Provision…

I wonder at these scenes of Jesus taking the bread and giving it out to others, if the disciples ever thought of the manna that God provided for the Israelites in the  desert, daily….enough that everyone was provided for…and were satisfied….and then in the last supper he gave them bread as a symbol of his body…He was enough …Jesus was what they/we need…and He is enough for us as well on a daily basis…He is our bread…and we should be satisfied with him…

Matthew 15:36Then he took the seven loaves and the fish, and when he had given thanks, he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and they in turn to the people.

37 They all ate and were satisfied.

Mathew 26:26 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.”

John 6:11 Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish.

12 When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.”

John 21:3 we’ll go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.

4 Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.

5 He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?” “No,” they answered.

6 He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.

7 Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water.

8 The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards.fn

9 When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread.

10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.”

11 So Simon Peter climbed back into the boat and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn.

12 Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord.

13 Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish.

Exodus 16:15 When the Israelites saw it, they said to each other, “What is it?” For they did not know what it was. Moses said to them, “It is the bread the LORD has given you to eat…

Thank YOU….

The Lord will Provide..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-29gTlsdCZ8

 Picky eaters..

I had a friend several years ago who, when feeding her children, would say, “you won’t like this, but you have to eat it anyway “…

Lo and behold, this family were all picky eaters…to which this mother, later bemoaned the fact that her children were such picky eaters she hated taking them anywhere because they complained so much…

Talk about a double whammy….

When my husband and I or our family travelled, the highlight is tasting new foods…trying new recipes…the Mediterranean  shakshuka, the Chinese foods, the Uruguayan barbecue beef, the Mongolian dishes…or even various American regional delicacies. They may not be my favorites, but they are worth trying…

I thought of God providing the manna in the dessert…or the quail…the locusts for John the Baptist, fresh cooked  fish waiting the disciples cooked by Jesus..or the small fish and loaves given to Jesus by the little boy…fresh grain in the  fields….feasts at various homes… even the liquid given to Jesus on the cross…all “choice foods” for which people were thankful..

Fresh veggies and fruits are now available at the local farmers markets….it is fun the peruse the food venders to,see what they are selling…fresh melons, corn, beans, honey, breads, peaches, plums, etc…

Here God is such a wonderful provider…food for the body and through his Word, food for the soul…

Thank YOU…

Exodus 16: 21 Each morning everyone gathered as much as they needed, and when the sun grew hot, it melted away.

Mark 1: 6 John wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey

Thank YOU…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TdPcSXnsZ-I

 Take heart…courage…

There are times when we just loose courage….times when things are really rough, times when our heart just fails us, our souls are down and depressed and nothing is going “right”….

We are told to wait…be strong…listen…let  go of our sin…be faithful …not be afraid…take heart …take courage…and the Acts verse says that the Lord stood by Paul…and those who believe have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit with us….

Just because we are down doesn’t mean that God isn’t standing near or that he is finished with us…he has lots of life lessons …

Psalm 27:14 Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.

Psalm 31:24 Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the LORD

Ezekiel 3:10 And he said to me, “Son of man, listen carefully and take to heart all the words I speak to you

Matthew 9:2 Some men brought to him a paralyzed man, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the man, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.”

22 Jesus turned and saw her. “Take heart, daughter,” he said, “your faith has healed you.” And the woman was healed at that moment.

14:27 But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

Acts 23:11 The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.”

Philippians 1:6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

Thank YOU….

Take courage…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xwvkLYJkOkk

Rescue mission….

 Rescue mission….

Yesterday I had the privilege of having tea with a representative of a rescue mission here in the northwest…Our family has had friends in the rescue missions for over 50 years, at least in the administrative part…one year we got to serve Christmas dinner…amazing…

Statistics for  this one..

Meals served in a year…263,654

Nights of care…70,135

Plus  educational service,  sobriety care, mothers and children’s care…and a whole lot more…

We have at least four in this valley that I know of, and there are probably more…selflessly serving…in God’s name…sometimes overlooked and always overworked…..

It makes me think of the statue outside the Capernaum gate,  of a person lying on a bench covered with his cloak…the sign saying something like, “and He has nowhere to lay his head”.

Matthew 25:35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

Jeremiah 19:7 The poor are shunned by all their relatives—
    how much more do their friends avoid them!
Though the poor pursue them with pleading,
    they are nowhere to be found.

Thank YOU…

For the least of these…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FyIN5QjTyRs

 Comfort verses #?

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John‬ 3:16 NIV‬). 

In His time…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3A5-89pY9

“I cried out to God for help; I cried out to God to hear me. When I was in distress, I sought the Lord; at night I stretched out untiring hands, and I would not be comforted. You are the God who performs miracles; you display your power among the peoples” (Psalm 77:1-2, 14 NIV).

“Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:10 NIV). 

You came near when I called you, and you said, ‘Do not fear’” (Lamentations 3:57 NIV).

“Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Ephesians 6:17 NIV).

“And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people” (Ephesians 6:18 NIV).

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time” (1 Peter 5:6 NIV)

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened” (Matthew 7:7-8)

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love” (1 John 4:18 NIV). 

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV).

“‘Abba, Father,’ he said, ‘everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will’” (Mark 14:36 NIV).

“Well done, good and faithful servant!” (Matthew 25:23a NIV)

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” (John 14:27 NIV).

God of all my days…

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYkZE8AogDE&list=RDZYkZE8AogDE&start_radio=1&pp=ygUhZ29kIG9mIGFsbCBteSBkYXlzIGNhc3RpbmcgY3Jvd25zoAcB

Pain management…

 Pain management….

After spending some time with doctor the other day discussing pain management, I was a bit discouraged…”same ol, same ol”…we have discussed before, but this was the final discussion…unless wanting to progress to opiates…there are so many ads about the best pain meds on tv….am finding out why my parents medicine cabinet had so many kinds of medications that they tried for their ailments…

 Was encouraged reading by Reading Max Lucado’s book, “ what happens next, a traveler’s guide through the end of this age”…one more thing we can look forward to is not more pain…a small thing in the grand scheme of his plans for the believers…I knew that, just needed reminding…

He talks of the “ pearly gates”…”all other precious gems are metal or stones, but a Pearl is a gem formed within an oyster….the only one formed by living flesh. The humble oyster receives an irritation or wound, and around the offending article that has penetrated or hurt it, the oyster builds a Pearl.  The Pearl …the answer of the oyster to that which injured it….the Pearl is born out of pain…”

Job 6:2 “If only my anguish could be weighed
    and all my misery be placed on the scales!
3 It would surely outweigh the sand of the seas—
    no wonder my words have been impetuous.
4 The arrows of the Almighty are in me,
    my spirit drinks in their poison;
    God’s terrors are marshaled against me.
5 Does a wild donkey bray when it has grass,
    or an ox bellow when it has fodder?
6 Is tasteless food eaten without salt,
    or is there flavor in the sap of the mallow?
7 I refuse to touch it;
    such food makes me ill.

8 “Oh, that I might have my request,
    that God would grant what I hope for,
9 that God would be willing to crush me,
    to let loose his hand and cut off my life!
10 Then I would still have this consolation—
    my joy in unrelenting pain—
    that I had not denied the words of the Holy One.

David…

Psalm 38: 5 My wounds fester and are loathsome
    because of my sinful folly.
6 I am bowed down and brought very low;
    all day long I go about mourning.
7 My back is filled with searing pain;
    there is no health in my body.
8 I am feeble and utterly crushed;
    I groan in anguish of heart.

Isaiah …

Isaiah 21: 3 At this my body is racked with pain,
    pangs seize me, like those of a woman in labor;
I am staggered by what I hear,
    I am bewildered by what I see.

Isaiah 53: 3 He was despised and rejected by mankind,
    a man of suffering, and familiar with pain.
Like one from whom people hide their faces
    he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.

4 Surely he took up our pain
    and bore our suffering,
yet we considered him punished by God,
    stricken by him, and afflicted.
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions,
    he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
    and by his wounds we are healed.

Romans 8:22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.

Revelations 21: . 4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

Thank YOU…

Heaven is a wonderful place…..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u_u1rGs7sLA

 Cancer center…various views…

The first time i had to go to the cancer center for an infusion, I was shaking, I was so filled with anxiety…then all of the sudden such a peace settled in around and in me, that I was okay and faced those various needles, plastic packages of meds, sat down in the recliner and let them do their thing…the after effects weren’t so hot, but, we were fighting cancer…for that instance the phrase “ no pain , no gain” was applicable…

Each time I go there I observe the people…we sit the required distance between us, hoping not to get another bug, so visiting is hard…I would love to hear their stories, bit for reason we don’t share much…but we probably all view the center differently…

I was reading a short summary of the comparison of the four gospels this morning…all of them center on Jesus, but they see him through their own eyes, experiences….and how God want them to write…

Jesus is…

Matthew-the promised King..

Mark-the Servant oof God..

Luke-the Son of Man…

John-the Son of God…

Themes….

Matthew-Jesus is the Messiah …

Mark-Jesus backed up his words with action…

Luke-Jesus was God but also fully human…

John-Belief in Jesus was required for salvation l..

Emphasis…

Matthew-Jesus’ sermons and words…

Mark-Jesus’ miracles and actions…

Luke-Jesus’ humanity…

John-the principles of Jesus’ teaching…

Bible study notes…

Those disciples were no different from us…they viewed Jesus from different angles…I have a favorite book, favorite verses because they speak particularly to me…I am drawn to various people for various reasons, not that I don’t see others or am against others, but, certain traits speak to my own heart…

But, the whole Bible, the whole group of Gospels is put there for all of us to feed upon…

Thank YOU….

God of my days..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYkZE8AogDE