King Herod heard of it, for Jesus’ name had become known. Some said, “John the Baptist has been raised from the dead. That is why these miraculous powers are at work in him.” But others said, “He is Elijah.” And others said, “He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old.” But when Herod heard of it, he said, “John, whom I beheaded, has been raised.”

Mark 6:14-29

King Herod heard of it, for Jesus’ name had become known. Some said, “John the Baptist has been raised from the dead. That is why these miraculous powers are at work in him.” But others said, “He is Elijah.” And others said, “He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old.” But when Herod heard of it, he said, “John, whom I beheaded, has been raised.” Mark 6:14-16

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 6:14-29. Excerpts from the commentary's introduction for this text and for the first (of three) division (vv14-16):

• The main idea per the commentary for the entirety of the text vv14-29 is "[f]aithful service to God may cause the kings of this world to oppose you, even kill you, but it will bring great pleasure to the true King, Jesus."  
• The title of first division per the commentary: "Expect That Some Will Fear You." 
• Pointing to Mark 10:29-30, the commentary shares: "sometimes the rewards and spiritual benefits include persecution....Yes, you may lose your life for faithfully serving King Jesus. You may actually lose your head, as John the Baptist found out." 
• "This tragedy in many ways foreshadowed the miscarriage of justice when our Savior was put to death on the cross. In both cases cowardly men capitulated to pressure and executed God’s man. A servant is not greater than his master. If they treated Jesus with cruelty, they will do the same to His followers. The life of John the Baptist perfectly illustrates what we might expect as we faithfully serve our God."  
• "This wicked, henpecked politician [Herod] did not know what to do with a man like John. He feared John (v16) and was “very disturbed” by him."  
• While Herod wondered what to make of John the Baptist (and by extension Jesus), the commentary urges us to see how (and we should) our "good works should honor Jesus name and haunt others." 
• "John was a man of great courage and moral fiber. Herod was not. John loved God and boldly proclaimed His Word. Herod did not. John denounced sin and called people to repentance and a radical change in life. Herod murdered an innocent man, a prophet of God. It haunted him, and rightly so. John’s blood was on his hands."
• "We need not defend ourselves if we walk with God. We need never employ methods of violence and coercion as we represent King Jesus and extend His kingdom. Our good works will honor us before men, and our good works will haunt those who oppose us, now or in eternity."

Scripture calls believers to be "set apart" from the world and to be holy because He is holy.  We are to follow Christ's example both in life and in death - and this is a high bar indeed because few of us will ever be in a position of death based persecution because of our faith.  Even if we don't lose our physical body, believers still stand to lose much in world that rejects God, sometimes violently.  We must be unafraid to stand firmly on our faith and proclaim the gospel, which again is to repent and see how God is good and saves.

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Heavenly Father, You are an awesome God that loves me and who saved me - thank You Jesus!  I know what You have done and You are not finished with me - thank You for Your amazing grace.  I am not deserving.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me and help me turn from and overcome such sin and turn 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 the word of the LORD came by the hand of Haggai the prophet, “Is it a time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, while this house lies in ruins?

Haggai 1:3-4

Then the word of the LORD came by the hand of Haggai the prophet, “Is it a time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, while this house lies in ruins?  Haggai 1:3-4

I continue with my study of Haggai - using the Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary volume for this book.  For this morning, my focus is a commentary-assisted review of Haggai 1:3-4, the second sub-division.  The commentary entitles this subdivision as Choosing Comfort over Obedience Is a Sign of Misplaced Priority. V2 (see yesterday's post) shares God's disappointment in Israel as they share how they no longer seek to rebuild God's temple - rather they are more focused on attending to their daily lives, ignoring the most important commandment which is to love God with all of Your heart, soul and mind. V2 describes God disappointment in an implied manner while God becomes more explicit in his words towards Israel.  God's question here should not be lost on believers (myself included) who do not focus on cultivating and growing in their relationship with Jesus. Once we become one of God's elect, God does not want us to stay "infants" in our faith but instead wants us to grow into who He intends for us - spiritual maturity.

Excerpts from the commentary:

• "Haggai specifically uses a word for paneled that implies “well appointed” or “comfortable.” In other words, they were not only settled in their homes, they had been to their equivalent of Pier One, had acquired all sorts of beautiful accoutrements for their homes, and were living comfortably. While Haggai is not condemning their comfortable living, he is condemning this living at the expense of obedience to God’s commands." We are referred to Malachi 1:6-7 where Israel once again is called out by God for putting themselves above God....skimping on costs regarding sacrifice offered at the altar. 
  
• Believers should go to Luke 9:23 where Jesus challenges them to see how following Him would be costly...at times with our physical bodies (see Voice of the Martyrs).  This is heart condition issue. 
• The commentary quotes David Foster Wallace who shares how all of humanity worships and how worship can consume you and leave you empty.  For believers worship of the One True God Jesus Christ SHOULD consume us but it animates and leaves us fulfilled and satisfied as NOTHING else can - He is the Living Water!
• We are reminded to draw near to God and worship Him!

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of grace and compassion - thank You for Your patience and love as I grow - I often put myself first, my comforts, etc.  Please forgive me Jesus!  Help me overcome and turn from such sin and 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.

When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him[.]

Matthew 2

When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him[.] Matthew 2:3

I maintain a pause of my study of 1 Corinthians as I continue using DesiringGod.com's Advent devotions where I pick up on Day 9.  Here, John Piper unpacks Matthew 2:3 and what he sees as "two kinds of opposition to Jesus."  Piper starts by sharing that "Jesus is troubling to people who do not want to worship him, and he arouses opposition against those who do. This is probably not a main point in the mind of Matthew, but it is an inescapable implication as the story goes on.  In this story, there are two kinds of people who do not want to worship Jesus."  Piper then describes the first kind of opposition as that posed by the chief priests and scribes in Matthew 2:4 - these Jewish leaders know earlier prophecies of Jesus and while they see the birth of Jesus as fulfilling prophecy, unlike the magi, they chose not to inquire further about Jesus.  Piper shares: "[t]he sheer silence and inactivity of the leaders is overwhelming in view of the magnitude of what was happening....[The Jewish leaders] are not interested. They are not passionate about finding the Son of God and worshiping him." On the other hand, in v3 we see how not only Herod being troubled by Jesus' birth but "all Jerusalem."  Herod opposes Jesus because he sees Jesus as a threat so he seeks Him out and because he does not find Jesus, Piper shares how Herod "commits mass murder just to get rid of Jesus."  Piper concludes the devotion by sharing a sentiment that he hopes readers of the devotion are not opposed to Jesus but interested, engaged, saved, etc. by Him.  

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are SO good and You provide for all of my needs, and never ever leave or forsake me.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such love and 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 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.

[D]o not grow weary in doing good.

2 Thessalonians 3

[D]o not grow weary in doing good. 2 Thessalonians 3:13

I continue my pause of my study of 1 Corinthians as I participate in a men's discipleship group (d-group) at my church.  Today, I begin week 3 and my focus is an unassisted review of 2 Thessalonians 3. Here, Paul turns from the topic of end times in chapter 2 to primarily a warning against idleness in chapter 3. Before Paul discusses idleness, he asks for prayer as he continues to press on sharing the gospel.  He asks for prayer first and foremost that "the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored" (v1). He then asks for prayer about protection from "wicked and evil men" (v2).  Paul then pivots from asking for prayer to encouragement for the Thessalonians - the church is thriving but still under attack.  Paul shares how God protects against evil (v3).  His encouragement continues as he shares that he has confidence in the Thessalonian church, that "[they were] doing...the things that [God] command[s]" (v4). In v5, Paul reminds the church to reflect on the abounding love of God and "the steadfastness of Christ," as knowing that God never changes, is faithful (see also v3), and He will never leave or forsake believers allows believers to endure difficulties and attacks from the wicked and evil.  Starting in v6, Paul describes his warning against idleness amongst believers, with commands to:

• "keep away from any brother who is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us" v6
• imitate Paul and the other disciples in how they "did [not] eat anyone's bread without paying for it, but with toil and labor...worked night and day, that [they] might not be a burden" vv7-8
• "do their work quietly and to earn their own living" v12 
• "do not grow weary in doing good" v13 
• "do not regard [an idle believer] as an enemy, but warn him as a brother" v15

Paul concludes with a benediction.

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of grace and compassion for me - You are faithful and never leave or forsaking me, protecting me from harm by arming me in my daily battle against sin and the dark forces of this world.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such love.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from such 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 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 to me today and every day.

“If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.["]

Luke 14

“If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.["] Luke 14:26-27

I continue to lean on DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotion, which today compares how Satan "hides his worst and shows only his best" of what he offers, to Jesus, who shows both the best and the worst. Piper then concludes, as all believers should upon review of both offers in detail, that Christ is worth it. The devotion starts with Piper laying (from Luke 14) out the case for the cost of following Christ - or the worst: " the painful cost of being a Christian: hating family (verse 26), carrying a cross (verse 27), renouncing possessions (verse 33)." Piper then pivots to Satan's deception about the best of what he offers - Genesis 3:4, Matthew 4:9. Piper uses Matthew Henry's words to conclude how the benefits of following Jesus abundantly "counterbalance" the costs. For the best of what Christ offers, we are referred to Luke 14:14 (glorious resurrection), Luke 22:32 (God will help us endure hardships), Luke 21:18 (we are provided the Holy Spirit, and even in death we will not perish), future glory that awaits us (Romans 8:18), and the eternal weight of glory that awaits us (2 Corinthians 4:17). Having experienced the lies Satan offers, been given the gift of faith (even though I am not deserving!), and having a foretaste of eternal glory, I can say without hesitation that following Jesus is worth it!

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are indeed worth following!  I am blessed!  Thank You Jesus for giving me the gift of faith and for revealing a glimpse of eternal glory.  I am not deserving of how You do this for me.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me, turn towards You, and overcome such sin. 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 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.   

“How do you know me?” Nathanael asked. Jesus answered, “I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you.”

John 1

“How do you know me?” Nathanael asked. Jesus answered, “I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you.” v48

In v29-50, we see Jesus baptized by John (see also accounts in the other Gospels here), and Jesus' calling of the first disciples.  Although at this point in Jesus' ministry there are indications these men had a sense of who Jesus is (see v41, 45, 49), there are other indications later in John and in the other Gospels that demonstrate these men have an incomplete awareness and understanding of what it meant to follow Jesus.  My sense is that this is true today even for most new believers save those who might live in persecuted locations where it is dangerous to follow Jesus.  

Jesus says we must deny ourselves and give up everything as the cost of our faith.

Yet for those believers who have taken the time to allow Jesus into their heart and lives through daily study and prayer, we know there is a surpassing worth of Jesus vs the world.

Part of this surpassing worth of knowing Jesus are the Fruits of the Spirit, and of course eternal life.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and who gives me life - to the full...in this life and in Heaven!  Thank You Jesus!  I am undeserving of such gifts.  I worry, and I stress, too much...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 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 spouse 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.

In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples.

Luke 14

In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples. v33

Similar to yesterday's post on humility, Jesus speaks on the cost of faith.  First He addresses those who put earthly worries and concerns ahead of Jesus - The Parable of the Great Banquet (v15-24).  In this parable, Jesus warns us to beware of the "excuses" we place in front of our faith - I am guilty of this as much as anyone.  We often explain away or justify why we don't do this or that as Jesus commands us.  I am deeply convicted on this teaching.

Jesus then pivots to the cost of being a disciple (v25-34).  We are to place God first, above our earthly relationships (v25-27), and give up everything (v33).

There is indeed a cost - Jesus refers to this in John 16:33 where He says "[i]n this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world".  

Yet we should be encouraged by Paul's words on the surpassing worth of Jesus:

But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:7-14

My Prayer: Jesus, You are an amazing God and worth it all - the greatest gift of all time!  Thank You Jesus for the many rich blessings You pour out for me.  Yet I am undeserving of such blessings.  I daily miss the mark.  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 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 replied, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”

Luke 9

Jesus replied, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.” v62

Jesus is talking about the cost of following Him.  Indeed there is a cost - He does not guarantee a life free of trouble.  On the contrary - we WILL have trouble (John 16:33).  John Piper expands on the cost of following Jesus.

Yet, Paul reminds us of the "surpassing worth" of following Christ:


But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, ¹¹ and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:7-14

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who is worth more than anything I or anyone else can ever attain for ourselves.  You adopted me as Your own and died for me so that I could have life - freedom from the sting of sin and death - thank You Jesus.  You are the most amazing gift of all time.  I am undeserving of such a gift.  I daily miss the mark.   Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from such 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 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.

Blessed are you when people hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man.

Luke 6

Blessed are you when people hate you, when they exclude you, and insult you, and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man. v22

I don't think I am hated, excluded, insulted or rejected because of my faith, but I also don't try to hide my faith and love of Jesus.  God wants us to be a light and for me this in my house, my neighborhood, in my community, my workplace, wherever I am.   

I am reminded of Paul's words to the church in Colossae:

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. Colossians 3:23-24

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God and I love You - You came to save me, knowing everything about me, including my sin and You continue to be with me - thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such love - I am easily distracted by earthly and worldly matters.  Please forgive me and help me turn from and overcome such sin by turning to 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 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.

It was Preparation Day (that is, the day before the Sabbath). So as evening approached, Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member of the Council, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body.

Mark 15

It was Preparation Day (that is, the day before the Sabbath). So as evening approached, Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member of the Council, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. v42-43

Jesus is brought before Pilate, beaten, mocked, and crucified.  He is then buried.  The Saturday before Easter is a critical day - and the folks at desiringGod.com give me new insight into the faith of Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus.  This same day is chronicled in Matthew 27, Luke 23, and John 19.  It's important to reference all versions to capture critical details.

While all versions indicate Joseph provided the tomb where Jesus was buried and assisted in the burial, it is only in John where we learn that Nicodemus "brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds" as burial spices.  This is the same Nicodemus - a Pharisee - who visited Jesus in the night to learn from Him.

This commentary from desiringGod.com illuminates for us the bold obedience of Joseph and Nicodemus as courageous, cheerless, and costly, and we are to see such obedience as "not wasted".  I suspect both were focused on eternal rewards not so much on earthly gain.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who has carried me through many periods of darkness and discouragement...I seek to be obedient to You but I need You desperately to strengthen my faith.  Apart from You I cannot have faith and can do and have no good things.  Thank You Jesus for the rich blessings You pour out for me.  I am not worthy.  I worry...far too much.  Please forgive me Jesus.  Help me overcome such sin and turn from it 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 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. 

The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding.

Proverbs 4

The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding. v7

Solomon encourages us to pursue God above all else.  Although he states wisdom, we know that fear of God is the beginning of knowledge.  We must understand that our faith will cost us something.  The number one command (Exodus 20:3-4, Matthew 22:37-40) is to love God and to love Him with all of our heart, soul, and mind.  

When we pursue God above all else, there is a cost.  Solomon refers to this cost as "all you have].  Elsewhere in scripture we see this cost:

Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. Mark 8:34

Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. Matthew:20:26-28

Yet our earthly loss pales in comparison to the riches of Jesus Christ.

What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith.  Philippians 3:8-9

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, what a great God You are!  You gave up Your life for me and You ask that I do the same in the sense that I must be prepared to transform my heart and life to become more like in Your thoughts and ways so that I may glorify You in all that I do because that is why exist.  I am thankful that You would allow me to be Your ambassador!  I am not worthy.  I am broken and in need of Your forgiveness.  For my worry, stress, impatience, arrogance, etc.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome my sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength. Please heal and cure her of her cancer and the side effects from chemo.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin...and serve You.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.