Before the rooster crows

Luke 22: 31-38

Reading the news headlines around the world I often ask myself "how would I respond" or "what would I do".  I want to believe never ever would I deny, but none of us know until the situation is presented to us.  It is horrible what is happening to Christians around the world and we must not sit with our heads in the sand believing it will never happen here.  I pray none of us ever face it, but we might.  Would we be like Peter?

Peter the rock.  The man that traveled with Jesus.  The man that walked on water until he took his eyes off the Lord.  The man who in Luke 22 we read will deny the Lord 3 times before the rooster crowed the next morning.  A man who knew, but still feared.

In the beginning of the reading Simon's name is repeated which is an expression of love, but stated with warning the commentaries tell me.  I love that Jesus is still reassuring the disciples of his love even when He is warning them of danger. Think back to your childhood when your parent or loved one would say your name more than once and with a warning about something.  You felt their love.  You felt their concern.  Jesus loved and was concerned for Peter.

In John 14: 1- 14, we hear these loving words that Jesus spoke to the disciples, but also to us for such a time as this:

"Don't let your hearts be troubled.  Trust in God, and trust also in me.  There is more than enough room in my Father's home.  If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?  When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.  And you know the way to where I am going."

Claim these verses!  Trust!  Believe!  Know in your heart that there is enough room for all of us in Our Father's Home!

Sweet blessings,

Debbie

Whose example are we following?

John 13: 1 - 17

Please read this passage today!

Powerful reminder of who Jesus truly is...

The words that struck me this morning were found in verse 15 ~

I have give you an example to follow.  Do as I have done to you.  Words Jesus spoke to his disciples and to us.

Who are we following?

Our world seems to be caught up in things money is able to buy, places it is able to take us, people that it puts us in contact with and quite honestly once we get the next great thing does it fill the void?  Does the place you think you must be seen?  Or what about that person you just want to be seen at the party with does it fill the emptiness deep inside?

Jesus is the only answer and He is definitely the example that all of us need to follow!

Please read this passage and be reminded of how much Jesus loves each of us today!

Sweet blessings,

Debbie

Narrow door

Luke 13:22-30

Well, today I am focusing on this part of the reading...the part about this scripture ~

Someone asked him, "Lord, will only a few be saved?"  He replied, "Work hard to enter, the narrow door to God's Kingdom, for many will try to enter but will fail.  When the master of the house has locked the door, it will be too late.  You will stand outside knocking and pleading, 'Lord, open the door for us!  But he will reply, 'I don't know you or where you come from.'

Tough words, but words from Jesus.  Words telling us that the door will be narrow it will not be wide and everyone will not be walking through.  We need to know the Lord.  We need to spend time with Him.  

I believe in God's Word.

Many will try to enter, but fail is very powerful.  Also, check out John 10: 1- 21 with the writing about the Good Shepherd and His Sheep.  I love this verse ~ ...and they follow him because they know his voice.  Also, My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.  I am the good shepherd.  The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep.  Another, I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me, just as my Father knows me and I know the Father.

Really the verses all speak volumes.  Volumes that we need to be turning the volume up on!

We need to know Jesus!

Sweet blessings,

Debbie

Be dressed and ready!

Luke 12:35 - 48

Take a moment to read these passages.

"Be dressed for service and keep your lamps burning, as though you were waiting for your master to return from the wedding feast.  Then you will be ready to open the door and let him in the moment he arrives and knocks.

Today's reading was filled with powerful words for all of us.  Be ready, the words talk about division, repentance, healing, mustard seeds, and reminder of who Jesus is...Jesus shares very important directions for all of us in todays words. 

Please take a moment to read them for yourself they are Luke 12:35-59, Luke 13: 1- 21, and John 

9:1 - 41

In John 9, Jesus ask the man important questions that He also ask each of us.

Are you able to answer with the same words that this man spoke?

"Yes, Lord I believe!

Sweet blessings,

Debbie

As though a floodlight were filling you with light

I love the verses from Luke 11 about "the light."  I am a visual person and this is so good!

"No one lights a lamp and then hides it or puts it under a basket.  Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where its light can be seen by all who enter the house.

"Your eye is a lamp that provides light for your body.  When your eye is good, your whole body is filled with light.  But when it is bad, you body is billed with darkness.  Make sure that the light you think you have is not actually darkness.  If you are filled with light, with no dark corners, then your whole life will be radiant, as though a floodlight were filling you with light."

Don't you love this "radiant as though a floodlight were filling you with light?  That is a lot of light!  Think on that today!

Along with so many other goodies today...food for thought on the Pharisees, which we might think about with our leaders or anyone else too...

Luke 11:39 - 41 ~ Then the Lord said to him, "You Pharisees are so careful to clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside you are filthy-full of greed and wickedness! Fools!  Didn't God make the inside as well as the outside?  So clean the inside by giving gifts to the poor, and you will be clean all over.  Lots to unpack in these verses and think about!

Also, the verses from Luke 12 are always special!  

Verse 25 ~ Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?  And if worry can't accomplish a little think like that, what's the use of worrying over bigger things?  

Well, this makes a lot of sense.  Anybody need to work on this with me?

And I love verse 34 ~

"Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be."

Lots and lots to unpack in the scripture reading today!  Let me know which spoke to you and I hope you have a great day.  

Let your light shine!

Sweet blessings,

Debbie

Hey, you in the mirror...

I am going to get a little off our reading today, because I felt lead to remind you that you are special!  Someone reading today needs to be reminded that the person looking back at you in the mirror is special!

I want you to try a little practice placing your name in scripture.  It is from Luke where Gabriel appears to Mary and tells her these special words ~ "Greetings, you who are highly favored!  The Lord is with you."  Now I want you to say these words to yourself and look in a mirror and repeat them over and over...Greetings, (your name) you are highly favored!  The Lord is with you!  Repeat it over and over until you remember that indeed you are so very special to the Lord!  He loves you!  He is with you!  

You might even go a little further in Luke with these verses and place your name in the blank...

"Do not be afraid, Mary, (place your name here), you have found favor with God.  God wants each of us to know and claim He loves us!

Our reading today was so good too...

The reminder of love our neighbor as ourselves and The Good Samaritan story.  Wonderful reminders of who we are suppose to be and how we are suppose to act.

I leave you with these words today...

You are special!

You are loved!

You are never alone!

Sweet blessings,

Debbie

Writing in the sand

John 8: 1- 11

The story of the woman caught in adultery always touches my heart.  

Imagine the scene we are told Jesus is back at the temple teaching.  A crowd gathered soon to listen.  Jesus sat down to teach when suddenly the Pharisees brought a woman into the crowd and put her in front of everyone.  The men explained this woman was caught in adultery and that the law states she must be stoned.  They are trying to catch Jesus in how he will respond to this situation.  He knows the law and yet he knows that no here is without sin.

What does he do?  He bends and begins writing in the sand.  Many wonder what Jesus began to write in the sand.  Some think it was the sins of people in the crowd and that they demanded an answer.  He stood and ask them that whoever was without sin throw the stone.  Again, he stooped down and began writing in the sand.

Imagine the sounds in the crowd.  Was it quiet?  Was it loud?  Was it busy with movement to get away from this scene?  Was it shock?  Was it compassion?  Was it tense?  Did anyone care about this poor woman that was standing in front of all of them?

We are told that they each stepped away one by one beginning with the oldest until it was just Jesus and this woman.  How do you think they left the scene?  Hanging heads?  Anger?  Disbelief?  Do you think anyone realized their own sin?  

The woman left alone with Jesus.  How do you think she was feeling at this moment?  I think she felt loved.  I think she saw a heart drawn in the sand by Jesus even if it was sins of others it was also Jesus love shown to all.  Showing that He knew and He loved her.  He sent her away encouraging her to go and sin no more.  

Indeed, Jesus loves each of us!  He knows our sins and paid the ultimate price for each of us, but we must admit our sins.  No pointed fingers from Jesus only love drawn in the sand.  Powerful story of Jesus amazing love!

Sweet blessings,

Debbie

Found

Today, I want to share with you these words from Matthew 18 ~ If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them wanders away, what will he do?  Won't he leave the ninety-nine others on the hills and go out and search for the one that is lost?  And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he will rejoice over it more than over the ninety-nine that didn't wander away!  In the same way, it is not my heavenly Father's will that even one of these little ones should perish.

God desires all of us to have eternal life with Him!  He pursues us!  He looks for us!  He allows us to choose Him!  Did you pick up on that key word  (choose)?  He doesn't make us pick Him, no it is our choice.  When we do He rejoices over us! 

I don't remember how many years ago now, but probably 18 or so I began to walker closer with the LORD.  I believed from an early age, I knew Jesus came and died for me, but I did not have the relationship with the Lord.  The personal relationship with Him that fills that hole inside of each of us that only He is able to fill.  I knew there was more, but I couldn't quite grasp it and I also felt like someone was trying to provide it.  Someone was searching for me.  Someone was trying to find me.

God's Word gave me the answer to that hole.  It's Jesus and how He desires to know more and more about me.  I walked through the days before not understanding what it was, but finally it was like the light bulb went on or the cup was overflowing when I opened up His words and knew He was speaking to me.  It is real.  It is awesome!  It is simply beyond words!

I try to share about God's Words with others, because of the change it made in my life and still makes daily.  I am a different person because of who Jesus is and not because of me.  He changed me by showing me the steps to take and that I am never alone on this journey.  He shows me that it doesn't matter what I face it will all be okay.  I know it and I believe it!  I only want all my friends, loved ones, and strangers to have this same peace that is beyond my understanding ~ a peace that only God is able to provide.

I think the amazing love God shows allowing us the choice is again beyond my understanding.  He wants us to love Him and He lets us decide.  He doesn't make us and He could.  No it is simply beyond my little brain to figure it all out.  I don't have to.  I trust the One who knows it ALL and I love that I serve a Savior that loves me so very much that He looked for me and He looks for you!

Sweet blessings,

Debbie

Listen to him

Mark 8: 22 - 9:13, Matthew 16: 13 - 17:13, Luke 9: 18 - 27

I love the story of the transfiguration!  The beautiful amazing scene that is shared in Mark 9:2 - 13,  Matthew 17: 1- 13,  Luke 9:28 -36.

These words from the story told in three different gospels struck a chord with me ~

Listen to him.  God spoke to the disciples these words after Peter was looking for something to say and just blurted out what came to his mind.  Imagine it.  Don't judge.  After all, what if standing before you were Moses, Elijah and Jesus talking; you might blurt out something less than stellar too!  God immediately spoke to them reminding them who Jesus was and is and to listen to Him.

Who do we all listen to?  

God is giving us very important instructions here.  Remember who Jesus is and to then take action by listening to His directions!

Listen today and every day!

Sweet blessings,

Debbie

Scraps/Crumbs

Mark 7:24 - 8:21, Matthew 15: 29 - 16:12, 

The story of the gentile woman and her faith is touching and disturbing at first glance.  To understand you must look a little deeper, so I did a little digging.  Do you know that the Jewish referred to Gentiles as dogs?  Well, that is important in this story as well as the fact that Jesus knew her faith already before He ask her the question about shouldn't He take care of his own first.  

The woman knew her heart.  The woman knew her position in life as very low in social ranking.  The woman knew who Jesus was so she realized that just a few crumbs would heal her daughter.  Just a little bit of Jesus would heal her daughter.  She believed it with all her heart who Jesus truly was.  She understood that the table belonged to God not the people.  

I loved these words Jesus spoke to the woman in Mark 7:29 ~

"Good answer!"  he said.  "Now go home, for the demon has left your daughter."  And when she arrived home, she found her little girl lying quietly in bed and the demon was gone.

It's a difficult story at first glance.  You must look deeper to see that Jesus wasn't being mean as much as he was testing all witnessing the happenings and the woman to see how much she really believed.  She really believed!  Understanding that just a little bit of Jesus was better than none of Jesus!  She would take what ever He offered and she believed it would take care of her problems!

Do we believe? Don't we want Jesus to respond to us with encouragement of Good answer now go and see!

Believe today and everyday that we all need a whole lot of Jesus!

Sweet blessings,

Debbie

Bread of Life

John 6: 22-59

Today, take a moment in your quiet time and remember who Jesus truly is and what this means for us!

Cherish and believe these words ~

"I tell you the truth, anyone who believes has eternal life.  Yes, I am the bread of life!  Your ancestors ate manna in the wilderness, but they all died.  Anyone who eats the bread from heaven, however, will never die.  I am the living bread that came down from heave.  Anyone who eats this bread will live forever, and this bread, which I will offer so the world may live, is my flesh."

Believe Jesus!

Sweet blessings,

Debbie

You feed them

Today is about feeding the 5000 and walking on water!  Not a big deal for Jesus, but for those of us that question how???  Well, it might be a big deal!

Jesus provided everything needed to feed the 5000 (which is the men in the number doesn't include women and children) so He actually took care of more people.  He didn't worry when the disciples stated we only have 5 loaves and 2 fish, no He just took care of the meal.  He provided all that was needed and we are told  they had 12 baskets of leftovers!  12!  We must believe!

Jesus is pretty direct in verse 16 of Matthew 14.  The disciples try to tell Jesus to send the crowds away and this is His words ~
"That isn't necessary-you feed them."

Do you think they looked at each with how? what? when? now?  You know they did.  After all, aren't we a lot like them?  We wonder how and yet God provides the way!  Oh it is never the way we imagine, but He provides!

We must believe His amazing words just do it!  The just doing takes faith, doesn't it?  Peter had it for a moment in Matthew 14 when Jesus was walking on water and he climbed over the edge.  The moment he took his eyes off Jesus and saw all the difficulty of strong winds and high waves, he began to sink.  Don't we do this too?  We lose our focus and sight of Jesus!

Today keep your eyes on Jesus and achieve things only done with Him providing the way!

Sweet blessings,

Debbie

Spreading the news

Mark 5, Matthew 8:28 -9:26, Luke 8: 26 - 56

Today, I was struck with these words from Mark 5 after Jesus healed the demon possessed man.  "Spreading the news as they ran".

What was the last bit of news that you shared running or walking?  Was it fact or was it fiction?  Was it news about Jesus?

Often times in our little worlds we don't think it is appropriate to talk about religion.  I agree it's not an easy topic, people get really nervous, but have you tried just sharing what Jesus is doing and not your thoughts or beliefs?  Jesus is the key.  He is still working and He is still doing amazing things just like what we have been reading about in the Bible, so share it!  No preaching along with it just His works...

Spread the news today!  Share the Good News!

Sweet blessings,

Debbie

No one hides a light

Matthew 13: 10 - 52, Luke 8:9 - 25, Mark 4:26 - 41

So much in today's reading!  So many profound words given to us...

Again, the seeds being planted.  One being this very important verse in Luke 8:  The seed is God's word.  Share God's word with everyone.  If one seed is planted in good soil well it will grow, so throw those seeds!

Another that always touches my heart is about the lamp.  

"No one lights a lamp and then covers it with a bowl or hides it under a bed.  A lamp is placed on a stand, where its light can be seen by all who enter the house.

Last night on Dancing with the Stars 2 stories just touched by soul.  Bindi Irwin and Derek Hough dancing about the loss of her father and the beauty of a little girl growing into a young lady allowing her light to shine through her grief and another was Carlos and Whitney.  Carlos told of his drug use and hitting a low.  He shared how when he hit the low a friend invited him to church and well last night he shared his light dancing to Amazing Grace on national television.  A friend planted the seeds and God took care of the rest!  Lights are shining in big ways and we need to let our lights shine right where we are whether it's in the grocery store, at work, the red light, the traffic jam, the doctor's office, your home, the list goes on and on and we need to allow God to shine through us right where we are...sharing truth and love.  It's not all pretty because we are a lot of messed up people, but God uses all the mess to show His beauty!

All of these stories and our stories are the times that storms come into our life.  The storms are coming at some point and it will be how we respond.  Will we be like the disciples in the story found in Mark 4 shouting Lord, don't you care?  Probably at times, but some times we will hit our knees knowing that He is already in the midst of the storm helping us to remain calm and that He is at the helm!

Let your light shine right where you are today and everyday!

Sweet blessings,

Debbie

Plant the seeds

Mark 3:20 - 4: 1-9, Luke 8: 1- 8, Matthew 12: 22 - 50

Reading today, I was reminded of a time that I was discouraged with ministry and choices that people make that you are serving and loving on.  I remember sharing it with a group of people and I guess the pain showed through, because a kind gentlemen reminded me that it was only my job to plant the seeds and let God do the rest.  Oh, it was such a healing balm that morning in a wonderful Sunday school class at Summer Grove.  It was as if Jesus had spoken the words to me and the weight lifted.  I felt like I was letting the ladies down that I served and that I was failing them and it was as if the Lord reminded me ~ you only plant the seeds and I handle the rest.

Plant the seeds today and everyday and let God to the rest!

Have a great day planting seeds!

Sweet blessings,

Debbie

He was amazed

Matthew 8:5-13, Luke 7: 1- 10

What amazes you?

Today, I was struck once again with the story found in the above passages about Jesus being amazed at the faith of the Roman officer.  He believed and Jesus was amazed that this man believed.

It struck something in me with the shooting that happened this past Friday in Oregon.  The shooter asking the question of if the people were Christians or not...Have you given this type of situation any thought?  It's horrible and I don't want to get in to any debate about all the issues involved, but I do want to talk about these people that showed amazing faith with answering the question with yes with a gun pointed at them.

I don't want to scare people, but have we given the situation any thought?  

I don't like to think about it, but we must face it.  We must believe like these amazing people in Oregon  that indeed Jesus was and is the answer.  It's scary the world that we are living in, but it's also one that provides hope with the testimony of amazing people like the young man that ran towards the shooter rather than away from him to protect those he cared about...it's amazing the young woman that was shot in her spine, but she didn't deny her Christian faith.  God gave them the strength to be amazing people that stood tall and I believe amazed Jesus!  Don't you know Jesus was amazed with the faith these people showed?  I do.

We read in these scriptures that Jesus was amazed that a roman officer came to him for healing and that all Jesus had to do was say the word and his servant would be healed.  Well, I know that Jesus was amazed when these people in Oregon stood tall and proclaimed that indeed they were Christians.

We must believe God's Words and we must know God's Words to have hope!

It is my prayer that we will know and find strength through the study of God's words.  It is my prayer that our faith will continue to grow because we believe with all our heart the words that God gives us in the bible.  It is through our relationship with Him that we are all going to be able to believe in All He TRULY IS...AND ALWAYS WILL BE!  God is indeed the answer to all the questions swirling around us.  Pick Him and allow Him to feel you with a peace that passes all understanding.  Only God is able to truly heal.

Sweet blessings,

Debbie

Knocking

Matthew 6:5 - 7:29, Luke 6:46-49

One of my favorite passages about prayer is found in Matthew 7.  

Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for.  Keep on seeking, and you will find.  Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.  For everyone that asks, receives.  Everyone who seeks, finds.  And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.

I love this passage, but sometimes I think it confuses us when our prayers aren't answered.  (the way we expect)  God answers the prayer with the right answer that we need.  Even those difficult situations that we will all face at some point are not in vain ~ I believe they are to draw us closer and closer to Him.  God doesn't just answer the way we expect or with all the answers we desire, after all He is God and He is creative, He is unique, He is our Savior, He knows our needs, before we do...He is amazing, He is filled with adventure and so much more.  So even though we knock and the door is opened; we don't know how He will answer it!  We must believe and know that He gives us exactly what we need, when we need it and we must keep on knocking!

So keep knocking and have a fabulous weekend!

Sweet blessings,

Debbie

Show compassion

Mark 3, Matthew 5, Luke 6

Well, we had lots of meaningful lessons today in our reading!  Lots!  

I am going to share what touched me so very much and something that happened to me and how the reading today helped heal a wounded heart.  Thank you Lord for always providing exactly what we need even when we don't realize it!  Amen

Luke 6:36

You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate.

Matthew 6:1

Watch out!  Don't do your good deeds publicly, to be admired by others, for you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven.

Have you ever come under attack for something that well just isn't truth?  Someone says something to you and they think they know all the answers, but well they don't?  They think they are helping you discover something that is missing in your own story, but they really don't know what you may or may not have done?  Sometimes helpers just don't really know.  Admit it.  I know it is true of me.  I think I know, but I don't!  In the meantime I have hurt someone unknowingly because I thought I knew the answers...but I didn't!

Well, this happened to me awhile back.  Someone thought they were asking me a question that would open my eyes to something perhaps I didn't know anything about and in truth I did.  I didn't respond to the question.  I just sat there hurt that someone would think so little of me and I wanted to make a list of the things I had done, but well the verse from Matthew kept coming to my mind and I knew it would be just as wrong from me to whip out my list of checks and respond.

We only know what someone shares with us.  Say that again.  We only know what someone shares with us.  We don't know the whole story, so before any of us make assumptions we should show compassion and not assume we know, because well more than likely we don't!

We need to be like Jesus show mercy.  Show compassion and  don't assume we know.  

Compassion, mercy, forgiveness the words are simple enough to say, but sometimes not so easy to show, but Jesus did to ALL...even those that hurt him, even those that nailed him to the cross...ALL.  It's not easy to show compassion like our Father sometimes, is it?

The experience I am speaking of taught me that we must be wise with our words and turn the other cheek. I know in my heart I've done the exact same thing that was done to me. (without realizing it) Forgive me if I have done it to you.  After all, we are all sinners and only Jesus makes any of us right with God!

Thank you Father for the compassion you show me everyday with your forgiveness for the many times I fall short.  Amen

Sweet blessings,

Debbie

Hope

I was especially filled with joy reading the passage this morning from Matthew 12:15-21.  Take a moment to read the whole passage and be reminded of all that Jesus truly is...

...He will not crush the weakest reed

or put out a flickering candle.

Finally he will cause justice to be victorious.

And his name will be the hope of all the world.

Indeed He is our hope!

He is our Savior!

He is the key to everything!

Sweet blessings,

Debbie