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.