Exactly as He Said

He said, "Don't be afraid. 

I know you're looking for Jesus the Nazarene, 

the One they nailed on the cross. 

He's been raised up; He's here no longer. 

You can see for yourselves that the place is empty. 

Now—on your way. 

Tell His disciples and Peter that He is going on ahead of you to Galilee. 

You'll see Him there, exactly as He said." 

Mark 16:6-7 msg

•

Bewildered,

they were completely shocked

that You weren't there.

You had already told them

what to expect.

You told them You would be killed,

You would be dead for a little while,

but that You would come back.

You told them You would meet them in Galilee.

You did exactly as You said.

Thank You, Lord, that I can trust You and Your Word.

Thank You that You do exactly as You say You will do. 

Help me to hear Your voice.

Give me a heart that seeks You,

listens to You 

and believes what You say.

Keep Choosing Life and Peace

My dear friends, we must not live to satisfy our desires.  

If you do, you will die. 

But you will live, if by the help of God's Spirit 

you say "No" to your desires . 

Only those people who are led by God's Spirit are his children. 

Romans 8:12-14 cev

•

It's voice is always there

telling me how to feel

telling me to look out for myself

telling me to make myself comfortable,

"I deserve to take a break...."

"Why do I have to do it all?"

"What about me?"

Listening to my old self

leads me down a dark road

lined with false promises of comfort

and happiness and relaxation.

But that road leads to shame

and death.

Having feasted on the flesh

I stand covered in carnage.

Hanging my head

filled with despair 

"What have I done?"

Will I ever end this love of myself?

•

People who are ruled by their desires think only of themselves. 

Everyone who is ruled by the Holy Spirit thinks about spiritual things. 

If our minds are ruled by our desires, we will die. 

But if our minds are ruled by the Spirit, we will have life and peace. 

Romans 8:5-6 cev

•

I have a choice.

I do not have to do what my feelings tell me to do.

I have the power in me;

not my power, but the power that raised Christ from the dead —

the Holy Spirit —

to turn and do what He wants me to do.

Then I will be filled with life and peace,

instead of death and chaos. 

•

This is what the Lord says—
      your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel:
   “I am the Lord your God,
      who teaches you what is good for you
      and leads you along the paths you should follow.
 ¹⁸ Oh, that you had listened to my commands!
      Then you would have had peace flowing like a gentle river
      and righteousness rolling over you like waves in the sea.

Isaiah 46:17-18 nlt

•

Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, 

“I am the light of the world. 

If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, 

because you will have the light that leads to life."

 

John 8:12 nlt

Deciding How to Live

When everything was hopeless, Abraham believed anyway,

deciding to live not on the basis of what he saw

he couldn't do but on what God said He would do.

Romans 4:18 msg

•

Abraham was certain that God could do

what He had promised.

Romans 4:21 cev

•

There has never been the slightest doubt

in my mind that the God who started

this great work in you

would keep at it and bring it to 

a flourishing finish on the very day

Christ Jesus appears. 

Philippians 1:6 msg

•

No, we neither make nor save ourselves.

God does both the making and saving.

He creates each of us by Christ Jesus

to join Him in the work He does,

the good work He has gotten ready for us to do,

work we had better be doing.

Ephesians 2:10 msg

It comes so easy:

the despair

the overwhelmed feeling

the dullness. 

Looking down,

looking around,

looking within,

all is lacking.

It is so easy to see.

What is not seen is real.

It is solid,

it is what I can depend on.

I must decide how I will live,

each day,

each moment.

I am not the source,

You are.

You created me.

You saved me.

You gave me work to do.

You do the work in me

and through me.

Only You can make

something out of nothing,

speak life into death.

So I decide to look up,

to trust,

to believe.

Just as I am, He loves me

Peter blurted out, "Even if everyone else is ashamed of you 

when things fall to pieces, I won't be."

 Jesus said, "Don't be so sure. Today, this very night in fact, 

before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times."

 He blustered in protest, "Even if I have to die with you, 

I will never deny you." All the others said the same thing. 

•

He came back and found them sound asleep. 

He said to Peter, "Simon, you went to sleep on me?

Can't you stick it out with me a single hour? 

Stay alert, be in prayer, so you don't enter 

the danger zone without even knowing it. 

Don't be naive. Part of you is eager, 

ready for anything in God; 

but another part is as lazy as an old dog 

sleeping by the fire." 

•

Now Peter got really nervous and swore, 

"I never laid eyes on this man you're talking about." 

Just then the rooster crowed a second time. 

Peter remembered how Jesus had said, 

"Before a rooster crows twice, you'll deny me three times." 

He collapsed in tears.  

Mark 14:29-30, 37-38, 71-72 msg

I know so well that eager desire, 

jumping in, signing up, ready to be and do

all that God wants me to.

I think I am so much more than I am.

Just like Peter, sometimes.

Yes, Lord! I'll give my life for You!

I'll do it!

I'll go!

Here am I, send me!

My heart leaps in excited joy,

thinking of all that I will do for Him.

But then, reality hits. 

There in the shadows, around the warming fire,

I am questioned, 

the time has come to show my allegiance.

Shaking and quaking, I back away.

I am unable. 

Humbly I see how unwilling I truly am.

I seek comfort.

I desire the warmth of His presence,

forgetting that it is not always felt. 

But it is always there. 

Trust God, my friends,

and always tell him

each one of your concerns.

God is our place of safety.

We humans are only a breath;

none of us are truly great.

All of us together weigh less

than a puff of air.

Don't trust in violence

or depend on dishonesty

or rely on great wealth.

I heard God say two things:

"I am powerful,

and I am very kind."

The Lord rewards each of us

according to what we do. 

Psalm 62:8-12 cev

Embracing This God-Life

Jesus was matter-of-fact: "Embrace this God-life.

Really embrace it, and nothing will be too much for you."

"That's why I urge you to pray for absolutely everything,

ranging from small to large. 

Include everything as you embrace this God-life,

and you'll get God's everything. 

And when you assume the posture of prayer,

remember that it's not all asking.

If you have anything against someone,

forgive — only then will your heavenly Father

be inclined to also wipe your slate clean of sins."

Mark 11:22, 24-25 msg

Faith grows when I embrace You.

Circumstances loom so large

jumping in my face

my sight is so limited

when I see only when is in front of me.

I was created for risk.

Safety comes from following You,

not shrinking back,

hiding in a box. 

"Bring it all to Me.

Every single, little bit."

Looking around 

I want so much to point fingers

to compare

to blame.

"Forgive them," You whisper.

"Forgive, and you will be forgiven."

I am not the judge.

Do I know what is deep inside?

Planks block my view.

Take my hand

let's go together

to the only One who can 

make things as they were meant to be. 

Help My Unbelief

And Jesus said, [You say to Me], 

If You can do anything?

[Why,] all things can be (are possible) to him who believes!

  At once the father of the boy gave 

[an eager, piercing, inarticulate] 

cry with tears, and he said, Lord, I believe! 

[Constantly] help my weakness of faith!

Mark 9:23-24 msg

•

Oh how strong my faith seems

as I sit in the quiet

alone with You.

My faith may seem to tower

as I type out what 

You have whispered to my soul

from Your Word.

Standing in worship

surrounded by fellow believers

it is so easy to sing out 

my trust in You.

But as the day wears on,

and the tests and trials come 

my responses reveal what I 

truly believe deep down in my heart.

Worries whirl in my head

as I lay in the darkness.

Complaints spill from my lips

when things don't go 

the way I want them to.

Fear creeps in

taunting me,

calling me to follow.

Humbly I join that father

on his knees before You.

I do believe.

Please, help my unbelief. 

Dear God, my Master, 

You created earth and sky

by Your great power —

by merely stretching out Your arm!

There is nothing You can't do.

Jeremiah 32:17 msg

True Rest

 The apostles then rendezvoused with Jesus 

and reported on all that they had done and taught. 

Jesus said, "Come off by yourselves; 

let's take a break and get a little rest." 

For there was constant coming and going. 

They didn't even have time to eat. 

 So they got in the boat and went off 

to a remote place by themselves. 

Someone saw them going and the word got around. 

From the surrounding towns people went out on foot, 

running, and got there ahead of them. 

When Jesus arrived, he saw this huge crowd. 

At the sight of them, his heart broke—l

ike sheep with no shepherd they were. 

He went right to work teaching them. 

When his disciples thought this had gone on long enough—
it was now quite late in the day—they interrupted: 

"We are a long way out in the country, and it's very late. 

Pronounce a benediction and 

send these folks off so they can get some supper."

Jesus said, "You do it. Fix supper for them."

   They replied, "Are you serious? 

You want us to go spend a fortune on food for their supper?"

But he was quite serious.

 

Mark 6:30-38a msg 

It all just seems too much

this clambering crowd—

their endless needs,

always one more thing to do,

one more meal to make,

one more mess to clean up.

I need my time.

I deserve it.

When I want it.

How I think it should look.

Right?

I work hard.

I'm with them all day long.

I should be rewarded.

Right?

Where do I find the strength to do one more thing?

And taking the five loaves and two fish, 

He looked up to heaven and, praising God, gave thanks 

and broke the loaves and kept on giving them to the disciples 

to set before the people; 

and He [also] divided the two fish among [them] all.

   And they all ate and were satisfied.

Mark 6:41-42 amp 

•

"Bring what you have to Me."

That is what I hear You whisper 

to my heart. 

Look up to heaven,

praise Me,

give thanks for what you have been given. 

I can provide all you need.

Let me lead.

•

Then he told them what they could expect for themselves: 

"Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. 

You're not in the driver's seat—I am. 

Don't run from suffering; embrace it. 

Follow me and I'll show you how. 

Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, 

my way, to finding yourself, your true self. 

What good would it do to get everything you want 

and lose you, the real you?

Luke 9:23-25 msg

His Touch • Mark 5

To a man filled with screaming demons

You stop and ask his name.

Once he was free 

You told him to go to his 

home and family and tell them

about Your mercy and all You had done.

To a woman who had been unclean

for so long, who had dared to touch Your robe,

You did not let her slink away.

You sought her out, acknowledging her faith,

urging her to step out into health and freedom.

To the suffering man, who was just told 

his daughter had died,

You calmly told him to ignore the crowd and to trust You.

Gently, You led him to her

as you raised her up into new life.

Chaos becomes Calm

Hopeless becomes Hope Full

Unclean becomes Clean

Dead becomes Alive

At the touch of Your hand.

Jesus asked him, "Tell me your name."    

He replied, "My name is Mob. I'm a rioting mob."

They came up to Jesus and saw 

the madman sitting there wearing decent clothes 

and making sense, no longer a walking madhouse of a man. 

Jesus said, "Go home to your own people. 

Tell them your story—what the Master did, 

how he had mercy on you."

She slipped in from behind and touched his robe. 

She was thinking to herself, 

"If I can put a finger on his robe, I can get well." 

The moment she did it, the flow of blood dried up. 

She could feel the change and 

knew her plague was over and done with. 

Jesus said to her, "Daughter, you took a risk of faith,

and now you're healed and whole. 

Live well, live blessed! Be healed of your plague." 

While he was still talking, 

some people came from the leader's house and told him, 

"Your daughter is dead. Why bother the Teacher any more?"

Jesus overheard what they were talking about 

and said to the leader, "Don't listen to them; just trust me." 

He clasped the girl's hand and said, 

"Talitha koum," which means, 

"Little girl, get up." 

At that, she was up and walking around!

Excerpts from Mark 5 in The Message

The Seed — The Word

"And those sown on the good (well-adapted) soil

are the ones who hear the Word and 

receive and accept and welcome it and bear fruit --

some thirty times as much as was sown,

some sixty times as much,

and some [even] a hundred times as much."

Mark 4:20 amp

And He said to them, "Be careful what you are hearing.

The measure [of thought and study] 

you give [to the truth you hear] 

will be the measure [of virtue and knowledge]

that comes back to you -- and more [besides]

will be given to you who hear.

For to him who has will more be given;

and from him who has nothing,

even what he has will be taken away [by force].

Mark 4:24-25 amp

Your Word is Life

Your Word is Truth

Your Word brings Light
and understanding.

It nourishes me,
making my life produce
life-giving fruit.

Cultivate the soil of my heart,
remove the weeds,
shoo away the distractions,
till up the hard places.

Make me ready and receptive
to Your Word.

Please give me ears that hear,
a heart and mind that
receives, accepts and welcomes
Your Word.

"I know I'm filled to be emptied again,

The seed I receive I will sow."

Then He added, 

"Pay close attention to what you hear.

The closer you listen, 

the more understanding you will be given —

and you will receive even more.

To those who listen to my teaching,  

more understanding will be given.

But for those who are not listening, 

even what little understanding 

they have will be taken away from them."

Mark 4:24-25 nlt

Teaching the Crowd

Once again, Jesus went 

to the shore of Lake Galilee.

A large crowd gathered around him, 

and he taught them.

Mark 2:13 cev 

As I read Mark 2 today

the verses above seemed to tug

at me more than any other.

"Father, what do you want me to 

learn from these verses?"

I asked in my heart.

"Feed my sheep."

It popped into my brain

as clear as day.

I can relate to wanting to take a quiet walk by the lake

and being followed around by a crowd.

What do I teach them?

How do I teach them?

Write these commandments that I've given 

you today on your hearts. Get them inside of you 

and then get them inside your children. 

Talk about them wherever you are, 

sitting at home or walking in the street; 

talk about them from the time you get up in the morning 

to when you fall into bed at night. 

Tie them on your hands and foreheads as a reminder; 

inscribe them on the doorposts of your homes and on your city gates.

Deuteronomy 6:6-9 msg

Father, I am so humbled by this responsibility 

I have been given. I confess that I have not 

been as purposeful as I could be about 

teaching my kids about You.

Please fill me up with You,

so that I have Words of Life to give them.

Please teach me how to teach them.

I want it to be so natural that You 

are part of our daily, every day conversations. 

This is part of my dream,

to have my kids know You, love You and follow You

with their whole hearts and lives.

This is my heart's desire.

Trust the LORD and live right!

   The land will be yours,

   and you will be safe.

    Do what the LORD wants,

   and he will give you

   your heart's desire.

   Let the LORD lead you

   and trust him to help.

   Then it will be as clear

   as the noonday sun

   that you were right.

  Be patient and trust the LORD. 

Psalm 37:3-7 cev