I was reading through Mark 9 this morning and Jesus reminded me that "EVERYTHING is possible for him who believes". My response is the same as the boy's father, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief".
In 2008 I want to live with greater faith, deeper humilty and more reckless love! I want to see Jesus more clearly, love him more dearly and follow him more nearly - day by day!
Please join me in this journey. I need your encouragement and support :)
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Ohhhhh! Dear Lord, these things I pray!
You got it Andrew!
Following on from my Jan 1st reading in Daily Light:
Live your lives in a way that God would consider worthy! (1Thess 2:12)
"I am still not all that I should be, but I am focussing all my energies on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I strain to reach the end of the race and receive the prize for which God, through Jesus Christ, is calling us up to heaven!"
I am feeling enthusiastic! Decided that my first read through the gospels would be from The Message to allow me some wonderful gulps at the gospel straight off.
Just finished Mark.
Unless you accept God's kingdom in the simplicity of a child, you'll never get in.
Gemma - you have been a great encourager of us all in keeping things simple. I am trying to clear the fog of thinking to just get there - simply trusting, believing, acting on that belief.
Luke - the story of Zacharia and Elizabeth - struck me so fresh today. I see myself in them. Old, dogged believer. Not yet seen much in terms of miracles etc.
Gods timing! The impossible baby - John! Elisabeth taking herself off into seclusion - savouring the joy that she had given up as being lost to her!
Father - what encouragement!
Luke:9 vs23 Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to finding yourself, your true self.
It is so Jesus! So God - unfathomable! The abundant life - life to the full - is one where everything is surrendered, everything given up.
Holy Spirit - take my mind and turn my thinking upsidedown.
Luke 14 26 can be a troubling verse if you don't look deeper:
"If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children...etc"
The word hate in fact means LOVE LESS.
I feel that...
Following Jesus calls us to love him first and best by loving them more - in the way HE loves them: Forgiving (over and over again), not holding things against them, encouraging them etc etc...
What do you think?
Hi Rosaleen - Thank you for your encouraging words re 'simplicity' :)
I'm with you Rosaleen - "love less than..."
Yes - that is EXACTLY how I 'choose' to read that passage. I think the word hate is too strong and I cannot imagine our GOD of LOVE meaning hate but our cultural definition. It contradicts Love thy Neighbour, does it not?
What do others have think?
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