God is my source. I cannot fail!

During one of Jeremiah's darkest times help came from an unexpected source...literally.

Here's what was going on...Jeremiah was obedient to deliver God's message to the people.

As a result of hearing God's words, the people were so upset (convicted) that they threw Jeremiah into a cistern.  They didn't like "that" message.

I've looked inside a cistern in Israel. There is no way of escape. You are stuck in every sense of the word.

Cisterns are HUGE containers, very dark, actually pitch-black inside. They are cavernous and used as reservoirs dug deep into the ground. Cisterns were used to store water, grains, etc.

This particular cistern was empty but the bottom of it was filled with muddy sludge. (Jeremiah 38:6)

An Ethiopian official in the kings ranks observed all that had transpired with Jeremiah. He privately went to the king and asked for the prophets life. 

He told the king that he was aware...

Poured Out

"Mary broke the jar of expensive perfume and poured it on Jesus' feet and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance (aroma) of the perfume." (John 12:3)

This natural act happened before the spiritual act of Jesus washing the feet of His disciples. (John 13:3-17)

Mary broke the hard container that housed her security/savings precious to her for her future.

Jesus broke open His humanity to serve His followers, who were precious to Him. 

Men's traditions are like that hard alabaster jar. Strongholds that keep us contained to take care of #1 first...me! Housed in stone; we hold on to traditions/possessions in an attempt to bring a sense of personal protection and security. 

 God's ways and man's ways are not the same. (Isaiah 55:8-9) Our man-made traditions/possessions cannot protect our future any more than our savings accounts.

 Jesus poured out the fragrance of the Holy Spirit in Him to wash and anoint...

God Provides

"In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat - for He grants sleep to those He loves." (Psalm 127:2)

Solomon recognized something important. Verse one gave us an insight into human natures' vanity, building a home, establishing a career and raising a family in our own strength and wisdom.

He wisely stated that attempting to do these things without God's involvement...well, it turns out that all of our labor would be for naught in the end.

Human vanity is to attempt to do life without giving God His rightful place in the process.

As The Master Creator and Architect of all life, He knows the ins and outs of each and every situation that we will ever encounter. Not allowing Him to be the foundation upon which we build and the CEO of our lives is indeed unwise.

It also robs us of a balanced life. Verse two clearly states that we can see when we are out of bounds...we rise early and stay up late toiling for (fill in the blank).

The implication...

Victory week

 

Perception and Expectation Twins. These two can be a blessing or a curse. It depends on how we perceive a thing.

Our expectations spring out of that perception.

Mark 11 is a great example. One Sunday, the peoples perception of Jesus' purpose in Jerusalem caused them to cry "Hosanna" and then, a few days later cry out "Crucify Him". He didn't meet their expectation from their perception. They thought He came to defeat Rome and establish His kingdom.

On the other hand, Jesus had God's purposes for Him in proper alignment. Therefore, His perception and expectation of the week's turbulent happenings didn't deter Him from reaching His goal: to defeat the devil and pay the price for our eternal salvation.

Two experiences transpired on Monday, the day after the "Hosanna" event. Jesus cursed the fig tree and He cleansed the temple.

The disciples didn't perceive their Master's actions correctly. Their expectations caused them confusion and to question Him instead of...

Be #EPICStrong

Chad says:

Be #EPICStrong

Judy says:

Obviously love God, love others, gratitude, praise, giving, etc. etc. All those basics we should always do, it’s like the base of the best ice cream sundae… BUT for 2021…after coming out of 2020…my sliced strawberries, chopped walnuts and chocolate syrup on top are going to be:

1. Surrender to God and Fight the good fight of Faith. Sounds like an oxymoron, but it isn’t. We surrender our will to His and then fight with the Word of God. Because the battle IS real; but the victory is assured.

James 4:7 “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.”

I Timothy 6:12 “Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. Paul uses active and forceful verbs to describe the Christian life. Flee. Pursue. Fight. Take Hold. Christianity is not a passive religion that says to wait...

Communion

1 Corinthians 11: 23-25 We remember His death for us. It symbolizes His body and His blood. It's a cup of thanksgiving, not mourning HIS BODY (The Bread)

1 Peter 2: 24 He took our sins in His body

Isaiah 53: 4-5 By His stripes we are healed. HIS Blood (The wine)

Revelation 1: 5 Washed by His blood

1 Peter 1: 18-19 Redeemed by His blood.

Romans 5: 9 Justified by the blood

Colossians 1: 20 Peace by the blood our covenant with God

Matthew 26: 28 Covenant is a solemn agreement made between God & man. It is sealed by HIS blood, shed for our sins

Galatians 2: 20 He gives Himself to us. We give ourselves to Him.

Romans 12: 1 We present our body as a living sacrifice.

Acts 2: 46-47 They broke bread from house to house. The requirements for partaking of communion is to be a believer.

1 Corinthians 11: 27-31 It is sacred and not be taken lightly

1 Corinthians 11: 26 Communion proclaims His death until He comes....

Healing

John 10: 10 Satan is the author of sickness, Satan steal, kills and destroys, Jesus gives life abundantly.

1 John 3: 8 Jesus can to destroy the works of Satan.

Galatians 3: 13 Jesus redeemed us from the curse of the law.

Isaiah 53: 5 (1 Peter 2: 24) By His stripes we are healed.

Matthew 8: 17 He Himself took our infirmities and bore our our sickness.

Psalm 107: 20 He sent His Word and healed us.

Proverbs 4: 20-22 Whoever finds His Word finds life and health.

Matthew 8: 2-3 Jesus is willing to heal you.

Matthew 8: 5-8 Jesus healed through faith in His Word.

Mark 6: 13 (James 5:14) The sick are to be anointed with oil for healing.

Mark 16: 18 Believers are to lay hand on the sick and they recover.

Acts 20:35  It is more blessed to give than receive.

Hebrews 13: 8   YES! 

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Dedication 

Matthew 19:13-15    Jesus blessing of the children

Luke 2:22   Parents presenting children to the Lord

Proverbs 22:6  Dedication of parents to raise their children to know Christ

 

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Praise & Worship

John 4: 23 The Father seeks worshipers

Hebrews 13: 15     It pleases God when we praise Him

1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18    It is God's will for us.

Psalm 100: 4   We come before Him with praise. Praise brings us into His presence.

Revelation 5: 9-14   He is worthy of our praise.

Psalm 147: 1  With singing.

Psalm 150: 3-6   With all kinds of instruments (2 Samuel 6: 5)

Psalm 98: 4   With joyful shouts (Psalm 100:1)

Psalm 47:  1   With clapping hands

Psalm 98: 4   With joyful shouts (Psalm 100:1)

Psalm 149: 3   With dancing (Psalm 150: 4 & 2 Samuel 6: 14)

Psalm 134: 2   With hands lifted up (Psalm 63: 4, 119: 48 & 1 Timothy 2: 8)

Psalm 95: 6   With kneeling & bowing down

Psalm 150: 6 Let everything that has breath, Praise the Lord!

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