Just wanted to share some thoughts which are the result of a recent Bible class assignment. There is so much to be learned from our Lord.
Matt.26:36-37 Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto His disciples, Sit ye here, while I go yonder and pray. And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and sore troubled.
Gethsemane was a time of tremendous emotional suffering for Jesus. With that knowledge, He chose the company of His close friends rather than facing the difficulties alone. He also chose to spend time in prayer talking to His Father. Let's learn from Jesus to... 1) seek support from brethren when we are facing difficult times and... 2) spend time in prayer talking to our Heavenly Father, especially since He is the One who can do more to help us than anyone else.
vs. 38 Then saith He unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: abide ye here and watch with Me.
Jesus was extremely sad, yet He didn't hide or deny His feelings. Rather, He chose to talk about His feelings, and share His pain. In fact, He asked His friends to stay with Him because He didn't want to be alone. Let's learn from Jesus to talk about our feelings to those whom we trust rather than burying them inside of ourselves.
vs. 39 And He went forward a little, and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass away from Me: nevertheless, not as I will, but as Thou wilt.
Jesus humbly asked His Father to change His mind, but if not, He would submit. Let's learn from Jesus to be willing to submit to our Father, even if it isn't what we want.
vs. 40 And He cometh unto His disciples, and findeth them sleeping, and saith unto Peter, What, could you not watch with Me one hour?
I can't imagine the disappointment Jesus must have felt when He asked His friends for their support, and they responded by falling asleep! Let's learn from Jesus that when others ask for our support, we must take them seriously and do what is within our capability to do. We need to think about how we would feel if we were the one who was asking for support.
vs. 41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
Interesting, isn't it, that in the midst of His emotional agony, Jesus took the time to give some much needed instruction. Let's learn from Jesus to try to be willing to give help to others-even when we are in need of help.
vs. 42 Again a second time He went away, and prayed, saying, My Father, if this cannot pass away, except I drink it, Thy will be done.
This was not vain repetition. It was heartfelt. Let's learn from Jesus to pour our hearts out to our Father in heaven. He's listening.
vs. 43 And He came again and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy.
The disciples disappointed Jesus again. But He was patient. Let's learn from Jesus to be patient with others when they disappoint us.
vs. 44 And He left them again, and went away, and prayed a third time, saying again the same words.
By this time, it is obvious that Jesus was really dreading the coming events. He was in agony, and again, He turned to prayer. Let's learn from Jesus to NOT give up on prayer. The answer will not always be what we want, but it will be what God knows is best for us.
vs. 45 Then cometh He to the disciples, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.
It seems that now, Jesus was resigned to the fact that there was no other way. He had resolved to face the ordeal with calm and quiet courage. How did He gain such courage? Prayer. Trust. Have you ever known someone who seemed to have unwavering courage in the face of terrible or difficult circumstances? How do they become so strong and courageous? Just like Joshua did....Josh. 1:1-9. vs. 9 Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for Jehovah thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest. Let's learn from Jesus to trust our Father and courageously face whatever He allows to come our way knowing that it will make us stronger and more worthy as servants.
Before the physical suffering even began, Jesus suffered great emotional pain in Gethsemane. He experienced loneliness and the need for company (vs. 36-37), extreme sorrow (vs. 38), dread (vs. 39, 42, 44), and disappointment (vs. 40). Let's learn from Jesus to deal with emotional pain by seeking the company of brethren, talking about our feelings, praying to our Father, working toward a positive attitude, being patient (with ourselves and others), and determining to persevere.
There is so much to be learned from our Lord, THE MASTER TEACHER.
I would LOVE to get together! Thanks for "re-bringing" it up! How does the week of June 24th look for you? David might be at my mom's that week, so I'd only have Nora.
I think Thursday would be my best day. I'd need to be back in my area at 6:30, but that shouldn't be too hard. Are you ok if we keep it tentative for now? My parents counseled at Ohio camp last week and Mom's not sure she'll be recovered enough to have David for the week. I may still be able to come if he is with me....I'll just want to coordinate with Mom and Dad P. so they can see the kids and maybe babysit. How does that sound to you?
It's funny that you should say that! People told my parents the same thing when I was growing up, too. Now they can say, "well, she isn't really a teenager any more... now what?" haha. Thanks, though!
A very Happy Birthday to you! Your daughter is a blessing to all who know her, myself included. That is how a complete stranger came to offer you congratulations on your blog today! ;)
ambassador: a person considered as a representative, as of his homeland.
....an honor to be chosen as an ambassador, right?
We are ambassadors therefore on behalf of Christ, as though God were entreating by us: we beseech you on behalf of Christ, be ye reconciled to God. 2 Cor. 5:20
And if indeed they had been mindful of that country from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return. But now they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed of them, to be called their God; for He hath prepared for them a city. Heb. 11:15-16
Beloved, I beseech you as sojourners and pilgrims, to abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; having your behavior seemly among the Gentiles; that, wherein they speak against you as evil-doers, they may by your good works, which they behold, glorify God in the day of visitation. 1 Pet. 2:11-12
Just think, we are ambassadors for God and Christ. How are we doing?
I have a sign on the front of my door that I made with a group of girls at a girls' Bible study one time that says "I am an Ambassador of Christ" and has 2 Cor 5:20 on it. a nice thing to be reminded of!
Happy belated bday! And thanks for the congrats and the invite. I will definitely make a trip up to see you all again and of course, to make fajitas. :)
Recently, I delivered bread to my friend Margarita. She had a fresh batch of mole prepared for their lunch, and insisted that I have some. Now, I don't know much about mole, and whether there are variations of it, but......this mole had chicken in it, was somewhat spicy, and had chocolate in it as well. It was good on bread. I liked it. But I didn't like what it did to me. It made its way off of the napkin and straight onto the front seat of the car......face down, wouldn't you know? Do you know from personal experience how chocolate looks on light gray upholstery? I do. I also know that the spot and stain remover from Ace Hardware works wonders on mole! I must tell you at this point, that it was her car I was using, which is why Margarita was doing the scrubbing as I stood repeating, "No, no, no, no! Why did this have to happen? No, no, no, no!"
So, the moral of the story....well, at least one of several morals here......is......that the stain of sin surely looks worse to our heavenly Father than that mole stain looked to me. Likewise, we should see it as ugly too. So much so, that we are willing, even eager to find sin in our lives and remove it as quickly as possible.
And such were some of you: but ye were washed, but ye were sanctified, but ye were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and in the Spirit of our God. 1 Cor. 6:11
And now why tarriest thou? Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on His name. Acts 22:16
Purify me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: Wash me and I shall be whiter than snow. Psa. 51:7
Here's to getting out the stains!.....especially the ones caused by sin.
I really wish that I could have come to your gospel meeting but we have had a very crazy week and had to go to a wedding on Fri. night. I really wish that I could have seen you guys, though. Have a good day!
Yesterday morning I was baking bread. Nothing fancy, just simple loaves from a simple person. But as I was kneading the dough, I thought about how Jesus said that He was the Bread of Life.
Our fathers ate manna in the wilderness; as it is written, He gave them bread out of heaven to eat. Jesus therefore said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, It was not Moses that gave you the bread out of heaven; but My Father giveth you the true bread out of heaven. For the bread of God is that which cometh down out of heaven, and giveth life unto the world. John 6:31-33
Thought provoking, isn't it. My bread gives physical nourishment to my family and my customers. But Jesus, the Bread of Life, gives spiritual nourishment to me, to you, and to anyone and everyone who wishes to partake.
Does thinking about freshly baked bread make you hungry for some?
I am the Bread of Life. John 6:48
Blessed are they who hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Matthew 5:6
Here's to bread..................the Kind that feeds our souls!
