YOU HAVE NO IDEA!

Posted on July 6, 2017 by randscallawayffm

Mark – The Facts.

A few years ago, when I was in full time, paid ministry leader of a denomination, I got an interesting phone call from a 20 year old. This lovely lady began the conversation with, “I want your job!” I wasn’t sure how to take that blunt statement. While I snickered under my breath, she followed up the statement with a question, “How do I go about getting to where you are now?” She was serious. So I immediately began telling her of my journey. My first thought? You have no idea.

The journey begins, I related to her, as one who is willing to serve, without any thoughts of reward or pay. I was a volunteer for over thirty years before being asked to come and serve in a paid position. I didn’t seek leadership or position. My only desire was to be a difference for kids, their parents and grandparents. I wanted to learn all I could. I didn’t turn down opportunities to learn and grow as a follower. I completed my elementary education degree so I could make a difference in the public classroom. I used this as a tool to show kids a different way to live so they could make more positive choices for their lives.

An effective leader is a hungry learner. I didn’t stop there. I went on to earn a Master’s degree in educational leadership so I could figure out how to help people work together as a team in God’s Kingdom. God gave me Christian professors along the way that would talk to me personally about how these leadership skills could be honed to help churches make more of a difference in this world. I was blessed to have a husband who supported me in every venture and I supported him in his pastorates (after he left teaching!)

There were setbacks along the way but God was always with us to pick us up from falling down, being ridiculed by others who wanted things to remain the same, and to affirm us. He gave us power and strength when our doubts would creep in and we were overwhelmed by our responsibilities given to us by God. We served still. Most times we said yes without knowing what we would be paid because the call of God was our reward. We knew He would provide. We always felt unworthy and unfit at each opportunity to serve, paid or not, but God qualified and equipped us in ways that amazed us. He still amazes us. He always will.

Serve well with the right motivation of heart and God will bless you with more and more ways to serve. You WILL be tested and tried with troubles but you will grow through those times and learn to lead well because of the lessons learned. As a leader you must learn to follow…Jesus. Jesus sacrificed his life for us. Do we have any idea what it means to serve like Christ? To be like Jesus? To do what Jesus did as a servant to the world? Are we willing to lay down our lives? When we can answer these questions honestly, then we are ready to follow…helping others find and follow Jesus Christ, our Lord.

James and John came to Jesus asking a similar question…”Arrange it so we can be awarded the highest places of honor in your glory…” In other words, we want to be where You are as a leader. Mm.

Jesus response? “You have no idea what you are asking.” Don’t you feel embarrassed for these disciples? Haven’t we seen people who get a little power become dangerous and begin to serve others less and less? That isn’t us, is it?

Mark 10, The Message
The Highest Places of Honor
35 James and John, Zebedee’s sons, came up to him. “Teacher, we have something we want you to do for us.”

36 “What is it? I’ll see what I can do.”

37 “Arrange it,” they said, “so that we will be awarded the highest places of honor in your glory—one of us at your right, the other at your left.”

38 Jesus said, “You have no idea what you’re asking. Are you capable of drinking the cup I drink, of being baptized in the baptism I’m about to be plunged into?”

39-40 “Sure,” they said. “Why not?”

Jesus said, “Come to think of it, you will drink the cup I drink, and be baptized in my baptism. But as to awarding places of honor, that’s not my business. There are other arrangements for that.”

41-45 When the other ten heard of this conversation, they lost their tempers with James and John. Jesus got them together to settle things down. “You’ve observed how godless rulers throw their weight around,” he said, “and when people get a little power how quickly it goes to their heads. It’s not going to be that way with you. Whoever wants to be great must become a servant. Whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave. That is what the Son of Man has done: He came to serve, not to be served—and then to give away his life in exchange for many who are held hostage.”

Mark 10 God speaks

Bottom line: Jesus came to serve, not to be served. Supreme example. Get the idea, now?

Dear Heavenly Father,
We all get the “big head” for power when we see things start to happen. Help us to always give You glory. Because You are the change-maker, the difference deliverer, and the transformational teacher of all! Thank you for teaching us well. Thank you for guiding us all these years and providing for our needs. Thank you for laying your life down for us so that we are free to serve.
In Jesus Name, Amen

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HOLDING TIGHT

Posted on July 5, 2017 by randscallawayffm

Mark – The Facts.

I have three weeks left. I am retiring from teaching at a job I love, but it is time to let it go. I gave the notice. In these last days, I have caught myself holding on tightly to what was and is. I am having second thoughts about letting go of the security of the income. Yes, I am confessing of my anxious thoughts. Bear with me.

Then I read the next passage in Mark this morning and God reminds me that He is with me and will fill my mind, heart and my tight-fisted hands with the next thing He has planned for me as I let it all go. I’m not in charge of my life. I never was. He is. I cannot do life by myself. Apart from Him, I am nothing. With Him, everything is possible.

“Who has any chance at all?” ask the disciples. It is an honest question. We ask it, too. Jesus was blunt: ‘No chance at all if you think you can pull it off by yourself. Every chance in the world if you let God do it.'”

Wow. Just wow. Does that hit you right between the eyes of your heart and mind this morning? It startles me, convicts me to settle down my anxious thoughts…and let go.

It is not “riches” that hold us back from residing in the Kingdom of God…it is anything of this world that we hold on to with a tight grip that divides our thinking and puts a barrier between us and the Heavenly Father who wants His best for us.

When we do, will there be troubles still? Yes. He promised that, too. When we sacrifice it all for Him (as He did for us) He will multiply exponentially in responsibilities…which will bring more troubles…but there is the bonus of eternal life with him for serving Him well! The Great Reversal.

The disciples continued to follow. After hearing all that Jesus said to them about letting go and giving their all, they continued to follow. This is monumental. They were confused, puzzled and “not just a little afraid”. But they followed still. Do we? When we are rattled, confused by what the world says we should have, be doing or how we should make the journey, having it our way, do we continue to follow Jesus?

Seriously think this through. Take all the time You need. I am.

Mark 10, The Message
To Enter God’s Kingdom
17 As he went out into the street, a man came running up, greeted him with great reverence, and asked, “Good Teacher, what must I do to get eternal life?”

18-19 Jesus said, “Why are you calling me good? No one is good, only God. You know the commandments: Don’t murder, don’t commit adultery, don’t steal, don’t lie, don’t cheat, honor your father and mother.”

20 He said, “Teacher, I have—from my youth—kept them all!”

21 Jesus looked him hard in the eye—and loved him! He said, “There’s one thing left: Go sell whatever you own and give it to the poor. All your wealth will then be heavenly wealth. And come follow me.”

22 The man’s face clouded over. This was the last thing he expected to hear, and he walked off with a heavy heart. He was holding on tight to a lot of things, and not about to let go.

23-25 Looking at his disciples, Jesus said, “Do you have any idea how difficult it is for people who ‘have it all’ to enter God’s kingdom?” The disciples couldn’t believe what they were hearing, but Jesus kept on: “You can’t imagine how difficult. I’d say it’s easier for a camel to go through a needle’s eye than for the rich to get into God’s kingdom.”

26 That set the disciples back on their heels. “Then who has any chance at all?” they asked.

27 Jesus was blunt: “No chance at all if you think you can pull it off by yourself. Every chance in the world if you let God do it.”

28 Peter tried another angle: “We left everything and followed you.”

29-31 Jesus said, “Mark my words, no one who sacrifices house, brothers, sisters, mother, father, children, land—whatever—because of me and the Message will lose out. They’ll get it all back, but multiplied many times in homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and land—but also in troubles. And then the bonus of eternal life! This is once again the Great Reversal: Many who are first will end up last, and the last first.”

32-34 Back on the road, they set out for Jerusalem. Jesus had a head start on them, and they were following, puzzled and not just a little afraid. He took the Twelve and began again to go over what to expect next. “Listen to me carefully. We’re on our way up to Jerusalem. When we get there, the Son of Man will be betrayed to the religious leaders and scholars. They will sentence him to death. Then they will hand him over to the Romans, who will mock and spit on him, give him the third degree, and kill him. After three days he will rise alive.”

The Resurrected Christ

Reflect on what Jesus is saying…
–“Come and follow Me.”
–“Let God do it.”
–“Give it all up.”
–“Listen to Me carefully”
–“No one will lose out.”
–“Come and follow Me.”

Dear Heavenly Father, 
You settle my soul. You cleanse my thoughts and forgive my behavior. You lift us up from worldly thinking to much higher thinking. You died for us and rose again to save us from ourselves. With You are great opportunities to grow closer to You and others. Without You, life is meaningless. Troubles will only be for a little while until we meet up with you to live forever. You calm our stormy thinking and settle the seas of our worries about the future. You are our future! I love you with all my heart, mind and soul. I look expectantly for what You have next for us. I’m letting go. My empty hands are reaching up to You. . I’m holding on tightly to Your promises. Thank you for being with us. Thank you for not letting us go!
In Jesus Name, Amen

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YOU’LL NEVER GET IN…UNLESS…

Posted on July 4, 2017 by randscallawayffm

Mark – The Facts.

Here are some facts. Churches who hide children in the dark basements of their buildings to teach them about God’s love are probably not growing. Churches who don’t provide a clean nursery with loving providers to care for the babies of young parents are probably not growing in a healthy manner. Youth ministries who have to raise money just to put a coat of paint on a room nobody else wants to meet in as adults is probably not growing. If all the emphasis is placed on maintaining what regular attending adults want, putting them in the best rooms of the building and catering to all their wants and needs…it is probably not growing. If the laughter and “noise” of babies and children bring frowns instead of smiles to attenders, then you are probably not very healthy as a church. Declining churches have hidden children away far too long and are now paying the price.

As church teachers of children we only have, at best, with regular attendance, 45-50 hours a year in a child’s life to help them find and follow Jesus. Their parents have approximately 2920 hours a year to influence their kids for Christ. Healthy ministries place all or most of their resources these days on reaching children and helping their parents nurture them. Why? Because parents are not bringing children as much as children are now bringing their parents to church to find Jesus!

Engaging, powerful, faithful, exciting God-honoring folks whose sole desire and focus is to help kids find and follow Jesus will cause an exponential explosion of kids bringing their friends! This is not rocket science folks and it is the Biblical, Jesus way. Jesus admonishes His disciples and all of His church and the world today with, “Don’t ever get between them and me. These children are at the very center of life in the kingdom.”

If parents have 2920 hours versus our 45-50 hours, wouldn’t it make a lot of sense to focus on nurturing and equipping parents who are scared and in need of help to raise their kids to follow Christ? Parents and children. Children and parents. Where is the emphasis placed at your church? Shouldn’t we make those 45-50 hours count? Is it time for evaluation? Shouldn’t our investment in our 45-50 hours be calculated and planned well? Are we just grabbing a Bible story and hoping for the best? What is a child’s soul worth?

“The disciples shooed them off. BUT Jesus was irate and let them know it: Don’t push these children away. Don’t ever get between them and me. These children are at the very center of life in the kingdom. Mark this: UNLESS you accept God’s kingdom in the simplicity of a child, you’ll never get in.”

Then Jesus gathered the children in his arms and blessed them.
Wow. Just wow. Read it for yourselves…

Mark 10 childlike faith

Mark 10, The Message 
13-16 The people brought children to Jesus, hoping he might touch them. The disciples shooed them off. But Jesus was irate and let them know it: “Don’t push these children away. Don’t ever get between them and me. These children are at the very center of life in the kingdom. Mark this: Unless you accept God’s kingdom in the simplicity of a child, you’ll never get in.” Then, gathering the children up in his arms, he laid his hands of blessing on them.

What do we learn?
–Find a group of people who are following Christ and His Word to help children and parents find and follow Christ and join God there. God is at work among this group. Follow Jesus with them and ask to help.
–Childlike faith is paramount to abundant living in God’s Kingdom. Ask, seek and find.
–Don’t shoo children away. They probably have more faith than you do.
–Mature, Christ following people can be any age. Mm.

Dear Heavenly Father,
You know my heart and my passion and I have expressed it here from a motivation of love and truth. Bless these words as food for thought and help us to grow in our faith…as a child. I love you with all my heart, mind and soul. 
In Jesus Name, Amen

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AS SO OFTEN HE DID

Posted on July 3, 2017 by randscallawayffm

Mark – The Facts.

What are the habits we often do that people say, “Yes, that is what she/he does. They do it often. You can count on it.” This could be a good trait or a bad trait, but you do it as a habit, without thinking twice about it. Jesus’ habit was teaching about the intent of God’s Law as He walked along to the next place to minister, any time a crowd gathered, or when it was just He and His close disciples who traveled with Him. Jesus came to explain….as so often He did. This time, at the prompting of the Pharisees who are always examining Him, divorce is questioned. What will Jesus say about divorce? Mark, gets right the bottom line…the facts.

Mark 10, The Message
Divorce
10 1-2 From there he went to the area of Judea across the Jordan. A crowd of people, as was so often the case, went along, and he, as he so often did, taught them. Pharisees came up, intending to give him a hard time. They asked, “Is it legal for a man to divorce his wife?”

3 Jesus said, “What did Moses command?”

4 They answered, “Moses gave permission to fill out a certificate of dismissal and divorce her.”

5-9 Jesus said, “Moses wrote this command only as a concession to your hardhearted ways. In the original creation, God made male and female to be together. Because of this, a man leaves father and mother, and in marriage he becomes one flesh with a woman—no longer two individuals, but forming a new unity. Because God created this organic union of the two sexes, no one should desecrate his art by cutting them apart.”

10-12 When they were back home, the disciples brought it up again. Jesus gave it to them straight: “A man who divorces his wife so he can marry someone else commits adultery against her. And a woman who divorces her husband so she can marry someone else commits adultery.”

Mark 10 marriage attitude

What do we learn?
–Jesus often answers with another question for clarification, not for Him, but for the questioner. What are you really asking of me? What does the Law say? Let me explain it to you clearly.
–He reminds them of the intent of the Law. Then tells them the intent of God’s heart. God hates divorce. Why? Because He loves us deeply. Divorce is opposite of God’s design for us.  Divorce is a greater pain than death of a spouse.  The paperwork was a concession to protect the woman financially when hard hearts, filled with hate, decided to end the relationship and walk away from commitment.
–From the beginning…God created male and female to be together.
–NO ONE should desecrate his work of the art of marriage.
–There are consequences to divorce.  Pain, loss, insecurity.
–The unbelieving world as well as those in the church take the marriage commitment lightly with the attitude, “Well, if it doesn’t work, I’ll just move on.” We have heard this statement in premarital counseling.
–Examine your hearts before marriage. Run from a flippant motivation of heart! If he/she has the attitude of finding a way out if they are not happy, then it is guaranteed that the marriage will be in trouble and at great risk for divorce.
–“As He so often did, He taught them.” He teaches us, still.

Dear Heavenly Father,
May our commitments to one another in marriage be stronger still, with You in the middle holding us together with Your perfect love. May the word divorce never enter the conversation, but peace and resolution be found always. As you so often did, teach us still. Grow us closer to You. As we draw closer to You, we will naturally and physically draw closer to each other.
In Jesus Name, Amen

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NOT IN OUR GROUP

Posted on July 2, 2017 by randscallawayffm

Mark – The Facts.

Believers of Jesus form groups called churches. Some meet in traditional, grand cathedrals. Some groups meet in houses. Some meet under trees by a brook. Some groups are “planted” by pulling other disgruntled believers into a circle to have service their own way. There are people who are serious about helping others find and follow Jesus. Jesus helps his disciples who are concerned about those “not in their group” to tell the difference between believers and enemies.

Mark 9, The Message
38 John spoke up, “Teacher, we saw a man using your name to expel demons and we stopped him because he wasn’t in our group.”
39-41 Jesus wasn’t pleased. “Don’t stop him. No one can use my name to do something good and powerful, and in the next breath cut me down. If he’s not an enemy, he’s an ally. Why, anyone by just giving you a cup of water in my name is on our side. Count on it that God will notice.
42 “On the other hand, if you give one of these simple, childlike believers a hard time, bullying or taking advantage of their simple trust, you’ll soon wish you hadn’t. You’d be better off dropped in the middle of the lake with a millstone around your neck.
43-48 “If your hand or your foot gets in God’s way, chop it off and throw it away. You’re better off maimed or lame and alive than the proud owner of two hands and two feet, godless in a furnace of eternal fire. And if your eye distracts you from God, pull it out and throw it away. You’re better off one-eyed and alive than exercising your twenty-twenty vision from inside the fire of hell.
49-50 “Everyone’s going through a refining fire sooner or later, but you’ll be well-preserved, protected from the eternal flames. Be preservatives yourselves. Preserve the peace.”

Mark 9 cup of water

What do we learn?
–Be kind to those who worship in Jesus Name in a different way than what you do. Preserve peace.
–Let us always and consistently evaluate the motive of our own hearts in what and why we do what we do. God sees our hearts.
–Who are we as a “group”? Are others allowed inside?
–Does it matter if we sit or stand during a song of worship?
–Does it matter if we clap or not?
–Does it matter if we raise our hands or humbly bow before the Lord?
–What happens when the last song is sung and we leave the building? Who are we? Do You go with us, Lord? Or did we leave You behind until the next time we come to church?
–Do we, without thinking or forming a committee, offer a drink of cold refreshing water, in Jesus Name, to the thirsty seeking Him?
–In Jesus Name has everything to do with ministry.
–“God will notice.” –Jesus

Dear Heavenly Father,
We believers judge each others methods and ways far too much causing us to be distracted from the simplicity of what you require of us. Forgive us our sins. Help us to live your teaching well. May our hearts, minds and souls be guided by your love in us. May Your Holy Spirit direct our talk and our walk.
In Jesus Name, Amen

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TALKING SMACK

Posted on July 1, 2017 by randscallawayffm

Mark – The Facts.

We all do it. To feel better about the “place” we are in life at the moment we talk smack about others who we feel are a threat to our “position” in this world. We put others down to lift up ourselves. We do it at work, in families, and at church. It is a human trait that is not pleasing to God.

Imagine a youth group traveling to camp in the church van. The discussion begins with funny jabs at each other and then escalates to arguing about who is the best at whatever it is they are talking about. It could be baseball, softball, kickball, or whatever activity they are looking forward to doing at camp. The jabs and pokes get louder and rougher until the Youth Leader steps in with the look, the “talk” and hopefully, a lesson in what it means to serve, not be served. Jesus shows us how to pull that off that teachable moment. (Do I hear crickets?)

Mark 9, The Message
So You Want First Place?
33 They came to Capernaum. When he was safe at home, he asked them, “What were you discussing on the road?”

34 The silence was deafening—they had been arguing with one another over who among them was greatest.

35 He sat down and summoned the Twelve. “So you want first place? Then take the last place. Be the servant of all.”

36-37 He put a child in the middle of the room. Then, cradling the little one in his arms, he said, “Whoever embraces one of these children as I do embraces me, and far more than me—God who sent me.”

Mark 8 disciple

What do we learn?
–The young disciples know that the previous discussion was not right. That’s why the silence when Jesus called them out.
–“So you want first place”, says Jesus. How many times have we clamored for first only to be told that we are to be last? Did we learn that lesson well? How did we take it? Did we serve well when called out?
–Do we embrace God’s children, (we are one of them), as He embraces us?
–No more talking smack among each other, okay? We are all God’s children. We are born again to serve…not to be served.
–Jesus came to serve. “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Mark 10:45, NLT

Dear Heavenly Father, We repent of falling to our nature of wanting to be served rather than jumping up to serve others enthusiastically. Our desire is to please You first, to love You and love others. To love unconditionally like You love us is to serve well and not look for ways to be on top. We repent of talking smack among our fellow believers. There is no place for that in our walk with You. Thank you for another teachable moment in time that helps us to grow today.
In Jesus Name, Amen

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NO “IFS”

Posted on June 30, 2017 by randscallawayffm

Mark – The Facts.

When our kids attempt to “talk back” to us when given a direction to do something, we typically say, “No ifs, ands or buts! Just do it and trust me!” We say this because it was said by our parents to us. Isn’t it surprising when we hear our mom or dad’s words of the past find their way through our own lips? It shouldn’t be so surprising. If good parenting was delivered and developed in our lives by biblical people then it stands to reason that we will fall back on those same tactics.

As I read our next passage in Mark, I think of my mom saying, “no ifs” when I needed to just trust that she knew what was best. She generally did and was right 99 percent of the time. This percentage was a result of trusting in God. Where do we get this stuff? From Jesus’ teachings.

Mark 9, The Message
There Are No Ifs
14-16 When they came back down the mountain to the other disciples, they saw a huge crowd around them, and the religion scholars cross-examining them. As soon as the people in the crowd saw Jesus, admiring excitement stirred them. They ran and greeted him. He asked, “What’s going on? What’s all the commotion?”

17-18 A man out of the crowd answered, “Teacher, I brought my mute son, made speechless by a demon, to you. Whenever it seizes him, it throws him to the ground. He foams at the mouth, grinds his teeth, and goes stiff as a board. I told your disciples, hoping they could deliver him, but they couldn’t.”

19-20 Jesus said, “What a generation! No sense of God! How many times do I have to go over these things? How much longer do I have to put up with this? Bring the boy here.” They brought him. When the demon saw Jesus, it threw the boy into a seizure, causing him to writhe on the ground and foam at the mouth.

21-22 He asked the boy’s father, “How long has this been going on?”

“Ever since he was a little boy. Many times it pitches him into fire or the river to do away with him. If you can do anything, do it. Have a heart and help us!”

23 Jesus said, “If? There are no ‘ifs’ among believers. Anything can happen.”

24 No sooner were the words out of his mouth than the father cried, “Then I believe. Help me with my doubts!”

25-27 Seeing that the crowd was forming fast, Jesus gave the vile spirit its marching orders: “Dumb and deaf spirit, I command you—Out of him, and stay out!” Screaming, and with much thrashing about, it left. The boy was pale as a corpse, so people started saying, “He’s dead.” But Jesus, taking his hand, raised him. The boy stood up.

28 After arriving back home, his disciples cornered Jesus and asked, “Why couldn’t we throw the demon out?”

29 He answered, “There is no way to get rid of this kind of demon except by prayer.”

30-32 Leaving there, they went through Galilee. He didn’t want anyone to know their whereabouts, for he wanted to teach his disciples. He told them, “The Son of Man is about to be betrayed to some people who want nothing to do with God. They will murder him. Three days after his murder, he will rise, alive.” They didn’t know what he was talking about, but were afraid to ask him about it.

Mark 9 believe.jpg

Let’s ask ourselves…
–Do we begin our prayers in our hearts with IF you can do it, do it, Lord?
–Do we believe God can do anything? Absolutely everything?
–Consider this prayer of Jeremiah 32:17: “I prayed to God, ‘Dear God, my Master, you created earth and sky by your great power—by merely stretching out your arm! There is nothing you can’t do. You’re loyal in your steadfast love to thousands upon thousands—but you also make children live with the fallout from their parents’ sins. Great and powerful God, named God-of-the-Angel-Armies, determined in purpose and relentless in following through, you see everything that men and women do and respond appropriately to the way they live, to the things they do.”
–Are we honest as we pray, like the father of the boy who was healed…”Then I believe. Help me with my doubts!”
–Does God have to act before we believe?
–Do I believe that nothing is too hard for the God who created us, the world and everything in it?
–Jesus said, “There are no ifs among believers.” No IFS! Are there “ifs” in my thinking? Isn’t it time to get rid of the ifs? ANYTHING can happen, says Jesus!

Dear Heavenly Father,
What a great lesson for inward evaluation of our walk with You. Nothing is too hard for you…absolutely nothing! Then why do I worry and fret? I am human. Help my doubts, Lord, even at this hour. Lift the burdens I bear and help me to turn every detail over to you. You are God and i am not. I will trust in You.
In Jesus Name, Amen

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SEEING ONLY JESUS

Posted on June 25, 2017 by randscallawayffm

Mark 9 – The Facts.

As believers there are times in our lives, in the middle of our circumstances that convince us the Jesus is Lord as well as Savior. When we look up and see only Him, it is harder to see all the earthly problems around us. What a blessing to come away with Him to center our thoughts on Him, seeing only Jesus.

A few of Jesus helpers physically had the privilege and honor to see only Jesus in all His glory. This was such an overwhelming sight that Peter’s first response was to build a monument right then and there, which is a purely human reaction.

Then they heard the Voice of God, “This is my Son, marked by my love. Listen to him.”

Look at Him. See only Jesus. Listen to him.

The disciples rubbed their eyes, blinded by the glory all around them, then saw nothing but Jesus, only Jesus. What a glorious moment in time.

Mark 9, The Message
Some of you who are standing here are going to see it happen, see the kingdom of God arrive in full force.”

In a Light-Radiant Cloud
2-4 Six days later, three of them did see it. Jesus took Peter, James, and John and led them up a high mountain. His appearance changed from the inside out, right before their eyes. His clothes shimmered, glistening white, whiter than any bleach could make them. Elijah, along with Moses, came into view, in deep conversation with Jesus.

5-6 Peter interrupted, “Rabbi, this is a great moment! Let’s build three memorials—one for you, one for Moses, one for Elijah.” He blurted this out without thinking, stunned as they all were by what they were seeing.

7 Just then a light-radiant cloud enveloped them, and from deep in the cloud, a voice: “This is my Son, marked by my love. Listen to him.”

8 The next minute the disciples were looking around, rubbing their eyes, seeing nothing but Jesus, only Jesus.

9-10 Coming down the mountain, Jesus swore them to secrecy. “Don’t tell a soul what you saw. After the Son of Man rises from the dead, you’re free to talk.” They puzzled over that, wondering what on earth “rising from the dead” meant.

11 Meanwhile they were asking, “Why do the religion scholars say that Elijah has to come first?”

12-13 Jesus replied, “Elijah does come first and get everything ready for the coming of the Son of Man. They treated this Elijah like dirt, much like they will treat the Son of Man, who will, according to Scripture, suffer terribly and be kicked around contemptibly.”

Mark 9 pleased

 

Think about it. Let’s stop for a moment to realize the glory and power of Jesus. Take all the time you need. Look at Him. See only Jesus. Listen to Him.
In Jesus Name, Amen. I believe.

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TO TELL THE TRUTH

Posted on June 24, 2017 by randscallawayffm

Mark – The Facts.

I game show I used to watch many years ago as a kid is making a new appearance with the same title, “To Tell the Truth”. Three people introduced themselves as the same person. Then a panel of judges must interview them and see which one is telling the truth about themselves. At the end of three rounds of questions, the real person stands to reveal his/her real identity.

Jesus, in the midst of ministry and mentoring, turns to his disciples and asks, “Who do you say I am?” What must his guys be thinking of these questions? Is this another test, Jesus? Will there be a “catch” to this line of questioning?

Mark 8, The Message
The Messiah
27 Jesus and his disciples headed out for the villages around Caesarea Philippi. As they walked, he asked, “Who do the people say I am?”

28 “Some say ‘John the Baptizer,’” they said. “Others say ‘Elijah.’ Still others say ‘one of the prophets.’”

29 He then asked, “And you—what are you saying about me? Who am I?”

Peter gave the answer: “You are the Christ, the Messiah.”

30-32 Jesus warned them to keep it quiet, not to breathe a word of it to anyone. He then began explaining things to them: “It is necessary that the Son of Man proceed to an ordeal of suffering, be tried and found guilty by the elders, high priests, and religion scholars, be killed, and after three days rise up alive.” He said this simply and clearly so they couldn’t miss it.

32-33 But Peter grabbed him in protest. Turning and seeing his disciples wavering, wondering what to believe, Jesus confronted Peter. “Peter, get out of my way! Satan, get lost! You have no idea how God works.”

34-37 Calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, “Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You’re not in the driver’s seat; I am. Don’t run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I’ll show you how. Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to saving yourself, your true self. What good would it do to get everything you want and lose you, the real you? What could you ever trade your soul for?

38 “If any of you are embarrassed over me and the way I’m leading you when you get around your fickle and unfocused friends, know that you’ll be an even greater embarrassment to the Son of Man when he arrives in all the splendor of God, his Father, with an army of the holy angels.”

Life’s Most Important Questions

Now it’s time to stand and tell the Truth…
Ah, we find out that this is Jesus’ way of helping his followers dig deep in their perception of WHO He really is to the them and to the rest of the world. “Who do others say I am?” is a way for the followers to evaluate where Jesus stands with the rest of the world around them. “Who do YOU say I am?” is a personal question to evaluate their own relationships with Him.

This is a great question for our personal relationship with Jesus, too. Who DO we say that Jesus is to others? Or do we just talk about our church?

Who is Jesus to us? Are we impressed about His story or is He interwoven with our story? Are we merely impressed with His good teaching of right and wrong or have we found Him to be our Savior and Lord? Are we growing more intimate with our Lord? Does He lead in every detail of our lives as Lord or is He just called on as a Savior in a crisis?

It’s time “To Tell the Truth.”

Dear Heavenly Father, I am compelled to tell the truth about You. Life is all about You. You are God and we are not. Jesus, you are Messiah who saves us. Holy Spirit, you are the One who guides us, comforts us and convicts us so we will grow in our intimate relationship with the Three-In-One. We praise you, thank you and ask that Your Holy Presence never leave us as promised. I believe. I will trust in You alone. Who are You? You are Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God. You have cleansed and made me whole. You have restored the joy of my salvation. You are my Savior AND my Lord. To You be all glory, honor and praise!
In Jesus Name, Amen. I believe.

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BUILDING FAITH

Posted on June 23, 2017 by randscallawayffm

Mark 8 – The Facts.

22-23 They arrived at Bethsaida. Some people brought a sightless man and begged Jesus to give him a healing touch. Taking him by the hand, he led him out of the village. He put spit in the man’s eyes, laid hands on him, and asked, “Do you see anything?”

24-26 He looked up. “I see men. They look like walking trees.” So Jesus laid hands on his eyes again. The man looked hard and realized that he had recovered perfect sight, saw everything in bright, twenty-twenty focus. Jesus sent him straight home, telling him, “Don’t enter the village.”

Mark 8 touch of Jesus

Think about it…as we figure out why this miracle is different….

–This miracle of Jesus is one of a kind. He did not just say the word and the man healed instantly as He had done for others.

–When has God taken time and phases to answer our prayers for help, healing or restoration? Is He building our faith a little at a time, in a way we could individually grow and never go back to the way we were? Sightless to Him and His ways?

–He could have cured him, as he did others, with a word speaking, but He seemed to assist his faith which was very weak, and to help him against his unbelief.

–Jesus had to touch him to heal him.

–“This spittle signified the eye-salve wherewith Christ anoints the eyes of those that are spiritually blind, Rev. 3:18. 2. That the cure was wrought gradually, which was not usual in Christ’s miracles. He asked him if he saw aught, Mark 8:23.” – Matthew Henry Commentary.

–Christ never does his work halfway or quits until he can say, “it is finished”. He put his hands again on the newly sighted man’s eyes, to cleanse the remaining darkness, and then told him look up again, and he saw every man clearly. Faith has been built…on nothing less than Jesus Christ! He can now see Christ clearly. He sees and believes in the One and Only who gave him sight!

–Is Jesus asking us, “Do you see anything?” Yet?

–This one of kind miracle shows us that Jesus looks into our hearts. He does not teach a “method” but develops a relationship and gives what we need at the right time for each one of us.

–Jesus leads the man out of the village of Bethsaida. Did Bethsaida not deserve seeing this miracle occur because they were blind, too?

–“Go home” says Jesus to the now sighted man. “Don’t enter the village.” Bethsaida probably would have made excuses or explained this miracle away as magic or coincidence. Does our world do that today? Mm….

Dear Heavenly Father, You are still performing miracles in us and all around us. Help us to see You clearly, to see Your works and blessings, healing and restoration and be very grateful. Help us to live gratefully today, watching for You around every corner and in every detail. Thank you for loving me as an individual person, uniquely created by You. I need you every hour. Every hour I need you.
In Jesus Name, Amen. I believe.

And I’m singing…

My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus Christ, my righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand,
All other ground is sinking sand.

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