Wow Jesus wasn't messing around tonight! No sugar coating here! The message was clear!
He wants to see my loyal blind faith before He steps in! He wants me to stand up for Him and not worry about the consequences. We are to be obidient and love Him above our own children.
Jesus gives us a spiritual gift and gives it to us freely. So we should use that gift freely to give to others. In my life I must trust His plan blindly. I need Him to see my fiath, I want Him to heal me like the bleeding woman!
I love love love the verse about the Harvest! "the harvest is plentiful but the workers are few." I want to work the field and yield my harvest!I want to invite others to work in His field too!! What an abundance we'd all have!
Love,
Kristy
I loved this tonight. My focus was in Matthew Chapter 10: 37-42
ReplyDelete37 “Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.
This one is strong for me. It is hard to imagine loving anyone more than your children but we are called to love God more. We are called to put Him first in our lives and our family second. I take peace in knowing that God takes care of me when I put him first and therefore I have what I need to take care of my family. He has a plan for all of us and when I follow it is for the good of the Kingdom of heaven. Great things, Bigger than I could ever imagine or dream come from following that plan. So that is where I choose to walk. That is the life I choose to live. A life where I die to myself every day only to live with Him!
40 “Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. 41 Whoever welcomes a prophet as a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever welcomes a righteous person as a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward. 42 And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward.”
This is a continuation of the previous vs. Just a reminder that just because we give God/Jesus first billing in our lives does not mean we are to be inconsiderate to others. On the contrary we are to take care of those around us in Jesus name. So he reminds us that we do not lose our reward for being kind to those we are to put second to Him.
(Part 1)
ReplyDeleteM'kay...so I don't usually speak much. ;)
What you heard on the call tonight is "why"...
In my 41 years I've cried if I've been asked to pray...or speak at a Bibly Study...I cry when I pray & have my OWN Bible Study~hehe! It just happens...tender-hearted, I guess...but it's just "me"...and I guess that's the way God put me together. :D
I'm a "read-between-the-lines" kinda girl (but only when it comes to scripture--anything outside of scripture, I'm totally BLOND & need a manual!!!) As I mentioned...I LOVE the STUDY NOTES at the bottom!!! The particular Bible I was using tonight was the Life Application Bible (NIV).
These were the particular scriptures that I enjoyed reading the notes on:
9:5-6~A reminder to always "practice what you preach." I used to go to a church where "everyone who was anyone" had the "church bumper sticker" on their vehicle. I did not put one on, just in case I ever accidentally cut someone off in traffic...I didn't want it to "look bad" on that church. HOWEVER, I always try to be a good example~even in my driving. ;)
This also reminds me of a song. "...& they'll know we are Christians by our Love..."
I try to remember that everyday. :D
9:9~HA! This is where I "lost it"~LOL! Very painful memory, & although I "thought" I was in the "perfect place"...God removed me...(and VERY ABRUPTLY, too!) But it also reminds me of Genesis 50:20~"You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives." And I've stumbled upon many blessings since that day...as I'm reminded it WAS "all for good." ;D
9:17~A reminder that our walk with Christ is NOT about RULES & REGULATIONS! It's about HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH US! Also, that we are to be sensitive to the "new needs" of others & "new ways" to serve Christ as well as others~& not just focus on the list of the 10 Commandments & think, "Check...Check...okay, I'm good!" :D
9:23-26~Hehe~reminds me of the song, "Nothing is Impossible...With God"..."for everything...oh, everything...yes, ev-ry-thing-is-possiblllllllle...wiiiiiiiith GOOOOOOOOOOOODDD!!!!" Hehe~LOVE that song! :D
9:27-30~Jesus didn't respond immediately because he wanted to see if they really had faith...and didn't just see him as an "old school miracle vending machine."
9:28~I love what the note says, "If you believe Jesus is the answer to your every need, don't let anything or anyone stop you from reaching Him." WOO-HOO!!! AMEN!!! :D :D :D
9:34~Love this comment as well. "Their [The Pharisees] skepticism was based not on insufficient evidence but on jealousy of Jesus' popularity." Being an example of Christ is SOOO NOT about "popularity."
9:37-38~~A reminder that it doesn't matter who we are or where we are in our lives...that we can always be an example for Him...and others can be blessed THROUGH us...even when we least expect it. ;)
(Part 2)
ReplyDelete10:1~Hehe~the note says, "Jesus *called* his 12 disciples. He didn't draft them, force them, or ask them to volunteer; he *chose* them to serve Him in a special way." God doesn't do the "peer pressure" thing, just FYI. If you feel "pressure"...it's NOT from "Him."
10:2-4~Kinda back to v9:37-38: I love this note,"He called common people and uncommon leaders; rich and poor; educated and uneducated. Today, many people think only certain people are fit to follow Christ, but this was not the attitude of the Master Himself. God can use anyone, no matter how insignificant he or she appears. When you feel small and useless, remember that God uses ordinary people to do His extraordinary work." This is a personal reminder to me...that I'm NOT insignificant to Christ! WHOOP-WHOOP!! :D :D
10:7~Gotta quote this..."One day the kingdom will be fully realized. Then evil will be destroyed and all people will live in peace with one another." LOVE-LOVE-LOVE!!!!! Reminds me of every good & proper fairy-tale..."& they alllll lived...happily-ever-after." But yet it's REALLY-REALLY-REALLY gonna happen one day!! YAAAYYY!!! :D :D :D
10:19-20~I've never been a "worry-wart" as my mom has always called it...and neither has she. However, there's been a time in my life that I didn't even know what I was going to eat that day...yet God still provided. ;) This is a reminder that we are NOT supposed to STOP PREPARING...but to NOT WORRY ourselves over our situation(s). ;)
10:22~Gotta quote the note, "Standing firm to the end is not a way to be saved, but the evidence that a person is really committed to Jesus. Persistence is not a means to earn salvation; it is the by-product of a truly devoted life." Again...another personal one for me. I was tested...and thank goodness I passed! There's no question for ANYONE who knows me...that I AM "devoted"...Hmmm...suddenly reminds me of a Diana Ross song~LOL! xo ;)
OOOoo~& I LOVE-LOVE-LOVE the very end note on this one..."But those who stand firm will be vindicated!" HALLELUJAH & AMEN!! :D :D
(Part 3)
ReplyDelete10:29-31~This is where I "lost it" again..."Because God places such value on you, you need never fear personal threats or difficult trials. These can't shake God's love or dislodge his Spirit from within you. This doesn't mean, however, that God will take away all your troubles. The real test of value is how well something holds up under the wear, tear, and abuse of everyday life. Those who stand up for Christ in spite of their troubles, truly have lasting value and will receive great rewards." Totally got choked-up...as I was reminded about God's love for us. Have you ever seen a sparrow? It's a teeny-tiny bird...not much bigger than a humming bird. It has to withstand the storms of life as well~& has to find its own food & shelter, daily~LITERALLY! & if God loves & cares for those teeny-tiny birds...how He SURELY cares even much more for each of US!
10:38~Reminds me of another song..."Make my life a living sacrifice...Holy and acceptable to You." Been there...done that...& although many hardships come along with it, I don't regret it. ;)
10:42~I LOVE the notes on this one! "How much we love God can be measured by how well we treat others. Jesus' example of giving a cup of cold water to a thirsty child is a good model of unselfish service. A child usually can't or won't return a favor. God notices every good deed we do or DON'T do~as if He were the one receiving it. Is there something unselfish you can do for someone else today? Although no one else may see you, God will notice."
I've been in "places" where "the above statement" was definitely NOT practiced. It was very difficult for me to be there...yet I stood firm...and did NOT "cover the light"...which only made "them" angrier. I smiled as I ran to open doors for them early in the mornings...and greeted them with songs...until the day they held the door open for me...and said, "Out you go...We don't want you here."
Although I couldn't "see" it at the moment...God had a "bigger & better plan ahead for me"...full of special friends...more than I can keep track of now...who LOVE SONSHINE!!! YAAAAYYY!!! "Thanks, God!!" **group hug!!** :D :D :D
M'kay...I'm done for now! Hope you all have a blessed week! *steps off of soap box* :)
Last night the devil tried to pull me away from the bible by putting distracting things in my way. After bible study I prayed before I went to bed. I was emotionally drained after battling out with the devil. I must say I slept like a baby. This morning I got up and re-read the chapters. Matthew 10:35 And a man's enemies will be those of is household - our enemy Satan was trying to keep me distracted as I was trying to read/listen to God's word. I continued to stand my ground, I finally told him to go away. Not only away from me but away from my household. He is definitely not wanted in this household.
ReplyDeleteWe are told to put God first and foremost. For a long time it was hard for me to understand why it is important to put God first. I did it because I was told to do it. But now I understand. God is our creator. He is our true Father. God has a path for us once we give our life to God he will guide us down the righteous path. God comes first in my household although there are times that Satan does try to get in the way. But I will not let him win.