Luke: 23: 13-25

    Rejected by the Gentiles

My first taste of being unjustly accused was in kindergarten. It was play time and the class had just finished a painting project. Each masterpiece was strategically laid out on the floor to dry in the kitchen area. At some point two of my classmates ran through that area and over the top of the paintings. The teacher was furious when she discovered the footprints. She had warned us all not to go into that space. She demanded we all gather around and admit who had run over the paintings.

One student hesitantly raised her hand. The teacher said, “Who was with you?” The girl pointed at the child next to me, but Mrs. Gerhartz thought I was the culprit. She raised her voice again telling the girl to sit behind the piano. Up to that point, my favorite teacher, then took me by the hand, pulled me over to the piano, slapped my hands and forcefully sat me down behind the piano with the other offender. I sobbed.

Things changed that day.

Jesus was brought before Herod and wrongly accused by the Jews. Then he was presented to Pilate and condemned by Gentiles.

Things changed that day.

I do not mean to minimize the intensity of Jesus plight by comparing it to my kindergarten experience but things do change as a result of learning to follow the will of God and live our lives as Jesus did. I have had many experiences since that day in kindergarten when my character, intentions or faith were wrongly judged. Lashing out never brings about positive results. Grace always wins.

As we step into the Father’s will it is no longer about our feelings or hurts. Worldly power is temporary. True power is sacrifice.

No matter what our age, when we make it about God and not ourselves, we don’t feel the pain in the same way. When we leave things in the hands of the Father we truly can get through anything.

“When your eyes are on the storm, you wonder if I love you still.

But when your eyes are on the cross, you know I always have and I always will.”

(Lyrics by Casting Crowns)

Listen to/Read Luke23:13-25

Jesus Rebukes Little Faith

Matthew 8: 23-27

The sky slowly becomes an eerie gray color. A low humming sound in the distance methodically comes closer until you feel engulfed in the noise that nearly knocks you off your feet. You catch yourself, but can’t quite tell what’s going on. Unexpectedly the legs below you can no longer hold you upright and are swept out from under you. It is becoming difficult to breathe and nearly impossible to get your bearings. You then realize you are soaking wet, half floating and half being pushed.

You want help but don’t know how or who to ask. You feel you should be able to handle it on your own. You’re strong and intelligent. You grab the nearest object and hold on with an iron grip.

You reach for anything passing by that may be able to stop the turmoil, but nothing you can grasp is stable. You panic. You focus on the negative and how overwhelming it all is.

The storms of life can make us feel weak and helpless. They will grip us tightly as though we are suffocating in our own living room. As the gale force winds wage havoc in our minds we attempt to latch onto things we think will ease the pain. We hold fast to the tangible. We allow the evil one to invade and create unrest within us.

Even when inside the boat with Jesus, the disciples allowed themselves to weaken under the threat of a storm. They woke Jesus in fear for their lives and asked him to save them from drowning. Matthew 8:26 Jesus replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Jesus then calmed the storm.

How we choose to handle the situations we are in determines our level of inner peace. If we know God is with us and fix our eyes and heart on Him, though we will experience storms, we will not drown.

Lyrics from the song: Just Be Held by Casting Crowns:

 

“When your eyes are on the storm

You wonder if I love you still.

But when your eyes are on the cross

You know I always have and I always will.”

How will you take the bumps, bruises and scars of this life, focusing on the storm or fixing your eyes on the cross?

Watch/Listen to JustBe Held by Casting Crowns

Read/Listen to Matthew8:23-27

God's Message Is For All

Acts 10: 34-38

Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right.”

Peter received the vision for us all and was directed by God to share it. The Lord does not speak specifically to each one of us in a clear dream or visualization. If he did there would be no need for faith. He does however; whisper his will in quiet, gentle ways. Some of us hear but many of us miss out.

God calls us to be still.

He promises us that if we seek him we will find him.

He urges us to listen for his voice.

He encourages us to give our burdens to him.

He modeled the way we are to live upon this earth through Jesus.

He sent the gift of the Holy Spirit to be with us and support us.

God may not send an angel to each of us, but he does speak to us through the Bible and through others who strive to live as Christ did. He communicates his message through music, experiences, trials and joys.

As we live this life we have been graciously given, perhaps we need to slow down, look around, and listen. His great grace is there, and thank heaven, so is his mercy!

Like many Christian performers,Casting Crowns took a verse from the bible  and weaved it into a message through their song Courageous, regarding what the Lord requires of us; Micah 6:8 “To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” 

The courage to live as Jesus did starts in our hearts and homes. Then with God's help, we can take it beyond as we love and accept all others regardless of their religion or status. The message Jesus brought to this earth was not just for Jews. His chosen people are all who believe. 

Song & Video: Courageous

Read/Listen to: Acts 10:34-38

Psalm 8

Prayer Is Building

As a child, I remember feeling quite insignificant. I heard many phrases that resulted in the overall view of myself being small and irrelevant. “Who do you think you are?” “Children should be seen and not heard.” “Quiet mouth is golden mouth.” Names like rug rat, yard monkey ankle biter, and snot nose brat didn’t do much for my self esteem either.

Thank God for God! He loves all of his children, no matter how old we are, and regardless of what we have been though. He invites us to be His own, despite our shortcomings and sinful nature. Psalm 8: 3 “When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him.”

As we grow older, begin to contemplate our place in this world, and long for purpose, we marvel at the beauty of this earth. God’s great power and creativity can be seen in what He has made, yet even more amazing is that small, seemingly insignificant beings like us matter to Him.

As we pray, we build our relationship with the Lord, and find comfort in his words of mercy and compassion. We begin to understand that the trials of this life have purpose. Our stairway to heaven is built one step at a time. We realize that on this earth we may feel unimportant, and our actions appear trivial in comparison to others, but in the eyes of the Lord of all the earth, our names and our hurts are important and very significant.

Who am I? I am His.

Read/Listen to Psalm 8

Listen to “Who Am I” by Casting Crowns

The Story – Chapter 23 – Jesus’ Ministry Begins

Watch  "Who Am I" and this will make Amazing sense.

John Chapters 3 and 4

John chapters 3 and 4 hold many significant messages! The first section in Chapter 3 is titled “Jesus Teaches Nicodemus.” This Nicodemus fellow reminds me of me in ways. He went to Jesus at night when no one else was around. Nicodemus acknowledged Jesus as a teacher who had come from God. He inquired about how a grown man could be born again. His question seems surface and even quite silly. Nicodemus said, “How can a man be born when he is old? Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb to be born!”

When I began my true and sincere walk with the Lord and started spending time in the bible, I too had many questions that likely sounded immature and unaware, but that’s exactly what I was. We all began there, no matter what our age. Nicodemus was an important member of the religious ruling class yet understood very little. We all have much to learn, and if we pay attention we will find that the more we know, the more we know we don’t know. Perhaps that’s why we are called “children of God,” and the reason He says we must be like children in our beliefs. Mark 10:15 "Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it." The Lord knows we will never be able to fully understand because of our limited human mind within this earthly realm. Seeking His heavenly world in awe and wonder as a child however, is what God wants of us.

John 3 is the place in the bible where one of the most famous verses appears. The Journey (A Bible for Seeking God and Understanding Life) states: This one sentence contains the greatest message from the greatest source, describing the greatest love, demonstrated by the greatest sacrifice ever given. John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son; that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

John 3 concludes with John the Baptist’s testimony about Jesus. Because he was there before Jesus, and baptizing, when Jesus arrived on the scene, many went to John asking about Jesus. John reminded them; “You yourselves can testify that I said, I am not the Christ but am sent ahead of him………He must become greater, I must become less.” As John the Baptist, we are here to acknowledge the Lord, and as we help to spread His word, give all the honor and glory to Him as we become less. It is not about us, but about He who sent us. We are but a vapor in the wind. It has nothing to do with what we've done,  and everything to do with who He is. 

Listen and watch “Who Am I” by Casting Crowns

Read or Listen to John 3 and 4