Jesus,
I'm continuing my reading in the book of Mark. Today I read of you healing a demon-possessed man, the woman who touched your robe who had internal bleeding, and the man whose daughter was dying. You healed them all. You even had compassion on the demons that came out of the possessed man.
10 Then the evil spirits begged him again and again not to send them to some distant place.
11 There happened to be a large herd of pigs feeding on the hillside nearby. 12 "Send us into those pigs," the spirits begged. "Let us enter them."
13 So Jesus gave them permission... -Mark 5:10-13
It's hard to not let these stories get repetitive. But the fact of the matter is, you went out into the cities and you healed people with diseases and ailments that they thought they would never be cured of. You did the impossible. You gave life to those who thought they were left for dead.
I never want to underestimate or take for granted the real and true and unfailing compassion you have for people. Just the love you show in general.
Help me to focus on your compassion and your love today. Help me to bask in it and praise you for your ability to do the impossible and your desire to see the best for me.
I love you.
Amen.
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Mark 4
Jesus,
I read many of your parables today. The farmer scattering seed, the lamp, the growing seed, the mustard seed.
I can't help but be disappointed in myself for not fully understanding. I worry that I will be the plant wilting in the hot sun because it didn't have deep roots (Mark 4:6). I am beating myself up for not "listening more closely" or paying close attention in order to understand. Please have mercy on me for not fully understanding the words you spoke. Help me to get to a place where I do understand.
On the other hand, at the end of the chapter there is the story of when your disciples are on the boat and you sleep while a storm comes. How I'd like to have that kind of peaceful sleep. Haha. But I learned that you have power over everything, and then I just love the metaphor of you calming the storms. That you can speak once and there will be peace.
39 When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and said to the waves, "Silence! Be still!" Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm. -Mark 4:39
I long for that great calm. The calm that only you can bring.
Just help me to trust in you, and to truly have my heart and mind open when I read your scripture, so that I can understand and so that I can learn and know you better.
I also wanted to share with you the words a friend shared at my small group last night. It was in context of the verse:
7 We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. -2 Corinthians 4:7
You are the light. And we are the fragile clay jars. I questioned, what if we break? The fact that we are so fragile scares me, that we might break at any moment.
And my friend said that we are all broken. And through the cracks of our brokenness you are able to shine through.
I thought that was amazing.
Thank you for your word. For your love and the hope you bring.
Be with me in my day today.
I love you.
Amen.
I read many of your parables today. The farmer scattering seed, the lamp, the growing seed, the mustard seed.
I can't help but be disappointed in myself for not fully understanding. I worry that I will be the plant wilting in the hot sun because it didn't have deep roots (Mark 4:6). I am beating myself up for not "listening more closely" or paying close attention in order to understand. Please have mercy on me for not fully understanding the words you spoke. Help me to get to a place where I do understand.
On the other hand, at the end of the chapter there is the story of when your disciples are on the boat and you sleep while a storm comes. How I'd like to have that kind of peaceful sleep. Haha. But I learned that you have power over everything, and then I just love the metaphor of you calming the storms. That you can speak once and there will be peace.
39 When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and said to the waves, "Silence! Be still!" Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm. -Mark 4:39
I long for that great calm. The calm that only you can bring.
Just help me to trust in you, and to truly have my heart and mind open when I read your scripture, so that I can understand and so that I can learn and know you better.
I also wanted to share with you the words a friend shared at my small group last night. It was in context of the verse:
7 We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. -2 Corinthians 4:7
You are the light. And we are the fragile clay jars. I questioned, what if we break? The fact that we are so fragile scares me, that we might break at any moment.
And my friend said that we are all broken. And through the cracks of our brokenness you are able to shine through.
I thought that was amazing.
Thank you for your word. For your love and the hope you bring.
Be with me in my day today.
I love you.
Amen.
Monday, April 23, 2012
Mark 2:13-28 and 3
Jesus,
Hi.
I'm excited to have woken up to a beautiful day, bright and early, with things to do. But I'm struggling. My dreams are strange but familiar, sad yet beautiful, and I wake up only to find myself lying in my bed, tossing and turning and jaw clenched shut. I am awake and aware throughout the day, but feel the occasional twinge of sadness. And it's all that I can take. So please, if you would be with me, walk with me through my sad moments, and rejoice with me in my happy ones, I would love that so much.
Anyway.
Continuing in your word, I learned more about your life. I value so much the company that you kept, your compassion for the broken. Your love for the outcasts. And your wisdom in response to the criticism of others.
15 Later, Levi invited Jesus and his disciples to his home as dinner guests, along with many tax collectors and other disreputable sinners. (There were many people of this kind among Jesus' followers.) 16 But when the teachers of religious law who were Pharisees saw him eating with tax collectors and other sinners, they asked his disciples, "Why does he eat with such scum?"
17 When Jesus heard this, he told them, "Healthy people don't need a doctor-sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners." -Mark 2:15-17 NLT
Chapter 3 was a little hard for me to follow, and I hope that as I continue to read through scripture that I will come to understand more in the future. But I also saw your sadness and anger towards the Pharisees, as they criticized your compassion and desire to heal the sick and wounded.
5 He looked around at them angrily and was deeply saddened by their hard hearts... -Mark 3:5 NLT
I pray for humility. I pray for you to break down any self-righteous spirit I may have. Break down my pride and my arrogance.
It's so interesting, sometimes I feel like the more I recognize my brokenness, the more self-righteous I become in the way I perceive others. It's as if my recognition of my own sin and struggle entitles me to criticize those who don't recognize their own sin and struggle. And that is not right at all. That's not okay.
Lord, I pray that I can have compassion on those who are still finding their way. Compassion on those who do not see their own flaws and potential for personal growth. That I would not turn my nose up at them, but that I would have it in my heart to feel compassion towards them, and love, and hope. That I would continually seek you out in prayer for those who need you. We all need you. And our journeys are all so different. I pray that I would humble myself and be put in a place of being seen alongside of my brothers and sisters. (Yea, I used the Christianese term "brothers and sisters". You can laugh about it with me later :D) But that I would stay side by side with all of my friends and family regardless of their awareness in their journey and regardless of whether they feel they need you or not. We are all broken. And in this I am no better than any other person on this planet. Break me down and allow me to have a heart of understanding.
I am a sinner. I am broken. And in this you have come to call on me. Show me your purpose. And enlighten my spirit.
I love you.
Amen.
Hi.
I'm excited to have woken up to a beautiful day, bright and early, with things to do. But I'm struggling. My dreams are strange but familiar, sad yet beautiful, and I wake up only to find myself lying in my bed, tossing and turning and jaw clenched shut. I am awake and aware throughout the day, but feel the occasional twinge of sadness. And it's all that I can take. So please, if you would be with me, walk with me through my sad moments, and rejoice with me in my happy ones, I would love that so much.
Anyway.
Continuing in your word, I learned more about your life. I value so much the company that you kept, your compassion for the broken. Your love for the outcasts. And your wisdom in response to the criticism of others.
15 Later, Levi invited Jesus and his disciples to his home as dinner guests, along with many tax collectors and other disreputable sinners. (There were many people of this kind among Jesus' followers.) 16 But when the teachers of religious law who were Pharisees saw him eating with tax collectors and other sinners, they asked his disciples, "Why does he eat with such scum?"
17 When Jesus heard this, he told them, "Healthy people don't need a doctor-sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners." -Mark 2:15-17 NLT
Chapter 3 was a little hard for me to follow, and I hope that as I continue to read through scripture that I will come to understand more in the future. But I also saw your sadness and anger towards the Pharisees, as they criticized your compassion and desire to heal the sick and wounded.
5 He looked around at them angrily and was deeply saddened by their hard hearts... -Mark 3:5 NLT
I pray for humility. I pray for you to break down any self-righteous spirit I may have. Break down my pride and my arrogance.
It's so interesting, sometimes I feel like the more I recognize my brokenness, the more self-righteous I become in the way I perceive others. It's as if my recognition of my own sin and struggle entitles me to criticize those who don't recognize their own sin and struggle. And that is not right at all. That's not okay.
Lord, I pray that I can have compassion on those who are still finding their way. Compassion on those who do not see their own flaws and potential for personal growth. That I would not turn my nose up at them, but that I would have it in my heart to feel compassion towards them, and love, and hope. That I would continually seek you out in prayer for those who need you. We all need you. And our journeys are all so different. I pray that I would humble myself and be put in a place of being seen alongside of my brothers and sisters. (Yea, I used the Christianese term "brothers and sisters". You can laugh about it with me later :D) But that I would stay side by side with all of my friends and family regardless of their awareness in their journey and regardless of whether they feel they need you or not. We are all broken. And in this I am no better than any other person on this planet. Break me down and allow me to have a heart of understanding.
I am a sinner. I am broken. And in this you have come to call on me. Show me your purpose. And enlighten my spirit.
I love you.
Amen.
Thursday, April 19, 2012
Mark 1 and 2:1-12
Jesus,
I started reading Mark today. I want to learn about who you are and what you did and what you do so that I can know you better and have a deeper relationship with you.
I learned that you taught with real authority.
21 Jesus and his companions went to the town of Capernaum. When the Sabbath day came, he went to the synagogue and began to teach. 22 People were amazed at his teaching, for he taught with real authority-quite unlike the teachers of religious law. -Mark 1:21-22 NLT
People were captivated by you.
I also learned that those who have faith in you in their wounded- and brokenness fill you with compassion and you heal them.
40 A man with leprosy came and knelt in front of Jesus, begging to be healed. "If you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean," he said.
41 Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out and touched him. "I am willing," he said. "Be healed!" 42 Instantly the leprosy disappeared, and the man was healed. -Mark 1:40-42 NLT
And finally I learned that you have the authority to forgive sins here on earth. That you are filled with the Holy Spirit and can perform miracles.
8 Jesus knew immediately what they were thinking, so he asked them, "Why do you question this in your hearts? 9 Is it easier to say to the paralyzed man 'Your sins are forgiven,' or 'Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk'? 10 So I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins." Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, 11 "Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!"
12 And the man jumped up, grabbed his mat, and walked out through the stunned onlookers. They were all amazed and praised God, exclaiming, "We've never seen anything like this before!"
-Mark 2:8-12
I want to focus on my faith in you. I want to dwell on the question, if I have faith, will you have compassion and be willing to heal me in my brokenness?
I feel so encouraged by that.
Please be filled with compassion for me and heal my wounds and broken heart.
I trust you.
Amen.
I started reading Mark today. I want to learn about who you are and what you did and what you do so that I can know you better and have a deeper relationship with you.
I learned that you taught with real authority.
21 Jesus and his companions went to the town of Capernaum. When the Sabbath day came, he went to the synagogue and began to teach. 22 People were amazed at his teaching, for he taught with real authority-quite unlike the teachers of religious law. -Mark 1:21-22 NLT
People were captivated by you.
I also learned that those who have faith in you in their wounded- and brokenness fill you with compassion and you heal them.
40 A man with leprosy came and knelt in front of Jesus, begging to be healed. "If you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean," he said.
41 Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out and touched him. "I am willing," he said. "Be healed!" 42 Instantly the leprosy disappeared, and the man was healed. -Mark 1:40-42 NLT
And finally I learned that you have the authority to forgive sins here on earth. That you are filled with the Holy Spirit and can perform miracles.
8 Jesus knew immediately what they were thinking, so he asked them, "Why do you question this in your hearts? 9 Is it easier to say to the paralyzed man 'Your sins are forgiven,' or 'Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk'? 10 So I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins." Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, 11 "Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!"
12 And the man jumped up, grabbed his mat, and walked out through the stunned onlookers. They were all amazed and praised God, exclaiming, "We've never seen anything like this before!"
-Mark 2:8-12
I want to focus on my faith in you. I want to dwell on the question, if I have faith, will you have compassion and be willing to heal me in my brokenness?
I feel so encouraged by that.
Please be filled with compassion for me and heal my wounds and broken heart.
I trust you.
Amen.
Prologue
Jesus,
I've been making lame attempts to get to know you over the course of my whole life. I want to finally take this time in my life to really learn about who you are and have the relationship with you that I should have always wanted. I want to truly understand the kind of person you were, the kind of being you are, and how to love you as close as possible to the way you love me.
I thank you for continuing to give me chances, time and time again, and for everything you've done for me and for what you are doing and will continue to do in my life.
I don't want to mess this up. I know there will be continued phases in my life where I will want and need you to take me back. But I plan to try as hard as I possibly can to walk along your narrow path, for your yoke is easy and your burden is light. I desperately long to find my rest in you.
Be with me as I learn more about you. Come into my thoughts as I read your word. Transform me from the inside out so that I can reflect your goodness on to others, and become the person that you created me to be.
You have blessed me so much and have been so good to me. Thank you, thank you.
I love you. And I can't wait to love you more.
Amen.
I've been making lame attempts to get to know you over the course of my whole life. I want to finally take this time in my life to really learn about who you are and have the relationship with you that I should have always wanted. I want to truly understand the kind of person you were, the kind of being you are, and how to love you as close as possible to the way you love me.
I thank you for continuing to give me chances, time and time again, and for everything you've done for me and for what you are doing and will continue to do in my life.
I don't want to mess this up. I know there will be continued phases in my life where I will want and need you to take me back. But I plan to try as hard as I possibly can to walk along your narrow path, for your yoke is easy and your burden is light. I desperately long to find my rest in you.
Be with me as I learn more about you. Come into my thoughts as I read your word. Transform me from the inside out so that I can reflect your goodness on to others, and become the person that you created me to be.
You have blessed me so much and have been so good to me. Thank you, thank you.
I love you. And I can't wait to love you more.
Amen.
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