Mark 3

Jesus is not so interested in keeping a list of rules, he has his Fathers business in mind, which in this first story(v.1-6) includes Jesus healing a man on the Sabbath, which was considered work by the rule keepers. Jesus is concerned about reconciling the world to right not keeping rules, even to the point of taking great risks(the pharisees are now plotting to kill him because he does this) As I read this I wonder am I willing to take great risks to do the work of reconciliation? Risk like Jesus did?.... Lord make me willing to do your will no matter what it might do to my "image".

What questions do I have after reading this chapter?
V. 12 Why did Jesus not want the evil spirits to say who he was?
V. 14 Did Jesus only give power to preach and authority of demons to the apostles? Or was that also given to other believers?
V. 29 What does eternal sin mean?
V. 34, 35 Does biological family really mean nothing to Jesus?

* For those in the Young Moms Bible Study that are following along here, I just want to make a note about the lists of questions we gave you, feel free to deviate from those questions, as you can see I don't follow them. I actually have found it difficult to follow them. The point is to find what works for you and do it and learn from scripture.

Back from Holidays

So I was on holidays for the past month, we went to BC, it was so relaxing and rejuvenating. Mountains, oceans, beaches, valleys, zoos, cities, fireworks, family, friends, rivers, lakes, creeks, sailing, sliding, hiking, dancing, driving, concerts, camping, canning, fleas, bees, animals and trees. Whew, what a trip.

While on holidays I had a few questions come to my brain. I would like to explore these two questions/topics more in the next while but for now I will throw them out there and you can respond to them as you like with your thoughts or just ponder them on your own.

What kind of openness, vulnerability or transparency is appropriate or acceptable on a blog?
or Maybe a similar question you might ask for yourself if you don't have a blog is in regards to how open, vulnerable or transparent should you be with others?

The second question has pretty much nothing to do with the first.

.... Now, how to word this one...... it is in regards to women and clothing and how we dress and what is appropriate and what is not. How should a women dress in light of living holy? Does summer make a difference?

Those are the two questions swimming in my head these days.

As you can see, though I was on holidays my brain has not taken a break from pondering.
Oh and I have been doing an awful job at keeping a daily connection with God so far this summer. The whole thing about learning to be, to waste time with God, has pretty near bombed. I would feel more awful about it, but I don't thankfully because the glorious thing is each day is a new day and I am forgiven and today is a new day. Thank you Jesus! Today I did it.

What AM I doing?

I was telling a friend the other day how I have a certain time of year when I reevaluate my goals and purpose in life. Ask the "why?" questions. I don't really choose it it seems to choose me. I ask it of myself but it feels like something outside of me is asking me. "What ARE you doing HERE? Why did you move away from family to be in this place? Why do you stay?" maybe it's God asking? I've written about this before. And here I am 2 years later and I am at the ..."What ARE you doing HERE? Why did you move away from family to be in this place? Why do you stay?"
.....
I know somethings it's not, it's not to live the "good life", have a "good" day and survive Manitoba, yet that is what most of my days appear to be about. About surviving.. at least it seems this past winter was (Ok and I'm talking about the overall focus not the obviously necessary daily routine. and yes I do want to have a good day but I hope you get my point that it isn't, or shouldn't be, focused on ME)
Really I appreciate this "question time" because for as long as I can remember mediocrity has a bad taste to me, I'd rather be weird and foolish to this world than mediocre ... and yet I don't seem to get it because I slip into a groove and what I don't want to do I do ... yap we've heard this before, Paul wrote it in his letter to the Romans "I want to do what is right, but I can’t. I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway."
.....
So what now?
....
I guess I ask Abba to show me,... to inspire me,.. to encourage me, to teach me, to refocus me, to reduce me, to increase Him, so I can serve Him, know Him, love Him, bless Him, be focused on Him.

Do you question too? Do you live to survive? Do you ask why?

(More from Peter in a few days)

The Light vs darkness Cont.

I can only imagine you all think I've gone off the deepend or something, being so down right depressing. If you know me at all, you'll know I see the positive side of life, but not always I guess. I have had a few weeks of interesting questions for God and doubts and seeing more darkness than light it feels.... I am not sure how to explain it, I do feel like I am on the up swing though. The positive me is coming back. God and I have had some "chats", I've wrestled it out with him. Not that I have it all together now but feeling more confident... hard to explain..... One thing I want you to know is that when you doubt and when you feel more darkness than light you are not alone. I mean that in 2 ways, you're not alone because I can personally say I relate and you're not alone because God cares about you and he is walking through it with you leading you toward the light again. We just need to open our minds to hear what he is telling us.
Now any stories? Share a story about the Light overcoming the darkness.

The Light vs Darkness

Sometimes it seems that darkness is overcoming the light and I begin to doubt that the light of the world is more powerful, more intense than the darkness, the enemy, of life. If you have a story to lighten the day with how The Light has poured into you please tell me I need to know that God is at work.