Salome - The Ambitious One

     ***Attention***  We are excited to begin a new chapter on this blog! Beginning June 5th it will only be once a week- on Friday's. There will be new material each week in a myriad of formats. Some examples are: Questions and Answers, Member stories, Testimonies, Behind the Scenes, and the list goes on. Oh, there will be devotionals as well. Please stay tuned and enjoy. *** 

Bible Reading: Matthew 20:20-28

Key Verse: Verse 20 – “Then came to him the mother of Zebedee's children with her sons, worshipping him,  and desiring a certain thing of him.”

Key Words: Then came to him the mother of Zebedee’s children 

Several things are known about Salome, but none are more important than her ambition for her sons, James and John, two of Jesus’ disciples.

On one occasion Peter, James, and John were grouped together.  Salome, knowing that Jesus was the Messiah and feeling that the kingdom would soon be established, requested that her sons be placed by Jesus in the kingdom, one on His right hand and the other on His left.

Now, while Salome was wrong and filled with pride in her request, you have to admire her desire for her sons to be near Jesus.  She was, indeed, a woman of ambition.

Salome’s ambition reminds me of a story I read about a student at Amherst College.  Soon after entering, he put over the door of his dormitory room the letter V.  Because of it he endured all sorts of ridicule and withstood questioning.  But he paid no attention to either, nor would he disclose the secret of the letter.  When his four years were over, and graduation day came, that student was appointed to deliver the valedictory.  Then the mystery of that letter V was revealed.  It stood for valedictory.  That letter on the door held before him during his four years the ideal he had set for himself.  Not every boy puts a letter over the door of his college room or over the door of his house.  But nevertheless, somewhere, if only in his mind, there is a letter that he pastes there and that holds before him an ideal.  Some put up the letter M that stands for money.  Others put up F, for fame.  Others put up S, which may stand either for self or for service.  It is a good idea once in a while to step outside your door and look at the letter you have put there.  It may be that when you realize what it is you will want to change it.

We all need to be ambitious, but with a Godly ambition and a desire to bring glory to God.

                                                                            Dr. Mike Rouse 

What to do:

            ✞ Be ambitious, but have ambition to glorify God with  your life.

Dorcas - A Picture of Life and Death

     ***Attention***  We are excited to begin a new chapter on this blog! Beginning June 5th it will only be once a week- on Friday's. There will be new material each week in a myriad of formats. Some examples are: Questions and Answers, Member stories, Testimonies, Behind the Scenes, and the list goes on. Oh, there will be devotionals as well. Please stay tuned and enjoy. *** 

Bible Reading: Acts 9:36-43

Key Verse: Verse 36 – “Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by             interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did.”

Key Words: which by interpretation is called Dorcas 

The name Dorcas means an emblem of beauty.  There are several things that we know about Dorcas.  First of all, she was full of good deeds (verse 36).  We also know that she was saved.  We are told in verse 36 that she was a disciple.  A third thing we know is that she was greatly loved.  At her death they sent for the Apostle Peter, no doubt to help comfort those who were distraught because of her passing.  When Peter arrived, he found all the widows weeping over her.  A fourth thing we know is that the resurrection from her death brought a revival.  The widows were looking to be comforted, but what they got was new life and a revival as Peter raised Dorcas back to life.

Dorcas pointed others to Christ, both in her life by her good deeds, and in her death by her resurrection.

We have all heard the saying, “A picture is worth a thousand words,” and I do believe that is true.  We can hear of thousands starving to death in such countries as Africa, but when we turn on the television and see that precious child starving – stomach swollen, eyes bulging, bones protruding, flies crawling all over their little starving, helpless body – it touches our heart and a picture has accomplished more than words ever could.

So it is with our life.  We need to carry the gospel.  We need to witness to others.  But I do believe that others need to see a picture of Christ working in and through us that reaches out and touches their hearts so they will desire the gospel we are preaching.

                                                                        Dr. Mike Rouse 

What to do: 

            ✞ Don’t just carry the gospel, live it, be a picture of what God’s love really is.

Sapphira - Her Last Act

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Bible Reading: Acts 5:1-11

Key Verse: Verse 1  – “But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession,”

Key Words: with Sapphira his wife 

The name Sapphira means a jewel, sapphire.  No matter what good Sapphira might have done, her last act of deceit and pretending to do what she had not done will always be what she is remembered for.

Now let me ask you, what do you want to be remembered for?

I’m reminded of the story of a mobster who died.  He was a vile, wicked man and had done the community much harm with his life of crime.  The mobster’s brother, though, wanted something good said about his brother at his funeral, so he went to the pastor who was to preach the funeral.  He told him, “If you’ll say my brother was an angel, I’ll build you a new church auditorium.”  The community could hardly wait to see and hear what their uncompromising pastor would say.  Finally, the day of the funeral arrived, the pastor stood and said, “The man who lays before us today was deceitful, wicked, vile, hurtful, and a bad example for our children.  He gained his wealth through fraud and intimidation.  He was a horrible man, but compared to his brother, he was an angel.”

Now, all humor aside – really, what will you be remembered for when you die?

                                                                                     Dr. Mike Rouse

What to do:

            ✞ Remember you are building your testimony today that you’ll be remembered for through all eternity.

Mary Magdalene - A Picture of Dedication

     ***Attention***  We are excited to begin a new chapter on this blog! Beginning June 5th it will only be once a week- on Friday's. There will be new material each week in a myriad of formats. Some examples are: Questions and Answers, Member stories, Testimonies, Behind the Scenes, and the list goes on. Oh, there will be devotionals as well. Please stay tuned and enjoy. ***

Bible Reading:  John 20:1-11

Key Verse: Verse 1 – “The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto  the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre.”

Key Words: The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene 

Mary is called Magdalene because she was from the city of Magdala.

Mary, before her salvation, was a tormented woman who was demon-possessed.  We are told in Mark 16:9 that she was possessed with seven devils.

Mary is mentioned fourteen times in the Gospels.  Eight times she is mentioned with other women, but she always heads the list, implying that she occupied a place of spiritual leadership among the women who followed Jesus.  Five times when she is mentioned alone, it is in connection with the death and resurrection of Jesus.

Mary is one of three followers of Jesus who stood by the cross at the crucifixion, she was the first person to witness the empty tomb of our Savior.

Mary Magdalene gives us a picture of dedication to the Lord.

Bertoldo de Giovanni is a name even the most enthusiastic lover of art is unlikely to recognize.  He was the pupil of Donatello, the greatest sculptor of his time, and he was the teacher of Michelangelo, the greatest sculptor of all time.  Michelangelo was only fourteen years old when he came to Bertoldo, but it was already obvious that he was enormously gifted.  Bertoldo was wise enough to realize that gifted people are often tempted to coast rather than to grow, and therefore he kept trying to pressure his young prodigy to work seriously at his art.  One day he came into the studio to find Michelangelo toying with a piece of sculpture far beneath his abilities.  Bertoldo grabbed a hammer, stomped across the room, and smashed the work into tiny pieces, shouting this unforgettable message, “Michelangelo, talent is cheap; dedication is costly.”

                                                                                     Dr. Mike Rouse

What to do:

      ✞ We have a lot of “believers” but very few dedicated ones.  Today, would you determine to not just be  “saved” but be dedicated to the Lord as well.

The Samaritan Woman - A Picture of Acceptance

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Bible Reading:  John 4:1-42

Key Verse: Verse  7 – “There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink.”

Key Words: There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water             

This I believe is one of the greatest stories in the Bible.  John repeats the conversation between Jesus and the woman with great detail.  It is a dramatic story and is told so vividly that we could easily believe John was at the well himself that day quietly listening and watching as the story unfolds.  Only the Apostle John tells us of this day in the life of the Lord.

There are several things we know about this woman.

Ø  She was a Samaritan, and the Jews had no dealings with Samaritans (verse 9).

Ø  She was a religious woman, but she was not saved (verse 20).

Ø  She was no doubt rejected by others for her lifestyle.  One does not draw water at noon.  Early morning and early evening are the times water would have been drawn (verse 6).

Ø  She was not a successful wife.  She had been married and divorced five times (verse 18).

Ø  She was also living in adultery (verse 18).

Isn’t it great that Jesus accepts us where we are and takes us to where we need to be? 

I was dealing with a 14 year-old who was experiencing some problems in life, as many 14 year-olds do.  During our conversation, I simply asked her if she had been immoral sexually.  She began to weep and informed me that she was pregnant.  I asked her if her parents knew, and they didn’t.  I then informed her that we would have to tell them and her grandparents. 

As she was telling them of her sin and pregnancy, she began to sob.  Mother began to weep, Dad became upset, Grandmother cried, but it was the older, wiser Grandpa who took charge by slapping his knee with his hand and saying, “Come here, dear” – which she did.  Embracing his granddaughter, he told her that he loved her and that by God’s grace, all could be healed and made right again, which eventually it was.

Today, dear friend, that’s what Jesus wants to do with you: embrace you where you are and take you to where you need to be, whether that is salvation or restoring your relationship with the Lord and with others.  Today, come to Jesus.

                                                                            Dr. Mike Rouse 

What to do:

            ✞ Come as you are to Jesus, He’ll change you and take you where you need to be.

            ✞ As believers, let us never judge others and hinder the work of God.

Herodius - The Sinful Dishonored One

    ***Attention***  We are excited to begin a new chapter on this blog! Beginning June 5th it will only be once a week- on Friday's. There will be new material each week in a myriad of formats. Some examples are: Questions and Answers, Member stories, Testimonies, Behind the Scenes, and the list goes on. Oh, there will be devotionals as well. Please stay tuned and enjoy. ***

Bible Reading: Mark 6:14-29

Key Verse: Verse 17 – “For Herod himself had sent forth and laid hold upon John, and bound him in prison for Herodias' sake, his brother Philip's wife: for he had married her.”

Key Words: and bound him in prison for Herodias’ sake 

Herodias is called the Jezebel of the New Testament.  Like Jezebel who was the power behind the throne of the wicked and weak Ahab, Herodias brought out all that was evil in Herod.

Herodias desired honor from the world, but instead of honor she has gone down in history as one of the most sinful and dishonorable of all women.

According to Josephus, the historian, Herodias was banished from her throne as queen and spent her last days in exile.  She desired honor but reaped dishonor.  We do reap what we sow.

Once there was a little old man.  His eyes blinked and his hands trembled; when he ate he clattered the silverware distressingly, missed his mouth with the spoon as often as not, and dribbled a bit of his food on the tablecloth.  Now he lived with his married son, having nowhere else to live, and his son’s wife didn’t like the arrangement.

“I can’t have this,” she said.  “It interferes with my right to happiness.”  So she and her husband took the old man gently but firmly by the arm and led him to the corner of the kitchen.  There they set him on a stool and gave him his food in an earthenware bowl.  From then on he always ate in the corner, blinking at the table with wistful eyes.

One day his hands trembled rather more than usual, and the earthenware bowl fell and broke.  “If you are a pig,” said the daughter-in-law, “you must eat out of a trough.”  So they made him a little wooden trough and he got his meals in that.

These people had a four-year-old son of whom they were very fond.  One evening the young man noticed his boy playing intently with some bits of wood and asked what he was doing.  “I’m making a trough,” he said, smiling up for approval, “to feed you and Mamma out of when I get big.”

So when you think of Herodias, remember you reap what you sow. 

                                                                                     Dr. Mike Rouse

What to do:

            ✞ Always treat others the way you want to be treated, for the day will come when you reap what you sow.

Mary of Bethany - The Woman Jesus Defended

    ***Attention***  We are excited to begin a new chapter on this blog! Beginning June 5th it will only be once a week- on Friday's. There will be new material each week in a myriad of formats. Some examples are: Questions and Answers, Member stories, Testimonies, Behind the Scenes, and the list goes on. Oh, there will be devotionals as well. Please stay tuned and enjoy. ***

Bible Reading: Luke 9:23-36 

Key Verse: Verse 3 – “Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment.”

Key Words: Then took Mary a pound of ointment 

The family of Mary is a very interesting family.  They were personal friends of Jesus.  Jesus described Lazarus as a friend in John 12:11; Martha loved to serve the Lord; but Mary loved to sit and learn at Jesus’ feet.  We are told in Luke 10:39 that Mary sat at the feet of Jesus and heard His Word.

It was Mary of Bethany who took ointment and cleaned the feet of Jesus.  As a result of this, Judas rebuked her for wasting expensive ointment.  As a result of this rebuke, Jesus came to her defense: “Let her alone” (John 12:7).  What a stern rebuke!

Isn’t it great to know that when our enemies are snipping at our heels, Jesus defends those who are living in righteousness?

I remember, as a young lad, riding to the corner grocery store with my two friends, Ricky and Alan.  On the way home, we rode by a new house where people were moving in.  Curiosity got the best of us and we rode as close as we could to the house – too close.  They had the biggest dog I’ve ever seen.  This dog didn’t like the fact that we had invaded his territory, so the chase was on.  We began to peddle as fast as we could, but the big mutt was gaining fast.  We finally had to put our feet on the handle bars and hope that we could coast to my house, which we did.  As God would have it, my dad was on the front porch.  He looked at that dog and shouted, “Get out of here and leave them alone.”  The old mutt turned and ran as fast as he could in the opposite direction.

Every time I have an enemy or foe after me, I remember that day and the story, and I hear in my heart the Lord crying out to those who intend to harm me, “Let him alone!”  To God be the glory!

                                                                                     Dr. Mike Rouse

What to do:

            ✞ Do right and let the Lord be your Defender.