Mark 12:28-44 ~ listened to Him with delight

Listened to Him with delight

Mark 12:28-44

28 One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, "Of all the commandments, which is the most important?"

29 "The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: 'Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' 31 The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these."

32 "Well said, teacher," the man replied. "You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him. 33 To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices."

34 When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, he said to him, "You are not far from the kingdom of God." And from then on no one dared ask him any more questions.

 

35 While Jesus was teaching in the temple courts, he asked, 
"Why do the teachers of the law say that the Messiah is the son of David? 36 David himself, speaking by the Holy Spirit, declared:
" 'The Lord said to my Lord:
"Sit at my right hand
until I put your enemies
under your feet." '

37 David himself calls him 'Lord.' How then can he be his son?"

The large crowd listened to him with delight.

38 As he taught, Jesus said, "Watch out for the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, 39 and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. 40 They devour widows' houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. These men will be punished most severely."

 


41 Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. 42 But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny.

43 Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, "Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. 44 They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on."

Matthew 25:14
For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property.


A puzzle.  
Life is filled with opportunities to grow and solve and become more a Child of God.

 
Proverbs 14:10
The heart knows its own bitterness,
and no stranger shares its joy.

The parable is an internal mirror. 

The fruitfulness of our lives is something to pray about. 
We are in His Hands. What I can do with my work, my words, my actions, I shall endeavor for Him. The results of my faith He is who He says He is. My Hope. I understand His promises are for me. And the Love He gives me in my weakness, in forgiveness and He never fails. I Love because HE continues to love me. 

Making Christmas Memories ~
on the Teeter Totter.

The Hap, Happiest Season of All. Yes, it was a Good Christmas. No, Christmas was not, not-at-all perfect.

Interesting - making memories at Christmas - and you have "made" a Memory.
Sharpie Pen Memory.

Take a Christmas where we were all happy. Relaxed, calm and Grateful.

Thursday -  to have my dog (Springer attacked almost to death by a medium sized and returned foster dog) today -  fight our elderly, recently fall down the stairs, Husky - over treats. (Our Grand-dog Husky was a Shelter  Dog 9 years ago.) I'd say this happens once every time the dogs reunite. My husband grabs the dog and throws mine - to the side. Accidently, lands on the counter. Bloody mouth. Apply Hydrogen Peroxide.

My son sees this as death was looming. Anger. Very Angry. (His nose is going to heal from the 3 punctures from his Husky Dog biting my son a week ago as he fell down the stairs and then it bled for over an hour - this will heal.) (Thank God, Thank God. Thank God.)

I calmly argue there was no blood. And my son and husband start talking about legal witness and hearsay and amount of dog fur and over-ruled. I am the only one who witnessed the entire fight and it was loud and unrelenting - however - when our Grand-dog played with a puppy at Law School recently - he bled from the puppy play. This time the Husky did not have one any drop of blood.

So we made a memory.

Are we having a fruitful life? Yes. We had a prior family pet who died of old age (14.2 years of age) who at age 4 drew blood from all of us - minus me. Then - we lost it and people Yelled and Cried and Prayed and Begged and Ordered. That one lasted for two weeks or two months - memories differ.

Fruitful. Let everyone have a reaction. Try not to interfere too much. Stay calm. Don't yell. And the last time was, say, two months. This time about an hour of taking a rest - then discuss this.

Trouble.
We all have this as part of our life experiences. Jesus Promised we would all see trouble. Haggai said scraping out an existence after war - Creating giant blackened Temple stones. Destroying all the fruit trees. Vineyards smashed. Completely starting over with destruction in a complete remodel - we are able to find Joy. Hope. Happiness. Love.

Paul said he had faced stoning, been slipped over a wall in a basket and had Been To Antioch.

Philippians 4
10 I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. 11Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. 12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. 13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

We are always supposed to give thanks. This isn't always easy. We want to be genuine. Today I could give thanks for having an Anxiety Attack, then Peace, followed by the dog attack (without blood) bringing the biting dog to blood. The Peace was surely tested and held. For a very logical reason - we had seen this before. And this time - we were able to deal calmly after having all making huge Noises.

I found when we really, very heartily cry to Father God, He hears us. And when I have wept - so many times I feel Peace for having been heard.

The situation is - God has Really Helped.

God helped when Isabelle died and tears flowed for hours and days. Each time, I was calm and happy again. God had heard me. The trouble a child died. The response - God helped. Making a lifelong memory - God helps us in severe trial. No one wants severe trial. Yet, knowing God helps.

2002, our beloved and favorite dog decided to bite 3 of the family. He had Rage. We all debated putting him down. Some stitches. It was very traumatic and we survived training him in time out for two years. God gives us experience, endurance and the chance to sail again much better.

It's astonishing as life progresses to find we are the teeter totter. Finding Faith in trouble makes prayer and prayer makes peace. Hindsight Peace seems easier - by far.

Romans 15:13

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing,

so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

Romans 12:12

Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.

John 16:24

Until now you have asked nothing in my name. 

Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.

Proverbs 17:22

A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

Psalm 118:24

This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Psalm 34:8 8 

Taste and see that the Lord is good

blessed is the one who takes refuge in him

Psalm 102:16

The LORD will rebuild Zion; He has appeared in His glory.

Psalm 4:7

You have put more joy in my heart

Revelation 21:11

Shining with the glory of God. 

Its radiance was like a most precious jewel, like a jasper stone, 

clear as crystal.

Abba, Father God, 

Help us to as Your fruitful Children with Your Willing Blessings.

 Keep us faith fighting the good fight. And our hearts to be open to You.

Isaiah 60:1
Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you.

Help the ones I love to remain with me on Your Path. Where we are held in our gifts and talents to please You. In doing so - You are pleased.  

Bless the people You have given me. Bless our Churches, States, Nation and all of Your Beloved all over the World.  

More Heaven on earth says Jesus Christ the Lord. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †