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2 Samuel 12

11/27/2009

2 Samuel 12:22-23 David’s first son with Bathsheba gets sick and ends up dying, I really love what David says to his people about it. In chapter 12 verses 22-23 he says, “I fasted and wept while the child was alive, for I said, ‘Perhaps the Lord will be gracious to me and let the child live. But why should I fast when he is dead? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him one day, but he cannot return to me.”

It really made me think how important it is for us to always be studying God’s word so we can learn and act like Christ. When we can become fully devoted followers of Christ we will forget our selfish ways and live our life loving God and people. We will be aware of things around us and we won’t be so consumed with what we desire. The best part of this is that Jesus died for us so we can accept Him and work hard to turn from our ways to enjoy eternal life forever with Him. And as David says, “…I will go to him one day…” The children are there when they die, are we going to get on the narrow road that leads to life or are we going to hang on to our worldly things that lead to death?

Jesus says in Mark chapter 13 verse 33 “And since you don’t know when that time will come, be on guard! Stay alert!”

Let’s be the one’s that find it, always be ready to ask, seek and knock. Amen

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Mark 10

11/23/2009

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Mark 10:24 “This amazed them. But Jesus said again, “Dear children, it is very hard to enter the Kingdom of God.”

He was talking about the rich and we who live in America are very rich. Can we sell everything that causes us not to think of God first, or do we hold tightly to what we have? Do we open God’s word everyday or do other things get done before that each day? Is our relationship with God our first passion or is it barely a thought? These are what I think about as I live day to day. We need to draw close to God and live as Jesus did fully devoted too Him. A day never went by when God wasn’t a part of His day. When we learn to be like Christ and then actually live it out we can have that inner peace and strength that comes from Jesus. Jesus says “…it is very hard to enter the Kingdom of God.” A simple prayer one time will not do it. It is a life time of devotion and commitment to learn and grow and follow Jesus. Are we willing to commit to “working hard” or are we satisfied with doing just a little for the one who laid His life down for us. Forget the things of this world and ask, seek and knock so we can hit the mark more than we miss it. God loves us and wants us to love Him. He was willing to give up His Son, are we willing to give up our selfishness and worldly garbage? Never be satisfied, take the free gift and believe, accept and live it working hard to be like Christ. Amen

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Mark 9

11/20/2009

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Mark 9:23-24 “What do you mean if I can? Jesus asked. Anything is possible if a person believes. The father instantly cried out, I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!”

This is Jesus talking to the people after His disciples couldn’t cast out a demon in a young boy. It really stood out to me because of the father comment of “help me overcome my unbelief.” Are we dealing with some unbelief or wonder when it comes to our walk? We really need to let go of all our fears and truly believe what we are shown in God’s word and what we feel with the Holy Spirit. When we let even the tiniest worry in it can explode sooner or later to make us wonder. It is so important to read and learn asking God for wisdom and then living it out just as Jesus did. Even going through the most difficult times Jesus stayed on course and was determined to do God’s will.

Look what Peter says in 1 Peter chapter 4 verses 1-2, “So then, since Christ suffered physical pain, you must arm yourselves with the attitude He had, and be ready to suffer, too. For if you have suffered physically for Christ, you have finished with sin. You won’t spend the rest of your lives chasing your own desires, but you will be anxious to do the will of God.”

Think of that, there is no unbelief when you are willing to go through anything for God. No matter what the cost you will be anxious to do God’s will, which is for us to be just like His Son. When we die to self we can start to change our ways and our belief can turn into the action word that it is. And then our faith grows and we don’t desire anything and we truly become fully devoted followers of Jesus.

I love what Peter says in 1 Peter chapter 4 verse 7, “The end of the world is coming soon. Therefore, be earnest and disciplined in your prayers.”

Be disciplined in your walk and don’t let a single day go by when you are not putting God first and giving Him your best. Amen

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Mark 8

11/19/2009

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Mark 8:34-35 “Then, calling the crowd to join His disciples, He said, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it.”

Notice that Jesus is very specific about hanging on to our own lives. We can’t be the same people we were before we accepted Jesus. We must learn and grow to be like Him in all we do. It has to be 100%; it can’t be just what we want to give up. If we try and hold on to some of our selfish desires we will lose and it will always be a struggle for us. We need to open God’s word and learn to lay down our lives for Him, and understand we will always be growing and learning to resemble Christ.

Verse 36 goes on to say, “And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul?

I can’t imagine anything being worth eternal separation from God, but without growing and reading everyday the world is easy to get caught up in. Things feel good and are quick fixes to our problems, but in the long run they are causing damage.

Verse 37 asks; “Is anything worth more than your soul?

I think we really need to ask ourselves; do I really believe what I am reading? If we do then why aren’t we actually doing what it says and trying our hardest to follow Christ and live fully devoted? It is such a farce to continually say we love Jesus and not want to make any changes in our lives. Our strength comes from giving it to God and fully using Christ to get through the tuff moments. We need to use what we learn from God’s word as our guide and begin living for Christ not for ourselves.

When you read this next verse really pray to understand how important it is to not hold on to your life.

Verse 38says, “If anyone is ashamed of me and my message in these adulterous and sinful days, the Son of Man will be ashamed of that person when He returns in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.”

Work to make Him proud and forget this world and its pleasures. Amen

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Mark 4

11/16/2009

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Mark 4:20 “And the seed that fell on good soil represents those who hear and accept God’s word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!”

After reading this I just wanted to really look at was going on in my heart. I love the word “accepts” in this verse because we see it means to actually take it and work to make it grow. We must be willing to continue to develop, learn and use what we learn to help the harvest. Right after it says, “Hear and accept God’s word, it says “Produce a harvest.” If you look at the beginning of this parable you can see that they believed in God’s word, but they only took it so far. They never belong to it or owned it.

In Luke chapter 14 verse 26 we are told, “If you want to be my disciple, you must hate everyone else in comparison –your father and mother, and wife and children, brother and sister- yes even your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be my disciple.”

That looks like what is talked about in Mark chapter 4 verses 16-17 which say, “The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy.” (They believe it but don’t accept it. Maybe they say a prayer.) Verse 17 goes on to say “Since they don’t have deep roots, they don’t last long.” (They don’t devote themselves to God’s word.) They might go to church and do some stuff but they do not own it or belong to it. They say they love God but everyone comes before Him even their own desires. They might think I love God but I really love doing what makes me feel good. Or I love God but I can’t upset my parents or wife so I do what pleases them. They really don’t accept God’s word and it dies out and swivels up. That’s not God separating from us that is us separating from God. We need to work hard to be the best servants for God, able to stand firm when we are squeezed. That is why it is so important to open God’s word and live it.

In Mark chapter 4 verse 24 Jesus says, “Pay close attention to what you hear. The closer you listen, the more understanding you will be given – and you will receive even more.” Verve 25 says, “To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them.”

Pay close attention and ask God to continue to fill your heart. We can never be satisfied with our understanding, open up His word and belong to Jesus, devoting to follow His example. Amen

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Mark 3

11/13/2009

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Mark 3:33-34 “Jesus replied, ‘Who is my mother? Who is my brother? Then He looked at those around Him and said. ‘Look, these are my mother and brothers. Anyone who does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.”

I love these verses because it really opens up the heart and helps me understand what God’s will is and what I need to do. You are never a lone when you are fully devoted to Jesus. When reading this morning I was really focused on the part that says, “Anyone who does God’s will…” I wanted to see what that really meant in God’s eyes. I truly feel when you fully surrender to God and are devoted or continually seeking God for understanding His will is simple.

In 1 Thessalonians chapter 5:18 it says, “Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.”

When we truly belong to Jesus we are working hard to continually grow and learn to be like Christ. Then our hearts are full and we truly can have joy in all circumstances. Belonging means, “Close or intimate relationship” and that make it so much more than just belief.

Really listen while you read this next part in Hebrews chapter 10:9-10, “Then he said, look, I have come to do your will. He cancelled the first covenant in order to put the second into effect. For God’s will was for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all times.

Are we truly devoting ourselves to live as Jesus and constantly turning to the Father for help? Are we changing our way of living, our selfishness and behaviors to truly resemble Christ? Or are we hanging on to some worldly things that we think give us joy? God’s will is simple, surrender to self and live for others in all areas of our lives. It seems cliché but when you are thinking of doing something or acting a certain way say to yourself “what would Jesus do?” and then do it. That is God’s will for all of us. Open God’s word and live it. Amen

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1 Samuel 15

11/9/2009

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1 Samuel 15:22 “But Samuel replied, ‘what is more pleasing to the Lord: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to His voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams.”

This really made me think about truly learning from the Lord so I can be obedient in all I do. I don’t just want to learn what to do; I want to do what I am shown by God. At the end it says “…submission is better than offering the fat of rams.” Submission is dying to self and fully living for God as Christ did. Saul goes on to plead and at the end of verse 24 he say, “…for I was afraid of the people and did what they demanded.” Do we live to please people or do we live to please God? Pleasing the world is way easier than pleasing God and obedience is work. I say dig in to God’s word and work that is the only way you will be able to submit to His will. Everything we are told and shown when we follow Christ ends with eternal life. We should have no other focus than asking, seeking, and knocking to learn to live out our faith to our true Father. Amen

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1 Samuel 12

11/6/2009

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1 Samuel 12:24 “But be sure to fear the lord and faithfully serve Him. Think of all the wonderful things He has done for you.”

I love that last part, “…Think of all the wonderful things He has done for you.” All you need to do is think of Him sending His only Son to die fro us. We have received such a gift of eternal life, and we have directions and the Holy Spirit to guide us everyday. We work so hard to please people and we neglect the most important thing; learning and living like Christ. We need to live our lives as Christ did unselfishly, but we struggle with selfishness everyday. It’s hard to be unselfish that’s why it is so important to open God’s word and read it as our owners manual for right living. God was so amazing to put it together so we have something to go to for our wisdom. It is so easy to fill ourselves with crud because crud is always happening around us. We need to realize that God’s word is also there everyday and we need to open it and live it. Why are we so easily persuaded to follow the new craze and learn how to use it so well we master it, but when it comes to being a fully devoted follower of Jesus, the only thing that matters, we can’t give it anytime at all? Just think of the time you spend doing insignificant things throughout your day, and then think of how many times you don’t give God a minute because you are busy or tired. Nothing should come before God. Jesus put nothing in front of Him and we are told to be like Christ. Open God’s word and truly be devoted to follow it and see your heart change. Amen

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Matthew 25

11/2/2009

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Matthew 25:29-30 “To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have an abundance. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away. Now throw this useless servant into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

Every time I read this parable I think of Christians, believers of Jesus, weeping and gnashing their teeth. Are we just along for the ride or are we opening God’s word and living it out? As fully devoted followers of Jesus we should be doing everything we can to act and be like Christ. Going to church and knowing what the Bible says isn’t being devoted. We must continually act out our faith by investing in people and showing them our love for God. In the parable of the three servants the first one got 5 bags of silver and he said he earned two 5 more. The second got 2 bags and he said he earned 2 more. These men didn’t sit back and say I accepted Jesus I’m good to go, they lived their belief out and belonged to it. As we read God’s word with our hearts open we should feel the desire to give, serve and share with everyone. Or are we the last servant that goes to church sits there, enjoys what is said but does nothing? I say try being a part of the game by doing more as you are lead by your heart which you have filled with Christ. Open God’s word up everyday but more importantly do what it says in all areas of your life. Amen

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2 Samuel 12

Mark 10

Mark 9

Mark 8

Mark 4

Mark 3

1 Samuel 15

1 Samuel 12

Matthew 25

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