Tag: Obedience

Morning Reading: Acts 9.10-19 NLT – go and show

Reading: Acts 9:10-19 NLT

Now there was a believer in Damascus named Ananias. The Lord spoke to him in a vision, calling, “Ananias!”

“Yes, Lord!” he replied.

The Lord said, “Go over to Straight Street, to the house of Judas. When you get there, ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul. He is praying to me right now.  I have shown him a vision of a man named Ananias coming in and laying hands on him so he can see again.”

“But Lord,” exclaimed Ananias, “I’ve heard many people talk about the terrible things this man has done to the believers in Jerusalem! And he is authorized by the leading priests to arrest everyone who calls upon your name.”

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But the Lord said, “Go, for Saul is my chosen instrument to take my message to the Gentiles and to kings, as well as to the people of Israel.  And I will show him how much he must suffer for my name’s sake.”

So Ananias went and found Saul. He laid his hands on him and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road, has sent me so that you might regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”

Instantly something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he got up and was baptized.

Afterward he ate some food and regained his strength. Saul stayed with the believers in Damascus for a few days.

Prayer: Lord God – Give me the courage to go where you want me to go, and do what you want me to do. Holy Spirit – Give me a willing spirit and direct what I say and do. And may I advance your Kingdom purposes in all things. I ask it in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Spiritual Song: “Stand up, stand up, for Jesus” – George Duffield (1858)
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Amazing Story of Jeff Markin and Obedience in Prayer

Peanut Gallery: With God, all things are possible when we follow the leading of his Spirit. Watch this amazing story…

Who needs your prayer today? Pray now….

Morning Reading: Luke 17:5-10 NLT – duty calls

Reading: Luke 17:5-10 NLT

The apostles said to the Lord, “Show us how to increase our faith.”

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The Idle Servant
1655, Nicolaes Maes

The Lord answered, “If you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘May you be uprooted and thrown into the sea,’ and it would obey you!

“When a servant comes in from plowing or taking care of sheep, does his master say, ‘Come in and eat with me’? No, he says, ‘Prepare my meal, put on your apron, and serve me while I eat. Then you can eat later.’ And does the master thank the servant for doing what he was told to do? Of course not. In the same way, when you obey me you should say, ‘We are unworthy servants who have simply done our duty.’”

Prayer: Lord Jesus – humility is not my strong suit… I do not respond naturally or easily to the duties of a servant. It’s not so much that I want someone to wait on me (although that’s sometime the case)… it’s more that I don’t respond well to being bossed around… told what to do, and when to do it. Please forgive me, and change my attitude. Replace my prideful, self-serving spirit with a willingness to be ready and waiting for the call of duty. May you be honored in all things, for I am nothing without you. Amen.

Spiritual Song: “Nothing Without You” – Bebo Norman

Take these hands and lift them up / For I have not the strength to praise You nearly enough / For I have nothing, I have nothing without You / Take my voice and pour it out / Let it sing the songs of mercy I have found / For I have nothing, I have nothing without You / All my soul needs / Is all Your love to cover me / So all the world will see / That I have nothing without You

Take my body and build it up / May it be broken as an offering of love / For I have nothing, I have nothing without You / All my soul needs / Is all Your love to cover me / So all the world will see / That I am nothing / But I love You / With all my heart / With all my soul / With all my mind / And all the strength I can find

Take my time here on earth / And let it glorify all that You are worth / For I am nothing, I am nothing, I am nothing without You

Morning Reading: Luke 6.46-49 NLT – collapse

collapsed houseReading: Luke 6.46-49 NLT

“So why do you keep calling me ‘Lord, Lord!’ when you don’t do what I say? I will show you what it’s like when someone comes to me, listens to my teaching, and then follows it.

It is like a person building a house who digs deep and lays the foundation on solid rock. When the floodwaters rise and break against that house, it stands firm because it is well built. But anyone who hears and doesn’t obey is like a person who builds a house without a foundation. When the floods sweep down against that house, it will collapse into a heap of ruins.”

Prayer: Lord Jesus – Forgive me for calling on you to fix what I’ve broken in my own life. Draw me close to you and fill me with your love… and the grace to accept responsibility for my own decisions. Give me a willing spirit to follow you… do what you tell me to do… and put my life on a solid foundation. For your greater glory, I ask it. Amen.

Spiritual Song: “Draw Me Close to You”

Draw me close to You; never let me go. I lay it all down again, to hear You say that I’m Your friend. You are my desire, no one else will do. Nothing else can take Your place, to feel the warmth of Your embrace. Help me find a way, bring me back to You.

You’re all I want. You’re all I’ve ever needed. You’re all I want. Help me know You are near.

Morning Reading: Luke 5.1-11 NLT – fishing

Reading: Luke 5.1-11 NLT

fishing for people
fishing for people

One day as Jesus was preaching on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, great crowds pressed in on him to listen to the word of God. He noticed two empty boats at the water’s edge, for the fishermen had left them and were washing their nets. Stepping into one of the boats, Jesus asked Simon, its owner, to push it out into the water. So he sat in the boat and taught the crowds from there.

When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Now go out where it is deeper, and let down your nets to catch some fish.”

“Master,” Simon replied, “we worked hard all last night and didn’t catch a thing. But if you say so, I’ll let the nets down again.” And this time their nets were so full of fish they began to tear! A shout for help brought their partners in the other boat, and soon both boats were filled with fish and on the verge of sinking.

When Simon Peter realized what had happened, he fell to his knees before Jesus and said, “Oh, Lord, please leave me—I’m too much of a sinner to be around you.” For he was awestruck by the number of fish they had caught, as were the others with him. His partners, James and John, the sons of Zebedee, were also amazed.

Jesus replied to Simon, “Don’t be afraid! From now on you’ll be fishing for people!” And as soon as they landed, they left everything and followed Jesus.

Prayer: Lord Jesus – Break into my ordinary activities… so that I can listen to you and seee you at work… in the world around me… today.  And when I have listened… and taken it to heart… compel me – by the power of your Spirit – to respond without hesitation or reservation. All to the glory of God, the Father. Amen.

Hymn: “Jesus Calls Us, O’er the Tumult” – by Cecil F Alexander (1852)

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Note from The Peanut Gallery: You may already realize that the “Daily Readings” are taken from a slow reading through the “Gospel of Luke.” Upon completion, my intention is to continue reading through “Acts of the Apostles”… since it continues the story begun in the Gospel. The idea is to reflect first on what Jesus said and did… and then on what those who followed him said and did.

On Sundays, however, I will return to lectionary readings from the USCCB… since many churches follow the same lectionary readings.