Ines Franklin

The wake up callWhen the LORD saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from withinthe bush, “Moses! Moses!”And Moses said, “Here I am.” Exodus 3:4“Here I am” –best place to startJacob (Genesis 31:11)Samuel (1 Samuel 3:4)Isaiah (Isaiah 6:8)God calls you at the right timeThe LORD said, “I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I haveheard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned abouttheir suffering. So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of theEgyptians and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land,aland flowing with milk and honey... And now the cry of the Israelites has reachedme, and I have seen the way the Egyptians are oppressing them. So now, go. I amsending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.”Exodus 3:7-10“Why me?” “Why now?” …Why not?But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bringthe Israelites out of Egypt?” Exodus 3:11Typical responses:“How can I…” Gideon (Judges 6:15)“I

“He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” Luke 4:18-19For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love. Galatians 5:13 NLT Worship: Celebrating faithful love Praise be to the LORD my Rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle. Psalm 144:1 He is my loving God and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield, in whom I take refuge, who subdues peoples under me. Psalm 144:2 LORD, what are human beings that you care for them, mere mortals that you think of them? They are like a breath; their days are like a fleeting shadow. Psalm 144:3-4Prayer: A plea for rescue Part your heavens, LORD, and come down; touch the mountains, so that they smoke. Psalm 144:5 Send forth lightning and scatter the enemy; shoot your arr

The obstacle course of the Christian journeyPeaks and valleys, joys and challenges, favor and persecution A warm receptionWhen we arrived at Jerusalem, the brothers and sisters received us warmly. The next day Paul and the rest of us went to see James, and all the elders were present. Paul greeted them and reported in detail what God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry. When they heard this, they praised God. Then they said to Paul: “You see, brother, how many thousands of Jews have believed, and all of them are zealous for the law. Acts 21:17-20Persecution…some Jews from the province of Asia saw Paul at the temple. They stirred up the whole crowd and seized him, shouting, “Fellow Israelites, help us! This is the man who teaches everyone everywhere against our people and our law and this place… The whole city was aroused, and the people came running from all directions. Seizing Paul, they dragged him from the temple, and immediately the gates were shut. While they were trying to kill him, news re

“Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you.” Exodus 20:12Two wrong strategies:•measure Dad by God’s standards•measure God by Dad’s standardsIf someone curses their father or mother, their lamp will be snuffed out in pitch darkness. Proverbs 20:20No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known. John 1:18“Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.” John 17:25-26 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. Luke 18:18For great is your love, reaching to the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies. Psalm 57:10The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands. John 3:35See what great love the Father h

While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols. So he reasoned in the synagogue with both Jews and God-fearing Greeks, as well as in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there. Acts 17:16-17A group of Epicurean and Stoic philosophers began to debate with him. Some of them asked, “What is this babbler trying to say?” Others remarked, “He seems to be advocating foreign gods.” They said this because Paul was preaching the good news about Jesus and the resurrection. Acts 17:18Then they took him and brought him to a meeting of the Areopagus, where they said to him, “May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting? You are bringing some strange ideas to our ears, and we would like to know what they mean.” (All the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there spent their time doing nothing but talking about and listening to the latest ideas.) Acts 17:19-21Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: “Peopl

Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. Acts 2:46-47…“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you...” Matthew 28:18b-20…you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment. He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly. One day at about three in the afternoon he had a vision. He distinctly saw an angel of God

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. Hebrews 10:24-25So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. …All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 2 Corinthians 5:16a,18-19“All that's being done in evangelical Christianity in America can be done with good equipment, modern media, and a few gifted men. Very little that is happening in the church is explainable solely on the basis of God’s activity and authority.” ~Dr. Stuart BriscoeAs Peter traveled about the country, he went to visit the Lord’s people who lived in Lydda. There he found a man named Aeneas, who was paralyzed and had been bedri

Why Mother’s Day?“Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you.” Exodus 20:12Spiritual object permanence, rememberingMothering reveals God’s heart:So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. Genesis 1:27 I see you“Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you!” Isaiah 49:15 And he said, “Hagar, slave of Sarai, where have you come from, and where are you going?” “I’m running away from my mistress Sarai,” she answered. Then the angel of the LORD told her, “Go back to your mistress and submit to her.” The angel added, “I will increase your descendants so much that they will be too numerous to count.” …She gave this name to the LORD who spoke to her: “You are the God who sees me,” for she said, “I have now seen the One who sees me.” Genesis 16:8-10,13I hear you“As a mother comforts her child, so w

The lie: The church isn’t for me, I’ve done too much/sinned too big.Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. Acts 9:1-2 “There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God.” Romans 3:10-11f For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Ephesians 6:12The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. John 10:10Watch out for those dogs, those evildoers, those mutilators of the flesh. Philippians 3:2The Lord told him, “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named

When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Matthew 16:13-15Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. Matthew 16:16-17And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” Matthew 16:18-19I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. Matthew 16:18After his suffering, [Jesus] presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to t

A miracle: an extremely outstanding or unusual event, thing or accomplishment; an event manifesting divine intervention, a wonderful occurrence. Merriam WebsterΛάζαρος = “God helps” or “my God has helped”Now a man named Lazarus was sick. …So the sisters sent word to Jesus, “Lord, the one you love is sick.” John 11:1, 3Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days, and then he said to his disciples, “Let us go back to Judea.” John 11:5-7On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days…When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him…” “Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.” Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” John 11:17,20-22When Jesus saw her weeping and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. John 11:33

“so that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in his name.” John 20:31“The only thing worse than being blind is having sight but no vision.” ~Helen KellerAs Jesus was walking along, he saw a man who had been blind from birth. “Rabbi,” his disciples asked him, “why was this man born blind? Was it because of his own sins or his parents’ sins?” John 9:1-2 NLT“What do you want me to do for you? “Lord, I want to see,” he replied. Luke 18:41 “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him...I am the light of the world.” John 9:3,5The child will not share the guilt of the parent, nor will the parent share the guilt of the child. Ezekiel 18:20.“Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus. “But so that the works of God might be displayed in him, as long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me.” John 9:3-4“God had not made the man blind in order to show his glory

Once more he visited Cana in Galilee, where he had turned the water into wine. And there was a certain royal official whose son lay sick at Capernaum. When this man heard that Jesus had arrived in Galilee from Judea, he went to him and begged him to come and heal his son, who was close to death. John 4:46-47 “Unless you people see signs and wonders,” Jesus told him, “you will never believe.” The royal official said, “Sir, come down before my child dies.” John 4:48-49“Go,” Jesus replied, “your son will live.” The man took Jesus at his word and departed. While he was still on the way, his servants met him with the news that his boy was living. When he inquired as to the time when his son got better, they said to him, “Yesterday, at one in the afternoon, the fever left him.” John 4:50-52Then the father realized that this was the exact time at which Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live.” So he and his whole household believed. This was the second sign Jesus performed after coming from Judea to Galilee. Joh

A miracle: an extremely outstanding or unusual event, thing or accomplishment; an event manifesting divine intervention, a wonderful occurrence. Merriam WebsterOn the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. John 2:1-2When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.” “Woman, why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” John 2:3-5Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons. Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the brim. Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet. They did so,” John 2:6-8and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. Galatians 6:9-10And as for you, brothers and sisters, never tire of doing what is good. 2 Thessalonians 3:13Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. 1 Corinthians 15:58Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way, they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life. 1 Timothy 6:17-19C

Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves. Galatians 6:1-3Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, for each one should carry their own load. Nevertheless, the one who receives instruction in the word should share all good things with their instructor. Galatians 6:4-6Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other. Galatians 5:25-26“…use your freedom to serve one another in love.” Galatians 5:13Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. Galati

Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: “All nations will be blessed through you.” So those who rely on faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith. Galatians 3:8-9…the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham’s offspring—not only to those who are of the law but also to those who have the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all. Romans 4:16Before the way of faith in Christ was available to us, we were placed under guard by the law. We were kept in protective custody, so to speak, until the way of faith was revealed. Let me put it another way. The law was our guardian until Christ came; it protected us until we could be made right with God through faith. Galatians 3:23-24 NLTNow that this faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian. Galatians 3:25“We tell you the good news: What God promised our ancestors he has fulfilled for us, their children, by raising up Jesus. “The

Paul, an apostle—sent not from men nor by a man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead— and all the brothers and sisters with me, To the churches in Galatia: Galatians 1:1-2[I was] circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee…as for righteousness based on the law, faultless. Philippians 3:5-6…intensely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it. I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers. Galatians 1:13-14[Saul] fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.” Acts 9:4-6…sent not from men nor by a man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead… Galatians 1:1See what large letters I use as I write to you with my own hand! Galatians 6:11You’ve been rescuedGrace and peace to you from God our Fat

FREEDOM • mariners church chapel THE PRICE OF FREEDOM Acts 13 There’s no such thing as a free lunch Our freedom fighter “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” Luke 4:18-19 § Jesus: The promise “We tell you the good news: What God promised our ancestors he has fulfilled for us, their children, by raising up Jesus. Acts 13:32-33a § Jesus: The everlasting Though they found no proper ground for a death sentence, they asked Pilate to have him executed. When they had carried out all that was written about him, they took him down from the cross and laid him in a tomb. But God raised him from the dead…God raised him from the dead so that he will never be subject to decay. Acts 13:28-30,37 § Jesus: The treasure “Therefore, my friends, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness

Our lives are but specks of dust falling through the fingers of time. Like sands of the hourglass, so are the days of our lives. SocratesYou have decided the length of our lives. You know how many months we will live, and we are not given a minute longer. Job 14:5 NLTBe very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Ephesians 5:15-16The LORD had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you…and you will be a blessing...and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” Genesis 12:1-3“Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.” Romans 4:20-21Nothing had been left of the army of Jehoahaz except fifty horsemen, ten chariots and ten thousand foot soldiers, for the ki