1 Peter 4:10

As each one has received a gift, use it to serve one another as good stewards of God’s varied grace.

As Christians we are called to follow Jesus…which requires us to serve others. The natural inclination seems to be to serve ourselves…until we experience the unconditional love, mercy, forgiveness and compassion of God as total gift…freely given to us without any merit of our own. It is in our brokenness that we experience it…so that we know we did nothing to deserve it! Now…what is your gift or talent…freely given to you by God…that you can allow God to use to extend that same compassion to the world?

Suggested song of the day—”Shall We Sing” on the Listen to Your Heart album.

To hear a clip, click on the itunes icon in the upper-right corner.

Mark 10:51-52

Jesus said to him in reply, “What do you want me to do for you?” The blind man replied to him, “Master, I want to see.” Jesus told him, Go your way; your faith has saved you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed him on the way.

The blind man, Bartimaeus, was calling out to Jesus so loudly as He passed by that he could be heard over the noise of a sizable crowd that was with Jesus. Even when people in that crowd told Bartimaeus to be quiet…he yelled all the louder, “Jesus, son of David, have pity on me.” The blind man wasn’t so blind…in the matter of faith! He knew that Jesus was the Messiah…despite his physical blindness. Many sighted-people were spiritually blind! Jesus confirmed that Bartimaeus’ faith would lead him to wholeness or salvation…and He miraculously restored the blind man’s sight. Bartimaeus did not run off to celebrate…but he followed Jesus “on the way” to salvation. Jesus invites you to do the same!

Suggested song of the day—”I Want to Follow You” on the Listen to Your Heart album.

To hear a clip, click on the itunes link in the upper-right corner.

Mark 10:43

“Whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant.”

Jesus turns everything upside down! Jesus…the Son of God…divine and all-powerful…becomes a baby…totally defenseless. He spends his life serving others…extending the love, mercy and compassion of God. He demands that those with power and wealth share it with those who don’t. Jesus aims to please Abba…not His ego. Jesus’ way of life is completely opposite the philosophy that says, “get all you can for yourself.” All the things you collect will break down and turn to dust. The Love of God is eternal. How might I serve God today?

Suggested song of the day—”Listen to Your Heart” on the Listen to Your Heart album.

To hear a clip, click on the itunes link in the upper-right corner.

Psalm 98:4

Shout with joy to the Lord, all the earth; break into song; sing praise.

From an atom and its system of electrons to the earth and the moon and all the planets and galaxies…all that is points to a wondrous Creator whom Jesus called Abba. The same Loving Source Who holds all this together…breathes life into the tiniest insect; a budding flower; a playful puppy; a smiling child…and you! Trees reach for the heavens…birds sing with reckless abandon…and dogs play like there is no tomorrow. For to them…there isn’t a tomorrow…only the eternal now…receiving the gift of life and celebrating it. Doesn’t that make you want to sing your unique song in praise of our Maker!

Suggested song of the day—”Sing a New Song” on the Live to Love album.

To hear a clip, click on the itunes link in the upper-right corner.

John 21:17

Jesus said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was distressed that he had said to him a third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.”

Jesus knew that Peter had denied Him three times before His crucifixion…and so now the resurrected Jesus asked him three times if he loved him. Jesus knew that Peter did. Have you ever denied Jesus? In many ways…we all have. And yet Jesus does not scold us or condemn us…but simply invites us back offering forgiveness and unconditional love. Today…picture Jesus asking you, “Do you love me?” If you do…then how will you spread that same forgiveness and unconditional love to others? How will you ‘feed His sheep’ by being a willing partner in the dance of God’s creative Love?

Suggested song of the day—”Shall We Sing” on the Listen to Your Heart album.

To hear a clip, click on the itunes link in the upper-right corner.

John 17:22

“And I have given them the glory you gave me, so that they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may be brought to perfection as one, that the world may know that you sent me, and that you loved them even as you loved me.”

As Jesus spoke to God…do you not get the feeling that the meaning of life is so much deeper than a set of beliefs? Jesus is speaking of a certain Oneness of all things that goes beyond any left-brained, logical description. Jesus is putting into words that which can only be absorbed and experienced in a deeply felt and abstract way. Due to God’s Love…we are being brought to perfection as one…in Jesus…in God. Is there anything to fear here? No! Rest in that.

Suggested song of the day—”Breathe On Me” on the Listen to Your Heart album.

To hear a clip, click on the itunes link in the upper-right corner.

John 17:18

“As you sent me into the world, so I sent them into the world.”

Jesus says his followers “do not belong to the world” (John 17:14) and yet He sends us forth into the world anyway. He gives us everything of Himself…even His body and blood…so that He could come to life in each of us and spread his mercy and compassion throughout the world. We become His hands and feet…becoming His instruments in building the kingdom of God here and now. As Jesus taught us to pray: “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” How will Christ live in you…using your unique gifts and talents in building God’s kingdom?

Suggested song of the day—”Make Me a Channel” on the Listen to Your Heart album.

To hear a clip, click on the itunes link in the upper-right corner.

Acts 20:24

“Yet I consider life of no importance to me, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to bear witness to the gospel of God’s grace.”

At this point Paul is in such communion with the risen Christ that he knows in the deepest way that true joy and peace can only come in the carrying out of his calling in each moment. We are all called to “bear witness to the gospel of God’s grace”…in other words…to bear witness to the Good News of God’s freely given love. How do we do this with the talents, abilities, and deep passions we’ve received from our loving Creator? As soon as you decide to allow Christ to lead you in this quest…you are truly in a Graced moment! The kingdom of God is at hand!

Suggested song of the day—”You’ll Lead Me” on the Listen to Your Heart album.

To hear a clip, click on the itunes link in the upper-right corner.

John 16:32-33

“But I am not alone, because the Father is with me. I have told you this so that you might have peace in me. In the world you will have trouble, but take courage, I have conquered the world.”

Jesus knew that He would be abandoned and crucified alone…with only a few remaining throughout His ordeal. But Jesus knew the Father would never abandon Him…even though that was how it felt when He hung on the cross. Jesus felt every rejection and unjust persecution imaginable…but He knew that the cross was not the end. Though it appears to be a dead-end to the world…in reality…it was the gateway to the ultimate New Life. Know that in your struggle…Jesus is there with you. The prestige, power and wealth of this world will disintegrate…but the Love of Jesus and the New Life He promises…will last forever!

Suggested song of the day—”I Will Give You Rest” on the Live to Love album.

To hear a clip, click on the itunes link in the upper-right corner.