But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all.

Mark 10:32-45

But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. Mark 10:43-44

I continue my study of Mark, leaning on the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for Mark.  Today, my focus is a commentary-assisted review of Mark 10:32-45.  Excerpts from the commentary's third (of four) division (vv41-44):

• The title of the third division per the commentary is "Consider the Conflict in Being a Servant." 
• The other disciples are angry at James and John, likely because at least some of them also want glory for themselves and certainly do not want James and John to experience more glory than themselves - jealousy is aroused.   
• Yet Jesus shares that more power in His Kingdom results in more service to others - more power from God brings great responsibility to a good steward of this power in service of His will, not one's own.  The commentary points us to Romans 12:2 where we must seek not conformation to the world but renewal of the mind to understand His will. 
• "You want to be great, do something great for God? You want to please and honor the Lord Jesus with your life? Then become a diakonos (servant; v43), a doulos (slave) of all (v44). Become a table waiter, a household servant. Become a slave. Such a person will have the mind of Christ, esteeming others better than himself, not giving attention to their own interests, but to those of others (Philippians 2:3-5)."

It's not about us - we exist to bring all praise, honor and glory to God.  It is through us that others may see God and be drawn to Him. 

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves and who saves - as You laid down Your life for me so that I could live now with fullness, and forever in Heaven with You.  The greatest gift of all time - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such blessings.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.   

Jesus said to them, “The cup that I drink you will drink, and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized, but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.”

Mark 10:32-45

Jesus said to them, “The cup that I drink you will drink, and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized, but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.” Mark 10:39b-40

I continue my study of Mark, leaning on the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for Mark.  Today, my focus is a commentary-assisted review of Mark 10:32-45.  Excerpts from the commentary's second (of four) division (vv35-40):

• The title of the second division per the commentary is "Consider the Challenge to Being a Servant." 
• "Being a servant doesn’t come easily, especially for those who have been trained to lead and especially for those who dream of being served. Of course there is also the battle we must engage with the flesh. There is a voice in our head from our fallen sinful nature that can whisper persuasively, “The Lord takes care of those who take care of themselves.” Just enough truth to deceive us, and just enough heresy to derail us."  
• "James and John get one thing right but everything else wrong. They are correct that Jesus is headed for glory. But as for how the glory would come, they don’t have a clue. They still don’t get it. They need a discipleship lesson on a cup and a baptism."  
• "Jesus had promised the 12 apostles that they would sit on 12 thrones with Him in the kingdom (Matthew 19:28). That however, was not enough. They wanted the two most honored thrones!"   
• "Their request is for the best seats in the house, in the kingdom. Their request reveals: (1) their superficial understanding of what it means to follow Jesus, to be His disciple; (2) their inflated opinion of their own importance, something those who are called to lead are especially susceptible to; and (3) their wrongheadedness on how God measures greatness (cf. Mark 9:34-36). Being a servant goes against our human inclinations. It often is counter to our opinion of ourselves. We know who we are, what we have done, and what we deserve. Being a servant after the pattern of Jesus is a divine enablement, not a human inclination."  
• "Jesus is gentle but firm, gracious but direct in His response. He compares His approaching suffering and death to drinking a cup and experiencing a baptism. These are interesting and powerful metaphors. Drinking a cup with someone speaks of sharing in that person’s fate, experiencing his destiny. The cup was also a common picture of the wrath of God in judgment (Psalms 75:8; Isaiah 51:17-23; Jeremiah 25:15-17; Ezekiel 23:28-34). Similarly, Jesus’ passion and death were a baptism—His being overwhelmed, flooded, and immersed in the destiny planned for Him by His Father (cf. Genesis 6; Psalms 69:2,15). His cross was a divine appointment!"   
• "James would be the first of the apostles to be martyred (Acts 12:1-2). John would experience, alone, the great persecution of Domitian and be exiled to Patmos (Revelation 1). But to choose who sits on His right or left is a decision reserved for His Father."  
• "Sadly, James and John fail to see that the pathway to glory is always the pathway of suffering. Before the crown there is a cup of suffering. Before the blessings that flow there is a baptism that overwhelms and drowns."

There is a cost to following Jesus but we should share Paul's view on this from Philippians 3:8, where Paul says "[f]or his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ."  Believers have received the greatest gift of all time - salvation.  We received what we do not deserve and we do not receive what we deserve as the wages of sin are death (Romans 6:23).  God also pours out mercies that never cease - daily (Lamentations 3:22-23).  Of course there is more....  

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves and saves.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such a gift - the greatest gift of all time.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day. 

“See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death and deliver him over to the Gentiles. And they will mock him and spit on him, and flog him and kill him. And after three days he will rise.”

Mark 10:32-45

“See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death and deliver him over to the Gentiles. And they will mock him and spit on him, and flog him and kill him. And after three days he will rise.” Mark 10:33-34

I continue my study of Mark, leaning on the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for Mark.  Today, my focus is a commentary-assisted review of Mark 10:32-45.  Excerpts from the commentary's introduction and first (of four) division (vv32-34):

• The title for this chapter of the commentary is: "Sent to Serve (Why Did Jesus Come)," and the main idea is: "[o]ur Savior came calling us to serve others just as He served us."
• "Mark 8–10 is the most sustained and specific teaching on discipleship in the New Testament. In each chapter there is a passion prediction of our Lord’s death and resurrection (8:31-32; 9:30-31; 10:32-34); a foolish response by the disciples (8:32-33; 9:32-34; 10:35-41); and a lesson on discipleship, service, and true spiritual greatness (8:34-38; 9:35-37; 10:42-45)."  
• "Our Lord’s instruction on spiritual greatness reaches its climax in 10:45: “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life—a ransom for many.” This is the key verse of Mark’s Gospel, the ultimate reason Jesus came. This gets at the heart of the gospel, the pattern for all who would follow Christ. We are sent to serve, even laying down our lives if God ordains it, just as He ordained it for His Son."  
• The title of the first division per the commentary is "Consider the Cost of Being a Servant." 
• "He leads the way, and it unnerves them. He knows where He is going and what He will do, but they do not. They watch our Lord in amazement and fear, even though they have no idea what is happening and what awaits Him. That may have contributed to their fear. Jesus knew, and He knew fully. He considered the cost even as others misunderstood. Know that it will be the same with us."  
• "Privately, with the Twelve Jesus provides the most detailed and precise prophecy of His passion. His words reflect texts like Psalm 22:6-8 and the mocking of the Righteous Sufferer; and Isaiah 50:6, one of the Servant Songs, and the Suffering Servant of the Lord." 
• "God orchestrates the steps of our lives, down to the final detail, the last breath of life. There are no accidents, no surprises with our God....God has a plan for your life crafted to the last detail, the last breath, the last beat of your heart. He was sent to serve. He sends us to serve. Count the cost!"

The world emphasizes how we are to seek our own glory...that we are to serve our own interests.  Yet believers must understand first and foremost what Jesus did for each one of us and upon reflection on the cost Jesus paid for us, we must then respond by serving and loving Him.  This is our response...and He provides a helper to equip us - the Holy Spirit.  

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves and who saves. Thank You for saving me while still a sinner.  I am not deserving of how You save....my sin is great and it continues.  Help me turn from and overcome this sin and turn towards You as my daily bread and living water.  Help me love You as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Help me with my unbelief!  Please give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day. 

But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Mark 10:32-45

But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Mark 10:43-45

I continue my study of Mark, leaning on the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for Mark.  Today, I focus on an unassisted review of Mark 10:32-45, which is the text for the next chapter of the commentary. Observations of the text based on the Sword Bible Study Method: 

• What do we learn from the passage about God?: Jesus knows that He will be killed and yet continues His Father's plan to teach and minister to the twelve and to the lost who seek to be found and saved.  Jesus is fearless - He willingly walks towards His own death (v33).  Jesus is humble.  He loves God the Father more than He loves Himself and as an expression of God's love for humanity and His own desire to please God, Jesus loves others more than Himself - therefore He offers His life "as a ransom for many" (v45).  Jesus is obedient.  
• What do we learn from the passage about people?: James and John seek to share Jesus' glory - acting selfishly (v35).  They also over-emphasize their own power and will over that of Jesus - again selfishly seeking something that is not aligned with the Father's will - Jesus slightly rebukes them (vv38, 40).  While the other disciples appear aligned with Jesus, they also act selfishly and Jesus rebukes all of the disciples exhorting them to serve and be humble as He is (vv42-45).  
• Is there anything from the passage God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid,Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): Avoid selfishness and instead focus on God's will and desires.  The eternal life that Jesus speaks of in v34 is the same eternal life we are promised in John 3:16. We must be humble and serve as Jesus does - vv44-45.     

Today's world emphasizes self-glory over God's glory - social media is one of the best examples of this as people promote themselves.  Not that self promotion in itself is bad - but it becomes an end in itself or an idol.  Believers must acknowledge that we exist to bring all praise, honor and glory to God - not to ourselves.  

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves and who saves.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how You love and save.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day. 

Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”

Mark 10:17-31

Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first.” Mark 10:29-31

I continue my study of Mark, leaning on the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for Mark.  Today, my focus is a commentary-assisted review of Mark 10:17-31.  Excerpts from the commentary's third (of three) division (vv23-27):

• The title for the second division per the commentary is: "It Is Better Than You Think."  
• "Jesus affirms that whatever you might lose or give up in this present age (or life) for Jesus and the gospel, you will not fail to receive a hundred times as much “now at this time” and in the age to come “eternal life.” The things Jesus notes we may have to give up are precious things: home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands. It costs to follow Jesus. However, the blessings far outweigh the losses. In God’s kingdom the benefits and blessings are simply too great to imagine."  
• "One surprising “blessing” is “persecutions.” Its inclusion strikes a sobering note of realism for the person who would follow Jesus. To be a member of Christ’s kingdom means to share in all that is His. This includes suffering on His behalf, a momentary light affliction when seen against the promise of eternal life (2 Corinthians 4:17)."  
• "[Jesus' words] means mainly that if you are deprived of your earthly family in the service of Christ, it will be made up a hundredfold in your spiritual family, the church....Surely what Christ means is that he himself makes up for every loss. If you give up a mother’s nearby affection and concern, you get back one hundred times the affection and concern from the ever-present Christ. If you give up the warm comradeship of a brother, you get back one hundred times the warmth and camaraderie from Christ. If you give up the sense of at-homeness you had in your house, you get back one hundred times the comfort and security of knowing that your Lord owns every house and land and stream and tree on earth (quote from John Piper)."    
• "God does not evaluate things in the same way fallen humanity does. As citizens of His kingdom, His children should think more like Him than like the world."

God wants us to treasure Him above everything else.  John Piper refers to this as Christian Hedonism. 

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God and worthy of all praise, Honor, glory and worship - above anything else.  You love and You save.  Thank You Jesus for my salvation.  I am not deserving of such love and gift - the greatest gift of all time.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.   

“Then who can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.”

Mark 10:17-31

“Then who can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.” Mark 10:26b-27

I continue my study of Mark, leaning on the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for Mark.  Today, my focus is a commentary-assisted review of Mark 10:17-31.  Excerpts from the commentary's second (of three) division (vv23-27):

• The title for the second division per the commentary is: "It Is Harder Than You Think."  
• "The rich young ruler had come to the right person: Jesus. He had asked the right question: How do I inherit eternal life? He had received the right answer: Honor God and follow Jesus in complete trust like a little child. Sadly he did not respond correctly, and he walked away from the only true source of eternal life. “When Jesus called this young man to give up his money, the man started to grieve, because money was for him what the Father was for Jesus. It was the center of his identity. To lose his money would have been to lose himself” (Keller, King’s Cross, 132)."  
• "Jesus was not condemning wealth and commending poverty. This is not a call for asceticism. The point is, wealth breeds confidence in one’s self, and it has an addictive quality. Scripture addresses its dangerous attraction (see Matthew 6:19-21,24; Luke 12:13-21; 16:19-30; 1 Timothy 6:17). It becomes life’s priority and the things of God go by the wayside."  
• Jesus shares that "it takes only one thing like wealth to keep you out of God’s kingdom. [The disciples] did not see that coming. Jesus turns the value system of the world on its head."  
• "Judaism was guilty of its own “prosperity theology.” Wealth and riches were seen as an evidence of God’s favor (see Job 1:10; 42:10; Psalms 128:1-2; Isaiah 3:10). Jesus corrected their bad theology. Actually, wealth can build a barrier to the one thing necessary to enter the kingdom: helpless, childlike trust in Jesus (v15)."  
• "His answer to their question is one of the great theological affirmations in the Bible: “With men it is impossible, but not with God, because all things are possible with God.” Salvation is something man cannot accomplish." 
• Only God saves! 

It is both easier and harder than we think to be saved.  Easier in the sense that all we need to do is confess and be saved - there is not a thing we can do but God can do this for us.  At the same time, if we don't do this we cannot be saved.  This is the conclusion we must all reach to be saved - that God controls all the details of my life, holds my life and eternal destiny in His hands, and He saves!  There is not a thing we can do...God must incline our ears to hear Him and soften our hearts.  We must then confess Jesus as Lord and Savior and then follow Him daily.  

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves and saves.  Thank You for saving me.  I am not deserving of my salvation.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day. 

And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

Mark 10:17-31

And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. Mark 10:21-22

I continue my study of Mark, leaning on the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for Mark.  Today, my focus is a commentary-assisted review of Mark 10:17-31.  Excerpts from the commentary's introduction to this text and for the first (of three) division (vv17-22):

• The title for this chapter of the commentary covering the entirety of the text (vv17-31) is "What Must I Do to Inherit Eternal Life? (Will You Leave Everything and Follow Jesus?)."
• The main idea from the commentary for the entirety of the text is "[f]ollowing Jesus may involve great personal cost, but it always results in great eternal gain."
• "This text [vv17-31] addresses the important question, Who or what should have first place in my life? Jesus demands that people give Him first place in their lives above all else and all others (Colossians 1:18)."
• "John Mark wrote the second Gospel about AD 65–68, making great use of an eyewitness, the apostle Peter. He wrote to a Roman audience facing severe persecution during the reign of Nero. He challenged them concerning true discipleship in 8:31–10:52. This section contains three passion predictions (8:31-33; 9:30-32; 10:32-34), each followed by instruction on what it means to be a disciple of Jesus. In 10:13-16, Jesus says we must receive the kingdom of God like a little, helpless child. The account of the rich young ruler raises the question, Will someone with great wealth and standing receive the kingdom like a little child?"   
• The title for the first division per the commentary is: "It Is Easier Than You Think."  
• "Jesus was continuing His journey toward Jerusalem. Our Savior is engaging the disciples in teaching about true discipleship and His forthcoming crucifixion and resurrection. They are struggling students who can’t grasp what He is saying. Jesus has just told them that those who enter the kingdom of God must be like a little child (10:13-16). All must come to Jesus with nothing, in total dependence on Him. No one can earn the kingdom. The requirement is the same for all: simple, childlike reliance on Jesus. It is that easy. It is in the context of this teaching that one who is the opposite of a helpless child approaches Jesus."  
• In support of it's claim that it's "easier than you think" to receive the kingdom of God like a little child," the commentary starts with: "ask the right questions."   
• The rich young ruler asks Jesus a question. "This question is one of the most significant in the whole Bible and for all humanity: How do I get eternal life?" 
• "His question, though by no means a bad one, implies he believes eternal life is something you work for. “What must I do?” All religions of the world can be categorized under “do” or “done.” I am saved by what I do or by what another has done. Christianity is a done religion/relationship. Eternal life is not achieved; it is received as a gift (John 1:12) based on what Jesus has done for us (John 3:16). So the young ruler must have both a change of theology and a change of heart if he is to inherit eternal life."  
• One must first "go to the right person," then "get the right answers."   
• "Jesus does not return the young man’s flattering greeting as might have been expected. Jesus puts the focus of the issue where it must be: on God. The young man’s starting point was wrong because it was himself. “What must I do?” The rich young ruler was no doubt a “good man” by the standards of his day.  He saw in Jesus another good man whose insight into spiritual matters could perhaps solve some lingering questions that plagued his soul. Jesus forced him to look to God for any hope of genuine goodness and eternal life." 
• "Furthermore, Jesus implicitly confronted the young ruler with his evaluation of Jesus. To call Him good is to call Him God. Is that what he meant? If Jesus is not God, then He, like the rest of humanity, is a sinner and therefore not good in the supreme sense. On the other hand, if He is God, it would be appropriate to call Him good. It would also be appropriate to worship Him, follow Him, and obey Him. He challenges the young ruler to think clearly and choose his words carefully, a challenge each one of us should accept."  
• After Jesus asks him whether he has kept the commandments, "[t]he young man responds, “Teacher, I have kept all these from my youth.” The young man had conducted his life according to the law of God. He had honored it and obeyed all of it! In an external sense what he said was probably true. Like the apostle Paul he was faultless (Philippians 3:6) with respect to the outward demands of the law as taught by the religious teachers of Israel."  
• "Having addressed the last six commandments, Jesus now addresses the first (Exodus 20:3). God must be God in our lives. No one and nothing can stand between Him and us. The particular demand Jesus puts on the rich young ruler is not a general command for all persons. It was specific to him, though it could be specific to some of us too! His wealth occupied the place that only God should have in his life. It was his idol, his god."  
• "The call to discipleship is a call to radical trust and commitment to Jesus. Jesus challenges all of us to put away anything that is an obstacle to our following Him. You cannot love your wealth supremely and love Jesus supremely."  
• The final directive by Jesus is to "give the right response" (v22).  "Verse 22 records the tragic end of their encounter—“stunned.” A cloud of gloom and sorrow moved in. “He went away grieving.” Why? “Because he had many possessions.” His gold would remain his god. Jesus’ difficult demand was met with a “no.” He got the right answer to his question."

As I posted yesterday, we must first and foremost focus on the two most important commandments as the others all hang on these two per Matthew 22:34-40.  If we earnestly don't love God with all of our heart, soul and mind, then we must throw ourselves at Jesus' feet and like the father from earlier in Mark ask Jesus to "help us with our unbelief" (Mark 9:23-25).  If we do hunger and thirst for righteousness, we will be filled (satisfied) (Matthew 5:6).

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves and who saves!  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how You save and how You saved me - I know I was saved while still sinning, hostile and an enemy to You. Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such a blessing - the greatest gift of all time.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.