https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-d9mpm-15c90ed

Have you ever found yourself correcting others under your breath? How about out loud?

Have you found yourself being an elitist … feeling superior because of your standing in the community, or your education?

Well in the interest of being honest, I was brought up in Philadelphia, PA …where when it comes to sports everybody seems to believe that they are better coaches, managers, GM’s and owners than anyone else. Okay, admittedly we can be a bit over-the-top at times.

Well here’s a snapshot of what Jesus says about that in Mark 7, “Some take pride in what they do, others (The Pharisees) take pride in finding out what others do wrong.”

We’ve all heard or known these people. (Maybe we’ve even been one of them at some time.) The world is full of such people who believe that they know better than us, then everyone else. Some even profess to knowing more than God!

The know-it-alls take pride (now there’s a scary word)…

For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. (John 2:16

When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom. (Proverbs 11:2)

…The know-it-alls take pride in knowing what others do wrong, not right, not right …but what they do wrong.

Maybe today we can focus on Jesus’ response, where he quotes Isaiah 29:13,

13 And so the Lord says,

“These people say they are mine.

They honor me with their lips,

but their hearts are far from me.

And their worship of me

is nothing but man-made rules learned by rote.*

Let’s get right with God!

Let’s get our worship right!

Let’s get our hearts right!

Pray on…

Song: Hallelujah (Album: Chapel Songs)

https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-wwckv-15c90e5

A lack of faith will diminish our vision, it will gum-up our thinking, and it will no doubt cost us our understanding. As the hymn writer wrote, “I once was blind, but now can see.” What shines there before the believer, is completely missing from the lost.

Darkness will overcome your human efforts to see. (The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. ~ John 1:5). Only the Light will overcome the darkness. Only by faith can we see the truth, see the answer, see and then embrace the saving.

Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town, among his relatives and in his own home.” ~ Mark 6:4. To many, including his family, he was just another tree wandering about in the forest.

Corrected vision is a blessing when we get diagnosed and put on those prescribed glasses. We would do well to contact our spiritual optometrist (The Creator), receive His prayerful diagnoses, and then to put on those heavenly glasses.

Pray on…

Song: See (Album: The Twelve)
Scripture: Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town, among his relatives and in his own home.” ~ Mark 6:4.

https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-kfgq8-15c90d6

Though the mirror reveals an honest reflection of what it sees, our eyes are not always capable of capturing the image clearly. There could be a myriad of obstacles getting in the way of us seeing the truth, but we need to somehow reconcile that.

We often need some kind of help in stepping back and getting a better or more honest perspective on ourselves and our life. Distance, both physically and over time, seems to be a good mechanism in which to make that happen. So regardless of the method we use, we need to pursue that authentic view.

Jesus, with his parables, was remarkably good at revealing the truth. The woman at the well, the Pharisees, stone throwers, glass houses, on and on.

In Mark 4:1, we get to see how unaware we can be, how our lack of oversight can cause us to slip away, and how unconsciously the conditions of our heart can be affected.

Listen! We read…

Let’s all take a step back, let’s be mindful and use whatever opens our eyes, and get some perspective on our blindness, and then attack them in the hopes of getting closer to our God, going deeper in his Word, and growing in our faith.

Pray on…

Song: A Hardened Heart (Album: Trio)
Scripture: “Listen…” ~ Mark 1

https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-3w8af-15c90e0

Let’s talk about faith, or our lack of it today. Let’s step back and look at how we’ve been dealing with the latest stumbling blocks along our journey. One thing’s for sure, we’re always handling a problem, just getting over one, or on the cusp of a new one …that’s life.

So before jumping into our response to the current, or next problem, let me share a nugget of wisdom from my father. It goes like this, ask yourself, in light of my past mistakes, and in expectation of my future situations, what’s the best way to face my present problem?

I love this because it helps us to see how God has worked in the past, and brings to mind his promises for the future, which then helps us to lean on him, instead of relying on our own imperfect solutions.

There are so many opportunities to just have faith. Think about it,  every single day, there are so many situations where just having faith would resolve conflict and unwarranted stress. We continually miss moments of joy because we’re busily fretting needlessly. Jesus said, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.” (Mark 5:36) …here’s an idea, let’s just do it, let  just have faith!

Pray on…

Song: Holding On To You (Album: Endurance)
Scripture: “Don’t be afraid; just believe.” ~ Mark 5:36

https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-dbp6w-15c90d1

Following in someone’s footsteps requires some intention, and it also requires commitment. Our following is an apprenticeship of sorts. Committing to becoming an apprentice means a time of work and study; a time of developing and refining one’s skills; a time now (of work) that is set aside for a future endeavor (rewards).

Mark 1:16–18 (NIV): Jesus Calls His First Disciples

16 As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 17 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” 18 At once they left their nets and followed him.

We endeavor to be many things in this world, carpenters, architects, lawyers, doctors, artists, and yes …followers of Jesus. To be a Christian, requires following Jesus, it requires intention and commitment, it requires work and study, and it requires prayer.

Prayer equipped Jesus for his ministry, and it will also equip you along your journey. So make a commitment today to follow Jesus. Act now and reap your future rewards.

Pray on…

Song: Come Follow Me (Album: Pray On)
Scripture: Mark1:16-18

https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-x49te-1599b47

I have two daughters, two very different daughters. Sure they share some family traits, (and certainly our family culture), but they also have personalities that can sometimes be surprisingly dissimilar… but regardless of their differing personas, I love them both the same.

Through their lives they have both found their own distinct ways of challenging my patience, my faith… and my fatherhood. I’ve had to witness their rebellion, their suffering, and thankfully, gratefully… their blessing.

In much the same way Isaiah 63:7 reflects Israel’s past, dare I say our own past… and how God (our Heavenly Father) has repeatedly shown his unfailing love to us his children. In fact, our whole life demonstrates his compassion, his provision, and his protection of, and for us.

(Listen) The love I have for my children is demonstrated by my compassion, my protection and my provision for them… I get it… I’ve lived it… and I am, and we are, amazingly, blessed to be under such an unconditional, unimaginable and unmatched love.

Speaking of the Lord Isaiah writes…
I will tell of the kindnesses of the Lord,
the deeds for which he is to be praised,
according to all the Lord has done for us—
~ Isaiah 63:7

And he’s still doing it today…
And he will be again tomorrow,
It’s a promise…

Pray on…

Song: Where the Gates Never Close (Chapel Songs)
Scripture: I will tell of the kindnesses of the Lord, ~ Isaiah 63:7

https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-iznrk-1599b35

More than twenty-six hundred years ago, the prophet wrote of the countries leaders as being ignorant to the peoples needs and led by their own personal gain. When I read that I can’t help but feel that we haven’t grown much, that we haven’t learned much, that we haven’t made a dent in correcting the plans of darkness.

Regardless of how you want to politically spin this, we are living in a world that is still driven by selfish worldly gain and not selfless spiritual compassion. With no godly standards, and no godly guidelines, we are surely following an ungodly, undisciplined, and uncaring path.

Lord, wake us to your faithful calling, wake us to a loving lifestyle, (and) wake us to a boldly compassionate mindset.

Pray on…

Song: The Consequence (Album: The Consequence)
Scripture:They are dogs with mighty appetites; they never have enough. ~ Isaiah 56:11a

https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-4626a-1599b22

Recently we arrived at our southern dwelling only to find that the bulwark protecting our driveway had been damaged. Someone had driven into it, done significant damage, and then driven away without so much as a note left behind. I found myself upset and disappointed that someone would not care enough to own up to their actions. It wasn’t the carelessness that caused the accident that upset me, because we all have our less than perfect moments, but the disrespect that comes from fleeing quietly away. It took a few hours before I found myself through prayer, comforted by the fact that I could afford to have everything repaired. Some uneducated detective work did reveal a particular white van and its driver as the culprit, but instead of continuing down a long unassured and confrontational highway, I decided to forgive him and prayerfully pray that he might find Jesus and discover his character as a way forward.

Isaiah 56:1 is a reminder that true godliness comes only through having character that is shaped by the character of God, and that this can only happen by consistently applying his word. In a world where character is so lacking, it would probably do us well to demonstrate a different reaction than what is expected when challenged by disrespectful behavior.

If nothing else I found it to be wonderfully successful stress reliver …and maybe, just maybe, the prayer that leads someone to a much needed change of life.

Pray on…

Song: Deal With It (Album: Stars Under My Feet)
Scriture: This is what the Lord says:
“Maintain justice and do what is right,” ~ Isaiah 56:1a

https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-cyh2y-1599b17

One of my domestic responsibilities is to open up the house each morning. I’m undeniably an early riser, so taking care of such a thing seems natural. Admittedly, I get an energy bump when I lift the shades and or spread the curtains to reveal a bright sunny day. On those special days I want to expose as much beauty as possible, so I work at making sure we get as much exposure as is available.

In Isaiah 54:2 we read about the fulfillment of God’s promise, that Israel’s descendants would occupy other nations; and they would inherit the earth.

What a blessing it is to wake up to a beautiful day and to know that its creator was thinking of you when he designed it. You want to put a jump in your step, be mindful of the moments that regrettably often slip by, and make an effort to remember the One who makes all things possible. What a blessing it would be to daily stretch the curtains that inhibit our senses, so that we’d more readily recognize the purpose and plans that have been lovingly designed for us.

Pray on…

Song: We Belong to the Day (Album: IHS)
Scripture: stretch your tent curtains wide, ~ Isaiah 54:2