Untangle: DELIVERY of GOD's EXTRAORDINARY PURPOSE

³⁷ For nothing is impossible with God.^[a]”

³⁸ Mary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” And then the angel left her. Luke 1:37-38

He traveled there from the village of Nazareth in Galilee. ⁵ He took with him Mary, his fiancée, who was now obviously pregnant.

⁶ And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. ⁷ She gave birth to her first child, a son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them.  Luke 2:4-7

So we have tracked this story all week....The Angel appears to Mary and tells her IT WILL BE (not what do you think, how do you feel...but rather it will be), then Mary answers (seeking understanding) HOW CAN IT BE?  Then we find Mary coming to peace with God's will, before darting to Elizabeth's, saying "I am the Lord's servant so LET IT BE.

But this is the part of the story...where we all tend to go awwwwhhhh....and our hearts are soften to the beauty of it all, and the warmth of the picture and the moment overtakes us.    Did we miss something.....didn't God say in the garden that because of their disobedience that children will be brought forth in pain?   Even if she had a easy childbirth (which I doubt) what about the discomfort of carrying the promise of God.   Have you ever had to carry a message from GOD?  It's not easy.....you many of times endure the very heart of the message and delivering it can be even more painful.  

See even if God has shown you:  you will be a CEO of a CO. ,or that you'll be king someday (David), or that you'll rule over your brothers and parents (Joseph), or that you are the deliverer (Moses) the process is one of holy adventure, discomfort and pain, and once you deliver or are delivered it's beautiful to see God's plan come to fruition.   But let me remind you, as you gather gifts and with family that if God has shown you that your marriage will be restored, or that you will be gainfully employed again, or that you or a family member will be healed, or whatever.......there is a process, and pain is a part of that  (refer to 1Cor. 1:7-9). 

So brace yourself, take deep breaths (you'll need everyone of them), and push through (don't try to rush or run through this...it too has purpose) whatever it is and remember GOD is not a man, that He should lie, or the son of man that He has to repent (Num. 23:19).  His promises are true and you have an extraordinary purpose on this planet.  MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!! LGLP

UNTANGLED: WHERE THERE'S A WILL........

And having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!”
²⁹ But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. ³⁰ Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. ³¹ And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. ³² He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. ³³ And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.”

³⁴ Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?”

³⁵ And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.  Luke 1:28-35

You ever seen a surveyor on the side of the road and wonder, what is it, they are looking at?  Or what is it that they see, that you don't see?  Mary didn't understand how in the world she would have a baby, yet remain a virgin.   So the Angel rolls out the blueprints to exactly how this will be done and if you take just a moment to count how many times the word "will" is used, you will discover that where there's GOD's WILL there's a way!  Let me help you....cause if you can see GOD's will here, just maybe it will help you to see GOD'S WILL for you:

1) (31v) You will conceive a son and His name shall be Jesus. 
2) (32v) HE will be great 3) He will be called the Son of the Highest 4) The Lord God will give Him the throne
5) (33v) HE will reign (6) of His Kingdom there will be no end.
7) (35v) The Holy Spirit will come 8) the power of the Highest will overshadow you 9) The One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.

GOD's ultimate WILL for all of us: goes beyond writing the next best seller, or directing the next blockbuster, or designing the next tech gadget...but rather His WILL is that we'd receive HIS SON, and bring Him forth into the world.   HOW can this happen......simply put the HOLY SPIRIT WILL come upon you (impregnate, reveal to you JESUS in your heart) ........YOU WILL BE OVERSHADOWED BY HIS POWER (anointed to, empowered by) and because you have received JESUS you are to carry Him (receiving Him as your savior), Nurture Him (study His WAYS and His WORD) then you will deliver Him (sharing Him through your acts of love, and words of encouragement).

WHERE there's GOD's WILL, there is a WAY, you have to accept and desire to fulfill His Will.   See the like the surveyor...GOD has a plan, and a vision, but in order for that to happen we have to get out of the way, trust He sees something we don't, and be WILLing to sacrifice our WILL so that HIS WILL, WILL be done!  LGLP

UNTANGLED: CONFUSED & CONFIRMED

Gabriel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!”

²⁹ Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean. ³⁰ “Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her, “for you have found favor with God!  Luke 1:28-30

Can you imagine?  Living your life....being a fairly decent, innocent, plain Jane, doing your best to honor God in the simplest of ways, and having an Angel tell you......YOU HAVE FOUND FAVOR WITH GOD!  Nowadays, some of us, we've become so ........so........self righteous in our faith that when someone says, I'm blessed we answer back...." and highly favored" or we'll say, " Oh yes, I am blessed and highly favored too....."  And sometimes I wonder how do you know that you are?   Mary was living such a humble and ordinary life (really doing what we all should be doing) that she didn't think of herself as "HIGHLY FAVORED" it took an Angel appearing to her to inform her of her stature in the sight of the LORD.   Notice it doesn't say Mary's response was......" You're right! I AM!" no she was confused it says and disturbed.  I'm sure she was confused about being highly favored (as to say why am I, and how am I) while she was disturbed because there was an Angel, you know a supernatural being.......standing in front of her.

How about you.....ARE YOU REALLY BLESSED and HIGHLY FAVORED?  Does it show by the way you LIVE & GIVE?  Here's my take, we ARE BLESSED without a doubt.  It's is because of God's mercy & grace that we are not dead!   Now we probably are HIGHLY FAVORED but we've told ourselves that to confirm who WE THINK WE ARE, but I wonder............really......seriously are we just confused, in that we don't LIVE and GIVE like we are favored.  How do I know that, how can I say that.......?  In a day or two we will cover Mary's response to what the Angel had to say, and what is really funny is that we SAY WE ARE HIGHLY FAVORED, but we rarely respond in complete humility and servitude to the call of GOD.  We tell ourselves Sunday's message was for them, or someone else, or we grab a cd for someone else, but do you go home and listen to it again?  Do you study & apply the actual message beyond Sunday morning?  Mary didn't have a Bible, just some scriptures that she hung onto or heard, and trusted in......enough to live humbly & obediently....is that you?  LGLP

UNTANGLED: INVITIATION to the EXTRAORDINARY

²⁶ In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee, ²⁷ to a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David. ²⁸ Gabriel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!  Luke 1:26-28

Good morning!  Many of you woke up this morning with the same routine.   Alarm clock went off, you got the coffee/breakfast started, you got dressed for work, and you know how the rest goes.   You'll put in your time, brave the drive home, grab a bite to eat, relax, and at some point go to sleep.   For some, church maybe injected there but for the most part it's a mundane existence.  This continues on through the week, and weekend and this is YOUR LIFE.   No matter where you live.....St. Charles, O'Fallon, Jennings, Bellefountaine, St. Louis, Bourbun, Cuba, where ever it is....is there REALLY ANYTHING REMARKABLE or EXTRAORDINARY about where you live or what you do from day to day?  Probably not......we like playing it safe, and routines are ok with us.  Mary lived in Nazareth, remember the place that it was said later, " Can anything good come from Nazareth" (John 1:46) and the scripture informs us that she was engaged and her life, her plan....was interrupted.

Now angels don't appear or make themselves known to us, nor do they deliver you a message like the one given to Mary, but I submit to you this:   EVERY SUNDAY A MESSAGE IS DELIEVERED to you and my question is have you put into practice ANY OF IT, ( you know the sermon)?

GOD has awaken (everyone reading this) us to an opportunity TODAY to actually apply HIS WORD, to our LIVES where if, and when we do, we will crossover from the ORDINARY into the EXTRAORDINARY because whatever He is urging, suggesting that we do or be (SALT/LIGHT) it will require us to depend on His supernatural spirit to dwell in us......but we have to be invitational, yes submitting ourselves to His will, and allowing the HOLY SPIRIT access to our hearts.  MARY already had a plan that now we are about to see interrupted........you too have a plan, but I wonder will you consider GOD's plan, better than yours and accept HIS INVITATION into the EXTRAORDINARY!   LGLP

UNTANGLING RUTH & BATHSHEBA

 And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse;

⁶ And Jesse begat David the king; and David the king begat Solomon of her that had been the wife of Urias; Matthew 1:5-6

We all know the heart-warming story of Ruth.  She wasn't a prostitute, or a woman pretending to be one...but rather she was a heart-broken widow, whose life didn't turn out the way she intended.    She ends up staying with her mother-in-law a residing as a foreigner.   Ruth I'm sure was disappointed and Naomi had some bitterness, regret, grief, and was frustrated with where her life was heading but thank God because we see He doesn't leave this women, but rather He blesses them with one another. Naomi encourages Ruth and vice versa, GOD HAS A PLAN...and Naomi see's Boaz for Ruth and instructs her to do somethings.

Ruth ends up with Boaz, which in turn yields a son Obed, that had a son, JESSE the father of David, which David has a son name Solomon, from another man's wife (Bathsheba).   WAIT A MINUTE.....did the writers of the Bible make a mistake.....David had a son from another man's wife.....YES!  See the Bible is presented to us in all GOD's GLORY and MAN's warts....every last one of them!   David the man after GOD's own heart, the ONE who slew Goliath, the great king, made a BIG MISTAKE, but GOD redeems all of this mess.  This is why when people say GOD won't, or can't bless mess....I say you don't know my GOD!  GOD had a plan because despite all of DAVID's dirt, it's through DAVID, it's through Bathsheba, through the messiness of Ruth's life, Rahab the prostitute, and Tamar....that JESUS comes!

You think you life is over....you think you've done too much to be forgiven......you think GOD can't and won't bless your mess.......I encourage you to read the WORD of GOD and see where book after book, chapter after chapter GOD is trying to wooo us back to Him, He wants us to give Him our MESS and watch what He does with it..........LGLP

UNTANGLED: GETTING PAST Your PAST to GLORIFYING GOD

Salmon was the father of Boaz (whose mother was Rahab).  Matt. 1:5a





 Let us tell it, if I was telling my family story, there are certain people we may choose to leave out, maybe they cheated on their spouse.   Maybe they were child molesters.   Maybe they were mentally challenged.   Maybe they were known as the "around the way girl," you know all the guys knew her.   But not the story of my savior......He sees every person as valuable, even the ones you don't welcome in your church, or your home, or your life.  That was Rahab, a known prostitute that demonstrated her faith in GOD, by hiding two spies of Israel in her tent.

God seeing and honoring her faith in Him, decided to inform Joshua to destroy the city of Jericho, but save her and her family.   See it had nothing to do with what she had done in the past, but rather but she chose to do in her present for the future.   

What about you.......what has you stuck?  OK, you did what they said you did.   You said what they said you said.   But Rahab didn't let that DEFINE who she was.   I don't know what sermon, what message, what scripture she heard or read, but we do know at some point she desired and decided to honor GOD.  It's never too late to make the decision to HONOR GOD with you life.  

My prayer is that you let you past GO, so that TODAY you might HONOR GOD with the very life He gave you today, so that like RAHAB, your family, and generations to come might be saved.   I'm pretty sure Rahab didn't know that JESUS would be coming through her family line, but I'm thankful HE DID!   There's hope for us all, if we choose to HONOR HIM @ WORK, @ SCHOOL, @ HOME , just HONORING HIM IN LIFE & ALL OUR RELATIONSHIPS where it begins with LOVING GOD, & LOVING PEOPLE!  LGLP

UNTANGLING TAMAR: SHAME to ACCEPTANCE

This is a record of the ancestors of Jesus the Messiah, a descendant of David^[a] and of Abraham:

² Abraham was the father of Isaac.
Isaac was the father of Jacob.

Jacob was the father of Judah and his brothers.

³ Judah was the father of Perez and Zerah (whose mother was Tamar).  Matt. 1:1-3a

Imagine being a widow of not one, but two husbands because they displeased the Lord.  Then your father-in-law refusing to marry you off to his youngest son, or even take care of you until the youngest son is old enough to wed.   So you get put away, and seemingly forgotten about.  This is Tamar's tale, her life.  She knew (even being a foreigner) that she was to have a redeemer so she decides to dress as a prostitute to appeal to her father-in-law.  It ended up working out, she gets pregnant with not one, but twin.  The Father-in-law in a rage & self righteousness (he didn't realize the children were his) decides she needs to be burned because she was having sex, and not married so she was bringing disgrace to his family.   Until the secret was let out..." Judah...you are the babies daddy...."  (can somebody say Maury??????)

GOD being the giver of life, hadn't forgotten about Tamar, and question her motives you are free to do....but it is through Tamar and one of her sons, Perez, that the will continue to unravel/untangle to bring forth JESUS.   See you may have had a son/daughter out of wedlock.  You may have been asked to step down from "(whatever ministry), or put off or away by family and friends because of your indiscretion but GOD has not forgotten about you.   We will see as we continue to read that yeah....Tamar shouldn't have done that...but GOD will always work out what is meant for our bad, for our good (Genesis 50:20) and HIS GLORY!

So no matter what has happened: whatever you've done, or others have done to you, GOD's word is true, He plan's to prosper you, not do you harm, provide you with a hope and future (through JESUS CHRIST) so don't give up live today like you know GOD's GOT A BLESSING with YOUR NAME ON IT!  LGLP

UNTANGLED: Discovering OUR Story, In Their Story is HIS STORY

This is a record of the ancestors of Jesus the Messiah, a descendant of David and of Abraham:

You know we are all connected, and by agreeing to this you have to also agree that we are entangled.  If you ever have spent time doing your genealogy, you quickly reach points where you have difficulties figuring out what happened to cousin, uncles, aunts, etc. and you wonder how did we get so disjointed or broken, well my brothers and sister it started in the garden and has continued since.   But Jesus came to make since of it all, to untangle those webs we weave, where we have children out of wedlock, adopt some, others even have married within the family but the story doesn't end there.

No more than the passage of scripture I started with today is the ending of the Story of Christ.  Actually the Bible is still being written as we the New Testament believers are living out God's glorious plan.  While He desires no one to perish some will, because they will choose against Him.  Some will and are currently spiritual giants and their names are being penned on yesterday's and today's life pages to encourage the next generation of believers.......but no matter what it's all a part of His Story, the Story of Christ invading Earth, and radically changing the lives of those that receive Him.   

For the next couple of weeks we will spend it untangling the the Story of Christ that will help to make since of WHY HE CAME for YOU, ME, and those family members that you believe there's no hope for that Christ stands saying " I beg to differ.....I died for them too!"  Make sure the story you want told, is the very life you are choosing to live today!  LGLP

MIRACULOUS PEACE: WE GET IT, WHEN WE EXCERCISE OUR FAITH (Humility)

 Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat with his head on a cushion. The disciples woke him up, shouting, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to drown?”

³⁹ When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Silence! Be still!” Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm. ⁴⁰ Then he asked them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?”  Mark 4:38-39

Whoa......wait one minute.....ok I get the whole storm thing, and fearing for their lives, but weren't  these fishermen on this ship?   Wouldn't they have been use to the uprising of storms while at sea?  Especially on the Sea of Galilee where you had cool air constantly colliding with warm air? Say what you want about the disciples and how faithless they may have been from time to time, but in this instance we catch a glimpse of what it truly means to humble yourself and simply cry out in faith!

See Jesus wasn't disturbed by the storm, no more than He's disturbed during yours....but when you cry out and exercise your faith by humbling yourself; in other words you maybe skilled in _____________________ but you don't know it all, and you know who does.  So you call out to:  JESUS!

How is your faith.....are you so proud you don't pray?  Are you so HOLY that nothing is too hard for you?  Or does you faith keep you humble & on your knees....trusting and believing God. 

Here's what I believe " He can do exceedingly abundantly above all I can ask or think according to (His Spirit: The Holy Spirit) the power working in me.  So I can love GOD, and love people because I'm empowered to do so by His Spirit....this is how I exercise my FAITH, TRUSTING and BELIEVING IN HIM DAILY to do the IMMEASURABLE, UNBELIEVABLE, UNFORGETABLE & UNIMAGINABLE through my little life!  LGLP

MIRACULOUS PEACE: WHAT GET's JESUS' ATTENTION

³⁷ But soon a fierce storm came up. High waves were breaking into the boat, and it began to fill with water.

³⁸ Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat with his head on a cushion. The disciples woke him up, shouting, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to drown?”

³⁹ When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind .....Mark 4:37-39a

Ok, so let's slow this down.  Jesus is asleep, while a fierce storm is on them.  They are at sea, and the aves were breaking into the boat (in other words the boat was not just being reeled by the wind and waves, but it was taken on water too) and may I say again Jesus was sleeping with his head on a homemade pillow?!?!?!?!!?!?!

Hey folks I don't know what you are going through, whether it's the lights or gas being turned off.  Maybe it's foreclosure or lost of job.  Maybe it's realization that your innocence has been lost because of pornography/fornication.   Maybe you are being haunted by poor decisions.  Maybe you realize depression is crouching at the door of your heart and you can't take it anymore........whatever it is....He wasn't moved by what was going on outside the boat, nor the physicality of the water in the boat.....but what GOT His attention was when His brothers, His friends, His disciples, His followers CRIED OUT IN FEAR & PANIC.

Now I'm not suggesting you live your life in fear & panic to get JESUS' attention, but what I am saying is that you do need to recognize when you are in the midst of a storm that HE's with you, and if you are unsure of His presence, His care for you to simply cry out, and be comforted by His still small voice saying to you in supreme authority (& your situation) PEACE, BE STILL.  See while He rebuked the WINDS & WAVES, I honestly believe we too can rest in this scripture Psalms 46:10 to be still and know that HE (JESUS on the ship) is GOD!  FOCUS on remaining loving to others during even your storms, and trust CHRIST IS NEAR!  LGLP

MIRACULOUS PEACE: STOP! REMEMBERING THE PROMISE is KEY

As evening came, Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.” ³⁶ So they took Jesus in the boat and started out, leaving the crowds behind (although other boats followed). ³⁷ But soon a fierce storm came up. High waves were breaking into the boat, and it began to fill with water.  Mark 4:35-37

One of the things I love about JESUS and His WORD, is that He never once promises us that our lives will be devoid of storms.   As a matter of fact He tells us that we will have trouble in this life, that we will be offended, that people will say all manner of things against us, that we will be tempted, that when we are persecuted, and when we a struck on one cheek to turn and offer them ..........   I've always heard that in life you are either heading into a storm, in the middle of one, or coming out of one, but know that STORMS will be a regular part of life.  I don't care what's going on it appears storms appear when you lease expect them.....but given life, shouldn't we learn that their will always be storms.  Remember storms are two fronts colliding.   WARM and COLD fronts (air masses).   You got hot aired folks conflicting with cooler air folks.  You lukewarm Christians colliding with COLD/HOT Believers.   You got really lax parents colliding with strict parents.  You got the calm cool and collected, bumping heads with hot heads....and we wonder why we struggle with loving people, but we are called to! 

The only way to successfully make it through this STORMY life is remembering that JESUS PROMISES ARE TRUE.  He says he will never leave us nor forsake us, so no matter what storm you are in, as a believer, you are NOT ALONE, HE IS WITH YOU!

THERE IS A PURPOSE for even the storms.....JESUS TELLS the disciples "Let's go to the other side," not I think we can make it, not I hope we can make it, not some of us will make it, but LET'S CROSS TO THE OTHER SIDE."  In other words none were anticipated or expecting to perish.  He planned on everyone withering this storm (they didn't know about it, but HE knew it was coming) and arriving safe on the other side.

What about you....what storm are you currently in, going into, or coming out of, that you totally forgot that He wasn't shocked that He left you and the kids.   He wasn't surprised that you got fired or evicted.  He knew that the Dr. was going to say_____________________?  I need you to remember that HE did say " For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven." Eccl. 3:1

I don't know what you are in, going into, or coming out of, but remember that if He brings you to it, He will bring you through it!  Focus on GOD not the STORM, and you'll find peace.   LGLP

MIRACULOUS HOPE: FAILURE IS NEVER FINAL

Later, Jesus appeared again to the disciples beside the Sea of Galilee.^[a] This is how it happened. ² Several of the disciples were there—Simon Peter, Thomas (nicknamed the Twin),^[b] Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples.  ³ Simon Peter said, “I’m going fishing.”

“We’ll come, too,” they all said. So they went out in the boat, but they caught nothing all night.

⁴ At dawn Jesus was standing on the beach, but the disciples couldn’t see who he was. ⁵ He called out, “Fellows, have you caught any fish?”  “No,” they replied.  ⁶ Then he said, “Throw out your net on the right-hand side of the boat, and you’ll get some!” So they did, and they couldn’t haul in the net because there were so many fish in it.  ⁷ Then the disciple Jesus loved said to Peter, “It’s the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his tunic (for he had stripped for work), jumped into the water, and headed to shore.

Here we find Peter and the boys, a little depressed.  Christ had been crucified, it seemed to have been over.   All the work they had done was for????????   So what did they do....return to what they knew...fishing.   Wouldn't you know it, they would have a repeat of the night they had when Christ first called them; they were tired and had caught nothing.  He accompanies them on their boat and they bring in the catch of their lives.   Now Jesus is gone....so they thought.   He calls out to them from the shore, and wouldn't you know it......they throw their nets back in and BAAAM!  Not only do they get FISH, they (John first) realizes it's Jesus that is on the shore.....then Peter (having walked on water before) realizes it's JESUS and totally forgets about the fish, but realizes again it's better to be with Christ than to be in the boat so he leaps out and runs straight to fellowship with Jesus on the shore.  

It was then and there that Christ asks Peter do you really love me......feed my sheep (lambs).  My question to you is where have you retreated to?  Have you forgotten the miracles that Christ has performed in & through your life where you absolutely can testify that it was Him and Him alone that___________________?  He's now displayed himself before you again and is asking you " DO YOU LOVE ME? If you truly do LOVE HIM, then loving people, caring for people, feeding his people should be what your focus is today, and everyday.   Not just your children, your spouse, or the easy to love ones......BUT ALL PEOPLE (especially those that are different from you, don't vote like you vote, look how you look, eat what you eat, talk how you talk, ones that don't believe what you believe, live culturally different from you........) and trust me if YOU REALLY LOVE THEM....you haven't seen A MIRACLE until you learn to love and serve GOD through loving & serving PEOPLE!   Have a Blessed WEEKEND! LGLP

MIRACULOUS HOPE: The Grander Plan

⁹ For he was awestruck by the number of fish they had caught, as were the others with him. ¹⁰ His partners, James and John, the sons of Zebedee, were also amazed.
Jesus replied to Simon, “Don’t be afraid! From now on you’ll be fishing for people!” ¹¹ And as soon as they landed, they left everything and followed Jesus.  Luke 5:9-11


This was Peter, James, and John's A-HA moment.   Peter was dumbfounded......not only did they catch some fish, they caught so many that it could only point to Jesus.   Can you imagine the scene?  Everyone He just preached to on the shore, watching them all struggle to haul in all these fish, that were caught in the middle of the day, and meanwhile they are in awe of this JESUS that was in the boat when it all happened.

Christ recognized that this anomaly terrified Peter, so much so that He had to snap him out of it by telling him don't be afraid, and then redirecting his focus to say "From now on you'll be a fisher of men." And as a response it says as soon as they hit the shore....they didn't clean the fish, they didn't gather and clean their nets, they didn't go to see how much money the catch was worth, they didn't check their powerball tickets........they left EVERYTHING and followed JESUS!  Peter recognized this was about a fishing trip...but rather about the grander plan.  The true view of what is real living, the abundant life.

What about you.....have you discovered really why you WORK where you WORK?   LIVE where you LIVE?  Have you stop being concerned about how much you make, or how you feel you need to move up the "corporate ladder", or that you are frustrated by who you work with or for.....and caught on to CHRIST's grander vision for you?

"For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord.  "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope."  Jer. 29:11  I don't believe JESUS is asking or telling us to leave our cubicles, the assembly lines, the check out isles, the board rooms etc. to follow Him.  I do believe He is inviting us to recalibrate our vision purposes to align them to fishing for destinies and not for dollars.   You know look to honor Him, by making a difference in the lives of EVERY DIVINE appointment you will have today.  If it's only saying " I'm blessed, and how about you (actually pausing to expect a response, and minister grace if the need be.)".  It can be observing the elderly needing to load a basket into their vehicle and opting to help, or carry the shopping cart to the holder.    It can be a simple as making, baking a treat for your neighbors, your co-workers, the public service workers......FOR GOD SO LOVED the WORLD (that's right....with all the world's issues from the top down....president to peasants) HE GAVE (not His opinion, not what we REALLY deserved) HIS ONLY SON.   WHAT will you choose to GIVE TODAY?  Me.......well I plan to live in His GRANDER PLAN for my life by simply loving Him, and loving people.  Have a BLESSED DAY!  LGLP

MIRACULOUS HOPE: OBEDIENCE PAYS PT. II

⁸ When Simon Peter realized what had happened, he fell to his knees before Jesus and said, “Oh, Lord, please leave me—I’m too much of a sinner to be around you.” ⁹ For he was awestruck by the number of fish they had caught, as were the others with him.  Luke 5:8-9

What would've happened had Peter rested on his loins and said....." I can't do it.......!  This is ridiculous, I know my field and Christ this is un-orthodox, it doesn't make since,  and I'll be embarrassed!"?  I can tell you this much....they never would've caught their biggest catch ever.  They also would've missed an opportunity to trust, obey, and grow in their faith in Christ.  Furthermore...this account doesn't happened.

But Peter did trust Christ.  He did throw his nets back out.   God did bless miraculously.  At the sight of this all......Peter realized who JESUS was (for the moment) and recognized in turn how un-worthy he was to have Christ on His boat.   Notice how Jesus didn't say, "you're right you don't deserve me."  See it's somewhat like Abram deciding to blindly follow GOD to sacrifice his ONLY LONG AWAITED SON, that when he proceeds to obey, GOD speaks, stops him, and provides a ram instead of his son, and Abraham calls Him Jehovah Jireh (God provides).  See unless you are diagnoses with __________________ how would you know HIM as a healer or a keeper?  Unless you have been without, and realized it wasn't of your volition, but rather God's move upon the hearts of others....do you know Him as a provider. Unless you've felt alone and without a mate and cling to Him, do you see Him as your spouse.

See Peter's biggest catch that day was not the fish, but it was the vision of WHO CHRIST REALLY IS!  ONCE HE DID, he wanted Christ to leave him because he realized in his heart he doubted, but his actions (actually casting out his nets) in spite of his doubt produced the blessings of God.   WHAT DO YOU DOUBT the workings of the WORD about?  Don't allow your doubt to keep you from experiencing the blessing and revelation of who JESUS really is..........TRUST & OBEY!  I'm praying you actually believe GOD, have a blessed day! LGLP

 

MIRACULOUS HOPE: OBEDIENCE PAYS PT.I

⁵ “Master,” Simon replied, “we worked hard all last night and didn’t catch a thing. But if you say so, I’ll let the nets down again.” ⁶ And this time their nets were so full of fish they began to tear! ⁷ A shout for help brought their partners in the other boat, and soon both boats were filled with fish and on the verge of sinking.  Luke 5:5-7

So here you have Peter and crew tired and probably frustrated as they spent several hours attempting to do what they are good at, and came up short.  Nothing, not one fish to bring in. It's like having worked an 8hr shift, only to clock out realizing that you didn't accomplish anything you were supposed to.  So Christ comes along and tells Peter let's go out, and little deeper.  Remember yesterday we talked about mistaking Christ's advice as common, and not following Him could be costly, even when it seems like we know more....WE DON'T.  So Peter says....." if you say so, I'll let the nets down."  Notice how Christ didn't say...." my baad Peter you're right....what was I thinking!"  No more than He's saying to you.....right now....regarding_______________________ that your way is really the better way. 

When Peter reluctantly but still obediently casted His nets out again, it says (and rather quickly....it didn't say 6hrs later) this time their nets were overloaded and the nets began to tear, so much so they needed to call in for assistance to get all the fish in. 

I have a question for you......WHAT IS IT THAT YOU ARE REFUSING, OR HESITANT TO TRUST CHRIST IN?  WHAT ARE YOU LOSING OUT ON BECAUSE YOU ACTUALLY HAVE DECEIVED YOURSELF INTO BELIEVING YOUR WAY IS THE BEST WAY?  I'm sure Peter was a little concerned about what other people thought ashore when they seen him casting his nets out in the middle of the day......but once he obeyed....I'm also sure He realized WOW JESUS does know it all and the people watching were too astonished.   I know loving GOD is easy, but it's the loving people (all of them.......ESPECIALLY THEM) that you are like that's impossible.  Or submitting to________________ (the spouse, gov't authority, bosses, etc.)  If David could submit to horrible Saul (who was trying to kill him) what's your beef?  If Joseph swho was betrayed by his brothers....still showed forgiveness, grace, and mercy what about your family?   Joseph still honored Potifer even after being falsely accused of raped, and jailed for many years.........how can you not choose to follow the WORD of GOD, in how you live today?  Love is a choice & is an action word (much like obedience).....the question is whom will you choose to LOVE?   LGLP

Miraculous Hope: TRUSTING when you are TIRED

One day as Jesus was preaching on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, great crowds pressed in on him to listen to the word of God. ² He noticed two empty boats at the water’s edge, for the fishermen had left them and were washing their nets. ³ Stepping into one of the boats, Jesus asked Simon, its owner, to push it out into the water. So he sat in the boat and taught the crowds from there.

⁴ When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Now go out where it is deeper, and let down your nets to catch some fish.”

⁵ “Master,” Simon replied, “we worked hard all last night and didn’t catch a thing. But if you say so, I’ll let the nets down again.” Luke 5:1-5

We all know Jesus as a carpenter and a prolific speaker, actually the best their is and ever was at articulating THE WORD, HIMSELF, HIS FATHER's desires for living in harmony for HIS creation; mankind.  But do you see Him as an experienced school teacher, customer service rep, call center representative, doctor, lawyer, firemen, research developer, author, roofer, construction worker, sanitation worker, administrative assistance, entrepreneur.......etc, etc.?  Peter had developed a skill at fishing, and gained some notoriety in these regards.  He even had a fishing crew...so when Christ the teacher stepped into his boat to advise him on fishing...Peter didn't look at Christ as THE EXPERT in his field. 

What about you?  Sunday's message was for you!  Maybe you didn't attend at C4 or any Calvary Church, but the point is, where ever you were, Christ was (prayerfully) being taught or speaking to you on the subject of......................... and if you aren't careful you will write-off yesterday's message as great advice, but not great enough that you'd follow it.   Peter totally identifies with you.....he had been out all night trying to catch some fish, and here Christ is advising him to through his net out, at the worst time to fish (in the middle of the day) and Peter and his crew our tired.  I get it!  You too are tired of __________________, but my parting question is: WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO?

TODAY is a day filled with opportunities to trust your instincts or to trust Christ.   Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.  ⁶ Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. (Proverbs 3:5-6)  It all begins with LOVING GOD enough to TRUST HE knows best, and then LOVING PEOPLE which honors Him, and them!  LGLP

MIRACULOUS VICTORY: HEALING THE MAIN THING

They couldn’t bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, so they dug a hole through the roof above his head. Then they lowered the man on his mat, right down in front of Jesus. ⁵ Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, “My child, your sins are forgiven.” Mark 2:4-5

So you are one of the four faithful friends looking into the room and as Jesus is standing over your defenseless buddy, you are poised to hear Him say it:  "You're Healed of__________________" and instead He says "son, child your sins are forgiven."  WHAT?  Wait surely there's more to this.   We didn't carry him, then dismantle a roof, for this.....did we?

This tomorrow is Thanksgiving and many of you have been preparing a bountiful meal for your friends and family, and some of you have been trying to mentally work yourself up to being around "these people" because the ex will be there, or the drunk relative, or the you know your cousin that is on meth/crack. Somebody will bring up_________________ and there will be a big argument.   The one relative that has a different man/woman every family gathering will be there and all this dysfunction just makes you excited about the holiday....not!  What you've been praying is that GOD please help me to get through this.   You've actually prayed "GOD please let something come up that I don't have to deal with....................... this year."

The reality is all of our family's have dysfunction, Jesus' did...so we had to, too.  But these friends & the paralytic got something different than what they expected (for now).  Jesus referred to this man as child/son meaning he's in the family, He forgave him of his sins and adopted Him in.    I just wonder if you have anyone you need to forgive of their sins against you, or against someone in the family so you can just love them?  Maybe instead of praying that they don't show up, or you "just get through this" you pray "CHRIST I apologize for harboring ill will towards my family.  Today heal my un-forgiveness, help me to love as you love, and serve as you serve. " 

So as you prepare to open your home up to, or go over the river, and through the woods to _________________ house you go....pray they don't get what they are expecting and neither do you, but what you get is the healing, the love, the fellowship that Christ desires to see us facilitating to His Glory here on Earth.  I love you guys, and isn't it funny how it all goes back to LGLP(loving God, loving People) !!!!!!!

MIRACULOUS FAITH: MAKE ROOM FOR ONE MORE, THAT's WHAT FRIENDS ARE FOR

When Jesus returned to Capernaum several days later, the news spread quickly that he was back home. ² Soon the house where he was staying was so packed with visitors that there was no more room, even outside the door. While he was preaching God’s word to them, ³ four men arrived carrying a paralyzed man on a mat. ⁴ They couldn’t bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, so they dug a hole through the roof above his head. (Mark 2:1-4)

So Jesus is found teaching to a packed house.  Some believe it could've been Peter's house, but that's not important.   What's important is friends.  Friends that would do anything for you....anything to get you to the healer.   Now we don't know if the reasons these band of brothers were so committed to this paralyzed man, was because they felt responsible for his paralysis.  You know maybe they were silly and were bungee jumping off of roofs before the bungee was even invented.  Maybe it was a camel riding accident....no matter what it was or wasn't.......you see the compassion of four friends that desired to get their friend in front of Jesus.  

Proverbs 17:17 says A friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need.

Is that you?   Have you banded or bonded with a group of people to the extent that  they know your needs and are moved for you, and are you that same way?  I have endured some tough times in my life, and I must give thanks and praise to GOD to those people who I've identified & recognized are my TRUEST FRIENDS, I only can hope I have been as loyal to them, as they have been to me.  YOU know WHO YOU ARE! (Hint if you need to ask.....that says a lot.) 

Friends don't anticipate what you can do for them, but rather true friends seek only to serve you.  Friends don't cast you away when you don't meet their expectations.....they rather continue to pray and support you.  Friend is what Jesus called those people who have full on committed to following Him, and living out the Gospel in a world such as ours............LGLP

MIRACULOUS VICTORY: YOU'RE A CHARACTER! WHICH ONE?

Then those who had seen what happened told the others about the demon-possessed man and the pigs. ¹⁷ And the crowd began pleading with Jesus to go away and leave them alone.

¹⁸ As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon possessed begged to go with him. ¹⁹ But Jesus said, “No, go home to your family, and tell them everything the Lord has done for you and how merciful he has been.” ²⁰ So the man started off to visit the Ten Towns of that region and began to proclaim the great things Jesus had done for him; and everyone was amazed at what he told them.  Mark 5:16-20

So this week we discussed demons, being possessed by, what Christ wass willing to go through specifically to reach one man.  We even now look at the fact that in studying this we discover there were people that were amazed at what Jesus did, as well as some that were scared of what Jesus could or would do in there lives, but what are we to do with this account?  Maybe you struggle with your own demons?  Maybe you know someone that does?

First ask yourself " WHO AM I" in this passage? "    We know we aren't the pigs or Jesus.  Mabye we are the disciples looking on in amazement.   Are you the farmers of these pigs that value the pigs more than the deliverance of a man.    You don't own pigs....but what is worth more to you than seeing ONE SOUL delivered?  Are you the person struggling with demons?  Maybe your demons are alcohol, drug abuse, over-eating, laziness, lying, pornography....etc?  If this is you I ask have you fallen to the feet of CHRIST with this?  Have you genuinely sought help? Maybe you have been delivered.....so are you now a mouthpiece for the building of God's kingdom?  Jesus asked him to stay behind and share his story.  So if you are this guy....who knows your story?

Are you the "Run and Go Tell folks?" You see the wonderful works of Jesus but then don't want them for yourself?   Maybe you want your spouse to go to church, but become fully involved to the extent that they are no longer sitting on the couch, or lying in the bed all day, they are now hanging out at the church and in a healthy community with other men/women so much so that they aren't at home as much.  Are you the one's telling Jesus please leave?

Now beyond the guy being healed, some people being scared/angry at Christ, you don't here of 1000 being converted or people praising God because of this sick demonically possessed man was healed at all.  But what you do read is he went all over to TEN TOWNS telling people what happened.   I wonder are you that grateful for CHRIST that every Monday following your weekend of worshipping corporately who do you go and share the message with......or maybe you don't tell anyone? LGLP

MIRACULOUS VICTORY: DELIVERANCE & DEVILED HAM....

⁸ For Jesus had already said to the spirit, “Come out of the man, you evil spirit.”

⁹ Then Jesus demanded, “What is your name?”
And he replied, “My name is Legion, because there are many of us inside this man.” ¹⁰ Then the evil spirits begged him again and again not to send them to some distant place.
¹¹ There happened to be a large herd of pigs feeding on the hillside nearby. ¹² “Send us into those pigs,” the spirits begged. “Let us enter them.”
¹³ So Jesus gave them permission. The evil spirits came out of the man and entered the pigs, and the entire herd of about 2,000 pigs plunged down the steep hillside into the lake and drowned in the water.  Mark 5:8-13


Remember the goals of Satan, or demons for that matter is to steal, kill, and destroy and while you might ask why the pigs.....why didn't He destroy them, or cast them into the Lake of Fire?  Because there is an order for everything!  Since sin is in the world, there has to be a consequence for it.  When we touch a hot stove, there will be pain associated with doing so....and they only way you learn not to touch a hot stove is to experience that pain.  

If you read Revelations you learn that the day is coming that Satan, demons, and anyone else who chooses against God, will have their appointed time to be dealt with for eternity, and in this case you see the demons knew that, that time wasn't now.  Which is precisely why daily they are looking for someone to influence or inhabit so that what happened to the pigs, could happen to you. 

We've all heard voices.....that have suggested we " tell em' off" or " divorce ________________ you deserve better than...." or " keep the extra it's a blessing from God, they'll never miss it" or " don't believe this crap.....God could care less about.........." or " missing one Sunday aint gonna hurt...." and so on....they want you to focus on you, because as long as you are focused on you, you are not focusing on God and others, and before long you have selfishly rationalized and justified your actions.

The man, had been freed from the torment of the demons, and the display following was the possessed pigs plunging to their death.   Where are you?  Who have you been listening to?  Jesus is delaying His return so that we all have ample time to be delivered from_________________ and return to our right spiritual mind where we are focused on depending on Him as our Shepherd, loving Him, and loving others?  I pray today is your day you are delivered from______________________________ and that you are directed back to where JESUS desires you to be, doing what He created you to do.......LGLP