Mark 1:1 -Good News! Then why am I crying hopeless crocodile tears? There's something that hasn't sunk into my soul. I had a seizure last night. To think that I might lose my ability to think is so scary to me. But it happened and I have to ask myself---what do I want more than the Love of my Christ? Good health? Fewer problems? The real battle is not my health. It's what is going on inside of me as I face loss. "The more I do live like Jesus, the more God's Kingdom is taking over my life and positioning itself to spread into others. As God brings His kingdom into me, the devil and the world system oppose every move God makes, but my worst enemy is my own self-centeredness---the spirit within me that thinks it's my right for life to go the way I want it to."
I am in the battle for your soul. Would you walk with me in the battle for my soul? "Change me God from the inside out (Mark 1:8)."
Thunder in the desert! Prepare for His arrival! God spoke to me on Sunday from a verse the preacher shared that said that HE wanted to meet me this week. I need an appointment with the Great Physician. "Who needs a doctor? Lepers, paraplegics, the crippled, those with seizures, demandingness, anger, fear---self-centered. HE will make you new again from the inside out. I'm here inviting the sin-sick souls (1:17)."
Bev, I am so sorry! Please let us know what's up with the seizure.
ReplyDeleteWe are here for you. And we care so much. Love you. twink
40A leper came to him, begging on his knees, "If you want to, you can cleanse me."
ReplyDelete41 -45Deeply moved, Jesus put out his hand, touched him, and said, "I want to. Be clean."
Bev, as I read the Message this year, it is such a blessing to see how God has touched your life. He takes pieces of you unto Himself and replaces them with pieces of Him. Why, because "He wants to." I am so overwhelmed by His compassion, His presence, His heart-healing. Your humble and honest heart touches me as you share how Christ has touched your life on a day-to-day basis.
This year started for me with a broken heart, and as I read the Message each day, I discover it is starting to heal, I have been touched, I am clean. If you would have asked me how that could happen in January, I couldn't have imagined it. It's all about grace.
Mark 1:14-15 After John was arrested, Jesus went to Galilee preaching the Message of God: "Time's up! God's kingdom is here. Change your life and believe the Message.
ReplyDeleteThis scripture rathered hollered at me. CHANGE your life and BELIEVE the Message. Yes, I want to change and improve my life and I do believe...but how deeply do I really want all kinds of changes that my Heavenly Father has in store for me JUST to Bless Me and how deeply am I willing to REALLLY Believe?
One more time I am having to learn to SLOW down...God in his Grace and Mercy used JHpaintergirl and her Mighty Warrior Husband to take care of me because I allowed myself to get too busy and neglected to do something that was very important for this weekend.
The miracle was that all of this took place in the spand of about 30 to 45 minutes from Pittsburgh to Houston to Michigan and now ALL IS WELL. God's timing is ALWAYS PERFECT.
Yes, in my healthy desire to give...I forget to slow down and rest and an unhealthy pride can show it's ugly self as Mark Buchanan so aptly phrased in "The Rest of God" on page 48...we are feeding our egos and starving our souls...(Over a year ago that hit me like a brick as I read that for the first time in Sept 2009 I created much activity in my life which I thought was serving God and what he wanted me to do and had to recognize I was too much of the time (since I was often exhausted) feeding my ego and starving the soul.
Mark 2:19-20 Jesus said, "When you're celebrating a wedding, you don't skimp on the cake and wine. You feast. Later you may need to pull in your belt, but not now. As long as the bride and groom are with you, you have a good time. No one throws cold water on a friendly bonfire. This is Kingdom Come!"
21-22 He went on, "No one cuts up a fine silk scarf to patch old work clothes; you want fabrics that match. And you don't put your wine in cracked bottles."
My prayer today is to learn the Balance Christ has purposed for me and to live it daily and Praising HIS HOLY Name when I mess up He is always there for me when I earnestly and deeply Seek The FATHER with ALL My Heart.
This is a Song I must Sing. Thank you Precious Pearls for being a the precious jewels in my life on a daily basis.
Sylvia
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ReplyDeleteI am doing well. I had to work a job that required me to give up my sleep and way too much of it! Had 8 hours total sleep in 3 days. God doesn't intend for us to live that way and I'm making some changes over here. It has happened to me befoe since I'e had cancer---I just cannot go without sleep or my body experiences this parial paralysis episode during the middle of the night---not sure if it's the cancer meds or the sleep deprivation with surgeries and what I've recently gone through. I'm find today and doing well. Went right back to normal. So scary to think I might lose my ability to think and write and speak. He understands our frame! Thanks for your prayers.
ReplyDeleteThe Good News that I need to hear today:
ReplyDelete(Mark 1:7-8)He’ll turn your old life in for a kingdom life and change you from the inside out.
(Mark 1:32) He cures sick bodies and tormented spirits.
(Mark 1:35) Jesus got up and went to a secluded place to pray and start His day.
(Mark 1:41) Jesus cares and wants to heal us.
(Mark 2:4-5) Jesus responds to our faith in Him for our friends. (“because of THEIR faith…”)
(Mark 2:17) Jesus invites the sin-sick, not the spiritually fit.
(Mark 2:29-30) Set apart Sundays are for our own good, not just a rule to follow.
(Mark 3:28) There's nothing done or said that can't be forgiven.
We hear these Scriptures so often, but we must never let them become ordinary. Each one of these truths is nothing short of a miracle for the weary down-trodden places of our souls.
Oh Jesus, invade our hearts and fill them with Your cleansing, healing touch. You know. You care. Do it, Lord. Thank you that there’s nothing done or said that can’t be forgiven by Your Grace. Give us more mercy in our hearts to be loving forgivers and the discipline to be obedient followers. Only say the word and we shall be healed.
Praying for each of you this day. Your hearts poured out like drink offerings here...Jesus is deeply moved. You bring Him much glory in your hearts leaning into Him.
ReplyDelete"He settled on twelve, and designated them apostles. The plan was that they would be with him,"
ReplyDelete12 men.
Ordinary men.
So human...they could be self-seeking, doubtful, fearful, lacking faith, ashamed, unbelieving, presumptuous, tired, seeking revenge...
Not exactly what you would expect as apostle material.
Peter was in a hurry to get things done. I can be like that.
They were afraid on the boat. I can be like that.
They couldn't imagine feeding the multitude with 5 loaves and 2 fish. I can be like that.
They wanted His Kingdom here on earth...now. I can be like that.
Christ came into their lives and everything changed. Their nets were cast to the ground instead of in the sea.
They became fishers of men.
One became His betrayer.
I love the personality of each one who was faithful. It comes across in their writings. They saw the same things about Christ, but noticed different details.
What amazes me most is how powerful they became once the Holy Spirit came to them at Pentecost.
These faithful men turned the world upside-down by the power of The Holy Spirit.
Christ became a consuming fire in them. Their fear, doubt and "me first" mentality turned into courage, mountain-moving faith and Christ first mentality.
Do we have the same opportunity they had?
Do we have the same opportunity? I AM like they were. And it amazes me that with all the time they spent with Jesus face-to-face, they still doubted and feared and questioned and sinned. Even Jesus' ministry to them didn't result consistently in good fruit in their lives at this point----but it is "fruit that remains" and their lives are about to be disturbed and shaken upside down. They can't advance the Kingdom how they are---can we?
ReplyDeleteNo, we are powerless without His Spirit working in us.
ReplyDeleteHe kept telling them, wait for the anointing.
Pentecost came and the apostles were filled with His Spirit.
I am torn about whether we have the same opportunity that they had. Pentecost.
I sense God is looking to and fro for those who are willing to come to Him needy. Ready to be filled. I pray that IF we have the same opportunity, that we would not miss it.