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01-05-2009, 07:20 PM
23 Israel also came into Egypt,
And Jacob dwelt in the land of Ham.
24 He increased His people greatly,
And made them stronger than their enemies.
25 He turned their heart to hate His people,
To deal craftily with His servants. Psalm 105
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A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, 'If you are willing, you can make me clean.' Filled with compassion, Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. 'I am willing,' he said. 'Be clean!' Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cured. Jesus sent him away at once with a strong warning: 'See that you don't tell this to anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.' Instead he went out and began to talk freely, spreading the news. As a result, Jesus could no longer enter a town openly but stayed outside in lonely places. Yet the people still came to him from everywhere. Mark 1:40-45
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Shine on! Shine on!
The Glory of the Lord did shine down on me, it removed all my fears and I was caused to be filled to overflowing with love.
I did hear a voice within me, whether from Heaven or from myself I could not tell, saying "Shine on! Shine On!"
My spirit was made bright when I was showered in His Glorious Light.
It became the dawn of a new day, when I did hear His Voice say, "Walk with Me along life's narrow way."
There I did find peace and all my turmoil and strife did cease when God did pour out on me His Heavenly increase.
I did rejoice, when I heard His Heavenly Voice, and to walk forever with Him day and night was my choice.
©01/06/2001 Jim Welch
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For the Love of God
"Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners. Christ died for us (Rom. 5:7-8).
What do we do for the love of God? Perhaps a lot of the same kinds of things that we do to feel we are loved by others. For some odd reason we have a human mind-set that bases the love we receive upon conditions--"You will love me if..." Understanding that God's love is unconditional does not seem to have jarred that "conditional love" mind-set we have. We know His love is unconditional, yet we continue trying to be good enough, or work hard enough to deserve His love.
We can never do enough to deserve God's love. To say that we can is to imply that God's love has limits. His love knows no limit. No matter how much (or how little) we do, His love remains constant. He loves us far and beyond our ability to grasp His love.
A parent loves a child simply because the child is that parent's child--no strings attached. The child does not have to perform, or do all the right things, or make very few mistakes in order to keep that parent's love. The parent loves the child unconditionally. And out of that love the parent gives many good things to the child--not because the child deserves it, but because the parent loves. Jesus asked that if we being evil know how to give good gifts to our children, "how much more shall your Father, in heaven, give good things to them that ask him?" (Mat. 7:11).
So much of what happens to us is filtered through a human reasoned, reward and punishment mentality. God demonstrates His love toward us by giving good things, and we begin looking at the good things and thinking we must be living right "for God to bless me so." Or He demonstrates His love toward us by withholding something we don't really need or by allowing "bad" things to happen, and we begin trying to figure out what we have done wrong. Sometimes God does reward good behavior, or punish bad behavior, but everything God does is out of His love for us, and sometimes just because.
We do God an injustice if we always must attach what He does out of love to something we have done. He gives because He loves, as a Father loves His children. When we can begin to see God's love with no strings attached, we can begin to understand His grace. And what it means that "while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."
As children of earthly parents many of us have received much more good than we deserved, simply because our parents loved us. We need to stop asking God "What did I do to deserve...?" and just thank Him, and accept what we receive just because He loves.
Day by Day Devotionals
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January 6
Read Genesis 16 -- 18 http://www.studylight.org/desk/?l=en&query=ge+16-ge+18§ion=0&translation=kjv&oq=
Highlights In Today's Reading:
What a dynamic segment of Scripture! God promises Abraham a son, at the age of 99: Sarah thy wife shall have a son (18:10).
As the years passed and Abram and Sarai still had no child of their own, they began to doubt God's unconditional promise given in Gen. 15:5. Sarai suggested they help God carry out His promise. According to Near Eastern customs, a wife was forever disgraced if she did not have a son for her husband, but she could accept her personal slave-girl as a second wife, providing her husband the opportunity to father a son. But Ishmael was not God's plan to fulfill His promise to Abraham. God waited until His servant became old and had lost all hope of helping God fulfill His promise through human effort.
The moment a believer takes his eyes away from the promises of God, acts of unbelief that reap untold problems and suffering take place like the strife between Sarai and Hagar (16:4-6), and between their descendants (the Israelis and the Arabs). Like Abraham, people often fail to pray and seek the Lord's will.
Faith in the promise of God for a son continued to be a challenge to Abraham. Thirteen years after the birth of Ishmael, God promised a son through Sarah. Then Abraham fell upon his face, and laughed (17:17). And later, Sarah laughed within herself. . . . And the Lord said unto Abraham, Wherefore did Sarah laugh? . . . Then Sarah denied, saying, I laughed not; for she was afraid. And He said, Nay; but thou didst laugh (18:12-15). The Lord knows our thoughts of doubt regarding His promises. To human reasoning, the promises of God often seem absurd; but when all seems hopeless, we must continue to trust that He is able to fulfill His Word. Is any thing too hard for the Lord? (18:14). Never! For with God nothing shall be impossible (Luke 1:37).
Lack of faith in God's promise did not hinder Abraham from promptly obeying God's command of circumcision (Gen. 17:9-27). And, for this, God rewarded Abraham with a Covenant: The Lord appeared unto him in the plains of Mamre. . . . And the Lord said unto Abraham. . . . At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son (18:1,13-14).
The will of the Lord is fulfilled for them that fear Him; and He will shew them His Covenant (Psalm 25:14). God eventually reveals Himself and the knowledge of His ways to those who faithfully obey Him. If ye continue in My Word . . . ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free (John 8:31-32).
Thought for Today:
It never seems to fail that those God intends to use will go through tests and trials. But, He always supplies strength and grace to overcome (see I Pet. 1:7).
Christ Revealed:
Christ was a descendant of Isaac. Jesus. . . . Which was the son of Jacob, which was the son of Isaac (Gen. 17:19; Luke 3:23-34; Heb. 11:18).
Word Studies:
16:6 hardly = harshly; 16:7 fountain = spring; 16:14 Beerlahairoi = well of the Living One who seeth me; 16:16 fourscore = 4 x 20 = 80; 17:1 be thou perfect = live to please the Lord; 17:10 be circumcised = a physical sign of accepting God's Covenant; 17:20 beget = be father of; 18:7 dress = prepare; 18:12 am waxed = have become; 18:20 very grievous = severe; 18:24 Peradventure = If by chance; 18:33 left communing = finished speaking.
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You’re Gonna Be Like Him
Romans 8:29-30
For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son. . . And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
Becoming Like Jesus
We’ve been learning that nothing is an accident when it comes to your relationship with God. He decided to make you his child before the world began. Then, he arranged every detail in your life so that you would hear the gospel and accept Jesus as your savior.
The movie, Back to the Future 2, involves the time traveler in a situation in which his mother falls in love with him. He has to make sure nothing comes of that relationship or it will change his present. As the events unfold, it becomes very clear that changing just one relationship in a person’s life could make a radical difference in the future of many people for several generations.
God doesn’t travel in time to arrange the details of our heredity, our birth, and the days of our lives. Because he is eternal, all-knowing, and all-powerful, God has already planned every detail of who we are and what will happen to us. Romans 8:29-30 highlights four significant things God does to make every one of his children look like Jesus. First, he predestines or chooses us before creation. Next, he calls us and makes us want to be saved. Then, he justifies us by declaring us not guilty of any sin. He can do that because Jesus gave his life on the cross to pay the death penalty for our sins. The fourth and final thing God will do for each of his kids is to make us be like Jesus.
God uses everything that happens in our lives from the moment of salvation until our death to mold us. God uses all sorts of experiences, influences, teachings, and discipline as his tools. He helps us think, feel, and act more and more like Jesus all the time. We won’t become perfect in this life, no matter how hard we try. But, the moment we die, God will instantly finish the job. 1 John 3:2 says, “Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he [Christ] appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.”
God has given his word that he will make us holy, pure, and godly from the inside out. You could say that is his primary purpose in our lives. God filters every second of our lives through his love and power in order accomplish his goal of making us look like our big brother, Jesus. What a full, meaningful, and adventurous life we get to live as the chosen, called, and adopted children of God!
Today’s Prayer:
Eternal God and Father, thank you that there are no accidents in life because you are in control. Thank you that you use every single part of my life to make me like Jesus. You use my goof-ups just as easily as you use my greatest successes. I praise you for being the absolute king and organizer of my life. Amen.
Written by Martha E Menne, Flagstaff AZ
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1 Minute Daily Devotions
January 6, 2009
More Than Life Itself
"Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me;" - Matthew 10:37
If Jesus has every made a scary statement, one that causes me to examine my heart to its very core, it has to be Matthew 10:37. Read the scripture referenced above again. Now that is a stunning statement, one that challenges me to fully comprehend. That is because I love my wife. I love my children. I love my grandchildren and parents and siblings. I even love my in-laws. Because of my deep love for my family, Jesus' statement makes me very uncomfortable. In fact, it terrifies me.
Similar to God's statement to Abraham, Jesus is saying that when it comes to our family members, Christ must be in first place, or else He will be in no place at all when it comes to our lives. As hard as that is to take in, Christ wants to make it clear that if we want to follow Christ, He must be first. The fact is that if we love anyone (or anything) more than Jesus, we are not worthy of Him. And if that's not tough enough, He goes on and says that we must love Him more than we love our own life itself. Jesus sets up high expectations for His followers. Am I willing to meet His expectations? I am, as tough as it is.
How about you?
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Caring Rulers
Bible Reading: Genesis 2:15; Jeremiah 12:10-11; 1 Thessalonians 2:6b-9.
When God told us to take dominion over the earth, He didn't mean for us to destroy the environment like we have. He meant for us to care for the earth as a gardener would a prize garden of priceless roses. He certainly is displeased with the poisons we are daily flooding over this planet. He is also displeased when we flood the world with the venom of hatred, prejudice, scorn, backbiting, gossip, and unkindness. We must be filled with the love of Jesus Christ to become the caring rulers God intends for us to be.
Moment of Meditation: The successful gardener has a gentle touch.
A Talk with Jesus: Lord, cleanse me of hatred and unkindness. Fill me with compassion and understanding, so that I can become the caring ruler you intend for me to be. Amen.
For Further Study: Deuteronomy 11:11-12; Psalm 65:9; Proverbs 12:10-11; 29:7; Isaiah 42:3; Matthew 12:15-21; John 21:16; Ephesians 5:28-29; 1 Thessalonians 2:6-9; 1 Timothy 3:2-5; 1 Peter 5:2-3.
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John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
God's greatest gift to the world is His Son.
God's greatest joy is when one believes in His Son.
God's greatest act is forgiving the sins of a lost world.
God's greatest victory is His Son's resurrection from the grave.
God's greatest deed is to trust the gospel to the human race.
Our greatest responsibility is to share the gospel with others.
The greatest thing is to respond to the gospel, believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and be saved.
(seed thoughts for today's devotional are from Greater Grace World Outreach in Baltimore, MD - Pastor Carl Stevens)
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Feeding Five Thousand
by Momong
Mark 6: 34-44
1Jn.4: 7-10 / Psa 72
He had compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and He began to teach them many things.
(Mark 6:34)
There is adequate provision,
It is love that is lacking still;
When hearts are moved by compassion,
Millions will eat and have their fill.
When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, He had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So He began teaching them many things. By this time it was late in the day, so His disciples came to Him. “This is a remote place,” they said, “and it’s already very late. Send the people away so they can go to the surrounding villages and buy themselves something to eat.” But He answered, “You give them something to eat.” They said to Him, “That would take eight months of a man’s wages! Are we to go and spend that much on bread and give it to them to eat?” He asked them, “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.” When they found out, they said, “Five–and two fish.” Then Jesus directed them to have all the people sit down in groups on the green grass. So they sat down in groups of hundreds and fifties. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, He gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then He gave them to His disciples to set before the people. He also divided the two fish among them all. They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces of bread and fish. The number of the men who had eaten was five thousand. (Mark 6:34-44)
Reflection
This is the only miracle that Jesus performed which is found in all four Gospel books of the Bible. What makes it even more remarkable is the accuracy in details common to all of them: 1) five thousand people, 2) concern of the apostles, 3) amount of money needed to buy the bread to feed them, 4) five loaves and two fish, 5) making the people sit in groups of hundreds and fifties, 6) praying and breaking of the bread and the fish, and 7) the twelve baskets of broken pieces of bread and fish left over that the apostles were able to gather.
What is the significance of all these? First of all, this miracle was meant to recall for the Jews God’s divine mercy, when He saved the Israelite nation from starvation in the desert during its exodus from Egypt (Ex.16:4-12). This was the Son doing His Father’s work again. Secondly, if the miracle recalled the past, it was also meant to foretell the future, as the followers of the Bread of Life would be commemorating the “breaking of the bread” for the spiritual nourishment of millions in the Holy Eucharist of the Mass. Finally, Jesus invited His apostles to share in caring for the hungry: “You give them something to eat.” God wants us to take the initiative first, (just as the apostles looked for the five loaves and two fish), and then He will do the rest. Jesus showed His great love for the people, who were both physically and spiritually hungry (“like sheep without a shepherd”). That was why before He fed them bread, He first nourished them with God’s Word. He showed how much love God lavishes on His people (all ate to their fullest, with twelve baskets more to give). “In this way the love of God was revealed to us: God sent His only Son into the world so that we might have life through Him” (1 Jn. 4:9).
All of us have a great hunger that no food or material thing can ever satisfy. Only Jesus can fill it. It is only by entering into a personal relationship with Him that God can fill this inner void, and fulfill our hunger for meaning in this life, and hope for the Life to come. And like the bread that fed the five thousand, His gift of eternal life is absolutely free for the taking!
We praise and thank You, Father God, for providing us with all the things we need in life, and for nourishing us with Your Word, and the Bread of Life, Whom we receive in the Holy Mass. Help us to share these blessings with others, we pray. Amen.
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FORGIVING
In that state, the wrong-doing of others, fancied or real, had power to actually kill. - Alcoholics Anonymous, page 66
And forgive us our sins-- just as we forgive those who have sinned against us. – Luke 11:14
FOR WHAT IT’S WORTH: During my drinking years the hurt I suffered from others, real or imagined, was constantly eating away at me and fueling my drinking. In recovery I learned that I must forgive others to stay sober, and that I am forgiven based upon how I forgive. I express that principle every time I say The Lord’s Prayer. That precept is frightening, because I have such a great need for God’s mercy. So, I must forgive everything and everyone. There can be no lingering ill feelings. To do this I am blessed to have the most powerful example possible: after cruel suffering and abuse, dying on the cross, “Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive these people, because they don't know what they are doing.’" Luke 23:34 No one ever treated me the way Jesus was treated. So I can follow His example and ask my Heavenly Father to help me forgive, because they did not know what they were doing.
God bless you!
Joe W.
And Jacob dwelt in the land of Ham.
24 He increased His people greatly,
And made them stronger than their enemies.
25 He turned their heart to hate His people,
To deal craftily with His servants. Psalm 105
-----
A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, 'If you are willing, you can make me clean.' Filled with compassion, Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. 'I am willing,' he said. 'Be clean!' Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cured. Jesus sent him away at once with a strong warning: 'See that you don't tell this to anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.' Instead he went out and began to talk freely, spreading the news. As a result, Jesus could no longer enter a town openly but stayed outside in lonely places. Yet the people still came to him from everywhere. Mark 1:40-45
-----
Shine on! Shine on!
The Glory of the Lord did shine down on me, it removed all my fears and I was caused to be filled to overflowing with love.
I did hear a voice within me, whether from Heaven or from myself I could not tell, saying "Shine on! Shine On!"
My spirit was made bright when I was showered in His Glorious Light.
It became the dawn of a new day, when I did hear His Voice say, "Walk with Me along life's narrow way."
There I did find peace and all my turmoil and strife did cease when God did pour out on me His Heavenly increase.
I did rejoice, when I heard His Heavenly Voice, and to walk forever with Him day and night was my choice.
©01/06/2001 Jim Welch
-----
For the Love of God
"Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners. Christ died for us (Rom. 5:7-8).
What do we do for the love of God? Perhaps a lot of the same kinds of things that we do to feel we are loved by others. For some odd reason we have a human mind-set that bases the love we receive upon conditions--"You will love me if..." Understanding that God's love is unconditional does not seem to have jarred that "conditional love" mind-set we have. We know His love is unconditional, yet we continue trying to be good enough, or work hard enough to deserve His love.
We can never do enough to deserve God's love. To say that we can is to imply that God's love has limits. His love knows no limit. No matter how much (or how little) we do, His love remains constant. He loves us far and beyond our ability to grasp His love.
A parent loves a child simply because the child is that parent's child--no strings attached. The child does not have to perform, or do all the right things, or make very few mistakes in order to keep that parent's love. The parent loves the child unconditionally. And out of that love the parent gives many good things to the child--not because the child deserves it, but because the parent loves. Jesus asked that if we being evil know how to give good gifts to our children, "how much more shall your Father, in heaven, give good things to them that ask him?" (Mat. 7:11).
So much of what happens to us is filtered through a human reasoned, reward and punishment mentality. God demonstrates His love toward us by giving good things, and we begin looking at the good things and thinking we must be living right "for God to bless me so." Or He demonstrates His love toward us by withholding something we don't really need or by allowing "bad" things to happen, and we begin trying to figure out what we have done wrong. Sometimes God does reward good behavior, or punish bad behavior, but everything God does is out of His love for us, and sometimes just because.
We do God an injustice if we always must attach what He does out of love to something we have done. He gives because He loves, as a Father loves His children. When we can begin to see God's love with no strings attached, we can begin to understand His grace. And what it means that "while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."
As children of earthly parents many of us have received much more good than we deserved, simply because our parents loved us. We need to stop asking God "What did I do to deserve...?" and just thank Him, and accept what we receive just because He loves.
Day by Day Devotionals
-----
January 6
Read Genesis 16 -- 18 http://www.studylight.org/desk/?l=en&query=ge+16-ge+18§ion=0&translation=kjv&oq=
Highlights In Today's Reading:
What a dynamic segment of Scripture! God promises Abraham a son, at the age of 99: Sarah thy wife shall have a son (18:10).
As the years passed and Abram and Sarai still had no child of their own, they began to doubt God's unconditional promise given in Gen. 15:5. Sarai suggested they help God carry out His promise. According to Near Eastern customs, a wife was forever disgraced if she did not have a son for her husband, but she could accept her personal slave-girl as a second wife, providing her husband the opportunity to father a son. But Ishmael was not God's plan to fulfill His promise to Abraham. God waited until His servant became old and had lost all hope of helping God fulfill His promise through human effort.
The moment a believer takes his eyes away from the promises of God, acts of unbelief that reap untold problems and suffering take place like the strife between Sarai and Hagar (16:4-6), and between their descendants (the Israelis and the Arabs). Like Abraham, people often fail to pray and seek the Lord's will.
Faith in the promise of God for a son continued to be a challenge to Abraham. Thirteen years after the birth of Ishmael, God promised a son through Sarah. Then Abraham fell upon his face, and laughed (17:17). And later, Sarah laughed within herself. . . . And the Lord said unto Abraham, Wherefore did Sarah laugh? . . . Then Sarah denied, saying, I laughed not; for she was afraid. And He said, Nay; but thou didst laugh (18:12-15). The Lord knows our thoughts of doubt regarding His promises. To human reasoning, the promises of God often seem absurd; but when all seems hopeless, we must continue to trust that He is able to fulfill His Word. Is any thing too hard for the Lord? (18:14). Never! For with God nothing shall be impossible (Luke 1:37).
Lack of faith in God's promise did not hinder Abraham from promptly obeying God's command of circumcision (Gen. 17:9-27). And, for this, God rewarded Abraham with a Covenant: The Lord appeared unto him in the plains of Mamre. . . . And the Lord said unto Abraham. . . . At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son (18:1,13-14).
The will of the Lord is fulfilled for them that fear Him; and He will shew them His Covenant (Psalm 25:14). God eventually reveals Himself and the knowledge of His ways to those who faithfully obey Him. If ye continue in My Word . . . ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free (John 8:31-32).
Thought for Today:
It never seems to fail that those God intends to use will go through tests and trials. But, He always supplies strength and grace to overcome (see I Pet. 1:7).
Christ Revealed:
Christ was a descendant of Isaac. Jesus. . . . Which was the son of Jacob, which was the son of Isaac (Gen. 17:19; Luke 3:23-34; Heb. 11:18).
Word Studies:
16:6 hardly = harshly; 16:7 fountain = spring; 16:14 Beerlahairoi = well of the Living One who seeth me; 16:16 fourscore = 4 x 20 = 80; 17:1 be thou perfect = live to please the Lord; 17:10 be circumcised = a physical sign of accepting God's Covenant; 17:20 beget = be father of; 18:7 dress = prepare; 18:12 am waxed = have become; 18:20 very grievous = severe; 18:24 Peradventure = If by chance; 18:33 left communing = finished speaking.
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You’re Gonna Be Like Him
Romans 8:29-30
For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son. . . And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
Becoming Like Jesus
We’ve been learning that nothing is an accident when it comes to your relationship with God. He decided to make you his child before the world began. Then, he arranged every detail in your life so that you would hear the gospel and accept Jesus as your savior.
The movie, Back to the Future 2, involves the time traveler in a situation in which his mother falls in love with him. He has to make sure nothing comes of that relationship or it will change his present. As the events unfold, it becomes very clear that changing just one relationship in a person’s life could make a radical difference in the future of many people for several generations.
God doesn’t travel in time to arrange the details of our heredity, our birth, and the days of our lives. Because he is eternal, all-knowing, and all-powerful, God has already planned every detail of who we are and what will happen to us. Romans 8:29-30 highlights four significant things God does to make every one of his children look like Jesus. First, he predestines or chooses us before creation. Next, he calls us and makes us want to be saved. Then, he justifies us by declaring us not guilty of any sin. He can do that because Jesus gave his life on the cross to pay the death penalty for our sins. The fourth and final thing God will do for each of his kids is to make us be like Jesus.
God uses everything that happens in our lives from the moment of salvation until our death to mold us. God uses all sorts of experiences, influences, teachings, and discipline as his tools. He helps us think, feel, and act more and more like Jesus all the time. We won’t become perfect in this life, no matter how hard we try. But, the moment we die, God will instantly finish the job. 1 John 3:2 says, “Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he [Christ] appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.”
God has given his word that he will make us holy, pure, and godly from the inside out. You could say that is his primary purpose in our lives. God filters every second of our lives through his love and power in order accomplish his goal of making us look like our big brother, Jesus. What a full, meaningful, and adventurous life we get to live as the chosen, called, and adopted children of God!
Today’s Prayer:
Eternal God and Father, thank you that there are no accidents in life because you are in control. Thank you that you use every single part of my life to make me like Jesus. You use my goof-ups just as easily as you use my greatest successes. I praise you for being the absolute king and organizer of my life. Amen.
Written by Martha E Menne, Flagstaff AZ
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1 Minute Daily Devotions
January 6, 2009
More Than Life Itself
"Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me;" - Matthew 10:37
If Jesus has every made a scary statement, one that causes me to examine my heart to its very core, it has to be Matthew 10:37. Read the scripture referenced above again. Now that is a stunning statement, one that challenges me to fully comprehend. That is because I love my wife. I love my children. I love my grandchildren and parents and siblings. I even love my in-laws. Because of my deep love for my family, Jesus' statement makes me very uncomfortable. In fact, it terrifies me.
Similar to God's statement to Abraham, Jesus is saying that when it comes to our family members, Christ must be in first place, or else He will be in no place at all when it comes to our lives. As hard as that is to take in, Christ wants to make it clear that if we want to follow Christ, He must be first. The fact is that if we love anyone (or anything) more than Jesus, we are not worthy of Him. And if that's not tough enough, He goes on and says that we must love Him more than we love our own life itself. Jesus sets up high expectations for His followers. Am I willing to meet His expectations? I am, as tough as it is.
How about you?
-----
Caring Rulers
Bible Reading: Genesis 2:15; Jeremiah 12:10-11; 1 Thessalonians 2:6b-9.
When God told us to take dominion over the earth, He didn't mean for us to destroy the environment like we have. He meant for us to care for the earth as a gardener would a prize garden of priceless roses. He certainly is displeased with the poisons we are daily flooding over this planet. He is also displeased when we flood the world with the venom of hatred, prejudice, scorn, backbiting, gossip, and unkindness. We must be filled with the love of Jesus Christ to become the caring rulers God intends for us to be.
Moment of Meditation: The successful gardener has a gentle touch.
A Talk with Jesus: Lord, cleanse me of hatred and unkindness. Fill me with compassion and understanding, so that I can become the caring ruler you intend for me to be. Amen.
For Further Study: Deuteronomy 11:11-12; Psalm 65:9; Proverbs 12:10-11; 29:7; Isaiah 42:3; Matthew 12:15-21; John 21:16; Ephesians 5:28-29; 1 Thessalonians 2:6-9; 1 Timothy 3:2-5; 1 Peter 5:2-3.
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John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
God's greatest gift to the world is His Son.
God's greatest joy is when one believes in His Son.
God's greatest act is forgiving the sins of a lost world.
God's greatest victory is His Son's resurrection from the grave.
God's greatest deed is to trust the gospel to the human race.
Our greatest responsibility is to share the gospel with others.
The greatest thing is to respond to the gospel, believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and be saved.
(seed thoughts for today's devotional are from Greater Grace World Outreach in Baltimore, MD - Pastor Carl Stevens)
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Feeding Five Thousand
by Momong
Mark 6: 34-44
1Jn.4: 7-10 / Psa 72
He had compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and He began to teach them many things.
(Mark 6:34)
There is adequate provision,
It is love that is lacking still;
When hearts are moved by compassion,
Millions will eat and have their fill.
When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, He had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So He began teaching them many things. By this time it was late in the day, so His disciples came to Him. “This is a remote place,” they said, “and it’s already very late. Send the people away so they can go to the surrounding villages and buy themselves something to eat.” But He answered, “You give them something to eat.” They said to Him, “That would take eight months of a man’s wages! Are we to go and spend that much on bread and give it to them to eat?” He asked them, “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.” When they found out, they said, “Five–and two fish.” Then Jesus directed them to have all the people sit down in groups on the green grass. So they sat down in groups of hundreds and fifties. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, He gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then He gave them to His disciples to set before the people. He also divided the two fish among them all. They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces of bread and fish. The number of the men who had eaten was five thousand. (Mark 6:34-44)
Reflection
This is the only miracle that Jesus performed which is found in all four Gospel books of the Bible. What makes it even more remarkable is the accuracy in details common to all of them: 1) five thousand people, 2) concern of the apostles, 3) amount of money needed to buy the bread to feed them, 4) five loaves and two fish, 5) making the people sit in groups of hundreds and fifties, 6) praying and breaking of the bread and the fish, and 7) the twelve baskets of broken pieces of bread and fish left over that the apostles were able to gather.
What is the significance of all these? First of all, this miracle was meant to recall for the Jews God’s divine mercy, when He saved the Israelite nation from starvation in the desert during its exodus from Egypt (Ex.16:4-12). This was the Son doing His Father’s work again. Secondly, if the miracle recalled the past, it was also meant to foretell the future, as the followers of the Bread of Life would be commemorating the “breaking of the bread” for the spiritual nourishment of millions in the Holy Eucharist of the Mass. Finally, Jesus invited His apostles to share in caring for the hungry: “You give them something to eat.” God wants us to take the initiative first, (just as the apostles looked for the five loaves and two fish), and then He will do the rest. Jesus showed His great love for the people, who were both physically and spiritually hungry (“like sheep without a shepherd”). That was why before He fed them bread, He first nourished them with God’s Word. He showed how much love God lavishes on His people (all ate to their fullest, with twelve baskets more to give). “In this way the love of God was revealed to us: God sent His only Son into the world so that we might have life through Him” (1 Jn. 4:9).
All of us have a great hunger that no food or material thing can ever satisfy. Only Jesus can fill it. It is only by entering into a personal relationship with Him that God can fill this inner void, and fulfill our hunger for meaning in this life, and hope for the Life to come. And like the bread that fed the five thousand, His gift of eternal life is absolutely free for the taking!
We praise and thank You, Father God, for providing us with all the things we need in life, and for nourishing us with Your Word, and the Bread of Life, Whom we receive in the Holy Mass. Help us to share these blessings with others, we pray. Amen.
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FORGIVING
In that state, the wrong-doing of others, fancied or real, had power to actually kill. - Alcoholics Anonymous, page 66
And forgive us our sins-- just as we forgive those who have sinned against us. – Luke 11:14
FOR WHAT IT’S WORTH: During my drinking years the hurt I suffered from others, real or imagined, was constantly eating away at me and fueling my drinking. In recovery I learned that I must forgive others to stay sober, and that I am forgiven based upon how I forgive. I express that principle every time I say The Lord’s Prayer. That precept is frightening, because I have such a great need for God’s mercy. So, I must forgive everything and everyone. There can be no lingering ill feelings. To do this I am blessed to have the most powerful example possible: after cruel suffering and abuse, dying on the cross, “Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive these people, because they don't know what they are doing.’" Luke 23:34 No one ever treated me the way Jesus was treated. So I can follow His example and ask my Heavenly Father to help me forgive, because they did not know what they were doing.
God bless you!
Joe W.