I Surrender All - Listening to God

John 6: 66

Yes, John 666 - says

66 From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.

What? They turned their backs on Jesus and no longer followed him? Did this really happen and when. Well, let's look at John 6. First Jesus feed the 5000 with two fish and 5 loaves of bread. Then Jesus walks on water. Miracle after miracle Jesus does and then turn away. It was the next teaching that offended them.

John 6: 46 No one has seen the Father except the one who is from God only he has seen the Father. 47 Very truly I tell you, the one who believes has eternal life. 48 I am the bread of life.49 Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, yet they died.50 But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which anyone may eat and not die. 51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.”

The Jews began to argue - how can this man give us flesh to eat. They took it literal. They couldn't understand that the way to the Father was through the Son.

The disciples even tell Jesus this in verse 60 - "This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?” But Jesus tries to explain to them - The Spirit gives life, the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit and life.

But it is at the point some followers fell away - the twelve stuck with Him - even the one who will go on to betray Him.

Surrender the Flesh - Live in the Spirit

Easier said then done. Sometimes when I study, or listen to some uplifting music, or especially go on a retreat - I experience a Spiritual high. All is right and I am going to march forward with the Holy Spirit marching before me and I can do no wrong, right until life happens. Yup - the road is paved with good intentions.

For too many years I lived in the flesh and not the spirit - I did what made me happy, but in truth I was not happy. I couldn't find happiness as I went dating from man to man. I wasn't happy at work and I wasn't even truly happy at church.

One time I went to a Baptist Church's special Woman's Conference - I went up front for a special hands on healing time. When I got to the preacher - she blew into my face and said you - you have a gift from God. What gift I thought - my thought was don't tell me I have a gift-tell me what the gift it. Around the same time I went to a psychic, not that I really believe in them, but I use to love seeing this one lady who was a particular funny character. She looked at me and said, oh....you have the gift. So now I got THE gift, but I still don't know what the gift is.

I am still not sure what this gift is that they both talked about, but I try to use everything God has given me. I teach Sunday School, I sing in the choir and I write - I write this  blog and sometimes I just write for myself. Is that my gift, I guess God will let me know.

What's my Mission

Some people have a mission and they try to pull you into their mission. I found that to be true with a recent sex trafficking committee at my Church. I think is was just a thought that if there is a committee - Bev will be on it. But I didn't feel the call to be on this committee - others did and I am glad.

I just listened to the Pope talk to Congress, and I love this Pope and his call to help the poor is wonderful.

I think God instills in everyone a different mission or ministry. If we all had the same gifts I think that would be boring - I think God gives us different gifts so that we can all work for the good of God and the community.

Maybe mine is teaching, but you never know who you can teach on a day to day basis. Not all learning happens in the classroom.

Surrendering

Surrendering it all to God, might be the hardest yet easiest thing to do. The trouble with me is that I didn't get this until my 50's - I say so many times to God, why couldn't I have know this earlier. And He simply says, "You were not ready".

How do you surrender - Let go and let God.

Rick Warren says it best - "You know you're surrendered to God when you rely on God to work things out instead of trying to manipulate others, force your agenda, and control the situation. You let go and let God work. You don't have to always be in charge. Instead of trying harder, you trust more."

So let's pray

Dear God:

I am nothing with out you, I surrender all to you, instruct me, show me the way, and better still help me to listen to you. Every day in Every way. Thank you Lord, for being with me. Thank for the blessings you give me everyday and may my eyes and heart be open to seeing them. Amen

What I Learned on my Vacation - Part 2

Peace is a quiet heart.

Peace comes with your relationship with God.  Relationships with people can be anything but peaceful.

I hate to hear the phrase "Go in Peace" and you might think that odd, but let me tell you a story. I once knew a women who could push all my buttons.  She once was a friend, who held a position of some authority.  But she abused our friendship.  She would work me up to a frenzy, until I was so angry I could not handle it anymore.    Before I would get to the point of hitting her,  I would walk away and she would say - "go in peace" she knew that became an additional button to push on me.  Our relationship became anything but peaceful.  She was mentally abusive and cruel.  We need to get away from people like this.  I finally did.

Around God we have perfect peace.  The more we study and learn the more peaceful we can become.

Now let me tell you a funny story.

After my 3 days in Hershey at the Joyce Meyer Conference I came home with this great peace.  I came to work, which can me sometime be a tense and stressful place to work.  We have a co-worker who makes everyone angry with her lax work ethic.  She comes and goes when she pleases and the rest of us must work 8 to 5 and if you a few minutes late you hear about it.   So on my way to work I prayed to continue the peace I was feeling.  A funny thing happened.  First when the first incident happened I turned and calmly said; "You know I was thinking about this and if this causes so much unrest maybe we should go to the boss and tell him and if he doesn't do anything about it, so be it, but we would at least get it off our chest."   Later, when another incident happened and people were getting a little loud I said, "I won't let this bother me, if she wants to act that way, ok, but I am not going to act that way."

Around 3PM the girls in the office said "OKAY, THAT'S IT - NEXT YEAR YOU STAY HOME AND WE ARE GOING TO HERSHEY TO SEE JOYCE, YOU ARE JUST WAY TO CALM"

So, I have been sharing my thoughts with them and I think it has helped, just a little.  Little baby steps though are the best sometimes, to take.

Luke 5:16 - But He (Jesus) Himself withdrew (in retirement) to the wilderness and prayed.

You see, even Jesus made sure He had alone time.  He ministered to the people, but he also would step away to be alone and pray.  If Jesus could do this, then so can we.  And when I say ALONE, that is without your phone, facebook, TV or your tablet.  Intimate time with God leads to a peaceful mind.

Prayer:

Dear God - I find Peace in Loving you Oh God, I am ready to receive your Grace. Amen

Jesus said........"GET UP!"

John 5: 1-8

5 Some time later, Jesus went up to Jerusalem for one of the Jewish festivals. 2 Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate and which is surrounded by five covered colonnades. 3 Here a great number of disabled people used to lie—the blind, the lame, the paralyzed. 5 One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, “Do you want to get well?”

7 “Sir,” the invalid replied, “I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.”

8 Then Jesus said to him, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk. 9 At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked.

Excuses, Excuses, Excuses

When I teach this scripture to children I teach it as a miracle that Jesus performed. But if I were to teach this to adults there is soooo much more to learn. First - the backdrop of the story. There is pool surrounded by columns outside of a gate. Lots of people who were crippled, blind or with other problems waited around the pool until the "waters stirred". It was thought that an Angel of the Lord would dip their foot into the water causing the stirring and that the first one in was healed.

Now, if that was true today and I could dip my legs into a pool and heal them instead of contemplating knee replacement you would bet that I would have my butt as close as possible to the pool and I would try my best to get in that pool first. But here lies this man for 38 years. Really 38 years?? I have a bff who says to me, when I want to give the man with a sign asking for money to eat, a dollar, "Where did he get the paper and the sharpie to write that sign?" Well, I have to ask, how did the man get to that spot outside of the gate. Did someone bring him each day? Did he live there for 38 years - who fed him - did he beg for everything - 38 years. You mean to tell me in 38 years he couldn't crawl closer. I would have - I would of been hanging over the edge just waiting.

So now here is the interesting part. Jesus says to the man, knowing his plight - "Do you want to get well?” and the man replies "Sir, I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.” Excuses, Excuses, Excuses.

How many times do we make excuses for our conditions. Oh, I would loose weight, but it's so hard. I would be in better health if someone would exercise with me. I would be on time if you would give me a call to wake me up. I would join a Bible Study Group, but I am so busy. On and on we go, too busy, don't want to do it alone, to hard, to difficult, not smart enough, not pretty enough and anything else you can think of.

BUT - what does Jesus answer - “Get up! (notice the exclamation mark) Pick up your mat and walk.” No excuses, in fact it was the Sabbath and technically picking up his mat was work but if Jesus said to me GET UP you better believe that I would get up. No excuses says God.

We build up excuses for ourselves, for our plights in life, whether their major or minor. We hide behind them.  It is easier to believe an excuse than the truth. The truth being that we are either full of self-pity, self-loathing or just lying to ourselves and others completely.

An Epiphany

How many of us are that man on the mat. How many of us would rather live a less healthy, happy or fruitful life because it is easier to do nothing than it is to do something. I had an Epiphany of sorts with my own weight loss problems. My Pastor on Easter said that which enslaves us keeps us from God. And it is true for me. God didn't intend for me to be overweight. He intends for me to be healthy and to treat my body as a gift from Him. Yet I snack, over eat and don't get enough exercise and YES I make my excuses. My knees hurt, I am addicted to chocolate and I am to tired, I work all day. I realized on Easter that I was enslaved to my weight. Chocolate was my master. Since Easter I have lost 5 pounds, but it hasn't been easy. I was doing good for about 10 days and then I started slipping - I am hoping writing this gets me back on track.

What do I do now?

How do I stop making excuses.  Pray.  Starting everyday with a prayer is helpful - as I talk to God I regroup myself. I ask for help. I don't buy snacks and don't bring in candy to work. I GOT UP off my duff and even walk the dog, bad knees and all.

I picked up my mat and I am walking with it and if it gets too heavy, I will turn to God for help.  

40 Days of Lent - Christ is Risen!

Christ is risen indeed!

Happy Easter

Today's Lenten and final thought is:

March 31 - Easter is the ultimate second chance.  Live anew!

Today, Pastor Mike's sermon started with a story about when he came to Salem.  John, the President of Consistory,  showed him the church, in the dark, without turning on the lights and then proceeded to tell him a ghost story.  The funny thing is that ghost story is mine.  A few years ago, the Monday after Easter I went into church to take care of the flowers.  When I walked in the Sanctuary I had walked to the front of the church and then turned and saw a women, dressed in green sitting in the pew in the back.  I can described to you details of what she was wearing.  I was alarmed I thought that this woman might of been confused, thought it was Sunday.  I had never seen her before.  When I quick turned back to talk to her, she was gone.  I went looking for her, even so much as to look under the pews, but she was gone.  She is now referred to as "The Lady in Green".

I don't know if she was a ghost or an angel, but I saw her and I believe.  Other people believe in her, even though they didn't see her.  We didn't see Jesus hang on the cross, nor did we see Him after the resurrection, but we believe! 

Pastor Mike says he sees God and Jesus everywhere, in people, in the congregation.  We carry on God's work and people can see that in us.

I see Jesus in the children and every so often something special happens that makes me believe all over again.  Today, it was a simple hug, from one of the children before he left.  It was full of love, joy and happiness.  That's the best kind of hug.  In that little unexpected moment I felt the Love of Jesus Christ and it was overwhelming.

CHRIST IS RISEN......CHRIST IS RISEN INDEED!!!!  This is not the
end, but just the beginning. 

40 days of Lent - Day 40

Today is the 40th day of Lent - since Sunday's don't count

Today's Lenten thought is a day late - I was going to put this on with yesterday but I forgot.

March 30 - Today's reading, John 18: 1-19:42, is a long one.  It is John's account of Jesus' passion.  On this Good Friday you might want to find a time to read it all through slowly. and to sit with this story.

Today is the day before Easter - I can only imagine how lost the disciples felt.  Jesus was dead, and they didn't understand that He was going to return.  This is a quiet time to pray and think about what this Lenten season meant to you.  Tomorrow will be my last entry in this...the 40 days of Lent.

Have a good evening and tomorrow we will rejoice!

40 days of Lent - Good Friday

Today's Lenten Thought -

March 29 - Jesus dies on the cross.  Think about it.  Why did it happen?  Ask yourself what you truly believe.  Now ask God.

First let me try to answer the question my bff, Cathy asked - why is it called Good Friday.

Some say it is from "God's Friday" (Gottes Freitag); others maintain that it is from the German Gute Freitag, and not specially English." (The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume VI, 1909) However, the historical origins of why Good Friday is called Good Friday remain unclear, but the theological reason is very likely the one expressed by the Baltimore Catechism: Good Friday is good because the death of Christ, as terrible as it was, led to the Resurrection on Easter Sunday, which brought new life to those who believe.  The term "Good Friday" is only used by Western Christians, and not by Eastern Orthodox Christians. The Orthodox refer to this sacred day as "Great and Holy Friday."

(Gee Cathy I hope this helps, even though there is no real answer)

I know what the Bible says about this day,  Jesus had to die for us to live.  But it is still a hard thing to really think about.   I often reflect upon the final words of Jesus, I don't think I truly understand them all.  But I do know what I truly believe and I believe that Jesus is the way, the truth and the life and through Him I will have eternal life.

Have a blessed day.

40 days of Lent - Taking risks

Maybe this is just a coincidence - but today is International Woman's Day

International Women's Day has been observed since in the early 1900's, a time of great expansion and turbulence in the industrialized world that saw booming population growth and the rise of radical ideologies.  Which brings me to today's Lenten Thought -

March 8 - Take a risk, confront something controversial.  Following Jesus requires more than just enjoying the blessings of faith.

Some inspiring women who have done this where listed on MSN this morning -

Malala Yousafzai -On October 19, 2012, 15-year-old Pakistani Malala Yousafzai was shot in the head and neck by the Taliban while riding on a school bus in the Swat valley. She had been advocating for girls’ education and rights, which have been obstructed and violated by the Taliban.

 

Former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords - Gabrielle Giffords was hosting a constituent event in Tucson, AZ when she was shot in the head at close range. The massacre left six dead and 12 others injured. After two years of rehabilitation, former congresswoman Giffords  gives testimony at the Senate Judiciary hearing on gun violence on January 30, 2013, in the aftermath of the Sandy Hook school shootings.

Rosa Parks is set to become the first African-American woman to be enshrined in Capitol Hill’s gallery of honor later this year - On December 1, 1955, in Montgomery, Alabama, Parks refused to obey bus driver James F. Blake's order that she give up her seat in the colored section to a white passenger, after the white section was filled.

 

These are only 3 people who took a risks - there are so many more people over the course of history who have take risks, some have changed the world.

 

I don't know what risks I could take, I try not to be controversial, I even try to watch what I post on Facebook so as not to offend anyone.  But, playing it safe is not what God has called us to do. 

 

So who knows, maybe you or I will be the next person to change the world.

40 days of Lent - Moving the Mountain

Today's Lenten thought

February 25 - Jesus says even tiny faith can move mountains.  What are the "mountains" you could move with the faith your already have?

Whew - that's a tough one.   I got a lot of "mountains" I would like to move, but sometimes I don't feel that I have enough faith to move them.  Sometimes the faith is just the faith that I have in myself.  I believe that with God all things are possible, but I forget to include Him in my daily struggles, the little things I feel that I should not bother him with.

We all feel that sometimes we shouldn't be calling on God for the little things, or for our own shortcomings, but God doesn't mind.  He says to pray unceasingly so He knows and is ready to help with the "small stuff".

Todays Lenten thought is from the scripture in Matthew 17:20 - You don't have enough faith," Jesus told them. "I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it would move. Nothing would be impossible."

A mustard seed is so tiny but yet Jesus said that this is enough to move a mountain.  Now that is an empowerment - I feel better already just knowing that.  How about you, are you ready to move your mountains?

40 days of Lent-Go Fish?

Today my UCC Lenten Calendar has the following:

February 15 - "Fish on Fridays is a Catholic traditions and not a bad idea. Eating fish twice a week is recommended by the American Heart Association.  Good for your brain, too."

I don't know about you but I certainly could use something for my brain.  

 I found myself researching where fish on Friday started.  There is an old story about a Pope way way back that decided to help a small fishing village by proclaiming one needs to eat fish on Friday.  However the Vactican says there are no records to that effect and that actually fasting is what was suppose to be followed.

According to Wikipedia - The Catholic Church observes the discipline of fasting or abstinence at various times each year, especially during Lent. For Catholics, fasting is the reduction of one's intake of food, which may or may not include abstinence from meat (or another type of food).

According to Christian teaching, Jesus died on a Friday, and his death redeemed a sinful world. People have written of fasting on Friday to commemorate this sacrifice as early as the first century.

Technically, it's the flesh of warmblooded animals that's off limits — an animal "that, in a sense, sacrificed its life for us, if you will," explains Michael Foley, an associate professor at Baylor University and author of Why Do Catholics Eat Fish On Friday? Fish are coldblooded, so they're considered fair game. "If you were inclined to eat a reptile on Friday," Foley says, "you could do that, too."  (Anybody for snake on Friday)

Any way - all this talk of fish takes me to the VBS song:

Today is the day for which I've been waiting
Jesus is a preaching and I going there
I'm packing my lunch it won't be empty.
I'm bringing plenty so that I can share
One basket, two fish and five loaves of barley bread.

We know the story - Jesus feeds the 5000 with just 2 fish and 5 loaves of bread that a young boy brings. A line in the song proclaims

Everyone agreed it was a MIRACLE! - which I love to shout out when singing the song

Miracles are around us everyday - we just don't notice them - just like yesterday's Lenten message which told us to "notice everything, notice ourselves"  today's is notice the miracles.  However small they are, like a flower, a bird flying overhead and especially a baby's cry, these are all small miracles.

The other day I felt like I experienced a miracle.  On my way to work Wednesday I came to a three way stop, I was just ready to make my right turn when I heard or felt "wait" and sure enough here came a car down the street, never saw and never stopped at the stop sign.  I would of been hit in the driver's side of my car.  After I made the turn, I said a small prayer, just simply "thank you God, thanks for that".

Today, be aware of the miracles ....they do happen, and when they do, say thanks.

40 Days of Lent

My Pastor, Pastor Mike has to stop giving rousing sermons.  They start me wondering as to what my mission and ministry is in this life.  What talents and treasures am I using that God has given me to work to His good.   Last night, at our Ash Wednesday Service he pointed out that we our Ambassadors of our faith.  Oh Pastor Mike stop it!

No, seriously don't.  We need reminders as to what we are here for and why we were put on this earth. 

We forget sometimes because life gets in the way.  Work, laundry and even cleaning sometime sidetracks me.   Our minds become marshmallows of thinking.  That is one of the reasons I stopped writing this blog, I had to think.  I had to study and search the Bible for answers.  Instead I gave into life.  But soon everything became the same everyday.  Example, and this is true.  I was driving to work this morning and when I hit Schadt Avenue I suddenly wondered, what did I wear today.  That is a true marshmallow mind. 

Well - in this 40 days of Lent  -  I vowed to start thinking again, so I printed off a calendar yesterday from the UCC Church that goes with their devotional that we are doing in our book club for Lent called Spring Cleaning, I received a very timely message....

February 14 -  Lent commemorates the 40 days Jesus spent wandering in the wilderness.  Go for a solitary wander through your neighborhood with no destination in mind. Notice everything. Notice yourself.

Wow, notice yourself.   Do any of us take the time to notice ourselves.  You know, it is in those solitary times that God can speak to us the best and those solitary moment become less and less with the increase of electronic devices that are at our finger tips so that we can be busy playing games or texting every moment of our day.  A Christmas song has a line in it that goes, I wonder while I wander. 

Today spend sometime wandering.  Maybe, you're like me and you can't really take a walk around your neighborhood because you're at work and won't have time later, so today, where ever I walk - which will be at the Farmers Market at lunch - take to time to notice everything.  Notice something that you might take for granted normally.  Notice the details in something, a piece of fruit as an example.  And more importantly notice yourself today.  Notice where you are in God's plan.  Are you where you want to be? And are you where God wants you to be!

Joyce Meyer says, "I may not be where I need to be but I thank God I am not where I used to be" 

I think that sums it up.  Good travel on your Lenten Journey.

Day 7 - On which Mountain?

Today's Scripture comes from the woman at the well story in John  4 -  
¹⁹ “Sir,” the woman said, “I can see that you are a prophet. ²⁰ Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem.” 

The Jews had the temple in Jerusalem, while the woman, a Samaritan thought the correct place was Mount Gerizim.  But Jesus answers her with   ²¹ “Woman,” Jesus replied, “believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. 


Jesus' death and resurrection would soon be coming and from that a different way of thinking began.  God can be worshipped from anywhere.  From any mountain, in any room or from any country.  That is the freedom of religion.  

What I always find humorous in the Bible is that  woman almost always "got it", this woman understood  that Jesus was the Messiah and went to tell others.  The Disciples never quite got what Jesus was trying to tell them until after the resurrection.  It all comes down to faith.  


Oh, I have heard of arguments (been in a few) as to which mountain (religion) is the right one.  The louder the other person is yelling tells me they haven't gotten it yet, Jesus' message was about loving one another not which religion is right and which is wrong. 


So remember, it's not where your mountain is, but what you have learned from that mountain.

Day 6: The mountain that showed up at my door

In the beginning of my 40 days on the mountain I said something like if I can't go to the mountains, I'll have the mountains come to me.  Literally on Saturday this scripture came to me via a knock on the front door.  It was my friends, the Jehovah Witnesses and she asked me, do you think Church and Politics should be mixed.  I said  no (thinking of the statement never talk about either because it causes many an argument, a few I have been in, LOL) She then agrees and sites this scripture.

John 6: 15 -  Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself.

Now I wasn't thinking about church and politics when she was reading this to me, all I could see was the word MOUNTAIN, and I am thinking, wow God you can really send reminders!  It was like - good morning Bev, oh by the way your behind on that 40 day blog so here is a scripture to ponder.  So ponder I have, I am not sure this is really about Jesus not wanting to be a politician or  not wanting to mix religion with politics as much as it was that the people did not understand what kind of "Kingdom" Jesus was going to be ruling over.

The people of the time wanted a King who would fight for the freedom.  Jesus was fighting, but for our souls, His Kingdom was to be in heaven and the people weren't quite grasping that at the time.  The people wanted war but Jesus was trying to teach us unconditional love for one another.  Something, I still have a little trouble grasping, and maybe that's why God sent a mountain to my door to remind me I am on a journey and I need to continue on it.

Day 4: Sermon on the mountain

I am not sure where this scripture will lead me, but here we go. This particular teaching is know as the Sermon on the Mount -

Matthew 5: 1 Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, ² and he began to teach them. 

What Jesus taught them were the Beatitudes and here they are

  “Blessed are the poor in spirit,
    for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
⁴ Blessed are those who mourn,
    for they will be comforted.
⁵ Blessed are the meek,
    for they will inherit the earth.
⁶ Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
    for they will be filled.
⁷ Blessed are the merciful,
    for they will be shown mercy.
⁸ Blessed are the pure in heart,
    for they will see God.
⁹ Blessed are the peacemakers,
    for they will be called children of God.
¹⁰ Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
    for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

¹¹ “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. ¹² Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. 

I always found the Beatitudes hard to teach to Sunday School Children.  Jesus is trying to teach us a transformation of our inner self.  Jesus presents the Beatitudes in a positive sense, virtues in life that will lead to a reward, not so much in this lifetime but in eternity. Someone once described them as Be - attitudes,  positive traits for our life.  They breakdown more simply as --be humble, mourning not only in the passing of others, but mourning our own regrets of our sins.  Meekness, which follows along with humility, meekness can also mean kindness and gentleness.  Justice, mercy, love and peace all wonderful traits the can build off from one another.  Of course, all this might come with a price, others might not understand you and insult you, and even persecute you.  This still happens today.  But in the end, you got heaven to look forward to.


Maybe these are some attitudes I need to build on more. Maybe that's why I was led to this mountain and had such a hard time with it.   Today's sermon at church  reflected on letting God's Love flow in and out of us.  Love for one another is sometimes hard to maintain.  As much as you love someone, it can also be easy to get mad at them.  But to love unconditionally is the gift that God gave us in Jesus and His teachings are trying to show us the way to love everyone unconditionally to.  Not an easy thing to do, but who said this was going to be easy.

Day 3: Temptation

If you were wondering, I wasn't napping on the mountain top, life just got in the way.  I had this post written out in my notes, but just haven't had time to post it here.  Today's mountain is from Matthew 4:8  Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. ⁹ “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”
¹⁰ Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’ ” 

Since we start off with the word "Again" we know that this is not the first time the devil tempted Jesus, in fact it was the third time.  This story takes place right after the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist, and the voice of God declaring that Jesus was His Son.  Jesus leaves and fasts for 40 days and 40 nights (geeze 40 days sounds so familiar)  and the devil tempts  him by saying - "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” but Jesus answers with  "It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.".  Jesus had faith that God would provide for Him.  Then the devil tries to tempt Him by taking him to the highest spot in the Holy City and saying  "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down. For it is written, “He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone”  But Jesus answers with, It is also written, "Do not put the Lord your God to the test."  Now God test us from time to time, but to test God means that really, you don't have faith.  And now lastly, from our mountain the temptation of POWER to have everything, but the catch is to worship the devil but Jesus again counters with ...it is written  "Worship the Lord your God and serve Him only." 

Jesus defeated the devil, defeated temptation by a means offered to each and everyone of us; and that is by the thoughtful and intelligent use of the Word of God.  Each answer of Jesus was a scripture from the old testament, scriptures Jesus had memorized.  I guess that's why so many people say to memorize scripture, but I have a hard time remembering what I did today let alone a lot of scriptures, but the Bible is usually pretty handy at my house, one only has to open it for answers.  What's your temptation?  and what does the Bible say to help counter it.. If you cannot find anything specific I leave you with his last scripture that helps us deal with temptation.

From 1 Corinthians 10:13

¹³ No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.