14th Week Luke 19-23 (Click on this Title for the Video Introduction)

 

Click on Blue title for Video Introduction for the week.

Monday, Luke Chapter 19

Luke 19

Verses 35-38

Bart Strayer 

Verse 35-38:  They brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt and put Jesus on it.  As he went along, people spread their cloaks on the road. When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen:  "Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!" 

THOUGHT 

This passage takes me back to my childhood and the Hudson United Methodist Church. I remember getting palm branches on Palm Sunday and thinking that was cool. Now that I am grown, I ponder the significance of Christ's ride into Jerusalem. I picture the crowds and the feeling in the air. Then I think of Jesus on the donkey looking at the city and knowing His future. What a love Jesus has for the people of this world. This is the greatest ride a King ever took. 

PRAYER 

Dear Jesus, we thank You for Your ride into Jerusalem. The suffering that waited You saddens us.  Yet, we thank You for giving Your life, so that we may have life. Help us never forget Your final ride into the Holy City and the message of the cross.  We love You today and forever. In Your Name we pray, AMEN

Jerusalem in the back ground.  Present day.  Mount of Olives.  

Tuesday, Luke Chapter 20

Luke 20

Verse 25

Jane Jones

October 26, 2004

Verse 25:  He said to them, "Then give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's." 

THOUGHT

It would be very difficult not to recognize the election coming up in the near future. The papers and TV commercials are inundated with statements about our candidates. Some are true and some are false. Some are vicious and none are nice. I often wonder how much more enjoyable the election would be if personal attacks were left out of the picture and just truths were stated. The game gets very tiring. 

But the Bible says we are to render to Caesar's what is Caesar's and to God what is God's. As God's followers we have legitimate obligations to both God and government. Voting is something I am sure God wants us to do. But it is important to keep our priorities straight and do what God would want us to do. When the two authorities conflict, it is our duty to God to place Him and the Bible first. The government comes second. Vote!! Vote with conviction!! If God were voting on the Nov 2, who would He vote for?? 

PRAYER

As we prepare our hearts and our minds for next week, Lord, we pray for guidance. We ask that You be with our candidates. We pray that You will be in their hearts and their minds as they go forward in service to our country. But may they also recognize that they must go forward in service to You first. We love You, Jesus. Thank You for our freedom to worship You.  AMEN 

Wednesday, Luke Chapter 21

Luke 21

Verse 4

Jane Jones

October 27, 2004 

Verse 4:  All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on. 

THOUGHT

Every time I read this story I think of my Mother, aka Grams, aka Gram Cracker, aka Mums, aka Mom, aka Dot, aka Dorothy.  She was a lady of many names and one beautiful soul.  I cared for Mom her remaining years and paid her bills for her.  She was a gracious lady with very little money, but she 

perceived herself as being the richest lady in the world. She had her family. 

We would always pay her bills together until the last few years when she wasn't aware of her 'goings on'. She always gave to the church so abundantly even though she had so little money. She was always after me to give all the grandkids money for Christmas and birthdays, and when they came for a visit, she wanted me to get them food. With her memory loss, I'm sure she would forget that she had very few funds, but she would always give all that she had to God and her family.  Tears come to my eyes when I remember all the times she would want to send Jeanie, Gary, and myself money for helping her. I knew that she had no money left to give, but I would tell her I would take care of it.  She had nothing left to give, but from her HEART. 

That is like the poor widow in the Bible in Luke.  She gave out of her poverty, out of her heart, out of what she had to live on.  This is totally true.  Way back then I would think of this scripture for my Mom. It is so wonderful that I had Luke 21 to share this story with all of you. When I started reading Luke 21 last night, it was without a question what I would share with you this morning. 

She was a great lady. She died, not poor, but very rich. She gave all she had for the Lord and her family. 

PRAYER 

Thank You, Lord, for the wonderful Mother and Grandmother that You have given our family. Though small she was mighty. Though smart she was funny. Though proud she was very humble. Though poor she was very rich. Our prayer today is that each of us may work at being as rich a lady as my Mother.  She loved You dearly and gave You her all.  As I look back, Lord, I truly do believe that maybe she was the richest lady in the World.  Thank You so much for taking care of her now.  We love You, Jesus. AMEN 

Thursday, Luke Chapter 22

Luke 22

Verse 56b-57

Jane Jones

October 28, 2004 

Verse 56b-57:  This man was also with him.  And he denied him. "Woman, I don't know him," he said. 

THOUGHT

Have you ever taken a moment to stop and think if you were one of the twelve disciples which one would you be like or which one would you immolate? Would you be like Judas?  Dangerous greed got in his way and destroyed his life.  Would you be like Peter?  He disowned Jesus three times in one day. 

Would you be like John?  He was quiet and supportive, but behind the scenes. Possibly you could identify yourself with Mary, His mother, supportive through His death on the cross. This reading stuck in my mind so deeply. Would I be like Peter?? What would I have said??? 

Back in April of 1999 Cassie Bernall, a junior at Columbine High School, in Littleton, CO, was a typical teenager having a typical day. A lot like Peter was having. Then a classmate pointed a gun on her and asked if she believed in God....just like Peter. Michael W Smith wrote and dedicated a song in her honor and to her memory. Below are some of the words that reflect our thoughts today. At the time this happened, I was so captivated by the story. The following are some heart-written, soul-provoking words:

Song:  This Is Your Time (Words meaningful to our devotion)

This was her time, This was her dance, 

She lived every moment, Left nothing to chance. 

Swam in the sea, Drank of the deep, 

Embraced the mystery of all she could be.

This was her time. 

What if tomorrow, What if today, 

If faced with the question, what would you say? 

What would you say? 

This is your time, This is your dance, 

Live every moment, Leave nothing to chance. 

Swim in the sea, Drink of the deep, 

Embrace the mystery of all you can be.  

THIS IS YOUR TIME!!! 

 

PRAYER                                                                                                                                                           

Father God, give us Faith and increase it daily so that we may be strong and courageous when given a challenging life-experience situation.   Keep us devoted to You daily.  May our eyes always be on YOU!  In the Name of Jesus.  AMEN

Friday, Luke Chapter 23

Luke 23 

Verses 41-43

Jane Jones

October 29, 2004

Verses 41-43:  "We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong." Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise."  

THOUGHT

When everything, and I mean everything, was totally devastating to Jesus hanging on the cross, one ray of hope came through the clouds. One man spoke up and recognized who Jesus was. Have you ever thought how that must have made Jesus feel?  It had to have made him feel good, if only for a moment. When a sheep was lost in the Old Testament, God would leave the 99 and go out and look for the one that was lost. Jesus saved one man that day for sure. He was a sinner, and the sinner was saved on his way to dying on the cross. 

We have to know that living a life of sin can still be rescued on the last day of that life if we open up our hearts to Jesus Christ and ask forgiveness. We do not make it to Heaven by our deeds, but by the grace of God. That is why we must never give up spreading the Word of God. We may speak to someone on their last day of life that saved them. Glory be to God for His good works. 

PRAYER

We thank You for weekends, Lord. We thank You that we have time to spend with our loved ones. We thank You for the time we have to renew our strength and catch-up on our sleep. We thank You for time to worship You and reflect on Your love and grace. Through Your grace, a prisoner was saved. May we help bring others Your way as we live here on earth. May You look down on us and smile at us for living lives that are pleasing to You. For the gift of life and today, we say thank You, and we love You.  AMEN