Some time later, Jesus went up to Jerusalem for a feast of the Jews. Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool, which in Aramaic is called Bethesda and which is surrounded by five covered colonnades. Here a great number of disabled people used to lie...the blind, the lame, the paralyzed. One who was there had been an invalid for

When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, "Do you want to get well?" John 5:6 NIV

I don't mean to be disrespectful to my Savior, but don't you want to ask Jesus what He was thinking here? I mean, come on, this man had been paralyzed for thirty-eight years. He was subject to

"Sir," the invalid replied, "I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me." John 5:7 (NIV)

Excuses, excuses, excuses. We are all full of them. There are probably one hundred reasons I could come up with for not doing what I know I should be doing.

Let's say I

Then Jesus said to him, "Get up! Pick up your mat and walk." At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked. John 5:8-9 (NIV)

It is interesting to me that Jesus, the miracle worker, required something of the man who had been paralyzed. Jesus didn't offer him a hand. He didn't volunteer to pick up his mat.

Jesus gave the man

Later Jesus found him at the temple and said to him, "See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you." John 5:14 (NIV)

Okay, we've had some tough questions to consider in this series. Let's recap. I'm asking you to consider, as Jesus did the paralytic, if you want to get well. Do you really want to improve your life

He picked up five smooth stones from a stream and put them in his shepherd's bag. Then, armed only with his shepherd's staff and sling, he started across to fight Goliath. 1 Samuel 17:40 NLT

Have you heard the story? David killed Goliath. He picked up five stones, headed into battle, and with one fierce blow to the head, the nasty giant fell dead

Serve only the LORD your God and fear him alone. Obey his commands, listen to his voice, and cling to him. Deuteronomy 13:4 NLT

I know the commands. I hope to follow them, but to be honest this one is a little difficult. I've still got some fears in my life. Sure, I've come a long way. I've had to tackle some giant fears, but then when life

"The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the strength of my salvation, and my stronghold, my high tower, my savior, the one who saves me from violence. 2 Samuel 22:2-3 NLT

David had one powerful weapon on his side. When he grabbed the five smooth stones to go fight Goliath

She has no fear of winter for her household because all of them have warm clothes. Proverbs 31:21 NLT

I'm not saying this is your story, but sometimes when we are afraid in life it is because of something we brought on ourselves. If you are living in sin, fear will be more prevalent in your life, for example.

The Proverbs 31 woman wasn't

You came near when I called you, and you said, "Do not fear." Lamentations 3:57 NIV

I have a friend who is going through a very difficult time of fear. He is uncertain in his work and the financial stress is putting strain on his marriage. Fear is beginning to cripple his life. He wants to walk by faith, but right now, he's merely holding on to

How wonderful and pleasant it is when brothers live together in harmony! Psalm 133:1 NLT

God has designed each of us to be relational by nature. We have an inner desire to have people around us and to be in a community (family) of people. Some people have personalities that require that more than others, but everyone needs someone in their life.

Don't let the sun go down while you are still angry, for anger gives a mighty foothold to the Devil. Ephesians 4:26 NLT

The first step towards healing an awkward relationship is to deal with the problem.

Stop procrastinating. You should not allow negative emotions to build. They won't get better. Time doesn't heal everything! The more you brew

"Let your conversation be always full of grace." Colossians 4:6 and "Forgive as the Lord forgave you." Colossians 3:13 NLT.

The next step in healing awkward relationships is to apply lots of grace and forgiveness. 2 Peter 3:18 says, "But grow in grace". We are to continually be applying grace to our life and the life of others, even to those who

If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Romans 12:18 NIV

When you are trying to heal an awkward relationship, you should evaluate your expectations. You will not be able to solve every relationship problem. Jesus couldn't. How could you and I be expected to?

You can say you are sorry. You can ask

"And if a village won't welcome you or listen to you, shake off its dust from your feet as you leave. It is a sign that you have abandoned that village to its fate." Mark 6:11 NLT

Okay, so you have an awkward relationship. You've done everything you know how to do and nothing helps. The final step in dealing with awkward relationships is when