Luke 24

This has to be one of my favorite stories in the New Testament.  The two guys are walking with Jesus and they don't recognize Him nor His amazing folding of the Scriptures until He gives thanks and breaks bread in their presence.  Then they respond by saying, you kidding me, no wonder our hearts were burning within us...we were walking and talking with Jesus.  Every time I think and read about this story, that is where I want to be every day of my life...walking and talking with Jesus so that my heart is burning within me.  Then I think about the truth that what you are hungry for, you will go after.  If you are hungry for Jesus, you will go after Him.  If you are hungry for Oreos, you will either go to your cabinet or to the store to get some...wait, not till you are done with this thought :).  Jesus said, "blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled."  Awesome.  If I am hungry for Jesus, then I want to spend time with Jesus and when I spend time with Jesus, I WILL BE FILLED.  May we fill ourselves with Jesus all day today.  Now go eat some oreos.

Luke 23

An innocent man who is brutally crucified and according to Peter, no deceit was on His lips.  Friends, I find that amazing and believe that is why everyone at the foot of the Cross was impacted.  The soldier says, "certainly this man was innocent."  The people walked home beating their breast.  The women who followed Him stood by watching these things.  I can't say for sure, but I am thinking that some of Jesus' best ministry are the words He uttered from the Cross.  It would have to be something that crazy for a roman soldier who has done this sort of thing a hundred times before to walk away saying, "certainly this man was innocent."  Jesus' Words!  They have a way of changing a person life.  Yet, we have the opportunity to utter these same words.  Paul reminds us that we should have the same mind of that of Jesus Christ.  How awesome would it be for us to live our lives in such a way that people are around us long enough, that they would walk away saying of Jesus, there's just something about that NAME!  Let's practice Jesus Words tomorrow at work, at  home, and wherever else He leads us.

Luke 22

One of my favorite statements that I think Jesus spoke to the disciples was v.40, "upon reaching the place, he said to them, Pray that you will not fall into temptation."  In other places it says, "watch and pray that you do not fall into temptation."  What amazing and life changing words He gives us, because I am convinced that this is how He stayed pure.  Be alert.  Watch out!  Be on guard!  We are in a spiritual battle and the enemy is always on the horizon.  We need to be able to recognize it and pray for strength to walk away from it.  Even though Jesus is speaking to them at that moment I am convinced that this was a statement for us today.  If we could really be alert, we would strive better toward His heart.

Above all else, guard your heart for its the wellspring of life.

Luke 21

The widow teaches us pure faith.  Here she had nothing and yet she put all she had because she absolutely trusted in Jesus.  Jesus was her all in all and she lacked nothing.  That is a beautful example of faith!  How I continually wrestle with this issue and I long to have the heart of this widow.  I am reminded though that as we grow closer to Him the more we trust Him and the less than world entices us.  So my hope for me and for all of us is that we continually grow closer to the heart of God so someday Jesus would say of us, this person has put in more than everyone else and to have Him say so with a smile on His face.  Amen.

Luke 20

I am reminded at the end of this chapter the seriousness of being real with the Lord!  The scribes liked to look the part and be seen by all, but they were going to face condemnation.  Then you have those who are broken and can't do anything for themselves and yet Jesus does not condemn them.  So I read this and want to be real in my relationship with Christ and others.  Christ already knows me, but I can pull off fooling people, but I desire to know Him thru and thru which leads me to being a real person thru and thru.  The scary part is how easy we can play the part, but if we do play the part, we will pay for it.  Be real!  Love God and love others!

Luke 19

I love it when Zach has Jesus over and tells Him that he will pay back 4 times the amount of whoever he cheated.  If you go to Leviticus 6:5 it says that if you cheated someone, you would pay back 100% plus 1/5...so 120%.  Zach says he is going to pay back 4 times the amount, which is 280% more than what the law requires, now that is radical, but that is what GRACE does...it changes us from the inside.  The other part is that I'm guessing the Zach at the end of the day is poor, but He is full of Jesus and that is ENOUGH for him.  Isn't that a great story?  GRACE has been given to us, will it be ENOUGH for us?  Will it cause us to be like Jesus?  

Sorry that I have been hit and miss a couple of times this week :)  We are finishing up Luke, any suggestions on which Book to do next?  

Luke 18

I cannot tell you how many times I have prayed this prayer, "God, have mercy on me a sinner.". I love this man's heart because he doesn't compare himself to anyone, He recognizes that God is holy and he is not.  We have the tendency to think of ourselves OK cause we are better than so and so, but the Lord was sicken by the first guy.  Let's recognize His holiness, our sinfulness, and His mercy and live in that truth knowing that He will make us complete some sweet day :).

Luke 16

I am just simply reminded in Luke 16 that we die.  Whether we are rich, poor, saint, sinful, young, old, etc...we die.  How about that to start off this email.  But its the truth.  The story of the rich man and Lazarus reminds me that both of them die and that there is eternal life for both of them.  One eternal life is of Glory and Peace while the other eternal life is of pain and misery.  The great part is that God has already made His decision for us, but we have to follow through by accepting His amazing gift!  It is up to us though...no one else makes the decision.  The rich man was responsible for his choice and the poor man was responsible for his choice.  You are and so am I!  What will you choose?  God or world?  Then whatever we decide that is what we live out the rest of our days.  How will you honor the Lord with the rest of your day?  Find a few minutes just to thank Him and worship Him.  He is definitely more than enough for us!

Luke 15

I love how Luke 15 reminds me how much God loves me.   When something was lost how it broke His heart but when it was found, how much rejoicing there was.  You my friends are found and thus He rejoices over you!  There are those in our family, at work, in our neighborhood who are lost and how it breaks His heart.  Let's serve the lost and show them Jesus so there can be much rejoicing in Heaven.

Happy fathers day to you all!

Luke 17

Oh my, how many times I have been guilty of being one of the nine lepers in Luke 17?  The one person who does come back to give thanks wasn't even expected to come back cause he was a foreigner.  And when we think of leprosy another great word for it is SIN.  There were 10 sinners who stood at a distance and called out, Master, have mercy on us!  He does have mercy on us by giving up His life on the Cross and only 1 out of the 10 sinners come back.  And not only does the one come back but He truly understands what Jesus did for him, cause he falls down at His feet, giving Him thanks.  Do we understand how ugly our sin is?  C.H. Spurgeon wrote this some time ago - "an ounce of sin will hurt you far more than ten million tons of suffering."  This man recognized himself as this ugly sinner and came back to thank Jesus for rescuing Him.  Do you know that worship is our recognizing ourselves as a vicious sinner who comes back to bow before Him to say thanks time and time again?  May we represent the one!

Luke 14

And when you are invited, sit at the lowest place...wow, won't you admit that sometimes that is hard.  Some times we wrestle with wanting to be noticed, rewarded, appreciated and although there is nothing wrong with those desires, but when we can't be content because we haven't received those, then we are in trouble.  But, if we could learn this truth of sitting in the lowest place, I think we would see an improvement in our contentment.  I think Jesus and Paul both express this perfectly in their lives and in their words.  I really want to embrace this truth...do you?  Let's start tomorrow by putting others above ourselves.  

Luke 13

I love the words of David in Psalm 63 when he says, "in the shadow of your wings."  I can't think of a safer place to be than there!  Then Jesus says in verse 34 - how often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and YOU WERE NOT WILLING!  UGGG!  Not Willing?  Please please please understand the amazing invitation that you and I have been given, He is inviting us under His Wings of Protection.  Now please listen, under His wings bad things will still happen, but you are UNDER HIS WINGS.  Sometime I catch myself wondering what it would be like to experience what David did but as soon as I think that I hear these words from Hebrews, "He's the same yesterday, today, and forevermore" just sit under His wings and you WILL experience Him like David did.  We just need to accept the invitation.

While you are spending time with Him, enjoy this song from Fernando Ortega.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vGm7ivZcW_w

Ladies, if you sign up to bring a side dish, just bring it.  The ladies of Benton have everything else ready to go.  To get there you will get off at Benton exit.  Turn right and then go about 2 miles and at the road sign 77/E, turn left and you will see the church with a bunch of cars.  From church it takes me about 25 minutes to get there.

I am hoping some guys are coming to do some labor.  Also, Andrea will be leading the prayer time around the city.

Looking forward to tomorrow with you all.  Thanks for giving up your time and energy on a Sat. to show Benton some love.

JT

Luke 12

Luke 12:20 - two words stand out to me in that verse.

Fool - Its like a horse wearing blinders so that it is not distracted by anything so it can stay on task.  Jesus is calling this man a fool because its as if he is wearing blinders to the needs around him so that he can get richer.  I hope that you and I aren't so on task that we fail to see people around us, especially those in need.  This man was walking by hurting families, hurting people, just so his little world could get bigger and better.  Jesus called him a fool!

Demanded - Your life will be demanded of you.  It is a term used in the banking world.  I borrow money they are demanding that I pay them back.  Here God is saying I gave you life and I blessed your life to be a blessing, have you have wasted your gifts, thus I want the life I gave you back.  Wow.  May we live our lives in such a way that God says to each one of us, "well done, my good and faithful servant, enter into the rest I have prepared for you!"  Bless someone today!

Luke 11

I love how the disciples had the courage to go to Jesus and ask the question, "teach us to pray."  How did they know about prayer, because Jesus modeled it for them.  Throughout the Gospels, how many times did the disciples find Jesus praying...then they would see a miracle take place and I believe they connected the two together.  So one of them finally speaks for the group and says, teach us to pray like you do."  Jesus doesn't break it down into a series or into points, He just simply leads them in a prayer.  We all know this prayer, but it truly does cover all aspects of life.  If you are not a praying person but would like to start, this is the pray for you...but don't just pray it, savor each word.  Soak in each line...what do you think each line means?  What does that look like?  Meditate on it before you move on to the next line.  This is a solid prayer to pray and it is the one Jesus taught the disciples to pray:

Father
Hallowed be your name
Your kingdom come
Give us each day our daily bread
forgive us our sins
for we also forgive everyone who sins against us
and lead us not into temptation.

AMEN!

Luke 10

How awesome would it be to hear our Lord say about us, "but one thing is necessary, (your name) has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from you"

Aww, to choose the good portion, which is sitting at the feet of Jesus.  What an amazing invitation we have been given.  Each one of us.  Martha is not a bad person, in fact, stuff has to get done.  We can't sit around all day, but when it comes down to it...sitting at Jesus' feet is the good portion.  Even if Martha would have just paused and sat at the feet of Jesus for even 7 minutes, I think her heart would have been touched and her attitude would have be amazing as she served Jesus and the guest.  It is critical for us all to just sit at the feet of Jesus which is where the good portion is.  Do you want the good portion?  I know I do!  It's at His feet!  Bow down before Him tonight and listen...whisper His name...Call out to Him...Honor Him...just spend time with Him.  

Luke 9

This question that Jesus asked the disciples may be one of the most pivotal question ever asked, "who do you say that I am?". The answer to that question reveals our true thoughts of Jesus.  A.W. Tozer said, "what comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.". What are your thoughts this morning?  By the way, no matter how you feel, He sings over you with rejoicing.  His mercy was brand new for you today.  He wants to be with you today.

Luke 8

I absolutely love the faith of the woman in Luke 8:44 - she came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, and immediately her discharge of blood ceased.  What led up to her to go to Jesus.  Desperation?  She heard the good news about Jesus and figured she had nothing to lose?  What?  Doesn't matter...she worked through her fears and the fact that she was going to receive criticism from the crowd, cause she was unclean.  She didn't care, she just wanted to get to Jesus.  Can you picture the scene as she is working through the crowd just to get to Him.  How does Jesus respond to her heart?  Your faith as made you well.  Your struggle is over with.  Your fears are dead.  Your heart is mine!  GO IN PEACE.  There are many blessings for those who strive after the Heart of Jesus!  May we pursue after Him and Him alone.  What amazing faith this woman had.

Luke 7

The story of the sinful woman has always been one of my personal favorite stories in all of the new testament.  Just take the name woman and she (guys will have to work harder at this :)) and place your name in that story and then pray that you would become exactly that.  One who is never ever afraid to honor the King whenever and wherever.  Then as you learn to worship like this, may the words - "your faith has saved you; go in peace" ring very loudly in your ears each and every day.  Those who have been forgiven little love little, but those who have been forgiven much love much.  Which one are you?  Let's show Him our hearts true desire by loving much.

Luke 6

Our lives are about two things and two things only:  Jesus and people.  That's it!  The way we live that out is by having a healthy relationship with Jesus and then showing people to Him.  It saddens me that the pharisees missed that, but guess what...we do too.  Its not that complicated at all, but honestly, it is not simple because we aren't invested in an ongoing healthy place with Jesus.  If the pharisees would have gotten Jesus, they would have been one amazing light for Him, but because they didn't, they just added burdens on people, total opposite of our calling.  It is critical that we are with Jesus first!  So be with Him now!  Then we can help people.

Luke 5

I love the story of the four friends getting their broken friend to Jesus.  Their determination to get him to Jesus is what it is all about.  Nothing, not even a packed house or discouragement kept them from moving toward Him.  That's the heart we need to have for broken people.  That's what I'm praying to have as we start Benton.

Luke 4

After an intense conversation around who Jesus is, they wanted to get rid of Him.  I love v.30:  He was in their midst and then He was gone.  It cracks me up every time, what was that like?

Point I want to make though is this.  You follow Christ whole heartedly you will be misunderstood.  Even by people in the church.  You will be ridicule, but Jesus stayed on task, and this is early on in His ministry.  He stayed the course.  No matter what comes, stay the course.  We have an awesome example from Christ.

Luke 3

I love John the Baptist!  He was called simply to be a person who announced the coming of the Messiah.  That could not be an easy job and probably was misunderstood on many levels, especially since there wasn't a huge change in people's lives because of his announcement.  Nonetheless, he was faithful to his calling and did exactly what the Lord called him to do.  Well, our lives are no different today.  We also are called to announce the coming of Jesus to this generation. We are called to be faithful to what He desires of us and that is for us to announce the Good News of Jesus.  It is true that we will be misunderstood and even ridicule, but let's not waver in our calling.  Let's be a bright light in a dark place and people will be drawn to Him and changed forever.  How can we show our light today?

Luke 2

I love verse 52, in fact it is a prayer a I pray over my kids each night before bed:  May we grow in wisdom and stature and be in favor with God and with others.

Think about it...this is how Jesus grew up.  We don't know much about His childhood, but we know that this is a prayer for Himself.  It is a great prayer for us.  What would it mean for us to grow in wisdom and stature?  What would it look like if we were in favor with God and others?  May we desire to grow in our faith like Jesus did.  It was His custom to be in church.  He spent great time with the Lord.  He served and love others.  He was not about Himself but about bringing the Lord Glory.  Wow.  Let's desire that lifestyle, shall we?