The document describes a story from the Bible where Jesus heals a paralyzed man. Four men brought the paralyzed man to Jesus but could not get near him because of the large crowd. So they made an opening in the roof and lowered the man down in front of Jesus. When Jesus saw their faith, he forgave the man's sins and healed his paralysis. The document then provides commentary encouraging people to embrace messy family relationships, be thankful for close friends, make time for Jesus each day, remove obstacles in their life, and receive forgiveness.

2. Mark 2:1-5 (NIV)
A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum,
the people heard that He had come home. So many
gathered that there was no room left, not even outside
the door, and He preached the word to them. Some men
came, bringing to Him a paralytic, carried by four of
them. Since they could not get him to Jesus because of
the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus
and, after digging through it, lowered the mat the
paralyzed man was lying on. When Jesus saw their faith,
He said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven."

3. How?

4. 1. Family is messy
Proverbs 14:4 (NIV)
Where there are no oxen, the manger is empty, but from
the strength of an ox comes an abundant harvest.

5. Proverbs 14:4 TPT
The only clean stable is an empty stable. So if you want
the work of an ox and to enjoy an abundant harvest,
you’ll have a mess or two to clean up!

7. “The most natural way of treating people is to
treat them like they treat us. If they are nice, we
are nice. If they are not, we are not. BUT, maturity
& improvement in any relationship calls for way
more than that. It calls us to treat people better
than they may be treating us.”
Dr Henry Cloud

8. 2. Who are your mates?
“Some men came, bringing to Him a paralytic, carried by
four of them” (Vs 3)

9. 3. Make a Plan
• Bible in One Year (BioY)
• YouVersion.com

10. 4. Lift off the roof
“they made an opening in the roof” (Vs 4)

11. Isaiah 64:4 (NIV)
Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has
perceived, no eye has seen any God besides You, who
acts on behalf of those who wait for Him.

12. 5. Your real spiritual need is forgiveness
When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic,
“Son, your sins are forgiven.“ (vs 5)

13. “I think the first step is to understand that
forgiveness doesn’t exonerate the perpetrator.
Forgiveness liberates the victim. It’s a gift you
give yourself.”
TD Jakes

14. 1. Embrace messy family
2. Thank your mates | Be a mate
3. Make a plan for Jesus time this holiday
4. Lift the ceiling over your life
5. Receive forgiveness. Rise up and walk!