Jesus feeds 4,000 hungry men and in Mark 8:8 there were seven baskets full. Leftovers. More than enough. Do I think I will drain His grace dry? Do i think He may have nothng left for me? Do I think that I've asked for too much? Or maybe I am too much? Do I know that I know that His Grace is enough?
They jumped in a familiar fishing boat with their Master. These 12 knew how to fish. Except on this day, no one brought any bread for lunch. There they sat on the water with no oven to bake bread but just a discussion about having no bread. Jesus' response in 8:17-19: "Why are you discussing the fact that you have no bread Do you not yet perceive or understand? Are your hearts hardened? Having eyes do you not see, and having ears do you not hear? And do you not remember? How many baskets did you take up after all were fed?? My God is more than enough.
"We are all seasick together on this sea." (G.K. Chesterton). He is in the boat with me and you. Am I trusting that whatever He sifts through His Hands for this day is for His Good Pleasure, for my good? There's so much more than what I see. "Who do you say that I am?" Mark 8:29.
Bread is referred to so many times in the Bible.
ReplyDelete"Give us this day our daily bread".
The miracle of the loaves and fishes.
The communion of the bread (body) and wine (blood).
He is there, on the riverbank of my life today, waiting with the bread of life, offering the fruit of the spirit if I believe, I can reach out my hand and eat.
"...And do you not remember?"
ReplyDeleteFor some reason this keeps coming up for me. How could I ever forget what He brought me through? I have an easier time trusting Him with the big things (the emergencies) but it's those little day to day situations that I'm struggling with.
On another note... When you read this, can you please pray for me regarding my sisters? I don't know how to clearly articulate it, but whenever I spend time with them (They do not believe.) I go back to being the "little sister" and go back into "quiet mode" like when I was a little girl. I'm the 6th child out of 7 and have always been the "black sheep of the family". I don't want to turn them away even more and give them more proof that Christians are in-your-face, but I want them to be open to my views. I don't want to get in a debate, so instead I sit quietly (Neither of them believe in Satan.). I'm scared to get into it and I believe I am disappointing God because of it. I basically don't like the person I am when I'm with them. Thanks for listening!
Ang,
ReplyDeleteI am praying for God to give you a deeper love for your sisters...that in loving them with HIS Love they will notice the difference and begin to ask questions. Begin praying to anticipate expecting God to show up for you the next time you are with them.
My own testimony is for years I really did not like being with or around my mother in law and avoided her when I could. In God's Grace and Mercy, I surprised myself when I recognized the love I now have for her almost ten years back. I was able to be with her by myself and enjoy serving her and was able to help her celebrate her 80th birthday and my husband's family get her situated with a care provider all within the same 12 month period. That was a miracle from God.
This is a Song I must Sing, Sylvia
As I read this story of feeding the four thousand, I am shocked at myself for over the years only remembering about Jesus feeding the five thousand with the four loaves and two fish from the young boy. I had neglected in my memory that Jesus did this same miracle more than once, now with the four thousand and five loaves. Both of these stories are told by Matthew and Mark.
ReplyDeleteThank you Bev for this year's read of smaller selections that I was able to catch the repetition of the miracles Jesus gave to man while on earth.
I know my God is a God of More than Enough. More than Enough so I know He can do the same miracle more than once if I need it. Yes, and most of the time I do need His miracle in my life more than once for me to not forget.
I am thankful today for the gift from God being a Good God and More than Enough to meet me where I am today with all my needs I can leave at His Feet and Trust Him Today.
This is a Song I must Sing. Sylvia
Michele,
ReplyDeleteI pray you are feeling much stronger and well and able to return to your normal schedule. Jehovah Rophe is the God who heals and Jehovah Jireh provides, oh, How I praise Him for His Grace and Mercy over me and my husband.
Last month, February was spent for the most part either Les was sick or I was sick. Praise God we can now say, we are the healed of the LORD by His Amazing Grace and Mercy.
This is a Song I must Sing,
Sylvia
Angie, I am going to pray with Sylvia that He will give you a deeper love for your sisters. That you will see them with His eyes. I understand your feelings. I am the oldest and not the youngest so therefore I guess I've had more boldness in speaking to my sister. I will be praying for you...He will start to put words in your mouth when you are with them. He will answer for He knows your hearts desire. He will enable you to share the bread of life. The probably see differences in you that you are not aware of....they see Him, for He has changed you and it shows in ways that you are not aware of. Keep shining...for Jesus.
ReplyDeleteAng, I will pray for you to love your sisters with the love Christ has shown to you (and me).
ReplyDeleteI don't have any sisters, just 2 brothers. I always feel like I am missing so much when I observe sisters together. God knew my heart and blessed me with 4 daughters and a granddaughter.
So, remember me next time your sisters drive you crazy and send one my way.
Thanks, everybody for your nice thoughts today and for sharing your wisdom. I must not have explained myself very well this morning. I LOVE my sisters dearly. I'd do anything for them and they would for me as well. I couldn't love them any deeper than I already do! It's impossible for me to explain the dynamics of our family. It's been the same my whole life. I've always been the quiet one. The squeaky wheel gets the oil and when I'm with them I go back to being the shy one. It is totally MY insecurity about expressing my faith, beliefs, and my inability to point them to Jesus in a way that will convince them that they need Him in their lives. They just don't buy it and have been turned off by Christians.
ReplyDeleteAng,
ReplyDeleteI would think it would be hard being around them since your mother passed away.
How can they be at peace about that?
Listen, Ang, salvation is the work of the Holy Spirit. Prayer can soften their hearts. AND, even if they have been so hardened towards christianity...religion...you have a testimony that no one can argue with.
Sometimes you just have to love them and be open to their attacks towards christianity.
But, this might be the most fertile time for them to hear your testimony. You are at peace in the middle of so much difficulties.
Your mother passing, your kids growing older, your marriage growing, your job change...all of these are hard things for people.
And, yet, you are at peace.
That is Christ in you. That is the real faith that no one can argue against.
And you don't have to be pushy or judgemental.
Pray and let your light shine. Love them to pieces. Serve them. As unto the Lord. Let Jesus draw them to himself through the Holy Spirit.
I know about the shyness. Just pray that His Will will be done and that He would even use your shyness.
Times are really turbulent right now. So many people have turned against God. Outloud and upfront. But the Holy Spirit can start actively working in your sisters' lives and salvation can come.
Praying for you to follow Christ's lead and for the hearts of your sisters to be prepared to hear the good news. And that they would see Jesus in you, Ang. And want what you have. Peace.
Came over here too late to write a prayer for you Angie, but I was glad we talked before you met up with them. You are in my prayers today for salvation for your sisters and that God would empower you to be beautiful you when you are together.
ReplyDeleteMark 8:17 ~ And Jesus, aware of this, said to them, "Why do you discuss the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet see or understand? Do you have a hardened heart?
Mark 8:29 ~ But who do you say that I am?" Peter answered and said to Him, "You are the Christ."
Mark 8:33 ~He rebuked Peter and said, "Get behind Me, Satan; for you are not setting your mind on God's interests, but man's."
Mark 8:38 ~ For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels."
Ang, loved it when you said how much you loved them...and praying Phil 1:9 that you will just love them well, all the more, cause they mean so much to you. Col 4:6 is my prayer for you, always. Always conversation full of grace. Your life so speaks of the miracles God has done and you keep dropping those words on them. Wondering why you and me both fall back in assigned positions when we are in the hustle of extended family? Good to think about it. I bet your sisters adore you! Love that you are more concerned about eternity in their hearts than this present life. Sustain them with your words! Isaiah 50:4 is for you. My love and I understand cause I kinda sorta a little bit am at same place.
ReplyDelete