Weekly Reflection and Scripture Tags

Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out for fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid. And Peter answered Him and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying,

Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out for fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid. And Peter answered Him and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord,

“You unbelieving and perverse generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy here to me.”  Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of the boy, and he was healed at that moment.

As we read historical record of Jesus encounter with demons, we can become naïve by convincing ourselves those things happened during the time of Jesus. As if the demons left the world when Jesus went back to heaven.  Satan and his demons came to this world for one reason to lead as many

“You unbelieving and perverse generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy here to me.”  Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of the boy, and he was healed at that moment.

Weekly Reflection Matthew 17:17-18

“When an impure spirit comes out of a person, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it.  Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order.  Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that person is worse than the first. That is how it will be with this wicked generation.”

Do you remember who you were when Jesus Christ rescued you? The need to be saved involves being captive or enslaved by someone

“When an impure spirit comes out of a person, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it.  Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order.  Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that person is worse than the first. That is how it will be with this wicked generation.”

Weekly Reflection Matthew 12:43 - 45 NIV

The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light.  But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!

What do your eyes see?  When there is a lot going on in your family, community, and the world.  It is very easy to focus on what we can see with our human eyes.  When we do, that is when we start losing hope, becoming critical of ourselves or others, giving up and sometimes question our faith and leaving God’s protection.  In my personal study

The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!

Weekly Reflection Matthew 6:22-23- NIV

Matthew 18:7-8 NIV
Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to stumble! Such things must come, but woe to the person through whom they come!  If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life maimed or crippled than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into eternal fire.

James 4:4 NIV
You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an

Matthew 18:7-8 NIV
Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to stumble! Such things must come, but woe to the person through whom they come!  If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life maimed or crippled than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into eternal fire.

James 4:4 NIV
You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.

...

The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.

He has risen!

Do you know why Jesus Christ has risen? We often focus on the cross and his death as we teach on the topic of forgiveness through Jesus Christ which are equally important as He has risen! The fact that He has risen, is the most incredible gift that God has blessed the world with (John 3:16). Why is Jesus risen the most powerful gift to a world full of condemnation?

The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.

Weekly Reflection Matthew 28:5-6 NIV

And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Growing up my grandmother who was not a follower of Jesus, would often tell us to put this statement into practice, treat everyone with kindness. I recalled her saying that a poor person might just be the one who saves your life one day. Growing up, that value stayed with me and has carried me through in life. I would like to share two stories that might help me bring this scripture to life.

And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Weekly Reflection Matthew 5:47-48 -NIV

The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!

Dear heavenly Father! We come before you in the name of Jesus our Lord and Savior. We are asking you Father God, to please help us see this world that seems broken and in chaos through your eyes. Father, show us how to keep our eyes healthy so that our body will not stray away from your light. Father, it is difficult to see goodness when we look

The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!

Weekly Reflection Matthew 6:22-23 NIV

"Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.  For I have come to turn" 'a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law— a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.'

There are so many examples we can use in our world to demonstrate Jesus’ point in the passage above.  Each of us can probably think of situations where members of our families and

"Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.  For I have come to turn" 'a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law— a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.'

Weekly Reflection Matthew 10:34-36-NIV

When they saw the star, they were filled with joy! They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshipped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

I love this time of the year! Not because I get to celebrate the birth of Jesus but because I get to share Jesus with the world.  As a Christian, the celebration of Jesus’ birth and resurrection (Easter) should be celebrated every day.  In case you are not aware, there is no certainty that December 25th is the accurate

When they saw the star, they were filled with joy! They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshipped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

Weekly Reflection Matthew 2:10-11-NLT