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Mark 7:25-29 - But after hearing of Him, a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit immediately came and fell at His feet. Now the woman was a Gentile… And she kept asking Him to cast the demon out of her daughter. And He was saying to her, "Let the children be satisfied first, for it is not good to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs." But she answered and said to Him, "Yes, Lord, but even the dogs under the table feed on the children's crumbs." And He said to her, "Because of this answer go; the demon has gone out of your daughter." NASU
Would you persistently ask Jesus to cast the demon from your child? Notice what the text says, "And she kept asking Him to cast the demon out of her daughter." WOW! How hard is it for a parent to admit their child has a demon? Yet, this mother humbles herself and admits her daughter has a demon, admits she needs help for herself and for her daughter. She owns her situation. She doesn't try to blame anyone else for her situation.
When you read the parallel story in Matthew 15 the disciples tell Jesus to "send her away." That seems to be the disciples answer to every problem. If you remember right before the feeding of the 5,000 they gave Jesus this same answer. This Gentile mother was not going to give up finding a cure for her daughter. Jesus even tells her, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." (Matt.15:24). This answer from Jesus doesn't deter her. She continues to beg. Jesus then says something to her that puzzles me even to this very day, "It is not good to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs." What? Did Jesus just say that? Did He compare this lady to dogs? Yes, He did. WOW! I am blown away. But wait a minute look at what the Gentile mother says, "Yes, Lord; but even the dogs feed on the crumbs which fall from their master' table." She says; if you want to compare me to a dog go ahead. I will take that and more. But will you please help my daughter? There you have it my friends an example from a Gentile mother. She humbles herself and never gives up when it comes to helping her child.
If you want to help your children you must keep the faith. As you read this Pump Up today it has been 5 years since my mom went to be with the Lord. One of the greatest lessons she taught her children was to "keep your faith" especially during the trying times. Love and miss you mom. Thanks for teaching us to "keep the faith." Think On These: When you become wrinkled with care and worry, it's time to have your faith lifted. Faith is the hinge that holds the believer to a personal relationship with God. Stay Pumped, Gary A. Serago Minister of God's Word Share this Pump Up with others by Sharing on Your Facebook Page, Twitter or Forwarding to a friend.
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Matt. 10:1-4 - Jesus summoned His twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every kind of disease and every kind of sickness. Now the names of the twelve apostles are these…and Judas Iscariot, the one who betrayed Him. NASU
Judas was a popular name in the first century. Judas means "he shall be praised." I guess it is fair to say he didn't live up to his name. His last name isn't "Iscariot" as many people seem to think. Iscariot means "man of Kerioth." Therefore, Judas Iscariot was actually "Judas the man of Kerioth."
As any athlete can tell you having the right coach is very important. As any coach can tell you having an athlete who will not only listen but they will also apply what is being taught is vitally important. Judas was associating with the right teacher and students so where did he go wrong? He was given the same power and authority over unclean spirits as the other disciples. He was able to heal every kind of disease and sickness the text says. Imagine all the good he could have done. He could have totally eliminated every leper camp he approached because he was given the power to heal every sickness and disease. How many people do you know that have many God given talents, have associated with the right people and yet, they have wasted these talents?
WOW! Why wasn't the perfume sold and the money given to the poor? Those words sound spiritual. How noble of Judas to think of all the poor people in the world. This proves that what a person says doesn't always reveal the contents of their heart. A person's actions will tell you more about them than their words. I am pretty sure we are in contact with people on a daily basis who say one thing and do another.
He could have given the money to Matthew to watch over it since he was accustomed to collecting money, but He didn't. The only way you and I are going to get spiritually stronger is when we face our temptations and conquer them. If you are facing temptations today don't pray that the LORD remove them. Pray that He will strengthen you to overcome them, to defeat and destroy them once and for all. Judas started out traveling on the right road, but some where along the way he took a wrong turn. It doesn't matter how you start it matters how you finish. Think On This: A hypocrite never intends to be what he pretends to be. Stay Pumped, Gary A. Serago Minister of God's Word Share this Pump Up with others by Sharing on Your Facebook Page, Twitter or Forwarding to a friend. John 3:16 - "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son…."
Sometimes you may make the gifts personally or you purchase them and give them to the one you love. Some gifts will be expensive and some inexpensive but what really matters is you took the time to think about the one you love.
They were put in the same vases that once housed dozens of roses. What was so great about those dandelions? They sent a message to our moms that she was loved and thought of that day. If you are in love you will give.
You might have given her flowers, carried her books or your time as you walked her home from school. Maybe you cooked him a meal or attended a sporting event in which he participated.
When I would hear that the first questions that came to my mind were these: First, when did you stop giving of yourself? Second, why did you stop giving of yourself? When you answer either one or both of those questions you will know why you are not in love with your spouse any more. Maybe it has been a one way street. You have been the one giving for 5, 10, 15 years or more and there was no reciprocation. You have reached your limit in your mind and you are not going to give any more. Maybe you stopped giving because the person you were giving to was giving their love and time to someone or something else. Some people's jobs or hobbies become the new loves in their lives. When you stop giving to someone you stop loving them. Remember John 3:16 - "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son…." It doesn't get any clearer than that. God loved and God gave. When you and I love we will give. When we stop loving we stop giving and vice versa.
When you are in Love you will give. (Guys, I wouldn't try giving dandelions to your wife or girlfriend as a gift. Lol. Just Saying!) Think On This: Where there is no interest, there is no investment. Age is like love. It can't be hidden. Remember Valentine's Day is Next Week Don't Forget The One You Love. Stay Pumped, Gary A. Serago Minister of God's Word Share this Pump Up with others by Sharing on Your Facebook Page, Twitter or Forwarding to a friend. Lk 17:15-17 - Now one of them, when he saw that he had been healed, turned back, glorifying God with a loud voice, and he fell on his face at His feet, giving thanks to Him. And he was a Samaritan. Then Jesus answered and said, "Were there not ten cleansed? But the nine — where are they? NASU
If you were out walking and you saw a person you had to warn them by crying out, "Leper." In doing this, you warned them that you were an outcast of society and to stay away from you. Jesus on one of His daily outings approaches ten lepers and tells them to "go and show themselves to the priest." On their way they are all healed of this horrendous disease. Their skin would have changed back to normal and it would have been very obvious to them. All ten of them would have known they were healed.
WOW! One out of ten returns to say "Thanks!" Jesus changed all ten of their lives for the better and only one will slightly inconvenience himself and return to Jesus to say "Thanks!" How could such a little thing have been neglected? Why was it so hard for 9 out 10 not to return and say "Thanks!"?
While I was a minister in MD for 20 years, I would handout Tootsie Rolls on Sundaymornings after the service to the children as they walked out of the building. You don't know how many parents I heard say to their child, "What do you say?" The correct answer was always "Thank you." It makes me feel good when I give my grandchildren a gift and they say "Thanks!" It allows me to know that my child learned the lesson they were taught and they have taught their children the same lesson. All parents teach their children to say "Thanks!"
You know if my parents were alive I would be calling them right now to "thank" them for all they did for me. I can't call them, but there are some others that will be hearing from me today. Maybe you have a teacher, preacher, coach, friend or relative that really helped change your life. Today would be a great day to give them a call and say "Thanks!" Let us be like the One Leper and not the nine. Think On These: Even though we can't have all that we want, we ought to be thankful we don't get what we deserve. If you can't be thankful for what you have, be thankful for what you don't have. Stay Pumped, Gary A. Serago Minister of God's Word Share this Pump Up with others by Sharing on Your Facebook Page, Twitter or Forwarding to a friend. |
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