Day 87 - John 16:25-33

25 “I have spoken of these matters in figures of speech, but soon I will stop speaking figuratively and will tell you plainly all about the Father. 26 Then you will ask in my name. I’m not saying I will ask the Father on your behalf, 27 for the Father himself loves you dearly because you love me and believe that I came from God. 28 Yes, I came from the Father into the world, and now I will leave the world and return to the Father.”

29 Then his disciples said, “At last you are speaking plainly and not figuratively. 30 Now we understand that you know everything, and there’s no need to question you. From this we believe that you came from God.”

31 Jesus asked, “Do you finally believe? 32 But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when you will be scattered, each one going his own way, leaving me alone. Yet I am not alone because the Father is with me. 33 I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”

Tori's Comments:

Tori is still out of the country :-) 


Terrie's Comments:
Verse 26-27 sticks out today... "you will ask in my name.  I'm not saying I will ask the Father on your behalf, for the Father himself loves you so dearly because you love me and believe that I game from God."
We can go to our Father in heaven and ask him in the name of Jesus because we love Jesus and believe he is the son of God.  Jesus was pretty clear that we have authority to ask all things in his name.  He was really plain about who he was and what he came to do as he walked on this earth.  He revealed all of these things so that we would know that even though we face trials and sorrows here on earth He has overcome the world.  We can have peace in Jesus.    


Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!

Day 86 - John 16:16-24

16 “In a little while you won’t see me anymore. But a little while after that, you will see me again.”

17 Some of the disciples asked each other, “What does he mean when he says, ‘In a little while you won’t see me, but then you will see me,’ and ‘I am going to the Father’? 18 And what does he mean by ‘a little while’? We don’t understand.”

19 Jesus realized they wanted to ask him about it, so he said, “Are you asking yourselves what I meant? I said in a little while you won’t see me, but a little while after that you will see me again. 20 I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn over what is going to happen to me, but the world will rejoice. You will grieve, but your grief will suddenly turn to wonderful joy. 21 It will be like a woman suffering the pains of labor. When her child is born, her anguish gives way to joy because she has brought a new baby into the world. 22 So you have sorrow now, but I will see you again; then you will rejoice, and no one can rob you of that joy. 23 At that time you won’t need to ask me for anything. I tell you the truth, you will ask the Father directly, and he will grant your request because you use my name. 24 You haven’t done this before. Ask, using my name, and you will receive, and you will have abundant joy.



Terrie's Comments:

When we are led by the Holy Spirit we are able to live freely in the life that Jesus came to give us.  He died and rose again so we can live with abundant joy!!


Tori's Comments:

Tori is still out of the country.  She will comment soon :-) 






Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!

Day 85 - John 16:1-15

1 “I have told you these things so that you won’t abandon your faith. 2 For you will be expelled from the synagogues, and the time is coming when those who kill you will think they are doing a holy service for God. 3 This is because they have never known the Father or me. 4 Yes, I’m telling you these things now, so that when they happen, you will remember my warning. I didn’t tell you earlier because I was going to be with you for a while longer.

5 “But now I am going away to the one who sent me, and not one of you is asking where I am going. 6 Instead, you grieve because of what I’ve told you. 7 But in fact, it is best for you that I go away, because if I don’t, the Advocate won’t come. If I do go away, then I will send him to you. 8 And when he comes, he will convict the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment. 9 The world’s sin is that it refuses to believe in me. 10 Righteousness is available because I go to the Father, and you will see me no more. 11 Judgment will come because the ruler of this world has already been judged.

12 “There is so much more I want to tell you, but you can’t bear it now. 13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future. 14 He will bring me glory by telling you whatever he receives from me. 15 All that belongs to the Father is mine; this is why I said, ‘The Spirit will tell you whatever he receives from me.’


Tori's Comments:

Tori is still out of the country.  She will comment soon :-) 


Terrie's Comments:

Our advocate, the Holy Spirit, came because Jesus is with God.  The Holy Spirit convicts the world of its sin (that they don't believe in Jesus).  The Holy Spirit guides us into all truth.  He speaks what he hears from Jesus, who speaks only the Father's will.  Whatever we hear from the Holy Spirit is from Jesus.




Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!

Day 84 - John 15:18-27

18 “If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first. 19 The world would love you as one of its own if you belonged to it, but you are no longer part of the world. I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you. 20 Do you remember what I told you? ‘A slave is not greater than the master.’ Since they persecuted me, naturally they will persecute you. And if they had listened to me, they would listen to you. 21 They will do all this to you because of me, for they have rejected the one who sent me. 22 They would not be guilty if I had not come and spoken to them. But now they have no excuse for their sin. 23 Anyone who hates me also hates my Father. 24 If I hadn’t done such miraculous signs among them that no one else could do, they would not be guilty. But as it is, they have seen everything I did, yet they still hate me and my Father. 25 This fulfills what is written in their Scriptures: ‘They hated me without cause.’

26 “But I will send you the Advocate—the Spirit of truth. He will come to you from the Father and will testify all about me. 27 And you must also testify about me because you have been with me from the beginning of my ministry.



Terrie's Comments:
Am I looking like I belong more to the world or to Christ?  The Holy Spirit is our advocate with God our Father.  He is the one who testifies to us about Jesus.  The Holy Spirit only speaks truth because he is the Spirit of Truth.



Tori's Comments:

Tori is still out of the country :-) 






Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!

Day 83 - John 15:12-17

12 This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. 13 There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me. 16 You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name. 17 This is my command: Love each other.


Tori's Comments:

Tori is still out of the country :-) 


Terrie's Comments:

I love that we are now friends with God.  He confides in us and reveals everything to us.  I love that he has chosen us... we didn't choose him first.  Being chosen always is a great feeling!  We have been appointed to go and produce lasting fruit.  And the command Jesus gives is to love each other.  If we abide in him and he abides in us we will be freed to love our fellow brothers and sisters from an overflow of the relationship we have with Jesus.  We can love freely because Jesus freely loves us without condemnation!



Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!

Day 82 - John 15:1-11

1 “I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. 3 You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you. 4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.

5 “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. 6 Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. 7 But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! 8 When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father.

9 “I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. 10 When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. 11 I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!


Terrie's Comments:
Remain in Jesus... remain in his love and you will bear much fruit and your prayers will also be productive because they are flowing from Him through you.  

He wants us to be filled with his joy... not just any joy but he wants our joy to OVERFLOW!  That is a lot of joy!  If we remain in the love of Jesus our joy will overflow!  It doesn't say that you might have joy, this passage says our joy WILL overflow!  How is our joy meter today?


Tori's Comments:

Tori is still out of the country :-)





Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!

Day 81 - John 14:15-31

15 “If you love me, obey my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. 17 He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you. 18 No, I will not abandon you as orphans—I will come to you. 19 Soon the world will no longer see me, but you will see me. Since I live, you also will live. 20 When I am raised to life again, you will know that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. 21 Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them.”

22 Judas (not Judas Iscariot, but the other disciple with that name) said to him, “Lord, why are you going to reveal yourself only to us and not to the world at large?”

23 Jesus replied, “All who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with each of them. 24 Anyone who doesn’t love me will not obey me. And remember, my words are not my own. What I am telling you is from the Father who sent me. 25 I am telling you these things now while I am still with you. 26 But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.

27 “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid. 28 Remember what I told you: I am going away, but I will come back to you again. If you really loved me, you would be happy that I am going to the Father, who is greater than I am. 29 I have told you these things before they happen so that when they do happen, you will believe.

30 “I don’t have much more time to talk to you, because the ruler of this world approaches. He has no power over me, 31 but I will do what the Father requires of me, so that the world will know that I love the Father. Come, let’s be going.


Tori's Comments:

Tori is still out of the country.  I am sure she will comment one of these days :-) 


Terrie's Comments:

The first part of this passage "if you love me, obey my commandments"  we need to remember that just previously in this conversation Jesus gave a new commandment to love one another.  In context this is what he is referring to.  The New Testament is filled with scripture that confirms that when Jesus died and rose again we entered a new covenant.  The Old covenant is null and void.  We have been set free.  We are to follow the Spirit.  And isn't it handy that the Holy Spirit is given to us as a gift and will teach us and remind us of what Jesus has spoken to us through his word.

I love that the language about Jesus and the Father being one is continued here to include the Holy Spirit and us... how cool is that.  So if people see us do they see the Father who sent the Son who gave us the Holy Spirit to dwell in us?  That was what Jesus wanted people to see in His life. He wanted people to see the Father when they looked at Him.  If we are being transformed into the image of Christ we should eventually be a reflection of the Father because Jesus was.

I love the gift of peace of mind and heart!  This is a peace that the world cannot give us because it is a peace that passes all understanding and it is a peace that just is not based on what is happening around us.  DON'T BE TROUBLED OR AFRAID... JESUS IS COMING BACK!





Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!

Day 80 - John 14:1-14

1 “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. 2 There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? 3 When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. 4 And you know the way to where I am going.”

5 “No, we don’t know, Lord,” Thomas said. “We have no idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?”

6 Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. 7 If you had really known me, you would know who my Father is. From now on, you do know him and have seen him!”

8 Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.”

9 Jesus replied, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and yet you still don’t know who I am? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father! So why are you asking me to show him to you? 10 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words I speak are not my own, but my Father who lives in me does his work through me. 11 Just believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me. Or at least believe because of the work you have seen me do.

12 “I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. 13 You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. 14 Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it!


Terrie's Comments:

This is a really encouraging passage.  I love that one of the things that Jesus lays out before he is crucified is the way to heaven..."I am the way, the truth, and the life.  No one can come to the Father except through me."  He goes on later to say if we have seen him we have seen the Father.  

Verses 12-14 should challenge and encourage any believer in their authority.  "I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father.  You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father.  Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and i will do it!"  

When we believe in Jesus we have the Holy Spirit living in us.  We have been given a promise by Jesus that we can ask anything in His name and He will do it to bring Glory to the Father.  How often to we bring glory to God by asking something in the name of Jesus and allowing the power of the Holy Spirit to flow through us to work?  Something to ponder.  

This passage always challenges me... am I a believer or not?  Do I believe I have authority to ask?  Do I desire to bring glory to God by asking in the name of Jesus for something?  Do I give God glory when the answer comes?  

This week has been interesting.  I was hit with something... possibly a virus, it stalled life for about 36 hours, and since I am blogging solo for a little while longer posts weren't published in regular time.  Thank you for your patience.  I am hoping that by the end of today all will be normal again on the blog :-) 


Tori's Comments:

Still out of the country for a while :-) 



Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!

Day 79 - John 13:31-38

31 As soon as Judas left the room, Jesus said, “The time has come for the Son of Man to enter into his glory, and God will be glorified because of him. 32 And since God receives glory because of the Son, he will give his own glory to the Son, and he will do so at once. 33 Dear children, I will be with you only a little longer. And as I told the Jewish leaders, you will search for me, but you can’t come where I am going. 34 So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. 35 Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”

36 Simon Peter asked, “Lord, where are you going?”

And Jesus replied, “You can’t go with me now, but you will follow me later.”

37 “But why can’t I come now, Lord?” he asked. “I’m ready to die for you.”

38 Jesus answered, “Die for me? I tell you the truth, Peter—before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny three times that you even know me.



Tori's Comments:

Still out of the country :-) 



Terrie's Comments:

Jesus gets a word of knowledge about Peter denying Him three times.  How powerful that must have been for Peter.  Even in the moments when Jesus seemed to be failing as King of Kings, He was confirming to Peter that He was indeed King of Kings, and proving that God was with Him.  

Here in his last moments with His disciples before his Crucifixion we see his heart is for the body to love each other to bring glory to God.  This is the new covenant... Love Jesus because He loved us first... Love each other as Jesus has loved you flowing from the love He gives.






Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!

Day 78 - John 13:21-30

21 Now Jesus was deeply troubled, and he exclaimed, “I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me!”

22 The disciples looked at each other, wondering whom he could mean. 23 The disciple Jesus loved was sitting next to Jesus at the table. 24 Simon Peter motioned to him to ask, “Who’s he talking about?” 25 So that disciple leaned over to Jesus and asked, “Lord, who is it?”

26 Jesus responded, “It is the one to whom I give the bread I dip in the bowl.” And when he had dipped it, he gave it to Judas, son of Simon Iscariot. 27 When Judas had eaten the bread, Satan entered into him. Then Jesus told him, “Hurry and do what you’re going to do.” 28 None of the others at the table knew what Jesus meant. 29 Since Judas was their treasurer, some thought Jesus was telling him to go and pay for the food or to give some money to the poor. 30 So Judas left at once, going out into the night.


Terrie's Comments:

The Holy Spirit must have reminded Jesus about what was going to take place on a new level.  It is rather an odd statement to just blurt out at the pass over meal (a meal of deliverance and celebration)... "I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me!"  

It is so clear here that Jesus answered the question about who it would be pretty clearly.  It seems odd to me that when Judas left no one really seemed concerned about it.  I wonder how many moments came back to them after the resurrection and Ascension of Jesus as aha moments?  I am sure there were many of those moments, especially after they had the Holy Spirit to lead them into all truth.


Tori's Comments:

Tori is still out of the country for a while longer.  She will comment when she gets a moment :-) 





Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!

Day 77 - John 13:12-20

12 After washing their feet, he put on his robe again and sat down and asked, “Do you understand what I was doing? 13 You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and you are right, because that’s what I am. 14 And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. 15 I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you. 16 I tell you the truth, slaves are not greater than their master. Nor is the messenger more important than the one who sends the message. 17 Now that you know these things, God will bless you for doing them.

18 “I am not saying these things to all of you; I know the ones I have chosen. But this fulfills the Scripture that says, ‘The one who eats my food has turned against me.’ 19 I tell you this beforehand, so that when it happens you will believe that I am the Messiah. 20 I tell you the truth, anyone who welcomes my messenger is welcoming me, and anyone who welcomes me is welcoming the Father who sent me.”


Tori's Comments:

Tori is out of the country at the moment.  She will comment when she gets a moment :-) 


Terrie's Comments:

I feel like sometimes in church we behave like we are having a big birthday bash but completely forgot to invite the guest of honour.  We continue to have this party and don't even notice that the guest of honour is missing.  Jesus said that we are not greater than he is and what we say about Jesus is not more important that Jesus himself.  

We need to keep perspective.  Jesus came to reconcile us to the Father.  He came so we could choose freely to have a relationship with God.  Do I sometimes do things for God or in the name of Jesus but forget that He is actually the one who wants to work through me?  Do I act like he isn't there?  How awkward that must be for Him to be that third wheel standing there as we are celebrating him but not talking to him... just around him.  How do we get to the place of intimacy where it is all about our relationship with Jesus again?  How do we welcome Jesus into our lives moment by moment?




Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!

Day 76 - John 13:1-11

1 Before the Passover celebration, Jesus knew that his hour had come to leave this world and return to his Father. He had loved his disciples during his ministry on earth, and now he loved them to the very end. 2 It was time for supper, and the devil had already prompted Judas, son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything and that he had come from God and would return to God. 4 So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, 5 and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him.

6 When Jesus came to Simon Peter, Peter said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”

7 Jesus replied, “You don’t understand now what I am doing, but someday you will.”

8 “No,” Peter protested, “you will never ever wash my feet!”

Jesus replied, “Unless I wash you, you won’t belong to me.”

9 Simon Peter exclaimed, “Then wash my hands and head as well, Lord, not just my feet!”

10 Jesus replied, “A person who has bathed all over does not need to wash, except for the feet, to be entirely clean. And you disciples are clean, but not all of you.” 11 For Jesus knew who would betray him. That is what he meant when he said, “Not all of you are clean.”


Terrie's Comments:

Today's passage reminds me of a scene being set up in a play... like a dramatic set up to the climax of the story.  And I guess this is truly fitting for this part of history to have a set up like this.  

I LOVE Peter's response.  He didn't want Jesus to wash his feet until Jesus said that it was required to belong to Jesus then he wasn't just willing to have his feed washed but he also was willing to have his hands and his head washed as well by Jesus.  Is this our response when the Holy Spirit prompts us to do something?  Is our response one of  "Yes please I will gladly do this and more as well if it is your will"  "anything for you my friend and my lord!"

We are made clean through believing in Jesus Christ.  We take on His righteousness in the presence of God our father in heaven.  It is an amazing thing!


Tori's Comments:

Tori is out of the country at the moment.  She will comment when she gets a moment :-) 




Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!

Day 75 - John 12:44-50

44 Jesus shouted to the crowds, “If you trust me, you are trusting not only me, but also God who sent me. 45 For when you see me, you are seeing the one who sent me. 46 I have come as a light to shine in this dark world, so that all who put their trust in me will no longer remain in the dark. 47 I will not judge those who hear me but don’t obey me, for I have come to save the world and not to judge it. 48 But all who reject me and my message will be judged on the day of judgment by the truth I have spoken. 49 I don’t speak on my own authority. The Father who sent me has commanded me what to say and how to say it. 50 And I know his commands lead to eternal life; so I say whatever the Father tells me to say.”


Tori's Comments:

Jesus followed God's instructions by the Spirit, which at times meant different things than the law. He showed us how to walk with God by doing so. How I want to reach the point where I trust God so fully that every one of my steps is directed by Him!


Terrie's Comments:
Jesus said whatever God the father told him to say.  When we see what Jesus did here on earth we also see the Father's will and character in the flesh.  

One thing that stood out today for me was verse 47 I will not judge those who hear me but don’t obey me, for I have come to save the world and not to judge it ... Did you see it??  Jesus said that if you hear and believe but don't obey he doesn't judge us.  Why are we so quick to judge each other if Jesus didn't even judge us??  If we reject what Jesus said we will be judged on the day of judgement by what Jesus said but we are not judged here on earth.  I think it is time to give more grace to our dear brothers and sisters!!

Jesus came to set us free.  We can decide to believe and live by the words he spoke or we can choose to reject His words.  We will all be judged by the word at the time of judgement.





Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!

Day 74 - John 12:37-43

37 But despite all the miraculous signs Jesus had done, most of the people still did not believe in him. 38 This is exactly what Isaiah the prophet had predicted:

“Lord, who has believed our message?
    To whom has the Lord revealed his powerful arm?”
39 But the people couldn’t believe, for as Isaiah also said,

40 “The Lord has blinded their eyes
    and hardened their hearts—
so that their eyes cannot see,
    and their hearts cannot understand,
and they cannot turn to me
    and have me heal them.”
41 Isaiah was referring to Jesus when he said this, because he saw the future and spoke of the Messiah’s glory. 42 Many people did believe in him, however, including some of the Jewish leaders. But they wouldn’t admit it for fear that the Pharisees would expel them from the synagogue. 43 For they loved human praise more than the praise of God.


Terrie's Comments:
Dear God, May we not exchange the blessings and relationship with you for the love of human praise!  Draw us into your presence, help us to value the praise of God MORE than the praise of the human's around us.  In Jesus name AMEN  


Tori's Comments:

Like I said yesterday! Although here it identifies fear of human opinions keeping people from following and believing Jesus.... I believe this is still a problem! Perfect love casts out fear!




Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!

Day 73 - John 12:27-36

27 “Now my soul is deeply troubled. Should I pray, ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But this is the very reason I came! 28 Father, bring glory to your name.”

Then a voice spoke from heaven, saying, “I have already brought glory to my name, and I will do so again.” 29 When the crowd heard the voice, some thought it was thunder, while others declared an angel had spoken to him.

30 Then Jesus told them, “The voice was for your benefit, not mine. 31 The time for judging this world has come, when Satan, the ruler of this world, will be cast out. 32 And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself.” 33 He said this to indicate how he was going to die.

34 The crowd responded, “We understood from Scripture that the Messiah would live forever. How can you say the Son of Man will die? Just who is this Son of Man, anyway?”

35 Jesus replied, “My light will shine for you just a little longer. Walk in the light while you can, so the darkness will not overtake you. Those who walk in the darkness cannot see where they are going. 36 Put your trust in the light while there is still time; then you will become children of the light.”

After saying these things, Jesus went away and was hidden from them.


Tori's Comments:

Over and over again Jesus tries to declare the truth to the people, who just don't get it. 


Terrie's Comments:
Jesus was leading up to the peak of His purpose.  It was not easy but He knew what the cost was.  He knew that when his purpose was fulfilled that Satan would be cast out.  Satan lost all his power and could no longer condemn us because we would be set free from all condemnation and guilt.  





Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!

Day 72 - John 12:20-26

20 Some Greeks who had come to Jerusalem for the Passover celebration 21 paid a visit to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee. They said, “Sir, we want to meet Jesus.” 22 Philip told Andrew about it, and they went together to ask Jesus.

23 Jesus replied, “Now the time has come for the Son of Man to enter into his glory. 24 I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone. But its death will produce many new kernels—a plentiful harvest of new lives. 25 Those who love their life in this world will lose it. Those who care nothing for their life in this world will keep it for eternity. 26 Anyone who wants to serve me must follow me, because my servants must be where I am. And the Father will honor anyone who serves me.


Terrie's Comments:

I think that it is pretty incredible that by Jesus dying alone on the cross, he made a way for others to have life.  "a plentiful harvest of new lives".  Through His death on the cross all the sins of the world were taken care of.  All we need to do is put our faith in Jesus Christ as our savior and we are reconciled with God our Father!


Tori's Comments:

Verse 25 is a good cause for reflection... what is my focus in this life? Am I spending my love on God and His people or on the cheap entertainments this world has to offer?




Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!

Day 71 - John 12:12-19

12 The next day, the news that Jesus was on the way to Jerusalem swept through the city. A large crowd of Passover visitors 13 took palm branches and went down the road to meet him. They shouted, “Praise God!  Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord!Hail to the King of Israel!”14 Jesus found a young donkey and rode on it, fulfilling the prophecy that said:  “Don’t be afraid, people of Jerusalem.Look, your King is coming, riding on a donkey’s colt.”16 His disciples didn’t understand at the time that this was a fulfillment of prophecy. But after Jesus entered into his glory, they remembered what had happened and realized that these things had been written about him.17 Many in the crowd had seen Jesus call Lazarus from the tomb, raising him from the dead, and they were telling others about it. 18 That was the reason so many went out to meet him—because they had heard about this miraculous sign.19 Then the Pharisees said to each other, “There’s nothing we can do. Look, everyone has gone after him!”

Tori's Comments:

When God fulfills His promises, or our prayers, sometimes we don't realize until afterward, or until we see the big picture.

Terrie's Comments:

This scene is an amazing sight.  Jesus is declared as king!  This is an image of  his rightful place in our lives.  Just as this crowd went from this scene to a very short time later, total betrayal of who Jesus is, I find myself often adopting the mentality of a two year old "me do it!" attitude.  Declaring my full reliance on Jesus Christ and then turning around and trying to do things apart from Him and His plan in my life!  I am so glad that He loves me unconditionally and he completely understands that human struggle with the flesh since he overcame His flesh time and time again to fulfill what had to happen in order to set us free.

Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!

Day 70 - John 12:1-11

1 Six days before the Passover celebration began, Jesus arrived in Bethany, the home of Lazarus—the man he had raised from the dead. 2 A dinner was prepared in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, and Lazarus was among those who ate with him.3 Then Mary took a twelve-ounce jar of expensive perfume made from essence of nard, and she anointed Jesus’ feet with it, wiping his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance.

4 But Judas Iscariot, the disciple who would soon betray him, said, 5 “That perfume was worth a year’s wages. It should have been sold and the money given to the poor.” 6 Not that he cared for the poor—he was a thief, and since he was in charge of the disciples’ money, he often stole some for himself.7 Jesus replied, “Leave her alone. She did this in preparation for my burial. 8 You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.”9 When all the people heard of Jesus’ arrival, they flocked to see him and also to see Lazarus, the man Jesus had raised from the dead. 10 Then the leading priests decided to kill Lazarus, too, 11 for it was because of him that many of the people had deserted them and believed in Jesus.

Terrie's Comments:

This is amazing... not in a good way... "Then the leading priests decided to kill Lazarus, too, for it was because of him that many of the people DESERTED THEM AND BELIEVED IN JESUS."  This was a direct hit to their pride... the natural solution of course was to kill Jesus and Lazarus????  Makes complete sense to me... NOT!  Seriously people!  How did all those people go from following Jesus and believing in him to doing a turn around to betrayal and thinking he deserved death in just a short amount of time?  Human's are so dumb sometimes... Pride still brings out the worst in people!

Tori's Comments:

I think it's obvious Judas's first thought was not for the poor. Money is never a waste when used to further God's kingdom!

Ok so no wild stories this time but Tori is out of the country at the moment on missions... I expect she will comment on this when she gets a moment and has access to internet :-) 

Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!

Day 69 - John 11:45-57

45 Many of the people who were with Mary believed in Jesus when they saw this happen. 46 But some went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done.47 Then the leading priests and Pharisees called the high council together. “What are we going to do?” they asked each other. “This man certainly performs many miraculous signs. 48 If we allow him to go on like this, soon everyone will believe in him. Then the Roman army will come and destroy both our Temple and our nation.”49 Caiaphas, who was high priest at that time, said, “You don’t know what you’re talking about! 50 You don’t realize that it’s better for you that one man should die for the people than for the whole nation to be destroyed.”51 He did not say this on his own; as high priest at that time he was led to prophesy that Jesus would die for the entire nation. 52 And not only for that nation, but to bring together and unite all the children of God scattered around the world.53 So from that time on, the Jewish leaders began to plot Jesus’ death. 54 As a result, Jesus stopped his public ministry among the people and left Jerusalem. He went to a place near the wilderness, to the village of Ephraim, and stayed there with his disciples.55 It was now almost time for the Jewish Passover celebration, and many people from all over the country arrived in Jerusalem several days early so they could go through the purification ceremony before Passover began. 56 They kept looking for Jesus, but as they stood around in the Temple, they said to each other, “What do you think? He won’t come for Passover, will he?” 57 Meanwhile, the leading priests and Pharisees had publicly ordered that anyone seeing Jesus must report it immediately so they could arrest him.

Tori's Comments:

Verse 50 has me chuckling so much. How ironic!!! 

Terrie's Comments:
I find it interesting how Jesus behaves during this time.  It was not his time yet and so he vanishes.  They didn't tell him that they were looking for him or that they wanted to kill him.  He just knew... another thing that was revealed to Him through the Holy Spirit.  That was a pretty significant word of knowledge right there!  

The people who supposedly "knew" the scriptures like the back of their own hands, had no idea that prophecies were being fulfilled right in front of them and they were helping to bring them to fruition!!  

Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!

Day 68 - John 11:38-44

38 Jesus was still angry as he arrived at the tomb, a cave with a stone rolled across its entrance. 39 “Roll the stone aside,” Jesus told them.But Martha, the dead man’s sister, protested, “Lord, he has been dead for four days. The smell will be terrible.”40 Jesus responded, “Didn’t I tell you that you would see God’s glory if you believe?” 41 So they rolled the stone aside. Then Jesus looked up to heaven and said, “Father, thank you for hearing me. 42 You always hear me, but I said it out loud for the sake of all these people standing here, so that they will believe you sent me.” 43 Then Jesus shouted, “Lazarus, come out!” 44 And the dead man came out, his hands and feet bound in grave clothes, his face wrapped in a head cloth. Jesus told them, “Unwrap him and let him go!”

Terrie's Comments:The results of Jesus directing his anger in the right direction was Lazarus was raised from the dead.  Anger is a strong and powerful emotion.  If it is pointed in the wrong direction we will come to the wrong conclusions in life and do much damage.  If it is pointed in the right direction it gives us power, drive, motivation and follow through to take back territory that the enemy has stolen illegally.  We have all authority to take back what Satan has stolen from us... We need to begin to realize that the name of JESUS is as powerful as the devil and demons knows it is.

Tori's Comments:

IF you believe. Over and over, we see Jesus telling people that if they would just have faith... they would be amazed at the result! This is still a problem faced by Christians today, even though we have seen the rest of John's story.

TORI THIS MUSIC VIDEO IS FOR YOU :-) It fits with your comments today!

Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!

Day 67 - John 11:28-37

28 Then she returned to Mary. She called Mary aside from the mourners and told her, “The Teacher is here and wants to see you.” 29 So Mary immediately went to him.30 Jesus had stayed outside the village, at the place where Martha met him.31 When the people who were at the house consoling Mary saw her leave so hastily, they assumed she was going to Lazarus’s grave to weep. So they followed her there. 32 When Mary arrived and saw Jesus, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died.”33 When Jesus saw her weeping and saw the other people wailing with her, a deep anger welled up within him, and he was deeply troubled. 34 “Where have you put him?” he asked them.They told him, “Lord, come and see.” 35 Then Jesus wept. 36 The people who were standing nearby said, “See how much he loved him!” 37 But some said, “This man healed a blind man. Couldn’t he have kept Lazarus from dying?”

Tori's Comments:

Mary's reaction is one I know I would have been more prone to. 

Verse 33... was he angry at their lack of faith? 

Terrie's Comments:

I love that Mary left hastily to go and see Jesus!  When Jesus says he wants to meet with us is our response the same?  Do we leave the mourners around us and flee to his presence?  

I do not believe that Jesus was angry with the mourners.  They were mourning out of their deep love for their friend Lazarus.  I have felt an anger before that rose up from deep inside when the enemy has attempted to take something away that he had no right to.  That anger, if directed properly, will give you the courage to act and take back territory for the Kingdom of God.  It is a righteous anger. His reaction to the anger wasn't to yell at the mourners... that is why I believe that it was not an anger directed at them.  His reaction to the anger wasn't to question God... therefore I do not believe that he was blaming God or angry at God his Father for what happened to his dear friend.  His reaction to the anger was to ask where the body was... His anger called him to respond with action... His anger was directed towards taking back the territory that was stolen!  What is our response when something happens and our spirit's cry out "THIS IS NOT OK?"  We have been given authority in the all powerful name of Jesus... do we use it to respond when the Holy Spirit is crying within us to do something?

Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!

Day 66 - John 11:17-27

17 When Jesus arrived at Bethany, he was told that Lazarus had already been in his grave for four days. 18 Bethany was only a few miles down the road from Jerusalem, 19 and many of the people had come to console Martha and Mary in their loss. 20 When Martha got word that Jesus was coming, she went to meet him. But Mary stayed in the house. 21 Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask.”23 Jesus told her, “Your brother will rise again.”24 “Yes,” Martha said, “he will rise when everyone else rises, at the last day.”25 Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. 26 Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die. Do you believe this, Martha?”27 “Yes, Lord,” she told him. “I have always believed you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one who has come into the world from God.”

Terrie's Comments:

This situation must have had the battle between the spirit and the flesh raging in Jesus.  Lazarus was dead... he had been dead for 4 days!  He stunk already!  I wonder why Mary stayed home?  It is interesting that we see Martha coming out to meet Jesus and declaring her faith in Him as the Messiah.  In another place in scripture we see that Mary is the one sitting at the feet of Jesus and Martha is the one busy with the household business.  I think this is significant.  We can all be brought to Jesus in our own way in in our own time.  He is more than able to bring everyone to that place!  

Tori's Comments:

Wow! Verse 22 is SO impactful. Even when it seems like our prayers bounce off the roof, we can know that God is faithful to His word and His character.  It's days after, but instead of getting angry with God, Martha trusts in Jesus.

Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!

Day 65 - John 11:1-16

A man named Lazarus was sick. He lived in Bethany with his sisters, Mary and Martha. 2 This is the Mary who later poured the expensive perfume on the Lord’s feet and wiped them with her hair. Her brother, Lazarus, was sick. 3 So the two sisters sent a message to Jesus telling him, “Lord, your dear friend is very sick.”4 But when Jesus heard about it he said, “Lazarus’s sickness will not end in death. No, it happened for the glory of God so that the Son of God will receive glory from this.” 5 So although Jesus loved Martha, Mary, and Lazarus, 6 he stayed where he was for the next two days. 7 Finally, he said to his disciples, “Let’s go back to Judea.”8 But his disciples objected. “Rabbi,” they said, “only a few days ago the people in Judea were trying to stone you. Are you going there again?”9 Jesus replied, “There are twelve hours of daylight every day. During the day people can walk safely. They can see because they have the light of this world.10 But at night there is danger of stumbling because they have no light.” 11 Then he said, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but now I will go and wake him up.”12 The disciples said, “Lord, if he is sleeping, he will soon get better!” 13 They thought Jesus meant Lazarus was simply sleeping, but Jesus meant Lazarus had died.14 So he told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead. 15 And for your sakes, I’m glad I wasn’t there, for now you will really believe. Come, let’s go see him.”16 Thomas, nicknamed the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, “Let’s go, too—and die with Jesus.”

Tori's Comments:

"for YOUR sakes" (vs. 15) Interesting. Again we see Jesus glorifying God with his actions, but also working things together for the good of those who love him (aka disciples).

Terrie's Comments:

Jesus was given knowledge through the Holy Spirit about what was happening with Lazarus.  There were no phones, email or social networks.  Because Jesus listened to only what God wanted him to do and to say through the power of the Holy Spirit inside of him God's perfect will was always done.  This is another great example of how that played out.  In our human experience if a friend is sick we would immediately want to run to see them, especially if we got word that it was fatal.  Lazarus was a close friend to Jesus.  I am sure this was a time when he wrestled with his flesh.  However Jesus obeyed the Spirit's leading and God was glorified!!

Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!

Day 64 - John 10:31-42

31 Once again the people picked up stones to kill him. 32 Jesus said, “At my Father’s direction I have done many good works. For which one are you going to stone me?”33 They replied, “We’re stoning you not for any good work, but for blasphemy! You, a mere man, claim to be God.”

34 Jesus replied, “It is written in your own Scriptures that God said to certain leaders of the people, ‘I say, you are gods!’ 35 And you know that the Scriptures cannot be altered. So if those people who received God’s message were called ‘gods,’ 36 why do you call it blasphemy when I say, ‘I am the Son of God’? After all, the Father set me apart and sent me into the world. 37 Don’t believe me unless I carry out my Father’s work. 38 But if I do his work, believe in the evidence of the miraculous works I have done, even if you don’t believe me. Then you will know and understand that the Father is in me, and I am in the Father.”

39 Once again they tried to arrest him, but he got away and left them. 40 He went beyond the Jordan River near the place where John was first baptizing and stayed there awhile. 41 And many followed him. “John didn’t perform miraculous signs,” they remarked to one another, “but everything he said about this man has come true.” 42 And many who were there believed in Jesus.

Terrie's Comments:

Every time Jesus was under attack he somehow made it out until it was the appointed time for him to be crucified.  This was not a lone incident.  There were times when He just vanished and literally slipped through the leaders fingers.  

The people who were hanging around Jesus found it hard to deny that he was the Messiah.  Once you have hung out with Him awhile it is hard to deny who He is.

Tori's Comments:

We worship a God who has done many mighty deeds! (This makes me think of one of the songs Terrie has put on the playlist-- You Are I Am by MercyMe).

So how can we still doubt Him?

Take our personal comments or leave them. We would love to hear what stood out to you about today`s passage and how it encouraged you. Tell us in the comments below!