Jesus has high expectations. While waiting four days for Jesus to arrive after the death of their brother, Jesus expected the sisters to stay positive.   How could they? How can you? Jesus requires a profound level of faith from Mary and Martha. They did not know when he was coming. They were expected to use the information they had. This would be for the glory of God. He had raised others from the dead...just not after four days. Engaging in faith is more difficult when those around you don't have faith. The sisters had a house full of people who were there to mourn and grieve. What did Jesus expect? What could they have done? How is your imagination?
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What Does Jesus Expect? Part 6/6

Jesus raised Lazarus after his death and after he spent four days in the tomb, creating a stir. Some "mourners" were not happy Jesus raised Lazarus. They wanted him dead. They were pretending to be "friends" of the family. What wisdom do you need to deal with people who believe good is evil?
Why does Mary anoint Jesus' feet with costly ointment? When Jesus arrived in town, he corrected Martha but didn't speak to Mary. Mary wailed loudly at Jesus' feet, drawing the crowd's attention to Jesus' failure to arrive on time to save her brother from dying. Mary is very sorry that she doubted Jesus in the presence of his enemies. She is sorry she was trying to punish him with her public display on day four. On her third time at Jesus' feet, Mary honors Jesus and dishonors herself in front of the disciples, who complain about the waste of expensive ointment. Jesus rebukes Judas, telling him, "Leave her alone." 
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Why Does Mary Anoint Jesus’ Feet? Part 5/6

Zachariah and Elizabeth had a long-standing disappointment to overcome. In the process of waiting, Zachariah picked up a negative attitude. While understandable, the angel was not amused at his unbelief. What can you do to keep from being negative when your prayers are not yet answered? Why was the priest "muted" by the angel? How might your speech affect those around you who need encouragement in this season?
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The Other Christmas Story

What makes Jesus cry? Jesus walks many hours uphill from Jericho, and nobody says a kind word to him when he arrives. He is not treated as a friend of the family but shamed as a late-comer. Jesus gently corrects Martha, but he does not or cannot even speak to Mary, who is wailing at his feet. The crowd is also wailing, although it is now four days after Lazarus has died, which makes the wailing suspect. Is it grief or drama? Some in the crowd are not Lazarus' friends and are delighted that Lazarus is dead. It makes Jesus look bad. Some in the group are celebrating Jesus' failure to help his friend. Martha is not wailing or even crying. The wailing of those on day four is not mere sadness; it is a shaming device designed to punish Jesus for failing to promptly help his friend Lazarus. Jesus is weeks away from his own death, and not even his closest friends believe in him. Jesus is angry and hurt. He cries because he was joyfully anticipating the celebration surrounding the resurrection of his friend Lazarus. Jesus is disappointed and moved to tears when Mary, who was previously at his feet listening, is now at his feet shaming him publicly.
What is your response when your prayers are not answered in a timely fashion?
From John 11 
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Why Does Jesus Cry? Part4/6

Part 3/6  He could have come with the messenger, but didn't.  Jesus arrives 4 days after Lazarus dies.  The sisters are angry.   To get to Lazarus, Jesus must take the road from Jericho to Jerusalem, which includes a 14 mile climb of 3300 feet which averages a 5% grade.  Jesus makes the 8 hour climb and arrives looking like...a normal 33 year old man who just walked 14 miles uphill...and is 4 days late. Martha shares her pain and disappointment.  Jesus is not angry with her but he gently but firmly corrects Martha's unbelief.  Martha receives his correction and reorients to who Jesus really is.  

Where is Jesus When You Need Him? Part 3/6

In John 10 we read Jesus was in danger of being killed and he left Jerusalem and went away. In John 11, this is where he is when the messenger finds him, a 2 days journey from Lazarus. Strangely we read, "He loved Lazarus...so he waited two more days," then starts the long uphill journey from Jericho to Jerusalem.  Doesn't preventing a death take priority?  If you could heal, wouldn't you have gone back with the messenger?
Jesus' disciples are free to speak their mind. They are free to correct Jesus and suggest what they think should be done.
John 11. What Jesus said and what the sisters heard were two different things.
Jesus thinks differently about death. He doesn't see it as significant as we see it. He sees it as one fluid transition.
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Are You OK with Correction? Part 2/6

Jesus, who is a celebrity, visits the home of Martha and Mary and brings 12 men with him. Martha is understandably distracted, anxious and troubled and angrily accuses Jesus of not caring. She feels free to give him a piece of her mind and instruct him about what he should say to her sister Mary.  What does her freedom to instruct Jesus say about her? What does it say about Jesus that he allows us to accuse him?  Luke 10:38-42
Photo by Anastasia Kalinkina on Unsplash.

Are You Serving Too Much? Part 1/6

How do you move past a big mistake?
Remember that you are part of the human race. There are people before you who have made similar mistakes, and people coming after you who will make similar mistakes. Having compassion on yourself for making a mistake will help you to have compassion on others who make similar mistakes.  Humility brings compassion. 
Be kind to yourself and speak to yourself as if you were speaking to your best friend. Instead of harsh angry words, speak to yourself as if you were looking for reasons to give yourself the benefit of the doubt.
Jesus died so that you can be free (Galatians 5:1) Self-criticism paralyzes you with a fear of making more mistakes. 
Building joy is important for those who have a habit of self criticism. Your brain is  designed to learn best in an atmosphere of joy. To maintain joy it is essential to be able to make mistakes. 
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Moving Past Mistakes: Self-Compassion 3

Do you make mistakes? 
Have you ever made a BIG mistake? 
Have you hurt people when you did not intend to?
How do you handle your sins, mistakes or errors? Do you beat yourself up attempting to pay for your own sin?  Do you engage in harsh self-criticism to try to prevent yourself from ever making another mistake? 
Is your self-condemnation a form of punishment which you think will help avoid another error?
Recognizing God is not angry with us is an important first step. If your parents were critical of you, this may not come easy. Tuning up our relationship with God is essential.
Isaiah 49:13-16  -God has you engraved on the palms of His hands.
An honest confession to God is very healing. For example, if there were warning signs but you ignored them this is worth confessing. If you are having trouble feeling forgiven, confessing to another person is something the Bible says is healing (James 5:16)
Once you have confessed and been forgiven, forgiving yourself is really just agreeing with God’s forgiveness.  This sounds easy, but it is not. Especially for those who have a habit of self-condemnation.  It is essential not to continue condemning yourself once God has forgiven you and you have received that forgiveness.  Confess, receive God's forgiveness, and treat yourself the way God treats you, even if others do not.

Making Mistakes: Self-Compassion 2

Part 1 of 3. What increases or decreases self-control? How can you know if your self-control is depleted? Psychology research on self-control often involves tempting people with chocolate.  How do you respond to your failures? Self-condemnation weakens self-control while self-compassion increases self-control. People with self-compassion are happier, kinder and more compassionate. Do you love yourself with compassion?  Are you able to be alone with yourself? Do you have time in your week without your phone? Recorded in 2012
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Self-Control and Self-Compassion: Part 1

Part 4 of 4. Forgiveness is more difficult during seasons of suffering. Under what circumstances did Jesus forgive? Who was Jesus forgiving and why was Jesus forgiving? Did Jesus simply absolve everyone  involved in his death for everything they ever did? Will Judas and all those who crucified Jesus be spending eternity together with Jesus? The information is useful as we work with Jesus to forgive.
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The Cross of Forgiveness: Part 4 of 4

Part 3 of 4. Why do the sins of others bother us much more than our own? We typically see our sin as much less significant than the sin against us because it feels much less significant. We believe our feelings indicate the debt of our sin but we are greatly mistaken. How does God see your sin compared to sin against you? Jesus tells a parable in Matthew 18 to answer this question. Jesus uses economic terms of debt owed and we are off by a factor of 200,000. This is how our sin looks from God's point of view. Two hundred thousand times greater than the sin against you. We discuss how God arrives at this calculation, and how thinking about it can help move us to forgive. 
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The High Cost of Forgiveness Part 3 of 4

Part 2 of 4. What would you do if someone borrowed your power tools and left town without returning them? Why do we often feel angry at ourselves when we feel anger at someone else? What is bad debt and what does it have to do with forgiveness?
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The Power Tool Parable: Part 2 of 4

Part 1 of 4. In this parable, forgiveness is presented in a new way. You are an accident victim and have some choices to make regarding pursuit of those who hurt you. 
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Hit and Run Forgiveness Part1 of 4

Part 2 of 2. Abigail is an amazing woman. She has more dialogue than any other woman in scripture.  In 1 Samuel 25 She speaks positive words of life over David before he becomes King. She prophesies wonderful things about him. Then, her husband dies and she marries him. She marries him before he becomes King. Her prophesy doesn't exactly come true in David's life. And she's never heard from again. What happened? Why is she not the Queen? Why was she downgraded? What was God's intention for her and for David?
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Who’s the Queen? Part 2 of 2

Part 1 of 2. David is on the run from Saul and betrayed repeatedly by his own tribe, the tribe of Judah. David and his men are treated with disrespect by Nabal, a wealthy fool from the tribe of Judah.  David has had enough! He is murderously angry. When David comes to settle the score, he gets a surprise. Nabal's wife Abigail comes to meet him to prevent him from making a massacre mistake that would haunt him the rest of his life. She prevents him from killing innocent people (along with her husband.) She prevents him from "saving by his own hand." Do you save by your own hand? Why is it important to wait for God and not save by our own hand?
Bible passage 1 Samuel 25
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Dealing with a Wealthy Fool: Part 1 of 2

Validation is vital when caught in a toxic shame spiral.  Cindy has shut herself in the upstairs bedroom and is prepared to boycott Thanksgiving. Jesus experienced abuse and toxic shame. Jesus experienced attempts to control from family and friends. He is able to validate and guide us through these difficult situations but it is not easy to connect when full of anger and adrenaline. How can you connect with God when you are stressed? Breathing is one of the  best ways to get your physiology back from the "fight or flight" response.  The mother-in-law will need boundaries in the future, but what can Cindy do now? She feels humiliated and it will take humility to rejoin the party. Was Jesus ever humiliated? If you were a guest, what might you offer Cindy to help her recover and rejoin the holiday?  
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Stressful Holiday Situations: Part 2

Based on a true story. Tom and Cindy are having Thanksgiving at their house this year. Tom's mother wants to control the event and pulls a stunt that leaves Cindy angry and hurt. Tom wants to please his mother and doesn't validate Cindy's hurt. How do we deal with emotionally immature people during the holidays? What are the signs of an emotionally immature, abusive or narcissistic person? What do you do with the negative feelings you have? If you were a guest, what might you offer Cindy to help her recover and rejoin the holiday?  Did Jesus experience any poor treatment from people who wanted to control him? What can be done to recover from the offense?
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Stressful Holiday Situations: Part 1

Have you miscalculated when change would occur? Have you ever thought someone was following God but they were not? Have you ever been angry with God about what is happening in your country? Do you feel God isn't helping you? If so, you are in good company. Elijah is one of God's favorites yet suffers greatly from disillusionment and fatigue. Some of his suffering is caused by his own choices and some by others. Ultimately, God redeems all of Elijah's mistakes and ministers to his broken heart. We see evidence of a changed man. How does God validate Elijah's pain? Do you allow God to validate your pain?
The Bible text is from 1 Kings 16, 17, 18 for the Ahab/Elijah episode and 2 Kings 1 for the Amaziah/Elijah conflict.
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Before Whom Are You Running?

How are you at interpreting data? How do you assess danger? What does God call a "bad report?" Have you been given a "bad report" that you are repeating? We are overloaded with data and it is always interpreted by a person with a bias–which includes every one of us. 
Bible text: Numbers 13-14 finds the Children of Israel at the border of the Promised Land. Twelve spies are sent to spy out the land and 10 return with a "Bad Report" according to God. The 10 spies saw the same sights but interpreted the data differently than the other two.  Joshua and Caleb tried to convince the people how God saw them and the land He promised them. They tried to tell the people God was with them but they were already too afraid. The people would not listen to God speaking wisdom through Joshua and Caleb. It kept them out of the Promised Land. Is your idea of the Promised Land one of rest and relaxation? If so, you may be in for a surprise.
Exodus 17:7 ...is The LORD among us or not?
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Dr. David Levy - God's Wisdom Freshly Revealed

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