12th Week 9-13 (Click here for video intro to for the week)

 Click on the Blue Title for the video intro for the week

Monday, Luke Chapter 9

Luke 9

Verse 23

Jeanie Boldt

Verse 23:  If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. 

THOUGHT 

We all have our crosses to bare each and every day. We cannot compare the pain and hardship of one person to another. However, after learning of recovery from alcohol addiction through my husband's disease, I understand  much clearer what it means to completely identify with Christ's message each and every morning. For without this strong hold, death would come. Rory had a choice to make - death or Christ? I am one happy wife today because of the grace of our Lord and Savior and the faith Rory puts in Him daily. 

There are 3 conditions that must be met by people who want to follow Jesus. We must be willing to deny self, take up our crosses, and follow Him. He deserves our best. He gave us life.  Now we can give Him honor and love and respect in return. 

PRAYER 

Father God, thank You for my husband's sobriety and the AA organization. Thank You for the chance to identify with You completely and live for You each and every day. And when one of our days are not the greatest example, thank You for giving us another tomorrow so that we can once again surrender to You. You are the way. We carry just our own cross.  YOU carried them all. Thank You, Jesus. Praise God the Father for His Infinite Son. We Love You, Jesus.  AMEN 

Tuesday, Luke Chapter 10

Luke 10

Verse 27

Tanya Ruden

Verse 27:  He answered, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind; and Love your neighbor as yourself." 

THOUGHT

How easy, right? This verse is not new to any of us. We have heard this since we were children growing up in the church. Yet, as we grow older and wiser, it is amazing how much harder it is to live up to this command. We are to love our God with all of our being! We are to love all the people on this earth as much as we love ourselves, which is about our entire being. This includes the rude inconsiderate co-worker, all the kids at day-care who bully your child, the guy who is embarrassing to be around because of what they say.  You get the idea. Think of all the people you come in contact with whom you don't speak badly about but you just kind of choose to 'ignore'. God calls us to show these people love.  This is hard. 

One more thought on loving God with all our being. This means meditating on God throughout our day, not just morning and night. It reminds me of this story my friend told me the other day. She found this cat in the morning when she went to leave for work in the drive way. She asked her husband if she could keep it. He said if the cat was there when she got home from work that evening, they would talk about it. Well, she thought about that cat all day, hoping it would be there. When she got home, sure enough the cat was there, and she called her husband at work and told him. He said, “I bet you thought about that cat all day.” She of course said, “Yes”. He asked, “When was the last time you thought about me all day long like you did that cat?” 

I think this story can be applied to our personal life (our spouses), but I think it can also be applied to our spiritual life and our thoughts about God! 

PRAYER

Dear Lord, You give us such simple commands. You don't ask us to stand on our head and chant or jump off of buildings declaring Your Name. You simply ask us to love, love You and everyone You have created. On paper this appears to be such a simple command, but in the real world it is a constant struggle. Please help us, Lord, to meditate on You all throughout our day. Help us also to show Your love to all the people we come in contact with each day. We may be the only Jesus they meet. We love You, Jesus. Help us to show it every minute of every day!! AMEN 

Wednesday, Luke Chapter 11

Luke 11

Tanya Ruden

Verses 11 & 13

Verses 11 & 13:  "Which of you fathers, if your sons asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead?  If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?" 

THOUGHT

As a mom this verse struck me. We as parents want to give our children the world. Whatever they ask, we want to give. God is the perfect Father. When we as His children come to him, He will give us what we desire. But as a parent, we can't give our children everything they want. This would not be a good balance, and our children would be "spoiled".  Also, our children have to ask us for things, otherwise, how do we know what our children want/need? 

This too applies to us as children. God calls us to talk to Him. Tell Him our desires. If we don't talk to Him, how is he to know? Also, sometimes God may answer "no" to our requests. But many times He does say "yes".   We always know His answer is His plan for our life and is what is best for us, just like what we as earthly parents attempt with our children. 

PRAYER

Father God, so many times we think we know what is best for our lives, and we don't talk to You. We don't come to You as our Father and ask. Help us to ask You for what we want. Help us to communicate our desires. Also, help us to understand Your answers. So many times we question Your judgment. Help us to walk by faith, knowing You as our Father knows best. We love You so much! AMEN

Thursday, Luke Chapter 12

Luke 12 

Verse 40

Tanya Ruden

Verse 40:  “You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.” 

THOUGHT 

Today I am copying from the footnotes from my Bible, because I thought it was a good thought.

'Christ's return at an unexpected time is not a trap, a trick by which God hopes to catch us off guard. In fact, God is delaying His return so more people will have the opportunity to follow Him. Before Christ's return, we have time to live out our beliefs and to reflect Jesus' love as we relate to others. People who are ready for the Lord's return have the following characteristics:  

1. Not hypocritical, but sincere 

2. Not fearful, but ready to witness 

3. Not worried, but trusting 

4. Not greedy, but generous 

5. Not lazy, but diligent 

May your life be more like Christ’s so that when He comes, you will be ready to greet Him joyfully. 

PRAYER 

Dear Jesus, You are awesome and know everything about us. You know the number of hairs on our head. How much You love us is incomprehensible! Therefore, why should we ever worry You would not take care of us, Your children? Help us to walk by faith each day. Also Lord, help us to begin each day and perform every task in our day, as though it is the day You are to return. We truly love You.  Jesus, help us to live each day as You lived, desiring to be like You and pleasing You!!  AMEN 

Friday, Luke Chapter 13

Luke 13 

Verses 3 & 30

Tanya Ruden

Verse 3: “But unless you repent, you too will all perish. 

Verse 30:  "Indeed there are those who are last who will be first, and first who will be last.” 

THOUGHT 

How often do you go to pray and ponder on your day and think of all the good things you did?  Or do you start asking all of your requests of God instead of humbling yourselves and repenting of all the sins we know we committed and those we were unaware of? Sometimes the sins we commit don't seem like sins, especially our sins that were thoughts. I challenge you to become more humble and repent. 

Also, I love verse 30. How often do we want to be "the coolest" or "the best" or "number one"? Once again, our status on earth really doesn't matter. There will be so many surprises in Heaven!! Some of those who were first or best here, may not be in Heaven. Your heart and beliefs are the only things that 

ultimately matter, and that is not able to be judged by a first place trophy here on earth. 

PRAYER 

Dear Jesus, we are humble sinful servants of Your Word. We try to live like You, but so often fail. We confess to You this day our sins and ask forgiveness. Help us to strive for things beyond this earth and not put so much value on things here. Help us to exercise the fruits of the spirit in all situations this weekend. We love You, Jesus. AMEN