Jesus Heals a Boy with an Unclean Spirit-Mark 9
Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!” And when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.” And after crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse, so that most of them said, “He is dead.” But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose.
It is so easy to claim we believe, but it takes a great deal of courage to admit our unbelief. Yes, we publicly proclaim our faith in Christ and our belief in God's word as truth. But for many of us if the truth be known, we are like this boy's father, we believe but we also doubt. The doubt we feel becomes like a wall obstructing our ability to see God's miracle come to fruition in our lives.
From the most simplest of challenges to the most complicated, we believe but we don't believe with the certainty Christ calls us to have. Like his most dedicated disciples we fail in our belief because of a lack of deep prayer, the kind of intense prayer that builds our belief to the point of certainty required for His miracles to take place. God I believe, but help me overcome my unbelief so that your miracles become a permanent reality in my every day walk with you! Amen! Just a little advice to go!
Sunday, March 29, 2015
Saturday, March 7, 2015
Do You Love Me?
Do you love me? Have you ever been asked this question? Has your parent, child, spouse, girlfriend, boyfriend, or other person asked you this question? Today's world makes it so easy for people to say I love you, but the sincerity and depth of those three words often lack the intensity and conviction they should carry.
In the scriptures, Jesus asks Peter, do you love me three times? Yes the same Peter who denied him three times because fear overcame his love. Christ teaches us that a genuine and sincere love overcomes fear not the opposite. Peter is now emphatic in his responses to Christ, culminating with his last response, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Peter was certain of his love and commitment to Christ!
Where do you stand? What would be your response if asked the same question? Do you love Christ and if the answer is yes, is it obvious by the way you think, speak, and live. Loving and caring for those around us despite their worthiness of love speaks to the sincerity and commitment of our love for Christ. Every aspect of our day should center around following Christ and caring for others. Love him the way He loved you, fearlessly and unconditionally. Just a little advice to go!
In the scriptures, Jesus asks Peter, do you love me three times? Yes the same Peter who denied him three times because fear overcame his love. Christ teaches us that a genuine and sincere love overcomes fear not the opposite. Peter is now emphatic in his responses to Christ, culminating with his last response, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Peter was certain of his love and commitment to Christ!
Where do you stand? What would be your response if asked the same question? Do you love Christ and if the answer is yes, is it obvious by the way you think, speak, and live. Loving and caring for those around us despite their worthiness of love speaks to the sincerity and commitment of our love for Christ. Every aspect of our day should center around following Christ and caring for others. Love him the way He loved you, fearlessly and unconditionally. Just a little advice to go!
Sunday, March 1, 2015
God I Need You Always!
After more than a week of feeling ill an experiencing pain throughout my body, I found myself on my knees asking for God’s healing. Suddenly my mind went to the constant pain so many experience day after day. I cried before God and had to pray for his mercy and compassion for the many that are hurting. Many are hungry, trapped by addiction, disenfranchised from their families, suffering the loss of a loved one, battling a terminal illness, and so much more.
My illness and the pain I have felt reminds me that God’s word assures us he is our comforter, our healer, our deliverer, our light in the middle of the darkness, our peace, and our everything. It is in the midst of the pain and the hurt that we often awaken to the realization that we need His presence with us every single minute of the day.
God I pray you wrap your arms around each of us, holding us tightly, squeezing the pain out of us and embracing us with your love and peace. Help us to remind each other of the urgent need to have you embrace us each and every moment of the day. Just a little advice to go!
Sunday, February 15, 2015
A2G: Never Give Up!
Who is Wilma Rudolph? Most folks would not easily recognize the name and would have to look it up to learn who she is. Wilma was born in 1941 as the 20th of 22 siblings. She was born premature and would go on to be diagnosed with polio affecting her right leg to the point she would have to wear a special brace and shoe through the age of 9 years old. What makes her special is her determination never to settle and never give up. Despite her handicap, she fought to walk and use her right leg despite the leg brace and special shoe she wore. Her parents though poor did all they could to help her stay determined and encouraged. Wilma would go on to develop her leg to the point of being able to walk and run without the need of a brace, She would go on to become a high school basketball star and go on to win medals in two olympics. Her "never give up" attitude reflects the perspective we all need to take when presented with an obstacle in life seemingly impossible to overcome.
Christ teaches us that all things are possible for those who love the Lord; that greater is He that is in us, then he that is in the world; and that we abide in Him and His word abides in us, we can ask for the desires of our heart and He will provide them. If we are abiding by His word, we will be in the right state of mind to know that nothing is impossible for our heavenly father and thus we will Never Give Up! Just a little advice to go!
Christ teaches us that all things are possible for those who love the Lord; that greater is He that is in us, then he that is in the world; and that we abide in Him and His word abides in us, we can ask for the desires of our heart and He will provide them. If we are abiding by His word, we will be in the right state of mind to know that nothing is impossible for our heavenly father and thus we will Never Give Up! Just a little advice to go!
Sunday, February 8, 2015
Be Vulnerable in Christ!
Christ proclaims that the truth will set us free in John 8:32, yet for many believers the truth is kept buried in our hearts. We fear the truth because it means being vulnerable. Researcher Brene Brown defines vulnerability as "being honest with how we feel, about our fears, about what we need, and, asking for what we need. Vulnerability is a glue that holds intimate relationships together."
What more intimate relationship than the one we have with Christ. Yes, Christ is all knowing but this doesn't preclude our being vulnerable with him. Practicing vulnerability with him will ensure our communication is an open one and we are both asking the right questions and carefully listening for His responses.
Vulnerability in Christ starts with Him and then continues with those we love. For many parents, children, husbands, and wives vulnerability is exactly what is lacking. The ability to speak openly from the heart admitting our weaknesses, hurts, and pains is critical for those whom we love to understand why we behave the way we do and why those behaviors are often hampered by the pains of the past. We often feel a sense of shame which prevents us from being open and honest; for many of us this type of vulnerability is a sign of weakness. However the opposite is true. When we have the courage in Christ to admit our mistakes and confront our hurts, we grow in strength and confidence. We begin to overcome the pains of the past and recognize Christ provides a way for overcoming them. Confessing those pains, understanding how they impact our behavior, and owning our mistakes are critical if healing is to take place. It all starts with the truth; owning it, being vulnerable about it, and knowing Christ will help you through it. Just a little advice to go!
Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead by Brene Brown
What more intimate relationship than the one we have with Christ. Yes, Christ is all knowing but this doesn't preclude our being vulnerable with him. Practicing vulnerability with him will ensure our communication is an open one and we are both asking the right questions and carefully listening for His responses.
Vulnerability in Christ starts with Him and then continues with those we love. For many parents, children, husbands, and wives vulnerability is exactly what is lacking. The ability to speak openly from the heart admitting our weaknesses, hurts, and pains is critical for those whom we love to understand why we behave the way we do and why those behaviors are often hampered by the pains of the past. We often feel a sense of shame which prevents us from being open and honest; for many of us this type of vulnerability is a sign of weakness. However the opposite is true. When we have the courage in Christ to admit our mistakes and confront our hurts, we grow in strength and confidence. We begin to overcome the pains of the past and recognize Christ provides a way for overcoming them. Confessing those pains, understanding how they impact our behavior, and owning our mistakes are critical if healing is to take place. It all starts with the truth; owning it, being vulnerable about it, and knowing Christ will help you through it. Just a little advice to go!
Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead by Brene Brown
Saturday, January 31, 2015
No Pain, No Gain!
Physical fitness trainers will teach you improved fitness is often accompanied by some type of physical pain. As you begin to develop and work out your various muscles, you will often feel muscle soreness. This type of muscle soreness is most frequently associated with the start of a new exercise program, changes in your exercise routine, or a dramatic increase in the duration or intensity of your exercise routine. While it may seem alarming at first, like you may have injured yourself; it is simply a normal physiological response. Your muscles are healing and becoming stronger with each workout, providing for greater stamina and strength.
As believers in Christ, we often experience pain as part of our spiritual growth. This pain can be the result of a new experience, challenges or trigger taking us back to a previous pain or hurt. We can find ourselves torn down by this pain, disenchanted and even discouraged. But if we take the time to draw nearer to our heavenly father, this pain can be part of our spiritual growth. He can use this pain to strengthen our relationship with Him, to make us spiritually stronger.
Christ doesn't promise us there will be no pain, but he does assure us that our faith will see us through the pain, enabling us to overcome it through His love and peace. The pain of the past or the present becomes an opportunity for us to adapt and develop spiritually providing greater stamina and strength in our walk with Christ! Just a little advice 2 go!
Scriptural Insights:
Psalm 18:2 The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
Psalm 34:18 The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.
1 Peter 5:9-10 Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace,who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.
Quotes to remember:
I am not a theologian or a scholar, but I am very aware of the fact that pain is necessary to all of us. In my own life, I think I can honestly say that out of the deepest pain has come the strongest conviction of the presence of God and the love of God. ~ Elizabeth Elliot
God never allows pain without a purpose in the lives of His children. He never allows Satan, nor circumstances, nor any ill-intending person to afflict us unless He uses that affliction for our good. God never wastes pain. He always causes it to work together for our ultimate good, the good of conforming us more to the likeness of His Son (see Romans 8:28-29). ~ Jerry Bridges
Pain removes the veil; it plants the flag of truth within the fortress of a rebel soul. ~ C.S. Lewis
As believers in Christ, we often experience pain as part of our spiritual growth. This pain can be the result of a new experience, challenges or trigger taking us back to a previous pain or hurt. We can find ourselves torn down by this pain, disenchanted and even discouraged. But if we take the time to draw nearer to our heavenly father, this pain can be part of our spiritual growth. He can use this pain to strengthen our relationship with Him, to make us spiritually stronger.
Christ doesn't promise us there will be no pain, but he does assure us that our faith will see us through the pain, enabling us to overcome it through His love and peace. The pain of the past or the present becomes an opportunity for us to adapt and develop spiritually providing greater stamina and strength in our walk with Christ! Just a little advice 2 go!
Scriptural Insights:
Psalm 18:2 The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
Psalm 34:18 The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.
1 Peter 5:9-10 Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace,who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.
Quotes to remember:
I am not a theologian or a scholar, but I am very aware of the fact that pain is necessary to all of us. In my own life, I think I can honestly say that out of the deepest pain has come the strongest conviction of the presence of God and the love of God. ~ Elizabeth Elliot
God never allows pain without a purpose in the lives of His children. He never allows Satan, nor circumstances, nor any ill-intending person to afflict us unless He uses that affliction for our good. God never wastes pain. He always causes it to work together for our ultimate good, the good of conforming us more to the likeness of His Son (see Romans 8:28-29). ~ Jerry Bridges
Pain removes the veil; it plants the flag of truth within the fortress of a rebel soul. ~ C.S. Lewis
Sunday, January 4, 2015
2015-New Beginnings In Christ!
2 Corinthians 5:17King James Version (KJV)
17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
This is one of my favorite verses because it reminds me of God's willingness to renew me, to make me whole. His forgiveness is neverending; his willingness to make me a new creation everlasting. He is a god of chances, willing to give you as many chances as you need to get it right. His mercy endureth forever. Blame is not the issue, as He is not a god of blame. In Him, there is no condemnation and thus we must move from self condemnation to receiving his forgiveness. His forgiveness is the key that enables us to open the door leading to renewal, enlightenment, and the newness of a fresh path towards the destiny He has for us.
A new year is about new beginnings, a fresh start down the path God has established for us. Be resolved to becoming a new creation in Christ, to letting go of the old things and letting them pass away, and to believing that all things will be made new. Begin your transformation by the renewing of your mind in Christ. Make your new year's resolution about a new spiritual diet; one in which you are committed to nourishing yoursself daily with His word, committing it not only to your memory but to how you live every day of your life! Then you will begin your journey towards becoming the new creation God has intended you to be! Take a step of faith and God will ensure he carries you the rest of the way! Just a little advice to go!
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