In Memory of Amy

                                              


Today we are pausing from our daily Bible reading.  You see, it was a year ago today that my friend, Amy, passed away.  I decided towards the end of last year that I wanted to reread the book of Matthew because that was Amy's favorite book in the Bible.  However, today Amy's friends and family can take a moment to reflect on how loving, courageous, and wise Amy was. 


We will continue tomorrow with Matthew Chapter 7.




If you would like, I lit a candle today in memory of Amy.  http://www.gratefulness.org/candles/message.cfm?l=eng&cid=17643782

Matthew 7 - Sermon on the Mount (cont'd and The Lord's Prayer)

Yesterday I mentioned that there were stories in early December of people receiving calls to come in and pick up their merchandise that someone came in and took care of the lay away bills.  Matthew 6:4 Give your gifts in private, and your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.  Now most of us aren't financially able to do what these people did, but imagine the little things that we could do and if done in private imagine what your reward would be from our generous Lord.  In addition, I am just thinking imagine with all of the stress and darkness that seems to blanket us, maybe these little prisms of light could be spread.  Wouldn't it be wonderful to hear of more stories of joy and laughter than the ones we hear. 

Jesus also teaches us about prayer.  Personally, I like the NIV (New International Version) Bible but I picked up the NLT (New Living Translation) Bible by mistake and I learned the Lord's Prayer by the KJV (King James Version) Bible, and that is the one I most prefer.  I mention this because when I write out a verse it has been from my NLT Bible.  However, for the Lord's Prayer I am going to use the New King James Version.  To read different versions, please visit Blue Letter Bible.  http://www.blueletterbible.org/

Matthew 6:9-13 Pray like this: 

   Our Father which art in Heaven,
     Hallowed be your name.
   Thy kingdom come.  Thy will be done
      in earth as it is in heaven.
   Give us this day our daily bread.
   And forgive us our debts,
      as we have forgive our debtors.
   And lead us not into temptation,
      but deliver us from evil: 
   For thine is the kingdom, and the power,
      and glory, for ever.  Amen..
  
If you are new to reading the Bible daily, then I don't want to overwhelm you.  However, later in this year I hope to go through all of the Psalms.  You will see when you read the Psalms, more examples of how we can sing praises to the Lord in our prayers.  You will see through examples of writings in Psalms how we pray but we still must accept the Lord's will.  Yes, it can be frustrating at times when we don't see and understand clearly at the moment, however, we can take comfort in the knowledge that the Lord is in control and, therefore, he knows them and understands what is best for us and others. 

With all of this said, The Lord's Prayer above teaches us the best way to pray to our Father in heaven.  Give him the glory, recognize his will is to be done, send your supplications, ask for forgiveness, and ask to keep us from the evil one.

Jesus taught us to do our good deeds in private, (i.e. charity, prayer, and fasting).  Our reward will be in heaven.  That's all that we need to keep us going is the knowledge that we are storing up our treasures in heaven.  Matthew 6:19-20 "Don't store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and thieves break in and steal.  20Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal.

However, it is this verse that jumps out at me today.  Matthew 6:24 "No one can serve two masters.  For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other.  You cannot serve both God and money.  When it comes to money or finances, which leads to everything physical where is my heart?  Is it in good balance to my daily living?  When we have balance in our life, and put everything in their proper order, everything else seems to fall into place. 

Along with this Jesus also teaches us not to worry.  Now let me tell you something I haven't wanted to repeat in years.  In middle school, I was nominated the worry wort of my class.  That isn't exactly a complement.  Then years later the verses about worry hit home.  Matthew 6:25-34.  You see worrying is a sin.  If we have good, solid faith than we know the Lord is in control and there is no need to worry.  So I will leave you and me with this verse.  Matthew 6:34 "So don't worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries.  Today's trouble is enough for today.

Matthew 5 - The Sermon on the Mount

Have you been able to keep up with our daily readings?  No?  That's okay.  No worries.  Today we are in Chapter 5 of Matthew where Jesus gave his Sermon on the Mount, and I encourage you to read today's chapter as there is so much in here that Jesus taught his disciples and have written down to be shared with us and you can continue to pass this along by sharing with others.

As you read through the chapter, you may want to think of God's world vs. this world that we live in.  Where is your heart?  Matthew 5:3 God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.

We can be well off financially but if our heart and attitude are not right, we can be poor in spirit.  Did you hear about the stories last month of people going into some retailers and paying lay away bills for people?  Now those people that generously paid the bills for others are not going to get a tax credit, and we don't know exactly who they are to put their names up in lights.  They were so generous on their own merit, and I can imagine how the people and families felt that received the calls from the stores that their lay away bills were all paid and they can come pick up their merchandise. 

What if we could continue this attitude throughout 2013?  As Christians, we can recognize God as the Lord of our life and think in his terms.  There was a saying a few years ago WWJD (What Would Jesus Do).  We can live this way all through the year not just the Christmas season.  Maybe if we lived our life as Christ exampled, more people would look to Christians instead looking away from us.  We can learn a lot from Chapter 5, and I hope you enjoy this chapter as much as I did reading it.  Do you have a verse or verses that jumped out at you?  Please feel free to share them with us.

This is my verse that jumps out at me today.  Matthew 5:44 But I say, love your enemies!  Pray for those who persecute you!  Is there someone in your life that just grates on your last nerve?  Maybe they need prayer.  Or maybe you or in my case my attitude and guidance in interacting with that person needs prayer.  Amy use to be my "go to" person.  She had short and simple ways of dealing with people.  You may want to find an accountability partner.  Pray for that too.  God will show you the way. 

Our faces light up when we smile so I hope you can find at least one thing to smile about today.  What a vision for God to see millions of people smiling vs. scowling.  How much sweeter the sound of singing and rejoicing vs.  whining, complaining and yelling. 

Matthew Chapter 4

We open this chapter up to Matthew 4:1 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted there by the devil.  Gosh.  This should remind me on days or nights of where I am feeling really low that, yes, Jesus did walk in my shoes.  He also was tempted but the difference is that he withstood Satan and put Satan in his place.  What if this year we tried  to do something differently?  What if this year I say, "today I am going to think, speak and only listen to positive, Godly thoughts.  "Satan go away because today I am worshiping the Lord Jesus, and I am only serving him."  (taken from Matthew 4:10).  I tell you this because I have lived it.  Each year I have grown closer and closer to the Lord.  What my experience has been is that when I pray, read and practice living my life more purposefully Christian, the temptations lesson and I can stand even stronger against Satan and his temptations.  

Matthew 4:19-20 Jesus called out to them, "Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!"  And they left their nets at once and followed him.  I wonder what it was like to live while Jesus was here on earth.  Imagine the faith these men had to just get up and leave everything to follow Jesus.  I ask myself that question, can I do that?  Can I leave my house, my things, friends, family? Or on other days, how, how do I get up and follow Jesus today? 

As we grow in our relationship with the Lord, we realize that the things here on earth are just not that important.  We live in very uncertain times, but I have been taking refuge the last few months in imagining what it will be like in heaven and know that the stuff that happens here really doesn't matter for eternal perspective.  Different passages from Psalms will pop into my head like how God created this world, how when he speaks the wind listens and obeys.  You may want to keep a pad and pen close to you as you read your Bible in case a verse speaks to you.  Remember, Jesus lived here.  He knows our temptations, our pains and our sorrows.  We are never alone. 

With love and until tomorrow I hope your temptations are small and your blessings are large.

                                                                                           MATTHEW 3             

 

                Isaiah  40:3  “He is a voice shouting in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord’s coming! Clear the road for him.”  And then there was John the Baptist who preached about repenting of our sins, baptized with water and announcing that there is one greater than he who is coming who will baptize with the Holy Spirit and with fire. 

                What I admire about John the Baptist is that he knew his place on earth.  “Matthew 3:11 “I baptize with water those who repent of their sins and turn to God.  But someone is coming soon who is greater than I am – so much greater that I’m not worthy even to be his slave and carry his sandals.  He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.  We can learn a lot from John.

                If you don’t know your purpose, ask and seek God for the answer.  And if you do know your purpose here on earth, are you doing it to the best of your ability?  Are you doing it for your own glory or for God’s glory.  You see, when we do things for God’s glory it puts everything in balance for us.  We receive a healthy perspective on everything in our daily lives.  Let’s take our daily life.  We wear many hats during the day.  I am going to use my life as an example.  I am a wife, mom, volunteer, and employee. 

                As a wife and mom, personally it helps me get through my day better when I start my day with my daily Bible reading.  I have come to realize that if I don’t read pretty early in my day it is much harder to sit and take the time to read.  The Bible is a gift to us from God.  He wants us to know about him and in turn he wants us to pray to him.  If you are knew to Bible reading than I suggest you to take a few minutes today and read Matthew 3.  Did you miss either of the first two days with your new Bible reading.  That’s okay.  Start right now and right here with Matthew 3.  If you have time, go back and read Chapters 1 and 2.  However, there are 28 chapters in Matthew and 31 days so there will be days to catch up on the daily Bible readings. 

                As the events of a day unfold, I am often reminded of God’s word.  It may not be what I read that particular day and it may not be word for word exact but it is comforting to know that God is here with me moment by moment.  It helps me in my decision making and it reminds me than my life is not my own.  I am God’s child. 

                Now today’s chapter is a very clear message about repentance.  Many people say they will start making changes the beginning of the year.  Are you like me and already have missed some of your new year resolutions.  That is okay.  We can start today and if it is a sin that needs to be stopped, than come to God today and ask him for your forgiveness and repent now.  But if it were June or August or October, if I am convicted that I did something wrong, I don’t need to wait until the next calendar year rolls around, I can ask God for forgiveness and make a point to stop that sin and to make better choices.  Reading God’s word on a daily basis does help me clear out the cobwebs and make wise decisions. 

                My favorite verse in Matthew 3 is Matthew 3:17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.”  I often wonder what the people were thinking that heard that voice from heaven.  What a sight to see.  The people at that time got to witness John baptizing Jesus and then the heavens opening, and the Spirit of God descending and then hearing a voice from heaven.  It must have been truly amazing.  Although, what else can we expect from God but pure amazement.

Cheerio!  And remember to Smile for today is the day God has made so enjoy it!

 

 

 

                                                                                                                           

Matthew Chapter 2

What can we learn through King Herod?  Yes, even through the bad guys, we can learn life lessons.

As you read through this chapter, take note of the prophesies that were fulfilled through the birth of Jesus.  Through Herod and his actions Mary and Joseph needed to move.  Matthew 2:13 After the wise men were gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream.  "Get up!  Flee to Egypt with the child and his mother," the angel said.  "Stay there until I tell you to return, because Herod is going to search for the child and kill him.

Is there a verse that spoke to you?  Let us know.

These prophecies are a good reminder that God has a plan and God is in control.  Does your life seem out of control right now?  Pray to God and ask him for guidance.  With God make your plan and each day pray upon it.  If it his will, your plan will be fulfilled. 

May you have a blessed day.

January 7, 2013 - Matthew Chapter 1

For Amy.

There are only 28 chapters of Matthew and there are 31 days so that gives us 3 extra days to read this book.  Matthew is the very first book of the New Testament.  It was written by Matthew.  Matthew was a tax collector and he was one of Jesus 12 disciples. 

Taken from my Life Application Study Bible, Tyndale Publisher, the New Living Translation (NLT), as you read this Gospel, listen to Matthew's clear message:  Jesus is the Christ, the King of kings and Lord of lords.  Celebrate his victory over evil and death, and make Jesus the Lord of your life.

Please feel free to share your thoughts with us as we go forward.  If you have thoughts of Amy or a verse that spoke to you, please go ahead.  Because this is not a private blog, I am screening the comments and will tolerate only corrections, and positive comments.

Matthew starts with a genealogy going from Abraham to King David up to Jesus.  I know it is tempting to skip these verses or even this entire chapter.  However, take the time to read through the names.  There might be a few more names that you recognize.  If you have time, you may want to go back and learn a little bit more about some of the people in which you don't recognize.

We did a study a few years back at my church and during that time, we learned again about Ruth.  Ruth was not of Jewish descent but she did marry two Jewish men and she was a wonderful, strong, courageous woman (can we think of someone else who was a strong woman in our lives :)).  Also, it is possible that next month we will be reading the book of Ruth so we will get to know more about Ruth then.  I mention Ruth also  because we can be reminded that we are ALL children of God.  Can you find others who were not of original Jewish heritage?  As you read through the Geneology, are there people that are mentioned that you don't know anything about?  Go to bluebible.com and see if they have anything written about that person.

If you have some extra time and would like to learn more about some of the people named, here are some passages listed.  For more on Tamar, see Genesis 38:29-30; for more on Rahab see Joshua 2 and 6:22, 23; and for Rehoboam see 2 Chronicles Chapters 10 - 12.  Was there a name that you saw that you would like to read more about look it up in your Bible or go to bluebible.com.  Leave a comment with the verses so we can learn more too.

Verses 1 - 16 strings many names and lives together leading us to our Messiah. 

Can you imagine being 16 years of age or younger and having an angel visit you?  Sometimes with all the commercialism that surrounds us leading up to and around the Christmas season, I think we can forget about how truly amazing and perplexing that time was for Mary and Joseph.  Imagine being visited by one of God's angels no less to announce that you are going to have a child and even more so THE child, the long awaited for MESSIAH. 

God Bless you and Happy Reading.  Smile; we are now in 2013!  See you tomorrow!