“I HURT FOR THESE PEOPLE”

Posted on April 14, 2017 by randscallawayffm

Matthew – Fulfilled.

We are bombarded with every sin and the results of sin on the news every day…even throughout the day. People upset because they didn’t get their own way make a choice to kill or maime. Broken relationships between husband and wife over selfishness and other sins hurt themselves and their children. Nation against nation, brother against brother leads to violence and war. The powerful use all they have to overcome the powerless. Do we hurt for people in horrible circumstances?

Consider, now the sick, homeless, emotionally distrubed, and physically challenged who need help, encouragement, healing, and hope. There is only One who can bring hope and ways to overcome. Who is that One and Only? Who is mercy?

The old hymn, “Nothing but the Blood”, is playing in my mind as I write this and think about all that God has done, is doing and will do in our own lives. Have we noticed? HE is God and we are not. We cannot heal. We cannot save. We cannot set things right in the world. Only God can. He did this by sending His One and Only Son to earth to live among we humans. He healed and gave hope. He performed many miracles. He “let everyone know that God was blazingly alive among them.” So, our mission is to point the way to Jesus!

Then ultimately He laid down His life as the One and Only perfect, fully innocent lamb of sacrifice for all sin, now and in the future, and allowed himself to be nailed unmercifully on two rough splintery boards. Only criminals who have been caught and convicted were treated like this by the Romans. This cruel way to die in front of the onlooking crowds of the powerless was used as a way to secure their bullying power over the people. Who do we turn to when life gets messy and overwhelming? Do we hurt for people who are also overwhelmed?

Jesus, the ultimate overcomer, defeated death on the cross. He came to earth and lived among us. He died for sin, our sin. But the power that humans thought they had over Jesus was ridiculously minute. After our sin was paid in full by dying, going to hell and back for us, Jesus Christ rose to full life by the power that is unimaginable in our thinking! He showed all the bullys, the skeptical, the wondering, the lost, the confused, once again, that God was blazingly alive among them!

These are the thoughts I have as I read the next passage of Matthew who reveals our Savior just as the prophets foretold. The statement that stood out to me today, “I hurt for these people” speaks volumes about our Savior and Lord. Jesus did want He did from a heart of compassion for us. Never, never, forget that.

Matthew 15, The Message
Healing the People
21-22 From there Jesus took a trip to Tyre and Sidon. They had hardly arrived when a Canaanite woman came down from the hills and pleaded, “Mercy, Master, Son of David! My daughter is cruelly afflicted by an evil spirit.”

23 Jesus ignored her. The disciples came and complained, “Now she’s bothering us. Would you please take care of her? She’s driving us crazy.”

24 Jesus refused, telling them, “I’ve got my hands full dealing with the lost sheep of Israel.”

25 Then the woman came back to Jesus, went to her knees, and begged. “Master, help me.”

26 He said, “It’s not right to take bread out of children’s mouths and throw it to dogs.”

27 She was quick: “You’re right, Master, but beggar dogs do get scraps from the master’s table.”

28 Jesus gave in. “Oh, woman, your faith is something else. What you want is what you get!” Right then her daughter became well.

29-31 After Jesus returned, he walked along Lake Galilee and then climbed a mountain and took his place, ready to receive visitors. They came, tons of them, bringing along the paraplegic, the blind, the maimed, the mute—all sorts of people in need—and more or less threw them down at Jesus’ feet to see what he would do with them. He healed them. When the people saw the mutes speaking, the maimed healthy, the paraplegics walking around, the blind looking around, they were astonished and let everyone know that God was blazingly alive among them.

32 But Jesus wasn’t finished with them. He called his disciples and said, “I hurt for these people. For three days now they’ve been with me, and now they have nothing to eat. I can’t send them away without a meal—they’d probably collapse on the road.”

33 His disciples said, “But where in this deserted place are you going to dig up enough food for a meal?”

34-39 Jesus asked, “How much bread do you have?”

“Seven loaves,” they said, “plus a few fish.” At that, Jesus directed the people to sit down. He took the seven loaves and the fish. After giving thanks, he divided it up and gave it to the people. Everyone ate. They had all they wanted. It took seven large baskets to collect the leftovers. Over four thousand people ate their fill at that meal. After Jesus sent them away, he climbed in the boat and crossed over to the Magadan hills.

Matthew 15 faith of the woman

Reflecting…
–God is always at work, driven by compassion for His people.
–Jesus is God, our Savior and Lord who hurts for us.
–We have the Holy Spirit, Who is God and Jesus, living in us with power…the same power that resurrected our Lord!
–Do we hurt for people they way our Lord does? Each day brings the question, “How much bread do you have?” If we dare to hand it over, it’s multiplied.
–I pray that God will say to me someday, “Woman, your faith is something else.”

In Jesus Name, Amen

What can wash away my sin?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
What can make me whole again?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

Oh! precious is the flow
That makes me white as snow;
No other fount I know,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

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TAKE IT TO HEART

Posted on April 13, 2017 by randscallawayffm

Matthew – Fulfilled.

Lawmakers can change a law, trying to solve human perceptions of injustice, but a law cannot change the heart and attitude, prejudices and habits of a people. Only God can do that work in hearts when we allow Him. Jesus reveals the truth with the bottomline of the intent of God’s laws to care and protect us and keep us focused on Him.

It is interesting to read and imagine the popularity of Jesus growing exponentially over the countryside. It has now drawn the attention of the “big wigs” in Jerusalem. They get off their man-made thrones of religiousity and make their way through mankind to get to Jesus, literally and figuratively. They finally get to Jesus, but they don’t get Jesus. He is not impressed with their handling of God’s law and they are not impressed with Truth.

Matthew 15, The Message
What Pollutes Your Life
15 1-2 After that, Pharisees and religion scholars came to Jesus all the way from Jerusalem, criticizing, “Why do your disciples play fast and loose with the rules?”

3-9 But Jesus put it right back on them. “Why do you use your rules to play fast and loose with God’s commands? God clearly says, ‘Respect your father and mother,’ and, ‘Anyone denouncing father or mother should be killed.’ But you weasel around that by saying, ‘Whoever wants to, can say to father and mother, What I owed to you I’ve given to God.’ That can hardly be called respecting a parent. You cancel God’s command by your rules. Frauds! Isaiah’s prophecy of you hit the bull’s-eye:

These people make a big show of saying the right thing,
but their heart isn’t in it.
They act like they’re worshiping me,
but they don’t mean it.
They just use me as a cover
for teaching whatever suits their fancy.”

10-11 He then called the crowd together and said, “Listen, and take this to heart. It’s not what you swallow that pollutes your life, but what you vomit up.”

12 Later his disciples came and told him, “Did you know how upset the Pharisees were when they heard what you said?”

13-14 Jesus shrugged it off. “Every tree that wasn’t planted by my Father in heaven will be pulled up by its roots. Forget them. They are blind men leading blind men. When a blind man leads a blind man, they both end up in the ditch.”

15 Peter said, “I don’t get it. Put it in plain language.”

16-20 Jesus replied, “You, too? Are you being willfully stupid? Don’t you know that anything that is swallowed works its way through the intestines and is finally defecated? But what comes out of the mouth gets its start in the heart. It’s from the heart that we vomit up evil arguments, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, lies, and cussing. That’s what pollutes. Eating or not eating certain foods, washing or not washing your hands—that’s neither here nor there.”

matthew 15 clean heart

What do we learn?
–Jesus answers the religious leaders’ question with a question that reveals the real meaning of God’s law. What might Jesus be asking us?
–Are we ignoring evaluating our own worship of religious traditions versus deepening our relationship with God and the love of others…like He loves us?
–Are we being willfully stupid?
–Do we need a heart check up? What does our attitudes and behaviors tell about our heart?
–Go to prayer and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal the Truth about what is being stored in our hearts. “From the heart…” reveals our true character.

Dear Heavenly Father,
Hallowed is Your Name. Blessed be the Name of the Lord! Reveal yourself to us. May Your Kingdom thinking be instileed in our minds and hearts, changing our attitudes to behave more like you taught us. Give us wisdom to know Your will. Show us, even this day, your glory and power. Forgive us our sins of holding grudes of past offenses from others. Help us to forgive and forget like you do for us. Save us. Help us to be gracious, loving and kind. Lead and guide us with wisdom to avoid temptations that will take our focus from You. For with You is all power. Nothing is too hard for You. So that’s why we trust You for all things. To You be all glory, honor and praise. We worship You and You alone.
In Jesus Name, Amen

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IS IT REALLY YOU?

Posted on April 12, 2017 by randscallawayffm

Matthew – Fulfilled.

When we haven’t seen someone in a long time, the first thought on most of our minds is the question, “Is that really you?” Then as we get closer and closer to them and look into their eyes. It is then that we realize who it is and exclaim, “It IS you, it’s really you!” A connection is made from past to present.

Jesus has only been gone from his disciples for a few hours. He had sent his disciples on ahead to go to the other side of the sea. You probably know the story well. But as I look at this familiar walking on water story, I am stopping to think about the first question of Peter, who generally speaks before thinking things through. I relate to Peter well. He says, with gusto, “Master, if it’s really you, call to me to come to you on the water.”

What? I know, at 4 o’clock in the morning the sun is yet to appear, but seriously WHO else could it be walking on sea? (Especially after all the miracles Jesus has already done!) At least Peter is not afraid to get out of the boat to go IF it is Jesus. But he must be sure it is Jesus he is going to and not someone who will let him sink.

Risking it all is okay as long as we know it is Jesus calling us. We ask ourselves, many times, “Jesus, is it really you?” When we look deep into the eyes of our Lord, with our eyes of faith, that risky first step out of comfort zone and safe living becomes trustworthy and bold. It is a mixed bag of excitement, an adrenlyn rush of overcoming human fear with a passion to follow the One and Only no matter what is swirling all around us.

When Jesus says, “Come on, let’s do this!” Peter jumps from the boat. Did you get that? He is not hanging onto the sides to shove off. He is not being pushed from behind from the other disciples. (Smiling at this thought.) He is not asking others if he should do this or not. He is not doing it in stages, like putting a toe in the water first to test the temperature of the water. Nope. Peter JUMPS in, feet first.

Then he look down, at the situation he had jumped into. He probably thought, “well, I did it again…jumped in without thinking this through”. Yikes, now what? I can’t fix this.” Then his eyes look from the situation back to Jesus with another bold, sincere, passionate Peter prayer, “Master, save me.” It only takes a few words to get our Lord’s attention.

Jesus does not hesitate. He does not lecture Peter first. He does not let him “sink or swim” to teach him a lesson. He merely reaches down to Peter, at his level, and grabs his hand. THEN, Jesus says, “Faint-heart, what got into you?” I picture the two of them laughing about the whole episode as they walked back to the boat together and climb in with those watching with awe.

Matthew 14, The Message
24-26 Meanwhile, the boat was far out to sea when the wind came up against them and they were battered by the waves. At about four o’clock in the morning, Jesus came toward them walking on the water. They were scared out of their wits. “A ghost!” they said, crying out in terror.

27 But Jesus was quick to comfort them. “Courage, it’s me. Don’t be afraid.”

28 Peter, suddenly bold, said, “Master, if it’s really you, call me to come to you on the water.”

29-30 He said, “Come ahead.”

Jumping out of the boat, Peter walked on the water to Jesus. But when he looked down at the waves churning beneath his feet, he lost his nerve and started to sink. He cried, “Master, save me!”

31 Jesus didn’t hesitate. He reached down and grabbed his hand. Then he said, “Faint-heart, what got into you?”

32-33 The two of them climbed into the boat, and the wind died down. The disciples in the boat, having watched the whole thing, worshiped Jesus, saying, “This is it! You are God’s Son for sure!”

matthew 14 if it is you

Reflection…
–It is good and fitting to ask ourselves before doing anything of value and significance, “Jesus is it really you asking me to do this? There are so many good things to be involved in, but what is the one thing Jesus is calling me to do?
–When our faithful eyes focus on the circumstance instead of the Father, do call out immediately, Master, save us? He will, you know. It is the quickest way to get back to following Jesus, in the rhythm of His grace as He grabs our hand and lifts us up.
–The “watchers from the boat” decide because of Peter’s risk and Jesus’ actions that He was indeed the Son of God. Mm, do our actions of faith lead others to recognize Jesus with a desire to follow Him, too?

Dear Heavenly Father,
You are God and we are not. It is really You who calls, sends, cares, loves, and mercifully grabs our hands so we won’t drown in life’s circumstances. Thank you, Lord. My faith and trust are in You. May my eyes stay focused on You. Master, save us.
In Jesus Name, Amen. I believe.

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BY HIMSELF

Posted on April 11, 2017 by randscallawayffm

Matthew – Fulfilled.

Here I am in the early morning, before getting ready to go teach with others at my job, to be by myself. I cherish this time. Sometimes I drag myself to this desk with a cup of my beige coffee (still learning to drink this eye opener) and cup of cheerios to have breakfast, alone, with God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit.

Sometimes I practically run, in tears, to this time to pour out my fears and anxiety about the journey. Sometimes I come confused. Sometimes I come to celebrate. But I come alone to speak with the Three-in-One about all the details of my life and my family. Okay, so I am not really alone. It is here I gain His strength and power to work another day, to love and extend mercy, to learn and grow and to just be with the One who knows me best.

A familiar episode of Jesus and Peter is preceded by a paragraph, before the walking on water miracle of trust, that stops me cold this morning It stops me to wonder what our Lord prayed when He got alone by himself to be with God, His Father.

Matthew 14, The Message
22-23 As soon as the meal was finished, he insisted that the disciples get in the boat and go on ahead to the other side while he dismissed the people. With the crowd dispersed, he climbed the mountain so he could be by himself and pray. He stayed there alone, late into the night.

Matthew 14 by himself to pray

Think about it…
–After the miracle feeding the five thousand plus men, women and children, he sent his helpers away, climbed a mountain…to BE by himself with God.
–What did He pray? For whom did He pray? Did He pray for Peter? Did He pray for the other disciples by name? Did He pray for peace? Or did He just listen? Did He pray for the people in the crowd he just fed with loaves and fish? The humaness of Jesus needed to be along with the Father who sent Him. We have this same need!
–We know from God’s Word that He did this often.
–It seems before and after anything monumental in Jesus ministry, He prayed…by Himself.
–The Gospel of John relates, “I don’t speak on my own authority. The Father who sent me has commanded me what to say and how to say it.” Mm, God is where Jesus gets His marching orders, strength and power for each word and deed.
–Where does our strength and power come from if we don’t get alone and ask for it?

I know that I am compelled to come to God each morning, in Jesus Name, because of the strength I need to do what pleases God. God delights in every detail of our lives. I thank God for that. It is amazing to see how God works in my day after asking Him to be in every detail. I praise God for this precious morning time of being, just being with Him…by myself. Jesus, I get it!

Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you. May Your Holy Spirit fill in the rest of my words and thoughts to You as praise and thanksgiving for that is what is in my heart in such a profound way, I don’t have human words that are good enough to express it. Go with us this day…again.
In Jesus Name, Amen

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GRIEF TO MERCY

Posted on April 10, 2017 by randscallawayffm

Matthew – Fulfilled.

Our world is a busy place. We work, we think about work when we are not working, not giving much thought to anything else. Then something happens to stop us cold in our tracks. It is usually something monumental like the death of a loved one. The world stops moving in our minds and all focus is placed on grief and mourning the loss. Nothing else matters. But then mercy steps forward and helps us deal with the situation.

John the Baptizer has been sent to prision by the ruler, Herod, for telling the truth of this man’s adulterous situation. His relationship with his brother’s wife, Herodius (parculiar to have a similar name) is celebrated at a birthday party in Herod’s honor. His niece dances provocably in front of him to get what her mother wants…the head of John the Truthteller. Being drunk and perverted, Herod delivers. Literally…the head of John of this beloved prophet and earthly cousin to Jesus on a silver platter to Herodius. The news is given to Jesus, Son of God.

What does Jesus do? He “slipped away by boat to an out-of-the-way place by himself.” Did Jesus, Son of man, grieve? Yes. I believe our Lord cries when we cry. The interesting thing Jesus does next is an act of sheer mercy. His grief prompted mercy and love. This is an interesting perspective as followers of Jesus with a desire to become more and more like Him in our behavior.

Matthew 13 loaves

Matthew 14, The Message
Supper for Five Thousand
13-14 When Jesus got the news, he slipped away by boat to an out-of-the-way place by himself. But unsuccessfully—someone saw him and the word got around. Soon a lot of people from the nearby villages walked around the lake to where he was. When he saw them coming, he was overcome with pity and healed their sick.

15 Toward evening the disciples approached him. “We’re out in the country and it’s getting late. Dismiss the people so they can go to the villages and get some supper.”

16 But Jesus said, “There is no need to dismiss them. You give them supper.”

17 “All we have are five loaves of bread and two fish,” they said.

18-21 Jesus said, “Bring them here.” Then he had the people sit on the 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. The disciples then gave the food to the congregation. They all ate their fill. They gathered twelve baskets of leftovers. About five thousand were fed.

What do we learn?
–Characteristics of Jesus are profoundly given to us in Matthew and the other gospel writings. Focus on Christ and what He does.
–When our grief transforms us to be more mercifuly, we are following the example of our Lord and Savior.
–Be willing to provide a meal, blessed by God, no matter how much you have in front of You. People are more important than what is on the table.
–Be merciful. Be kind. We will be a difference.

Dear Heavenly Father, You are show us, once again, how to be more merciful, especially in trying times. You are God and we are not. We do not understand all that goes on in this world, but because of the mercy and kindess you have shown us, we can cope and even help others find and follow you. Thank you for your word that speaks to us in new, fresh ways each morning. Now, help us to live it. In Jesus Name, Amen

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HOMETOWN STUFF

Posted on April 9, 2017 by randscallawayffm

Matthew – Fulfilled.

We went to Oklahoma recently for the funeral of our brother in law. We grew up in Oklahoma. However, we left when Randy and I were nearly 40 years old to follow God’s call to other ministries about thousand miles away. At the huge family gathering after the funeral, we saw adults and their kids and the kids’ kids that we hadn’t seen in many years. Like many people, and I bet you do the same, we “freeze frame” people as we last saw them. Our minds won’t allow growth because we weren’t there to see or experience it.

We are amazed when we see them much later in life and recognize the changes…or lack of changes. Some things don’t seem to change…like the love we have for each other. Some things do change, like our waistlines and hair color, but the unique personalities and giftedness from God is still there. We should build each other up in love and grace honoring each other for the stedfast growth in God’s ways.

But sometimes we don’t. One remark made was about my younger years as if I still “lived” in that mindset, saying he was surprised my marriage to Randy lasted as long as it had…45 years to be exact…but whose counting? “My, how you’ve grown” is not exactly a great builder of self esteem either, especially when you are short and will always be short. We miss home when we are older because of the good memories of growing up. Allow people to grow, mature and transform. Look for ways God has obviously blessed this growth and say it out loud. Or be silent and smile.

But alas, Jesus had to same problem….

Matthew 13 kid

Matthew 13, The Message
53-57 When Jesus finished telling these stories, he left there, returned to his hometown, and gave a lecture in the meetinghouse. He made a real hit, impressing everyone. “We had no idea he was this good!” they said. “How did he get so wise, get such ability?” But in the next breath they were cutting him down: “We’ve known him since he was a kid; he’s the carpenter’s son. We know his mother, Mary. We know his brothers James and Joseph, Simon and Judas. All his sisters live here. Who does he think he is?” They got their noses all out of joint.

58 But Jesus said, “A prophet is taken for granted in his hometown and his family.” He didn’t do many miracles there because of their hostile indifference.

Dear Heavenly Father,
Help us to be more loving and kind to each other. Help us to lay aside childish ways and allow for the growth and maturity of others. Help us to celebrate spiritual growth in others and avoid tearing each other down for things done in childhood. Help us see others as You see them. Grudge holding is a determent to relationships as well. Help us to look to You and look for You in others. In Jesus Name, Amen

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THISTLES AND STINKY FISH

Posted on April 8, 2017 by randscallawayffm

Matthew – Fulfilled.

Are you that person who likes things in their right place, at least right for you? We just returned from a long journey to Oklahoma to South Carolina and back to Indiana. The laundry is sorted and in huge stacks on the floor. Bags of our stuff is piled in the kitchen and bedroom. Nothing is where it should be. Because of a the death of a loved one in Oklahoma, we left things undone here because we were in a hurry to leave. So the work for today is to put things back into place so that when we need them we know exactly where to find them. Then we will finally stop asking each other, “Where is…?” At least, that is the goal.

Jesus told stories to ready hearts of lost and confused people about the Kingdom of God. After the crowd leaves, the disciples, new to kingdom thinking, ask Jesus to go a little deeper in explaining the meaning of the stories, “What about those thistles?” Jesus has readied the hearts of His followers! Coincident? Hardly, for these disciples will soon be teaching others about the Kingdom of God thinking and behaving. Listen, really listen….

Matthew 13, The Message
The Curtain of History
36 Jesus dismissed the congregation and went into the house. His disciples came in and said, “Explain to us that story of the thistles in the field.”

37-39 So he explained. “The farmer who sows the pure seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world, the pure seeds are subjects of the kingdom, the thistles are subjects of the Devil, and the enemy who sows them is the Devil. The harvest is the end of the age, the curtain of history. The harvest hands are angels.

40-43 “The picture of thistles pulled up and burned is a scene from the final act. The Son of Man will send his angels, weed out the thistles from his kingdom, pitch them in the trash, and be done with them. They are going to complain to high heaven, but nobody is going to listen. At the same time, ripe, holy lives will mature and adorn the kingdom of their Father.

“Are you listening to this? Really listening?

44 “God’s kingdom is like a treasure hidden in a field for years and then accidentally found by a trespasser. The finder is ecstatic—what a find!—and proceeds to sell everything he owns to raise money and buy that field.

45-46 “Or, God’s kingdom is like a jewel merchant on the hunt for excellent pearls. Finding one that is flawless, he immediately sells everything and buys it.

47-50 “Or, God’s kingdom is like a fishnet cast into the sea, catching all kinds of fish. When it is full, it is hauled onto the beach. The good fish are picked out and put in a tub; those unfit to eat are thrown away. That’s how it will be when the curtain comes down on history. The angels will come and cull the bad fish and throw them in the garbage. There will be a lot of desperate complaining, but it won’t do any good.”

51 Jesus asked, “Are you starting to get a handle on all this?”

They answered, “Yes.”

52 He said, “Then you see how every student well-trained in God’s kingdom is like the owner of a general store who can put his hands on anything you need, old or new, exactly when you need it.”

Matthew 13 stinky fish

What do we learn?
–Kingdom thinking is not worldview thinking.
–Kingdom thinking and behaving is worth giving up all you are and have to get it, understand it internally and live it externally!
–Kingdom thinking and behaving is beyond being impressed with Jesus, reading God’s Word and doing good. It is a way of life. Jesus modeled God’s Kingdom living perfectly. That’s who we follow.
–Know God, know His Story. Live in the flow and rhythm of His Kingdom of grace and mercy and we won’t have to ask, “Where is…?” We will know exactly where to put our hands on the right words at the right time in the right Spirit.
–Avoid, at all costs, being a thistle in God’s Kingdom.
–There is a day of separating the stinky fish from the good fish.

Dear Heavenly Father,
You take our thoughts deeper into what Your Kingdom is like each time we pray and read Your Word. I’m listening. Continue to speak to my heart all day long. By the power of Your Holy Spirit, help me to live Your Kingdom way. I don’t want to be a thistle!
In Jesus Name, Amen

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STORIES THAT CREATE READINESS

Posted on April 6, 2017 by randscallawayffm

Matthew – Fulfilled.

It was one of my first times to “preach” as a school teacher. I was to deliver a message to a room full of preachers and scholars. Challenging and a bit overwhelmed, I prayed and prepared and then prayed more. When I got up to deliver what I thought God had prepared my heart and mind to say, stories of my own life popped in and out of God’s Story of redemption and love. It dawned on me that it was the storytelling that made those listening ears perk up. Their eyes became more intense with each story. It was the honest stories that bonded God’s message to our failing humaness and gave hope to others seeking Him. When I saw that happen, I knew the Holy Spirit working in me knew exactly what the people needed to hear.

I was affirmed by almost every real preacher in the room except one who told me, “you tell too many stories.” Mm, I think Jesus was a storyteller. Let’s take a look at how He related to those whose hearts needed Him. It began on the beach. (This is where I am today, so I love that!) Crowds gathered so Jesus had to move from the beach to a boat, using it as a pulpit. Then he told stories. And guess what? Even Jesus was approaced later by his disciples who asked, “Why tell stories?” He told them why…listen, really listen…

Matthew 13, The Message
A Harvest Story
13 1-3 At about that same time Jesus left the house and sat on the beach. In no time at all a crowd gathered along the shoreline, forcing him to get into a boat. Using the boat as a pulpit, he addressed his congregation, telling stories.

3-8 “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 by the weeds. Some fell on good earth, and produced a harvest beyond his wildest dreams.

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

Why Tell Stories?
10 The disciples came up and asked, “Why do you tell stories?”

11-15 He replied, “You’ve been given insight into God’s kingdom. You know how it works. Not everybody has this gift, this insight; it hasn’t been given to them. Whenever someone has a ready heart for this, the insights and understandings flow freely. But if there is no readiness, any trace of receptivity soon disappears. That’s why I tell stories: to create readiness, to nudge the people toward receptive insight. In their present state they can stare till doomsday and not see it, listen till they’re blue in the face and not get it. I don’t want Isaiah’s forecast repeated all over again:

Your ears are open but you don’t hear a thing.
Your eyes are awake but you don’t see a thing.
The people are blockheads!
They stick their fingers in their ears
so they won’t have to listen;
They screw their eyes shut
so they won’t have to look,
so they won’t have to deal with me face-to-face
and let me heal them.
16-17 “But you have God-blessed eyes—eyes that see! And God-blessed ears—ears that hear! A lot of people, prophets and humble believers among them, would have given anything to see what you are seeing, to hear what you are hearing, but never had the chance.

The Meaning of the Harvest Story
18-19 “Study this story of the farmer planting seed. When anyone hears news of the kingdom and doesn’t take it in, it just remains on the surface, and so the Evil One comes along and plucks it right out of that person’s heart. This is the seed the farmer scatters on the road.

20-21 “The seed cast in the gravel—this is the person who hears and instantly responds with enthusiasm. But there is no soil of character, and so when the emotions wear off and some difficulty arrives, there is nothing to show for it.

22 “The seed cast in the weeds is the person who hears the kingdom news, but weeds of worry and illusions about getting more and wanting everything under the sun strangle what was heard, and nothing comes of it.

23 “The seed cast on good earth is the person who hears and takes in the News, and then produces a harvest beyond his wildest dreams.”

24-26 He told another story. “God’s kingdom is like a farmer who planted good seed in his field. That night, while his hired men were asleep, his enemy sowed thistles all through the wheat and slipped away before dawn. When the first green shoots appeared and the grain began to form, the thistles showed up, too.

27 “The farmhands came to the farmer and said, ‘Master, that was clean seed you planted, wasn’t it? Where did these thistles come from?’

28 “He answered, ‘Some enemy did this.’

“The farmhands asked, ‘Should we weed out the thistles?’

29-30 “He said, ‘No, if you weed the thistles, you’ll pull up the wheat, too. Let them grow together until harvest time. Then I’ll instruct the harvesters to pull up the thistles and tie them in bundles for the fire, then gather the wheat and put it in the barn.’”

31-32 Another story. “God’s kingdom is like a pine nut that a farmer plants. It is quite small as seeds go, but in the course of years it grows into a huge pine tree, and eagles build nests in it.”

33 Another story. “God’s kingdom is like yeast that a woman works into the dough for dozens of loaves of barley bread—and waits while the dough rises.”

34-35 All Jesus did that day was tell stories—a long storytelling afternoon. His storytelling fulfilled the prophecy:

I will open my mouth and tell stories;
I will bring out into the open
things hidden since the world’s first day.

Matthew 13

Jesus, the Master Teacher and Storyteller, teaches us:
–Tell life stories that relate to your audience. Explain the meaning always.
–Start with where they are and build on that knowledge, taking them a bit farther because of your own life experience.
–Never tell about a life situation you are still going through for the outcome has not yet occured for you to tell. Use only what God has taught you and led you through.
–Tell stories that will relate to the whole crowd, not an inside story that will only draw the attention of a few.
–Tell stories that end with life lessons that will give hope and joy because of God’s grace, mercy and ulitmate redemption because of Jesus Christ’s work on the cross.
–All our stories point the way to Christ, not to us.
–Jesus came to show us God and how God works. Do that!

How has God help you? Tell someone about it. God’s work in your life may ready the heart of someone seeking and feels lost in worldly thinking and behaving.

Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for telling stories and leading us to your Truth in this way. We glorify your Name and praise You for teaching us through all of life’s situations and circumstances. I’m listening, Lord…really listening. Speak to my heart today for I am ready.
In Jesus Name, Amen

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OBEDIENCE MOTIVATION

Posted on April 5, 2017 by randscallawayffm

Matthew – Fulfilled.

There was a time in our lives when we had to make a choice of obeying God’s will and leave precious family members behind to travel to the ministry God prepared for us. This was the most challenging time in my life as a mom and daugther, but obedience, saying yes to God, trumped loyaty to those who could take care of themselves. I was taught to care for family and I was also taught to obey God. When the two collide, the choice to say yes to God was right, but it wasn’t easy. Jesus said it wouldn’t be easy but it would be worth it all…and He was right. He is always right.

Jesus’ mom and brothers want His attention, but God told Him to seek and to save the lost. Mary, I thought you knew…did you forget?

Matthew 12 brothers

Matthew 12, The Message
Obedience Is Thicker than Blood
46-47 While he was still talking to the crowd, his mother and brothers showed up. They were outside trying to get a message to him. Someone told Jesus, “Your mother and brothers are out here, wanting to speak with you.”

48-50 Jesus didn’t respond directly, but said, “Who do you think my mother and brothers are?” He then stretched out his hand toward his disciples. “Look closely. These are my mother and brothers. Obedience is thicker than blood. The person who obeys my heavenly Father’s will is my brother and sister and mother.”

Dear Heavenly Father, My only desire is to be all you want me to be. Thank you for teaching us, being our strength in hard times and the courage to say yes to You. Always.
In Jesus Name, Amen

Posted in Blessings, Christian Living, Christian Perspective, Embrace, Encouragement, Faith, Grace, heaven, Holy Spirit, Hope, hospitality, hugs, insight, Jesus, joy, Listen, Love, marriage, ministry, Praise, Prayer, Salvation, Searching, Teaching, Thanksgiving, Training, Transformation, trust in God, Truth, Uncategorized, Unconditional love, waiting on God, wisdom | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

EVIDENCE

Posted on April 4, 2017 by randscallawayffm

Source: EVIDENCE

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