Anyone who does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.”  

Mark 3:35

It’s day three of the “Mark, a chapter a day for Easter” reading plan!

Reading together as a family is proving to be a beautiful time. It is so inspiring to see God’s faithfulness as He reveals himself to our children through His Word.

Yesterday, one of mine asked, “Where does Jesus get his power from?” 

This is so special to me, because I want my own family to  really know Him, more than anyone else.

I’m sure Jesus felt the same. He wanted his mother, and brothers to know him as their Savior.

In this chapter, we read that they come to see him, and he stays inside the crowded home he is in, teaching. And says this:

Jesus stayed focused on the kingdom work he was doing, but we see something interesting later in scripture…

“They all met together and were constantly united in prayer, along with Mary the mother of Jesus, several other women, and the brothers of Jesus.”

‭‭Acts of the Apostles‬ ‭1:14‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Do you catch that?!?!

Jesus’ mother and brothers were there, praying and believing, waiting to receive the Holy Spirit. 

Let’s stay focused on kingdom work (Matthew 6:33) as we keep praying for and loving our unbelieving family members. I know this revelation encouraged me to follow Jesus’ example and trust salvation of our loved ones to the Father as we continue following Him.

What was your verse of the day? I’d love to hear how He’s speaking to you!

When Jesus heard this, he told them, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor- sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.”

Mark 2:17

We are in day 2 of “Mark, a chapter a day for Easter here at Refocused Bible Study” here at Refocused Bible Study. You can find out about  the plan here. We’d love for you to join us! Today we are reading and discussing Mark chapter 2.

Oh, how I wish I would have been at Levi’s dinner party with Jesus. The guests were not the ones who looked as if they had it all together religiously. They were “notorious sinners,” known for their impurities and looked down upon by the Pharisees.

When Jesus is confronted about his decision to eat with “such scum,” he responds with a phrase that should shake us believers again today, making us double check and make sure our righteousness is in our faith in Christ alone.

Do we know we are sinners?

Although as believers, we may not have the lifestyle or be known for our sins like those eating with Jesus that night, it is important to remember that we will fall short every single day of the perfect love God lavishes on us. Everyday we need to ask him to search our hearts to see what sin may be taking root in there, underneath the surface, so he can pull the weeds up and keep the soil in our hearts soft and keenly aware of our need for him.

Are we clinging to Jesus and what he did on the cross? 

Even Jesus said himself that there is nothing good in him but God himself. Our righteous deeds are like filthy rags. The only thing good in us is God. If we think for a moment that what we “do” for the Lord makes us worthy, then we are lying to ourselves.

Do we see all people as God’s children, worthy of our Savior? 

Jesus’ rebuke of the Pharisees here is recorded for us to remember. Absolutely everyone is welcome to be introduced to Jesus. Whether they choose to follow him, is up to them. God makes it clear in scripture that he is being patient and desires to see everyone come to salvation (2 Peter 3:9). Make sure you are not writing anybody off. Start by praying for those around you who don’t know him. Love them and tell them about the Savior who doesn’t want them to “clean up” before calling out to him. Just as we are, he invites us. Thank you, Jesus.

Share your verse of the day below in the comments! Tomorrow we discuss chapter 3!

If you missed the post aBout this online Bible Study, find the details and join us here:

A Chapter a Day: the Book of Mark for Easter Plan

Before Daybreak the next morning, Jesus got up and went out to an isolated place to pray. Mark 1:35 NLT

It’s day one of the series “Mark, a chapter a day for Easter” here at Refocused Bible Study. If you missed the details, you can find them here.

Whatever way you came across this post, I’m glad you are here and I pray you’ll join us! There is so much good stuff in every chapter, it is hard to pick one verse to focus in on! However, this one about Jesus going off to pray by himself made me fall in love with him all over again.

Jesus was fully God and fully man, yet still went off by himself to intentionally cultivate a connection with the Father through prayer. Did he do this to model spiritual discipline for us? Maybe. Did he do this because

HE LOVED THE FATHER AND WANTED TIME ALONE WITH HIM?

I think so. The day before, Jesus had been healing people and casting out evil spirits. Ministry was busy. He knew another busy day of serving and healing was ahead of him. So he got up while it was still dark to go spend this time one on one with his heavenly father. If Jesus did this, how much more do we need to do this? He was one with The Father, and yet he still carved out time from the rest of the day to go and talk to him one on one. Do you know what I’ve been telling myself instead of waking up early to spend time with The Father?

YOU NEED SLEEP, AND THE LORD KNOWS IT. YOU CAN PRAY LATER DURING THE DAY.

But, ladies, how I’ve been missing this time with Him! Time alone with God in the morning just cannot be replaced. There is nothing like it. Plus, it’s easy to see that Jesus sacrificed sleep to go and be alone with God, even in the thick of a very busy few days of ministry.

During the days leading up to Easter, let’s follow Jesus’ example and set our alarms just 30 minutes earlier. Let’s go and pray to Him and see how it changes our hearts and our days. Following the pattern for prayer that Jesus shows us is a good place to start: “This, then, is how you should pray:

“ ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. ’ For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭6:9-15‬ ‭NIV‬‬

I look forward to hearing what your verse for chapter 1 is! Let me know in the comments below. ❤

Did you miss the first post about the Mark Study? Find the details and print out your goodies HERE!

“One sister thinks she has to have everything perfect for her King. The other one knows that there is absolutely no way she will ever get everything perfect and so she just sits there, mesmerized by the most beautiful sight she has ever seen, her Savior, her Maker, the Lover of her soul. She has already forgotten about all the imperfections in her home. Jesus says she has CHOSEN what is better. How I praise God that it is better to sit and adore him than to run around like a crazy woman making everything perfect.” – excerpt from Refocused Bible Study, page 135

The projects I listed out on this page of the study will be year long tasks for me. I have many things I want to do in my home that I feel like I never get around to! Who’s with me on that? However, I knew that we had to, I mean had to study this passage to end our week on home and as a farewell passage to this whole bible study.

Luke 10

38 As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. 39 She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. 40 But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”

41 “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

I have studied this verse many times. Because I am a Mary. Yes, I have found that sitting still and worshipping Jesus is my ONE THING. But what I have had to learn through the years is how to stay in a position of worship and fellowship of my sweet Jesus in my heart and mind as my hands and feet work hard in my home and in every good work he sets before me. Jesus knew all that frettin’ Martha was doing was not necessary. Can you hear him gently, lovingly confront her:

“All those are details Martha! I’m what’s important, and you are loosing sight of it!”

How often I do get sidetracked, worried over all the little details that will not matter for eternity as I push my Savior aside and try to do it all. Be it all. Have it all perfect. Especially during this season where I have starting writing daily. Everyday I must refocus on Him and make sure I know He is my ONE THING. What easily sidetracks you from Jesus being your ONE THING? I pray that we will all remember his sweet, FREEDOM FILLING reply to Martha:

“Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be take from her.” Luke 10:42

Mary is awestruck at Jesus’ feet. This is it girls. The only thing that is necessary. The better portion. Don’t miss it. Don’t miss his mesmerizing LOVE! I have a little parting download to help you continue to put into place the principles we have learned in #Refocused. #Refocused Prayer Journal & Goals Template

Parting with a prayer: As we come before Our ONE THING, I pray over all your daughters who have participated in #Refocused during the month of January. We close our books asking you to help us walk with you daily to put these truths into practice, to help us refocus our eyes daily on YOU, everyday in 2021 and everyday until we see your eyes in clear sight. In the Mighty Name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

✨New Here? This is the last day of this study! I’ve been blogging through my Bible Study, “Refocused: Fixing your eyes in Jesus for the road ahead.” Resources: Download the study free HERE OR You can can buy the study here: Refocused Bible Study

Starting ON 💗 VALENTINE’S DAY, February 14th, I’m hosting “Love Letters from God: a prayer journey through God’s love” here for the month of February! It’s a 4 week study through Ephesians 3:18. I hope you’ll join me!

Praying for you,

Amy