Room For His Word — John 8

“To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.””
‭‭John‬ ‭8‬:‭31‬-‭32‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“If you hold…”. Continue, abide, dwell to Jesus’s teachings/ Word. That is the mark of a true disciple. It is impossible to pattern our lives after, give our lives to, and follow closely someone we do not know or relate to on a moment by moment basis.

Jesus warned that it is possible to encounter Him, but to not allow Him to dwell in our hearts. He told those listening to Him. “…you have no room for my word.” We can fill our lives with all kinds of ideas, passions, and pursuits and yet miss the most important pursuit of all, knowing God and His Word.

There is only one way to true freedom and to fulfillment. It is to make room for Jesus in our lives.

The Bible Book of the Month Club the Gospel of Mark — Mark 14:32-72

Today is Mark 14:32-72 ❤️🙌🔥 for the “Bible Book of the Month Club — The Gospel of Mark”

What seemed to be Peter’s entire world was falling apart right in front of him. The One he left everything to follow, Jesus, had been arrested and wasn’t even trying to defend Himself.
I can imagine the dismay and unbelief the enemy was enticing Peter with.

Denying Jesus was one thing, but trying to prove you have had nothing to do with by cursing and swearing was another. Then the rooster crowed and Peter remembered what Jesus had told him. “He broke down and wept.”

I have been where Peter was and I can identify. Things weren’t going my way. God wasn’t doing what I wanted Him to. So I decided to do things my way… I tried to distance myself from Him, but keeping just enough of Jesus to “keep my fire insurance current.” What a miserable way to live. Especially if you have had an authentic relationship with Jesus, but have drifted away. I’m pretty sure this is why Peter wept. Once you have tasted and seen the goodness of God, everything else is empty.

Thankfully Peter’s story does not end at the end of Mark 15. Jesus restored his relationship. Thankfully my story did not end with me adrift, living my life my ways…not God’s. Jesus restored my relationship.

How about you? Can you relate to Peter and me? Your story does not have to end in sorrow! Surrender to God is the pathway to peace. Come to Him!

What is God showing you?
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The Bible Book of the Month Club the Book of Mark — Mark 14:1-31

Today is Mark 14:1-31 ❤️🙌🔥 for the “Bible Book of the Month Club — The Gospel of Mark”

The thing that stands out to me the most in this passage of scripture is the intimacy in relationship that Jesus had with His disciples. Jesus spent time with them eating meals.

Some of the most intimate times I have with my kids are our family dinners. When the food has been eaten, we remain at the table talking, laughing, and enjoying each others company. They are beautiful times.

I can imagine dinner with Jesus being the same. However the accounts of this passage have a more serious note. Jesus tells His best friends, those closest to Him, what is to come. He wants them to understand what happens when it does. What a beautiful Savior we have!

Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever! He still wants to have that intimate fellowship with us. We are invited to His table where we can spend time with Him. He has sent that invitation to us! (Revelations 3:20) Our role is to come to Him and open the door of our hearts.

What is God showing you?
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The Bible Book of the Month Club The Gospel of Mark — Mark 12:18-44

Today is Mark 12:18-44 ❤️🙌🔥 for the “Bible Book of the Month Club — The Gospel of Mark”

How much is enough? This is the tendency of our fleshly hearts. We want enough of Jesus to make us comfortable with our lives, but we come without a desire to fully surrender. However, God doesn’t want a half-hearted devotion to Him. Jesus, Himself, tells us the greatest command:

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’”
‭‭Mark‬ ‭12‬:‭30‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Love God with ALL!

There have been many times I have approached God with part of me… offering pieces of my time, my thoughts, my desires. That is such a miserable way to live.

If we love God with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength, we are able to experience Him and His goodness fully. Anything short of wholehearted devotion to Him is a shallow relationship with God.

God desires for us to know Him intimately and experience Him moment by moment of every day. He wants us to give Him all of us because He is offering all of Him!

What is God saying to you today?
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Let The Little Children Come

“When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.”
‭‭Mark‬ ‭10‬:‭14‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Today I find the words of Jesus to be so comforting. Jesus loved the children.

Our family has suffered a great loss this past week. My great niece, Kinsley, drowned in an accident. She was 2 1/2.

Even though we are left with such sadness, we are assured that Jesus loves and welcomes children.

The moment Kinsley left us here on earth Jesus welcomed her just as He did the little children 2000 years ago. The Word says, “He took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them.” I can picture Jesus doing the same with sweet little Kinsley. He took her in His arms, where she will never have to leave, and is blessing her now and throughout eternity.

Jesus will welcome us too as He did the little children and little Kinsley. But we must come to Him. He is our only hope for an eternity of peace in His presence that is filled with His blessings.

Have you come to Him as the little children did, seeking His touch and His blessing?

The Bible Book of the Month Club the Gospel of Mark — Mark 7:24-47

Today is Mark 7:24-37 ❤️🙌🔥 for the “Bible Book of the Month Club — The Gospel of Mark”

“After he took him aside, away from the crowd, Jesus…” verse 33

I love how Jesus took time for the individual. He interacted with them. The man who was deaf and could not speak could have been healed in a manner of seconds with Jesus’s touch, but Jesus took him aside. He gave the man one on one attention.

Jesus is personal. He is all about connecting with “the one” i.e. you and me. He loves to take us aside, away from the crowd, to be with Him in a deep, personal, and intimate relationship.

What is God showing you in these verses? Post it below 👇👇👇

(Tomorrow is Mark 8:1-21)

The Bible Book of the Month Club The Gospel if Mark — Mark 7:1-23

Today is Mark 7:1-23 ❤️🙌🔥 for the “Bible Book of the Month Club — The Gospel of Mark”

“…These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.” (Verse 6)

Years ago there was a commercial for American Express credit card. It listed all the benefits of their card and ended by asking this question, “What’s in your wallet?” I keep thinking about these words this morning but changed slightly, “What’s in your heart?”

Jesus gives us a clear indicator of what is in our hearts. It is what is coming out of them. It is what is reflected in our actions and words each day. If we are angry, prideful, anxious, hateful, etc…, we can be assured that our hearts are full of anger, pride, anxiety, hate, etc. If we display the characteristics of Jesus — love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, and self control, our hearts are full of Him.

Jesus saw the religious people of His time. They were “doing all the right things”, obeying their man made rules. But their hearts displayed what was truly inside, evil. We do the same.

A few years ago, I went to church and tried to live morally right, but my heart had drifted far from God. This was because I refused to let Him have my heart, empty it of the sin inside, and fill my heart with Him. What came out of me reflected that.

What’s in your heart? It’s coming out of you — in all you think, do and say.

What is God showing you today? Post it below 👇👇👇

(Tomorrow’s reading is Mark 7:24-37)

The Bible Book of the Month Club — The Gospel of Mark (Mark 5:1-20)

Today is Mark 5:1-20 ❤️🙌🔥 for the “Bible Book of the Month Club — The Gospel of Mark”

What a miracle! A man with no hope, who lived in a graveyard and was possessed by many demons was set free with the words “Come out of this man…” spoken by Jesus.

The man begged to go with Jesus in the boat, but Jesus had another plan for him.

“Jesus did not let him, but said, “Go home to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.””
‭‭Mark‬ ‭5‬:‭19‬ ‭NIV‬‬

This man obeyed what Jesus told him to do, and “all the people were amazed” by His testimony.

What has Jesus done for you? Proclaim it! People need to hear the amazing things what God has done! God is so real and still does miracles!

What is God showing you in these verses? Post it below 👇 👇👇

(Tomorrow we read Mark 5:21-43)

The Bible Book of the Month Club the Gospel of Mark — Mark 4:26-41

Today is Mark 4:26-41 ❤️🙌🔥 for the “Bible Book of the Month Club — The Gospel of Mark”

“”Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”” Verse 41.

Crowds followed Jesus. Some followed out of curiosity. Some followed wanting to hear Him speak. Some followed looking for a miracle. Everywhere He went there was amazement over the words the people heard and the miracles they saw. The disciples were able to experience all that Jesus said and did on a personal level. I’m sure what they saw left them standing with their jaws dropped time after time.

In this section, Jesus does the impossible once again. I love the response of the disciples… “Who is this?”

Jesus is the same today as He was when He calmed the storm over 2000 years ago. Walking and talking with Jesus should leave us in a sense of amazement time after time. When He speaks to us and we see Him do the impossible in our lives we should respond the same way they did long ago, “Who is this? Even this is not too hard for Him.” You cannot experience God in a close relationship and not be left in awe of what He does!

God is a God of miracles! You may ask, “how can you say this with confidence?” I have seen them with my own eyes and experienced them time after time. I have been left saying, “Who is this? Even my storms of anxiety and fear, obey His voice of peace!” (This is just one miracle. There are so many more miracles I’ve seen and experienced. God is real!! 😉)

May we be left in awe time after time as we recognize the amazing things He does and is doing in our lives.

Testify!!

What is God showing you in today’s reading? Post it below 👇 👇👇

(Tomorrow’s reading is Mark 5:1-20)

Bible Book of the Month Club — The Gospel of Mark (Mark 2:1-17)

Today is Mark 2:1-17 ❤️🙌🔥 for the “Bible Book of the Month Club — The Gospel of Mark”

I love verse 17, “On hearing this Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
Jesus spoke these words in response to criticism He was receiving from the religious leaders of His time. They didn’t like that Jesus was eating with the “tax collectors and sinners.”
Jesus came to give new life and new hearts to those who would simply respond to His call and be willing to leave it all behind to follow Him.
Jesus is still the same! It does not matter what mess we have chosen to become entangled by… our sins… Jesus came to set us free and give us relationship with Him. He has come to call sinners to come and to sit with Him at His table. He has come to forgive us and give us new life and a new heart so we can obey Him and live close to Him!!
I am so thankful Jesus calls out to sinners (i.e. me) with the same call He gave Matthew the tax collector, “Follow Me!”

What did God show you in today’s reading? Post it below 👇 👇👇

(Tomorrow’s reading is Mark 2:18-28)