Mark 12: 30-31: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these."
I do love God more than any earthly thing. This is something easy for me to say. The harder thing is to proclaim that I love my neighbor as much as I love myself. There are few people in my life that I can truly say this about. Most other people I sometimes love, on a conditional basis. Other people I don’t love at all.
These are the ones that rub me the wrong way, make fun of me, degrade me, or lie to me on a regular basis. These are the people who seem hopeless and lost, but Jesus calls me to love them just the same. And so I reach out, with empty hands, at my whit’s end on how to love them, and ask my God to reveal some good in these creatures. I ask him to help me love them with a love that could only possibly come from him, because on my own the feelings would be closer to hatred then love. And he answers and gives me a love for them that is amazing and past all understanding. He’s just amazing like that.
Is there anyone you need to reach out and love today? Ask God for help, he’s ready and waiting to help you love them, when you can’t on your own.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Monday, October 26, 2009
Leviticus 26-27; Mark 11:19-33
"I will grant peace in the land, and you will lie down and no one will make you afraid" (Leviticus 26:6).
I’ve been thinking today about the stress in my life. At first glance it wouldn’t seem like my life isn’t all that bad. I spend my days taking care of the house, running errands, and freelance writing. As much as I think I’m relaxed, I allow myself to be stressed by my lists and deadlines and relationships. I stay busy every day, hardly ever stopping to relax. All the time I have a reminder of the stress in my frequent tension headaches. Doctors can’t help them, medicine can’t help them… it seems as if they’re without a cure. Yesterday at church I asked for prayer about my tension headaches. As my pastor was praying for me, he encouraged me to find peace in my daily life, with the hope that this would relieve the tension in my neck.
Peace. A word I honestly don’t know the meaning of. And so I began a search to see what God’s word has to say on this topic. In my search, I came up with 247 times that a form of the word peace was used in the New International Version of the Bible. This is what I found:
Our God is a God that promises peace for those who love him, as Leviticus 26:6 tells us. He desires for us to live peaceful lives. It’s a fruit of the spirit (Galatians 5:22), a desired state of the heart: “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace” (Colossians 3:15), something we should seek: “He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it” (1Peter 3:11) and a way to guard our hearts from the evil one: “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7).
I pray that each of you would have a renewed sense of peacefulness in your life today. It certainly is a wonderful thing to let go of the stresses of the world and to grasp onto the peace of God.
I’ve been thinking today about the stress in my life. At first glance it wouldn’t seem like my life isn’t all that bad. I spend my days taking care of the house, running errands, and freelance writing. As much as I think I’m relaxed, I allow myself to be stressed by my lists and deadlines and relationships. I stay busy every day, hardly ever stopping to relax. All the time I have a reminder of the stress in my frequent tension headaches. Doctors can’t help them, medicine can’t help them… it seems as if they’re without a cure. Yesterday at church I asked for prayer about my tension headaches. As my pastor was praying for me, he encouraged me to find peace in my daily life, with the hope that this would relieve the tension in my neck.
Peace. A word I honestly don’t know the meaning of. And so I began a search to see what God’s word has to say on this topic. In my search, I came up with 247 times that a form of the word peace was used in the New International Version of the Bible. This is what I found:
Our God is a God that promises peace for those who love him, as Leviticus 26:6 tells us. He desires for us to live peaceful lives. It’s a fruit of the spirit (Galatians 5:22), a desired state of the heart: “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace” (Colossians 3:15), something we should seek: “He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it” (1Peter 3:11) and a way to guard our hearts from the evil one: “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7).
I pray that each of you would have a renewed sense of peacefulness in your life today. It certainly is a wonderful thing to let go of the stresses of the world and to grasp onto the peace of God.
Friday, October 23, 2009
Leviticus 25; Mark 11:1-18
Can you imagine what it would have been like on that day, to stand there in Jerusalem, waving a palm branch as the King of Kings rode through the city on a donkey? What a thrill it would have been to shout out praises and worship him. And how sad that the same people who worshiped him so whole-heatedly would soon turn their back on him. I’d liked to say that it would be different for me. That I still would have followed Jesus, instead of turning on him and having him crucified. But, I can’t condemn those people back in Jerusalem, because I, too, have doubted him from time to time. When times are happy I jump around, full of praises for my savior. When things don’t go as planned, I start to doubt his sovereignty. I start to take matters into my own hands, instead of worshiping him in the good times and in the bad.
Oh how I want to worship him in any and every situation. This is my prayer today, that when the next hardship comes my way, I will be able to depend on the Lord like never before.
“When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider: God has made the one as well as the other” (Ecclesiastes 7:14a).
Oh how I want to worship him in any and every situation. This is my prayer today, that when the next hardship comes my way, I will be able to depend on the Lord like never before.
“When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider: God has made the one as well as the other” (Ecclesiastes 7:14a).
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Leviticus 23-24; Mark 10:32-52
“Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all.” (Mark 10:43-44).
From an early age society has taught me to be independent and self-serving. In this world there is little room for humbleness and servitude. Many people will step on your toes and push you out of the way to succeed. For them, wealth, power and fame are the epitome of success.
Jesus has an entirely different viewpoint on success. In eyes, the truly successful are the servants of all. This is not easy, in any meaning of the word. Being a servant is one of the most humbling things a girl can do. But it’s what my Jesus calls me to do. Whether this means folding laundry and cleaning toilets, making food for someone who is on bed rest, or whatever else God wants me to do today, I am ready and willing to be a servant.
Ever since I read Mark 10:43-44, the words of the song, “Make Me a Servant” have been running through my head. I haven’t been able to find the author of the song, but I’d like to share the lyrics with you, just the same. May this be the prayer of your heart today:
“Make me a servant, humble and meek
Lord, let me lift up, those who are weak.
And may the prayer of my heart always be;
Make me a servant, make me a servant,
Make me a servant, today.”
From an early age society has taught me to be independent and self-serving. In this world there is little room for humbleness and servitude. Many people will step on your toes and push you out of the way to succeed. For them, wealth, power and fame are the epitome of success.
Jesus has an entirely different viewpoint on success. In eyes, the truly successful are the servants of all. This is not easy, in any meaning of the word. Being a servant is one of the most humbling things a girl can do. But it’s what my Jesus calls me to do. Whether this means folding laundry and cleaning toilets, making food for someone who is on bed rest, or whatever else God wants me to do today, I am ready and willing to be a servant.
Ever since I read Mark 10:43-44, the words of the song, “Make Me a Servant” have been running through my head. I haven’t been able to find the author of the song, but I’d like to share the lyrics with you, just the same. May this be the prayer of your heart today:
“Make me a servant, humble and meek
Lord, let me lift up, those who are weak.
And may the prayer of my heart always be;
Make me a servant, make me a servant,
Make me a servant, today.”
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Leviticus 21-22; Mark 10:1-31
“The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, 'Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.' The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, 'Who then can be saved?' Jesus looked at them and said, 'With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God' (Mark 10:24-27).
Sometimes things seem hopeless. I know I’ve been struggling with a situation as of late that never seems to improve. I’ll do well for awhile, and then fall back into the old temptations once again. It seems as if I have to give this issue back to God over and over again. At times this is extremely frustrating. That is why I found these verses today to be so encouraging.
God did the impossible by cleansing me from my old nature and giving me eternal life. If he can do this, I know he can handle this other struggle in my life. The verses above do not say that with God “some” things are possible. The verse says that “all” things are possible.
Today I praise God that he really can take care of this issue in my life. He is ready and waiting for me to surrender it to him, and to move on with life, praising him for continued healing.
What seemingly impossible issue do you need to give over to God today?
Lord, thank you that with you, there truly is nothing impossible.
Sometimes things seem hopeless. I know I’ve been struggling with a situation as of late that never seems to improve. I’ll do well for awhile, and then fall back into the old temptations once again. It seems as if I have to give this issue back to God over and over again. At times this is extremely frustrating. That is why I found these verses today to be so encouraging.
God did the impossible by cleansing me from my old nature and giving me eternal life. If he can do this, I know he can handle this other struggle in my life. The verses above do not say that with God “some” things are possible. The verse says that “all” things are possible.
Today I praise God that he really can take care of this issue in my life. He is ready and waiting for me to surrender it to him, and to move on with life, praising him for continued healing.
What seemingly impossible issue do you need to give over to God today?
Lord, thank you that with you, there truly is nothing impossible.
Salt Anyone? (Leviticus 19-20; Mark 9:30-50)
"Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with each other” (Mark 9:50).
This verse left me wondering what it means to be “salty” as a Christian. Strong’s Concordance tells us that the Greek word for “salt” is halas. We all know that salt is used both to season and preserve food. But in the Greek, it could have also been used to mean something different. Along with the expected definitions, Strong’s also suggests that halas could mean “wisdom and grace exhibited in speech.” How interesting.
Shortly before these words in Mark 9:50, Jesus had been talking about stumbling blocks and Christians. He warned us against causing our fellow believers to fall. Then he has this statement about Christians and saltiness. Perhaps he was calling all of us to show grace and wisdom in the way we approached different situations. With wisdom and grace, our eyes might be opened to areas of struggle for our brothers and sisters. Without wisdom we would act hastily and foolishly.
For me, it is often my tongue that get’s me into trouble first. In the past, I’ve been known to tease and taunt, or to give into a situation too easily. Christ is calling us to live salty lives, not governed by our tongue, but by the wisdom and grace that comes from the Holy Spirit.
I know that I need the Holy Spirit to bring some saltiness into my life today, what about you?
Lord, thank you for these verses today, that encouraged me to take a closer look at how I’ve been acting as a Christian. Please bring renewed saltiness into my life.
This verse left me wondering what it means to be “salty” as a Christian. Strong’s Concordance tells us that the Greek word for “salt” is halas. We all know that salt is used both to season and preserve food. But in the Greek, it could have also been used to mean something different. Along with the expected definitions, Strong’s also suggests that halas could mean “wisdom and grace exhibited in speech.” How interesting.
Shortly before these words in Mark 9:50, Jesus had been talking about stumbling blocks and Christians. He warned us against causing our fellow believers to fall. Then he has this statement about Christians and saltiness. Perhaps he was calling all of us to show grace and wisdom in the way we approached different situations. With wisdom and grace, our eyes might be opened to areas of struggle for our brothers and sisters. Without wisdom we would act hastily and foolishly.
For me, it is often my tongue that get’s me into trouble first. In the past, I’ve been known to tease and taunt, or to give into a situation too easily. Christ is calling us to live salty lives, not governed by our tongue, but by the wisdom and grace that comes from the Holy Spirit.
I know that I need the Holy Spirit to bring some saltiness into my life today, what about you?
Lord, thank you for these verses today, that encouraged me to take a closer look at how I’ve been acting as a Christian. Please bring renewed saltiness into my life.
Monday, October 19, 2009
Leviticus 17, 18; Mark 9:1-29
Today’s reading takes us through some more blood ordinances in Leviticus and then turns to the Transfiguration and the casting out of a demon. The verse that struck me the most was the last verse, Mark 9:29 that says, “This kind can only come out by prayer.” The disciples had tried to cast out the demon on their own, but they were doing it on their own, without praying to God for help. Without praying, they were useless. What a good lesson for them, and for me.
Sometimes I forget to truly ask God for help in different areas of my life. I go about my day, proclaiming his goodness, but never truly asking for his help and guidance.
Have you ever been in a similar circumstance? Do you need to pray to God for help today? May we never underestimate the power of simple prayer.
Sometimes I forget to truly ask God for help in different areas of my life. I go about my day, proclaiming his goodness, but never truly asking for his help and guidance.
Have you ever been in a similar circumstance? Do you need to pray to God for help today? May we never underestimate the power of simple prayer.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)