Centsible Living

Scripture:  Mark 12:13

Later they sent some of the Pharisees and Herodians to Jesus to catch him in his words.

Observation:

The Pharisees, Herodians and many others didn’t like Jesus because He threatened their power.  They tried many times to catch Him saying something that wasn’t true according to Hebrew law.

Application:

I’m not very good at arguing.  I know what I want to say, but I just get flustered and lose track of what was said.  It also doesn’t help that I have a short temper.  I remember times when I was younger and certain kids at school knew just what buttons to push.  It didn’t really take much before I was just too angry to effectively make my case.  They knew how to “catch me in my words.”

There are times when God calls us to speak and He has definitely done that in my life — many times.  I used to worry that I would get caught up in my words and His message would get lost.  In fact, I’m sure there are times that has happened.  One day I realized that if I’m worried that I’ll mess up the message I’m supposed to speak that I’ve said the word “I” a lot of times!!  But if I remember that the message is HIS and HE has chosen to use one of HIS servants, the focus shifts to Him   Now that’s right where it should be!

I need to ask God for help and to let the words be His and not my own.  I need to ask Him to help me know when to speak, when to keep quiet and when to listen.  Not only will the message and the focus be right, but I won’t get caught up in my words.  Isaiah 55:11 tells us His Word “will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”  All I need to do is trust Him and His Word.

Prayer:

Lord You are the King of glory who is strong and mighty (Psalm 24). Forgive me when I try and take the glory of your Word and make it my own. Lord, I don’t understand why you choose me to speak your Word, but I thank You for the honor.  Thank You for helping me to speak the right words and for knowing when to be quiet. Please humble me and empty me of my selfishness so that Your Word can shine and achieve it’s purpose.

Scripture:  Mark 11:1-3

As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples,  saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and just as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here.  If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here shortly.’”

Observation:

Jesus gives His disciples simple but somewhat strange instructions.  They respond with obedience and carry out His instructions.

Application:

“Because I said so!”  Most parents have said those words to their child at some point or another.  I remember when my daughter was born how I was sure that I would never resort to those words.  I just knew I’d make the time to explain everything completely so my child would willingly and lovingly comply.  Then reality set in.  Sometimes I just didn’t have the time or the inclination to go through all the explanations.  Who would have guessed that a rebellious teenager would question even the simplest of requests?

I was looking for simple obedience and respect from my children just as Jesus is from us.  He has asked us to live the type of lives that are different from the rest of our society.  Lives that do not give in to the temptations of this world:  greed, sex, lying, idol worship and the list goes on.  It may seem like an odd request considering the world around us.  At the very least, it’s not an easy request.

But, Jesus has given us everything we need to live lives that are set apart if we just obey.  He doesn’t yell, “Because I said so!”  His love for us is perfect and much more patient than the love I’ve given to my family.  Through the Word, God gives us all the explanation and faith we need.  We just need to obey.

Prayer:

Precious Lord, You are my shepherd giving me everything I need (Psalm 23:1).  I am in awe at Your loving care. Forgive me for the times when I question you because I don’t understand your plan or am in too much of a hurry. Thank you for Your Word to guide me. While I long to always be obedient to You, I’m so often like a willful child.  Only You can help me to be obedient and I humbly ask that of You.

It’s been a wild ride over the last two weeks as Mark took us through about three years of Jesus’ life. We saw miraculous healing, encounters with evil spirits and Pharisees, the calling of the apostles, teaching through parables and so much more!  I’m thankful there are three other gospels that we’ll be reading throughout the year to keep Jesus fresh in my mind.

We will be slowing down a bit as we move into week three and Mark takes us into the final days of Jesus’ life.  The suffering and death of our Savior is never easy to read about, but it is necessary. Don’t shy away — experience this section of scripture just as fully as you’ve experienced what you’ve read so far. God will surely bless you and bring you into closer relationship with Him.

Keep up those prayers for each other — I will do the same!

Scripture:  Mark 10:20 – 21

“Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.” Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

Observation:

Jesus knew that the man followed the law with his external actions but didn’t have inner obedience.  But, Jesus treats the man with compassion when he tells him what he should do.

Application:

We don’t have the benefit of Jesus walking with us physically on Earth, so the thought of Jesus looking at me with love just takes my breath away.  So how does Jesus look at me with love when He’s not physically here?  There have been times when He has done this with the hug of a family member, with the encouraging words of friends or a sermon from the pastor.  But, this time I felt that loving, comforting gaze upon me when I read the words in my Bible.

I had a couple of tough days right before I read Mark 10.  So many of the words spoke to me with new meaning and some old favorites reached out to me as well.  But, the Spirit led me to just the words I needed to hear – Jesus looks at me and loves me.  As I let those words tumble over me, I could feel the tension of the last few days melt away.  The peace that came over my was like a warm blanket on a cold winter’s day.

Prayer:

Jesus, You are such a loving Savior and I praise You with all my heart. Forgive me for those time I’ve tried to follow You with my external actions without having inner obedience.  Thank you for looking at me in my sinful state and loving me. Please help me to look at others the way You do.

Scripture:  Mark 9:23

“‘If you can?’”, said Jesus.  “Everything is possible for him who believes.”

Observation:

A man wants Jesus to heal his son if He can.  Jesus responds by showing him that everything is possible for those who believe.

Application:

“Yes We Can!!”  I remember well the crowd in New Hampshire chanting that at Barack Obama’s 2008 concession speech as Hilary Clinton won that primary.  It was a very moving speech — and I’m not even an Obama supporter!!  “Yes We Can!!” became a part of Obama’s campaign from that point forward.  There wasn’t a major stop where his supporters weren’t chanting it and believing it.

How many times have I been asked to serve for the Lord and said, “Yes I Can!!”  More importantly how many times have I said, “umm..i don’t think so.”  Now I’m not saying that I should say yes every time I’m asked to serve.  But there are enough times when I haven’t prayerfully considered the request.  So many doubts start to plague my mind:  Will I have time?  Do I have the skills to do that?  What if I mess it up?  I’m not very comfortable doing that.  Why can’t they ask someone else?!?!

I can almost hear Jesus shouting, “Yes You Can — Through Me!!”  He tells us that everything is possible if we just believe.  That doesn’t mean everything will happen the way we want it when we ask Him.  But, it becomes possible if we do ask Him because He is God. Just imagine Him chanting, “Yes You Can!!” when we come to Him.  He will give us everything and everyone we need to complete the task if we just believe.

I can look back and see times where I didn’t believe and missed opportunities.  And times where I didn’t believe Jesus when He was cheering “Yes You Can!” for someone else — and I took the task meant for them.  I can also look back at some of the tasks I’ve done and know that He was totally in the mix.  I can see the people He sent to help or encourage me.  I can hear the answered prayer as I went to Him for guidance.

Prayer:

Lord, You are eternal.  You saw everything before it ever was or will be.  I’ll never fully understand what that means and I praise You because of it. Please forgive me for the times I didn’t come to You for answers when I had opportunities to serve.  Forgive me for opportunities missed and those I took that weren’t mine to have.  Jesus, thank You for the times when You cheered, “Yes You Can!!” and encouraged me to do Your work.  Thank You for giving me the skills needed for the job, the people needed to help me, and sending others to encourage me just when I needed it.  Thank You also for those times You were silent so that I wouldn’t take someone else’s work.  Spirit, help me to believe!  Help me to prayerful consider all options and listen for Your answer.

Scripture:   Mark 8:32

He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.

Observation:

Jesus didn’t use a parable to tell His disciples about His upcoming suffering and death.  He spoke plainly so they would understand.

Application:

Some translations say that Jesus spoke freely , frankly, plainly, openly, and explicitly, making it unmistakable. We get the idea that Jesus really wants His disciples to understand — there is to be no question about His meaning on this topic!!

I have to admit that I sometimes struggle to speak plainly when I’m talking about God.  There are times I don’t always feel that I know enough about what the Bible says on the subject.  Other times I’m concerned about how my audience will hear what I’m saying and may judge me harshly.

More and more I’ve realized that the problem isn’t the message or my knowledge of the subject.  It’s my trust in God.  When I feel Him nudging me to speak up, I need to do so trusting that He will give me the words to speak His message.

Prayer:

Lord, Your name is majestic in all the earth and Your glory spreads across the heavens! (Psalm 8:1).  Forgive me for those times when I have gotten in the way of Your message because of my lack of trust. I’m so thankful that you see fit to use me to spread Your Word even with all my flaws. Your trust in me is amazing and humbling when I compare it to my trust in You. God, help me to speak plainly!  Build up my trust in You and humble me, Lord, so that I’m not in the way when you need to use me to speak Your truth.

Prayer is one of those things that can really start to become stale if we’re not focusing on it.  I found I’d fallen into some habits that I really wasn’t happy with in terms of prayer, so I decided to make 2012 a year to focus on my prayer life.  I was recently reminded of the ACTS of Prayer and how this can be such a powerful way to pray and build relationship with God.  Here is what it means:

Adoration – The first part of the prayer is adoring God. Really worship and praise Him because He IS!  It’s a time to get to know your Lord deeper as you focus on His attributes not His actions. Many of the Psalms can be a great source for inspiration.

Confession – It follows that after we worship Him we are humble and so confess our sins.  It’s never easy to bring to mind all the ways we have failed, but God already knows.  I imagine Him smiling tenderly as I tell Him what I’ve done and ask for His forgiveness.  When someone comes to me with a humble and contrite heart to confess and ask for forgiveness, our relationship grows closer. It’s the same with our Father in heaven.

Thanksgiving – Focus on what He has done for you — His actions.  It’s impossible to really remember all He has done.  But when we spend the time to really consider, it’s so much easier to see that a safe car ride, family, friends, our country, our homes, answered prayer and so much more is all from the hand of God.

Supplication – The final part of this prayer is for your needs and the needs of others.  I believe in boldly and humbly bringing our requests to God.  Be bold enough to ask for everything because God really wants us to invite Him into all aspects of our lives.  Be humble and acknowledge your need for Him to provide as He sees fit and in His time.

If you’re interested in engaging in this type of prayer and would like more information, check out what Discipleship Tools or Chi Alpha Christian Fellowship have to say about the ACTS of Prayer.

Scripture:   Mark 6:20

When Herod heard John, he was greatly puzzled; yet he liked to listen to him.

Observation:

Herod found John’s teachings strange but was compelled to listen to them.

Application:

The Message paraphrases the verse in this way, “Whenever he listened to him he was miserable with guilt—and yet he couldn’t stay away.  Something in John kept pulling him back.”

It fascinates me to think that Herod was actually listening to John’s message, that it may have actually been tugging at his conscience, yet he remained unchanged!  How many times did John preach his message of repentance before that fateful dance by Salome?  How long did this go on before Herod had John beheaded?  How often has Jesus been talking to me, tugging at my conscience and I’ve remained unchanged?

I can’t answer that last question truthfully, because I really don’t know.  But I can guarantee that it has happened — more than once!  But, Herod didn’t have the Holy Spirit dwelling in him softening his heart to the Word.  The faith given to me by my Father through the saving work of Christ gives me the in-dwelling of the Holy Spirit.  Praise God!!

There may be times when I’m as hard-headed as Herod, but definitely not hard-hearted.  Jesus continues tugging at my conscience with His message.  Many times it’s a beautiful moment when my eyes are opened to some facet of His message that I didn’t see and other times it’s humbling.  Either way, He pulls me into closer relationship with Him and I am blessed.

Prayer:

Lord God you are so merciful and loving. Forgive me for the time when I’m too stubborn to listen to Your message to me. I’m so grateful that You love me and stick with me even when I’m hard-headed.  Please help me to hear You when you speak to me and keep my heart open to Your life-changing Word.

Week one of the 5 x 5 x 5 New Testament in a Year reading plan has gone quite well!  I hope it has for everyone else following the plan.  Mark is such an interesting book because it rolls very quickly through Jesus’ life!  Four parables in one chapter — so much to think about.

I’m enjoying using SOAP (Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer) while I’m reading.  It can really bring new life to verses that I’ve read before as I select one or two verses to hone in on.

The schedule on the right is updated with this week’s readings and I’ve added links to the BibleGateway site.  So, if you don’t have a paper Bible handy, you can just “link” on over to BibleGateway and do your reading for the day with an electronic Bible.  The internet can be such a handy tool

Let’s remember to encourage and pray for each other this week as we move on to week two of our Bible reading!

Scripture:  Mark 4:26-27

He also said, “This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how.”

Observation:

Although we may sow the seed of God’s Word, God is the one who cares for and causes that seed to grow in His own time and way.

Application:

I’m reminded of Cody, a teenager I met last summer during a mission trip.  He was “different” — he dressed in mostly black, I think he wore a bit of eyeliner, had some piercings, etc.  I ended up talking to him for a few minutes during dinner one night.

He told me about the church he sometimes attended with his aunt.  He didn’t really like it, but he went out of respect for her.  I asked him where he was with Jesus and he was honest — he wasn’t sure.  Like so many young people, he was put off by “religion” and how it seemed like there were so many rules.  We spent a few minutes discussing faith vs. religion.  I told him how much Jesus loved him, how much I loved him and that I would pray for him.

It was about a five minute discussion, but my life was changed.  I only saw Cody again briefly before the trip was over.  I don’t know where he is at with his relationship to Jesus.  But the seed was planted and although I don’t know what is happening to it, I know that God is caring for that seed and can use it in His time.

Prayer:

Lord, You alone have the power to save and I praise You for desiring to save us. Please forgive me for the times when I didn’t sow seeds.  Forgive me for not being faithful and praying often for those among who I’ve sown seeds. Jesus, thank you for caring for the seeds that I’ve sewn and for giving me places in which to sew. Lord, be with Cody.  Open his heart wide to receive Your love and the full forgiveness of Jesus Christ.