HELP WANTED!

Posted on May 18, 2021 by randscallawayffm

“All you need is a preacher with a Bible and a song leader with a hymn book”.  I am old enough to have heard that comment a few times in the sixties from people who put a toe in the water of Kingdom of God living but didn’t not jump in the river of responsibilities to “go and teach”, help daily, support, give of what they had to help others, pray and pray with others.  We needed workers for the harvest then and we need more people willing to help others find and follow Jesus now.  The harvest is greater still because the population is exponentially larger now.  The world desperately needs a Savior.  Jesus is the One and Only who can save them. The world also needs Jesus as LORD of their lives who gives wisdom (skills for living) and guides us to all that is right and good in the eyes of God.

For the church today, the harvest includes people who are finding Jesus online due to the pandemic conditions that forced people inside their homes for such a time as this.  They had nowhere to turn for help but online.  Harvest Workers were needed then to welcome people online, friend them socially, pray with them and continually connect them to the Body of Christ called his church in new ways.  But the workers were few. 

The harvest is even greater still as churches, after the pandemic, are seeing people come back inside churches in person to visit for the first time in their lives.  Who will they find holding the doors wide open to welcome them in with smiles and encouragement for their well thought out but scary decision to come?  We find we need even more people who know Jesus at the doors, outside the building, in the hallways, some who are ready to teach children and youth with eyes of joy with welcome voices of love and tenderness.  We need people to compassionately accept those who are anxious and nervous about coming back, those who have never been to a church but found Jesus online or from heard about Him from a friend.  The hearts of people are stirred to grow in their relationship with God.  Who will help them on their journey? 

The harvest is great but the workers are few.

God-led leaders see the individuals in the crowds.  We see the need for Jesus.  The world desperately needs a Savior and Jesus is the One and Only who can save them.  We have compassion for them because we were once lost but now found.  We see the eyes of confusion, helplessness and hopelessness without Christ.  We see the lost sheep trying to find their way online, in social media comments, through prayer requests and in person.  We see them in our neighborhoods, at the grocery store where we shop and along the paths on our walks.  “The harvest is great but the workers are few.”

What do we do?  Do what Jesus said, “So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.” 

Then ask, is it me, Lord?  Am I who You are calling to help in the harvest that is so great?  Pray, ask God to break your heart of those things that break His heart and see what happens.  Then DO something, anything, everything until you answer the stirring in your heart put there by the Holy Spirit of Jesus who is not only our Savior but our Lord.

The harvest is the responsibility of all who believe in Jesus as Savior and Lord of our lives.  He calls.  We answer.  He sends us into the fields.  He gives us our harvest clothes of humility, gentleness, acceptance, love, mercy, grace, compassion and patience.  These are His character traits that grow beyond our human abiity.  God equips us with all the right tools to help others know, find and follow Him, too.  We are the harvest.  We are also the harvest workers.

“The harvest is great but the workers are few”.  You can almost hear the sigh of Jesus as he says it in this passage from Matthew.  I have done some sighing myself as I recruit teams to serve and connect to people who need Jesus and find there are not enough people to help.  Does it have to be that way for God’s church that grows from inside out and outside in?  God created ALL people.  All people are included and noticed in “His fields”.  “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”  John 3:16

But who will go?  Who will help in the harvest of souls?  Who are willing to do the sweaty, arduous, consistent, compassionate work of a harvest hand day after day, week after week?  That is the question that can only be answered by each one of us as God invites us to the work of helping people find and follow Jesus while developing a strong relationship with God, Himself in the process of growing strong right in the middle of the harvest! 

Matthew—The Law Fulfilled

Matthew 9:35-38, NLT

The Need for Workers

35 Jesus traveled through all the towns and villages of that area, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom. And he healed every kind of disease and illness. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 He said to his disciples, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. 38 So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.”

Abba, Father in Heaven,

You have saved me.  You accepted me where I was but you didn’t keep me there.  You called then equipped me with each obedient step I took.  It’s been a scary, wonderfully exciting adventure with you that I pray others will experience, too.  I pray for workers for the harvest, Lord.  I pray for hearts to be stirred to help as you stirred my heart to help over the years.  I pray for people who know you, love you with all their hearts with a longing to serve you by serving others.  Break our hearts of those things that break yours.  We are humbled at the thought.  May I always be one that follows your call and invitation to work in your harvest no matter what work you give me to do.  There is no greater calling than joining you in your work of your salvation for souls.  Thank you, Lord.  Thank you for saving my soul.

In Jesus Name, Amen

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BUT THE PHARISEES…

Posted on May 17, 2021 by randscallawayffm

One of my long term, full time occupations for God’s church was to plan large events for the denomination.  It was hard and tedious with much research needed in bringing together speakers, musicians, worship leaders, teachers of children and youth as well as specific training for pastors, laymen, and women.  Many interviews along with references went in to acquiring presenters who we felt knew Jesus themselves and who would reach and teach the people with God’s Truth in the best way.  I was at the feet of Jesus daily as I did this task along with teams of beautiful people who helped in this mission.  I tire now thinking of the hours and hours of planning and implementation of this week-long event designed solely so that others would find and learn to follow Jesus.  I praise God for the way He led us through each year of this event.  It was all God!  To God be the glory!

As leaders we gave evaluations to see if the mission of finding and knowing Christ was evident among attenders.  99% of the time it was very evident.  Suggestions were given in process but nearly all told ways the Holy Spirit spoke to their hearts.

But there was this one who missed Him.  Handwritten in all caps (that means shouting to most of us) a person wrote only negative comments about how tea bags and hot water were not offered at adult morning breaks on the coffee tables.  Paragraph after paragraph with words of discrimination of tea drinkers vs coffee drinkers.   NO mention of how the power of the Holy Spirit worked in their life or in the lives of hundreds of people!

So, I “get” this passage.  Jesus has healed two blind men who have acknowledged who Jesus is by calling out, “Son of David”!  With blind eyes, they know He is Messiah who has come through the line of David as prophesied!  Because of their faith and this acknowledgement, Jesus heals them readily.  The now-sighted men cannot not hold back in proclaiming Jesus!  Moments later, Jesus heals a demon-possessed man with the ability to speak.  We can be sure this man now told his story of how Jesus healed him!

BUT THE PHARISEES…

The Pharisees missed it.  Missed Jesus.  Missed who He was.  Missed the point of the miracles.  Missed the message of Truth.  Missed the mission of God.  These elite leaders of religion declared with lies, “He can cast out demons because he is empowered by the prince of demons.”  What they are really saying is Jesus is not one of them!  Praise God he was not one of them!  Jesus has come to serve, not to be serve.  Jesus came to heal the sick and restore the broken.  Jesus has come to seek and to save a lost world with relationship with God!  Jesus did ALL as told by the prophets centuries before He came to earth!  The Pharisees words, although not surprising to Jesus, must have broken the heart of God and the heart of Jesus Christ, His Son. 

Can you hear the sigh of Jesus at the end of the day of healing?

REFLECTION

Ah, but what about ourselves? What do we think, do or say that causes Jesus to sigh? 

How many times do we break the heart of God when we miss the point of the message and miss what we should be and what we should do all because we think only of self?

We break God’s heart in so many ways by gossip which gives birth to the twins named presumption and assumption, demanding our way, throwing fits of “my needs aren’t being met” along with other drama inside and outside His church.  Yikes.  Are we immune to the Pharisaical disease or have we contracted it—like a virus?  Sigh.

Matthew—The Law Fulfilled

Matthew 9:27-34, NLT

Jesus Heals the Blind

27 After Jesus left the girl’s home, two blind men followed along behind him, shouting, “Son of David, have mercy on us!”

28 They went right into the house where he was staying, and Jesus asked them, “Do you believe I can make you see?”

“Yes, Lord,” they told him, “we do.”

29 Then he touched their eyes and said, “Because of your faith, it will happen.” 30 Then their eyes were opened, and they could see! Jesus sternly warned them, “Don’t tell anyone about this.” 31 But instead, they went out and spread his fame all over the region.

32 When they left, a demon-possessed man who couldn’t speak was brought to Jesus. 33 So Jesus cast out the demon, and then the man began to speak. The crowds were amazed. “Nothing like this has ever happened in Israel!” they exclaimed.

34 But the Pharisees said, “He can cast out demons because he is empowered by the prince of demons.”

Abba, Father in Heaven,

Lord, help us to be so intently and resolutely focused on you that we cannot miss your Word to us through messages, conversations that build up not tear down, in worship and through acts of kindness and grace.  I don’t want to ever miss it!  I want to please you in all I am and in all I do in your Name, for your glory.

In Jesus Name, Amen

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FAITH WITHOUT RISK IS NOT FAITH

Posted on May 15, 2021 by randscallawayffm

When we finally say, “Yes, I believe you can save me” to Jesus we take our first baby step of faith.  We step away from world thinking and behavior that teaches us to do life completely on our own to make one step closer to Kingdom living.  Kingdom living is not without pain and suffering, however.  Kingdom of God living is risky, wonderful, scary, abundant with eternal life, tedious, and full of the glory of God.  Kingdom faith living is rewarding even with the battle scars of consistently keeping evil at bay by the power of Jesus the Victor! 

Risky faith is stepping from our comfort of knowing to a life of expectant, ongoing adventure of not knowing what will happen next but knowing the One we follow does know.  Sometimes I call it obsessive, determined obedience.  “Trust and obey, for there’s no other way, to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey” we sing, but do we really live it?

Do we really believe what we say we believe about God, Jesus, His Son and the Holy Spirit (Three-in-One) really real?  Do live like we say we believe?  What does living faithfully look like?

Desperation, mixed with risky faith, led two people who believed in Jesus enough to seek His touch of glorious healing.  A twelve-year-old girl is dying in the arms of her father, Jairus, one of the religious leaders of a synagogue.  At this point in Jesus’ ministry, most of the religious leaders have gathered in unity to hate Jesus because He speaks with wisdom and authority, not in their traditionally ways of using religion to wield power over people.  Jesus comes and teaches what life is like living as a believing child in the Kingdom of a loving God.  Jairus has heard and believes enough to know that Jesus can raise the dead so he comes and kneels at his feet.  This act of worship and faith brings Jesus to his feet because real faith no matter how small or large moves the heart of God! 

I am reminded of what Matthew records later about faith, “He (Jesus) replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”  (Matthew 17:20)

On the way, a woman who has suffered for twelve years with constant bleeding, making her unclean to the community according to Jewish laws, risks her life to make her way through the crowd.  She falls to her knees as Jesus passes by and reaches out to touch the hem of His robe.  This risky act of faith moved the heart of God!  Jesus felt the power of God transfer to this woman providing complete healing! 

Risky faith moves the heart of God while removing our mountain of doubt as we make that first determined step toward the One and Only who is Life.  Pray expectantly.  Live with expectant faith, a faith that knows God hears and responds with His best for us!

“Daughter, your faith has made you well…”  Can you hear Jesus saying this to us when we act in faith, not thinking about what the world thinks?

Before Jesus arrives, He hears the wailing of the mourners.  The first act of Jesus is to tell them to “get out”.  Then the mourning turns to mocking.  There is no faith exhibited among the crowd.  Can you hear the mumbling?  “She’s dead and we’re doing what we are supposed to do.”  “Who does he think he is?”  “Dead is dead.”  I am reminded of the crowd at Jerusalem who praised Jesus as he entered on a donkey’s colt with palm branches and singing, “Hosanna to the King!”  A few days later, their praise words turned to “Crucify Him”.  Sigh.  

Back to the story…Jesus takes the little girl’s hand and brings her back to life.  Luke’s gospel tells us that he told this father of risky faith, “give her something to eat”, to further prove the power God has over life and death.  

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Amazing acts of faith are followed by amazing grace and love from our Savior and Lord!  Yes, faith moves the heart of God in ways our hearts and minds cannot fully grasp but is worth every minute in pursuing!

Matthew—The Law Fulfilled

Matthew 9:18-26, NLT

Jesus Heals in Response to Faith

18 As Jesus was saying this, the leader of a synagogue came and knelt before him. “My daughter has just died,” he said, “but you can bring her back to life again if you just come and lay your hand on her.”

19 So Jesus and his disciples got up and went with him. 20 Just then a woman who had suffered for twelve years with constant bleeding came up behind him. She touched the fringe of his robe, 21 for she thought, “If I can just touch his robe, I will be healed.”

22 Jesus turned around, and when he saw her he said, “Daughter, be encouraged! Your faith has made you well.” And the woman was healed at that moment.

23 When Jesus arrived at the official’s home, he saw the noisy crowd and heard the funeral music. 24 “Get out!” he told them. “The girl isn’t dead; she’s only asleep.” But the crowd laughed at him. 25 After the crowd was put outside, however, Jesus went in and took the girl by the hand, and she stood up! 26 The report of this miracle swept through the entire countryside.

Abba, Father in Heaven,

Just reading your story of those who believe with expectant faith encourages me this morning.  Thank you for saving our souls. Thank you for providing what we need before we know we need it.  Thank you for growing your character traits in us.  Thank you for your patience as our faith grows into full bloom.  Thank you for always being with us.  Thank you for loving us the way you do.  Help us to love like you love us—without conditions.  Thank you for daily miracles of life.

In Jesus Name, Amen

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FASTING TO BE FILLED!

Posted on May 14, 2021 by randscallawayffm

When I fast, it is usually for spiritual reasons seeking God’s wisdom for concerns that are weighing heavy on my heart.  Although, I have discovered recently it is physically good for the body to renew itself.  (No, I’m not selling a new diet plan!)  I withhold food and only drink liquids concentrating on serious conversations with God throughout the day and into the night.  As I do this, I am reminded of what Jesus said about fasting; “Don’t let others know you are doing it”, “Don’t call attention to yourself”.  This is between God and myself.

In Jesus’ day, the religious, full of pride, self-righteous, and arrogant elite would take off their regal robes and put on sack cloth, go to the public square and throw ashes on themselves and proceed to act like martyrs.  It was “show and tell” time of how religious they were.  Mm, I wonder how that was received by common folk who scratched out a living, merely surviving on one meal a day at best?

Jesus is asked why he and his disciples don’t fast according to Jewish tradition.  His answer probably confused them.  The reason we fast today is to lay down all that sustains us to seek the God of answers to what is troubling us and to fill ourselves with all of God to receive it.  The religious leaders apparently forgot that.  God is with them, standing in the flesh as Jesus Christ, His Son!  They don’t have to fast to seek Him, to hear Him, to touch Him and learn the answers to life through fasting…He is right there! 

Yes, there is no need for the leaders to fast to seek God.  What is needed is to open their minds to learn from Jesus, open eyes to see the glory of God in Him with opened ears to hear and understand what He is saying!  He is right there!  Hello!  Celebrate!  Worship at His feet!  Follow Him wherever He goes.  Imitate what He does and how He does it!  But most religious leaders did not.

Jesus has come with new life! It’s a new day!  It’s a new way of life when we seek Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord of our lives!  “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”  (2 Corinthians 5:17, NIV) That’s why Jesus goes on to give another seemingly baffling analogy of wineskins that would have made sense to wine producers of His day.  Let’s break it down…

OLD

We shouldn’t try to fit Jesus into our old life.  That would be the most stressful life we could imagine!  Jesus wants all of us, not just part of us.  Jesus’ abundant life will not fit into your old life of thinking and behaving.  Jesus can’t be poured into our old, worn out “skin”, stretched to the limit with the effects of sin!  When we repent and believe in Jesus, we are brand new creatures.  We leave the old skin behind and are given a new skin!  

NEW

All of Jesus is poured into our new life, our new skin, filled to the brim, able to stretch and grow in God’s might and character.  In our new skin, Jesus will fill us to overflow with His Holy Spirit’s power that transforms us with a new lifestyle that will brim with His love, goodness, mercy and grace.  No, we just can’t fit Christ into the our old “skins”.  Christ wants to fill us with new life, discarding the old life behind in the trash heap of our former sin-selves.

Warren Wiersbe, Commentator, explains the analogy this way;

“Jesus came to bring spiritual health to sick sinners. As the Bridegroom, He came to give spiritual joy. The Christian life is a feast, not a funeral. The illustration of the cloth reminds us that He came to bring spiritual wholeness; He did not come to “patch us up” and then let us fall apart. The image of the wineskins teaches that He gives spiritual fullness. Jewish religion was a worn-out wineskin that would burst if filled with the new wine of the gospel. Jesus did not come to renovate Moses or even mix law and grace. He came with new life!”

NEW WINESKINS OF FAITH

Jesus came to fulfill The Law with a new way of life that did not negate God’s commands but instead gave new understanding to what God intended all along—a loving, intimate, growing relationship with Him!  Christ in us, approaching God at any time!  Yes!

Matthew—The Law Fulfilled

Matthew 9:14-17, NLT

A Discussion about Fasting

14 One day the disciples of John the Baptist came to Jesus and asked him, “Why don’t your disciples fast like we do and the Pharisees do?”

15 Jesus replied, “Do wedding guests mourn while celebrating with the groom? Of course not. But someday the groom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast.

16 “Besides, who would patch old clothing with new cloth? For the new patch would shrink and rip away from the old cloth, leaving an even bigger tear than before.

17 “And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. For the old skins would burst from the pressure, spilling the wine and ruining the skins. New wine is stored in new wineskins so that both are preserved.”

Abba, Father in Heaven,

I am humbled that the God of Creation knows my name, the number of hairs on my head, and knows all my sin but loved me enough to send Your Son to save me, forgive me, remembering my sins no more while making we whole and brand new!  No patches but made new!  This is amazing grace!  Thank you, thank you, thank you.

In Jesus Name, Amen

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LEAVING ONE CALLING FOR ANOTHER

Posted on May 13, 2021 by randscallawayffm

Randy and I were happy as teachers.  We worked hard to train for this calling of God for seemingly years.  Miracles of God’s care flowed in every detail of doing His will.  We gave up seeking the frivolous, as most of our friends did, to seeking real purpose for life.  God led us to be public school teachers who knew Him and provided the way to attain the training needed while being married and raising three children.  Finally, we achieved our goals by being chosen as teachers.  We taught for a while until a new, fresh calling was revealed by our Father. 

God called us to leave teaching, using what we had learned in teaching to serve full time for His church.  We followed.  It was scary.  It required more training.  It was life-changing, but we followed knowing He knew what was best for us.  God had a purpose to fulfill in us for His glory.  He is still doing that even in our “retirement” days. We are not the only ones, believe me!  Being called, chosen for a work for such a time as this, has been God’s way throughout the centuries of mankind.  God Word is full of stories of His glory, teaching His children to obey His calling on their lives!

Matthew, a Jewish man, had counting skills and was obviously a man to be trusted for correctness in his accounting.  So, he was chosen by the Romans, the oppressors of the Jews, to collect exorbitant taxes from his own people.  Accepting this role meant being shunned by his family and all his friends.  He was now their enemy, a tax collector who used his skills for the enemy. 

Matthew knew enough about The Law to be somewhat intrigued by a Man who walked by his booth often.  Matthew’s curiosity grew as crowds began to follow this man.  He heard the stories of healing, restoring sight to the blind and making the lame to walk.  He was calculating how many ways this Man was healing.  He craned his neck from side to side each time this Man passed by, so he could get a glimpse of Him.  Then Matthew, stuck in his booth with bars on the windows to protect him from his own people, would go back to his chosen work.

Matthew did his work as he always did until the day Jesus came, looked him right in the eyes with compassion and said to Matthew, “Follow Me”.  In two simple words, Matthew heard, leave this calling, chosen by the oppressors, for Me and My calling for you.  Those eyes seem to say, I know you.  I love you.  I know where you have been and what you have done.  His voice said, “Follow Me.  Be my disciple.”  I will teach you how to do a new work.  Simple words for a great calling to now belong to Jesus.

Wow.  

Matthew—The Law Fulfilled

Matthew 9:9-13, NLT

Jesus Calls Matthew

9 As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at his tax collector’s booth. “Follow me and be my disciple,” Jesus said to him. So Matthew got up and followed him.

10 Later, Matthew invited Jesus and his disciples to his home as dinner guests, along with many tax collectors and other disreputable sinners. 11 But when the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with such scum?”

12 When Jesus heard this, he said, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do.” 13 Then he added, “Now go and learn the meaning of this Scripture: ‘I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.’ For I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.”

LET’S GO A BIT DEEPER…

Matthew knew who he was, a sinner.  Jesus knew that Matthew knew he was a sinner in need of a Savior.  THAT is what attracted Jesus to Matthew, the tax collector!  Jesus comes to those who know they are sinners.  “All have sinned and come short of God’s glory.” Paul writes later to the churches establishing in Rome.  Let’s take a look at the whole passage in Romans 3:21-24, Msg, and flesh out this commonly quoted phrase;

“This makes it clear, doesn’t it, that whatever is written in these Scriptures is not what God says about others but to us to whom these Scriptures were addressed in the first place! And it’s clear enough, isn’t it, that we’re sinners, every one of us, in the same sinking boat with everybody else? Our involvement with God’s revelation doesn’t put us right with God. What it does is force us to face our complicity in everyone else’s sin.

God Has Set Things Right

21-24 But in our time something new has been added. What Moses and the prophets witnessed to all those years has happened. The God-setting-things-right that we read about has become Jesus-setting-things-right for us. And not only for us, but for everyone who believes in him.”

Matthew is called, chosen to be justified (just as if he had never sinned) by Jesus.  His slate of sin wiped clean by Jesus Christ.  He was made “right” from all his past deeds.  He was ready to follow Jesus into a new life of love, trust and obedience.  Who could want anything more? 

Joyfully, Matthew leaves his cage of collecting to follow the one who collects sinners and sets them free to love and serve like Jesus.  Matthew, a quick learning, wants to serve Jesus immediately by inviting him to his house for a meal to honor the One and Only who takes away the sin of the world.  A sinner invites Jesus to his house!  Imagine what the church leaders are saying.  Wait, we don’t have to imagine. The work of Jesus is fulfilled by the prophets who wrote earlier that the Messiah would serve in this very way!  Jesus came to seek and to save the lost who KNOW they are sinners.  Matthew is a sinner justified and made whole by Jesus.  He invited his friends in the tax collecting world to know Jesus, too!  Matthew leaves one calling for another in obedience.

Later, Matthew will describe Jesus as “a friend to sinners”.  (Matthew 11)  Who would know better than Matthew?  Jesus is our Friend, Advocate to the Father, and the Redeemer of all sin.  Jesus came to die and rise again, to justify our sin, each one of us, no matter where we have been or what we’ve done or doing right now.  He stands ready to forgive confessed sin and wipe the slate clean.  Jesus our Savior wants to be the Lord of all we think, do or say. What a testimony Matthew has written about what Jesus did for him!

Abba, Father in Heaven,

Great are you, Lord!  I am so grateful for your saving grace.  I am a sinner saved only by your grace.  I am not perfect for sure, but perfectly forgiven.  I will live life by asking what you want with a willingness to obey.  Change and transform me continually to be all you want me to be.

In Jesus Name, Amen

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HOMETOWN

Posted on May 12, 2021 by randscallawayffm

“I knew you when…”  If you are the one who moved away from where you grew up to accept a job in another town, state or country, you will know the back story of what Jesus is experiencing as he went back to his own town.  Many know and are impressed with Jesus, who grew up there as a good student of the Law.  They are amazed with his apparent ability to now heal people.  But what do they really believe about who He is?  Do they still believe he is just another human like them? “Well, I knew Jesus when…”  “He was a good boy”, a little weird at times, but nevertheless a good son to his parents, strange story there, though.”  Is that what they were thinking?  “Did you hear about his insane cousin who lives in the wilderness eating bugs?”  “Yeah, that family is not like us, that’s for sure.”

I wonder if Jesus already knew the man who was paralyzed since the man was from his own home town?  Probably.  Remember, he is God’s Son, Jesus not only knows him physically but spiritually, with the ability, like God, to look inside and see his heart.  Jesus knows it is unclean and needs to be cleansed and changed from the inside out!  What good would it be to walk around, still a sinful man?  Wow, when we camp on this thought, we understand why Jesus dealt with the inside first, before the healing, “Be encouraged, my child!  Your sins are forgiven.” 

Jesus also “saw the faith” of those who brought the paralyzed man to him!  Jesus knew them, too, and knew their hearts of faith, enough faith to be kind and loving, hoping that their friend could be healed and walk again!  Do you see how much is going on here?  Friends, we have a Savior who wants to be our Lord, who not only heals but cleanses us from all unrighteousness and saves our souls for eternity—IF we believe!

Of course, the teachers who may have taught him in Synagogue School were outraged.  There immediate thoughts were–who does he think he is…God?  It was proven that that Jesus is indeed God in flesh by knowing exactly what they were thinking and mumbling about in outrage.  God sees hearts.  God knows our hearts.  Jesus knows what God knows.  Lesson in heart reading is complete! 

So, Jesus, always led by the Father, let’s his hometown teachers in on why he came and by who’s authority.  The big reveal is stated clearly for all to hear and see, “’I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins.’ Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, ‘Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!’  And the man jumped up and went home!” 

But do they understand?  Not quite.  “…they praised God for giving humans such authority”.  I wonder what Jesus was thinking at this point?  Did He sigh?

LET’S TAKE A LOOK AT OUR OWN HEARTS…

Do we really believe that what we believe about God is really real?  Read this question many times until understanding grows and behavior begins to be fruitful.  For what we really believe will be reflected in our thinking and ultimate behaving.

Does Jesus look into my heart and see my faith?

Matthew—The Law Fulfilled

Matthew 9:1-8, NLT

Jesus Heals a Paralyzed Man

9 Jesus climbed into a boat and went back across the lake to his own town. 2 Some people brought to him a paralyzed man on a mat. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, “Be encouraged, my child! Your sins are forgiven.”

3 But some of the teachers of religious law said to themselves, “That’s blasphemy! Does he think he’s God?”

4 Jesus knew what they were thinking, so he asked them, “Why do you have such evil thoughts in your hearts? 5 Is it easier to say ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or ‘Stand up and walk’? 6 So I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins.” Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!”

7 And the man jumped up and went home! 8 Fear swept through the crowd as they saw this happen. And they praised God for giving humans such authority.

Abba, Father in Heaven,

Hallowed is Your Name.  Great are you Lord!  May Your Kingdom come and live in me, reign supremely in me.  May Your will be done on earth in every detail of today as it is in heaven.  May your glory be revealed to all those around us.  May we return seeing, hearing and understanding with really believing with praise to you!  Yes, give us this day evidence of Your Holy Presence living in us.  Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.  Lead us not into temptations to get even, hold grudges or bring them down with gossip but instead deliver us from sin completely.  Heal us from the past effects of our sins.  Move us forward, growing in your character.  For only by your power are we completely forgiven and healed.  So to you be the glory for all that is right and good forevermore. 

In Jesus Name, Amen, I really believe!

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CALM DOWN!

Posted on May 11, 2021 by randscallawayffm

It was such a peaceful drive to our destination with three kids in the back of the van—until it wasn’t.  About an hour into the drive sarcasm escalated to little physical jabs at each other until the words of authority came from the front seat, “CALM DOWN”!  “Be quiet.  Be still.  Don’t make me come back there!”  I heard the same words from my parents when my brother and I amused ourselves by fighting in the back seat.  “He crossed my line!”  “She’s breathing in my space!”  How silly, right?  We amuse ourselves with doing evil when good escapes our thinking.

Sometimes in the midst of ministry, a sudden, unexpected storm of doubt seeps into our being.  Anxiety blossoms into full-on stress mode.  We begin to blame others for doing well as we struggle with our part of what God gave us to do.  We begin to sarcastically make fun of each other, jab at each other’s abilities, which leads to a storm of broken relationships.  These storms are presented by evil and we fall for it and run with it!  I can hear God, our Father in heaven calling out to all of us, “CALM DOWN!”  “Don’t make me come down there again!” 

These are just some of the thoughts that are flooding into my mind as we read a very short, familiar passage that reveals the glory and power of Jesus, Son of God.  Jesus says to God’s creation, “Be still!”  Jesus not only commanded the sudden lake storm to be quiet, he REBUKED it according to this passage of God’s Word!  The meaning of the word rebuke is; to express sharp disapproval or criticism of (someone) because of their behavior or actions.  Mm…

Wait, was Jesus rebuking the devil himself so calm waters would resume on their journey to the “other side”?

Matthew—The Law Fulfilled

Matthew 8:23-27, NLT

Jesus Calms the Storm

23 Then Jesus got into the boat and started across the lake with his disciples. 24 Suddenly, a fierce storm struck the lake, with waves breaking into the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. 25 The disciples went and woke him up, shouting, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!”

26 Jesus responded, “Why are you afraid? You have so little faith!” Then he got up and rebuked the wind and waves, and suddenly there was a great calm.

27 The disciples were amazed. “Who is this man?” they asked. “Even the winds and waves obey him!”

CONSIDER THIS…

This sudden storm could have been the work of the enemy to stop the ministry on “the other side of the lake”.  The other side of the lake was known as godless territory.  Did the evil one launch his limited supernatural power to stop Jesus and his team from going there?  Did he stir the waters and provide the winds to rock the boat of Jesus and his ministry team?  Why not?  He does that to us often!!  Right?

Remember, always remember:  Satan acts in violence.  Jesus operates in peace. 

We learn that Jesus, alpha and omega, Lord of all and over all, will always have the upper hand in with the enemy.  Jesus was, is and always will be the final say and the Victor over our enemy.  Jesus wins every time.  The disciples run to Jesus and Jesus responds with “Calm down”.  He rebukes nature that was stirred to delay their trip and nature calms down.  The mission of Jesus proceeds in victory. 

Jesus Heals Two Demon-Possessed Men

28 When Jesus arrived on the other side of the lake, in the region of the Gadarenes, two men who were possessed by demons met him. They came out of the tombs and were so violent that no one could go through that area.

29 They began screaming at him, “Why are you interfering with us, Son of God? Have you come here to torture us before God’s appointed time?”

30 There happened to be a large herd of pigs feeding in the distance. 31 So the demons begged, “If you cast us out, send us into that herd of pigs.”

32 “All right, go!” Jesus commanded them. So the demons came out of the men and entered the pigs, and the whole herd plunged down the steep hillside into the lake and drowned in the water.

33 The herdsmen fled to the nearby town, telling everyone what happened to the demon-possessed men. 34 Then the entire town came out to meet Jesus, but they begged him to go away and leave them alone.

MINISTRY ON THE BEACH…

Jesus and his crew get to the other side of the lake and are met on the beach by men filled with legions of demons!  Beth Moore, renowned Bible scholar, writes, “Our God is even God over the godless.  Christ steps foot on their “turf” on the other side of the lake.  The demons knew He carried His authority with Him.  You see, as hard as the demonic world tries to keep Him out, no one can keep Christ out of any place He is determined to go.  The one place He will not force His presence is the human heart.  The demons that met Christ at the shore that day were far more wicked than ignorant.”   

Moore goes on to say, “This idea is considered in most commentaries that the storm which occurred on the way “to the other side” could have been an attempt by the kingdom of darkness to discourage Christ’s arrival!  We see a hint toward the possibility of this idea in the way Christ REBUKED the wind and waters almost as if they were disobedient.  Could they (demons) have been temporarily acting under the instruction of the god of the air while the overruling Son of God was sleeping?  Just food for thought, but it would help to explain why the demonic literally met Christ on the sore, knowing for certain who He was.”

The demonic filled men bowed to the new authority of Jesus Christ, Prince of Peace and Jesus healed them. 

“Who is this man?”, said the disciples.  This man is Jesus, Son of God, who came to save the lost and rescue the perishing.  If you need healing from the storms that are blowing through your life right now.  Invite Jesus to enter into the stirred waters of your heart, mind and soul with the same prayer of the disciples, “Lord, save us!”  He will rebuke what is dark and reveal the calm assurance of His glorious Light of Life.  He will calm your heart in the storm with His everlasting, supreme peace.  This is His gift to us for believing in Him.  Believe and be saved.

Abba, Father in Heaven,

By Your Word we know you created all, you are in all and you control all on earth as it is in heaven.  You overrule the darkness with your Light.  You are the Victor over our consistent enemy.  You fight the battles with us and for us.  Yes, you are God and we are not.  Thank you, Jesus for saving our souls so that we can be in holy relationship with you forever!  Continue to grow us in and through the storms of life, helping us get to the other side!

In Jesus Name, Amen

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HOW MUCH IS THAT?

Posted on May 10, 2021 by randscallawayffm

I am that person who loves a bargain.  I enjoy bartering and bargaining for the lowest price and best deal in town.  Randy sends me in as the “closer” on any car purchase we make.  He says I have the gift to make it happen.  The first time I went to Tijuana, Mexico, I was introduced to street bargaining.  Every vendor asked a high price knowing and hoping to get half of what they were asking.  Back and forth bidding was fun for me. I came away with eight Mexican blankets for family members.  Who won here?  I don’t think it was me!  (Smiling)

Jesus is very clear and precise about following Him.  There is a cost, but what isn’t in this world?  There is always a high cost to be led by sin into a destructive lifestyle that maims or destroys you and your family in many ways.  Following Jesus is taking a path less traveled which leads to eternal life.  To follow is hard but the reward is so great we cannot even imagine all of it.  (See Revelation, the book at the end of the Bible!)  Leaving our friends and family members behind to follow Jesus can be emotionally painful but Jesus takes care of those who are precious to us.  (Read the blog about the healing of Peter’s mother-in-law.) 

We will pay a cost, one way or another, for the way we live this life on earth.  We will pay a high cost for the one we have chosen to follow.  There are only two choices.  Do we want to follow Satan into confusion, lies, cheating, and all other forms of evil here on earth that lead to eternal fires of death? OR do want to follow Jesus that leads to all that is the best for us?  With Jesus we learn and grow in his right living (righteousness) that leads to more life, abundant life. The term “abundant life” comes from the Bible verse John 10:10b, “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” “More abundantly” means to have a superabundance of a thing. “Abundant life” refers to life in its abounding fullness of joy and strength for spirit, soul and body.

Yes, there is a great cost to saying yes to God by believing in His Son, Jesus.  There is a great cost to turning from your unbelieving friends with lifestyles that lead to complacently at the very least to destructive patterns and addictions at the most that lead to joyless living.  So, you see, the cost is greater still of NOT following him.  That cost is death eternal with no hope here and no hope of eternal life with Him there.  You lose all hope of seeing your precious loved ones who believed and have gone on before you.  You lose out on the joy of being with Jesus in “the room he has prepared for us in heaven” where there are no tears or sorrows ever again.  Mm, yeah, I choose Life.  I choose Jesus.  What about you?

Matthew—The Law Fulfilled

Matthew 8:18-22, NLT

The Cost of Following Jesus

18 When Jesus saw the crowd around him, he instructed his disciples to cross to the other side of the lake.

19 Then one of the teachers of religious law said to him, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.”

20 But Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens to live in, and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place even to lay his head.”

21 Another of his disciples said, “Lord, first let me return home and bury my father.”

22 But Jesus told him, “Follow me now. Let the spiritually dead bury their own dead.”

WE NEED TO KNOW…

I am almost embarrassed for the teacher who tried to bargain with the Son of God! Can you live day to day with being in charge of your life, asks Jesus?  Friends, we need to know and understand this simple truth.  There is no bargaining, haggling or negotiating with God to be done.  The deal has been made.  The price for our sin, all sin, has been decided and paid in full by Jesus who died to save us and rose again to prove He is King of kings, Lord of lords and the Final Victor over evil and death.  It is finished.

“My sin, not in part, but the whole has been was nailed to the cross and I bear it no more, it is well, it is well with my soul.”  It is finished.  I am His and He is mine.  So, I will follow you.

“Follow me now…” says Jesus.

I will follow You, is my only response. That is all that is needed. 

Abba, Father in Heaven,

You are who you say you are.  You love in ways beyond my wildest imagination.  You give life.  You lead us down paths that are narrow and sometimes scary but you provide extreme hope while getting to where we need to be, doing what you want us to do.  You are with us.  Your Presence never leaves a soul who follows you.  I am so grateful you want us to follow you wherever you lead for I know whom I have believed!  Thank you for allowing us to follow you to life forevermore.  Thank you for all the lessons along the way.

In Jesus Name, Amen

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GLIMPSES OF THE KINGDOM!

Posted on May 8, 2021 by randscallawayffm

What is the greatest moment you have experienced?  When was that time when you knew nobody else but God could have done this?  What was a troubling trial lifted out of your hands?  How did you feel when the trial was over and it was taken care of in a way you never expected?  Do you remember the smile that returned along with the peace that followed a sigh of relief?  There are so many times in my own life that there is not enough time to tell it all.  But I know Who was responsible for it all.  Jesus advocating to our Father in Heaven for me.

Yes, Jesus, Son of God, does that.  He did it for Peter right in the middle of Jesus’ earthly ministry to “seek and to save the lost”, “to take our sicknesses” as well as teach us how to live the way God intended for us.  All these works, foretold by the prophets and fulfilled in Jesus give us glimpses into the Kingdom of God that lives in all of us who believe. 

Troubles come in right in the middle of ministry often.  But so does the touch of Jesus who gives us glimpses into the Kingdom of God work.  Consider the scene.  Peter has committed to following Jesus, leaving his fishing work and family behind.  Jesus knows Peter’s mother-in-law is very ill.  Jesus, God’s Son, also knows how her sickness is troubling to Peter.  Jesus goes with Peter to his house to take care of people that are precious to him so Peter can take care of people precious to God.  Let that sink in, ministry leaders.

When we accept the call to fully follow Jesus with our lives, He takes care of those people that we care about on our journey with Him.  Why?  Because he loves and cares for them as much as He cares for you!  Jesus loves ALL people.  He knows what you need.  He knows what your loved ones need.  Peter, experienced in how Jesus cared for him, wrote;

“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7

Simply stated and fully believed.  Do you think Peter may have recalled the day Jesus’ touch of healing was provided to his mother-in-law right in the middle of his journey with following Jesus in ministry to others?  I think he probably did along with many other instances where Jesus gave Peter glimpses into the Kingdom of God!

Matthew—The Law Fulfilled

Matthew 8:14-17, NLT

Jesus Heals Many People

14 When Jesus arrived at Peter’s house, Peter’s mother-in-law was sick in bed with a high fever. 15 But when Jesus touched her hand, the fever left her. Then she got up and prepared a meal for him.

16 That evening many demon-possessed people were brought to Jesus. He cast out the evil spirits with a simple command, and he healed all the sick. 17 This fulfilled the word of the Lord through the prophet Isaiah, who said,

“He took our sicknesses
    and removed our diseases.”

POINTS TO PONDER…

Peter was daily taught by Jesus, the Word made flesh, while Jesus followed God’s commands.  While walking the earth, Jesus invested his life in Peter.  Read the gospel accounts and we learn that Jesus would correct him, remind, rebuke and forgive him all while unconditionally loving on Peter who had a greater work designed just for him in God’s Kingdom work.  In other words, Jesus took constant CARE of Peter as Peter took care of what God had given him to do. 

Peter would write his own letters later to the churches established after Jesus rose again and later ascended to Heaven.  Peter, who learned from the Master Teacher, Jesus, who assigned him to be “The Rock upon whom His church will be established”, (Read the whole passage in Matthew 16) writes; 

6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

10 And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. 11 To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.  (1 Peter 5)

Yes, God will take of us, you and I, no matter what, in the best way possible, the Kingdom way!

Abba, Father in Heaven,

Thank you for loving and caring for us every minute of every day.  To you be the glory, honor and praise for what you do in us to “restore us and make us strong, firm and steadfast”.  You are God and we are your children whom you love and cherish.  Thank you, Lord, for these precious thoughts of your never-ending care.

In Jesus Name, Amen

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“BECAUSE YOU BELIEVED”

Posted on May 7, 2021 by randscallawayffm

I wonder sometimes if my requests to God are just words thrown into the airspace due to my desperation.  I wonder if I really believe what I say I believe about God is really real?  When I stop to consider, ponder, meditate on His promises and revisit the day of my salvation, the answer is yes, I believe!  This “exercise” of faith is important to evaluate the depth of our believing faith in the One and Only who can change lives with His unchangeable love, mercy and grace.  Jesus tells us at the end of this healing story that who we are and what we truly believe inside reveals the depth of our faith. 

What you and I really believe will always be reflected in our behavior in this world while we wait expectantly for the next eternal home…”because you believed”.

PAUSE FOR PRAYER  (“Have a Little Talk with Jesus” moment)

What do I believe? 

Who am I because I believe? 

What do I do because I believe? 

What do I say and how do I say it because I believe? 

How do I behave each day, all day long, because of what I believe?

What do I think about most because of what I believe?

Crowds push and shove to be near Jesus who has now gained popularity for healing everyone who comes to Him. But what does each individual in that mass of people really believe?  Since God knows hearts, Jesus tells them clearly and uncovers the depth of their faith.  Yikes.

What would Jesus say about the depth of our faith as believers?  “I tell you the truth, I haven’t seen faith like this in all Israel!”, said Jesus to the mostly Jewish crowd.  One thing we can always count on—Jesus will always reveal Truth because He is Truth.  I love that!  In a world of charades, playacting, work enough to get by, blaming instead of owning our mistakes, gossip, lies and game playing, Truth will always, sooner than later, be revealed.  Faith is revealed.

Do I really believe that what I think and believe about God is really real?  Ask yourself this question often.  Because the enemy tries to get between our faith and God daily.

EXERCISE YOUR FAITH MUSCLES BY REMEMBERING WHAT GOD HAS ALREADY DONE

Jesus shows us that faith reveals what we really believe.  Stop and pause to answer this question for life today, right now:  What did Jesus do or provide because you had the faith to ask and believe?

Because I believed, God ________________.  Fill in the blank.  THIS is the testimony of our faith!

Matthew—The Law Fulfilled

Matthew 8:5-13, NLT

The Faith of a Roman Officer

5 When Jesus returned to Capernaum, a Roman officer came and pleaded with him, 6 “Lord, my young servant lies in bed, paralyzed and in terrible pain.”

7 Jesus said, “I will come and heal him.”

8 But the officer said, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come into my home. Just say the word from where you are, and my servant will be healed. 9 I know this because I am under the authority of my superior officers, and I have authority over my soldiers. I only need to say, ‘Go,’ and they go, or ‘Come,’ and they come. And if I say to my slaves, ‘Do this,’ they do it.”

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10 When Jesus heard this, he was amazed. Turning to those who were following him, he said, “I tell you the truth, I haven’t seen faith like this in all Israel! 11 And I tell you this, that many Gentiles will come from all over the world—from east and west—and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob at the feast in the Kingdom of Heaven. 12 But many Israelites—those for whom the Kingdom was prepared—will be thrown into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

13 Then Jesus said to the Roman officer, “Go back home. Because you believed, it has happened.” And the young servant was healed that same hour.

I’m now singing a chorus I sang in my youth, “Faith in God Can Move a Mighty Mountain” as worship to God.

Faith in God can move a mighty mountain,
Faith can calm the troubled sea;
Faith can make a desert like a fountain,
Faith can bring the victory.

Followed by singing the chorus of “The Solid Rock”

My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness
I dare not trust the sweetest frame
But wholly lean on Jesus’ name

Abba, Father in Heaven,

Our hope, faith, trust, is built upon what you have provided in your gift of salvation.  Jesus, you are the foundation of faith that is built on believing all you revealed to us when you came down from heaven to seek and to save us, the lost, the hopeless in an unbelieving world.  You turned the world upside down and inside out with what believing, trusting and obeying I all about.  You are still doing it!  Thank you.  Thank you for your mercy and unended grace as we build our faith strong enough to move mountains with you. You are God and we are not.  I believe in You.  Life is all about you.  My life is in you!

In Jesus Name, Amen.  I believe.

Faith truly is the Victory that overcomes the world!  (Yes, another old hymn, it’s that kind of day!)

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