so that

He left that place and came to his hometown, and his disciples followed him. On the sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astounded. They said, “Where did this man get all this? What is this wisdom that has been given to him? What deeds of power are being done by his hands! Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon, and are not his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him. Then Jesus said to them, “Prophets are not without honor, except in their hometown, and among their own kin, and in their own house.” And he could do no deed of power there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and cured them. And he was amazed at their unbelief. Then he went about among the villages teaching. He called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits. He ordered them to take nothing for their journey except a staff; no bread, no bag, no money in their belts; but to wear sandals and not to put on two tunics. He said to them, “Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave the place. If any place will not welcome you and they refuse to hear you, as you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them.” So they went out and proclaimed that all should repent. They cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them. (Mark 6:1-13, NRSV)

Jesus had no honor in His home town. They thought they knew who He was. And rather than be moved and changed by what was happening before their eyes, they mocked Him and would not change their minds.

So He sent the disciples out. He sent them out to be messengers, and dependent on the hospitality of those they will meet. Even in the face of the inhospitable town He grew up in.

He sent them out to go where they were welcome and to shake dust off their feet where they were not.

“So they went out and proclaimed that all should repent.”

Can you see them? Men walking down the road, 2 by 2, shouting “All should repent!”

That is what verse 12 tells us. They went out proclaiming, “All should repent!”

Everyone needs to repent. You are going to burn if you do not turn!

Now don’t get me wrong, we all need to repent! But does some one yelling at you, or even politely telling you you need to repent really have an effect on you?

You see verse 12 is not the best translation of the original language.

Καὶ ἐξελθόντες ἐκήρυξαν ἵνα μετανοῶσιν,

And all y’all went out, they proclaimed, so that they might repent.

So that they might repent. They went out preaching, or proclaiming all they had seen, so that, in order that, they might repent.

They were not shouting “all should repent!” They were sharing the good news of the Messiah and telling all they had seen and all of the changes in their lives, so that they might repent.

Those who were hearing and the disciples themselves, might repent. It’s not a command it is the effect of the hearing of the story of life, mercy, grace and love!

So go into all the world and proclaim the good news, so that they might repent!

Out of the depths

Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD.
Lord, hear my voice!
Let your ears be attentive
to the voice of my supplications!
If you, O LORD, should mark iniquities,
Lord, who could stand?
But there is forgiveness with you,
so that you may be revered.
I wait for the LORD, my soul waits,
and in his word I hope;
my soul waits for the Lord
more than those who watch for the morning,
more than those who watch for the morning.
O Israel, hope in the LORD!
For with the LORD there is steadfast love,
and with him is great power to redeem.
It is he who will redeem Israel
from all its iniquities.
(Psalm 130, NRSV)

Have you ever felt like you were separated from God?

In a deep dark valley?

In a place that God would never go…

God is always attentive to your cries!

He will always hear your voice.

He will forgive your wrongs and hold on to you.

He will forgive your iniquities and bring you back into the fold.

Just cry out to Him and He will raise you out of the depths!

repentance

For even when we came into Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were afflicted in every way—disputes without and fears within. But God, who consoles the downcast, consoled us by the arrival of Titus, and not only by his coming, but also by the consolation with which he was consoled about you, as he told us of your longing, your mourning, your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced still more. For even if I made you sorry with my letter, I do not regret it (though I did regret it, for I see that I grieved you with that letter, though only briefly). Now I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because your grief led to repentance; for you felt a godly grief, so that you were not harmed in any way by us. For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation and brings no regret, but worldly grief produces death. For see what earnestness this godly grief has produced in you, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what zeal, what punishment! At every point you have proved yourselves guiltless in the matter. So although I wrote to you, it was not on account of the one who did the wrong, nor on account of the one who was wronged, but in order that your zeal for us might be made known to you before God. In this we find comfort. In addition to our own consolation, we rejoiced still more at the joy of Titus, because his mind has been set at rest by all of you. (2 Corinthians 7:5-13, NRSV)

Did you ever hear something or read something that made you question something you were doing in your life?

Paul writes to the church in Corinth, and makes them grieve they way they are acting.

He is not worried about this, he is not happy that he upset them, but he is moved to joy because they moved from what they were doing to what they should be doing as followers of Christ. They had things in their lives that kept them from being with Christ.

They had wedges in their relationships with Christ. Paul’s letter(s) offered them a different view and helped them to turn from what was keeping them from Christ.

Repentance is a physical action, a physical turning around. Jesus allows us to make U turns, but more than U turns, they are Holy Spirit turns.

Jesus works in us through things we read, the people around us, the people in our families, our congregations, our community,and through His written word.

So listen to those around you who are linked with God and to the Holy Spirit speaking to your heart, and He will move you to do things for Him.

greater

Now as Peter went here and there among all the believers, he came down also to the saints living in Lydda. There he found a man named Aeneas, who had been bedridden for eight years, for he was paralyzed. Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; get up and make your bed!” And immediately he got up. And all the residents of Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord. Now in Joppa there was a disciple whose name was Tabitha, which in Greek is Dorcas. She was devoted to good works and acts of charity. At that time she became ill and died. When they had washed her, they laid her in a room upstairs. Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, who heard that Peter was there, sent two men to him with the request, “Please come to us without delay.” So Peter got up and went with them; and when he arrived, they took him to the room upstairs. All the widows stood beside him, weeping and showing tunics and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was with them. Peter put all of them outside, and then he knelt down and prayed. He turned to the body and said, “Tabitha, get up.” Then she opened her eyes, and seeing Peter, she sat up. He gave her his hand and helped her up. Then calling the saints and widows, he showed her to be alive. This became known throughout Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. (Acts 9:32-42, NRSV)

A man was bedridden for eight years, and Peter told him to walk and he did.

And Peter raised Dorcus from death in the name of Jesus!

Jesus told the disciples they would do greater deeds than Him, if they believed!

Do you believe you can do these things?

Jesus is working through us to do many wonderful things everyday.

So know there is power in you with the Holy Spirit living in you and allow Him to shine through your life so that they may see the good works of His hand through you and give Him glory!

Help my unbelief!

When they came to the disciples, they saw a great crowd around them, and some scribes arguing with them. When the whole crowd saw him, they were immediately overcome with awe, and they ran forward to greet him. He asked them, “What are you arguing about with them?” Someone from the crowd answered him, “Teacher, I brought you my son; he has a spirit that makes him unable to speak; and whenever it seizes him, it dashes him down; and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid; and I asked your disciples to cast it out, but they could not do so.” He answered them, “You faithless generation, how much longer must I be among you? How much longer must I put up with you? Bring him to me.” And they brought the boy to him. When the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. Jesus asked the father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. It has often cast him into the fire and into the water, to destroy him; but if you are able to do anything, have pity on us and help us.” Jesus said to him, “If you are able!—All things can be done for the one who believes.” Immediately the father of the child cried out, “I believe; help my unbelief!” When Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You spirit that keeps this boy from speaking and hearing, I command you, come out of him, and never enter him again!” After crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse, so that most of them said, “He is dead.” But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he was able to stand.  (Mark 9:14-27, NRSV)

Would you have the gall to say to Jesus, “if you are able.”

Isn’t Jesus able to do anything?

Jesus replies the way any sarcastic person would, “If you are able!—All things can be done for the one who believes.” So if it doesn’t happen for me, then I don’t believe enough? No we actually don’t believe…

And then the classic line of the father that I shout all the time, “I believe; help my unbelief!”

Help my unbelief!

Help my worries that your control isn’t enough.

Help my worries that your love for me will fail.

Help my worries that your grace doesn’t cover me.

Help my worries that your mercy isn’t there for me.

Help my unbelief! Help me to be who you created me to be, so that your will will be done!

All things

For I have learned to be content with whatever I have. I know what it is to have little, and I know what it is to have plenty. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being well-fed and of going hungry, of having plenty and of being in need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.  (Philippians 4:11b-13, NRSV)

This verse from Philippians is one of my favorite verses. But it also has the possibilities to be taken out of context.

2015-06-25 13.48.49The picture here is actually of a plaque I have on my desk. And I have seen this verse on many a sports poster with some athlete doing something amazing, because God gives me the strength through Jesus to do wonderful miraculous things. But that forgets verses 11b and 12.

You see God in Christ never promised us a rose garden to walk through. He never promised us our lives would be easy once we believed in Jesus. And that is something Paul got. Paul was one who was in and out of prison because of his belief in Jesus, but he never lost heart.

Paul tells us he has found the secret to being content. Not to having it all together, not to not having any problems. Paul has learned that even in the tough times, through the valleys that Christ is with him, and because of Jesus always being with him, any and all circumstances will be ok.

I love this verse in the Message by Eugene Peterson:

I’ve learned by now to be quite content whatever my circumstances.  I’m just as happy with little as with much, with much as with little. I’ve found the recipe for being happy whether full or hungry, hands full or hands empty. Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am. (Philippians 4:11b-13, Message)

“Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am.” If we can cling to Jesus we will make it through any and all circumstances.

So let us Gather in His name, Grow as His disciples, and Go into the world sharing His grace, mercy and love with all we meet, clinging to Him. And when we do this, we will be a beacon of hope for our community

when you will die…

In those days Hezekiah became sick and was at the point of death. The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz came to him, and said to him, “Thus says the LORD: Set your house in order, for you shall die; you shall not recover.” Then Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD: “Remember now, O LORD, I implore you, how I have walked before you in faithfulness with a whole heart, and have done what is good in your sight.” Hezekiah wept bitterly. Before Isaiah had gone out of the middle court, the word of the LORD came to him: “Turn back, and say to Hezekiah prince of my people, Thus says the LORD, the God of your ancestor David: I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears; indeed, I will heal you; on the third day you shall go up to the house of the LORD. I will add fifteen years to your life. I will deliver you and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria; I will defend this city for my own sake and for my servant David’s sake.” Then Isaiah said, “Bring a lump of figs. Let them take it and apply it to the boil, so that he may recover.” Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “What shall be the sign that the LORD will heal me, and that I shall go up to the house of the LORD on the third day?” Isaiah said, “This is the sign to you from the LORD, that the LORD will do the thing that he has promised: the shadow has now advanced ten intervals; shall it retreat ten intervals?” Hezekiah answered, “It is normal for the shadow to lengthen ten intervals; rather let the shadow retreat ten intervals.” The prophet Isaiah cried to the LORD; and he brought the shadow back the ten intervals, by which the sun had declined on the dial of Ahaz. (2 Kings 20:1-11, NRSV)

What would you do if you knew when you were going to die?

Would it make a difference if it was only a day away, or 15 years away?

Would you weep and ask for healing as Hezekiah did?

Because God told Isaiah to tell Hezekiah he was going to die, and he wept and asked the Lord to heal him, and He did! He gave him 15 more years.

So what could you do with 15 years if you knew that is what you had?

Or would you be fixated on how you would die?

Do you want to know?

Would it help?

Would it be a hinderance?

Here is the things, it doesn’t matter, because we are here for a set time to do a part of the Lord’s plan, so share His love, and do not worry about when you will be with Him, just let life happen, and live in His love showering others with what you have been showered with.

what do you need to know?

After this the son of the woman, the mistress of the house, became ill; his illness was so severe that there was no breath left in him. She then said to Elijah, “What have you against me, O man of God? You have come to me to bring my sin to remembrance, and to cause the death of my son!” But he said to her, “Give me your son.” He took him from her bosom, carried him up into the upper chamber where he was lodging, and laid him on his own bed. He cried out to the LORD, “O LORD my God, have you brought calamity even upon the widow with whom I am staying, by killing her son?” Then he stretched himself upon the child three times, and cried out to the LORD, “O LORD my God, let this child’s life come into him again.” The LORD listened to the voice of Elijah; the life of the child came into him again, and he revived. Elijah took the child, brought him down from the upper chamber into the house, and gave him to his mother; then Elijah said, “See, your son is alive.” So the woman said to Elijah, “Now I know that you are a man of God, and that the word of the LORD in your mouth is truth.” (1 Kings 17:17-24, NRSV)

What do you need to know that a person is speaking for God?

This woman needed to see her son raised from the dead. She may not have know that, but after Elijah did that, she believed he was from God.

So what do you need to know a person is from God, or is speaking God’s truth?

names

When Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a great crowd gathered around him; and he was by the sea. Then one of the leaders of the synagogue named Jairus came and, when he saw him, fell at his feet and begged him repeatedly, “My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well, and live.” So he went with him. And a large crowd followed him and pressed in on him. Now there was a woman who had been suffering from hemorrhages for twelve years. She had endured much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had; and she was no better, but rather grew worse. She had heard about Jesus, and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, for she said, “If I but touch his clothes, I will be made well.” Immediately her hemorrhage stopped; and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. Immediately aware that power had gone forth from him, Jesus turned about in the crowd and said, “Who touched my clothes?” And his disciples said to him, “You see the crowd pressing in on you; how can you say, ‘Who touched me?’” He looked all around to see who had done it. But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling, fell down before him, and told him the whole truth. He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.” While he was still speaking, some people came from the leader’s house to say, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the teacher any further?” But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the leader of the synagogue, “Do not fear, only believe.” He allowed no one to follow him except Peter, James, and John, the brother of James. When they came to the house of the leader of the synagogue, he saw a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. When he had entered, he said to them, “Why do you make a commotion and weep? The child is not dead but sleeping.” And they laughed at him. Then he put them all outside, and took the child’s father and mother and those who were with him, and went in where the child was. He took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha cum,” which means, “Little girl, get up! And immediately the girl got up and began to walk about (she was twelve years of age). At this they were overcome with amazement. He strictly ordered them that no one should know this, and told them to give her something to eat. (Mark 5:21-43, NRSV)

This is two stories, or actually a story interrupted by another story.

Jarius’ daughter is the main story interrupted by the unnamed woman’s story.

Have you ever noticed that she does not have a name. She is a woman who has suffered with a flow of blood, which makes her unclean, for 12 years, and the doctors have bled her dry (pun intended) of all her money. They have not helped her, but have kept her from being a part of the community. They have held her back and kept her nameless.

But her faith…

Her trust in Jesus’ power to heal her, made her think that if she only touched the fringe of His cloak she would get what no doctor or any money could get her over the past 12 years. Restoration.

But she not only got that, but so much more.

You see she went from being the woman with the flow of blood, or unclean, to daughter!

Not only did Jesus heal her, but He restored her, and named her daughter. She is now part of the family!

Do not listen to any of the names the world gives you, but cling to the name that Jesus gives you:

Brother!

Sister!

Daughter!

Son!

Child of the Living God!

awesome deeds

By awesome deeds you answer us with deliverance,
O God of our salvation;
you are the hope of all the ends of the earth
and of the farthest seas.
By your strength you established the mountains;
you are girded with might.
You silence the roaring of the seas,
the roaring of their waves,
the tumult of the peoples.
Those who live at earth’s farthest bounds are awed by your signs;
you make the gateways of the morning and the evening shout for joy.
You visit the earth and water it,
you greatly enrich it;
the river of God is full of water;
you provide the people with grain,
for so you have prepared it.
You water its furrows abundantly,
settling its ridges,
softening it with showers,
and blessing its growth.
You crown the year with your bounty;
your wagon tracks overflow with richness.
The pastures of the wilderness overflow,
the hills gird themselves with joy,
the meadows clothe themselves with flocks,
the valleys deck themselves with grain,
they shout and sing together for joy.
(Psalm 65:5-13, NRSV)

God silences the roaring seas!

God made the mountains for you to see!

God waters the earth so His creation can live!

God does everything so that you will have life and have it abundantly!

Even in the darkness and troubles of life, God is there, to calm the seas and raise the mountains, to enrich your life!

Live in the beauty He has given you!

And marvel in His awesome deeds!