A One Year Challenge

vs 7: I never understood people who thought the end times happenings were bad. I saw a yard sing once that said "Keep the US out of the UN" No one world order!! Yes, all the killing, wars and earthquakes are bad, but what's the big deal with a one world order? "Such things must happen" It just means He's coming back that much sooner. Birthing pains hurt, but I am ready!

vs 8: Interesting to read this verse when just the past 6 months it feels like there have been 5+ significant earthquakes.

vs 22: I don't think it is to deceive the elect, but to deceive those who think they are elect. :( How sad.

vs32: While on Earth, even Jesus lived by faith!!! :D

Vs 24: Reminder of why I have chosen to do this OYC: I never want to be in error because I do not know the scriptures, nor do I ever want to rely on what someone else said. only what God, Himself, says!!

vs 30: Quoted so many time it feel like it's lost it's meaning... Could this be how we were made in God's image? Heart(body), Soul, and Mind? Animals do not have all this.
We love our selves unconditionally, why can't we do that with others, even those who irritate us?

vs 2 "Which no one has ever ridden"  What's the significance of that?

vs 3: Jesus refers to Himself as Lord

vs 1-11: Did a little back studying on this: This fulfills the prophecy in Daniel 9:20-27 TO THE DAY!!! King Artaxerxes (Ezra 7:11) commissioned the rebuilding of Jerusalem 483 years (to the date) before Jesus entered Jerusalem in this passage.

vs 17: By allowing the court of the Gentiles to become a noise, smelly marketplace, the Jewish religious leaders were interfering with God's provision.

vs 18: I don't think this was Godly fear, just a selfish fear of God.

vs 25: Another passage that screams: FORGIVE!!!!

vs 26: What happened? It's not here.

vs 14&41 This is the indignant chapter LOL. I didn't know what indignant meant before reading this.
adjective:feeling, characterized by, or expressing strong displeasure at something considered unjust, offensive, insulting, or base. My husband said "It means a feeling where you think 'How Dare You!'" 


vs18: Jesus just indirectly called Himself God and wants to make sure the man understands this.

vs 39: James and John were both persecuted just as Jesus.

(Sorry for the delay of posts. We've been away on vacation/work)

vs10: We seam to understand "Rising from the dead" so easily today. Proof hindsight is 20/20

vs21: How old was the boy? His father said "Since childhood" but isn't he still a child?

vs29: "This kind"... I guess there are more than one kind of demon. Ewwww!

vs41: The only time Jesus says "Christ" but not necessarily labeling Himself. hum? I don't think He wanted to 'label Himself' because it wasn't time for Him to be crucified yet.

vs. 29 & 31 Why does Jesus always refer to himself as "Son of Man" But never personally calls himself "Christ"?

vs 33 May i always be thinking of God's will, not my own. It's not about what I want, but what God's plan is.

vs6: This seams to be so much of today's religions and denominations Just "Teachings [that] are but rules taught by men"

vs8: the Commands of God are a condridiction to the traditions of men.

vs15: this is how you can tell a persons heart... by what comes out.

vs19: Why I LOVE Ham!!! :D LOL

vs33: Jesus spit... eWWWWW!

vs2 & 6: the people were amazed at Jesus' teachings, then Jesus was Amazed at their lack of faith... interesting.

vs 5: Even Jesus was bound to the 'rules of faith'.

vs 5: It intrigues me that the demon possessed man cut himself. That seams to be a common problem among some teenagers now days.... hm?

vs 7: Even the demons knew who Jesus was.

vs 8 & 12: Demons = evil spirit? Are they one in the same?

vs 18-20: after the pig herders begged Jesus to leave, he did! But the healed, previously demon-possessed man stayed behind as a witness.

vs 34: Did some research on the word "Healed" the Greek form that was here is actually "saved".  She received both physical healing and spiritual salvation... AWESOME!

vs 40: Could you imagine laughing at Christ... ug.

vs13: Jesus seamed to have started with the most basic parable. If we can't understand the parable of the sower how can we expect to understand any of the rest?

vs34: How privileged we are that we get to see the explanations to most of the parables.

vs4 Seams to be very similar to me as the time with Mary Magdalene: "He who is with out sin cast the first stone"

vs5: Even Jesus was Angry and deeply distressed... It's not wrong to be angry, it what you do with that anger.

vs6: Interesting that the Pharisees and Herodians, strong enemies, would work together.

vs29: Scares me silly. Makes me always double think before I judge someone. The one unforgivable sin.

vs 14: Here Matthew is referred to as Levi. My notes say Levi was probably his given name and Matthew was his apostolic name.

vs27: How nice that the 'laws' were made for our benefits, not us made for the 'laws' :D

vs4: I like how John is baptizing not for conversion to Judaism, but for repentance!

vs22: Isn't is awesome God has such authority!!!

Vs. 11-15 The soldiers would have never willingly admitted to falling asleep (That would have been punishable by death!!). Proof enough for me that the saw the resurrection and had to be silenced with a bribe... Besides, if they were asleep how do they know the disciples took the body? LOL

vs19: Finally after the resurrection ALL nations can hear the good news., The Jews had their chance, now it's for ALL.

vs20: Matthew finishes just as he started: "God with us!" (Mtt. 1:23

vs 29 Was doing a little research on the crown of thorns... the thorns were probably about 1.5 inches long and the hit Him on the head again and again to drive them in. that makes me physically ill.

vs34 Jesus refusing to drink the wine mixture (Which eased the pain, but dulled the mind) shows just how much mental power alone it too. To be a willing sacrifice.

vs51 the tearing of the curtain shows how immediately there was open access to God. I can't imagine life before Christ: where you couldn't have open access to God.

vs 14: Says "Then..." Judas agrees to betray Jesus. I wonder what set him off. Was it Mary anointing Jesus, was it Jesus' response in praising Mary, was it the spirt, was it something totaly different? I wonder.

Vs 31: Yet another prophecy fulfilled that Jesus (If he were a false messiah) would have had no control over.

Vs 37 & 38: I had a chance to look up the meanings of some of these words. vs.37 "Sorrowful and troubled": Means heavy and deeply depressed. vs. 38 "Overwhelmed with sorrow" means Great emptiness and desire to flee. This is probably about the time the spirit of God left him. It was the first time ever Jesus was not with the Father in spirit. God the Father could not have anything to do with him at this time due to the sin of the world being laid upon him. Amazing that even Jesus had a desire to flee. Even more amazing that he didn't flee. Praise God!!

I have a note I wrote in the margins (Probably from an earlier teaching): If the Father had already left Jesus, why did he still pray? Answer: He didn't see the joy (or light at the end of the tunnel)

vs65: It was illegal for the high priest to tear his clothes!! I have a list of ALL the laws that were broken during Jesus' trial. I'll make you a copy. It's fascinating!

I Like the Parable of the Talents... It truly shows us what the purpose of our life is: To Know him and make Him known. I pray I can use all my talents (However many or few) I've been given to bring many to Him.

Vs 40: May I NEVER pass someone and not do what I can for them.

vs.23 I wonder who those places have been prepared for. Several times later on it say's Jesus is seated at the right hand of the Father... so I guess God is on his left, but I wonder who's on the right.

Vs28 So many people (most Jews) were expecting a conquering king. Isn't it amazing that he chose to come first as a servant? WOW!

Vs17 (Enter Life) & Vs28 (Renewal of all things): Just a reminder that the 'life' we 'live' now is not really life its self. Our true Life, true existence is yet to come! :D (And I can hardly wait!!)

vs29 The list of things that we have to be willing to give up can be overwhelming if you look at life as the time between our birth and death. It's so much easier when you remember eternity. Also a reminder that my Children or Husband can NOT be EVERYTHING to me. I HAVE to keep Him first.

vs34: Ug! I never noticed that the unmerciful servant had his fellow servant thrown in jail, but when the king had the unmerciful servant thrown it jail it wasn't just jail, but also to be tortured. WOW!! What a reminder to always forgive and show mercy and remember the mercy God's shown us. WOW!

Chp 16 vs 21 & Chp 17 vs 23: When Jesus told the disciples he would die and then be raised on the third day Why were they always sad? Did they not have enough faith?

vs18-19: I need to post this one on my walls... I talk to much as it is. Do you want to know what's really in a person's heart? Then just listen for a while.

vs 13 Jesus just found out about John's death and morns his cousin. He was so human, just like us!

vs 30: Peter was able to walk on the water, until he took his eyes off Jesus.

vs1-9 (One of my favorite Parables) I hope to be the seed that produces crop, preferably the Hundred times what's sown. I think I have acquaintances that fall in all 4 categories.

vs 10-17: Hind sight really is 20/20 OH WHAT A GIFT WE HAVE. We have the WHOLE Gospel, From Christ's birth to death to resurrection and ascension. Plus all the letters of disciples and even the prophecies of His return!! WOW! what a gift to have as much information as any Man on earth is going to have!!!

vs 16-19 (Remember how in Chp9 vs30 I noted "vs30: Why did he tell the healed blind men not to tell anyone?")The seams to explain it. It was in part to fulfill prophecies and in part to not 'toot his own horn' but to be humble. :D I love to learn!

I have a note next to vs. 29 probably from some earlier studying... "Jesus went to Hell and Took back the souls"

I like how when John asked if Jesus was "The One" Jesus didn't say "yes or No" just told them to report back what they saw and John had to decided for himself. Even John the baptist (cousin to the Christ) had to trust God by faith.

I like vs 5-42. It's like the whole instruction manual wrapped up into a few paragraphs. The overview :D

Vs. 28 SCARES me. I think it's a kind of healthy fear though. (Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.)

vs 6. I love "The Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins..." COOL!!! Even before he died and the sins were covered with his blood, he had the authority to forgive them :D

vs30: Why did he tell the healed blind men not to tell anyone?

The first little section really sticks out to me (it's titled "Judging Others" in my edition: vs 1-6). It's a reminder to me to worry about myself, not others. Even with my husband, I have to remember in any conflict, we are BOTH wrong.
Vs 29 REALLY sticks out to me too: Jesus was UNLIKE anything the people had seen or heard before!

I love the Lord's prayer. Unfortunately it seams to have been flippantly said too many times. I like the format:

1. Praise God 
2. Ask for only what you need
   
3. Ask for forgiveness, but only as much as you've forgiven others.
   
4. Ask for guidance.
   

vs. 24: I can't tell you how many time I have to check my heart, and seek forgiveness before I pray. Seams to be a daily thing LOL

vs 16-17 is one of my favorite scriptures. It's the first time we see the holy trinity (Father, Spirit, and Son) Cool! :D

Has always fascinated me. I like the story of the Magi. Also like to note how it's about the Christ CHILD. He's no longer a baby here. (The foot note in my bible says he was probably 2). I also find it really neat how at about 2 years old, Jesus has already fulfilled a LOT of the prophecies about the messiah. (Mt 1:22-23, 2:5-6, 2:15, 2:18, 2:23). No one who decided to purposefully fulfill the prophecies so they could look like the messiah could have possibly controlled all of these.

The genealogy section is what seams to stand out to me... here is the genealogy of Jesus as seen through Joseph's side. Mary's is listed latter (I think Luke).