Come To The Table

Written by Jack Hayford

When the hour had come, He sat down, and the twelve apostles with Him. Then He said to them, "With fervent desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer..." (Luke 22:14-15)

On the night before He was slain, Jesus opened up the Passover Seder to being more than a religious observance; it became a Communion Table in which He invited His disciples to partake of His fullness and life. It was here that the truth of our salvation, pre-figured in the deliverance of Israel from Egypt, would be fulfilled. As He broke the matzo, the unleavened Passover bread, and took the cup with them, He reinterpreted the practice that had been going on for centuries, applying it to Himself. Jesus was becoming the ultimate Pesach Lamb.

When the Weeds in Your Life Keep Growing

Most of us hate weeds. They take over our yards and our gardens and make life generally miserable. But what about the weeds in our lives? Can they serve a greater purpose?

Don’t touch those weeds! Here’s a story I wrote several years ago that illustrates what I’m talking about:

Saved by the Weeds

Photo by Rebecca Barlow Jordan

Farming, like other high-risk occupations, requires a great deal of faith, dependence, and trust in God’s timing and goodness.

HUMILITY BEFORE HONOR

Matthew 18:4 "Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven."

MATTHEW 18:1-5; MARK 9:30-37; LUKE 9:46-48

It is interesting that Jesus used a little child to illustrate humility. Although it is true that little children have a purity and humility that is many times missing in adults, they certainly are not selfless. A child comes into the world totally self-centered, wanting what he wants when he wants it. Parents are to train children out of this self-centeredness.

One of humility's dominant characteristics is a God-dependency and not a self-sufficiency. The truth of humility being the key to greatness or success was not new. Jesus gave this truth new meaning by walking in humility as no one ever had before.

This path of self-denial to greatness is exactly opposite to the world's path of exalting self at everyone else's expense. The path of humility could not possibly work if there was no God. We would simply be trampled underfoot.

When You Can’t, God Can

Written by Brooke Espinoza

Are you walking a hard road today? Come talk to a mentor.

“…but with God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26b)

When we are going through a trial it’s hard to imagine how things will get better. God wants us to depend on Him in every trial we face. When we can’t, God can. God loves us as dearly and He is willing and able to turn our situation around if we will depend on Him, trust in Him, and wait on Him.

Pharaoh had a disturbing dream foreshadowing the seven years of famine that would come upon Egypt.  He told Joseph,“I had a dream, and no one can interpret it. But I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it.”(Gen. 41:15) Joseph was the king’s last hope. The pressure on Joseph to interpret the king’s dream must have been intense.

Instead of making something up to humor the king, like other wise men did in hopes of saving their neck, Joseph openly admitted to Pharaoh, “I cannot do it.” This was not the answer Pharaoh wanted to hear.  However, Joseph goes on to say“but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires.” (Gen. 41:16)

“But God” — I bet those two words were music to Pharaoh’s ears. Joseph couldn’t give Pharaoh the answers he sought, but God would. Not only did God give Pharaoh the interpretation to his dream, He used Joseph mightily to prepare for the famine and exercise his gift of administration.

What are you facing today that only God can turn around? No matter what you are facing, no matter what your need—rest assured, when you can’t, God can. Apart from Jesus we can do nothing (John 15:5), but with God all things are possible (Matt. 19:26).

God thank you that no matter how discouraging my circumstances may be, I can have hope because You can turn it all around and make a way when there was no way. Help me Lord to do my part to trust you and wait on your deliverance. Amen.

Question: When you need help, which Bible verses do you turn to for wisdom and assurance?

godquestions  http://powertochange.com/blogposts/2012/03/25/when-you-cant-god-can-2/