24 Hours

I have to comment about what I have been learning lately.  The church we've been attending has been doing a special series during lent on the "24 hours that changed the world" focusing on Jesus' final 24 hours before his crucifixion.  The pastor is trying to dig deep into every word that Jesus speaks and every move he makes.  Her focus has been on the idea that if any of us knew when and how we were going to die that everything we would do would be so intentional and have so much meaning.

I have learned so much in the past weeks about Passover, the Garden of Gethsemane, and the trial (or lack thereof) of Jesus before the High Priests and Pilate.  The part of the scripture that has stuck with me the most so far is the Garden of Gethsemane and how Jesus prays for there to be another way.  In the end he surrenders his heart and his will to God- for the first time in my life I have a true foundation and understanding for the saying "let Your will be done."  It is so powerful and fills me with faith, God is in control.   His work can only be done through me not by me.

Another part that has lingered in my thoughts throughout the past days is the fact that Barrabas was freed and in his place Jesus was killed.  The pastor did an unbelievable job of setting up the story and making sure we all felt and understood how much Barrabas was given- freedom, life, choice........and that Jesus died for his sins.  Our sins.  Jesus died to save me. 

Each week the church's readings have been coming from the book of Mark so today I got back into reading in Matthew and I'm almost to Passover so it's nice to read it with new eyes from what I've been learning.  On a discouraging note, I found out today that the pastor that we LOVE at this church is leaving and moving upwards:(  This feels like such a setback to me because she is so educational and gives a lot of detail and history and follows the scripture in a style that I love.  I am going to hope and pray that this church body can find another as effective as her, at spreading God's word.

Matthew 17-19

Matthew 17- I can't imagine what it must have been like for Peter and James and John to hear God and to have Jesus comfort them.  It is also hard to imagine what is must have been like for Jesus to know what was going to happen to him.  I'd like to believe that since he is the Son of God that he wouldn't feel the pain that he was subjected to by the hands of men but I know it isn't so and I am so thankful that this person, this real living person was willing to sacrifice his life to save me and to save my loved ones.

Matthew 18- I really like the phrase "unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven."  I can understand this so much more fully as a parent who has a plan for my children; I set rules for them to protect them, to help them thrive, to help them help themselves and that is what God has done for us.  He has a plan and although we cannot understand it fully right now, we will see it someday.  I have to trust completely in Him and I have to be willing to "re-learn" so much.
There are so many amazing parables here; getting rid of temptations to sin, if your brother sins against you, the unforgiving servant.  These parables seem darker than earlier ones but I have often heard them preached about- it is always so crazy to me how "present-day" issues in the Bible are.  Although centuries have passed, the problems have not.

Matthew 19- I struggle greatly with the The Rich Young Man.  "Only with great difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven."  I worry about the balance between being responsible with money and being greedy; working hard and earning a nice home, having a safe car to drive, saving for college educations, saving for a rainy day in case something bad ever happened to us or our children, etc.  How do I balance what we want/need with others who need money more than us and then always determining how much is enough when it's never enough until it's everything.  I know that our good luck with finding jobs was not just luck, I know that God has blessed us in so many ways that was not "our" doing.  Ugh, I could ramble on about this for so long, my point is I think this will be a lifelong struggle for me. 

Matthew 14-16

Chapter 14 ~ The verses 22-33 speak of when Peter walked on the water with Jesus. This scripture is always so humbling to me and I feel so applicable to my life. My life is a walk of faith. There are no earthly reasons why I do the things I do or no way to fully explain what motivates me from day to day. The same way there is no physical way that Jesus could have walked on water and then called for Peter to join him on the water. Jesus proves how he transcends all earthly "rules" and that through Him Peter could have the power that only God can have. I think about this in my day to day life and just like Peter I start to look at the things around me that discourage me and pull me down and before I know it I am drowning in the sea of life. So amazing in this passage too how Jesus reaches His hand out to save Peter and I know He shows me that same grace and love.

Chapter 15 ~ The faith of Canaanite woman is inspiring. She knew Jesus was the Christ and she fervently sought after him to heal her daughter.

Chapter 16 ~ This chapter really starts to set the stage for Jesus' crucifixion. The tone of the writings change from the celebrations of all the people over the miracles Jesus had done and now they are all concerned and distraught over losing their friend, Jesus. However, He knows why he came to earth and that was to die. He even calls Peter Satan for trying to interfere in His primary mission as a man - dying on the cross.

Matthew 11-13

Chapter 11 ~ In verses 25-29 it really stuck out to me how Christ revealed truth not only to adults but to the little children. I am not sure if this verse is saying that literally or figuratively but I am thankful Jesus spoke to my heart at a young age. I think either way it is referring to the childlike faith we need to have in order to trust in a heavenly Father. I can see that belief and trust in children even about the smallest things. What a blessing that they can trust Christ with their life even though they may not understand every detail of what that means. I knew at age 5 that I was a sinner, that I needed a Savior and the Jesus had died for ME on the cross and I accepted that and believed with my whole heart that He would save me from my sin. God's grace is so amazing.

Chapter 12 ~ In this chapter it seems like Jesus is facing so much opposition. I am so challenged by the way he continues with his message. He doesn't answer their questions but instead questions them about their beliefs and why they hold to their laws. This scripture reminds me that as a Christian there will be a lot of times I feel like everyone is against me or that I am fighting the current but Jesus is such a great example of perseverance and strength.

Chapter 13 ~ Jesus speaking in parables is so interesting to me. I love literature, poetry and things so its very intriguing for me to read his parables and to try and figure out what he is speaking about. I am thankful for when he does reveal the truth in his own parables so we don't have wonder or assume. However, I think its just fascinating how he decided to teach in this way so that the simple would not understand the true meaning but the diligent would study to know the applicable truth.

Matthew 12-16

Jesus was searching for those who will remain strong and faithful, he is looking and giving people the chance to believe.  So often he encounters those who need proof and then once they have it they are still too afraid to believe the truth and they use it against him.  I loved hearing the readings of the seeds that were spread on the different terrains- and told several times and revisited- Matthew found this important, I am interested to see if Mark, Luke and John use such emphasis.  I've heard them multiple times throughout my life but I really think the meaning of the seeds is so important.  So many people and even myself want to claim to be believers in God's word and God's promise but I really don't feel that my faith has ever been tested.  My soil has been undisturbed.

Matthew 10-11

These passages spoke to me- when Jesus talks about bringing the sword and that his mission will not always be peaceful because fathers and sons, mothers and daughters and other family ties will be broken.  We are to choose God above all others and this message has been on my mind all week.  What strength his followers must have had.  I am worried and torn about leaving the Catholic church just because I don't want "hard feelings" and these people in these times were facing DEATH for believing in Jesus!  My Matt has said for the past few years that we have to follow our hearts and do what we think is right for us and our family and forget about parental concerns because there is much more at stake here and Matthew's scripture really echoed that to me. 

Matthew 10

chapter 10 - After reading how Jesus spoke to his disciples about what they were soon to face in the world and the job He had for them it reminds me that the Christian life is not all rosy paths and sunshiny days. He reminds the disciples that they should not fear men but fear God. What a promise that if we are walking the path that God has for us he will give us the grace we need, the words to speak and the strength to carry on.

It was interesting that you mentioned about people you have read about losing loved ones. Our good friend Justin Miller, Jason's best man, has an older sister who was about 36 weeks pregnant and due Feb 15 I think. She lost the baby this last Thursday and was taken in for a C-section right away. It was a little boy and the cord was wrapped around his neck. It would have been their 4th child and they were all so excited. It was such a blow to me to hear about this sweet little baby and the loss their parents were now experiencing. I am so thankful that they know the Lord and that He has been ministering to their spirits and encouraging them. They have such faith in the Lord and through FB they have attested to how the Lord is working in their lives - they have bad days and moments but through it all they have not had to grieve as people who do not know God. We can trust HIS heart even when we can't trace HIS hand.

Matthew 1-9

I loved reading all of this.  I think the passages are so good and I read them over and over and read the study guide portion of the book for most of the stories to make sure I was understanding all angles of what Matthew was trying to say.  I think the biggest lesson I took out of these passages is to not be so proud and boastful about good works because the only one I or anyone should care about is God's eyes seeing good works.  I also loved 9:13 about Jesus coming to help the sinners and those seeking God's grace.  What a better place the world would be if everyone followed God's word.

I have been reading a lot of blogs lately of people who have suffered great losses like the loss of a baby in womb, at birth, as an infant, toddlers and even a spouse (the mother of 4 young children).  While a tragedy like this is incomprehensible to me, a common thread that I read on these blogs is the difference in the writings of the moms and parents who follow Christ and trust that God called their children and loved ones to heaven as opposed to the deep sadness of the ones who have not found comfort in the Lord.  It's very motivating for me to want to trust in God more, to have such peace and faithfulness so that someday if and when I have to deal with very tough situations, God will help me through it.

Change of direction

I think I am going to start with the New Testament..................the New Testament is so much shorter than the Old and I think it would be better for me to be reading the same stuff as you.  I dove into Matthew today and enjoy the readings so much more, I love reading about Jesus.  Are you planning to work through the New Testament from start to finish or do you have another system?  I'm a work in progress:)

Genesis 6-10

Noah and the flood-  I understand God's desire to wipe out the corruption on Earth and start fresh.  He thought that if he started again with people who were good in times of bad that the world would be a better place.  But it didn't work.  Evil will always exist on earth and God realized his mistake.  Crazy that it was a world-wide genocide. I'm not sure how I feel about this.

You're right, I had a poorly worded comment above.  I agree with your comments.  I guess what I was thinking was that God didn't make a mistake by doing what he did because I too agree that he always has a plan.  However, he found that it didn't work or have the immediate effect that he desired at that point (and maybe he didn't desire it).  What I do think it accomplished was to show all people and generations to come that he can and will wipe out the human race if he thinks that it is best. He saved the believers and that is the real lesson of Noah and the Flood.

Matthew 7-9

Chapter 7 - There is so many practical truths in this chapter as Christ teaches the masses. I am thankful that Christ taught so us simple people could understand, yet with such authority that we could not mistake his Deity.

Chapter 8 & 9 - Jesus shows his power! What an amazing account of some of the miracles Christ performed and to read about the people who believed He was God and trusted in Him not only to heal their bodies but to forgive their sins. Those people must have been so thankful and elated to have their loved ones healed, raised from the dead and freed from the captivity of demon spirits. I am sure people were going crazy with stories and accounts of what the man Jesus had done in their town. I am so thankful Jesus came not to only heal wordly pain and affliction but to give us the gift of eternal life and freedom from sin - the ultimate disease we struggle with as humans.

Matthew 4-6

God really spurred me on with Matt. 5 today. I was reminded how I am to be a "light" to others and to be "salt" as well. Sometimes it is so hard to stand up to people you love and speak truth to them and I really struggle with this. I know its only for their good and its my duty to remind them of what God's word says in love and humility. I am thankful for the grace of God and his strength so that I can do this when I should.

I am specifically thinking of my sister who is living with her boyfriend. It breaks my heart over and over that she continues to live with him and knows that it is wrong. The Lord opened the door for me to talk to her about her life and she was so responsive and not angry. I am thankful for her sweet spirit and willingness to listen. I just pray she will listen to Christ as he speaks to her heart and seeks to be the King of her life. I also pray I will be a help to her and not a hindrance as she continues on her journey.

Genesis 1 - Pastor Janke

At Fellowship our pastor just started a new series and lo and behold, its on Genesis! I thought that was are pretty cool coincidence and figured I would write down some of the things that stuck out to me from his sermon.

Pastor didn't even get to the verse one of Genesis this first message because he spoke on the history of the book.

The author: Moses - one of the five books of the Pentateuch or the books of the Law

Genesis: A book of history, definition - the beginning

He also contrasted the 1st book of the Bible, Genesis, with the last book, Revelation

Genesis vs. Revelation

God creates God Recreates

God visits Man God dwells with man

Man sins and is cursed Man is forgiven/ the curse is removed.

Gods purposes announced God purposes fulfilled

He also referenced and read from a book that was really good! I thought I would pass along the title and author: Genesis in Space and Time by F. Schaeffer

http://books.google.com/books?id=vb2aSpCKnJEC&dq=francis+schaeffer+genesis+in+space+and+time&printsec=frontcover&source=bl&ots=TjHyyRvBaZ&sig=OSpZpAaZrZfixfxskdus8xWSCiY&hl=en&ei=BINLS8f5G4mENLymtZAJ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=3&ved=0CBUQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=&f=false

Matthew 1-3

This is such an exciting time in the Bible, when Jesus Christ comes to earth! I think it is so interesting how each of the 4 Gospels gives a similar but differing account of the same events. I had it explained to me once that its as if 4 different people standing on 4 different corners saw the same event happen, ie. a car accident, and then each shared from their own point of view and perspective what they had seen and experienced.

Jesus' family tree (Genealogy) - I agree these genealogies can get tiring but this is actually an interesting one to see what family and lineage Jesus was born into. After studying Abraham in the Old Testament and knowing the promise God made to him about his lineage its so amazing that Jesus was "born from his family".

The birth of Jesus - this account is not very detailed about the actual birth but more of the things going on before it happened. I can only imagine the "scandal" that surrounded Mary and Joseph with her ending up pregnant before they were married back in that time. Mary must have been such a humble and trusting girl to know the Lord had a special plan for her life and the life of the child in her womb. Also, Joseph must have been very distraught with what to do with his now pregnant fiancée and if their marriage should even happen. How amazing God's grace was in their life to lead them together amidst the stress and pressures of the world. My prayer is that I too would be a woman that would seek God first and foremost no matter what the status quo of the world would be.

Wise Men Visit - interesting to know that the wise men were not at the actual birth of Christ but came to visit them a few years later when Jesus was a toddler.

Fleeing Egypt/ Returning to Nazareth - Joseph had to be so in tune with God and where He was leading him and his family. May I pray much for Jason and his ability to know God's will for himself and his family.

John the Baptist/ Baptism of Jesus - John spoke with such authority about what Jesus was going to do and how we all must truly trust in Christ and not in ourselves. Its so amazing how Christ allowed John to baptize him of water as a symbol of what HE had come to earth to do - To die, be buried and raise from the dead!

Genesis 1-5

I'm so excited that we're doing this!  I'll take the plunge and type a few thoughts I've had over the past few days.............

I'm in the middle of Genesis- it got a little hard reading through the lineage of Adam so it took me a while to read last night.  I have a problem reading through all those names that are foreign to me.  Also, how was their lifespan so long!?! 800 and 900 years seems so strange!

Thoughts on Adam and Eve: I never realized how Eve was sort of "blamed" for taking from the fruit of the tree and getting Adam to eat of it.  I always thought it was vice-verse.  Before that time, I assume that there was no pain in child-bearing and work was easy and crops always grew without problems. 

Thoughts on Cain and Abel:  So sad that this happens all the time, envy is a terrible trait.  I think everyone has to work hard to not be envious.  Anytime that I am jealous about something I try and think about how lucky I am about something else, so that I do not drive myself to be upset over something I want.  I have everything I could ever possibly need.  I wish I could wipe envy out of my system forever.