Thursday, May 31, 2012
1 Sam 6:10-12
They hitched two cows to the cart, put their calves in the barn, 11 and placed the Chest of GOD and the sack of gold rats and tumors on the cart. 12 The cows headed straight for home, down the road to Beth Shemesh, straying neither right nor left, mooing all the way. The Philistine leaders followed them to the outskirts of Beth Shemesh.
Humans think that money is the answer to everything-even an answer to God as if money is more powerful than God! Nope!
They hitched two cows to the cart, put their calves in the barn, 11 and placed the Chest of GOD and the sack of gold rats and tumors on the cart. 12 The cows headed straight for home, down the road to Beth Shemesh, straying neither right nor left, mooing all the way. The Philistine leaders followed them to the outskirts of Beth Shemesh.
Humans think that money is the answer to everything-even an answer to God as if money is more powerful than God! Nope!
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Judg 7:2-7
2 GOD said to Gideon, "You have too large an army with you. I can't turn Midian over to them like this — they'll take all the credit, saying, 'I did it all myself,' and forget about me. 3 Make a public announcement: 'Anyone afraid, anyone who has any qualms at all, may leave Mount Gilead now and go home.'" Twenty-two companies headed for home. Ten companies were left.
4 GOD said to Gideon: "There are still too many. Take them down to the stream and I'll make a final cut. When I say, 'This one goes with you,' he'll go. When I say, 'This one doesn't go,' he won't go." 5 So Gideon took the troops down to the stream.
GOD said to Gideon: "Everyone who laps with his tongue, the way a dog laps, set on one side. And everyone who kneels to drink, drinking with his face to the water, set to the other side." 6 Three hundred lapped with their tongues from their cupped hands. All the rest knelt to drink.
7 GOD said to Gideon: "I'll use the three hundred men who lapped at the stream to save you and give Midian into your hands. All the rest may go home."
The great reversal…
2 GOD said to Gideon, "You have too large an army with you. I can't turn Midian over to them like this — they'll take all the credit, saying, 'I did it all myself,' and forget about me. 3 Make a public announcement: 'Anyone afraid, anyone who has any qualms at all, may leave Mount Gilead now and go home.'" Twenty-two companies headed for home. Ten companies were left.
4 GOD said to Gideon: "There are still too many. Take them down to the stream and I'll make a final cut. When I say, 'This one goes with you,' he'll go. When I say, 'This one doesn't go,' he won't go." 5 So Gideon took the troops down to the stream.
GOD said to Gideon: "Everyone who laps with his tongue, the way a dog laps, set on one side. And everyone who kneels to drink, drinking with his face to the water, set to the other side." 6 Three hundred lapped with their tongues from their cupped hands. All the rest knelt to drink.
7 GOD said to Gideon: "I'll use the three hundred men who lapped at the stream to save you and give Midian into your hands. All the rest may go home."
The great reversal…
Josh 7:1-18
Then the People of Israel violated the holy curse. Achan son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah of the tribe of Judah, took some of the cursed things. GOD became angry with the People of Israel.
2 Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai (The Ruin), which is near Beth Aven just east of Bethel. He instructed them, "Go up and spy out the land." The men went up and spied out Ai.
3 They returned to Joshua and reported, "Don't bother sending a lot of people — two or three thousand men are enough to defeat Ai. Don't wear out the whole army; there aren't that many people there."
4 So three thousand men went up — and then fled in defeat before the men of Ai! 5 The men of Ai killed thirty-six — chased them from the city gate as far as The Quarries, killing them at the descent. The heart of the people sank, all spirit knocked out of them.
6 Joshua ripped his clothes and fell on his face to the ground before the Chest of GOD, he and the leaders throwing dirt on their heads, prostrate until evening.
7 Joshua said, "Oh, oh, oh . . . Master, GOD. Why did you insist on bringing this people across the Jordan? To make us victims of the Amorites? To wipe us out? Why didn't we just settle down on the east side of the Jordan? 8 Oh, Master, what can I say after this, after Israel has been run off by its enemies? 9 When the Canaanites and all the others living here get wind of this, they'll gang up on us and make short work of us — and then how will you keep up your reputation?"
10 GOD said to Joshua, "Get up. Why are you groveling? 11 Israel has sinned: They've broken the covenant I commanded them; they've taken forbidden plunder — stolen and then covered up the theft, squirreling it away with their own stuff. 12 The People of Israel can no longer look their enemies in the eye — they themselves are plunder. I can't continue with you if you don't rid yourselves of the cursed things.
13 "So get started. Purify the people. Tell them: Get ready for tomorrow by purifying yourselves. For this is what GOD, the God of Israel, says: There are cursed things in the camp. You won't be able to face your enemies until you have gotten rid of these cursed things.
14 "First thing in the morning you will be called up by tribes. The tribe GOD names will come up clan by clan; the clan GOD names will come up family by family; and the family GOD names will come up man by man. 15 The person found with the cursed things will be burned, he and everything he has, because he broke GOD's covenant and did this despicable thing in Israel."
16 Joshua was up at the crack of dawn and called Israel up tribe by tribe. The tribe of Judah was singled out. 17 Then he called up the clans and singled out the Zerahites. He called up the Zerahite families and singled out the Zabdi family. 18 He called up the family members one by one and singled out Achan son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah of the tribe of Judah.
This is in the Bible to warn us of how much God sees everything that we do! Achan thought that no one saw him do this and they probably didn’t but God saw him and punished him. We are no different! God sees us too and if we look to other things instead of Him we will be punished too!
Then the People of Israel violated the holy curse. Achan son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah of the tribe of Judah, took some of the cursed things. GOD became angry with the People of Israel.
2 Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai (The Ruin), which is near Beth Aven just east of Bethel. He instructed them, "Go up and spy out the land." The men went up and spied out Ai.
3 They returned to Joshua and reported, "Don't bother sending a lot of people — two or three thousand men are enough to defeat Ai. Don't wear out the whole army; there aren't that many people there."
4 So three thousand men went up — and then fled in defeat before the men of Ai! 5 The men of Ai killed thirty-six — chased them from the city gate as far as The Quarries, killing them at the descent. The heart of the people sank, all spirit knocked out of them.
6 Joshua ripped his clothes and fell on his face to the ground before the Chest of GOD, he and the leaders throwing dirt on their heads, prostrate until evening.
7 Joshua said, "Oh, oh, oh . . . Master, GOD. Why did you insist on bringing this people across the Jordan? To make us victims of the Amorites? To wipe us out? Why didn't we just settle down on the east side of the Jordan? 8 Oh, Master, what can I say after this, after Israel has been run off by its enemies? 9 When the Canaanites and all the others living here get wind of this, they'll gang up on us and make short work of us — and then how will you keep up your reputation?"
10 GOD said to Joshua, "Get up. Why are you groveling? 11 Israel has sinned: They've broken the covenant I commanded them; they've taken forbidden plunder — stolen and then covered up the theft, squirreling it away with their own stuff. 12 The People of Israel can no longer look their enemies in the eye — they themselves are plunder. I can't continue with you if you don't rid yourselves of the cursed things.
13 "So get started. Purify the people. Tell them: Get ready for tomorrow by purifying yourselves. For this is what GOD, the God of Israel, says: There are cursed things in the camp. You won't be able to face your enemies until you have gotten rid of these cursed things.
14 "First thing in the morning you will be called up by tribes. The tribe GOD names will come up clan by clan; the clan GOD names will come up family by family; and the family GOD names will come up man by man. 15 The person found with the cursed things will be burned, he and everything he has, because he broke GOD's covenant and did this despicable thing in Israel."
16 Joshua was up at the crack of dawn and called Israel up tribe by tribe. The tribe of Judah was singled out. 17 Then he called up the clans and singled out the Zerahites. He called up the Zerahite families and singled out the Zabdi family. 18 He called up the family members one by one and singled out Achan son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah of the tribe of Judah.
This is in the Bible to warn us of how much God sees everything that we do! Achan thought that no one saw him do this and they probably didn’t but God saw him and punished him. We are no different! God sees us too and if we look to other things instead of Him we will be punished too!
Josh 6:1-5
Jericho was shut up tight as a drum because of the People of Israel: no one going in, no one coming out.
2 GOD spoke to Joshua, "Look sharp now. I've already given Jericho to you, along with its king and its crack troops. 3 Here's what you are to do: March around the city, all your soldiers. Circle the city once. Repeat this for six days. 4 Have seven priests carry seven ram's horn trumpets in front of the Chest. On the seventh day march around the city seven times, the priests blowing away on the trumpets. 5 And then, a long blast on the ram's horn — when you hear that, all the people are to shout at the top of their lungs. The city wall will collapse at once. All the people are to enter, every man straight on in."
This is a good example of faith. This wasn’t something that THEY could do, rather this was about what God had done.
Jericho was shut up tight as a drum because of the People of Israel: no one going in, no one coming out.
2 GOD spoke to Joshua, "Look sharp now. I've already given Jericho to you, along with its king and its crack troops. 3 Here's what you are to do: March around the city, all your soldiers. Circle the city once. Repeat this for six days. 4 Have seven priests carry seven ram's horn trumpets in front of the Chest. On the seventh day march around the city seven times, the priests blowing away on the trumpets. 5 And then, a long blast on the ram's horn — when you hear that, all the people are to shout at the top of their lungs. The city wall will collapse at once. All the people are to enter, every man straight on in."
This is a good example of faith. This wasn’t something that THEY could do, rather this was about what God had done.
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Josh 4:23-24
23 "Yes, GOD, your God, dried up the Jordan's waters for you until you had crossed, just as GOD, your God, did at the Red Sea, which had dried up before us until we had crossed. 24 This was so that everybody on earth would recognize how strong GOD's rescuing hand is and so that you would hold GOD in solemn reverence always."
23 "Yes, GOD, your God, dried up the Jordan's waters for you until you had crossed, just as GOD, your God, did at the Red Sea, which had dried up before us until we had crossed. 24 This was so that everybody on earth would recognize how strong GOD's rescuing hand is and so that you would hold GOD in solemn reverence always."
Josh 3:15-16
15 When the priests got to the Jordan and their feet touched the water at the edge (the Jordan overflows its banks throughout the harvest), 16 the flow of water stopped. It piled up in a heap — a long way off — at Adam, which is near Zarethan. The river went dry all the way down to the Arabah Sea (the Salt Sea). And the people crossed, facing Jericho.
This same thing happened to the Red Sea!
15 When the priests got to the Jordan and their feet touched the water at the edge (the Jordan overflows its banks throughout the harvest), 16 the flow of water stopped. It piled up in a heap — a long way off — at Adam, which is near Zarethan. The river went dry all the way down to the Arabah Sea (the Salt Sea). And the people crossed, facing Jericho.
This same thing happened to the Red Sea!
Let’s talk about the world. Isn’t income something that you can’t live without? Aren’t colleges something that you can’t really succeed without? Don’t people work to earn income which is then used for colleges? Don’t people consider it to be usual to have student debt? God didn’t plan this for us. He created us not to earn income or got to college! He created us to glorify Himself.
Deut 6:6-9
Write God’s commandments on your hearts. Get them inside of you 7 and then get them inside your children. Talk about them wherever you are, sitting at home or walking in the street; talk about them from the time you get up in the morning to when you fall into bed at night. 8 Tie them on your hands and foreheads as a reminder; 9 inscribe them on the doorposts of your homes and on your city gates.
Are you doing this?
Write God’s commandments on your hearts. Get them inside of you 7 and then get them inside your children. Talk about them wherever you are, sitting at home or walking in the street; talk about them from the time you get up in the morning to when you fall into bed at night. 8 Tie them on your hands and foreheads as a reminder; 9 inscribe them on the doorposts of your homes and on your city gates.
Are you doing this?
Monday, May 28, 2012
Num 14:20-23
20 GOD said, "I forgive them, honoring your words. 21 But as I live and as the Glory of GOD fills the whole Earth — 22 not a single person of those who saw my Glory, saw the miracle signs I did in Egypt and the wilderness, and who have tested me over and over and over again, turning a deaf ear to me — 23 not one of them will set eyes on the land I so solemnly promised to their ancestors. No one who has treated me with such repeated contempt will see it.
Why have I never heard a sermon on this? It’s a key point in the Bible! Are we turning a deaf ear?
20 GOD said, "I forgive them, honoring your words. 21 But as I live and as the Glory of GOD fills the whole Earth — 22 not a single person of those who saw my Glory, saw the miracle signs I did in Egypt and the wilderness, and who have tested me over and over and over again, turning a deaf ear to me — 23 not one of them will set eyes on the land I so solemnly promised to their ancestors. No one who has treated me with such repeated contempt will see it.
Why have I never heard a sermon on this? It’s a key point in the Bible! Are we turning a deaf ear?
Humans have to make a very important and difficult decision. The have got to decide one of the following things:
- To either live for the world’s standards to make Society happy
Or
- To either live for God’s standards to make God happy
If they choose to live by the world’s standards and make society happy, they will live well in this world but not in eternity, however if they choose to live by God’s standards they won’t make society happy but they will live well in eternity. They have to wait for (have faith) the benefit until later which makes total sense because we can’t see God now but we will see Him later.
- To either live for the world’s standards to make Society happy
Or
- To either live for God’s standards to make God happy
If they choose to live by the world’s standards and make society happy, they will live well in this world but not in eternity, however if they choose to live by God’s standards they won’t make society happy but they will live well in eternity. They have to wait for (have faith) the benefit until later which makes total sense because we can’t see God now but we will see Him later.
Sunday, May 27, 2012
Ex 24:9-11
9 Then they climbed the mountain — Moses and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel — 10 and saw the God of Israel. He was standing on a pavement of something like sapphires — pure, clear sky-blue. 11 He didn't hurt these pillar-leaders of the Israelites: They saw God; and they ate and drank.
They saw God; and they ate and drank.
9 Then they climbed the mountain — Moses and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel — 10 and saw the God of Israel. He was standing on a pavement of something like sapphires — pure, clear sky-blue. 11 He didn't hurt these pillar-leaders of the Israelites: They saw God; and they ate and drank.
They saw God; and they ate and drank.
Ex 18:24-27
24 Moses listened to the counsel of his father-in-law and did everything he said. 25 Moses picked competent men from all Israel and set them as leaders over the people who were organized by the thousand, by the hundred, by fifty, and by ten. 26 They took over the everyday work of judging among the people. They brought the hard cases to Moses, but in the routine cases they were the judges. 27 Then Moses said good-bye to his father-in-law who went home to his own country.
Today people insist on doing everything by themselves.
24 Moses listened to the counsel of his father-in-law and did everything he said. 25 Moses picked competent men from all Israel and set them as leaders over the people who were organized by the thousand, by the hundred, by fifty, and by ten. 26 They took over the everyday work of judging among the people. They brought the hard cases to Moses, but in the routine cases they were the judges. 27 Then Moses said good-bye to his father-in-law who went home to his own country.
Today people insist on doing everything by themselves.
Ex 15:22-24
Moses led Israel from the Red Sea on to the Wilderness of Shur. They traveled for three days through the wilderness without finding any water. 23 They got to Marah, but they couldn't drink the water at Marah; it was bitter. That's why they called the place Marah (Bitter). 24 And the people complained to Moses,
After God had done incredible things for them they complaied…
Moses led Israel from the Red Sea on to the Wilderness of Shur. They traveled for three days through the wilderness without finding any water. 23 They got to Marah, but they couldn't drink the water at Marah; it was bitter. That's why they called the place Marah (Bitter). 24 And the people complained to Moses,
After God had done incredible things for them they complaied…
Ex 13:17
17 It so happened that after Pharaoh released the people, God didn't lead them by the road through the land of the Philistines, which was the shortest route
When God puts you on a route, it may not be the easiest route for you but He is there with you and He, not you, put you there, so trust Him and not yourself
17 It so happened that after Pharaoh released the people, God didn't lead them by the road through the land of the Philistines, which was the shortest route
When God puts you on a route, it may not be the easiest route for you but He is there with you and He, not you, put you there, so trust Him and not yourself
Saturday, May 26, 2012
Gen 48:19-20
19 But his father wouldn't do it. He said, "I know, my son; but I know what I'm doing. He also will develop into a people, and he also will be great. But his younger brother will be even greater and his descendants will enrich nations." 20 Then he blessed them both:
This is the great reversal.
19 But his father wouldn't do it. He said, "I know, my son; but I know what I'm doing. He also will develop into a people, and he also will be great. But his younger brother will be even greater and his descendants will enrich nations." 20 Then he blessed them both:
This is the great reversal.
Gen 42:25
25 Then Joseph ordered that their sacks be filled with grain, that their money be put back in each sack, and that they be given rations for the road. That was all done for them.
Joseph had still been sold but God was in what was happening and in the end it says: “That was all done for them”. It gives no credit to Joseph only to God.
25 Then Joseph ordered that their sacks be filled with grain, that their money be put back in each sack, and that they be given rations for the road. That was all done for them.
Joseph had still been sold but God was in what was happening and in the end it says: “That was all done for them”. It gives no credit to Joseph only to God.
A disabled person is not actually dis abled rather a disabled person is actually more abled than a normal person because a normal person only thinks and sees things from the perspective of a normal person whereas a disabled person thinks and sees things from 2 perspectives, both their perspective and the perspective of a normal person! So to be called disabled is actually a good thing! Normal people earn degrees for dealing with disabled people but disabled people (who are MORE abled) only earn problems.
Friday, May 25, 2012
Gen 30:31-32
You don't have to pay me a thing. But how about this? I will go back to pasture and care for your flocks. 32 Go through your entire flock today and take out every speckled or spotted sheep, every dark-colored lamb, every spotted or speckled goat. They will be my wages.
This is the great reversal. Our wages are not what people will call “the best”! We have to be happy with that.
You don't have to pay me a thing. But how about this? I will go back to pasture and care for your flocks. 32 Go through your entire flock today and take out every speckled or spotted sheep, every dark-colored lamb, every spotted or speckled goat. They will be my wages.
This is the great reversal. Our wages are not what people will call “the best”! We have to be happy with that.
Gen 22:2
God said, "Take your dear son Isaac whom you love and go to the land of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains that I'll point out to you."
God had promised Abraham this son and now told him to sacrifice the boy which shows you that what you can see and know is not everything! Just like with circumcision, you have to take what seems most valuable to you and give it to God and that is important to know.
God said, "Take your dear son Isaac whom you love and go to the land of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains that I'll point out to you."
God had promised Abraham this son and now told him to sacrifice the boy which shows you that what you can see and know is not everything! Just like with circumcision, you have to take what seems most valuable to you and give it to God and that is important to know.
Gen 17:17
17 Abraham fell flat on his face. And then he laughed, thinking, "Can a hundred-year-old man father a son? And can Sarah, at ninety years, have a baby?"
Sarah was way too old to get pregnant! This was in advance of an unmarried virgin getting pregnant. To us it’s an impossibility but not to God. The great reversal.
17 Abraham fell flat on his face. And then he laughed, thinking, "Can a hundred-year-old man father a son? And can Sarah, at ninety years, have a baby?"
Sarah was way too old to get pregnant! This was in advance of an unmarried virgin getting pregnant. To us it’s an impossibility but not to God. The great reversal.
Gen 14:22-23
22 But Abram told the king of Sodom, "I swear to GOD, The High God, Creator of Heaven and Earth, this solemn oath, 23 that I'll take nothing from you, not so much as a thread or a shoestring.
Abram wouldn’t take a thing from someone so that no one could say: “I made him rich!” and that is to teach us to do the same.
22 But Abram told the king of Sodom, "I swear to GOD, The High God, Creator of Heaven and Earth, this solemn oath, 23 that I'll take nothing from you, not so much as a thread or a shoestring.
Abram wouldn’t take a thing from someone so that no one could say: “I made him rich!” and that is to teach us to do the same.
Thursday, May 24, 2012
Gen 3:6
6 When the Woman saw that the tree looked like good eating and realized what she would get out of it — she'd know everything! — she took and ate the fruit and then gave some to her husband, and he ate.
Eve believed Satan’s opinion rather than what God had said. We as humans face the same problem. The Bible is God speaking to us so we have to go with what He says and not opinions.
6 When the Woman saw that the tree looked like good eating and realized what she would get out of it — she'd know everything! — she took and ate the fruit and then gave some to her husband, and he ate.
Eve believed Satan’s opinion rather than what God had said. We as humans face the same problem. The Bible is God speaking to us so we have to go with what He says and not opinions.
Gen 3:2-4
2 The Woman said to the serpent, "Not at all. We can eat from the trees in the garden. 3 It's only about the tree in the middle of the garden that God said, 'Don't eat from it; don't even touch it or you'll die.'"
4 The serpent told the Woman, "You won't die.”
This was Satan’s opinion and it was wrong.
2 The Woman said to the serpent, "Not at all. We can eat from the trees in the garden. 3 It's only about the tree in the middle of the garden that God said, 'Don't eat from it; don't even touch it or you'll die.'"
4 The serpent told the Woman, "You won't die.”
This was Satan’s opinion and it was wrong.
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
1 John 4:1
My dear friends, don't believe everything you hear. Carefully weigh and examine what people tell you. Not everyone who talks about God comes from God. There are a lot of lying preachers loose in the world.
I have done this and I wasn’t pleased with the outcome, but the proof is the proof.
My dear friends, don't believe everything you hear. Carefully weigh and examine what people tell you. Not everyone who talks about God comes from God. There are a lot of lying preachers loose in the world.
I have done this and I wasn’t pleased with the outcome, but the proof is the proof.
1 John 2:16-17
16 Practically everything that goes on in the world — wanting your own way, wanting everything for yourself, wanting to appear important — has nothing to do with the Father. It just isolates you from him. 17 The world and all its wanting, wanting, wanting is on the way out — but whoever does what God wants is set for eternity.
16 Practically everything that goes on in the world — wanting your own way, wanting everything for yourself, wanting to appear important — has nothing to do with the Father. It just isolates you from him. 17 The world and all its wanting, wanting, wanting is on the way out — but whoever does what God wants is set for eternity.
1 Peter 4:10-11
11 if words, let it be God's words; if help, let it be God's hearty help. That way, God's bright presence will be evident in everything through Jesus, and he'll get all the credit as the One mighty in everything — encores to the end of time. Oh, yes!
The key here is not to take credit for things-give all the credit to God!
11 if words, let it be God's words; if help, let it be God's hearty help. That way, God's bright presence will be evident in everything through Jesus, and he'll get all the credit as the One mighty in everything — encores to the end of time. Oh, yes!
The key here is not to take credit for things-give all the credit to God!
1 Peter 2:11-12
11 Friends, this world is not your home, so don't make yourselves cozy in it. Don't indulge your ego at the expense of your soul. 12 Live an exemplary life among the natives so that your actions will refute their prejudices. Then they'll be won over to God's side and be there to join in the celebration when he arrives.
11 Friends, this world is not your home, so don't make yourselves cozy in it. Don't indulge your ego at the expense of your soul. 12 Live an exemplary life among the natives so that your actions will refute their prejudices. Then they'll be won over to God's side and be there to join in the celebration when he arrives.
1 Peter 2:4-5
Welcome to the living Stone, the source of life. The workmen took one look and threw it out; God set it in the place of honor. 5 Present yourselves as building stones for the construction of a sanctuary vibrant with life, in which you'll serve as holy priests offering Christ-approved lives up to God.
I could not honestly hope or wish for more than I already have.
Welcome to the living Stone, the source of life. The workmen took one look and threw it out; God set it in the place of honor. 5 Present yourselves as building stones for the construction of a sanctuary vibrant with life, in which you'll serve as holy priests offering Christ-approved lives up to God.
I could not honestly hope or wish for more than I already have.
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Heb 13:11-12
11 In the old system, the animals are killed and the bodies disposed of outside the camp. The blood is then brought inside to the altar as a sacrifice for sin. 12 It's the same with Jesus. He was crucified outside the city gates — that is where he poured out the sacrificial blood that was brought to God's altar to cleanse his people.
11 In the old system, the animals are killed and the bodies disposed of outside the camp. The blood is then brought inside to the altar as a sacrifice for sin. 12 It's the same with Jesus. He was crucified outside the city gates — that is where he poured out the sacrificial blood that was brought to God's altar to cleanse his people.
Heb 12:11
11 At the time, discipline isn't much fun. It always feels like it's going against the grain. Later, of course, it pays off handsomely, for it's the well-trained who find themselves mature in their relationship with God.
It’s not fun to live in a wheelchair but I’m not looking at right now I’m looking forard to Heaven!I can't see it now but I have faith.
11 At the time, discipline isn't much fun. It always feels like it's going against the grain. Later, of course, it pays off handsomely, for it's the well-trained who find themselves mature in their relationship with God.
It’s not fun to live in a wheelchair but I’m not looking at right now I’m looking forard to Heaven!I can't see it now but I have faith.
Heb 11:3-14
3 By faith, we see the world called into existence by God's word, what we see created by what we don't see.
4 By an act of faith, Abel brought a better sacrifice to God than Cain. It was what he believed, not what he brought, that made the difference. That's what God noticed and approved as righteous. After all these centuries, that belief continues to catch our notice.
5 By an act of faith, Enoch skipped death completely. "They looked all over and couldn't find him because God had taken him." We know on the basis of reliable testimony that before he was taken "he pleased God." 6 It's impossible to please God apart from faith. And why? Because anyone who wants to approach God must believe both that he exists and that he cares enough to respond to those who seek him.
7 By faith, Noah built a ship in the middle of dry land. He was warned about something he couldn't see, and acted on what he was told. The result? His family was saved. His act of faith drew a sharp line between the evil of the unbelieving world and the rightness of the believing world. As a result, Noah became intimate with God.
8 By an act of faith, Abraham said yes to God's call to travel to an unknown place that would become his home. When he left he had no idea where he was going. 9 By an act of faith he lived in the country promised him, lived as a stranger camping in tents. Isaac and Jacob did the same, living under the same promise. 10 Abraham did it by keeping his eye on an unseen city with real, eternal foundations — the City designed and built by God.
11 By faith, barren Sarah was able to become pregnant, old woman as she was at the time, because she believed the One who made a promise would do what he said. 12 That's how it happened that from one man's dead and shriveled loins there are now people numbering into the millions.
13 Each one of these people of faith died not yet having in hand what was promised, but still believing. How did they do it? They saw it way off in the distance, waved their greeting, and accepted the fact that they were transients in this world. 14 People who live this way make it plain that they are looking for their true home.
Eye candy is not faith.
3 By faith, we see the world called into existence by God's word, what we see created by what we don't see.
4 By an act of faith, Abel brought a better sacrifice to God than Cain. It was what he believed, not what he brought, that made the difference. That's what God noticed and approved as righteous. After all these centuries, that belief continues to catch our notice.
5 By an act of faith, Enoch skipped death completely. "They looked all over and couldn't find him because God had taken him." We know on the basis of reliable testimony that before he was taken "he pleased God." 6 It's impossible to please God apart from faith. And why? Because anyone who wants to approach God must believe both that he exists and that he cares enough to respond to those who seek him.
7 By faith, Noah built a ship in the middle of dry land. He was warned about something he couldn't see, and acted on what he was told. The result? His family was saved. His act of faith drew a sharp line between the evil of the unbelieving world and the rightness of the believing world. As a result, Noah became intimate with God.
8 By an act of faith, Abraham said yes to God's call to travel to an unknown place that would become his home. When he left he had no idea where he was going. 9 By an act of faith he lived in the country promised him, lived as a stranger camping in tents. Isaac and Jacob did the same, living under the same promise. 10 Abraham did it by keeping his eye on an unseen city with real, eternal foundations — the City designed and built by God.
11 By faith, barren Sarah was able to become pregnant, old woman as she was at the time, because she believed the One who made a promise would do what he said. 12 That's how it happened that from one man's dead and shriveled loins there are now people numbering into the millions.
13 Each one of these people of faith died not yet having in hand what was promised, but still believing. How did they do it? They saw it way off in the distance, waved their greeting, and accepted the fact that they were transients in this world. 14 People who live this way make it plain that they are looking for their true home.
Eye candy is not faith.
Heb 6:1
6:1 So come on, let's leave the preschool finger painting exercises on Christ and get on with the grand work of art. Grow up in Christ. The basic foundational truths are in place: turning your back on "salvation by self-help" and turning in trust toward God
What “you do” means nothing but what “God does” means everything! That’s why our praise of each other is meaningless because it’s a form of self-help. The Earth is the “Garden of Eden” and praise of each other is the same as Satan’s opinion which cost Adam and Eve everything. I don’t want to lose everything!
6:1 So come on, let's leave the preschool finger painting exercises on Christ and get on with the grand work of art. Grow up in Christ. The basic foundational truths are in place: turning your back on "salvation by self-help" and turning in trust toward God
What “you do” means nothing but what “God does” means everything! That’s why our praise of each other is meaningless because it’s a form of self-help. The Earth is the “Garden of Eden” and praise of each other is the same as Satan’s opinion which cost Adam and Eve everything. I don’t want to lose everything!
Heb 3:16-19
who were the people who turned a deaf ear? Weren't they the very ones Moses led out of Egypt? 17 And who was God provoked with for forty years? Wasn't it those who turned a deaf ear and ended up corpses in the wilderness? 18 And when he swore that they'd never get where they were going, wasn't he talking to the ones who turned a deaf ear? 19 They never got there because they never listened, never believed.
I have never heard a sermon on this but it’s in the Bible. Listen and don’t turn a deaf ear.
who were the people who turned a deaf ear? Weren't they the very ones Moses led out of Egypt? 17 And who was God provoked with for forty years? Wasn't it those who turned a deaf ear and ended up corpses in the wilderness? 18 And when he swore that they'd never get where they were going, wasn't he talking to the ones who turned a deaf ear? 19 They never got there because they never listened, never believed.
I have never heard a sermon on this but it’s in the Bible. Listen and don’t turn a deaf ear.
Heb 3:7-11
the Holy Spirit says, Today, please listen; 8 don't turn a deaf ear as in "the bitter uprising," that time of wilderness testing! 9 Even though they watched me at work for forty years, your ancestors refused to let me do it my way; over and over they tried my patience. 10 And I was provoked, oh, so provoked! I said, "They'll never keep their minds on God; they refuse to walk down my road." 11 Exasperated, I vowed, "They'll never get where they're going, never be able to sit down and rest."
I have never heard a sermon on this!
the Holy Spirit says, Today, please listen; 8 don't turn a deaf ear as in "the bitter uprising," that time of wilderness testing! 9 Even though they watched me at work for forty years, your ancestors refused to let me do it my way; over and over they tried my patience. 10 And I was provoked, oh, so provoked! I said, "They'll never keep their minds on God; they refuse to walk down my road." 11 Exasperated, I vowed, "They'll never get where they're going, never be able to sit down and rest."
I have never heard a sermon on this!
Heb 2:14-15
14 Since the children are made of flesh and blood, it's logical that the Savior took on flesh and blood in order to rescue them by his death. By embracing death, taking it into himself, he destroyed the Devil's hold on death 15 and freed all who cower through life, scared to death of death
14 Since the children are made of flesh and blood, it's logical that the Savior took on flesh and blood in order to rescue them by his death. By embracing death, taking it into himself, he destroyed the Devil's hold on death 15 and freed all who cower through life, scared to death of death
Titus 2:12-13
12 We're being shown how to turn our backs on a godless, indulgent life, and how to take on a God-filled, God-honoring life. This new life is starting right now, 13 and is whetting our appetites for the glorious day when our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, appears.
God-fulfilled, God-honoring life…
12 We're being shown how to turn our backs on a godless, indulgent life, and how to take on a God-filled, God-honoring life. This new life is starting right now, 13 and is whetting our appetites for the glorious day when our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, appears.
God-fulfilled, God-honoring life…
Monday, May 21, 2012
2 Tim 3:1-5
Don't be naive. There are difficult times ahead. 2 As the end approaches, people are going to be self-absorbed, money-hungry, self-promoting, stuck-up, profane, contemptuous of parents, crude, coarse, 3 dog-eat-dog, unbending, slanderers, impulsively wild, savage, cynical, 4 treacherous, ruthless, bloated windbags, addicted to lust, and allergic to God. 5 They'll make a show of religion, but behind the scenes they're animals. Stay clear of these people.
Don't be naive. There are difficult times ahead. 2 As the end approaches, people are going to be self-absorbed, money-hungry, self-promoting, stuck-up, profane, contemptuous of parents, crude, coarse, 3 dog-eat-dog, unbending, slanderers, impulsively wild, savage, cynical, 4 treacherous, ruthless, bloated windbags, addicted to lust, and allergic to God. 5 They'll make a show of religion, but behind the scenes they're animals. Stay clear of these people.
Col 2:2-3
2 I want you woven into a tapestry of love, in touch with everything there is to know of God. Then you will have minds confident and at rest, focused on Christ, God's great mystery. 3 All the richest treasures of wisdom and knowledge are embedded in that mystery and nowhere else. And we've been shown the mystery!
Nowhere else…
2 I want you woven into a tapestry of love, in touch with everything there is to know of God. Then you will have minds confident and at rest, focused on Christ, God's great mystery. 3 All the richest treasures of wisdom and knowledge are embedded in that mystery and nowhere else. And we've been shown the mystery!
Nowhere else…
I have something VERY IMPORTANT to tell you so please read on:
Rom 8:7-8
7 Focusing on the self is the opposite of focusing on God. Anyone completely absorbed in self ignores God, ends up thinking more about self than God. That person ignores who God is and what he is doing. 8 And God isn't pleased at being ignored.
And what does our culture teach us? THAT YOU CAN DO IT! YOU! That’s focusing on yourself which ignores God!
Rom 8:7-8
7 Focusing on the self is the opposite of focusing on God. Anyone completely absorbed in self ignores God, ends up thinking more about self than God. That person ignores who God is and what he is doing. 8 And God isn't pleased at being ignored.
And what does our culture teach us? THAT YOU CAN DO IT! YOU! That’s focusing on yourself which ignores God!
Sunday, May 20, 2012
Col 1:24-25
24 I want you to know how glad I am that it's me sitting here in this wheelchairl and not you. There's a lot of suffering to be entered into in this world — the kind of suffering Christ takes on. I welcome the chance to take my share in the church's part of that suffering. 25 When I became a servant in this church, I experienced this suffering as a sheer gift, God's way of helping me serve you, laying out the whole truth.
24 I want you to know how glad I am that it's me sitting here in this wheelchairl and not you. There's a lot of suffering to be entered into in this world — the kind of suffering Christ takes on. I welcome the chance to take my share in the church's part of that suffering. 25 When I became a servant in this church, I experienced this suffering as a sheer gift, God's way of helping me serve you, laying out the whole truth.
Phil 4:11-13
I don't have a sense of needing anything personally. I've learned by now to be quite content whatever my circumstances. 12 I'm just as happy with little as with much, with much as with little. I've found the recipe for being happy whether full or hungry, hands full or hands empty. 13 Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am.
I don't have a sense of needing anything personally. I've learned by now to be quite content whatever my circumstances. 12 I'm just as happy with little as with much, with much as with little. I've found the recipe for being happy whether full or hungry, hands full or hands empty. 13 Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am.
Phil 4:6-7
6 Don't fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. 7 Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.
6 Don't fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. 7 Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.
Eph 6:12-13
This is for keeps, a life-or-death fight to the finish against the Devil and all his angels.
13 Be prepared. You're up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it's all over but the shouting you'll still be on your feet.
This is not someone’s opinion, THIS IS SCRIPTURE!
This is for keeps, a life-or-death fight to the finish against the Devil and all his angels.
13 Be prepared. You're up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it's all over but the shouting you'll still be on your feet.
This is not someone’s opinion, THIS IS SCRIPTURE!
Eph 6:5-7
5 Servants, respectfully obey your earthly masters but always with an eye to obeying the real master, Christ. 6 Don't just do what you have to do to get by, but work heartily, as Christ's servants doing what God wants you to do. 7 And work with a smile on your face, always keeping in mind that no matter who happens to be giving the orders, you're really serving God.
We are all God’s servants so we are all servants.
5 Servants, respectfully obey your earthly masters but always with an eye to obeying the real master, Christ. 6 Don't just do what you have to do to get by, but work heartily, as Christ's servants doing what God wants you to do. 7 And work with a smile on your face, always keeping in mind that no matter who happens to be giving the orders, you're really serving God.
We are all God’s servants so we are all servants.
I have learned something very important that I want to share with you: neither money nor behavior have a thing to do with forgiveness. Case in point: when Joseph’s brothers (after they had beat him up and sold him as a slave) came to him in Egypt to buy food from him, he quietly gave them back their money along with food.
His compassion for them took precedence over everything else and I believe that is how God is. We are sinners and don’t deserve it and we may be wealthy but God’s compassion for us outweighs everything else.
His compassion for them took precedence over everything else and I believe that is how God is. We are sinners and don’t deserve it and we may be wealthy but God’s compassion for us outweighs everything else.
Eph 2:7-10
7 Now God has us where he wants us, with all the time in this world and the next to shower grace and kindness upon us in Christ Jesus. 8 Saving is all his idea, and all his work. All we do is trust him enough to let him do it. It's God's gift from start to finish! 9 We don't play the major role. If we did, we'd probably go around bragging that we'd done the whole thing! 10 No, we neither make nor save ourselves. God does both the making and saving. He creates each of us by Christ Jesus to join him in the work he does, the good work he has gotten ready for us to do, work we had better be doing.
Work we had better be doing and not taking credit for!
7 Now God has us where he wants us, with all the time in this world and the next to shower grace and kindness upon us in Christ Jesus. 8 Saving is all his idea, and all his work. All we do is trust him enough to let him do it. It's God's gift from start to finish! 9 We don't play the major role. If we did, we'd probably go around bragging that we'd done the whole thing! 10 No, we neither make nor save ourselves. God does both the making and saving. He creates each of us by Christ Jesus to join him in the work he does, the good work he has gotten ready for us to do, work we had better be doing.
Work we had better be doing and not taking credit for!
Eph 1:3-10
4 Long before he laid down earth's foundations, he had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of his love, to be made whole and holy by his love. 5 Long, long ago he decided to adopt us into his family through Jesus Christ. (What pleasure he took in planning this!) 6 He wanted us to enter into the celebration of his lavish gift-giving by the hand of his beloved Son.
7 Because of the sacrifice of the Messiah, his blood poured out on the altar of the Cross, we're a free people — free of penalties and punishment chalked up by all our misdeeds. And not just barely free, either. Abundantly free! 8 He thought of everything, provided for everything we could possibly need, 9 letting us in on the plans he took such delight in making. He set it all out before us in Christ, 10 a long-range plan in which everything would be brought together and summed up in him, everything in deepest heaven, everything on planet earth.
We are God’s long range plan! Planned BEFORE the Earth was formed so what you plan is old news to Him.
4 Long before he laid down earth's foundations, he had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of his love, to be made whole and holy by his love. 5 Long, long ago he decided to adopt us into his family through Jesus Christ. (What pleasure he took in planning this!) 6 He wanted us to enter into the celebration of his lavish gift-giving by the hand of his beloved Son.
7 Because of the sacrifice of the Messiah, his blood poured out on the altar of the Cross, we're a free people — free of penalties and punishment chalked up by all our misdeeds. And not just barely free, either. Abundantly free! 8 He thought of everything, provided for everything we could possibly need, 9 letting us in on the plans he took such delight in making. He set it all out before us in Christ, 10 a long-range plan in which everything would be brought together and summed up in him, everything in deepest heaven, everything on planet earth.
We are God’s long range plan! Planned BEFORE the Earth was formed so what you plan is old news to Him.
Gal 6:15-16
15 Can't you see the central issue in all this? It is not what you and I do — submit to circumcision, reject circumcision. It is what God is doing, and he is creating something totally new, a free life! 16 All who walk by this standard are the true Israel of God — his chosen people. Peace and mercy on them!
15 Can't you see the central issue in all this? It is not what you and I do — submit to circumcision, reject circumcision. It is what God is doing, and he is creating something totally new, a free life! 16 All who walk by this standard are the true Israel of God — his chosen people. Peace and mercy on them!
Gal 6:14
14 For my part, I am going to boast about nothing but the Cross of our Master, Jesus Christ. Because of that Cross, I have been crucified in relation to the world, set free from the stifling atmosphere of pleasing others and fitting into the little patterns that they dictate.
Crucified in relation to the world…
14 For my part, I am going to boast about nothing but the Cross of our Master, Jesus Christ. Because of that Cross, I have been crucified in relation to the world, set free from the stifling atmosphere of pleasing others and fitting into the little patterns that they dictate.
Crucified in relation to the world…
Gal 4:1-10
4:1 Let me show you the implications of this. As long as the heir is a minor, he has no advantage over the slave. Though legally he owns the entire inheritance, 2 he is subject to tutors and administrators until whatever date the father has set for emancipation. 3 That is the way it is with us: When we were minors, we were just like slaves ordered around by simple instructions (the tutors and administrators of this world), with no say in the conduct of our own lives.
4 But when the time arrived that was set by God the Father, God sent his Son, born among us of a woman, born under the conditions of the law so that he might redeem those of us who have been kidnapped by the law. 5 Thus we have been set free to experience our rightful heritage. 6 You can tell for sure that you are now fully adopted as his own children because God sent the Spirit of his Son into our lives crying out, "Papa! Father!" 7 Doesn't that privilege of intimate conversation with God make it plain that you are not a slave, but a child? And if you are a child, you're also an heir, with complete access to the inheritance.
8 Earlier, before you knew God personally, you were enslaved to so-called gods that had nothing of the divine about them. 9 But now that you know the real God — or rather since God knows you — how can you possibly subject yourselves again to those paper tigers? 10 For that is exactly what you do when you are intimidated into scrupulously observing all the traditions, taboos, and superstitions associated with special days and seasons and years.
4:1 Let me show you the implications of this. As long as the heir is a minor, he has no advantage over the slave. Though legally he owns the entire inheritance, 2 he is subject to tutors and administrators until whatever date the father has set for emancipation. 3 That is the way it is with us: When we were minors, we were just like slaves ordered around by simple instructions (the tutors and administrators of this world), with no say in the conduct of our own lives.
4 But when the time arrived that was set by God the Father, God sent his Son, born among us of a woman, born under the conditions of the law so that he might redeem those of us who have been kidnapped by the law. 5 Thus we have been set free to experience our rightful heritage. 6 You can tell for sure that you are now fully adopted as his own children because God sent the Spirit of his Son into our lives crying out, "Papa! Father!" 7 Doesn't that privilege of intimate conversation with God make it plain that you are not a slave, but a child? And if you are a child, you're also an heir, with complete access to the inheritance.
8 Earlier, before you knew God personally, you were enslaved to so-called gods that had nothing of the divine about them. 9 But now that you know the real God — or rather since God knows you — how can you possibly subject yourselves again to those paper tigers? 10 For that is exactly what you do when you are intimidated into scrupulously observing all the traditions, taboos, and superstitions associated with special days and seasons and years.
Saturday, May 19, 2012
People say all kinds of things that they think relate to God and make things better such as:
“I’m gonna hope and pray and cross my fingers”
“I’m saying a lot of prayers”
“Lord have mercy”
However I’m not sure that they really know God. God is much more than situations and words! God created humans and where humans live but they don’t really know Him. They think that they know the right situations and which words to use but God is more than situations and words.
“I’m gonna hope and pray and cross my fingers”
“I’m saying a lot of prayers”
“Lord have mercy”
However I’m not sure that they really know God. God is much more than situations and words! God created humans and where humans live but they don’t really know Him. They think that they know the right situations and which words to use but God is more than situations and words.
1 Cor 15:37-38
37 We do have a parallel experience in gardening. You plant a "dead" seed; soon there is a flourishing plant. There is no visual likeness between seed and plant. 38 You could never guess what a tomato would look like by looking at a tomato seed. What we plant in the soil and what grows out of it don't look anything alike. The dead body that we bury in the ground and the resurrection body that comes from it will be dramatically different.
37 We do have a parallel experience in gardening. You plant a "dead" seed; soon there is a flourishing plant. There is no visual likeness between seed and plant. 38 You could never guess what a tomato would look like by looking at a tomato seed. What we plant in the soil and what grows out of it don't look anything alike. The dead body that we bury in the ground and the resurrection body that comes from it will be dramatically different.
I am part of Christ’s body but as with my physical body, some things are presentable and some are not. But as with my physical body all of those things, presentable and unpresentable are still necessary and part of my body. I am an unpresentable part of Christ’s body but I am still part of His body.
Friday, May 18, 2012
1 Cor 13:4-8
4 Love never gives up. Love cares more for others than for self. Love doesn't want what it doesn't have. Love doesn't strut, Doesn't have a swelled head, 5 Doesn't force itself on others, Isn't always "me first," Doesn't fly off the handle, Doesn't keep score of the sins of others, 6 Doesn't revel when others grovel, Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth, 7 Puts up with anything, Trusts God always, Always looks for the best, Never looks back, But keeps going to the end. 8 Love never dies.
4 Love never gives up. Love cares more for others than for self. Love doesn't want what it doesn't have. Love doesn't strut, Doesn't have a swelled head, 5 Doesn't force itself on others, Isn't always "me first," Doesn't fly off the handle, Doesn't keep score of the sins of others, 6 Doesn't revel when others grovel, Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth, 7 Puts up with anything, Trusts God always, Always looks for the best, Never looks back, But keeps going to the end. 8 Love never dies.
1 Cor 3:18-21
18 Don't fool yourself. Don't think that you can be wise merely by being up-to-date with the times. 19 Be God's fool — that's the path to true wisdom. What the world calls smart, God calls stupid. It's written in Scripture, He exposes the chicanery of the chic. 20 The Master sees through the smoke screens of the know-it-alls. 21 I don't want to hear any of you bragging about yourself or anyone else.
18 Don't fool yourself. Don't think that you can be wise merely by being up-to-date with the times. 19 Be God's fool — that's the path to true wisdom. What the world calls smart, God calls stupid. It's written in Scripture, He exposes the chicanery of the chic. 20 The Master sees through the smoke screens of the know-it-alls. 21 I don't want to hear any of you bragging about yourself or anyone else.
1 Cor 1:27-31
27 Isn't it obvious that God deliberately chose men and women that the culture overlooks and exploits and abuses, 28 chose these "nobodies" to expose the hollow pretensions of the "somebodies"? 29 That makes it quite clear that none of you can get by with blowing your own horn before God. 30 Everything that we have — right thinking and right living, a clean slate and a fresh start — comes from God by way of Jesus Christ. 31 That's why we have the saying, "If you're going to blow a horn, blow a trumpet for God."
27 Isn't it obvious that God deliberately chose men and women that the culture overlooks and exploits and abuses, 28 chose these "nobodies" to expose the hollow pretensions of the "somebodies"? 29 That makes it quite clear that none of you can get by with blowing your own horn before God. 30 Everything that we have — right thinking and right living, a clean slate and a fresh start — comes from God by way of Jesus Christ. 31 That's why we have the saying, "If you're going to blow a horn, blow a trumpet for God."
1 Cor 1:20-21
20 So where can you find someone truly wise, truly educated, truly intelligent in this day and age? Hasn't God exposed it all as pretentious nonsense? 21 Since the world in all its fancy wisdom never had a clue when it came to knowing God, God in his wisdom took delight in using what the world considered dumb — preaching, of all things! — to bring those who trust him into the way of salvation.
20 So where can you find someone truly wise, truly educated, truly intelligent in this day and age? Hasn't God exposed it all as pretentious nonsense? 21 Since the world in all its fancy wisdom never had a clue when it came to knowing God, God in his wisdom took delight in using what the world considered dumb — preaching, of all things! — to bring those who trust him into the way of salvation.
1 Cor 1:17
17 God didn't send me out to collect a following for myself, but to preach the message of what he has done, collecting a following for him. And he didn't send me to do it with a lot of fancy rhetoric of my own, lest the powerful action at the center — Christ on the Cross — be trivialized into mere words.
17 God didn't send me out to collect a following for myself, but to preach the message of what he has done, collecting a following for him. And he didn't send me to do it with a lot of fancy rhetoric of my own, lest the powerful action at the center — Christ on the Cross — be trivialized into mere words.
Rom 15:1-3
15:1 Those of us who are strong and able in the faith need to step in and lend a hand to those who falter, and not just do what is most convenient for us. Strength is for service, not status. 2 Each one of us needs to look after the good of the people around us, asking ourselves, "How can I help?"
3 That's exactly what Jesus did. He didn't make it easy for himself by avoiding people's troubles, but waded right in and helped out.
15:1 Those of us who are strong and able in the faith need to step in and lend a hand to those who falter, and not just do what is most convenient for us. Strength is for service, not status. 2 Each one of us needs to look after the good of the people around us, asking ourselves, "How can I help?"
3 That's exactly what Jesus did. He didn't make it easy for himself by avoiding people's troubles, but waded right in and helped out.
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Rom 12:1-2
So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life — your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life — and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. 2 Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out.
So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life — your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life — and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. 2 Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out.
Rom 10:11-13
11 Scripture reassures us, "No one who trusts God like this — heart and soul — will ever regret it." 12 It's exactly the same no matter what a person's religious background may be: the same God for all of us, acting the same incredibly generous way to everyone who calls out for help. 13 "Everyone who calls, 'Help, God!' gets help."
No matter what a person's religious background may be… That speaks volumes regarding denominations!
11 Scripture reassures us, "No one who trusts God like this — heart and soul — will ever regret it." 12 It's exactly the same no matter what a person's religious background may be: the same God for all of us, acting the same incredibly generous way to everyone who calls out for help. 13 "Everyone who calls, 'Help, God!' gets help."
No matter what a person's religious background may be… That speaks volumes regarding denominations!
Rom 8:3
3 God went for the jugular when he sent his own Son. He didn't deal with the problem as something remote and unimportant. In his Son, Jesus, he personally took on the human condition, entered the disordered mess of struggling humanity in order to set it right once and for all. The law code, weakened as it always was by fractured human nature, could never have done that.
3 God went for the jugular when he sent his own Son. He didn't deal with the problem as something remote and unimportant. In his Son, Jesus, he personally took on the human condition, entered the disordered mess of struggling humanity in order to set it right once and for all. The law code, weakened as it always was by fractured human nature, could never have done that.
Rom 4:4-5
4 If you're a hard worker and do a good job, you deserve your pay; we don't call your wages a gift. 5 But if you see that the job is too big for you, that it's something only God can do, and you trust him to do it — you could never do it for yourself no matter how hard and long you worked — well, that trusting-him-to-do-it is what gets you set right with God, by God. Sheer gift.
You have to earn many things on this Earth and you’re rewarded for earning them but God gives gifts, that you don’t earn them, He just gives them!
4 If you're a hard worker and do a good job, you deserve your pay; we don't call your wages a gift. 5 But if you see that the job is too big for you, that it's something only God can do, and you trust him to do it — you could never do it for yourself no matter how hard and long you worked — well, that trusting-him-to-do-it is what gets you set right with God, by God. Sheer gift.
You have to earn many things on this Earth and you’re rewarded for earning them but God gives gifts, that you don’t earn them, He just gives them!
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Acts 19:23-41
23 But before he got away, a huge ruckus occurred over what was now being referred to as "the Way." 24 A certain silversmith, Demetrius, conducted a brisk trade in the manufacture of shrines to the goddess Artemis, employing a number of artisans in his business. 25 He rounded up his workers and others similarly employed and said, "Men, you well know that we have a good thing going here — 26 and you've seen how Paul has barged in and discredited what we're doing by telling people that there's no such thing as a god made with hands. A lot of people are going along with him, not only here in Ephesus but all through Asia province.
27 "Not only is our little business in danger of falling apart, but the temple of our famous goddess Artemis will certainly end up a pile of rubble as her glorious reputation fades to nothing. And this is no mere local matter — the whole world worships our Artemis!"
28 That set them off in a frenzy. They ran into the street yelling, "Great Artemis of the Ephesians! 29 Great Artemis of the Ephesians!" They put the whole city in an uproar, stampeding into the stadium, and grabbing two of Paul's associates on the way, the Macedonians Gaius and Aristarchus. 30 Paul wanted to go in, too, but the disciples wouldn't let him. 31 Prominent religious leaders in the city who had become friendly to Paul concurred: "By no means go near that mob!" 32 Some were yelling one thing, some another. Most of them had no idea what was going on or why they were there. 33 As the Jews pushed Alexander to the front to try to gain control, different factions clamored to get him on their side. But he brushed them off and quieted the mob with an impressive sweep of his arms. 34 But the moment he opened his mouth and they knew he was a Jew, they shouted him down: "Great Artemis of the Ephesians! Great Artemis of the Ephesians!" — on and on and on, for over two hours.
35 Finally, the town clerk got the mob quieted down and said, "Fellow citizens, is there anyone anywhere who doesn't know that our dear city Ephesus is protector of glorious Artemis and her sacred stone image that fell straight out of heaven? 36 Since this is beyond contradiction, you had better get hold of yourselves. This is conduct unworthy of Artemis. 37 These men you've dragged in here have done nothing to harm either our temple or our goddess.
38 "So if Demetrius and his guild of artisans have a complaint, they can take it to court and make all the accusations they want. 39 If anything else is bothering you, bring it to the regularly scheduled town meeting and let it be settled there. 40 There is no excuse for what's happened today. We're putting our city in serious danger. Rome, remember, does not look kindly on rioters." 41 With that, he sent them home.
God is not a money making venture!
23 But before he got away, a huge ruckus occurred over what was now being referred to as "the Way." 24 A certain silversmith, Demetrius, conducted a brisk trade in the manufacture of shrines to the goddess Artemis, employing a number of artisans in his business. 25 He rounded up his workers and others similarly employed and said, "Men, you well know that we have a good thing going here — 26 and you've seen how Paul has barged in and discredited what we're doing by telling people that there's no such thing as a god made with hands. A lot of people are going along with him, not only here in Ephesus but all through Asia province.
27 "Not only is our little business in danger of falling apart, but the temple of our famous goddess Artemis will certainly end up a pile of rubble as her glorious reputation fades to nothing. And this is no mere local matter — the whole world worships our Artemis!"
28 That set them off in a frenzy. They ran into the street yelling, "Great Artemis of the Ephesians! 29 Great Artemis of the Ephesians!" They put the whole city in an uproar, stampeding into the stadium, and grabbing two of Paul's associates on the way, the Macedonians Gaius and Aristarchus. 30 Paul wanted to go in, too, but the disciples wouldn't let him. 31 Prominent religious leaders in the city who had become friendly to Paul concurred: "By no means go near that mob!" 32 Some were yelling one thing, some another. Most of them had no idea what was going on or why they were there. 33 As the Jews pushed Alexander to the front to try to gain control, different factions clamored to get him on their side. But he brushed them off and quieted the mob with an impressive sweep of his arms. 34 But the moment he opened his mouth and they knew he was a Jew, they shouted him down: "Great Artemis of the Ephesians! Great Artemis of the Ephesians!" — on and on and on, for over two hours.
35 Finally, the town clerk got the mob quieted down and said, "Fellow citizens, is there anyone anywhere who doesn't know that our dear city Ephesus is protector of glorious Artemis and her sacred stone image that fell straight out of heaven? 36 Since this is beyond contradiction, you had better get hold of yourselves. This is conduct unworthy of Artemis. 37 These men you've dragged in here have done nothing to harm either our temple or our goddess.
38 "So if Demetrius and his guild of artisans have a complaint, they can take it to court and make all the accusations they want. 39 If anything else is bothering you, bring it to the regularly scheduled town meeting and let it be settled there. 40 There is no excuse for what's happened today. We're putting our city in serious danger. Rome, remember, does not look kindly on rioters." 41 With that, he sent them home.
God is not a money making venture!
Acts 19:14-16
14 The seven sons of a certain Sceva, a Jewish high priest, were trying to do this on a man 15 when the evil spirit talked back: "I know Jesus and I've heard of Paul, but who are you?" 16 Then the possessed man went berserk — jumped the exorcists, beat them up, and tore off their clothes. Naked and bloody, they got away as best they could.
This proves that it’s not about just doing the “right” things!
14 The seven sons of a certain Sceva, a Jewish high priest, were trying to do this on a man 15 when the evil spirit talked back: "I know Jesus and I've heard of Paul, but who are you?" 16 Then the possessed man went berserk — jumped the exorcists, beat them up, and tore off their clothes. Naked and bloody, they got away as best they could.
This proves that it’s not about just doing the “right” things!
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Ok
I am where I am and how I am and I can’t change those things even if I wanted to which is difficult because everything is based on money which I don’t have and can’t earn which leads me to the question of why I am here? It’s quite obviously not so that I can be successful because I can’t be but I am young. Which forces me to ask: What does success mean? Now I’m getting somewhere. ..
Success in this world means: 1) How much money you have 2) Your job position 3) Other stuff like your car, your house, your spouse, your kids, foods, vacation spots and the like. All of which I will never have so I have to look for success from a way different perspective, which I have done. I am in a place where I can never be successful in this world so I have to look beyond this world!
Beyond this world means beyond this life and success beyond this life is there but it doesn’t involve any of the things that success in this life (this world) does. So the big question for me is: Is it sufficient to be successful in the next life or do I just give up now? I believe that is sufficient to wait until the next life, case in point: Jesus. He left everything to come here and after 33 years and being killed He went home and got way more than He had here, so wait I will!
I am where I am and how I am and I can’t change those things even if I wanted to which is difficult because everything is based on money which I don’t have and can’t earn which leads me to the question of why I am here? It’s quite obviously not so that I can be successful because I can’t be but I am young. Which forces me to ask: What does success mean? Now I’m getting somewhere. ..
Success in this world means: 1) How much money you have 2) Your job position 3) Other stuff like your car, your house, your spouse, your kids, foods, vacation spots and the like. All of which I will never have so I have to look for success from a way different perspective, which I have done. I am in a place where I can never be successful in this world so I have to look beyond this world!
Beyond this world means beyond this life and success beyond this life is there but it doesn’t involve any of the things that success in this life (this world) does. So the big question for me is: Is it sufficient to be successful in the next life or do I just give up now? I believe that is sufficient to wait until the next life, case in point: Jesus. He left everything to come here and after 33 years and being killed He went home and got way more than He had here, so wait I will!
Originally humans made God’s law out to be a set of rules that THEY could evaluate and choose to follow OR not and this is where the Pharisees came in. Jesus brought us a new law to eliminate all of those evaluations and choices but unfortunately humans have not learned a thing because to them God’s law is still subject to evaluations and choices.
Acts 5:22-24
They went back and reported, 23 "We found the jail locked tight as a drum and the guards posted at the doors, but when we went inside we didn't find a soul."
24 The chief of the Temple police and the high priests were puzzled. "What's going on here anyway?"
What’s going on is that God is not limited to human powers or human doings, God created humans and humans forget that, in fact, they are taught that!
They went back and reported, 23 "We found the jail locked tight as a drum and the guards posted at the doors, but when we went inside we didn't find a soul."
24 The chief of the Temple police and the high priests were puzzled. "What's going on here anyway?"
What’s going on is that God is not limited to human powers or human doings, God created humans and humans forget that, in fact, they are taught that!
Acts 2:25-28
25 David said it all: I saw God before me for all time. Nothing can shake me; he's right by my side. 26 I'm glad from the inside out, ecstatic; I've pitched my tent in the land of hope. 27 I know you'll never dump me in Hades; I'll never even smell the stench of death. 28 You've got my feet on the life-path, with your face shining sun-joy all around.
David is from Old Testament times.
25 David said it all: I saw God before me for all time. Nothing can shake me; he's right by my side. 26 I'm glad from the inside out, ecstatic; I've pitched my tent in the land of hope. 27 I know you'll never dump me in Hades; I'll never even smell the stench of death. 28 You've got my feet on the life-path, with your face shining sun-joy all around.
David is from Old Testament times.
Acts 2:16-21
16 This is what the prophet Joel announced would happen: 17 "In the Last Days," God says, "I will pour out my Spirit on every kind of people: Your sons will prophesy, also your daughters; Your young men will see visions, your old men dream dreams. 18 When the time comes, I'll pour out my Spirit On those who serve me, men and women both, and they'll prophesy. 19 I'll set wonders in the sky above and signs on the earth below, Blood and fire and billowing smoke, 20 the sun turning black and the moon blood-red, Before the Day of the Lord arrives, the Day tremendous and marvelous; 21 And whoever calls out for help to me, God, will be saved."
Joel is in the Old Testament.
16 This is what the prophet Joel announced would happen: 17 "In the Last Days," God says, "I will pour out my Spirit on every kind of people: Your sons will prophesy, also your daughters; Your young men will see visions, your old men dream dreams. 18 When the time comes, I'll pour out my Spirit On those who serve me, men and women both, and they'll prophesy. 19 I'll set wonders in the sky above and signs on the earth below, Blood and fire and billowing smoke, 20 the sun turning black and the moon blood-red, Before the Day of the Lord arrives, the Day tremendous and marvelous; 21 And whoever calls out for help to me, God, will be saved."
Joel is in the Old Testament.
Monday, May 14, 2012
John 17:1-5
Jesus said these things. Then, raising his eyes in prayer, he said: Father, it's time. Display the bright splendor of your Son So the Son in turn may show your bright splendor. 2 You put him in charge of everything human So he might give real and eternal life to all in his charge. 3 And this is the real and eternal life: That they know you, The one and only true God, And Jesus Christ, whom you sent. 4 I glorified you on earth By completing down to the last detail What you assigned me to do. 5 And now, Father, glorify me with your very own splendor, The very splendor I had in your presence Before there was a world.
You put him in charge of everything human.
Jesus said these things. Then, raising his eyes in prayer, he said: Father, it's time. Display the bright splendor of your Son So the Son in turn may show your bright splendor. 2 You put him in charge of everything human So he might give real and eternal life to all in his charge. 3 And this is the real and eternal life: That they know you, The one and only true God, And Jesus Christ, whom you sent. 4 I glorified you on earth By completing down to the last detail What you assigned me to do. 5 And now, Father, glorify me with your very own splendor, The very splendor I had in your presence Before there was a world.
You put him in charge of everything human.
John 15:18-19
If you find the godless world is hating you, remember it got its start hating me. 19 If you live on the world's terms, the world will love you as one of its own. But since I picked you to live on God's terms and no longer on the world's terms, the world is going to hate you.
If you live on the world's terms, the world will love you as one of its own.
If you find the godless world is hating you, remember it got its start hating me. 19 If you live on the world's terms, the world will love you as one of its own. But since I picked you to live on God's terms and no longer on the world's terms, the world is going to hate you.
If you live on the world's terms, the world will love you as one of its own.
John 15:16
16 "You didn't choose me, remember; I chose you, and put you in the world to bear fruit, fruit that won't spoil.
God is OMNI and He chose you! So He already knows what you are going to do so it’s NOT up to you to do certain things-especially if those things are things of this world… Bear fruit because that’s why you are here.
16 "You didn't choose me, remember; I chose you, and put you in the world to bear fruit, fruit that won't spoil.
God is OMNI and He chose you! So He already knows what you are going to do so it’s NOT up to you to do certain things-especially if those things are things of this world… Bear fruit because that’s why you are here.
John 12:30-33
30 Jesus said, "The voice didn't come for me but for you. 31 At this moment the world is in crisis. Now Satan, the ruler of this world, will be thrown out. 32 And I, as I am lifted up from the earth, will attract everyone to me and gather them around me." 33 He put it this way to show how he was going to be put to death.
Satan, the ruler of this world, will be thrown out.
30 Jesus said, "The voice didn't come for me but for you. 31 At this moment the world is in crisis. Now Satan, the ruler of this world, will be thrown out. 32 And I, as I am lifted up from the earth, will attract everyone to me and gather them around me." 33 He put it this way to show how he was going to be put to death.
Satan, the ruler of this world, will be thrown out.
John 12:24-25
24 Listen carefully: Unless a grain of wheat is buried in the ground, dead to the world, it is never any more than a grain of wheat. But if it is buried, it sprouts and reproduces itself many times over. 25 In the same way, anyone who holds on to life just as it is destroys that life. But if you let it go, reckless in your love, you'll have it forever, real and eternal.
24 Listen carefully: Unless a grain of wheat is buried in the ground, dead to the world, it is never any more than a grain of wheat. But if it is buried, it sprouts and reproduces itself many times over. 25 In the same way, anyone who holds on to life just as it is destroys that life. But if you let it go, reckless in your love, you'll have it forever, real and eternal.
John 8:16-18
16 But even if I did, my judgment would be true because I wouldn't make it out of the narrowness of my experience but in the largeness of the One who sent me, the Father. 17 That fulfills the conditions set down in God's Law: that you can count on the testimony of two witnesses. 18 And that is what you have: You have my word and you have the word of the Father who sent me."
No college or special topics-we have His word and the word of God…is that enough for you?
16 But even if I did, my judgment would be true because I wouldn't make it out of the narrowness of my experience but in the largeness of the One who sent me, the Father. 17 That fulfills the conditions set down in God's Law: that you can count on the testimony of two witnesses. 18 And that is what you have: You have my word and you have the word of the Father who sent me."
No college or special topics-we have His word and the word of God…is that enough for you?
Sunday, May 13, 2012
John 7:14-18
With the Feast already half over, Jesus showed up in the Temple, teaching. 15 The Jews were impressed, but puzzled: "How does he know so much without being schooled?"
16 Jesus said, "I didn't make this up. What I teach comes from the One who sent me. 17 Anyone who wants to do his will can test this teaching and know whether it's from God or whether I'm making it up. 18 A person making things up tries to make himself look good. But someone trying to honor the one who sent him sticks to the facts and doesn't tamper with reality.”
God was His college and teacher (and He didn’t have to pay Him).
With the Feast already half over, Jesus showed up in the Temple, teaching. 15 The Jews were impressed, but puzzled: "How does he know so much without being schooled?"
16 Jesus said, "I didn't make this up. What I teach comes from the One who sent me. 17 Anyone who wants to do his will can test this teaching and know whether it's from God or whether I'm making it up. 18 A person making things up tries to make himself look good. But someone trying to honor the one who sent him sticks to the facts and doesn't tamper with reality.”
God was His college and teacher (and He didn’t have to pay Him).
John 5:41-44
41 "I'm not interested in crowd approval. 42 And do you know why? Because I know you and your crowds. I know that love, especially God's love, is not on your working agenda. 43 I came with the authority of my Father, and you either dismiss me or avoid me. If another came, acting self-important, you would welcome him with open arms. 44 How do you expect to get anywhere with God when you spend all your time jockeying for position with each other, ranking your rivals and ignoring God?
Competition!
41 "I'm not interested in crowd approval. 42 And do you know why? Because I know you and your crowds. I know that love, especially God's love, is not on your working agenda. 43 I came with the authority of my Father, and you either dismiss me or avoid me. If another came, acting self-important, you would welcome him with open arms. 44 How do you expect to get anywhere with God when you spend all your time jockeying for position with each other, ranking your rivals and ignoring God?
Competition!
John 5:39-40
39 "You have your heads in your Bibles constantly because you think you'll find eternal life there. But you miss the forest for the trees. These Scriptures are all about me! 40 And here I am, standing right before you, and you aren't willing to receive from me the life you say you want.”
39 "You have your heads in your Bibles constantly because you think you'll find eternal life there. But you miss the forest for the trees. These Scriptures are all about me! 40 And here I am, standing right before you, and you aren't willing to receive from me the life you say you want.”
John 5:25-27
25 "It's urgent that you get this right: The time has arrived — I mean right now! — when dead men and women will hear the voice of the Son of God and, hearing, will come alive. 26 Just as the Father has life in himself, he has conferred on the Son life in himself. 27 And he has given him the authority, simply because he is the Son of Man, to decide and carry out matters of Judgment.
It's urgent that you get this right
25 "It's urgent that you get this right: The time has arrived — I mean right now! — when dead men and women will hear the voice of the Son of God and, hearing, will come alive. 26 Just as the Father has life in himself, he has conferred on the Son life in himself. 27 And he has given him the authority, simply because he is the Son of Man, to decide and carry out matters of Judgment.
It's urgent that you get this right
John 4:1-3
Jesus realized that the Pharisees were keeping count of the baptisms that he and John performed 2(although his disciples, not Jesus, did the actual baptizing). They had posted the score that Jesus was ahead, turning him and John into rivals in the eyes of the people. 3 So Jesus left the Judean countryside and went back to Galilee.
Jesus was not in favor of competition!
Jesus realized that the Pharisees were keeping count of the baptisms that he and John performed 2(although his disciples, not Jesus, did the actual baptizing). They had posted the score that Jesus was ahead, turning him and John into rivals in the eyes of the people. 3 So Jesus left the Judean countryside and went back to Galilee.
Jesus was not in favor of competition!
John 3:16-18
16 "This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. 17 God didn't go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again. 18 Anyone who trusts in him is acquitted; anyone who refuses to trust him has long since been under the death sentence without knowing it. And why? Because of that person's failure to believe in the one-of-a-kind Son of God when introduced to him.
16 "This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. 17 God didn't go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again. 18 Anyone who trusts in him is acquitted; anyone who refuses to trust him has long since been under the death sentence without knowing it. And why? Because of that person's failure to believe in the one-of-a-kind Son of God when introduced to him.
John 1:16-18
16 We all live off his generous bounty, gift after gift after gift. 17 We got the basics from Moses, and then this exuberant giving and receiving, This endless knowing and understanding — all this came through Jesus, the Messiah. 18 No one has ever seen God, not so much as a glimpse. This one-of-a-kind God-Expression, who exists at the very heart of the Father, has made him plain as day.
We all live off his generous bounty, gift after gift after gift.
16 We all live off his generous bounty, gift after gift after gift. 17 We got the basics from Moses, and then this exuberant giving and receiving, This endless knowing and understanding — all this came through Jesus, the Messiah. 18 No one has ever seen God, not so much as a glimpse. This one-of-a-kind God-Expression, who exists at the very heart of the Father, has made him plain as day.
We all live off his generous bounty, gift after gift after gift.
John 1:9-14
9 The Life-Light was the real thing: Every person entering Life he brings into Light. 10 He was in the world, the world was there through him, and yet the world didn't even notice. 11 He came to his own people, but they didn't want him. 12 But whoever did want him, who believed he was who he claimed and would do what he said, He made to be their true selves, their child-of-God selves. 13 These are the God-begotten, not blood-begotten, not flesh-begotten, not sex-begotten. 14 The Word became flesh and blood
Every person entering Life he brings into Light. Every person!
9 The Life-Light was the real thing: Every person entering Life he brings into Light. 10 He was in the world, the world was there through him, and yet the world didn't even notice. 11 He came to his own people, but they didn't want him. 12 But whoever did want him, who believed he was who he claimed and would do what he said, He made to be their true selves, their child-of-God selves. 13 These are the God-begotten, not blood-begotten, not flesh-begotten, not sex-begotten. 14 The Word became flesh and blood
Every person entering Life he brings into Light. Every person!
John 1:9-14
9 The Life-Light was the real thing: Every person entering Life he brings into Light. 10 He was in the world, the world was there through him, and yet the world didn't even notice. 11 He came to his own people, but they didn't want him. 12 But whoever did want him, who believed he was who he claimed and would do what he said, He made to be their true selves, their child-of-God selves. 13 These are the God-begotten, not blood-begotten, not flesh-begotten, not sex-begotten. 14 The Word became flesh and blood
and yet the world didn't even notice.
9 The Life-Light was the real thing: Every person entering Life he brings into Light. 10 He was in the world, the world was there through him, and yet the world didn't even notice. 11 He came to his own people, but they didn't want him. 12 But whoever did want him, who believed he was who he claimed and would do what he said, He made to be their true selves, their child-of-God selves. 13 These are the God-begotten, not blood-begotten, not flesh-begotten, not sex-begotten. 14 The Word became flesh and blood
and yet the world didn't even notice.
John 1:1-5
The Word was first, the Word present to God, God present to the Word. The Word was God, 2 in readiness for God from day one. 3 Everything was created through him; nothing — not one thing! — came into being without him. 4 What came into existence was Life, and the Life was Light to live by. 5 The Life-Light blazed out of the darkness; the darkness couldn't put it out.
The Word was first, the Word present to God, God present to the Word. The Word was God, 2 in readiness for God from day one. 3 Everything was created through him; nothing — not one thing! — came into being without him. 4 What came into existence was Life, and the Life was Light to live by. 5 The Life-Light blazed out of the darkness; the darkness couldn't put it out.
Saturday, May 12, 2012
Luke 22:24-26
Within minutes they were bickering over who of them would end up the greatest. 25 But Jesus intervened: "Kings like to throw their weight around and people in authority like to give themselves fancy titles. 26 It's not going to be that way with you. Let the senior among you become like the junior; let the leader act the part of the servant.
people in authority like to give themselves fancy titles…
Within minutes they were bickering over who of them would end up the greatest. 25 But Jesus intervened: "Kings like to throw their weight around and people in authority like to give themselves fancy titles. 26 It's not going to be that way with you. Let the senior among you become like the junior; let the leader act the part of the servant.
people in authority like to give themselves fancy titles…
Luke 20:45-46
45 With everybody listening, Jesus spoke to his disciples. 46 "Watch out for the religion scholars. They love to walk around in academic gowns, preen in the radiance of public flattery, bask in prominent positions, sit at the head table at every church function.
We are His disciples, so WATCH OUT!
45 With everybody listening, Jesus spoke to his disciples. 46 "Watch out for the religion scholars. They love to walk around in academic gowns, preen in the radiance of public flattery, bask in prominent positions, sit at the head table at every church function.
We are His disciples, so WATCH OUT!
Luke 20:34-38
34 Jesus said, "Marriage is a major preoccupation here, 35 but not there. Those who are included in the resurrection of the dead will no longer be concerned with marriage 36 nor, of course, with death. They will have better things to think about, if you can believe it. All ecstasies and intimacies then will be with God. 37 Even Moses exclaimed about resurrection at the burning bush, saying, 'God: God of Abraham, God of Isaac, God of Jacob!' 38 God isn't the God of dead men, but of the living. To him all are alive."
Preoccupation here but not there.
34 Jesus said, "Marriage is a major preoccupation here, 35 but not there. Those who are included in the resurrection of the dead will no longer be concerned with marriage 36 nor, of course, with death. They will have better things to think about, if you can believe it. All ecstasies and intimacies then will be with God. 37 Even Moses exclaimed about resurrection at the burning bush, saying, 'God: God of Abraham, God of Isaac, God of Jacob!' 38 God isn't the God of dead men, but of the living. To him all are alive."
Preoccupation here but not there.
Luke 20:9-16
Jesus told another story to the people: "A man planted a vineyard. He handed it over to farmhands and went off on a trip. He was gone a long time. 10 In time he sent a servant back to the farmhands to collect the profits, but they beat him up and sent him off empty-handed. 11 He decided to try again and sent another servant. That one they beat black and blue, and sent him off empty-handed. 12 He tried a third time. They worked that servant over from head to foot and dumped him in the street.
13 "Then the owner of the vineyard said, 'I know what I'll do: I'll send my beloved son. They're bound to respect my son.'
14 "But when the farmhands saw him coming, they quickly put their heads together. 'This is our chance — this is the heir! Let's kill him and have it all to ourselves.' 15 They killed him and threw him over the fence.
"What do you think the owner of the vineyard will do? 16 Right. He'll come and clean house. Then he'll assign the care of the vineyard to others."
What are you doing for the Master? He will evaluate your work.
Jesus told another story to the people: "A man planted a vineyard. He handed it over to farmhands and went off on a trip. He was gone a long time. 10 In time he sent a servant back to the farmhands to collect the profits, but they beat him up and sent him off empty-handed. 11 He decided to try again and sent another servant. That one they beat black and blue, and sent him off empty-handed. 12 He tried a third time. They worked that servant over from head to foot and dumped him in the street.
13 "Then the owner of the vineyard said, 'I know what I'll do: I'll send my beloved son. They're bound to respect my son.'
14 "But when the farmhands saw him coming, they quickly put their heads together. 'This is our chance — this is the heir! Let's kill him and have it all to ourselves.' 15 They killed him and threw him over the fence.
"What do you think the owner of the vineyard will do? 16 Right. He'll come and clean house. Then he'll assign the care of the vineyard to others."
What are you doing for the Master? He will evaluate your work.
Luke 19:12-26
12 "There was once a man descended from a royal house who needed to make a long trip back to headquarters to get authorization for his rule and then return. 13 But first he called ten servant together, gave them each a sum of money, and instructed them, 'Operate with this until I return.' 14 "But the citizens there hated him. So they sent a commission with a signed petition to oppose his rule: 'We don't want this man to rule us.'
15 "When he came back bringing the authorization of his rule, he called those ten servants to whom he had given the money to find out how they had done.
16 "The first said, 'Master, I doubled your money.'
17 "He said, 'Good servant! Great work! Because you've been trustworthy in this small job, I'm making you governor of ten towns.'
18 "The second said, 'Master, I made a fifty percent profit on your money.'
19 "He said, 'I'm putting you in charge of five towns.'
20 "The next servant said, 'Master, here's your money safe and sound. I kept it hidden in the cellar. 21 To tell you the truth, I was a little afraid. I know you have high standards and hate sloppiness, and don't suffer fools gladly.'
22 "He said, 'You're right that I don't suffer fools gladly — and you've acted the fool! 23 Why didn't you at least invest the money in securities so I would have gotten a little interest on it?'
24 "Then he said to those standing there, 'Take the money from him and give it to the servant who doubled my stake.'
25 "They said, 'But Master, he already has double . . .'
26 "He said, 'That's what I mean: Risk your life and get more than you ever dreamed of. Play it safe and end up holding the bag.
12 "There was once a man descended from a royal house who needed to make a long trip back to headquarters to get authorization for his rule and then return. 13 But first he called ten servant together, gave them each a sum of money, and instructed them, 'Operate with this until I return.' 14 "But the citizens there hated him. So they sent a commission with a signed petition to oppose his rule: 'We don't want this man to rule us.'
15 "When he came back bringing the authorization of his rule, he called those ten servants to whom he had given the money to find out how they had done.
16 "The first said, 'Master, I doubled your money.'
17 "He said, 'Good servant! Great work! Because you've been trustworthy in this small job, I'm making you governor of ten towns.'
18 "The second said, 'Master, I made a fifty percent profit on your money.'
19 "He said, 'I'm putting you in charge of five towns.'
20 "The next servant said, 'Master, here's your money safe and sound. I kept it hidden in the cellar. 21 To tell you the truth, I was a little afraid. I know you have high standards and hate sloppiness, and don't suffer fools gladly.'
22 "He said, 'You're right that I don't suffer fools gladly — and you've acted the fool! 23 Why didn't you at least invest the money in securities so I would have gotten a little interest on it?'
24 "Then he said to those standing there, 'Take the money from him and give it to the servant who doubled my stake.'
25 "They said, 'But Master, he already has double . . .'
26 "He said, 'That's what I mean: Risk your life and get more than you ever dreamed of. Play it safe and end up holding the bag.
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