Monday, April 1 : Acts 10-12(Click on the verse to read it)

Thoughts: 
(In the comments write any take aways... it can just be thoughts or a discussion)

Peter traveled from Joppa (South Tel A Viv) to Caesarea, one of my favorite places
nothing that God makes and cleanses is unclean

As Christians, we should help provide in times of need to our Christian family
a severe famine would spread over the entire Roman world. (This happened during the reign of Claudius.) 29 The disciples, as each one was able, decided to provide help for the brothers and sisters living in Judea.30 This they did, sending their gift to the elders 

How ridiculous we are to think that our situation is too dire and that God couldn't work us out of it, even in ways that go against all reason.  He literally let Peter walk out of his prison, he can do so much with us if we ask and trust.

Reminder to self, ALWAYS give glory and credit to God.
(in reference to Herod )22 They shouted, “This is the voice of a god, not of a man.” 23 Immediately, because Herod did not give praise to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died.

24 But the word of God continued to spread and flourish.

Wednesday and Thursday, March 19-20: Acts 4-9

(Click on the verse to read it)

Thoughts: 
(In the comments write any take aways... it can just be thoughts or a discussion)

Our suffering often brings glory to God

3 They seized Peter and John and, because it was evening, they put them in jail until the next day.4 But many who heard the message believed; so the number of men who believed grew to about five thousand.

We should, in the workforce, fear God more than the retrebution we will face 

Acts 4:19-20

What are we supposed to do with the community who shared everything in Acts 4?

Tuesday, March 19: Acts 1-3
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Thoughts: 
(In the comments write any take aways... it can just be thoughts or a discussion)

Monday, March 17: John 19-21
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Thoughts: 
(In the comments write any take aways... it can just be thoughts or a discussion)

Sunday, March 16: John 16-18
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Thoughts: 
(In the comments write any take aways... it can just be thoughts or a discussion)

Jesus' prayer specifically for all of us:

20 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— 23 I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.

24 “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.

25 “Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. 26 I have made you[n] known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.”

14 Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jewish leaders that it would be good if one man died for the people.

It is interesting that Caiaphas was right even though it wasn't in the way that he thought.  

Saturday, March 15: John 13-15
(Click on the verse to read it)

Thoughts: 
(In the comments write any take aways... it can just be thoughts or a discussion)

What does Jesus mean in John 13:14 that we should wash each other's feet? Does that mean that we should forgive each other?

26 Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.” Then, dipping the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. 27 As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him.
- This verse is a struggle.  Why would Judas take the bread?

I love the call to love each other and by that everyone will know that we are Jesus' disciples.

13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.
This is a comforting verse, Jesus wants to answer our prayers so that they will glorify the Father

Friday, March 14: John 10-12
(Click on the verse to read it)

Thoughts: 
(In the comments write any take aways... it can just be thoughts or a discussion)

It says that sheep will always know their Shepard and won't follow any other voice because they do not recognize it. 
Jesus' reply to the Pharisees was that they should not believe that he was God if he did not do the works of God, but if he did the works then they should believe based upon that, if not their blind faith in him.  How much do our works say that we are God's children? 

What does Jesus mean by 9 Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours of daylight? Anyone who walks in the daytime will not stumble, for they see by this world’s light. 10 It is when a person walks at night that they stumble, for they have no light.”

I honestly don't know if I would have believed that it was the work of God to raise a dead man.  

We should be able to recognize and submit to the suffering that God put us on this earth to endure in order to glorify him and pointless suffering.  
27 “Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. 28 Father, glorify your name!”

This is one of the things that I think we are most susceptible to.  Not that we don't understand what God wants but that we love human praise more than God's praise.  even among the leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would not openly acknowledge their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; 43 for they loved human praise more than praise from God.

47 “If anyone hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge that person. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world. 48 There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; the very words I have spoken will condemn themat the last day. 

Tuesday, March 11: John 1-3
(Click on the verse to read it)
Sorry the last few posts didn't go up!Thoughts: 
(In the comments write any take aways... it can just be thoughts or a discussion)

Sometimes it strikes me as odd the details that are present in the Bible.  Like in John 1:39, So they went they spent that day with him. It was about four in the afternoon.
I'm glad they told me the time...

We rely so much on our sense of logic but then there are things like Nathaneal's faith that just is so blind that I wonder what we are supposed to glean from that.  Today, it would certainly take a lot to call anyone the second messiah, surely not something like them seeing me by Rockwell.

48 “How do you know me?” Nathanael asked.

Jesus answered, “I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you.”

49 Then Nathanael declared, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the king of Israel.”

50 Jesus said, “You believe[h] because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. 

Why did Jesus call his mother Woman, and if his time had not come why did he alter the plans in order to make wine?

Saturday, March 1: Mark 13-16
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Thoughts: 
(In the comments write any take aways... it can just be thoughts or a discussion)

Friday, February 28: Mark 10-12
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Thoughts: 
(In the comments write any take aways... it can just be thoughts or a discussion)

Thursday, February 27: Mark 7-9
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Thoughts: 
(In the comments write any take aways... it can just be thoughts or a discussion)

Wednesday, February 26th: Mark 4-6
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Thoughts: 
(In the comments write any take aways... it can just be thoughts or a discussion)

Tuesday, February 25th: Mark 1-3
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Thoughts: 
(In the comments write any take aways... it can just be thoughts or a discussion)

Monday, February 23rd: Matthew 23-25
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Thoughts: 
(In the comments write any take aways... it can just be thoughts or a discussion)

Sunday, February 23rd: Matthew 23-25
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Thoughts: 
(In the comments write any take aways... it can just be thoughts or a discussion)

Saturday, February 22nd: Matthew 20-22
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Thoughts: 
(In the comments write any take aways... it can just be thoughts or a discussion)

Friday, February 21st: Matthew 17-19
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Thoughts: 
(In the comments section write any take aways... it can just be thoughts or a discussion)

Thursday, February 20th: Matthew 14-16
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Thoughts: 
(In the comments section write any take aways... it can just be thoughts or a discussion)

It is truly what is in our hearts and what we say that matters. Both our hearts and our lips must be in the right place.

 “‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. ⁹ They worship me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules.’ ¹⁰ Jesus called the crowd to him and said, “Listen and understand. ¹¹ What goes into someone’s mouth does not defile them, but what comes out of their mouth, that is what defiles them.”

Wednesday, February 19th: Matthew 11-13
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Thoughts: 
(In the comments section write any take aways... it can just be thoughts or a discussion)

What do you guys think that this means?

¹² From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been subjected to violence,^[d] and violent people have been raiding it.

Those of us for who God has performed miracles in our lives, we have a lot of responsibility to repent and live correctly.  We don’t have an excuse to live like the people who don’t have God’s redemption.  Like the towns that were unrepentant after his miracles had been shown, the day of judgment will determine much.

I often wonder why Jesus told people not to tell of his miracles and the good he did. Is it because he didn't want to be exalted until he truly fulfilled his purpose here on earth?

What do you guys think he meant by:

          ⁴³ “When an impure spirit comes out of a person, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. ⁴⁴ Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order. ⁴⁵ Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that person is worse than the first. 

The reason why Jesus spoke in so many parables is because Though seeing, they did not see; though hearing, they did not hear or understand.  It is so important for us to make sure that we do not rely on our own ability and logic  so not to fool ourselves into thinking that we fully understand God’s desires or plan.

How are we persecuted today? I know that in Sunday school we always were asked how we were persecuted in daily life.  I remember saying if someone made fun of us for being Christian. It has become so much more complicated and we need to make sure that we do not fall due to trouble.  “The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the work, making it unfruitful."

The Parable of the Weeds is a good explanation of why God allows bad people in his good world.  Not that God was sleeping, original man was. We just need to make sure we are the good not the bad harvest. 

Tuesday, February 18th: Matthew 8-10
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Thoughts: 
(In the comments write any take aways... it can just be thoughts or a discussion)

Monday, February 17th: Matthew 5-7
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Thoughts: 
(In the comments write any take aways... it can just be thoughts or a discussion)

I have never thought that I was perfect or satisfactory in God's eyes. This passage reminds me how short I fall from what God asks of his people. God desires us to be quite, submissive, meek, forgiving people when our automatic instinct is to demand justice for ourselves and point out how even if we are in the wrong that the other person is more so in the wrong. We often fail by the rules of this world, but even with obeying those rules do we incredibly fall short of God's rules.  Every new passage is like a new reminder of just how insufficient we all are.

It is interesting that Jesus says that when we are acknowledged on earth that we have already received our full reward.  We should hide our efforts for Him so that only He can appreciate them and so they are fully for Him....Honestly, what does this mean about this blog?

How often do we ask the Lord for forgiveness?  We need forgiveness for everything and therefore should ask incredibly often, however the Lord stipulates that he will only forgive us if we forgive our debtors.  Matthew 6:14-15 serves as a reminder that we need to be active in our forgiveness. 

Our eyes are the lamp of our body and if they are unhealthy then our whole body is full of darkness. Does this mean that what we watch corrupts our soul?

Possibly the most worrisome is the following.  Good works do not get us into heaven but too often do we think that calling out to the Lord will suffice. 
21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’
And finally "everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand."

Sunday, February 16th: Matthew 1-4


Thoughts: 
(For this section, just write any take aways and put your name below if you want... it can just be thoughts or a discussion)


How crazy would it be Joseph who was about to leave his fiance who cheated on him and was pregnant just as an Angel appeared to him and told him that his soon to be son was from the Holy Spirit and was going to save the sins of the wold. Wow, I would call that a game changer.

How much do we really 'Prepare the way for the Lord,    make straight paths for him.’  How much do we actually produce good fruit?



I wonder what Jesus' life was like before baptism.  He obviously was God's son but his baptism was more than a ceremony; it was the moment that heaven opened to him and that the spirit descended on him. 

Jesus did not only resist the temptation but he knew that he didn't even need to be tested. Giving into the tests, even if he came out victorious would have acknowledged that he was proving himself by Satan's standard.  His angels would have definitely lifted him up but just engaging in that would have signified the importance of Satan's opinions.  Too often do I try to prove myself faithful or seem like a good Christian by the world's standards when I should be proving myself faithful to God. The world's opinion shouldn't even matter compared to what God wants.  We should ask ourselfves whther we try to seem like a good Christian more than we try to be a good Christian?