From the Heart by B.Demaere

Hearing this, a man sitting at the table with Jesus exclaimed, "What a privilege it would be to have a share in the Kingdom of God!" Jesus replied with this illustration: "A man prepared a great feast and sent out many invitation.  When all was ready. he sent his servant around to notify the guests that it was time for them to come.  But they all began making excuses.  One said he had just bought a field and wanted to inspect it, so he asked to be excused.  Another said he just had bought five pair of oxen and wanted to try them out.  Another had just been married, so he said he couldn't come. The servant returned and told his master what they had said.  His master was angry and said: 'Go quickly into the streets and alleys of the city and invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind.'  After the servant had done this , he reported, 'There is still room for more.'  So his master said, 'Go out into the country lanes and behind the hedges

Promises to Keep : A Noticeable Faith (Luke 5:18-20) : Some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a sleeping mat.  They tried to push through the crowd to Jesus, but couldn't reach him.  So th...

Some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a sleeping mat.  They tried to push through the crowd to Jesus, but couldn't reach him.  So they went up to the roof, took off some tiles, and lowered the sick man down into the crowd, still on the mat, right in front of Jesus. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the man, "Son, your sins are forgiven." The effort that these men were willing to put in to have that man seen by Jesus, hoping against all hopes that something would happen to him was amazing.  They went with great expectations but nothing was guaranteed. What kept them going was their genuine faith over these obstacles.   They were willing to fight for their faith and do whatever it takes and even climbing over people to achieve the goal.  They were determined to succeed. They couldn't go around or go through so they went over the obstacle.  Do you have that kind of faith to trust Jesus and take him at his word? Jesus does not specifically say he will do it also for y

Promises to Keep : Raising Lazarus from the dead (John 11:38-44) : Jesus was still angry as he arrived at the tomb, a cave with a stone rolled across the entrance.  "Roll the stone aside," Jesus to...

Jesus was still angry as he arrived at the tomb, a cave with a stone rolled across the entrance.  "Roll the stone aside," Jesus told them.  But Martha, the dead man's sister, protested, "Lord, he has been dead for four days.  The smell will be terrible." Jesus responded, "Didn't I tell you that you would see God's glory if you believe?" So they rolled the stone aside.  Then Jesus looked up to heaven and said, "Father, thank you for hearing me.  You always hear me, but I said it out loud for the sake of all these people standing here, so that they will believe you sent me.  Then Jesus shouted, "Lazarus come out!" And the dead man came out, his hands and feet bound in graveclothes, his face wrapped in a headcloth, Jesus told them, "Unwrap and let him go!" Why was Jesus angry?  How could he be angry?  Can it be right to be angry?  Yes, it is called 'righteous' anger, anger that is about what is holy and being viola

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 also t