Judges 7-8; Mark 12; Psalms 52, 42

Depression can really wreck havoc in my life if I give it more reign than it deserves. It happens to the best of preachers who preach every Sunday and then have to face a depressed filled Monday.

My soul is in despair within me;
Therefore I remember You from the land of the Jordan
And the peaks of Hermon, from Mount Mizar. – Psalm 42:6 NASB

What makes me a bit unique is that I have become comfortable coming to God and giving Him my despair. It is like I am looking at my depression outside my body and reporting it and giving it to God. While most will turn and run away from God, hence the 60% of ministers who commit adultery, why hide the problem from Him? I love how the psalmist points the way to healthy boundaries and relationships. Of course, there are the days where even when I run to God, somehow I do not sense He is there.

I will say to God my rock, “Why have You forgotten me?
Why do I go about mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?” – Psalm 42:9 NASB

Notice how I still call God my rock – my place of security, stability and strength? At the same time I am honestly bringing my feelings to God even though it looks like He might have forgotten me.

Yet Gideon said to them, “I would request of you, that each of you give me an earring from his plunder.” (For they had gold earrings, because they were Ishmaelites.) – Judges 8:24 NASB

I know that I want the Holy Spirit to directly speak to me – not through emotion-filled revivals – just to know that He is there. When I do not wait for Him, I will begin to neglect the simple things He has asked me to do, like worship. Other things begin to fall by the wayside too, like prayer and church fellowship. Reading the Scriptures might seem boring and humdrum some days but it is better than creating something more flashy and exciting, like an ephod. I have to be in a place where I trust that God knows what He is doing.

Gideon made it into an ephod, and placed it in his city, Ophrah; but all Israel committed infidelity with it there, and it became a snare to Gideon and his household. – Judges 8:27 NASB

When my life get this bad, when idolatry has messed with my heart, how many people do I take down with me? I think that my relationship with God is like a marriage. Why is my relationship with God so important, why does it demand all of my life? If my walk with God is truly marital in nature, what sort of husband would brush it off if his wife kept multiple lovers? I cannot sluff off my covenant relationship with God – it is a marriage. It is up to me to decide how holy and pure it will be.

Father, Thank You for taking all of my despair into Your hands. If I keep it, I will be destroyed.

Erwin (evanlaar1922)

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Judges 1-4; Mark 10

“After that generation died, another generation grew up who did not acknowledge the Lord or remember the mighty things he had done for Israel. The Israelites did evil in the Lord’s sight and served the images of Baal. They abandoned the Lord, the God of their ancestors, who had brought them out of Egypt. They went after other gods, worshipping the gods of the people around them. And they angered the Lord.” Judges 2:10-12 NLT

The book of Judges is one of Israel’s darkest times. God sent Deborah to help usher in 40 years of peace. Where has God sent me to be a light for Him?

“Deborah, the wife of Lappidoth, was a prophet who was judging Israel at that time. She would sit under the palm of Deborah, between Raman and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim, and the Israelites would go to her for judgment…Then Deborah said to Barak, “Get ready! This is the day the Lord will give you victory over Sisera, for the Lord is marching ahead of you.” Judges 4:4&5,14 NLT

Deborah was a Mother of Israel, a spiritual leader, a guardian, protector and prophet. She’s the only judge that gets a song in her honor. She is a hero. She had conviction, bravery & boldness. She had a courageous faith. I see in Mark 10 that God rewards Faith…

“What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked. “My Rabbi, the blind man said, “I want to see!” And Jesus said to him, “Go, for your faith has healed you.” Instantly the man could see, and he followed Jesus down the road.” Mark 10:51&52 NLT

Jesus healed the man instantly. Some situations seem impossible, but God can change someone’s life in an instant. Do I have the faith to believe it? There are times when I am not just praying for physical healing. But, I am praying for eyes to be open and scales to fall off of them.

Dear Father, Thank you that you never give up on me. I pray that I would have this same heart towards others . Even when I don’t see a change, I know you’re always working. Help me to be bold and courageous like Deborah. Thank you that Your word never returns void. Amen.

“Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But not with God. Everything is possible with God.” Mark 10: 27 NLT

Amy(amyctanner)

Deuteronomy 27-31; Mark 2

Our church family is loud and each Sunday one never expects what could happen that will generate a lot of noise. My wife comes from a Catholic background, and as we grow older she misses the quite, the reverence and she is beginning to use the word, holiness, in describing what it means to be in the presence of God.

Then Moses and the Levitical priests spoke to all Israel, saying, “Be silent and listen, Israel! This day you have become a people for the Lord your God. – Deuteronomy 27:9 NASB

I find that my own experience in church is starting to shape the same way as my wife’s. I find that when I am worshipping, I am reminded of God’s love and mercy, and my first reaction is not to be loud, but to be silent and to reflect on those memories and then give thanks, reverence and love to Him.

Silence was a way that God taught His people to be calm before His presence and here was a great example during the first worship and consecration service in Israel. I believe it helped them focus their hearts and minds on the magnitude of their vow renewal before God.

It was a reminder that God chose them.

When I look at my own prayer time, I know fasting will have to part of my experience when I meet with God alone.

But the days will come when the groom is taken away from them, and then they will fast, on that day. – Mark 2:20 NASB

It has not happened yet, but I know that it will have it’s place and time in my life. Most of the time I think I have no time or no place for fasting. When I think like that I find that I am out of balance. I am going to try fasting somewhere in the next two weeks and put into practice a key ingredient in my alone time with God.

I know that Jesus wants to know me and to interact with me. Spending time with Him will make that happen. Who would not want to spend time with those we are intimately connected to? If heaven is my reality, the thought of heaven raises my head above my circumstances to see Jesus – He is the one who loves me and promises me eternal life. One day I will be with Him forever, close and intimate, being with Him in love.

Father, as I take advantage of my quiet time with You, I pray that our time will be filled with many memories of Your love and mercy in my life. I pray that You will fill my time with Your presence, Your holiness and I pray that my response will be fasting and yielding more of my life to You. I look forward to the day that this will not have to be something I plan to do, but one that I will be doing everyday when I am with You forever.

Erwin (evanlaar1922)

Mark 14:12-15:47

As they were eating, Jesus took some bread and blessed it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, “Take it, for this is my body.” And he took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it. He gave it to them, and they all drank from it. And he said to them, “This is my blood, which confirms the covenant between God and his people. It is poured out as a sacrifice for many.” Mark 14:22-25 NLT

This is such a familiar scene that I can miss the significance of it. Images of paintings come to mind of Jesus sharing an intimate meal with the disciples before his death. He is inviting me to the table as well. To sit in His presence and remember His sacrifice. To feast on His goodness.

“And the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. When the Roman officer who stood facing him saw how he had died, he exclaimed, “This man truly was the Son of God!” Mark 15:37-39 NLT

Dear Father, thank you for making a way for me to enter your presence. You love me with an everlasting love. I pray that I would live from the place of being your Beloved. Amen.

Jesus said, “I Am.” And you will see the Son of Man seated in the place of power at God’s right hand and coming on the clouds of heaven.” Mark 14:62 NLT

Amy(amyctanner)

Mark 8:1-10:12

I have experienced personal physical healing in my life, I have seen healing take place when I have prayed at least on one occasion and I have prayed a thousand prayers for healing that I never saw take place. I am fairly certain that the gift of faith, healing or miracles are not for me. I am fascinated though with how Jesus demonstrates so much wonder when He heals, He is so personal, so life-changing.

They arrived at Bethsaida. Some people brought a sightless man and begged Jesus to give him a healing touch. Taking him by the hand, he led him out of the village. He put spit in the man’s eyes, laid hands on him, and asked, “Do you see anything?”

He looked up. “I see men. They look like walking trees.” So Jesus laid hands on his eyes again. The man looked hard and realized that he had recovered perfect sight, saw everything in bright, twenty-twenty focus. – Mark 8:22-25 MSG

I have read many times how Jesus rebukes weakness of faith and how He honours faith. Here are some takeaways that I want to follow in my life.

• I love how the blind man is willing to allow Jesus to lead him – I mean it was a walk out of the village. I need to give my life to Jesus and let Him lead me – it can only mean good things
• People asked for sight and Jesus gave it. I need to keep going with my praying faith believing full well that Jesus can keep pace with it
• The confidence of the people and the blind man, whatever their expectations were, received. I want to give my confidence to Jesus knowing that I will receive what I need as opposed to what I want.
• The healing is always perfect and the method is always creative. I cannot forget that I will receive perfect gifts to my imperfect faith.

It is my faith that honours Jesus, and therefore Jesus will honour it. I know that even though my prayers may not have seen healing, the fact that I prayed in faith means that I was not dishonouring Him. I cannot tell Jesus how, why and when. Jesus will heal and I know that He will because I believe in Him. He knows the best method and I trust Him without reservation.

Father, forgive me when there are moments of doubts of my own relationship with You because a prayer of faith produced no results when it comes to healing. Thank You that You have given me the opportunity of praying for so many and I know that somewhere in their lives You were present because of that prayer. I look forward to continuing to pray for others to be healed and trust You to be the one who knows the how, why and when.

Erwin (evanlaar1922)