Amazing
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Posted:Jan 5, 2010 12:19 pm
Last Updated:Nov 17, 2025 4:16 am 2789 Views
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Amazing Mark 1:22
And they were amazed at His teaching; for He was teaching them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.
Have you seen Jesus? I mean really seen Him? Not some kind of 900-foot-tall object, but rather the Jesus Christ who lives in the Bible? When I look through the book of Mark, I see a Christ who is amazing. And He obviously struck others the same when He lived on earth.
For one thing, His teachings were amazing. The people were shaken to their cores by the authority Christ had when He taught.
Second, He performed miracles that were amazing. He healed the blind, the sick, the lepers. Mark 4:35-41 gives us another little outline or a story, a brief glimpse of a miracle that Jesus performed. This is no mystical myth. This was a real event that occurred. This passage describes Jesus with His disciples and how He rebuked the wind of a storm.
On a windy day you or I could go outside and say to the wind, "Hold it." But it would just keep on blowing. A wall could be built, but that really would not stop it. The wind would flow right over it. Yet Jesus turned an angry sea into a calm surface by speaking and causing the wind to stop.
Christ healed the sick, fed the 5,000, and not only walked on water but also made it possible for Peter to do the same. I sometimes wonder what it was like to be Peter as he stepped out of that boat. He had his eyes on Christ and he stepped out and it was solid. Then he saw the wind and began to sink.
I've heard Peter criticized in sermons for seeing the wind and sinking-for his doubt and unbelief. But he still stepped out-he had the faith to get out of the boat and "onto" the water! And he's the only person in history to walk on water, other than Jesus.
What's my point? Have you ever been amazed by His teachings? Have you ever really stepped out and taken Him at His word?
Prayer:
That you would see Christ as the amazing God on a daily basis.
Discuss: How has God's teaching made a difference in your life?
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God's Box Top for the Family
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Posted:Jan 4, 2010 7:55 am
Last Updated:Nov 17, 2025 4:16 am 2808 Views
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God's "Box Top" for the Family Psalm 127:1
Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it.
Each fall I divide my sixth grade Sunday School class into three groups to compete in putting together a jigsaw puzzle. As these 12-year-olds scatter into three circles on the floor, I explain that there is only one rule in our competition: to put together the puzzle without talking.The contents of one puzzle are deposited on the floor and Group One immediately goes to work. The group promptly sets up the box top that depicts the picture of the puzzle it is completing.
Then I move to the second group, dump the pieces on the floor and quickly give the group a box top. What the group doesn't know is that the box top is for another puzzle!
The third group is given the same puzzle pieces, but it doesn't receive a box top. Usually the in the group start to protest, but I quickly remind them there is to be no talking!
What follows is fascinating.
Group One is somewhat frustrated by not being allowed to talk, but it still makes steady progress. Group Two keeps trying to use the picture, but nothing seems to work. And since the in the group can't say anything, their frustration level soars. The group members look at me with pleading eyes. Soon, I see the wrong box top come flying out of the group!
Group Three is interesting. Because the have nothing to guide them, they do their own thing. The give up and just lie on the floor.
Am I a cruel teacher? No, there is a point that I make that day.
Life, marriages and families are like the pieces of the puzzle. The pieces are all there for us, but something is needed to help us bring order out of chaos.
There are a lot of competing blueprints and pictures out there vying for your commitment and mine. It only makes sense, however, to look to the God who created the family to learn a design that will work.
It's never too late to pull out your Bible and begin using the right box top.
Prayer:
That God will give you discernment to recognize when you are building your marriage with the wrong box top.
Discuss: Do you think you are building your family from the right blueprints? Do you and your spouse have the same box top? If you continue on your current path, what will your home look like?
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Truth Demands a Response
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Posted:Jan 1, 2010 1:16 pm
Last Updated:Nov 17, 2025 4:16 am 3269 Views
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Truth Demands a Response Psalm 86:11
Teach me Thy way, O Lord; I will walk in Thy truth.
One foggy night, the captain of a large ship saw what appeared to be another ship's lights approaching in the distance. This other ship was on a course that would mean a head-on collision. Quickly, the captain signaled to the approaching ship: "Please change your course 10 degrees west." The reply came blinking back through the thick fog: "You change your course 10 degrees east."
Indignantly, the captain pulled rank and shot a message back to the other ship: "I am a sea captain with 35 years of experience. Change your course 10 degrees west!"
Without hesitation, the signal flashed back: "I am a seaman, fourth class. You change your course 10 degrees east!"
Enraged, the captain realized they were approaching each other quickly and would crash within minutes. So he blazed his final warning: "I am a 50,000-ton freighter. Change your course 10 degrees west!"
A simple message winked back: "I am a lighthouse. You change your course!"
Like the sea captain, we may need to change course when confronted with the truth. That's what happens when we make it a priority to spend time reading and applying God's Word. It is eternal truth. It doesn't change, so we need to adjust our lives to walk in that truth.
So many of us spend our lives avoiding the truth of God's Word because we don't want to walk in it. Christ said in John 8:32 that "the truth shall make you free," but as Herbert Agar wrote in A Time for Greatness, "The truth that makes men free is for the most part the truth which men prefer not to hear."
What is the Bible to you? A collection of nice stories? The foundation of a conservative worldview? Or is it God's Word, "living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword?" (Heb. 4:12). Does anything keep you from obeying God's Word in every area of your life-your business, your marriage, your family? Do you need to adjust the course on which you are heading today?
Prayer:
That God's Word will be your guide in decision making and your rock in establishing family values and priorities.
Discuss: Is there a truth you have been avoiding in your life-an area of your relationship you have been unwilling to confront?
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The Final Wwords of Obadiah Holmes
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Posted:Dec 31, 2009 1:09 pm
Last Updated:Nov 17, 2025 4:16 am 2851 Views
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The Final Words of Obadiah Holmes (Part Three) Philippians 2:12
So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed,...work out your salvation with fear and trembling.
Obadiah Holmes and his wife gave their a firm foundation in Christ. After speaking of this foundation in his final letter, he concluded with a list of challenging, practical ways to live out their faith:Be you content with your present condition and portion God has given you. Make a good use of what you have by making use of it for your comfort (solace). For meat, drink or apparel, it is the gift of God. Take care to live honestly, justly, quietly with love and peace among yourselves, your neighbors and, if possible, be at peace with all men.
In what you can, do good to all men, especially to such as fear the Lord. Forget not to entertain strangers, according to your ability; if it be done in sincerity, it will be accepted, especially if to a disciple in the name of a disciple. Do to all men as you would have them do to you.
If you would be Christ's disciples, you must know and consider that you must take up your cross and follow Him, through evil report and losses. But yet know, he that will lose his life for Him shall save it.
Thus, my dear , have I according to my measure, as is my duty, counseled you. May the good Lord give you understanding in all things and by His Holy Spirit convince, reprove and instruct and lead you into all truth as it is in Jesus. So that when you have done your work here, He may receive you to glory. Now the God of truth and peace be with you, unto Whom I commit this and you, even to Him be glory forever and ever, Amen.
A powerful exhortation. Did it make a difference? Yes. Some 10 generations later, one of Obadiah's descendants is a man by the name of Dave Jones. Dave pastors a church in Georgia and, with his wife, Peggy, is impacting thousands of marriages through speaking at FamilyLife Marriage Conference.
Today, some 300 years later, Obadiah reminds us that nothing we leave our will ever be as important as a conviction that God must be everything to them.
Prayer:
That God would help you "number your days," live your life for Christ and raise your by His priorities.
Discuss: If you were to write a final letter to your , what would you say?
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The Faith Words of Obadiah
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Posted:Dec 30, 2009 1:16 pm
Last Updated:Nov 17, 2025 4:16 am 4514 Views
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The Final Words of Obadiah Holmes (Part Two) Psalm 78:6,7
That the generation to come might know, even the yet to be born, that they may arise and tell them to their , that they should put their confidence in God, and not forget the works of God.
Obadiah Holmes evidently took these words from Psalm 78 to heart as he raised his nine . Even their names were all taken from biblical characters. And in his last letter to these he reminded them of the godly character he hoped they would carry on after his death:And now my , Joseph: Remember that Joseph of Arimathea was a good man and a disciple of Jesus; he was bold and went in boldly and asked for the body of Jesus, and buried it.
My , John: Remember what a loving and beloved disciple he was.
My , Hope: Consider what a grace of God hope is, and covet after that hope that will never be ashamed but has hope of eternal life and salvation of Jesus Christ.
My , Obadiah: Consider that Obadiah was a servant of the Lord and tender in spirit, and in a troublesome time hid the prophets by fifty in a cave.
My , Samuel: Remember Samuel was a chief prophet of the Lord, ready to hear his voice saying, "Speak, Lord, for thy servant heareth."
My , Martha: Remember Martha, although she was encumbered with many things, yet she loved the Lord and was beloved of Him, for He loved Mary and Martha.
My , Mary: Remember Mary who chose the better part that shall not be taken away and did hearken to the Lord's instructions.
My , Jonathan: Remember how faithful and loving he was to David, that servant of the Lord.
My , Lydia: Remember how Lydia's heart was opened, her care borne, her spirit made to be willing to receive and obey the apostle in what the Lord required, and was baptized, and entertained and refreshed the servants of the Lord.
Prayer:
That your would grow up to have an impact for Christ wherever they go.
Discuss: What is the most important thing you could leave your when you die?
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The Final Words of Obadiah Holmes
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Posted:Dec 29, 2009 5:10 pm
Last Updated:Nov 17, 2025 4:16 am 2958 Views
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The Final Words of Obadiah Holmes (Part One) Psalm 90:12
So teach us to number our days, that we may present to Thee a heart of wisdom.
Obadiah Holmes was a godly man who, with his wife, raised eight in the 1600s. On December 16, 1675, knowing his end was near, Obadiah sat down to write a final letter to his . Little did he know that this amazing document would survive for another 10 generations.I recently came across this document and decided to use some excerpts from it here. The words of Psalm 90:12 take on new meaning when you read words like these:
My Dear :
A word or two unto you all who are near and dear unto me, and much on my heart as I draw near to my end and am not likely to see you nor speak to you at my departure. Wherefore I am moved to leave these lines for your consideration when I am gone and you shall see me no more.
Above all things in this world let it be your care to seek the Kingdom of Heaven and His righteousness first. Be you thoroughly convinced of that and, by actual transgressions, that you are sinners. Yet, know that such great love as cannot be expressed by man nor angels has the Lord sent and held forth: even his , his only , to save and deliver you from wrath....
My soul has been in great trouble for you, to see Christ formed in you by a thorough work of the Holy Spirit of the Lord that it may appear you are born again and engrafted in the true vine; so you, being true branches, may bring forth fruit unto God and serve Him in your generation. Wherefore, wait on Him with care and diligence; carefully read the Scriptures and mind well what is therein contained, for they testify of Him.
Obadiah Holmes started his letter with the most important issue in life: repentance from sin and faith in Jesus Christ. He knew that if his descendants missed Christ then they would miss life.
Prayer:
That God would use you to lead your to a saving knowledge of Christ and a closer walk with Him.
Discuss: How will your descendants know what you lived for? How can you communicate the need for generations that follow you to repent and come to faith in Jesus Christ?
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Laughter in the Walls
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Posted:Dec 28, 2009 9:06 am
Last Updated:Nov 17, 2025 4:16 am 2700 Views
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Laughter in the Walls Ecclesiastes 3:1,4
There is an appointed time for everything....A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance.
The late Bob Benson once wrote that, when his grew up and left home, he and his wife would sit and listen to the "laughter in the walls." I love that phrase.Do the walls of your home ring with laughter? Laughter and strong homes go together. A Christian couple should sooner be found guilty of having too much laughter than of having too little. Fun lifts us out of the daily ruts and assassinates the drab, the boring and the mundane. Laughter lightens loads and knits hearts together instantaneously.
God gave a funny bone and giggle-box to balance all of those who are "overly intense." He gave our family who love to laugh, especially our Rebecca. She lives to laugh. Her beaming smile and giggle is the all-time best. And when she gets going at the supper table, pandemonium breaks loose. Her giggle-box infects us all with uncontrollable, delicious delight. In fact, we've renamed her because of her love for laughter: "Rebecca Jean Joy Susie-Q Rainey."
My family taught me how to laugh. Our home was filled with practical jokes, teasing and surprises. I'll never forget my dad's laugh (the best) and my mom's sense of humor, which is still as sharp as ever. Some of my fondest memories are of laughing so hard the tears just streamed down our faces.
I remember the time my mom gave herself a Hoover vacuum cleaner for Christmas. She wrapped it and put it under the tree with this tag: To my dear wife from Ward.
Life is made up of pain. Disappointments. Pressure. Doubts. Trials. We are all sapped of strength by these dark, ominous clouds. But, like an exploding shaft of sunlight in a dark room, laughter illuminates life by reminding us not to be so serious.
Why not leave a little laughter in the walls of your home tonight?
Prayer:
That the God who calls life from the dead will fill your spirit with new optimism and joy.
Discuss: How was laughter a part of your own home as a ? What laughter have you heard in your present home during the last two days? Is there enough "fun" in your own heart to spill over and infect other members of your family?
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Bent Nails and Real Homes
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Posted:Dec 23, 2009 2:05 pm
Last Updated:Nov 17, 2025 4:16 am 3185 Views
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Bent Nails and Real Homes Romans 7:15,18
For that which I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate. For I know that nothing good dwells in me...for the wishing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not.
It started with a beautiful seven-foot Scotch pine Christmas tree. The problem was its trunk-it was too big for our tiny tree stand. Then, after whittling it down, it was too short to reach the bottom of the stand.Barbara suggested I nail on an extension. So I attempted to drive two nails through a one-inch block of wood into the trunk. Simple plan, right? Wrong.
With a swift blow of the hammer, the first nail bent at a sharp angle as if it were being driven into a piece of petrified wood. When the second nail followed suit, I began to murmur under my breath that Christmas trees must be a pagan ritual after all.
Nail number three was a kissing cousin of the first two. Number four went flying into an azalea bush. That tree trunk could have been butter and I'm convinced number five would have bent-which it did. Do you believe in demon-possessed Christmas trees?
I threw the tree, flying needles and all, into the trunk of the car with the intent of taking this stupid, pagan, petrified thing back where I bought it. And then I looked at my horrified , five-year-old Benjamin, who witnessed this display and probably thought that Christmas was about to be canceled. Just this once I should have taken W. C. Field's advice: "If at first you don't succeed, then quit! There's no use being a stupid fool about it!"
Nobody likes to fail, especially in front of a young , but we can't avoid it. Just as the apostle Paul lamented, we want to do good, but we cannot always do it.
Real homes see a lot of failure. We might fool our friends and coworkers, but in the home there are only so many rugs to sweep things under, closets to hide things in and attic spaces to tuck away junk. What do you do when you blow it at home? Stuff it, or admit it and ask forgiveness for it?
Prayer:
Ask God for an authentic family that can be real and forgiving.
Discuss: What is your typical reaction to small failures around your home?
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A Christmas I'll Never Forget
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Posted:Dec 21, 2009 11:52 am
Last Updated:Nov 17, 2025 4:16 am 2920 Views
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A Christmas I'll Never Forget (Part Two) 1 Corinthians 15:55
O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?
Mick was the only pastor for this small church, so it fell upon me to conduct the graveside memorial services for Benji.That day will forever be etched in my heart. There was a grayish-white coffin barely four feet long, holding the body of a seven-year-old boy. There was Benji's mom, Helen, with her 10-year-old trying to stand strong and tall beside her. The rest of her family lay back in a hospital, broken and nearly crushed. All of life seemed to have stopped and stood still.
What positive words could man feebly utter in such a desperate moment? What could man possibly have to say to a mother who would wake up on Christmas morning and look at the unopened presents to a boy she loved? Humanly, that moment was filled with injustice, questions, despair and anger. It was grim and dark.
But in the midst of the darkness of death, the star of Bethlehem suddenly shone bright. As I read from the Scriptures, the hope of the gospel of Jesus Christ came and swallowed up the darkness. "O death, where is your victory?"
I will never forget the contrast of agony and joy that day. If the gospel of Jesus Christ can bring hope and comfort to those who have just lost a , then He is all powerful. The tomb of Jesus Christ is empty. We can find forgiveness and peace with God because Christ is alive.
Many couples who lose a , as Mick and Helen did, are never able to recover, and they end up divorcing. But somehow the Yoders were able to claim the victory that Christ promises. In fact, 14 months after Benji's death, Helen delivered a healthy baby girl. She and Mick named her Hope, as they claimed the promise of Jeremiah 29:11:
"For I know the plans that I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope."
Prayer:
Together that you will never lose hope in the midst of the challenges and tragedies of life.
Discuss: Do you believe God has your welfare in mind, no matter what happens to you?
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A Christmas I'll Never Forget
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Posted:Dec 21, 2009 10:43 am
Last Updated:Nov 17, 2025 4:16 am 2762 Views
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A Christmas I'll Never Forget (Part One) Job 1:21
The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.
It was December 20, 1981. The were tucked in early, and Barbara and I were about to sit down for a nice, quiet meal.The phone rang and the voice at the other end had a chilling soberness to it that I shall never forget. I learned that my good friend Mick Yoder and two of his boys had been in a tragic plane crash that afternoon in Greenville, South Carolina.
Mick and his wife, Helen, had just moved to Greenville in the summer to start a church there. Only months before, Barbara and I had said good-bye to the Yoders after working with them for nearly five years to help start the ministry of FamilyLife.
That morning, Mick had preached and led the Sunday service. Then he and his boys joined a couple for a plane ride. About two miles from the runway, a two-dollar part attached to the carburetor broke, and the plane lost all power. They missed the runway by only 10 feet and hit an embankment head-on.
Everyone survived the crash except for Mick's seven-year-old , Benji. He died instantly.
The next morning, I kissed Barbara good-bye and flew to South Carolina. Nothing in all my years of ministry experience prepared me for what I beheld. Mick was in critical condition, with three of his four limbs broken. And Helen was numb from the emotional shock.
As I approached Mick's hospital bed, I was astounded at the number of tubes that made their way into his body. I leaned over his bed to attempt to comfort him by saying that hundreds around the country were praying and pulling for him.
Mick nodded and then acknowledged his response to the loss of Benji from Job 1:21: "The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord."
And with those words, the sorrow that had left a lump in my throat now caused my eyes to well up with tears.
Prayer:
Ask God to help your faith grow. Pray that you will both become the man and woman that God wants you to be.
Discuss: As a couple the kind of faith that it takes to make that kind of pronouncement. Do you feel you are at the point where you could make the same expression of faith?
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