St. Pixels Blog
Mark 4:35-41 That day, when evening came, he said to his disciples, Let us go over to the other side. Leaving the crowds behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, Teacher, don’t you care if we drown? He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, Quiet! Be still! Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to the disciples, why were you so afraid? Do you still have no faith? They were terrified and asked each other, Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him?
Can you put yourself in the place of the disciples in the boat with Jesus, How would you have felt?
How do you feel about this passage? Do you find it reassuring?
God asks Abraham if he’s willing to sacrifice his son, Isaac. Which seems strange, as God had promised to use this same son to make him into a great nation. Abraham trusted that the promise would not be broken and believed God. The bible says it was credited to him as righteousness. It’s as if God is saying to Abraham, as a representative of mankind, “If you are willing, then I am willing.” as later God sacrificed his own dear son Jesus. Notice the parallel between the ram offered on the altar in Isaac’s place, and Christ offered on the cross in our place. Whereas God stopped Abraham from sacrificing Isaac, he did not spare his
own Son from dying on the cross.
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Mark 1:14-20 After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee proclaiming the good news of God. ‘The time has come’ he said, ‘The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news.’ As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and his brother andrew casting a net into the lake for they were fisherman. ‘Come, Follow me,’ Jesus said, ‘and I will send you to fish for people’ At once they left their nets and followed him. When he had gone a little further, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets, Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him.
‘At once they left their nets and followed him’ This makes it sound so easy! Do we find it easy to follow Jesus? What do you think Zebedee thought of both his sons leaving him to follow Jesus?
John 15:9-12 John15:9-12 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Fathers commandments and remain in his love I have told you this so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.
John 1:43-51 The next day, Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, ‘Come follow me’ Philip was from Bethsaida, Andrew and Peter’s home town. Philip went to look for Nathanael and told him, ‘We have found the very person Moses and the prophets wrote about. His name is Jesus, The son of Joseph from Nazareth’ ‘Nazareth’ exclaimed Nathanael, ‘Can anything good come from Nazareth?’ ‘Come and see for yourself’ Philip replied.
Psalm 40 I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. many will see and fear the Lord AND PUT THEIR TRUST IN HIM.
Timothy 2:3 There’s nothing like the written word of God for showing you the way to salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. Every part of scripture is God-breathed and useful one way or another, showing us truth, exposing our rebellion, correcting our mistakes, training us to live God’s way. Through the Word we are put together and shaped for the tasks God has for us.
Matthew 2:1-12 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judah, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, ‘Where is the one who has been born King of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him’ When Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. When he had called together all the peoples chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked where the messiah was to be born. ‘In Bethlehem in Judea’ they replied, ‘for this is what the prophet has written:’ ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel’
Every Valley shall be raised up and every mountain and hill made low, the rough ground shall become level, and the rugged places a plain and the GLORY OF THE LORD WILL BE REVEALED and all the people will see it together. For the mouth of the Lord has spoken. A voice says CRY OUT and I said WHAT SHALL I CRY?.
All the people are like grass, and their faithfulness is like the flowers of the field. The grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of the Lord blows on them. Surely the people are grass. The grass withers and the flowers fall, BUT THE WORD OF THE LORD ENDURES FOREVER You who bring good news to Zion, go up on a high mountain. You who bring good news to Jerusalem, lift up your voice with a shout, lift it up, do not be afraid;say to the towns of Judah,HERE IS YOUR GOD! (From Isaiah 40:4-9)
Joshua 14 The people of Judah came to Joshua at Gilgal. Cabel, son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite spoke, “You’ll remember what God said to Moses the man of God concerning you and me back at Kedesh Barnea. I was forty years old when Moses the servant of God sent me from Kadesh Barnea to spy out the land. And I brought back an honest and accurate report. My companions who went with me discouraged the people, but I stuck to my guns, totally with God, my God. That was the day Moses solemnly promised, ” the land on which your feet have walked will be your inheritance, you and your children’s, forever.