Deeper Devos

Loving God is more than a Sunday thing. It's more than a Bible study thing or a once-a-year Easter thing. It's more than a tithing thing or a give-to-the-poor kind of thing. It's not an "I'll do it when I'm not so tired" kind of thing, or when it agrees with my politics kind of thing. Nor does it have anything to do with how we feel. Loving God is a heart, mind, soul, and strength kind of thing, and here's why. https://staceysalsbery.com

I love the Lord. And if you’re listening to this podcast, I have a feeling you do too. But how extravagant is our love for God? Does it push the boundaries of cultural norms? Or have we put up parameters around our faith? Are we willing to only go so far? Today’s passage is all about extravagant love, and I think you’ll soon see why. We’re in Mark 14:3-9 today.https://staceysalsbery.com

Over the past few weeks, I’ve been researching the Triumphal Entry, and do you know what I’ve realized? That, in many ways, the Triumphal Entry wasn’t at all what the people were expecting. Jesus wasn’t entering as the long-awaited King to claim the military victory the people desired. Jesus was entering as the long-awaited King to claim the spiritual victory they had no idea they needed. We’re in Mark 11:1-11 today.Happy Easter! https://staceysalsbery.com

Just before Jesus arrived in Jerusalem for Passover week, He changed the life of a blind man named Bartimaeus by granting him what he’d always longed for: his sight. Overcome with gratitude and joy, Bartimaeus then follows Jesus to Jerusalem. This means one of the very first things Bartimaeus saw with his eyes wide open was the triumphal entry, followed by the Crucifixion of the very man who’d just given him sight. For Bartimaeus, there was a cost to having his eyes opened. A cost I think he was more than willing to carry. We’re in Mark 10:46-52, and I think you’re going to love it. https://staceysalsbery.com

Appearances can be quite deceiving. Do you agree? We know things aren’t always as they seem, yet the way things appear can have powerful effects on us. This, my friends, is why we live by faith and not by sight. If you’ve been discouraged by the way things look these days, you’re not alone. I’m praying today’s podcast hands you some much-needed encouragement as we look at a few examples from Scripture. https://staceysalsbery.com

Today we’re in Mark 10:28-31, and I have to tell you, this isn’t the easiest passage for me. And I doubt it’s at the top of your list either. Radical abandonment of worldly treasure in exchange for radical trust in God’s goodness is easier said than done. But according to the promise God gives us in Mark 10:30, it’s worth it. If anyone’s going to reward me, let it be the Lord, right!? https://staceysalsbery.com

What does it mean to strengthen yourself in the Lord? That's the question we're talking about today. 1 Samuel 30:6 says after David’s wives and his men’s families were captured by the Amalekites, “David strengthened himself in the LORD his God.” But how? When difficulties smack us in the face, what does that actually look like? It looks like remember, surrender, and worship, and then doing it again tomorrow. https://staceysalsbery.com

I’ve had a heavy heart lately. As I watch national events unfold from my little corner of the world, I’m grieved. What is going on? What is the church in for and how did we get here? Not to mention, what do we do about it? Church, for some reason, we’ve been pretty quiet, but the days of silence need to be over. This world needs Jesus, and there’s no one else to blame but us if we don’t speak up. https://staceysalsbery.com

We made it to episode 100! Today’s episode is something I’ve been thinking about a lot. January is notoriously a time of resolutions, especially when it comes to reading God’s Word more. Yet, most of the time, we don’t keep our resolutions. We might read for a week, or even exercise for a week or two, and then we’re done. But why? Why is it so hard? Because honestly, I think we have too much to lose. https://staceysalsbery.com

In Case You Need a Reminder This Christmas. It’s been a long year. I don’t think any of us expected 2020 to turn out the way it has. But as believers, we still have much to celebrate this Christmas. The gospel is still the gospel. Jesus is still the sovereign King of kings, and it’s still the most incredible story ever that our God laid aside His glory to wrap himself in human skin. https://staceysalsbery.com

This week we’re in Mark 10:17-31. It’s the story of the rich young ruler who came to Jesus and asked what he must do to be saved. In his mind, he was hopeful he’d already accomplished a laundry list of necessities. After all, he’d worked hard to keep many of the commandments, but Jesus chisels his way to the real issue with a response we’d do well to pay attention to.https://staceysalsbery.com

I don’t know about you but my heart is breaking for all that's going on in our world right now. But we are not helpless and we are not without hope. I've been doing a lot of praying lately, and I thought maybe you have too. There is power in prayer. There is peace in prayer. There is hope in prayer because God answers prayer. Care to join me? Let's pray. https://staceysalsbery.com Psalm 86

Well, I cannot ignore that today’s a big day. Neither of us knows what’s going to happen today, but God does. He ordained it long ago and that’s a truth I’m clinging to today. We may be surprised by today’s results or we may not. We may be filled with major trepidation and sitting on the edge of our seats, but God never is, and He’s invited us to cling to Him. To come and find rest in Him. To fill our minds with Him. To hope in all His promises. So today, we’re going to do just that. https://staceysalsbery.com

This week’s Deeper Devo comes from Mark 10:1-12, and I confess, I thought about skipping it. No thank you Lord, I’d rather not dabble in that topic. But all of Scripture is profitable, right? There’s no doubt God has some things to say about divorce but at the same time—He also has some things to say about us. And I think when we look at the two in tandem, we can figure this out. https://staceysalsbery.com

This week’s Deeper Devo comes from Mark 9:42-50, which is a portion of Scripture I like to refer to as the greatness section. What should we do to be great in the kingdom of heaven? Well there are several things, but as this week’s title gives away, one of those things is fighting sin. As believers if we aren’t fighting against sin then somethings wrong. Our flesh and soul are not on the same page. It isn’t easy to fight sin, but it is necessary. https://staceysalsbery.com

Hmm, are you intrigued? I thought you might be. A few weeks ago, while on a run, I heard something on a podcast that literally just about stopped me in my tracks (or running shoes, that is). It involves that well-known passage in 2 timothy 3 where the Apostle Paul describes the behavior of people in the last days. Something was clarified for me and I’ve been counting the days until I can talk about. https://staceysalsbery.com

We’re all about stimulus these days. It’s our public duty to spend money, right? But do you know what’s more important than stimulating the economy? Stimulating the gospel out into a world in desperate need of good news. Stimulating the church to stand up for what we claim is true. That the Lord Jesus Christ is worthy of honor and praise and trust. That He is faithful and sovereign. That Christ alone reigns over and above all this craziness and our hope is in Him. https://staceysalsbery.com

There is no greater accomplishment than to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind. So here’s where I hope we can land today. Whatever we do, let’s do it for God. Wherever we go, let’s seek God. No matter who we encounter or what we come up against, let’s remember God. He's the one we need to honor because He's the one who's in control. https://staceysalsbery.com

It’s week 3 of our 3-part series on missions with Pastor Mike. Did you know there are 17,000 people groups in the world and over 7,000 of them are still considered unreached? We have work to do friends! The question is, are we called to go or to send? And the sending part, well, that's more than just giving money. Deeper Devos >>> https://deeperdevos.org

Welcome back for week 2 of our 3 part series on mission with Pastor Mike! Today’s podcast has some practical ideas you can implement into your church whether you’re a pastor or a church member, starting with the idea that missions isn't just a program - it's a culture. A mindset I'd say we need more than ever, right now. Missions isn't just for the guy who's passionate about it or the girl who loves to travel. Missions is for all of us! Deeper Devos >>> https://deeperdevors.org

If you’ve been around for a while then this won’t surprise you. But we’ve come upon that time of year again when I soak up as much sunshine as possible with my kids at the pool and I take some time off from Deeper Devos. But don’t worry I’ll be back once school gets under way again in August—whatever that might look like. In the meantime, I have a special treat for you! My pastor, Pastor Mike, has graciously offered to be a guest here at Deeper Devos and I said YES in capital letters with fifteen exclamation points because that’s just pretty cool. So today and the next two weeks you get hear from my pastor on the topic of missions. Pastor Mike is a serious student of the Word and I love sitting under his teaching and I think you will too. Deeper Devos >>> https://deeperdevos.org

After Jesus tells the disciples about his impending death and resurrection for the second time, the disciples begin arguing about who among them is the greatest. Yep, that’s right. Jesus is about to embark for Jerusalem to pay for the sins of the world and they’re stuck on who should be nominated for Disciple of the Year. I’d say it’s obvious Jesus and the disciples weren’t quite on the same page. So Jesus takes the opportunity to teach them what true greatness looks like to God. We’re in Mark 9:30-41 today, so if you’re ready because I know I’m ready let’s dig a little deeper. Deeper Devos >>> https://deeperdevos.org

Let’s be honest, faith is not always something we have a large supply of. Sometimes due to difficult circumstances, or situations we just can’t see our way out of, our faith struggles. And we wonder, will God see me through? But friend, have you ever thought about praying for God to give you more faith? The father of a demon possessed boy asked for just that and you know what? I think God gave him a resounding yes. We’re in Mark 9:14-29 today.Deeper Devos >>> https://deeperdevos.org

Listen, I have no doubt all of us have seen some amazing things in our lifetimes. But I’m not sure any of us have ever seen anything as incredible as Peter, James, and John witnessed the day Jesus was transfigured right in front of them. And as if that wasn’t awesome enough, then Moses and Elijah appear. But what does all that mean for us? It’s truly amazing to think about. We’re in Mark 9:1-13 today and I know I say this a lot but I loved thinking through this story. Deeper Devos Website >>> https://deeperdevos.org

Mark 8 holds one of the most celebrated moments in discipleship history, when Peter confesses that Jesus is the Christ. And yet it also holds one of the worst moments in discipleship history, when Peter rebukes Jesus for saying he will soon suffer and die. Though Peter’s confession was right it’s clear the disciples still didn’t understand everything going on. But did they need to? Friends, I found a lot of comfort in Mark 8:22-33. Deeper Devos >>> https://deeperdevos.org

After the feeding of the four thousand we get three quick verses stating that the Pharisees asked Jesus for a sign. In other words, we don’t believe you are who you claim to be, so prove it us Jesus. But if Christ gave them another sign would it matter? It’s tempting to think if Jesus would just write his name in the sky then the whole world would believe. But would they? Is it really another sign that we need? According to Mark 8:11-21, I don’t think so. Deeper Devos >>> https://deeperdevos.org

We’re back in Mark this week – Mark 8:1-10 to be exact. Jesus and the disciples are still in the gentile region of the Decapolis because God’s compassion isn’t just for the Jews but the gentiles also. And while it’s a plot that might sound familiar to you, it sure didn’t sound familiar to the disciples. We're talking about the feeding of the four thousand today and it's a great reminder to me that we already have all we need when we have Jesus. Deeper Devos >>> https://deeperdevos.org

Last week I wrote a post at Revive Our Hearts on the first chapter of James titled: It’s Not Enough Just to Hear the Word. Prompting me to read several times through the entire book of James. Um, talk about convicting. But when I came to the last section I paused and then I dug in because honestly, I just didn’t get it. What did James mean when he said “the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick.” Um, hello, but aren’t we all currently hiding in our homes due to a rapidly spreading illness? So, this week we’re taking a break from our study of Mark to talk about some very confusing verses in James. “Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him…And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.” James 5:13-15https://deeperdevos.org https://www.reviveourhearts.com/true-woman/blog/its-not-enough-just-to-hear-the-word-james-11927/

At the end of Mark 7, verses 31-37, we get a quick snippet of Jesus healing a deaf man in the gentile region of Decapolis. And as I pictured Jesus taking the deaf man aside, putting his fingers into his ears, and touching his tongue, one thing kept coming to mind: The vast and beautiful kindness of God. And it’s the reminder I needed amidst these interesting days. Deeper Devos >>> https://deeperdevos.org

It’s Easter week so we’re skipping ahead a little to Mark 8:34-38 to that famous verse: “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” It’s a verse we know well, but how well do we know what it means? I spent some time here this week and found it really insightful. Deeper Devos >>> https://deeperdevos.org

I know, the title goes against everything we’re experiencing right now. Today we’re in Mark 7:1-23. The title of this section is traditions and commandments. The Pharisees make a big deal about the fact that Jesus and the disciples did not wash their hands before eating. And when they confront Jesus on the matter, Jesus takes the opportunity to show them the real problem. It’s not what we do on the outside that matters—it’s who we are on the inside that really counts. Deeper Devos Website >>> https://deeperdevos.org

In today’s passage, Mark 6:45-56, after feeding a massive crowd of well over 5,000, Jesus sends the disciples out on the sea of Galilee while He spends some much-needed alone time with God. Then in a crazy display of His amazing deity, Jesus decides to walk out to them on the water. The problem is the disciples weren’t looking for Jesus and due to their fear, they miss one of the greatest displays of Jesus’ glory yet. Friends, I have no doubt God has a word for us today. Deeper Devos Website >>> https://deeperdevos.org

In today’s passage, Mark 6:30-44, Jesus and the disciples set out to find some rest but when an enormous crowd gets to their desolate spot before they do all plans get tossed aside. How disappointed were the disciples to see that crowd of people? How tired were they in that moment? There just wasn’t enough patience, energy, or resources for this day. Or was there? You guys, I think you’re going to love this one. Deeper Devos >>> https://deeperdevos.org

In today’s passage, Mark 6:7-30, Jesus sends the disciples out on their first missionary journey. I can only imagine the disciples were equal parts terrified and excited. The text doesn’t tell us how long they were on their journey but it appears that while they’re out and about John the Baptist is beheaded, setting up for us a striking parallel between the risk and reward of following Christ. Deeper Devos >>> https://deeperdevos.org

The great acts of faith we’ve been studying come to a screeching halt as we follow Jesus into Mark chapter 6, back to his hometown of Nazareth, where He is not at ALL well received. Was Jesus surprised by His hometown’s reaction? Perhaps. There’re only two places in Scripture where it says Jesus marvels and unfortunately this story is one of them. Deeper Devos >>> https://deeperdevos.org

We’re still in Mark chapter 5 this week and for good reason. We still need to talk about the bleeding woman. We don’t even know her name and yet I believe God has given her a prominent place in Scripture not just because her faith deserves it, but because our faith needs it. Coming to God with all our mess might feel wrong but it’s the best thing we could ever do. Mark 5:21-34Deeper Devos >>> https://deeperdevos.org

Mark 5:21-43 holds two parallel stories filled with hope and trust and determination all fixed on Jesus. Giving us a beautiful picture of what true Biblical faith looks like. Deeper Devos >>> https://deeperdevos.org

In Mark chapter 5 we meet a man no one wanted to be around. He was a madman, driven from town, and unable to be restrained. Possessed by multiple demons he was in bad shape. For those who loved him, it was a hopeless situation. This guy was too lost to ever be saved. That is, until Jesus entered his life. For those with lost loved ones this is absolutely a hope-filled story. Deeper Devos >>> https://deeperdevos.org

Have you been there? I know I have, uncertain of God’s affection for me as I wade through this unexpected situation or that one. And you know what? We’re not alone. The disciples found themselves there too, uncertain of how God really feels about them. We’re in Mark 4:35-41 today and it’s fast become one of my favorite stories thus far. Deeper Devos >>> https://deeperdevos.org

In Mark 4:30-32 Jesus said, “With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable shall we use for it? It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when sown on the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on the earth, yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes larger than all the garden plants and puts out large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade.” It’s the greatness of a small beginning…Deeper Devos >>> https://deeperdevos.org

Today, we're in Mark 4:26-29. It's the parable of the seed growing and it's found only in the gospel of Mark. It’s just a few verses, but as I thought through Jesus’ words, I found them to be packed with insight. Especially, for those of us in ministry. And if you’re a follower of Jesus Christ, then guess what? You’re in ministry. Deeper Devos >>> https://deeperdevos.org

In the middle of Mark chapter 4 we come to our second parable. Two little verses easy to skip over but in doing so we would miss both the challenge and the treasure of Christ’s words. “Is a lamp brought in to be put under a basket, or under a bed, and not on a stand?” I absolutely loved digging into these verses and I think you will too. Deeper Devos >>> https://deeperdevos.org

We're back in Mark this week and I don't know about you but I'm ready to dig in! Today we're chapter 4 which begins a series of four parables. And let me just tell you, I learned so much by diving into this story. In farming the soil is of upmost importance for a good crop to grow. And surprise, surprise, it’s the same way when it comes to the gospel and the receiving of the truths of Christ. Deeper Devos >>> https://deeperdevos.org

Job’s friend Elihu says in Job 36:26, “Behold, God is great, and we know him not.” Meaning His ways are beyond our comprehension and yet is He unknowable? No. In fact God has made himself known in great detail by the Christmas story alone.Deeper Devos >>> https://deeperdevos.org https://www.reviveourhearts.com/true-woman/blog/necessity-forever-high-priest-hebrews-7/

It's week two of our advent series and today we're asking another question. Is God actually faithful? It's a question (I think) that looms in the hearts of many, though few vocalize it. But God has not left the question unanswered. Especially when we peer deeper into the details of the Christmas story. Deeper Devos >>> https://deeperdevos.org

We’re taking a few weeks off from out study of Mark because it’s Advent time and I firmly believe we’d be doing a disservice to both our faith and our God to ignore it. Christmas is not about the gifts or the giving or the food or even family—it’s about a God who came anyway. A God who cares. A God whose given us answers to some of life’s deepest questions through the gift of His precious Son.Deeper Devos Website >> https://deeperdevos.org

The passage we’re looking at in Mark today (Mark 3:22-30) is one that is easily and often misunderstood. What did Jesus mean when he said “whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin.” I mean, that’s kind of a harsh statement, right? Did he mean there’s a sin we as believers can commit that will never be forgiven? Nope, not at all.Deeper Devos >>> https://deeperdevos.org

Happy Thanksgiving! We're suspending our study of Mark this week to discuss the topic of thankfulness. I know, not always fun and yet we can't ignore that the Bible says to be thankful all the time. But what does that look like and why is God so set on thankfulness? Because the benefits far out way the difficulty of trying. In today's talk we discuss 15 specific benefits, but I know there's more. Because with Jesus, just as the sign in my living room says, there is always, always, always something to be thankful for. To see these benefits in list form just head on over to https://deeperdevos.org

We're in Mark 3:7-21 today and it's clear to me from this passage that the pressures Jesus faced were coming at him from multiple venues. Had it been me, I would have caved, but Christ didn't. How? Well, that's what we're going to talk about. So if you're ready, because I know I'm ready, let's dig a little deeper. Deeper Devos Website >>> https://deeperdevos.org

Mark 3:1-6 A man with a withered hand and our compassionate God. We've made it through two chapters of Mark and I'm stoked to get started on the third, but as I look back over where we've come, I can definitely see an emerging theme. Deeper Devos Website >>> https://deeperdevos.org Mark 3:1-6 >>> https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+3%3A1-6&version=ESV

Hopefully our view of God comes from the Bible, right? Yet the pharisees would have told you that's where their view came from and yet clouded by tradition instead of truth, their view of God was man made. In our text today it's the Sabbath the pharisees get hung up on. So what does Jesus do? He points them to the truth. We're in Mark 2:23-28. Deeper Devos >>> https://deeperdevos.org