The day with dianne Louise

Early in the morning, as they were passing by, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots up. Then Peter remembered and said to Him, "Rabbi look! The fig tree that You curses is withered." Jesus replied to them, "have faith in God. I assure you: if anyone says to this mountain, "Be lifted up and thrown into the sea, and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, all things you pray and ask for- believe that you have received them, and you will have them. And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your father in heaven will also forgive your wrongdoing. ( But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your wrongdoing.) Mark 11:20-26 Confession is important. What I confess I get. If my confession is full of faith them I will have whatever I confess in prayer. Conversely if I pray victim prayers I stay a victim, not a goo...

They came to Jerusalem, and He went into to temple complex and began to throw out those buying and selling in the temple. He overturned the money changers tables and the chairs of those selling doves, and would not permit anyone to carry goods through the temple complex.  Then He began to teach them: "Is it not written, 'My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations? But you have made it a den of thieves!'" Then the chief priests and the scribes heard it and started looking for a way to destroy Him. For they were afraid of Him, because the whole crowd was astonished by His teaching. Mark 11:15-18 The money changers and sellers of goods had set up shop in the cour of the Gentiles. Seekers from 'all nations' came looking for God but the atmosphere was now like a street stall. Jesus said that it should have been a house of prayer for all nations. He had a heart for all lost whereas the Scribes and Pharisees did not. It was convenient to allow money ch...

The next day when they came out from Bethany, He was hungry. After seeing in the distance a fig tree with leaves, He went to find our if there was anything on it. When He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs. He said to it, "May no one ever eat fruit from you again!" And His disciples heard it. Mark 11:12-14 At first glance we may think it is unfair that Jesus cursed the fig tree, as it was not the season for figs. However, it should have had edible buds on it and there was nothing but leaves. I want my Lord to come at any time and find edible buds on my tree, if not fruit. If I am connected to the vine and His life flows through me then I cannot help but produce fruit. Last night I ended up in emergency with chest pain. I was not peturbed but wonder what my mission was. It was not all about me, it was about lost people. All the tests were clear and I am fit(ish). Yet there was a nurse who needed a friend and a doctor who needed lovi...

Many people spread their robes on the road, and others spread leafy branches cut from the fields. Then those who went ahead and those who followed kept shouting: 'Hosanna! He who comes in the name of The Lord is the blessed One! The coming kingdom of our father David is blessed! Hosanna in the highest heaven! Mark 11:8-10 Robes and leafy branches were traditionally spread across the road to receive a king. The crowd's shouts were recitations from Psalm 118:25,26, the last of the Hallel Psalms sung at Passover. Hosanna is Hebrew for save us. The crowd believed Jesus to be the prophesied king. When He was crucified they would have been greatly distressed as they expected Him to be their deliverer. The disciples were struggling with the teaching Jesus had given them about being handed over to be crucified and the resurrection from the dead did not compute. What do I expect Jesus to be for me? A good luck genie? A harsh disciplinarian? A Saviour? My Lord? Jesus was and still is mor...

When they approached Jerusalem, at Bethpage and Berhany near the Mount of Olives, He sent two of His disciples and told them, "Go into the village ahead of you. As soon as you enter it, you will find a young donkey tied there, on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone says to you, "What are you doing? Say, 'the Lord needs it and will send it back here right away.' So they found the donkey outside in the street, tied by a door. They untied it, and some of those standing by said, "What are you doing untying the donkey?" They answered them just as Jesus had said, so they let them go. Then they brought the donkey to Jesus and threw their robes on it, and He sat on it. Mark 11:1-5 The disciples were learning that what Jesus said to do worked. They said exactly what He told them and right enough it work. He also said, "learn from Me, for I am meek and humble and lowly of heart." But do we realize that the actual scripture says: ...

They came to Jericho. And as He was leaving Jericho with His disciples and a large crowd, Bartinaeus (the Son of Timaeus),  a blind beggar, was sitting by the road. When he heard that it was Jesus the Nazarene, he began to cry out, "Son of David, Jesus, have mercy on me! Many people told him to keep quiet, but he was crying out all the more, "Have mercy on me, Son of David!" Jesus stopped and said, "Call him." So they called the blind man and said to him, "Have courage!" Get up; He is calling for you." He threw off his coat, jumped up, and came to Jesus. Then Jesus answered him, "What do you want Me to do for you?" "Rabbouni," the blind man told Him, "I want to see!" "Go your way," Jesus told him, "your faith has healed you." Immediately he could see and began to follow Him on the road. Mark 10:46-52 Body language tells a story. Bartinaeus was passionate about meeting Jesus and being healed. Never...

Jesus called them over and said to them, " you know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles dominate them, and their men of high positions exercise power over them. But it must not be like that among you. On the contrary whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must be a slave to all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and give His life- a ransom for many." Mark 10:42-45 After all this time of being with Jesus the disciples did not get the fact that Jesus was not like other leaders, He did not lord it over them, yet James and John were asking Jesus for first place in heaven. Jesus had to tell them that this was not something He had charge over. The places beside Him in glory were already allotted by the Father.  When the other disciples heard of the request they became indignant. When we take on airs or imagine we are of more worth than we are, we are proud and therefore i...

They were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them. They were astonished, but those who followed Him were afraid. Taking the Twelve aside again, He began to tell them the things that would happen to Him. "Listen! We are going up to Jerusalem. The Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests an the scribes, and they will condemn Him to death. Then they will hand Him over to the Gentiles, and they will mock Him, spit on Him, flog Him and kill Him, and He will rise after three days. Mark 10:32-34 There are times when the future is so removed. The current world was so full of movement, miracles, adoration for Jesus. There was nothing He could not do, yet here He was saying that the chief priests would be able to capture Him and not only that, hand Him over to the Gentiles who would treat Him shamefully. This was a reality they could not, and perhaps would not entertain. Have you ever been in a realationship where your spouse endeavoured to warn yo...

As He was setting out on a journey, a man ran up, knelt down before Him, and asked Him, "Good Teacher," what must I do to inherit eternal life?" Why do you call me good?" Jesus asked him. "No one is good but One-God. You know the commandments: Do not murder; Do not commit adultery; Do not steal; Do not bear false witness; Do not defraud; Honour your father and mother." He said to Him, " Teacher, I have kept all these from my youth." Then looking at him, Jesus loved him and said to him, "You lack one thing: Go, sell all you have and give it to the poor, and you will have treasures in Heaven. Then come, follow Me."  But he was stunned at this demand, and he went away grieving, because he had many possessions. Mark 10:17-22 Firstly Jesus addresses this young man's use of 'good.' He had spent his life working on being 'good.' Jesus' comment cuts through man's thinking about goodness. Only God is good and if I am ...

Some people were bringing little children to Him so He might touch them, but His disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw it, He was indignant and said to them, "let the little children come to Me. Don't stop them, for the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I assure you, whoever does not welcome the Kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." After taking them in His arms, He laid His hands on them and blessed them. Mark 10:13-16 Children are important. They are our example whilst needing our care and protection. Most people don't respect children, thinking they are 'just kids' and foolish. Yet when children are given respect they respond beautifully, they love it. My grandchildren tell me they love the fact that I play with them. Little do they realize how much I love to play. I love life and enjoy all good fun. Yet I turn every opportunity into an an venue of teaching attitude and life principles. I learned, through nursing, that when you va...

He set out from there and went to the region of Judea and across the Jordan. Then crowds converged on Him again and, as He usually did, He began teaching them again once more. Some Pharisees approached Him to test Him. They asked, " Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?" He replied to them, "What did Moses command you?" They said, "Moses permitted us to write divorce papers and send her away." But Jesus told them, "He wrote this command for you because of your hardness of heart. 'But from the beginning of creation God made them male and female. For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.' So they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, man must not separate." Now in the house the disciples questioned Him again about this matter. And He said to them, "Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against he...

For everyone will be salted with fire. Salt is good, but if the salt should lose its flavor, how can you make it salty? Have salt among yourselves and be at peace with one another. Mark 9:49,50 In Leviticus 2:13 the Israelites were told to salt their grain offerings. Salt is a purifier, a flavoring, an enhancer. Each of us has salt and we are to use this in our dealings with each other. To me, this could be likened to walking in the spirit, by choosing to slay the flesh. Being 'salted with fire,' to me means I am salted by the fire of God. I have a choice to respond and become tasty or resentful and lose what saltiness I have. I have a choice. How do I salt myself? Spending time with The Lord and His word. Being open to Him continually has a way of salting me. Amen.

Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin it would be better for Him that a great millstone were hung around his neck and he were cast into the sea. Mark 9:42,43 Being a grandmother I relate. I have 7 little grandchildren and see how innocent they are, trusting and believing. I have a granddaughter who loves the bible and being in church, yet does not get there as much as she would like. When I was little I was fortunate I was in a small town and could walk to church. I attended a Catholic Church that had a service every morning. There were times when I would get up early, in the freezing cold, and go to church. I am grateful my mother supported my desire and worked with me. I am grateful I was safe and I am grateful that the priests and nuns were godly and did not take advantage of my young heart. We live in a time where past abuses are being revealed and the abuse was rampant. Little ones, innocent and trusting were taken advantage of. Now most will not set the...

John said to Him, " Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in Your name, and we tried to stop him because he wasn't following us." Don't stop him," Jesus said, "because there is no one who will perform a miracle in My name who can soon afterward speak evil of Me. For whoever is not against us is for us. And whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because of My name, since you belong to the Messiah-I assure you, He will never lose his reward. Mark 9:38-41 Jesus, ever generous, ever inclusive again is teaching His disciples attitude. The disciples had a club mentality, Jesus had and still has a Kingdom mentality. Our churches are not clubs where we are chummy buddies and insular but Kingdom facilities that reach out to the lost, hurt and wounded. When we start to have a club mentality we begin to shrink.  Jesus is repeating a similar lesson that Moses taught in Numbers, where a couple of young men in the camp were prophesying. He, like Jesus, had a Kingd...

Then they came to Capernaun. When He was in the house, He asked them, "What were you arguing about on the way?" But they were silent, because on the way thy had been arguing with one another about who was the greatest. Sitting down He called the Twelve and said to them, " If anyone want to be first, he must be last of all and servant of all. Then He took a child, had him stand among them, and taking him in His arms, He said to them, "Whoever welcomes one little child such as this in My Name welcomes Me. And whoever welcomes Me does not welcome Me, but Him who sent Me." Mark 9:33-37 Oh how we can get off track and full of pride. Pride focuses on one things we happen to get right and makes us think we are kings of the heap. For a period of time we forget that it was our God who enabled us. So, to learn the support structure disappears and we land in the poo and realise, "I allowed myself to become proud again." We will not be damned to hell for our fail...

Then they left that place and made their way through Galilee, but He did not want anyone to know it. For He was teaching His disciples and telling them, "The Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of men. They will kill Him, and after He is killed, He will rise three days later." But they did not understand this statement, and they were afraid to ask Him. Mark 9:30-32 The disciples still did not get it. Ever experienced this? I am sure you have, I have. The truth takes it time to get to our 'knower,' but, when it gets there, we have got it. (By George!) The fact that God loves us, we know without fully knowing. As the knowledge seeps down into our 'knower' we realise, "hey! God really does love me!" It comes in instalments as God takes us forward. I am so glad He is patient and willing to repeat Himself. This is what Jesus has been doing with the disciples, little by little they are learning. Amen!  Hang in there! It is not over until He says so...

When they came to the disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and scribes disputing with them. All of a sudden, when the whole crowd saw Him, they were amazed and ran to greet Him. Then He asked them, "What are you arguing about?"  Out of the crowd, one man answered Him, "Teacher, I brought my son to You. He has a spirit that makes him unable to speak. Whenever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams at the mouth, grinds his teeth, and becomes rigid. So I asked your disciples to drive it out, but they couldn't." He replied to them, " You unbelieving generation! How long will I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring him here to Me. So they brought him to Him. When the spirit saw Him, it immediately convulsed the boy. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth. "How long has this been happening to him?" Jesus asked the father. "From childhood," he said. "And at times it has thrown him into...

As they were coming down from the mountain, He ordered them to tell no one what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. They kept this word to themselves, discussing what "rising from the dead" meant. Mark 9:9,10 Peter, James and John had just had an experience of a lifetime. They had seen Jesus as He would be in glory. It freaked them out. They saw Elijah and Moses talking with Jesus, other gospels say they were discussing Jesus' death. Jesus, rightly so, tell them not to talk about the experience until after He had risen from the dead. Jesus had already brought Jairus' daughter back to life yet they failed to grasp the depth of OT scripture in Isaiah which spoke of Him being led like a lamb to the slaughter.  This makes me wonder about our understanding of Christ in our churches. What we see and experience is not all there is to expect, there is more, much more. I am continually learning more out of scripture I have read for years. Again and agai...

After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John and led them up on a high mountain by themselves to be alone. He was transformed in front of them, and His clothes became dazzling- extremely white as no launderer on earth could whiten them. Elijah appeared to them with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus. Mark 9:2-4 The disciples now see Jesus as He will be in heaven again, God Almighty, Lord over all, nothing can stand in His way. This would have been a frightening thing, especially seeing Moses and Elijah, who were long dead. If we remember they had a thing about seeing a ghost when Jesus walked on the water. Do we, the Christians, realise we have this Lord residing within? Nothing is impossible to us who believe. Just as Jesus had to confront the darkness so do we and we do it by the power in His name. We are made for carrying His greatness, His authority, which has been given to us, resides within.  Amen! I am faced with a task where I now must enter the battle against wicke...

Then He said to them, "I assure you: there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Kingdom of God come in power."ark 9:1 Things are heating up, Jesus is taking His disciples deeper an deeper, on and on to greater revelation of truth about Himself and the Kingdom of God. Some: Peter, James and John, are taken up the mountain and see Jesus transfigured into the God He really was, this is the beginning of them seeing into the spirit as to the true nature of who Jesus was and what He was all about. His Kingdom was a Kingdom indeed, a powerful one, one that did not fight as men fought but with power and might beyond mankind. Jesus's death and subsequent resurrection would unleash a new thing, a Kingdom where God dwelt with His people and was in constant fellowship with them. These same disciples would be used to further that Kingdom and this was their introduction. Peter, James and John were the 'some' Jesus was referring to. How exciting, th...

Summoning the crowd along with His disciples, He said to them, "If anyone wants to be My follower he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of Me and the gospel will save it. For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world yet lose his life? What can a man give in exchange for his life? For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels." Mark 8:34-38 Isn't it interesting that Jesus called the time in which He lived, 'an evil and adulterous generation.' Is it possible that things never change just the surroundings and look  is what changed? I would say that this description is that of the modern society we live in. Yet obviously we share that name with previous generations. Jesus now presses His hearers with the cost of being ...

Then He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, be killed, and rise after three days. He was openly talking about this. So Peter took him aside and began to rebuke Him. But turning around and looking at His disciples, He rebuked Peter and said, "Get behind Me, Satan, because you're not thinking about God's concerns, but man's!" Mark 8:31-33 Now it was time to take the disciples to the next level. They finally got it that Jesus was the Messiah but they had the wrong perspective about what that Messiah would do. Isn't it interesting that Jesus coupled the works of the flesh with Satan when He said, "get behind Me Satan, you are not on the side of God, but man's." This gives credit to the idea that Satan loves us walking in our flesh and not our spirit. The disciples had done miracles walking in their flesh, they had not yet received the spirit. Interesting! I...

Jesus went on with His disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi. And on the road He asked His disciples, "Who do people say that I am?" They answered Him, "John the Baptist; others, Elijah; still others, one if the prophets." "But you," He asked them again, "Who do you say that I am?" Peter answered Him, "You are the Messiah!" And He strictly warned them to tell no one about Him. Mark 8:27-30 The opinion about who Jesus was was widely held, in fact this opinion is where the disciples started. At first He was teacher, now He was Messiah. Confession that Jesus was the Messiah did not make the disciples on the same page as Jesus, it merely meant they were close.  Traditional views about the Messiah saw Him a a conquering Messiah, liberating Israel from their oppressors. He was liberating all Israel from their oppressors but not the ones they had their sights on. As Christians we may accept Jesus as saviour but few allow Him to be Lor...

Again, leaving the region of Tyre. He went by the way of Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, through the region of Decapolis. They brought to Him a deaf man who also had a speech difficulty, and begged Jesus to lay His hand on him. So He took him away from the crowd privately. After putting His fingers in the man's ears and spitting, He touched His tongue. Then, looking up to heaven, He sighed deeply, and said to him, "Ephpharha!" (That is, Be opened!) immediately his ears were opened!) immediately his ears were opened, his speech difficulty removed, and he began to speak clearly. Then He ordered them to tell no one, but the more He would order them, the more they would proclaim it. They were extremely astonished and said, He has done everything well! He even makes deaf people hear, and people unable to speak talk!" Mark 7:31-37 Decapolis was where the demoniac came from, Jesus had a reputation here. The fact that the crowd said: "He does everything well," shows a...

Immediately He made His disciples get into the boat and go ahead of Him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while He dismissed the crowd. After He said good bye to them, He went away to the mountain to pray. when evening came, the boat was in the middle of the sea, and He was alone on the land. He saw them being battered as they rowed, because the wind was against them. Around three in the morning He came toward them walking on the sea and wanted to pass by them. When they saw Him walking on the sea, they thought He was a ghost and cried out; for they all saw Him and were terrified. Immediately He spoke with them and said, "Have courage! It is I. Don't be afraid." Then He got into the boat with them, and the wind ceased. They were completely astounded, because they had not understood about the loaves. Instead, their hearts were hardened. Mark 6:45-52 Why did Jesus want to pass by the disciples? Was He testing them? Was He trying to teach them something? Verse 52 tells us t...

When it was already late, His disciples approaches Him and said, "This place is a wilderness, and it is already late! Send them away, so they can go into the surrounding countryside and villages to buy themselves something to eat." You give them something to eat," He responded. They said to Him, " Should we go and buy 200 denarii worth of bread and give them something to eat? And He asked them, " How many loaves do you have? Go look." When they found out they said, " Five, and two fish." Then He instructed them to have all the people sit down in groups in the green grass. So they say down in ranks of hundreds and fifties. Then He took the five loaves and two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed and broke the loaves. He kept giving them to His disciples to set before the people. He also divided the two fish among them all. Everyone ate and was filled. Then they picked up 12 baskets full of pieces of bread and fish. "Now those who ate th...

The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to Him all that they had done and taught. He said to them, "Come away by yourselves to a remote place and rest for awhile." For many people were coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat. So they went away in the boat by themselves to a remote place, but many saw them leaving and recognised them. People ran there by land from all the towns and arrived ahead of them. So as He stepped ashore, He saw a huge crowd and had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. Then He began to teach them many things. Mark 6:30-34 Today was my first day back at work and much was happening. I was at about 3pm and feeling tired as I had been awake since around 4am when I received a call from a lovely lady I am helping with insurance claims. This lady had had a disastrous day and people who are opposing her made it worse. Although I was tired my heart went out to her and I welcomed her in. I was on the teleph...

King Herod heard of this (the fact that Jesus and His disciples were preaching, setting people free and healing the sick), because Jesus' name had become well known. Some said, "John the Baptist had been raised from the dead, and that's why supernatural powers are at work in him." But others said, "He's Elijah," still others said, "He's a prophet- like one of the prophets." Mark 6:14,15 The opinions of others were all wrong and came out of the individual's frame of thinking, fears and fancies. Herod had put John the Baptist to death because he was tricked by his wife Herodias who hated John because John preached against the union as Herodias was Herod's brother's wife. Herod was therefore fearful of a supernatural reappearance of John. Jesus was more than any of the names given Him by man, He was who He claimed to be, the Son of God. Amen! Today, I must accept this fact, Jesus was not just a prophet, a resurrected John, not Elij...

Now He was going around the villages in a circuit, teaching. He summoned the Twelve and began to send them out in pairs and gave them authority over unclean spirits. He instructed them to take nothing for the road except a walking stick, no bread, no travelling bag, no money in their belts. They were to wear sandals, but not put on an extra shirt. Then He said to them, "Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you leave the place. If any place does not welcome you leave there, shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them. So they went out and preached that people should repent. And they were driving out many demons, anointing many sick people with olive oil, and healing them. Mark 6:6-13 When God sends you out for a purpose He provides all you need, He empowers you and gives you authority. I have set out on many long trips not having an assurance that I would have all the money I needed, I always did. I have learned that my God is well able and every time I expect ...

He went away from there to his hometown, and his disciples followed him. And on the Sanbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astonished, saying, " Where did this man get these things? What is the wisdom given to him, how are such mighty works done by his hand? Is this not the carpenter, the son of Mary, brother of James, Jose, Judas and Simon, and are not his sisters here with us? And they took offense at him. Mark  6:1-3 Jesus must have lived a very ordinary life up until he came into his ministry. These people feel had, deceived, cheated and this was in the way of their faith. Offense robs us of faith, grace and all the good God has to give us. Keep away from it and ask for grace to rise above it. It is sad that the townsfolk could not rejoice that the Messiah had lived among them for 30 years. We can be offended when someone we know are elevated above us and we are left. I remember during the past two months of my recovery from my accident, my jun...

And He said, " With what can we compare the Kingdom of God, or what parable shall we use for it?"  It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when sown in the ground, is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it is sown grows up to be the larger than all the garden plants and puts out large branches, so that the birds of the air can nest in its shade. Mark 4:30-32   Today I drove for 10hours and did an appointment that lasted 2 1/2 hours To say I am a little tired is an understatement but I have had the best time. I am revisiting  the above text because I have had fresh revelation. Yesterday The Lord had me apologise to my grandson Moses for criticising his choice of bibles. I had taken him to a Christian bookshop to choose a bible, along with his sister. Their mother saw bibles that would suit rheir ages but my grandson went for one that had a Leggo-like cover. To me, this was the only redeeming feature. The writing inside was very small, there were no pictures that childre...

And there was a woman who had a discharge of blood for about 12 years, and had suffered much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and had grown worse not better. She heard the reports about Jesus and came up behind Him in the crowd and touched his garment. For she said, "If I touch his garment, I will be made well." And immediately the flow of blood dried up, and she felt in her body that she had been made well. And Jesus perceiving in himself that power had gone out from him immediately turned around and said, "Who touched me?" And his disciples said to him, "You see the crowd pressing in around you and yet you ask who touched me ?" And Jesus looked around to see who had done it. But the woman, knowing what had been done for her, came in fear an trembling and fell down at his feet and told the whole truth. And he said to her, " daughter go in peace, your faith has made you well, be healed of your disease." Mark: 25-34 This woma...

And when Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a great crowd gathered about him, and he was beside the sea. Then came one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name, and seeing him, he fell at his feet and implored him earnestly, saying, "My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay you hands on her, so that she may be made well and live." And he went with him. While he was still speaking, there came from the ruler's house some who said, "Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?" But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, "Do not fear, only believe." Mark 5:21-24; 35,36 Jairus was in fear of losing his daughter to sickness and begged Jesus to go with him to minister to her. Jesus agreed and was on his way when he was interrupted by another seeking healing. As they were about to move on word came that his daughter was dead. Jesus' reply is interesting, he could h...

Then they came to the other side of the sea, to the region of the Gerasenes. As soon as He got out of the boat, a man with an unclean spirit came out of the tombs and met Him. He live in the tombs. No one was able to restrain him anymore- even with chains- because he often had been bound and shackled with chains, but he had snapped off te chains and smashed the shackles. No one was strong enough to subdue him. And always, night and day, he was crying out in the tombs and in te mountains an cutting himself with stones. When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and knelt down before Him, and he cried out with a loud voice, "what do you have to do with me, Jesus, Son of God, don't torment me!" For He had told him, "Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!" What is your name?" He asked him. "My name is Legion," he answered Him, "because we are many." And he kept begging Him not to send them out of the region. Now a large herd of pigs was the...

On that day, when evening had come, He told them, "Let's cross over to the other side of the sea." So thy left the crowd and took Him along, since He was already in the boat, and other boats were with Him. A fierce windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking over the boat, so that the boat was already swamped. But He was in the stern, sleeping on the cushion. So they woke Him and and said to Him, "Teacher! Don't you care that we are going to die?"  He got up, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Silence! Be still!" The wind ceased, and there was great calm. Then He said to them, "Why are you fearful? Do you still have no faith?" And they were terrified and asked one another, "Who is this? Even the wind and sea obey Him!" Mark 4:35-41 I have read this scripture many times and written about it several times yet today the thing that jumps out at me is this: they called Jesus 'teacher.' They had not yet come to acknowled...

And He said, "how can we illustrate the Kingdom of God, or what per able can we use to describe it? It is like a mustard seed that, when sown in the soul, is smaller than all seeds of the ground. And when sown, it comes up and grows taller than all the vegetables, and produces large branches, so the birds if the sky can nest in its shade." Mark 4:30-32 Today my grandson Myer took me to his favourite tree, a mangrove tree down by the beach. You can tell this tree has brought pleasure to many a child, some thoughtful parent, or grandparent, has built a wooden seat in the lower branches of the tree. Myer climbed all over this tree. Quietly I wanted to join him, for as a child, climbing trees was a favourite pastime. I did take my shoes off and dig my toes into the sand as I sat and watched long illy.  What memories came flooding back. All trees start somewhere and I am so grateful for them. They delight children with countless hours of imaginative fun, not to say the birds miss ...

And He said: "The Kingdim of God is as if a man  should scatter seed upon the ground. He sleeps and rises night and day and the seed grows, he knows not how. The earth produces by itself, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. But when the grain is ripe he at once puts in the sickle because the harvest has come. Mark 4:26-29 If I am the farmer and scatter seed I am doing what I am born to be. I don't know what the harvest will look like until the end of my days. If I refuse to scatter seed until I consider the climate good, it may never happen. I must speak and sow in season and out of season. Unlike the natural farmer who only sows at set times, usually twice a year for a winter harvest and a summer harvest, I sow all the time. If I sow to righteousness then I will reap a righteous reward, but conversely, if I sow to the flesh I will reap corruption. Amen! I am sowing something even if I hold back from sowing the seeds of the Kingdom, I am still sowing...

"Pay attention to what you hear: with the measure you use, it will be measured to you, and still more will be added to you. For the one who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away." Mark 4:24,25 I cannot go past this, it burns within me. Pay attention to what you hear, God is send wisdom out all the time, if we are listening we will hear a depth of Him we currently do not know. He speaks through many different avenues, be alert, listen, be in tune. The best part about hear and learning is we can gain wisdom and insight, we get more. the worst part about not 'hearing' is we become dull, lose out edge and useless. What dulls us? Useless use of our eyegate. What does this constitute? Rubbish, carnal literature, internet sites, movies, TV. I am not saying all are rubbish I mean keep away from the rubbishy ones. If we let our flesh dominate it will demand rubbish. remember garbage in equals garbage out!!! I functio...

He also said to them, "Is a lamp brought in to be put under a basket or under a bed? Isn't it to be put on a lampstand? For nothing is concealed except to be revealed, and nothing hidden except to come to light. If anyone has ears to hear, he should listen!" Then He said to them, "Pay attention to what you hear. By the measure you use, it will be measured and added to you. For the one who has, it will be given, and from the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken away." Mark 4:21-24 Jesus had just finished teaching on the parable of the sower. His message was and is listening to hear, not just to attend. Have you ever been asked," So what did the preacher preach about?" and drawn a blank? The word is living and active, but we need ears to hear what is being preached. How do we have ears to hear? By spending time cleaning them out. How do we do that? By spending time with the Lord and seeking His heart. If we seek, we find. If we are f...

"Listen!" Behold, a sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seed fell along the path, and the birds of the air came and devoured it. Other seed fell on rocky ground, where it did not have much soil, and immediately it sprang up, since it had no depth of soil. and when the sun rose, it was scorched, and since it had no root, it withered away. Other seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no grain. and other seed fell into good soil and produced grain, growing up and increasing and yielding thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold." And he said, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear." Mark 4:3-9 This is a popular story but I wonder if you have ever noticed: 'other seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it, AND it yielded no grain.' This is the danger many Christian face. In verse 19 tells us: ' they are those who hear the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches ...

And His mother and his brothers came, and standing outside they sent to Him and called Him. And a crowd was sitting around him, and they said to Him, "Your mother and your brothers are outside, seeking you." and he answered them saying, "Who are my mother and my brothers?" And looking about at those who sat around Him, He said, "Here are my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother." Mark 3:31-35 What would it have been like to be a brother or sister of Jesus? You grew up with Him seeing an ordinary nice guy providing for the family through carpentry and one day it all changes. Mary knew the truth but his siblings would have struggled. Jesus is now a public figure with a lot of enemies and the family is traumatised. Did Jesus prepare the brothers to take over the business? How were they coping with the neighbours comments? Were they ostracised from the local assembly? We know that Jesus' brothe...

"Truly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the children of man, and whatever blasphemies they utter, but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of eternal sin"-for they were saying, "He has an unclean spirit. Mark 3:28-30 The Scribes were saying that Jesus was possessed by Beelzebul (Satan) and using this power to cast out demons. Jesus refuted this with: "How can Satan cast out Satan?" If a kingdom is divided against itself it cannot stand. Jesus was filled with the Holy Spirit and did miracles by the power of the Holy Spirit. When they condemned the works Jesus did they were condemning the Holy Spirit. Standing against the move of the Holy Spirit is not clever and unforgiveable, according to Jesus and He would know. What is the Holy Spirit trying to do in our lives? our churches? What are we allowing Him to do? What are we limiting Him in doing? I, personally, am disturbed by people taking the Lord'...

Then He went home and the crowd gathered again, so that they could not even eat. And when His family heard it, they went out to seize Him, for they were saying, "He is out of His mind." Mark 3:20,21 Jesus was having crowd control problems, Pharisee problems and now family problems. No one believed in Him and His calling, except His disciples and His mother perhaps. The crowd wanted their needs met, the Pharisee's wanted to retain their power and the family wanted to retain their dignity. We can cause problems when we step out in faith to believe God and act according to His calling. What will we do? Back down, move on, shut down our light? Jesus had to stand firm in His convictions and do what He was destined to do. Many people throughout history have stood against a tide of opposition for their beliefs, many have died for them. Standing against the tide of unbelief can be wearying but with God's strength all is possible. He is God, He made us and He will stre...

Again He entered the synagogue, and a man with a withered hand was there. And they watched Jesus, to see whether He would heal on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse Him. And he said to the man with the withered hand, "Come here." And He said to them, "is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to kill?" But they were silent. And He looked around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart, and said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." He stretched it out, and his hand was restored. The Pharisees went out immediately held counsel with the Herodians against Him, how to destroy Him. Mark 3:1-6 Hardness of heart is a pet peeve of mine, it makes me very angry as well. I experience this a lot in my business life, in church life, family life, in fact life in general. Now, you could say, "She is an angry woman." Not really, quite happy most of the time. I love people and love to serve them. My problem is other...

One Sabbath He was going through the grainfields, and as they made their way, His disciples began to pluck the heads of grain. And the Pharisees were saying to him, "Look , why are they doing what is not lawful on the Sabbath?" And He said to them, "Have you never read what David did, when he was in need and hungry, he and those who were with him how he entered the house of God, in the time of Abiathar the high priest, and ate the bread of the Presence, which is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and also gave it to those who were with him?" And He said to them, "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath." Mark 2;23-28 The disciples were catching the freedom Christ came to bring and those in bondage did not like it, they thought it was irreverent. The Pharisees were in bondage to the law they set themselves to keep and hated anyone not doing the same. Jesus proclamation about being Lord...

"No one sews a patch of unshrunken cloth on an old garment. If he does, the patch tears away from it, the new from the old, and a worse tear is made. And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. If he does the wine will burst the skins- and the wine is destroyed, and so are the skins. But new wine is for fresh wineskins. Mark 2:21,22 Jesus had just been challenged about his disciples, and Himself for that matter, were not fasting like the religious leaders, twice a week. Jesus had said that they would not need to fast until He was gone, He called Himself the groom. Taking a short breath He then went on to speak the above. I am sure they would have been many scratching their heads. What had wineskins to do with fasting?? This illustrated the need for a new heart to receive the new message. All the religious leaders, even John the Baptist, struggled with Jesus' approach. They had, for so long, expected the Saviour to behave a certain way and Jesus was definitely not stereo...

Now John's disciples and the Pharisees were fasting. People came and asked Him, "Why do John's disciples and the Pharisee's disciples fast, but your disciples do not fast?" Jesus said, "The wedding guests cannot fast while the groom is with them, can they? As long as they have the groom with them, they cannot fast. But the time is coming when the groom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast in that day. Mark 2:18-20 The Pharisees fasted on Mondays and Thursdays as an act of piety. It is interesting that John's disciples were still unconvinced He was the One John proclaimed and therefore not one of His disciples. It is also interesting that they stayed with religious traditions, very interesting. How did they not know Jesus was the one? Was it because John himself questioned Jesus' behaviour because he had a pre-conceived idea on how the Saviour must act? Do I box my Lord? Do I demand He behave a certain way? and in the process re...

While He was reclining g at the table in Levi's house, many tax collectors and sinners were also guests with Jesus and His disciples, because there were many who were following Him. When the scribes and Pharisees saw that He was eating with sinners and tax collectors, they asked His disciples, "Why does He eat with tax collectors and sinners?" When Jesus heard this, He told them, "Those who are well don't need a doctor, but the sick do need one. I didn't come to call the righteous, but sinners." Mark 2:15-17 Levi would not know any 'righteous' people, according to the opinion of Scribes and Pharisees. He invited his friends and colleagues. Jesus was happy to be with them because He wa happy to be with people who understood their need. If we had a party and invited Jesus I wonder who He would hang out with? What sort of people would we invite? Churchy people only? Or neighbors and work colleagues? I prefer non-churches people myself. I enjoy looki...

Then Jesus went out again beside the sea. The whole crowd was coming to Him, and He taught them. Then, moving on, He saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax office, and He said to him, "follow Me!" So he got up and followed Him. Mark 2:13,14 What a glorious day! Once I was a sinner, rejected by men, then, suddenly, Jesus called me! Levi, also known as Matthew was redeemed. What was his past like? Why did he become a tax collector and choose to be ostracised by his countrymen? All of us have pasts that to date defined us but when Jesus comes on the scene everything changes. Hope comes, vision for a future that is independent of past comes. Joy, unspeakable joy becomes a part of our lives. What joy! Today, Jesus beckons us to live the new life He has destined for us, will you come?

Then they came to Him bringing a paralytic, carried by four men. Since they were not able to bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, they removed the roof above where He was. And when they had broken through, they lowered the mat on which the paralytic was lying. Seeing their faith, Jesus told the paralytic, "son, your sins are forgiven." But some of the scribes were sitting there, thinking to themselves, "Why does He speak like this? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone.?" Right away Jesus understood in His Spirit that they were thinking like this within themselves and said to them, "Why are you thinking these things in your hearts? which is easier: to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven, or to say, 'Get up, pick up your mat and walk? But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins," He told the man, "Pick up your mat and go home." Mark 2:3-11 Compassion for their friend...

Then a man with a serious skin disease came to Him and, on his knees, begged Him: "If you are willing, You can make me clean." Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out His hand and touched Him. "Be made clean." Immediately the disease left him, and he was healed. Mark 1:40-42 This man was the instrument of the whole area knowing about Jesus, he testified and the whole town came. What is my testimony? What can I show to others that they will see His glory and want what I have? The world is full of hungry people. They want to know someone loves them. They are beaten up by the gods they serve and are starved for love and recognition. Who can I share this love with? Everyone who lives needs it. I just have to open my eyes and see. Amen! Jesus waited on the Father and followed Him. I can do this, surely!

Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, He got up, went out, and made His way to a deserted place. And He was praying there. Simon and his companions went searching for Him. They found Him and said, Everyone's looking for You!" And He said to them, "Let us go on to the neighbouring villages so that I may preach there too. This is why I have come." So He went into all of Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons. Mark 1:35-38 We cannot assume that God's will is to stay in one place and minister to one people. Yes they want it and seek it but they must grow in their faith and the lost must be found. The people who had heard and received must now walk in a new understanding and seek and be hungry for truth, not just experiences. Jesus knew where the source of His power was, fellowship with the Father. He could not rely on popularity or an open forum in one place. He was not there to be comfortable but to seek and save the lost. Co...

When the evening came, after the sun had set, they began bringing to Him all those who were sick and those who were demon possessed. The whole town was assembled at the door, and He healed many who were sick with various diseases and drove out many demons. But He would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew Him. Mark 1:32-34 The Messiah had come in power and authority. This same Messiah told His disciples 'Greater things than this will you do.' How is that possible? Only believe! Last night I was hit with a flu virus and went to the Lord. The enemy is a liar and I claimed it so, I also claimed the truth about the word and my circumstances. The people who came to Jesus dared to believe and were healed. They received life from the glorious lover of humanity. Our God loves us and desires us to trust Him and press into all He has for us. He is good. Amen!

And immediately he left the synagogue and entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. Now Simon's mother-in-law lay ill with a fever, and immediately they told him about her. And he came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and the fever left her, and she began to serve them. Mark 1:29-31 I remember being in Bali in 1994 and became ill with Bali belly. I was frightened and became quite ill until about 4am. I was encouraged to believe God and finally quietened myself and pressed in for healing. I slept for two hours and then got up and went white water rafting for the day. Healing is there if we believe, the challenge is shutting out all other voices and believing. Our modern society heads for the hospital or doctor first. it is amazing what can happen when these are not an option. Provision is the same. When God is our only provider, He delivers. When we look to ourselves or others we may become frustrated and angry. He is the best provider. When rela...

And they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath he entered the synagogue and was teaching. And they were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one who has authority, and not as the scribes. And immediately there was in the synagogue a man with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, "What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are-the Holy One of God." But Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Be silent, and come out of him!" and the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying out with a loud voice, came out of him. and they were all amazed, so they questioned among themselves, "What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him." And at once his fame spread everywhere throughout the surrounding region of Galilee. Mark 1:21-28 So natural for Jesus to go where He always been on the Sabbath but now He presented the authority of the Spirit of God wit...

Passing alongside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men." and immediately they left their nets and followed Him. And going along a little farther, He saw James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, who were in their boat mending their nets. And immediately He called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants and followed Him. Mark 1:16-20 I wonder if they boys had seen Jesus around or heard Him, I wonder if they had heard John the Baptist and been baptised and were waiting for the Messiah? I know hungry people find what they are looking for, I did. When I finally found my Lord the joy is unspeakable and has kept me going all these years (41 to be precise). In the time I became a Christian there was a Jesus movement and we were on fire. However, many were praying for me and inviting me al...

After John was arrested, Jesus went to Galilee, preaching the good news of God. The time is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe in the good news. Mark 1:14,15 There had been about a year between when Jesus appeared on the scene and John's arrest. Earlier Jesus had been preaching in Judea. It is interesting that Mark mentions this in this way. John announced the coming of Jesus, this is what his ministry consisted of. He had done what he came to do and died at the hand of Herod who John confronted for his sin. John himself said of Jesus: "He must increase and I must decrease." John decreased to the point of extinction. We are all here for a reason. We have a purpose. John has been remembered throughout time for fulfilling his purpose. John reminds me to be aware of my purpose and to fulfill my destiny. It is how I live my purpose that will be remembered, what others experience through me, not what I collect whilst here. John could stand befo...