23 Jesus said to him, “What do you mean ‘if’? If you are able to believe, all things are possible to the believer.”
24 When he heard this, the boy’s father cried out with tears, saying, “I do believe, Lord; help my little faith!”
25 Now when Jesus saw that the crowd was quickly growing larger, he commanded the demon, saying, “Deaf and mute spirit, I command you to come out of him and never enter him again!”
26 The demon shrieked and threw the boy into terrible seizures and finally came out of him! As the boy lay there, looking like a corpse, everyone thought he was dead. 27 But Jesus stooped down, gently took his hand, and raised him up to his feet, and he stood there completely set free!
28 Afterwards, when Jesus arrived at the house, his disciples asked him in private, “Why couldn’t we cast out the demon?”
29 He answered them, “This type of powerful spirit can only be cast out by fasting and prayer.”
Tori's Comments:
"If you are able to believe, all things are possible to the believer". Let's just rest on that for awhile....
So many excuses we make for God not moving are shut down with this statement from Christ. Have faith, and Lord, help our unbelief.
Terrie's Comments:
Fasting and Prayer are two things that turn our focus from our physical needs to completely focused on Jesus! Just as the Israelite's were saved from the deadly snakes in the desert by fixing their eyes intently on the bronze snake on the pole. We need to refuse to give attention to the problem and keep our eyes fixed on our solution... JESUS! We are able to be used of God through the gifts of the Holy Spirit when our eyes are fixed solidly on Jesus alone.
We have a praise music list that we add to on a regular basis. You can find the link to it in the right hand column of this blog or by scrolling to the bottom of this page.
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!
Sunday, January 7, 2018
Saturday, January 6, 2018
Day 32 - Mark 9:14-22
14 Now when they came down the mountain to the other nine disciples, they noticed a large crowd of people gathered around them, with the religious scholars arguing with them. 15 The crowd was astonished to see Jesus himself walking toward them, so they immediately ran to welcome him.
16 “What are you arguing about with the religious scholars?” he asked them.
17 A man spoke up out of the crowd. “Teacher,” he said, “I have a son possessed by a demon that makes him mute. I brought him here to you, Jesus. 18 Whenever the demon takes control of him, it knocks him down, and he foams at the mouth and gnashes his teeth, and his body becomes stiff as a board. I brought him to your disciples, hoping they could deliver him, but they were not strong enough.”
19 Jesus said to the crowd, “Why are you such a faithless people? How much longer must I remain with you and put up with your unbelief? Now, bring the boy to me.”
20 So they brought him to Jesus. As soon as the demon saw him, it threw the boy into convulsions. He fell to the ground, rolling around and foaming at the mouth. 21 Jesus turned to the father and asked, “How long has your son been tormented like this?”
“Since childhood,” he replied. 22 “It tries over and over to kill him by throwing him into fire or water. But please, if you’re able to do something, anything—have compassion on us and help us!”
Terrie's Comments:
The thief comes to steal and to kill and destroy. Jesus always sets us free!
Tori's Comments:
It's so easy to fall into a place of unbelief.... despite the miracles God has done all throughout our lives! That's why it's so important we stand on God's word to remind us of the truth, and of who Jesus is, and of who we are in Him!
We have a praise music list that we add to on a regular basis. You can find the link to it in the right hand column of this blog or by scrolling to the bottom of this page. 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!
16 “What are you arguing about with the religious scholars?” he asked them.
17 A man spoke up out of the crowd. “Teacher,” he said, “I have a son possessed by a demon that makes him mute. I brought him here to you, Jesus. 18 Whenever the demon takes control of him, it knocks him down, and he foams at the mouth and gnashes his teeth, and his body becomes stiff as a board. I brought him to your disciples, hoping they could deliver him, but they were not strong enough.”
19 Jesus said to the crowd, “Why are you such a faithless people? How much longer must I remain with you and put up with your unbelief? Now, bring the boy to me.”
20 So they brought him to Jesus. As soon as the demon saw him, it threw the boy into convulsions. He fell to the ground, rolling around and foaming at the mouth. 21 Jesus turned to the father and asked, “How long has your son been tormented like this?”
“Since childhood,” he replied. 22 “It tries over and over to kill him by throwing him into fire or water. But please, if you’re able to do something, anything—have compassion on us and help us!”
Terrie's Comments:
The thief comes to steal and to kill and destroy. Jesus always sets us free!
Tori's Comments:
It's so easy to fall into a place of unbelief.... despite the miracles God has done all throughout our lives! That's why it's so important we stand on God's word to remind us of the truth, and of who Jesus is, and of who we are in Him!
We have a praise music list that we add to on a regular basis. You can find the link to it in the right hand column of this blog or by scrolling to the bottom of this page. 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!
Friday, January 5, 2018
Day 31 - Mark 9:1-13
1 Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth, there are some standing here now who won’t experience death until they see God’s kingdom realm manifest with power!”
2 After six days, Jesus took Peter and the two brothers, Jacob and John, and hiked up a high mountain to be alone. And Jesus’ appearance was dramatically altered, for he was transfigured before their very eyes! 3 His clothing sparkled and became glistening white—whiter than any bleach in the world could make them. 4 Then suddenly, right in front of them, Moses and Elijah appeared, and they spoke with Jesus.
5 Peter blurted out, “Beautiful Teacher, this is so amazing to see the three of you together! Why don’t we stay here and set up three shelters: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah?” 6 (For all of the disciples were in total fear, and Peter didn’t have a clue what to say.) 7 Just then, a radiant cloud began to spread over them, enveloping them all. And God’s voice suddenly spoke from the cloud, saying, “This is my most dearly loved Son—always listen to him!”
8 Suddenly, when they looked around, the disciples saw only Jesus, for Moses and Elijah had faded away.
9 As they all hiked down the mountain together, Jesus ordered them, “Don’t tell anyone of what you just witnessed. Wait until the Son of Man is raised from the dead.” 10 So they kept it to themselves, puzzled over what Jesus meant about rising from the dead.
11 Then they asked him, “Why do the religious scholars insist that Elijah must come before the Messiah?”
12 He answered them, “They’re right. Elijah must come first to put everything in order. And what about all that is written about the Son of Man? It is true that he must endure many sufferings and be rejected. 13 So Elijah has already appeared, just as it was prophesied, and they did to him whatever they pleased.”
Tori's Comments:
v.1: God's Kingdom is NOW!!
Terrie's Comments:
When Peter didn't know how to respond to an encounter with the heavenly realm he responded by suggesting something that is very human. Let us make a place of residence here on earth. We, as humans, tend to think about our physical needs often. We put our efforts into creating homes, feeding ourselves and our families, and dressing ourselves. How much energy and focus do we give the word of God itself? Or take time to understand that as believers we have the Holy Spirit living inside of us and we have the heavenly realm living in our midst everyday.
We have a praise music list that we add to on a regular basis. You can find the link to it in the right hand column of this blog or by scrolling to the bottom of this page. 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!
2 After six days, Jesus took Peter and the two brothers, Jacob and John, and hiked up a high mountain to be alone. And Jesus’ appearance was dramatically altered, for he was transfigured before their very eyes! 3 His clothing sparkled and became glistening white—whiter than any bleach in the world could make them. 4 Then suddenly, right in front of them, Moses and Elijah appeared, and they spoke with Jesus.
5 Peter blurted out, “Beautiful Teacher, this is so amazing to see the three of you together! Why don’t we stay here and set up three shelters: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah?” 6 (For all of the disciples were in total fear, and Peter didn’t have a clue what to say.) 7 Just then, a radiant cloud began to spread over them, enveloping them all. And God’s voice suddenly spoke from the cloud, saying, “This is my most dearly loved Son—always listen to him!”
8 Suddenly, when they looked around, the disciples saw only Jesus, for Moses and Elijah had faded away.
9 As they all hiked down the mountain together, Jesus ordered them, “Don’t tell anyone of what you just witnessed. Wait until the Son of Man is raised from the dead.” 10 So they kept it to themselves, puzzled over what Jesus meant about rising from the dead.
11 Then they asked him, “Why do the religious scholars insist that Elijah must come before the Messiah?”
12 He answered them, “They’re right. Elijah must come first to put everything in order. And what about all that is written about the Son of Man? It is true that he must endure many sufferings and be rejected. 13 So Elijah has already appeared, just as it was prophesied, and they did to him whatever they pleased.”
Tori's Comments:
v.1: God's Kingdom is NOW!!
Terrie's Comments:
When Peter didn't know how to respond to an encounter with the heavenly realm he responded by suggesting something that is very human. Let us make a place of residence here on earth. We, as humans, tend to think about our physical needs often. We put our efforts into creating homes, feeding ourselves and our families, and dressing ourselves. How much energy and focus do we give the word of God itself? Or take time to understand that as believers we have the Holy Spirit living inside of us and we have the heavenly realm living in our midst everyday.
We have a praise music list that we add to on a regular basis. You can find the link to it in the right hand column of this blog or by scrolling to the bottom of this page. 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!
Thursday, January 4, 2018
Day 30 - Mark 8:31-38
31 From then on, Jesus began to tell his disciples that he, the Son of Man, was destined to go to Jerusalem and suffer great injustice from the elders, leading priests, and religious scholars. He also explained that he would be killed and three days later be raised to life again. 32 Jesus opened his heart and spoke freely with his disciples, explaining all these things to them.
Then Peter took him aside and rebuked him. 33 But Jesus turned around, and glancing at all of the other disciples, he rebuked Peter, saying, “Get out of my sight, Satan! For your heart is not set on God’s plan but man’s!”
34 Jesus summoned the crowd, along with his disciples, and had them gather around. And he said to them: “If you truly want to follow me, you should at once completely disown your own life. And you must be willing to share my cross and experience it as your own, as you continually surrender to my ways. 35 For if you let your life go for my sake and for the sake of the gospel, you will continually experience true life. But if you choose to keep your life for yourself, you will forfeit what you try to keep. 36 For what use is it to gain all the wealth and power of this world, with everything it could offer you, at the cost of your own life? 37 And what could be more valuable to you than your own soul? 38 So among the unfaithful and sinful people living today, if you are ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of you when he makes his appearance with his holy messengers in the glorious splendor of his Father!”
Terrie's Comments:
I wonder what was going through the disciples heads as they heard what Jesus plainly told them about what was coming? Did they understand any of it?
I am looking forward to the moment that I leave my earthly body and enter my glorified body. I know that all of these questions that I tend to pose on this blog and as I read the scriptures will be fully understood on every level. Just as the disciples questions were completely answered when they passed into the heavenly realm as well.
Tori's Comments:
How easy is it for me to forget what Jesus has done and get caught up in my day to day struggles? I forget that my life is not about me, and that these things that are so frustrating in the moment will matter little at the end of my life. What will matter is God and how I've grown and trusted in Him throughout my life!
We have a praise music list that we add to on a regular basis. You can find the link to it in the right hand column of this blog or by scrolling to the bottom of this page. 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!
Then Peter took him aside and rebuked him. 33 But Jesus turned around, and glancing at all of the other disciples, he rebuked Peter, saying, “Get out of my sight, Satan! For your heart is not set on God’s plan but man’s!”
34 Jesus summoned the crowd, along with his disciples, and had them gather around. And he said to them: “If you truly want to follow me, you should at once completely disown your own life. And you must be willing to share my cross and experience it as your own, as you continually surrender to my ways. 35 For if you let your life go for my sake and for the sake of the gospel, you will continually experience true life. But if you choose to keep your life for yourself, you will forfeit what you try to keep. 36 For what use is it to gain all the wealth and power of this world, with everything it could offer you, at the cost of your own life? 37 And what could be more valuable to you than your own soul? 38 So among the unfaithful and sinful people living today, if you are ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of you when he makes his appearance with his holy messengers in the glorious splendor of his Father!”
Terrie's Comments:
I wonder what was going through the disciples heads as they heard what Jesus plainly told them about what was coming? Did they understand any of it?
I am looking forward to the moment that I leave my earthly body and enter my glorified body. I know that all of these questions that I tend to pose on this blog and as I read the scriptures will be fully understood on every level. Just as the disciples questions were completely answered when they passed into the heavenly realm as well.
Tori's Comments:
How easy is it for me to forget what Jesus has done and get caught up in my day to day struggles? I forget that my life is not about me, and that these things that are so frustrating in the moment will matter little at the end of my life. What will matter is God and how I've grown and trusted in Him throughout my life!
We have a praise music list that we add to on a regular basis. You can find the link to it in the right hand column of this blog or by scrolling to the bottom of this page. 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!
Wednesday, January 3, 2018
Day 29 - Mark 8:22-30
22 When they arrived at Bethsaida, some people brought a blind man to Jesus, begging him to touch him and heal him. 23 So Jesus led him, as his sighted guide, outside the village. He placed his saliva on the man’s eyes and covered them with his hands. Then he asked him, “Now do you see anything?”
24 “Yes,” he said. “My sight is coming back! I’m beginning to see people, but they look like trees—walking trees.”
25 Jesus put his hands over the man’s eyes a second time and made him look up. The man opened his eyes wide and he could see everything perfectly. His eyesight was completely restored! 26 Then Jesus sent him home with these instructions: “Go home, but don’t tell anyone what happened, not even the people of your own village.”
27 Then Jesus and his disciples walked to the villages near Caesarea Philippi. On the way, he posed this question to his disciples: “Who do the people say that I am?”
28 They replied, “Some say John the Baptizer, others say Elijah the prophet, and still others say you must be one of the prophets.”
29 He asked them, “But who do you say that I am?”
Peter spoke up, saying, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the Living God!”
30 Then he warned them not to breathe a word of this to anyone.
Tori's Comments:
Why did it take two times?
Terrie's Comments:
It is curious how many times Jesus told people not to tell anyone about what he had done for them. I am thinking that when you go and want to tell people good stuff in your lives it can sometimes come across as arrogant or a "better than you" attitude, even with the best of intentions. But how powerful it is when people notice a change and they are the one's to ask you what happened. It opens the door to a richer conversation with more glory given to what God has done.
We have a praise music list that we add to on a regular basis. You can find the link to it in the right hand column of this blog or by scrolling to the bottom of this page. 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!
24 “Yes,” he said. “My sight is coming back! I’m beginning to see people, but they look like trees—walking trees.”
25 Jesus put his hands over the man’s eyes a second time and made him look up. The man opened his eyes wide and he could see everything perfectly. His eyesight was completely restored! 26 Then Jesus sent him home with these instructions: “Go home, but don’t tell anyone what happened, not even the people of your own village.”
27 Then Jesus and his disciples walked to the villages near Caesarea Philippi. On the way, he posed this question to his disciples: “Who do the people say that I am?”
28 They replied, “Some say John the Baptizer, others say Elijah the prophet, and still others say you must be one of the prophets.”
29 He asked them, “But who do you say that I am?”
Peter spoke up, saying, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the Living God!”
30 Then he warned them not to breathe a word of this to anyone.
Tori's Comments:
Why did it take two times?
Terrie's Comments:
It is curious how many times Jesus told people not to tell anyone about what he had done for them. I am thinking that when you go and want to tell people good stuff in your lives it can sometimes come across as arrogant or a "better than you" attitude, even with the best of intentions. But how powerful it is when people notice a change and they are the one's to ask you what happened. It opens the door to a richer conversation with more glory given to what God has done.
We have a praise music list that we add to on a regular basis. You can find the link to it in the right hand column of this blog or by scrolling to the bottom of this page. 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!
Tuesday, January 2, 2018
Day 28 - Mark 8:11-21
11 As soon as Jesus landed, he was confronted by the Pharisees, who argued with Jesus and tested him. They demanded that he give them a miraculous sign from heaven.
12 And with a deep sigh from his spirit, he said, “What drives this generation to clamor for a sign? Listen to the truth: there will absolutely be no sign given to this generation!” 13 Then he turned and left them, got back into the boat, and crossed over to the opposite shore.
14 Now, the disciples had forgotten to take bread with them, except for one loaf of flatbread. 15 And as they were sailing across the lake, Jesus repeatedly warned them, “Be on your guard against the yeast inside of the Pharisees and the yeast inside of Herod!” 16 But the disciples had no clue what Jesus was talking about, so they began to discuss it among themselves, saying, “Is he saying this because we forgot to bring bread?”
17 Knowing what they were thinking, Jesus said to them, “Why all this fussing over forgetting to bring bread? Do you still not see or understand what I say to you? Are your hearts still hard? 18 You have good eyes, yet you still don’t see, and you have good ears, yet you still don’t hear, neither do you remember. 19 When I multiplied the bread to feed more than five thousand people, how many baskets full of leftovers did you gather afterward?”
“Twelve,” they replied.
20 “And when I multiplied food to feed over four thousand, how many large baskets full of leftovers did you gather afterwards?”
“Seven,” they replied.
21 “Then how is it that you still don’t get it?”
Terrie's Comments:
Jesus declares that no miraculous signs will be given... then he leaves. However He had just multiplied food and healed many. He had already raised the dead and cast out demons. He was moved with compassion for the people around him who were seeking him for a solution. The religious leaders were seeking to prove him wrong and discredit him. They were not looking to Him as their answer but only for the sake of protecting their own religious rules and pride. When we come to God we must do so with a heart of sincerity not of contempt. However I am sure that God can handle even the hardest of hearts if they are seeking God at all, He will be found!
Tori's Comments:
I find it funny that the disciples are fussing over forgetting to bring bread right after Jesus had multiplied it right in front of their eyes!
We have a praise music list that we add to on a regular basis. You can find the link to it in the right hand column of this blog or by scrolling to the bottom of this page. 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!
12 And with a deep sigh from his spirit, he said, “What drives this generation to clamor for a sign? Listen to the truth: there will absolutely be no sign given to this generation!” 13 Then he turned and left them, got back into the boat, and crossed over to the opposite shore.
14 Now, the disciples had forgotten to take bread with them, except for one loaf of flatbread. 15 And as they were sailing across the lake, Jesus repeatedly warned them, “Be on your guard against the yeast inside of the Pharisees and the yeast inside of Herod!” 16 But the disciples had no clue what Jesus was talking about, so they began to discuss it among themselves, saying, “Is he saying this because we forgot to bring bread?”
17 Knowing what they were thinking, Jesus said to them, “Why all this fussing over forgetting to bring bread? Do you still not see or understand what I say to you? Are your hearts still hard? 18 You have good eyes, yet you still don’t see, and you have good ears, yet you still don’t hear, neither do you remember. 19 When I multiplied the bread to feed more than five thousand people, how many baskets full of leftovers did you gather afterward?”
“Twelve,” they replied.
20 “And when I multiplied food to feed over four thousand, how many large baskets full of leftovers did you gather afterwards?”
“Seven,” they replied.
21 “Then how is it that you still don’t get it?”
Terrie's Comments:
Jesus declares that no miraculous signs will be given... then he leaves. However He had just multiplied food and healed many. He had already raised the dead and cast out demons. He was moved with compassion for the people around him who were seeking him for a solution. The religious leaders were seeking to prove him wrong and discredit him. They were not looking to Him as their answer but only for the sake of protecting their own religious rules and pride. When we come to God we must do so with a heart of sincerity not of contempt. However I am sure that God can handle even the hardest of hearts if they are seeking God at all, He will be found!
Tori's Comments:
I find it funny that the disciples are fussing over forgetting to bring bread right after Jesus had multiplied it right in front of their eyes!
We have a praise music list that we add to on a regular basis. You can find the link to it in the right hand column of this blog or by scrolling to the bottom of this page. 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!
Monday, January 1, 2018
Day 27 - Mark 8:1-10
1 During those days, another massive crowd gathered to hear Jesus, and again, there was no food and the people were hungry. So Jesus called his disciples to come near him and said to them, 2 “My heart goes out to this crowd, for they’ve already been here with me for three days with nothing to eat. 3 I’m concerned that if I send them home hungry, they’ll be exhausted along the way, for some of them have come a long, long way just to be with me.”
4 His disciples replied, “But could anyone possibly get enough food to satisfy a crowd this size out here in this isolated place?”
5 He asked them, “How many loaves of flatbread have you got?”
“Seven,” they replied.
6 Jesus instructed the crowd to sit down on the grass. After he took the seven loaves, he gave thanks to God, broke them, and started handing them to his disciples. They kept distributing the bread until they had served the entire crowd.
7 They also had a few small fish, and after giving thanks for these, Jesus had his disciples serve them to the crowd. 8 Everyone ate until they were satisfied. Then the disciples gathered up the broken pieces and filled seven large baskets with the leftovers. 9 About four thousand people ate the food that had been multiplied! Then he dismissed the crowd.
10 Afterward, Jesus got into a boat and sailed to the vicinity of Dalmanutha.
Tori's Comments:
"Could anyone POSSIBLY" Even after everything the disciples have seen, their minds don't immediately jump to believing Jesus is doing the impossible!
Terrie's Comments:
Jesus began with 7 loaves of bread and a few small fish. The food multiplied enough to satisfy 4000 people. Then the left overs where more than what they started with. I wonder what the people thought or how many comprehended what just had happened?
We have a praise music list that we add to on a regular basis. You can find the link to it in the right hand column of this blog or by scrolling to the bottom of this page. 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!
4 His disciples replied, “But could anyone possibly get enough food to satisfy a crowd this size out here in this isolated place?”
5 He asked them, “How many loaves of flatbread have you got?”
“Seven,” they replied.
6 Jesus instructed the crowd to sit down on the grass. After he took the seven loaves, he gave thanks to God, broke them, and started handing them to his disciples. They kept distributing the bread until they had served the entire crowd.
7 They also had a few small fish, and after giving thanks for these, Jesus had his disciples serve them to the crowd. 8 Everyone ate until they were satisfied. Then the disciples gathered up the broken pieces and filled seven large baskets with the leftovers. 9 About four thousand people ate the food that had been multiplied! Then he dismissed the crowd.
10 Afterward, Jesus got into a boat and sailed to the vicinity of Dalmanutha.
Tori's Comments:
"Could anyone POSSIBLY" Even after everything the disciples have seen, their minds don't immediately jump to believing Jesus is doing the impossible!
Terrie's Comments:
Jesus began with 7 loaves of bread and a few small fish. The food multiplied enough to satisfy 4000 people. Then the left overs where more than what they started with. I wonder what the people thought or how many comprehended what just had happened?
We have a praise music list that we add to on a regular basis. You can find the link to it in the right hand column of this blog or by scrolling to the bottom of this page. 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!
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