Big Dreams, Bigger Answers

{via}

A couple days ago I shared a little bit about some big changes coming our way. {Again, vague I know. More details will be coming though!} While words can hardly explain my excitement for this upcoming change, I am definitely a worrier. I know the Lord holds me in the palm of His hand, but as a planner I want to know every detail so I can plan accordingly. But in theme with Lara Casey’s ‘Savor September’ the Lord is teaching me to enjoy and savor this time of waiting. On September 1st my Hubby and I began working on some of the few details we do know thus far. Also on September 1st I began reading through the book of Mark. My initial plan was to read one chapter a day since Mark is a relatively short book.  But each time I pick it up the Lord pulls out these beautiful little nuggets of truth that speak the exact words I need to hear. These nuggets are not words I had never heard before, in fact most of the verses are really popular. But these words perfectly fit where I am in life and the prayers I have been praying- don’t you love it when God does that?

Little details are standing out to me.
Like in Mark 1:18 when Jesus calls the fishermen to follow Him and “At once they left their nets.” No hesitation, no second guessing. At once. Am I ready at any given time to get up and go- no hesitation? I like to think so… But in the moment I can’t be certain.

Or in Mark 2:17 “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but the sinners.” On almost any given day I find myself surrounded by Christians. I live in the ‘Bible belt,’ so that is kind of expected. But am I intentional about spending time with the ‘sick?’

Mark 4:13-20 tells the parable of the seeds that fall on different types of soil. Honestly, when I read this parable I was quite grumpy and was not controlling my emotions well. {I don’t even remember why I was grumpy- that just goes to show how insignificant it was} But when I read this parable it was like an immediate kick in the pants.  I needed the reminder that my roots go much deeper than the events of my day. I need to be a let His light shine.

Mark 7:8 reminded me to check my motives. Are my actions out of a love for Yahweh? Or was I just going through the motions on my ‘Christian checklist?’ When I do find myself just going through the motions I pray for the Lord to captivate my heart and give me a yearning for Him.

I was reminded of my innate sinful nature by Mark 7:20. Yes, even bad thoughts are a sin.

Verses like “For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world and lose his soul?” Mark 8:35-36  reminded me that my life is not for me. My purpose is for His glory and His glory alone. We must be salt in the world and we must not lose that saltiness {Mark 9:49-50}.

“If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last and the servant of all.” Mark 9:25 We are called to serve. “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.” Mark 10:45. If Jesus said this then there is no reason for me not to be serving. Jesus told a rich young man to sell everything and to give it to the poor. If I am being honest, this scares the heck out of me. I like being ‘comfortable.’ I’m a work in progress and praying for change.

When the blind man yelled out, “Jesus, Son of David” my heart got so excited! Son of David, meaning grandson of Ruth! The moabite woman who was a widow and who supposed to be an outcast because of her moabite, sonless status. But the Lord used her because of her character. {Ruth is another incredible book to study- specifically this study}

Mark 11:24-25 also make my heart sing! Whatever we ask in prayer will be given to us. This excites me so much because the Lord is literally answering my prayers right now. He is answering my ‘big’ prayers with even ‘bigger’ answers. How awesome is our God?

It had been too long since I had spent time studying one of the Gospels and this study has been so good for my soul. Chapters 1-12 of Mark are now covered in scribbles, highlights, and questions. Every book in the Bible is great, but right now I am loving this book! Do you have a current favorite book or study book?

What is the Lord teaching you right now?