Show Us the Father — The Concerns of God

Posted on May 18, 2026 by Janet

“But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. “Get behind me, Satan!” he said. “You do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.””
‭‭Mark‬ ‭8‬:‭33‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Today is Mark 8:22-38.

The Disciples didn’t get who Jesus was. They didn’t understand God’s plan. The Jewish people of Jesus’s time were looking for the Messiah, the one who would deliver them from their oppression. They had suffered greatly under the Roman Empire. Jesus steps onto the scene and does things that no one had ever seen, including healing the blind man at Bethsaida. (verse 25)

So Jesus asks His disciples as they are walking “on the way”, “who do people say that I am?” Peter answered correctly…”the Messiah”. But when Jesus tries to teach them about what is to come — His death. Peter rebuked Him.

Peter didn’t have in his mind “the concerns of God.” He didn’t see God’s bigger plan. His thoughts on the Messiah was that Jesus would be a conquering King… not death at the hands of the Romans. But God’s concerns weren’t an earthly kingdom. His concerns were His Heavenly Kingdom that is eternal, unchanging, and free of all the hardship and sadness we see in our world.

God’s ways are not our ways. His concerns are not ours. We cannot with our human minds truly understand the depths of love, joy, and peace our Heavenly Father has for us.

So the words of verses 34 – 36 seem odd to our own fleshly hearts and minds.

“Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?”
‭‭Mark‬ ‭8‬:‭34‬-‭36‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Deny ourselves…take up our cross…lose my life…

These are the very things of the “concerns of God.” They are very important to Him.

As long as we are trying to live our best lives our way… after self and selfishness, we will not know Him. As long as we insist on our way instead of letting our old ways die daily on our own personal cross (a spiritual one), we will not experience His resurrected life living inside of us. As long as we insist on pursuing our life instead of losing it, we will never gain His life and live connected to Him.

Our mere “human concerns” will always lead us to having our way instead of Gods. God’s “concerns” — the things that are the most important to Him — are that we would know Him intimately. In order for that to happen, our concerns — the things that are the most important to us — must become His!

Show Us the Father — Desires Our Hearts

Posted on May 14, 2026 by Janet

Today we read Mark 7:1-23.

The religious leaders of Jesus’s time were all hung up on a rule based religion. They believed if they did x,y, and z they would be doing the will of God. But Jesus pointed out the sad state of their spiritual hearts. Their hearts were far from God:

“He replied, “Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written: “ ‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules.’”
‭‭Mark‬ ‭7‬:‭6‬-‭7‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Their lives gave evidence of what was inside of their hearts — “sexual immorality, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance, and folly.” (Verse 20) What was coming out of them by what they said and how they lived (what they did) displayed what was in their spiritual hearts.

It wasn’t breaking all their manmade traditions that kept them from being close to God. It was their hard spiritual hearts that were full of sin. What was coming from inside their hearts was defiling them. (Verse 23)

The religious leaders thought that God, the Heavenly Father, wanted them to “jump through hoops” to be accepted by Him and earn His favor. But Jesus told them, their issue was “a heart condition.”

Once Jesus was asked what the Greatest Commandment was. He told the religious leaders plainly:

““Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭22‬:‭36‬-‭38‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Our Heavenly Father desires for us to LOVE Him with all that we are and all that we have! He desires for our hearts to be His!

Jesus displayed to us how much the Heavenly Father loves us when He gave Himself — entirely, totally, and completely — on the cross. Jesus shows us a Heavenly Father that desires all of our spiritual heart — entirely, totally, and completely in return. He wants to take that heart and transform it to reflect Himself — His love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, gentleness, self control.

Is my heart completely His? Or Is my heart far from Him?

Show Us the Father — His Words Communicating the Kingdom!

Posted on May 8, 2026 by Janet

Today is Mark 4:21- 33.

“With many similar parables Jesus spoke the word to them, as much as they could understand.”
‭‭Mark‬ ‭4‬:‭33‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Jesus came to communicate to us what His Father was like and how to live our lives in relationship with Him as a part of His Kingdom.

Jesus told those who were listening to:

““Consider carefully what you hear,” he continued. “With the measure you use, it will be measured to you—and even more.”
‭‭Mark‬ ‭4‬:‭24‬ ‭NIV‬‬

He desired for the crowds who listened to Him to pay attention to what He was saying so that they would know and understand His message and His mission.

He desires for us to be intentional in our listening to what He is saying to us in His Word as well. If we approach God’s Word half heartedly, we won’t realize the desire our Heavenly Father has for us, which is to be faithful servants in His Kingdom — under His rule and authority.

Jesus referred to the Word of God as a seed. The more we allow His Word to grow inside of us, the more it will influence us in our daily actions. His Word is much like the “mustard seed” in verse 31. When we read His Word, or listen to it —internalize, it will grow in us and it will influence others around us. People will want to know, or experience, the life giving transformation that we are experiencing. They will want to be a part of God’s Kingdom!

You Look Just Like Him — God’s Image Bearer

Posted on April 23, 2026 by Janet

“May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.”‭‭ 1 Thessalonians‬ ‭5‬:‭23‬-‭24‬ ‭NIV‬‬

When I was in college, I was with a group of friends waiting to be seated at the Olive Garden. We were laughing and talking when a woman that I did not know came up to me and asked me, “Are you Jim Bergman’s daughter? You have to be. You look and act just like him.” It turns out she was my dad’s first cousin and knew him quite well. God created us in His image. His desire is for us to reflect Him, as I reflected my earthly dad at that restaurant. When people look at us, do they ask, “Are you God’s daughter? You have to be. You look and act just like Him?”

God is a triune God. He is three distinct persons, but all completely one — Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We are also have three distinct parts— spirit, soul, and body. Each of these parts have a distinct function. Yet we are completely one. God’s intention for us was that all of us our whole being would be sanctified or “kept blameless” — reflect His character. Or in simple terms, we are to “look like our Heavenly Daddy.”

How is this even possible? It is God’s plan. It is God’s work He does in us. It is accomplished through our deep and intimate relationship with Him. (More on this later.)

For now, I want to leave you with this question:

Do I desire to be God’s girl reflecting my Heavenly Father to those I am around? If so, ask Him to change you more and more into what you were meant to be all along, a reflection of Him — His image bearer.

God’s Image Bearer — A Life of Significance

Posted on April 21, 2026 by Janet

“Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.”‭‭Genesis‬ ‭1‬:‭26‬-‭27‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Have you ever felt that you were here for something more than just the ordinary daily grind? That is because you are! God created you in His image. An image is a representation of a person, expression of, copy of, reflection of. You and I were created to represent and express God. We are a copy of Him or a reflection. This is our true design. It is what we were meant for. We were created to display God to all of creation. We were made to display God’s character and His ways.

This desire for something more or something bigger than ourselves has been placed deep within us. Ecclesiastes 3:11 describes it this way. “…He has also set eternity in the human heart…” God has made us for something greater. That greater is Himself!

The problem is we have been deceived into thinking WE were made for a life of greatness — where we exalt ourselves and we make ourselves known. Living to promote and exalt ourselves will only end in emptiness. We are meant for more, a life of significance — one that signifies or makes someone who is greater (GOD) known. A life of significance is a life of meaning and purpose.

Have you felt the longing for something more in your life or something greater than what you are currently experiencing? So often we are deceived into thinking that we need to do more for ourself in order to be happy — gratify ourselves, exalt ourselves, do more to fix ourselves (self help). This is a misplaced longing.

The longing for something more is not meant to discourage you or make you feel less than… It is meant to draw you to what you were created for — the one true “life of significance” — a life in pursuit of knowing God!

We can only experience this as we are connected to God in a deep and intimate relationship. It is through that relationship that God shows Himself to us and through us! The more we know Him, the more we will display Him or live as we were created to live, as God’s image bearer, reflecting God to those around us!

Jesus — The Word

Posted on April 2, 2026 by Janet

Today let’s read John 17:6-19.

““I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word.”

‭‭John‬ ‭17‬:‭6‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Jesus came to reveal the Father to us. He did this through His Word. The Greek word “Logos” is used for “word”. Logos is the Divine Expression of God.

For you and me, our words show what is in our hearts. What we speak to one another reveals how we feel, what we think, who we are.

Jesus said that He “gave them the words” His Heavenly Father gave Him. Jesus spoke and lived out the divine expression of God — what our Heavenly Father feels, thinks and who He is. He expressed or revealed God to us!

This is so very important to us today! Jesus is the Word of God (Divine Expression) of God. The Word and Jesus are one. The Holy Scripture (Our Bible) is the Word of God. The Word continues to reveal and express who God is to us! The Word is how we KNOW God! We cannot truly KNOW our God if we do not know His Word.

Understanding this has been life changing to me. I have lived a lot of my life knowing that as a Christian, I needed to read my Bible. It’s kind of the thing a Christian does… BUT just reading the Bible is not the aim. KNOWing the Word or as Jesus put it “accepting the word.” (Verse 8) is what we need! Accepting is receiving what we are reading and taking it in; Obeying what we are reading; (verse 6); Letting His Word “sanctify” us (Verse 17-18), or purify us, change us into God’s image.

Do I engage with the Word when I read my Bible or am I just reading it to “check off a box”? Do I take the Word in and let it work inside of me, changing me so that I reflect God to those around me? Am I experiencing God when I come to Him daily?

This is God’s desire for us!

Our time we spend with the Word is priceless!

Glorify Your Son!

Posted on April 1, 2026 by Janet

Good morning! Today let’s read John 17:1-5.

“After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you.” ‭‭John‬ ‭17‬:‭1‬ ‭NIV‬‬

(God’s glory is the sum total of all His attributes. It is who He is. To glorify is to reveal the divine nature.)

Jesus is getting ready to go to the cross and experience the crucifixion. He also knows that this will not be the end. He will rise again. His prayer is that His Heavenly Father would reveal to the world His divine nature — “glorify Your Son”. And in turn, Jesus would glorify the Father — reveal God’s divine nature to us.

Jesus death, burial, and resurrection revealed something to us about who God is: He is powerful. He is loving. He is just. He is good.

God wants us to know Him. This knowing is an intimate knowing. He wants us to experience a relationship with Him. He generously provided The Way through Jesus. On the cross and through the empty tomb, Jesus glorified His Father. His Father glorified Him! God made Himself— Known!

“Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” ‭‭John‬ ‭17‬:‭3‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Knowing God is VERY important to us! It is life itself! When we know God, we experience Him! We experience His life in us. This is why Jesus prayed that He would glorify God or make God’s attributes, His divine nature, known to us.

God’s one true purpose for our lives is that we would KNOW Him and experience His life!

Do you know God? Are you living moment by moment in a deep and intimate relationship with Him?

The events of Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday are proof that God’s one true purpose for us is for us to KNOW Him! May our desire be to KNOW Him all the more!

Jesus Has Overcome!

Posted on March 31, 2026 by Janet

Today let’s read John 16:16-33.

““I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.””

‭‭John‬ ‭16‬:‭33‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Jesus wanted to prepare His disciples for what was coming. He knew He would suffer and die soon on the cross and He wanted them to understand that His death would not be the end. He promised that their grief would turn into joy that would never be taken away from them. He told them what was to come so they could have peace in the midst of trials and sadness — trouble. He wanted them to know that no matter what came their way, He had overcome the world!

Jesus is the same today as He was yesterday and He is the same forever!

He has overcome! Even death could not stop Jesus! We can be assured that with Jesus on our side we will overcome as well! We can live in peace and have complete joy because of Jesus!

Chosen Out of the World

Posted on March 28, 2026 by Janet

Today let’s read John 15:18-25.

““If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.” ‭‭John‬ ‭15‬:‭18‬-‭19‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Jesus warned His disciples that the world would hate them. What is the world? It is the system of values and desires that are opposed to God and His will. (Bible Hub)

1 John 2:15-17 describes the world:

“Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world.”‭‭ 1 John‬ ‭2‬:‭15‬-‭16‬ ‭NIV‬‬

The lust of the flesh -sinful cravings; the lust of the eyes — lust for material possessions or appearances; the pride of life —arrogance and self sufficiency; these are all part of the world.

Those who pursue the things of the world will be in opposition to the things of God. They will hate and persecute the ones who truly follow Jesus… As followers of Jesus we are “chosen out of the world.”

What I must understand is what side am I on?

Am I pursuing the things of the world? Do I chase after the sinful cravings of my old sinful nature? Do I desire prideful importance and position over exalting God as Lord of my life? Do I think I am able to live my life independent of God — not seeking Him, His will, or His truth in His Word?

Do I love God or Do I love the world?

Love As He Loved

Posted on March 27, 2026 by Janet

Let’s read John 15:9-17

“My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” ‭‭John‬ ‭15‬:‭12‬-‭13‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Love — A deliberate act of one’s will to promote, benefit, or prosper another for their own sake at no cost to them; a deliberate act of one’s will to do that which is the very best, most excellent, and most profitable for another without expectation of something in return (Living Life Live)

When my oldest was born, I began to get a picture of what God’s sacrificial love is like. I would sacrifice sleep, my time, money, my entire life to provide what I thought was best for that sweet little helpless baby. He had nothing to offer back except his need to be held and loved and his newborn baby smell.

We are that to God. Honestly if we look deeply at ourselves, what does the God of the universe really get in pursuit of us? For myself, I can tell you… He gets a mess… someone who willingly has chosen to do the opposite of what He commanded time and time again. He gets someone who is helpless to fix themself. The truth is, without Him, I am needy and I am spiritually poor… But HE loves me! HE was willing to give Himself away so that I could be His!

When I realize all the truth of how God loves me, I realize that my life is not my own. As He has loved me, I am to love others. God’s love is never selfish. It always gives. I am to live my life as He did — willing to give myself away in service to Him and others. My life is not about myself. It is God’s. He fills me with His self sacrificing love so that I can love like Him!

Do you understand what you are truly like without God’s sacrificial love?

Do you understand how much God wants you to experience His love?

Are you experiencing His love? And Are you loving like Him?

Your Love

Reflections on God’s goodness in my daily journey