It's CHRISTmas Time!

Merry CHRISTmas!

Nativity of Our Lord
Luke 2:1-20 (NRSV)

God with us

In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. All went to their own towns to be registered. Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for see I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger." And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying,
"Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace among those whom he favors!"

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us." So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

INVITATION

If you have questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, “Come to Jesus” @ http://bit.ly/JVhaLta

Restore Me

Saturday, Third Week in Advent

Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19 (NRSV)

Show the light of your countenance

Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel,
you who lead Joseph like a flock!

You who are enthroned upon the cherubim, shine forth
before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh.
Stir up your might,
and come to save us!

Restore us, O God;
let your face shine, that we may be saved.

O Lord God of hosts,
how long will you be angry with your people's prayers?
You have fed them with the bread of tears,
and given them tears to drink in full measure.
You make us the scorn of our neighbors;
our enemies laugh among themselves.

Restore us, O God of hosts;
let your face shine, that we may be saved. ...

But let your hand be upon the one at your right hand,
the one whom you made strong for yourself.
Then we will never turn back from you;
give us life, and we will call on your name.

Restore us, O Lord God of hosts;
let your face shine, that we may be saved.

INVITATION

If you have questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, “Come to Jesus” @ http://bit.ly/JVhaLta

Lift Me Up...

Saturday, Second Week in Advent

Psalm 146:5-10 (NRSV)

God lifts up those bowed down

Happy are those whose help is the God of Jacob,
whose hope is in the Lord their God,
who made heaven and earth,
the sea, and all that is in them;
who keeps faith forever;
who executes justice for the oppressed;
who gives food to the hungry.

The Lord sets the prisoners free;
the Lord opens the eyes of the blind.
The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down;
the Lord loves the righteous.
The Lord watches over the strangers;
he upholds the orphan and the widow,
but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.

The Lord will reign forever,
your God, O Zion, for all generations.
Praise the Lord!

INVITATION

If you have questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, “Come to Jesus” @ http://bit.ly/JVhaLta

BLESSED

Saturday, First Week of Advent

SCRIPTURE

Psalm 72:1 7, 18 19 (NRSV)

The righteous shall flourish

Give the king your justice, O God,
and your righteousness to a king's son.
May he judge your people with righteousness,
and your poor with justice.
May the mountains yield prosperity for the people,
and the hills, in righteousness.
May he defend the cause of the poor of the people,
give deliverance to the needy,
and crush the oppressor.

May he live while the sun endures,
and as long as the moon, throughout all generations.
May he be like rain that falls on the mown grass,
like showers that water the earth.
In his days may righteousness flourish
and peace abound, until the moon is no more. ...

Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel,
who alone does wondrous things.
Blessed be his glorious name forever;
may his glory fill the whole earth.
Amen and Amen.

INVITATION

If you have questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, “Come to Jesus” @ http://bit.ly/JVhaLta

So Glad...

Psalm 122 (NRSV)

Gladness in God's house

I was glad when they said to me,
"Let us go to the house of the Lord!"
Our feet are standing
within your gates, O Jerusalem.

Jerusalem built as a city
that is bound firmly together.
To it the tribes go up,
the tribes of the Lord,
as was decreed for Israel,
to give thanks to the name of the Lord.
For there the thrones for judgment were set up,
the thrones of the house of David.

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem:
"May they prosper who love you.
Peace be within your walls,
and security within your towers."
For the sake of my relatives and friends
I will say, "Peace be within you."
For the sake of the house of the Lord our God,

INVITATION

If you have questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, “Come to Jesus” @ http://bit.ly/JVhaLta

PRAISE GOD!

Psalm 145 (NRSV)

Praise God's faithfulness

I will extol you, my God and King,
and bless your name forever and ever.
Every day I will bless you,
and praise your name forever and ever.
Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised;
his greatness is unsearchable.
One generation shall laud your works to another,
and shall declare your mighty acts.
On the glorious splendor of your majesty,
and on your wondrous works, I will meditate.
The might of your awesome deeds shall be proclaimed,
and I will declare your greatness.
They shall celebrate the fame of your abundant goodness,
and shall sing aloud of your righteousness.

The Lord is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
The Lord is good to all,
and his compassion is over all that he has made.

All your works shall give thanks to you, O Lord,
and all your faithful shall bless you.
They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom,
and tell of your power,
to make known to all people your mighty deeds,
and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.
Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
and your dominion endures throughout all generations.

The Lord is faithful in all his words,
and gracious in all his deeds.
The Lord upholds all who are falling,
and raises up all who are bowed down.
The eyes of all look to you,
and you give them their food in due season.
You open your hand,
satisfying the desire of every living thing.
The Lord is just in all his ways,
and kind in all his doings.
The Lord is near to all who call on him,
to all who call on him in truth.
He fulfills the desire of all who fear him;
he also hears their cry, and saves them.
The Lord watches over all who love him,
but all the wicked he will destroy.

My mouth will speak the praise of the Lord,
and all flesh will bless his holy name forever and ever.


INVITATION
If you have questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, “Come to Jesus” @ http://bit.ly/JVhaLta

The KINGdom is Amongst You!

Hidden in plain sight

I walk amongst you

You're looking

but you do not see

You're questing

but do not find.

Where is the kingdom

you ask

running to and fro

Chasing dreams

and figments

and imaginations

and falsehoods

never realizing

that kingdom seed

is already in the ground

and it is growing up

around your feet

The vultures know...

they hover in the sky above

waiting for you to

bruise the kingdom

with your dancing, drinking, and carousing

as you chase vain glory.

But, seed

goes to ground

to die and rise again

season after season.

The kingdom of God

is amongst you

come first in silence, night

womb, and death.

Come a second time

splitting the sky

in resurrection victory

with loud trumpet blast...

Where is the kingdom?

The KINGdom

is ME.

This Spoken WORD is inspired by the following scripture in the Holy Bible:

Luke 17:20-37 (NRSV)
The judgment coming

Once Jesus was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God was coming, and he answered, "The kingdom of God is not coming with things that can be observed; nor will they say, 'Look, here it is!' or 'There it is!' For, in fact, the kingdom of God is among you."

Then he said to the disciples, "The days are coming when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it. They will say to you, 'Look there!' or 'Look here!' Do not go, do not set off in pursuit. For as the lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one side to the other, so will the Son of Man be in his day. But first he must endure much suffering and be rejected by this generation. Just as it was in the days of Noah, so too it will be in the days of the Son of Man. They were eating and drinking, and marrying and being given in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed all of them. Likewise, just as it was in the days of Lot: they were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building, but on the day that Lot left Sodom, it rained fire and sulfur from heaven and destroyed all of them - it will be like that on the day that the Son of Man is revealed. On that day, anyone on the housetop who has belongings in the house must not come down to take them away; and likewise anyone in the field must not turn back. Remember Lot's wife. Those who try to make their life secure will lose it, but those who lose their life will keep it. I tell you, on that night there will be two in one bed; one will be taken and the other left. There will be two women grinding meal together; one will be taken and the other left."

Then they asked him, "Where, Lord?" He said to them, "Where the corpse is, there the vultures will gather."

INVITATION

If you have questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, “Come to Jesus” @ http://bit.ly/JVhaLta

BY WHAT AUTHORITY?

I guess I don't

understand

why I need your permission

to tell the good news

to those who need to hear it?

By what authority?

Should it be by your authority?

By that in Rome?

By priests and scribes and teachers?

Or can it simply be by

I AM'S AUTHORITY

May I proclaim good news

because he sent me

empowered me

equipped me

prepared me

and commissioned me

to read good news

preach good news

and BE good news

on this planet?

You can't even answer simple

questions

Why do you dare ask me

complex ones

I need no earthly authority

I am the only authority

that truly exists

I will not tell you

a thing!

This spoken WORD was inspired by the following scripture in the Holy Bible:

Luke 20:1-8 (NRSV)

Jesus' teaching authority

One day, as he was teaching the people in the temple and telling the good news, the chief priests and the scribes came with the elders and said to him, "Tell us, by what authority are you doing these things? Who is it who gave you this authority?" He answered them, "I will also ask you a question, and you tell me: Did the baptism of John come from heaven, or was it of human origin?" They discussed it with one another, saying, "If we say, 'From heaven,' he will say, 'Why did you not believe him?' But if we say, 'Of human origin,' all the people will stone us; for they are convinced that John was a prophet." So they answered that they did not know where it came from. Then Jesus said to them, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things."

INVITATION

If you have questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, “Come to Jesus” @ http://bit.ly/JVhaLta

LISTEN

He says we're deaf.
What did you say?
He says we're deaf.
What's that now?
He says we're deaf.
We cannot hear.
We do not listen.
How's that again?
Deaf, I say!
He says we're deaf
and dumb
and devils...
What now?
I cannot hear you!
Thus, I will not believe...
What's that?
Take my fingers out of my ears?!
HUMPH
what did you say?


This Spoken WORD was inspired by the following scripture in the Holy Bible:

SCRIPTURE

John 8:39-47 (NRSV)

True children of Abraham

They answered him, "Abraham is our father." Jesus said to them, "If you were Abraham's children, you would be doing what Abraham did, but now you are trying to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. This is not what Abraham did. You are indeed doing what your father does." They said to him, "We are not illegitimate children; we have one father, God himself." Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and now I am here. I did not come on my own, but he sent me. Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot accept my word. You are from your father the devil, and you choose to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks according to his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies. But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me. Which of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me? Whoever is from God hears the words of God. The reason you do not hear them is that you are not from God."

INVITATION
If you have questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, “Come to Jesus” @ http://bit.ly/JVhaLta

Luke 1:46-55 (NRSV)

Mary's song

And Mary said,
"My soul magnifies the Lord,
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant.
Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
for the Mighty One has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.
His mercy is for those who fear him
from generation to generation.
He has shown strength with his arm;
he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
He has brought down the powerful from their thrones,
and lifted up the lowly;
he has filled the hungry with good things,
and sent the rich away empty.
He has helped his servant Israel,
in remembrance of his mercy,
according to the promise he made to our ancestors,
to Abraham and to his descendants forever."

INVITATION

If you have questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, “Come to Jesus” @ http://bit.ly/JVhaLta

Have Mercy On Me!

Jesus!

Jesus!

Son!

Son of!

Son of David!

Have mercy upon me!

Teacher!

Let me see!

Let me see again!

Let me...

Son!

Son of!

Son of David!

Teacher!

Have mercy upon me!

Take heart...

Get up...

He is calling...

He is calling YOU

What do you want?

From the Son?

From the Son of?

From the Son of David?

From your Teacher?

Have mercy...

I want to see again...

From David?

From David's Son?

From David's Son of?

From the The Son of David?

From the Teacher?

Have mercy...

Make me see!

I am blind...

Help me see!

Have mercy upon me...

GO

GO, your faith

GO, your faith has

GO, your faith has allowed you to see

GO with what you hoped for

GO with the evidence of what

no one could see...

GO!

With Son,

With Son of

With Son of David

Had mercy upon me...

With Son,

With Son of

With Son of GOD

Had mercy upon me...

With Son

With Son of GOD

With Son of Eternity

With Son of Love

Had mercy upon me...

I will follow you

Along

The Way.

Son

Son of David

Son of God

Teacher

Son of Eternity

Son of Love

Have Mercy upon me...

FOREVER.

This Spoken WORD was inspired by the following scripture from the Holy Bible:

Mark 10:46-52 (NRSV)
A man who would not be silenced

They came to Jericho. As he and his disciples and a large crowd were leaving Jericho, Bartimaeus son of Timaeus, a blind beggar, was sitting by the roadside. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout out and say, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" Many sternly ordered him to be quiet, but he cried out even more loudly, "Son of David, have mercy on me!" Jesus stood still and said, "Call him here." And they called the blind man, saying to him, "Take heart; get up, he is calling you." So throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus. Then Jesus said to him, "What do you want me to do for you?" The blind man said to him, "My teacher, let me see again." Jesus said to him, "Go; your faith has made you well." Immediately he regained his sight and followed him on the way.

INVITATION

If you have questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, “Come to Jesus” @ http://bit.ly/JVhaLta

I CHOOSE...

Lord,

If you choose

You can make

Me well again.

My heart hurts

For it is filled

With pains and longings and fears

Too deep to explain

They cause me to hate

So many people

For no reason

At all--

Except for the way

You made them…

Lord,

If you choose

You can heal my

Sin-sickness.

It is rotting inside

Of me

Slowly

And silently

Killing me

Day by day

Yet,

No one knows it

But us.

Lord,

If you choose

You can deliver me

From the cankers in my mouth

That cause me to spew

Hate and evil

To speak ill

Against a brother

Or sister

To tell a lie

Or to blaspheme

Your good name

Lord,

If you choose

You can heal my hands

And feet

Which rebel against your

Will

And Word

Which I use to

Do all manner of things

That I know I should not do…

Lord,

If you choose,

You can heal ME.

I bow low before you

Hoping,

Dreaming,

& Praying

That one day

you will…

CHILD, I WILL…

BE MADE CLEAN.

Amen!

This spoken WORD was inspired by the following scripture from the Holy Bible:

Luke 5:12-16 (NRSV)
A leper healed

Once, when he was in one of the cities, there was a man covered with leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he bowed with his face to the ground and begged him, "Lord, if you choose, you can make me clean." Then Jesus stretched out his hand, touched him, and said, "I do choose. Be made clean." Immediately the leprosy left him. And he ordered him to tell no one. "Go," he said, "and show yourself to the priest, and, as Moses commanded, make an offering for your cleansing, for a testimony to them." But now more than ever the word about Jesus spread abroad; many crowds would gather to hear him and to be cured of their diseases. But he would withdraw to deserted places and pray.

INVITATION

If you have questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, “Come to Jesus” @ http://bit.ly/JVhaLta

The Cry of My Heart

Lord, I am waiting
patiently
I think...

I really want to trust you
I know that you have a good plan
in theory I know that your timing is perfect

But, sometimes...
worry
fret
and anxiety
attempt to befriend me
They hold my hand tightly
and beckon me to follow them down a dark path
that I know will lead to my destruction.

At times like these
I call for you
I shout for you
I whimper for you...
Sometimes no sound emerges at all
but I know that you still hear me
for you can hear
the cry of my heart.

As I cry out
you fill me with peace
you surround me with Spirit
You increase my faith

As I look out over the path of my life
Trust summons me and
Delight dances
And I realize that i can patiently wait
for you to lead me
in the way that I should go.

Lord, I'm waiting
Patiently...

Please take my hand &
lead me home...

This Spoken WORD was inspired by the following scripture from the Holy Bible:

Psalm 37:1-9 (NRSV)

Commit your way to the Lord

Do not fret because of the wicked;
do not be envious of wrongdoers,
for they will soon fade like the grass,
and wither like the green herb.

Trust in the Lord, and do good;
so you will live in the land, and enjoy security.
Take delight in the Lord,
and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Commit your way to the Lord;
trust in him, and he will act.
He will make your vindication shine like the light,
and the justice of your cause like the noonday.

Be still before the Lord, and wait patiently for him;
do not fret over those who prosper in their way,
over those who carry out evil devices.

Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath.
Do not fret - it leads only to evil.
For the wicked shall be cut off,
but those who wait for the Lord shall inherit the land.


INVITATION
If you have questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, “Come to Jesus” @ http://bit.ly/JVhaLta

Eternity Unleashed...

Welcome little one
your smile reflects light
The Light
of The One who made you!
Your mouth
shares Jesus' smile
Your hands
open wide to friends
and enemies alike
to share Jesus' hug
Your gentle ways
and quickness to forgive
echo The Love of eternity
and grace unbound
Welcome little one
greatest among wo/men
for in your innocence
you love God &
you love neighbor
with wild abandon
You will even run to the stranger
For you are not afraid
You are not afraid...
It would never occur to you
to betray the Savior;
You only wanted to play
to bounce on his knee
Get thrown in the air
SOARING
With arms outstretched
as He blessed you.
Running away
Giggling
to share the good news
about The One who loves...
with wild abandon.
Welcome little one
bearer of Christ
Immortal one
Eternity unleashed.


This Spoken WORD was inspired by the following scripture in the Holy Bible:

Luke 9:43b-48 (NRSV)

Welcoming little ones

While everyone was amazed at all that he was doing, he said to his disciples, "Let these words sink into your ears: The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into human hands." But they did not understand this saying; its meaning was concealed from them, so that they could not perceive it. And they were afraid to ask him about this saying.

An argument arose among them as to which one of them was the greatest. But Jesus, aware of their inner thoughts, took a little child and put it by his side, and said to them, "Whoever welcomes this child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me; for the least among all of you is the greatest."

INVITATION

If you have questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, “Come to Jesus” @ http://bit.ly/JVhaLta

20 BUCKS...

It really annoys me
When you talk about
Giving to the church
It annoys me further
When you speak
Of the tithe
Nobody actually tithes,
Right?

I mean…

I give out of my abundance
What you deserve
The doors of MY church
Stay open
We pay our staff
And the heat is on
We even do BIG EXTRAS
Like caring for the homeless
And visiting the sick

So, why are you getting
On me about my 3%?
3% of my income is a
RATHER LARGE SUM
If I do say so myself

I see you commending that
Stupid little widow;
She put two pennies in the plate!

Every week I put her entire monthly salary
In this plate
And you have never once told me
GOOD JOB!

Out of my abundance
I share what you deserve and
what I think you really need
And 20 bucks a week
Ought to do it.



This Spoken WORD was inspired by the following scripture from the Holy Bible:

Mark 12:41-44 (NRSV)
A widow's offering

He sat down opposite the treasury, and watched the crowd putting money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which are worth a penny. Then he called his disciples and said to them, "Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury. For all of them have contributed out of their abundance; but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on."

INVITATION

If you have questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, “Come to Jesus” @ http://bit.ly/JVhaLta

REAL LOVE...

I have been tended
by many hirelings
They said they loved me
but when the going got tough
They got going
shoving me into the mouth
of the wolf
on the way out of the door
They had no claim on me
no investment
no care
Just hirelings...
talking a good talk
but failing to walk a good walk
when I needed them most
Thank God
for the Good Shepherd
who never left me
never forsook me
Never thrust me
into the mouth of a
ravenous beast
to save his own hide
Instead, he protected me
valiant
courageous
brave
unto death...
Now I know who loves me
The one who chose to die
rather than let me go
Now that's real love
That's my Shepherd.


This Spoken WORD was inspired by the following scripture from the Holy Bible:

John 10:11-21 (NRSV)
Jesus, the good shepherd

"I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand, who is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away - and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. The hired hand runs away because a hired hand does not care for the sheep. I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it up again. I have received this command from my Father."

Again the Jews were divided because of these words. Many of them were saying, "He has a demon and is out of his mind. Why listen to him?" Others were saying, "These are not the words of one who has a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?"

INVITATION

If you have questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, “Come to Jesus” @ http://bit.ly/JVhaLta

GET OUT!

Welcome!
Welcome!
Come on in...
I welcome you as Christ.
Yes, you may have some water
Here it is
clean
and out of the tap too.
What did you say?
Food too?
Well, I hadn't planned to feed you,
but, I welcome you as Christ,
so, let's see what I can do
Here's noodles, butter, and bread
its the best I have
for the likes of you
What did you say?
Oh no you didn't!
My bed...
you want to sleep in my bed?
Now this is getting ridiculous...
You know,
you're not actually Christ, right?
Not a prophet
Not a...
well, not a...
well, I guess did say I would welcome you as Christ
But, this is getting ridiculous...
You want to share my family
my stuff
my home
my food
my water
my bed?
What did that Jesus say?
Lose my life
to find it...
I like my life,
thank you very much
and I'm sure I don't want to lose it
And carry a cross?
that's just not my thing
Can I write you a check?
How much?
What!?
Too much! Too much!
What's in it for me?
What's the reward?
I just can't get with this...
Lord,
GET OUT!


This spoken WORD is inspired by the following scripture from the Holy Bible:

Matthew 10:34-42 (NRSV)

The cost of discipleship

"Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.
For I have come to set a man against his father,
and a daughter against her mother,
and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law;
and one's foes will be members of one's own household.

Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever does not take up the cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Those who find their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it.

"Whoever welcomes you welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. Whoever welcomes a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet's reward; and whoever welcomes a righteous person in the name of a righteous person will receive the reward of the righteous; and whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones in the name of a disciple - truly I tell you, none of these will lose their reward."


INVITATION
If you have questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, “Come to Jesus” @ http://bit.ly/JVhaLta

RIGHT HAND MAN...

You've certainly made a mistake, Lord
This cannot be my seat
I was supposed to be in the place of honor
Remember, I did right by you
when others did not
People should be chanting my name--
I mean our names--
I mean your name
And I should be sitting right next to you
Taking what I deserve
for being such a faithful follower
Where you go
I will follow
Unless you go where I do not
want to go
Or I'm uncomfortable going
Or if the journey
costs me too much
In that case,
I will sit on my throne
at your right hand
and oversee things
until you return
Yeah, Man,
You can count on me
to be
right where I want...
I mean,
YOU want
me to be
At your right hand.


This Spoken WORD was inspired by the following scripture in the Holy Bible:

Matthew 20:20-28 (NRSV)
A request for seats of honor

Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came to him with her sons, and kneeling before him, she asked a favor of him. And he said to her, "What do you want?" She said to him, "Declare that these two sons of mine will sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom." But Jesus answered, "You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink?" They said to him, "We are able." He said to them, "You will indeed drink my cup, but to sit at my right hand and at my left, this is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father."

When the ten heard it, they were angry with the two brothers. But Jesus called them to him and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them. It will not be so among you; but whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be your slave; just as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many."

INVITATION

If you have questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, “Come to Jesus” @ http://bit.ly/JVhaLta


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