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Post by michelle on Feb 8, 2007 20:50:28 GMT -8
12/05:
I feel pangs of guilt when I read verses 18-22. I can't tell you the number of times I've professed my love and devotion to God and then told Him to wait. This is one of my biggest struggles...getting rid of the idea of my timing for His.
God, I'll tithe more when I get a raise. God, I'll worship you more when I'm not so busy. God, I'll read my Bible more when I get a new translation. Everytime He meets my condition and I constantly do not meet the promise. I always tell Him, "God I know you still love me, but I have no idea why."
"Even the winds and the waves obey him". I got chills when I read this. I love the image of God being so big and in control of everything. It's like lyrics from the song "Indescribable"..."you placed the stars in the sky and you know them by name". It just totally blows my mind that he is that awesome.
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Post by Josh on Feb 9, 2007 17:08:54 GMT -8
12/05:
Great applications, Michelle.
All I'll add on this chapter is that it's ironic that the demons knew more about Jesus than his own disciples at this point (compare v. 27 to v. 29)
This reminds me also of when James says that even the demons believe, but that kind of belief is not a saving belief.
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Post by michelle on May 7, 2007 21:02:37 GMT -8
I really enjoy reading different translations of the Bible. It helps me to see verses differently than I ever have.
I really like the Message Bible translation of chapter 8:2-3: "Then a leper appeared and went to his knees before Jesus, praying, "Master, if you want to, you can heal my body." Jesus reached out and touched him, saying, "I want to. Be clean." Then and there, all signs of the leprosy were gone."
I find the idea that Jesus wants to heal the leper is so true to his compassionate side. I can just see Jesus stopping and looking the leper in the eyes with caring and empathy and truly wanting to heal this man that had such incredible faith in him.
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Post by michelle on May 7, 2007 21:18:21 GMT -8
I had to laugh when I read this story again. I can just see the disciples running around screaming "Aargh, avast the ship is going down" (ok, minus the pirate talk) while Jesus is sleeping. I wonder if they were cursing under their breath or thinking "Helloooo, Son of God, are you going to just let us die?" Meanwhile, Jesus is as calm as possible (asleep even) and available to help the disciples if they would just ask. But there reaction is to freak out, which I'm sure is completely understandable given the storm, and run to Jesus frantically.
This has such parallels with my life. Instead of just going to Jesus with a problem or issue first, I run around freaking out and then remember, "oh yeah, I can take this to God". Man, I love the disciples more and more the more I read about them. I just find it so uplifting that even the people closest to Jesus had momentary lapses of reason.
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