Mark 15-16, Psalm 102
Mark 15:37-39 (NLT)
“Then Jesus uttered another loud cry and breathed his last. And the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. When the Roman officer who stood facing him saw how he had died, he exclaimed, ‘This man truly was the Son of God!’”
In Mark 15:37–39, we read what happened when Jesus died. At the moment of Christ's death, the massive inner curtain of the Temple was torn in two from top to bottom. Then a Roman centurion who was standing in front of Jesus and saw how He died exclaimed, “Surely this man was the Son of God!”
These verses show believers that even in His death, extraordinary signs accompanied Jesus. The inner veil separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place and was passed beyond only by the high priest once each year on the Day of Atonement, when he entered bearing sacrificial blood. But when Jesus died, the veil was torn from top to bottom. The direction of the tear emphasizes that this was not presented as an ordinary human act. The Roman centurion was there as part of his duty overseeing the execution. He was not one of Jesus' followers, yet when he saw how Jesus died, he declared that Christ was the Son of God. Whatever the centurion witnessed in Jesus' death moved him to make this remarkable declaration.
What I like about these verses is that Christ's life and death were characterized by signs and wonders. Wherever He went, Christ miraculously healed people, and many witnessed His miracles. When Jesus died, the Temple veil was torn in two from top to bottom. And a pagan Roman officer, who witnessed Jesus dying on an instrument of death and torture, declared that Jesus was the Son of God. I pray daily that I never forget that I serve a God of signs, wonders, and miracles and worship in a church where I believe He is still working through signs, wonders, and miracles today.
If these verses resonate with you—if you feel drawn to place your faith in Jesus Christ, the One whose power and identity were revealed even through His death and who is still at work today—this may be your moment. Open your heart to Him. Speak to Him in prayer. Tell Him you trust Him and desire to walk with Him. He is faithful, and He will meet you exactly where you are.
Heavenly Father, I give You my life. Please forgive me for all my sins and wash me clean through the blood of Jesus. I believe in my heart that You raised Jesus from the dead, and I confess with my mouth that Jesus is my Lord and Savior. I receive Your forgiveness and the gift of salvation. Thank You, Lord—I am saved, I am forgiven, I am clean, and I am made new in Jesus’ name. Amen.
If you prayed this prayer, welcome to the family of Father-God! I encourage you to find and join a Holy Spirit–filled, full-Gospel, Bible-based church where you can grow in your faith and experience the Lord’s love, signs, wonders, and miracles in your life.
S. Brenda Elfgirl - I was told I am an elf in a parallel life, and I live in the Arizona desert exploring what this means. I've had this blog for a while and I write about the things that interest me. My spiritual teacher told me that my journey in life is about balancing "the perfect oneness of a sweetness heart and the effulgent soul". My inner and outer lives are like parallel lines that will one day meet, but only when there is a new way of thinking. Read on as I try to find the balance.
Thank you for viewing / reading my blog posts! I appreciate it!
Wednesday, September 16, 2026
Tuesday, September 15, 2026
Day 256 Bible Readings - Mark 14:35-36 (NLT)
Mark 13-14, Psalm 101
Mark 14:35-36 (NLT)
“He went on a little farther and fell to the ground. He prayed that, if it were possible, the awful hour awaiting him might pass him by. ‘Abba, Father,’ he cried out, ‘everything is possible for you. Please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.’”
In Mark 14:35–36, Jesus went to a place called Gethsemane with His disciples and then took Peter, James, and John farther with Him. He left the three nearby, fell to the ground, and prayed that, if possible, He might not have to endure what was coming. Christ knew Father-God's will, but what He faced still caused Him great distress. At the end of His prayer, Jesus did not resist Father-God's will but willingly submitted His own will to the Father.
In these verses, Jesus doesn't pretend He wants the suffering that He knows is coming. Christ's surrender means that although He wanted to avoid the suffering of the cross, He was willing to accept Father-God's will even when it was different from what He wanted. Jesus' surrender in Gethsemane isn't abstract. His obedience will cost Him physically. Christ modeled for believers what surrender can look like when what we want isn't what the Lord wants for us.
Could I tell Father-God honestly what I want while still being able to say, “Not what I will, but what You will”? This kind of surrender is more profound than simply giving up things or actions that I know are wrong or sinful. Can I surrender my will to the Lord even when I desperately want something different? In this kind of surrender, honesty and surrender coexist. I pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit to help me daily understand what it actually means for me to give Father-God all of me.
If these verses resonate with you—if you feel drawn to place your faith in Jesus Christ, the One who models for us what true surrender means—this may be your moment. Open your heart to Him. Speak to Him in prayer. Tell Him you trust Him and desire to walk with Him. He is faithful, and He will meet you exactly where you are.
Heavenly Father, I give You my life. Please forgive me for all my sins and wash me clean through the blood of Jesus. I believe in my heart that You raised Jesus from the dead, and I confess with my mouth that Jesus is my Lord and Savior. I receive Your forgiveness and the gift of salvation. Thank You, Lord—I am saved, I am forgiven, I am clean, and I am made new in Jesus’ name. Amen.
If you prayed this prayer, welcome to the family of Father-God! I encourage you to find and join a Holy Spirit–filled, full-Gospel, Bible-based church where you can grow in your faith and experience the Lord’s love, signs, wonders, and miracles in your life.
Mark 14:35-36 (NLT)
“He went on a little farther and fell to the ground. He prayed that, if it were possible, the awful hour awaiting him might pass him by. ‘Abba, Father,’ he cried out, ‘everything is possible for you. Please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.’”
In Mark 14:35–36, Jesus went to a place called Gethsemane with His disciples and then took Peter, James, and John farther with Him. He left the three nearby, fell to the ground, and prayed that, if possible, He might not have to endure what was coming. Christ knew Father-God's will, but what He faced still caused Him great distress. At the end of His prayer, Jesus did not resist Father-God's will but willingly submitted His own will to the Father.
In these verses, Jesus doesn't pretend He wants the suffering that He knows is coming. Christ's surrender means that although He wanted to avoid the suffering of the cross, He was willing to accept Father-God's will even when it was different from what He wanted. Jesus' surrender in Gethsemane isn't abstract. His obedience will cost Him physically. Christ modeled for believers what surrender can look like when what we want isn't what the Lord wants for us.
Could I tell Father-God honestly what I want while still being able to say, “Not what I will, but what You will”? This kind of surrender is more profound than simply giving up things or actions that I know are wrong or sinful. Can I surrender my will to the Lord even when I desperately want something different? In this kind of surrender, honesty and surrender coexist. I pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit to help me daily understand what it actually means for me to give Father-God all of me.
If these verses resonate with you—if you feel drawn to place your faith in Jesus Christ, the One who models for us what true surrender means—this may be your moment. Open your heart to Him. Speak to Him in prayer. Tell Him you trust Him and desire to walk with Him. He is faithful, and He will meet you exactly where you are.
Heavenly Father, I give You my life. Please forgive me for all my sins and wash me clean through the blood of Jesus. I believe in my heart that You raised Jesus from the dead, and I confess with my mouth that Jesus is my Lord and Savior. I receive Your forgiveness and the gift of salvation. Thank You, Lord—I am saved, I am forgiven, I am clean, and I am made new in Jesus’ name. Amen.
If you prayed this prayer, welcome to the family of Father-God! I encourage you to find and join a Holy Spirit–filled, full-Gospel, Bible-based church where you can grow in your faith and experience the Lord’s love, signs, wonders, and miracles in your life.
Monday, September 14, 2026
Day 255 Bible Readings - Mark 12:29-30 (NLT)
Mark 11-12, Psalm 100
Mark 12:29-30 (NLT)
“Jesus replied, ‘The most important commandment is this: ‘Listen, O Israel! The Lord our God is the one and only Lord. And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’’”
In Mark 12:29–30, a teacher of religious law asked Jesus which commandment was the most important. Christ told him that the most important commandment was to love the Lord with everything you have and are—with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. Love for the Lord is the foundation from which obedience to His other commandments flows.
When I read these verses, what stood out to me was the phrase “love the Lord with all your strength.” One Bible commentary I read noted that Jesus perfectly fulfilled this commandment through His obedient life and His willingness to accept death on the cross. I know I love Father-God with all my heart, soul, and mind. But I had never really thought about what it means to love Father-God with all my strength, which can include how I use my physical energy, abilities, and resources.
I always thought of most of my actions as my own, with the Lord being given the actions that related specifically to church. But with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, I am learning that loving Father-God also means that what I do with my body and my strength should glorify Him. When I serve others, I need to think of myself as working for the Lord. And I need to use my strength to persevere when I am tired or face opposition. When I do these things, I am learning what it means to love the Lord with all my strength and to give Him the energy and abilities He has given me.
If these verses resonate with you—if you feel drawn to place your faith in Jesus Christ, the One who teaches us what it means to love Father-God with all that we are—this may be your moment. Open your heart to Him. Speak to Him in prayer. Tell Him you trust Him and desire to walk with Him. He is faithful, and He will meet you exactly where you are.
Heavenly Father, I give You my life. Please forgive me for all my sins and wash me clean through the blood of Jesus. I believe in my heart that You raised Jesus from the dead, and I confess with my mouth that Jesus is my Lord and Savior. I receive Your forgiveness and the gift of salvation. Thank You, Lord—I am saved, I am forgiven, I am clean, and I am made new in Jesus’ name. Amen.
If you prayed this prayer, welcome to the family of Father-God! I encourage you to find and join a Holy Spirit–filled, full-Gospel, Bible-based church where you can grow in your faith and experience the Lord’s love, signs, wonders, and miracles in your life.
Mark 12:29-30 (NLT)
“Jesus replied, ‘The most important commandment is this: ‘Listen, O Israel! The Lord our God is the one and only Lord. And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’’”
In Mark 12:29–30, a teacher of religious law asked Jesus which commandment was the most important. Christ told him that the most important commandment was to love the Lord with everything you have and are—with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. Love for the Lord is the foundation from which obedience to His other commandments flows.
When I read these verses, what stood out to me was the phrase “love the Lord with all your strength.” One Bible commentary I read noted that Jesus perfectly fulfilled this commandment through His obedient life and His willingness to accept death on the cross. I know I love Father-God with all my heart, soul, and mind. But I had never really thought about what it means to love Father-God with all my strength, which can include how I use my physical energy, abilities, and resources.
I always thought of most of my actions as my own, with the Lord being given the actions that related specifically to church. But with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, I am learning that loving Father-God also means that what I do with my body and my strength should glorify Him. When I serve others, I need to think of myself as working for the Lord. And I need to use my strength to persevere when I am tired or face opposition. When I do these things, I am learning what it means to love the Lord with all my strength and to give Him the energy and abilities He has given me.
If these verses resonate with you—if you feel drawn to place your faith in Jesus Christ, the One who teaches us what it means to love Father-God with all that we are—this may be your moment. Open your heart to Him. Speak to Him in prayer. Tell Him you trust Him and desire to walk with Him. He is faithful, and He will meet you exactly where you are.
Heavenly Father, I give You my life. Please forgive me for all my sins and wash me clean through the blood of Jesus. I believe in my heart that You raised Jesus from the dead, and I confess with my mouth that Jesus is my Lord and Savior. I receive Your forgiveness and the gift of salvation. Thank You, Lord—I am saved, I am forgiven, I am clean, and I am made new in Jesus’ name. Amen.
If you prayed this prayer, welcome to the family of Father-God! I encourage you to find and join a Holy Spirit–filled, full-Gospel, Bible-based church where you can grow in your faith and experience the Lord’s love, signs, wonders, and miracles in your life.
Day 254 Bible Readings for September 13 - Mark 9:23-24 (NLT)
Mark 9-10, Psalm 99
Mark 9:23-24 (NLT)
“‘What do you mean, ‘If I can?’’ Jesus asked. ‘Anything is possible if a person believes. The father instantly cried out, ‘I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!’”
In Mark 9:23–24, a man brought his son to see Jesus so He could heal him from an evil spirit because the disciples had been unable to do it. The man asked Jesus to help his son if He could. Christ responded that everything is possible for one who believes. The man immediately said that he did believe, but he also acknowledged his struggle to believe and asked Jesus to help him overcome his unbelief.
In these verses, the man who wanted Jesus to perform a miracle confessed his unbelief and wasn't ashamed to ask Jesus for help with it. When I read these verses, I thought about all the times I was ashamed to admit to myself and to the Lord that I had unbelief in my heart and mind. I wanted to hold on to the belief that my faith was stronger than it actually was.
The Holy Spirit is now teaching and guiding me to ask the Lord for help and to give up the belief and illusion that I still have strength in myself—that I don't have to be one hundred percent dependent on Father-God. These verses remind me that I don't have to hide the areas where my faith is still developing. I can believe in Father-God and still ask Him to help me with the places where I struggle to believe. I have surrendered, but the Holy Spirit keeps showing me that there is more to surrender. I believe, but there is still unbelief that I need Jesus to help me overcome. My daily prayer is now: Father-God, I believe You. Now help me with the parts of me that still struggle to believe.
If these verses resonate with you—if you feel drawn to place your faith in Jesus Christ, the One who meets us even in our struggle to believe and helps our faith grow—this may be your moment. Open your heart to Him. Speak to Him in prayer. Tell Him you trust Him and desire to walk with Him. He is faithful, and He will meet you exactly where you are.
Heavenly Father, I give You my life. Please forgive me for all my sins and wash me clean through the blood of Jesus. I believe in my heart that You raised Jesus from the dead, and I confess with my mouth that Jesus is my Lord and Savior. I receive Your forgiveness and the gift of salvation. Thank You, Lord—I am saved, I am forgiven, I am clean, and I am made new in Jesus’ name. Amen.
If you prayed this prayer, welcome to the family of Father-God! I encourage you to find and join a Holy Spirit–filled, full-Gospel, Bible-based church where you can grow in your faith and experience the Lord’s love, signs, wonders, and miracles in your life.
Mark 9:23-24 (NLT)
“‘What do you mean, ‘If I can?’’ Jesus asked. ‘Anything is possible if a person believes. The father instantly cried out, ‘I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!’”
In Mark 9:23–24, a man brought his son to see Jesus so He could heal him from an evil spirit because the disciples had been unable to do it. The man asked Jesus to help his son if He could. Christ responded that everything is possible for one who believes. The man immediately said that he did believe, but he also acknowledged his struggle to believe and asked Jesus to help him overcome his unbelief.
In these verses, the man who wanted Jesus to perform a miracle confessed his unbelief and wasn't ashamed to ask Jesus for help with it. When I read these verses, I thought about all the times I was ashamed to admit to myself and to the Lord that I had unbelief in my heart and mind. I wanted to hold on to the belief that my faith was stronger than it actually was.
The Holy Spirit is now teaching and guiding me to ask the Lord for help and to give up the belief and illusion that I still have strength in myself—that I don't have to be one hundred percent dependent on Father-God. These verses remind me that I don't have to hide the areas where my faith is still developing. I can believe in Father-God and still ask Him to help me with the places where I struggle to believe. I have surrendered, but the Holy Spirit keeps showing me that there is more to surrender. I believe, but there is still unbelief that I need Jesus to help me overcome. My daily prayer is now: Father-God, I believe You. Now help me with the parts of me that still struggle to believe.
If these verses resonate with you—if you feel drawn to place your faith in Jesus Christ, the One who meets us even in our struggle to believe and helps our faith grow—this may be your moment. Open your heart to Him. Speak to Him in prayer. Tell Him you trust Him and desire to walk with Him. He is faithful, and He will meet you exactly where you are.
Heavenly Father, I give You my life. Please forgive me for all my sins and wash me clean through the blood of Jesus. I believe in my heart that You raised Jesus from the dead, and I confess with my mouth that Jesus is my Lord and Savior. I receive Your forgiveness and the gift of salvation. Thank You, Lord—I am saved, I am forgiven, I am clean, and I am made new in Jesus’ name. Amen.
If you prayed this prayer, welcome to the family of Father-God! I encourage you to find and join a Holy Spirit–filled, full-Gospel, Bible-based church where you can grow in your faith and experience the Lord’s love, signs, wonders, and miracles in your life.
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