JESUS CONFIDENCE

Posted on September 15, 2017 by randscallawayffm

Luke and The Lost

Confidence. We all want it. We want our children and grandchildren to have it. We know confident, unwavering people are successful in what they do. But what does confidence really mean? I looked it up…It is the feeling or belief that one can rely on someone or something; firm trust. Example: “we had every confidence in the staff”. Synonyms: trust, belief, faith, credence, conviction. Example: “I have little confidence in these figures”

It is the state of feeling certain about the truth of something. Example: “it is not possible to say with confidence how much of the increase in sea levels is due to melting glaciers”. It is a feeling of self-assurance arising from one’s appreciation of one’s own abilities or qualities. Example: “she’s brimming with confidence”.

What are we confident or sure of these days? Who do we listen to most and often? Who do we have confidence in and believe in? Do we live with this confidence? Do we have JESUS confidence?

Why all this talk about confidence? As we come to the end of Luke 13, we see Jesus Christ answering drama with full confidence because He is Truth! He confides to the Pharisees, who shout, “run for your life, Herod’s out to kill you!” with His mission statement. He reminds those around Him (including those who should KNOW the Scripture) of what the prophets have said about Him. Nothing rattles Jesus. He is the Son of God! Blessed is He who comes in the Name of God!

Luke 31 Jesus confidence

Luke 13, The Message
31 Just then some Pharisees came up and said, “Run for your life! Herod’s on the hunt. He’s out to kill you!”

32-35 Jesus said, “Tell that fox that I’ve no time for him right now. Today and tomorrow I’m busy clearing out the demons and healing the sick; the third day I’m wrapping things up. Besides, it’s not proper for a prophet to come to a bad end outside Jerusalem.

Jerusalem, Jerusalem, killer of prophets,
abuser of the messengers of God!
How often I’ve longed to gather your children,
gather your children like a hen,
Her brood safe under her wings—
but you refused and turned away!
And now it’s too late: You won’t see me again
until the day you say,
‘Blessed is he
who comes in
the name of God.’”

Think about Truth and the Promises of God so we can build a confidence that cannot be shaken…
–Tell evil you have no time for him.
–Ask Jesus to defeat the foe within you that continuously pokes holes in your confidence in Christ, in Jesus Name. And He will!
–Remember the Truth and invite Truth to live in You.
–Our confidence is in Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives in those who believe.
–Promises of confidence: (Just a few to get you started!)
“The LORD is the one who goes ahead of you; He will be with
you. He will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be
dismayed.” Deuteronomy 31:8

“Do not fear, for I am with you; do not anxiously look about
you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help
you, surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”
Isaiah 41:10

“I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angles, nor
principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor
powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will
be able to separate us for the love of God, which is in Christ
Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39

“You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them,
because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is
in the world.” I John 4:4

“This is the CONFIDENCE which we have before Him, that, if
we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.”
I John 5:14

Thy will be done! 
In Jesus Name, Amen! I believe.

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HOW CAN I PICTURE GOD’S KINGDOM?

Posted on September 14, 2017 by randscallawayffm

Luke and The Lost

It was a grand weekend of listening to a powerful, spirit led speaker and worship music that filled our souls with praise for God. I was one of the organizers, helped in the kitchen, helped lead worship, and made the speaker comfortable. I had also invited my best friend who had not accepted Christ…yet. In the busyness, I noticed that the Holy Spirit was softening my friends heart with the messages. There were tears in her eyes as we lined up for lunch. I went to her and was about to talk with her about Jesus when details called me away. Missed opportunity. I will regret it for the rest of my life. God gave me another opportunity with her later, but I will always regret THAT one.

Jesus is teaching in the meeting place. He sees a woman who needs His touch. He stops what He is doing and heals her. The church leaders go wild with anger saying he disobeyed God’s law of no work on the Sabbath. Jesus refocuses their thoughts and actions on what the Kingdom of God is really supposed to be.

Each day is filled with possibilities and opportunities to help others find and follow Jesus. This is the picture of Kingdom living God’s way. If we focus less on the details and stay tenaciously focused on Jesus, He will show us these times to stop and offer His love to someone else. It might be just a smile to a face twisted and lined with worry over a challenging situation. It might saying “you’re doing a great work here” to a store associate just trying to eek out a living. It might be showing patience and kindness to others who are angry as they stand in line to wait. It might be praying with a woman at Sam’s Club because she broke down to tell you she is going through a divorce while admiring jackets on sale. (Yep, that happened last week.) Start with the day to day and then God will move us on to more intense Kingdom work. God will lead us. God will bless the small stuff. His Holy Spirit will always give us the words to say at the right time. To God be the glory for Kingdom living!

“How can I picture God’s Kingdom”, says Jesus to all of us. It might make us late to church but save the life of someone in distress. It might help us to see the world through HIS eyes. Kingdom living might make us more compassionate as we pray, “Lord, break my heart of those things that break yours.” Kingdom living is more concerned about living abundant and free from sin that entangles us and helping others to break free as well.

How can we picture God’s Kingdom? Love God. Love Others. Do this with all our heart, mind and soul. The rest of life falls into place as we serve in His ways.

Luke 13, The Message
Healing on the Sabbath
10-13 He was teaching in one of the meeting places on the Sabbath. There was a woman present, so twisted and bent over with arthritis that she couldn’t even look up. She had been afflicted with this for eighteen years. When Jesus saw her, he called her over. “Woman, you’re free!” He laid hands on her and suddenly she was standing straight and tall, giving glory to God.

14 The meeting-place president, furious because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, said to the congregation, “Six days have been defined as work days. Come on one of the six if you want to be healed, but not on the seventh, the Sabbath.”

15-16 But Jesus shot back, “You frauds! Each Sabbath every one of you regularly unties your cow or donkey from its stall, leads it out for water, and thinks nothing of it. So why isn’t it all right for me to untie this daughter of Abraham and lead her from the stall where Satan has had her tied these eighteen years?”

17 When he put it that way, his critics were left looking quite silly and red-faced. The congregation was delighted and cheered him on.

The Way to God
18-19 Then he said, “How can I picture God’s kingdom for you? What kind of story can I use? It’s like a pine nut that a man plants in his front yard. It grows into a huge pine tree with thick branches, and eagles build nests in it.”

20-21 He tried again. “How can I picture God’s kingdom? It’s like yeast that a woman works into enough dough for three loaves of bread—and waits while the dough rises.”

22 He went on teaching from town to village, village to town, but keeping on a steady course toward Jerusalem.

23-25 A bystander said, “Master, will only a few be saved?”

He said, “Whether few or many is none of your business. Put your mind on your life with God. The way to life—to God!—is vigorous and requires your total attention. A lot of you are going to assume that you’ll sit down to God’s salvation banquet just because you’ve been hanging around the neighborhood all your lives. Well, one day you’re going to be banging on the door, wanting to get in, but you’ll find the door locked and the Master saying, ‘Sorry, you’re not on my guest list.’

26-27 “You’ll protest, ‘But we’ve known you all our lives!’ only to be interrupted with his abrupt, ‘Your kind of knowing can hardly be called knowing. You don’t know the first thing about me.’

28-30 “That’s when you’ll find yourselves out in the cold, strangers to grace. You’ll watch Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets march into God’s kingdom. You’ll watch outsiders stream in from east, west, north, and south and sit down at the table of God’s kingdom. And all the time you’ll be outside looking in—and wondering what happened. This is the Great Reversal: the last in line put at the head of the line, and the so-called first ending up last.”

Luke 13 Kingdom goals

 

Think about it….
–How do you picture God’s Kingdom?
–Are we the yeast of this age, working Kingdom living into the dough and fiber of society?
–Be a difference. Love unconditionally like God loves us.

Dear Heavenly Father, You have taught us, reminded us, now help us live Your Kingdom, Your way. 
In Jesus Name, Amen

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APPLE TREES AND LITTLE BOYS

Posted on September 13, 2017 by randscallawayffm

Luke and The Lost

The little first grade boy, pale and thin, was a force to be dealt with every single day of school. He was asked to leave another elementary school. He enrolled in our school. His parents moved away from their former neighborhood. Once we experienced what he was capable of doing, we knew why.

They tried one first grade teacher and then the next. No one could seem to deal with the angry fits of rage or sly mean actions he would inflict on his classmates. One day, he kicked his teacher and bit the arm of another one who were trying to bring him under control. The principal wanted to try one more time. He said, “Let’s try Mrs. Callaway’s first grade before we institutionalize him, away from public school.” Yep, that’s me. Susan Callaway’s first grade was forever changed when T came to our room to live for the rest of the year.

I wasn’t sure what would be the difference I could make then I remembered. I have the power of Jesus Christ and His praying church to help me. We went to prayer at church for this boy and his family who were distraught over his behavior. The parents began to trust me with their boy who they obviously loved. I discovered in conversation that they had used cocaine heavily before he was born. So, he was “coke baby” who was addicted, too. He had a much different beginning in life than most of the kids in my class. He didn’t “feel” or know right from wrong. He had no conscious because of what the drugs had done in him. He had to be approached and treated differently. The “soil” around this “tree” had to be prepared, fertilized with more love and second chances than I had ever given a child before him.

The first few weeks were tough but began to be fruitful. The wild look in his eyes began to soften. I convinced him that I loved him no matter what and taught him about forgiveness. (More than seventy times seventy!) When he slipped up one day, we sat on the back porch steps of the school and had yet another talk about what he did, why it was not appropriate and how forgiveness of himself and others was important to be a better person. I did something I had never done before. I tore up the documentation into little pieces and threw it down the steps. It is over. Forgiven, because he asked me. Forgotten because he was truly sorry. He was finally “getting it.”

By this time, I had talked to the parents about finding a church home with a great ministry to kids who could help him relate to groups outside of school. They said yes and followed through! This was an answer to prayer and helped the situation, too. I will never forget this boy. I wonder where he is and what he is doing today? But for that time, God showed taught me and declared His glory in the power of prayer, forgiveness, and the many opportunities He provides to come to Him, be saved and restored. I refused to give up on this boy because God never gave up on me.

I heard a quote from Louis Gigilo who reminds us, “If you’re telling yourself you don’t deserve a second chance from God, remind yourself you didn’t deserve the first one either.” But He died for us anyway. He died for our sin when we were still sinners, providing a way, THE only way, to turn to God and give it all to Him…all our sin, pride, boasting, greediness, prejudices, presumptions, judgement, meanness…all of it…and repent.

Jesus tells us about God in the story of the apple tree. Read and be grateful for second, third and fourth chances to grow in the love of God, through Jesus Christ, our Savior then Lord.

Sin is sin. The murderer in jail is no better than the liar at work. Repent.

“Unless you turn to God, you too will die.” –Jesus

Simple stuff. Bottom line.

Luke 13, The Message
Unless You Turn to God
13 1-5 About that time some people came up and told him about the Galileans Pilate had killed while they were at worship, mixing their blood with the blood of the sacrifices on the altar. Jesus responded, “Do you think those murdered Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans? Not at all. Unless you turn to God, you, too, will die. And those eighteen in Jerusalem the other day, the ones crushed and killed when the Tower of Siloam collapsed and fell on them, do you think they were worse citizens than all other Jerusalemites? Not at all. Unless you turn to God, you, too, will die.”

6-7 Then he told them a story: “A man had an apple tree planted in his front yard. He came to it expecting to find apples, but there weren’t any. He said to his gardener, ‘What’s going on here? For three years now I’ve come to this tree expecting apples and not one apple have I found. Chop it down! Why waste good ground with it any longer?’

8-9 “The gardener said, ‘Let’s give it another year. I’ll dig around it and fertilize, and maybe it will produce next year; if it doesn’t, then chop it down.’”

Angry little boy glaring and fighting with his brother

 

Think about it…
“Let’s give it another year”, says our Advocate, Jesus Christ to God, our Father.

Dear Heavenly Father,
What thoughts of your love and forgiveness you have given us this morning! We repent of judging each other’s sins. We repent of pride and selfishness. We are no better or worse than any other sinner. Wash us clean. Root out all the dead, dark places with Your Light of Life abundant. Help us to live gratefully forgiven so others may know You, too. Cultivate the soil around our hearts so that we will produce the fruits of your love, joy and peace!
In Jesus Name, Amen

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WHEN YOU LEAST EXPECT, EXPECT

Posted on September 12, 2017 by randscallawayffm

Luke and The Lost

Randy and I watched a rerun of the movie, “Left Behind” a few days ago. When you watch a movie a few times you begin to analyze it, thinking deeper thoughts than with the first time you saw it. I began to think, who would I be? What character is me in this drama based on the novel written by Tim LaHay and Jerry Jenkins? I read the series a long time ago, knowing it is only a novel. It did send a lot of people back to the Bible to check out what will happen. The drama does make one think about “the last days”. Jesus tells us to simply be ready.

On a lighter note, when Randy and I tease each other and play practical jokes on each other, he warns me, “when you least expect it, expect it.” Payback will come, I just don’t know when. Most times he forgets so I can count on that. (Smiling)

Or it’s like this…When you have young children, you are ready for anything that might happen, day or night. As parents, you know the sounds of sickness in the night and jump and run, ready to catch whatever might flow. You know and can tell the difference between cries of hunger, hurt or sadness and can respond quickly. All of these expectations come through experience and learning. Parents are ready for anything. Most of the time.

Jesus gives us a glimpse into what He expects us to…well, expect and warns us to be ready for His coming. Read and be blessed. Keep your shirt on and the lamp lit! If we have a relationship with Jesus as Savior and Lord, we’re ready! If we are looking for Him, waiting for His nod, willing to serve Him, we’re ready.

Luke 12 ready

 

Luke 12, The Message
When the Master Shows Up
35-38 “Keep your shirts on; keep the lights on! Be like house servants waiting for their master to come back from his honeymoon, awake and ready to open the door when he arrives and knocks. Lucky the servants whom the master finds on watch! He’ll put on an apron, sit them at the table, and serve them a meal, sharing his wedding feast with them. It doesn’t matter what time of the night he arrives; they’re awake—and so blessed!

39-40 “You know that if the house owner had known what night the burglar was coming, he wouldn’t have stayed out late and left the place unlocked. So don’t you be slovenly and careless. Just when you don’t expect him, the Son of Man will show up.”

41 Peter said, “Master, are you telling this story just for us? Or is it for everybody?”

42-46 The Master said, “Let me ask you: Who is the dependable manager, full of common sense, that the master puts in charge of his staff to feed them well and on time? He is a blessed man if when the master shows up he’s doing his job. But if he says to himself, ‘The master is certainly taking his time,’ begins maltreating the servants and maids, throws parties for his friends, and gets drunk, the master will walk in when he least expects it, give him the thrashing of his life, and put him back in the kitchen peeling potatoes.

47-48 “The servant who knows what his master wants and ignores it, or insolently does whatever he pleases, will be thoroughly thrashed. But if he does a poor job through ignorance, he’ll get off with a slap on the hand. Great gifts mean great responsibilities; greater gifts, greater responsibilities!

To Start a Fire
49-53 “I’ve come to start a fire on this earth—how I wish it were blazing right now! I’ve come to change everything, turn everything rightside up—how I long for it to be finished! Do you think I came to smooth things over and make everything nice? Not so. I’ve come to disrupt and confront! From now on, when you find five in a house, it will be—

Three against two,
and two against three;
Father against son,
and son against father;
Mother against daughter,
and daughter against mother;
Mother-in-law against bride,
and bride against mother-in-law.”

54-56 Then he turned to the crowd: “When you see clouds coming in from the west, you say, ‘Storm’s coming’—and you’re right. And when the wind comes out of the south, you say, ‘This’ll be a hot one’—and you’re right. Frauds! You know how to tell a change in the weather, so don’t tell me you can’t tell a change in the season, the God-season we’re in right now.

57-59 “You don’t have to be a genius to understand these things. Just use your common sense, the kind you’d use if, while being taken to court, you decided to settle up with your accuser on the way, knowing that if the case went to the judge you’d probably go to jail and pay every last penny of the fine. That’s the kind of decision I’m asking you to make.”

What do we learn?
–BE READY!
–When you least expect Him, expect Him.
–Keep reflecting His Light to those searching in the dark.
–“Be like house servants waiting for their master to come back from his honeymoon, awake and ready to open the door when he arrives and knocks.”

In Jesus Name…Amen!

EVEN SO COME!! LIKE A BRIDE WAITING FOR HER GROOM …
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJ5MBN79MU0

Boost Post
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STORAGE

Posted on September 11, 2017 by randscallawayffm

Luke and The Lost

It’s testimony time. Randy and I are both at the age of retirement. Our government tells you when to retire. Often your workplace tells you when to retire. So we did retire just recently. We make less income now, but being in the teaching profession and then in full time ministry, we know how to live on less. We’re not worried about less. God has always provided no matter what our income was. We always had the attitude of where God guides, He provides. He still does.

I am convinced that in this world the more you make the more you spend. As our preacher pointed out yesterday, we not only do we spend what God gives us, we finance even more! Sometimes we even pay other people to STORE it for us because there is not room in our homes! Yikes.

It is good to plan and budget for your later years in life so you are not dependent on others, and we did by getting ourselves free from debt (except our home) before leaving secular work, but there is more to life than even this and Jesus hits us right between the eyes and speaks to the heart of the matter this morning. I love how God speaks to us! Don’t you?

Luke 12, The Message
The Story of the Greedy Farmer
13 Someone out of the crowd said, “Teacher, order my brother to give me a fair share of the family inheritance.”

14 He replied, “Mister, what makes you think it’s any of my business to be a judge or mediator for you?”

15 Speaking to the people, he went on, “Take care! Protect yourself against the least bit of greed. Life is not defined by what you have, even when you have a lot.”

16-19 Then he told them this story: “The farm of a certain rich man produced a terrific crop. He talked to himself: ‘What can I do? My barn isn’t big enough for this harvest.’ Then he said, ‘Here’s what I’ll do: I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I’ll gather in all my grain and goods, and I’ll say to myself, Self, you’ve done well! You’ve got it made and can now retire. Take it easy and have the time of your life!’

20 “Just then God showed up and said, ‘Fool! Tonight you die. And your barnful of goods—who gets it?’

21 “That’s what happens when you fill your barn with Self and not with God.”

Steep Yourself in God-Reality
22-24 He continued this subject with his disciples. “Don’t fuss about what’s on the table at mealtimes or if the clothes in your closet are in fashion. There is far more to your inner life than the food you put in your stomach, more to your outer appearance than the clothes you hang on your body. Look at the ravens, free and unfettered, not tied down to a job description, carefree in the care of God. And you count far more.

25-28 “Has anyone by fussing before the mirror ever gotten taller by so much as an inch? If fussing can’t even do that, why fuss at all? Walk into the fields and look at the wildflowers. They don’t fuss with their appearance—but have you ever seen color and design quite like it? The ten best-dressed men and women in the country look shabby alongside them. If God gives such attention to the wildflowers, most of them never even seen, don’t you think he’ll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you?

29-32 “What I’m trying to do here is get you to relax, not be so preoccupied with getting so you can respond to God’s giving. People who don’t know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep yourself in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met. Don’t be afraid of missing out. You’re my dearest friends! The Father wants to give you the very kingdom itself.

33-34 “Be generous. Give to the poor. Get yourselves a bank that can’t go bankrupt, a bank in heaven far from bankrobbers, safe from embezzlers, a bank you can bank on. It’s obvious, isn’t it? The place where your treasure is, is the place you will most want to be, and end up being.

Luke 20 barns

What do we learn? Plenty!!
–Life is not defined by what you have…even if you have a lot.
–Jesus points us to the bigger issue: GREED.
–Are we filling our “barns” with SELF or GOD?
–People approach us as “retirees” and say, “Aren’t you glad you can do what you want now?” We say yes, and joke about it, but we are still on God’s time and looking forward to what He has next for us! Weird? Eh?
–What is in our lives that is a burden to store? Should we give it away or just get rid of it?
–What do we think about most often? That is our treasure.
–Where do you most want to be? That is your bank.
–Do we make deposits in the bank that won’t go bankrupt?
–The Father wants to give us His Kingdom. Can we stop getting and storing long enough to respond to God’s giving?
–Whew…a lot to think about, isn’t it?

Dear Heavenly Father,
We repent of storing up treasures in buildings and homes. We repent of worry and storing up thoughts that are not healthy for us and not of you. Change our hearts, minds and souls to match Your desires for us. Help us to relax in the ebb and flow of your grace, dancing to the rhythm of Your wisdom and care for us. No matter what life here throws at us, You are with us and will never leave us. Thank you. We are eternally grateful.
In Jesus Name, Amen

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WHAT’S YOUR WORTH?

Posted on September 10, 2017 by randscallawayffm

Luke and The Lost

There is a lot of talk these days about your portfolio, your worth in dollars, stock, bonds, and just plain stuff. It seems this is the most important agenda we should be concerned about ourselves. Do we have enough to sustain ourselves when we retire from paid positions at work because of age? Will we be able to pass on a legacy for our children and their children? After talking with a financial adviser, who even predicted when my husband will probably die and what we, as a couple, will probably leave behind, (or not), you are awakened to what the world thinks you are worth. Mm.

Then Jesus, who talks about our “money” frequently, comes along and tells us our true worth. He tells us to be more concerned with our souls. What is in our heart of hearts? Are we hiding behind masks of insecurity, fear, and loathing of self and others that lead to sins of pride, selfishness and other sins of darkness? What is our worth to Him? What is His price for us? Who will stand up for us in the end? Is it possible to lose our souls?

Jesus answers all these life questions well. In this next passage of Luke, thousands are now gathering around Him because of His popularity, but take note, He is more concerned that His disciples will be taught the Truth and live the Truth. He tells them to “watch out”! Don’t buy in to what the Pharisees are selling. That is not your worth. It is these men and women who will pass on Truth when Jesus leaves earth.

Believing friends…watch out! We too have a tendency to busy ourselves with church work while hiding behind masks of fear with lack of trust in the One who loves us most. Pull down the mask as leaders. Be venerable. Admit imperfection and help others be honest in their deepening relationship with our Savior and Lord. We are worth so much more to Him than we think. It shows in our behavior! What HE thinks of us is worth all the suffering, merely surviving at times, troubles, storms and hard work this world has to offer. Listen and be blessed by what Jesus teaches his disciples…

Luke 12, The Message
Can’t Hide Behind a Religious Mask
12 1-3 By this time the crowd, unwieldy and stepping on each other’s toes, numbered into the thousands. But Jesus’ primary concern was his disciples. He said to them, “Watch yourselves carefully so you don’t get contaminated with Pharisee yeast, Pharisee phoniness. You can’t keep your true self hidden forever; before long you’ll be exposed. You can’t hide behind a religious mask forever; sooner or later the mask will slip and your true face will be known. You can’t whisper one thing in private and preach the opposite in public; the day’s coming when those whispers will be repeated all over town.

4-5 “I’m speaking to you as dear friends. Don’t be bluffed into silence or insincerity by the threats of religious bullies. True, they can kill you, but then what can they do? There’s nothing they can do to your soul, your core being. Save your fear for God, who holds your entire life—body and soul—in his hands.

6-7 “What’s the price of two or three pet canaries? Some loose change, right? But God never overlooks a single one. And he pays even greater attention to you, down to the last detail—even numbering the hairs on your head! So don’t be intimidated by all this bully talk. You’re worth more than a million canaries.

8-9 “Stand up for me among the people you meet and the Son of Man will stand up for you before all God’s angels. But if you pretend you don’t know me, do you think I’ll defend you before God’s angels?

10 “If you bad-mouth the Son of Man out of misunderstanding or ignorance, that can be overlooked. But if you’re knowingly attacking God himself, taking aim at the Holy Spirit, that won’t be overlooked.

11-12 “When they drag you into their meeting places, or into police courts and before judges, don’t worry about defending yourselves—what you’ll say or how you’ll say it. The right words will be there. The Holy Spirit will give you the right words when the time comes.”

Luke 12 worth

 

Think about it, take all the time you need to let it sink in…
–When we stand firm in Him and for Him, He stands before God the Father for us!
–We are worth more than a million…of anything!
–There’s NOTHING anyone can do to your soul, your core being.
–God holds our entire life, body and soul, in His Hands!
–Pull down the masks. Live freely, openly and honest.
–Using God’s name in anger will not be overlooked. Watch out!
–The Holy Spirit will always give us the right words at the right time in the right Spirit…of love…if we listen and obey.

Dear Heavenly Father,
What then are we afraid of when we are honest before You? You love us more than we can imagine. You stand for us when others want to drag us down. You help us defeat the foe who lurks in the shadows. You bring light to darkness. We are worth dying for to save our souls. There is no one like You, Lord! I believe. Help us to listen, to hear and understand and obey quickly and freely.
In Jesus Name, Amen

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JESUS GETS TO THE HEART OF THE MATTER

Posted on September 9, 2017 by randscallawayffm

Luke and The Lost

Our next passage calls for repentance of anyone who seeks to do church without being the church. If you read and ponder carefully, we can see our own sins of rule keeping without building relationships, judgmental presumptions of new people who walk through the doors apprehensively, churches that become clubs that keep people out with their snobbish unwritten laws, small groups that gossip rather than helping each other change behaviors, using finances to maintain institutions rather than helping others find and follow Jesus. This list can go on and on. It is time for the church, everywhere, to repent. Jesus gets to the heart of the matter with the Pharisees. Before we look down on this group of religious scholars, let us take a long, deep look within ourselves.

We are so worried about identity theft these days. Be more worried that our identity is stolen by the evil one!

Luke 11 fraud

Luke 11, The Message
Frauds!
37-41 When he finished that talk, a Pharisee asked him to dinner. He entered his house and sat right down at the table. The Pharisee was shocked and somewhat offended when he saw that Jesus didn’t wash up before the meal. But the Master said to him, “I know you Pharisees burnish the surface of your cups and plates so they sparkle in the sun, but I also know your insides are maggoty with greed and secret evil. Stupid Pharisees! Didn’t the One who made the outside also make the inside? Turn both your pockets and your hearts inside out and give generously to the poor; then your lives will be clean, not just your dishes and your hands.

42 “I’ve had it with you! You’re hopeless, you Pharisees! Frauds! You keep meticulous account books, tithing on every nickel and dime you get, but manage to find loopholes for getting around basic matters of justice and God’s love. Careful bookkeeping is commendable, but the basics are required.

43-44 “You’re hopeless, you Pharisees! Frauds! You love sitting at the head table at church dinners, love preening yourselves in the radiance of public flattery. Frauds! You’re just like unmarked graves: People walk over that nice, grassy surface, never suspecting the rot and corruption that is six feet under.”

45 One of the religion scholars spoke up: “Teacher, do you realize that in saying these things you’re insulting us?”

46 He said, “Yes, and I can be even more explicit. You’re hopeless, you religion scholars! You load people down with rules and regulations, nearly breaking their backs, but never lift even a finger to help.

47-51 “You’re hopeless! You build tombs for the prophets your ancestors killed. The tombs you build are monuments to your murdering ancestors more than to the murdered prophets. That accounts for God’s Wisdom saying, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles, but they’ll kill them and run them off.’ What it means is that every drop of righteous blood ever spilled from the time earth began until now, from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who was struck down between altar and sanctuary, is on your heads. Yes, it’s on the bill of this generation and this generation will pay.

52 “You’re hopeless, you religion scholars! You took the key of knowledge, but instead of unlocking doors, you locked them. You won’t go in yourself, and won’t let anyone else in either.”

53-54 As soon as Jesus left the table, the religion scholars and Pharisees went into a rage. They went over and over everything he said, plotting how they could trap him in something from his own mouth.

Think about it…
–When Jesus comes, what will He say? “Well done!” OR “You’re hopeless!”

Dear Heavenly Father,
Unintentionally and intentionally we have sinned against You with our thoughts, attitudes and actions as individuals and as Your church together. You see our hearts. Cleanse us from the inside out. Help us to follow Your example of seeking lost people and pointing them back to You, not an institution or club. Deepen our relationships with You and others. We love You, help us to love others like You love us. Sacrificially and unconditionally. We cannot do this alone. Help us Holy Spirit to BE the church, to BE the one who loves well.
In Jesus Name, Amen

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THE MOOD OF THIS AGE

Posted on September 8, 2017 by randscallawayffm

Luke and The Lost

Our moods tell a lot about what we are thinking and feeling. Our moods leak into our actions. Our moods can change as quickly as seconds tick into hours. Our moods are sometimes very selfish. Moodiness is often negative and self-driven with pity when our faces show frowns with darkened eyes. Other times, when things are going well, our moods change. We smile and the light returns to our eyes, brightening our whole countenance. “What put you in such a good mood?”, others will say because they notice. When I smile, many ask me, “what are you up to?” I guess that twinkle, that I inherited from my Grandma Lacquement is a sign of impending mischief, but it’s not. It is Christ living in me. What is your mood? What is the mood of this age we are living in? Has the light of Jesus in our eyes darkened?

Our moods affect other’s moods. One day, because of many unfortunate incidents before I got to school, I was in a bad mood. Instead of greeting my students with a smile at the door, I walked about the room getting the tasks ready for the day. The students came in, put away their belongings. In just a few minutes the “mood” of the room began to change. Students started picking on each other. The noise level rose. The routine was completely off and they were beginning to get out of control. I stopped everything and apologized to them. I told them that my day didn’t begin too well and my mood caused their day to begin badly.

“We’re going to start this day over!”, I told them with a smile. I sent them all back to the hallway. I even shut the door for a few seconds with me inside the room. Then I opened the door with a huge smile, mood changed, greeting my students as I always had done. Our day was back to normal. Students went back to their seats with smiles. Their mood changed because I changed my mood.

Jesus tells us that the mood of the age is all wrong. He states that everybody’s looking for proof, but the wrong kind from Him. He reprimands the people with “all you’re looking for is something to titillate your curiosity, satisfy your lust for miracles.” Is that us, today? Are we just moving through life, relying on God to continually show us proof of His existence? Are in a good mood only when He does that for us? What is our mood? How much “evidence” do we need to love and simple trust Him with all our hearts, minds and souls? Do we have a lust for miracles? Are we going to be in a bad mood until He performs for us? How about a lust for just Him?

Luke 11

Luke 11, The Message
Keep Your Eyes Open
29-30 As the crowd swelled, he took a fresh tack: “The mood of this age is all wrong. Everybody’s looking for proof, but you’re looking for the wrong kind. All you’re looking for is something to titillate your curiosity, satisfy your lust for miracles. But the only proof you’re going to get is the Jonah-proof given to the Ninevites, which looks like no proof at all. What Jonah was to Nineveh, the Son of Man is to this age.

32,31 “On Judgment Day the Ninevites will stand up and give evidence that will condemn this generation, because when Jonah preached to them they changed their lives. A far greater preacher than Jonah is here, and you squabble about ‘proofs.’ On Judgment Day the Queen of Sheba will come forward and bring evidence that condemns this generation, because she traveled from a far corner of the earth to listen to wise Solomon. Wisdom far greater than Solomon’s is right in front of you, and you quibble over ‘evidence.’

33-36 “No one lights a lamp, then hides it in a drawer. It’s put on a lamp stand so those entering the room have light to see where they’re going. Your eye is a lamp, lighting up your whole body. If you live wide-eyed in wonder and belief, your body fills up with light. If you live squinty-eyed in greed and distrust, your body is a dank cellar. Keep your eyes open, your lamp burning, so you don’t get musty and murky. Keep your life as well-lighted as your best-lighted room.”

Luke 11 proof

Ooh, what do we learn?
–The mood of THIS age is all wrong.
–We don’t need miracles or more evidence.
–We control our mood. God’s Holy Spirit helps us.
–Turn on His Light by believing, trusting and obeying.
–Keep The Light on, eyes wide open! People will notice!
–Avoid, like the plague, musty and murky moods.
–Keep our lives well lit…like Times Square in New York, turning darkness into light.
–Lead others to The Light by His Light burning in us.
–Jesus, simply Jesus, is a mood-changer. Think about what He has done for you and for me.

Lord, help us to change our mood. Help us to change the mood of this age.
In Jesus Name, Amen

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THIS IS WAR!

Posted on September 7, 2017 by randscallawayffm

Luke and The Lost

We chose up sides on the playground. “Whose on my side?”, we shouted as kids. Sometimes we naturally joined our favorite leader. Other times two elected leaders chose us from a lineup. Then the play began. We had no referees when we played outside. (Rarely did we play inside in those days.) It was up to us to keep the teams fairly matched.

We played baseball, kickball, and other sports. We had to settle “out of bound” arguments by ourselves. We played army, out to hunt and destroy our “enemy” who lurked in the hedges around our homes. Being from Oklahoma, we played “Cowboys”. Our bicycles were horses. We put ropes around the handlebars as reins to guide our horses. It is a wonder I am still alive today.
Sometimes we put cards in the spokes and our horses turned to race cars with big motors. We also played the notorious, now banded from kids’ play, Red Rover. Whatever the game, when picked for a “side” to be on, we were loyal to the end. We would have done anything to win. Sometimes we got hurt, but if we won, it didn’t hurt as bad.

That was the life of a child as I grew up many years ago. The life of a child now is a bit different with technology entering their world in such a way that no one is needed but themselves to enjoy a game. It seems harder for kids to make and keep good friends. They need help from parents and grandparents to lead them to deeper relationships. I’m not saying technology is bad for it has been a tool to connect me with my childhood friends. It also is my tool to write of God’s help to us. But it is only a tool…not a relationship with a real person.

The evil one also has this tool of technology to pull individuals from the crowd of friends, like a wolf pulling a lamb from the herd. He can and does use it to destroy them from the inside out. We are at war. It is a subtle war, (satan’s way), but it is war! Know this. Know the enemy. Be alert to his ways. Don’t fall for his schemes. Chose whose side you are on! Choosing well means life or death.

I think these thoughts as I read the next passage of Luke’s gospel. Jesus is accused of working with the devil. It is a ludicrous assumption so Jesus explains. There is no neutral ground. You are either with me or against me, He states clearly.

“This is war”, He declares. What really jumps to the forefront today is, “If you’re not helping, you’re making things worse.” We might be able to take care of ourselves and feel good about that as followers, but what about those who are struggling to choose whose side they are on who work and live around us? This is war. We must point others to Jesus…not ourselves…but Jesus!

Luke 11, The Message
No Neutral Ground
14-16 Jesus delivered a man from a demon that had kept him speechless. The demon gone, the man started talking a blue streak, taking the crowd by complete surprise. But some from the crowd were cynical. “Black magic,” they said. “Some devil trick he’s pulled from his sleeve.” Others were skeptical, waiting around for him to prove himself with a spectacular miracle.

17-20 Jesus knew what they were thinking and said, “Any country in civil war for very long is wasted. A constantly squabbling family falls to pieces. If Satan cancels Satan, is there any Satan left? You accuse me of ganging up with the Devil, the prince of demons, to cast out demons, but if you’re slinging devil mud at me, calling me a devil who kicks out devils, doesn’t the same mud stick to your own exorcists? But if it’s God’s finger I’m pointing that sends the demons on their way, then God’s kingdom is here for sure.

21-22 “When a strong man, armed to the teeth, stands guard in his front yard, his property is safe and sound. But what if a stronger man comes along with superior weapons? Then he’s beaten at his own game, the arsenal that gave him such confidence hauled off, and his precious possessions plundered.

23 “This is war, and there is no neutral ground. If you’re not on my side, you’re the enemy; if you’re not helping, you’re making things worse.

24-26 “When a corrupting spirit is expelled from someone, it drifts along through the desert looking for an oasis, some unsuspecting soul it can bedevil. When it doesn’t find anyone, it says, ‘I’ll go back to my old haunt.’ On return, it finds the person swept and dusted, but vacant. It then runs out and rounds up seven other spirits dirtier than itself and they all move in, whooping it up. That person ends up far worse than if he’d never gotten cleaned up in the first place.”

27 While he was saying these things, some woman lifted her voice above the murmur of the crowd: “Blessed the womb that carried you, and the breasts at which you nursed!”

28 Jesus commented, “Even more blessed are those who hear God’s Word and guard it with their lives!”

Luke 11 blessed who hear

What do we learn?
–We are at war. Every. Day.
–Jesus helps us win the war against Satan if we choose Him as our leader. The battle belongs to Him.
–Be loyal to Jesus.
–Love God. Love others like God loves us and help them find and follow Jesus.
–This is NOT a childhood game. There are only two choices. Jesus or the evil one. Choose well. The war is on. It is a matter of life or death.

Dear Heavenly Father, We become complacent at times and forget there is a war raging against You and the followers who adore You. Help us to stay alert. Help us to do no harm. Help us to encourage others to choose You and follow You.
In Jesus Name, Amen

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WHEN YOU PRAY, SAY…

Posted on September 6, 2017 by randscallawayffm

Luke and The Lost

What are we thinking when we pray? I think this is the greatest question to ask ourselves before we even begin to approach the throne of God with Jesus as our advocate. Is it quick prayer for survival in a dangerous situation? Are the words spontaneous? Are the words honest and from a sincere heart? Do we think about why we are praying? Do we treat God like Santa Clause and give him a list of “love to haves”? Are we honestly seeking His will or His blessing for our plan? Are we seeking Him?

Jesus’ disciples watched John teach his followers to pray. They want in on the action. So, they ask Jesus to teach them to pray. “When you pray, say…” and he proceeds to give them a phrase at a time, full of significance for our daily lives. Jesus taught us this prayer so we would think about what we are asking.

Many churches say, what man has named, “The Lord’s Prayer” as a way to end worship or begin it. I don’t think Jesus had that in mind when He taught them to pray with these words. Look more deeply at the words. Every word guides us back to God, the Creator of all. Every phrase is asking God to help us deepen our relationship with Him. We are asking for His Holy Spirit to be revealed in us, to live in us continuously, to guide us daily, to provide us with the Bread of Life with each hunger pain for Him, and to keep us safe from our own selfishness and the devil’s schemes to destroy our faith.

Jesus says when we pray these words with a sincere heart, knowing what we are asking for, God will lovingly answer. “…the Father who conceived you in love will give the Holy Spirit when you ask him.”

The Message version or paraphrase of Jesus’ prayer helps us to go from the repetitive words we repeat from other translations to stop and think about what we are asking and seeking as we knock on God’s door!

Luke 11, The Message
Ask for What You Really Need

One day he was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said, “Master, teach us to pray just as John taught his disciples.”

2-4 So he said, “When you pray, say,

Father,
Reveal who you are.
Set the world right.
Keep us alive with three square meals.
Keep us forgiven with you and forgiving others.
Keep us safe from ourselves and the Devil.”

5-6 Then he said, “Imagine what would happen if you went to a friend in the middle of the night and said, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread. An old friend traveling through just showed up, and I don’t have a thing on hand.’

7 “The friend answers from his bed, ‘Don’t bother me. The door’s locked; my children are all down for the night; I can’t get up to give you anything.’

8 “But let me tell you, even if he won’t get up because he’s a friend, if you stand your ground, knocking and waking all the neighbors, he’ll finally get up and get you whatever you need.

9 “Here’s what I’m saying:

Ask and you’ll get;
Seek and you’ll find;
Knock and the door will open.

10-13 “Don’t bargain with God. Be direct. Ask for what you need. This is not a cat-and-mouse, hide-and-seek game we’re in. If your little boy asks for a serving of fish, do you scare him with a live snake on his plate? If your little girl asks for an egg, do you trick her with a spider? As bad as you are, you wouldn’t think of such a thing—you’re at least decent to your own children. And don’t you think the Father who conceived you in love will give the Holy Spirit when you ask him?”

Luke 11 teach us to pray

 

What do we learn? (More than I can write in one column today!)
–Jesus’ prayer is not a program, gimmick or promotion.
–We do not bargain with God. Ever.
–Ask for what we really need. His Holy Spirit to live in us.
–Seek God when we pray. Not our wants.
–Ask God to reveal who He is so we see, think and feel who He is and what He does.
–Because of Jesus sacrifice, we can ask, seek and knock on God’s door anytime, day or night. God never sleeps.
–God will lovingly give the Holy Spirit to comfort, guide, convict to transform us, heal us, and live in believers to make us better.
–God intervenes at just the right time in the right way to set our world upright again.
–This prayer is all about God and our relationship with Him.
–Jesus’ work on the cross tore down the curtain between God and man. Ask, seek, knock in Jesus Name.
–Pray. Pray without ceasing. Pray for God to reveal Himself in us.

In Jesus Name, Amen

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