What Is It You Want?

"What is it you want?" - Yet another open-ended question that Jesus asked, and this time of the mother of James and John, the sons of Zebedee.  When she replied that she wanted them to be able to sit at the right and left of Jesus in His Kingdom, Jesus asked another question “Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?”    Essentially, the lesson is summarized in Matthew 20:26b-27:   "Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant (diakonos), and whoever wants to be first must be your slave (doulos)."    And, Jesus was the greatest example of this.

As followers of Christ, we will face trials and must make sacrifices; and we are to have an attitude of humility, being servants and slaves of the Most High God. In following His example, we seek to enter the Kingdom not by flying in with "fire on our behinds"; but, the picture is of a runner leaning in towards the finish line! 

Faith Like Potatoes

“The condition for a miracle is difficulty, however the condition for a great miracle is not difficulty, but impossibility.”

What a great quote.   I had seen the "Faith Like Potatoes" movie before; but, this quote had not stuck until I heard it again last night when the movie was showing on TV.  It's a great reminder to trust God for the great miracle for nothing is impossible with HIM.

Encouragement

Not only has God been teaching me through my area of focus this year on Encouragement; He has also provided encouragement to me.

Just today, after class, a person told me that the lesson was particularly applicable for her; and she was encouraged by the example of the Scripture passage and the truth taught there.  Another person said that the fact he keeps coming to class says a lot, especially since he is one who does not think that women should teach; though he said that he felt I was facilitating more than teaching; and the he appreciated how we try to focus on accurate study of Scripture based on evidence and fact.

In service, I was actually encouraged and motivated through the example of our youth pastor, in what he said right before the prayer for the offering.    He said that as he thought about tithing and giving this week, he saw that this was a privilege for us to participate in the Work of God.   To me, it was a reminder that we need to walk with Him throughout the week, in order for Him to teach us and give us insights to help us in when we serve and teach.   I'm once again convicted to keep my mind on things above; and to be diligent during the week to seek God and allow Him to teach.

Even yesterday, I was encouraged because our time of fellowship in our class get-together turned out well.   I was also able to nicely use the tablecloths that I had bought at the swap meet, even though I had started having buyer's remorse before.   I thank God for causing things to work together. I've also been encouraged that there have been so many who have truly wished me well for my Birthday; and it's been neat to have been able to celebrate it in so many different occasions with different people, even with my class yesterday.

I thank Him for giving me encouragement, especially when I am in need of it.

"Why are You Sleeping?"

"Why are you sleeping?" - This is the question Jesus asked the disciples at the Garden of Gethsemane in today's sermon passage from Luke 22:39-46.  Instead of sleeping, the disciples had the alternative of being in prayer, just as Jesus exemplified.

We are reminded that:

• Jesus made prayer a routine - it was His custom to be in prayer regularly
• Jesus had a special place to pray - it would be helpful for us to find a place we can be free from distraction
• Prayer should be the first step in a crisis; not the last resort - we will all be tested, we need to pray that we will not fall to temptation
• It is important to have time ALONE with God
• It can be beneficial to enhance prayer through physical expression, like kneeling as a show of humility
• Jesus aligned His prayer to fit the will of God - do we pray for what we want or for what God wants?
• God does send angels to minister to us
• Jesus prayed fervently for prayer is hard work - it is an "all out war" in the spiritual realm  (ref Heb 5:7)
• 1) Ask, 2) Seek, and 3) Knock are actually three kinds of prayer
• Jesus claimed the greatest victory through prayer - victory upon the cross was first started at the Garden of Gethsemane in prayer

A great quote from my pastor:  "Nothing in the will of God is beyond the power of God"

Acts 21, Part 1

A couple of points stand out in this passage in the first part of Acts 21:

• Paul stayed committed to his conviction that the Spirit was leading him to go back to Jerusalem, despite the prophesied imprisonment and hardships he would face as well, as the many well-meaning people around him who pleaded with him not to go.  When, even his closest traveling companions, like Luke, joined in, it affected Paul deeply, but he was still determined to follow God's Will for him:   "“Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”"  (Acts 21:13b)  Paul was so focused on what he was called to do because he knew from the beginning what he was to face and what he needed to do to complete his tasks. At Saul's conversion, "The Lord said to Ananias [of Paul], 'Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.'" (Acts 9:15-16).   So, in Acts 20:24, Paul said, "However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace."

•  When Paul arrived in Jerusalem, he faced the contrasts of glory being given to God as he reported all that God had done through his ministry and missionary journeys; but also, of being judged and criticized based on false lies about his turning away from the Law.    Paul was willing to show them that he could still follow Jewish Law and tradition; and the Church leaders affirmed that this had no bearing on Gentiles, particularly salvation.

To me, this passage shows that there are times when we need to stand firm in our convictions, even when loved ones around us are telling us otherwise, no matter how well-meaning.    This is also a reminder that we need to be committed, even to the point of being willing to die for our faith; just as the Apostle Paul clearly was.

This passage also reminds us to always give glory to God; but, also that there may be people who will criticize and judge, even based on false lies.    We just need to keep walking in God's ways, and respond as lovingly as we can.

"What do you want Me to do for you?"

"What do you want Me to do for you?"  - This is the wide open blank-check type question that Jesus asked Bartimaeus, the blind man in Mark10:46-52, which was the text for the sermon on Sunday.  And wisely, the blind man asked not for what he wanted, but for what he needed: "I want to see!"

As one hymn says "Earth hath no sorrow that heaven cannot heal", Jesus not only healed the man's blindness, but the word for "healed" in "Go, for your faith has healed you."  is really the word for "saved".  Something eternal came out of this miracle. In the midst of the crowd, Jesus heard the cry of this blind man; who correctly identified Him as "Son of David".    This blind man may have been the only person who had 20/20 spiritual vision, for he "saw" Jesus as the promised Messiah, and cried out for mercy.   In "midnight street" and "despair valley", Jesus will hear our cries also.

Often, our greatest faith comes from our greatest crises; though faith is only as good as WHO we put our faith in.   Real faith rises above the cynicism of the doubter; and the crowd around Bartimaeus were full of doubts, trying to silence him and not encouraging moral courage.   Nevertheless, he continued to cry out. Jesus actually didn't go to him but called him to "Come".  When we need help, we too should get to Jesus.  The blind man's show of faith was when he threw aside his coat, rather than folding it up to carry with him or expect to go back for it - He was trusting that he wouldn't need it anymore.

When Jesus asked the question rather than just healing right away, it reminds us that He also wants us to think more deeply.   And after He healed the man, he instructed him to "Go".    In the same way, after Jesus has called us to salvation, He sends us to "Go" into the world and make disciples.

Birthday '11

It's that time of the year when the number that represents my age advances forward yet again. Invariably, it's a time of reflection on years past, the current year, and the years to come.

I am grateful for the growth and maturity over the years; and thus must also rejoice in my challenges, for it is through them that I have grown the most.   I thank God for all He has blessed me with - my relationship with HIM, my Church, my friends and family, my home, my job, my health....  It amazes me, how many years I have behind me; and I have no idea how many I still have ahead.    I just pray that I will live them faithfully to the end.

I'm also thankful that there are friends and family who want to celebrate my Birthday with me.  That is a blessing I should not take for granted.