Luke 15:1-10

v. 2 The Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them."  Jesus was never afraid of what people thought of Him.  There will be judgmental people throughout out lives yet their opinions are just that - opinions.  They do not reflect reality or truth when coming from a place of hatred or jealously.  The Pharisees went out of their way to avoid "unclean" people.  Jesus knew their hearts were more important than any outward appearances or perceived uncleanliness. 

v. 3-10 "Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them.  Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it?  And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home.  Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.'  I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent. Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one.  Does she not light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it?  She calls her friends to say 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.'  In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents " 

One of my favorite stories in the bible.  I know I say that a lot, but I have many that are my favorite.  This one is fitting for me since I was the lost sheep who got rescued by the Shepherd.  Some may think that a shepherd leaving the 99 to go get the 1 is foolish, but the Shepherd does not want to lose a single one of His sheep.  The 99 were safe because they were in the fold, the 1 was in danger and needed to be found.  Each sheep is more valuable than they know.  I was a lost sheep and knowing that my Shepherd came and found me to save me is something that still makes me cry.

For those who have been lost like me can you believe that there is more rejoicing when we repent than righteous people?  We are a collective in the Kingdom, but each one of us is so valuable that angels rejoice when we are found!  It's that amazing?  Despite what seemed like a lost cause, we finally are home.  Sometimes when I hear a story about someone who either walked away from God and came back or someone who just found Him for the first time I am so overjoyed that I start crying. 

Palestinian women received ten silver coins as a wedding gift.  Besides their value, they must have been sentimental like a wedding ring today.  What if you lost your favorite piece of jewelry?  You would tear apart your house to find it and would be so happy once it was found. 

In the search:

• No rejoicing - he is anxious for the lost
• No hesitation - despite the time, energy, darkness of night, he still pursues the lost
• No anger - even though the sheep has cost him dearly, he counts it as nothing
• No pause - love makes him forget himself and renews his strength
• No giving up the search - he will not return defeated

At the capture:

• Wanderer found - safe in his arms
• Weight borne - the lamb rides on the shepherds shoulders
• Distance traveled - shepherd traveling painfully the length of road the sheep wandered so wantonly
• Shepherd rejoicing - the sheep is so dear that its weight is a load of love
• Sheep rejoicing - it has been found and now is safe, its perfect restoration secured

In the home bringing:

• Jesus must carry us the distance, we can not make it on our own
• If you are in the fold then you are family
• Jesus loves when others rejoice for their brothers & sisters
• Repentance is being brought home, the angels rejoice for each one of us
• One sinner can make all heaven glad                                     

A little boy, in a Christian family in Amoy (China) wished to make a profession of religion and was told he was too young.  The boy replied 'Jesus had promised to carry the lambs in his bosom.  I am only a little boy; it will be easier for Jesus to carry me.'
                                                                                                                        Spurgeon's Sermon Notes

"General Garibaldi, an Italian officer in the 1800's was on his way home when he met a shepherd sad over the loss of his sheep.  Garibaldi launched a search with his soldiers and they searched through out the night.  The soldiers were ordered back to bed since the sheep was not found.  The next morning Garibaldi's attendant found him sleeping.  He was very surprised since the general was always the first up in the morning.  The attendant came back later and woke the general up.  When the general woke the attendant saw the general pull out a lamb from under the covers and was told to take it back to the shepherd.  The general had kept up the search through the night after everyone else had gone to bed, until he found it."

                                                                                                                         The Preachers' Monthly

Quote - Laura Ingalls Wilder

"As you read my stories of long ago I hope you will remember that the things that are truly worthwhile and that will give you happiness are the same now as they were then. Courage and kindness, loyalty, truth, and helpfulness are always the same and always needed."

Luke 14:15-35

v. 15-24  Someone at the table with Jesus said "Blessed is the man who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God."  Jesus replied "A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guest.  At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, 'Come, for everything is now ready.'  But they all alike began to make excuses."  The excuses were: I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it.  I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I'm on my way to try them out.  I just got married, so I can't come.  When the servant told the news from the invited guests the master was angry and sent the servant out to seek those that were poor, crippled, blind and lame.  There was still room so the master told the servant "Go out to the roads and country lanes and make them come in, so that my house will be full.  I tell you, not one of those men who were invited will get a taste of my banquet."

It was customary in those days to send out two invitations.  The first was to announce the event and the second was to let them know everything was ready.  The guests insulted the host by making excuses for the second invitation.  God first invited the Jewish people through Moses and the prophets.  The people accepted the first invitation that they were to be God's people.  The second was to believe in His son which many had decided to make excuses why they could not accept.  I know that I had accepted the invitation in my teens and the cares of life got in the way so the invitation fell in a deep crevice until one day I found it and opened the long lost envelope and accepted once again.  Many think that they have to clean up their act before God will take them in, that is not the case.  We can never be cleaned up enough without Him in our life.  God takes us just the way we are today.  Then He will start to work with us to make us who He sees us to be.  God's invitation is open to all. 

v. 25-27  Jesus said "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters-yes, even his own life-he cannot be my disciple."  This line is confusing to me so I looked up other translations.  I use biblegateway.com, when I looked up this verse with God's Word Translation it said "If people come to me and are not ready to abandon their fathers, mothers, wives, children, brothers, and sisters, as well as their own lives, they cannot be my disciples."  This version makes more sense to me.  We have to be open to Jesus no matter what the cost.  "And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple."  The Romans had criminals carry their own cross to their execution site and it also showed a sign of submission to Rome.  Jesus' words were a challenge for those that wanted to go deeper and a warning for those that were not ready to following Jesus. 

v. 28-33 "Suppose a king is about to go to war against another king.  Will he not first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand?"  The decision to follow Jesus is not one to take lightly.  The cost is too great to not think it out. 

v. 34-35 "Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again?   It is fit neither for the soil nor for the manure pile; it is thrown out.  He who has ears to hear, let him hear." 

"Salt can lose it's flavor if it gets wet and dries.  We are not to blend into the world, if we lose our saltiness then we become worthless.  We are to preserve the good in the world, keep it from spoiling and bring new flavor to this life.  This requires careful planning, willing sacrifice and unswerving commitment to Christ's kingdom."   NIV notes

Just because we have ears doesn't mean we can truly hear. 

Luke 14:1-14

v. 1-6 Jesus was invited to the home of one of the Pharisees, they were watching Him and waiting to trip Him up.  There was a man suffering from dropsy, which was an abnormal accumulation of fluid in bodily tissues and cavities.  Jesus asked "Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath or not?"  But they remained silent so Jesus healed the man.  Then He asked "If one of you has a son or an ox that falls into a well on the Sabbath day, will you not immediately pull him out?  And they had nothing to say."  These men were confronted with a question that they did not have an answer to.  Many make excessive rules that seem to not be able to fit every circumstance and then they are speechless.  I believe that the Pharisees were so out of touch with the general public and their needs that they were silent on this matter. 

Jesus healed seven times on the Sabbath:

Mark 1:21-28     Jesus sends a demon out of a man
Mark 1:29-31     Jesus heals Peter's mother-in-law
John 5:1-18        Jesus heals a lame man by the Pool Bethesda
Mark 3:1-6         Jesus heals a man with a shriveled hand
Luke 13:10-17   Jesus restores a crippled woman
Luke 14:1-6       Jesus heals a man with dropsy
John 9:1-16        Jesus heals a man born blind                                                                        NIV notes

God would not have been pleased if Jesus had ignored those people's needs just because of man made laws.  Our laws have no jurisdiction over God.

People may wonder why Jesus was still around the Pharisees when He had denounced them so many times.  Jesus was not afraid of men or their false thinking of elevated power.  Sometimes we are around people that we do not like and do not have our best interest at heart.  We are not to fear anyone or anything if we have God.  Some might get disheartened that Jesus did not add daughter to the list of things that fell into the well.  Jesus was a champion of women, but during those times and at that place it would not have had the same impact that a son or animal would have had to those Pharisees.  Don't worry ladies, we are highly valued in the Kingdom!

v. 7-14 Jesus teaches about seeking humility.  When He noticed how the guests picked the places of honor at the table, He told them this parable: "When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for a person more distinguished than you may have been invited.  If so, the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, 'Give this man your seat.'  Then, humiliated, you will have to take the least important place.  But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, 'Friend, move up to a better place.'  Then you will be honored in the presence of all your fellow guests.  For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." 

In our society people are constantly trying to get ahead and be seen.  Whether it is social status, house, car or group of friends, don't let your position be anything but humble.  Jesus is telling us how we should see things differently.  Over and over again Jesus keeps pointing out that the humble will be exalted and those that exalt themselves will be humbled.  He spoke the truth and the most important parts were emphasized.  Should we not pay extra attention to the things He said repeatedly?  Jesus said we should not be exclusive about whom we invite.  I don't think that in today's world you can easily invite people off the street into your home, but I do think that we will not grow much if we don't venture outside our safe circle of friends.  Is there someone new at church or work that you could invite to lunch or to grab a cup of coffee? 

Humility is not putting your self down, that in it self is sin since there is such a focus inward and you are withholding it from God to handle it yourself.    We also need to see the gifts we are given and use them.  I like to look up the definition of words to gain a clearer understand of their depth.  The definition of humble is: not proud or arrogant; modest, having a feeling of insignificance, inferiority, subservience, low in rank, importance, status, courteously respectful, to make meek: to humble one's heart.

"Humility is not self-degradation; it is realistic assessment and commitment to serve.  Truly humble people compare themselves only with Christ, realize their sinfulness and know their limitations."  NIV notes

Luke 13:10-35

Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues and there was a crippled woman there.  Jesus said to her "Woman, you are set free from your infirmity.  Then He put His hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and praised God."  The religious leaders were indignant that Jesus would heal someone on the Sabbath.  The Jewish leaders had so many rules for what you could not do on the Sabbath that they were missing an amazing opportunity to see a miracle.  The leaders must have thought that healing was considered work and you were not allowed to do you job on the Sabbath.  The religious leaders told the people to come and get healed on the other six days, not on the Sabbath.  Jesus replied "You hypocrites!  Doesn't each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or donkey from the stall and lead it out to give it water?  Then should not this woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan had kept bound for eighteen long years, be set free on the Sabbath day from what bound her?"  The leaders took care of their animals and yet they could not rejoice when this woman was healed from something she had for 18 years.

v. 18-20 Then Jesus said "What is the kingdom of God like?  What shall I compare it to?  It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his garden.  It grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air perched in its branches.  It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into a large amount of flour until it worked all through the dough."  The people were thinking Jesus would come and fight Rome to free all God's people, but Jesus made it clear that was not the case.  Mustard seeds are tiny.  Jesus was saying that the Kingdom would start out quietly and what would appear to be insignificant at the time.  Also, the yeast that gets kneaded into the dough.  A small amount of yeast gets forced into the dough with time and pressure and that yeast will double the size of the bread.  The Kingdom would eventually start to grow outward and spread all over the world. 

v. 22-30 Jesus was heading towards Jerusalem.  Someone asked "Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?"  He said to them, "Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to.  Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, 'Sir, open the door to us.'  But he will answer, 'I don't know you or where you come from.'  They will say 'We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.'  There will be weeping there, and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you yourselves thrown out.  People will come from east and west and north and south, and will take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God.  Indeed there are those who are last who will be first, and first who will be last."  Jesus was heading towards His death and He still preached.  No matter what we face we are to stay steadfast and follow God.  To enter through the narrow gate takes a desire to know Jesus and we have to follow Him no matter the cost.  We should not put off getting to know Him.  The door will not stay open forever.  One of the saddest things in the entire bible to me is when Jesus says "I never knew you."  Do not profess to others that you are a follower, but are deceptive and evil on the inside.  Many people know things about God, but who will acknowledge their sins and accept forgiveness?  I think that when we get to Heaven it will be a big surprise at who is there and who isn't.  God's kingdom will include people from all around the world.  Israel's rejection of Jesus as the Messiah was not going to stop God from His plan.  I believe that Israel is not just the Jews who believe in Jesus (there are many), but all who follow Him.  I also believe that the Jewish people have a special place in God's heart and I look at them as my brothers and sisters.  I have heard people say that the Jews are irrelevant because of Christianity, beware in that thinking which will lead you down a prideful road.  Can you imagine some of the worst people in history being in heaven or some of the most respected preachers not being there?  Some of the world's forgotten people are great in the eyes of God.  How do your values compare to what the bible says to value? 

v. 31-35 Some of the Pharisees told Jesus to leave since Herod wanted to kill Him.  Jesus told them that He would continue to drive out demons and heal people and the third day He would reach His goal.  "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!  Look your house is left to you desolate."  The Pharisees were not concerned for Jesus' safety, they were trying to trap Him themselves.  Jerusalem had rejected many prophets and would reject the greatest one of all. 

Luke 13:1-9

Pilate had killed some Galileans and a tower had fallen on others and had killed them.  Pilate might have killed those people because he saw them as a threat against Rome.  The workers that got killed from the tower falling on them, maybe the Pharisees thought that they deserved what they got.  Jesus dismissed the idea that accidents or human cruelties were God's judgment for especially wicked sinners.  If that were the case then all the "bad" people in the world would not stay in power or live long lives.  Your righteousness is not determined by how you die or if you get a miraculous healing.  We all will die at some point.  Jesus did not share why some people live and others die tragically.  So I believe we are not supposed to try to figure it out because we never will.  Jesus decided to take that time to focus on our need to repent.  v. 3,5 "I tell you, no!  But unless you repent, you too will all perish."  Jesus was focused on the Kingdom more than anything else because that is the most important thing of all.  Jesus repeated Himself twice.  Anytime He says something more than once I think we should really pay attention. 

v. 6-9 "A man had a fig tree, planted in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it, but did not find any.  So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, 'For three years now I've been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven't found any.  Cut it down!  Why should it use up the soil?'  Sir, the man replied, 'leave it alone for one more year, and I'll dig around it and fertilize it.  If it bears fruit next year, fine!  If not, then cut it down.'"  In the Old Testament fruit trees often represented Godly living.  God is the gardener and He is tending His garden.  Why would He want to keep a tree that is taking up room and soil from another tree that might produce mass amounts of fruit?  God takes tender care of his trees and makes sure they have plenty of light to keep the darkness at bay, He gives the trees living water so they will not wilt, and makes sure that the soil is healthy and is full of what the tree needs.  The enemy tries to pull out the tree by it's roots as if it were a weed because to him we are weeds.  The devil knows that if he can destroy us under the surface at the root then what shows above ground will just be rotten and lifeless.  He will use whatever means necessary to destroy us.

Are we producing good fruit or are we just taking up space?

Luke 12:49-59

v. 49-53 Jesus said "I have come to bring fire on earth, and how I wish it were already kindled!  But I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is completed!  Do you think I came to bring peace on earth?  No, I tell you, but division.  From now on there will be five in one family divided against each other, three against two and two against three.  They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law." 

He knew what He had to do on the cross and it sounds like He was ready for that part to be over with.  The physical pain He knew would be great, but I think what was even worse was the spirit separation from God.  Jesus said that He had a baptism to undergo which He was already baptized by John in the river earlier.  It almost sounds like that we undergo a second baptism when we die to go be with Jesus since His second baptism was Him dying.  We will undergo a massive change leaving here.  Maybe I'm wrong, but I never really thought about that before.  I love reading the bible because even if I have read something many times before I am amazed how things jump off the page for what I am dealing with in the present moment.  It's as if it was hidden before and has now been unlocked for me to see. 

I did not go to church much growing up, but I never heard that Jesus was hear for anything else other than peace.  Jesus said He came for division.  I believe since this is so huge that it will divide people across the world and even in their own homes.  The battle lines are drawn we just have to figure out which side we are on.  Jesus expects a decision to be made for each person so that will cause conflict if all in one family do not believe in the same thing.  There is no middle ground.  In our world it is pushed to think that there is no one right way for anything.  Lukewarm equals acceptable.  God's economy is different from ours.  Are you willing to risk family and friends approval in order to follow God?  Many have been separated from everyone they know, but now they have a new eternal family that is a comfort.  Every person who follows Jesus is part of one big family.  It does not matter what you look like or where you are.  You are not alone in this world.  When you are a world outcast then you might be doing something right in the Kingdom.  There are many that pray daily for all believers.  So just think, somewhere in the world someone is praying for you today!  It's that wonderful?

Did you ladies realize at the end of those verses the uneven amount of women against women compared to the guys?  Not only mothers and daughters against each other, but MIL and DIL against each other.  Jesus expects division based on our ability to choose whether we will follow Him.  The enemy creates division to keep anyone from choosing Jesus.  He knows that is we keep busy fighting we will never really grow in God. 

v. 54-59 Jesus told the people that they were good at forecasting the weather, but failed at interpreting the present time.  "Why don't you judge for yourselves what is right?  As you are going with your adversary to the magistrate, try hard to be reconciled to him on the way, or he may drag you off to the judge, and the judge turn you over to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison.  I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny."

For the longest time most of the world's occupation had been farmers.  They knew to keep an eye on the weather because their job depended on it.  Yet, they could not see the most important thing in all of history.  Today we have all this knowledge and yet many do not choose to follow God.  There are an insane amount of law suits that could be avoided if people chose a different path.  Don't get me wrong, there are real reasons for some lawsuits.  Although some seem completely out of control.  The amount of anger in society is scary.  The world seems to be ok with it, it will only get worse the closer we get to the second coming of Jesus.  The act of forgiving is as if it were in a fairy tale.  Something people did long ago.  It is the key to open the door to healing.

Luke 12:35-48

v. 35-39 Jesus warns about His second coming.  "Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning.  It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the second or third watch of the night.  You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect Him."  Last year was a year full of talk about the end of the world.  I remember a preacher in the US who said he knew when the end was, that day came and went just like any other.  The bible says that not even the angels know the day or hour when Jesus will come so why do we think we know?  Answer: the devil.  The problem with setting a date is that after that day then you look just like one of those crazy Christians and that is not good for the Kingdom.  The point of this passage is to be ready at all times.  We do not know when the end will come, but we are to be prepared all the same. 

This reminds me of the story of the grasshopper and the ant.  The ants were getting ready for winter by storing up food in the fall and the grasshopper was just had fun not worrying about anything.  When winter came the grasshopper begged the ant for food and was denied because they had to make sure all the ants were going to have food for the long winter.  The grasshopper missed out because he chose not to be ready for what was going to happen anyway. 

People who have a true love of God are willing to do the following: be sincere, ready to witness, are trusting, very generous, and diligent.  We are to do these things now, there is no need to wait.  Much of our reward will be in heaven.  If it were instantly given our reward here on earth then don't you think it would go straight to our heads?  We would start to think it was all us and slowly push God aside. 

v. 41-48 The disciples asked if the parable was only for them.  Jesus responded "Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their food allowance at the proper time?  It will be good for that servant whom the master finds doing so when he returns.  But suppose the servant says to himself, 'My master is taking a long time in coming,' and he then begins to beat the menservants and maidservants and to eat and drink and get drunk.  The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of.  He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers.  From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked." 

No matter what you are in charge of whether it is a large company or a home, we are held accountable for our actions.  The more responsibility we have the more that is expected of us.  Especially those who are supposed to be representing God.  This blog and my writing are my ministry, I will be held accountable for what I say and I take that very serious.  I want to share God's word around the world so I better be doing a good job of sharing the bible.  Don't think that just because you aren't in a position at a church that you don't have a ministry.  God has placed people in every job imaginable around the world and they have a ministry.  What ever you are passionate about is probably your ministry.  You may love to bake and share food with people, volunteer your time at an animal shelter, rock babies who have no mom or dad, teach your children about the bible, etc.  You see we all have been given gifts and responsibility that we are supposed to be using right now. 

"God will not hold us responsible for gifts that He did not give us." NIV notes 
Although we will be held accountable for the things we should have done while here.  No position is too small in the kingdom, all are equally important.  Big time mega preacher is the same as the cleaning lady at the office.  Because if you are representing God correctly to those around you then you are doing exactly what God wants you to do.

I know that the sentence "He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers" seems harsh yet there is a battle going on all around us.  This is the longest war in history that will one day be resolved.  I know that if you do not know much about the bible then things sometimes come across as harsh.  God is love, however this has eternal consequences that God takes very seriously.  The entire bible is full of people just like us and the choices they have made.  It shows the rewards or consequences based on their decisions.  God wants us to choose Him because the alternative is pure darkness and pain.  After suffering for many years at the hand of the enemy I would not want to choose to join him for all of eternity.

Luke 12:22-34

I have not posted due to being sick so I'm on the road to recovery and I am glad to be back. 

v. 22-28 Jesus said to the disciples "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear.  Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes.  Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them.  And how much more valuable you are than birds!  Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?  Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?  Consider how the lilies grow.  They do not labor or spin.  Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.  If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith." 

I think this is one of the biggest problems that block our faith.  If you give over to worry then you are not giving it to God to handle.  Yes we are supposed to be concerned about matters here on earth, but to worry and stress over things especially those that we have no control over is pointless.  I believe worry is a sin, anything out of balance can be a sin.  By now we know that stress can cause great damage to our bodies yet we keep doing it.  I have seen so many that worry until they are physically sick.  I also worry, but I try to give it to God when I know that I've been thinking about something too long, realize that I have no control over the situation and really see that I am not letting my Father take care of me.  Jesus tells us that we can not add a single hour to our life by worrying, I believe there are many that take hours away due to the stress they put their minds through.  Don't let the cares of this world weigh you down.  The devil knows that if all your attention is on worry then none of it will be on God. 

How to overcome worry:

• Simple trust in God, this is shown by praying instead of worrying
• Your perspective on your problems and how they match up to God's kingdom
• A support team, surround yourself with other people who will pray for you and not join in on your worry party.

v. 31 "But seek His kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.  Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.  Sell your possessions and give to the poor.  Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

Do you give God every part of your life or do you keep certain things from Him?  If there is anything you are hiding from Him I pray that you will give it over to Him.  Many want God in their lives yet will keep areas off limits to Him.  He wants to be involved in every area of your life especially the deep dark parts that you don't want anyone to see.  When you release everything to Him it takes it off your shoulders and you feel free.  He does not criticize, demean or make fun of you.  He will show you love, peace and acceptance that the world would never give you. 

I think for most people God doesn't want you to sell everything you own to give to the poor because then how would you be able to help others after that?  I believe helping others is a life long duty that Christians are supposed to do to honor God.  Do you use your money wisely?  Are you willing to give more than just what is asked at the Christmas offering at church?  The Barna Group did a study in 2008 that said that 24% of Evangelicals in the US tithed which was the highest group in that study.  I am not surprised, our country is so ridiculously wealthy and only 1 out of 4 gives back to the church.  That was the same time as our economic crash in the US so the percentage probably dropped after that study.  Can you imagine what we could do if every Christian tithed?  I challenge all of us to give back to the church, charity or someone in need.  If 10% is not an option, then give what you can.  Have you thought of doing any of these: paying for someone's food in the drive-thru line behind you, taking a dinner to someone who has had surgery, dropping off food to your local food bank.  Don't worry that the money will be misused.  Once it leaves you and is given to another you are not responsible for the outcome.  If you give with good intentions, He knows.  I think God is perfectly capable of taking care of those that misrepresent Him for their own gain. 

Growing up my mom would tithe and when my dad did not want to she would give from their total income from her paycheck.  That made for not much take home pay for her, but I have seen God do amazing things because she made a point to give back to Him all those years.  God took care of her when dad died and she was able to sell her house in 2008 in only seven weeks.  The house down the street that was similar took several years to sell.  Back then the market was not that great, but God can amazing things if only we will believe and have faith.

Some of my favorite quotes from - Martin Luther King Jr.

“Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred.”

“The time is always right to do what is right.”

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that.”

"I can never be what I ought to be until you are what you ought to be. This is the way our world is made. No individual or nation can stand out boasting of being independent, we are interdependent."
“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.”

“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands in times of challenge and controversy. The true neighbor will risk his position, his prestige, and even his life for the welfare of others. In dangerous valleys and hazardous pathways, he will lift some bruised and beaten brother to a higher and more noble life.”

“A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual death.”

“Freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed.”
“This is the great new problem of mankind. We have inherited a large house, a great ‘world house’ in which we have to live together– black and white, Easterner and Westerner, Gentile and Jew, Catholic and Protestant, Muslim and Hindu– a family unduly separated in ideas, culture and interest, who, because we can never again live apart, must learn somehow to live with each other in peace.”

“The past is prophetic in that it asserts loudly that wars are poor chisels for carving out peaceful tomorrows.”

Luke 12:13-21

v. 13-21 Someone asked Jesus to divide the inheritance between him and his brother.  Jesus gave this warning "Watch out!  Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions."  Jesus goes on to tell a parable of a rich man who produced a good crop.  He thought to himself  "I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store up all my grain and my goods.  You (saying to himself) have plenty of good things laid up for many years.  Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry."  Then God said, "You fool!  This very night your life will be demanded from you.  Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?"  Jesus says "This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God." 

In the United States our society is geared toward having it all and having as much as possible no matter the cost.  The world's value system is not in line with the bible.  We are to be on guard for the lure of money.  Advertisers spend millions trying to convince us that we need things that we really don't need at all.  People buy things thinking that it will fill a need in their life.  When they get it home it is often another matter.  It is good to plan ahead, but there is a difference in that and trying to store up as much as you can get your hands on.  How do you respond to the constant pressure to buy?

This rich man was wasteful.  His barns were not big enough so he wanted to tear them down and build bigger ones.  Sometimes when I hear the ridiculous amount of money that rich people spend on things it makes me sad.  There are children in our own country that are going without a meal tonight, yet someone can spend $20,000 on a birthday party for their child.  Some want to look good to their friends or neighbors.  Having a huge house, new cars, designer brands, etc.  Most of the time people don't really care what you have.  If they do, then why would you want to impress someone like that in the first place?  I have heard that many millionaires are very thrifty.  Warren Buffet still lives in the same house that he has had for decades and it's not a mansion.  That is a man who is smart with his money and is determined to make wise decisions and not waste it.  Bill Gates walked away from his job at Microsoft to run a charity.  I think many thought he was crazy to leave that job for charity work.  I have read that the Gates have endowed over $21 billion to the Foundation that Bill and his wife started. 

Don't get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with having things.  I don't feel jealous when I see giant homes I just think I would not want to clean one.  Yes, I realize that they probably have people to come in to clean them.  That is just very foreign to me.  We live in a very rich county in Tennessee, where singers and actors live.  There are some unbelievable houses here that seem more like a museum than a home.  I do not know how much these people give to charities, but it makes me think not enough.  I know that seems judgmental, but I have no ill will towards the rich.  I hope that if you can afford a house priced at $5,000,000 then I also hope that you are giving a LARGE sum to those less fortunate.  Not just a few hundred a year at a charity event and spending thousands on clothes and shoes for that same event.  I think that our society feeds off of the desires of the wealthy and forgets about the needy.  There is a reason why we are to tithe. 

Is the money you spend out of proportion to the amount you give back to God? 

Quote - Francis de Sales

"Never be in a hurry; do everything quietly and in a calm spirit.  Do not lose your inner peace for anything whatsoever, even if your whole world seems upset."

Song - The Proof of Your Love

They rocked "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" a few weeks back.  This is one on my favorite songs.  The words are a "soul check."  Not just a great song, one that has depths waiting to be looked at, if only we will choose to do so. 

The Proof of Your Love by For King & Country

If I sing but don't have love
I waste my breathe with every song
I bring, an empty voice
A hollow noise

If I speak with a silver tongue
Convince a crowd but don't have love
I leave a bitter taste
With every word I say

(Chorus)
So let my life be the proof
The proof of Your love
Let my love look like You
And what You're made of
How you lived, how You died
Love is sacrifice
So let my life be the proof
The proof of Your love

If I give to a needy soul
But don't have love then who is poor
It seems all the poverty
Is found in me

Chorus

Ooh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
When it's all said and done
Ooh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
When we sing our final song

Only love remains
Only love remains

(Some version's don't have this part)
If I speak with human eloquence and angelic ecstasy but don't love, I'm nothing but the creaking of a rusty gate. If I speak God's Word with power, revealing all his mysteries and making everything plain as day, and if I have faith that says to a mountain, "Jump," and it jumps, but I don't love, I'm nothing. If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don't love, I've gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I'm bankrupt without love. (1 Corinthians 13:1-7, The Message)

Chorus

To hear a sample go to: http://www.amazon.com/The-Proof-Of-Your-Love/dp/B0078VB774/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1376445083&s=dmusic&sr=1-1

Luke 12:1-12

v. 1-2 "Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.  There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known."  Jesus told this to the disciples.  There are those who appear to be Christians, yet speak and act like they have no love in their hearts.  When yeast is mixed into the bread dough it is all throughout the dough.  It can not be separated after being mixed.  Beware that you do not let others incorporate you into the world. 

Hypocrisy is:

• knowing the truth but not obeying it
• living a self-serving life
• reduces faith to rigid rules
• outward conformity without inner reality

NIV notes

You could be someone who tithes, but are rude to a waiter in a restaurant.  We are to follow what Jesus does since He is our example.  If He was right next to you, would you act differently?  Since the Holy Spirit is in those who believe He is in fact right next to you.  Many people choose to stay away from God because of the "Christians" they have encountered.  Be kind and show compassion so they can see that no all Christians are the same.  On the other hand we should not worry about those who think we are hypocrites.  If you know your heart is right then don't concern yourself with trying to defend yourself.  The enemy is trying to keep other from entering the kingdom. 

v. 4-5 Do not fear man because after death they can do no harm.  We are to fear God because He is the one who has the ability to alter our eternal place.  Many fear what men can do instead of the creator of everything.

v. 8-9 "I tell you, whoever acknowledges Me before men, the Son of Man will also acknowledge him before the angels of God.  But he who disowns Me before men will be disowned before the angels of God."  Such a simple statement, you either accept Him or disown Him.  Whatever you choose to do will also be done to you. 

Do you do any of these:

• hope no one would think you are a Christian
• decide not to speak up for what is right
• are silent about our relationship with God
• blend into society
• accept our culture's non-Christian values

NIV notes

What we should be doing:

• live moral, upright Christ-honoring lives
• look for opportunities to share our faith with others
• help others in need
• take a stand for justice
• love others
• acknowledge our loyalty to Christ
• use our lives and resources to carry out His desires rather than our own

NIV notes

v. 10 "And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven."  This one has confused me for awhile.  What is seems like to me is that those that speak against Jesus can be forgiven, yet those that blaspheme against the Holy Spirit will not ever be forgiven.  Blaspheme means: to speak impiously or irreverently of (God or sacred things), to speak evil of, slander, to show contempt or disrespect for (God, a divine being, or sacred things), to utter profanities, curses, or impious expressions.  I believe the demons who do this will never be forgiven.  I believe there are few people that fall into this category.  Anyone who fears that having committed it shows, by his or her way very concerned, that they have not sinned in this way. 

v. 11-12 Do not worry about what you will say to defend God or your beliefs.  Pray that the Holy Spirit guides you to what to say.  Sometimes Jesus said nothing to defend Himself.  Not all times are we supposed to argue with others.  The truth does not need to be defended, it just is. 

Quote - Desmond Tutu

"Do your little bit of good where you are. It's those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world."

Photo - Flame Nebula

 

The Flame Nebula

The Flame Nebula sits on the eastern hip of Orion the Hunter, a constellation most easily visible in the northern hemisphere during winter evenings. This image shows a vast cloud of gas and dust where new stars are being born.  The Flame Nebula is the brightest and largest in the image. It is lit by a star inside it that is 20 times the mass of the sun and would be as bright to our eyes as the other stars in Orion's belt if it weren't for all the surrounding dust, which makes it appear 4 billion times dimmer than it actually is.

I am amazed at the images that NASA takes.  Sure there is technical things like above.  What I see is a beautiful image that God has made.  It looks as if it's a guardian angel reaching out to someone.  I love to see the images that are in space.  They have been there for all time yet we only get to see them now due to technology.  Just like there is as spirit realm that we can not see unless He gives us the ability to truly see it.  We are so small indeed.  Makes me think that the cares and concerns I have are not at big as I think them to be.

http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/imagegallery/iotd5.html

Luke 11:29-54

v. 29-30 Jesus warns against unbelief.  He said "This is a wicked generation.  It asks for a miraculous sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah."  I can only imagine He would say the same thing to us today as He did back then.  We love to hear of miracles yet God does not use them the most.  I believe that He uses people all over the world to do His work.  Jonah went to preach in Nineveh after a slight detour of being in a large fish for three days.  He decided it would be best to go and tell the people about God so they could repent.  It is amazing to me when people get so excited to see Jesus in a piece of toast or on a water tower, yet are they that excited to repent? 

v. 31-32 Jesus said "The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them; for she came from the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon's wisdom, and now one greater than Solomon is here.  The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now one greater than Jonah is here."  The Queen of the South and the Ninevites turned to God with far less evidence than Jesus was giving the people of that time period.  Today we have access to the bible and know the stories and the history so we have much more information than they did back then.  Our response should be even greater because of it. 

v. 33-36 "No one lights a lamp and puts it in a place where it will be hidden or under a bowl.  Instead he puts it on it's stand so that those who come in may see the light.  Your eye is the lamp of your body.  When your eyes are good, your whole body also is full of light.  But when they are bad, your body also is full of darkness."  The lamp is Jesus, the eye is spiritual understanding and insight.  If you have a hard time seeing God at work in the world, check your vision.  Is there anything blinding you?  We are to be lights for all the world to see.  Unfortunately many Christians are dim most of the time.

v. 37-41 Jesus was invited to a Pharisee's house to eat.  He did not wash His hands first before sitting down, they were surprised.  Jesus said "You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness.  Did not the one who made the outside make the inside also?  Give what is inside the dish to the poor and everything will be clean for you."  They did not wash there hands because of health reasons.  They did so as a symbol of washing away anything that was unclean.  The Pharisees had everyone do this which was originally meant only for the priests.  They thought themselves clean because of all their rules, but they did not care for the poor and have hearts for God.  Your generosity reveals how you much purity is in your heart.

v. 42 Jesus is warning the leaders that their hearts have become cold.  The meaning of woe is grievous distress, affliction, distress or trouble.  Here Jesus says it five times in the section.  How important do you think we should pay attention to this section as well?  "Woe, to you Pharisee's, because you give God a tenth of your mint, rue and all other kinds of garden herbs, but you neglect justice and the love of God.  You should have practiced the latter without leaving the former undone."  Don't think just because you give to your church that your done and have to do no more.  If there is a need then we are supposed to fill it, we do not need to go and pray and wait to receive a sign before we help others.  Tithing is important, but do not stop there. 

v. 43 "Woe, to you Pharisee's, because you love the most important seats in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplace."  Are you the type of person that must have the closest parking spot or the best chair at dinner?  My son always likes to be the first to get on the school bus.  The kids take turns and when there are other kids waiting for the school bus I like them to let them go on first sometimes.  If you are always thinking of your self then that is all the reward you will get, but if you place yourself last then you will get your reward in heaven.  How much better is that!

v. 44-46 "Woe to you, because you are like unmarked graves, which men walk over without knowing it.  Woe to you, because you load people down with burdens they can hardly carry, and you yourselves will not lift one finger to help them."  The Old Testament said that a person who touched a grave was unclean.  Jesus said they were making others unclean by their spiritual rottenness.  They corrupted everyone who came into contact with them.  The burdens were man made laws added to God's laws.  They added to the commandment - Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.  They added how far a person could walk, which kinds of knots could be tied, and how much weight could be carried.  Healing a person was unlawful, but rescuing a trapped animal was ok.  How insane is that! 

v. 50 "This generation will be held responsible for the blood of all the prophets that has been shed since the beginning of the world."  The people were rejecting the Messiah himself so that is why they were held accountable for all the blood shed from the beginning until then. 

v. 52 "Woe to you experts in the law, because you have taken away the key to knowledge.  You yourselves have not entered, and you have hindered those who are entering."  They gave a legalistic view of scripture to the people and added their own rules.  I have read that there were more than 600 rules that they made up.  That sounds so stressful having to keep up with all the rules.  They made God's truth hard to understand and put into practice.  They had closed the door of God's love and thrown away the key.  Those in a position of influence need to beware, you will be judged for your actions of keeping others away from God.  I know that some other beliefs have you going through religious leaders to get to God.  When you are a Christian it is a personal one on one relationship with God.  You do not have to go through anyone else to get to Him.  We need church leadership in our lives but they are not going to be beside us on Judgment Day.  We stand on our actions, our thoughts, our beliefs, what we did and nothing else.

Jesus addressed these problems:

• they washed the outsides, not the insides
• remembered to give a tenth, but neglected justice
• loved praise and attention
• loaded the people down with burdensome demands
• would not accept the truth about Jesus
• prevented others from seeing the truth 

NIV notes

We are to focus on the inner condition of the heart, not on the outward appearances.  People may fool others to thinking they are holy, but only God can see the inner life and He will judge based on this alone. 

Luke 11:14-28

The Pharisees accused Jesus of driving out demons by the power of Beelzebub (prince of demons).  The Pharisees also drove out demons so they were in fact saying that they were also driving out demons from demonic power. 

v. 17 Jesus said "Any kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and a house divided against itself will fall.  If Satan is divided against himself, how can his kingdom stand?"  Why would Satan want to drive out his own demons?  He would not, there would be no profit in it if he did.  A house divided will also fall.  The divorce rate in America and probably around the world is that half of all marriages end in divorce.  Whether it is a kingdom, government, marriage or business they all will fall if they are divided and can not come to an agreement. 

v. 23 Jesus said "He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me, scatters."  There is no neutral ground here.  You are either for God or the devil.  I know that many would think that they are not believers but that they are not for the devil either.  For those that do not like this you must bring it up with Jesus, since He is the one who said it!  Since we know that God is the winning side (see Revelations).  Why would we want to be on the losing side?

v. 24-26 "When an evil spirit comes out of a man, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it.  Then it says, 'I will return to the house I left.'  When it arrives, it finds the house swept clean and put in order.  Then it goes and takes seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there.  And the final condition of that man is worse than the first."  The bible is full of stories of people doing this, they come to God then turn away.  Then when enemies were coming against them they came back to God.  It is not enough to be emptied of evil, we must be filled with the Holy Spirit and keep watch against the enemy.

When I was a teen I gave my life to Jesus.  No one ever mentioned that when this happened the devil would attack with such fierceness that it sent me adrift in an ocean of darkness for may years.  When you give your life to God beware for the devil is roaming the earth to seek someone to devour.  He knows that if he can get you right after you give your life over then it will be so much easier to pull you away.  Your roots are not set in solid ground yet at this point.  Do not let the devil in once you have turned to God, for he may over stay his welcome for decades to come. 

v. 27-28 A woman called out "blessed is the mother who gave you birth and nursed you."  Jesus responded "Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it."  The family line was extremely important in that time period.  There ancestors proved that they were part of God's chosen people.  A man's value came from his ancestors and a woman's value came from the sons she bore.  Jesus showed that was not the case anymore.  A person's obedience to God was more important than where they were on the family tree. 

Many here God's word, but how many truly obey Him? 

Luke 11:1-13

v. 2-4 The disciples asked Jesus how to pray.  The prayer in Matt. 6:9-13 and here in Luke 11:2-4 differ a bit.  This shows that there is not just one correct way to pray, although this is the guide line that we can follow. 
"Father, hallowed by your name, your kingdom come.
Give us each day our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.
And lead us not into temptation."

Father, first Jesus praises God and establishes His place as Father.  We are to come to God as a child.
If you do not recognize His Holiness then your prayers might just turn into a checklist as if it is nothing special. 
The next part is focused on today, not yesterday or tomorrow.  God gave the Israelites enough manna in the wilderness for that day.  What happened when they took more than they needed for that day?  It turned into rotten food.  He gives us what we need for today and no other.  We are to rely upon Him daily. 
Forgiveness - Something that is last on our list yet we want it first from God.  It is so important to forgive.  Would you like it if God held forgiveness from you like you hold forgiveness from others?  I can not stress enough how important this is.  I believe prayer if blocked if you have unforgiveness.  Matt. 5:24 "Leave your gift there in front of the altar.  First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift."
Last, God can keep us from temptation.  God will allow us to be tested, but we can pray for guidance and to be kept from many tempting situations.  He will give you a way out.  The Holy Spirit is here to help us pray.  If I feel the Holy Spirit leads me to pray for something then I pray it and I also believe it even if it doesn't seem to make sense or seems impossible. 

Even though we sin daily it is a comfort to know that we are encouraged to come before God and pray.  We do not always like the outcome, but He will never return void.  I do not believe in unanswered prayers.  I believe they are always answered.  Yes, it may take decades before you see it, but they are answered. 

v. 5-8 Jesus tells of a man that came to a friend's house late at night in search of some bread to feed some friends.  The man was persistent and bold so he received his request.  We are to be the same with God.  I don't think people are bold enough in their prayers.  Just in the last several years my prayers are getting bolder that ever. 

v. 9-13 "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.  For everyone that asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened."  We can ask for anything yet we might not get it if it's not in God's will.  Sure it would be great to win the lottery but it just may not be in His plans for you.  I believe these verses heavily lean toward our basic needs and things like wisdom, patience, etc; not material things.  It says that even though we make mistakes we can still give our children good things.  Then how much more will God give to those that ask Him!

Prayer is underestimated in our world.  There are some that think it's quaint or completely useless.  Prayer is more powerful than we know, it is part of our armor.  It is a weapon to be used in the battle against evil. 

What if we prayed boldly and had the faith to back it up?  He is waiting to work in our life, we only need to ask.  God works through people and circumstances.  How many angels sit waiting to get the call for work and no call comes?

Luke 10:38-42

This is not just for women, men can also have these traits.

v. 38-42 Jesus and the disciples went to the home of Mary and Martha.  Mary was sitting at Jesus' feet while Martha was busy getting everything ready.  Martha was distracted by everything she had to do.  Martha came up to Jesus and asked "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!"  Jesus answered "Martha, Martha you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed.  Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."

Our world is very busy.  I know many moms out there that say yes to every church, school or social event and then are stressed about making 5 dozen cupcakes the day of an event.  When Jesus has to say your name twice, really listen up.  Martha was a people pleaser, her to do list must have been a mile long.  Sometimes when you focus on the details you miss out on the most important one.  Please learn to say no to things that God is not wanting for you.  We are not called to do everything all the time.   Just think if we did everything then there is no room for others to step up and help.  God does not want us to say yes to everyone else, but no to spending time with Him.  There is nothing more important than that.  I am more of a Mary.  I believe Mary was one that looked at the flowers while walking by a field while Martha was too busy to notice.  She also probably didn't care too much for having a spotless house.  I make sure I spend time with God, some days all I get in are my prayers but most days I spend a good amount of time reading the bible and making notes.  Although, I tend to put off things like cleaning when I really should be doing something.  So I think we are to be a balance of both women.

You are the only one to make your schedule.

Mary was at Jesus' feet, not beside Him or sitting above Him.  We should readily come to His feet and dwell in His peace.  Sitting still we can grasp the full knowledge He is sharing with us, yet when we are busy there is no real time for this. 

"This posture benefits me when I think of what I was, what I am, what I must be, what my Lord is, and what He is to me"                                                                                            Spurgeon's Sermon Notes

"Oh, to be more with Jesus! This is true life.
Oh, to hear Jesus more!  This is true service.
Oh, to love Jesus more!  This is true treasure."
                                                                                                                         Spurgeon's Sermon Notes

"The greater the submission, the more grace.  If there be one hollow in the valley lower than another, there the waters gather."  Bishop Hall

Luke 10:25-37

v. 25-29 One of the religious leaders asked Jesus "What must I do to inherit eternal life?"  Jesus had him repeat what was written in the law.  We are to love God with all our heart, soul, strength, and mind.  We are also to love our neighbor.  The man asked "And who is my neighbor?" 

v. 30-35 Jesus tells the story of the good Samaritan.  "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers.  They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead.  A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side.  So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.  But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him.  He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine.  Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him.  The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper.  Look after him, he said, and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have." 

At any point the Samaritan could have stopped: he showed compassion by stopping, bandaged the man's wounds, pouring on oil and giving him wine, put him on his donkey and took him to an inn, the next day he gave the inn keeper coins to take care of the man while he was away, then he was going to come back and pay for any additional expenses that the inn keeper had for taking care of the man.  He went above and beyond what most of us would do.  Most of us do not have the time to do all of these.  I ask all of us, what do you have time to do?  There are many ways to help people with whatever time, money, and energy you have.  Do what you can and God can have others help as well.

This is a very familiar story for most people.  Looking deeper into each role in the story is very interesting.

To the religious leader asking the question............the wounded man was a subject to discuss.
To the robbers.........................................................the wounded man was someone to use & exploit.
To the religious man that walked by......................the wounded man was a problem to be avoided.
To the innkeeper.....................................................the wounded man was a customer to serve for a fee.
To the Samaritian...................................................the wounded man was a human being worth being cared for and loved.
To Jesus......................................................................all of them and all of us were worth dying for.
                                                                                                                                               NIV notes
Three principles of loving your neighbor:

• Lack of love is often easy to justify, even though it is never right
• Our neighbor is anyone of any race, creed, or social background who is in need
• Love means acting to meet the person's need.                                                            NIV notes

v. 36-37 Jesus asked the religious leader "Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?"  The man replied "The one who had mercy on him."  Did you notice that the leader could not even say the word Samaritan?  Since there was such hatred between the two groups, this is a strong example for us to love all no matter what. 

Being truly thankful

Thankfulness to God can become stagnant if you don't apply the Bible to your life.  If you don't start to change your problem areas with His resources you will be stuck for years or decades in the same rut.  Transform your thankfulness into action by taking an issue and digging into the Word, then move on to the next area.  Look at the Concordance in the back of the bible or biblegateway.com and type in what you are having problems with (anger, jealously, gossip, pride, etc.)  They don't have to be completely fixed just not consumed with your time and mind so you can move on to better things.  What we focus on determines our words, our actions and our path.

Luke 10:1-24

v. 2 Jesus told all the 72 disciples "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.  Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send our workers into His harvest field."  We are not only to spread the Good News we are to pray for others to do the same.  There is no unemployment in God's service.  There is work for everyone.  Every corner of the world needs workers. 

v. 3 "Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves"  We are to be extremely careful because we will meet opposition from many people.  The ones that are the closest can cause the most harm.  We are to be alert at all times and face enemies with love and compassion instead of aggression.

v. 8-9 "When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is set before you.  Heal the sick who are there and tell them, The kingdom of God is near you."  We are to be gracious to others and tell people about God to help heal their hearts.

v. 12-15 Jesus is giving warning to those who choose to turn away from Him.  He compares those towns to Sodom a very wicked town that God destroyed, but the towns that turn away from Jesus will suffer more that Sodom did.

v. 16 "He who listens to you listens to Me; he who rejects you rejects Me; but he who rejects Me rejects Him who sent Me."  We are not to take it personally that others don't want to follow God.  We are workers and the harvest is all around us. 

v. 17-20 The 72 disciples came back and said that the demons submitted to them.  Jesus gave a warning that pride would not get in their way.  "Do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven."  What ever you do on earth will not be as important as the fact that your name is written in the Book of Life.  No matter what gifts we are given, we need to remember who gave them to us. 

v. 21 Jesus said "I praise you Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children."  His truth is for all.  Many rewards on earth go to the elite, but in God's kingdom rewards are for all regardless of position or abilities. 

v. 22 The world can not truly see Jesus.  He reveals Himself to those who will heed the call. 

v. 24 Jesus said "For I tell you that many prophets and kings wanted to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it."  There are many unfortunately that are in the public eye that seem to be all noise and no substance.  We are to compare everything with God's word so we know who to be listening to in the first place.

Luke 9:28-62

v. 28-30 Jesus took some of the disciples up a mountain and Moses and Elijah appeared.  Moses represented the law and Elijah the prophets. 

v. 35 A voice from above said "This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to Him."  We should test all things we hear against the Word so that we know what is truth and not be led astray. 

v. 37 The next day they came down from the mountain.  I would think that after seeing what happened on the mountain they wouldn't want to come down.  When you are in the pure peace of God you do not want to leave for anything that this world has to offer.  Although if we stay on the mountain top we limit our ability to help others in the valley.  We need time for renewal but we always have to come back down. 

v. 38-41 The disciples tried to heal the boy and could not even with the power Jesus gave them.  Did they doubt that they could do it?  I don't know.  What I do know is that there are things we will never be able to do in this world that is why it is so important to turn toward God. 

v. 44-46 Right after Jesus told the disciples that He was going to be betrayed into the hands of men they started arguing which one of them is the greatest!  It seems like this entire time they were not listening to what Jesus had to say, they were only doing what most of us would do today. 

v. 47-48 Jesus took a child and had him stand next to Him and said "Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes Me; and whoever welcomes Me welcomes the one who sent Me.  For he who is least among you all-he is the greatest."  This is a world view 180.  They apparently needed a child like lesson.  Caring for others is a measure of our greatness in the Kingdom. 

v. 49-50 The disciples pointed out that someone not in their group was driving out demons in Jesus' name and that they tried to stop him, he is not one of us.  This must have been devastating to their pride.  The NIV notes say that 9 of the disciples had not been able to remove demons.  Here is this man doing what they could not and he wasn't even a disciple.  Do not let jealous take hold, it's roots go to the deepest parts and cling on for dear life.  There is no room for jealousy in God's kingdom.  Not all of us are gifted in the same areas even if we want to be.  God gave each of us a gift.  If you do not know yours yet you just haven't found it.   

v. 51-55 Jesus set out for Jerusalem and went to a Samaritan village and they rejected Him since He was on the way to Jerusalem.  The Jews and Samaritans hated each other.  Jewish travelers usually went out of their way to avoid Samaritan towns while Jesus just went right on through.  The disciples wanted to call down fire from heaven to destroy the town.  Jesus rebuked them and they just went to another town.  Jesus did not come to destroy, He came to bring life.  Judgment is for God alone.  When you are given a course of action, you have to move steadily toward your destination regardless of the hazards that you may encounter. 

v. 59-62 Jesus says to a man "Follow Me."  The man replied "Lord, first let me go and bury my father."  Right away there was an excuse.  Was it a good reason?  Worldly yes, Kingdom no.  Jesus responded "Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God."  This is one of the most interesting things for me in the bible.  When I was first learning about the bible things seemed so harsh including this one.  We only know one side of death and we grieve for loved ones which is only natural.  There is another side and how it pertains to the entire Kingdom I do no know but I believe that it is a small part on that side.  It is only the beginning of eternity.  Jesus says "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God."  Today we do not have to physically leave our home and families most of the time.  It is our choice to pick our priority while here on earth.  God wants 100%, what percentage will you offer Him?

Quote - Chad Beadles

"It is not the limitations of the potential we are created with that defines our success, it is the degree to which we insist upon achieving it."

Father of a boy who knew nothing about football, never had seen a game, has ADHD and is now an outstanding defensive lineman.

Luke 9:1-27

Jesus is sending out the disciples to preach the Kingdom of God, cure diseases and drive out demons.  He tells them that they are not to take anything with them so they have to rely on others. 

v. 5 Jesus says "If people do not welcome you, shake the dust off your feet when you leave their town, as a testimony against them" Pious Jews would do this after passing through Gentile cities to show their separation form Gentile practices.  If the disciples did this in a Jewish town it would show their separation from Jews who rejected the Messiah.  It also showed that they were not responsible for how people responded to their message.  If the message is rejected by all, we are not to blame if we presented it correctly.  We must move on to others who may be open to the Word.  Do not let people get you down.

v. 10-11 There was large crowd that had been listening to Jesus speak and it was getting late in the day.  They had followed Him and instead of Jesus telling them to go away He welcomed them.  How do we treat people who interrupt us; as a nuisance or a reason for our ministry/life?  This is something I need to work on.  The disciples suggested that the people go to the town to get food and lodging.  Jesus said "You give them something to eat."  That must have seemed like an unusual request.  They were supposed to feed at least 5,000 people with only 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish.    Jesus offered what appeared to be an impossible task.  They responded with what they did not have, food or money. 

v. 18-20 Jesus asked the disciples who the people thought He was.  Then he asked Peter "Who do you say I am?"  Jesus wants each of us to take a stand in our belief and say who He is. 

v. 23-24 "If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me.  For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for Me will save it."  To take up our cross today is to put aside selfish desires and follow Him.  If your present life is the most important to you, you will do anything to protect it.   

v. 26 "If anyone is ashamed of Me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him, when He comes in His glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels."  Ouch!  This seems harsh but is only the truth.  Those that deny Him now, He will deny in the end.

How do you respond to Jesus, with what you don't have or what you will do?  Don't let your lack of resources blind you from your potential. 

Luke 8:40-56

v. 43-48 Jesus was walking through a crowd and someone had touched him and He stopped.  The crowd was almost crushing Him so why did He stop?  He felt power leave Him.  Jesus asked "Who touched me?"  Jesus knew who had touched His cloak.  He wants us to come forward and not shy away.  The people all denied they had touched Him until a woman stepped up and fell to His feet.  The woman told why she had touched Jesus' cloak and said that she had been healed.  It is interesting to me that Jesus was in such a large crowd that many people must have bumped into Him, although no power left Him until someone with faith came to Him.  I don't think He will release His power until someone is brave enough to come up to Him and ask.  Jewish law prohibited men from being near women who were unclean.  This woman had been "unclean" for 12 years so she must have been alone for all those years.  Jesus showed that women did not make Him unclean and they were no longer second class citizens. 

v. 49-56 Jesus had been on His way to heal a young girl.  He delayed to find out who had touched His cloak.  We are to be faithful in our waiting even when it looks bleak.  Do not lose hope.  He was told the girl had died and told the father "Don't be afraid; just believe and she will be healed."  Jesus told the crowd that the girl was only sleeping, not dead and they laughed at Him.  Jesus spoke "My child, get up!" and her spirit returned and she at once stood up.  The father was brave to come to Jesus since he was the ruler of a synagogue and could have lost his position.  When tragedy occurs we then may fall away from our preconceived notions to find where we should have been the entire time.


"Jesus never disappoints those who wait for Him.  Jesus never refuses those who welcome Him.  Jesus is near us now: will you not open the doors of your hearts to receive Him?" Spurgeon's Sermon Notes

" When the inhabitants of Mentone desired a visit from the Prince of Savoy they made a way for him over the mountains, hills were tunneled and valleys bridged.   If we would really welcome the Lord Jesus, we must make a road for Him by abasing our pride, elevating our thoughts, removing our evil habits and preparing our hearts.  Never did a  soul cast up a highway for the Lord, and then fail to enjoy His company"  Spurgeon's Sermon Notes

Luke 8:26-39

v. 27 Jesus was met be a demon possessed man.  This man had been living in the tombs, he was an outcast. 
v. 28 When the man saw Jesus he cried out and fell to Jesus' feet.  The man said to Jesus "I beg you, don't torture me."  Torture to a demon must be love and compassion.
v. 29 The people in the town had put the man in chains, they probably feared him.  He kept breaking free and the demons made him go to solitary places.  The devil wants you to think that you are all alone and wants to get you away from anyone that could be of help.  When you feel like you are alone then it's easier for him to work. 
v. 30-31 Jesus asked what the man's name is and he said his name was Legion because many demons had gone into him.  Names were very important back then.  Now we name children what we think sounds good.  They had meaning behind each name.  A legion was a unit of 3,000-6,000 men in the Roman army.  The demons begged Jesus not to order them to go into the Abyss.  The Abyss is mentioned in Revelation 9:1 & 20:1-9.  The demons knew about the Abyss and did not want to go there.  Why did Jesus not send them there when He had the power?  I think that He knew what His mission was and it did not include banishing demons at that moment to the Abyss.  God's timing is impossible for us to understand. 
v. 32-33 The demons begged Jesus to put them into a herd of pigs and He did.  When that happened the pigs rushed over a steep bank and went into the lake and drowned. 
v. 35-39 The man was now at Jesus' feet, dressed and in his right mind.  The people were afraid to see such a massive change in this man that they were scared of what Jesus could do.  The man begged Jesus to go with Him but Jesus told him to "Return home and tell how much God has done for you."  Those people knew how the man was before Jesus came so they were amazed at his transformation. 

The worse off we are and the more profound transformation the more likely we are to affect other people so they see that it is not us but God that made the changes.