Clumsy and Forgiven

(S)"Why are you sleeping?" he asked, "Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation." -Luke 22:46 (O)Jesus went to the Mount of Olives, as usual. This was not a one time thing, or something he did occasionally, but he did this as he usually did. He knelt down and prayed. The disciples followed him. His instructions to them were, "Pray that you will not fall into temptation. " When he returned to them after praying, he found them sleeping and replied, "Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation." (A) Jesus went to the Mount of Olives as usual. This was his prayer closet or 'war room'. Where is your Mount of Olives? And, when do you go there? (P) Father, Forgive me for my inconsistent, deep intentional prayer life. Thank you for Jesus' beautiful and perfect demonstration on the Mount of Olives. Help me to follow this example. Help me to draw closer to you. Help me to trust you. Help

The apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith!" -Luke 17:5 Luke 17 starts with scripture stating if someone causes another to stumble, it would be better to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around their neck. Ouch! This is definitely discouraging.  But, just a few short verses later, the apostles reply with "Lord, increase our faith."  There is nothing that we in our own power are going to be able to do to resist temptation.  But if we cling to Jesus, we can withstand the evil temptations that WILL arise. Jesus replied to the apostles, "If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, 'be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it will obey you." Cling to your mustard seed of faith. Your mustard seed of faith is bigger than your temptation. Father, thank you for accepting my mustard seed faith. So often, in times of trial and temptation,  I feel weak and drop and lose my mustard seed. Help me to

Read Luke 21:1-4 She out of her poverty put in all she had to live on. Luke 21:4 “The Little Drummer Boy” is a popular Christmas song written in 1941. It was originally known as “Carol of the Drum” and is based on a traditional Czech carol. Although there isn’t any reference to a drummer boy in the Christmas story in Matthew 1–2 and Luke 2, the point of the carol goes straight to the heart of the meaning of worship. The carol describes how a boy is summoned by the Magi to the scene of Christ’s birth. Unlike the wise men, however, the drummer has no gift—so he gives what he has. He plays his drum, saying, “I played my best for Him.” This echoes the worship Jesus described when He told of the widow and her two coins: “ ‘Truly I tell you,’ he said, ‘this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on’ ” (Luke 21:3-4). All the drummer boy had was his drum and all the poor w

"And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another.  For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit." -2 Cor. 3:13 When Moses came down from Mount Sinai, Moses didn't realize that his face was shining because he had been talking with God.  He did not  realize this, but boy did those around him.  There was something different about him.  He had a glow to him.  And, each time that he spoke with God he again would have this glow.  Everyone saw this, and they realized he was different.  Moses only had the opportunity to speak to God periodically.  But, everyone around him could definitely tell when he had been in "contact" with God. There is something about pregnant women.  They are absolutely beautiful.  They have what many call the "pregnant glow".  They have this beautiful glow about their face, showing you that they have a sweet baby in their tummy.