the Lord of the sabbath

Today’s post is all about Luke Chapter 6 – Jesus is the Lord of the Sabbath. He performed miracles and let disciples glean from the fields on the Sabbath and the leaders didn’t like it! But, what stood out to me was He knew what the Pharisees were thinking and asked probing questions like: “I ask you, which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy it?” 9

Then without skipping a beat, He asks a man with a shriveled right hand to stretch it out (10). Were the Pharisees not seeing what everyone else was? Why would they be fixated on what they were going to do with Jesus instead of seeing what He can do?

Crazy!

“But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law were furious and began to discuss with one another what they might do to Jesus.” 11

They were missing the miracles and gift in front of them. They were so stuck in tradition and the ‘rules’ that they were missing the mission.

Legalism = spiritual blinders!

Another example Jesus left for us: “Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God.” 12

How many of us have had the discipline or stamina to spend a WHOLE night in prayer?

Jesus also had countercultural teachings when He walked the earth and they still are today. “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you.” 27-31

Taking the previous verses, what I see is there is much more to the ‘Golden Rule.’

And then Jesus repeats almost word for word what He just said which says to me (and should to you): pay attention.

“But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because He is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.” 35-36

I could go on and on as there is so much good teaching in this chapter:

don’t judge

take plank out of your own eye

the wise man builds his house on the rock

forgive and you will be forgiven

but the last verse I want to highlight is this: “A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.” 45

Bring out the good things and let what you say…

be.the.light

Fill your mind and soul with the richness found in God’s Word so what flows out of your mouth from your heart is good and kind and uplifting.

Let Jesus be the Lord of the Sabbath to you in your life and not just on Sunday! Everyday people need to see you talk the talk and walk the walk.

three kings’ day

Yes, today is the day many celebrate three kings’ day. It is also the end of the 12 days of Christmas and technically those wiseman would have arrived a good year or more after Christ was born so a wee bit more than 12 days.

Before today’s thoughts on Luke chapter 5, I had to stop and acknowledge this day.

On to Luke 5 – “Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because You say so, I will let down the nets.”” 5 NIV

Can you say willingly with no complaint: Because You say so? The Lord wants our obedience and after the fishermen (Simon Peter, James, John, and others) had the catch of theirs lives; Christ asks them to leave everything and follow Him to be fishers of men. Did that big catch help them see they could trust Christ to provide for all their needs and give them a taste of what was to come?

Next thought: Even though Jesus told the healed leper to not say anything about his healing (14), the word spread which caused crowds to come to hear Him to be healed of their sicknesses.

So, what’s the response when you have too much to do? Jesus left us an example to follow He…”withdrew to lonely places and prayed.” (Verse 16)

Have you considered the scene when the paralyzed man is healed? (17-19) Tiles moved right off the roof to lower the man in to be seen by Jesus. What did the homeowner think?

I like Luke’s focus on the human body with fasting. And this verse says it all: “I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” 32

powerful in spirit

Today we look at Luke chapter 4 – Jesus was led into the wild by the Spirit.

I think that is a good word choice as He was tempted wildly. I liked Christ’s response when told to turn the stone into bread: “It takes more than bread to really live.” 4 MSG

That is so true. We need to feed and nurture our souls just as much as we need to take care of our physical bodies by eating and drinking.

With temptation two, satan said for Christ to worship him and he would give Him the kingdoms of this world, but “Jesus refused, again backing His refusal with Deuteronomy: “Worship the Lord your God and only the Lord your God. Serve Him with absolute single – heartedness.”” 8 MSG

May you and I be found faithfully following that command.

And I so love the response for the last test: “For the third test the Devil took Him to Jerusalem and put Him on top of the Temple. He said, “If you are God’s Son, jump. It’s written, isn’t it, that ‘He has placed you in the care of angels to protect you; they will catch you; you won’t so much as stub your toe on a stone’?” ”Yes,” said Jesus, “and it’s also written, ‘Don’t you dare tempt the Lord your God.’” That completed the testing. The devil retreated temporarily, lying in wait for another opportunity.” 9-13 MSG

Did you catch that?

The retreat was temporary, but the devil is always waiting for a chance to bring us down. Be aware and not alarmed when it happens.

After this time of fasting and temptation, the Bible says: “Jesus returned to Galilee powerful in the Spirit.” 14 MSG

That is what we should be after spending time with the Lord – powerful in spirit!

There is so much more I could comment on in the rest of chapter 4. How Jesus gave the slip to the townspeople trying to pitch Him over the cliff, how people were surprised and astonished by His teaching, and how He became the talk of the town as people realized His words brought authority and made things happen like demonic spirits to flee or fevers to leave. I was left wondering why did He quiet the demons and not let them say He is the Messiah.

What did you see or learn in chapter 4? Do tell.

God will meet you where you are at

Luke Chapter 3 – Today’s thought: God will meet you where you are at: “…The Word of God came to John, the son of Zacharias, in the wilderness.” 2 AMP

I love this as it is a direct fulfillment to the prophecy found in Isaiah and verses 4-6 repeat it:

“A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for Him. Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill made low. The crooked roads shall become straight, the rough ways smooth. And all people will see God’s salvation.’”

This chapter talks about John the Baptist going all around the country of Jordan preaching that all men should repent to be forgiving of their sins (3). I was recently in Jordan and saw the sites believed to be where John lived in the wilderness and where Christ would have been baptized. The sky was amazing and you could see this story come alive and almost hear God from heaven saying: “This is My Son, My Beloved, in Him I am well pleased and delighted.” 21

The chapter closes out listing the genealogy of Jesus. How was that record kept all those generations? Things that certainly should make you go hm. So, I say when you don’t know something, go find out! And when you do, let us all know of your findings.

In the meantime,…

be.the.light

to the dark world around you.

Luke 2

Luke 2 is the classic Christmas passage read on Christmas or Christmas Eve in both homes and churches. It can be heard in Charlie Brown specials*, tv covered masses, and in nativity plays far and wide. It recounts the birth of Christ and His younger years.

I heard it read in Arabic for a Christmas celebration that some were hearing and reading aloud for the very first time. You could almost feel the reverence and respect in the air as the holy words were spoken.

How many times do you think you have heard the famed verses 1-19 in your lifetime?

I am guessing close to 100 for me.

Go ahead and read Luke 2 again right now. I dare you to read it out loud too. It will feed your spirit deeper as you engage more senses.

Here’s some thoughts to ponder I had while reading through it last month: After Jesus was found at the temple in His Father’s house, “He went down to Nazareth with them, and was continually submissive and obedient to them; and His mother treasured all these things in her heart.” 51 AMP

What words stick out to you?

I got fixated on continually.

He was continually submissive and obedient.

Imagine that!

Despite being God Himself, He still submitted to and was obedient to His earthly parents.

What an example!

What a legacy!

Something that could be easily overlooked when reading.

And don’t forget the last verse: “And Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and in stature, and in favor with God and men.” 52

May it be a reminder how we should do the same. When we do, we will truly…

be.the.light

to the world!

*check out this post from last month that has references to both Luke 2 and the Charlie Brown special: https://bethechurch.home.blog/2019/12/14/fear-not-or-the-moment-linus-drops-the-blanket/

in the word

I can’t tell you how many times I have read the book of Luke. Last year I took the December challenge of reading a chapter a day until Christmas Eve. If you didn’t read last month and even if you did, why not start this year off in the Word.

That is the plan for the next 24 days as I share the thoughts I contemplated as I read each chapter, some thoughts I had for the very first time:

Chapter 1 – If being visited by an angel was not enough, Gabriel tells Mary she and her virgin self will have a son and that her cousin who is past child-bearing will also have a son.

“And listen, even your relative Elizabeth has also conceived a son in her old age; and she who was called barren is now in her sixth month.” 36 AMP

Think about this for a moment. There are no ultrasounds so finding out the sex of a baby is a no go in those days except of course if you are visited by the angel of the Lord! Also, no phones or faxes so Mary would not have known about Elizabeth’s pregnancy. There was no easy or modern way for communication. But, nothing is impossible with the Lord just as the next verse referring to Elizabeth getting pregnant in her old age says: “For with God nothing [is or ever] shall be impossible.” 37 AMP

Side note: this verse is often taken out of context. Always keep its intent in mind when you hear it. That the impossible happening was response to Mary asking: “How will this be, since I am a virgin and have no intimacy with any man?” 34 The news of Elizabeth being pregnant helped Mary understand a virgin birth is possible with God too.

Isn’t it just like God and His perfect timing to have both the old woman and the young pregnant at the same time. Both visited by the same angel. Both pregnant miraculously. Both going to have boys. Both able to relate in a way others around them could not because of their divine encounters.

Our God is in the details. He is coordinating and orchestrating all for our good. Never doubt His plan or the process. When we open our eyes wide, we often will see how He truly is The God of the impossible and the details prove it.

Look for God in all and let His light shine bright in your life so you can…

be.the.light

Food for thought and a challenge for you, go back to Luke 1 and find at least three people filled with the Holy Spirit before the birth of Christ. Please post in the comments.

new year; new theme

Happy New Year!

What is your plan for today? Tomorrow? This year?

Do you have a theme? I do. Want to know?

Well, my personal theme for the year coming up is HOPE so I wanted to change the blog name to go with a more less in your face churchy name. Would love to know what you think. Yes, we are to be the church by offering hope and when we do we shine our lights bright so now I say go…

be.the.light!

So, here comes bethelight focus going forward for after all being the light avails us to make the world a little brighter. I dare you to try each and every day of 2020 and beyond. The following might help: A Very Strong Prayer for the New Year! May it bless you. It is called: A Prayer to Keep God First This New Year By Debbie McDaniel

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” 2 Corinthians 5.17

Dear God,

Thank You that you make all things new. Thank You for all that You’ve allowed into our lives this past year, the good along with the hard things, which have reminded us how much we need You and rely on Your presence filling us every single day.

We pray for Your Spirit to lead us each step of this New Year. We ask that You will guide our decisions and turn our hearts to deeply desire You above all else. We ask that You will open doors needing to be opened and close the ones needing to be shut tight. We ask that You would help us release our grip on the things to which You’ve said “no,” “not yet,” or “wait.” We ask for help to pursue You first, above every dream and desire You’ve put within our hearts.

We ask for Your wisdom, for Your strength, and power to be constantly present within us. We pray You would make us strong and courageous for the road ahead. Give us ability beyond what we feel able, let Your gifts flow freely through us, so that You would be honored by our lives and others would be drawn to You.

We pray that You’d keep us far from the snares and traps of temptations. That You would whisper in our ear when we need to run and whisper in our heart when we need to stand our ground.

We pray for Your protection over our families and friends. We ask for Your hand to cover us and keep us distanced from the evil intent of the enemy; that You would be a barrier to surround us, that we’d be safe in Your hands. We pray that You would give us discernment and insight beyond our years, to understand Your will, hear Your voice, and know Your ways.

We ask that You would keep our footsteps firm, on solid ground, helping us to be consistent and faithful. Give us supernatural endurance to stay the course, not swerving to the right or to the left or being too easily distracted by other things that would seek to call us away from a close walk with You.

Forgive us for the times we have worked so hard to be self-sufficient, forgetting our need for You, living independent of Your spirit. Forgive us for letting fear and worry control our minds, and for allowing pride and selfishness wreak havoc over our lives. Forgive us for not following Your ways and for living distant from Your presence.

We confess our need for You… fresh… new… again. We ask that You make all things new, in our hearts, in our minds, in our lives, for this coming year. We pray for Your refreshing over us.

Keep Your words of truth planted firm within us, help us to keep focused on what is pure and right, give us the power to be obedient to Your Word. And when the enemy reminds us where we have been, hissing his lies and attacks our way, we trust that Your voice speaks louder and stronger, as You remind us we are safe with You and Your purposes and plans will not fail. We ask that You will be our defense and rear guard, keeping our way clear, removing the obstacles, and covering the pitfalls. Lord, lead us on Your level ground.

We ask that You would provide for our needs, we ask for Your grace and favor. We pray for Your blessings to cover us, we pray that You would help us to prosper and make every plan that You have birthed in our heart to succeed. We pray that others would take notice of Your goodness and could not help but to say: “These are the ones that the Lord has blessed.”

Help us to be known as great givers, help us to be generous and kind, help us to look to the needs of others and not be consumed by only our own. May we be lovers of truth, may the fruits of Your Spirit be evident in our lives – Your love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

Shine Your light in us, through us, over us. May we make a difference in this world, for Your glory and purposes. Set Your way before us. May all Your plans succeed. May we reflect Your peace and hope to a world that so desperately needs Your presence and healing.

To You be glory and honor, in this New Year and forever.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen

Mark, pin, copy, save – do what you have to keep this close at hand and read as often as needed so you can…

be.the.light

the whole year through.

May this new year challenge us all to live brighter lives for our Lord and King Jesus Christ. Amen

By the way, I was going to change to blog name to bethelight but that was taken so I looked into bethehope. That was taken too. Any suggestions or stick with bethechurch???

i made it

It is December 31. The end of one year and almost the beginning of the next. Happy New Year’s Eve.

For me, that means one year down with a post entry made for each day. I can hardly contain my excitement that I made it.

It was no easy task or small feat. I am proud, but at the same time slightly disappointed knowing I was born to write so wish I started sooner.

But, if we never start, a year from now we will still be in the same place. I am glad that is not the case with me this year.

And I have loved every minute of writing, preparing, posting, and blogging. Perhaps that book I have dreamed of writing will come to fruition one day soon. Maybe simply by compiling these entries.

I have always said I could be locked up in a cabin somewhere or never leave our home and just write all day. When your “job” doesn’t feel like work than you know you are doing what you were created to do.

I could sit, whine, moan, and kick myself for not starting sooner, but what good would that do now.

I could be disappointed that I don’t have more followers or have published more than I have but, again, what good would that do now.

So, for today, I am just going to be grateful I made it!

My theme word for the year (diligent) truly paid off as over 1,000 people from nearly 80 countries found an encouraging word within these daily blog entries I diligently posted.

You may have lost some time, you may have made some mistakes. You may wish you had started sooner on something or been more disciplined when you were younger. But, do you think that God would redeem you and not redeem your time? God says: “He will restore unto you the years.” (Joel 2.25)

Sun, stand still…God will freeze everything until you’ve finished what you’ve started. ~ Bishop TD Jakes

Tomorrow a new day is dawning.

Put into action what you regret you didn’t in the previous 12 months.

My hope and prayer is this blog as it perhaps grows in popularity will grow your heart in desiring to be a better Christ follower. I pray you have caught on to this simple concept: if we each make it our own responsibility to be the church then the universal, worldwide body of believers will be stronger and better for it.

Start something tomorrow and give yourself an end goal so you too a little down the road can say: I made it.

If you don’t know where to start or what to do, just daily…

be.the.church

live each day full

“One of the most powerful verses in the Bible when applied to your life will change your life for the better. No matter what you believe. It simply says: “Teach me to number my days”

The only two things that all men will agree that there are two guarantees in life: death and taxes. We know we’re all going to die yet we live our lives like we are going to live forever. We can allow our schedules to get so full we miss out on what’s important. We tell ourselves we will have time to do that or to spend time with that person.

Remind yourself that your days are numbered.

Live your life with the new perspective. Don’t put off reconciling with the person you love. Today’s the day you have; go live it. Go build it. Go share with someone.”

No idea where I first came across the above, but it bears repeating and applying. Make each day count.

Here’s some more quotes and scriptures to help us do just that:

The key is not spending time, but investing in it.

“Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” Psalm 90.12

Time waits for no one.

“The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.” I John 2.17

Time is money.

Better three hours too soon then a minute too late.

“As long as it is day, we must do the works of Him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work.” John 9.4

Lost time is never found again.

“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.” Ecclesiastes 3.1-8

“I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.” 2 Corinthians 6.2

If you have yet to accept Christ, do so today! Simply ask Him to forgive you of your sins and one day we will meet in heaven. The time is coming when it will be too late for you so please do not delay.

“Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.” Proverbs 27.1

Live each day full!

Be ready to meet your Maker!

Give of your time and…

be.the.church

The greatest gift you can give someone is your time because when you give your time you are giving them a piece of your life that you will never get back.

die there

We were created for a purpose and need to find it.

Have you found yours?

It is the end of the year and a good time to reflect and think about the future.

It is quite simple…

Find your there.

Go there!

Stay there!

Die there!

Well, an earthy death as our souls will live on forever and one day when you stand before God, make sure you can say: “Lord, I found the purpose You created me for and I did my best living it out.”

All areas of your life should collide and point towards that God-given, Holy Spirit driven purpose.

If you need help trying to decipher what your purpose might be:

Read The Word

Talk to God

Brainstorm with those who know you well

Ask yourself: What am I passionate about? (The answer can usually help define your purpose.)

Don’t squander time wondering; do something to find purpose then live it out.

“Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.” Proverbs 19.21

“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2.10

When we live for what we are willing to die for and live out our purpose until we are called home, others will see us…

be.the.church

Finish your earthly ‘race’ strong.

“So…run straight toward the goal in order to win the prize, which is God’s call through Christ Jesus to the life above.” Philippians 3.14