Joy Today

We are in "Holy Week," the week between Palm Sunday and Easter. Our sandals are getting dusty again as we head back into Jerusalem with Jesus and his disciples. It's still Passover. People have come from all over to celebrate. And when Jesus teaches, everyone listens. This aggravates the scribes, Pharisees, Saducees and High Priests; so they throw all kinds of questions at Jesus, thinking to trick him. (You would think that by NOW they would have realized: he can not be tricked. He sees right through you.)  Anyway, a scribe asks:"What's the #1 Commandment?" Jesus answers:" You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength. And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself." The scribe acknowledged that Jesus was correct. And Jesus encouraged him by saying:"You are not far from the Kingdom of God."(Mark 12:30-34)  Acknowledging the truth of the Person and message of Jesus, draws us into the Kin...

Good Morning in Jerusalem at the Feast of the Passover. Our sandals got dusty during the walk from the Mount of Olives into the city. A day later we find (Mark 11:15-19) that "...Jesus went into the temple and began to drive out those who bought and sold in the temple. He overturned the tables of the money changers, and the seats of those who sold doves...* He charged them all: ' My House shall be called a House of Prayer for all nations. But you money changers have made it a den of thieves.' "  Well, as you can imagine, the scribes and chief priests (who profited some from all that inappropriate commercial activity) were upset at Jesus. They set about trying to think of a way to destroy Jesus "because all the people were astonished at his teaching." (And were ignoring them, the religious big wigs.)Are WE careful to keep our place of worship as a place of prayer?  Are we careful in our homes to cherish a place of quietness and a time of prayer/a place and ti...

Standing here in our dusty Sandles, did you "see" what just happened? Yes, Mark 10:13-16, reports: People were bringing their children to Jesus, but the disciples were turning them away, UNTIL Jesus said:" Let the children come to me, for of such is the Kingdom of God. You needx to receive the Kingdom of God with child-like trust."  Then, days later, when the Passover was being celebrated in Jerusalem, there were surely many children among those who shouted:"Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord."  People were weary of the heavy rule of the Romans. They wanted to be ruled by a king of their own. Jesus was popular with the people. So, they shouted "Hosanna" as Jesus rode into Jerusalem. In the Lord's Prayer, we say:" May Your Kingdom come, Lord, on earth as it is in Heaven." (Matthew 6:9-13) And Jesus taught:"...the Kingdom of God is WITHIN you."(Luke 17:21b).  Building the Kingdom of God on earth calls f...

Hi my "walking"friend. Now, in chapter 9:1-10, Jesus takes only Peter, James and John with him and "...leads them up into a high mountain apart from the others: and he was trabsfigured in their sight. His clothing shone exceedingingly white...and there appeared Isaiah and Moses, talking with Jesus...and a cloud overshadowed them: and a Voice came out of the cloud, saying:'This IS My Beloved Son, Hear him.' And then, suddenly, they looked around and saw no one but themselves and Jesus. And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them to tell no one what things they had seen, UNTIL the Son of man be RISEN from the dead. And they questioned one another as to what could be the meaning of rising from the dead."  God has, once again, as at the baptism of Jesus, given brilliant confirmation that Jesus Christ IS the Son of God. AND, directed:"HEAR HIM." With open ears and ready hearts, may we do as God directed Peter, James and John to do: HEAR ...

We. Have "seen" Jesus do many amazing things: healing, raising the sick, calming the storm, challenging the religious big wigs, casting our demons! Now, (Mark 8:27-31) we are walking with Jesus and his disciples, headed for  the towns of Caesarea Philippi.  " On the way, Jesus asks his disciples:" Who do people say that I am?" "Some say, John the Baptist, or Elijah, or one of the prophets." And Jesus responds:" But who do YOU, my disciples, say that I am?" Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God." Jesus instructed them not to tell anyone. --A person must come to HIS OWN realization of who Jesus truly is! --"And he began to teach them that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.". Whoa! Who can "see" the future?  GOD can.  Prophecy is 28% of the Bible. All 109  prophesies about Jesus we...

Good Morning, my "walking" with Jesus friend. And surely it IS a GOOD morning! The sun came up, as usual, reminding us always, of the consistent faithfulness of God. Bird songs now to welcome the morning,  because it's springtime. Maybe the voice of a loved one gives you a smile. BUT,what if you could not hear?  Such was the case for a man they brought to Jesus. " He was deaf, and also had a speech impediment. His friends begged Jesus to put his hand on him. Jesus took the man aside from the multitude. Put his fingers in the man's ears, and spat and touched his tongue. Then, looking up to heaven, Jesus said, " Be opened."  Immediately the ears were opened. His tongue was loosed. He spoke plainly."(Mark 7: 35). Having been brought to Jesus with his needs, the man received help. Let's bring our needs to Jesus. "Cast ALL your cares on the Lord, because He cares for you." Way, WAY MORE than we realize! (1 Peter 5:7)  When we pray, let...

Good thing we all have sturdy sandles, my friends, 'cause we are "walking" all over Galilee, with Jesus. He teaches, "and as many as touched him were made whole. (Mark 6:56) Meanwhile, some Pharisees and scribes (religious big wigs) from Jerusalem arrived on the scene. They challenged Jesus: Look here, the law requires that a man wash his hands before eating, but your disciples are eating with unwashed hands. How come they are not following "the tradition of the elders?"(Mark 7:5) Jesus confronted them: you have all kinds of petty rules that supposedly honor God, but actually, you are just giving  Him lip service and "your hearts are far from Him." By traditions of men you are going against what truly pleases God: that we love Him and love one another, exercise kindness, patience, generosity and self-control as we are led by the Spirit of God, not tied to nit-picky made-up laws of men,  Jesus told them with firmness and authority. OK, we "get...