Luke 22: 1-6
"Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread drew near, which is called Passover. And the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might kill Him, for they feared the people. Then Satan entered Judas, surnamed Iscariot, who was numbered among the twelve. So he went his way and conferred with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray Him to them. And they were glad, and agreed to give him money. So he promised and sought opportunity to betray Him to them in the absence of the multitude."
Judas was a disciple and friend of Jesus. I use the word "friend" lightly, however. It's so crazy to think that Judas walked and talked with Jesus throughout his ministry, just like the other eleven. He was one of the chosen! We've heard it before though... those "godly" men and women who seem to be so close to Jesus, the ones we look up to and admire and want to be like. Then they mess up in public and break the heart of Jesus and the precious ones in His church here on earth. It's sad and infuriating.
And maybe most of us are only ever one or two steps away from being a Judas. By no means are all of us deep down betrayers and evil ridden, but we all live in this broken evil world where the temptation to sell Jesus for some money isn't too much of a stretch for any one of us. The going gets a little tough, our walk and talk with Jesus is a little lacking, and the disgusting devil swoops in and starts to whisper thoughts in our heads against our sweet friend and Lord, Jesus.
I'm just saying be careful. It could happen to any one of us. Don't sell Jesus for some cash.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
92
Luke 21: 26
"men's hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth..."
It's the week leading up to His death, and Jesus is talking very candidly to the disciples. It's like He has to get it all in before He leaves them, and the messages are getting a little more heavy. He is really speaking like a Messiah now. He is getting down to the nitty gritty - the stuff that is to come. The world is going to start shaking: physically, spiritually, emotionally... and we are going to need to be prepared.
Sound familiar? It's no surprise that all the things He talked about, are happening right now. Wars, loss, destruction, and power coming from all the wrong places. He warned us, but still we are shocked. And I'm glad we still get shocked when we watch the news - I still want to be a part of a human race that feels things. The heart-breaking part of this 'talking to' Jesus is having with us, is that the human heart will break down. It's happening right now, everyone. People's hearts are breaking down, and letting their bodies down because of fear. It's so ludicrous that this emotion is stopping hearts, literally. Fear of what is and what is to come is causing heart attacks, mental break downs and death all over the earth.
Jesus is the answer to our fears. The Bible is covered all over with "do not fear" because fear grips the human heart like nothing else. Don't let fear kill you. A few days after He says these things, He goes to the cross and dies so you won't have to. He came to love and save the people, and He did. Then He came back to life so we can know Him and talk to Him everyday. And the bonus of talking to Him every day is that we can lay out to Him all our fears and He can carry them for you. Put them out on the table and give your heart a rest. With all your might, don't worry about things. Don't let fear kill you. It's not worth it.
"men's hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth..."
It's the week leading up to His death, and Jesus is talking very candidly to the disciples. It's like He has to get it all in before He leaves them, and the messages are getting a little more heavy. He is really speaking like a Messiah now. He is getting down to the nitty gritty - the stuff that is to come. The world is going to start shaking: physically, spiritually, emotionally... and we are going to need to be prepared.
Sound familiar? It's no surprise that all the things He talked about, are happening right now. Wars, loss, destruction, and power coming from all the wrong places. He warned us, but still we are shocked. And I'm glad we still get shocked when we watch the news - I still want to be a part of a human race that feels things. The heart-breaking part of this 'talking to' Jesus is having with us, is that the human heart will break down. It's happening right now, everyone. People's hearts are breaking down, and letting their bodies down because of fear. It's so ludicrous that this emotion is stopping hearts, literally. Fear of what is and what is to come is causing heart attacks, mental break downs and death all over the earth.
Jesus is the answer to our fears. The Bible is covered all over with "do not fear" because fear grips the human heart like nothing else. Don't let fear kill you. A few days after He says these things, He goes to the cross and dies so you won't have to. He came to love and save the people, and He did. Then He came back to life so we can know Him and talk to Him everyday. And the bonus of talking to Him every day is that we can lay out to Him all our fears and He can carry them for you. Put them out on the table and give your heart a rest. With all your might, don't worry about things. Don't let fear kill you. It's not worth it.
Saturday, March 27, 2010
91
Proverbs 4:23 (New International Version)
"Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life."
Life starts with the heart. Your heart is your life.
I often catch myself saying that I need to be more "thick skinned." I am super sensitive. I over think every move. I second guess myself, even with my best friends. It's so silly. But the feelings are so real to me in the moment. I am always trying to be a little tougher on the outside of my heart. Life is hard and will harden and wear you out eventually, so it's just good sense...
The thing that I am coming to realize, though, is if I'm not careful, I could be praying a little bit of a dangerous prayer. I don't want the wall of my heart to be thick with walls from hurt, pain, resentment and unforgiveness. I want to feel things. And I want to be passionate. I want to be able to give myself fully to people whom I love, fully able to take the risk of being hurt and disappointed if that's what it takes to be a good lover of people and of Jesus.
Lots of souls are walking around with thick skinned hearts from hurt and pain. But you don't want walls around your heart, you just want it to be guarded with peace and protection with the stuff from Heaven. God gives you the strength to get through anything. It's His grace and strength that makes you brave all over. Your heart is always protected with Him, and because of Him, your heart and mind are able to stand under the pressure and stress of this broken world.
"Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life."
Life starts with the heart. Your heart is your life.
I often catch myself saying that I need to be more "thick skinned." I am super sensitive. I over think every move. I second guess myself, even with my best friends. It's so silly. But the feelings are so real to me in the moment. I am always trying to be a little tougher on the outside of my heart. Life is hard and will harden and wear you out eventually, so it's just good sense...
The thing that I am coming to realize, though, is if I'm not careful, I could be praying a little bit of a dangerous prayer. I don't want the wall of my heart to be thick with walls from hurt, pain, resentment and unforgiveness. I want to feel things. And I want to be passionate. I want to be able to give myself fully to people whom I love, fully able to take the risk of being hurt and disappointed if that's what it takes to be a good lover of people and of Jesus.
Lots of souls are walking around with thick skinned hearts from hurt and pain. But you don't want walls around your heart, you just want it to be guarded with peace and protection with the stuff from Heaven. God gives you the strength to get through anything. It's His grace and strength that makes you brave all over. Your heart is always protected with Him, and because of Him, your heart and mind are able to stand under the pressure and stress of this broken world.
Friday, March 26, 2010
90
Luke 22:42
"...nevertheless, not my will but Yours, be done."
This has got to be the hardest prayer to pray. And although I pray this very touching and moving prayer with my mouth, some days my heart prays it also, and others days it doesn't. It's one of those prayers where you pray it, and the whole time you're hoping that the feelings will eventually come. I often wonder how Jesus was brave enough to pray this prayer. He is standing in the garden, ready to be arrested and eventually killed. The Bible says the torment and stress was so intense on his heart and body that He sweat blood. He sweat blood! I can't even begin to fathom that level of emotion and pain.
He knew this was what He was born to do. He knew His whole life's path was leading Him to this moment, this moment of decision: to the cross. He was focused the whole time, but right now in this very moment if there was any other way, He wanted things to be different. I guess the only thing that enabled Him to pray that prayer, and follow through with the plan for humanity was His intense burning love and connection to His Father God. He wanted God more than anything else. He wanted His Father so much, it was worth the sacrifice. He loved His Father, and His Father loved the world. So He did it. It was all for love.
Make that your prayer: "not my will, but My Father's be done..." It's a tough one, but it's also relieving. It takes the pressure off, really. Who knows what could happen? It takes the pressure away from you having to pull a bunch of things off on this earth. And while I don't know why some people's dreams don't come true, and why good, dedicated, talented people's plans fall through, we must learn to let go. Let go of all the things you think you need to accomplish and the things that you feel will make your life worthwhile on this earth. Go after your dreams and the call of God on your life, and every morning, every time you think of it, or every time you get worried that things won't turn out, pray this prayer alone: "not my will, but yours be done."
"...nevertheless, not my will but Yours, be done."
This has got to be the hardest prayer to pray. And although I pray this very touching and moving prayer with my mouth, some days my heart prays it also, and others days it doesn't. It's one of those prayers where you pray it, and the whole time you're hoping that the feelings will eventually come. I often wonder how Jesus was brave enough to pray this prayer. He is standing in the garden, ready to be arrested and eventually killed. The Bible says the torment and stress was so intense on his heart and body that He sweat blood. He sweat blood! I can't even begin to fathom that level of emotion and pain.
He knew this was what He was born to do. He knew His whole life's path was leading Him to this moment, this moment of decision: to the cross. He was focused the whole time, but right now in this very moment if there was any other way, He wanted things to be different. I guess the only thing that enabled Him to pray that prayer, and follow through with the plan for humanity was His intense burning love and connection to His Father God. He wanted God more than anything else. He wanted His Father so much, it was worth the sacrifice. He loved His Father, and His Father loved the world. So He did it. It was all for love.
Make that your prayer: "not my will, but My Father's be done..." It's a tough one, but it's also relieving. It takes the pressure off, really. Who knows what could happen? It takes the pressure away from you having to pull a bunch of things off on this earth. And while I don't know why some people's dreams don't come true, and why good, dedicated, talented people's plans fall through, we must learn to let go. Let go of all the things you think you need to accomplish and the things that you feel will make your life worthwhile on this earth. Go after your dreams and the call of God on your life, and every morning, every time you think of it, or every time you get worried that things won't turn out, pray this prayer alone: "not my will, but yours be done."
89
Isaiah 61:1 (the message)
"The Spirit of God, the Master, is on me because God anointed me. He sent me to preach good news to the poor, heal the heartbroken, announce freedom to all captives, pardon all prisoners."
I love working for a King whose mandate for my life is to fix people's lives and hearts. So many precious souls are running around with chains around their ankles from hurt and disappointment. And we are called to unlock those chains and help people run free with Jesus. The greatest thing in the world someone can do is help people: to bring freedom to people whose lives are in chains; to tell the world that Jesus is the answer to the deep down emptiness they have in their hearts; to set people free who have unfairly been put in isolation from pain and hurt and other people's selfishness.
Don't forget that the Holy Spirit is all over you. Inside and out. You're the chosen one. You're the one who needs to go. You're the one who He has chosen to be a light in the darkness. So, shine bright. Take what you've been given and give it to the lost world.
"The Spirit of God, the Master, is on me because God anointed me. He sent me to preach good news to the poor, heal the heartbroken, announce freedom to all captives, pardon all prisoners."
I love working for a King whose mandate for my life is to fix people's lives and hearts. So many precious souls are running around with chains around their ankles from hurt and disappointment. And we are called to unlock those chains and help people run free with Jesus. The greatest thing in the world someone can do is help people: to bring freedom to people whose lives are in chains; to tell the world that Jesus is the answer to the deep down emptiness they have in their hearts; to set people free who have unfairly been put in isolation from pain and hurt and other people's selfishness.
Don't forget that the Holy Spirit is all over you. Inside and out. You're the chosen one. You're the one who needs to go. You're the one who He has chosen to be a light in the darkness. So, shine bright. Take what you've been given and give it to the lost world.
88
Isaiah 61:3 (New King James Version)
"...To console those who mourn in Zion, To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.”
Above all else, God is good. The world isn't good, the world breaks people and families and leaves broken hearts everywhere. The world is burning to the ground, but God is rescuing and restoring the burnt lives all over. The answer to the world's brokenness is Jesus. He takes the tired and hungry and hurting and makes them something beautiful. He turns things around. He covers heavy lives and hearts with coats of praise. I just had an image of those dorky blanket things, snuggies, that you drape around your whole body so you get warm and comfy (I have heard they're awesome though, so no offense if you have one)- He covers you with praise and healing like that.
With everything He does for your life, make sure you tell people He did it. The reason we are rescued by His huge sweet heart and grace is so we can tell the world that Jesus did it.
"...To console those who mourn in Zion, To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.”
Above all else, God is good. The world isn't good, the world breaks people and families and leaves broken hearts everywhere. The world is burning to the ground, but God is rescuing and restoring the burnt lives all over. The answer to the world's brokenness is Jesus. He takes the tired and hungry and hurting and makes them something beautiful. He turns things around. He covers heavy lives and hearts with coats of praise. I just had an image of those dorky blanket things, snuggies, that you drape around your whole body so you get warm and comfy (I have heard they're awesome though, so no offense if you have one)- He covers you with praise and healing like that.
With everything He does for your life, make sure you tell people He did it. The reason we are rescued by His huge sweet heart and grace is so we can tell the world that Jesus did it.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
87
Luke 7: 37-39
And behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at the table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of fragrant oil, and stood at His feet behind Him weeping; and she began to wash His feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head; and she kissed His feet and anointed them with the fragrant oil. Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he spoke to himself, saying, “This Man, if He were a prophet, would know who and what manner of woman this is who is touching Him, for she is a sinner.”
If this few minutes of history were a short film, I would be watching this woman move so intently. She fascinates me; she is beautiful. I want to be like her and I don't want to be like Jesus' disciples who rolled their eyes, judged her and voiced to Jesus that she did not belong with Him. Let's just think about this sweetheart woman. I really can envision the short film as a silent one. Maybe a little music only. On the screen the sweet woman, known within society as a sinner, probably a prostitute, comes to the house of a stranger Pharisee because she heard Jesus was there. You see, Jesus had saved her. Jesus had come to her and healed her soul with just one touch. He picked her life out of a pit and had set her free. So she brings what she has- all the money she had saved for a whole year- and pours it over Him. She comes, weeping weeping weeping with love and gratitude. She is overwhelmed with the praise and love she has in her heart for Jesus. She washes His dirty feet with the tears that stream down her face, and she dries them with her long dark hair. Stop and close your eyes and think about this beautiful scene... what love, what gratitude, what praise! She didn't care what they thought: they weren't there when Jesus came to her and found her. They weren't there when Jesus came to her and set her free. They had no idea how much He changed her life. And she had nothing else to do but give back to him.
By title, we are Jesus' disciples. Don't be like those disciples. Don't be judgmental and embarrassed when someone who Jesus has set free comes to Him and behaves as seemingly ludicrous as this. You don't know where they have come from, you don't know how much Jesus means to them. Be like the sinner lady who Jesus had found and set free. Come to Him, making yourself look like a fool if you have to, and pour your praise over Him. Take what costs you and give it back to Him in praise. Pour out your life to Him again. You may have first been set free by Jesus' touch years ago, or yesterday you may have found Him for the first time. Either way, praise costs. Pour your praise over Him like the lady with the expensive oil. She perfectly wasted the most expensive thing she had because she loved Him. She loved Him. Her life had been rescued and saved by Jesus, and that deserved all that she had.
And behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at the table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of fragrant oil, and stood at His feet behind Him weeping; and she began to wash His feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head; and she kissed His feet and anointed them with the fragrant oil. Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he spoke to himself, saying, “This Man, if He were a prophet, would know who and what manner of woman this is who is touching Him, for she is a sinner.”
If this few minutes of history were a short film, I would be watching this woman move so intently. She fascinates me; she is beautiful. I want to be like her and I don't want to be like Jesus' disciples who rolled their eyes, judged her and voiced to Jesus that she did not belong with Him. Let's just think about this sweetheart woman. I really can envision the short film as a silent one. Maybe a little music only. On the screen the sweet woman, known within society as a sinner, probably a prostitute, comes to the house of a stranger Pharisee because she heard Jesus was there. You see, Jesus had saved her. Jesus had come to her and healed her soul with just one touch. He picked her life out of a pit and had set her free. So she brings what she has- all the money she had saved for a whole year- and pours it over Him. She comes, weeping weeping weeping with love and gratitude. She is overwhelmed with the praise and love she has in her heart for Jesus. She washes His dirty feet with the tears that stream down her face, and she dries them with her long dark hair. Stop and close your eyes and think about this beautiful scene... what love, what gratitude, what praise! She didn't care what they thought: they weren't there when Jesus came to her and found her. They weren't there when Jesus came to her and set her free. They had no idea how much He changed her life. And she had nothing else to do but give back to him.
By title, we are Jesus' disciples. Don't be like those disciples. Don't be judgmental and embarrassed when someone who Jesus has set free comes to Him and behaves as seemingly ludicrous as this. You don't know where they have come from, you don't know how much Jesus means to them. Be like the sinner lady who Jesus had found and set free. Come to Him, making yourself look like a fool if you have to, and pour your praise over Him. Take what costs you and give it back to Him in praise. Pour out your life to Him again. You may have first been set free by Jesus' touch years ago, or yesterday you may have found Him for the first time. Either way, praise costs. Pour your praise over Him like the lady with the expensive oil. She perfectly wasted the most expensive thing she had because she loved Him. She loved Him. Her life had been rescued and saved by Jesus, and that deserved all that she had.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
