keith Green hit me square between the eyes. In it he is telling the story of trying to (unsuccessfully) tell his family about Jesus. A haunting verse says 'its only that I care, I really want to see you there.' The next time I was home to the Boston area, I knew that I had to try to tell my family about Jesus and my relationship with him. We grew up Catholic so I knew how they felt already, I had acted the same way with the 'crazy Christians' that had come my way. And it was perdictable. A quick, you go your way I go mine, and all these years I have done it this way and you want to tell me I am wrong? My grandmother, and this was the last time I saw her, who was Irish Catholic told the family to leave me alone, she was happy I had found God in my own way. From her, I was shocked, from the rest I expected it.

As I went back home to Tulsa, these verses came to mind.

Matthew 10:24-25 ALT
(24) "A disciple is not above the teacher, nor a slave above his lord.
(25) "[It is] enough for the disciple that he become like his teacher, and the slave like his lord. If they called the master of the house Beelzebul [i.e. a Philistine deity, used as a name for the devil], how much more the members of his household?

Jesus was called crazy by his own family. Was I better than Jesus? In reality, I got off better than Jesus did, at least one family member had supported me.

I continue to pray for my family. About a year and half ago, my mom told me that someone led her to Jesus, that she did not have to leave the church she knew to accept Jesus. My brothers I still pray for. I am willing to be called the nutcase for their salvation.

How does your family/friends/coworkers see you?

Read through the Bible in historical order
Today

Matthew 9:1-10:42

Tomorrow

Matthew 14:1-36, Mark 6:1-56, Luke 9:1-17

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Words

October 15, 2008

Mark 4:35 KJV

(35)  And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side.

You all know the story, Jesus tells the disciples lets go across the lake.  They get out in the middle and a big storm comes up.  Jesus sleeps and they wake him up afraid that they were going to sink. 

Why were they afraid?  What were the words Jesus spoke? He said, lets go over to the other side.  He did not say let's try to go over, He said let's go.  

It is the same for us.  If we tell ourselves that we are a failure, we will be.  If we say that we can succeed, then we can.  

Let's have that positive attitude that Jesus did. 

Read through the Bible in historical order
Today
Matthew 8:14-34, Mark 4:1-5:43,
Tomorrow

 Matthew 9:1-10:42

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Seed Planting

October 14, 2008

I once heard it said that the Bible is so simple that you need an intelligent person to mess it up for you.  Sometimes it can be cryptic, when talking about the end-times and such, but so much of it is straight forward.  Take for example:

Matthew 13:3-9 CEV

(3)  Then he taught them many things by using stories. He said: A farmer went out to scatter seed in a field.

(4)  While the farmer was scattering the seed, some of it fell along the road and was eaten by birds.

(5)  Other seeds fell on thin, rocky ground and quickly started growing because the soil wasn't very deep.

(6)  But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched and dried up, because they did not have enough roots.

(7)  Some other seeds fell where thornbushes grew up and choked the plants.

(8)  But a few seeds did fall on good ground where the plants produced a hundred or sixty or thirty times as much as was scattered.

(9)  If you have ears, pay attention!

Fairly simple set of verses that I am sure that you have heard and/or read hundreds of times.  Now without looking at the following verse, tell me, who is the person that is represented by the farmer?  Come on, you have read this set of verses.  If you are average, it breaks down to only a couple of choices.

1. The farmer is Jesus, as He is the only one that can convict people and the soil is the people who will accept or reject Him.A 
2. A preacher/minister is the farmer.  They tell people what the Bible says and they either accept or reject it like the ground. 

Guess what.  I do not think either of them is right.  I could be wrong but lets look at some other verses, the one where Jesus starts to explain this parable:

Matthew 13:19 CEV

(19)  The seeds that fell along the road are the people who hear the message about the kingdom, but don't understand it. Then the evil one comes and snatches the message from their hearts.

People who hear the message but do not understand it.  But how do people hear the message.  Jesus said in the Great Commission to 'Go into all the world and preach the Gospel.'  If Jesus told us to tell others then we must be the farmers.  We are to sow seed into the life of people we meet.  Jesus has given us a very important job to do.  Many sometimes act in fear cause they think they will mess it up for someone else to witness to a person.  Guess what? You are not always going to have success.  Jesus tells us so.  In fact, only one of the four types may accept the word.  You have no excuse to tell others about Jesus.  Go plant some seed. 

Read through the Bible in historical order
Today
Matthew 13:1-58, Luke 8:1-56
Tomorrow

Matthew 8:14-34, Mark 4:1-5:43, 
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The fight

October 13, 2008

When I was in grade school, the world was basically of two types. The cool kids, and the ones that the cool kids liked to beat up on. There was a third group that thought it was cool to hang with the cool kids (till they became the uncool at the whim of one of the cool kids) but since hey fell into the cool kids group it is easier to say there was just two.

Now in the 50's and 60's you had to earn your 'cool credits'. One way to do this was to beat up one of the kids who was not cool. I being one of the ones that was not cool and about 30 pounds overweight made a great target. At least once a week, usually on Friday, I would hear those words, 'you and me, the regular spot, after school'. The regular spot was off school grounds and far enough away from a house that no one would see a fight and call the cops.

I can hear you now, this is supposed to be an uplifting devotional, why are you telling us how you got beat up all the time. Because there were two ways to get to my house from school, something most of the bullies did not realize. And while the one way that would take me by 'the regular place' was the shorter way, if I did not take it, I would not be in pain. I would still be considered uncool, but pain free. One thing every bully did was make the mistake of telling me when, mostly so they could get a crowd to watch them get their cool credits. In doing so, they warned me and I knew what to avoid. OK, what has that to do with the Word you ask?

Luke 11:21-22 ESV
(21) When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are safe;
(22) but when one stronger than he attacks him and overcomes him, he takes away his armor in which he trusted and divides his spoil.


If you know a bad guy is coming, Jesus tells the people, you can make preparations for him. If you do not, he can catch you by surprise and walk off with the good. Like the bullies trying to get a fight out of me, since I knew where the fight was, I could avoid it. If one ever tried to fight me when I did not know it was coming, then I would have to fight.

We have a bully to fight, his name is Satan. This is a fight I do not run from. But I need to become a strong man to be able to defeat him. It is not done by lifting weight, it is done by reading and studying the word of God. Then when he tries to beat me up, thinking he has a uncool kid on the other end, he will find that I am stronger than him and have to run away.

The time to run is over, it is time to fight and to know who to fight.

Read through the Bible in historical order
Today
Matthew 12:22-50, Luke 11:1-54
Tomorrow

Matthew 13:1-58, Luke 8:1-56
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Unequally Yoked.

October 12, 2008
Matthew 11 (KJV)

29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light

I have heard when I sometimes try to tell people about Jesus that following Him and being a Christian is much too hard. This is something I try to explain is just stinking thinking on their part but they often choose not to listen. I will not tell you life has been great and no problems, it has been the opposite. When I run into these problems though, I can turn to someone who has been through it all.

Jesus tells us to take His yoke upon ourselves. We who live in an industrial age might not realize what a yoke was for. While it is true that it was an implement of labor, and one could think being a Christian is a lot of work, they would miss the point. A yoke was used to balance a load between two animals. If one beast tried to take too much of the load, the yoke would keep the load even between the two. Jesus was saying that He has a light load and He wants to take my heavy burden on Himself

The King of the universe wants to take my burden. And people want to tell me following Jesus is hard.

Read through the Bible in historical order
Today
Matthew 11:1-30
Tomorrow
Matthew 12:22-50, Luke 11:1-54

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Seeing

October 11, 2006

Luke 7:20-22 ESV

(20)  And when the men had come to him, they said, "John the Baptist has sent us to you, saying, 'Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?'"

(21)  In that hour he healed many people of diseases and plagues and evil spirits, and on many who were blind he bestowed sight.

(22)  And he answered them, "Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have good news preached to them.

What do people see in your life.  

John was doubtful that Jesus was the one even though he had heard from God that Jesus was.  So when he was in prison, John sent messengers to ask Jesus if he was the one.  Jesus did not reply and say, yes I am.  Instead He told John to look around and see all the miracles that were happening.  Since John was in prison this was a hard thing to do.  And yet, Jesus said look.  

John heard about things.  In his darkest hour in prison, when he is about to be killed, John sees that Jesus is the one.  

So what do people see in your life?  Do they see Jesus in you?  Not that you do not have problems, John had those, but that you are living and working through those problems.  That no matter what, in the end you turn to God for help, not as a crutch, but for guidance in what to do? 

Read through the Bible in historical order
Today
Matthew 8:1-13, Luke 7:1-50,
Tomorrow
 Matthew 11:1-30

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Who gets the credit

October 10, 2008

Matthew 6:1-2 BBE

(1)  Take care not to do your good works before men, to be seen by them; or you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.

(2)  When then you give money to the poor, do not make a noise about it, as the false-hearted men do in the Synagogues and in the streets, so that they may have glory from men. Truly, I say to you, They have their reward.

I do not put down people who make charitable contributions to organizations and then expect to be mentioned.  It is human nature.  However it is not what God wants.  When I do my giving I do it in private.  Years ago, when very short on money, someone came to me and gave me what food they had.  They did not know our situation but they did know that God had talked to them to give me the food to help my family through a rough time.  What was interesting was when that person told me (and verified it with the people) that God had told three other people to help us.  They were people well respected in the church I was told.  Why they did not help us I do not know.  Could it have been they would not be seen giving a reward? I do not know and I do not judge them, they might have been struggling also.  

Years later I was in a situation where I could give food to someone else whose shelves were literally bare. Because someone else in the church had shared some food with me, I asked him if it was OK to share what he had given me with them.  He said yes and added to it.  The two of us went off announced to provide what they needed.  We never got a mention in the church for what we did, but the gratitude of the people who received it was worth it all.  I only tell you of the story now to show you that it is easy to live what God tells us to do. 

Someone once said, all things are possible if you do not worry about who gets the credit.  I think that all things are possible with God if you do not care who gets the credit. 

Read through the Bible in historical order
Today
Matthew 5:1-7:29 
Tomorrow
Matthew 8:1-13, Luke 7:1-50, 
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A house divided

October 9, 2008

Sometimes the new translations hit the nail right on the head!


Mark 3:25 GNB
(25) If a family divides itself into groups which fight each other, that family will fall apart.


Jesus was talking about a kingdom first, but then if you look up the words in a concordance, you will find in this verse He talks about a family unit.

It is so true. In my first marriage I felt I was called to go into ministry. Though we both got saved after marriage, my wife resisted as she never envisioned herself a ministers wife when she married me in the first place. She basically told me where I could go and what I could do with myself. Though I prayed for the marriage it was quite clear we were a house divided. All it took was one chance meeting of some people one day and the whole house of cards fell apart.

Proverbs tells us that if two walk together they will not stumble. That is so true in a marriage. If you are not married take some time to make sure that your soon to be mate and you agree on the major things. If you are already married, take time to get with your mate to get on the same page in civil negotiations.



Read through the Bible in historical order
Today
Matthew 12:1-21, Mark 3:1-35, Luke 6:1-49
Tomorrow
Matthew 5:1-7:29
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Grading on the curve

October 8, 2008


Sometimes you need to answer the question given you. I took a test one time that I failed because rather than answer the question that was there I answered the question that I thought was there. Obviously if you do it in class you fail. Jesus however grades on the curve...


John 5:6 GW
(6) Jesus saw the man lying there and knew that he had been sick for a long time. So Jesus asked the man, "Would you like to get well?"

Pretty straight forward question. Jesus sees one person out of a whole bunch of sick people and asks him - 'do you want to be well'. I mean the answer is yes or no. Where can he not understand the question? But he does.

John 5:7 GW
(7) The sick man answered Jesus, "Sir, I don't have anyone to put me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I'm trying to get there, someone else steps into the pool ahead of me."

In response to a yes or no type question he gives excuses of why it will not happen. Jesus did not ask him if he had the ability to get healed. He did not ask if he needed help to get into the pool when the water was stirred. He asked if he wanted to be healed.

How often does God speak to us about something in our life? Does he ask you if you want you marriage healed, your finances well, your mind free? And you answer that your spouse needs to be fixed, that you need a better job, that you have an addiction that you cannot break. You are giving excuses for a question that God never asks. Do you want "_____" (fill in the blank)? God asks you and all you have to answer is yes or no.

Sometimes in our stupidity, God will go ahead and grade on the curve, even though we flunk the test:

John 5:8 GW
(8) Jesus told the man, "Get up, pick up your cot, and walk."

We had better not plan on that happening all the time though.


Read through the Bible in historical order
Today
John 5:1-47
Tomorrow
Matthew 12:1-21, Mark 3:1-35, Luke 6:1-49
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Friends

`October 7, 2008

Our verses today may look like we just went over the story. We did, but in our journey through the Bible we are now looking at it from a different writer and hopefully will see something different this time. It can be difficult sometimes when you read the Bible and are so familiar with it to see something new each time, but God can help you do so.

Like the other day, Jesus will heal a man by telling him his sins are forgiven then telling him to get up and walk. In place of looking at the finished product, a life of faith then healing, lets look at the start of the story.

Mark 2:3 MKJV
(3) Then they came to Him, bringing one who was paralyzed, who was carried by four.


When we are sick we need the help of friends to get us through things. When we are sick though is not the time to go looking for them. I am not saying that in your sickness you can not find friends, just that it may be more of a problem. And what do I mean by sickness? I do not just mean the physical kind that Jesus was addressing here, I mean the spiritual kind as well.

I have a trusted friend who is a councilor at the church that I attend. I never would have met the man if it had not been that I needed spiritual advice one day. Now, if I have a need I can go to him for advice. But you know what, there was not one friend helping the man, there were four friends. Man does not need just one friend, he needs many. If you do not have at least four friends that you can confide in, then it may be time to work on cultivating more.

I know what I have to do. Do you have to do so also?


Read through the Bible in historical order
Today
Mark 2:1-28
Tomorrow
John 5:1-47
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Hearing from God

October 6, 2008

One of the things my oldest two boys (Gabe(28) and Josh(26)), as well as my youngest two (Annie and Israel (12 and 10) can tell you is that I try to teach them to hear God by hearing me. I am not trying to tell them that I am God, but that if they cannot respond to me who they can see and hear, what will they do when God tries to speak to them and they cannot see or hear Him directly? It is a hard lesson but one that bears repeating many times in the child's life (and sometimes adults need to hear it also).

Jesus basically said the same thing to Nicodemus. He tried to explain spiritual things to Nicodemus by using earthly symbols. Nicodemus could not understand, so Jesus said to him:

John 3:10-12 BBE
(10) And Jesus, answering, said, Are you the teacher of Israel and have no knowledge of these things?
(11) Truly, I say to you, We say that of which we have knowledge; we give witness of what we have seen; and you do not take our witness to be true.
(12) If you have no belief when my words are about the things of earth, how will you have belief if my words are about the things of heaven?

While we are not a people who walk by sight, sometimes we need to see examples of things done for us in order to learn. I know it is that way on the jobs that I do as I am sure it is for you. Christianity is no different. In order to learn the spiritual things we have to learn some things in the natural. I can learn how the Holy Spirit moves by understanding how the wind starts and stops for example.

Take some time to study nature, not to worship it, but to learn from it.



Read through the Bible in historical order
Today
John 2:1-4:54
Tomorrow
Mark 2:1-28
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Sins or healed?

October 5, 2008

Jesus tried to heal the people but He was always being questioned about His authority to do so. He addressed the question many ways. This time He asked them a question:

Luke 5:23(ESV)

23 Which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven you,' or to say, 'Rise and walk'?

Stop and think about that question a moment. Which one is easier to say. If you said 'rise and walk' maybe you better think again. If you said that you better be sure that person is going to walk. Sin in someone's life is invisible. It is much easier to say 'your sins are forgiven' because someone caannot necessarily see sins. How can they tell if they are forgiven or not?

Now Jesus knew He was going to have to say rise up and walk anyway so why did He say your sins are forgiven first? Maybe because He saw the spiritual need. With the man knowing he was forgiven he could concentrate on his healing

Do not let others mock you when you are ministering to someone. You may need to take time and address their issue if it brings doubt to your listener. Always stick to what God has told you to do.

Read through the Bible in historical order
Today
Matthew 4:1-25, Luke 4:1-5:39, John 1:15-51
Tomorrow
John 2:1-4:54
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Are you walking in the blessings?

October 4 2008

Mark 1:30-31(MKJV)

30 But Simon's wife's mother lay sick of a fever, and at once they told Him (Jesus) about her.

31 And He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up. And instantly the fever left her, and she served them.

I once heard Jessie Duplantes tell a story about this verse. His mother in law was a real cranky woman till she accepted Jesus as her savior. She knew enough about the word though and this verse was one verse she knew. One day when she very sick she called for Jessie to come heal her and quoted from this verse to him, just not all of it. Jessie came and prayed for her and then told her to get up and fix him some food. She started to complain, but he interrupted her and said something like, if you were OK with the first part, how come your do not want to do the second part?

Some important though there. We are so quick to stand upon the promises of God, but what are we goings to do with the results when they come? If you pray for a healing are you going to tell others about the healing to they can know a God that heals also? If you are seeking prosperity, are you going to use some of it to spread the Gospel?

If the results are not coming in like you need then to, maybe you need to look back at the last time God favored you and see if you used the result to further His kingdom.

Read through the Bible in historical order
Today
Matthew 2:1-23, Luke 2:39-52
Tomorrow
Matthew 3:1-17, Mark 1:1-45
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Just in Time

October 3, 2008

Mathew 2:11 (Message)

11 They entered the house and saw the child in the arms of Mary, his mother. Overcome, they kneeled and worshiped him. Then they opened their luggage and presented gifts: gold, frankincense, myrrh.

God is is in the provision business. He did it for Jesus when He was just a child. These gifts that the wise man provided were not held on to by the family, at least not as for as I can tell.

You see God tells Joseph after this event takes place, to get the child and head out of town. Herod wanted to kill Jesus and he wa going to kill a lot of baby boys just to do it. They were going to need money for the trip. And wow, just coincidently here were some very expensive gifts provided just as they are going to be needed.

Next time you get some unexpected blessing, understand that God provides your needs, just in time.

Read through the Bible in historical order
Today
Matthew 2:1-23, Luke 2:39-52
Tomorrow
Matthew 3:1-17, Mark 1:1-45
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Why the shepherds?

October 2, 2008

Luke 2:18 (WEB)
18 All who heard it wondered at the things which were spoken to them by the shepherds.

Why did the people wonder about what they shepherds have to say to them? What they had been taught tell them that the savior was coming? There were a number of reasons for them not to believe them I guess.

They were not religious men by any means. Sheep needed to be taken care of daily and the men taking care of them would have broken the Sabbath commands more than once most likely. While there may have been spiritual people who were shepherds, for example David, they were not the religious leaders of the people. Wouldn't God come to the people who understood the scripture to reveal himself? I guess not, because God chose these simple men.

Shepard's tended to live out in the country. Animals can be messy. Sheep especially so. Generally they were raised away from the city and with the winds going away from where they the city so the smell would not ruin the city atmosphere. Wouldn't God come to the big city and let Himself be known. I guess not. He was out in the county.

These men were also the bottom rung of the social ladder as well. They were not the type you would invite to your party (unless I guess you were a shepherd also). They were often considered uneducated and vulgar people. Not the type ofrif-raff that God would be associated with, right?

God took the time to show himself to the lowest of low and they returned the favor by spreading the news about Him?

Oh, one more thing. The verses before this one tell us that the shepherds were in the field watching the sheep. While it is possible this would happen in what we call December, it is not probable. It was more likely to take place in the spring, real close to what the Jewish holiday of Passover. Passover celebrates a time when the blood of a sheep saved the Jewish people from death. Here are people taking care of sheep. Coincidence?



Read through the Bible in historical order
Today
Matthew 1:1-25, Luke 2:1-38
Tomorrow
Matthew 2:1-23, Luke 2:39-52
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Faith?

October 1, 2008


Our mouth can get us in trouble. The book of James says that from the same mouth can come both blessing and cursing. But from it also can come faith and doubt. Let's look at two people who are going to be given the news of a miraculous birth and how they react.


Luke 1:12-18 (Gods Word)
12 Zechariah was troubled and overcome with fear.
13 The angel said to him, "Don't be afraid, Zechariah! God has heard your prayer. Your wife Elizabeth will have a son, and you will name him John.
14 He will be your pride and joy, and many people will be glad that he was born.
15 As far as the Lord is concerned, he will be a great man. He will never drink wine or any other liquor. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born.
16 He will bring many people in Israel back to the Lord their God.
17 He will go ahead of the Lord with the spirit and power that Elijah had. He will change parents' attitudes toward their children. He will change disobedient people so that they will accept the wisdom of those who have God's approval. In this way he will prepare the people for their Lord."
18 Zechariah said to the angel, "What proof is there for this? I'm an old man, and my wife is beyond her childbearing years."

Zechariah was looking for proof that it could not happen. You know what the angel did with him. He shut his mouth so that his unbelief could not get in the way from this birth happening. Zechariah was looking for proof that it could happen.


Luke 1:26-38
26 Six months after Elizabeth had become pregnant, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a city in Galilee.
27 The angel went to a virgin promised in marriage to a descendant of David named Joseph. The virgin's name was Mary.
28 When the angel entered her home, he greeted her and said, "You are favored by the Lord! The Lord is with you."
29 She was startled by what the angel said and tried to figure out what this greeting meant.
30 The angel told her, "Don't be afraid, Mary. You have found favor with God.
31 You will become pregnant, give birth to a son, and name him Jesus.
32 He will be a great man and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David.
33 Your son will be king of Jacob's people forever, and his kingdom will never end."
34 Mary asked the angel, "How can this be? I've never had sexual intercourse."
35 The angel answered her, "The Holy Spirit will come to you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore, the holy child developing inside you will be called the Son of God.
36 "Elizabeth, your relative, is six months pregnant with a son in her old age. People said she couldn't have a child.
37 But nothing is impossible for God."
38 Mary answered, "I am the Lord's servant. Let everything you've said happen to me." Then the angel left her.


Here is a young woman. She knows what causes a baby and she knows that she has not done it. Does she ask for proof? No, she asks an innocent question. How can this be? She does not say this can not happen, in fact she says let it happen if it is God's will.


Two different people in the same point of time. One has faith, one wants proof. If it came to something that God has said for you, which do you have?

Read through the Bible in historical order
Today
Luke 1:1-80, John 1:1-14
Tomorrow
Matthew 1:1-25, Luke 2:1-38
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