ambition

Ambition

10:30 AM




Chuck Colson was a self-made man. As a student, he arrogantly turned down a scholarship to Harvard. He joined the Marines, set up his own law firm and entered politics. By the age of forty he had become one of President Nixon’s closest advisers. Later he described himself as ‘a young ambitious political king maker’. He was known as Nixon’s ‘hatchet-man’.
He pleaded guilty to his part in the Watergate cover-up scandal and was sent to prison. By then he had encountered Jesus. When he left the court after hearing the sentence he said, ‘What happened in court today ... was the court’s will and the Lord’s will – I have committed my life to Jesus Christ and I can work for Him in prison as well as out.’
Colson did just that. After his release he set up Prison Fellowship and has since been directly or indirectly responsible for leading thousands to Christ. I once heard him say on the radio, ‘I was ambitious, and I am ambitious today, but I hope it is not for Chuck Colson (though I struggle quite a lot as a matter of fact). But I am ambitious for Christ.’
Ambition has been defined as the ‘desire to succeed’. There are ultimately only two controlling ambitions to which all others may be reduced: one is our own glory, and the other is God’s glory.
Blessings,
Roxanna

compassion

SoulSearching Sunday~All Creatures Here Below

12:00 AM

Sunday, September 30, 2018


Week Thirty-nine

Welcome!  We pray that you have all had a precious time worshipping the Lord this morning!  Below you will find some thought provoking questions that will provide you a starting point to your journal writing to complete this week.  We hope that you will find this time soul satisfying!

Our reading this week was Mark 15 - Luke 8:39...

 1. Jesus humbled Himself to become a man. When are you tempted toward pride and self-sufficiency? Ask God to help you humbly focus on Jesus rather then yourself today.

 One day when the crowds were being baptized, Jesus Himself was baptized. As He was praying, the heavens opened, and the Holy Spirit descended on Him in the form of a dove. (Luke 3:21-22)

 2. When have you witnessed or experienced a display of great compassion? Seek God for direction on how you can show compassion to someone today. Ask Him to help you see people as He does, looking past the ugly crookedness of their natures to see their needs.

 You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate. (Luke 6:36)

 3. This woman anointed Jesus’ feet with expensive perfume. Think of all the reasons you have to love Jesus. Send your prayer of gratitude heavenward as a sweet-smelling sacrifice of praise.
I tell you, her sins - and they are many - have been forgiven, so she has shown me much love. But a person who is forgiven little shows only little love. (Luke 7:47)

Bread

Down East Maine Pumpkin Bread

8:25 AM


Down East Maine Pumpkin Bread

I can (15 oz.) pumpkin purée 
4 eggs
1 cup vegetable oil
2/3 cup water
3 cups sugar
3 1/2 cups all purpose flour
2 tsps. baking soda
1 1/2 tsps. salt
1 tsp. ground cinnamon 
1 tsp. ground nutmeg
1/2 tsp. ground cloves
1/4 tsp. ground ginger

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour three 7x3 inch loaf pans. In a large bowl, mix together pumpkin puree, eggs, oil, water and sugar until well blended. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and ginger. Stir the dry ingredients into the pumpkin mixture until just blended. Pour into the prepared pans. Bake for about 50 minutes in the preheated oven. Loaves are done when toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

cross

Scripture Saturday~My disciple...

12:00 AM

Saturday, September 29, 2018




Welcome to Scripture Saturday!

This coming week's memory verse is Luke 9:23,24...

Then He said to them all, "Whoever wants to be My disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow Me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for Me will save it." (NIV)

 Have a blessed and precious day and week everyone!

Angie Benjamin

Speaking Truth, Speaking what is Written

4:50 AM

Note: I made a bit of a mistake, I had prepared this post but the scripture is from yesterday's reading. Keep in reading down, so you'll find a bit on today's reading.




Through Luke 4:1-12 we see Jesus being tempted by the enemy in all possible ways.

We sometimes think that Jesus’ temptations were not real because they were not exactly like ours. There was never a sinful pull or a sinful memory inside of Jesus, like in us. But in many ways, Jesus’ temptations were more real and more severe. For us, often times the pressure of temptation only relents when we give in – and Jesus never did. He had to withstand a much greater pressure of temptation than you or I ever will.

Nevertheless Jesus answered every temptation the devil used against him with God's Word.
In this passage we read how Jesus repeatedly said "it is written..." and quoted scriptures that directly addressed the enemy's lies and schemes.



What about us?
Quite recently I had a chat with one of my mentors. An elderly woman, who's passionate about God and His word. And as I confessed the struggles I had recently gone through and how I was a bit concerned, anxious and stressed to try again, to persist into the same situation I failed before, she encouraged me with this passage.

She encouraged me to speak back at the enemy with the truth...with God's word and the most important thing... to persist.

We may start strong fighting the devil with the Word, truth is that when we don't see quick results, often times we stop speaking the truth and fall into talking, believing or accepting what our feelings or our circumstances dictate us.

Let me encourage you today to be persistent  as you wage war against the enemy by speaking the word.
Let us take the example of a stonecutter. It may take ninety-nine times without making a crack in the rock but at the hundredth strike it may split the rock in two! Each little strike weakens the rock, even though there are no visible signs of it.

Persistence is vital if we want to achieve victory in our lives just as it is in the stonecutter's work.
Let us not slow down or give up on speaking the word of God against the enemy.

Today's reading- September 28thLuke 4:14- 5:39
Stepping out to find out!



I believe the only way to ever fulfill our destinies and succeed is to take many, many steps of faith.
But stepping out into the unknowns and longing out into the deep water can be frightening, don't you think so?

Unfortunately many people never step out out of fear, and therefore never get to find out what they are capable of.

God's desire for us is to take us from Glory to glory, from victory to victory, but that does not happen just automatically...without us having any input, without us taking active steps.

God wants us to step out into something new or challenging, what? to be glorified in our lives. To prove that without him we can't do anything (John 13:35)

Let us not join the people who miss God's will for their lives because they like to play it safe. The phrase "better safe than sorry" doesn't apply in God's economy.

Seeds of obedience produce a blessed and prosperous harvest. Nothing is better than knowing you are  operating in God's will at the same time, nothing is worse than knowing you are not.

Warning- while we should step out and respond in faith and obedience to what God is leading us to, we should not act onside wild thought we have or on a lie satan tries to lure us into destruction. It is always important to learn to be led by discernment in the inner man (the spirit) and not by our own carnal minds or what other people suggest to us.

Let us be willing to go into deep waters for God. Let us ask Him to make clear what He wants us to do and then obey! 

Have a lovely, blessed weekend.

with love, from Botswana

Angie



Becky Austin

Straight Paths, Prepared Hearts (Luke 3-4:13)

3:25 AM


As John the Baptist is called forth by God to start his ministry, we are given some historical markers. From these facts, we learn that it is a time when Israel is under oppressive rule by the Romans.  The Roman rulers are immoral, self-seeking and cruel. Evil and corruption are prevalent in the surrounding cultures and society. John the Baptist is sent to prepare the hearts of the people to be receptive of the spiritual Messiah they so desperately need.

“As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall become straight, and the rough places shall become level ways, and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’”” (3:4-6)

I love the wording of these verses. The world is skewed by the evil influence of Satan.  God, however wants to put things back in order. He wants to get the people off of wrong paths, and steer them clear of wrong thinking, wrong attitudes, and wrong perspectives. He wants them to see clearly the path that He wants them to follow. He wants them to clearly see their greatest need...Jesus.

As the crowds gathered, John warned the people that they couldn’t bank on being the son of Abraham for acceptance by God. Instead, they were accountable for the condition of their heart and their heart had to be truly repentant of sin. The same is true for us. It doesn’t matter if we were raised in Church, if we attend church regularly, or whatever else in our life there might be that makes us appear to be a Christian. What matters is if our hearts are humbled, repentant and obedient. 

John warns that not everyone would be saved “Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” (3:9)
The people wanted to know what they could do to bear good fruit. John gave 3 specific examples.
1.     To Those Who Had Been Blessed With Material Means: “Whoever has two tunics is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise.” (3:11)
2.     To The Tax Collectors: “Collect no more than you are authorized to do.” (3:13)
3.     To The Soldiers: “Do not extort money from anyone by threats or by false accusation, and be content with your wages.” (3:14)

Each of these examples addressed how people treated each other and how they manifested the selfless love of Christ in their daily life. When you reflect upon your own particular station or position in life, what do you think John would have said to you as examples of ways that you could extend the love of Christ to others. 
May I encourage you to seek the straight path of God’s selfless love and abundant truth and bring a repentant heart with you. Be receptive to God as He reveals to you ways that you can bless and serve the people you have direct impact and influence upon. 

Jesus is always there for you, to clearly show you the path to travel.
In all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:6

You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand. Psalm 16:11

The LORD makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him..Psalm 37:23

Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. Psalm 119:105

The Holy Spirit will help you to bear good fruit.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.  Galations 5:22-23




Anna

The God of Small Beginnings {Luke 2}

8:30 PM




Luke chapter two is probably the most well known chapter in all the bible thanks to Linus and Mr. Charles Sholtz. In fact, I bet some of you may have it pretty much memorized simply by watching, A Charlie Brown Christmas over and over again:





  So, when I discovered that I was to write on this chapter this week, I went straight to the Lord for help on what to write, and He didn’t disappoint, for He wants you to know that He is the God of small beginnings.

Have you ever looked upon a need and wondered just what you could do being only one person with all your list of short-comings?

Mary could certainly relate:

 When the angel entered her home, he greeted her and said, “You are favored by the Lord! The Lord is with you.” She was startled by what the angel said and tried to figure out what this greeting meant. The angel told her, “Don’t be afraid, Mary. You have found favor with God. You will become pregnant, give birth to a son, and name him Jesus. He will be a great man and will be called the Son of the Most High.
The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. Your son will be king of Jacob’s people forever, and his kingdom will never end.” Mary asked the angel, “How can this be? … Luke 1:28-34
She of course went on to accept all the angel had told her. 

Joseph could also relate, for he was just a poor carpenter betrothed to Mary, who thought to secretly divorce Mary, until the angel told him the plan in a dream.  (Mt 1:18-24)

I wonder how many of us would have chosen Joseph and Mary to bear the Son of God!? 

And certainly not in Bethlehem! “But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days.” – Micah 5:2

In a stable, mind you.

And rather than the host of angels announcing His birth to the world, or at the very least the royalty of the world, God chose the lowliest of men; mere shepherds keeping watch over their flocks while the rest of the world slept. (Luke 2:8-15)

When it came time to dedicate Jesus, God’s Son- the King of kings and Lord of lords, Joseph and Mary could only offer the poorest of offerings – two turtledoves, or young pigeons. (Luke 2:24)  

And what of Simeon? He was simply a man that God chose to reveal the Messiah to. And Anna? An old widow, who had spent most of her life in the Temple. 

All of these simple people and simple beginnings. Nothing fancy, no fanfare! (Except the announcement to the shepherds perhaps) This was how our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ chose to come to us as the Messiah, the Savior of the whole world!!

 I believe I would have come up with another plan, much more grander perhaps, but the Lord did show me something else they all had in common... something of great worth to God… a heart that loved Him ... was ready and eager to follow Him, and rejoiced along with Him over His coming!

How about you? Has God called you to something? Do you wonder at times, why? Are you in the days of small beginnings even now?

The Lord is rejoicing to see the work He will produce through you. BUT, don’t take my word for it, look in the Bible … Moses had gotten off to a horrible start murdering an Egyptian and then running away. David began his time in a field tending sheep. Nehemiah rebuilt the walls around Jerusalem with a remnant despite the opposition and the odds. And need I mention Jesus disciples and all God was able to do through them! The Bible is full of examples of God using “the foolish things of the world to confound the wise”. (1 Cor 1:27)

If you are wondering, “why me?” or find yourself in the days of small beginnings, take heart! The Lord is excited to see the work begin in you, and He who has called you to the work is faithful to strengthen your hands to do it, (1Thes 5:24). He will also send helpers into the ministry should you need them, and will be faithful to help you in whatever task He has set before you (Phil 2:13)! He will encourage you through His Spirit and with His Word, and will provide all of you need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus!

He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it (1 Thess. 5:23). Just ask any of those God chose to be there when He came down to earth as our Savior!

 Blessings!

sue



Believing

Believing {Luke 1}

12:30 AM

September 25, 2018


What if we really believed?  I know, I started my last post with this same question, but I’ll be very honest with you all, God has been working at cleaning out my heart this summer, and I have recently realized that my empty heart could only be filled by believing Him.

So let me ask you, what if we truly believed God is uniquely present and active in the circumstance of each of our lives?  What if we truly believed there would be fulfillment of the word spoken?  What if instead of allowing our circumstances to determine what we believe, we allowed our believing to reinterpret the circumstances?

That would be “blessed believing.”  The Elizabeth and Mary type of believing – the kind of believing that gives birth to new life.

We see here in Luke 1, two pregnant women, neither of whom, according to their circumstances, should be or could be pregnant.  One is too old.  One is too young.  One is barren.  One is a virgin.  Yet BOTH are pregnant!

Neither allowed the circumstances of their lives to define who they were or limit who they might become.  Believing for them is not so much what they see, but HOW they see.  Each one believed more than the circumstances of her life.

Elizabeth believed she was more than just a barren, childless old woman.  Mary refused to accept that she was a no-one, another scandalous woman, but believed that she was the mother of the Holy One. (v. 35)


Both women saw, hidden within their particular situation, a deeper meaning to a new life.  They believed through the circumstances of their lives.  Each one trusted the God of the impossible was somehow in the circumstances, reshaping, transforming and fulfilling her very existence.  God was at work within these two women changing them – not their circumstances.



Image result for Luke 1:45


God doesn’t bless people according to their age, sex, or station in life.  He blesses them according to His own good purposes.  Grace is free and God has chosen to pour it out abundantly across all of humanity.


Faith is the right and pleasing response to believing God’s promises.  And as with grace, it isn’t reserved for the spiritual elite.


I recently received Lauren Daigle's new CD, and this song resonates with me.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIaT8Jl2zpI


And if you have time, listen to this: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sufQX7NSX2k


Jesus

Honoring The Final Words of the King {Mark 15:1-16:20}

12:00 AM


The story of the Crucifixion is a tough one. It’s gut wrenching what Jesus suffered at the hands of His captors. He endured savagery, mockery, and rejection. He was brutalized and spit upon. What He withstood we can barely comprehend. And He did so willingly. At any time more than twelve legions of angels were ready to rescue the Lord at a moments notice, (Matt. 26:53), yet Jesus bore His Cross to the end. He bore it for our salvation and to see the will of God done.

In the books of the Old Testament we’re told that a blood sacrifice was needed to atone for sin. And God’s plan from the beginning was to reconcile us to Him through the blood of Christ. Before the world was formed, before Adam took his first breath, God knew how man would fall. Because of this, in His infinite love and wisdom, He predetermined for His Son to provide the ultimate sacrifice so that we could have eternal life. “The Lamb was slain from the creation of the world"(Rev. 13:8)

Never once did Jesus stray from accomplishing what God commissioned Him to do. He followed God’s plan to the letter no matter the cost to Himself. And before He ascended to the right hand of the Father, Jesus passed down this same commission not only to the disciples, but to us as well. “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.” (vs. 16:15) 

Although at times sharing the message of Jesus can seem like a daunting task, many are the reasons as to why we should eagerly spread the gospel to the world around us, and here are but a few.

Obedience- In John 20:21 Jesus says, “As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” We are Jesus’ ambassadors on earth. (2 Cor. 5:19-29) He displayed perfect obedience and as His followers, we need to follow His example. Hebrews 5:9 tells us that Jesus is the source of eternal salvation to all who obey Him. And although we know that we are not saved through obedience, our obedience to Him is proof of our salvation.

Love- In Romans 5:8 Paul says, “God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Because of His abounding love, Jesus gave His life so ours would be spared. A love He extends to all. And a love we are called to imitate. In 1 Cor. 11:1, again Paul, who out of his love for God and for the people did nothing for his own gain but for the salvation of others counsels, “Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ”.

Mercy- In 1 Peter 1:3 Peter says, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” Because of the grace and mercy of God, We are provided a path to eternal life. We are to extend that same mercy to those who are perishing. Jude 1:22-23 tells us, “And have mercy on some, who are doubting; save others, snatching them out of the fire; and on some have mercy with fear, hating even the garment polluted by the flesh.” Knowing that each soul saved brings great joy to God, (Luke 5:10) how wonderful it is to be able to spread the Good News of His everlasting mercy!

The mission of saving souls is a serious one. It was the reason Jesus, “emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.” (Phil. 2:7) His entire ministry was dedicated to evangelizing the world, and when He ascended into heaven His work on earth ended and ours began. Now it is up to us to go out throughout the lands and preach the gospel of Jesus Christ. And, like the women visiting His tomb who received the good news of His resurrection, what a privilege it is to be able to honor the final words of the King and joyfully shout to all who will hear, “He has risen!” (vs. 16:6)

God's unique thoughts

The Victorious Power of the Lord

12:00 PM


For many years, Bruce Streather was an atheistic lawyer. He never went to church, even though his family did. Most weekends he played golf. Eventually, as a result of considerable persuasion from his wife and three teenage daughters, he came on Alpha. He was extremely argumentative and hostile. None of the sessions had any impact on him until, towards the end of the course, he heard the talk ‘How Can I Resist Evil?’ Afterwards he came up to me and said, ‘In my work as a lawyer, I have seen so much evil. I have always believed in the power of evil. Tonight it struck me that, if there is a power of evil, it makes sense to believe that there is also a power of good.’ That night Bruce became a Christian. Ever since, he has been a committed member of the church with a very powerful and effective ministry affecting the lives of hundreds of people.
We struggle with the global evils of terrorism, the rise of ISIS, events in the Ukraine, the deadly Ebola virus, starvation, poverty, the destruction of the environment, corrupt governments and countless other domestic, local and international issues. We also face struggles against evil in our own lives – temptation, sin and addiction.
The Bible is realistic about this struggle. In the Old Testament, we read about physical battles against the forces of evil. In the New Testament, the struggle is more often described as a spiritual battle. As St Paul puts it, ‘Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms’ (Ephesians 6:12).
The Power of thinking about the Cross helps us battle sin.

Blessings,
Roxanna

Giving

SoulSearching Sunday~Who Is He Really?

12:00 AM

Sunday, September 23, 2018


Week Thirty-eight

Welcome!  We pray that you have all had a precious time worshipping the Lord this morning!  Below you will find some thought provoking questions that will provide you a starting point to your journal writing to complete this week.  We hope that you will find this time soul satisfying!

Our reading this week was Mark 4 - 14...

 1. What does your life say to the world about who Jesus is? How is the “glorious, inexpressible joy” of know Jesus evident in what you do and say throughout the day?

 Then Jesus asked, “Who do you say I am?” Peter replied, “You are the Messiah” (Mark 8:29)

 2. What three actions could you start doing and what three actions should you stop doing to better reflect your love for God? What will it mean for you to love God with all your heart, mind, and strength?

 And I know it is important to love Him with all my heart and all my understanding and all my strength, and to love my neighbor as myself. This is more important than to offer all of the burnt offerings and sacrifices required in the law. (Mark 12:33)

 3.As you look at your checkbook register, what do your spending habits say about you? About the worthiness of God and His work? What can you do today to worship God with your wealth?
He called His disciples to Him and said, “I assure you, this poor widow has given more than all the others have given. For they gave a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she has.” (Mark 12:43-44)


Biscuits

Gorditas

8:46 AM



Gorditas

1 1/2 cups flour (you can also use whole wheat)
1 1/2 cups pancake mix
1/4 cup sugar
1 tsp. baking powder
1 egg (beaten)
1/2 cup unsalted butter (room temperature)
1/4 to 1/2 cup hot milk

In a large bowl mix together dry ingredients. Make a well in the center and add egg. Mix well. Add butter and mix until mixture resembles small peas. Add milk starting with smaller amount and combine until a dough forms; adding more flour or milk as needed. Knead until dough is smooth and elastic. Place dough back in bowl and cover with plastic wrap to rest for around ten minutes. Heat a griddle or tortilla pan to medium heat. Remove plastic wrap and form dough into 12 small balls. Flatten balls into circles around 3-4 inches wide and about a 1/2 inch or inch thick.  Cook on griddle about 2-3 minutes per side or until golden brown. 
(If using as pancakes, you can increase the sugar a bit and add a teaspoon of vanilla for extra flavor)

forgiven

Scripture Saturday~Forgiven Much...

12:00 AM

Saturday, September 22, 2018


Welcome to Scripture Saturday!

This coming week's memory verse is Luke 7:47...

 Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven - as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little. (NIV)

 Have a blessed and precious day and week everyone!

What God Wants. (Mark 10:46-12:34)

9:30 PM



After some religious leaders questioned Jesus over different topics in order to test Him and find something to accuse him for (11:27-12:27), we read that one of the scribes came and asked Jesus  a very outstanding question:

 “Which commandment is first and most important of all?” 29 Jesus answered, “The first and most important one is: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is one Lord; 30 and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul(life), and with all your mind (thought, understanding), and with all your strength.’ 31 This is the second: ‘You shall [unselfishly] [h]love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” “(12:28b-31)
Jesus instead of highlighting one command over another, He defines the law in its essence: love God with everything you have and love your neighbor as yourself.

In this statement we see that what God really wants from us is love.  As a commandment to follow, we can easily fall short. Especially when our neighbor is someone who annoys us, or persecutes us! Just like the Pharisees and scribes without admitting it they lived the Law but in appearance for their hearts were filled with arrogance and hypocrisy.  I sadly have to admit that I have been guilty of this too, for it is easy to pretend we love people, but deep inside things could be very different! We can obey God without loving Him, but if we do love Him obedience will follow.  

The scribe apparently understood the depth of this Truth for he said to Jesus: “Admirably answered, Teacher; You truthfully stated that He is One, and there is no other but Him; 33 and to love Him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength, and to [unselfishly] love one’s neighbor as oneself, is much more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.” (12:33) 

Yes, a thousand empty burnt offerings are not more to God than a single act of true love done in His name!(1 Cor. 13:3)

“Christ approved what the scribe said, and encouraged him. He stood fair for further advance; for this knowledge of the law leads to conviction of sin, to repentance, to discovery of our need of mercy, and understanding the way of justification by Christ”. M. Henry   

 “Whoever confesses and acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. 16 We have come to know [by personal observation and experience], and have believed [with deep, consistent faith] the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides continually in him. 17 In this [union and fellowship with Him], love is completed and perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment [with assurance and boldness to face Him]; because as He is, so are we in this world.” (1 John 4:15-17 AMP)

We need to desperately yearn for God, ACCEPT His Salvation through faith in Jesus Christ and abide in Him! God is LOVE and is the fountain of Love that will fill us and then and only then, we will be capable to love others as ourselves.

“For God burns with desire for the human heart - He is the ultimate lover. He is not passive. That same burning desire is imparted to us and seals our hearts with fire. The icy waters of sin, bondage, and persecution cannot extinguish this supernatural fire of God’s love when we yield to its all-consuming power.” (iWorship Bible) (Ro. 8:35-39)

May our hearts burn with that same desire; may our hearts desire want God wants!

Blessings my sisters,

Mari





Becky Austin

When Being First Matters (Mark 9-10)

10:43 PM

The world says “ To be successful others must serve you.”  God says “ If you want to be first, then you must serve others.”  This is a common theme, especially in the NT. It’s human nature to want to push ourselves to the forefront, to claim the spotlight, to be the one calling the shots. Even the disciples who spent day after day calling Jesus Lord and Messiah still had desires to be considered special and important. The disciples tried to keep their ambitions among themselves but Jesus knew their lofty thoughts and desires. He knew their worldly and very upside down way of thinking. 

“And they came to Capernaum. And when he was in the house he asked them, “What were you discussing on the way?” But they kept silent, for on the way they had argued with one another about who was the greatest. And he sat down and called the twelve. And he said to them, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.””
Mark 9:33-35 

Jesus taught that the love of God was a selfless serving love that put the needs and wellbeing of others first. When the rich ruler approached Jesus he asked: “ What must I do to inherit eternal life?” He wasn’t as interested in eternity, however, as he was in having all that the world had to offer. When Jesus told him he needed to sell all of his worldly possessions to follow him, the rich man was devastated. He had a choice to make and he chose the comfort and power of wealth over an intimate relationship with Jesus and eternity in heaven. Sadly, this is the fate of many around us as the world entices them with the false security of “ getting ahead”, of having the favor of others and the illusion of being first. 

Even the disciples questioned how could someone be saved when the enticing power of being self-seeking was such a powerful force. “Jesus looked at them and said, “With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.””
Mark 10:27 That is why we are blessed to have God’s saving grace.  God can transform our selfishness into that serving love that characterizes His kingdom. Jesus serves as the greatest example of humbling Himself to serve others. 
“But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.””
Mark 10:43-45 
Jesus wants to develop that same love in us and keep us focused on who we are “ in Him”.  Being “ in Christ” is the highest level of gain we could ever hope to have.