Today is Mark 1:21-45 ❤️🙌🔥 for the “Bible Book of the Month Club — The Gospel of Mark”
I love verse 22. The people who heard Jesus were amazed because He didn’t teach like their teachers of the law did. He had authority. He testified about what He KNEW! It reminds me of the account of a Jesus explaining the scriptures to a couple of disciples shortly after He had resurrected from the dead as they walked along on the road to Emmaus. The Word says ““They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”” Luke 24:32 NIV
There is NOTHING like the voice of God! When God speaks it is authority, it is fire, it is beautiful! We have the Holy Spirit dwelling in us now, speaking to us. Our role is to LISTEN, accept what He says, BELIEVE it and OBEY His Word. That is good stuff!! 🔥🔥🔥 Happy Sunday! Enjoy church today 🤩
What did God show you today in our reading? Share it below 👇👇👇
“The end of all things is near. Therefore, be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray.” 1 Peter 4:7 NIV
When I was little, I was a daddy’s girl. There was nothing that I loved more than spending time with my dad. I have fond memories of sitting out in his garage watching him work on our family’s car while I would sit there and talk away to him telling him all about my 6-year-old life. I LOVED being with my dad. However, time went on and life changes happened. I still loved him, but I became busy with my friends, my activities, and my life. After high school, I moved to a different town. My time with my dad became less and less as well as our conversations. Truth be told I forgot what a joy it was to be with him. The past year things have been different in our relationship. Dad is now 86 and I am 53, our relationship has matured and deepened. Lately, we have engaged in the most wonderful conversations. I’ve asked him questions about his younger years and discovered things about him that I never knew. We’ve talked about memories, both good and bad. We’ve made plans for the future as well. Once again, this daddy’s girl has found what she needed, time with her dad in a close relationship.
This month the verses at WOW are about prayer. Prayer is our connection to God through faith. Prayer is our invitation from God into a deep love relationship of oneness closely attached, connected, inseparable, and indivisible with Him. Prayer develops our relationship with God demonstrating our trust and utter dependence upon Him. You and I are our heavenly Father’s “Daddy’s girl”. God longs for us to spend time with Him, lots of it. Prayer is us spending time with Him engaging in conversation not just occasionally, but throughout our entire day, month, year, and life.
Our WOW verse for this week speaks of the need to “be alert and of sober mind so that you can pray.” Our world around us holds so many distractions that pull us away from relating to God in a life of prayer. Our enemy would like nothing better for us than to focus on all these distractions so that we would not live in a close and intimate relationship with God. His desire is for us to be disconnected from our heavenly Father. He wants to render us useless and to keep us from living fully in that relationship for which we were created. This is why we must be spiritually alert and watchful as we live our daily lives. It is easy to drift away from a close and vibrant relationship with God, as I drifted from the close relationship I had with my earthly dad as a little girl. It is easy to lose focus of why God has invited us to be closely connected with Him in prayer. Especially if we come to God with our thoughts, our wants, our desires, and our ways in mind. If our lives are filled with the self-centeredness of an uncircumcised heart, we will not experience the close relationship of oneness that God desires us to have through prayer. This is why we must “be alert and of sober mind so that ‘we’ may pray.”
As you are reading these words, do you feel the pushing and pulling of the world’s influences trying to keep you from that intimate time of relationship with your heavenly Father as His “Daddy’s girl”? God’s desire is for us to focus attentively on Him and Him alone moment by moment throughout our day. He wants us to experience Him more fully in a living relationship of prayer. May we fix our hearts and our minds on Him so that we can truly be “alert and of sober mind.” May we guard our hearts from anything that would try to influence us and draw us away from God’s life-giving connection to Him, our relationship of oneness with Him through prayer.
This week’s song speaks of a deep and intimate relationship with God that is developed in a lifestyle of prayer. It is “Heart of the Father” by Ryan Ellis. May we know His closeness and love as we experience more and more of Him!
“Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith…” 1 Corinthians 16:13-14 NIV
A little over a year ago my husband and I went to Kauai, Hawaii to celebrate our 30th Wedding Anniversary. One of my favorite activities on the island was our sunset stroll along the ocean shore. Our resort had a sidewalk that meandered through the palm trees and flowers. Every so often we had an opportunity to get off the sidewalk. One of the stops was the sandy beach and the other was an area of large lava rocks that extended out into the ocean. When I walked down onto the sandy beach and into the ocean, it didn’t take me long to back away from the water. As the waves came crashing in and then rolled back out, the sand would move and shift and wash out from under my feet. I felt very unstable and uncomfortable because the sand upon which I stood was always changing. However, when I ventured onto the lava rocks, I found the experience very different. As I stood upon those rocks, they did not move, nor did they shift. Even with the waves crashing upon them they remained unmovable. I felt extremely secure as I stood there enjoying the color of the skies change as the sun appeared to sink into the horizon. That memory stands out as one of the most beautiful experiences of my life.
Our verses this month are about faith. Faith is the spiritual gift of God that benefits and prospers every believer. It is required to live a life worthy of the calling we receive from God. Faith attaches us to God so that we can live the all – important relationship of oneness and receive the abundant provision of God into our hearts – His power, His holiness, His love, His mercy and grace, His wisdom, His righteousness, His joy, His peace, and so much more. It is faith that enables you and me to function in the spiritual realm – to hear God when He speaks to us, to listen intelligently and understand what He is saying, and to then act rightly according to what we have heard.
Our verse this week tells us that we must “stand firm in the faith.” To stand firm in the faith is to be fixed, steadfast, and unwavering in our total reliance on, our full assurance in, and our strict adherence to God and His Word. God and His Word is the strong, unchanging, unwavering foundation upon which faith is built and stands. Standing firm in faith is like me standing on the large lava rocks totally relying on them not to move or tilt or shift even when the waves come crashing upon them and me. Faith is in God and His living, written, and spoken Word that is unchanging, immovable, and unshifting. We, as believers, are not to stand firm in our own understanding, our own intellect, our own reasoning, our own wants and wishes. Doing that is like standing on the shifting sands of the oceans floor.
If we do not stand in faith listening to and depending on the spoken and written word of God, we will not stand at all (Isaiah 7:9). We will fall to the ways and the voices of the world — the voices that speak one lie after another lie. When we listen and pay attention to the lies, we will act upon them and find ourselves living a life that is unfaithful, troubled, fearful, anxiety ridden, doubting, stressed out, discontent, and mean. We will be tossed about in a life of sin, never settled and secure.
Faith is required to live the calling we have received from God. Are you standing firm in the faith? Faith comes by hearing the message. What message are you hearing and paying attention to – the Word of God or the lies of the enemy? Is your heart and mind fixed on God and His Word? Or are you standing on the shifting sands of the enemy’s lies? God has given us a choice. As we choose to hold fast to God and His Word, we will live standing “firm in the faith…”
This week’s song is once again, “Take You At Your Word” by Cody Carnes and Benjamin William Hastings. As we listen, may we be reminded to “stand firm in the faith” in God and in HIs Word.
“Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.” Romans 10:17 NIV
Every day I lived for the next dose of my anxiety pills. For six years, I took them faithfully. Every day was the same: wake up, get a glass of water, take the meds. Then at night: get another glass of water, take the next dose, go to bed. One morning in October 2021 everything changed. That morning, I grabbed my pill box and heard these words deep within my spiritual heart, “This is not your inheritance.” At that moment, I believed that God had different plans for my life. I believed He could provide peace where anxiety had reigned. I stopped Buspar that morning and weaned myself off Prozac within five months. Two years later, I am still living in the peace, love, and joy that my Heavenly Father has generously given to me as a part of His inheritance that I received that day.
This month our WOW verses are about faith. Faith is complete confidence in God – in His character, in His Word, and in His promises. It is complete trust in God believing and being fully assured that He is who He says He is and will do all that He says He will do. God’s Word works a mighty faith in us, a faith that is strong, and able for anything because it is the living Word of God. God’s Word is powerful and does the work of strengthening, establishing, and rooting our faith within us. We hear the Word of God, receive it into our hearts, and God uses His Word to do a work of faith in us. That is because His Word is living and active and powerful to accomplish His will.
Lately, I have been contemplating why the words, “This is not your inheritance.” came to me deep within my spiritual heart back in October 2021. It was because I had heard the Word of God spoken to me the weeks prior to that day as I sat in the main sessions at WOW. The teaching was on what we receive as a part of our “inheritance” when we dwell in God’s New Kingdom as His child. I heard how God wanted the eyes of my heart to be enlightened so that I could know the hope for which He had called me, “the riches of his glorious inheritance…” (Ephesians 1:18) I heard “the Word of Christ,” that was being spoken, took it into my heart, and it began to strengthen my faith.
Perhaps as you read these words you are experiencing a longing within you for more? The Word of Christ is speaking to you and inviting you to live a life of faith that responds to the Word of God. You may wonder, how do I respond to the Word? We must receive His Word through reading it and listening to it carefully with our spiritual ears. We must diligently study His Word, hiding it in our hearts, the Word that works within us a mighty faith if we hold firmly to what we have heard. It will trust that God will do what He has promised because He is faithful.
God has given each of us a small deposit of faith and the opportunity to receive His Word so it will grow and mature and become established. I can testify that this is true because of that morning in October of 2021. That little seed of faith deposited within me when I had received Jesus as my personal Savior was growing as I retained it and believed it. As I have acted upon the Word I have heard over and over, that faith has grown more and more. God has been at work in me through His Word and faith. Today I am free. I am dwelling in God and His peace! What He has done for me He will do for you. His Word is speaking. Hear it, receive it, and act upon it in faith!
This week’s song is “Take You at Your Word” by Cody Carnes and Benjamine William Hastings. May it be a reminder that God will do what He says He will do in His Word. As we receive it, we can live a life of faith!
”You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me,“ John 5:39 NIV
God desires for us to know Him, not just know about Him. He longs for us to be in a close and intimate relationship with Him. Because of this great desire, He has given us everything we need to know Him.
One of those provisions is God’s Word, the Scriptures. God worked over 1,500 years and through more than 40 different authors to provide for us the Bible so that we could learn about who He is, what He does, and what He desires of us. God’s Word is a love letter to us, an instruction manual for a Godly life, and a map for us to find Him and His will. God’s Word is as Jesus described it, our spiritual food, “the Bread of Life.” (John 8:35) It is absolutely necessary for us if we want to experience God fully.
God’s Word is one of the ways we can have first hand experiences with Him. As we approach His Word knowing He is speaking: We can experience His truth entering our lives; We can experience His love filling the deepest nooks and crannies of our hearts and overflowing us; We can hear Him speaking to us deep within. We can have all of this but we must participate with Him. We must engage Him by opening our Bibles and our hearts to receive the Words He has provided for us. His Word is “living and active.” (Hebrews 4:12)
Now you and I know the truth about God’s provision for a relationship with Him through His Word. The question becomes, “What will I do with what I know?” When we know that it is good to come to God and to experience Him through His Word and yet we do not do it, that quite truthfully is a sin. (James 4:17) Sin always separates us from God. It always brings about death, darkness, and destruction in our lives.
If you are feeling distant and disconnected from God, could it be that you need to come to Him and seek Him in His Word? He has provided the Way for us to experience a blessed and happy life. That is a life that has a closely connected relationship with Him. He has given us His Word so that we can not only find Him but be His very own.
May we give of our time and engage with Him by participating in reading His Word. We will not regret the close relationship that will result in our coming close to God in this way.
”Come near to God and he will come near to you…” James 4:8 NIV
”Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread.“ Proverbs 30:8 NIV
Agur was a wise teacher of long ago. He wrote the words above as a prayer. He knew of his own sinful nature and its propensity to believe lies and falsehoods. He knew his propensity to do life his way and not God’s. So Agur prayed. He prayed that he wouldn’t be so consumed with selfishly pursuing wealth so that he would forget God saying, “Who is the Lord?”. He also prayed that he wouldn’t lack so that he would feel compelled to selfishly steal and get things his own way. He simply wanted God to be his “daily bread,” His everything! He wanted God to be what satisfied him day in and day out.
There is much wisdom in that prayer. We can learn much from this prayer of Agur. We can come to God asking of Him to be our daily bread and the satisfier of our soul as well.
We are invited to experience God as our “daily bread.” We can “taste and see that the Lord is good.” (Psalm 34:8). We do this by a daily, moment by moment, intake of His Word! His Word is the Bread of Life.
We can know His Word as the Truth that will keep us far from lies. As we know the Word, we know God. Because He is His Word and His Word is God (John 1:1).
Agur was wise to pray his prayer and find delight in God’s provision of His daily bread, His Word. May we delight in His Word as well! God is the only One who will satisfy us!
We had an above ground pool when the kids were younger. I worked and worked at keeping that pool clean. The right balance of chemicals and diligent maintenance was required. The waters in my pool often looked less than desirable as I was trying to figure out that balance, murky waters, bugs not getting skimmed off, slime on the sides… It was a constant battle. Every once in awhile I would find the pool looking good until the kids got in and kicked up the dirt I didn’t get completely vacuumed off the bottom. Murky again… the battle went on.
Today’s Proverb has a verse that reminded me of that pool we had years ago.
”Like a muddied spring or a polluted well are the righteous who give way to the wicked.“Proverbs 25:26 NIV
Our lives are meant to be lived in righteousness. God created us to be in His image, righteous and holy. When we live our lives set apart to Him, observing and obeying what He commands in His Word, our lives are beautiful! They are filled with joy, peace, and contentment.
BUT, when we “give way” to sin. Our lives become like a “muddied spring or a polluted well.” Or like my old above ground pool when the PH balance was off, the bottom wasn’t being vacuumed off, and the skimmer bucket wasn’t working…slimy, green, NASTY! Our lives are unable to be enjoyed.
The entire book of Proverbs has much to say about living a righteous life and warnings against unrighteousness. This is because it pollutes our hearts, and if left unattended to by prayer, time in the Word, and repentance from sin, our waters of our heart will be destroyed…NASTY too!
How we live out lives matters! Don’t let the wicked ways of the world pollute you!
The book of Proverbs, is like a bag full of jewels of various shapes and sizes. Each one is different and could adorn different outfits and pieces of jewelry. Each verse in Proverbs holds much wisdom on a variety of topics that are needed in our lives. In fact, the whole Bible is like this. It truly is “the sayings of the wise.” We are encouraged to study it’s Words.
”Pay attention and turn your ear to the sayings of the wise; apply your heart to what I teach, for it is pleasing when you keep them in your heart and have all of them ready on your lips. So that your trust may be in the Lord, I teach you today, even you.“ Proverbs 22:17-19 NIV
Studying God’s Word is essential to a victorious life as a Christian. We are to “Pay attention” to it, listen to it or “turn your ear,” and “apply your heart,” or set your mind, your will, and emotions on the Word of God. We are to “keep them in our heart and have them ready on our lips.” This enables us to trust God.
If you are living a life lacking peace, joy, love, contentment,etc… examine yourself. Are you daily taking God’s Word into your heart? God’s Word has answers for every situation we face. It is precious like the jewels I mentioned at first.
We have opportunity in our lives to mine out these precious jewels as we come to God with our Bibles open and our hearts inclined to hear. However, the precious jewels in the Word are so much more than that. God’s Word is life itself! You CANNOT make it on your own without the Word!
If you are just getting by day after day, look at your life. What is missing? Could it be the daily time in God’s Word? It is the Life of God in you.
Practical wisdom, Proverbs offers plenty of it: working with diligence, living in faithfulness, dealing with honesty, avoiding gossip… even warnings of being led astray by wine and beer are just a few of the topics of this chapter.
As I read it, there is a promise that stands out to me summarizing the result of practicing all the practical wisdom the entire book of Proverbs contains:
”The righteous man walks in his integrity; blessed (happy, fortunate, enviable) are his children after him.“
Proverbs 20:7 AMPC
The righteous or Godly man is the man who lives his life set apart to God. The one who obeys what God has commanded in His Word. The promise is that his children will be blessed or happy.
As parents we want what is best for our kids. The BEST thing you can give your kids is to live your life in complete surrender to God and His ways. This comes by learning what it is that He, out of His great love, has commanded in His Word… i.e. study your Bible, and OBEY what it says. This also comes by a relationship with God. We hear Him speak through His Word, and we talk to Him in prayer throughout our day. It is a continual, moment by moment, focus on God.
Long ago, as a young mom, I heard it said, “If you want your kids to love God and know Him, you have to love God yourself. You cannot impart what you Do Not Have!” Simply put, if you want your kids to have the blessings — joy, peace , and happiness of knowing God, you must have a deep relationship with Him as well. Model it in front of them! Your children are following your lead!
We were created out of divine love, by divine love, and for divine love. God loves us and the way we show love for God is to obey.
Adam and Eve are an example for all to see of this truth. As long as they were totally obedient and totally satisfied in that obedience to God, they dwelt in perfect life in the beautiful garden God made for them. But the moment they disobeyed and chose their own way, death entered the world along with it’s darkness and destruction.
Obeying what God commands is the way to life. In fact, Jesus said He came to give abundant life. (John 10:10) He desires for us to choose His life. (Deuteronomy 30:19-20) The way we choose His life is to obey!
When we choose our own way. We are careless. We show contempt for the things God has told us to do. This only leads to spiritual death.
We are told in this chapter of Proverbs that if we get wisdom, we “love life.” (Verse 8) If we “fear the Lord”, or have reverence for God that gives us a desire to obey Him fully, we will be led “to life … (and) rest content.” We will be “untouched by trouble.” (Verse 23)
Obedience to God is love for God and the way to dwell in love. God’s love is where life is found!
”Whoever keeps commandments keeps their life, but whoever shows contempt for their ways will die.“ Proverbs 19:16 NIV
Your Love 