Penitent Potential

~~~ Isaiah 7:1-9 ~~~ Psalm 48 ~~~ Matthew 11:20-24 ~~~

Jesus began to reproach the towns

where most of his mighty deeds had been done,

since they had not repented.

Jesus had to reprimand the inhabitants 

of the very towns where he had made 

his presence best known.

These are the people who were awed as they witnessed

 the wonderful works of God through 

the person of Jesus.

It was the power of grace working

 through Jesus that made them take notice.

In spite of all that they had seen they failed

 to make the connection to their own existence.

They failed to see the need for their own repentance.

They failed to understand that Jesus came for them too.

They failed to admit that Jesus was reaching out to them.

Today may be the day that we look

 into our own heart and ask ourselves the tough question...

Have we taken the miracles and healings of Jesus

as just what he did while here on Earth?

Do we take our own repentance seriously enough?

Are we being completely honest with ourselves.

Are we so amazed with the miracles that we 

let them be the most important?

It may not be necessary for us to wear sackcloth

 and cover ourselves in ashes,

but our deep sincere repentance is very important.

If today you hear his voice,

harden not your hearts.

A heart that is hardened with pride and arrogance 

finds it difficult to step forward in humble repentance.

Jesus preformed miracles...Jesus captured our attention...

all so that we might choose to repent for our sins.

Have we lived up to our full 

Penitent Potential?

Blessings to Repent.

~~~ Peace ~~~

How is Your Heart?

~~~ Jeremiah 7:23-28 ~~~ Psalm 95 ~~~ Luke 11:14-23 ~~~

We often act as if we d'not understand the message of scripture,
but the truth is we have permanently implanted ear plugs.
We have spiritual ear plugs that block us from
hearing the Words that are spoken to us.

These ear plugs are so efficient that they
are capable of even deafening our hearts.

If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

How can we possibly hear his voice unless
we remove the ear plugs?
But first we must admit that our ear plugs exist.

It is critical that we remove the ear plugs.
If you clear your ears in order to hear more clearly
then you may just discover how much Jesus has done for you.

Why would you turn your back
 to the one who has done so much for you?
How could you walk away;
unless you have deafened yourself?

This is the nation that does not listen
to the voice of the LORD, its God,
or take correction.
Faithfulness has disappeared;
the word itself is banished from their speech.

These are harsh words...
God says we don't take correction, not even from him.

He accuses us of no longer being faithful.

But the crushing blow comes when we are convicted
of banishing his word from our speech.

Today I invite you to turn to scripture
 for every situation in your life.

We have a God who comes down to dwell with us.
A God who remains with us even when
we turn and walk the other way.
We have a God who wants us to listen for his voice.
A God who wants us to let his words soften our hearts.

A soft heart is pliable...a soft heart is more apt
 to have a greater capacity to love.

A hard heart is not capable of being anything more.
A hard heart is frozen in time forever.
A hard heart is as cold as stone.
A hard heart can have no mercy or compassion.

So the question for us is;
what kind of heart do you want to have?

Whoever is not with me is against me,
and whoever does not gather with me scatters.

Can you do this if you remain deaf with a hard heart?
I am guessing the answer must be 'no'.

Blessings come in hearing with a softened heart.

~~~Peace~~~

"Today"

~~~ Hebrews 3:7-14 ~~~ Psalm 95 ~~~ Mark 1:40-45 ~~~

 If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

How can we live in the present?

It is so easy to dwell on the past and

 to worry about the future.

When we focus on the past or the future

 we are robbing ourselves of today.

The many people who came to Jesus to be healed 

decided that their past was not working.

The people who came to Jesus to be healed 

were claiming the present moment in their life.

The people who came to Jesus to be healed

were not willing to wait one more day.

Jesus lived his life as a fully present human person.

We do not see Jesus dwelling in the past.

Jesus is present to each person who comes to him.

Why don't we believe that is true now?

So often we act as if God was not with us, 

when in reality he is with us always.

Encourage yourselves daily while it is still “today,”

so that none of you may grow hardened by the deceit of sin.

The voice of God speaks to each of 

us deep within our hearts.

But too many times we let the past get in the way.

We let our former shortcomings keep 

us from being better at living in the present.

Our self talk becomes more about how many times

 we have failed or how unworthy we are of God's love.

Today we must encourage ourselves to begin again.

The leper presented himself before Jesus.

The leper said to himself 'today'

is the day I will ask for healing.

Jesus saw this man, heard this man, 

touched this man, and healed this man that very day.

I am not implying that all things with God 

happen within the 'now' timeline.

Every day is worth our time and effort to become a better person.

We cannot be satisfied with telling ourselves

 when I have more time I will spend more time with God.

Today is really all that we have...

all that we know...all that we can experience.

Today is when we can share 

God's love and mercy.

Today God is with you.

Today God is Blessing you.

Today God is loving you.

Today God hears you.

Today be a better person than you were yesterday.

~~~Peace~~~