Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Blog will be delayed....
I'm sorry... Still out of electricity... Im echoing Ruth's post and hope you all understand. Will get it up mañana!
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
October 30
(This blog entry was written by Travis Steinmetz)
Today we read about Jesus' miracles. They astonish and bewilder us. But that is because of our lack of faith. Our puny little minds cannot wrap themselves around the whole idea. Heck, even when we see a miracle for ourselves, we have to come up with some other explanation. But God is bigger than that. Through these miracles, Jesus shows us himself; not only His kindness and His love for people, but they show the power that He is capable of. The calming of the sea, He didn't do anything until he was asked. The same with most of the other miracles. He didn't act until he was asked to do so. It is the same today. Most of the reason that we don't see miracles, is because we don't ask for them. We don't have the faith to even pour ourselves out to him and ask.
Today we read about Jesus' miracles. They astonish and bewilder us. But that is because of our lack of faith. Our puny little minds cannot wrap themselves around the whole idea. Heck, even when we see a miracle for ourselves, we have to come up with some other explanation. But God is bigger than that. Through these miracles, Jesus shows us himself; not only His kindness and His love for people, but they show the power that He is capable of. The calming of the sea, He didn't do anything until he was asked. The same with most of the other miracles. He didn't act until he was asked to do so. It is the same today. Most of the reason that we don't see miracles, is because we don't ask for them. We don't have the faith to even pour ourselves out to him and ask.
Sunday, October 28, 2012
October 28th 2012
October 28th 2012
Today's reading centers mostly on the idea of hypocrisy, so I've decided to reflect on this idea as well. To be a hypocrite, you need to say one thing and do the exact opposite. In today's readings, Jesus points out different ways the people around Him are being hypocrites. He mainly focuses on people's actions, like when he condemns the Pharisee and the lawyers. I'd like to focus not so much on the actions of people but of the thought process behind being hypocritical, because to change a behavior you need to know what causes it.
The best place to start is figuring out why people are hypocritical in the first place. The answer to this question in its simplest form is that people want to be able to do whatever they want without tarnishing their reputation or losing anyone's respect. It is crucial to have both desires present when identifying a hypocrite, because someone who does distasteful things for personal gain without denying it isn't a hypocrite, just a jerk. Think of the first two examples given in today's reading: a Pharisee and a lawyer. Both are well respected titles, and both come with a level of social responsibility, meaning that they are the people who are supposed to be setting the example for everyone else. So naturally these people need to be moral in their words and actions. When they just talk about being moral without acting accordingly is when they cross the line. It isn't just people with social responsibility who contradict their beliefs though. It is very easy for anyone to fall into hypocrisy. Think about how easy it would be to project an air of innocence and virtue while acting anything but. You could do whatever you wanted and pretend to still be virtuous as long as someone else believes you to be.
The next thing to focus on is how to stop hypocrisy. Sadly, the only people who can truly stop hypocrisy are the hypocrites themselves. You can try extremely hard, like Jesus did in today's readings, but no matter how hard you try the only person who has the power to stop being hypocritical is the person being the hypocrite. Because of this, hypocrites need these two major tools when trying to reform: honesty in actions, and honesty in one's own self-awareness. If you are acting in accordance with your beliefs, you are acting honestly and therefore not being a hypocrite. And if you know yourself well enough to see when you are being hypocritical, it becomes easier to stop. Sometimes it takes someone pointing it out to even realize what is going on. This is what Jesus does in today's readings. He points out all of the hypocrisy surrounding Him, but even He can't save people from their own hypocrisy all on His own. He can only point it out and hope that they stop and follow Him.
So this week I encourage you to reflect not only on if you're actions line up with your beliefs, but also on your beliefs themselves. To know if you're acting within your beliefs you need to be able to define them.
Have a great week, and try to stay safe during this upcoming storm!
Gina
Saturday, October 27, 2012
October 27: The Galilean Ministry
(Posted on behalf of Jon Lanuza)
October 27, 2012
Galilean Ministry
I experience doubt a lot. While I rarely doubt God exists, sometimes I wonder if He should be bothered, or if He cares about the things that matter to me. Other times I doubt that I deserve His love, thinking that I need to "be good" in order to be saved. It is reassuring to read I am in good company. John the Baptist seems to have experienced doubt as well...after telling Jesus He should have been baptizing John, he then sends his disciples to ask if Jesus was the Messiah. How nice that Jesus does not condemn John for his doubt, but conveys His reassurance...and then praises John before the crowds.
Doubt is a daily struggle. In this context, it is even more amazing to read the centurion's response to Jesus...not only did he confess he was unworthy of Jesus's attention, He professed that Jesus had the power to heal his servant. May we live lives filled with faith like the centurion's, but receive the Jesus's reassurances when, inevitably, our faith wavers.
________________________________________
1) Blog: http://bit.ly/rV1Cw1
2) Facebook: http://on.fb.me/tc6jkS
Friday, October 26, 2012
Friday, October 26, 2012 - Jesus Christ teaches
Friday, October 26, 2012
Since today's reading includes nothing but pearls (the Words of
Jesus), I was incapable of picking one or even a few things to reflect
on. Instead, I've pasted the whole reading below. In the Words of
Jesus:
THE BEATITUDES
3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely
say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be
glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they
persecuted the prophets who were before you. (Matthew 5:3-12)
WOES
24 "But woe to you who are rich,
for you have already received your comfort.
25 Woe to you who are well fed now,
for you will go hungry.
Woe to you who laugh now,
for you will mourn and weep.
26 Woe to you when everyone speaks well of you,
for that is how their ancestors treated the false prophets. (Luke 6:24-25)
SALT AND LIGHT
13 "You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its
saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for
anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
14 "You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be
hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl.
Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in
the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others,
that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
(Matthew 5:13-16)
THE FULFILLMENT OF THE LAW
17 "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets;
I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18 For truly I
tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter,
not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the
Law until everything is accomplished. 19 Therefore anyone who sets
aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others
accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever
practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the
kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you that unless your righteousness
surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will
certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:17-20)
MURDER
21 "You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'You shall
not murder,[a] and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.' 22
But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister[b][c]
will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or
sister, 'Raca,'[d] is answerable to the court. And anyone who says,
'You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell.
23 "Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there
remember that your brother or sister has something against you, 24
leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be
reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.
25 "Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to
court. Do it while you are still together on the way, or your
adversary may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you
over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. 26 Truly I
tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.
(Matthew 5:21-26)
ADULTERY
27 "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit
adultery.'[e] 28 But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman
lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 If
your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away.
It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole
body to be thrown into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to
stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose
one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.
(Matthew 5:27-30)
DIVORCE
31 "It has been said, 'Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a
certificate of divorce.'[f] 32 But I tell you that anyone who divorces
his wife, except for sexual immorality, makes her the victim of
adultery, and anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
(Matthew 5:31-32)
OATHS
33 "Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do
not break your oath, but fulfill to the Lord the vows you have made.'
34 But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all: either by heaven, for
it is God's throne; 35 or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by
Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. 36 And do not swear
by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. 37 All
you need to say is simply 'Yes' or 'No'; anything beyond this comes
from the evil one.[g] (Matthew 5:33-37)
LOVE FOR ENEMIES
27 "But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to
those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who
mistreat you. 29 If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the
other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt
from them. 30 Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what
belongs to you, do not demand it back. 31 Do to others as you would
have them do to you.
32 "If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even
sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who
are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. 34
And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit
is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid
in full. 35 But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them
without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be
great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind
to the ungrateful and wicked. 36 Be merciful, just as your Father is
merciful. (Luke 6:27-36)
GIVING TO THE NEEDY
"Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to
be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father
in heaven.
2 "So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as
the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored
by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.
3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what
your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. Then
your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
(Matthew 6:1-4)
PRAYER
5 "And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to
pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen
by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.
6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to
your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in
secret, will reward you. 7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling
like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many
words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need
before you ask him.
9 "This, then, is how you should pray:
"'Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
10 your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us today our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation,[a]
but deliver us from the evil one.[b]'
14 For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your
heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive
others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. (Matthew
6:5-15)
FASTING
16 "When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they
disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell
you, they have received their reward in full. 17 But when you fast,
put oil on your head and wash your face, 18 so that it will not be
obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who
is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will
reward you. (Matthew 6:16-18)
TREASURES IN HEAVEN
19 "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and
vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up
for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not
destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where
your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
22 "The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy,[c] your
whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eyes are
unhealthy,[d] your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the
light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!
24 "No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and
love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the
other. You cannot serve both God and money. (Matthew 6:19-24)
DO NOT WORRY
25 "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will
eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more
than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the
air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your
heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?
27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life[e]?
28 "And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the
field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even
Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that
is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and
tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you
of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or
'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32 For the pagans run
after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need
them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all
these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry
about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has
enough trouble of its own. (Matthew 6:25-34)
JUDGING OTHERS
37 "Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you
will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. 38 Give, and
it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together
and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure
you use, it will be measured to you."
39 He also told them this parable: "Can the blind lead the blind? Will
they not both fall into a pit? 40 The student is not above the
teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like their teacher.
41 "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and
pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 42 How can you say to
your brother, 'Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,' when
you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite,
first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to
remove the speck from your brother's eye. (Luke 6:37-42)
ASK, SEEK, KNOCK
7 "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and
the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; the
one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be
opened.
9 "Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10
Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 If you, then,
though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how
much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask
him! 12 So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to
you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets. (Matthew 7:7-12)
THE NARROW AND WIDE GATES
13 "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is
the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But
small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a
few find it. (Matthew 7:13,14)
TRUE AND FALSE PROPHETS
15 "Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's
clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16 By their fruit
you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or
figs from thistles? 17 Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but
a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and
a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear
good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus, by their
fruit you will recognize them. (Matthew 7:15-20)
TRUE AND FALSE DISCIPLES
21 "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom
of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in
heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not
prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your
name perform many miracles?' 23 Then I will tell them plainly, 'I
never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!' (Matthew 7:21-23)
A TREE AND ITS FRUIT
43 "No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit.
44 Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs
from thornbushes, or grapes from briers. 45 A good man brings good
things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings
evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth
speaks what the heart is full of. (Luke 6:43-45)
THE WISE AND FOOLISH BUILDERS
24 "Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them
into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25
The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat
against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation
on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does
not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house
on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew
and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash." (Matthew
7:24-27)
28 When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed
at his teaching, 29 because he taught as one who had authority, and
not as their teachers of the law. (Matthew 7:28,29)
God Bless,
Anthony
Since today's reading includes nothing but pearls (the Words of
Jesus), I was incapable of picking one or even a few things to reflect
on. Instead, I've pasted the whole reading below. In the Words of
Jesus:
THE BEATITUDES
3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely
say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be
glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they
persecuted the prophets who were before you. (Matthew 5:3-12)
WOES
24 "But woe to you who are rich,
for you have already received your comfort.
25 Woe to you who are well fed now,
for you will go hungry.
Woe to you who laugh now,
for you will mourn and weep.
26 Woe to you when everyone speaks well of you,
for that is how their ancestors treated the false prophets. (Luke 6:24-25)
SALT AND LIGHT
13 "You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its
saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for
anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
14 "You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be
hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl.
Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in
the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others,
that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
(Matthew 5:13-16)
THE FULFILLMENT OF THE LAW
17 "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets;
I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18 For truly I
tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter,
not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the
Law until everything is accomplished. 19 Therefore anyone who sets
aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others
accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever
practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the
kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you that unless your righteousness
surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will
certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:17-20)
MURDER
21 "You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'You shall
not murder,[a] and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.' 22
But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister[b][c]
will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or
sister, 'Raca,'[d] is answerable to the court. And anyone who says,
'You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell.
23 "Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there
remember that your brother or sister has something against you, 24
leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be
reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.
25 "Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to
court. Do it while you are still together on the way, or your
adversary may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you
over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. 26 Truly I
tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.
(Matthew 5:21-26)
ADULTERY
27 "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit
adultery.'[e] 28 But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman
lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 If
your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away.
It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole
body to be thrown into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to
stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose
one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.
(Matthew 5:27-30)
DIVORCE
31 "It has been said, 'Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a
certificate of divorce.'[f] 32 But I tell you that anyone who divorces
his wife, except for sexual immorality, makes her the victim of
adultery, and anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
(Matthew 5:31-32)
OATHS
33 "Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do
not break your oath, but fulfill to the Lord the vows you have made.'
34 But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all: either by heaven, for
it is God's throne; 35 or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by
Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. 36 And do not swear
by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. 37 All
you need to say is simply 'Yes' or 'No'; anything beyond this comes
from the evil one.[g] (Matthew 5:33-37)
LOVE FOR ENEMIES
27 "But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to
those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who
mistreat you. 29 If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the
other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt
from them. 30 Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what
belongs to you, do not demand it back. 31 Do to others as you would
have them do to you.
32 "If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even
sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who
are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. 34
And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit
is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid
in full. 35 But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them
without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be
great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind
to the ungrateful and wicked. 36 Be merciful, just as your Father is
merciful. (Luke 6:27-36)
GIVING TO THE NEEDY
"Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to
be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father
in heaven.
2 "So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as
the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored
by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.
3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what
your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. Then
your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
(Matthew 6:1-4)
PRAYER
5 "And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to
pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen
by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.
6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to
your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in
secret, will reward you. 7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling
like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many
words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need
before you ask him.
9 "This, then, is how you should pray:
"'Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
10 your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us today our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation,[a]
but deliver us from the evil one.[b]'
14 For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your
heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive
others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. (Matthew
6:5-15)
FASTING
16 "When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they
disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell
you, they have received their reward in full. 17 But when you fast,
put oil on your head and wash your face, 18 so that it will not be
obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who
is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will
reward you. (Matthew 6:16-18)
TREASURES IN HEAVEN
19 "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and
vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up
for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not
destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where
your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
22 "The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy,[c] your
whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eyes are
unhealthy,[d] your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the
light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!
24 "No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and
love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the
other. You cannot serve both God and money. (Matthew 6:19-24)
DO NOT WORRY
25 "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will
eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more
than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the
air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your
heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?
27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life[e]?
28 "And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the
field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even
Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that
is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and
tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you
of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or
'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32 For the pagans run
after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need
them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all
these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry
about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has
enough trouble of its own. (Matthew 6:25-34)
JUDGING OTHERS
37 "Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you
will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. 38 Give, and
it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together
and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure
you use, it will be measured to you."
39 He also told them this parable: "Can the blind lead the blind? Will
they not both fall into a pit? 40 The student is not above the
teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like their teacher.
41 "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and
pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 42 How can you say to
your brother, 'Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,' when
you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite,
first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to
remove the speck from your brother's eye. (Luke 6:37-42)
ASK, SEEK, KNOCK
7 "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and
the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; the
one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be
opened.
9 "Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10
Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 If you, then,
though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how
much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask
him! 12 So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to
you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets. (Matthew 7:7-12)
THE NARROW AND WIDE GATES
13 "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is
the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But
small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a
few find it. (Matthew 7:13,14)
TRUE AND FALSE PROPHETS
15 "Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's
clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16 By their fruit
you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or
figs from thistles? 17 Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but
a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and
a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear
good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus, by their
fruit you will recognize them. (Matthew 7:15-20)
TRUE AND FALSE DISCIPLES
21 "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom
of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in
heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not
prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your
name perform many miracles?' 23 Then I will tell them plainly, 'I
never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!' (Matthew 7:21-23)
A TREE AND ITS FRUIT
43 "No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit.
44 Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs
from thornbushes, or grapes from briers. 45 A good man brings good
things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings
evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth
speaks what the heart is full of. (Luke 6:43-45)
THE WISE AND FOOLISH BUILDERS
24 "Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them
into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25
The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat
against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation
on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does
not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house
on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew
and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash." (Matthew
7:24-27)
28 When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed
at his teaching, 29 because he taught as one who had authority, and
not as their teachers of the law. (Matthew 7:28,29)
God Bless,
Anthony
Thursday, October 25, 2012
October 25: The Rise of Opposition
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2012
The Rise of Opposition
After setting forth His mission statement (echoing the prophet Isaiah) in His hometown of
Today’s passage chiefly covers a trip to
In particular, what facets of Jesus’s ministry call forth such opposition?
1. Lack of conformity. Jesus’s disciples did not fast in the way that the religious leaders had prescribed and as John’s disciples had. The power of inertial thinking had blinded the religious leaders to considering that they had replaced their system with a true relationship with God. As Jesus showed in His fellowship with broken people, we absolutely need: a) humility, which leads to repentance, and b) God’s grace (“unmerited favor”) to receive His forgiveness and to begin a love relationship with God. Jesus slapped at the religious leaders’ beliefs, defiantly explaining that “mercy” would trump “sacrifice” and that God had called “sinners” and not the “[self-]righteous.”
2. Healing on the Sabbath. How dare the Son of God act in a manner contrary to the strict Sabbath observance that the Pharisees demanded? Jesus turns the conventional thinking on its head, arguing: “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.” (Mark 2:27,28) He had declared Himself Lord over all. Yet, the religious leaders remained incredulous, not seeing that God desires to heal broken people (physical, emotional, and spiritual ailments alike) at all times and in all places. Their rules and regulations had wrested compassion from their hearts.
3. Announcing eternal life in His Name. Jesus calls upon God as His own Father and notes that “the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does.” (John 5:19) Furthermore, Jesus points to trust in the Father as the key to eternal life, not a religious system: “I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life. I tell you the truth, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son to have life in himself. And he has given him authority to judge because he is the Son of Man.” (John 5:24,25) The Saducees held that there is no resurrection, but Jesus clearly points that He is the living God Who would bring forth resurrection through His very word.
Today, we must consider: Will we maintain our preconceptions about what God can and can’t do? Or will we embrace Him as He truly is, revealed through the testimony of His Word and through His Holy Spirit? Welcome to a great adventure in loving and honoring the living God!
QUESTIONS
1. What can you do to keep your spiritual life from becoming a series of lifeless formalities?
2. How can you embrace what God is doing in your life right now? How can you praise Him for that?
________________________________________
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Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Beginning of the Great Galilean Ministry
Beginning of the Great Galilean Ministry
(Matt 4, 9 Mark 1-2, Luke 4-5)
I'm thankful for sharing a great weekend with almost 40 wonderful women at the Women's Retreat at Camp Spofford this past weekend. We focused on living a life of Eucharisto – giving thanks to God in all things. One of the ways we learned to do this is by changing our lenses, asking God to open the eyes of our hearts, minds, and body. By having our eyes truly opened, we are able to see God in all the little things and see His love for us everyday. Another way we can live a life of gratitude is looking thorough the lens of God's Word. When reading today I made a note in my Bible, "remembering/looking back." This is what Christ did. Jesus, who knows everything, one of the Trinity, uses the Scripture in His ministry, and to God's glory. He references the prophets we just got done reading about: Isaiah and Elijah! He remembers all the prophets who spoke the word of God and were rejected in their own towns, by their own people. He knows the journey and the life ahead of Him, but He doesn't forget to look back. The prophets went through the pain and emptiness of rejection, and Jesus went thorough the same. God is Sovereign and Wise. He allows everything to happen for a reason and for His Glory.
I also want to look at the calling of the disciples. I'm sure we have heard many sermons on these chapters, been in the Bible studies, and have heard it in Sunday School, but it is always a great reminder. These men were living their day-to-day routines. Life: work (fishing all day long), families (we see parents and families) and responsibility. Jesus entered their life one day and called them. Simon had FAITH to go back out and cast out eh nets one more time. What if he refused? What if he told this man named Jesus that he was too tired, or there were not any more fish out there? What if his own self-centeredness got in the way of Jesus working a miracle and showing His glory? He had faith. These men were normal guys. Hard working, probably rough around the edges, humble homes, and they were still called. I fit that description too. They were told to "Come" and they dropped everything and went. Just like that. They didn't know how the story would play out, how the ending would be, or what the Promise was. We do. We know what lies ahead of us by being a follower of Christ. We know what's ahead. On this earth there will be hard hard times, but we know how the story ends. We know that Christ dies for our Salvation. That eternity in heaven is soon…that a glorious Kingdom will reign forever. Yet it is still so hard to follow. I pray for Faith. I pray for TRUST. I pray that I give up on myself and follow. I sing it every Sunday…time to LIVE.
When reading I also noticed the structure of Jesus's early ministry. There are 4 main actions we see Him do: teach, call, heal, and pray. All over these chapters and the chapters ahead, we will read about Christ's purpose here on Earth. He came to teach the "good news" and he did it in the synagogues, in the towns, outside the towns, and to the people. He never had a stage, he just taught to everyone who listened. He called: he called his disciples and followers. He asked them to join and follow him. No applications, no secret handshakes…just a calling. He healed. So many people in need. So much pain. So many people that needed Jesus to heal their physical hurts and needs. He did so much more. He healed their hearts and their souls. He is Jehovah Rapha – our healer. Finally, he prays. I have no doubt that Jesus was in CONSTANT prayer. Continually, without ceasing. He was one with God and The Spirit was with him, but he visibly prayed. He sought solitude and precious time to pray. I'm challenged to do a Jesus prayer. To rise early, in the dark, and to pray. I honestly do not do this...pretty much ever. We need to be in prayer. I need to be in prayer. By being a follower of prayer, I will have thanksgiving, and honor my God.
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
October 23
John 3:16-18
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son.
I am currently reading the book East of Eden by John Steinbeck. Even though Steinbeck was not a Christian author, I can't help but be amazed at how accurately he portrayed human nature in this book. At one point in the story there was a character named Adam who lost a lot of money in a foolish business deal. Adam's son Cal loved his father very much. He wanted to make a lot of money on his own so he could then give it to his father. Here is an excerpt where Cal's business partner Will asked him why he wanted to do this:
"Now, you say you want to give back the money your father lost. Why?"
Ordinarily Cal's eyes were squinted and cautious, but now they were so wide that they seemed to look around and through Will. Cal was as close to his own soul as it is possible to get.
"My father is good," he said. "I want to make it up to him because I am not good."
"If you do that, wouldn't you be good?"
"No," said Cal. "I think bad."
Cal knew that there was nothing he could do in his own power to be "good." Yet, it didn't stop him from trying to earn the right to be "good" and to earn his father's love. Don't we do the same thing when we think we can earn God's favor by being good enough? When we do the right thing and obey God, somehow we tend to feel that we are more deserving of His love. When we sin, we have a hard time believing that our Heavenly Father still loves us.
Read John 3:16-18 again. Does it say anywhere in these verses that God loves only the people who are good? That we can earn His love by being good? That we can lose His favor by being bad or sinful? That He stops loving us because we are not good enough? Absolutely not!!! God loves the whole world and all the people in it. God knows that there is nothing we can do on our own to earn a right relationship with Him. So He gave His Son so that through Him we can have eternal life. All we are excepted to do is believe in Him and He will do the rest. I am so thankful for this, because there is no possible way that we could do it on our own!
Monday, October 22, 2012
Monday October 22nd Written by Sheri Wills
Today's blog was written by Sheri Wills. Good personal reminders in today's reading. Hope you all are blessed by this as much I am.
Ruth and I were chatting this morning and she asked me to give my thoughts on today's reading. The title "Jesus Faces Temptations" caught my attention.
Satan tempted Christ when he was hungry and vulnerable. He played off "partial" truths – which we know are really lies! I was thinking about how this applies to my own life. Satan is very smart and knows exactly how to get me. He convinces me that I am unworthy of God's affection and tells me to just "buck up", keep my mouth shut and press on without sharing my struggles with others. After all – what would they think?! Once I get in that funk – I not only alienate myself from others but also from God and his word. When satan tempted Christ, Christ's response was to quote scripture. To speak the TRUTH. He also spent time fasting and praying. So today – when I started believing the "partial" truths (LIES!!!) I walked outside and reminded myself of Jeremiah 3:17. This is the verse that our lady's Bible study is memorizing.
The Lord is always with you, He is mighty to save.
He will take GREAT delight in you;
He will quiet you with His Love;
He will rejoice over you with singing.
Doesn't sound to me like a God that is withholding affection. If I memorize the scriptures, I can pray the scriptures. I can replace the lies with the truth. "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world". That means you and me baby…..
Sheri M. Wills
Sunday, October 21, 2012
October 20, 2012
Creating Silence in our Private Worlds
The Christmas story is probably the most famous story in the Bible. The birth of Jesus changed everything in the universe. So who were the people invited to the birthday party of the King of Kings? It would be good for us to understand who was invited and why they were invited.
Obviously Mary was invited. She was invited because as a teenage girl she had an awesome faith. When informed that she was selected above all the young women of the earth to carry the infant king, she replied, "I am the Lord's servant, may it be to me as you have said." Wow, that is an incredible step of faith.
Joseph was also invited because he put his faith into practice. When he awoke from his dream he simply did exactly what God had instructed him. Maybe he was the first man to ever read the directions and then follow them.
The shepherds and the magi were invited because they weren't too busy. From the Matthew account we find that everyone in
Simeon was at the party. He is described as a man who was righteous and devout. He was also "waiting" for God. "Waiting" is something I struggle with, yet this guy gets a ticket to the party because he has perfected it.
And finally there was Anna the prophetess, a woman who spent her lifetime worshiping, fasting and praying, a woman comfortable with "silence." If CNN were to interview her, I wonder what they would say. This is my guess at their headlines, "84 year old woman has wasted her life." Her lifestyle couldn't be more opposite than life in
Our culture does not like "silent nights" or days. Ever have a conversation with someone and run out of things to talk about? You talk about awkward. We live in a culture where every moment of every day has to be filled with noise. Our days are filled with text messages, Twitter, CNN, MP3s, movies, digital TV, cell phones, news radio,
I am struggling at becoming more like Anna. My performance-oriented personality tells me that silence isn't productive; it can be mistaken as wasting time. People who practice silence are mistaken for lazy people all the time. The culture says that busy people are important people. We tend to think that activity equates significance. So if our calendars are filled up, we must be important. It is clear that God is not impressed with busy lives. God is interested in people who have eliminated the cultural noise and value listening to His voice. Those were the people who were invited to the first birthday party of the King.
So today go for a silent walk with the King. He is no longer an infant King. Just make sure on this walk you don't take your Ipod. Just take your open heart and open ears to listen to his silent whisper.
obedience
21 OCT 2012
Ok here we go the New Testament! Jump on board and start reading today!
Ok I'll keep it short. Todays reading is all about obedience!
The Magi set out on a journey to find this King, many miles from different parts of the world, how why? They read the scriptures and followed them and they were not even Hebrew.
Joseph's flight to Egypt. OBEDIANCE in the middle of the night God said "YO GET UP, TAKE MARY AND JESUS AND GET OUT OF TOWN"! JUST GO, I'LL TELL YOU WHERE TO GO"! Joseph jumped up and left not knowing where they were going or why. Mary was obedient as well. That could have been a heck of a fight. Mary get up we have to leave for Egypt NOW! Mary rolls over sleeping yawns and says "that's nice dear. No! Mary now we have to go Mary and Joe could of dueled that night, but Mary was receptive to God and obedient in general.
Ok Harod was not so obedient with the baby killing thing, but he dies.
Joseph gets told again to relocate so wake up Mary and hit the road.
Mom and Dad loose Jesus for three days. Ruth and I thought we lost Talon one year in South Carolina for what seemed like an eternity lost him long enough to have about 30 people from an outdoor restaurant and the police looking for him. That event has changed both of us forever. So anyone who has lost a child and could not find them we feel your pain. Like Jesus Talon was right where he was supposed to be at the hotel. Jesus was at His Fathers house. I don't know if Mary or Joe felt like this, but when I knew Talon was fine I wanted to choke him, well not really but you get the point.
Mary even said to Jesus "Son why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.
Lastly Jesus we as scripture says He went down to Nazareth with them and He was obedient to them. Amazing the God of the universe yielded to sinful human parents Jesus who had all of the POWER of Heaven and Earth with in him. Humbled Himself to obedience, what an awesome God we serve.
Ok so it wasn't so short.
I'm sure you and I have many ways we need to work on being obedient to Christ daily. This week find one area you will work on and pray that God will give you the strength to obey! I would love to hear what it is you are working on this week.
I will work on praying with my wife something I have always struggled doing. When you see her ask her how I'm doing. Have a blessed day.
Chuck Goulart
President
Anytime Appliance
203-943-0961
"Effective leadership is not about making speeches or being liked; leadership is defined by results not attributes."
Friday, October 19, 2012
Friday, October 19, 2012 - Genealogy of Jesus
Friday, October 19, 2012
Genealogy of Jesus
Today's reading lists the two accounts of the genealogy of Jesus in
the New Testament. The first account is in the Gospel of Matthew and
the second is in the Gospel of Luke. Here are some highlights on
Jesus' genealogy:
1. While Matthew's account traces Jesus' lineage paternally, Luke's
account traces Jesus' lineage maternally. This information combined
with the fact that King David is listed in both genealogies
demonstrates Jesus' link to the house of David on both sides of His
family – fulfills the prophecy that the Messiah would be of the "seed
of David."
2. The wicked and the righteous are listed in the genealogy of Jesus
demonstrating God's love for all people, including those who have
turned away from Him.
3. Four women listed early in Matthew's account include Tamar, Rahab,
Ruth, and Bathsheba – the mention of women during this time when
genealogies were so focused on men is extraordinary.
a) Tamar – birthed Perez (an ancestor of King David) by way of
her father-in-law Judah (one of the twelve tribes of Israel). Based on
the circumstances, Tamar's act was seen as holy (you'll have to go
back and read the story if you don't remember), but Judah, who did not
know Tamar's identity was acting in sin – Despite the mess we are, God
loves us.
b) Rahab – the Canaanite prostitute who helped the Israelites spy
on the Promised Land before they conquered it – God showing His love
here for Gentiles and sinners.
c) Ruth – the Moabite who followed after the God of Israel – God
showing his love once again for Gentiles – Jesus was the savior of the
world (Jews and Gentiles)
d) Bathsheba – birthed Solomon by way of King David. Remember,
Bathsheba was the "wife of Uriah," who David had killed so that he
could take Bathsheba for himself – again, God showing his mercy when
we fall short of the glory of God.
Jesus is the Son of God, the spotless Lamb of God, and is equal with
God and the Holy Spirit. Yet He shows His love and redemption of the
world even in His lineage. Both the righteous and wicked, Jews and
Gentiles would all be saved through belief in Him. This day, let's
praise our Savior.
God Bless,
Anthony
Genealogy of Jesus
Today's reading lists the two accounts of the genealogy of Jesus in
the New Testament. The first account is in the Gospel of Matthew and
the second is in the Gospel of Luke. Here are some highlights on
Jesus' genealogy:
1. While Matthew's account traces Jesus' lineage paternally, Luke's
account traces Jesus' lineage maternally. This information combined
with the fact that King David is listed in both genealogies
demonstrates Jesus' link to the house of David on both sides of His
family – fulfills the prophecy that the Messiah would be of the "seed
of David."
2. The wicked and the righteous are listed in the genealogy of Jesus
demonstrating God's love for all people, including those who have
turned away from Him.
3. Four women listed early in Matthew's account include Tamar, Rahab,
Ruth, and Bathsheba – the mention of women during this time when
genealogies were so focused on men is extraordinary.
a) Tamar – birthed Perez (an ancestor of King David) by way of
her father-in-law Judah (one of the twelve tribes of Israel). Based on
the circumstances, Tamar's act was seen as holy (you'll have to go
back and read the story if you don't remember), but Judah, who did not
know Tamar's identity was acting in sin – Despite the mess we are, God
loves us.
b) Rahab – the Canaanite prostitute who helped the Israelites spy
on the Promised Land before they conquered it – God showing His love
here for Gentiles and sinners.
c) Ruth – the Moabite who followed after the God of Israel – God
showing his love once again for Gentiles – Jesus was the savior of the
world (Jews and Gentiles)
d) Bathsheba – birthed Solomon by way of King David. Remember,
Bathsheba was the "wife of Uriah," who David had killed so that he
could take Bathsheba for himself – again, God showing his mercy when
we fall short of the glory of God.
Jesus is the Son of God, the spotless Lamb of God, and is equal with
God and the Holy Spirit. Yet He shows His love and redemption of the
world even in His lineage. Both the righteous and wicked, Jews and
Gentiles would all be saved through belief in Him. This day, let's
praise our Savior.
God Bless,
Anthony
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
Our Journey
I was a history major in college so I really enjoyed today's reading. I spent a lot of time focused on Latin American history and Jewish history, so semesters of classes were wrapped up in these few pages J Looking at today's reading, know that there is a lot going on with the Israeli people. As the writer ended, this is not the same nation that saw Mt. Sinai. This is not the same people who wandered the desert, who lived under the judges, who saw the first temple, and who were captured and lived in Babylon. The nation has evolved and there are pockets of Jews all over the lands. They are in Present day Europe, North Africa, Greece, and as Far East as India. They still hold on to their rituals and with the one temple still in Jerusalem (destroyed again as we just read,) the culture and religion has adapted. These decades shape the Jewish people that Jesus entered: synagogues, rabbis ("teachers",) new religious beliefs, and different interpretations of the scriptures. The government is different within the Jewish nation and in the secular world, as they know it. We see the stories that Shakespeare and Hollywood brought to life.
There is a lot of information in these pages covering centuries, but as we begin the New Testament tomorrow, this is where we are:
· Rome is the world power, but Greek influence is still very heavy (The New Testament was written in Greek vs. Hebrew)
· King Herod is the governor of the Jewish land, his capital is Jerusalem
· The Pharisees and Sadducees are in power within the Jewish culture
· Rabbis are the new priests…they are teachers and known for their wisdom
· The Jewish people have still gone thorough much violence, are still ruled by Gentiles, and are still waiting for a Messiah – or Savior to take back their land, religion, and culture from all others (Rome) and can only be attained through force.
· The voice of God has not been heard on about 400 years. The prophets no longer exist.
This is the Jewish world that Jesus is entering.
Like the Hebrews, we have journeyed together the last 10 months from the Garden of Eden, to Egypt, wandered the desert, we conquered tribes to enter the Promised Land. We marched with Joshua around Jericho, prayed with Deborah, fought Goliath, and saw the Temple built. Together we have seen Godly kings and evil kings. Our brothers have been split and dispersed to other far away lands. We heard the voices of the prophets, and saw God's grace returning home. We have been on a great journey together through the Old Testament and I thank you for being a part of it. I pray that you have come to know a great God. We have seen who God is and the most amazing part is that He is the same as we enter the New Testament. Even better than that, is that He is the God I trust in today. We have seen God as Almighty, Bountiful, Creator, Deliverer, Eternal, Faithful, Good….Jealous, Kind, Love, Merciful, Never-Tiring…Worthy, eXalted, Yahweh, and Zealous.
As we start the New Testament don't forget the journey that we all have gone through with the Jews. We will see the OT time and time again in the books ahead. Don't ever stop praying for God's people. We have seen why the world needs a Savior and why Jesus came. He came to save these people. He came to save us. Never stop praying for the nation of Israel. Never stop thanking God for His wisdom and for loving us first.
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