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Showing posts from August, 2017

It is Personal

               She had no right to be there.   After all, this gathering was for the religious and the elite of the town and she was neither of those things.   In fact, “sinner” was the word that most people used when describing her.                 Not only was she out of place at Simon the Pharisee’s house, but she also made a spectacle of herself. First, she went to the place where Jesus was seated, fell down behind him and began crying so loudly that everyone could hear her.   Then, unbelievably, she touched Jesus!   Women of that day did not even hold their husband’s hand in public, yet she fell on Jesus and poured expensive perfume on him!   Lastly, she did the unthinkable!   She wiped his feet with her hair.   Jewish women never let their hair down in public!   It was customary for a woman to bind her hair up

Simple but Not Simplistic

                A hammer is a simple tool, but it can be used to create elaborate structures.   Smiling is a simple act, but it can change interactions between people.   A simple rhyme can help us remember information such as, “In 1492, Columbus sailed the ocean blue”.   Simple words can convey deep and important concepts.                   Similarly, God’s message to us is not difficult to understand.   It does, however, have an impact that goes far beyond the simple wording.   Consider these three simple, but huge, statements.                 First, Jesus is Lord.   Jesus claimed that, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me” (Matthew 28:18) and Paul said, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me” (Galatians 2:20).   If Jesus really is lord, then that changes how I live, what I do and how I treat others.   Who is the Lord?   Is it you or God?   Understanding who is in change changes everything.                 Second,

God’s Hidden Power Source

                  Though his name appears only three times in the New Testament, you ought to know Epaphras.   What is said of him is not only interesting, but instructive.                   For example, Colossians 4:12-13 says, “Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured.   I vouch for him that he is working hard for you”.                 The first thing to notice is that Epaphras is commended for his hard work in prayer for the church.   Sadly, I must admit that I do not always give prayer the attention it deserves.   I pray at the start or the end of meetings.   I may pray before a meal.   If something really worries me, I will pray about it, but what I need to understand is that prayer is no