The religious leaders and political leaders try to trap Jesus by asking Him a question about taxes. "Should we pay taxes to Caesar or not?" If Jesus says "yes", the people will be angry with Him and stop following Him. If He says "no", He will be guilty of sedition and they can arrest Him. How will Jesus answer?

The religious leaders confront Jesus and question His authority to do what He was doing: teaching, healing, driving the money changers out of the temple, etc.). Who gave you permission? Who commissioned you? They had not authorized Him to do these things. Who does He think He is? Jesus responds with a question of His own and a parable to confront their rejection of God's Son.

Jesus teaches His disciples about prayer. He uses the example of His cursing the fig tree to exhort them to faith in God when praying. He also warns them about harboring bitterness and unforgiveness in our lives. For our prayers to be effective we must have a heart of faith and forgiveness.

Jesus curses a fruitless fig tree as a statement against fruitless Israel. They honored God with their lips but their hearts were far from Him. What about your life? Is there fruit in keeping with repentace? Do you demonstrate the fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control)?

God had a great and wise plan and it was fulfilled through Jesus. Jesus is our hope!

Why doesn’t God answer our prayers? Doesn’t He care about us? Isn’t He able to help? What does God delay? In the 10th chapter of the book of Mark we find 4 men who come to Jesus looking for help: the rich, young ruler (looking for eternal life), James and John (looking for power and glory), and Bartimaeus (a blind man who wants to see). Unfortunately, only 1 of them had their request granted: Bartimaeus. Why was he successful? What did he know that the other 3 didn’t? Jesus wants to meet our needs and make us whole. We must come to him in faith, believing that He is willing and able to help, come willing to wait and persevere, and come asking for what we really need.

There is great reward in following Jesus – rewards now and more in life eternal. However, the path to get there isn't through human glory or selfish ambition. It is through suffering and serving. It is through walking the same road that Jesus walked: the way of the cross.

Is is worth it to follow Jesus? In the life to come? What about in the here and now?
A Mother's Day message to encourage Christian moms to keep loving, praying and serving. God will reward your faithfulness and sacrifice.

He came to the right man: Jesus. He came with the right attitude: humility. He asked the right question: what must I do to inherit eternal life? He got the right answer but he did the wrong thing. He walked away from Jesus and he went away grieving. This man illustrates the dangers of trusting in our good deeds or trusting in our wealth. He wouldn't give up either to gain everlasting life in the kingdom of God. What about you?

What do you think about children? Are they a blessing or a curse? An annoyance to be avoided or a gift to be received? What does God think about children? Jesus shows His great love for children in this story about parents bringing their children to Jesus so that He might bless them. May HIs love for even the littlest ones instruct our minds and enliven our hearts to love as He loves.