BY THE WAY, I AM DRIVING!

Posted on December 7, 2014 by randscallawayffm

The Story of Jesus

Be completely honest. When your spouse or any other member of your family is driving, do you clinch your fists and flinch at every intersection, when they pass a car, follow too closely, or when they enter the entrance or exit ramp of a major highway? Do you try to “help” them drive by offering impulsive, immediate “suggestions” for bettering their skills at driving. Why do we do this? We humans, by nature, must be in control! No matter how well the person behind the wheel is driving, we flinch and clinch mainly because we are not in control and must rely on someone else to get us from point A to point B. Wow. Guilty.

Jesus has words similar to his disciples…”You have to let me lead”…”You are not in the driver’s seat; I AM”. He is the great I AM and knows the what, why, where, when and how in every situation! Do we really want to be in the driver’s seat? Can we lay down our control and let Him lead in our lives? It’s tough, goes against our human will, but worth it. Jesus tells us it’s a requirement to save our souls! Read on…

Matthew 16, Msg
21-22 Then Jesus made it clear to his disciples that it was now necessary for him to go to Jerusalem, submit to an ordeal of suffering at the hands of the religious leaders, be killed, and then on the third day be raised up alive. Peter took him in hand, protesting, “Impossible, Master! That can never be!”

23 But Jesus didn’t swerve. “Peter, get out of my way. Satan, get lost. You have no idea how God works.”

24-26 Then Jesus went to work on his disciples. “Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You’re not in the driver’s seat; I am. Don’t run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I’ll show you how. Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to finding yourself, your true self. What kind of deal is it to get everything you want but lose yourself? What could you ever trade your soul for?

Question for us today: WHAT could we be trading our souls for just so we can stay in control of our lives? Go deep. Come back to this thought throughout the day. Let’s watch ourselves over the next few days to see WHO is in control? Maybe, just maybe we need to unclinch our fists, stop telling Jesus how to drive, lay down our human control and let Him lead. Mm.

Jesus was, again, the supreme example of laying down HIS life for the will of the Father in heaven to complete the mission that Jesus was sent to earth to accomplish…saving us! God was in control of the situation. Jesus was preparing His disciples that the road ahead was not going to be what they expected and they must let Him do the will of the Father in Heaven, no matter what!

27-28 “Don’t be in such a hurry to go into business for yourself. Before you know it the Son of Man will arrive with all the splendor of his Father, accompanied by an army of angels. You’ll get everything you have coming to you, a personal gift. This isn’t pie in the sky by and by. Some of you standing here are going to see it take place, see the Son of Man in kingdom glory.” –Jesus

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Dear Heavenly Father, You drive! We confess and repent of our need to be in control of our lives. We lay it all down. We set aside our wants and ambitions. Lead us to higher ground thinking and behaving. Help us to lay down the need to be in control, relax and let You lead, no matter where You might take us. Let’s go for a drive! In Jesus Name, Amen

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IT’S TESTIMONY NIGHT!

Posted on December 5, 2014 by randscallawayffm

(The Story of Jesus)

As a child growing up in the church, there were times the pastor stood up at the beginning of a Sunday night service, with that look in his eyes, (you know the look if you experienced it many times). You knew that he was going to begin the service with “I feel it is testimony night!” “Who wants to go first?” Many times that “look” meant the pastor was stalling so he could come up with an impromptu sermon for a sparse Sunday night crowd! But still, it was testimony time!

My palms would sweat, the back of my neck would get warm, and my legs would turn to jelly, making it impossible to “stand up for Jesus” if I tried. Grandma always encouraged us to stand up using her twinkling eyes and smile of encouragement. As long as I don’t make eye contact with Grandma Lacquement, maybe I could pass this time. But no, as a new Christian, the pastor called on me to lead the testimony time that night! What???

Many of you who know me now, won’t believe that I was a very shy kid in front of people. But I was! It took every ounce of courage, the smile of Grandma, and her “Amen!” to get me up out of the pew to make that looooong walk up the aisle to the pulpit. If the walk wasn’t enough, the massive pulpit (as a 4’11” kid) was even more daunting to stand behind. I’m sure the people only saw my head peering out over the top.

Then it happened, the fear left, and I began to speak. Words of love for Christ came pouring out of my mouth. I did love Jesus. I loved him as much as an eleven year could love Him. And I said it out loud. And I was glad I did. That was a precursor to saying it out loud, daily, for the rest of my life! Testimony Time…sigh.

I think of that time in my life with a smile as I read this morning of Jesus asking his disciples, who have been with him now for awhile, “Who do you say I am?”

Matthew 16, Msg
13 When Jesus arrived in the villages of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “What are people saying about who the Son of Man is?”

14 They replied, “Some think he is John the Baptizer, some say Elijah, some Jeremiah or one of the other prophets.”

15 He pressed them, “And how about you? Who do you say I am?”

16 Simon Peter said, “You’re the Christ, the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

17-18 Jesus came back, “God bless you, Simon, son of Jonah! You didn’t get that answer out of books or from teachers. My Father in heaven, God himself, let you in on this secret of who I really am. And now I’m going to tell you who you are, really are. You are Peter, a rock. This is the rock on which I will put together my church, a church so expansive with energy that not even the gates of hell will be able to keep it out.

19 “And that’s not all. You will have complete and free access to God’s kingdom, keys to open any and every door: no more barriers between heaven and earth, earth and heaven. A yes on earth is yes in heaven. A no on earth is no in heaven.”

20 He swore the disciples to secrecy. He made them promise they would tell no one that he was the Messiah.

What?? Tell no one? Maybe this was for protection for now for his students for Jesus’ “time” had not yet come. But when the time did come to “testify”, the disciples did tell the Truth of who Jesus was, is and is to come with power, strength and might, risking their own lives in the process. Wow! I praise God for Jesus. I praise God for those who told and still tell the story of Jesus!

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Dear Heavenly Father,
Your Word provokes us to think for ourselves, “Who do WE say You are?” You are God and we are not. You are our Creator, the One, the Only One, to be worshiped and praised. You are the One we live for every day. You are the great I AM! And we are Yours. You are Emmanuel, God with us. Continue to remind us to remember. In Jesus Name, Amen

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ANOTHER AH-HA  MOMENT

Posted on December 4, 2014 by randscallawayffm

The Story of Jesus

Have you ever fallen for someone’s way of teaching, then later the teaching crosses a line of doubt of what you know God’s Word says? An ah-ha moment happens and you are stunned that you didn’t catch it before. We are human. Jesus disciples were human, too.

We are so easily sucked in to the circus of beliefs of this world that Jesus has to remind all of us, many times, that there is only one way to salvation. There is only one teaching that please God as well. Jesus came to earth to seek and to save lost people and as He did that He trained His disciples to be alert to evil, especially as it works its way through the religious community, Like yeast, a catalyst that makes bread rise up, evil can rise up when we least expect it with teaching that looks and sounds right, but is not of God.

Jesus’ serious warning to his disciples is rather humorous in a way, because the disciples missed the previous conversation Jesus had with some Pharisees and Sadducees that were provoking Jesus to do another performance rather than seek to be saved from their sins. They missed it, but only for a little while…

OOPS, FORGOT THE BREAD! (BIG SIGH FROM JESUS)

Matthew 16, Msg
1-4 Some Pharisees and Sadducees were on him again, pressing him to prove himself to them. He told them, “You have a saying that goes, ‘Red sky at night, sailor’s delight; red sky at morning, sailors take warning.’ You find it easy enough to forecast the weather—why can’t you read the signs of the times? An evil and wanton generation is always wanting signs and wonders. The only sign you’ll get is the Jonah sign.” Then he turned on his heel and walked away.

5-6 On their way to the other side of the lake, the disciples discovered they had forgotten to bring along bread. In the meantime, Jesus said to them, “Keep a sharp eye out for Pharisee-Sadducee yeast.”

7-12 Thinking he was scolding them for forgetting bread, they discussed in whispers what to do. Jesus knew what they were doing and said, “Why all these worried whispers about forgetting the bread? Runt believers! Haven’t you caught on yet? Don’t you remember the five loaves of bread and the five thousand people, and how many baskets of fragments you picked up? Or the seven loaves that fed four thousand, and how many baskets of leftovers you collected? Haven’t you realized yet that bread isn’t the problem? The problem is yeast, Pharisee-Sadducee yeast.” Then they got it: that he wasn’t concerned about eating, but teaching—the Pharisee-Sadducee kind of teaching.

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Dear Heavenly Father, Keep us alert to Truth in the person of Jesus Christ and all that He taught us to believe and how to behave. Help us to stand for Truth so that we won’t fall for anything that comes along that sounds “right”. Fill us with Your Holy Spirit. May Your Spirit guide us, convict us, challenge us and keep us focused on Truth. Work Your Way into our hearts, minds and souls. We love you. We want what You want. In Jesus Name, Amen

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THE ORIGIN OF THE CHURCH POT-LUCK!

Posted on December 3, 2014 by randscallawayffm

The Story of Jesus

At the church pot-luck, people say you never know what food will show up. Well, not if you are the pastor and family. You show up every time and you know who will bring what because they always, by habit, do the same thing over and over. But you are grateful for some who do that, because they bring some of your favorite foods! Our kids, the morning of a potluck after church, would say, “Oh, I hope Betty brings her awesome chocolate pie dessert thingy!” (We didn’t know what it’s real name was, we just knew it was fabulous.) The oldest would say, “Of course, she will bring it, she always does!”

Well, Jesus “brings it” again by serving another blessed meal to thousands of people after spending time healing them all day! The people were astonished and let everyone know that God was blazingly alive among them. I love that phrase in Peterson’s Message rendition of the gospel of Matthew. Oh that God would be blazingly alive in our churches, in our homes, in our towns, in our cities, in our world! Even at our potlucks!

Matthew 15, Msg
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.

I am overwhelmed by a God who heals and provides for our every need…”I hurt for these people, I can’t send them away without a meal.” That’s our Jesus, Son of God, who is God in human form who came to earth to seek and to save the lost…all of us. How can we not know Him, believe in Him, and trust Him with all that is within us and all of our “life stuff”? Turn your eyes on Jesus, look full into His wonderful, caring face. Turn away from all other voices that say the opposite. Accept Jesus. Receive peace.

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Dear Heavenly Father, Your Word to us strikes a cord deep in our hearts of the love You have for us. All of us. May we love You and love others more and more each day. Break our hearts of those things that break yours. Guide us by Your Holy Spirit to live it and live it well. In Jesus Name, Amen

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FROM THE HEART OF JESUS!

Posted on December 2, 2014 by randscallawayffm

The Story of Jesus

We can do good just to be understood as good people, but the motive behind the good is as important to Jesus as the deed. God told Samuel the prophet who was to anoint the next king, David, many centuries before Jesus, the Son of God, came to walk the earth, that God sees only the heart. What is on the outside is not as important to God as the inside.

Jesus speaks clearly to the Pharisees who have corrupted all of God’s commandments with their own rules, rules that give them power and make them look good…on the outside. These rules did not come from the heart of God. We must ask ourselves daily, what’s in my heart? What will flow from my heart to others in my talk and walk?

Matthew 15, Msg

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.”

Again, we must evaluate our hearts the way God would. Are we only keeping the rules or being led by His Holy Spirit to fulfill the intent of God’s commands? The two most important, according to Jesus Christ is to love God and love others the way He loves us…unconditionally, full of mercy and grace. What’s inside counts more than outside. What’s in my heart?

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Dear Heavenly Father, Your Word is convicting and affirming all at the same time. We repent of falling into rule keeping at times without thought to the motivation of our hearts. Cleanse and restore the joy of our salvation…that comes from our hearts and souls then flows to our minds. With a pure heart comes a pure mind and right attitudes. Yes, Lord, yes! In Jesus Name, Amen

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AND IF THAT WASN’T ENOUGH…

Posted on December 1, 2014 by randscallawayffm

The Story of Jesus (One of my favorite parts…)

There is a saying among circus people, from P.T. Barnum himself, that says, “always leave them wanting more!”. It was the idea to put people on the edge of their seats with the performance of a lifetime then stop and hope they but a ticket for the next time they are in town. People always want more and more. It seems to be human nature.

Jesus is more than enough to us! He goes before the Father every time something big happens, (like a miracle no one else can do), and the people want more, expect more, lose faith if there isn’t more. Jesus is God’s Son who was there at the beginning of the world’s existence. But our faith is weak when we are overwhelmed with what we think is the impossible. Our fear of the unknown overrides our complete trust in our known God. It happened to Peter, but think about how Peter learned an important life transforming lesson. He, my friends, at least got out of the boat!

Matthew 14, Msg (After miraculously feeding 5000 plus people!)

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.

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!”

Yes, dear Jesus, your are more than enough for me! I have jumped out of the boat at times only to be overwhelmed by the task you called me to do, but there you were, taking my hand and together we completed the task. Thank you, dear Lord. You are more than enough for me. (And thank you, Peter, for jumping out of the boat to walk with the Master!, even if just for a little while on water!)

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Dear Heavenly Father, The Story of YOU in Your Word gets to me every time! You are God and we are not. That’s why we trust you with all that is within us. Forgive our doubts led by fear of the unknown. Put Your Hand on us and lift us up to where You are. Help us think more like You so we will behave more like you in every detail of this journey here. We know You are with us, Emmanuel. In Jesus Name, amen!

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JESUS–GRIEF AND GREAT COMPASSION

Posted on November 30, 2014 by randscallawayffm

The Story of Jesus

Have you seen someone, in their darkest hour, show more love and compassion than ever before? You would think that they would turn inward, to themselves, lick their wounds and generally care less about those around them. Actually, some do turn inward. But many don’t . As my uncle was dying, with no chance of recovery, we all gathered around my aunt in the waiting room. Another family suddenly came in weeping loudly for they were experiencing the same episode with a family member who time had come to leave earth. My aunt, without a second thought, jumped up from her chair and lovingly ministered to the wife of the soon deceased. Yes, when we come to the end, we are generally not as concerned about life stuff but more concerned about people in life and death situations.

The Son of God in human form has been told of the cruel death of John, “the one who prepared the way” for Jesus saving ministry to lost people, His first response is to slip away by boat to an out-of-the-way place by himself. This is God and man, at the same time. Didn’t he know this would happen? Yes, but still the shock of cruel death of God’s servant, John, is felt by Jesus in human form. Does Jesus know this is also a precursor to what will happen to him soon? Is he slipping away to be by himself OR to be with His Father in heaven to discuss the cruelness of this earth in which He came to save? We cannot know, but we do know this…the people saw Him and followed Him and later were cared for in miraculous ways.

Matthew 14, Msg

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.

We will see, as we continue the story of Jesus, that before every great miracle of compassion and strength, Jesus gets alone to be with His Father. Mm. Jesus turns His grief for John to compassion for hungry people and provides a meal for five thousand (plus women and children) people! Mm. What a great example of what to do with our own grief. But wait! There is more to come…

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Dear Heavenly Father, You came to earth to seek and to save the lost of which we are one of those. But we are now found in You, with You living in us. May we never lose sight of being with the Father continuously, never seeking to do anything by ourselves, for ourselves. May our bad times turn up the compassion within us for lost people, not hinder us. Yet, will I praise you, will always be our cry for there are so many who need you still. Guide our every thought and deed. May we be more like You with every breath we take and every challenging step we climb. Go with us, be with us. Keep us from causing pain to anyone, but help us instead be Your hands and feet to this dying world who is without You.
In Jesus Name, Amen

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HOMETOWN JESUS

Posted on November 29, 2014 by randscallawayffm

(The Story of Jesus)

Many of us might have traveled to see family this weekend. I know you did because of all the Facebook posts! Most of our family came to our house, so we didn’t travel. We always have great expectations as we get together as family and friends, don’t we?. We miss them. We “freeze-frame” the kids (and some adults) as being that little, sweet kid that did some cute tricks…when they were five. Now, they are grown up, but our minds won’t let them be older and wiser. So we tend to treat them as they were before, all because our minds only see them as they were before. It happened to me. It happens to all of us. It happened to Jesus! He understands.

“When Jesus finished telling these stories, he left there, returned to his hometown, and gave a lecture in the meeting house. 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.”

“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.” Matthew 13, Msg

We need to work harder at forgetting a person’s past and rejoice in the person they have grown to be right now. Ask more questions about where they are in life and the dreams they have for the future! They might come home more often if we do!

DON’T DO THIS!
I remember my cousins and I, were so tried of the first comment always said at funerals and family reunions: “My, how you’ve grown!” (Of course being 4’11” at the time, it wasn’t even a great observation of me!) Being ornery, we decided to reply: “And my, my, my, how you’ve grown!”, motioning with hands how wide. Yeah, our parents put a stop to that quickly. But you get the drift.

DO THIS…
Next time someone comes back home, try to ask questions with sincere interest in who they are now and/or just hug on them awhile and just listen. They will tell you if we wait, because they are dying to tell you! Treat them as you would like to be treated. It does not matter where they been, but it matters more where they are going in life. Cherish the moment well. Jesus understands and will help us.

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Dear Heavenly Father, Your Word ALWAYS makes us think! Your Word makes us feel for Jesus’ reception in his own hometown with wonder and chagrin at the comments made by the small town people who knew him then. They apparently didn’t really know him at that moment in time and were not interested enough to even try to know Jesus, the Son of God. We get it, Lord. We believe. We do not want to be small-minded people who can only think of the past. Help us to always treat people as they are today, not who they were, or even who we would like them to be, but who they are today! Thank you, Lord. What a lesson for us! In Jesus Name, Amen

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THERE WHEN YOU NEED IT MOST!

Posted on November 28, 2014 by randscallawayffm

(The Story of Jesus)

Where did I put that? Where is it when I need it most? I must have put it in a special place so I would have it when I needed it. In fact, it is so special, I can’t find it!

Have you ever been there, done that? This isn’t an age thing, I have noticed that it happens to everyone, no matter what your age! I have seen young to old ask the same question, where IS that? I just had it, where is it? Frustration follows lostness.

After telling many stories on a particular day, Jesus went home and his disciples ask for more, for they saw that His stories had meaning far beyond the surface.

Here is that explanation in Matthew 13, Msg:

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.”

Daily question for us: Are WE starting to get a handle on all this? As co-heirs with Jesus Christ, we need to be well-trained enough to be able to put on our minds, hearts and souls on the knowledge of God’s Word, “old and new” so that when we need it, we have it. This is the story of Jesus! The “it” is really the Person of Jesus Christ!

Wow! When will we be well-trained enough to know it completely? When we all get to heaven. So until then, we pray on, keep training ourselves, continue to walk the talk in ways that please the Master, who is the owner of our souls, and we show others the way to Him. We may not have it all down pat, but we share what we do have and know. God always does the rest.

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Dear Heavenly Father, In the end, we understand that there will be a great weeding out of all that was planted by the devil. We are Your subjects of Your Kingdom! We are listening, really listening to what You say. We believe. We love and trust You. Continue to train us to be fit for Your Kingdom for now and forever. The more we know, the more we realize we don’t know. Help us, Lord.
In Jesus Name, Amen

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A HARVEST STORY

Posted on November 27, 2014 by randscallawayffm

(The Story of Jesus)

It is Thanksgiving Day for our part of the world. We have one family member serving our country on sandy soil in another part of the world. We miss him. Greatly. But we are thankful for his willingness to serve others. We love him. Now, today, it is so like God to bring us to this part of His Word on Thanksgiving Day! The Harvest Story…Jesus’ story. Read and really hear it. Say it out loud and proceed to live it. This is our blessed challenge for this day that the Lord has made!

May God bless your socks off this day just for understanding the meaning and glory behind each word of Jesus’ story. Press on…and be grateful in the journey.

Matthew 13, Msg

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.”

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.

j

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you! Just thank you. My heart is full of gratitude and praise! Thank you. In Jesus Name, Amen

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