Day 113 The BIG Confession Matt 16: 13-23; Mark 8:27-33; Luke 9: 18-22

Guided reflection:

Jesus wants to know what the word on the street is about who he is.  The Disciples say they hear all kinds of stories – some thing he is Elijah, some say he is John the Baptist come back to life... then Jesus looks them in the eye and asks:  “who do you say that I am?”  And Peter gives his famous confession:   “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.”   Matthew’s passage adds a conversation between Jesus and Peter:  Jesus predicts that the church will be built on Peter’s confession.  He adds that he is giving the keys to the kingdom of God to him and that those keys have the power to bind things or to loose things.  And then Jesus begins to talk about going to Jerusalem to be killed.  There is a shift in Jesus focus now… and Peter is not happy.  He thinks that Jesus is just being negative, but Jesus was just telling the truth.   Jesus even states that Peter’s denial that it will happen is a hindrance to Jesus and needs to get out of his sight… lest Jesus become distracted.   So, today, first ask yourself:  “who do I say that Jesus is in my life?”   And then, where do I want a happy ending and desire to skip the tough times… and possibly end up missing out on what God planned on using for my own growth and personal good?

Guided prayer:

“If I confess that Jesus is the Christ, then I have to embrace the work of the cross as well.  I don’t like crosses and suffering and talk of death, so I understand Peter’s rebuke.  But, Dear God,  help me to put away my rose colored glasses and see that you are with me, even if I have to face a cross in my own life… because after the cross came the resurrection.  Help me remember that, O God. Amen” 

Day 112 The Blind Man at Bethsaida Mark 8:22-26

Guided reflection:           

As we have been reading about Jesus and his ministry of healing the sick and afflicted, I am taken by the fact that many times Jesus takes the person by the hand and leads them away from the spectacle of the crowd.  Jesus cared for their dignity… and was not trying to put on a show at someone else’s expense!   Here Jesus miracle seems to be a progressive one… start to see but fuzzy… then clear sight comes.  That is how it is with me sometimes, I think I understand what God is doing in and through me… but as I go along it becomes clearer.  Paul wrote that we see through a glass darkly, but someday we will see things clearly.  This story reminds me that I am still under construction… I am not what I used to be, but Praise God, I am not what I am going to be… yet!   My paint is still wet!

Guided prayer:

“Yes, Lord, we are still in the process of being healed and being made whole.  Thank goodness, you have not given up on me!  Help me remember my job is to be willing to be in the process of wholeness.  I believe in you… andyou believe in me.  I wonder what is going to happen next! Amen! “
 (Spend a few moments thanking God for how you have grown in your faith over the years.) 

Day 111 “Bread” Matt 16: 5-12; Mark 8:14-21; Luke 12:1

Guided reflection:

The disciples had just realized they had forgotten to stop and pick up the bread they needed – they were down to one loaf between them… BREAD and whose fault it is that they forgot to have enough is on their minds.  Jesus has the Pharisees on his mind, so when he says “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees” they think he is blaming them because there is no bread!  Jesus cannot believe that they are still focused on whether there is enough bread – did they so easily forget the feeding of the 5000 … and the feeding of the 4000… what’s the deal with the worry over bread!  Jesus was trying to say that the way the Pharisees thought could permeate a person’s thinking and would mess up their chances on being all that God wanted them to do and be.   Now, I would have been just like the disciples.  I was not there when Jesus did the miracles, but I am on this side of the cross and know the stories, but I still focus on the little things!    Lynette, Get off the bread worry! There is enough!

Guided prayer:

“Jesus wanted the disciples to beware of the Leaven of the Pharisees.   Do I have any signs of being Pharisee-like?  Do my actions and my philosophies limit your work in me and those around me?  Show me the way!  Amen”

Day 110 The Pharisees want a sign from Jesus Matt 16: 1-4; Mark 11-13; Luke 11:29

Guided reflection:

The Pharisees are frustrated.  This Jesus fellow keeps mocking them with all these miracles and the people are buying this Messiah thing!  They want a sign, some proof from heaven by Jesus.  But Jesus knows their hearts – they are not open to see or hear anything about Jesus!  They have signs all over the place and have not heeded them, so what will they do with more signs?  Jesus walks away from them.  By the way, to you know the rhyme:  “Pink at night, sailors delight; pink in the morning, sailors give warning!”  See, Jesus knew that one too!   Just as we can read the signs of weather by the clouds, so the heavens declare the glory of God, if we are just open to see!  The signs are not the problem… but having eyes that are open to see is!

Guided Prayer:

            “Again I sing this song to you:  “Open my eyes that I might see.  Glimpses of truth you have for me”

Help me not be like the Pharisees who wanted more signs… but help me open my heart and my eyes to see how you are speaking to me already!  Amen!

Day 109 The Feeding of Four Thousand Matt 15: 32-39; Mark 8: 1-10

Guided reflection:

On Day 103, we had the story of the feeding of the 5000, now Jesus has been teaching and touching people for three days and the folks – 4000 - are hungry!  Jesus wants them to be fed, but there is no food… and once again, little becomes much when placed in Jesus’ hands.  They found just seven loaves and a few fish… And, once again, there are leftovers!  When it is all over, Jesus gets in a boat and leaves the crowds.   Do you get the idea that Jesus is not anxious about the little things?

Guided prayer:

“Help me to get my priorities straight… to seek your kingdom first... and then everything else will fall into place.  Forgive me, O God, for living an anxious life about the little things.  Help me keep the big picture clearly in my head!  Amen!”

Day 108 The Healing of the Deaf Mute Person Mark 7: 31-37 (also Matt 15:29-31)

Guided reflection:

Another miracle story… this time a man who is deaf and unable to speak.    Jesus took him off to the side … and did some strange things:  He put his fingers in his ears and spat and touched his tongue..

and the man was healed – able to speak and hear!    Jesus told them not to tell anyone… but how can you keep such good news to yourself?  The purpose of doing this study to for us to observe all that

Jesus did and taught.  So, this is what Jesus did!  He had compassion for those who were ill and healed them.   As it is in our power, should we not be about the same?

Guided prayer:

“Healing God, open my eyes to others around me and show me where I can be the hands and feet of Jesus for hurting people.  Amen. “ 

Day 107 The Canaanite Women Matt 15:21-28; Mark 7:24-30

Guided reflection:

This is one of the cases where I needed to be there to watch what happened… it seems – by just words - that Jesus is rude to this desperate woman!    Was Jesus’ tone cold and distant, or did he lean down and in tender words say that it is not fair to take children’s bread and throw to the dogs…. Was he speaking to her or to his disciples who wanted her to be gone from their sight?  Was this a racial issue – that Jesus came for the Jews and she was not a Jew?  Her answer to Jesus showed such great faith and hope… and Jesus answered her prayer… her daughter was healed.   Bottom line – Jesus responds to our faith.  To whom do you relate in this story – the disciples or the out of place woman?

Guided prayer:

“O God, I have prejudices… Oh, I like to think I don’t, but as a human being, I see others as less important, or unworthy, or from the wrong side of the tracks… the list goes on.  Help me face the fact that I am the one who might be the unimportant one, the one from the wrong place.  But also help me remember that you are the God of us all.  Thank you for sending Jesus, who showed us that it is our faith – not our circumstances or our background– that is the key to answered prayers.   Amen” 

Day 106 What Defiles a person Matt 15: 1-20; Mark 7: 1-23

Guided reflection:

Here we go again.  The Pharisees are appalled at how Jesus’ disciples did not follow the rules of the day.   They, themselves, were so careful to go through all the rituals… but Jesus stops the Pharisees in their tracks by saying that all their rituals have nothing to do with what defiles a person!  Jesus says it is what is in our hearts and what goes in and through our minds that messes up our lives.  Think of your current (or last) mess – how did the way you thought about things affect your action or reaction?   Is it not true that the way you THINK about things gets you into trouble?  Just stopping what you are doing will not help until you change the way you think about things!  So, where do you need to change the way you think about things?  Where are you defiling your own life by your thinking?

Guided prayer:

“OK, God, I get it.  I see that the things I do that are harmful to myself and to others are the end result of the way I think.  Just like my computer, only what I put in is what comes out…. So help me guard what I feed my mind.  Help me think like you… so then I can act like you… and people will see your face reflected in me.  Amen” 

Day 105 Jesus heals at Gennesaret Matt 14:34-36; Mark 6:53-56

Guided reflection:

Every Sunday, in our prayer time, we read the prayer concerns on the people’s hearts who sit in the pews.  Sometimes it seems so heavy to list all the folks who have just found out they have cancer… or yet another young parent has died… or a young person has been hurt… it seems the list goes on and on.  Sometimes I just imagine that during our prayer time we are bringing the folks to Jesus… and waiting for His touch.  If you lived in these few verses, who would you bring to lie at Jesus feet?  Why not bring them to Jesus right now?

Guided prayer:

“Holy one, we do not understand why some seem to suffer so.  Life does not always seem fair.  Today _____ need(s) your help. (list those in need in your circle of influence)   Touch them and make them whole… we leave the definition of “whole” in your hands, O God.  Amen. “ 

Day 104 Jesus and Peter Walk On Water Matt 14:22-33; Mark 6:45-52

Guided reflection:  

Wow!   Make sure you read the Matthew version of the story, where Peter walks on water too!   Now, I have never walked on water, never seen Jesus or Peter walk on water… I just have this story.  The only thing I can relate to in this story is the fear and panic in the boat in the middle of a terrible storm.  I can hold on to Jesus’ reaction:  “Take heart, it is I; have no fear”.    Where do you need to hear Jesus say that to your heart right now? Shhh… Listen….it is still true!

Guided prayer:

“There is a storm in my life right now(name it).  I am not sure about walking on water, but I trust that if I keep walking and trusting that I am not alone and that you are with me.  Together we will make it out of the storm…  Just help me to hold on to that peace in the middle of it all.  Amen”