It’s Christmas morning and I was reading the account of Jesus’ birth and the beginning of his earthly ministry in the book of Matthew.  As I read chapter 4, verses 21-22, it struck me with the thought of what Zebedee might have felt when his sons dropped everything and followed Jesus. 

Simon Peter and Andrew had just left their fishing nets to follow Jesus, and as they walked along together they saw James and John and Jesus called them to also join Him.

Hear what the word of God says in these verses: “And going on further from there He noticed two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets and putting them right, and He called them.  At once they left the boat and their father and joined Jesus as disciples…”~Amplified version

Notice how the scripture say at once they left the boat and their father.  The scripture doesn’t say they discussed it with their father to ask if he would mind if they left.  It doesn’t indicate whether or not their father approved.  It just says at once they left.

This got me thinking about Zebedee.  Was he distraught that his two sons just up and left to follow this man Jesus?  Was he angry?  Did he call to them as they left, asking what they were doing and why?  Did he question whether or not they cared that they were leaving him with the mess of finishing the work alone?  Or was he happy to see them follow Jesus?  Did he wish them well and thank Jesus for choosing his sons to be disciples?  Did he understand anything about Jesus at all?

Sometimes when we follow Jesus we have to walk away from others in our lives who are not willing to follow Him.  That doesn’t mean we just leave them behind and forget about them. We need to let them know that Jesus is worthy of our worship and our commitment to follow Him no matter what.  We need to tell them what Jesus has done for us and what He can do for them.  We need to show them the love of God, but we also need to be faithful to One who called us NO MATTER WHAT!

Will you be faithful to follow Jesus no matter what?

Found this lovely writing about Jesus and wanted to share it with you:

by Holley Gerth via Dayspring e-cards

Jesus

He came not to a throne, but to a manger.

He lived not as a King, but as a servant.

He chose not a kingdom, but a cross.

He gave not just a little, but everything.

“Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us.” ~ Ephesians 5:2 NIV

Jesus says in Revelation 1:17b-18, “…Do not be afraid.  I am the First and the Last.  I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever!  And I hold the keys of death and Hades.”

Keys…how we need them for so many things.  Keys to our car, keys to our home, keys to our desk or filing cabinet in our office, keys to our luggage when we travel.  Keys give us security.  Keys protect our belongings, those things that are important to us.

Keys can also keep us out of places where we are not allowed, or places where we shouldn’t go.  I don’t know about you, but I am glad that Jesus holds the keys of death and Hades and that through faith and trust in Him, we don’t have to worry about going there.

Have you trusted in Jesus?  If not, why not do it today?  It only takes a simple prayer in faith.  You only have to believe that Jesus came, died for your sins, rose again and lives forever more.  Halleluia!

Heard a co-worker say this recently when excited about something she wanted to happen.  Got me thinking.  Do we only pray when we want or need something, or do we pray just to tell God we love Him, we appreciate Him, we are thankful for all the many blessings He has put in our lives?

Pray, Pray, Pray, Pray….Yes!  But pray about everything: what you want, what you need, even what you already have!  Pray for direction.  Pray for guidance.  Pray a prayer of thanksgiving and a prayer of praise.

Our God is worthy!

1 Thessalonians 5 “¹⁶ Always be joyful. ¹⁷ Never stop praying. ¹⁸ Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.”

Have you ever heard someone say they thought they should be going to heaven because they were a good person?

Why would Jesus bear the penalty for our sins on the cross if we could get into heaven just by being a good person?  He endured tremendous pain and suffering so that we could go to heaven and be with God, but only through belief in what He did for us on that cross.

Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father but by me.”  Have you given your heart to Jesus?  If not, why not do it today?

Voices in my head.  Voices in my ears.  Voices in my heart.  How do I sort them out?

God says that He speaks to us in a still, small voice, but how do I hear it above all the other voices that come at me each day?  I went to my Joyce Meyer Everday Life Bible and looked to see what verses she listed for Hearing from God. Listen to what the bible says in these verses from the Amplified version.

Deuteronomy 28:1 If you will listen diligently to the voice of the Lord your God, being watchful to do all His commandments which I command you this day, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth.

Psalm 40:6 Sacrifice and offering You do not desire, nor have You delight in them; You have given me the capacity to hear and obey [Your law, a more valuable service than] burnt offerings and sin offerings [which] You do not require.

Psalm 95:7-8  For He is our God and we are the people of His pasture and the sheep of His hand.  Today, if you will hear His voice, vs 8:  Harden not your hearts as at Meribah and as at Massah in the day of temptation in the wilderness.

Psalm 119: 129-130  Your testimonies are wonderful [far exceeding anything conceived by man]; therefore my [penitent] self keeps them [hearing, receiving, loving, and obeying them].  vs 130:  The entrance and unfolding of Your words give light; their unfolding gives understanding (discernment and comprehension) to the simple.

Jeremiah 7:23  But this thing I did command them; Listen to and obey My voice, and I will be your God and you will be My people; and walk in the the whole way that I command you, that it may be well with you.

Matthew 7:24-25  So everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts upon them [obeying them] will  be like a sensible (prudent, practical, wise) man who built his house upon the rock.  And the rain fell and the floods came and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.

Matthew 13: 19, 23  While anyone is hearing the Word of the kingdom and does not grasp and comprehend it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart.  This is what was sown along the roadside.  vs 23: As for what was sown on good soil, this is he who hears the Word and grasps and comprehends it; he indeed bears fruit and yields in one case a hundred times as much as was sown, in another sixty times as much, and in another thirty.

John 10:5, 27  They will never [on any account] follow a stranger, but will run away from him because they do not know the voice of strangers or recognize their call.  vs. 27: The sheep that are My own hear and are listening to My voice; and I know them, and they follow Me.

Romans 10:17  So faith comes by hearing [what is told], and what is heard comes by the preaching [of the message that came from the lips] of Christ (the Messiah Himself).

James 1:22-25  But be doers of the Word [obey the message], and not merely listeners to it, betraying yourselves [into deception by reasoning contrary to the Truth].  vs 23: For if anyone only listens to the Word without obeying it and being a doer of it, he is like a man who looks carefully on his [own] natural face in a mirror; vs. 24: For he thoughtfully observes himself, and then goes off and promptly forgets what he was like.  vs 25: But he who looks carefully into the faultless law, the [law] of liberty, and is faithful to it and perseveres in looking into it, being not a heedless listener who forgets but an active doer [who obeys], he shall be blessed in his doing (his life of obedience).

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When you read these verses together, you can see a common thread of listening to God through reading His word, of being obedient to His word, His commands, His ways.  We must not harden (close) our hearts to what He says in His word.  We must not listen to strangers, those who do not know God and His word.  We must listen for His voice.  We must obey Him.  We must be doers of the Word.  We must sow the seeds of our life on good soil, which is the Word of God.

In doing all these things, He will give us ability, understanding, and a harvest in our lives.  Then and only then will we be able to hear His voice above all the other voices that come at us each day.

When I call, give me answers God, take my side!  Once in a tight place, you gave me room; Now I’m in trouble again: grace me! hear me!

You rabble–how long do I put up with your scorn? How long will you lust after lies?  How long will you live crazed by illusion?

Look at this: look Who got picked by God!  He listens the split second I call to him.

Complain if you must, but don’t lash out.  Keep your mouth shut, and let your heart do the talking.  Build your case before God and wait for His verdict.

Why is everyone hungry for more?  “More, more,” they say.  “More, more.”  I have God’s more-than-enough, more joy in one ordinary day than they get in all their shopping sprees.  At day’s end I’m ready for sound sleep, for you, God , have put my life back together.

Psalm 4, The Message

Questions, questions, questions.  That’s how I learned from my dad; I would ask questions.

I loved helping my dad work.  As a young girl, I remember helping my dad build our screened-in back porch.  My older brothers were nowhere to be found, not at all interested in helping Dad, but I was there, intrigued by how and why Dad was doing what he was doing.

Hold this for me right here.  Hand me that hammer please.  Why Dad, why?  What is the purpose of this piece Dad?  Why do you do it that way Dad?

Isn’t it that way with our heavenly Father too?  He gives us His word so we can know Him, but we must seek and ask, read and apply, desire to know more.

Why Father, why?  Why did you let my baby be born a stillborn?  Why, Father, why?  Why did you call my husband home at such a young age, leaving me to raise three children without him?  Why, Father, why?  Why did you wait so long to send me another husband?

God in His goodness knows all things and works them all together for our good if we trust Him, seek Him, follow Him.  Everything is for His glory but also for our good, even when we don’t understand.  We will understand when we are finally with Him, spending eternity in His everlasting arms.  Praise Him!!

Are you ready?  Do you know Him?  Do you trust Him?  Do you seek Him?  Do you follow Him?  You can trust Him TODAY!

Walking in the rain today, my umbrella covering me to keep me dry, I found myself looking around at all the people who did not have an umbrella.  Even though they were getting wet in the rain, they did not seem to be bothered by it at all.  This got me thinking about my covering from the Holy Spirit, the One who protects me and guides me through each and every event in my life, good or bad.  Many people go through life without Him to guide them and yet they are oblivious to how much better life could be if they knew Him.

Walking under the protection of my umbrella is a much better place to be than out in the open, in the rain, exposed and vulnerable, and wet!  Just like walking under the protection of the Holy Spirit is a much better place than being lost in the world of sin, floundering around to find my way on my own, vulnerable to the evil around me, lonely and lost.

How I thank God that Jesus sent His Spirit to dwell in me, guide me and protect me, lead me in the best way to go.  I’ve heard it said that we don’t know what we don’t know, but when we DO know, what a difference it can make.

I thank You God that I can know You, that Jesus is Lord of my life, and that the Holy Spirit takes control and leads me each and every day.  Sometimes I still try to go my own way, but You are so patient with me and You always guide me back when I stray.

Thank you Lord for my umbrella that covers me and keeps me dry in the rain.  Thank you for Your Holy Spirit whose love and protection covers me and keeps me safe in the dangerous world of sin.  I pray the person reading this blog post will know You too and the Holy Spirit will fill them and guide them.