Ochlophobia [Matthew 13:1-9]

Good morning ladies,

The word of the day is “ochlophobia.”  I can imagine how Jesus must've felt every now and again.  Whenever he wanted to get away and have a little bit of personal time, it always seems that people will follow him.  In fact, in the passsage we see today Jesus was trying to teach the multitudes.  So many people were there that he had to actually get in a boat and push off of shore.

“Such great crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat there, while the whole crowd stood on the beach.”

~Matt. 13:1

My question is: do you see Jesus with the kind of fervor that these crowds do?  I always read these stories and wonder that if I was living in Jesus’ time, would I have been one of those in the crowd?  My prayer this morning is that each of you yearn and a little bit more for the Savior daily.  Stories like this make us realize that there was something uniquely intense about the Messiah, and there still is.  And although Jesus probably had a little bit of ochlophobia because of all of the people that wanted to get near and touch him, he waded through that because he knew how important it was to get his message across.

Praying for you,

mo

Hardihood [Joshua 1:9]

Good morning ladies,

The word of the day is "hardihood.”  I really like to read the stories in the Old Testament.  It seems that God always has a really cool story and saves his people right before they are going to be beaten.  I've always liked an underdog.  One of my favorite movies is Miracle, the one about the 1980 Olympic hockey team that went against all odds in quest to beat one of the best teams of all time.  Several times I am sure these young men on the USA Olympic team wanted to give up.  But, just as they had to face their fears, so do we as God's people need to do the same.

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

~Josh 1:9

My question is: when is the last time that you felt down and out?  You know what I'm talking about, those times where you don't think that you can go against the odds anymore.  You've already given all that is possible, and still there seems to be no victory in sight.  My prayer for you this morning is that God gives you the encouragement to be strong, and to have courage… or hardihood, just as young Joshua needed.  As you look towards this week and the obstacles in front of you, always remember that God is on your side and with you wherever you go.

Praying for you,

Mo

Mercies (Lamentations 3:22-23)

Good morning ladies,

The word of the day is “mercies.” God has always given his people the chance to make good decisions and calls them to obedience in everything that they do.  The peeps in the OT did not always make decisions that could be deemed worthy of God’s approval.  But where God’s people failed… ultimately his love prevailed and continues to do so.

It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.

~Lam 3:22-23

My question is: Have you taken time lately to thank God concerning his compassion for you and the way that he cares in your life? I know that sometimes we fail to give him the credit for the mercies that he bestows upon us.  I pray that God gives you understanding of his faithfulness… and that you respond to his giving you new mercies every morning.  We serve a great God that is patient and wants only the best for each of his children.

Praying for you,

mo

Largesse (James 1:17)

Good morning ladies,

The word of the day is largesse.  One of the most important principles we can learn as God’s people is the understanding that his love is given to us as a gift. The early church, just like today, had to remember that there was a lot of good in their lives.  And, those things could be attributed to God's love for his people.

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.

~Jam 1:17

My question is: what are a couple of things in your life that could be seen as those gifts from God?  Sometimes when we are in stressful times it is easy to forget the simple ways that God has blessed us.  My prayer for you is that God reveals the good and perfect gifts that he is placed in your life.  Take a little bit of time today to stop and thank him for the largesse, or abundant gifts, in your life.

Praying for you,

Mo

Decant [Luke 5:36-38]

Good morning ladies,

The word of the day is “decant.” Peeps asked a lot of questions of JC and he felt the best way to handle them much of the time was to tell stories.  This particular story is one that he used to convey a specific message to his followers about what it meant. it seems that the people that Jesus was spending time with had a difficult go at making new decisions that would influence them to become improved in the way that they lived.

"And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; otherwise the new wine will burst the skins and it will be spilled out, and the skins will be ruined…”

~Lk 5:37

My question is: what are the things in your life that you are holding onto that are causing you to grow more slowly, or less in your relationship with God?  Sometimes we want to keep things the same, much of it for the sake of not having to change.  My prayer is that each of you takes into consideration what God would have you change in your life daily.  Allow the truth of the gospel to pour into your life through the love and instruction of Jesus.

Praying for you,

mo

Suppletory (1 John 1:7)

Good morning ladies,

The word of the day is “suppletory.”  The churches during the first century understood what it meant to follow Jesus because of their sinful nature.  I think that today we can take a pretty good look at the way that people in the Bible viewed a relationship with Jesus and the sacrifice for what she atoned in our place.

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.

~1 Jn. 1:7

My question is: are you living a life that is appreciative of the atoning sacrifice that Jesus made for you?  I know it sounds like a rhetorical question, but sometimes it seems that we miss the point of Christianity.  We are not to be perfect, although that would be ideal.  We are to be focused on God and his plan for us.  My prayer is that you take time to realize that God has called you to have fellowship with him through the atoning, and suppletory, sacrifice of the Son.

Praying for you,

mo