How to Read and Pray your Bible
Make it personal to yourself. Start a relationship with God, through Jesus.
(It is important to know the Master outline Studies which is a separate study which is very important for every Christian, or want to be Christian, or to know what Christianity is about:
http://glendakempharper.blogspot.com/2011_03_01_archive.html )
The Book of Mark. (Taken from The Living Bible and The New Living Bible.)
(Remember that all writing in blue is not in the Bible, it is my own personal words to God and Jesus and Holy spirit.)
The Bible book of MARK
Make it personal to yourself. Start a relationship with God, through Jesus.
(It is important to know the Master outline Studies which is a separate study which is very important for every Christian, or want to be Christian, or to know what Christianity is about:
http://glendakempharper.blogspot.com/2011_03_01_archive.html )
The Book of Mark. (Taken from The Living Bible and The New Living Bible.)
(Remember that all writing in blue is not in the Bible, it is my own personal words to God and Jesus and Holy spirit.)
The Bible book of MARK
Chapter 1
“The Living Bible”
Mark 1: 1
Here begins the wonderful story of Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God
(Thank You Jesus that I can learn to know all about You).
Mark 1: 2
In the book written by the prophet Isaiah, God announced that he would send his Son to earth, and that a special messenger would arrive first to prepare the world for his coming.
Do you see this? God planned long ago that Jesus was coming. God knows everything that is going to happen. So He also plans for your life.
(Thank you, God, for planning Jesus for me.
If You want to make me a messenger to tell others about You, Lord, then show me how.)
Mark 1: 3
“This messenger will live out in the barren wilderness,” Isaiah said, “and will proclaim that everyone must straighten out his life to be ready for the Lord’s arrival.”
4 This messenger was John the Baptist. He lived in the wilderness and taught that all should be baptized as a public announcement of their decision to turn their backs on sin, so that God could forgive them.
5 People from Jerusalem and from all over Judea traveled out into the Judean
wastelands to see and hear John, and when they confessed their sins he baptized them in the Jordan River.
6 His clothes were woven from camel’s hair and he wore a leather belt; locust and wild honey were his food.
(This John the Baptist was different from others. We don’t have to wear different clothes or eat different food to make others come to hear about Jesus but we need to live the way that Jesus tells us to live.)
(Jesus teach me how to live today so others will know that I know You. Put your Word in my heart.)
Mark 1: 7 Here is a sample of his preaching:
“Someone is coming soon who is far greater than I am, so much greater that I am not even worthy to be his slave. 8 I baptize you with water but He will baptize you with God’s Holy Spirit!”
(Lord, Your Word says that if we ask for the Holy Spirit You will give it to us. I ask You to give me the Holy Spirit. Then I will do things to make You happy.)
Mark 1: 9
Then one day Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee, and was baptized by John there in the Jordan River.
10 The moment Jesus came up out of the water, he saw the heavens open and the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove descending on him, 11 and a voice from heaven said, “you are my beloved Son; You are my Delight.”
(Jesus, you are the Son of God! God says so Himself! This is so awesome!)
Mark 1: 12, 13
Immediately the Holy Spirit urged Jesus into the desert. There, for forty days alone except for desert animals, he was subjected to Satan’s temptations to sin. And afterwards the angels came and cared for him.
(This must have been so scary and lonely for You in the desert? Thank you that you understand when it is hard for me and when the Devil wants me to think or do things I must not do.
Angels came and cared for you! I love that, Jesus. Your angels care for me too.)
Mark 1:14
Later on, after John was arrested by King Herod, Jesus went to Galilee to preach God’s Good News.
15“At last the time has come!” he announced. “Gods Kingdom
is near! Turn from your sins and act on this glorious news!
(Jesus, this is such wonderful news! Let all of us hear you and turn from our sins.)
Mark 1: 16
One day as Jesus was walking along the shores of the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew fishing with nets, for they were commercial fishermen. (that was their job.)
(Jesus, you see me too, and you see everyone in this house.)
17 Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me! And I will
make you fishermen for the souls of men!”
(You are calling me, Jesus??
Yes, You are calling me,!!!!
You want me to tell others what I had read today? Ok, I will tell someone what I had read today.)
18 At once they left their nets and went along with him. (Jesus, I also want to listen at once. Also when you talk to me through others; but mainly through your Word.
Let me know your voice.
19 A little farther up the beach, he saw Zebedee’s sons, James and John, in a boat mending their nets.
20 He called them too, and immediately they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and went with him.
Mark 1: 21
Jesus and His companions now arrived at the town of Capernaum and on Saturday morning went into the Jewish place of worship –the synagogue- where He preached.
22 The congregation was surprised at his sermon because he spoke as an authority, and didn’t try to prove his points by quoting others – quite unlike what they were used to hearing!
(In Mark 1: 11 I read that God says you are His Son. So you must speak from God.)
Mark 1: 23
A man possessed by a demon was present and began shouting.
24 Why are you bothering us, Jesus of Nazareth – have you come to destroy us demons? I know who you are – the holy Son of God!
25 Jesus curtly commanded the demon to say no more and to come out of the man.
26 At that the evil spirit screamed and convulsed the man violently and left him.
27 Amazement gripped the audience and they began discussing what had happened. “What sort of new religion is this?” they asked excitedly. “Why, even evil spirits obey his orders!”
28 The news of what he had done spread very quickly through that entire area of Galilee.
(All power is in you, Jesus. Always look after me.)
29, 30 Then, leaving the synagogue, he and his disciples went over to Simon and Andrew’s home, where they found Simon’s mother-in-law sick in bed with a high fever. They told Jesus about her right away.
31 He went to her bedside, and as he took her by the hand and helped her to sit up, the fever suddenly left, and she got up and prepared dinner for them!
(Jesus, take me by the hand and lift me up. I also want to serve you).
Mark 1:
32, 33 By sunset the courtyard was filled with the sick and demon-possessed, brought to him for healing; and a huge crowd of people from all over the city of Capernaum gathered outside the door to watch.
(Jesus, this is so awesome. I also bring to you everyone I know that is not well. Thank you)
34 So Jesus healed great number of sick folk that evening
and ordered many demons to come out of their victims. (But he refused to allow the demons to speak, because they knew who he was.)
(I want to know you so well, Jesus. If you live in me then the demons can’t speak in to my life because they know you are in me.)
35 The next morning he was up long before daybreak and went out alone into the wilderness to pray.
(Jesus, I know I have to live the way you do. I also want to find a quiet place every day where I can pray and be alone with you. Just me and you, Jesus. Then I can hear what God is saying to me.)
36, 37 Later, Simon and the others went out to find him, and told him, “Everyone is asking for you.”
38 But he replied, “We must go on to other towns as well, and give my message to them too, for that is why I came.”
(Lord, you want everyone, everywhere to hear your message. Help me to tell everyone about you.)
39 So he traveled throughout the province of Galilee, preaching in the synagogues and releasing many from the power of demons.
40 Once a leper came and knelt in front of him and begged to be healed. “If you want to, you can make me well again,” he pled.
41 And Jesus, moved with pity, touched him and said, “I want to! Be healed!”
42 Immediately the leprosy was gone – the man was healed!
(Jesus, leprosy was a terrible disease and you touched this man!
You must really love people very much. You are from God and God must love people very much.
Thank you that I don’t have to hide anything from you. Even when it is very bad, you will touch me and make me a new person.
Jesus, I need you to help me see other people as you see them. Maybe today there is someone at work or school who is lonely. I will look, Lord;
or someone who is angry and always wants to fight and treats me badly. You want me to be kind to them? And show them that you love them? Fill me every day with your Holy Spirit so that I can do what You want to do.)
43, 44 Jesus told him sternly, “Go and be examined immediately by the Jewish priest. Don’t stop to speak to anyone along the way. Take along the offering prescribed by Moses for a leper who is healed, so that everyone will have proof that you are well again”
(These were the rules, Jesus, and you did not allow the man to break the rules. You want us to be obedient and not to break the rules that our parents and the school/workplace and the government make. I hear you, Jesus. Help me to do what you teach me.)
45 But as the man went on his way he began to shout the good news that he was healed; as a result, such throngs soon surrounded Jesus that he couldn’t publicly enter a city anywhere, but had to stay out in the barren wastelands. And people from everywhere came to him there.
(Lord, I need to live very close to you so that I know when you want me to share and when not. I know you always want me to share your words but maybe sometimes I must first show people your love and then tell them who you are? Always let me tell in a way that people will know that it is about You and not about me.
Father God, I come to you in the name of Jesus. I have read my first chapter in the Bible.
I can see you are a good God. I am so glad you sent your Son, Jesus to earth for me and that you plan everything.
I am so glad, Jesus, that you baptize us with Holy Spirit, who puts you in to our hearts.
I am so glad that there is power in your name, Jesus, and that you speak for me.
I am so glad that you don’t turn away anyone who comes to you. You are a healer.
Now I ask you Father God, and Jesus and Holy Spirit, to accept my big ‘thank you’ that I want to give to you. It is only a word from my mouth but it is a gift that comes from my heart.
Go with me to chapter two of the book of Mark and speak to me some more. I want to love You.)
The Bible book of MARK
chapter 2
From “The Living Bible”
Jesus Heals a Paralyzed Man
Mark 2:1 (The book of Mark, chapter two, verse one)
Several days later he returned to Capernaum
2 Soon the house where he was staying was so packed with visitors that there wasn’t room for a single person more, not even outside the door. And he preached the Word to them.
Yes, Jesus, by reading my Bible, you are preaching this wonderful Word to me here where I am. Open my ears to hear.
3 Four men arrived carrying a paralyzed man on a stretcher. 4 They couldn’t get to Jesus through the crowd, so they dug through the clay roof above his head and lowered the sick man on his stretcher, right down in front of Jesus.
Jesus, these men are such good friends to bring the man who could not move to you. Nothing could stop them. Don’t let me find an excuse to bring someone else to you. Maybe I can let someone read this Word with me? And we can talk about you.
5 When Jesus saw how strongly they believed that he would help, Jesus said to the sick man, “Son, your sins are forgiven!”
6 But some of the Jewish religious leaders said to themselves as they sat there, 7 “What? This is blasphemy! Does he think he is God? For only God can forgive sins.”
Jesus, these people don’t even know that you are God. Tell them Jesus. Also my friends who don’t know that you are one with God. Tell them!
8 Jesus could read their minds and said to them at once, “Why does this bother you? 9, 10, 11
I the Messiah, have the authority on earth to forgive sins. But talk is cheap – anybody could say that. So I’ll prove it to you by healing this man.” Then, turning to the paralyzed man, he commanded, “Pick up your stretcher and go on home, for you are healed!”
12 The man jumped up, took the stretcher, and pushed his way through the stunned onlookers! (wow!)
Then how they praised God. “We’ve never seen anything like this before!” they exclaimed.
Father God, I praise you too. Jesus you are the best. Forgive me my sins too, Jesus. I don’t want my sins to make that I can’t move to do things you want me to do.
Jesus Calls Levi (Matthew)
Mark 2: 13 (The book of Mark, chapter two, verse thirteen)
Then Jesus went out to the seashore again, and preached to the crowds that gathered around him. 14 As he was walking up the beach he saw Levi, the son of Alphaeus, sitting at his tax collection booth. “Come with me,” Jesus told him. “Come be my disciple.”
How special to be your disciple, Jesus; to have you as my special teacher whenever I read your Word and wherever I go.
And Levi jumped to his feet and went along.
15 That night Levi invited his fellow tax collectors and many other notorious sinners to be his dinner guests so that they could meet Jesus and his disciples. (There were many men of this type among the crowds that followed him.)
Jesus, I want my friends and family to meet you too. I can’t have a party but I will make a list of 4 people whom I want to bring to you. I will have a prayer party.
- _________________
- _________________
- _________________
- _________________
Please, Jesus, let these people know you and love you!
16 But when some of the Jewish religious leaders saw him eating with these men of ill repute, they said to his disciples, “How can he stand it, to eat with such scum?”
17 When Jesus heard what they were saying, he told them, “Sick people need the doctor, not healthy ones! I haven’t come to tell good people to repent, but the bad ones.”
What did I do that was bad, Jesus? Did I talk in an ugly way to someone? Did I complain when I had to do something? Did I think things that made you unhappy? Show me. Please, Jesus, forgive me. Thank you that I can start a new life every day with you.
A Discussion about Fasting
Mark 2: 18 (The book of Mark, chapter two, verse eighteen)
John’s disciples and the Jewish leaders sometimes fasted, that is, went without food as part of their religion. One day some people came to Jesus and asked why his disciples didn’t do this too.
19Jesus replied, “Do friends of the bridegroom refuse to eat at the wedding feast? Should they be sad while he is with them?
20 But some day he will be taken away from them, and then they will mourn. [besides, going without food is part of the old way of doing things.] It is like patching an old garment with unshrunk cloth! What happens? The patch pulls away and leaves the hole worse than before. 22 You know better than to put new wine into old wineskins. They would burst. The wine would be spilled out and the wineskins ruined. New wine needs fresh wineskins.”
The whole Bible is so important, Jesus. You bring a light from father God that shows us how to live a new life in your presence. Let the Bible continue to show me new ways to love and serve you.
A Discussion about the Sabbath
Dear …………………, before you read the next part in Mark, I want you to read something in two other books of the Bible. This will help you to understand what is happening here with Jesus, the Sabbath and the people who care more about laws than love.
Exodus 20: 8 - 10 Remember to observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. You have six days each week for your ordinary work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath day of rest dedicated to the Lord your God.
Matthew 22:37 – 40 Jesus replied, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. The second most important is similar: ‘Love your neighbor as much as you love yourself.’ All the other commandments and all the demands of the prophets stem from these two laws and are fulfilled if you obey them. Keep only these and you will find that you are obeying all the others.”
Jesus, you say to love you and others is the most important thing in my life. Will you please write this love in my heart!! Without you I won’t know how to love. I want to put these words on my wall and every day I will ask you to let me love you more than anything, and others as much as I love myself.
Mark 2: 23 Another time, on a Sabbath day as Jesus and his disciples were walking through the fields, the disciples were breaking of wheat and eating the grain.
24 Some of the Jewish religious leaders said to Jesus, “They shouldn’t be doing that! It’s against our laws to work by harvesting grain on the Sabbath.”
25 26 But Jesus replied, “Didn’t you ever hear about the time King David and his companions were hungry, and he went into the house of God – Abiathar was High Priest then – and they ate the special bread only priests were allowed to eat? That was against the law too. 27 But the Sabbath was made to benefit man, and not man to benefit the Sabbath. 28 And I, the Messiah, have authority even to decide what men can do on Sabbath days!”
Thank you, Jesus, for showing us the laws as God had wanted us to see them. Thank you Father God, for coming to earth in Jesus and showing us with our own eyes how you want us to live. I want to love you with all my heart, and all my soul and all my mind. Amen
The Bible book of MARK
Chapter 3 (From “The Living Bible)
Jesus Heals on the Sabbath
(Watch this, ……………………., what does Jesus notice as he walks in to the church? And who is watching Jesus?)
Mark 3: 1 (The book of Mark, chapter three and verse one)
While in Capernaum Jesus went over to the synagogue again, and noticed a man there with a deformed hand.
2 Since it was the Sabbath, Jesus’ enemies watched him closely. Would he heal the man’s hand? If he did, they planned to arrest him!
3 Jesus asked the man to come and stand in front of the congregation. 4 Then turning to his enemies he asked, “Is it all right to do kind deeds on Sabbath days? Or is this a day for doing harm? Is it a day to save lives or to destroy them?” But they wouldn’t answer him.
Jesus, you are so wise. I remember the verses in Matthew 22 where you told us to love you and other people. So it is always the right time to do kind deeds and to save lives.
5 Looking around at them angrily, for he was deeply disturbed by their indifference to human need, he said to the man, “Reach out your hand.” He did, and instantly his hand was healed!
………………., do you have a need? Jesus wants you to tell him all about it now. He is right here with you.
6 At once the Pharisees went away and met with the Herodians to discuss plans for Killing Jesus.
Jesus, you could have said that life is unfair, but you never did. You knew that God was in everything that happened. Help me to do what is right and if things go wrong, to know that you are also in that. Thank you that you will never leave me.
Crowds Follow Jesus
Mark 3: 7,6 (Mark chapter three; verse seven and verse six)
Meanwhile, Jesus and his disciples withdrew to the beach, followed by a huge crowd from all over Galilee, Judea, Jerusalem , Idumea, from beyond the Jordon River , and even from as far away as Tyre and Sidon
Now you are in us through your Spirit and work through all your children. We don’t have to go in a big crowd to get a touch from you. Thank you, Jesus, for being here.
For the news about his miracles had spread far and wide and vast numbers came to see him for themselves.
I also thank you Jesus for those miracles in my life that others don’t see: When I understand what I read in your Word, when you help me to find something, when I feel your presence in a test and thank you for the wonderful way you made my body to heal itself.
9 He instructed his disciples to bring around a boat and to have it standing ready to rescue him in case he was crowded off the beach. 10 For there had been many healings that day and as a result great numbers of sick people were crowding around him, trying to touch him.
11 And whenever those possessed by demons caught sight of him they would fall down before him shrieking, “You are the Son of God!” 12 But he strictly warned them not to make him known.
Jesus Chooses the Twelve Apostles
Mark 3: 13
Afterwards he went up into the hills and summoned certain ones he chose, inviting them to come and join him there; and they did. (Thank you, Jesus, for inviting me too.) 14 15 Then he selected twelve of them to be his regular companions and to go out to preach and to cast out demons.
16 – 19 These are the names of the twelve he chose:
Simon (he renamed him “Peter”)
James and John (the sons of Zebedee, but Jesus called them “Sons of Thunder” (I know my name is there; I wonder what you would call me, Jesus?)
Andrew,
Philip,
Bartholomew,
Matthew,
Thomas,
James (the son of Alphaeus),
Thaddaeus,
Simon (a member of a political party advocating violent overthrow of the Roman government),
Judas Iscariot (who later betrayed him).
Jesus, you choose us and then you change us.
Jesus and the Prince of Demons
Mark 3: 20
When he returned to the house where he was staying, the crowds began to gather again, and soon it was so full of visitors that he couldn’t even find time to eat. 21 When his friends heard what was happening they came to try to take him home with them.
“he is out of his mind,” they said. (Lord, your family did not understand that you gave up everything to do Father God’s work.)
22 But the Jewish teachers of religion who had arrived from Jerusalem
23 Jesus summoned these men and asked them (using proverbs they all understood), “How can Satan cast out Satan?” 24 A kingdom divided against itself will collapse. 25 A home filled with strife and division destroys itself. (Jesus, I ask you to bring your love in to our home. Teach me to do my part, to always talk to others in love and with respect.) 26 And if Satan is fighting against himself, how can he accomplish anything? He would never survive. 27 [Satan must be bound before his demons are cast out], just as a strong man must be tied up before his house can be ransacked and his property robbed.
28 “I solemnly declare that any sin of man can be forgiven, even blasphemy against me; 29 but blasphemy against the Holy Spirit can never be forgiven. It is an eternal sin.”
30 He told them this because they were saying he did his miracles by Satan’s power [instead of acknowledging it was by the Holy Spirit’s power].
When we believe in Jesus, that he is the Son of God and we make him number one in our lives, then we are forgiven from our sins and we receive His Holy Spirit. This way we can’t commit an eternal sin by not accepting and receiving the Holy Spirit who teaches us all about God and Jesus. God, Jesus and Holy Spirit are one; like water, ice and steam.
The True Family of Jesus
Mark 3: 31,32
Now his mother and brothers arrived at the crowded house where he was teaching, and they sent word for him to come out and talk with them. “Your mother and brothers are outside and want to see you,” he was told.
33 He replied, “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers? 34 Looking at those around him he said, “These are my mother and my brothers! 35 Anyone who does God’s will is my brother, and my sister, and my mother.”
Jesus, thank you that all other Christians are my brothers and my sisters.
The Bible book of MARK
Chapter 4
From “The Living Bible”
Parable of the Farmer Scattering Seed
Mark 4: 1 (Mark four, verse one.)
Once again an immense crowd gathered around him on the beach as he was teaching, so he got into a boat and sat down and talked from there. 2 His usual method of teaching was to tell the people stories. One of them went like this:
3 “Listen” A farmer decided to sow some grain. As he scattered it across his field, 4 some birds came and picked it off the hard ground and ate it. 5,6 Some fell on thin soil with underlying rock. It grew up quickly enough, but soon wilted beneath the hot sun and died because the roots had no nourishment in the shallow soil. 7 Other seeds fell among thorns that shot up and crowded the young plants so that they produced no grain. 8 But some of the seeds fell into good soil and yielded thirty times as much as he had planted – some of it even sixty or a hundred times as much! 9 If you have ears, listen!”
10 Afterwards, when he was alone with the Twelve and with his other disciples, they asked him, “What does your story mean?”
(Yes, Lord, I also want to know what it means.)
11,12 He replied, “You are permitted to know some truths about the Kingdom of God
‘Though they see and hear, they will
Not understand or turn to God, or
Be forgiven for their sins.’
13 But if you can’t understand this simple illustration, what will you do about all the others I am going to tell?
14 The farmer I talked about is anyone who brings God’s message to others, trying to plant good seed within their lives.
15 The hard pathway, where some of the seed fell, represents the hard hearts of some of those who hear God’s message; Satan comes at once to try to make them forget it.
16 The rocky soil represents the hearts of those who hear the message with joy, 17 but, like young plants in such soil, their roots don’t go very deep, and though at first they get along fine, as soon as persecution begins, they wilt.
18”The thorny ground represents the hearts of people who listen to the Good News and receive it, 19 but all too quickly the attractions of this world and the delights of wealth, and the search for success and lure of nice things come in and crowd out God’s message from their hearts, so that no crop is produced.
20 “But the good soil represents the hearts of those who truly accept God’s message and produce a plentiful harvest for God – thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as was planted in their hearts.”
(Lord, Jesus, thank you for explaining this to me. Thank you for the good things you give to me in my life and, Lord, forgive me for making things more important than what you are. I need you Jesus. Help me to hear your Word and to do what you tell me to do.)
Parable of the Lamp
Mark 4: 21 (Mark four verse twenty one.)
Then he asked them, “When someone lights a lamp, does he put a box over it to shut out the light? Of course not! The light could not be seen or used. A lamp is placed on a stand to shine and be useful. (You are the lamp in me Jesus. I want others to know that you love me and that you love them. When I do kind deeds it is you doing it. Shine your light through me. Don’t let me ever be shy to tell others about you.)
“All that is now hidden will someday come to light. 23 If you have ears, listen! 24 And be sure to put into practice what you hear. Help me to do what I read in your Word. The more you do this, the more you will understand what I tell you. 25 To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given. For those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them.” (Father God, give me more and more of Jesus. I pray in Jesus’ name.)
Parable of the Growing Seed
Mark 4: 26
“Here is another story illustrating what the Kingdom of God
“A farmer sowed his field, 27 and went away, and as the days went by, the seeds grew and grew without his help. 28 For the soil made the seeds grow. First a leaf-blade pushed through, and later the wheat-heads formed and finally the grain ripened, 29 and then the farmer came at once with his sickle and harvested it.”
(Only you can make things grow, Father God. I kneel down before you and I worship you. Take my life and let me grow to be more and more like Jesus).
Parable of the Mustard Seed
Mark 4: 30
Jesus asked, “How can I describe the Kingdom of God
(Just like the church, Jesus? It started with 12 disciples and now it is all over the world serving people everywhere. Lord, give me faith like a little seed; then grow it in me.)
33 He used many such illustrations to teach the people as much as they were ready to understand. 34 In fact he taught only by illustrations in his public teaching, but afterwards, when he was alone with his disciples, he would explain his meaning to them. (Thank you for the time I can be alone with you, Jesus).
Jesus calms the Storm
Mark 4: 35
As evening fell, Jesus said to his disciples, “let’s cross to the other side of the lake.” 36 So they took him just as he was and started out, leaving the crowds behind (though other boats followed). 37 But soon a terrible storm arose. High waves began to break into the boat until it was nearly full of water and about to sink. 38 Jesus was asleep at the back of the boat with his head on a cushion. Frantically they wakened him, shouting, “Teacher, don’t you even care that we are all about to drown?”
39 Then he rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Quiet down!” And the wind fell, and there was a great calm!
40 And he asked them, “Why were you so fearful? Don’t you even yet have confidence in me?”
41 And they were filled with awe and said among themselves, “Who is this man, that even the winds and seas obey him?”
Next time I feel as if I am in a storm and everything is going wrong, I will remember that my Jesus can change things!
Lord, I finished reading chapter 4 in the book of Mark!
Jesus, you who came from heaven, told me things about heaven. When I go out here today, I am going to look at all the trees and plants that grow outside and remember that they started as small seeds; then I will think of you and I will say ‘thank you, Jesus’. Like the trees, I will grow closer to you because I read and obey your Word and talk with you. I cant wait to know more about you!
MARK 5
From The Living Bible.
Jesus Heals a Demon-Possessed Man
(Dear ………………., before reading about the demon-possessed man I want you to read this about Jesus:
Matthew 28: 18 Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth.”
1 John 3: 8 ….but the Son of God came to destroy the works of the devil.
Romans 8: 37 …overwhelming victory is ours through Christ who loved us enough to die for us.
Here are some more verses from the Bible which you can look up when you want to sit by Jesus in your spare time: 1 John 4: 4; Matthew 18: 18; Mark 16: 17; Colossians 2: 15; Luke 10: 19; Galatians 1:4)
Mark 5: 1,2
When they arrived at the other side of the lake a demon-possessed man ran out from a graveyard, just as Jesus was climbing from the boat.
3,4 This man lived among the grave-stones, and had such strength that whenever he was put into handcuffs and shackles- as he often was – he snapped the handcuffs from his wrists and smashed the shackles and walked away. No one was strong enough to control him. (I am just thinking now, Jesus, you never used physical force to overpower anyone. You simply spoke with the power of God) 5 All day long and through the night he would wonder among the tombs and in the wild hills, screaming and cutting himself with sharp pieces of stone.
6 When Jesus was still far out on the water, the man had seen him and had run to meet him, and fell down before him.
7,8 Then Jesus spoke to the demon within the man and said, “Come out, you evil spirit.”
It gave a terrible scream, shrieking, “What are you going to do to me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? For God’s sake, don’t torture me!”
9 “What is your name? Jesus asked, and the demon replied, “Legion, for there are many of us here within this man.”
10 Then the demons begged him again and again not to send them to some distant land.
11 Now as it happened there was a huge herd of hogs rooting around on the hill above the lake. 12 “Send us into those pigs,” the demons begged.
13 And Jesus gave them permission. Then the evil spirits came out of the man and entered the pigs, and the entire herd plunged down the steep hillside into the lake and drowned.
14 The herdsmen fled to the nearby town and countryside, spreading the news as they ran. Everyone rushed out to see for themselves. 15 And a large crowd soon gathered where Jesus was; but as they saw the man sitting there, fully clothed and perfectly sane, they were frightened. 16 Those who saw what happened were telling everyone about it, 17 and the crowd began pleading with Jesus to go away and leave them alone! (If only these people knew who you were, Lord, they would hold on to you and never let you go. Did they care more about pigs than a human being?)
18 So he got back into the boat. The man who had been possessed by the demons begged Jesus to let him go along. 19 But Jesus said no.
“Go home to your friends,” he told him, “and tell them what wonderful things God has done for you; and how merciful he has been.”
20 So the man started off to visit the Ten Towns of that region and began to tell everyone about the great things Jesus had done for him; and they were awestruck by his story.
(Jesus, you always want us to start living for you right here where we are. Here are the names of my family and my best friend: …………., …………,
……..........., ………………., ……………..Lord, I pray that my family will know you in a very real way and that you will teach us to love you with all our hearts and all our soul and all our minds. Help us in every problem we have and let us know that it is your power working in our lives.)
Jesus Heals in Response to Faith
Mark 5:21
When Jesus had gone across by boat to the other side of the lake, a vast crowd gathered around him on the shore.
22 The leader of the local synagogue, whose name was Jairus, came and fell down before him, 23 pleading with him to heal his little daughter.
“She is at the point of death,” he said in desperation. “Please come and place your hands on her and make her live.”
24 Jesus went with him, and the crowd thronged behind. 25 In the crowd was a woman who had been sick for twelve years wit a hemorrhage (bleeding). 26 She had suffered much from many doctors through the years and had become poor from paying them, and was no better but, in fact, was worse.
27 She had heard all about the wonderful miracles Jesus did, and that is why she came up behind him through the crowd and touched his clothes. 28 For she thought to herself, “If I can just touch his clothing, I will be healed.”
29 And sure enough, as soon as she had touched him, the bleeding stopped and she knew she was well!
30 Jesus realized at once that healing power had gone out from him, so he turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my clothes?”
31 His disciples said to him, “All this crowd pressing around you, and you ask who touched you?”
32 But he kept on looking around to see who it was who had done it. 33 Then the frightened woman, trembling at the realization of what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and told him what she had done. 34 And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, healed of your disease.”
Lord Jesus, I am going to close my eyes for a little while and be quiet before you. Please touch me!
35 While he was still talking to her, messengers arrived from Jairus’ home with the news that it was too late – his daughter was dead and there was no point in Jesus’ coming now. 36 But Jesus ignored their comments and said to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid. Just trust me.”
37 Then Jesus halted the crowd and wouldn’t let anyone go on with him to Jairus’ home except Peter and James and John. 38 When they arrived, Jesus saw that all was in great confusion, with unrestrained weeping and wailing. 39 He went inside and spoke to the people.
“Why all this weeping and commotion?” he asked. “The child isn’t dead; she is only asleep!”
40 They laughed at him in bitter derision, but he told them all to leave, and taking the little girl’s father and mother and his three disciples, he went into the room where she was lying.
41,42 Taking her by the hand he said to her, “Get up, little girl!” (She was twelve years old.) And she jumped up and walked around! Her parents just couldn’t get over it. 43 Jesus instructed them very earnestly not to tell what had happened, and told them to give her something to eat.
“Don’t be afraid. Just trust me” Jesus, I will take these words you say to me today and write them down and stick them on my wall. I go down on my knees before you and call you wonderful and my King!
MARK 6
From “The Living Bible”
Jesus Rejected at Nazareth
Mark 6: 1
Soon afterwards he left that section of the country and returned with his disciples to Nazareth
2,3 The next Sabbath he went to the synagogue to teach, and the people were astonished at his wisdom and his miracles because he was just a local man like themselves. (Jesus, they thought they knew you, but they did not know what God was doing! Teach me not to judge people because of what I see with my eyes and know with my brain.)
“He’s no better than we are,” they said.
“He’s just a carpenter, Mary’s boy, and a brother of James and Joseph, Judas and Simon. And his sisters live right here among us.” And they were offended!
(……………, don’t let anyone ever tell you that you are too young or too clever or not smart enough or too ordinary to do mighty things for Jesus. It is Jesus that is mighty in you!)
4 Then Jesus told them, “A prophet is honored everywhere except in his home town and among his relatives and by his own family.” 5 And because of their unbelief he couldn’t do any mighty miracles among them except to place his hands on a few sick people and heal them. 6 And he could hardly accept the fact that they wouldn’t believe in him.
Jesus Sends Out the Twelve Disciples
Then he went out among the villages, teaching. 7 And he called his twelve disciples together and sent them out two by two, with power to cast out demons. (…………., you don’t have to do this, but I want to tell you that it is so lovely if you can have a friend that also reads what you are reading and then you get together and pray some things together. You will be amazed at how God shows his presence)
8,9 He told them to take nothing with them except their walking sticks – no food, no knapsack, no money, not even an extra pair of shoes or a change of clothes. (Jesus, maybe you don’t want us to worry too much about things and just to remember the most important thing is to get to know you, trust you and tell others about you).
10 “Stay at one home in each village – don’t shift around from house to house while you are there,” he said. 11 “And when ever a village won’t accept you or listen to you, shake off the dust from your feet as you leave; it is a sign that you have abandoned it to its fate.”
12 So the disciple went out, telling everyone they met to turn from sin. 13 And they cast out many demons, and healed many sick people, anointing them with olive oil.
The Death of John the Baptist
14 King Herod soon heard about Jesus, for his miracles were talked about everywhere. The king thought Jesus was John the Baptist come back to life again. So the people were saying, “No wonder he can do such miracles.” 15 Others thought Jesus was Elijah the ancient prophet, now returned to life again; still others claimed he was a new prophet like the great ones of the past. (They had no relationship with you, Jesus. I want to know you so well that when people say wrong things about you, Jesus, I will know the truth. Thank you that you know me better than I know myself.)
16 “No,” Herod said, “It is John, the man I beheaded. He has come back from the dead.”
17,18 For Herod had sent soldiers to arrest and imprison John because he kept saying it was wrong for the king to marry Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife. 19 Herodias wanted John killed in revenge, but without Herod’s approval she was powerless. 20 And Herod respected John, knowing that he was a good and holy man, and so he kept him under his protection. Herod was disturbed whenever he talked with John, but even so he liked to listen to him.
(…………., now you are going to read about the horrible thing that happened to John the Baptist. I want you to remember two verses while you read this. The first one is in the Bible book of Hebrews 13: 5, where Jesus says “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So whatever happens to you, Jesus is with you. The second is in the Bible book called Luke, chapter 12: 4 “Dear friends, don’t be afraid of these who want to murder you. They can only kill the body; they have no power over your souls. But I’ll tell you whom to fear – fear God who has the power to kill and then cast into hell” With Jesus we have life forever with God.)
21 Herodias’ chance finally came. It was Herod’s birthday and he gave a stag party for his palace aides, army officers, and the leading citizens of Galilee . 22,23 Then Herodias’ daughter came in and danced before them and greatly pleased them all.
“Ask me for anything you like,” the king vowed, “even half of my kingdom, and I will give it to you!”
24 She went out and consulted her mother, who told her, “Ask for John the Baptist’s head!” (Oh Jesus, what a terrible thing to ask for. How I wish Herodias knew you, then she would never ask for something like this.)
25 So she hurried back to the king and told him, “I want the head of John the Baptist – right now – on a tray!”
26 Then the king was sorry, but he was embarrassed to break his oath in front of his guests. 27 So he sent one of his bodyguards to the prison to cut off John’s head and bring it to him. The soldier killed John in the prison, 28 and brought back his head on a tray, and gave it to the girl and she took it to her mother.
29 When John’s disciples heard what had happened, they came for his body and buried it in a tomb.
Jesus Feeds Five Thousand
30 The apostles now returned to Jesus from their tour and told him all they had done and what they had said to the people they visited. (I can tell you everything Jesus, you are my best friend and you are my God.)
31 Then Jesus suggested, “Let’s get away from the crowds for a while and rest.” For so many people were coming and going that they scarcely had time to eat. 32 So they left by boat for a quieter spot. 33 But many people saw them leaving and ran on ahead along the shore and met them as they landed. 34 So the usual vast crowd was there as he stepped from the boat; and he had pity on them (thank you, Jesus, for having pity on us) because they were like sheep without a shepherd, (Be my shepherd, Lord.) and he taught them many things they needed to know. (teach me, Jesus.)
35, 36 Late in the afternoon his disciples came to him and said, “Tell the people to go away to the nearby villages and farms and buy themselves some food, for there is nothing to eat here in this desolate spot, and it is getting late.” (Dearest ……………, I want you to sit up and listen what happens next! This is how you must let Jesus speak and do in to your life! Listen and obey!)
37 But Jesus said, “You feed them.”
“With what?” they asked. “It would take a fortune to buy food for all this crowd!”
38 “How much food do we have?” he asked. “Go and find out.”
They came back to report that there were five loaves of bread and two fish.
39,40 Then Jesus told the crowd to sit down, and soon colorful groups of fifty or a hundred each were sitting on the green grass.
(Open your spiritual eyes,…………….., you are watching a miracle!)
41 He took the five loaves and two fish and looking up to heaven, gave thanks for the food. Breaking the loaves into pieces, he gave some of the bread and fish to each disciple to place before the people. 42 And the crowd ate until they could hold no more!
43,44 There were about 5,000 men there for that meal, and afterwards twelve basketfuls of scraps were picked up off the grass!!
(Jesus, I don’t know what to say. I praise you and I worship you. You alone are worthy of praise and honor and glory. Holy is your name.)
Jesus Walks on Water
45 Immediately after this Jesus instructed his disciples to get back into the boat and strike out across the lake to Bethsaida
46 Afterwards he went up into the hills to pray.
47 During the night, as the disciples in their boat were out in the middle of the lake, and he was alone on land, 48 he saw that they were in serious trouble, rowing hard and struggling against the wind and waves. (Thank you, Jesus, that you know when I am in trouble and struggling with my work and with friends and my family life. Come help me, Lord.)
About three o’clock in the morning he walked out to them on the water. He started past them, 49 but when they saw something walking along beside them they screamed in terror, thinking it was a ghost, 50 for they all saw him.
But he spoke to them at once. “It’s all right,” he said. “It is I! Don’t be afraid.”
51 Then he climbed into the boat and the wind stopped!
They just sat there, unable to take it in! (Just like me, Lord. Sometimes I can’t take it in.)
52 For they still didn’t realize who he was, even after the miracle the evening before! For they didn’t want to believe!
53 When they arrived at Gennesaret on the other side of the lake they moored the boat, 54 and climbed out.
(Jesus, no one knew what had just happened to these disciples when they climbed out that boat. When I come out of my room from time spent with you, no one knows what goes on in my heart; only you, Jesus.)
The people standing around there recognized him at once, 55 and ran throughout the whole area to spread the news of his arrival, and began carrying sick folks to him on mats and stretchers. 56 Wherever he went – in villages and cities, and out on the farms – they laid the sick in the market plazas and streets, and begged him to let them at least touch the fringes of his clothes; and as many as touched him were healed.
Thank you, Jesus for all you have taught me in Mark 6. I want to live with you and in your power wherever I go; in my home, at school, when playing sport and spending time with my friends. Jesus
King.
MARK 7
From “The Living Bible”
Jesus Teaches about Inner Purity
Mark 7:1
One day some Jewish religious leaders arrived from Jerusalem
5 So the religious leaders asked him, “Why don’t your disciples follow our age old customs? For they eat without first performing the washing ceremony.”
6,7 Jesus replied, “You bunch of hypocrites! Isaiah the prophet described you very well when he said, ‘These people speak very prettily about the Lord but they have no love for him at all. Their worship is a farce, for they claim that God commands the people to obey their petty rules.’ How right Isaiah was! 8 For you ignore God’s specific orders and substitute your own traditions. 9 You are simply rejecting God’s laws and trampling them under your feet for the sake of tradition. (My Jesus, I know you are talking to these people but you are also talking to me. Are you telling me that we must not worry too much about how we do things, but we must be sure we do it in love for you. So if some people want to hold their hands up and pray and others kneel and hold their hands together it does not matter. If some people like to love you with noisy music and others with quiet music it does not matter. What matters is that we love you and you live in our hearts. Rules must not stop us from loving you and others.)
10 For instance, Moses gave you this law from God: ‘Honor your father and mother.’ And he said that anyone who speaks against his father or mother must die. 11 But you say it is perfectly all right for a man to disregard his needy parents, telling them, ‘Sorry, I can’t help you! For I have given to God what I could have given to you.’ 12, 13 And so you break the law of God in order to protect your man-made tradition. And this is only one example. There are many, many others.”
14 Then Jesus called to the crowd to come and hear. “All of you listen,” he said (I am listening, Jesus.) and try to understand. (Yes, Lord.) 15,16 Your souls aren’t harmed by what you eat, but by what you think and say!” (Jesus, what you are saying here is so important that I don’t want to read any further. I just want to think about it. Please forgive me, Jesus for the bad thoughts I sometimes think about people. And please forgive me for the bad things I say, Lord. Help me Jesus. When I lie down to sleep tonight I am going to think about what I had read in your word today. Hold me close to you.)
17 Then he went into a house to get away from the crowds, and his disciples asked him what he meant by the statement he had made.
18 “Don’t you understand either?” he asked. “Can’t you see that what you eat won’t harm your soul? 19 For food doesn’t come in contact with your heart, but only passes through the digestive system.” (By saying this he showed that every kind of food is kosher{ok to eat}.)
20 It is the thought life that pollutes. 21 For from within, out of men’s hearts, come evil thoughts of lust, theft, murder, adultery. 22 wanting what belongs to others, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, pride, and all other folly. 23 All these vile things come from within; they are what pollute you and make you unfit for God.” (Lord show me not to watch movies, or play games or read or listen to people who can put all these wrong thoughts in to my mind. Jesus, hear my prayer: Let me make time to spend with you so I won’t do anything to make you sad.)
The Faith of a Gentile Woman
24 Then he left Galilee and went to the region of Tyre and Sidon
25 Right away a woman came to him whose little girl was possessed by a demon. She had heard about Jesus and now she came and fell at his feet, 26 and plead with him to release her child from the demon’s control. (But she was Syrophoenician – a “despised Gentile!”)(Jesus, I just want to thank you that you died and rose for all people, no matter what color we are or where we come from. All who believe in you are now children of God. I believe and am part of God’s family.)
27 Jesus told her, “First I should help my own family – the Jews. It isn’t right to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.”
28 She replied, “That’s true, sir, but even the puppies under the table are given some scraps from the children’s plates.”
29 “Good!” he said, “You have answered well – so well that I have healed your little girl. (Wow, you just say so and she is healed!) Go on home, for the demon has left her!”
30 And when she arrived home, her little girl was lying quietly in bed, and the demon was gone.
(Thank you, Jesus that I am your family and every promise in the Bible is there for me. Teach me to pray for things that you want me to pray for. Thank you for hearing me.)
Jesus Heals a Deaf Man
31 From Tyre he went to Sidon , then back to the Sea of Galilee by way of the ten Towns. 32 A deaf man with a speech impediment was brought to him, and everyone begged Jesus to lay his hands on the man and heal him.
33 Jesus led him away from the crowd and put his fingers into the man’s ears, then spat and touched the man’s tongue with the spittle. 34 Then looking up to heaven, he sighed and commanded, “Open!” 35 Instantly the man could hear perfectly and speak plainly! (Jesus, “open” my ears to hear when you speak to me while I am reading or hearing your Word! Also let me tell others about what I am reading and then “open” their ears and their hearts to hear and take you into their lives.)
36 Jesus told the crowd not to spread the news, but the more he forbade them, the more they made it known, 37 for they were overcome with utter amazement. Again and again they said, “Everything he does is wonderful; he even corrects deafness and stammering!”
(I praise you, Father God, I praise you Jesus, I praise you Holy Spirit. You are one. You alone are worthy of praise and honor and glory. Let me go and think and talk about all I have read in Mark 7)
“Don’t be afraid. Just trust me.” Mark 5: 36
MARK 8
HOLY BIBLE
New living Translation
Jesus Feeds Four Thousand
About this time another large crowd had gathered, and the people ran out of food again. Jesus called his disciples and told them, 2 “I feel sorry for these people. They have been here with me for three days, and they have nothing left to eat. 3 If I send them home hungry, they will faint along the way. For some of them have come a long distance.”
(Jesus, teach me to be like you and to see when people need something and to understand how they feel.)
4 His disciple replied, “How are we supposed to find enough food to feed them out here in the wilderness?”
5 Jesus asked, “How much bread do you have?”
“Seven loaves,” they replied.
6 So Jesus told all the people to sit down on the ground. Then he took the seven loaves, thanked God for them, and broke them into pieces. He gave them to his disciples, who distributed the bread to the crowd.
7 A few small fish were found, too, so Jesus also blessed these and told the disciples to distribute them.
(whatever I have, Jesus, I give to you. Bless it so that it can bless others. With you nothing is impossible.)
8 They ate as much as they wanted. Afterward, the disciples picked up seven large baskets of leftover food. 9 There were about 4,000 people in the crowd that day, and Jesus sent them home after they had eaten. (Whoever comes to you, Jesus, will never be sent away the same way as they came to you. Feed me with your words.) 10 Immediately after this, he got into a boat with his disciples and crossed over to the region of Dalmanutha.
Pharisees Demand a Miraculous Sign
11 When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had arrived, they came and started to argue with him. Testing him, they demanded that he show them a miraculous sign from heaven to prove his authority. (Jesus, these Pharisees did not even believe in you anyway. They just wanted an argument. You are the Son of God and you show yourself to those who seek you and believe in you.)
12 When he heard this, he sighed deeply in his spirit and said, “Why do these people keep demanding a miraculous sign? I tell you the truth, I will not give this generation any such sign.” 13 So he got back into the boat and left them, and he crossed to the other side of the lake.
Yeast of the Pharisees and Herod
14 But the disciples had forgotten to bring any food. They had only one loaf of bread with them in the boat. 15 As they were crossing the lake, Jesus warned them, “Watch out! Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and of Herod.” (Jesus, yeast makes a little bit of dough become a big loaf of bread. Are you saying I must be careful of people teaching me the wrong things and it can get big and out of hand? I must know the Truth so no false teachings can take me away from what you teach, Jesus.)
16 At this they began to argue with each other because they hadn’t brought any bread. 17 Jesus knew what they were saying, so he said, “Why are you arguing about having no bread? Don’t you know or understand even yet? Are your hearts too hard to take it in? 18 ‘You have eyes – can’t you see? You have ears – can’t you hear?’ Don’t you remember anything at all? 19 When I fed the 5,000 with five loaves of bread, how many baskets of leftovers did you pick up afterward?”
“Twelve,” they said.
20 “And when I fed the 4000 with seven loaves, how many large baskets of leftovers did you pick up?”
“Seven,” they said.
21 “Don’t you understand yet?” He asked them.
(Please forgive me, Jesus, when I forget that you can provide for all my needs. Protect my heart by showing me not to watch the wrong movies or games or listen to people who tell me things about you that are not true.)
Jesus Heals a Blind Man
22 When they arrived at Bethsaida
24 The man looked around. “Yes,” he said, “I see people, but I can’t see them very clearly. They look like trees walking around.”
25 Then Jesus placed his hands on the man’s eyes again, and his eyes were opened. His sight was completely restored, and he could see everything clearly. (Thank you, my Jesus. In your time, you make everything right)
26 Jesus sent him away, saying, “Don’t go back into the village on your way home.”
Peter’s Declaration about Jesus
27 Jesus and his disciples left Galilee and went up to the villages near Caesarea Philippi. As they were walking along, he asked them, “Who do people say I am?”
28 “Well,” they replied, “Some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say you are one of the other prophets.”
29 Then he asked them, “But who do you say I am?”
Peter replied, “You are the Messiah.”
(Jesus, people still say all sorts of things about who you are. Some don’t even believe in you at all. Some think you were just an ordinary man. How can they say that when we see all the things you did and still do.
Are you asking me who I think you are? You are the Messiah, the Son of God who came to die for my sins and rose from the dead so I can rise to be with God and you for ever and ever and ever. Thank you!!!!)
30 But Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about him. (Were they not allowed to tell then because you did not die yet and go to Father God? The people would not have understood then. But I know, Jesus. And I know that now you want me to tell everybody.)
Jesus Predicts His Death
31 Then Jesus began to tell them that the Son of Man (that’s you, Jesus) must suffer many terrible things and be rejected by the elders, the leading priests, and the teachers of religious law. He would be killed, but three days later he would rise from the dead.
32 As he talked about this openly with his disciples, Peter took him aside and began to reprimand him for saying such things.
33 Jesus turned around and looked at his disciples, then reprimanded Peter. “Get away from me, Satan!” (Jesus, if you said this to me I would be so upset. It sounds as if you are calling Peter Satan. But you were not talking to Peter but to the words that were being spoken to you by Peter. Sometimes people say things to me that hurt me but I must not be angry at them but I must not accept the words that were said to put me down. I am the child of a King (Jesus). I won’t allow Satan to rob me of the Truth.)
“You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, not God’s.”
34 Then, calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me. (Jesus, help me to do this.) 35 If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it. (Because I will be with you forever!) 36 And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? 37 Is anything worth more than your soul? (Lord, I have heard of pop or rock stars that had everything the world can give; they are so famous and have all the money to buy whatever they want and you know what Lord, they are so unhappy that they take drugs to feel better. Then the drugs kill them or they even kill themselves because the things of the world is not what makes us happy. Oh, Jesus, how I wish everyone could know you! You will give us everything we need. Jesus, I want to love you. Take my life. Let your will be done. )
38 If anyone is ashamed of me and my message in these adulterous and sinful days, the Son of Man will be ashamed of that person when he returns in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”
(Jesus, help me. Sometimes I am shy to talk about you. I am sorry. Change me and give me your power and speak through my mouth with your Holy Spirit.)
Thank you, Jesus, for teaching me so many things in your Bible. Thank you for talking to me and that I may talk to you. Will you be my best friend?
MARK 9
Holy Bible
New Living Translation
Jesus went on to say, “I tell you the truth, some standing here right now will not die before they see the Kingdom of God arrive in great power! (Yes, Jesus, after you went back to heaven, the Holy Spirit worked through the few believers, and your Kingdom spread to so many people with so much power in so many places. Praise the Lord!)
The Transfiguration
2 Six days later Jesus took Peter, James, and John, and led them up a high mountain to be alone. (How wonderful to be alone with you, Jesus.) As the men watched, Jesus’ appearance was transformed, 3 and his clothes became dazzling white, far whiter than any earthly bleach could ever make them. (Wow!) 4 Then Elijah and Moses appeared and began talking with Jesus. (Wow! Did they know you from before you came to earth as a Man; when you were with God in heaven?)
5 Peter exclaimed, “Teacher, it’s wonderful for us to be here! Lets make three shelters as memorials – one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” 6 He said this because he didn’t really know what else to say, for they were all terrified. (Jesus, I would also be scared if some people from the Bible suddenly stood here where I am.)
7 Then a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my dearly loved Son. Listen to him.”
(………….., I want you to be quiet. Think of what you just read. Hear the voice of God. This is holy. God is speaking to you! “This is my dearly loved Son. Listen to him.”)
8 Suddenly, when they looked around, Moses and Elijah were gone, and they saw only Jesus with them.
9 As they went back down the mountain, he told them not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man (Jesus) had risen from the dead. 10 So they kept it to themselves, but they often asked each other what he meant by “rising from the dead.” (At least, Lord, they had each other to speak with. Thank you for Christian friends with whom I can talk about you.) 11 Then they asked him, “Why do the teachers of religious law insist that Elijah must return before the Messiah (savior/redeemer) comes?
12 Jesus responded, “Elijah is indeed coming first to get everything ready. Yet why do the Scriptures say that the Son of Man must suffer greatly and be treated with utter contempt? 13 But I tell you, Elijah has already come, and they chose to abuse him, just as the Scriptures predicted.”
Jesus Heals a Demon –Possessed Boy
14 When they returned to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd surrounding them, and some teachers of religious law were arguing with them. 15 When the crowd saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed with awe, and they ran to greet him.
16 “What is all this arguing about?” Jesus asked.
17 One of the men in the crowd spoke up and said, “Teacher, I brought my son so you could heal him. He is possessed by an evil spirit that won’t let him talk. 18 And whenever the spirit seizes him, it throws him violently to the ground. Then he foams at the mouth and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid. So I asked your disciples to cast out the evil spirit, but they couldn’t do it.”
19 Jesus said to them, “You faithless people! How long must I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring the boy to me.”
20 So they brought the boy. But when the evil spirit saw Jesus, it threw the child into a violent convulsion, and he fell to the ground, writhing and foaming at the mouth.
21 “How long has this been happening? Jesus asked the boy’s father.
He replied, “Since he was a little boy. 22 The Spirit often throws him into the fire or into water, trying to kill him. Have mercy on us and help us, if you can.”
23 “What do you mean, ‘if I can’?” Jesus asked. “Anything is possible if a person believes.” (Jesus, I repeat your words: “Anything is possible if a person believes” I want to remember this.)
24 The father instantly cried out, “I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!” (Jesus, I also cry out: ‘I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!’ Please hear my prayer Jesus. Give me faith.)
25 When Jesus saw that the crowd of onlookers was growing, he rebuked the evil spirit. “Listen, you spirit that makes this boy unable to hear and speak,” he said. “I command you to come out of this child and never enter him again!”
26 Then the spirit screamed and threw the boy into another violent convulsion and left him. The boy appeared to be dead. A murmur ran through the crowd as people said, “He’s dead.” 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and helped him to his feet, and he stood up. (You are Lord. You are powerful. You never change, Jesus. Show your power.)
28 Afterwards, when Jesus was alone in the house with his disciple, they asked him, “Why couldn’t we cast out that evil spirit?”
29 Jesus replied, “This kind can be cast out only by prayer.”
(Jesus, fill me with your Holy Spirit every day. Let me know what and how you want me to pray and live in your power.)
Jesus Again Predicts His Death
30 Leaving that region, they traveled through Galilee . Jesus didn’t want anyone to know he was there, 31 for he wanted to spend more time with his disciples and teach them. (This is so wonderful, Jesus. Be here with me, just you and me. I know if I seek you I will find you. I seek you, my Jesus.) He said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of his enemies. He will be killed, but three days later he will rise from the dead.” 32 They didn’t understand what he was saying, however, and they were afraid to ask him what he meant. (Thank you, Jesus, that I know and understand that you died and rose again and am now sitting by Father God to pray for me. And I know that you are with me through your Holy Spirit. Thank you, Father God, for bringing us to you through Jesus and Holy Spirit. Thank you!)
The Greatest in the Kingdom
33 After they arrived at Capernaum
36 Then he put a little child among them. Taking the child in his arms, he said to them, 37 Anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes not only me but also my Father who sent me.”
Using the Name of Jesus
38 John said to Jesus, Teacher, we saw someone using your name to cast out demons, but we told him to stop because he wasn’t in our group”
39 “Don’t stop him! Jesus said. “No one who performs a miracle in my name will soon be able to speak evil of me.
40 Anyone who is not against us is for us. 41 If anyone gives you even a cup of water because you belong to the messiah (Jesus), I tell you the truth, that person will surely be rewarded. (Lord, let me know how to give to your children. Jesus, whatever I give to others I will tell them it is not from me but from Jesus.)
42 “But if you cause one of these little ones who trusts in me to fall into sin, it would be better for you to be thrown into the sea with a large millstone hung around your neck. (You really love your children, Jesus.)
43 If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It’s better to enter eternal life with only one hand than to go into the unquenchable fires of hell with two hands. 45 If your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It’s better to enter eternal life with only one foot than to be thrown into hell with two feet. 47 And if your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out. It’s better to enter the Kingdom of God
49 “For everyone will be tested with fire. 50 Salt is good for seasoning. But if it loses its flavor, how do you make it salty again? You must have the qualities of salt among yourselves and live in peace with each other.” (Lord, just like salt makes the food taste good, so I want to do what is right and make life good for others. I want them to see you in everything I do. Please forgive me for all the times I did the wrong things. Thank you for always teaching me and always forgiving me and always letting me start a new life every day with you. You taught me so much in Mark 9, I should read it all again. I love you Jesus. I praise you Jesus. Amen.
MARK 10
Holy Bible
New Living Translation
Discussion about Divorce and Marriage
Then Jesus left Capernaum and went down to the region of Judea and into the area east of the Jordan River . Once again crowds gathered around him, and as usual he was teaching them.
This is why I read your Word, Jesus, so that you can teach me.
2 Some Pharisees came and tried to trap him with this question: Should a man be allowed to divorce his wife?”
3 Jesus answered them with a question: “What did Moses say in the law about divorce?
4 “Well, he permitted it,” they replied. “He said a man can give his wife a written notice of divorce and send her away.”
5 But Jesus responded, “He wrote this commandment only as a concession to your hard hearts. 6 But ‘God made them male and female’ from the beginning of the creation. 7 ‘This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, 8 and the two of them are united into one.’ Since they are no longer two but one, let no one split apart what God has joined together.”
Let no one split apart what God has joined together!
10 Later, when he was alone with his disciples in the house, they brought up the subject again. 11 He told them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries someone else commits adultery against her. 12 And if a woman divorces her husband and marries someone else, she commits adultery.”
Father God, I pray in the name of Jesus that you will give me a partner who loves You with their heart, soul and spirit. That You will teach us to love and forgive each other always and never to leave you. If I should want to marry someone who does not love you, then please close the door to that life. Always be number one in my life.
And, Lord Jesus, thank you for forgiving those who have divorced and for giving them the chance to start a new life as if they had never sinned. Your Word says in 1John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Thank you, Jesus, for dying for our sins.
Jesus Blesses the Children
13 One day some parents brought their children to Jesus so he could touch and bless them. But the disciples scolded the parents for bothering him.
14 When Jesus saw what was happening, he was angry with his disciples. He said to them, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! (Thank you Jesus!) For the Kingdom of God Kingdom of God
The Rich Man
17 As Jesus was starting out on his way to Jerusalem
18 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus asked. “Only God is truly good. 19 But to answer your question, you know the commandments. ‘You must not murder. You must not commit adultery. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely. You must not cheat anyone. Honor your father and mother.’ ’’
20 “Teacher,” the man replied, “I’ve obeyed all these commandments since I was young.”
21 Looking at the man, Jesus felt genuine love for him. “There is still one thing you haven’t done,” he told him. “Go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” (Lord, did this man love his money more than he loved you?)
22 At this the man’s face fell, and he went away sad, for he had many possessions.
23 Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God Kingdom of God Kingdom of God
26 The disciples were astounded. “Then who in the world can be saved? They asked.
27 Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But not with God. Everything is possible with God.” Everything is possible with God. Everything is possible with God. Everything is possible with God. I will remember this, Jesus. You say so. It is the truth.
28 Then Peter began to speak up. “We’ve given up everything to follow you,” he said.
29 “Yes” Jesus replied, “and I assure you that everyone who has given up house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or property, for my sake and for the Good News, 30 will receive now in return a hundred times as many houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and property- along with persecution. And in the world to come that person will have eternal life.
Lord Jesus, I know you want me to love you above everyone else and everything else. Knowing you, Jesus, there is no greater thing. Holy Spirit, fill me so that all I have will be used to the glory of God; to keep or to give. Let me hear and obey Your voice.
31 But many who are the greatest now will be least important then, and those who seem least important now will be the greatest then.”
Jesus Again Predicts His Death
32 They were now on the way up to Jerusalem
33 “Listen,” he said, “we’re going up to Jerusalem
Jesus teaches about serving others
35 Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came over and spoke to him. “Teacher,” they said, “we want you to do us a favor.”
36 “What is your request? He asked.
37 They replied, “When you sit on your glorious throne, we want to sit in places of honor next to you, one on your right and the other on your left.”
38 But Jesus said to them, “You don’t know what you are asking! Are you able to drink from the bitter cup of suffering I am about to drink? Are you able to be baptized with the baptism of suffering I must be baptized with?”
39 Oh yes,” they replied, “we are able!”
Then Jesus told them, “You will indeed drink from my bitter cup and be baptized with my baptism of suffering.
40 But I have no right to say who will sit on my right or my left. God has prepared those places for the ones he has chosen.”
41 When the ten other disciples heard what James and John had asked, they were indignant. 42 So Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. 43 But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever wants to be first among you must be the slave of everyone else. 45 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Jesus, if you want me to be like you, and to look at others with love and to always see what I can do for them; then that is what I want to do. Teach me!
Jesus Heals Blind Bartimaeus
46 Then they reached Jericho
47 When Bartimaeus heard that Jesus of Nazareth was nearby, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” (Jesus, sometimes I am upset and I also call out “Jesus, Son of God, have mercy on me!)
48 “Be quiet!” many of the people yelled at him.
But he only shouted louder, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”
49 When Jesus heard him, he stopped and said, “Tell him to come here.” (Oh, thank you, Jesus, that you hear everyone who calls on your name. Even if others think nothing of the person.)
So they called the blind man. “Cheer up,” they said. “Come on, he’s calling you! (Lord, let me bring others to you, even if it is the sort of person other people would not want to be seen with.) 50 Bartimaeus threw aside his coat, jumped up, and came to Jesus.
51 “What do you want me to do for you? Jesus asked.
“My Rabbi (teacher),” the blind man said, “I want to see!”
52 And Jesus said to him, “Go, for your faith has healed you.” Instantly the man could see, and he followed Jesus down the road.
Jesus, I want for me and my family and friends to be able to see who you are and to be able to follow you. Please hear my prayer. Everything is possible with you, God. Amen.
MARK 11
Holy Bible
New Living Translation
Jesus’ Triumphant Entry
As Jesus and his disciples approached Jerusalem , they came to the towns of Bethphage and Bethany on the Mount of Olives . Jesus sent two of them on ahead. (Lord, I want to be part of your team. If you need me to go ahead to prepare the way for your work then I want to be available.) 2 “Go into the village over there,” he told them. “As soon as you enter it, you will see a young donkey tied there that no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. (My , Jesus, it is so good to know that you know everything and that you are already in my future even as you are here with me now.) 3 If anyone asks, ‘What are you doing?’ just say, ‘The Lord needs it and will return it soon.” (You prepare everything you want me to say and do. Keep me close to you and in your Word so that I will hear your voice, Lord.)
4 The two disciples left and found the colt standing in the street, tied outside the front door. 5 As they were untying it, some bystanders demanded, “What are you doing, untying that colt?” 6 They said what Jesus had told them to say, and they were permitted to take it. 7 Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their garments over it, and he sat on it. (Jesus, you are the Son of God and everything belongs to you, but you were humble and chose to come peacefully riding on a borrowed donkey and not a fancy war horse.)
8 Many in the crowd spread their garments on the road ahead of him, and others spread leafy branches they had cut in the fields. 9 Jesus was in the center of the procession, and the people all around him were shouting’
“Praise God!
Blessings on the one who comes in the name
of the Lord!
10 Blessings on the coming Kingdom of our ancestor
David!
Praise God in highest heaven!”
(How the people need to be saved by you, Jesus. They thought you would save them from people, but you came to save them from sin and bring them back to God. Just like you do for me.)
11 So Jesus came to Jerusalem and went into the Temple Bethany
Jesus Curses the Fig Tree
12 The next morning as they were leaving Bethany
Jesus Clears the Temple
15 When they arrived back in Jerusalem , Jesus entered the Temple Temple
18 When the leading priests and teachers of religious law heard what Jesus had done, they began planning how to kill him. But they were afraid of him because the people were so amazed at his teaching.
19 That evening Jesus and the disciples left the city.
20 The next morning as they passed by the fig tree he had cursed, the disciples noticed it had withered from the roots up. 21 Peter remembered that Jesus had said to the tree on the previous day and exclaimed, “Look, Rabbi! The fig tree you cursed has withered and died!”
22 Then Jesus said to the disciples, “Have faith in God. 23 I tell you the truth, you can say to this mountain, ‘May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and it will happen. But you must really believe it will happen and have no doubt in your heart. (Jesus, my Lord, it was not the season for the fig tree to bear fruit, but with you all things are possible. I don’t want to say to you it is not my season to work for you, I am too young, or too shy or any old excuse that seems so right. With You, my Lord, all things are possible. I want to believe; help me in my unbelief. Fill me with your Holy Spirit so I can bear fruit for you, in good and in bad times.) 24 I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you’ve received it, it will be yours. 25 But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too.” (But, Lord, some people I am angry with were the ones who were wrong. I was right. Must I forgive them too? I say with my mouth: “I forgive you …………….” Now, Jesus, come in to my heart and let my heart say together with my mouth: “I really forgive you …………… , and may Jesus show his wonderful love to you.” Thank you, Lord. Forgive me my sins.)
The Authority of Jesus Challenged
27 Again they entered Jerusalem Temple
29 I’ll tell you by what authority I do these things if you answer one question,” Jesus replied. 30 “Did John’s authority to baptize come from heaven, or was it merely human? Answer me!”
31 They talked it over among themselves. “If we say it was from heaven, he will ask why we didn’t believe John. 32 But do we dare say it was merely human? For they were afraid of what the people would do, because everyone believed that John was a prophet. 33 So they finally replied, “We don’t know.”
And Jesus responded, “Then I won’t tell you by what authority I do these things.” (Jesus, you always know what to say to everyone who tries to make trouble for you. Speak through my mouth so that I will always know what to say at the right time and when not to say anything. Thank you for teaching me again in Mark 11. Here I am Lord, use me.)
MARK 12
From the Holy Bible (New Living Translation)
Parable of the Evil Farmers
Then Jesus began teaching them with stories. (I love stories, Jesus, they explain things in a different way.) “A man planted a vineyard. He built a wall around it, dug a pit for pressing out the grape juice, and built a lookout tower. Then he leased the vineyard to tenant farmers and moved to another country. 2 At the time of the grape harvest, he sent one of his servants to collect his share of the crop. 3 But the farmers grabbed the servant, beat him up, and sent him back empty-handed. 4 The owner then sent another servant but they insulted him and beat him over the head. 5 The next servant he sent was killed. Others he sent were either beaten or killed, 6 until there was only one left – his son whom he loved dearly. The owner finally sent him, thinking, ‘Surely they will respect my son.’
7”But the tenant farmers said to one another, ‘Here comes the heir to this estate. Let’s kill him and get the estate for ourselves!’ 8 So they grabbed him and murdered him and threw his body out of the vineyard.
9 “What do you suppose the owner of the vineyard will do?” Jesus asked. “I’ll tell you – he will come and kill those farmers and lease the vineyard to others. 10 Didn’t you ever read this in the Scriptures?
‘The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone.
11This is the LORD’S doing,
And it is wonderful to see.’”
12 The religious leaders wanted to arrest Jesus because they realized he was telling the story against them –they were the wicked farmers. But they were afraid of the crowd, so they left him and went away. (Thank you, Jesus, that I am the ‘new’ person to lease the farm. You came from and for the Jewish people and they did not believe you were from God. They killed you on the cross and they did not know you were dying for their sins and ours; for all the people of the world if they only will believe! Thank you, Jesus.)
Taxes for Caesar
13 Later the leaders sent some Pharisees and supporters of Herod to trap Jesus into saying something for which he could be arrested. 14 “Teacher,” they said, “we know how honest you are. You are impartial and don’t play favorites. You teach the way of God truthfully. Now tell us – is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not? 15 Should we pay them, or shouldn’t we?”
Jesus saw through their hypocrisy and said, “Why are you trying to trick me? Show me a Roman coin, and I’ll tell you.” 16 When they handed it to him, he asked, “Whose picture and title are stamped on it?”
“Caesar’s,” they replied.
17 “Well then,” Jesus said, “give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God.”
His reply completely amazed them.
(Jesus, you are so wise. We must pay what we have to pay and be good examples to people who can see we are Christians.)
The Authority of Jesus Challenged
18 Then Jesus was approached by some Sadducees – religious leaders who say there is no resurrection from the dead. They posed this question. 19 “Teacher, Moses gave us a law that if a man dies, leaving a wife without children, his brother should marry the widow and have a child who will carry on the brother’s name. 20 Well, suppose there were seven brothers. The oldest one married and then died without children. 21 So the second brother married the widow, but he also died without children. Then the third brother married her. 22 This continued with all seven of them, and still there were no children. Last of all, the woman also died. 23 So tell us, whose wife will she be in the resurrection? For all seven were married to her.”
24 Jesus replied, “Your mistake is that you don’t know the Scriptures, and you don’t know the power of God. (Jesus, it is so important to know the Bible [Scriptures]. I want to read the Bible every day and as much as I can, so that I will know what God says to me.) 25 For when the dead rise, they will neither marry nor be given in marriage. In this respect they will be like the angels in heaven.
26 But now, as to whether the dead will be raised – haven’t you ever read about this in the writings of Moses, in the story of the burning bush? Long after Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob had died, God said to Moses, ’I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. 27 So he is the God of the living, not the dead. You have made a serious error.” (Thank you, Jesus, that I know I will be raised up after I die and will live with you for ever and ever. Wow, that is something to look forward to.)
The Most Important Commandment
28 One of the teachers of religious law was standing there listening to the debate. He realized that Jesus had answered well, so he asked. “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”
29 Jesus replied, “The most important commandment is this: ‘Listen, O Israel! The Lord our God is the one and only LORD. 30 And you must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength. (Jesus, Jesus. These are the most important words. I must write them down and stick them on my wall. I pray to you, Father God, in the name of Jesus, fill my heart with love for You So that whatever I do will be for You. I don’t know how to love You. You are almighty God and through Jesus, You can give me this love. I pray in Jesus name. Amen.)
31 The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandments is greater than these.” (Only in your strength, Jesus, can I do this. Help me.)
32 The teacher of religious law replied, “Well said, Teacher. You have spoken the truth by saying that there is only one God and no other. 33 And I know it is important to love him with all my heart and all my understanding and all my strength, and to love my neighbor as myself. This is more important than to offer all of the burnt offerings and sacrifices required in the law.”
34 Realizing how much the man understood, Jesus said to him, “You are not far from the Kingdom of God
Whose Son is the Messiah?
35 Later, as Jesus was teaching the people in the Temple
“The Lord said to my Lord,
Sit in the place of honor at my right hand
until I humble your enemies beneath your feet.’
37 Since David himself called the Messiah ‘my Lord,’ how can the Messiah be his son?” The large crowd listened to him with great delight.
38 Jesus also taught: “Beware of the teachers of religious law! For they like to parade around in flowing robes and receive respectful greetings as they walk in the marketplaces.
39 And how they love the seats of honor in the synagogues and the head table at banquets. 40 Yet they shamelessly cheat widows out of their property and then pretend to be pious by making long prayers in public. Because of this, they will be more severely punished.”
The Widow’s Offering
41 Jesus sat down near the collection box in the Temple
43 Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has given more than al the others who are making contributions. 44 For they gave a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she had to live on.”
(Lord, everything comes from you, so help me never to be stingy when I give to you.)
MARK 13
Holy Bible (New Living Translation)
Jesus Foretells the Future
As Jesus was leaving the Temple
2 Jesus replied, “Yes, look at these great buildings. But they will be completely demolished. Not one stone will be left on top of another!” (Jesus, thank you that your Word will never be demolished. Thank you that you are the same now and forever. My trust is in you Father God, Jesus and Holy Spirit. Everything else will disappear.)
3 Later, Jesus sat on the Mount of Olives across the valley from the Temple
5 Jesus replied, “Don’t let anyone mislead you, (Jesus, protect me. Let me read your Bible so that I can know you and I will know the truth. Let me not believe people who tell lies.) 6 for many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah.’ They will deceive many. 7 And you will hear of wars and threats of wars, but don’t panic. Yes, these things must take place but the end won’t follow immediately. 8 Nations will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in many parts of the world, as well as famines. But this is only the first of the birth pains, with more to come. (You, Jesus, know everything. I will never go to a fortune teller or read things that are not from you. My trust and my future is in you, God.)
9 “When these things begin to happen, watch out! You will be handed over to the local councils and beaten in the synagogues. You will stand trial before governors and kings
because you are my followers. But this will be your opportunity to tell them about me. (Lord, Jesus, when things go bad for me, you will be with me and show me how I can tell and show people that you have come to bring us back to God. What matters is that we have you and will live forever in Heaven! This world is not our real home.) 10 For the Good News must first be preached to all nations. 11 But when you are arrested and stand trial, don’t worry in advance about what to say. Just say what God tells you at that time, for it is not you who will be speaking, but the Holy Spirit. (Please, Lord, whenever I speak about you, let it always be Holy Spirit that speaks through me and not me speaking. Holy Spirit, you speak from God!)
12 “A brother will betray his brother to death, a father will betray his own child, and children will rebel against their parents and cause them to be killed. 13 And everyone will hate you because you are my followers. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.
14 “The day is coming when you will see the sacrilegious object that causes desecration standing where he should not be” (Reader, pay attention!) “Then those in Judea must flee to the hills. 15 A person out on the deck of a roof must not go down into the house to pack. 16 A person out in the field must not return even to get a coat. 17 How terrible it will be for pregnant women and for nursing mothers in those days 18 And pray that your flight will not be in winter. 19 For there will be greater anguish in those days than at any time since God created the world. And it will never be so great again. 20 In fact, unless the Lord shortens that time of calamity, not a single person will survive. But for the sake of his chosen ones he has shortened those days. (I accept Jesus as my savior and invite him to take over my life, so I know I am Your chosen one, Father God.)
21 “Then if anyone tells you, ’Look, here is the Messiah,’ or ‘There he is,’ don’t believe it. 22 For false messiahs and false prophets will rise up and perform signs and wonders so as to deceive, if possible, even God’s chosen ones. (My Jesus, I want to know you more and more so that no one will be able to lie to me. Help me to seek you and to love you every day.) 23 Watch out! I have warned you about this ahead of time!
24 “At that time, after the anguish of those days,
The sun will be darkened,
The moon will give no light,
25 the stars will fall from the sky,
And the powers in the heavens will be shaken. (Thank you, Jesus, that you will never leave me nor forsake me! That is what matters.)
26 Then everyone will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds with great power and glory. (That is my Jesus, how exciting!!!) 27 And he will send out his angels to gather his chosen ones from all over the world – from the farthest ends of the earth and heaven.
28 Now learn a lesson from the fig tree. When its branches bud and its leaves begin to sprout, you know that summer is near. 29 In the same way, when you see all these things taking place, you can know that his return is very near, right at the door. 30 I tell you the truth, this generation will not pass from the scene before all these things take place. 31 Heaven and earth will disappear, but my words will never disappear. (That is why I want to read your words and know them and do what they tell me to do. You are the Word, Jesus.)
32 “However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows. 33 And since you don’t know when that time will come, be on guard! Stay alert! (Jesus, I want to stay in your word and with you every day and all day long in everything I do and think. Help me to be ready for whenever you come.)
34 “The coming of the Son of Man can be illustrated by the story of a man going on a long trip. When he left home, he gave each of his slaves instructions about the work they were to do, and he told the gatekeeper to watch for his return. 35 You, too, must keep watch! For you don’t know when the master of the household will return – in the evening, at midnight, before dawn, or at daybreak. (Yes, Lord, we also don’t know when we will die, and then our chance to invite you to be our savior is over.) 36 Don’t let him find you sleeping when he arrives without warning. 37 I say to you what I say to everyone: Watch for him!”
(Lord, thank you for speaking to me. So many terrible things will happen and can happen even now. All I want to concentrate on is your word and having a relationship with you; getting to know you more and more every day and being obedient to you. I don’t have to understand everything. You are God and you take care of your children. Thank you.)
MARK 14
Holy Bible (New Living Translation)
Jesus Anointed at Bethany
It was now two days before Passover and the Festival of Unleavened Bread. The leading priests and the teachers of religious law were still looking for an opportunity to cpture Jesus secretly and kill him. 2 “But not during the Passover celebration,” they agreed, “or the people may riot.”
3 Meanwhile, Jesus was in Bethany
4 Some of those at the table were indignant. “Why waste such expensive perfume? They asked. 5 “It could have been sold for a year’s wages and the money given to the poor!” So they scolded her harshly.
6But Jesus replied, “Leave her alone. Why criticize her for doing such a good thing to me? 7 You will always have the poor among you, and you can help them whenever you want to. But you will not always have me. 8 She has done what she could and has anointed my body for burial ahead of time. 9 I tell you the truth, wherever the Good News is preached throughout the world, this woman’s deed will be remembered and discussed.”
(Thank you, Jesus, for teaching me that there are things that you can’t put a price on. Our money comes from you and should be used to glorify your name.)
Judas Agrees to Betray Jesus
10 Then Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve disciples, went to the leading priests to arrange to betray Jesus to them. 11 They were delighted when they heard why he had come, and they promised to give him money. So he began looking for an opportunity to betray Jesus.
The Last Supper
12 On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover lamb is sacrificed, Jesus’ disciples asked him, “Where do you want us to go to prepare the Passover meal for you?”
13 So Jesus sent two of them into Jerusalem
17 In the evening Jesus arrived with the twelve disciples. 18 As they were at the table eating, Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, one of you eating with me here will betray me.”
19 Greatly distressed, each one asked in turn, “Am I the one?”
20 He replied, “It is one of you twelve who is eating from this bowl with me. 21 For the Son of Man must die, as the Scriptures declared long ago. But how terrible it will be for the one who betrays him. It would be far better for that man if he had never been born!”
22 As they were eating, Jesus took some bread and blessed it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, “Take it, for this is my body.”
23 And he took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it. He gave it to them, and they all drank from it. 24 And he said to them, “This is my blood, which confirms the covenant between God and his people. It is poured out as a sacrifice for many. 25 I tell you the truth, I will not drink wine again until the day I drink it new in the Kingdom of God
26 Then they sang a hymn and went out to the Mount of Olives .
(Jesus, every time I have communion at church and drink a bit of juice and eat a piece of bread, I will remember that your body died on a cross for my sins and that your blood was shed to so that I can live forever with God. Even at home, Jesus, I can have communion and remember what you did for me. How you love me.)
Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial
27 On the way, Jesus told them, “All of you will desert me. For the Scriptures say,
‘God will strike the Shepherd,
And the sheep will be scattered.’
28 But after I am raised from the dead, I will go ahead of you to Galilee and meet you there.”
29 But Peter said to him, “Even if everyone else deserts you, I never will.”
30 Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, Peter – this very night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny three times that you even know me.”
31 “No!” Peter declared emphatically, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never deny you! And all the others vowed the same. (Lord, you know us better than we know ourselves. Thank you that you are a forgiving God. And in spite of who we are you use us to your glory, in your power.)
Jesus Prays in Gethsemane
32 They went to the olive grove called Gethsemane , and Jesus said, “Sit here while I go and pray.” 33 He took Peter, James, and John with him, and he became deeply troubled and distressed. 34 He told them, “My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” (Oh, Jesus, your soul was crushed with grief. How you understand when my heart breaks.)
35 He went on a little farther and fell to the ground. He prayed that, if it were possible, the awful hour awaiting him might pass him by. 36 “Abba Father,” he cried out, “everything is possible for you. Please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” (Jesus, I hear your prayer to God. Your pain is so great that you want to be out of it but you pray that God’s will must be done. Thank you, Father God, that your will is always the best, even if when we cannot see the end results at that moment.)
37 Then he returned and found the disciples asleep. He said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Couldn’t you watch with me even one hour? (Lord, you understand how I feel when my best friends and loved ones disappoint me.) 38 Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak.”
39 Then Jesus left them again and prayed the same prayer as before. 40 When he returned to them again, he found them sleeping, for they couldn’t keep their eyes open. And they didn’t know what to say.
41When he returned to them the third time, he said, “Go ahead and sleep. Have your rest. But no –the time has come. The Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 42 Up lets be going. Look, my betrayer is here!”
Jesus is Betrayed and Arrested
43And immediately, even as Jesus said this, Judas, one of the twelve disciples, arrived with a crowd of men armed with swords and clubs. They had been sent by the leading priests, the teachers of religious law, and the elders. 44 The traitor, Judas, had given them a prearranged signal: “You will know which one to arrest when I greet him with a kiss. Then you can take him away under guard. 45 As soon as they arrived, Judas walked up to Jesus. “Rabbi!” he exclaimed, and gave him the kiss.
46 The others grabbed Jesus and arrested him. 47 But one of the men with Jesus pulled out his sword and struck the high priest’s slave, slashing off his ear.
48 Jesus asked them, “Am I some dangerous revolutionary, that you come with swords and clubs to arrest me? 49 Why didn’t you arrest me in the Temple
50 Then all his disciples deserted him and ran away. 51 One young man following behind was clothed only in a long linen shirt. When the mob tried to grab him, 52 He slipped out of his shirt and ran away naked.
Jesus before the Council
53 They took Jesus to the high priest’s home where the leading priest, the elders, and the teachers of religious law had gathered. 54 Meanwhile, Peter followed him at a distance and went right into the high priest’s courtyard. There he sat with the guards, warming himself by the fire.
55 Inside, the leading priests and the entire high council were trying to find evidence against Jesus, so they could put him to death. But they couldn’t find any. 56 Many false witnesses spoke against him, but they contradicted each other. 57 Finally, some men stood up and gave this false testimony: 58 “We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this Temple
60 Then the hight priest stood up before the others and asked Jesus, “Well, aren’t you going to answer these charges? What do you have to say for yourself? 61 But Jesus was silent and made no reply. (I just imagine that you were thinking of me, Jesus.) Then the hight priest asked him, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?”
62 Jesus said, “I Am. And you will see the Son of Man seated in the place of power at God’s right hand and coming on the clouds of heaven.”
63 Then the high priest tore his clothing to show his horror and said, “Why do we need other witnesses” 64 You have all heard his blasphemy. What is your verdict?”
“Guilty!” they all cried. “He deserves to die!” (Jesus, my dearest Jesus, It is me who should have died. You were never guilty. But now you paid the price for my sins by Father God. Now there is no condemnation for me any more. I am without sin because of what you done. Thank you, Jesus.)
65 Then some of them began to spit at him, and they blindfolded him and beat him with their fists. “Prophesy to us,” they jeered. And the guards slapped him as they took him away.
Peter Denies Jesus
66 Meanwhile, Peter was in the courtyard below. One of the servant girls who worked for the high priest came by 67 and noticed Peter warming himself at the fire. She looked at him closely and said, “You were one of those with Jesus of Nazareth.”
68 But Peter denied it. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said, and he went out into the entryway. Just then, a rooster crowed.
69 When the servant girl saw him standing there, she began telling the others, “This man is definitely one of them!”
70 But Peter denied it again.
A little later some of the other bystanders confronted Peter and said, “You must be one of them, because you are a Galilean.”
71 Peter swore, “A curse on me if I’m lying – I don’t know this man you’re talking about!” 72 And immediately the rooster crowed the second time.
Suddenly, Jesus’ words flashed through Peter’s mind: “Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny three times that you even know me.” And he broke down and wept.
(Jesus, forgive me also for the times that I have denied you. When I kept quiet about you or said things I should not have said. Also when I make excuses and don’t read my Bible so that I can meet with you. Thank you that you forgive me.)
MARK 15
Holy Bible (NLT)
Jesus’ Trial before Pilate
Very early in the morning the leading priests, the elders, and the teachers of religious law – the entire high council – met to discuss their next step. They bound Jesus, led him away, and took him to Pilate, the Roman governor.
2 Pilate asked Jesus, “Are you the king of the Jews?”
Jesus replied, “You have said it.”
3 Then the leading priests kept accusing him of many crimes, 4 and Pilate asked him, “Aren’t you going to answer them? What about all these charges they are bringing against you? 5 But Jesus said nothing, much to Pilate’s surprise.
6 Now it was the governor’s custom each year during the Passover celebration to release one prisoner – anyone the people requested 7One of the prisoners at that time was Barabbas, a revolutionary who had committed murder in and uprising. 8 The crowd went to Pilate and asked him to release a prisoner as usual.
9 “Would you like me to release to you this ‘King of the Jews’?” Pilate asked. 10 (For he realized by now that the leading priests had arrested Jesus out of envy.) 11 But at this point the leading priests stirred up the crowd to demand the release of Barabbas instead of Jesus. 12 Pilate asked them, “Then what should I do with this man you call the king of the Jews?”
13 They shouted back, “Crucify him!”
14 “Why?” Pilate demanded. “What crime has he committed?”
But the crowd roared even louder, “Crucify him!”
15 So to pacify the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. He ordered Jesus flogged with a lead-tipped whip, then turned him over to the Roman soldiers to be crucified.
The Soldiers Mock Jesus
16 The soldiers took Jesus into the courtyard of the governor’s headquarters (called the Praetorium) and called out the entire regiment. 17 They dressed him in a purple robe, and they wove thorn branches into a crown and put it on his head. 18 Then they saluted him and taunted, “Hail! King of the Jews!” 19 And they struck him on the head with a reed stick, spit on him, and dropped to their knees in mock worship. 20 When they were finally tired of mocking him, they took off the purple robe and put his own clothes on him again. Then they led him away to be crucified. (How you were mocked, and you were innocent. Next time I say “It is not fair” then I will remember what you had to go through and I know the good things that came out of it. Thank you for understanding when life seems so unfair. Help me to know that there is a plan and reason for everything. I just want to stay so close to you, Jesus)
The Crucifixion
21 A passerby named Simon, who was from Cyrene Golgotha (which means “Place of the Skull”). 23 They offered him wine drugged with myrrh, but he refused it.
24 Then the soldiers nailed him to the cross. They divided is clothes and threw dice to decide who would get each piece. 25 It was nine o’clock in the morning when they crucified him. 26 A sign announced the charge against him. It read, “The King of the Jews.” 27 Two revolutionaries were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left.
29 The people passing by shouted abuse, shaking their heads in mockery. “Ha! Look at your now!” they yelled at him. “You said you were going to destroy the Temple
31 The leading priests and teachers of religious law also mocked Jesus. “He saved others,” they scoffed, “but he can’t save himself! 32 Let this Messiah, this King of Israel, come down from the cross so we can see it and believe him!” Even the men who were crucified with Jesus ridiculed him.
The Death of Jesus
33 At noon, darkness fell across the whole land until three o’clock. 34 Then at three o’ clock Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabacjtjamo?” which means “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?”
35 Some of the bystanders misunderstood and thought he was calling for the prophet Elijah. 36 One of them ran and filled a sponge with sour wine, holding it up to him on a reed stick so he could drink. “Wait!” he said. “Let’s see whether Elijah comes to take him down!”
37 Then Jesus uttered another loud cry and breathed his last. 38 And the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple
(Jesus, I don’t know what to say. It is so sad and yet so wonderful for me because it is my sinful life that is now dead with you. That curtain that was torn in two is the curtain that separated the people from the holy place in the temple. That is just like our sins that separate us from you, Father God. But now with Jesus’ death our sins are gone and we can stand in Your holy presence.)
39 When the Roman officer who stood facing him saw how he had died, he exclaimed, “This man truly was the Son of God!” (Yes, Lord Jesus, you are the son of God!)
40 Some women were there, watching from a distance, including Mary Magdalene, Mary (the mother of James the younger and of Joseph), and Salome. 41 They had been followers of Jesus and had cared for him while he was in Galilee . Many other women who had come with him to Jerusalem
The Burial of Jesus
42 This all happened on Friday, the day of preparation, the day before the Sabbath. As evening approached. 43 Joseph of Arimathea took a risk and went to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. (Joseph was an honored member of the high council, and was waiting for the Kingdom of God
(Jesus, thank you for all you have suffered for me. Thank you, Father God for your plan to save me from sin. Thank you for loving me so much, Jesus, that you died for me. Thank you, God, for loving me so much that you let your beloved Son die for me.)
MARK 16
Holy Bible
New Living Translation
The Resurrection
Saturday evening, when the Sabbath ended, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome went out and purchased burial spices so they could anoint Jesus’ body. 2 Very early on Sunday morning, just at sunrise, they went to the tomb. 3 On the way they were asking each other, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?” 4 But as they arrived, they looked up and saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled side.
5 When they entered the tomb, they saw a young man clothed in a white robe sitting on the right side. The women were shocked, 6 but the angel said, “Don’t be alarmed. You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead! Look this is where they laid his body. ( Lord, you are risen! Wow! You are alive! Now I know that I will live with you forever. With you there is eternal life. How I wish I was in that tomb to see the power of God when He brought you back to life.) 7 Now go and tell his disciples, including Peter, that Jesus is going ahead of you to Galilee . You will see him there, just as he told you before he died.”
8 The women fled from the tomb, trembling and bewildered, and they said nothing to anyone because they were too frightened.
[Shorter Ending of Mark]
Then they briefly reported all this to Peter and his companions. Afterwards Jesus himself sent them out from east to west with the sacred and unfailing message of salvation that gives eternal live. Amen. (Jesus, it is such a wonderful message, that you died for our sins and then rose from the dead so that we can be back in a relationship with God. You want us to tell everyone so that they can also know about your love for them. Give me your Holy Spirit so that I can use your power to tell others.)
[Longer Ending of Mark]
9 After Jesus rose from the dead early on Sunday morning, the first person who saw him was Mary Magdalene, the woman from whom he had cast out seven demons. 10 She went to the disciples, who were grieving and weeping, and told them what had happened. 11 But when she told them that Jesus was alive and she had seen him, they didn’t believe her.
12 Afterward he appeared in a different form to two of his followers who were walking from Jerusalem
15 And then he told them, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone. 16 Anyone who believes and is baptized will be saved. But anyone who refuses to believe will be condemned. 17 These miraculous signs will accompany those who believe: They will cast out demons in my name, and they will speak in new languages. 18 They will be able to handle snakes with safety, and if they drink anything poisonous, it won’t hurt them. They will be able to place their hands on the sick, and they will be healed.”
19 When the Lord Jesus had finished talking with them, he was taken up into heaven and sat down in the place of honor at God’s right hand. 20 And the disciples went everywhere and preached, and the Lord worked through them, confirming what they said by many miraculous signs.
(Here I am, Lord. Help me to believe. Work in me. Fill me with your Spirit so that your divine will, will be done in my life. You use my mouth to speak, so that others will believe too. Oh Jesus, be real in my life! Let me love you with all my heart, and all my soul and all my mind and with all my strength and with all that I have and am. All glory be to you all mighty God, Jesus and Holy Spirit. Be glorified.)
The End of the Book of Mark.
Please make a study of the Master outlines of Christianity: http://glendakempharper.blogspot.com/2011_03_01_archive.html
The End of the Book of Mark.
Please make a study of the Master outlines of Christianity: http://glendakempharper.blogspot.com/2011_03_01_archive.html
Glenda Kemp: To find out where I come from and who I was click 'about' tab. To know more about my life now, click on 'Diary' tab. To know about the book that is soon to be published on my life, click the 'Book' tab.
YOU MUST SEE THIS! A new video on 'My Dog' . Dog versus Crab. Blow for blow, roll for roll, pinch for pinch. (Not for sensitive viewers.) 30/12/2011
'Book': Walking the streets of London in my underwear. 29 Dec 2011
Book tab: *snake. Dead or alive; the show must go on. *Miraculous protection. *London: my first day at work. 26 Dec. 2011
Christmas 2011 Baby Jesus 24Dec. 2011
'My Dog' (A dog is a dog is a dog) 7/12/2011
Treasure photo - 12/7/2012
BIBLE STUDY (September 2010)
Our minister Hugh Jenkins has just finished doing a course with us called LONGING FOR GOD - Seven Paths of Christian Devotion.
Answering a question on John 1 just brought to the foreground how Gods word brings forth different treasures out of the same chapters. I had just completed up to John 14 before this course started.
After answering the question I went to see what my thoughts were on the same verses before.
Read with me question number 6 of week 7 of the course. The blue italic writing is my thought towards God.
(6) John 1: 1-14: The Word that reveals the light that shines
Receive God’s word for you today, in the knowledge that Jesus is the “Word” that “became flesh” (v.14). Be open to revelation that applies to your life (so that the light goes “on”)
John 1: 1 - In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Now that settles it. Jesus and God is one.
He was in the beginning with God.
And yet He is Jesus. That part of God that was torn away to come to us.
All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.
Jesus
4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.
Jesus, this is the light we will have in heaven and we won’t need the sun.
5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.
I see this so often, Lord, people don’t understand Your Light. It is so scary to have darkness in me. I don’t want any darkness in me. Shine, Jesus, shine. Glow Spirit Glow. Let there be light.
6 There was a man sent from God
You still send us to bear witness of what You tell us in our quiet time and what You do to us and for us in our ‘loud’ time.
7. Whose name was John This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the light that all through him might believe.
Jesus, here I am, as messed up as I am. There was a woman sent from God, whose name was Glenda. This woman came for a witness, to bear witness of the light that through her many might believe. (John died for telling the truth. Let Your will be done; just be so close to me Jesus that we are inside each other; that I am one with You and Father. You say so in Your word. I can’t say things to pamper people. Turn and sin no more!
8 He was not that light.
But he reflected it on to others.
But was sent to bear witness of that light.
Lord light up your word. Light up the truth that it can enter me and reflect on to others. If you can use me as my personality is (and you do) Then so be it. Shine, Jesus, shine.
I am your most inadequate servant but I live for You alone.
9 That was the true light which gives light to every man coming into the world.
I pray now for Nikita’s little baby that was born yesterday; it came in to the world. Give her Your light. Shine Jesus, shine. Light up the way for this baby – all the way to heaven. Also Natalie (Hermie’s grandchild). Her baby is still in the womb. Protect this child from all evil. Light her path for her, all the way to heaven. Fall on all those around her too. Make her a witness.
10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him.
The worst tragedy to ever happen. Worse than a Tsunami or an earthquake or any and all tragedies put together.
11 He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him
I am so sorry, Jesus. You faced so much rejection and pain. Thank You for understanding me.
12 But
Oh these wonderful Jesus ‘buts’
As many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God
Yes! Yes! Yes! Shout it from the roof tops. Write it in the sky! Push it on every front page newspaper and magazine. Hear, hear, hear. O hear, all you people hear the good news.
13. To those who believe in His name, 13 who were born not of blood, nor of the will of flesh, not of the will of man, but of God.
Amen! See John 3: 3 Born again.
14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.
See 1 Corinthians 15: 45 “The last Adam became a life-giving Spirit” Read all of 1 Corinthians 15: 35-58 (Also see Revelation 1: 18)
And we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
This is You Jesus, full of grace and truth. I also see you as You appear in Revelation 1:16 “His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength.” Which Jesus will fetch me? I can’t wait to see. O I love You!!
It is amazing how every chapter of this Book fits in together like a hand in a glove.
I then sang along to The CD Shine Jesus Shine.
SHINE JESUS SHINE
Lord the light of Your love is shining
In the midst of the darkness shining
Jesus Light of the world shine upon us
Set us free by the truth You now bring us
Shine on me shine on me
Shine Jesus shine
Fill this land with the Father’s glory
Blaze Spirit blaze
Set our hearts on fire
Flow river flow
Flood the nations with grace and mercy
Send forth Your word
Lord and let there be light
Lord I come to Your awesome presence
From the shadows into Your radiance
By the blood I may enter your brightness
Search me try me consume all my darkness
Shine on me shine on me
As we gaze on Your kingly brightness
So our faces display Your likeness
Ever changing from glory to glory
Mirrored here may our lives tell Your story
Shine on me shine on me
(The Best WORSHIP songs … ever!
CD 1 Track 12
Graham Kendrick
Copyright
1987 Make Way Music.)
1987 Make Way Music.)
