FROM THE INSIDE OUT
Buffalo at 
(5) MissouriIt’s happening this afternoon at Mizzou’s Faurot Field Columbia , MO. The nation’s No. 1 ranked offense takes the field in its last non conference game when Missouri hosts Buffalo. Chase Daniel continues his Heisman push as he’s tossed 10 TDs. Hope I can find a station here in Texas to watch it!!
The boys were at it early today with pre-game team pictures and then the game. Josiah was so excited all week! His highlight real included stealing the ball, running all the way down field to have one of his team mates steal it at the last minute to kick it in the goal!
Josiah is such a team player that he still gave two thumbs up after it happened! I am so proud of him. He is really getting pretty good.
“But Jesus responded, ‘He wrote this commandment only as a concession to your hard hearts. 6 But ‘God made them male and female’[b] from the beginning of creation. 7 ‘This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife,[c] 8 and the two are united into one.’[d] Since they are no longer two but one,9 let no one split apart what God has joined together.’” v. 5-8
The Pharisees are trying once again to trick/corner Jesus by asking a controversial question. This time the question is centered around the concept of Divorce. If you have ever experienced divorce you know how difficult it is. The Pharisees looked at divorce more as a legal matter where Jesus addresses it more as a spiritual matter. Here is what the Life Application Study Notes said today,
God allowed divorce as a concession to people’s sinfulness. Unfortunately, the Pharisees used Deuteronomy 24:1 as a proof text for the sanctioning of divorce. Jesus explained that divorce was not God’s ideal; instead, God wants married people to consider their marriage permanent. Don’t enter marriage with the option of getting out. Tour marriage is more likely to be happy if from the outset you are committed to permanence. Don’t be hardhearted like these Pharisees, but be hardhearted in your determination, with God’s help, to stay together.
That said, we know that in our world, divorce is sometimes necessary (for physical survival, for well-being of children, etc.). Jesus clearly gave God’s ideal for marriage priority over Moses’ permission for divorce. Jesus did not cancel Moses’ teaching, however. For possible exceptions, see Matthew 5:32 and 19:9, where Jesus permitted divorce when the spouse had been unfaithful; and 1 Corinthians 7:15, where Paul recognized divorce when the unbelieving partner leaves the marriage. Divorce is wrong; it serves a holy union. But divorce is permitted. Jesus did not elaborate on the permissible reason, but his high view of marriage surely requires that divorce be a last resort to avoid greater disaster.
Tomorrow (Friday) our house is being shown for the first time! If you have time to say a prayer we would appreciate it.
Then the Lord said, ‘Learn a lesson from this unjust judge. 7 Even he rendered a just decision in the end. So don’t you think God will surely give justice to his chosen people who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? 8 I tell you, he will grant justice to them quickly! But when the Son of Man[a] returns, how many will he find on the earth who have faith?’” v. 6-8
How often do you pray for the things that are disturbing you, once, twice, more? The lady was relentless in her request for justice and the unjust judge answered her request.
God cares so deeply for us and wants us to bring our request to Him so He can answer them. Yes we tend to go to God in the bad times, but God also wants us to go to Him in the good times with thanksgiving. What Jesus is really teaching here is an attitude of prayer and the victory that we will see one day when He returns and God brings justice. It is going to happen, do you believe? So the questions I am asking myself and would pose to you are these – Hows my/your prayer life? How could it be better? What need to change?
Have you ever been there? I guess this is a form of worry, but ever since our last Hospital visit with Jackson, I have not been sleeping well. It’s almost like I dread the evenings coming because most of our bad experiences have happened in the late evening/early morning. I find myself watching his every move, feeling to see if he is breathing ok, or checking to see if he has a fever. It typically starts about the time he is wanting to go to sleep. It almost seems as if I sleep with one eye open. If I do by chance wake up, I always check on him. I am hoping that this is a short lived phase that doesn’t linger so I can get some good sleep with confidence that he is ok.
“If you cling to your life, you will lose it, and if you let your life go, you will save it. 34 That night two people will be asleep in one bed; one will be taken, the other left. 35 Two women will be grinding flour together at the mill; one will be taken, the other left.[e]” v. 33-35
Jesus is coming back. When, no-one knows the exact time but, but if he came today, would you be ready? Here are some thoughts from the NLT Life Application Study Bible,
Life will be going on as usual on the day Christ returns. No warning will sound. Most people will be going about their everyday tasks, indifferent to the demands of God. They will be as surprised by Christ’s return as the people in Noah’s day were by the Flood. (Genesis 6-8) or the people in Lot’s day by the destruction of Sodom (Genesis 19). We don’t know the time of Christ’s return, but we do know that He is coming. He may come today, tomorrow, or centuries in the future. Whenever Christ comes, we must be morally and spiritually ready. Live as Jesus were returning today.
When I read this I can’t help but think of this song and how it impacted me as an 18 year old soaking up and discovering what it truly meant to be a Christ Follower. Going a little old school but the message and words are so powerful!
“One day Jesus said to his disciples, ‘There will always be temptations to sin, but what sorrow awaits the person who does the tempting! 2 It would be better to be thrown into the sea with a millstone hung around your neck than to cause one of these little ones to fall into sin. 3 So watch yourselves!’” v. 1-3
Powerful words this morning! Temptation is everywhere! Just because you become a Christ Follower, doesn’t mean you won’t be tempted, in fact, the temptation to sin may increase because Satan still wants to have control of your life. He knows if he can keep you trapped in sin it will lesson your effectiveness to lead others to Christ and to experience the peace of Christ. Jesus says that we are to watch ourselves!
We are to watch the way we live, this includes the way we talk and the way we act. It also includes the things we watch, listen too, and do. Our life is on display for others. Lets not cause someone else to sin because they justify it by our lifestyle. Now that doesn’t mean we have to walk around on eggshells, but we should be aware of the impact that we have on others and make the most of every opportunity!
Well last week was a week of sickness in the Gould home. It seems like this month has just been an unhealthy month for us. On Monday Night Jackson was throwing up, Wednesday Night Josiah, Thursday should have been me, but I hate throwing up, but Saturday takes the cake. I felt like death. Couldn’t even move without wanting to vomit, then Sunday, guess who, yep Mom (aka Stephanie was sick) So all of us have had it and hope it stops there because I don’t want a repeat!
However, the weekend services must carry on and they did. Lucky for me, we are developing a teaching team in Fusion and I was able to pass the baton to Marti late Saturday Night and she did an awesome job!!!! We started a new series on Habits encouraging students to start some. From what I have been told is everything went well. Worship was great and students paid attention for the most part. I’ve been told there were two that were really a distraction. If you are reading this you should feel bad and repent! You know who you are!!! 🙂 Anyhow, attendance was up and God is moving! Its so awesome!!! If you are a teenager you should come check it out, if you are a parent of a teenager, you should encourage them to check it out, if you are a random reader of this blog, well, pray that God would give our ministry a passion for Him like no other!
“But when Jesus heard about it he said, ‘Lazarus’s sickness will not end in death. No, it happened for the glory of God so that the Son of God will receive glory from this.’ 5 So although Jesus loved Martha, Mary, and Lazarus, 6 he stayed where he was for the next two days.” v. 4-6
Does God allow bad things to happen? That probably isn’t a fair question because we could go around and round about what we define as bad. But in this case Jesus allowed Lazarus to die so that God could be glorified when Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead.
We have to understand that bad things happen! Many times they happen because of the fallen world we live in. But maybe a bad situation has happened to bring Glory to God. This could sound morbid if you look at this the wrong way, but what if God used the loss of a loved one to get your attention? Would that not be used to bring Him Glory? What if God used the illness of a Child to remind you of His Unfailing Love and Faithfulness? Would that not build your Faith. God can use bad situations to bring people to a closer relationship with Him or realization of Him. Sometimes it takes a situation like this for us to stop and realize how much we need God, thus giving Him Glory.
Join the Conversation – Has God used a bad situation to get your attention, to grow you as a believer, or to convict you of a sin? Would you share with others so God could be Glorified?
“Jesus told her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life.[e] Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. 26 Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die. Do you believe this, Martha?’” v. 25-26
