A bit of scripture, short meditations and stories, prayers, news and maybe a touch of humor.
After you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you after you have suffered a little while, the god of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. 1 Peter 5:10 Continue reading
‘26-27 Like a thief, the only shame that Israel knows is getting caught. Kings, princes, priests, and prophets—all are alike in this. They call a carved-up wooden post their father, and for their mother they have an idol chiseled out from stone. Yet in time of trouble they cry to me to save them! 28 Why don’t you call on these gods you have made? When danger comes, let them go out and save you if they can! For you have as many gods as there are cities in Judah. Jeremiah 2:26-28 Continue reading
1 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” 4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ Matthew 4:1-4
A 40-Day Fast?
Fasting; what an interesting topic, and just a week before many of us will feast on Thanksgiving. Have you ever been on a fast, a true fast? You know, multiple days with no solid food, only liquids. I got to thinking about that. How many days could I make it with nothing but water and dark chocolate pieces, or soup, or Gatorade, etc. to support my fast? Wait, can one have soup or dark chocolate pieces in a true fast? I shouldn’t make light of a sacred fast, but it is hard to get my mind around Jesus going 40 days and 40 nights in that wilderness, without food. No wonder he was hungry. And no wonder he was tempted.
Jesus knew, from an early age, who he was, and over the years, had serious conversations with his mother about the circumstances and blessings surrounding his birth, including what Simeon and Anna had said about him in the temple, long ago. From that young age on, He would daily engage in prayer and reading of the Holy Writ, thus, he communicated with his Heavenly Father.
Consider this, Jesus’ ministry had yet to begin. He traveled the 60 miles, on foot, from Nazareth, to the Jordan River, then more miles south to where John was baptizing. John objects to doing the baptism, but finally agrees, and Jesus’ Ministry begins with 40 days in the Jordanian wilderness, a vast grassland.
His time in the wilderness is a time of searching. He knows that he has a special, God-given purpose. Now, here he was, at the start of his time on earth. Here in this desolate place he considers His purpose, and is tempted by Satan. The magnitude of 40 days without food brought him to a point where Satan tempted him to use his power to find something to eat, turn these stones into bread. He answered the temptation with “Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every Word that comes from the mouth of God.”
How about you? Let’s say you started a fast, what would it take to tempt you out of that commitment? For me, any number of Italian dishes, would do the job rather quickly, even ‘fast’. Lobster ravioli, lasagna, seafood carbonara, just to name a few. Sorry. Again, how about you?
But, enough about food, it’s really about denying ourselves in the face of temptation. Or, perhaps, it is denying the Lord, living counter to his commandments. Do we love the comfort of a life apart from God, too much to change?
So, here’s a real question to consider: We begin a fast to the glory of God with firm resolve. How firm is our resolve? When the first pangs of hunger set in, or just the missing the ‘old life’, how do we respond? Can we see that discomfort, the temptation, as murmurings of Satan? At that point in our struggle, we should pray: Holy spirit give us discernment and wisdom to stand firm in Your light, anchored to the truth that is in Jesus Christ. Amen.
Dear Lord, I commit my life, my family and loved ones, all of our affairs from yesterday, today and tomorrow into your able hands. Please Lord, help me to seek you in everything I do, not just when I want to make big decisions or when I face difficulty. Holy spirit give us discernment and wisdom to stand firm, anchored to the truth that is in Jesus Christ. I’m in your hands, Lord. Amen.
But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles.
They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:31
Every God-begotten person conquers the world’s ways. The conquering power that brings the world to its knees is our faith. The person who wins out over the world’s ways is simply the one who believes Jesus is the Son of God. 1 John 5:4-5
Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. Romans 12:2 Continue reading
1 I will praise the Lord at all times. I will constantly speak his praises. 2 I will boast only in the Lord; let all who are helpless take heart. 3 Come, let us tell of the Lord’s greatness; let us exalt his name together. 4 I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me. He freed me from all my fears. 5 Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy; no shadow of shame will darken their faces. 6 In my desperation I prayed, and the Lord listened; he saved me from all my troubles. 7 For the angel of the Lord is a guard; he surrounds and defends all who fear him. 8 Taste and see that the Lord is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him! Psalm 39:1-8 Continue reading
16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely, I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:16-20.
So, do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10.
1 Let me now remind you, dear brothers and sisters, of the Good News I preached to you before. You welcomed it then, and you still stand firm in it. 3 I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me. Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. 4 He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said. 5 He was seen by Peter and then by the Twelve. 6 After that, he was seen by more than 500 of his followers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died. 7 Then he was seen by James and later by all the apostles. 1 Corinthians 15:1,3-7 Continue reading
As the deer longs for streams of water, so I long for you, O God.
2 I thirst for God, the living God. When can I go and stand before him?
3 Day and night I have only tears for food, while my enemies continually taunt me, saying, “Where is this God of yours?” 4 My heart is breaking as I remember how it used to be: I walked among the crowds of worshipers, leading a great procession to the house of God, singing for joy and giving thanks amid the sound of a great celebration! 5 Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again—my Savior and 6 my God! Psalm 42:1-6a
We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. 11 For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body.12 So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you. 2 Corinthians 4:8-12 Continue reading
“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.” John 14:1-4
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.” James 1:2-3
“Be on guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong.” 1 Corinthians 16:13 Continue reading
“We have studied life and found all this to be true. Listen to my counsel, and apply it to yourself.” Job 5:27
And this is the way to have eternal life—to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one you sent to earth. John 17:3
Fight the good fight for the true faith. Hold tightly to the eternal life to which God has called you, which you have declared so well before many witnesses. … By doing this they will be storing up their treasure as a good foundation for the future so that they may experience true life. 1 Timothy 6:12, 19 Continue reading
5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. 7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. 8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so, you will be My disciples. John 15:5-8 Continue reading
Surely you have granted him eternal blessings and made him glad with the joy of your presence. Psalm 21:6
You will show me the path of life; your presence is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forever more. Psalm 16:11
Whatever you ask in my name, that I will do. John 14:13 Continue reading
