Just Because

On Wednesday nights we have a ladies Bible study class. The last few months we have been talking about the book of Philippians. I love this group of ladies!! The class is taught by our preacher's wife, she is such a gifted woman! I look forward to the class each week & am always sad if I have to miss it.

On another note, I don't know why my sidebar items are at the bottom of the blog, but it is driving me crazy!?!?!?!?!?!?

At Calvary

What Shall I Do?

What shall I do with this one you call the King of the Jews?

1) It is a persoanl question.
2) it is a question that demands action.
3) What am I to do, about Jesus?

Mark 15:1-15

Mark 15
Jesus Before Pilate
1 Very early in the morning, the chief priests, with the elders, the teachers of the law and the whole Sanhedrin, reached a decision. They bound Jesus, led him away and handed him over to Pilate.
2 "Are you the king of the Jews?" asked Pilate.
"Yes, it is as you say," Jesus replied.

3 The chief priests accused him of many things. 4 So again Pilate asked him, "Aren't you going to answer? See how many things they are accusing you of."

5 But Jesus still made no reply, and Pilate was amazed.

6 Now it was the custom at the Feast to release a prisoner whom the people requested. 7 A man called Barabbas was in prison with the insurrectionists who had committed murder in the uprising. 8 The crowd came up and asked Pilate to do for them what he usually did.

9 "Do you want me to release to you the king of the Jews?" asked Pilate, 10 knowing it was out of envy that the chief priests had handed Jesus over to him. 11 But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have Pilate release Barabbas instead.

12 "What shall I do, then, with the one you call the king of the Jews?" Pilate asked them.

13 "Crucify him!" they shouted.

14 "Why? What crime has he committed?" asked Pilate.
But they shouted all the louder, "Crucify him!"

15 Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. He had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.

* Pilate knew Jesus was innocent.
* They released Barabbas out of envy.
* Pilates wife had a dream & sent a message that Jesus was innocent.
* Pilate knew what was right, but did what was wrong.
* Pilte thinks if he has Jesus beaten, then they would release him. He washed his hands & said enough.
* The crowd (family) has an influence sometimes positive &/or negative.

Mark 14:60-65

60 Then the high priest stood up before them and asked Jesus, "Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?" 61 But Jesus remained silent and gave no answer.
Again the high priest asked him, "Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?"

62 "I am," said Jesus. "And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven."

63 The high priest tore his clothes. "Why do we need any more witnesses?" he asked. 64 "You have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?"

They all condemned him as worthy of death. 65 Then some began to spit at him; they blindfolded him, struck him with their fists, and said, "Prophesy!" And the guards took him and beat him.

* Jesus reminded them that one day he will be their judge.

The King

Mark 11:11, 15-17
15 On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple area and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves, 16 and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. 17 And as he taught them, he said, "Is it not written:
" 'My house will be called
a house of prayer for all nations'? But you have made it 'a den of robbers.'"

1) Acknowledge
2) Seek
3) Praise

1 Corinthians 6:19 & 20
19 Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.

2 Corinthians 6:16 & 7:1
16 What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people."

1 Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.

1) I am the temple of God

Mark 10:45
45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

2) I am to partner with the Holy Spirit to keep this temple clean & fill God's purpose in my life.

Psalm 46:7 & 10
10 "Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth."

1) Stop

Psalm 139:23 & 24
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.

24 See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.

2) Look

1 Peter 2:11 & 12, 21-25
11 Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. 12 Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.

21 To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.
22 "He committed no sin,
and no deceit was found in his mouth." 23 When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. 24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. 25 For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

3) Listen & Obey

To Seek God's Face

My heart says of you, "Seek His face!" Your face, Lord, I will seek.
Psalms 27:8

Lord,

I truly do want to know, love, and obey You with all my heart.

Whehter we see revival or increasing judgement, I covenant to seek Your face.

By Your grace, I will pray Your heart and align my life with Your kingdom.

I commit to daily surrender my attitudes, thoughts, words, relationships, and actions to the Lordship of Jesus Christ.

I will daily seek the mighty fullness of the Holy Spirit.

Your face O God, I will seek!

May Your kingdom come and Your name be praised all the Earth.

Amen.

Joy Journal

I saw... a daffodil in bloom today. Daffodils are my dads favorite flower. He has a picture of my brother around the age of 4 to 6 laying by the flower bed with his face next to a bunch of daffodils. It is so sweet!

I heard... the news today that my best friend is pregnant! She & her husband have been waiting for a baby of their own for 12 years. Thank You God!!

I read... about stress & how is stills the joy & spontaneity from my life!

I wondered... how much more weigh I can lose before my friends 30th birthday party!?!

I smelled... my perfume & reminded myself to not save it for a special occasion, because life is to short.

I laughed about... turning 30 in a few short months. I feel so good about turning 30 & knowing that everyday I am getting thinner & will be healthier for myself & my family.

I was grateful for... my family. My husband loves me & works hard to provide for us. My girls make me smile! I am so grateful that we have beautiful & healthy children. I am also grateful that Jesus died on the cross for my sins & that one day I will go to heaven to live with Him!

Dear Lord

Dear Lord,

I thank You for this day,
I thank You for my being able to see
and to hear this morning.

I'm blessed because You are
a forgiving God and
an understanding God.

You have done so much for me
and You keep on blessing me.

Forgive me this day for everything
I have done, said or thought
that was not pleasing to you.
I ask now for Your forgiveness.

Please keep me safe
from all danger and harm.

Help me to start this day
with a new attitude and plenty of gratitude.
Let me make the best of each and every day
to clear my mind so that I can hear from You.

Please broaden my mind
that I can accept all things.
Let me not whine and whimper
over things I have no control over.
And give me the best response
when I'm pushed beyond my limits...
I know that when I can't pray,
You listen to my heart.

Continue to use me to do Your will.
Continue to bless me that I may be
a blessing to others.

Keep me strong that I may help the weak....
Keep me uplifted that I may have
words of encouragement for others.

I pray for those that are lost
and can't find their way.

I pray for those that are misjudged
and misunderstood.

I pray for those who
don't know You intimately.
I pray for those that don't believe.
But I thank You that I believe
that God changes people and
God changes things.

I pray for all my sisters and brothers.
For each and every family member
in their households.
I pray for peace, love and joy
in their homes; that they are out of debt
and all their needs are met.

I pray that every eye that reads this
knows there is no problem, circumstance,
or situation greater than God.

Every battle is in Your hands for You to fight.

I pray that these words be received
into the hearts of every eye that sees it
in Jesus' name.

Amen!