Day 3 - Mark 1

New Century Version

Amplified Version

The Message

What Happens Here:

• John The Baptist prepares the way for Jesus, baptizing people with water.
• Jesus is baptized
• Jesus receives the Holy Spirit
• Jesus is tempted in the desert for 40 Days
• Jesus chooses followers
• Jesus forces out an evil spirit
• Jesus heals many people. 

Reflection:

       Jesus was a very compassionate man. A lot of those he healed, he healed because he genuinely care about them and felt sorry for them, not because he wore the spirituality or works cards. 

       Think of how God has shown his love to you. We are called to serve and reach out to others just as God has to us. Simon's mother-in-law immediately began to serve after Jesus healed her. We should have a servants heart because Jesus has a servants heart. 

The Essence:

      Jesus still saves us to serve. If you're a Christian, God's Spirit is in you, moving, changing, and refining your heart to be more like his. A heart like Go'd seeks to spread his love. 

Day 2 - Luke 2

Day 2: Luke 2:1-52

New Century Version

The Message

Darby Translation

What Happens Here:

• Jesus is born in a barn. 
• The angel of the Lord leads the shepherd to see Jesus
• Jesus is named and circumcised when he is 8 weeks old. 
• Jesus is presented to the Lord
• a Godly man, Simeon, sees baby Jesus and knows he is the Christ. 
• The prophetess, Anna, sees and tells people about Jesus
• When Jesus is 12 he freaks out his parents by staying behind in the temple to do his Father's work

Reflection:

     Luke gives us a little more insight to Jesus's childhood than the other gospels. Even as an infant people see and understand that Jesus is more than human. Even as a child, Jesus has qualities that we should try to emulate, and also look for in the people that we surround ourselves with. Jesus was growing strong Spiritually, respected his parents and his peers, and treated others with dignity while living his life to please God. The last verse says that "Jesus became wiser and grew physically. People liked him, and he pleased God." Jesus wouldn't have been the type of kid to slack off during school, fight with his siblings, kick the dog, or mouth off to his parents. 

       Look closely at the Prophetess Anna and the man Simeon. Even though they are just a small part of this chapter, their faith and patience is enormous. Both realize that He is the one they have waited for! God has revealed himself to them. Anna, a widow after only 7 years of marriage, lives her life alone because she refuses to let her promise to God die with her husband.  Her spiritual hunger was rewarded. Do you hunger after God's presence? The Bible says that she was so happy that she shared her joy with all who passed by.

The Essence:

      How do we respond when God reveals Himself to us? Do we recognize it right away? Are we so over joyed that, like Anna, we can't help but to tell everyone that we see about what God has done for us?

30 Days with Jesus

I love my Bible. It's a Revolve Devotional Bible written in the New Century Version. A lot of my devos come from, at least in part, from thoughts in devotional boxes throughout my Bible. But on the back cover there is a 30 Day with Jesus challenge that I've never actually done completely. I really feel like God is leading me to start it now. Keep in mind that God shows different things to each of us at different parts of our journey, so it's possible that this challenge might not speak very heavily to you RIGHT now... that doesn't mean it never will. However, please pray and try to take as much out of it as you can. But I'd be more than happy to find another source of devotionals if you feel like you need it.

That being said, I'd like to introduce the challenge now.

30 Days with Jesus

"Get to know God and His ways better by spending 30 days focusing on the teachings of Jesus. Here's a daily reading plan to get you started!" 

The challenge only provides the verses, any explanation or elaboration I provide will (hopefully) come from God, and other sources within my Bible and such.

Day 1: John 1:1-51

New Century Version

Amplified Bible

New International Version

What Happens Here:

     John prepares the way for Jesus without knowing who Jesus physically is.

 

     Jesus is eternal.

     Jesus is light = life.

     John kinda totally announces that Jesus is actually God.

     Jesus starts a posse.

Reflection:

      The first 13 verses talk about how God created everything out of the darkness.

      Verses 10-13 are so beautiful. We become God's children because he has given us that right although we are not worthy by anything that we have done.

      

      Jesus is how we find out what God is like. If you want to learn about God, then look at how Jesus was and is. This is what we are to become like.

 

     The people who followed Jesus (his disciples) dropped everything they were doing to follow Jesus because they saw and believed.

     Jesus tells us that we will see greater things. Making the first step towards Him opens up the doors for absolute wonders to be shown to us in our journey.

The Essence:

Light = Life. Jesus is the light and through Him we will have eternal life. When we choose to follow Jesus, He rescues us from the chaotic spiritual darkness of the world. His light changes us, directs us, and gives us life.

On Fire Again

For those of you who were able to attend Reckless Camp again this year, your fire has probably been rekindled like mine has. I am just SO excited about the things that God has done and will do.

I'm going to try harder this time to keep devotionals going this time. And I would really appreciate support if i start to get lazy. But I pray that if you are reading this, you will continue to seek after God, and I pray that he uses me in any way possible to help keep you going in you're journey. I am so blessed to be able to share what God reveals to me with you. The journey starts now.

Becoming sparce

So I havn't done a devo in a while, and I'm sorry, to who tho I'm not sure because no one really reads this blog anyways. But I'm sorry to God at least because its definately not fair to him. The truth is, I can't even encourage myself right now and I can't feel right trying to encourage someone else.  I know we are supposed to help eachother out through our own struggles, and I still believe that. And I know I'm just making excuses. I just need a lot of prayer because I feel myself fighting against God, and doubting His faithfulness against my better judgement. Its just hard. But I hope to have some devos done soon. I'm sorry if im letting anyone down.

Eat meat you vegitarian!

Romans 14: 13-21

This passage isn't just about food. It's about not judging other people and not causing them to sin. When we make judgements about people we are setting them up to question who they are. Do not destroy their faith. It isn't our job to judge people.

Unless God is sending you specifcally and you feel confirmation that it is your mission to do so, you shouldn't try to "set people straight" about their own convictions. Basically, unless God is gonna put you in the belly of a fish, let people be.

Two's company?

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

A person alone will not be warm. You might try and rub your hands together, and hug youself maybe, but if you are out in the cold, eventually you will get cold. But if you had someone with you, you could kick it penguin style and huddle for warmth.

Likewise, we can gain spiritual warmth by huddling with our Christian companions when life gets icy. Sometimes its seems easier to withdraw from people and try to handle things on our own. But God created us to support one another. We have a sisterhood in Christ. We should latch on to it when we are in need and when we are in celebration.

Don't try to stand alone. We can't blame God when we fail if we don't use all of his resources.