I Peter 1:3-9

According to his great mercy. . . 

It really is all about Him!

though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials,

The trials come out of necessity and last only a short time

may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 

To whom will it result in praise and glory and honor?

To - Through

To - Through

Though

Treasuring Jesus - John 11:47-57

It is amazing that the Lord's work will always be accomplished no matter who is standing in the way with their own schedule firmly in hand.  The Lord  allowed Caiaphas to predict the death of the Lord as a sacrifice for the nation, and the Lord allowed him to make all of his plans, but the Lord still maintained control. 

Lord, thank you that your will can never be thwarted by the likes of frail man.

Treasuring Jesus - John 11:38-46

It is so amazing that all Jesus had to do to raise Lazarus was to call him out of the tomb!  Today Jesus does the same thing - He calls men dead in sin out of their tomb.  

Thank you, Lord that you called me forth.  That you didn't leave me bound in sin, but that you offered me the freedom that comes with new life.  Since you have raised me, may I daily live to serve you - leaving the old man to rot in the tomb rather than carrying him around with me!  Kinda funny, but it would be like me continually asking to be wrapped up in my burial cloth when I have the freedom of new life before me!

Treasuring Jesus - John 11:28-37

Thank you,Lord that you have not only th ability to be touched by our emotions, but also the capability to DO something about it!

Treasuring Jesus - John 11:1-16

A familiar passage (when Lazarus dies), but still a few things stood out to me:

1. "Then Jesus told them plainly, 'Lazarus has died. . . ' "

          I love the fact that sometimes the Lord knows we just don't 'get it' and because of the great love and compassion He has for His dear little ones, He spells it out as clearly as possible for us!  

2. "Let us also go, that we may die with him."

          I love how humanly (and overly dramatic) the Lord allowed the disciples to be presented in scripture!  Embarrassingly like me at times - and yet so amazingly comforting!  If the Lord can use this band of misfits, He can surely use me as well!

Treasuring Jesus - John 10:19-30

It's amazingly comforting to be held in the hand of the Maker of the universe and to be protected by the One who understands best what earthly and spirititual attacks I need to be protected from.

Treasuring Jesus - John 10:1-18

In this whole section Christ is comparing Himself to a shepherd and His followers to sheep.  Some people feel sheep are actually quite dumb, but I choose to see them quite to the contrary!

1.  They are okay following their shepherd.

2.  They don't mind listening to His voice.

3.  They are quite content to have their needs met by their Shepherd.

4.  They don't have to worry about anything - that's the Shepherd's job.

Lord, please help me to be a better "sheep of your pasture" - resting in You, following You, listening to Your voice, and enjoying the abundant life You have so graciously given me.

Treasuring Jesus - John 9:35-41

It will never cease to amaze me that the Lord actually went looking for the guy that had just been given his sight.  Jesus knew he had been through a lot that day - excilerating highs and frustrating lows.  Think about it - he was born blind and today was the first time he saw the world around him that he had literally spent a lifetime blindly wandering through.  For the very first time he saw his parents who he probably recognized only by voice!  He walked through streets he had only been led through before!  He had felt the touch of the Lord!  All of those wonderful things followed quickly by a very harsh meeting with the Jewish leaders.  Having to stand silently by and watch as his parents were dragged into the potentially volatile situation.  Being forced himself to stand firm for what he knew had been done - against a flurry of accusations.  All of that must have been extremely overwhelming, yet Jesus heard that they had cast him out, and having found him he said, "Do you believe in the Son of Man?"  Jesus took the time to find him - to talk with him - to encourage him.

Thank you, Lord, that you so willingly come and find me where I am and when you know that I need you the most.

Treasuring God - John 9:13-34

Wow!  The Jews really grilled (and grilled and grilled) this poor guy who's only issue had been being born blind and having been healed!  They question and accused and questioned some more and even dragged in his mom and dad! 

The Lord had healed him.  He didn't understand all of the how's and why's; all he knew was that he was blind and now he could see. 

On the other had, the Pharisees had a TON of questions!  They seem to be posed to the man, but in actual amity, they were asked of the Lord:

 - Why did this man heal on the Sabbath?  He "worked" on the Sabbath, and everyone know that Sabbath working of any kind is wrong!

 - Is this guy for real?  Was he really born blind?  Get his folks in here so we can confirm this story!

 - Are you really giving the glory to God?  You absolutely can't be because there is no way you could have been healed by this man!

 - Okay, tell us one more time, what exactly happened? 

Questions presented to The Lord are okay, but ridiculous questions with clear answered that we in our sinful attitude refuse to see are not okay!  

Thank you, Lord, that even when you know that I won't always completely understand what you are doing, or how you will do it, or why you will do it, you will let me come to you with questions.  Lord, please keep my heart soft and willing to listen and able to trust.

Treasuring Jesus - John 8:48-59

It is so interesting how evidently the Jews knew all about God, and yet not enough to recognize His Son.  It was a head knowledge, knowing clearly who God was, but not knowing Him.

Lord, may my understanding of you continue to grow - not just in head knowledge but in a heart relationship so I will never fail to see when it is clearly you that is talking to me.