From the Heart by B.Demaere

Promises to Keep : Resting is important for all (Mark 6:30-32) : The apostles returned to Jesus from their ministry tour and told him all they had done and taught.  Then Jesus said, "Let's go off ...

The apostles returned to Jesus from their ministry tour and told him all they had done and taught.  Then Jesus said, "Let's go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile."  He said this because there were so many people coming and going that Jesus and his disciples didn't even have time to eat. So they left by boat for a quiet place, where they could be alone. The word 'apostles' means messenger or called ones.  This is what the disciples of Jesus were.  They had been vey busy speaking and healing people and meeting their needs and that can become tiring in itself. So Jesus recognized immediately the need for rest for himself and for his disciples.  Even Jesus got tired while here on earth because he was in a physical body and our body get tired.   So it's important to recognize in ourselves the early stages of tiredness and leave a certain place for a change of scenery.  My wife and I just celebrated our 32nd Anniversary yesterday and we are al...

Promises to Keep : Shining like a Tree (Proverbs 11:30-31) from the C... : Live right, and you will eat from the life-giving tree.  And if you act wisely, others will follow. If good people are rewarded here on eart...

Live right, and you will eat from the life-giving tree.  And if you act wisely, others will follow. If good people are rewarded here on earth, all who are cruel and mean will surely be punished. Imagine being like a tree in this world, (after all a blind man whom Jesus healed saw at first people looking like trees so it's not that far fetched. Imagine being yourself like a tree in the world and you are growing nice fruit of life.  People around you are dying and wouldn't this fruit taste so sweet to them if they could eat of this fruit and live.   They do have the opportunity to do so while here on earth by seeing that fruit in your life and those will accept the fruit and those will be rewarded here on earth but others wouldn't accept that fruit who have lived cruelly will be punished.  Let God be the judge! The fruit of righteousness is there on you that you partake of and present to the world through your actions and lifestyle and as you share your God-given wisdo...

Promises to Keep : Small Investment = Big Results (Mark 4:30-34) : Jesus said, "How can I describe the Kingdom of God?  What story should I use to illustrate it?  It is like  a mustard seed planted in t...

Jesus said, "How can I describe the Kingdom of God?  What story should I use to illustrate it?  It is like  a mustard seed planted in the ground.  It is the smallest of all seeds, but it becomes the largest of all garden plants; it grows long branches and birds can make nests in its shade." Jesus used many similar stories and illustrations to teach the people as much as they could understand.  In fact, in his public ministry he never taught  without using parables; but afterward, when he was alone with his disciples, he explained everything to them. Have you ever seen a mustard seed?  It's Okay if you have not because Jesus tells us in the text that it is the smallest of all seeds. In God's kingdom it's a different economy all you need is a small investment but any banker out there would tell you it's foolishness in the world.  God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. (1 Corinthians 1:270. ...

Promises to Keep : Standing in the Furnace (Daniel 3:20-25) : Then he ordered some of the strongest men of his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace.  So t...

Then he ordered some of the strongest men of his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace.  So they tied them up and threw them into the furnace, fully dressed in their pants, turbans, robes, and other garments.  And because the king in his anger, had demanded such a hot fire in the furnace, the flames killed the soldiers as they threw the three men in.  So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, securely tied, fell into the roaring flames. But suddenly, Nebuchadnezzar jumped up in amazement and exclaimed to his advisers, "Didn't we tie three men and throw them into the furnace?" "Yes, Your Majesty, we certainly did," they replied. "Look!" Nebuchadnezzar shouted. "I see four men, unbound, walking around in the fire unharmed! And the fourth looks like a god* (Aramaic 'like a son of gods', who is thought to be Jesus, the Son of God which this appearance in the Old Testament of Christ is called a 'Chri...