Thursday, 2/19/2015

“Do not indulge in dreams of having what you have not, but reckon up the chief of the blessings you do possess, and then thankfully remember how you would crave for them if they were not yours.” ~ Marcus Aurelius

NUMBERS 1, 2

God has Moses take a census of all the Men...

44These were the men counted by Moses and Aaron and the twelve leaders of Israel, each one representing his family. 45All the Israelites twenty years old or more who were able to serve in Israel’s army were counted according to their families. 46The total number was 603,550. 

God now has Moses give instructions on how they are to camp by tribes.

1The Lord said to Moses and Aaron: 2“The Israelites are to camp around the tent of meeting some distance from it, each of them under their standard and holding the banners of their family.” 

34So the Israelites did everything the Lord commanded Moses; that is the way they encamped under their standards, and that is the way they set out, each of them with their clan and family.

MARK 3:1-21

Jesus is preaching in the synagogue and sees a man who has a shriveled hand. He asks him to stand up and then asks

4Then Jesus asked them, “Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” But they remained silent.5He looked around at them in anger and, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts, said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.”He stretched it out, and his hand was completely restored. 6Then the Pharisees went out and began to plot with the Herodians how they might kill Jesus. 

Jesus names and calls the 12 Disciples

13Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him. 14He appointed twelve^a that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach 15and to have authority to drive out demons. 16These are the twelve he appointed: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter), 17James son of Zebedee and his brother John (to them he gave the name Boanerges, which means “sons of thunder”), 18Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot 19and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.

JOURNAL

Jealousy, doubt and anger...it is so sad and you can see that Jesus is overwhelmed in frustration over the fact that the Pharisees care more about the law itself than people. They are so consumed in their agenda to trap Jesus that they are missing amazing miracles right before their eyes.

I wonder how many things I miss or dismiss everyday, that are miracles and are evidence of God's amazing grace?  If I just start with my own body: all the things that happen and work without my effort...my heartbeat, the conversion of oxygen, the chemical breakdown of food, the automatic responses of my brain to regulate my entire system.  The fact that I just have to think it and I can walk, run, jump, solve problems, communicate.  Then add emotions and personality...the gifts and their uniqueness and detail are truly amazing.



That is just the beginning...there are so many things to be thankful for that I could literally go throughout the entire day and the list would never run out.  The question is...why would I not do that?  For if I am truly grateful then I really don't have time to whine and complain.  I also am more likely to see the needs of others and less likely to miss Christ showing up in all his mysterious ways.

 8And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. ( 2 Corinthians 9:8)