Mark Chapter 4: 1

Again Jesus began to teach by the lake. The crowd that gathered around him was so large that he got into a boat and sat in it out on the lake, while all the people were along the shore at the water's edge. - Mark Chapter 4 Verse 1



I often times find myself now more than ever taking my time while reading the Bible line by line. As I read each word I do make sure to visualize the scene in my mind.

It is truly amazing how the picture I have posted here is completely different from what I have imagined in my mind. First, I picture a much bigger crowd. Atleast 100 people. I also picture the boat being a bit more farther away.

This is the part where my mind starts to become a little more creative. Jesus is on a boat and the people are on land. Jesus is on top of the ocean.

An ocean symbolizes depth. Mystery, never ending. And so full of water that it will over flow. That is Jesus, that is his love. That is the Lord that I know.

People are at the front steps of taking that leap of faith. What is so funny and interesting is that this leap of faith is symbolized by the shore. Once we accept Christ, we are engulfed in his love. Mysterious, never ending, and my brothers and sisters OVER FLOWING.

May the Peace of the Lord be with you All. May He bless all of you!!

Psalm 139:13-14

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. - Psalm 139:13-14


I was reading facebook messages the other day and my pastor Paul ended p writing this passage up right after seeing his doctor and getting an ultrasound.

It is truly amazing how science has radically proven the existence of God more than t has deviated from it. Truly amazing how in this verse we can imagine what is going on in the womb, but while we see this ultrasound we can defienelty see the changes that have occured with this baby throughout the days, weekes, and months.

God is great, and He is such a mystery. Slowly and slowly he knits us, giving us life and forming us. Think about his verse and think about the ultrasound and how incredible, mysterious, and glorious God truly is.

Amen.

1 Corinthians 13:4-7

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. - 1 Corinthians 13:4-7




Love is beautiful. This verse is self explanatory. Love, which is a choice, an action, is:

Patient: It waits no matter what. Can wait an eternity, a lifetime. Time is meaningless.

Kind: gentle, caring, thoughful.

Does not boast, nor prideful: Humility of love is key. Keeping it to yourself and keeping it in your heart (such as Mary) is key to love instead of proclaiming and announcing it to everyone.

it is not Rude.

Not selfish.

Not easily angered: It is peaceful.

seeks truth: For it knows that it loves seeking it. Truth, which is grante dby the Spirit and God.

Protects: It is an armor from God.

Trusts: no feelings of jealousy. Absolute responsibility is given and honored because one knows that this "trust" will not be broken nor damaged.

Hopes: Always looking for good, very positive. Optimistic.

and most importantly. The most important thing is that love wins. his is key, no matter what happens, with love we will always Persever.

Luke 2:19

But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. - Luke 2:19

This verse is also repeated later in this chapter. Isn't it interesting that Mary was never the talkative one. The one who boasted these things to people. She was humble, quiet, and really cherished and treasured all that happened.

We should learn to be like that. She is an example of not just a woman but a believer in Christ as well as a follower of the faith.

Lesson: Let us know God as our Savior and treasure it in our hearts. For us to know, acknowledge and never forget.

Psalm 42:1

As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God.

Psalm 42:1

Lesson: Seek God!

Genesis 43:15

So the men took the gifts and double the amount of silver, and Benjamin also. They hurried down to Egypt and presented themselves to Joseph. -Genesis 43:15


This is such a great story. A story of deceptiona dn envy turns into a story of reuniting and forgiveness in times of trouble.

If we all don't know we should definetely take some time to read this story. It is such a beautiful story about Joseph and his brothers, which from his brothers stem out the 12 tribes of Israel, each named after each brother, except Joseph, who's sons took the names of the independent tribes. There were in total 13 tribes. 1 in particular was chosen specifically by God to serve and honor Him, these were the holy chosen tribe which praised Him and had services for Him. The tribe names were: Judah, Issachar, Zebulun (Eastern Tribes), Reuben, Simeon, Gad (Southern Tribes), Ephraim, Manasseh, Benjamin (Western Tribes), Dan, Asher, and Naphtali (Northern Tribes).

In this verse Joseph requests that the brothers bring with them Benjamin in order for them to uphold their proof that they are not spies which Joseph claimed they were. Joseph expects them to return, and he of course knows that that are not spies, but reqests they return witht he youngest brother in order for him to see who he is and once again see his brothers.

You have to read this story. It is by far one of the best stories about forgiveness.

Lesson: Forgiveness is ideal and key in order to live in unity.

Proverbs 3:25-28

Have no fear of sudden disaster or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked, for the LORD will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being snared. Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is in your power to act. Do not say to your neighbor, "Come back later; I'll give it tomorrow"—when you now have it with you. - Proverbs 3:25-28









Service today was on the continuing series of "Lesser Known Bible Figures." Today we spoke about the Book of Job (intense book) and more specifically about Job's wife (who didn't have a name) and even more specifically, about the power of choice. No matter what the devil throws at you or what occurs in your life, you always have the power to choose your attitude. Bad things will occur, we do not know how big or small, or how sever, emotionally catastrophic, or destructive it might be but challeneges wil occur in this life. Job's wife choosed to poke fun at her husbands belief and told him to curse God and forget about his superstitous belief, BUT Job decided to stay strong. We should decide to stay strong whenever any challenge pops up.

We should never fear. Our confidenc e should stay planted in God, always and forever no matter the adversity or how big our challenges may be. Remember we have an army of Angels with us. 2/3 angels against 1/3 which is the demons. But not only do we have angels, we also have God.

This passage also states how we should not hold goods for those who deserve it. When it is in our powerto act, we should never hold any good to anyone who desrves it. Mind you it should never go to a thief or someone who does not deserve it, wether that be a bandit, or some bum, make sure you give that good to the person who has been working and truthfully deserves it.

And let us not forget that if you have these goods, be obliged to give it to the person once you have it, and do not wait until later. A man of God acts without hesitation when he needs to. If you have a good that belongs to someone and have it with you at that very second and that person is in front of you at that very moment, give it to them.

Lesson: Don't ever be afraid. Trust in God. Give to the deserving when you have the capability to act (give) and do not wait until later. Trust in God with all your heart, follow Him and rejoice in His Truths.

Matthew 6:33

So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well - Matthew 6:33



How beautiful it is when you are searching for all these things. How am I going to eat? What am I goign to wear? When in reality our questions sould sound like this, "What do you seek of me today Dad? What would yoiu like me to do? How can our relationship strengthen? What can I do for you today?

When we seek God and His ways, we find that everything else seeks us. More opportunities arise and more blessings come your way. The more you seek the more God will bless you with physiological things such as food.

Once we trust in the Lord with all our hearts he will be there for us. Let us not worry about wether we should wear the new rada bag out or the new Tommy Shirts, what we should be worrying about is our faith in God in these times, which is way way way more important than anything else in this life.

Lesson: Seek God with all your mind, all your strength, all your heart and all your soul. he will always be there to provide once your heartfelt search starts. Don't worry about what everyone else thinks, the Lord searches your heart. The Lord knows your intentions.

James 1: 2-4

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. - James 1: 2-4



Just as iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend. that is what I think when I hear and/ or read this verse. Through trials and challenges we discover and learn.

When you work out you develope a resistance, and sure enough when you provide yourself with the proper excercise routines and you wil eventually get stronger and build up your resistance and thus building p your strength. The more you work out the more you build strength, the more weight you use. So is your faith and perseverance. The more you are challenged the wiser and the stronger your faith shall be, or so it should be. That is why we shall be joyful when we are challend for we KNOW that it will make us stronger and build our faith.

Our faith should be like the sequoia tree. Built strong and thick with a hieght that can reach the stars. The beautigul thing about Sequoia's is that their roots are interconnected with other Sequoias allowing their foundation to become even stronger and that is how the church should be. That is how we should be with the church. - Ed Young

Lesson: We should be joyful in times of adversity, because we know it will build our faith. The Bible says "We Win!" We Know that we will win in the end, so let us rejoice in times of adversity and challeneges for it will build, mold, and provide us with the opportunity to have our faith strengthened.

Luke 11:39

Random Verse
Then the Lord said to him, "Now then, you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness." - Luke 11:39


Before this line is mentioned by Jesus a Pharisee had offered him to come over and eat with him. He practically invited him to dinner. "Hey, come on over, we're having some great food tonight." But you see the underlying motive was wicked. Ths Pharisee wanted to catch Jesus in His act. You see, these Pharisee upheld tradition and teachings to be one of the most important acts to any follower of the faith, so if they catch Jesus slipping then of course He is not righteous, he is not a upholder of "the law," and further more they have something to argue with him about.

Before you know if, Jesus did not wash His hands before he sat down and ate and the Pharisee was surprised. So sursprised that words were not needed to express his thoughts, and thus Jesus says "Now then, you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. "

We must not be like the Pharisees and law holders beause they place these teachings and rituals which many have a hard time of doing. The worse thing is these "upholders of the faith" do not uphold the law themselves. They are like a wine cup that is cleaned on the outside but inside it is rotten and dirty. The give this image on the exterior where everyone can see how clean they appear to be, but drink some of that wine, taste it, see the inside amd notice how rotten, nasty, and unclean the inside is. WE cannot hold these laws and think to ourselves how high and mighty we are because we follow these things and appear to be holy. And further more look down on others who do not follow it.

Lesson: Do not think yourself better and judge others for not following what "the religious law" states. Have God in your life and seek and have that active relationship. Be the same man Sunday morning that you are Saturday night.