What Jesus was actually doing:

What people thought Jesus was doing:		What Jesus was actually doing:
What the Disciples thought Jesus was doing:	Coming to establish His kingdom here on earth.	Establishing His kingdom in the hearts and souls of men
What the Pharisees thought Jesus was doing:	Coming to abolish the Law and do away with the traditions of the church	Fulfilling all the Law and the Prophets
What the Sadducees thought Jesus was doing:	Bringing a hocus-pocus spiritual experience and  convincing people of angels and the resurrection of the dead	Preparing a way for the Holy Spirit to come and indwell every believer so that they would be resurrected to heaven at the second coming
What the sick, hungry, hurting sinners thought Jesus was doing:	Bringing a quick fix, a solution, something for nothing	Making the payment required to buy freedom from sin, sickness, and disease … giving them everything at His expense …
TRUTH & GRACE for LIFE !!

if you would just obey me

My son called me today to tell me that my granddaughter is having quite the time growing up. My husband and I were out and about and I know heads were turning as I responded to his story … but I couldn’t help myself … my granddaughter’s life was at stake. Recently she’s been struggling with nightmares and being scared. So much so that every night has turned into quite the drama of tears and pleading and not wanting to be left alone, wanting to sleep with her parents. My son has been struggling to deal with the situation and not really sure how’s the best way to handle her. But the other night she settled the issue for him. After much tears and pleading and refusing to stay in her bed he closed his bedroom door and locked her outside of it. She proceeded to through the most hellacious fit.

At this point you might begin to doubt his father’s heart; doubt his understanding and care of her tender heart and feelings; and so did he … until he heard:

“Daddy if you would just obey me I would go right to bed and go to sleep!” Ha ha ha.

I would’ve been rolling on the floor laughing if I wasn’t out in public! That is SO hysterical. But isn’t that the way we talk to God? If You would just obey me God and do what I’m asking you to do … THEN … I would follow You and everything would be wonderful again.  

The Purpose of the LORD

by Dr. A. Kerry Chadwick

     We plan many things in our lives. We plan what we are going to wear, where we are going to go, whom we are going to go with, and how we will get to or intended destination. My wife is a great planner. As soon as I mention I might be going somewhere she starts to plan my route and where I will stay, eat, and get gas. This kind of planning is very helpful. I married well. Fortunately, she is also flexible and does not melt down when plans change. She knows that if I make a plan it may very well change. Once when we were traveling we had to change our route unexpectedly. There was no complaining, she simply started a new plan.

     We can learn a valuable lesson from my wife; we can learn to take life in stride. When things happen that you have no control over you just roll with the flow. This does not mean that we neglect to plan. Few good things happen in life when we do not set goals and plan. One time I went on a trip without the benefit of my wife’s careful planning. The most notable event on the trip was staying in a negative five star hotel because of a convention.

     My mom and sister planned to lead a conference this week but due to flooding, they are stuck at a friend’s house. They are unable to go home and they were unable to lead the conference. They are also unable to write this week’s devotional because they do not have access to a computer.

     Plans change but our God is sovereign. God knows where you are and what you are facing. Trust Him with your plans and if they do not work out the way you thought, then ask God’s guidance and make a new plan. You may never arrive where you started out to go but you will arrive where God wants you.

“Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand."

- Proverbs 19:21 ESV

DANDELIONS

By Dr. A. Kenneth Chadwick

 

The dandelion has received a bad name not because of its beautiful flowers but because of its wonderful propensity to reproduction. It is as if the dandelion thought that when God told man in Genesis to be fruitful and multiply He was speaking to the dandelion.

I would maintain that it should not be the national flower but the world wide flower. It grows everywhere. It grows in the cracks of the sidewalks of the large cities. It grows along the unpaved streets of small villages. It grows alongside the highways and byways of all nations. It grows in the high mountains and the low valleys. It has the ability to adapt to all kinds of soil and weather patterns. 

Would not the dandelion serve as a wonderful example for the Christian to follow?

 Its roots go deep in the soil and it is difficult to extract them. It sows it’s seed indiscriminately and with profusion. Would not it be wonderful if all Christians would send their roots deep into the rich fertile soil of God’s Holy Word? So deep that it would not be easy for the cares and worries of this present age to so easily uproot them. And would not it be wonderful if Christians would sow the seeds of the gospel along the highways and byways of life in such an indiscriminate manner that many of the seeds would take root and there would be growth of the church that would astound all the people of the world.

Was not this what Jesus had in mind when he said in the closing words of Mathew’s gospel, Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.? Matthew 28:19-20

THE TRACE YOU LEAVE BEHIND

by Barbara Chadwick

 

 

“We don’t hack on bushes, we don’t hack on trees and we don’t hack on people.”

Andy Hornbaker was training a group of men backpacking into the high Uinta mountains of Utah. The training was called, “Leave no trace behind.” 

In life we do leave traces. Our words and actions are often etched onto the minds of others.

One evening we were sharing a meal with extended family. There were twelve of us sitting around the table. For some reason half of them were ragging on my sister-in-law. One tease after another – relentless. Why do we hack away at people just because they are a “good sport?”

As we were leaving I said to her, “I want you to know how much I appreciate you. You have always been an encouragement and an inspiration to me and I want to thank you.” Her eyes filled with tears and she hugged me. On the way home I felt badly that I didn’t say that at the table in her defense.

Paul said, So then, we must pursue what promotes peace and what builds up one another. Romans 14:19 

Paul shares this theme in other books of the New Testament as well: …Live your life in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ… Do nothing out of rivalry or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves… Make your own attitude that of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:27; 2:3, 5  (Note: To “Make your own attitude that of Christ Jesus” means to value what Jesus values. Apologetics Study Bible, p. 1775)

Jesus valued people. He loved people so much that:  For God loved the world in this way: He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16

The Lord is very compassionate and merciful. James 5:11

Jesus didn’t hack on people. Instead , in the Sermon On The Mount of Matthew chapter five He instructs believers to be encouraging:

Blessed are the poor in spirit, because the kingdom of heaven is theirs. Blessed are those who mourn, because they will be comforted.  Blessed are the gentle, because they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness because they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, because they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, because they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, because they will be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness, because the kingdom of heaven is theirs. Matthew 5:1-10

 

Let the trace you leave behind be gentle, compassionate, merciful, pure, peaceful and humble. Do not hack.