My Prayer: Psalm 25:4-5 (New International Version)
4 Show me your ways, O LORD,
teach me your paths;
5 guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my Savior,
and my hope is in you all day long.
The Reading: Mark 12-14
Mark 14:3-9 (New International Version)
3While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of a man known as Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head.
4Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, "Why this waste of perfume? 5It could have been sold for more than a year's wages and the money given to the poor." And they rebuked her harshly.
6"Leave her alone," said Jesus. "Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. 7The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. 8She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial. 9I tell you the truth, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her."
My thoughts: There will always be those people who think your gifts aren't enough or at the very least not good enough. They see how much it costs in money and compare it to their own gifts, but Jesus sees the heart. This woman could have sold her perfume and given the money to the poor and been judged well, but she was moved to give it away in an offering to Jesus. It might have been the most precious think she had and she gave it all away. More than a year's wages and she gave it away in an instant. And Jesus says, "She did what she could." And then says that her story will be told wherever the gospel is preached. She got it right. What's her name? I guess it doesn't matter. Jesus knows it and we all know her story. She made a sacrifice, she gave the right thing at the right time. Can the same thing be said of me? I have to do what I can.
Monday, June 11, 2007
Sunday, June 10, 2007
Day 14-Like a child
My Prayer:Psalm 13:5-6 (New International Version)
5 But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation.
6 I will sing to the LORD, for he has been good to me.
The Reading: Mark 9-11
Mark 9:23-24 (New International Version)
23" 'If you can'?" said Jesus. "Everything is possible for him who believes."
24Immediately the boy's father exclaimed, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!"
My Thoughts: Now this is a prayer...I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief! The notes in my Bible say: "Since human faith is never perfect, belief and unbelief are often mixed." Later on in the same chapter Jesus says, "I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." It has to be taken as a gift. Sometimes I don't understand it all, but I don't have to.
5 But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation.
6 I will sing to the LORD, for he has been good to me.
The Reading: Mark 9-11
Mark 9:23-24 (New International Version)
23" 'If you can'?" said Jesus. "Everything is possible for him who believes."
24Immediately the boy's father exclaimed, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!"
My Thoughts: Now this is a prayer...I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief! The notes in my Bible say: "Since human faith is never perfect, belief and unbelief are often mixed." Later on in the same chapter Jesus says, "I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." It has to be taken as a gift. Sometimes I don't understand it all, but I don't have to.
Saturday, June 9, 2007
Day 13-A solitary place
My Prayer: Psalm 9:10 (New International Version)
10 Those who know your name will trust in you,
for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you.
The Reading: Mark 6-8
Mark 6:30-31 (New International Version)
Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand
30The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. 31Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, "Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest."
My Thoughts: Even the disciples had to take some time out to rest. Even Jesus had to have a little bit of time to himself in a quiet place to get some rest. Time was short and there was too much to do to even take the time out to eat, but Jesus took them somewhere to rest. Away from the crowds and all the good work. Sometimes all it takes is a little time in a solitary place, away from all the demands, to recharge, to get ready to go out again and feed the 5,000. I have trouble slowing down when there's so much to do, so many errands, so many deadlines. Even Jesus needed time in a solitary place. Now...the hard part is finding a solitary place. I don't think I'm up to a boat out on the lake.
10 Those who know your name will trust in you,
for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you.
The Reading: Mark 6-8
Mark 6:30-31 (New International Version)
Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand
30The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. 31Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, "Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest."
My Thoughts: Even the disciples had to take some time out to rest. Even Jesus had to have a little bit of time to himself in a quiet place to get some rest. Time was short and there was too much to do to even take the time out to eat, but Jesus took them somewhere to rest. Away from the crowds and all the good work. Sometimes all it takes is a little time in a solitary place, away from all the demands, to recharge, to get ready to go out again and feed the 5,000. I have trouble slowing down when there's so much to do, so many errands, so many deadlines. Even Jesus needed time in a solitary place. Now...the hard part is finding a solitary place. I don't think I'm up to a boat out on the lake.
Friday, June 8, 2007
Day 12-Always have hope
My Prayer: Psalm 71:14 (New International Version)
14 But as for me, I will always have hope;
I will praise you more and more.
The Reading: Mark 4-5
Mark 4:13-20 (New International Version)
13Then Jesus said to them, "Don't you understand this parable? How then will you understand any parable? 14The farmer sows the word. 15Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them. 16Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy. 17But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. 18Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; 19but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful. 20Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop—thirty, sixty or even a hundred times what was sown."
My Thoughts: I know some people who've claimed a certain verse as their own, it's a life verse, something that sums up their belief. I don't really have one, but I like the Psalm above. I want to be filled with hope. I want to be like the seed sown on good soil, not the on the rocks or thorny soil. And right now, I think I'm getting hung up in the rocks. So, what do I do? Build roots. To hold on, I need roots. Or to mix my parables, I need to be a stronger branch...by staying closer to the vine...or something like that. Anyway, God doesn't change...Jesus doesn't change. But I do. Or I can change if I want to. Maybe this Psalm can be mine "But as for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more."
Check out the Chris Tomlin song...How Great is Our God.
14 But as for me, I will always have hope;
I will praise you more and more.
The Reading: Mark 4-5
Mark 4:13-20 (New International Version)
13Then Jesus said to them, "Don't you understand this parable? How then will you understand any parable? 14The farmer sows the word. 15Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them. 16Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy. 17But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. 18Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; 19but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful. 20Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop—thirty, sixty or even a hundred times what was sown."
My Thoughts: I know some people who've claimed a certain verse as their own, it's a life verse, something that sums up their belief. I don't really have one, but I like the Psalm above. I want to be filled with hope. I want to be like the seed sown on good soil, not the on the rocks or thorny soil. And right now, I think I'm getting hung up in the rocks. So, what do I do? Build roots. To hold on, I need roots. Or to mix my parables, I need to be a stronger branch...by staying closer to the vine...or something like that. Anyway, God doesn't change...Jesus doesn't change. But I do. Or I can change if I want to. Maybe this Psalm can be mine "But as for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more."
Check out the Chris Tomlin song...How Great is Our God.
Thursday, June 7, 2007
Look what I did!
I managed to add some music to the sidebar. The only song that I've mentioned here that's actually over there right now is What If by Nichole Nordeman from days ago. If you'd like to actually hear it, you can check it out over there. I think it's working...
Day 11-Burdened by good things
My Prayer: Psalm 16:5-6 (New International Version)
New International Version (NIV)
5 LORD, you have assigned me my portion and my cup;
you have made my lot secure.
6 The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
surely I have a delightful inheritance.
The Reading: Mark 1-3
Mark 2:27-28 (New International Version)
27Then he said to them, "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. 28So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath."
My thoughts: There are still Pharisees in today's Christian world, people who pride themselves on knowing the rules so that they can watch for people to step out of line to be judged. And the world knows that they are Christians because they're like perfect poster children, doing the right things, saying the right things, in the door every time the church is open, so the world sees and rejects this judgement (and the hypocrisy that can almost certainly follow). The Pharisees were objecting to the disciples pulling heads of grain as they walked through a field on the Sabbath when they weren't supposed to work. And Jesus says the Sabbath was created for man to have an opportunity to take a break from work. It was a good thing for men, not meant to be just another burden. I think that happens too much in the Christian life. We take things that were meant to be blessings (worship, fellowship with others, service) and make them burdens on ourselves...and others. We lose that joy, we fight about it amongst ourselves, and can fall into the trap of looking down on others who don't do what we do. So is this hypocrisy because Christ's people are supposed to love their neighbors, right? Well, they're also human which means they're not perfect. But...the world sees it.
New International Version (NIV)
5 LORD, you have assigned me my portion and my cup;
you have made my lot secure.
6 The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
surely I have a delightful inheritance.
The Reading: Mark 1-3
Mark 2:27-28 (New International Version)
27Then he said to them, "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. 28So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath."
My thoughts: There are still Pharisees in today's Christian world, people who pride themselves on knowing the rules so that they can watch for people to step out of line to be judged. And the world knows that they are Christians because they're like perfect poster children, doing the right things, saying the right things, in the door every time the church is open, so the world sees and rejects this judgement (and the hypocrisy that can almost certainly follow). The Pharisees were objecting to the disciples pulling heads of grain as they walked through a field on the Sabbath when they weren't supposed to work. And Jesus says the Sabbath was created for man to have an opportunity to take a break from work. It was a good thing for men, not meant to be just another burden. I think that happens too much in the Christian life. We take things that were meant to be blessings (worship, fellowship with others, service) and make them burdens on ourselves...and others. We lose that joy, we fight about it amongst ourselves, and can fall into the trap of looking down on others who don't do what we do. So is this hypocrisy because Christ's people are supposed to love their neighbors, right? Well, they're also human which means they're not perfect. But...the world sees it.
Wednesday, June 6, 2007
Day 10-In all the earth
My Prayer: Psalm 8:1 (New International Version)
1 O LORD, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!
You have set your glory
above the heavens.
The Reading: Matthew 27-28
Matthew 28:18-20 (New International Version)
18Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in[a] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
My thoughts: Immanuel, God with us...always, to the very end. In the first chapter, we're told he'll be called Immanuel or "God with us" and here Jesus says that he'll be with us forever. We've got work to do, difficult work sometimes, but we're not alone and in 27 chapters we've seen what having Jesus with us means: power, mercy, kindness, discipline, compassion, wisdom...good things to have with us always.
1 O LORD, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!
You have set your glory
above the heavens.
The Reading: Matthew 27-28
Matthew 28:18-20 (New International Version)
18Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in[a] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
My thoughts: Immanuel, God with us...always, to the very end. In the first chapter, we're told he'll be called Immanuel or "God with us" and here Jesus says that he'll be with us forever. We've got work to do, difficult work sometimes, but we're not alone and in 27 chapters we've seen what having Jesus with us means: power, mercy, kindness, discipline, compassion, wisdom...good things to have with us always.
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