scripture:
Jesus went into galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. “the time has come,” he said. “the kingdom of God is near. repent and believe the good news!”
(mark 1:14-15, niv)
questions about the scripture:
believing that repetition is often a great tool for learning, why is repentance important???
were the galileans accepting of JESUS and His teachings???
what is "the good news"???
my answers to yesterday's questions:
as Jesus was coming up out of the water,
He saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit
descending on him like a dove.
and a voice came from heaven:
"You are my Son, whom I love;
with You I am well pleased."
at once the Spirit sent him out into the desert,
and he was in the desert forty days,
being tempted by satan. He was with the wild animals,
and angels attended him.
(mark 1:10-13 niv)
do you think this was the first time the SPIRIT had ever descended upon JESUS??? i'm torn with this question... part of me believes that, with JESUS, everything was timed out just right and that GOD may have indeed waited to send the SPIRIT to him after he was baptised... at the exact time JESUS was ready to receive that kind of power and boldness as a human being.
then there's another part of me that thinks HE'd always had the SPIRIT and that what the people saw and heard at JESUS' baptism was more for them and fulfillment of the scriptures.
what do you think was the significance of the 40 days Jesus spent in the desert at that time??? if JESUS had indeed just received the SPIRIT for the first time (and after having just study paul in depth), JESUS may have needed this time to come to terms with the change that had occurred within HIM. paul said in his letters that it was important for new recipients of the SPIRIT not to preach because of conceit (paul actually spent quite a bit of time in tarsus after his conversion.). or, if this was only a symbolic conversion for CHRIST, HIS time spent in the desert was also a fulfillment of scripture.
today??? the 40 days is the basis of lent. we either choose to give up something important (hence the temptation) and/or we choose to do and extra something positive in the eyes of GOD... all the while fasting in some way.
memory of the day:
i found out today that my friends' little girl/granddaughter, elisabeth, is very, very sick. i hope she will be made comfortable by the doctors tonight and that she will feel much better tomorrow.
saying grace:
my Father in heaven,there are no words to express who You are and what You mean to me. You never EVER cease to amaze me with Your work in my lives and in the lives of others who call on Your name. there is no better feeling than to be empty and have YOU fill me up with YOU through Your HOLY SPIRIT. thank YOU for this most precious GIFT; and please bestow it on whoever may be reading this and seeking more of YOU... that they may know and love You like i do:)
here am i, send me:D
ALmighty Father, please point out our sinful nature through Your Spirit that we may not forget the wrongs we have done against You and be able to ask forgiveness for each and every one. i know that a cleared path is the only way to You. please allow Your SPIRIT to help us to maintain our lenten covenants with You as well as all others around the world who are acknowledging the season in this same way.
GOD as prayers of intercession if it be your will...
please allow both dawn's and my johns to realize that they can give their stresses over to You when they become too much for them to bear that they can lighten their loads to be able to breath and enjoy all the blessings You have bestowed upon them (to be able to see the forest for the trees).
Father, i lift up m'lea's family to You that You may provide them with Your love and Your peace in this time of loss.
again, i lift up tabitha's mum and sister to You. show them that nothing is bigger than the love with which You have blessed us. soften both of their hearts so that one may reach out to the other and the other will be accepting of the sentiment. please don't allow any more time of animosity to separate them (for, time is so precious; and life is so short).
as an added prayer, please comfort sweet little elisabeth that she may rest. and let your presence be felt by lisa and thedonald:) also, i ask that lisa and her husband figure out what is going on with their little dino and in the meantime receive more support from dino's current school.
Father, i lift up the pardue's to You as well as hannah, cora's parents, the gaddises, the skaggs, the blandfords, and all others i am forgetting who are suffering... whether it be through loss of loved ones, war, loss of jobs, sickness, divorce, having hard decisions to make, etc... i know all You have to do is lay your healing hand on them and bring them the comfort and peace they need to feel Your breeze and follow Your light to the window You have opened for them, respectively.
in Jesus' name i pray.
amen
love,
dani
ps. if you have any prayer requests,
please let me know in your comment.
i will add it to my daily prayer list.
