The Prayer: Psalm 143 (New International Version)
1 O LORD, hear my prayer, listen to my cry for mercy;
in your faithfulness and righteousness come to my relief.
The Reading: Matthew 13-15
Matthew 13:53-58 (New International Version)
53When Jesus had finished these parables, he moved on from there. 54Coming to his hometown, he began teaching the people in their synagogue, and they were amazed. "Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?" they asked. 55"Isn't this the carpenter's son? Isn't his mother's name Mary, and aren't his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? 56Aren't all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?" 57And they took offense at him.
But Jesus said to them, "Only in his hometown and in his own house is a prophet without honor."
58And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith.
My Thoughts: Those people couldn't see Jesus as he was because they knew him...or thought they knew him. Knew parts of him very well that made it difficult to understand other parts. He was the carpenter's son, this was his family, how could he know so much, be so much more, than that...and they didn't like it. I think we do this all the time. We see parts that we like, we want to hold on to and then reject the rest because it's hard to understand. And that limits our faith. And that limits our miracles. We want to be comfortable with Christ but that limits our belief in what he can do...all-powerful Christ who performs miracles. The carpenter's son, Mary's son who can save us all.
Thursday, May 31, 2007
Day 4-What if?
My Prayer: Psalm 19:1-2
1 The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
2 Day after day they pour forth speech;
night after night they display knowledge.
The Reading: Matthew 10-12
Matthew 10:32-34
32"Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. 33But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven. 34"Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.
My thoughts: It's difficult to get a true picture of who God is...judge, merciful father, an angry god who wipes out towns who don't repent or a caring one who creates a way to save the world...sending a part of himself to that world to suffer and die for it. And they're all parts of that God. It's a little easier to understand Jesus. Either we believe him to be who he said he was or we believe him to be...what? A person who makes the claims that Jesus did...and isn't truly God...is a crazy person, right? Sure, he taught good things...mercy, loving your neighbor, but he also said he was the Son of God, sent here to save the world. And he performed miracles, which sort of helps me make up my mind that he was telling the truth. But I've said before that I have a simple faith. I don't have to understand it all, all the parts of God, and still believe.
OK, and I had a day without a song, so I'm back to my old tricks. I couldn't find a recording to link to, but check it out on iTunes or something.
Nichole Nordeman - What If
What if you’re right?
And he was just another nice guy
What if you’re right?
What if it’s true?
They say the cross will only make a fool of you
And what if it’s true?
What if he takes his palace in history
With all the prophets and the kings
Who taught us love and came in peace
But then the story ends
What then?
(Chorus)
But what if you’re wrong?
What if there’s more?
What if there’s hope you never dreamed of hoping for?
What if you jump?
And just close your eyes?
What if the arms that catch you, catch you by surprise?
What if He’s more than enough?
What if it’s love?
What if you dig, What if you dig
Way down deeper than your simple-minded friends
What if you dig?
What if you find
A thousand more unanswered questions inside
That’s all you find
What if you pick apart the logic
And begin to poke the holes
What if the crown of thorns is no more
Then folklore that must be told and retold
(Chorus)
You’ve been running as fast as you can
You’ve been looking for a place you can land so long
But what if you’re wrong?
What if you jump?
And just close your eyes?
What if the arms that catch you, catch you by surprise?
What if He’s more than enough?
What if it’s love?
1 The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
2 Day after day they pour forth speech;
night after night they display knowledge.
The Reading: Matthew 10-12
Matthew 10:32-34
32"Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. 33But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven. 34"Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.
My thoughts: It's difficult to get a true picture of who God is...judge, merciful father, an angry god who wipes out towns who don't repent or a caring one who creates a way to save the world...sending a part of himself to that world to suffer and die for it. And they're all parts of that God. It's a little easier to understand Jesus. Either we believe him to be who he said he was or we believe him to be...what? A person who makes the claims that Jesus did...and isn't truly God...is a crazy person, right? Sure, he taught good things...mercy, loving your neighbor, but he also said he was the Son of God, sent here to save the world. And he performed miracles, which sort of helps me make up my mind that he was telling the truth. But I've said before that I have a simple faith. I don't have to understand it all, all the parts of God, and still believe.
OK, and I had a day without a song, so I'm back to my old tricks. I couldn't find a recording to link to, but check it out on iTunes or something.
Nichole Nordeman - What If
What if you’re right?
And he was just another nice guy
What if you’re right?
What if it’s true?
They say the cross will only make a fool of you
And what if it’s true?
What if he takes his palace in history
With all the prophets and the kings
Who taught us love and came in peace
But then the story ends
What then?
(Chorus)
But what if you’re wrong?
What if there’s more?
What if there’s hope you never dreamed of hoping for?
What if you jump?
And just close your eyes?
What if the arms that catch you, catch you by surprise?
What if He’s more than enough?
What if it’s love?
What if you dig, What if you dig
Way down deeper than your simple-minded friends
What if you dig?
What if you find
A thousand more unanswered questions inside
That’s all you find
What if you pick apart the logic
And begin to poke the holes
What if the crown of thorns is no more
Then folklore that must be told and retold
(Chorus)
You’ve been running as fast as you can
You’ve been looking for a place you can land so long
But what if you’re wrong?
What if you jump?
And just close your eyes?
What if the arms that catch you, catch you by surprise?
What if He’s more than enough?
What if it’s love?
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