St. Pixels Blog
Let us start by reading together some words about Hope…
Hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us. (Romans 5:5)
All which happens in the whole world, happens through Hope. No husbandman would sow a grain of corn if he did not hope it would spring up and bring forth the ear. How much more are we helped on by hope in the way to eternal life! (Martin Luther King)
I place no hope in my strength, nor in my works. But all my confidence is in God my protector, who never abandons those who have put all their hope and thought in Him (Francois Rabelais)
Today we are thinking about Hope, would anybody like to share some of their hopes for the future with us today?
Mark 1:21-28 Jesus and his disciples went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to preach. The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as teachers of the law. Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an impure spirit cried out, ‘What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are _ The Holy one of God!’ ‘Be quiet’ Jesus said sternly, ‘Come out of him’ The impure spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek. The people were so amazed that they asked each other, ‘What is this? A new teaching. and with authority! He even gives orders to impure spirits and they obey him’ News about him spread over the whole of Galilee.
‘What is this? A new teaching. and with authority!’ Imagine hearing Jesus talk for the first time. How did you feel when you first heard, or first really listened, to His teachings?
This is a place to post your items for prayer [']
A place to ask for prayers for yourself or others. If you are requesting prayers for other people, please ask them first, to ensure that they are comfortable with having their needs mentioned on the internet. We would ask that you use their first initial only, to respect their privacy.
Please also use this thread as a place to give thanks, for anything and everything. \o/
At the end of the month, we will summarise ongoing concerns and post them on a thread for March, and this thread will be deleted.
Have you heard the latest about that batty old Anna? You know – that old woman who thinks she’s a prophetess. Wanders round the Temmple all day praying all over the place. Eighty four if she’s a day! Don’t know how she’s managed to live to that age- not with all her problems. Did you realise that she’s been a widow for years and years and years? It’s true. She married this man who only managed to survive for seven years and then he died and left her on her own. Mind you, if she’s always been as strange as she is now, maybe that had something to do with it. Anyway I was telling you the latest.
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.