MEANWHILE BACK IN THE BOAT

Posted on June 22, 2017 by randscallawayffm

Mark – The Facts.

As parents (or teachers), how many times have you given clearly spoken directions of what you think is simple. Your kids, (because of their age and perspective), listen to the words and then do what was not even close to what you said. Frustrating at times, isn’t it? Sometimes it’s funny. Other times you wonder how they will ever get through life. But they do, because we remember our own misunderstandings and mistakes of being young. We correct their course, find other ways to express ourselves and keep teaching them so they will grow.

I heard great wisdom the other day, “Sometimes you win and sometimes you learn.” The old saying was, “Sometimes you win and sometimes you lose.” I like the new way of thinking. We don’t lose, we learn. Jesus knew that as He patiently went over the “bread” story again so that his followers would “get it”. Jesus is the Bread of Life. Jesus is Truth. God is the Father. Jesus is the Son. The “yeast” was man made rules and regulations of the Pharisees that took God’s people further away from Truth and a relationship with Him. Jesus said, “Do you still not get it?”

Jesus knows our frustration of trying to express the Truth to others. He will give us the words when necessary. But first we must “get it”. And then we must continually learn to live it. We will make mistakes along the way, but He forgives. Sometimes we win, (get it), sometimes we learn. We are disciples of Jesus, just like those in the boat. We are all in the same “boat”.

Mark 8 disciple

Mark 8, The Message
Contaminating Yeast
13-15 He then left them, got back in the boat, and headed for the other side. But the disciples forgot to pack a lunch. Except for a single loaf of bread, there wasn’t a crumb in the boat. Jesus warned, “Be very careful. Keep a sharp eye out for the contaminating yeast of Pharisees and the followers of Herod.”

16-19 Meanwhile, the disciples were finding fault with each other because they had forgotten to bring bread. Jesus overheard and said, “Why are you fussing because you forgot bread? Don’t you see the point of all this? Don’t you get it at all? Remember the five loaves I broke for the five thousand? How many baskets of leftovers did you pick up?”

They said, “Twelve.”

20 “And the seven loaves for the four thousand—how many bags full of leftovers did you get?”

“Seven.”

21 He said, “Do you still not get it?”

Dear Heavenly Father, Help us to carve away all that is not Your Truth. The world is confusing. People who look like your Truth are not. Evil has a way of weaving through us like the yeast you talked about of the Pharisees. Oh Lord, don’t allow us to be like the Pharisees. Help us to listen to hear Your Word and follow You with all that is in us. Help us to truly “get it.”
In Jesus Name, Amen

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WHAT DO YOU EXPECT US TO DO?

Posted on June 21, 2017 by randscallawayffm

Mark – The Facts.

In situations where needs arise unexpectedly with the church body, what is the first thing that comes to mind? A quick evaluation will reveal the health of the any group of people who say they want to “do what Jesus did” or be like Him in their thinking. Most churches (groups of people, not buildings) will want to do what is best. But there are some leadership committees who lean toward counting the coins in the treasury and ask, “What do you expect us to do?”

Jesus turned to his “committee” and said, “This crowd is breaking my heart. They have stuck with me for three days, and now they have nothing to eat.” The disciples response? “What do you expect us to do?”

The next question Jesus asks develops a teachable moment for the disciples and for us. What do you have? Jesus will take what we have, bless it for the situation at hand and miraculously meet the needs beyond our wildest dreams.

What does Jesus expect us to do? Give it all to Him. He will do the rest. Wow. It’s that simple. Think about that for today…take all the time you need…as you read the following…

Mark 8, The Message
A Meal for Four Thousand
8 1-3 At about this same time he again found himself with a hungry crowd on his hands. He called his disciples together and said, “This crowd is breaking my heart. They have stuck with me for three days, and now they have nothing to eat. If I send them home hungry, they’ll faint along the way—some of them have come a long distance.”

4 His disciples responded, “What do you expect us to do about it? Buy food out here in the desert?”

5 He asked, “How much bread do you have?”

“Seven loaves,” they said.

6-10 So Jesus told the crowd to sit down on the ground. After giving thanks, he took the seven bread loaves, broke them into pieces, and gave them to his disciples so they could hand them out to the crowd. They also had a few fish. He pronounced a blessing over the fish and told his disciples to hand them out as well. The crowd ate its fill. Seven sacks of leftovers were collected. There were well over four thousand at the meal. Then he sent them home. He himself went straight to the boat with his disciples and set out for Dalmanoutha.

11-12 When they arrived, the Pharisees came out and started in on him, badgering him to prove himself, pushing him up against the wall. Provoked, he said, “Why does this generation clamor for miraculous guarantees? If I have anything to say about it, you’ll not get so much as a hint of a guarantee.”

Mark 8 compassion

Something to think about…
–What do you expect of us? What a great question for church boards and committees to ask every time they meet.
–Churches are not businesses designed to turn a profit. Church groups of people are taught to help people find and follow Christ.
–Some church groups are saving for a rainy day, look at the lost around you, there is a flood already rising!
–We are taught as the Body of Christ to help those in need. Give all you have and see what happens as Jesus blesses it and goes beyond the need.
–As a church group, what breaks your heart? Pray and God will open our eyes to what He wants us to be and do.

Dear Heavenly Father,
Break our hearts of those things/people who break Yours. Take what we have to meet the needs of those around us. Help us to look to You for holy direction, discernment and decisiveness. Thank you for your encouragement today.
In Jesus Name, Amen

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HE COULDN’T ESCAPE NOTICE

Posted on June 20, 2017 by randscallawayffm

Mark – The Facts.

Celebrities work hard to be known. Then they work hard to escape the crowds who want to see them because of their accomplishments. Jesus became more than popular while He was here on earth. He became known quickly for touching the lives of many with various forms of healing. He sent the evil spirits packing. He gave the blind their sight, the lame their ability to get up and walk and the speechless the ability to speak. He couldn’t escape notice. His mission from the Father was to seek and to save lost people. Now people, ALL people, were seeking HIM…to be healed. Healing comes from believing.

Mark 7, The Message
24-26 From there Jesus set out for the vicinity of Tyre. He entered a house there where he didn’t think he would be found, but he couldn’t escape notice. He was barely inside when a woman who had a disturbed daughter heard where he was. She came and knelt at his feet, begging for help. The woman was Greek, Syro-Phoenician by birth. She asked him to cure her daughter.

27 He said, “Stand in line and take your turn. The children get fed first. If there’s any left over, the dogs get it.”

28 She said, “Of course, Master. But don’t dogs under the table get scraps dropped by the children?”

29-30 Jesus was impressed. “You’re right! On your way! Your daughter is no longer disturbed. The demonic affliction is gone.” She went home and found her daughter relaxed on the bed, the torment gone for good.

31-35 Then he left the region of Tyre, went through Sidon back to Galilee Lake and over to the district of the Ten Towns. Some people brought a man who could neither hear nor speak and asked Jesus to lay a healing hand on him. He took the man off by himself, put his fingers in the man’s ears and some spit on the man’s tongue. Then Jesus looked up in prayer, groaned mightily, and commanded, “Ephphatha!—Open up!” And it happened. The man’s hearing was clear and his speech plain—just like that.

36-37 Jesus urged them to keep it quiet, but they talked it up all the more, beside themselves with excitement. “He’s done it all and done it well. He gives hearing to the deaf, speech to the speechless.”

Mark 7 Jesus

Jesus…”He’s done it all and done it well.” He still does. He cannot escape notice in this world today.

For God so loved the world (all of us, not matter what nation we are born into) that He sent His Only Son (Jesus).

“This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life.” John 3:16, The Message

Dear Heavenly Father,
Because you taught your disciples well and sent them to continue to help people find and follow you, we are still in your care, seeking You. You cannot escape notice. You are in our lives, living in the depths of our souls, guiding us, comforting us, giving us peace in every storm, daily restoring the joy of our salvation, and being our strength and our song all day long and into the night. Help us help others find and follow You. Thank you, Lord.
In Jesus Name, Amen

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WHAT GOES IN, COMES OUT

Posted on June 19, 2017 by randscallawayffm

Mark – The Facts.

An old Cherokee is teaching his grandson about life. “A fight is going on inside me,” he said to the boy.

“It is a terrible fight and it is between two wolves. One is evil – he is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.”

He continued, “The other is good – he is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith. The same fight is going on inside you – and inside every other person, too.”

The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather, “Which wolf will win?”

The old Cherokee simply replied, “The one you feed.”

Our thoughts can be our own worst enemy. That is, if we let them. Think about how you may be “feeding” your negative thoughts by allowing them to rule your heart, mind and soul. What we “feed” our hearts, minds and souls inside leads to outward behavior. Next time you have a negative thought, catch it and ask yourself, “What is this thought doing for me?”

The next time we think a wrong according to God’s Word will be okay, ask God if it is okay to set aside His Word for our convenience. What are we feeding our hearts these days? Remember, what goes in…comes out in our behavior. Jesus clearly explains the pollution we allow to build up in our hearts blinding us to His righteousness.

Mark 7, The Message

The Source of Your Pollution
7 1-4 The Pharisees, along with some religion scholars who had come from Jerusalem, gathered around him. They noticed that some of his disciples weren’t being careful with ritual washings before meals. The Pharisees—Jews in general, in fact—would never eat a meal without going through the motions of a ritual hand-washing, with an especially vigorous scrubbing if they had just come from the market (to say nothing of the scourings they’d give jugs and pots and pans).

5 The Pharisees and religion scholars asked, “Why do your disciples flout the rules, showing up at meals without washing their hands?”

6-8 Jesus answered, “Isaiah was right about frauds like you, hit the bull’s-eye in fact:

These people make a big show of saying the right thing,
but their heart isn’t in it.
They act like they are worshiping me,
but they don’t mean it.
They just use me as a cover
for teaching whatever suits their fancy,
Ditching God’s command
and taking up the latest fads.”

9-13 He went on, “Well, good for you. You get rid of God’s command so you won’t be inconvenienced in following the religious fashions! Moses said, ‘Respect your father and mother,’ and, ‘Anyone denouncing father or mother should be killed.’ But you weasel out of that by saying that it’s perfectly acceptable to say to father or mother, ‘Gift! What I owed you I’ve given as a gift to God,’ thus relieving yourselves of obligation to father or mother. You scratch out God’s Word and scrawl a whim in its place. You do a lot of things like this.”

14-15 Jesus called the crowd together again and said, “Listen now, all of you—take this to heart. It’s not what you swallow that pollutes your life; it’s what you vomit—that’s the real pollution.”

17 When he was back home after being with the crowd, his disciples said, “We don’t get it. Put it in plain language.”

18-19 Jesus said, “Are you being willfully stupid? Don’t you see that what you swallow can’t contaminate you? It doesn’t enter your heart but your stomach, works its way through the intestines, and is finally flushed.” (That took care of dietary quibbling; Jesus was saying that all foods are fit to eat.)

20-23 He went on: “It’s what comes out of a person that pollutes: obscenities, lusts, thefts, murders, adulteries, greed, depravity, deceptive dealings, carousing, mean looks, slander, arrogance, foolishness—all these are vomit from the heart. There is the source of your pollution.”

Mark 7 clean heart.png

Think about it…
–Astronauts and other pilots say to eat bananas before a challenging flight where you might experience dizzy and nauseousness. Why? Because bananas taste the same going down as they do coming up. If we feed on God’s Word, what comes out of our hearts is more likely…God’s Word. Mm.

Dear Heavenly Father, Your Word, with the help of the Holy Spirit, always provokes an accounting and evaluation of our hearts, minds and souls that lead to our behavior. We repent of feeding our souls polluted thoughts and ask for your help to think more and more like You think. Your thoughts are always higher than our thoughts. Feed us, Lord with all that is true and right. Defeat the foe within us that wants to destroy us.
In Jesus Name, Amen

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JESUS SEES OUR STRUGGLE

Posted on June 18, 2017 by randscallawayffm

Mark – The Facts.

Before problems arise in our lives, Jesus sees the imminent danger of the storm brewing on the horizon. He watches to see how we will handle the situation. At just the right time, He walks by and rescues us, even before we ask. That is our Savior. That is our Lord.

Mark 6, The Message
Walking on the Sea
45-46 As soon as the meal was finished, Jesus insisted that the disciples get in the boat and go on ahead across to Bethsaida while he dismissed the congregation. After sending them off, he climbed a mountain to pray.

47-49 Late at night, the boat was far out at sea; Jesus was still by himself on land. He could see his men struggling with the oars, the wind having come up against them. At about four o’clock in the morning, Jesus came toward them, walking on the sea. He intended to go right by them. But when they saw him walking on the sea, they thought it was a ghost and screamed, scared out of their wits.

50-52 Jesus was quick to comfort them: “Courage! It’s me. Don’t be afraid.” As soon as he climbed into the boat, the wind died down. They were stunned, shaking their heads, wondering what was going on. They didn’t understand what he had done at the supper. None of this had yet penetrated their hearts.

53-56 They beached the boat at Gennesaret and tied up at the landing. As soon as they got out of the boat, word got around fast. People ran this way and that, bringing their sick on stretchers to where they heard he was. Wherever he went, village or town or country crossroads, they brought their sick to the marketplace and begged him to let them touch the edge of his coat—that’s all. And whoever touched him became well.

Mark 6 it's God

Think about it…
–The disciples hop into a boat after miraculously feeding over 5000 people, leaving Jesus behind to spend time alone with the Father in prayer.
–Jesus insisted that the disciples go on ahead. Mm.
–Apparently Jesus had prayed all night after the miracle feeding and was now ready to join his helpers again. More ministry was waiting on the other side of the sea.
–Jesus sees their struggle with the wind and the waves. So about 4 in the morning, He walks across the sea to see how they are doing. He planned to just walk on by, but they were scared, probably at seeing a man walk on water!
–Jesus calms their hearts with, “Courage! It’s Me. Don’t be afraid.”
–How many times, right in the middle of life’s stuff, has God whispered “Courage, it’s Me…don’t be afraid” to calm our storm?
–Are we scared or grateful?
–Jesus is quick to comfort.
–The disciples have not reflected or been debriefed on the miracle feeding and now this?
–WHO is this man? The Son of the Living God. That’s who.
–Jesus sees our struggles. He is always there. His speaks words of wisdom, comfort, power, courage, insight and understanding through His Holy Spirit to those who believe He will. I believe. How about you?

Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for seeing our struggles and delivering us. Thank you for your comforting words accompanied by peace in the middle of all our storms.

In Jesus Name, Amen

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SAY AMEN AND MOVE ON

Posted on June 17, 2017 by randscallawayffm

Mark – The Facts.

Do you experience times of tiredness as ministry leaders and volunteers? For example, have you sat in the nursery or preschool room with many tenacious toddlers and wondered, “When IS the pastor going to say the benediction?! It’s been a long morning. The work has been challenging. You just want to go get something to eat after church and then get to the big afternoon nap you have been dreaming of all morning. Then, the closer you get to that precious moment of rest, the pastor says, “I know you are tired but there is a need that needs to be met for about 5000 people.” “Fix them supper”. WHAT!?!!

Mark 6, The Message
Supper for Five Thousand
30-31 The apostles then rendezvoused with Jesus and reported on all that they had done and taught. Jesus said, “Come off by yourselves; let’s take a break and get a little rest.” For there was constant coming and going. They didn’t even have time to eat.

32-34 So they got in the boat and went off to a remote place by themselves. Someone saw them going and the word got around. From the surrounding towns people went out on foot, running, and got there ahead of them. When Jesus arrived, he saw this huge crowd. At the sight of them, his heart broke—like sheep with no shepherd they were. He went right to work teaching them.

35-36 When his disciples thought this had gone on long enough—it was now quite late in the day—they interrupted: “We are a long way out in the country, and it’s very late. Pronounce a benediction and send these folks off so they can get some supper.”

37 Jesus said, “You do it. Fix supper for them.”

They replied, “Are you serious? You want us to go spend a fortune on food for their supper?”

38 But he was quite serious. “How many loaves of bread do you have? Take an inventory.”

That didn’t take long. “Five,” they said, “plus two fish.”

39-44 Jesus got them all to sit down in groups of fifty or a hundred—they looked like a patchwork quilt of wildflowers spread out on the green grass! He took the five loaves and two fish, lifted his face to heaven in prayer, blessed, broke, and gave the bread to the disciples, and the disciples in turn gave it to the people. He did the same with the fish. They all ate their fill. The disciples gathered twelve baskets of leftovers. More than five thousand were at the supper.

Mark 6 5000

What do we learn?
–People broke Jesus heart with their desire to see Him and learn from Him. His heart still goes out to people in need of a Savior and Lord.
–We are His hands and feet.
–He is our strength when we are tired.
–When He commands us to “fix supper”, do we whine and complain and tell him all the reasons why we cannot do it?
–Do we take inventory of what we have, ask God to bless what we have and then move on to do what He has asked us to do?
–We get tired. We are human. But there is a difference in being tired IN the work and being tired OF the work. Following Jesus can be challenging and tiring, but He will provide rest in beautiful ways at just the right time.
–Jesus turned the whine and complaining into a few loaves and fishes and provided a miraculous event that declared the glory of God! We don’t want to miss out on God’s next. Say the last Amen and then go with God and do what He asks.

Lord, break my heart of those things that break your heart. Help me to see You and others from Your perspective. When I am weak and tired in the work, help me to see the bigger picture and provide the strength to accomplish what you have given me to do. And when you know I need rest, I trust you will provide it at just the right time. You are not a task master who doesn’t care about the workers. You are God and you love us so much we cannot imagine the depth of it. I don’t want to miss an opportunity to be a part of Your next miracle in my part of the world!
In Jesus Name, Amen

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THE MURDER OF THE MESSENGER

Posted on June 16, 2017 by randscallawayffm

Mark – The Facts.

After rebellious living in ways to indulge self with denial and excuses for destructive behavior, God sends people with power and strength to stand and tell the Truth. The Truth is like surgery. It hurts but it heals. A lie is a painkiller. It gives instant relief but has side affects forever. Who are we drawn to? Those who tell the Truth or those who lie?

Herod was drawn to John who told him the truth about his adulterous living. “Whenever he listened to John he was miserable with guilt–and yet he couldn’t stay away. Something in John kept pulling him back.” That “something” was God’s Spirit in John. We have God’s Spirit living in us.

However, in a wicked turn of events, Herod is easily manipulated because of a drunken state and self indulgence perversion. He kills the man of Truth whose desire was to help him turn back to God. Now, he is faced with Truth in the Person of Jesus Christ. “He’s back!”, says Herod who is convinced that Jesus is John who has come back to haunt him.

Mark 6, The Message
The Death of John
14 King Herod heard of all this, for by this time the name of Jesus was on everyone’s lips. He said, “This has to be John the Baptizer come back from the dead—that’s why he’s able to work miracles!”

15 Others said, “No, it’s Elijah.”

Others said, “He’s a prophet, just like one of the old-time prophets.”

16 But Herod wouldn’t budge: “It’s John, sure enough. I cut off his head, and now he’s back, alive.”

17-20 Herod was the one who had ordered the arrest of John, put him in chains, and sent him to prison at the nagging of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife. For John had provoked Herod by naming his relationship with Herodias “adultery.” Herodias, smoldering with hate, wanted to kill him, but didn’t dare because Herod was in awe of John. Convinced that he was a holy man, he gave him special treatment. Whenever he listened to him he was miserable with guilt—and yet he couldn’t stay away. Something in John kept pulling him back.

21-22 But a portentous day arrived when Herod threw a birthday party, inviting all the brass and bluebloods in Galilee. Herodias’s daughter entered the banquet hall and danced for the guests. She dazzled Herod and the guests.

22-23 The king said to the girl, “Ask me anything. I’ll give you anything you want.” Carried away, he kept on, “I swear, I’ll split my kingdom with you if you say so!”

24 She went back to her mother and said, “What should I ask for?”

“Ask for the head of John the Baptizer.”

25 Excited, she ran back to the king and said, “I want the head of John the Baptizer served up on a platter. And I want it now!”

26-29 That sobered the king up fast. But unwilling to lose face with his guests, he caved in and let her have her wish. The king sent the executioner off to the prison with orders to bring back John’s head. He went, cut off John’s head, brought it back on a platter, and presented it to the girl, who gave it to her mother. When John’s disciples heard about this, they came and got the body and gave it a decent burial.

Mark 6 stand for truth

Think about it…
–Herod killed John to simply “save face” in front of his perverted peers. Have we been faced with similar tests of our faith? Do we deny, ignore, or lie to save face when faced with Truth?
–Are resentful toward others who love us enough to tell us when we are going astray or have lost focused on Christ?
–Are we the “messengers of Truth”? Have we knowingly put our selves at risk for truth telling?
–Very seldom is telling the truth easy, but if God has given you the message and opportunity, we must obey. As Paul reminds, however, “Speak Truth in love.” Make sure your message is from God to help others find and follow Him. Motivation of the heart is everything.

Dear Heavenly Father, The story of John and Herod is heartbreaking to us so it must of been excruciating to You to watch the story unfold with the beheading of your servant. There are many in the world today who are being tortured in much the same ways. Please be with them all and help their loved ones who are persecuted for telling the Truth of You. Be with us today and give us wisdom, insight and understanding to see and know Truth and stand for truth with all that is in us.
In Jesus Name, Amen

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THE MODEL FOR MINISTRY

Posted on June 15, 2017 by randscallawayffm

Source: THE MODEL FOR MINISTRY

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THE MODEL FOR MINISTRY

Posted on June 15, 2017 by randscallawayffm

Mark – The Facts.

When we are helping others for the fuzzy good feeling we get inside we are in MEnistry. When we crave being recognized for our good deeds to others, we are in MEnistry. When we feel under appreciated and overwhelmed at the work load we have said yes to doing, we might be in MEnistry. When we are trying to do it all by ourselves, without God’s help or guidance we are in MEnistry….not ministry.

What is ministry? Jesus explains it to his disciples who are getting ready to be sent out to help others find and follow Jesus, turn back to God because of Jesus, with power and authority from Jesus. It’s all about Jesus. It is nothing about ourselves, other than the mind to follow Him ourselves and help others find and follow Him, too. This is pure, organic, simple ministry. It is not a program but a way of living life to the full.

Mark 6, The Message
The Twelve
7-8 Jesus called the Twelve to him, and sent them out in pairs. He gave them authority and power to deal with the evil opposition. He sent them off with these instructions:

8-9 “Don’t think you need a lot of extra equipment for this. You are the equipment. No special appeals for funds. Keep it simple.

10 “And no luxury inns. Get a modest place and be content there until you leave.

11 “If you’re not welcomed, not listened to, quietly withdraw. Don’t make a scene. Shrug your shoulders and be on your way.”

12-13 Then they were on the road. They preached with joyful urgency that life can be radically different; right and left they sent the demons packing; they brought wellness to the sick, anointing their bodies, healing their spirits.

Mark 6 model for ministry

What do we learn? What instruction words are good for us to chew on today?
–You don’t need extra stuff. You ARE the stuff.
–No fund raisers. Keep it simple.
–Be content with what you have and where you lay your head.
–If the Message is not received, move on quietly to those who are ready and anxious to listen and hear.
–Assume nothing about anyone. Tell everyone.
–Preach with joyful urgency!
–Jesus gave us His Holy Spirit to help us who is our authority and power living in us. People are drawn to Who is living in us.
WHO is living in us?

Is there too much of ME for the Holy Spirit to move in and reside and move in me?

Dear Heavenly Father,
Help us to see You, know Your Presence, be guided by Your Holy Spirit in every moment of life. Be in every conversation we have today. Take up residence in me. I give you all the room you want…all of me. Change and transform me to be more and more like You and less like me. Thank you for this model of ministry and living life to the full each day.
In Jesus Name, Amen

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MARY’S BOY

Posted on June 14, 2017 by randscallawayffm

Mark – The Facts.

“If we only knew” is a common phrase that tells us we didn’t listen to understand the first time. It also means we aren’t paying attention to what is right in front of us at times. We miss a lot in life in our busyness of making a living, the day to day details of surviving, the meals put on the table, a home to care for, lawns to mow, etc. We miss kids growing up and transforming into young men and women with wonderful, God-given talents and abilities until we realize how old they are or begin to see how they are applying those talents and abilities in challenging situations. “If we only knew…” We grew up, it’s time to notice others growing up, too…and affirm them.

This age old problem goes back to Jesus’ time when the older men and women could not believe that He possessed the power to heal, save and restore. How could this little boy who ran and played with our children, speak with such wisdom in the meeting place? “It’s can’t be, for he is just a carpenter…Mary’s boy.” To describe Jesus as “Mary’s boy” was a great put down, a slanderous way of saying he was born out of wedlock. Even though Joseph was betrothed to Mary, the birth was suspicious, and gossiped about in his hometown. Jesus, the Son of God, was not acceptable.

“How did he get so wise all of a sudden, get such ability?” Jesus hometown friends and relatives just didn’t get it…or Him.

Mark 6, The Message
Just a Carpenter
6 1-2 He left there and returned to his hometown. His disciples came along. On the Sabbath, he gave a lecture in the meeting place. He made a real hit, impressing everyone. “We had no idea he was this good!” they said. “How did he get so wise all of a sudden, get such ability?”

3 But in the next breath they were cutting him down: “He’s just a carpenter—Mary’s boy. We’ve known him since he was a kid. We know his brothers, James, Justus, Jude, and Simon, and his sisters. Who does he think he is?” They tripped over what little they knew about him and fell, sprawling. And they never got any further.

4-6 Jesus told them, “A prophet has little honor in his hometown, among his relatives, on the streets he played in as a child.” Jesus wasn’t able to do much of anything there—he laid hands on a few sick people and healed them, that’s all. He couldn’t get over their stubbornness. He left and made a circuit of the other villages, teaching.

Mark 6 hometown

Think about it…
–We must get passed what we assume, ignore and think we know to what is real and right in front of us.
–Allow others to change and grow in our lives and NOTICE it and affirm them.
–Jesus did what He could with the little faith in the people before Him. The hometown crowd just couldn’t get passed the reputation, or what they thought they knew, about Jesus and His family. So, He moved on to where a more a difference could be made for God’s Kingdom.
–When people move away and come back, see them for who they have become, not locked into who you think they were.
–Stubbornness keeps us from a ton of blessings! If we only knew…

Dear Heavenly Father, Help us not to judge each other so harshly. Help us to never assume, but to talk and listen to each other. Help to grow and affirm each other when we do mature in your love, grace and mercy. I don’t want to miss your blessings because of my stubborn streak.
In Jesus Name, Amen

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