Remember to Rest

S – Scripture

Mark 2 v. 27 The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.

 

O – Observation

In the previous verse, Jesus mentions that David and his troops ate of the bread of the Presence. Today, in our go-go society, our bodies need the rest. We need the time to reflect and meditate on God’s will for our lives. Be still and know that God is near.

 

A – Application

Am I really keeping the Sabbath holy? How good of a job am I doing in resting?

 

P – Prayer

Jesus, Help me to keep the Sabbath day holy, as you have invented it to be. Love Will.

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Be motivated to stay near to God

S – Scripture

Mark 2 v. 19 Can the wedding guest fast while the Bridegroom is with them?

 

O – Observation

What spurred this question was people observing that John the Baptizer’s posse was fasting but not Jesus posse.  Jesus clearly equates fasting with getting closer to Him/God. Since Jesus disciples were physically with him, there was no need to fast.

 

A – Application

How close am I getting to God? Throughout the Bible, people fasted when they were seeking God’s help?  Have I used this spiritual discipline to draw me closer to God?

 

P – Prayer

Jesus, Your physically not here right now, motivate me to be near you. Love Will

A Branch

 A BRANCH

Guest Blog by Gary Riedel

S - Scripture:

Isaiah 11:1 There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a BRANCH from his roots shall bear fruit.

O- OBSERVATION: 

This is the first Sunday in Advent and as we think about how disruptive the Babylonian captivity

was on David’s lineage, (Jesse being David’s father), isn’t it amazing that God preserved this lineage that we read about each Christmas in Luke 2:4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the House and lineage of David). For some fascinating history, read about the genealogy of Jesus in Matthew chapter 1. The BRANCH, is of course the promised “Messiah” or Jesus. There is also a hymn written about this; “Behold a BRANCH is Growing”. 

A - APPLICATION: 

God keeps His promises!!! No matter how badly things were for His people during the captivity, nothing could prevent Him from sending His Son at just the right time Galatians 4:4. This BRANCH fulfilled the purpose for which God intended, that you and I by God’s Grace and the power of the Holy Spirit might receive forgiveness and inherit Life Eternal. In the process we also become the adopted sons and daughters of Our Heavenly Father Galatians 4:4! May these thoughts sustain us and comfort us as we go through an unsettled time in our history. God has dominion over all!!!

P - PRAYER: 

Gracious Father, You always work all things together for our good, no matter the situation, because of the BRANCH, we know that in spite of what this life brings, we will spend Eternity with You! Grant us that faith,Lord, In Jesus Name, Amen 

Don't be selective

S – Scripture

Mark 2 v. 17 Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.

 

O – Observation

As I think about it, Jesus spent all his time here on earth with the people who were broken, lower class, the sinners. Not a whole lot of time was spent with the upper crust.

 

A – Application

Am I being selective in who I share the Gospel with? What must I do to be fearless to share the good new? (See blow.)

 

P – Prayer

Jesus, Help me to be fearless. Help me to share the Good News with everybody. Bless me. Love Will

Recognize God's priorites

S – Scripture

Mark 2 v. 9 Which is easier to say to the paralytic, “Your sins are forgiven or to say rise take up your pallet and walk?”

 

O – Observation

In this verse, these four guys took their buddy to Jesus to cure him. They went great lengths to do this. But, when it came to crunch time, Jesus instead of just curing him, first forgave his sins. This speaks volumes to God’s priority in our lives: Eternal first, Earthly second.

 

A – Application

We need to recognize that regardless of the hard times on earth, God care about your real priorities first.

 

P – Prayer

Jesus, Thanks for saving my life!!! Help me to remember this always. Love Will.

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Be sure to Praise God for what he has done for us

S - Scripture

Psalm 150 v. 2 Praise him for his mighty deeds, praise him according to his exceeding greatness!

 

O - Observation

Equal proportion? The last half of this verse is very convicting to me. Praise him ACCORDING to his exceeding greatness. I interpret according to mean equal to. Webster defines it as, "Agreement. In a way that agrees with something that was said." So am I praising him with exceeding greatness? Psalm 150 v. 3-5 gives a list of things to help in our accordance. I love this list. Trumpets, lute, harp trimble and Dance. (What?? Dance?? - Yep!!) strings, pipe, cymbals, and just to make sure, LOUD CLASHING cymbals. Everything you got, sing praise to the Lord. Sometimes God's is amazing in subtle ways. Praise him in private. Sometimes God's amazing in Big ways - Go all out!!!

 

A - Application

Is my praise to God equally proportionate to his Greatness?

 

P - Prayer

Jesus, Help me to praise you according to your greatness. Love Will

Know what God has to do with you

S – Scripture

Mark 1 v. 24 What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth?

 

O – Observation

What a great question. It’s the purpose driven life question. In this verse, it was demons asking in fear but also in recognition of his superiority. We to should be asking this question, but not from a fear perspective, but from a love perspective. After all, perfect love drives out fear.

 

A – Application

Am I sure that God is doing what he wants with me? Am I fighting his will in my life?

 

P – Prayer

Jesus, You know my weakness, but yet you love me. Make it abundantly clear what it is you have to do with me. Love Will.

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Be Fishers of Men

S – Scripture

Mark 1 v. 17 Follow me and I will make you become fishers of men.

 

O – Observation

If we follow Jesus, then He will make us Fishers of Men. Fishing is a patient process. It requires due diligence, what type of lures work best for what type of fish? The approach is different according to what you are fishing for. Plus, fishing is repeated efforts, multiple castings, not a one and done sort of approach. My approach to fishing should be the same way as well.

 

A – Application

Am I fishing/becoming a Fisher of Men? Am I really fishing? Has anyone come to know Christ thru me?

 

P – Prayer

Jesus, I really, really, really want to win souls for you. Help me to do this. Help me so that I can be a Fisher of Men. Love Will.

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Pray confidently

S – Scripture

1 John 5 v. 14 And this is the confidence which we have in him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us.

 

O – Observation

Confidence. Ask and it will be given to us (according to his will). Seek and you shall find. Knock and the doors will be open to you. It’s all there, we simply need to go to the source. Perhaps that is where we need to start.

 

A - Application

I need to pray with confidence. Confidence = Faith.  Faith the size of a mustard seed can move mountains.  I need to pray for confidence.

 

P - Prayer

Jesus, fill me with your Holy Spirit. Bless me as I strive to do your will. Watch over me. Thanks for being my friend.

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Walking by Faith

Walking by Faith

Guest Blog Post by Gary Riedel

S - Scripture:

2 Corinthians 5:7 For we walk by FAITH and not by sight.

O- OBSERVATION: 

I can only conclude that a”spiritual walk” is different than a physical hike. You see, we use our eyes when we take a hike lest we stumble and fall. But you see when we are on a lifelong spiritual walk, it can be the opposite. Consider David and Bathsheba, here it is the eyes that cause David to be tempted. It is often the eyes that cause jealousy and envy, they cause us to want what we see. Something new, shiny, bigger, more impressive. TV advertisers make a living preying on the envy created by what we see. But for we who walk in faith, we don’t need to see what tomorrow or next week might bring, for we know beyond the shadow of a doubt that we are His for eternity regardless of what tomorrow brings. John 3:16

A - APPLICATION: 

Walking by FAITH means surrendering whatever is around the next corner of our lives to Jesus! It means trusting Him for my tomorrow and not my 401K . It means trusting Him for my health rather than the inventions of man. While some of mans creations may be useful, it is the Lord God Almighty Who has dominion over all! Therefore we can and should walk through this world in FAITH! Trust in the Lord with all thy heart and lean not on your own understanding! Proverbs 3:5

P - PRAYER: Gracious Father, teach us to go through life walking in FAITH in YOU rather than trusting in ourselves. Lord I always seem to drift toward self-reliance rather than absolute surrender, and than when I’m in trouble I pray for You to bail me out. Forgive me for that and by Your Spirit Lord, help me to walk in FAITH ! In Jesus Name, Amen 

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Live like we are saved

S – Scripture

1 John 5 v. 10 He who believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself.

 

O – Observation

What is the testimony? V. 11, That God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. So what this is saying is that we have eternal life. Because this is true, I have nothing to fear because I am living forever in Heaven with Jesus. Awesome!!!

 

A - Application

Am I living like I have eternal life?

 

P - Prayer

Jesus, Help me to always realize that I have eternal life with you, which is your testimony. Love Will.

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We need to be transparent

S – Scripture

1 John 5 v. 7 And the Spirit is the witness, because the Spirit is the truth.

 

O – Observation

Notice: We are not the witness, but it is God’s Holy Spirit. Which leads to verse 9 of this chapter, “Since we believe human testimony, surely we can believe the greater testimony that comes from God. And God has testified about his Son.”

 

A - Application

We must learn to be transparent, so that people see the witness of the Spirit of God and not us. How am I doing in this? Man o man, I fight the pride.

 

P - Prayer

Jesus, Help me to be transparent Help me to let people see your Spirit in me. Love Will.

 Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

We are overcomers

S – Scripture

1 John 5 v. 5 Who is it that overcomes the world but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.

 

O – Observation

Being a Son of God allows me to over come the World. My belief in Jesus is the Key.  1 John 4 v. 8 says, Perfect love drives out fear. Knowing that  should help me face any situation.

 

A - Application

What am I doing to overcome the world? Am I waiting for it to come to me or am I going to it?

 

P - Prayer

Jesus, Thanks for sharing that verse, reminding me that I have overcome the world. Keep giving me that confidence. Love Will

We need to be about Love

S – Scripture

1 John 4 v. 7 Beloved, let us love one another; for love is of God and he who loves is born of God and knows God.

 

O – Observation

Cool – He who loves is born of God. But what are the qualities of love? 1 Corinthians 13 v. 4-6 Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out.

 

A - Application

Wow!!! How can I possibly do all these things? How am I doing on these things?

 

P - Prayer

Jesus, Help me to love as you love me. Love Will

 

We are of God

S – Scripture

1 John 4 v.  6a  We are of God.

 

O – Observation

Of God… Hmmmmm. That means we are God’s Temple How do we respect God’s temple? How am I doing? I need to remember the fundamental truth – Garbage in – Garbage out.

 

A - Application

If we are “Of God”, then I must be about God’s business. What is his business? Making disciple and teach people all that he taught us.

 

P - Prayer

Jesus , Thank you for making me “Of God”!! Help me to be transparent so that people see you through me. Love Will

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We need to be able to discern the truth

S – Scripture

1 John 4 v. 2b  Every spirit which confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God.

 

O – Observation

In the first verse of this chapter, we are instructed to test the Spirits to see if they are from God. Think about  all the New Age philosophies and the Eastern mysticism, that are not of God. Side note, the Spirit of the Anti-Christ is already in the world today.

 

A - Application

How can I test a Spirit unless I know that the right answer should be? I need to spend time with God both in Prayer and Word.

 

P – Prayer

Jesus, Help me /give me the ability to discern the Spirits. Help me to point other to the TRUTH – Which is you. Love Will

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Return!

S - Scripture:

Isaiah 44:22 I have blotted out your offenses like a cloud, your sins like the morning mist. RETURN to me, for I have redeemed you.

O - OBSERVATION: 

He has blotted out our offenses like a cloud, our sins like the morning mist. It occurred to me that it’s the sun that takes away the morning mist, and it’s the SON that takes away our sin. The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. 1John 1:7 Five minutes of sunshine will easily wipe away the morning mist. In a split second Jesus wipes away the sin of a repentant sinner! He desires that His people RETURN to Him! He aches to haveour nation return to Him.

A - APPLICATION: 

May we all be reminded that our God is gracious and patient beyond our ability to comprehend.

I’ve watched the patience of mothers with their children, their grace when their child makes mistakes, and yet it’s nothing compared to God’s patience and grace with us. God wants our wayward steps to RETURN to Him, He has REDEEMED you and I !! Thank You Jesus!!!

P - PRAYER: Gracious and merciful Father, we come to You, with remorse in our hearts for all our mistakes, but with joy because we know Your Son has redeemed us with His Holy and Innocent Blood! May we not trust in ourselves, but rather RETURN to Your loving arms. 

In Jesus Name, Amen

Love is a Verb

S – Scripture

1 John 3 v. 18 Little children, let us not love in word or speech, but in deed and truth.

 

O – Observation

The earlier verses in this chapter show us the ultimate example of love, while we were yet sinners, God laid down his life for us. That is the Truth. Also, Love is a Verb. It requires action. It requires intentionality. Saying I love you without actually doing anything is but empty words.

 

A - Application

Am I showing God’s love by more than words but with actions and sharing the Truth?

 

P - Prayer

Jesus, Fill me with your Holy Spirit so that I may show love in Deeds and Truth.

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Be a working Man!

S – Scripture

1 John 3 v. 5 You know that he appeared to take away sins, and in him there is no sin.

 

O – Observation

Jesus purpose in his life on earth was to take away my sins.  “Take Away” is a verb. It requires action and effort on my behalf.  Jesus did all the work, all I have to do is believe to be saved.

 

A - Application

What is my role in life? I can’t take away anyone’s sins, but I can work to show other people God’s love through me.

 

P – Prayer

Jesus, Thank you for working for me. Help me to work for you. Love Will.

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Remember, We are Children of God

 S – Scripture

1 John 3 v. 1  See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called Children of God.

 

O – Observation

As I think about it, what is the advantage of being a kid? We get to go on vacations, have fun, at some point get an inheritance.  We get the fruits of our parents work. Usually, as a kid we don’t have to hassle with bad things. So it is with being a Child of God. We get so many good things as a gift from our Heavenly Father.

 

A – Application

The 4^th Commandment says, Honor your Father and Mother that your days may be long. As a Child of God, how am I honoring him?  Am I obeying his word?

 

P – Prayer

Jesus, Help me to honor you with all that I do. Love Will

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