What's Going On?

Why did he feel this way?

He wanted to kill him. Wanted to see him dead. He didn't care anymore. It was strange. Only a short time ago, he hadn't felt this way. He had always felt off in the group of men, but he hadn't wanted anyone dead. A switch had been flipped in his spirit, and he didn't care about Jesus. He cared about the one thing he had never been able to achieve.

Power. Success. Money. Riches.

They were all eating. Judas shoved a piece of dried fruit into his mouth, and then washed it down with a swig of wine. He wanted out of here.

"Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me." Judas perked up at Jesus' words. What was this now? His heart sped up. What did he know?

If Jesus knew, he hadn't given any indication. The other disciples were shocked at this heinous declaration. Over and over they kept saying, "Is it me? Is it me, Lord?"

It was sickening. Weak.

"He who has dipped his hand in the dish with me will betray me. The Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born."

He rolled his eyes. Please.

Uh-oh. Peter saw him. He was giving him a look. Clearing his throat, he asked Jesus the same question to keep up pretense. "Is it I, Rabbi?"

"You have said so."

He didn't look at Jesus, but reached out to dip his bread. Only to find another hand. Looking up, he saw Jesus' face studying his.

His irrational anger built once again. And he pushed away from the table at Jesus' next words.

"What you are going to do, do quickly."

Based on Matthew 26:20-25, John 13:21-30

I'm always struck when I read the accounts leading up to Jesus' death by one single thing!

EVERYONE COULD HAVE STOPPED IT!

Starting first and foremost with this. The disciples saw Jesus acknowledge Judas as his betrayer. They had been listening to Jesus talk about his death and resurrection for some time now. Why is it that nobody stopped him? They didn't even realize what was going on when Judas left the group.

"Now no one at the table knew why he said this to him. Some thought that, because Judas had the moneybag, Jesus was telling him, 'Buy what we need for the feast,' or that he should give something to the poor." John 13:28-29

But God didn't want it stopped. All this had to happen to fulfill Scripture. To give us a just Savior Who was not guilty, but willing to die for us anyways.

However, the point I want to make is that there are signs. When God does something on earth, He always tells His people first.

“For the Lord GOD does nothing without revealing his secret to his servants the prophets." Amos 3:7

In this case, quite literally.

I want to be the kind of follower of God, who understands what God is saying. I want to be in the know of what's going down. Even if I don't like it, I don't want to be blind to it. The disciples were completely oblivious to what was happening when Jesus had all but pointed and said, "This is the guy." While I understand why, I don't want to be like that in my walk with God.

When I walk into the middle of the conversation, I want to know what I missed. I will say "What? What?" more times then a broken record, but am I like that with God? When God stuff is going down, I don't want to be asking, "What is going on?"

I want to know. I want to understand. What about you?

V. Joy Palmer

"Show And Tell"

Today I shared this message as the devotional I wrote for Snack Pack for Kidz, the devotional we do for the kids. I felt that the Lord wanted me to share it with you as well as a reminder that our young people aren't the only ones that make choices that others see. It also serves as a reminder that our actions and our words are the testimony of who God is in our lives. It serves as a reminder that we as His people need to not only tell others of His love but that we need to reflect it in the lives of others by our actions as well.

   ---------------------------------------------------
Hey guys! I hope you had a great Holiday and that you  took some time to let Jesus know you love Him!

So, today I have a quiz for you. I'm going to show you six pictures. You see if you know who it is in them. Okay?

# 1. 

 # 2.

# 3.

# 4.

 # 5.

# 6.

So did you know them all? Check your answers below.
   # 1. Daniel and the lions in the lion's den
   # 2. Samson
   # 3. Adam and Eve and the snake
   # 4. David and Goliath
   # 5. Jonah and the big fish
   # 6. Jesus and Peter walking on the water with the rest of the disciples still in the boat.

I bet you did really well and got most if not all of them correct, right? I bet your wondering why the quiz? whats the point and in order to make it I need to ask you to stop and think about how you knew the right answers. How did you know who these people were?

Actually the answer to that question is pretty easy but it has two parts to it. The first part is to say that it is because of their actions. Daniel is known for his stand. He is famous because he refused to stop praying and serving his (and our) God. Samson is famous for his long hair and his strength being tied to his vow to God. Adam and Eve are known for being the first humans created by God. They are also known for the mistake they made in listening to the lie of the snake and thus walking away from God. David is known for being the one who slayed Goliath who is also known for being a giant Philistine who mocked God and his people. Jonah is known because his actions caused him to show us both the results of his disobedience and his obedience as well. We know it was Jesus, the Son of God because He was the one miraculously walking safely and securely on top of the water. We know it was Peter because we know he was the one who was known for his boldness to get out of the boat. We recognized them because they were known for their actions.

The same can be said for you! Did you know that it says in Proverbs 20:11 'Even a child is known by his deeds, By whether what he does is pure and right.' Our actions help us gain a good reputation or a bad one.
Check out the books of 1st and 2nd Kings and while you read you will see these two statements a lot. "And he did what was right in the sight of the Lord, according to all that his father ....had done" or "And he did evil in the sight of the Lord; he did not depart all his days from the sins of ....who had made Israel sin." Over and over those words tell the tale. They did right or they did evil. The were known by their actions and the choices they made to serve God ...or not.

Every time you choose to do right right it gains you a reputation of doing right in heaven. You will be known by the choices you make to do right!

Remember I said there were two parts to the answer to the question about how you knew who they were? We just established that the first part was that we knew who the were because of there actions. They were famous for what they did. The second part of this answer is even simpler. Someone told you. Someone shared their story with you. You knew who each of these people were because their exploits both good and bad were shared with you and from that you gained an understanding of who they were.

Did you know that part of wearing your armor of God is to have 'your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace?' or that in Romans 10:14-15 it says, "How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good thing!"

All that is a fancy way of saying, "How will they know about Jesus unless you tell them?" You knew about all these people in the Bible because their actions became know to you and because someone told you about them. If we want people to know that we love God we need to show them with our actions as well as telling them with our words.

We need to tell people Jesus didn't just say "I love you!" he came to earth as the Son of Man and He showed us with His actions as well!

We need to Spread The News by showing and telling others that!

God Bless!!!

"Isn't It The Point?"

For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God!   Romans 3:23

"Teacher, this woman was caught in ..... So when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up and said to them, "He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first." And again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. Then those who heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning with the oldest even to the last. And Jesus was left alone, and the woman was standing in the midst. When Jesus raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, "Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?" She said, "No one, Lord." And Jesus said to her, "Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more." John 8:4-11

Now I know this is not the typical 'Resurrection Sunday' message but it seems to me it is kinda the point, isn't it?  After all isn't it why ... He made Himself of no reputation, took on the form of a servant, and came in the likeness of men? Isn't it why ...He being found in appearance as a man, humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Philippians 2:6-8

Isn't it why He, as the last Adam, became a life-giving spirit? 1 Corinthians 15:45

Isn't it why He swallowed death and its sting up in victory?  1 Corinthians 15:54-55

What about those moments on the cross when the Father turned away and He cried, "My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken Me?"  and when He said, "It is finished," and paid in full our debt, our sins? For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him 2 Corithians 5:21

Isn't the point of His death and resurrection so that we can have our moment when we look Him in the eyes and hear Him say, "Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more." John 8:11


God Bless!!!

Staff of Snack Time Devotions

The Best Laid Plans...

"I am counting on the Lord; yes, I am counting on Him. I have put my hope in His word."
 Psalm 130:5

Do you truly hope in God? I mean, when your stuck, the chips are down, and there is no way on earth that you should have any hope? Do you pull back, letting hope die, or do you trust in Him?

I did that this week. I pulled away instead of trusting in Him. I have been going through some trying times at my job. It hasn't been a good situation and I knew that I needed to get out of there. I had a good opportunity to do that, though. I have been trying to get promoted for over two years, and three positions were listed in the last month. I was interviewed for all of them, but in the end, I didn't get any of them.

I was hurt. I worked hard, proved myself, and hadn't earned any of the three. Guys, just in case you didn't know, rejection hurts. But there was still hope - another opportunity in a newer location that might suit me even better. Until, that, too, was taken away.

Guys, when life seems to be coming after you with a vengeance, what do you do? It's easy to say that you would trust in the Lord, but when our own plans come crashing down, things change. But they shouldn't.

"Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust Him, and He will help you." Psalm 37:5

Do you commit everything you do, everything you are, to God? I have always prayed for His help when I need it, but that is not the way I should be doing it. I have been doing this backward. Commit before you start something. Don't wait and ask for help after. It makes such a huge difference. I'm sure it would have for me. I might have know that it wasn't God's plan for me to get those jobs, that He has a different plan for me.

The next few verses are probably my least favorites in all of Scripture, but the ones that I most need to take to heart.

"Look here, you who say, 'Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit.' How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog - it's here a little while, then it's gone. What you ought to say is, 'If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that.' Otherwise you are boasting about your own pretentious plans, and all such boasting is evil." James 4:13-16

Look for God's will in what you do. And when you do go to make plans, seek His will. Avoid the heartache that I had this week. Let Him reign in your life.

That last opportunity, the one that was taken away, has been brought back to me. I still have a chance, but it wasn't anything that I could have done to bring it back. God brought it back to me. I WILL trust Him with this, and not rely on my own strength.

Sam

"He Shows Up!"

   Now it happened, the day after, that He went into a city called Nain; and many of His disciples went with Him, and a large crowd.    And when He came near the gate of the city, behold, a dead man was carried out , the only son of his mother; and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the city was with her.
   When the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said to her, "Do not weep."
   Then He came and touched the open coffin, and those who carried him stood still. And He said, "Young man, I say to you, arise."
   And he who was dead sat up and began to speak. And He presented him to his mother.
   Then fear came upon all, and they glorified God, saying, "A great prophet has risen up among us"; and, "God has visited His people."
   And this report about Him went throughout all Judea and all the surrounding region. Luke 7:11-17

The perfect example! Or how about this one?

   And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.
   Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished; and he rose in haste and spoke, saying to his counselors, "Did we not cast three men bound into the midst of the fire?" They answered and said to the king, "True, O king,"    "Look!" he answered, "I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God."
   Then Nebuchadnezzar went near the mouth of the burning fiery furnace and spoke, saying, "Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, servants of the Most High God, come out, and come here." Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego came from the midst of the fire.
   And the satraps, administrators, governors, and the king's counselors gathered together, and they saw these men on whose bodies the fire had no power; the hair of their head was not singed nor were their garments affected, and the smell of fire was not on them.
   Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying, "Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, who sent His Angel and delivered His servants who trusted in Him, and they have frustrated the king's word, and yielded their bodies, that they should not serve nor worship nor worship any god except their own God! Daniel 3:23-30

Is it comforting to know that no matter what it is He shows up and is there in the midst of it with you?

God Bless!!!

Desperate for Dirt

Healed. Fresh. New.

Like never before.

Naaman couldn't stop staring at his skin. It looked like his son's skin when he was first born. Soft and creamy. Elisha the prophet and his servant smiled at him.

"I know that there is no God in all the earth but in Israel. Please, accept a gift from your servant."

"As the Lord lives, before whom I stand, I will receive none." Elisha declared.

Naaman tried to argue with the old man, but he stood his ground, and urged him to return home.

His heart jumped up and down at the thought of telling his family about all that had happened. He was certainly anxious to see their responses.

Home. The word brought a plethora of good and bad emotions. He didn't want to return to the man he had been? How did he stay devoted to God, when he had to accompany the king into the temple of a false god?

Oh, if only he could always stand on this ground. This ground changed his life!

Wait a second...

"If you will not receive my gift, please let there be given to your servant two mules' load of earth, for from now on your servant will not offer burnt offering or sacrifice to any god but the Lord. But may the Lord pardon your servant in this matter. When my master goes into the house of his god to worship there, leaning on my arm, may the Lord pardon your servant when I bow myself in the house of Rimmon."

He held his breath. If he could just have the dirt, it would be his constant reminder and declaration of his changed life.

Elisha smiled. "Go in peace."

Yes!

Based on 2 Kings 5:15-19

Naaman was desperate for dirt.

DIRT!

With or without the worms.

He was desperate for dirt to pray on because his life had changed so dramatically on that dirt. He was healed. He was renewed. He was saved. The thought of going back to his land - a land without God - was too much for him. He wanted that reminder of his commitment.

So he begged Elisha for dirt where he could offer sacrifices and pray. He knew this land was special because God dwelt there.

I just love how Naaman had to have the dirt. Dirty dirt. Why not something fancier? He was the head of the army of Syria after all. He could have gone to the market and purchased something expensive that would have been just as good of a reminder.

But it wasn't about the expense. It was about his devotion to God.

Are we that devoted to God? So devoted that we would beg for dirt to pray on just so we could be closer to God?

"But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." Matthew 6:33

Seek the kingdom of God. Seek God! Let your hearts be thirsty for more of the Lord. Draw closer to Him no matter how bizarre it seems. Stand on your kitchen table and reach out to God!

Get your dirt. Don't forget ignore your commitment. Keep it real.

V. Joy Palmer

"The Nations"

Ask of Me, and I will give you the nations for your inheritance, and the ends of the earth for your possessions. Psalm 2:8

Today I was thinking about the prayer of Jabez which can be found in 1 Chronicles 4:10. One of the key things that Jabez requested was that God would enlarge his territory. It also tells us that God granted him his request. This made me stop and think? How often are really willing to look to God for more than our immediate sphere of influence? And what I mean by that is this ..... we can all faithfully believe for our fathers, mothers, sisters, brothers, aunts, uncles, cousins, etc. We can easily believe for family, close friends and even our co-workers as well. It is easy to ask and to keep on asking that those that we love or those that pertain to us would come to a saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. We obviously love them and want them to be added to the kingdom, but ...? How often do we give a thought to the millions and millions of strangers out there? How often do we ask God to enlarge our territory and to take us outside our comfort zones?

I wonder, are we like Philip? Philip was open and available enough to hear, "Arise and go toward the south along the road which goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza." This is desert. So he arose and went. And behold, a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace the queen of the Ethiopians, who had charge of all her treasury, and had come to Jerusalem to worship, was returning. and sitting in his chariot, he was reading Isaiah the prophet. Then the Spirit said to Philip, "Go near and overtake this chariot." Acts 8:26-29 We all know the rest of the story. The eunuch not only got saved but baptized as well at which point Philip was then translated off to Azotus by the Spirit of the Lord to share the gospel of Christ there as well.

An influential eunuch on a desert road one minute, the city of Azotus the next. Seems to me Philip was available to more than his immediate family and friends and, while I believe with all my heart that family, friends, and the people in your sphere of influence are important shouldn't we also have an eye on the bigger picture? Shouldn't we be asking Him to enlarge our territory to include nations? Shouldn't we be willing and available to go out on a desert road as the Spirit leads because God knows that there is a heart ready to receive the truth of the gospel?And here is the big question, are we willing to be wherever He needs us even if it means the Spirit of God carries us there? Are we willing to have a heart for people everywhere or just our own immediate back yard?

How willing are we really to let Him enlarge our backyard to include the nations of the world? How often do you ask Him to enlarge your territory or even  ... to give you a heart for the nations?