Luke 8:19-21

These verses seem a bit "wow"...Jesus seems to be ignoring His own family when it seems all they want to do is see Him and talk with Him.  However, if we research other gospels, we find this same passage in Mark.  In Mark's gospel, this passage comes some verses later after we read that His own family denied who Jesus claimed to be and were ready to capture Him and turn Him in as "crazy".  Jesus' own mother and brothers were turned against Him.  Literally everyone Jesus loved was against Him, yet He kept His eyes on His Father and pressed on to what He knew was right! 

In our Christian walk, we will find ourselves alone in our faith from time to time.  Everyone we might have thought was with us may one day turn away and we will find ourselves standing at a crossroads...do we continue in the faith or give up?  Now, Jesus' family eventually believed.  His two brothers went on and preached and spread the word of Christ to all those they came in contact with.  But, had Jesus crumbled to the knowledge that His own family was against Him, He would not have had the ministry that eventually converted His family, and us, to a life with an intimate relationship with Christ.

Luke 8:18

This verse is a warming to all who hear the Word of God.  Previously Jesus described four different groups of people who heard God's Word and how they responded to it.  Here Jesus is warning those who hear it and pretend to accept it.  Jesus is telling those who hear and accept that in the end, they will gain even more; everlasting life with Him!  However, He is telling those that hear it and proclaim to be Christians but have never asked Jesus into their hearts that even what they think they have (Christianity) will be taken away with the words, "I never knew you."

Luke 8:17

This verse lets us know that all we say and so will one day be made known.  All the things we think we have done in secret, all the lies we thought we got away with, all the stories we told behind someone's back, everything will one day be made known!  We must be VERY careful of what we say and do because even though we think no one sees or hears, one day ALL will see and hear!!!

Luke 8:16

We as Christians have the light of Christ in us.  As God's light, we should broadcast everything about our walk with Him.  As the verse says, you don't turn on a light just to cover it or shade it, but to light the whole room.  When we walk into a place, we should glow with the God light within us so others KNOW we are different than other people. 

Not only that, but as a light, we are shared with those in darkness.  Meaning, when people see us and see God in us, they are drawn to us and we need to be ready to share what we have with ANY who ask!  God doesn't work on our time table when WE are ready to share.  He brings people when they need to be brought, we have to learn to ALWAYS be ready!

Luke 8:9-15

It's amazing to me how, even though these scriptures were written hundreds of years ago, they still apply to life today!  Every person is represented in these passages who has ever had the chance to hear God's word.  Although these verses were written in a time when there was no form of transportation other than walking for most, communication was hand written letters hand dilivered after walking miles and miles to do so, no indoor plumbing (or plumbing at all for that matter), no stoves other than a fire, none of the conveniences we have today; and yet, we can relate to these groups.  the way we hear the Word may be different, but the way we chose to accept it or not is exactly the same. 

Which group do I fall into?  How am I receiving the Gospel and growing?  How deep are my roots?  What about you?

Luke 8:1-8

We are not responsible for how people receive the sead, or the Word of God.  We are only commanded to sow.  As followers of Christ we are commissioned to "go ye therefore and preach".  God sends us out as ministers (we are ALL ministers) to spread His word and His love to all we come in contact with.  We are the farmers of God's word, planting seeds in all grounds.  How that seed is taken and grown is not up to us.  We plant the seed, God makes them grow, if the ground is accepting.  If the ground rejects the seed, we cannot hold ourselves responsible; just keep planting...sometimes it takes a few seeds for one to take... 

Luke 7:36-50

This is one of my favorite stories of the Bible!  God has used this passage in my life to remind me that no one has too much sin. God reminds me through this that sometimes all it takes is a little love to look past one's faults and get to the heart of people.  This woman was known for her sins, but Jesus knew her for her faith.

We have to learn to look past the physical, look past the faults of others, and get to the heart and soul of people.  Of we look at our own lives, who are we to deserve the love and forgiveness Christ gives?  And still, He gives it anyway.  All we have to do is come forward, in faith, like this woman, and accept it!

Apologies

I want to apologize to all my readers for neglecting the blog these past weeks.  I have been out of sorts here at work and also started a new Bible study at church that was taking away from my time on this.  However, this will be my focus now as I have missed the time I was spending with God in the mornings doing this.  Again, I apologize for the neglect, but hop eto start fresh today and get back into Luke.

Luke 7:19-35

"Lord, sometimes you give us passages to read and we don't know why or what You are trying to say through them.  This has been one such passage for me the past couple fo days.  And Lord, maybe You are using it to be fresh on my mind for something that is yet to happen.  Or, maybe, someone else needed to read it and has an insight from You.  Whatever Your will is Lord I just pray that You use this passage and it is received in the way that You would have it be recieved."  Amen

Luke 7:11-18

vs. 13 "He had compassion"

How compassionate are we today?  We can hardly walk down the street without seeing someone without a home, without money, without decent cloths, or even a bath...What do we do?  Most of us probably pass them without even a glance, or walk on the other side, or even turn around and find a different route.  Jesus said "even when you have done it unto the least of these thy bretheren, you have done it unto me."  Jesus "had compassion" for those in need, those hurting, and those searching.  We need to have compassion for our fellow man so that reports of us can go out all over this land and we can say, "it is God working through me, praise be to God and His compassion!!  i am just His vessel!"

Luke 7:1-10

This centurion had so much faith that he knew all Jesus had to do was say the word and his servant would be healed/  He knew that Jesus' power was without limits and boundaries; that Jesus did not even have to be in the same room to see the problem to heal it.

I feel that we, today, would have a similar power if we had the faith of this centurion.  That we could say "God, this person is in need of healing.  Heal him now because You have the power."  I feel we don't see healing in today's times as we do in history because people don't have that faith in God's power that produces healing.  Jesus healed with command and authority over an illness; no doubt!!!  That's the faith we need if we are to perform miracles for God's kingdom!

Luke 6:46-49

This is why it is so important to raise children in church.  Children need a godly upbringing so that their roots are planted.  All children rebel at some time in their lives yet God always brings them to a low point where they have no choice but to choose to continue or choose something better, Him.  If they already have that foundation in Christ, then they have Him to pick them up; if they don't, when those trials come, they are more likely to keep a downward journey throughout their lives.

Luke 6:43-45

What do people see when they watch me?  What kind of fruit am I producing?  If people were to watch my life, would they know that I am a Christian?  would they see my fruit?  Do I have fruit?  Am I a good tree?

As I look back on my life, I see all the people I have had the opportunity to meet, talk to, and help.  However, when I think about them, I can't say with absolute certainty that I was the person I was suppose to be in Christ.  And when I am sure that I tried to do what God would have me do, I don't know that it did any good.

The fruit on a tree is obvious...should the fruits of my labor not also be abvious?  Is our fruit always visible?

Luke 6:39-42

How quick we ar to judge other people!  Jesus himself tells us no one is good except God, yet we elivate ourselves so much and put ourselves on pedistals pointing out other people's mistakes, other people's flaws, and we are blind to our own.  Jesus has set us the perfect example and tells us we will not be greater than Him, but if we learn from Him we will be like Him.  Jesus Himself didn't judge the people He healed or ate with.  He healed them and saved them without criticizing them; He loved and forgave.  If we are to learn from Him and be like Him, we need to remove our judgemental planks and love people and see them for who they are just like Jesus did.

Luke 6:36-38

Be Merciful, Judge Not, Condemn Not, Forgive, Give

These are just a few of the "commandments" God gives us.  Look at 1 John 2:3, "Now by this we know that we KNOW HIM, if we keep His commandments."

This is how everyone around us, know that we are in Christ and that we KNOW him!  The world is watching.  What do they see?

This is also how WE know that we know him.  If we are following God's commandments that He has given, then we can know without a shadow of a doubt that we know Christ.  Because, unlike the "law", these are talk oriented, do this and you are ok tasks; these are lifestyle oriented things that can only be accomplished with a life in Christ.

Luke 6:30-35

How easy is it really to give with no thought of getting anything in return?  Not easy at ALL!!  Even sometimes when I am doing a mission project I am thinking of treasures in heaven.  Plus, doing mission projects is easy when it comes to not expecting something in return becuase you know they can't pay you.  Jesus isn't even mentioning going out to people you don't know and helping them, he is saying to help, love, and do good to those people you see and talk to every day that you don't get along with.  Those people who tear you down and hate you.  Jesus didn't give easy assignments, if he had, there would be no difference in us and everyone else, but he does tell us that he will never ask us to do anything without equiping us for the task!  Remember that, God never gives us a task that is too much because he himself provides the training!

Luke 6:20-30

Love ALL, Bless ALL, Pray for ALL!!

God wants us to do everything that is against human nature to do!  How hard is it to love someone who continuously hates, uses, or tries to harm you?  How hard is it to do good for someone who just wishes you were dead?  How hard is it to smile in the face of those who tear you down?  And, if we are honest, how often do we pray God's mercy and love on all these people?  It goes against everything our human nature tells us to do!  That is why our actions in living for God are so powerful!  People SEE that we are different and don't fit the mold!  How amazing it would be if God's people really start living against what their body tells them and start living what their soul tells them!

While praying after this reading today, God brought to mind people who I still see, see pictures of, or read updates about and wish they weren't doing so well....how selfish am I?!!!  I am a worse person that they are, yet God forgives me!  Who am I to want bad things for people when I am so blessed even though I am the sinner I am?  So, today I am going to leave these people a note telling them I am sorry for the attitude of hatred I have had.

Luke 6:13-19

I wonder....if we were living in a relationship with God as we should be, would we be filled with such power (God's power) that all the sick had to do was touch us and they would be healed?

Food for thought......

Luke 6:12

How many times do we stop and pray?  People now days are afraid of the silence.  Why?  Maybe we are afraid of what we might hear.  Maybe we are afraid we won't hear anything.  Maybe we're afraid because we know we'll never be the same once we start hearing.  Jesus was God!  Jesus was God in the flesh and he made it a point to get away from literally everything else and have fellowship with God.  And, his prayer wasn't a "cookie cutter" prayer and over in 2 minutes just to say he prayed; he "continued all night in prayer with God."  This came after a full day of healing, teaching, fellowshiping, etc.  Jesus still made the time to give himself that intimate bond with his Father! 

Luke 6:6-12

I think it's always interesting to see how many times the scribes and Pharisees would try to set Jesus up.  They knew His nature was to do good and heal the sick; they KNEW His power!  Jesus merely speaks and the man is healed, so technically, no physical work was done.  So, what could the Pharisees do?  At the same time, if they said the ACT of healing was work then they are saying Jesus has power from God, which would acknowledge His power and they didn't want to do that!  So, once again, they are left grumbling, all the while (without knowing it) showing the world that Jesus is all powerful and the Son of God!

Another thought:

If Jesus Himself was watched so closely by those around Him and even He was the baith in so many traps laid...can't we expect the same if we are truely living how we should?  If we are walking with God then there will be people laying traps for us as well to fall into and sin.

Luke 5:27-6:5

vs. 31 "Those who are sick have no need of a physician, but those who are sick."  You may notice that most of Jesus' ministry was done outside the "church".  The churches we have are wonderful places for believers to come together and worship and fellowship, but that is not where the ministering happens.  God wants us out in the world leading and teaching others.  He wants us in the homes of the "sinners", eating meals with the lost.  We have this crazy thought that since we go to church on Sunday mornings and Wednesday nights that we're "okay" and have done what we needed to do.  Christ wants so much more from us!  He tells us to "go out into the world" not go to the nearest church and sit and listen then go home.  Don't get me wrong, as I said earlier, church is a wonderful place!  We get to be in contact with fellow believers and "recharge" so to speak.  But in a building is not what God wants, He wants active participation in the world with people searching for Him.

Luke 5:12-26

The faith of others can lead the unsaved to Christ.  These men in verses 17-26 knew their friend needed Jesus' help and brought him to Jesus by whatever means they could!  Their faith in not letting anything hinder them was an example to all.  We have to always remember that our actions are being watched.  Others are looking at us, watching to see how we handle ourselves in difficult times.  And, when our eyes are fixed on Jesus, we bring others to Him.

My dad use to tell us this growing up and I want to share it with you because it really made a difference in how I lived.  He would tell us that each of us, individually, have ON AVERAGE 7 people we influence without even knowing it....think about that.  We have people watching us ALL THE TIME that are making decisions based on what they see us doing.  Kinda makes you want to be perfect...

Luke 4: 38-5:11

This passage with Peter shows that God does not call us on our time tables.  Peter was tired, he had been working all night, he hadn't caught anything so I'm sure he was frustrated, yet Jesus said "come with me."  Jesus calls us at times when we have no choice but to rely on His strength to keep going.  He also calls us to do things outside our comfort zones.  Peter was a fisherman yet Jesus called him to be a disciple, teach others, and learn from Him. 

I sometimes wonder if the fishing trade was anything like the sailing trade now.  Sailors are steriotyped for being rough characters with bad language.  I wonder if that's how the fishermen were when Jesus came to them.  I also get a mental picture of the characters in the "Deadliest Catch" shows.  How every other word seems to be bleeped out so that it can air on television...imagine if that's how Peter was!  Imagine the change that would have taken place in him after Jesus called him.  Like us, I wonder if he ever lapsed in his speech and Jesus gave him that, "what did you say?" look...I know I'm reading into the story of who Peter was, but it makes the story more real to me.  When all I have to go on is fishermen of today it draws a beautiful picture of how Jesus can change a life so dramatically that people have to stop and take notice!

Luke 4:31-37

I was asked the day before this scripture came into my study, "wonder why we don't see the miraculous healings like we see in the Bible anymore?"  We had a very good discusion on it with answers ranging from the idea that miracles of healing was one of the first ways Christ and the disciples spread the Word of Christ, people now days trust too much in modern medicines and not on God for healing, or that the miracle is the modern medicines.  Then, the very next morning, I read these scriptures and the thought hit me, Jesus, in all His healings, "spoke with authority."  Today, too many times when we pray for healing, it is always, "if it be your will God, please heal this person" as though we were begging for something to happen and not really believing it would.  But, when Jesus healed, He demanded it!  He knew He had God's power with Him and told the ailment what to do and BAM! healing.  I think that's what we are missing...God's power!  If we were filled with the power God gives over sickness, we would know we could do anything!!  And, we would be so intuned with God that we would KNOW when it was His will to heal physically and His will to let be.  I will end with this story in my husband's testimony:

My husband, Adam, had vertigo, a condition that makes you very dizzy beyond the point of standing and has no cure.  His doctors gave him medicine when he had spells, but was told to stay at home in bed any time he felt this way until the episode passed.  He suffered from this for about 8 years.  Then, one day he had an episode and was with a close friend and mentor when it occured.  The man, I will not state his name because I am unable to get his permission, laid his hands on Adam and, as he remembers, "told me that when this episode of vertigo ended, I wouldn't have another episode; it would be my last."  He has not had vertigo since.  After reading these scriptures, I asked him if the man's prayer was asking God's will in healing or how it was worded.  He answered, no, he just told Adam he wouldn't have another episode and he hasn't.  There was no prayer of begging God to heal, the man just said he'd be healed and he was. 

When we are so in tuned with God that we have His power within us, we CAN do great miracles like we read about in Bible times.  The trick is a relationship with God so deep that we know His will for situations and act upon it!

Luke 4:14-30

vs. 30  Jesus was surrounded by an angry mob who had just ran Him out of town to the top of a hill and it says, "He passed through the midst of them."  WOW!!!  Can you imagine having so much authority and power that you could just walk right through an angry mob trying to kill you?  I would have loved to be a fly on the wall during this event!  It doesn't say Jesus said anything, that He raised His voice, used a miraculous paralization move on them, or used force of any kind.  Simply that he passed through them and went on His way. 

How much authority do we have today in Christ?  If we are honest with ourselves and we are before an angry, nonChristian mob ready to kill us, would we have the nerve to just walk through them like they weren't even there?  I mean, hopefully most of us would be willing to die for our faith, I'm not saying we wouldn't do that.  I'm say Jesus was faced with dying here for His teachings and He just walk away...not just away, but right through the middle of them!!  How awesome would it be to have that kind of influence over situations that seem out of control?  I pray it never comes down to dying for my faith, but if the situation ever arises, I pray people look on it and see the power God gave me in that situation that He had complete authority through me to stand up and walk through the midst!

Luke 4:1-13

Jesus was tempted with every temptation we endure.  Satan attacks us at our weak points and it is when we allow ourselves to have conversation with him that we sin.  The term satan used for "worship" here is roughly translated, "sit down and talk with me".  When we sit down and begin dialogue with the devil, he has already penetrated you.  The term Jesus uses to counter satan is a picture of a dog licking his master's hand.  A dog is completely reliant on it's master to live, in other words, God wants our total dependance on Him. 

Jesus being FILLED with the Holy Spirit was able to overcome the devil because He knew that He, being God, had all the power over him.  If we would have a total dependance and relationship with God, there is nothing the devil can tempt us with that we, with God on our side, cannot overcome.  Jesus had a personal relationship with God and knew His word.  Even though satan tried to use God's word for his own purpose, Jesus knew the context for the scriptures. 

Satan tries to use God's word against us to make everything seem okay.  We need to be so involved with scripture that we can counter the "whiles" of the devil and know how scripture should be used and in what context.

Luke 3:21-38

I wonder what I would find if I traced my geneology back?  Who were my ancestors?  What did they do?  What kind of life did they live?  Am I anything like them?  What effect did they have on the people around then and, in turn, what kind of effect did they have, throught their decendants, on my life?

What would people of the future find looking back through history on your life?  What would they see?  Are you living the type life that those around you look at and say "they are different"?  Do your actions have an impact on the people you know and touch every day to do something possitive or negative?  How will you be remembered and what will they see looking through their own geneology?

My prayer is that those around me look at my life and are pointed to Christ and that in some way, my actions touch their hearts for a life full of God!  I pray when my decendants look back through their own history, they learn I was a woman of faith who lived every day to better serve God and those around me.

Luke 2:39-3:20

vs. 9-14

Even in my "poor" state when it comes to monitary means, God has blessed me with a roof over my head, food, plenty of cloths, and a heart to give.  There are people who have much, much less and I sometimes complain even when I have more than I need.

"God, show me a way I can help those around me, whatever their needs may be.  You have continually provided for my husband and myself.  Show us how we can give and help provide for others.  Thank you for all You do and give.  Amen."

Luke 2:21-38

(vs. 37) This is the type relationship You want me to have!  I should be praying and fasting and serving You wherever I am in whatever I am doing.  I am Your temple; You live within me so You never leave me.  I forget that quite often as I sometimes feel You are nowhere to be found.  However, You live, You dwell inside me!!!  I need to be in a constant state of conversation, praise, and thanksgiving to You; all day, every day!! 

Luke 2:1-20

The "Christmas Story" is always a story that makes my heart leap when I read it.  It always amazes me how God let His Son live among us!  Not only is He God, but He could have been born anywhere and to any number of royal or wealthy families.  But, He chose to be born to a carpenter, a poor profession, in a stable with animals, and was revelaed first to shepherds, a group known as liars and renegades.  I know when I read or hear of Bible characters, the first thing I thing is "that could never be me because I'm not this great person God can do amazing things with," and I must admint, rarely do I get past this.  But these were ordinary people, living ordinary lives.  In fact, most of the people God used were below ordinary!  I have to learn to realize that God uses these people so that there is no doubt in anyone's mind that God is in control.  What's to stop Him from using me in an extraordinary way?  I am no different than Mary, or Peter, or Paul...I'm just as lowly , just as ignorant, just as sinful!  If He can use a murderer to lead His people to freedom, He can use me for something just as great!  All I have to do is listen and obey!

Luke 1:57-80

God has raised up generation after generation of "Johns."  People He has called to "go" and be a light for Him; teaching salvation, teaching the remission of sin, God's mercy, etc.  Like John, God fills us with His Spirit, giving us His strength and wisdom to do whatever He calls us to do/  Not all of us are called to be like John, but we are all called!  We are all ministers for Him.  We may not all be preachers or teachers or administrators, etc. but we are all ministers in how we live our lives.  God has specific roles for all of us!  And, we are to take those callings and glorify God living a life that brings others to Him.

Luke 1:39-56

In Mary's praise to the Lord, You have reminded me that You will always take care of me.  "exalted the lowly," "filled the hungry with good things," these verses reming me that God will always take care and provide.  "Hungry" doesn't always mean physical hunger; you can be hungry for love, affection, spiritually, etc. and God fills ALL hungers with good things.  I am a living testament to how God provides, and I'm sure if anyone looks backwards throught their own lives they will see God's provisions for them as well.

My testamony on this starts 3 months after I was married in May of 2009.  My husband and his father owned a custom cabinet shop.  They made the most beautiful cabinets I had ever seen put in a house!  They did good, quality work, and never had an upset customer.  However, when the economy started going down, so did their business.  My husband and his father were struggling to hang on.  For months neither recieved a pay check while I was only working a part time bairly above minimum wage job.  The shop went out of business and my husband went without a paycheck for 7 months.  We survived off his paycheck before and now we were trying to make ends meet off of my $350 every 2 weeks.  We had a house, a car, student loans, power bills, phone bills, etc.  We lived month to month to say the least.  Then God provided a part time youth ministry position that helped with $100/week.  God placed people and oportunities in our lives that looking back now still makes me cry!  Every 2 weeks when I got paid we would tithe, even though we did not see how we could make it without that money, every month we wondered how we would make it the next, every month we never missed a payment!  God always provides!  Then God provided my husband with work!  We still struggled, but we continued to make it.  2 months later, God provided me with full time work and a career that we could live off of and we had to move.  1 month later, God has provided my husban with a full time job at out new location!  GOD IS SO GOOD!! 

"My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior."

Luke 1:5-38

Every time I read stories like this where God sends an angel to speak to His people it makes me wonder; why does it seem He doesn't do that anymore?  I mean, I know we have the Holy Spirit living inside us who speaks, but wouldn't sending an angel be so much easier to interpret?  I guess it's just that I personally have a hard time knowing 100% what it is God wants me to do.  That's not His fault, obviously, because He is always directing my path.  But, sometimes, I just wish it were so obvious I couldn't possibly miss it! Like an angel standing here talking to me, or a vision like the prophets had, or even a neon sign!! :-)

I guess what I'm saying is; how do I know it's God's will and not my own?  Most times what I want to do isn't evil and it seems it's where God is leading, but then it turns out it wasn't where I was suppose to be or what I was suppose to do.  How do I get to where I have no doubt that I'm following where God is leading?  I look back on my life and I see times where God's guidance was definately there, but hind sight is 20/20. 

I guess my prayer is to be able to see in the here and now where God is leading, what He has in store for every decision, and  what He would have me do.

Luke 1:1-4

vs. 3-4
Luke is saying he wrote this book to Theophilus so that Theophilus would know with 100% certainty that all he has been told and instructed about Jesus was true.

God puts people in our lives that become our mentors.  People who have struggled and overcome, who have grown close to Him in their walk, who have an intimate relationship with Him!  God gives us these people to encourage and build us up, to help us find strength when we are down, to show us faith when we doubt, and (even though we may hate them for it) to point out the wrong we do in our walk with God.

We as humans need encouragement, need building up, need socialization!  We thrive off others even though we may not realize it.  God created us for community and fellowship.  We need to surround ourselves with the people who build us up in our relationship with God.  People we look up to because of their faith and their relationship with God. 

Purpose of the blog

This blog is simply a chance to discus scripture. I have started a "7 Minutes with God" morning devotional and I would like you to be a part of it. The devotional is set up something like this:


30 seconds-prayer for God to direct and speak through the reading

5 Minutes-read scripture

1 1/2 minutes-pray for the day, family, friends, etc.

This blog is my journaling of what God reveals to me through what I read. Some days the study lasts 3 minutes, sometimes 30. The length of time is not important, just that you are in God's word and you will find Him speaking to you through it! When you begin your reading as soon as God speaks to you, reveals something to you, or you are interested in a particular word you would like to study; stop! Stop reading and journal it!

Then, come tell us what you read! This is my way of getting some discussion on what I read because I have found when I see something in scripture, I want to talk to others about it and get their opinions!

Please join me in the reading of Luke for the next few months or so and let's see where it takes us!

I look forward to hearing your thoughts!