New Wine and New Cloth

    “John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting. Some people came to Jesus and said to him, ‘Why do John’s disciples and the Pharisees’ disciples fast, but your disciples don’t?’” (Mark 2:18)
Part of Jesus’ answer to their question was, “No one patches an old coat with a new piece of cloth that will shrink. Otherwise, the new patch will shrink and rip away some of the old cloth, and the tear will become worse. People don’t pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the wine will make the skins burst, and both the wine and the skins will be ruined. Rather, new wine is to be poured into fresh skins.” (Mark 2:21-22)
What do new cloth, old clothes, new wine, and old wineskins have to do with fasting? Maybe it’s this: Jesus is the new and living way to the Father (Hebrews 10:20, John 14:6). He Himself is the new wine and the new cloth. We don’t need to try to fit Him into the old wineskins of rules about fasting or patch Him onto the old clothing of rituals from the former covenant. Instead we can let Him show us the realities foreshadowed by the rules and rituals and point out to us the times that fasting and other practices are helpful, important, or necessary.
(Bible verses quoted from God’s Word Translation)                                        

 

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God’s Trustworthy Guidance

 

 

 

In Psalm 32:8-10, God says, “…I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you. Do not be like a senseless horse or mule that needs a bit and bridle to keep it under control. Many sorrows come to the wicked, but unfailing love surrounds those who trust the LORD.”
God tells us that He will guide, advise and watch over us. Further, He says that we shouldn’t be stubborn because those who trust Him enough to go His way are surrounded by love and mercy.
Jeremiah reaffirms this idea in Lamentations 3:25-26 “The Lord is good to those who depend on him, to those who search for him. So it is good to wait quietly for salvation from the Lord.”
How thankful I am for God’s guidance and watchful care of me!
With these Scriptures still in mind, I came upon Psalm 119:35-37:  Make me walk along the path of your commands, for that is where my happiness is found. Give me an eagerness for your laws rather than a love for money! Turn my eyes from worthless things, and give me life through your word.” The psalmist asks God to cause him (the writer) to follow God’s lead because His way is delightful. He prays that God will help him love God’s laws instead of the world’s goods or what has no eternal value. Then he desires that God would turn his focus back to God and His Word or way.
And I would add a heartfelt “Amen!” to this prayer and look to God to hear and answer these requests.
(Scriptures quoted from the New Living Translation)

WHY DID JESUS SAY THE WAY WAS NARROW?

Excellent message by Pastor Tom. Reminds us that Christianity is all about Jesus–relationship with Him, surrendering to Him. It’s “not about earning points with God or bettering yourself, or peace, or making the world a better place” although these things may result from following Him. The important thing is knowing Jesus, trusting Him, obeying Him.

Clear Bible

Sometimes it feels hard to be a real Jesus-follower when so many others seem to get by just fine ignoring most of what he said, and even call themselves Christians while doing it. But Jesus told us right here that that is how it would be.If we claim to be followers of Jesus, it seems only right that we don’t dispute what he said.

To listen to the sermon, click the play button:

To download, right click on the link (or do whatever you do on a Mac) and save it to your computer: Download Matthew Part 23

Matthew #23 . 7:12-29

Matthew 7:12 deserves honorable mention, but it isn’t my intention to preach an entire sermon on it. Jesus said:

In everything, treat others as you would want them to treat you, for this fulfills the law and the prophets. (Matt 7:12, NET)

We call this “the golden…

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Days of Our Lives

“And in Your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them.” –Psalm 139:16 New King James Version

My days were planned
Before I began,
Each one prepared for me.
So let me walk
In my todays,
Living life, Lord, for Thee.
Amen.

A Thailand Visitor Cuts to the Core

I so identify with Marie on how often I’ve “hoodwinked” my own heart. Like her, “I don’t even need a lying prophet; I can deceive my own self, arguing that “that’s not really what God wants me to do,” or “maybe He didn’t really speak to me about such and such…”

A MINIATURE CLAY POT

            “Seriously? You don’t even have any friends in common? You have got be kidding! If I did something like that you would KILL me.” My incredulous, somewhat dramatic daughter did have a valid point and for a brief moment I questioned the sanity of my decision. But it was too late now; Danny and crew would be arriving shortly.

            Although I have had the wonderful opportunity to meet many of my blog followers in person over the past two years, we have always met in a safe place: an airport, a coffee shop, a church, a Christian Retreat. This time was different. I had actually invited what could be considered a complete stranger, from halfway around the world, into my home. Crazy?  Maybe. But Danny and I had been corresponding for more than a year. I knew that he was a musician working with…

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YOUR MONEY, OR YOUR LIFE?

Excellent sermon by Pastor Tom.

Clear Bible

Spiritually speaking, you get more value when you give than you do when you keep.

To listen to the sermon, click the play button:

To download, right click on the link (or do whatever you do on a Mac) and save it to your computer: Download Experiencing Life Together Part 7

Experiencing Life Together #7. Acts 2:44 – Christian Stewardship

All the believers kept meeting together, and they shared everything with each other. From time to time they sold their property and other possessions and distributed the money to anyone who needed it. (Acts 2:44).

The evidence here and elsewhere seems to indicate however, that this first Christian church shared all their possessions and financial resources. That sounds pretty radical to me. I don’t know that I’m ready for communal finances, and I don’t believe that this verse means we must put everything into a common pot. However, there is…

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His Hands and Feet

Jessica reminds us that going God’s way may not always be easy. Hope this blog post blesses you as it did me.

Today's Woman in a Proverbs 31 Sort of Way!

For every woman out there striving to live the life of the Proverbs 31 woman, there is a man striving to live the life of Paul.  In our own ways, we are simply hoping to serve God in the way Christ served.  Unfortunately, we also want it to be easy.

I made a decision a few weeks ago.  I felt it was the best decision to make, even though it would hurt someone’s feelings.  My decision was a Godly decision, but I now have a friend who is terribly upset with me.  In fact, I am not sure this friend will ever be willing to accept that I made a decision based upon how I thought God wanted to me to handle the situation.  I am afraid my friendship with this person is over.

Shortly before this all came about, I prayed a very simple prayer.  I asked God to…

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