DEVOS

Sorry I ve been doing other devos before i leave :)! 

 I might turn this int o a blog about how Costa Rica is going ...undecided yet

Matthew 27

Matthew 27:51-53

"At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.  The earth shook, the rocks split and the tombs broke open.  The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life.  They came out of the tombs after Jesus' resurrectiion and went into the holy city and appeared to many people"

In some Bibles it says "BEHOLD, the curtain yadda yadda yadda" 

Which means this part is like really important and show have our attention

This whole passage is just like wooh. It shows God's complete authority and the impact Jesus had on this world.  The city just didn't shake but even places they hadn't even discovered yet.  A giant earthquake the broke TOMBs.  Thats a pretty big earthquake and ps people rose from the dead. Thats a HUGE deal.  Another way God's power was displayed.  Enough so that later on we hear the centurion guarding Jesus say , "Surely this is the Son of God"

I love how it makes a big deal out of the temple curtain being torn in two. 

Back then the curtain kept the people separated from the area where God dwelled.  But this kind of shows (especially since it was ripped from the top down) that God is saying all right its time now.  I can now personally talk dwell in each and every one of you.  I love it.  Jesus made this possible for us. The Holy Spirit's job started.  I can't help but wonder what went through the minds of the peopel who saw this event take place.  Did they run in fear, did they fall to their knees, did they understand what was taking place? Did they even know about Jesus.  I am a visual person so i Just see God though in anguish of his Son, ripping the curtain across with a smile on his face knowing that now these people will be able to have him in their lives .

With the resurrections, I wonder who it was and how long they lived and what they were thinking.  Like, none of us know what it is like to be dead....and then alive again? Did they remember their time with God.  What did they say to the people? Omgosh there are so many questions taht can be asked here.  It would be so scary to see people you know were dead walking the town sharing Christ.  It woudl be hard to believe! I wonder how many people came to know Christ Specifically from this instance.  

Jesus was a big deal. 

 Is he a big deal in my life? 

Do I live like he is a big deal? 

What does living like that look like? 

God,

U R a big deal! Help me to see that and demonstrate that to others. May the passion I have for you just illuminate the dark world around me that others will see this light I have and desire to have the same.

 

Matthew 26

Matthew 26:11-12

"The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have me.  When she poured this perfume on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial."

The pouring of perfume on Jesus showed the highest respect. This perfume was the price of about a year's wages. A lot to "waste" on one man.  She didn't care though.  She loved him so much she was willing to spill it all on him.

This verse is talking about how there are always opportunities to help the poor for they will always exist, but this opportunity to exalt Jesus Christ as King would not.  She was showing her upmost respect and love for thsi man, offering the most expensive of perfumes.

When he says she was doing it for burial, we dont' know if she knew or not whether this was truth.  My hunch is she knew that Jesus' time was running short.  She had seen the pharisees getting anxious and had listened to what Jesus had been saying and quite possibly understood what he had been saying much more than even the disciples had.  She was just getting her one last show of affection out to him.  That's why Jesus said before.  "this is a beautiful thing"  She was professing her love, her devotion, her committment.

How do I profess my committment

        -prayer

       -reading

       -plans for my life

        -choosing him

       -growing

WOuld I be willing to give up the most precious thing I have for Christ???

Have I listened intently enough that I would know that this was Jesus' final time here on earth??

Would I be that woman or the woman working in the kitchen??

God,

I pray i would be the woman that laid at your feet pouring the perfume. What devotion she had. All she wanted was to show how much she cared for you and was willing to give up her most precious possesion for you.  God I pray that I will be a woman like this sitting at your feet just craving to hear you talk and give you my all.  You deserve my 100% and nothing less. My life is yours.  

 

mary martha study

I worked on my mary martha study for devos tonight! I will continue manana con mi matthew study! :)!

Promise!!!

Matthew 25

Matthew 25:35-36

"For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in.  I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me"

The real sacrifice is the time, property, and ease we give to others.  

Jesus says that these people will inherit the kingdom of heaven.  

The real question as I read this is How am I doing this? Where do I give generously?

Would Christ say to me come blessed one for you have given to me. 

I think its so important that I look at everyone as jesus.  Would I say to Jesus go up and get your drink yourself. Or no you can't have a piece of my lunch.  NO! I would give 100% to him and whatever I do now God will honor me for in the end.

*****Side note.  It just hit me. I am leaving. I am going away for a year. I am leaving my home and family, my friends, my job, my sercurity, my country, my language, everything.  And finally Chris and I have figured out our feelings for each other and  where our relationship is going and now we have to leave each other.  He has been gone for a week and a feel like its been years. I miss him loads. I'm just nervous and not ready and not wanting to go. I want to stay here and go to college like every other kid my age. :( I'm nervous. So far away, away from my friends and family.  I'm so scared. God please comfort me and give me a sense of peace. I know this is where you want me and you have a lot to teach me.

Matthew 24

Matthew 24:42

"Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come"

Do I think it is coming soon?

YES

I was talking to someone and they were telling me that int he next few years the Bible will have been translated into every tribal language known to man, meaning every nation will have heard the gospel.  This is just one of the many signs it is coming.

We don't know when though and therefore we must be ready. The passage goes on to talk about a homeowner who knows that a burgler is comign to his home.  Does he fall asleep and let the burgler go unnoticed? NO

He is prepared and on his guard for the minute the burgler comes.  

In the same way we must be prepared for Christ. 

Am i ready?????

Would Christ say you have done well good and faithful servant??

Would I be able to take on the burgler?

What does it mean to take watch? or be prepared?

-know the scriptures

-following Christ wholeheartedly

-evangelizing

-discipling

-growing

-solid focus on Christ

BE ON GUARD CHRISTY! 

God,

Only you know when that time will come. I pray I can be ready. I  pray I will use the little time I have hear on earth to show your love and help others prepare for your return.  

Matthew 23

Sorry I got home late last night so this is my devo for last night :)!

Matthew 23:12

"For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted"

Humble: Put others above themselves (Latin root: humilius meaning low)

Exalt: Praise, glorify, honor, raise, heighten

Jesus came as a servant.  he washed his disciples feet, healed during sorrow, taught when he was tired, and gave at all costs.  His whole life was an act of being a servant.  In Phillippians 2 it says , "He made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant"  

the Pharisees on the other hand raised themselves up.  They wore nice clothing, treated people as if they were insignificant and unimportant.  Tried to catch Jesus in his words, told people how to act, and so much more.  They put everyone else on a pedistool below themselves.  

Jesus is sort of directing this comment towards them.  

If you are prideful and put everyone below yourself you WILL be humbled or taken off that.

I love how Jesus doesn't explain how or when.  But he makes it clear that even though some people are pompous and prideful now.  It won't go unnoticed by God.  he WILL take them off that chair and humble them, even if they don't want to.

Then on the other side is says those of you who put others above yourselve and act as a servant as Jesus did will be exalted or raised up and honored.

God does not forget and what matters here as well is intentions.  Often times in our services to others our intentions aren't straight.  We can make ourselves nothing for the sole reason to be glorified by those who see the good things we do.  This in itself is being prideful and is incorrect servant hood.  When we serve we must do it out of love and be in the right mindset willing to take the backseat without being glorified for the willingness.  

What mind frame do I have when I serve? 

Am I serving God or man when I do so?

In what ways can I humble myself this week?

God,

I want to be a servant. I know you know that is a desire in my heart. I just pray that you would give me the mindset of a servant.  I pray that I would serve even when no one is around to see. I pray that I would humble myself to everyone in my life that they would see a reflection of you.  God I pray today as its muckfest that I would find a way to be a servant even there.

Matthew 22:15-46

Paying the Imperial Tax to Caesar

vs 16b "You aren't swayed by others, because you pay no attention to who they are".

-doesn't matter if you are rich, poor, beautiful, unbeautiful, etc.  Don't be swayed by someone for acceptance.  Jesus didn't and we shouldn't either.  It doesn't matter in the kingdom of heaven.

THey first ask "Is is right to pay the imperial tax to Caesar or not?"

v19-21 "Show me the coin used for paying the tax.  They brought him a denarius, and he asked them, " whose image is this?" Caesar's they replied.  Then he said to them, "give back to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's"

-WHAT IS GODS???

-my blessings

-my abilities

-my gifts

-my friendships

-my home

-my job

-my heart, my soul, mind, and strength

-my life, the whole kit and caboodle

God doesn't care about the worldy possessions we have, but what we do with our life and how we give back the blessings he gives us.  He didn't give us the things we have for no reason, but did so with a purpose so that we might give Him the glory he deserves. To give God what is God's we must offer up our entire lives as living sacrifices to Him who created us.  We are His children; we are His every aspect of our lives.  Live for the things that really matter. 

God,

I desire to serve you, but God I don't want to give 80%.  Iwant to offer up my entire life.  If there is any way I am not offering myself wholly up to you, please reveal it now so I can give my life to you completely and understand taht fullness you promised to us in John 10:10.  Your love is extravagant and you have given me so many blessings that I have no reason to deserve.  you are worthy to be praised. May I live my life completely and utterly for you.

Prayer

I can't even get myself to open the Bible tonight. I want to, but I am tired, confused, and wanting more.  God is teaching me patience, or something of the sorts, and it's hard.  Especially since well its been about 7 years I've been waiting and its starting to catch up with me.  My heart is breaking; desiring more than just the friendship.

Pray for me please.  Pray that I have patience, and don't get hurt more than I am already.  Only 28 days.  The fact is; I know I won't be able to escape this feeling even in Costa Rica.

Matthew 22:1-14

Parable of the Wedding Banquet

Matthew 22:14

"For many are invited, but few are chosen"

in the Bible of Basic English (wondering if this is even a real type of bible or just a commentary bible it says this verse as

"for out of all to whom the good news has come, only a small number will get salvation"

I thought this was interesting because a few friends and I have been looking into these type of verses which call us chosen.  

This passage leads toward the election side of the matter to me saying that God has gotten the word out and people know, but he has only chosen a few to share in his marvelous glory or banquet in this case.  He has elected us for this position. We ourselves did not choose but God himself chose us. 

That statement there then can lead to the discussion of freewill (do we have any then) or is it sovereign election.  It can also lead to questions as to why was I chosen? Was is based on foreknowledge or God's own decision? Those kind of questiosn are great discussion but the main point to receieve from this vs is right as it says.

We are significant! God CHOSE us.  We deserve nothing and yet he picked us to have a relationship with Him. We are precious in his sight; handpicked.

Remember in like 5th grade when team captains were chosen for a game. Well say you are awful at the game, but one guy genuinely picks you first out of everyone. How do you respond? upset; give up attitude??? NO, you do your absolute best to help the team, to do your part. So, as chosen followers, we must do our best to support our team to give it all to God. No I'm not good at this so I'm going to quit talking.  We perservere, we encourage, we love, we forgive, we screw up and get up again, we're on God's team.

God,

Lately I have been thinking about this matter a lot. I am so humbled by your mercy and your decision to chose me for your team.  God out of the 6 billion people in this world you looked at me and said yes, I chose her.  Thank you God; thank you from the bottom of my heart.  May my life be a reflection of you.

Matthew 21:23-46

The parable of the two sons

"What do you think?  There was a man who had two sons.  He went to the first and said, " son, go and work today in the vineyard"

"I will not," he answered , but later changed his mind and went. 

The the father went to the other son and said the same thing.  he answered " I will, sir" but he did not go.

Which of the two did what his father wanted.

"the first" they answered

Jesus said to them, "truly I tell you , the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did.  And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him."

I totally didn't understand this at first. I was soo confused. but its actually really sly. Jesus was a pretty mischievous perosn.  He was trying to convict the Pharasees here.

First he asks, What do you think?

He wants them to look into what he is saying and see themselves and who they are in the story.

The first son represents the tax collectors and the Prostitutes

When they first hear about Jesus and repentance and God, they reject the idea, but as they realize the truth and the benefits of it; they repent and turn their lives over.

The second son on the other hand represents the Pharasees

They say they believe and promise they will do it and follow Jesus, but in reality they are hipocrits. They talk the talk and don't walk the walk.  JOhn the Baptist came and showed them the way to righteousness and tehy didn't believe. 

God,

Which one am I? The believer or the hipocrit? I pray witha ll my heart taht I will chose to follow you with every aspect of my mind.  I have been the hipocrit before, but now I chose to believe and want ot follow you.  God make me the disciple you desire of me.  Give me a passion and a love.  I will follow whereever you lead me.