How to be Successful?

A Time for Quiet...

Mark 10:35-41

The Request of James and John

35Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. "Teacher," they said, "we want you to do for us whatever we ask." 36"What do you want me to do for you?" he asked. 37They replied, "Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory." 38"You don't know what you are asking," Jesus said. "Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?" 39"We can," they answered. Jesus said to them, "You will drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with, 40but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared." 41When the ten heard about this, they became indignant with James and John.

Even Jesus' disciples were preoccupied with their position./ambition and preconceived notions of what the Messiah would be like;  to understand Jesus telling them of His impending death.  He would be:

delivered

condemned

mocked

spat upon

scourged

killed

all to provide us eternal security with Him and an abundant life of Service.

Three considerations for us as we seek personal success:

1. Follow the right model - Jesus
2. Forget about honors - Be humble
3. Focus on others - Serve...for even Jesus came to serve and not to be served.

“Men lust, but they know not what for;

They wander, and lose track of the goal;

They fight and compete, but they forget the prize;

They chase power and glory,

But miss the meaning of life.”

Sometimes the journey is as valuable as the destination...
Don't miss the opportunity to be of service while following your dreams
and enjoy the Peace that comes with it.

How to Be Successful - Christian Perspective

A Time for Quiet...

Only from the New...

Mark, in chapter 10, ended the review of Jesus' ministry with Galilee and emphasized His
messiahship for the remainder of the chapter.

Suffering and Service


MARK 10:35-39

35 Then (CH) James (CI) and John, (CJ) the sons of Zebedee, (CK) approached Him and said, "Teacher, (CL) we want You to do something for us if we ask You."

36 "What do you want Me to do for you?" He asked them.

Had to have been with great frustration because he knew what they were going to ask

37 They answered Him, "Allow us to sit at Your right and at Your left in Your glory." (CM)

38 But Jesus said to them, "You don't know what you're asking. (CN) Are you able to drink the cup (CO) I drink or to be baptized with the baptism (CP) I am baptized with?" (CQ)

39 "We are able," they told Him. How little they knew

Jesus said to them, "You will drink the cup I drink, and you will be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with. (CR) 40 But to sit at My right or left is not Mine to give; instead, it is for those it has been prepared for." 41 When the [other] 10 [disciples] heard this, they began to be indignant with James and John. (

COMMENTS:
The Son of Man, Jesus, came not to be served but to serve.  He would later send the Holy Spirit as the paraclete (walk along side) for those who accept His Messiahship.  He spoke of humility to the dicsiples as well as His pending death.  Though they did not understand many times due to their preoccupation with self ambition and preconceived notions of the coming Messiah.
If we really want to improved our lot  and find peace in the process; then lets
    Follow the right Model - Jesus
    Forget about honors and praise of Men - build treasure in Heaven
    Focus on Others - for if we have done it unto the least of these our brethern; we   have done it for our Lord which is in Heaven.

Those who have spiritual eyesight, see that beauty in Christ which will draw them to run after him.

Empty Faces and Wounded Hearts...

A Time for Quiet...

Empty Faces...Wounded Hearts

First from the Old:
Job 11:15 (New International Version)


15 then you will lift up your face without shame;
you will stand firm and without fear.













Then from the New:
John 4:13 (New International Version)


13Jesus answered, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again,

Life without Christ is described as "empty"--devoid of meaning and purpose, lacking even the basic things needed to thrive spiritually

There was a time in my life when I was running on empty spiritually until someone told me were they got their empty tank filled; at the cross where Jesus died to remove the sin that makes possible a personal relationship with God, the relationship we were made for that leaves a hole in our heart until we know Him. Jesus said, “Whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst” (John 4:13). For two thousand years, people have been pulling into that station and finding the answers they can find nowhere else.

Jesus Paid it All...

First from the Old

A Time for Quiet...

8 Moses took the blood, sprinkled it on the people, and said, "This is the blood of the covenant that the LORD has made with you concerning all these words." (A)
                      Exodus 24:8

Then from the New:

Ephesians 1:6-10

"to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. 7In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace 8that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. 9And he[d] made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment—to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ. "
 
The blood - a Christian perspective

What gives us the confidence to approach God? The blood of Jesus, which was shed for us on the cross. Christ's blood serves as a sacrifice for our sins, allowing us a relationship with God. Jesus was the last sacrifice needed. He is the Passover Lamb, the diminutive image of a lamb. It is probably not what you'd associate with the Creator of the universe, but that's the title that Jesus takes upon Himself. He came to earth not as a conquerer or a political leader, but as a humble sacrifice for our sins. He now sits at the right hand of God interceding on our behalf.  Pretty good advocate, huh?  Pretty soverign God too!

Lord...

grant that we no lose perspective in our lives.

Keep us ever mindful of the mercy and Grace given to

as we are justified (made righteous before God?) based on Jesus dying on

the Cross and shedding His blood for us.

Thanks be to our Lord!

What is Enough?

What is Enough?

What is Enough?

A Time for Quiet...

Helping Others...A Biblical Principcle

First from the Old:

“But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men” (Luke 6:35 – ESV). 

Then from the New:

in Paul’s letter to the Galatian brethren (Gal. 6:9-10), Paul expands on the above principle when he states,

“And let us not be weary in well doing; for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.”  

 

Our ability to do right and good to others starts with our relationship to God. Our relationships are Vertical and Horozontial.  Vertically we must be right with God. Our relationship with Jesus Christ gives us the perfect model for relating to others.

Horozontially, we relate to others daily following that model.

Jesus called us to come as little children. He intimated that when we do good to the

least of these, we have done it to him.  Children had no standing in Jesus' day.  They were treated as property and had no place among the religious leaders. Jesus changed it as He fullfilled the Law, by putting compassion with the words, healing in His touch, and caring for His sheep.  All we like sheep have gone astray, as Isaiah wrote, but upon Him has been placed the inequity of us all.

Let us strive to be children of faith, passing along the Gospel Message, acts of mercy and a genuine caring for others, all in accordance with His Word and for His glory.

"O Lord our God...

little children praise you perfectly...

and so would we...

and so would we.

There is majesty in Your name.

It transcends this earth and Fills the Heavens...

Supply for us the urgency and faith to help our fellow man.

Are we our brothers keeper?  Yes....and so be it.

Amen

A Time for Quiet...

"...Am I my Brother's keeper..."

Brother's keeper
Genesis 4:8-10

After he killed his brother Abel, God asked Cain what had happened. Cain replied with an attempt to evade responsibility for what had happened, asking if he were his "brother's keeper."

Do we really care about others? 

Do words of comfort
cross our minds
when we find one in need.
Do acts of compassion fill our hearts
when we become a part
of those who cross our path...

or do they pass

by...unnoticed and uncomforted.

1. 
   
    Lord...in the quietness of this moment...
   
   
   

grant me the courage to share

that which I have found in You.

Hold me close to those who need to be fed

and bring forth thy blessing on each...

each held firmly in Your stead.

Winter in Connecticut

When it all finds its way south

and doubt


runs rampant through the mind...


i  find


a time for quiet.



when it all seems further north


and I'm back and forth


with thoughts of every kind...


i find


a time for quiet.

when it all holds east or west

and my best

still leaves me far behind

i find

a time for quiet.

O God..

I'm still

Thrill...

me with Your voice...in my heart.

Impart

what I need for this day.


Protect me from evil


and help me stay


within Your Will…


In a safe place of rest.

     Amen