TRUST ME

Posted on June 13, 2017 by randscallawayffm

Mark 5 – The Facts.

You might be right in the middle of a difficult circumstance wondering how in the world the situation might be resolved or if it will be resolved. Someone you love is at death’s door because of illness and pain. Maybe financial burdens are beginning to overwhelm you and you see no way out at this time. Maybe you are entering another phase of life and you don’t know how you will navigate the difficult journey ahead of you. Many voices all around you are quick to give advice but what they say doesn’t seem to fit. Life is confusing at times. This life is not perfect and will never be perfect but we have a Savior who desires to take the lead and be Lord of our entire life. He wants all the pieces.
You are not dead, but maybe you are just sleeping, waiting for the Master to take your hand and say to you, “Get up”.

Mark 5, The Message
21-24 After Jesus crossed over by boat, a large crowd met him at the seaside. One of the meeting-place leaders named Jairus came. When he saw Jesus, he fell to his knees, beside himself as he begged, “My dear daughter is at death’s door. Come and lay hands on her so she will get well and live.” Jesus went with him, the whole crowd tagging along, pushing and jostling him.

35 While he was still talking, some people came from the leader’s house and told him, “Your daughter is dead. Why bother the Teacher any more?”

36 Jesus overheard what they were talking about and said to the leader, “Don’t listen to them; just trust me.”

37-40 He permitted no one to go in with him except Peter, James, and John. They entered the leader’s house and pushed their way through the gossips looking for a story and neighbors bringing in casseroles. Jesus was abrupt: “Why all this busybody grief and gossip? This child isn’t dead; she’s sleeping.” Provoked to sarcasm, they told him he didn’t know what he was talking about.

40-43 But when he had sent them all out, he took the child’s father and mother, along with his companions, and entered the child’s room. He clasped the girl’s hand and said, “Talitha koum,” which means, “Little girl, get up.” At that, she was up and walking around! This girl was twelve years of age. They, of course, were all beside themselves with joy. He gave them strict orders that no one was to know what had taken place in that room. Then he said, “Give her something to eat.”

Mark 5 trust me

Think about it…
–We have many voices that tell us we are doing it wrong, not doing enough, not being like them, not following the crowd, not, not, not. But with Christ we are enough, exactly enough, when we trust Him and not listen to others who only see the surface of our situations.
–Who is this Jesus who right in the middle of the funeral dinner raises a beloved daughter from the dead? He is the Son of God. He is our Deliverer, Savior and Redeemer!
–This daughter of Jairus would soon be redeemed by Jesus to live forever in eternity with Him. He didn’t just heal her for this moment in time.
–Get up from our circumstances, look up and trust Jesus, lean into His Holy Spirit guidance, take care of physical self so that we are always ready to follow Him wherever His Spirit leads and invites us to go.
–Live expectantly in the hope of our Savior and Lord.
—“Trust Me” — Jesus.

Dear Heavenly Father,
Walking along with You on this life’s journey is all I desire. I have found You and You have restored the joy of my salvation and redeemed my soul. There is no one like You so why would I listen to anyone else but You. I trust You. I believe in what You say and how you work. Thank you for Your Word to day that teaches and challenges us. Help us to see You more clearly even today.
In Jesus Name, Amen

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IF JUST A TOUCH

Posted on June 12, 2017 by randscallawayffm

Mark – The Facts.

Being short has disadvantages. It seems things that you want are just out of reach. I have climbed chairs and shelves to acquire needed items, almost risking getting hurt to do it. Even while standing on the kitchen counter to reach a dish, I had to stretch with all that is in me and give a little jump to get it. Yes, being short is a challenge. You are probably thinking by now, why doesn’t she ask for help? I am a very independent minded person so that would be my last resort. When I ask for help from a taller person, I must really want what is needed badly. I will risk pride and humility, having faith in another person who can meet my need.

So, as I read this morning, I see another independently minded woman who has a blood condition. She probably tried to take care of her condition herself before asking for the help of others. The condition became so life threatening over the years, disabling her from normal activities of life, that she desperately looked for help. She couldn’t be helped. Physicians tried and failed to cure her. It seems all their concoctions only hurt her but they sent her a hefty bill for their services anyway.

Then she hears of Jesus, the Healer. He is passing by with crowds gathered all around Him. She sees Jesus as she stands on the sidelines of the procession. She makes her move, slips in between all the people and makes that stretching move to reach what she needs most…Jesus. She does it! She feels the material of His robe. She knows that this touch will make her well. Her believing faith in the One who has healed others immediately heals her! Jesus feels it, too and turns to look for the woman of such faith. Jesus knows when we are reaching and seeking Him. The woman steps up with fear and trembling with her testimony of faith. Jesus affirms her faith and her life, “Live well, live blessed!” “Be healed.”

If we could lay down our agendas and reach for just a touch of Jesus’ healing power over sin we could all be restored and live well and live blessed. Reach out and stretch with all your might to touch Him. His Holy Spirit will fill your heart, as He has mine, with all that is Him. He will heal us of all selfishness, the bleeding bitterness from the past hurts, fear of loss and pride. He will restore us to good health that causes us to bear the fruits of the Holy Spirit once more.

Live well, live blessed. Stretch further than you have stretched before, God is waiting. Jesus has redeemed us.

Mark 5 risk of faith

Mark 5, The Message
A Risk of Faith
21-24 After Jesus crossed over by boat, a large crowd met him at the seaside. One of the meeting-place leaders named Jairus came. When he saw Jesus, he fell to his knees, beside himself as he begged, “My dear daughter is at death’s door. Come and lay hands on her so she will get well and live.” Jesus went with him, the whole crowd tagging along, pushing and jostling him.

25-29 A woman who had suffered a condition of hemorrhaging for twelve years—a long succession of physicians had treated her, and treated her badly, taking all her money and leaving her worse off than before—had heard about Jesus. She slipped in from behind and touched his robe. She was thinking to herself, “If I can put a finger on his robe, I can get well.” The moment she did it, the flow of blood dried up. She could feel the change and knew her plague was over and done with.

30 At the same moment, Jesus felt energy discharging from him. He turned around to the crowd and asked, “Who touched my robe?”

31 His disciples said, “What are you talking about? With this crowd pushing and jostling you, you’re asking, ‘Who touched me?’ Dozens have touched you!”

32-33 But he went on asking, looking around to see who had done it. The woman, knowing what had happened, knowing she was the one, stepped up in fear and trembling, knelt before him, and gave him the whole story.

34 Jesus said to her, “Daughter, you took a risk of faith, and now you’re healed and whole. Live well, live blessed! Be healed of your plague.”

Dear Heavenly Father, On the way to healing a leader’s child, you healed a woman who risked it all with faith that you would heal her and you did. Amazing. Your power, love, mercy and grace is beyond our wildest thinking. When we think we have it figured out, You amaze us still. You are God and we are not. Thank you for healing and restoring us. Continue to help us live well, live blessed. I want to be where You are, doing what You do with You. Show me Your will and way and I will follow, always reaching to touch You, knowing You will notice.
In Jesus Name, Amen

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GO HOME AND TELL

Posted on June 11, 2017 by randscallawayffm

Mark – The Facts.

When was the last time something incredible happened to you? Think about the moment. Was it on a vacation to another state or country? Was it on a mission trip? Was it a visit to family or friends many miles away? When, what, where and how did it happen? Was it life changing? Is it still transforming you way of thinking today? Whew, lots of questions, but think about it.

Now, that you have it in your mind, think about what you did immediately following this experience. Did you keep quiet and not tell anyone? I suspect you took a selfie, facebooked it and told the world about it! We don’t usually keep quiet about life altering experiences, especially if they are great and good for us!

There was a man whose life was changed by the Master. He wanted to stay with Jesus, but Jesus told him to go home and tell them his story of what Jesus did for him. Because he obeyed, many in the highly populated area called the Ten Towns heard about the saving mercy and grace of our Lord, Jesus Christ. “He was the talk of the town.”

Mark 5, The Message
The Madman
5 1-5 They arrived on the other side of the sea in the country of the Gerasenes. As Jesus got out of the boat, a madman from the cemetery came up to him. He lived there among the tombs and graves. No one could restrain him—he couldn’t be chained, couldn’t be tied down. He had been tied up many times with chains and ropes, but he broke the chains, snapped the ropes. No one was strong enough to tame him. Night and day he roamed through the graves and the hills, screaming out and slashing himself with sharp stones.

6-8 When he saw Jesus a long way off, he ran and bowed in worship before him—then bellowed in protest, “What business do you have, Jesus, Son of the High God, messing with me? I swear to God, don’t give me a hard time!” (Jesus had just commanded the tormenting evil spirit, “Out! Get out of the man!”)

9-10 Jesus asked him, “Tell me your name.”

He replied, “My name is Mob. I’m a rioting mob.” Then he desperately begged Jesus not to banish them from the country.

11-13 A large herd of pigs was browsing and rooting on a nearby hill. The demons begged him, “Send us to the pigs so we can live in them.” Jesus gave the order. But it was even worse for the pigs than for the man. Crazed, they stampeded over a cliff into the sea and drowned.

14-15 Those tending the pigs, scared to death, bolted and told their story in town and country. Everyone wanted to see what had happened. They came up to Jesus and saw the madman sitting there wearing decent clothes and making sense, no longer a walking madhouse of a man.

16-17 Those who had seen it told the others what had happened to the demon-possessed man and the pigs. At first they were in awe—and then they were upset, upset over the drowned pigs. They demanded that Jesus leave and not come back.

18-20 As Jesus was getting into the boat, the demon-delivered man begged to go along, but he wouldn’t let him. Jesus said, “Go home to your own people. Tell them your story—what the Master did, how he had mercy on you.” The man went back and began to preach in the Ten Towns area about what Jesus had done for him. He was the talk of the town.

Mark 5 go home

Think about it…what do we learn from Jesus?
–Sometimes we go and sometimes we stay to tell the story of Jesus. Some of us are missionaries and some of us stay home to tell. Obedience is key. What is God asking of you today?
–Jesus still has mercy on us, heals, restores and sends us to tell others.
–Others will criticize the way God works in your life and in the lives of others. Obey still.
–When it’s time to leave. Leave.
–Jesus still has power over demons. If you have inside voices that bring you down and cause you to lose confidence in Christ, pray in Jesus Name for these voices to leave. They will. Jesus still controls and commands evil to leave. The Holy Spirit will then fill your heart, mind and soul of cleansing, restoring, wonderful thoughts of love, mercy and grace once more. You cannot do this alone. With Christ, all thoughts can be captured whose mind is fixed and stayed on Him.

Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for saving my soul. Thank you for giving me restoration after the battles with evil in my own life. Thank you for alerting me to danger and rescuing me before I even knew I needed it. Thank you for protection and confidence in You. With you, all things are possible. You are God and i am not.
In Jesus Name, Amen. I believe.

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ASLEEP IN THE STERN

Posted on June 10, 2017 by randscallawayffm

Mark – The Facts.

Have you ever been wildly awakened from a sound sleep by your kids being sick, the dog overturning a potted plant or a picture falling from a wall? It is not easy to recover and think through what is happening until you gain composure and get your brain working enough to solve the problem. We are human.

Just yesterday, a very large frame of family pictures took a dive off the living room wall because the screws were not in the frame deep enough to hold the weight. Glass shattered into spikes and small pieces as it hit the floor, slid under the couch and across the room. This loud crash was so sudden and unexpected that I was physically shaking as I looked over the situation with Randy. As we were cleaning up the mess, we were thanking God that this did not happen while a kid or grandkid was present! No one was hurt. We are human.

God came down in human form in the body of Jesus. Jesus needed rest as a human. Even though Jesus is also God and we are told God never sleeps, Jesus, son of man, was tired from preaching and was asleep in the stern (the way back) of the boat. Jesus was the one who told them to get into the boat and take them all to the other side of the sea. Did He know a storm was brewing? Did the Son of God trust the Father enough to know it didn’t matter what storms might come?

In rest, we can be suddenly caught in the storms of life. But here is Jesus, awakened and immediately it seems, rises to calm the wind and relax the sea with a simple, “Quiet! Settle down!” Then He turns to His disciples and gave them a reprimand in their training…”Have you no faith at all?” They are still learning about who He is and why He came. Are we?

Where is our faith in the storms of life? Do we spend too much time in fret and worry? (Yes.) Remember, Jesus has our backs!

Mark 4, The Message
The Wind Ran Out of Breath
35-38 Late that day he said to them, “Let’s go across to the other side.” They took him in the boat as he was. Other boats came along. A huge storm came up. Waves poured into the boat, threatening to sink it. And Jesus was in the stern, head on a pillow, sleeping! They roused him, saying, “Teacher, is it nothing to you that we’re going down?”

39-40 Awake now, he told the wind to pipe down and said to the sea, “Quiet! Settle down!” The wind ran out of breath; the sea became smooth as glass. Jesus reprimanded the disciples: “Why are you such cowards? Don’t you have any faith at all?”

41 They were in absolute awe, staggered. “Who is this, anyway?” they asked. “Wind and sea at his beck and call!”

Mark 4 storm calmed

Think about it…
–These men were able boat handlers as fishermen. They had seen storms before, we are sure, but this storm perplexed them and got to be too much for them. I wonder why? Were they tired, too and needed to rest so they could be at their best?
–Jesus was asleep having extreme faith in our Father. His trust in the Father is a great example to us. His mission would not be thwarted over a troubled sea. Mm.
–Jesus was son of man and Son of God at the same time while on earth. Jesus at the back of the boat…had their backs so to speak!
–Jesus is, was and will continue to be God as part of the Holy Trinity.
–God never sleeps and knows the storms we are going through at this moment and is there seeing us through it. Reach out and take His hand. Feel the love pass through His touch.
–What IS the measure of our faith? Evaluate, as I am this morning.

Dear Heavenly Father, This familiar story still challenges us with deeper thoughts of you living here for awhile among humans and setting the example for the depth of our growing faith and trust in You. Help us in our shock and unbelief at times until we get our bearings, awake from sleep and sluggishness and focus fully on You for all the details of this life. You are God! And we are not. We know that full well.
In Jesus Name, Amen

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NEVER WITHOUT A STORY

Posted on June 9, 2017 by randscallawayffm

Source: NEVER WITHOUT A STORY

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NEVER WITHOUT A STORY

Posted on June 9, 2017 by randscallawayffm

Mark – The Facts.

Being teachers, we tell stories. Good teachers are never without a story. This is fun for most people who have never heard your stories, but not so much for our personal kids who have heard them often. (Smiling). It is important to connect with your “audience”, preaching or teaching, with stories they can picture and think, “Yes, I’ve been there”.

Using stories to teach you get some interesting responses from young students at times. For instance, (I feel a story coming on…), I was telling a story of the vowel family to a small group of first graders gathered around the kidney shaped reading table in my classroom. I told the story with enthusiasm and excitement. I just knew I had their attention. Their eyes were wide. One little girl was even staring at me, although her eyes were not on my eyes. Finally at the end of my riveting story about long and short vowels, she leaned in and said, “Mrs. Callaway, that is a beautiful necklace you are wearing. It is so shiny.”

Most times stories are understood and sometimes they are not. If your student is distracted then it will take a bit more to engage them. It might even take one-on-one time to explain the “moral” of the story in more detail. Where do we learn this technique? From Jesus, of course! What a Master Teacher!

Mark 4, The Message
Never Without a Story
26-29 Then Jesus said, “God’s kingdom is like seed thrown on a field by a man who then goes to bed and forgets about it. The seed sprouts and grows—he has no idea how it happens. The earth does it all without his help: first a green stem of grass, then a bud, then the ripened grain. When the grain is fully formed, he reaps—harvest time!

30-32 “How can we picture God’s kingdom? What kind of story can we use? It’s like a pine nut. When it lands on the ground it is quite small as seeds go, yet once it is planted it grows into a huge pine tree with thick branches. Eagles nest in it.”

33-34 With many stories like these, he presented his message to them, fitting the stories to their experience and maturity. He was never without a story when he spoke. When he was alone with his disciples, he went over everything, sorting out the tangles, untying the knots.

Mark 4 Jesus teaching

Think about the next lesson or sermon you are preparing…
–Will the details of my stories relate to the lives of those I am teaching?
–Have I studied all the details concerning the topic at hand so that questions can be explained or references ready to give to those who want to go farther and deeper?
–Have I asked the Holy Spirit to guide each thought, word, body language and other actions as I prepare to teach?
–How do we picture God’s Kingdom? What Kind of story can we use?
–Jesus fit the stories to His audience experience and maturity.
–Jesus went over the details with His followers who wanted to go deeper.
–We do not have all the answers like Jesus did. Don’t be afraid to say to your students, “I don’t know, let’s find out!” Then search and discover together the mysteries of His love, mercy and grace.
–We can learn many teaching techniques by following Jesus example! His example is the basic foundation for all teaching!

Dear Heavenly Father,
You came down to live with us. You taught us how to live and how to teach others. You saved us. You cleanse us and make us whole. You delight in the details of our lives. You are always with us. Thank you, just thank you.
In Jesus Name, Amen. I believe.

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ALL MY STORIES

Posted on June 8, 2017 by randscallawayffm

Mark – The Facts.

Randy and live in a housing addition that has been built in the woods. Our back yard is mostly tall trees with little creatures that wreak havoc on our gardens that we try to plant. We began to study what plants would deter rabbits, chipmunks and squirrels along with the various kinds of birds. There are a few, but not many! We tried a vegetable gardens over the years. All we are doing is feeding the wildlife…not us. So we gave up this year on growing veggies. We only plant buckets of colorful flowers and watch over them and protect their growth the best we can. Planting in good soil and protecting the seeds while they grow…Mm…there’s a story there.

Jesus is a Master Teacher! He connected the people with what they knew to what they needed to know through life stories they were living. His disciples asked, “Why all the stories?” Jesus replied, “…to those who can’t see it yet, everything comes in stories, creating readiness, nudging them toward receptive insight.” “Do you see how this story works? All my stories work this way.”

Mark 4, The Message
The Story of the Scattered Seed
4 1-2 He went back to teaching by the sea. A crowd built up to such a great size that he had to get into an offshore boat, using the boat as a pulpit as the people pushed to the water’s edge. He taught by using stories, many stories.

3-8 “Listen. What do you make of this? A farmer planted seed. As he scattered the seed, some of it fell on the road and birds ate it. Some fell in the gravel; it sprouted quickly but didn’t put down roots, so when the sun came up it withered just as quickly. Some fell in the weeds; as it came up, it was strangled among the weeds and nothing came of it. Some fell on good earth and came up with a flourish, producing a harvest exceeding his wildest dreams.

9 “Are you listening to this? Really listening?”

10-12 When they were off by themselves, those who were close to him, along with the Twelve, asked about the stories. He told them, “You’ve been given insight into God’s kingdom—you know how it works. But to those who can’t see it yet, everything comes in stories, creating readiness, nudging them toward receptive insight. These are people—

Whose eyes are open but don’t see a thing,
Whose ears are open but don’t understand a word,
Who avoid making an about-face and getting forgiven.”
13 He continued, “Do you see how this story works? All my stories work this way.

14-15 “The farmer plants the Word. Some people are like the seed that falls on the hardened soil of the road. No sooner do they hear the Word than Satan snatches away what has been planted in them.

16-17 “And some are like the seed that lands in the gravel. When they first hear the Word, they respond with great enthusiasm. But there is such shallow soil of character that when the emotions wear off and some difficulty arrives, there is nothing to show for it.

18-19 “The seed cast in the weeds represents the ones who hear the kingdom news but are overwhelmed with worries about all the things they have to do and all the things they want to get. The stress strangles what they heard, and nothing comes of it.

20 “But the seed planted in the good earth represents those who hear the Word, embrace it, and produce a harvest beyond their wildest dreams.”

Mark 3 protecting the seed

What do we learn?
–Jesus tells stories to relate to those who need to know how God’s Kingdom works so they can come back to God and relate to Him.
–All Jesus’ stories are explained. He does not assume they “get it”, He helps people “get it”. A good lesson for us.
–His stories relate to His audience. He knows where they are in life and where they need to go. We need to know our audience and tell stories that relate to them.
–His stories are not meant to get a laugh, although it happened at times, but the goal was to teach a lesson.

Back to the Randy and Susan planting adventures…
This spring, Randy and I decided to plant tomatoes and peppers in a protected area, in barrels we could watch over with care. They are thriving in the good soil with all they need to grow healthy, strong and produce the expected fruit. Mm…Do we protect young believers as they grow?

Dear Heavenly Father,
There is so much to learn from your stories yet today. Thank you for Your Word that provokes thought, challenges our way of thinking and behaving and transforms us to more and more like you and less like our human selves. Continue to speak to our hearts and till the soil of our hearts, minds and souls. Our very lives depend on it…on You.
In Jesus Name, Amen

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ABOUT MY FATHER’S BUSINESS

Posted on June 7, 2017 by randscallawayffm

Source: ABOUT MY FATHER’S BUSINESS

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ABOUT MY FATHER’S BUSINESS

Posted on June 7, 2017 by randscallawayffm

Mark – The Facts.

Randy and I grew up in Midwest City, Oklahoma. We were mere minutes from my mom and dad. His parents retired and moved about three hours away. Family was all around us. Randy had been pastoring the church we grew up in for about nine years, when God asked us to move…not just across town…but about a thousand miles north to Ohio. When God calls, we were taught by both sets of parents, to obey. We did.

However, my mom and dad were pretty upset. At one point, my mom, a devout Christian and laborer for the Lord, said, “Well, God didn’t tell me you could go. We thought you would be here for us forever.” Yikes, that stung and was hard to deal with while we made preparations to make this move. Although mom and dad’s fearful, anxious attitudes were challenging, it would have been more challenging and extremely difficult to say no to God! You don’t say no to God and live the abundant life moving forward with God.

As I read the few words of Mark this morning, I am reminded of our life changing move to Ohio because God had a new purpose for both of us. I am also reminded of a past story of Jesus when he was “lost” by the family to be “found” in the temple. He said to His mom then, “”But why did you need to search?” “Didn’t you know that I must be in my Father’s house?” (Luke 2:49, NLT) Young’s Literal Translation says, “And he said unto them, ‘Why is it that ye were seeking me? did ye not know that in the things of my Father it behoveth me to be?’ In other words, Jesus is saying, I must be where my Father is, doing what my Father as asked me to do. What an example for us to follow as well! No matter what. “Trust and obey, for there’s no other way, to be happy in Jesus” as the song goes around in my head.

Following Jesus is not a matter of convenience and security. We will be challenged, put down, and told we are crazy at times. The evil one will fill your loved ones minds with desperate thoughts that will spill from their mouths to hold you back from “being about the Father’s business” that He has called you to be and do. Gently and lovingly stand firm. There IS no other way. Trust and obey. God will take care of those who are precious to you as you obey what is precious to Him. He did for us. Mom and Dad came around later. They knew they had taught us to obey.

Mark 3, The Message
Jesus’ Mother and Brothers
31-32 Just then his mother and brothers showed up. Standing outside, they relayed a message that they wanted a word with him. He was surrounded by the crowd when he was given the message, “Your mother and brothers and sisters are outside looking for you.”

33-35 Jesus responded, “Who do you think are my mother and brothers?” Looking around, taking in everyone seated around him, he said, “Right here, right in front of you—my mother and my brothers. Obedience is thicker than blood. The person who obeys God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.”

Mark 3 mom and brothers and sisters

Think about it…
–Jesus’ mom and brothers, concerned about the crowds pushing in on him at all sides, wanted to pull Him away. Did they miss Him? Or did they selfishly want something else from Him?
–Did Jesus popularity scare them? Did His bold teaching and wisdom (since a child in the temple long ago) challenge them?
–Was Jesus reprimanding his family? Or loving reminding them Who He was and what God had sent Him to be and do?
–Jesus, once again, turned this situation into a teachable moment for the crowd. What do we learn from it today?

Dear Heavenly Father,
You call. You provide words and actions to help us fulfill your call, even when it hurts those we leave. You provide for our families as we trust, follow and obey your call. Thank you for helping us all these past years. We trust You alone for all our needs as you call us to the next invitation to “be about Your work.” Thank you, Lord. Lead and guide us. Give us wisdom, insight and understanding. We’re listening…
In Jesus Name, Amen

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TEAM FAMILY

Posted on June 6, 2017 by randscallawayffm

Mark 3 – The Facts.

When persons in families squabble over minute, trivial issues it breaks our hearts. Tensions run high when disagreements are heated. Sides are taken. Those who think they are “right” think the other side is evil and “wrong”. Feelings are hurt and love is tested. Hearts become cold and words that spew are sarcastic. Team Family disintegrates. Why does it come to this?

Many years ago I was with my husband at a Billy Graham School of Evangelism. One of our speakers came in late, very concerned with tears in her eyes. She apologized for being a few minutes late and explained, “My son who is a pastor just called me. He said that a new Christian from his church casually went to the park in the town of Phoenix, AZ. She was joyful over her new heart for Christ.”

He went on the relate, “She noticed a small group, holding hands in a circle. She came closer to see who they were, wondering if they were Christians and curious about their group meeting in a public park. She soon discovered that they were praying…but not to God…to Satan! They were were praying for the destruction of every pastor’s family in Phoenix, for if the pastor’s family was torn apart that would, in their thinking, tear down church families at large! This new believer called her pastor immediately and shouted, ‘WE have GOT to PRAY for you and for our church now!'” This pastor called his mom, our speaker, to relay the incident to our group and pleaded for prayer for himself and for his church.

Our speaker gave the call to pray. We all stopped the conference and knelt by our chairs to urgently pray for her son and for all pastors and their families. This shook us up and caused us to cry out for God’s mercy and help for we were all pastors and spouses gathered there to learn. This incident happened about 30 years ago!

Are we still urgently praying for pastors and their families who are under constant attack because of being on the front lines with Christ? Are we praying for the protection of new believers?

Evil and God do not occupy the same space. Jesus explains…

Mark 3, The Message
Satan Fighting Satan?
20-21 Jesus came home and, as usual, a crowd gathered—so many making demands on him that there wasn’t even time to eat. His friends heard what was going on and went to rescue him, by force if necessary. They suspected he was getting carried away with himself.

22-27 The religion scholars from Jerusalem came down spreading rumors that he was working black magic, using devil tricks to impress them with spiritual power. Jesus confronted their slander with a story: “Does it make sense to send a devil to catch a devil, to use Satan to get rid of Satan? A constantly squabbling family disintegrates. If Satan were fighting Satan, there soon wouldn’t be any Satan left. Do you think it’s possible in broad daylight to enter the house of an awake, able-bodied man, and walk off with his possessions unless you tie him up first? Tie him up, though, and you can clean him out.

28-30 “Listen to this carefully. I’m warning you. There’s nothing done or said that can’t be forgiven. But if you persist in your slanders against God’s Holy Spirit, you are repudiating the very One who forgives, sawing off the branch on which you’re sitting, severing by your own perversity all connection with the One who forgives.” He gave this warning because they were accusing him of being in league with Evil.

Mark 3 evil vs good

More to think about…
–When we put another believer down for not behaving exactly like us, causing tension and division in God’s family, are we grieving the Holy Spirit?
–“Listen carefully, I’m warning you”, says Jesus.
–There’s nothing done or said that can’t be forgiven. –Jesus
–“If we persist”…think about it. Take all the time you need.
–Avoid severing our precious connection the the One who forgives. At all costs. It might involved laying down our own opinions, interests, and wants so that others might find and follow Jesus.

I am reminded of one more story. A non-believing friend asked Randy and I, “Why are churches in such heavy competition with each other? Aren’t you all on the same team?” Good question.

Dear Heavenly Father, You have stirred our hearts once more with the urgency to pray for our brothers and sisters, to look past each other’s faults and look up to serve you more diligently than ever before because our very lives depend on it. We need Team Family of God! Help us to love You more, realize your love for us so that we can love each other with more depth and understanding. May Your Presence send evil packing in the lives of Your church.

In Jesus Name, Amen. I believe.

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