WHY COULDN'T THEY DO IT?

Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!” When Jesus saw that the people came running together, He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “Deaf and dumb spirit, I command you, come out of him and enter him no more!” Then the spirit cried out, convulsed him greatly, and came out of him. And he became as one dead, so that many said, “He is dead.” But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose. And when He had come into the house, His disciples asked Him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?” So He said to them, “This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting.” Mark 9:23-29 NKJV

Jesus and his three have just come down off the mountain after Jesus' transfiguration to find his other disciples unable to cast out a demon. Earlier in chapter 6 we see that Jesus had given them the power to do so and sent them out two-by-two. So what's the problem? Why couldn't they do it? Jesus gave them the answer in vs. 29. They had failed to prepare spiritually. They had not prayed or fasted. Jesus said there was no way to cast out that kind of demon without it.

They had done battle with Satan and had failed to accomplish what was needed because they could not tap into the power Jesus had given them. We are just like them. Literally every day we do battle with Satan. He is always out to get us, to make us fail, to get us distracted by life, to get us off track from accomplishing what God wants us to do. We go in and out of every day without spending time with God, without praying and without even fasting, if that's how he leads.

What are we thinking? Don't we know without God, we can do nothing. We have no power. Our abilitly to accomplish anything for God only comes from a special touch from him, and that only comes from spending time in his presense. Just sayin'...

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PERSISTENCE CAN GET YOU HEALED

Then they reached Jericho, and as Jesus and his disciples left town, a large crowd followed him. A blind beggar named Bartimaeus (son of Timaeus) was sitting beside the road. When Bartimaeus heard that Jesus of Nazareth was nearby, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” “Be quiet!” many of the people yelled at him. But he only shouted louder, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” When Jesus heard him, he stopped and said, “Tell him to come here.” So they called the blind man. “Cheer up,” they said. “Come on, he’s calling you!” Bartimaeus threw aside his coat, jumped up, and came to Jesus. “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked. “My rabbi,” the blind man said, “I want to see!” And Jesus said to him, “Go, for your faith has healed you.” Instantly the man could see, and he followed Jesus down the road. Mark 10:46-52 (NLT)

Are you easy to give up or do you keep on going until you get what you want? Are you a push over or are you pushy?

Bartimaeus was not going to give up. He had a problem and knew Jesus was close. He was blind. Unless someone was going to help him get to where Jesus was, he had one chance, and this was it. Not being able to see, he wasn't sure exactly where Jesus was. All he knew to do was start yelling as loud as he could. He was getting on their nerves but was not going to give up. He just yelled louder. Result? Because of his faith, he was healed...immediately.

We say we have faith. We know we can hope. But do we really believe? Do we really trust God enough? We need to be like Bartimaeus. Keep yelling OR keep asking God. I'm trusting God to heal little Luke Akerstrom. Brandi and Magnus did not ask for this. Luke was a picture of health with a promising future. I am trusting God to do something BIG. When they have exhausted all there is to be done in the medial field and there seems to be no hope, I am asking God to do a miracle. Brandi and Magnus have been faithful and continue to give God the glory. God will continue to receive the glory! Keep the faith, Brandi and Magnus.

Read about Luke's story HERE.

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READY OR NOT?

Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it. 1 Peter 3:15 (NLT)

I don't know how to share the gospel. What if they ask me something I don't know? I'll get embarrassed. I don't want to offend anyone. They don't want to hear that.

We can really come up with the excuses, can't we? I think my favorite excuse maker in the Bible is Moses. He said he wasn't a good speaker. God didn't really agree with him but he did give into Moses' request and allowed Aaron to go with him when he would see Pharoah.

I can understand Moses' reservation. With his background and connection to Pharoah and the fact that the entire nation of Israel was in slavery, it was a mighty big task to go before him and demand he let them go. Of course, I'm processing that with my very limited human way of thinking, mind you. Had Moses been doing it on his own, and I'm not talking about Aaron, the task would have been insurmountable, for sure. But Moses carried it out. God is always able.

So! 1 Peter 3:15 says we should always be ready. Always be ready to explain our hope. As Christians we certainly have reason to hope. Actually, because of what Christ did on the cross,we have more than hope. We have a guarantee because Christ defeated death. If we worship Christ as Lord, the guarantee is ours. Why wouldn't we be ready to share what Christ did for us? Why wouldn't we? Really!

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CONFIRMATION

Six days later Jesus took Peter, James, and John, and led them up a high mountain to be alone. As the men watched, Jesus’ appearance was transformed, and his clothes became dazzling white, far whiter than any earthly bleach could ever make them. Then Elijah and Moses appeared and began talking with Jesus. Peter exclaimed, “Rabbi, it’s wonderful for us to be here! Let’s make three shelters as memorials—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” He said this because he didn’t really know what else to say, for they were all terrified. Then a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my dearly loved Son. Listen to him.” Suddenly, when they looked around, Moses and Elijah were gone, and they saw only Jesus with them. Mark 9:2-8 NLT

The disciples have seen a great deal from Jesus and have heard him teach. They had followed him at his request. We see times of great faith and belief and a few verses later, we see ignorance and lack of understanding. Jesus often would choose his specail three to go with him. They saw and heard things the other disciples were not privy to. God must have thought they needed some reassurance. While on the mountain top there is a huge change in Jesus' outward appearance. We see in just a moment that it's a result of being in the presence of God. He acknowleges and confirms Jesus is who he said he is.

Note to self...I'm a believer. I trust Jesus with my eternity. I've received Him in my heart. He changed my life. Because He gave me the Holy Spirit to help me live out this Christian life, I have also been in the presence of God. They are part of each other. Just like Jesus, shouldn't there be an outward change as a result of what happened inside my heart?

If people around us cannot see evidence of a change in our lives, there is something greatly wrong with our experience. We need to be telling people about how our lives were changed but most importantly our lives should show evidence of the great change that happened inside. Just sayin'...

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WHO DO YOU SAY JESUS IS?

Jesus and his disciples left Galilee and went up to the villages near Caesarea Philippi. As they were walking along, he asked them, “Who do people say I am?” “Well,” they replied, “some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say you are one of the other prophets.” Then he asked them, “But who do you say I am?” Peter replied, “You are the Messiah.” Mark 8:27-29 NLT

Jesus asked the disciples who people were saying He was. There were a couple different opinions but Jesus went on to ask who THEY said he was. Jesus was really interested in the opinion of his disciples. Afterall, he'd been pouring his life into them. They'd seen him heal the sick, cast out demons and perform all kinds of miracles. They'd heard him teach. They'd had private conversations with him where he would explain his parables. Peter quickly responds and declares his faith in Jesus. "You are the Messiah (the one we've been waiting for)." Matt. 16:16 records his declaration a bit differently, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."

Just as there were different opinions about Jesus then, there are just as many varying opinions about Jesus today. BUT there is only one right answer, and Peter gave it. Jesus is THE Christ, the Son of the living God.

So who DO you say Jesus is? More importantly, what does your life say about who Jesus is? Talk is cheap. How you live your life, the choices you make, your priorities - that really speaks about who you say Jesus is. Just sayin'...

ORDINARY PEOPLE

Then Jesus went from village to village, teaching the people. And he called his twelve disciples together and began sending them out two by two, giving them authority to cast out evil spirits...So the disciples went out, telling everyone they met to repent of their sins and turn to God. And they cast out many demons and healed many sick people, anointing them with olive oil." Mark 6:6b-7, 12-13

We've been studying the book of Mark in our Sunday School class. We often take familiar verses for granted but each week I've taught there has been at least one thing that spoke to me specifically. I'll be writing about some of those.

In the verses above what was so special about these men, his chosen disciples? Nothing really. Think about the men mentioned in the Bible...fishermen, tent makers. What was special about Moses? He said he couldn't speak well but God used him to free the Israelites from Egypt. What was special about Noah? He'd never seen rain. Didn't know what God was talking about but he built the ark, just as God had instructed and saved his family to be the next generation after the flood. What was special about Joseph or David? They were nothing but shepherd boys. One was hated by his brothers but used to save his people when there was a famine. One became a king and was guilty of adultery and murder but was said to be "a man after God's own heart."

The only thing I can figure was special about these men AND the disciples was their willingness to be obedient to God's instructions. As soon as Jesus called the disciples, they obeyed. They immediately left and followed.

Is there anything special about you? If you're like me you would say "for sure NO!!" But God wants to use you and me...just ordinary people. One thing that is most definite is when God calls you, He will equip you with everything needed to accomplish His task. So...it's perfectly fine to be "just" ordinary. God likes it that way. Just sayin'...

Ever Been Under a Cloud?

I received my normal email yesterday from Stephanie Shott's blog. She was doing a little bit of cyber space PR, as she called it, and mentioning some of her favorite blogs. As I'm scrolling down the list, I SEE MY NAME. WHAT?!?!?! I haven't written anything in quite some time. (Maybe a hint from her, I think! Hmmm!) So I looked at my blog...my goodness, it's been a month already. Where does time go?

I am not a "writer." I do not have an overwhelming desire or passion to write so unless I'm in the mood or have something special to share, I just don't write. But lately, I've just been under a cloud. Actually, as I said once - or maybe Stephanie did - I've been carrying my cloud with me. (Sigh) I think possibly I've let my cloud go back in the sky, and I'm no longer carrying it with me but it seems to still be hovering. I know what triggered it, and I've moved on for the most part but stuff is still bothering me. Something else comes up here and there. I'm not depressed. It's not anything like that. I need to make a change, and I know what it is. I'm tired of feeling like this. Just sayin'...

I will leave this with you. I read it yesterday in my daily email devotional from Life Application..."Those who follow God live differently from unbelievers and, in the end, will have far greater treasures in heaven. What the unbeliever gets may last a lifetime, if he is lucky. What you get from following God last forever."

I've thought about that. Ya know, there are a lot of people who confess to follow God but it makes you wonder when you look at how they live their life. What are their passions? What do they pursue? Talk is cheap BUT God does reward those who are truly following Him. He knows the difference. He sees beyond the words. He knows how we REALLY live.

What about you? Is God convinced with your life?