Acts 5: 38 Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. 39 But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.”
The disciples have done miraculous things in Jesus's name. The people even carry ill persons to a place where Peter's shadow will fall on them as he goes to church. Just his shadow has a healing power! But the authorities want to stop them, and they speak about killing them. One disciple stops that kind of talk with these comments. ((BTW they just beat them and let them go with a warning to stop talking like that.)
I'm wondering if our country won't find itself fighting against God. We can't honor the words from God in Exodus about how to treat foreigners. We follow hate and fear to places I would not have conceived possible a year ago. I pray that God's followers will see Him in their emotional rants against His people. And they will stop this rejection of God's people.
Prayer: Lord, guide my country. If it's Your will that's what I want. If it's not, show us how to resist those in power. Let love, not fear, guide Your people.
Amen
Sunday, January 29, 2017
Friday, January 27, 2017
January 27, 2017
Exodus 17: 12 When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up—one on one side, one on the other—so that his hands remained steady till sunset.
Joshua fights for the people, and Moses does his part too. God has told Moses that they will win as long as his hands are raised. But he gets tired, and he needs support to hang on until the victory.
I need support too. I want to follow the path God has planned for me, but I am weak. I understand that the end goal is good, but I am not sure that I can withstand the forces that hold me back.
Prayer: It's me, it's me, it's me, O Lord, standing in the need of prayer. Boy, do I need You. Why is it all so hard? Stand by me.
Amen
Joshua fights for the people, and Moses does his part too. God has told Moses that they will win as long as his hands are raised. But he gets tired, and he needs support to hang on until the victory.
I need support too. I want to follow the path God has planned for me, but I am weak. I understand that the end goal is good, but I am not sure that I can withstand the forces that hold me back.
Prayer: It's me, it's me, it's me, O Lord, standing in the need of prayer. Boy, do I need You. Why is it all so hard? Stand by me.
Amen
Saturday, January 21, 2017
January 21, 2017
Exodus 2: 13 The next day he went out and saw two Hebrews fighting. He asked the one in the wrong, “Why are you hitting your fellow Hebrew?”
Moses has been raised in the palace, but he knows that he is a Hebrew. He has killed an Egyptian who beat one of his people. Now he steps up when 2 Hebrews are fighting. They put him in his place, asking if he plans to kill them too.
We got a new President yesterday. I'm sure that I am not one of "his" people. He made a plea to them in his speech, appealing to their sense that they have been neglected. I don't buy that. I'm seeing Trump leading people who have little in common with him. Yet they feel that he understands them. It's kind of the opposite of the way Moses felt. He thought that he represented his people, but they saw him as an outsider. I'm wondering how effective a leader Trump will be long term. Will his people ever begin to doubt that he is one of them and instead feel threatened by him?
Prayer: Lord, I am praying for my country and its leaders. Let us hear Your voice above all the noise around us. Show us how to be a great nation, led by You.
Amen
Moses has been raised in the palace, but he knows that he is a Hebrew. He has killed an Egyptian who beat one of his people. Now he steps up when 2 Hebrews are fighting. They put him in his place, asking if he plans to kill them too.
We got a new President yesterday. I'm sure that I am not one of "his" people. He made a plea to them in his speech, appealing to their sense that they have been neglected. I don't buy that. I'm seeing Trump leading people who have little in common with him. Yet they feel that he understands them. It's kind of the opposite of the way Moses felt. He thought that he represented his people, but they saw him as an outsider. I'm wondering how effective a leader Trump will be long term. Will his people ever begin to doubt that he is one of them and instead feel threatened by him?
Prayer: Lord, I am praying for my country and its leaders. Let us hear Your voice above all the noise around us. Show us how to be a great nation, led by You.
Amen
Thursday, January 19, 2017
January 19, 2017
Luke 19: 26 He replied, "I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but as for the one who has nothing, even what they have will be taken away."
Jesus is not a fuzzy, feel good guy here. This is right before he sends for the donkey to take him to the Last Supper. After that, he turns over the money changers' tables. He is talking about the 3 servants of the cruel master. Each is given 10 mins to make money with while the master is away. Two follow instructions, but the third buries his, in fear that he will lose it. The master is angry and takes the 10 back, giving it to the one who earned the most.
Faith is the focus. It's good to have faith, but it's not enough. We must work to strengthen our faith and to share it. Fear is bad, robbing us of possibilities.
Prayer: Lord, let me take the gift of faith You have given me and turn it into Your work on Earth. I have so many worries, and You hold all the answers. Guide and comfort us.
Amen
Jesus is not a fuzzy, feel good guy here. This is right before he sends for the donkey to take him to the Last Supper. After that, he turns over the money changers' tables. He is talking about the 3 servants of the cruel master. Each is given 10 mins to make money with while the master is away. Two follow instructions, but the third buries his, in fear that he will lose it. The master is angry and takes the 10 back, giving it to the one who earned the most.
Faith is the focus. It's good to have faith, but it's not enough. We must work to strengthen our faith and to share it. Fear is bad, robbing us of possibilities.
Prayer: Lord, let me take the gift of faith You have given me and turn it into Your work on Earth. I have so many worries, and You hold all the answers. Guide and comfort us.
Amen
Sunday, January 15, 2017
January 15, 2017
Luke 15: 1 Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus.
This chapter is the response of Jesus to the Pharisees' accusations that he hung out with sinners. The stories of the prodigal son, the lost sheep and the woman with the lost coin are some of his best-known. All refer to God's interest in sinners.
It's important to be available as a Christian. You can't wall yourself off from sinners. Of course, you know that you are one too. But I feel the pull to be that voice of Christ to people who are alienated from Christianity. It seems like a mission field that God wants me on.
Prayer: Lord, I want to represent You well. I will listen for Your voice as Your Spirit directs me to let others know of Your mercy. Guide my words and deeds.
Amen
This chapter is the response of Jesus to the Pharisees' accusations that he hung out with sinners. The stories of the prodigal son, the lost sheep and the woman with the lost coin are some of his best-known. All refer to God's interest in sinners.
It's important to be available as a Christian. You can't wall yourself off from sinners. Of course, you know that you are one too. But I feel the pull to be that voice of Christ to people who are alienated from Christianity. It seems like a mission field that God wants me on.
Prayer: Lord, I want to represent You well. I will listen for Your voice as Your Spirit directs me to let others know of Your mercy. Guide my words and deeds.
Amen
Saturday, January 14, 2017
January 14, 2017
Luke 14: 27 And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.
Jesus has healed on the Sabbath again, to the disapproval of the officials. He has talked about how to give and attend banquets. Now he's talking about his true followers. We must be willing to carry our own crosses in order to be a true disciple.
I read more about carrying one's own crosses. They can be anything that causes us to suffer. The source I found says that we can try to carry them ourselves, which will surely lead to bad feelings and resentment, or we can hand the power over to God. Then we will see how to bear the suffering, while still being able to feel positively. I'm going to be thinking about this a lot during Ron's long recovery.
Prayer: I need You, Lord. The crosses that surround me are too much for me. I need Your help and guidance to do my very best. I want to represent You well, and I wait for Your guidance.
Jesus has healed on the Sabbath again, to the disapproval of the officials. He has talked about how to give and attend banquets. Now he's talking about his true followers. We must be willing to carry our own crosses in order to be a true disciple.
I read more about carrying one's own crosses. They can be anything that causes us to suffer. The source I found says that we can try to carry them ourselves, which will surely lead to bad feelings and resentment, or we can hand the power over to God. Then we will see how to bear the suffering, while still being able to feel positively. I'm going to be thinking about this a lot during Ron's long recovery.
Prayer: I need You, Lord. The crosses that surround me are too much for me. I need Your help and guidance to do my very best. I want to represent You well, and I wait for Your guidance.
- Amen
Friday, January 6, 2017
January 6, 2017
Luke 6: 38 "Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
Jesus has chosen the Disciples and given the Beatitudes. He has talked about turning the other cheek and loving our enemies. Now he explains how we should act.
Giving is my focus. With Ron so unable to care for himself, it's a real issue. The last time we were in similar circumstances, he walked all over the children and myself until he broke me down. I can't let that happen again, and yet I must be giving. I must somehow balance that with allowing the demands to become overwhelming and inconsiderate. I need help.
Prayer: I need guidance, Lord. I need to be giving without losing myself in the process. I must stand firm while yielding to the needs of my invalid spouse. It's not even really about an expected reward; it's about encouraging without enabling. Help me to see that path.
Amen
Jesus has chosen the Disciples and given the Beatitudes. He has talked about turning the other cheek and loving our enemies. Now he explains how we should act.
Giving is my focus. With Ron so unable to care for himself, it's a real issue. The last time we were in similar circumstances, he walked all over the children and myself until he broke me down. I can't let that happen again, and yet I must be giving. I must somehow balance that with allowing the demands to become overwhelming and inconsiderate. I need help.
Prayer: I need guidance, Lord. I need to be giving without losing myself in the process. I must stand firm while yielding to the needs of my invalid spouse. It's not even really about an expected reward; it's about encouraging without enabling. Help me to see that path.
Amen
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