Day 83 They wanted “signs” from Jesus Matt 12: 38-42; Luke 11: 29-32

Guided reflections:   

The Pharisees were intrigued with Jesus… and they wanted some proof, so they asked for a sign to show that he is from God.  Jesus knows that their hearts are not really open – they would not believe him if he did magic tricks.  No, they were not seeking truth... they just wanted a show.  Jesus sets a boundary with their unhealthiness, I think.  He is not going to waste his time trying to convince the inconvincible!   I wish I had the wisdom of Jesus, don’t you?  I need to know when to defend myself and when to just let it go because others would not understand. I get hooked every time!  Do you ever have trouble with that?   Jesus knew his mission was not to please the Pharisees, but to be a savior of the world.  Thank goodness He understood that one!

Guided prayer:   

“I need wisdom, O God.  So many times I forget my purpose in life and instead try to please and satisfy people.  That is a hard line to walk.  I want to be loving and kind, but not side lined by people pleasing.  Help me to know my purpose and to live for you and not for the opinion of others. Amen.” 

Day 82 A House Divided Matt 12: 25-37; Mark 3:23-30, Luke 11:17-23

Guided reflection:

Jesus has some common sense one liners for the Pharisees:  “A house divided cannot stand.”  “If you are not with me, you are against me.”  “A tree is known by its fruit.”  How can he be the devil and cast out the devil?  Wouldn’t that be like a divided house?   If Jesus does good deeds, then maybe he is good.  Are you with me or not?  Jesus might ask us today… what kind of fruit are you producing?  Is your heart going Jesus’ direction?  Either you are with him or you are not… we still get to choose.

Guider prayer:

“I want to be on your side, dear God.  I want to live a life that is producing evidence of goodness and right things. Show me the places where I say one thing and then do another… show me where my heart might be divided and thus in danger.  Amen” 

Day 81 Jesus is accused Matt 12:22-24; Mark 3:19b022; Luke 11:14-16

Guided reflection: 

Jesus sure knew how to create a stir!   A man who as consider “dumb” meant he was not able to speak AND he was never able to see as well.  Jesus healed the man – now he is able to speak and to see!  What a great miracle… and the regular folks were amazed and began to say that maybe Jesus was the Messiah.  But the churchy types had no concern for the man’s plight… they were ticked that the people thought too highly of Jesus!  They really missed the point, didn’t they?  Jesus is trying to heal someone and they want to concentrate on “who does he think he is to heal people!”  Oh, my.   We still do it today.  We focus on the minor things and forget what we are called to do.  This section of the Jesus stories is full of Jesus’ frustration in dealing with the Pharisees.  Have you ever had a Pharisee-type after you… or have you ever been a Pharisee?  Ouch!

Guided prayer:   

“O giving and loving God, we know that you want us to see the human condition around us.  You want us to do what we can to ease human suffering.  But we would rather fight over politics, and who is responsible, and who is going to pay for things... and somehow the people in need get lost in the debate.  Father, forgive me for the times I have missed the point.  Amen”

Day 80 The Women Disciples Luke 8: 1-3

Guided reflections:  

Now here is the first women’s group of disciples!  And sure enough, they took care of the needs of Jesus and the Disciples.   They must have married well, because it is inferred that they had “means”.  So, here is to the women who love Jesus!  You go, girls!

Guided prayers:

“Thank you God for the women of Jesus day and of our day.  Thank you that we have the rights to serve you with no restrictions.  May women everywhere be filled with gratitude and praise to you.  Thank you for the women who have blessed my life.  (Name a couple and send them a note or flowers from your grateful heart!

Day 79 The Grateful Woman Luke 7:36-50

Guided reflections:      

I love this story!  A “street woman” had been set free by Jesus.  She was so filled with gratitude she did not worry about protocol… she just wanted to show Jesus how much she loved him.  He was not embarrassed – he understood her heart… and he understood the jaws that were dropped at her actions!  Yet he takes her gift and makes it into a holy offering.  Then tells the parable about two who owed debts and the lender forgave the debt.  One owed lots, the other just a small amount.  Jesus asked: “which one would be the most grateful?”  The obvious answer – the one who was forgiven the most.  And he forgave the woman… and started another big discussion about how he could forgive someone’s sins… and the beat goes on. Let’s forget about Simon and his guests, let’s concentrate on the woman.  Now, for what are you most grateful?  How has God blessed you?  Have your sins been forgiven?  How do you respond to Christ’s love?

Guided prayer:

 “Forgiving God, let me be like the woman… my heart filled to overflowing with gratitude.  Right now, I make a list of my blessings (go ahead, make a list!)….I do not have an alabaster box, but what do I have that you would want me to offer to you as my gratitude offering?  Show me, I am open!  Amen” 

Day 78 The Widow’s Son Luke 7: 11-17

Guided reflection:   

WOW!  What a thrill to be a part of this scene!  A widow has lost her only son, all alone, and she is sobbing as they carry his body in a funeral procession.  But the funeral procession is stopped in its tracks when Jesus shows up!  He heals the boy and raises him from the dead and gives him back to his mom.  What a mother’s day gift!  Oh, to have walked with Jesus on earth… Oh, yes, I forgot, I do walk this Jesus on this earth!

Guided prayer:

“Thank you for the stories of Jesus and his wondrous miracles.  All these years later, I still rejoice for this dear widow who had lost it all… until Jesus came.  Today I pray for the mothers who have lost their children.  Jesus, be their comfort.  Amen. “

Day 77 More Healing stories of Jesus Matt 12: 15-21, Mark 3: 7-12, Luke 6:17-19

Guided reflection:  

These verses try to give us the picture at how quickly word had spread about Jesus healing people and setting them free.  If someone you loved was ill and there was someone who could help them, you would go too!   The crowds were so great he asked the disciples to have a boat ready to free him from being trampled!   Instead of some great truth today, just imagine watching the crowd and enjoy seeing people be excited about being in Jesus’ presence.

Guided prayer: 

“I want to be excited about Jesus too!  If I had been there I would have brought the following people to Jesus:  (list the names of those you know who would want Jesus’ touch) .   In my minds eye, I imagine Jesus reaching out and touching them and healing them and making them whole.  Make it so, dear Lord.  Amen.”

Day 76 Jesus heals a man with a withered hand Matt 12:9-14, Mark 3: 1-6, Luke 6:6-11

Guided reflection:   

Oh, these Pharisees were tricky ones!  They set Jesus up on this one… is it OK to heal on the Sabbath?  If he said YES, they could get him on the fact that you can’t work on the Sabbath and that would be work.  If he said NO, then he did not care about the man.  But Jesus set the record straight – it is proper and Godly to do good on the Sabbath.  Jesus is angry at their hard hearts and their tricks… and they are angry with Jesus because he confronted them.  Now, to relate this to us, we have to, again, see if we are acting or speaking like a Pharisee!  Are you tied up in the rules of being religious?   Let them go!  Choose Grace!

Guided prayer: 

“Today I pray for those who are being stifled and judged by those who try to use rules to control them... O God, am I one of them?    Set mefree to be the voice of openness and grace.   Amen

Day 75 The Pharisees go after Jesus… again! Matt. 12:1-8, Mark 2:23-28, Luke 6:1-5

Guided reflection:

Jesus and the disciples were hungry and it was the custom to walk through a field and pluck off some grain.  The Pharisees caught them… it was the Sabbath, and good Jews did not “work” on the Sabbath and plucking grain was considered work!  From the outside looking in, it seems silly.  But let me tell you, when someone is in a judgmental mood, what they point out as unacceptable is huge to them!  I went to a workshop once that said that it was our job to be “Pharisee busters”… because folks with judgmental spirits want to force people into THEIR mold, they want rules to make people do what they think is right.  Jesus was a Pharisee buster…the next time you hear yourself say “I cannot believe she calls herself a Christian…”; or “Who does he think he is trying to get away with…”; catch yourself… you might be setting yourself up as a Pharisee!   Busted!

Guided prayer:

“O God, sometimes I act like a Pharisee!  Sometimes I enter into conversations that sound a lot like a Pharisee.  Help me guard my tongue and my heart... Teach me a thing or two about grace.  Forgive me.  Amen.”

Day 74 Comfort for the exhausted Matt 11: 28-30

Guided reflection: 

Put you name on the blank line, and read how THE MESSAGE states this passage and listen to Jesus speak directly to your soul:  “  ____________,are you tired?  Worn out?  Burned out on religion?  Come to me. Get away with me, and you’ll recover your life.   I’ll show you how to take a real rest.  Walk with me and work with me – watch how I do it!  Learn the unforced rhythms of grace.  I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you.  Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”  Read it once like a buddy asking you to join him… then read it in a whisper as an invitation… then imagine looking at Jesus, face to face, and look him in the eye and hear his invitation again.  What would it take for you to respond to Christ’s invitation?     

Guided prayer: 

“Oh, how I get tired and worn out from all the “doing good” and all the things I think I ought to do.  Sometimes I feel that walking the Christian way can be exhausting.  O God, help me experience the unforced rhythms of grace.  Show me where I am trying too hard… show me what grace looks like for me.  Amen”