"Heaven's reality has invaded yours." 66 LL
Peter denied Jesus three times. After Jesus' death, Peter does what Peter does best. He goes fishing. But, Peter can't even catch a fish in the stocked Sea of Galilee. John 21:2. "I want to live a life that I'm good at, a life that lets me protect myself from avoidable pain and feel good in available pleasures. But You want me to live a life I can't live!" 66 LL
Cast your net on the other side, Peter, says Jesus, and you'll find 153 fish. It is smack dab in the middle of this miracle that John recognizes what just happened. Instant insight. It's Jesus! May we have Marvelous Insight into the Miracles that He is performing in all of our lives, keeping us alive physically and spiritually and emotionally. It's Him!
Come Have Breakfast with the Risen Savior. Last night, He forced you to sleep, a forced rest, brand new Mercies over you and your circumstances this day. Release the Beauty that lies within you by His Power.
So what does that mean for my little life, for yours?
"In the world you now inhabit, communion with Me is not defined by:
An Experience of me nor
Does it Depend on Blessings from Me.
To really Live
is to release My Son's Life through yours
in any circumstance,
no matter what you feel,
to relate as He related,
giving when no one gives back,
loving when no one returns love,
forgiving when no one deserves forgiveness,
suffering in the place of those who should suffer." 66 LL
What lingers with you as we close The Gospel captured by 4 disciples.
John 21:25 ~ The whole world wouldn't have room for the books
that we could write about all that Jesus did.
"Dimly visible now, He will One Day fill the Heavens and the Earth."
So, Come, Have Breakfast with Him this day.
Will you? Miracles await you.
I posted a little early cause we are back at the ranch. Bob has a job here in Lampasas for the summer so we'll be back and forth a few days each week. I'm back to the ceiling plug in Pizza Hut for Wi-Fi. Smile.
ReplyDeleteIt's a beautiful reading today that we may have marvelous insight into what He is doing in each of our lives. You are all walking miracles.
Love you guys so much!
I have so loved lingering in the Gospels for six months instead of one or so when we read it as part of the whole Bible. Like Jan said a few days ago, so many details I had never noticed before pop out and have significance. Like today, John tells us that Jesus gave them 153 fish but the net was not torn. Do you think they counted them? I feel their despair. We can do nothing without Him. Yet, with Him, all things are possible. I have treasured Jesus's words, and have wondered, been confused, and often simply accepted that it was a Mystery more complex than my little brain could wrap around. Love exudes on these pages, and my heart swells with gratitude for such an amazing Gift of Grace.
ReplyDeleteWhat is so important, what lingers, for me, is a Truth that is so much bigger than just words, or facts written on pages. This Word transforms us, tears at our hearts, summons conscience, exposes our hard heartedness, tenders our love to respond. My heart is so full.
Sometimes, worship is our only response!
Bev, I again must tell you how indebted I am to you for your faithfulness through this (and last year as well) Life rises up in you to give Him such glory through it all. Thank you, my dear friend!
ReplyDeleteHaving come from a family where fishing was important for recreation and food, I can say, "Yes, I am sure they counted them!" My husband always makes me take pictures of the catch, and of course the size of the fish gets larger with each telling. I love how early Christians used the sign of the fish for recognition of the faith. I use the sign on all my paintings under my name to show the world I am a follower of Christ. It is my little way of witnessing, and so important to me.
ReplyDeleteHaving trouble coming up with the words to express what is on my heart after this reading. Oh, how He shows Himself to us through other people, through His Word and through music. The beauty of it is, when He shows up we know it's Him. 1000 Gifts is opening my eyes to ways of thinking that I have never known before. I am one blessed woman to be alive at a time when God is moving on people much younger than I am and they are showing me Him in marvelous ways.
ReplyDeleteSo thankful that Bob does have a job for the summer. Guess the Lord knew you needed the rest more than the money. Maybe a picture of you in the Pizza Hut with the cord hanging from the ceiling would be something that would bless each one of us. How everyone's words speak to me and show me more of the Savior....
Remembering Sally in prayer today, Mary Lou. Expecting great things from our Magnificent Lord. Praising Him for each step of the miracle that unfolds. He sustains. He provides. He fills. Praying for every provision, every need to be answered miraculously and distinctly by Jesus, as He shows this family His power and love.
ReplyDeleteChrist blesses their fishing with His guidance. They caught nothing without Him. They caught a huge catch when they followed His instruction.
ReplyDeleteLesson to me that the harvest is the Lord's and He leads us to Victory.
Something about the "3" and "7." Third appearance of Jesus...symbol of the Trinity?
Seven disciples...symbol of completeness?
I'm not sure what these symbolize, but I know it has a significant meaning to God's Work here entering a new phase.
What a harvest! Exactly 153 large fish! Why the perfectly counted catch? 153 to me symbolizes the perfection of God's omniscience over those who will be saved. I don't understand the number's symbol, but it is the harvest in it's completion. The net does not rip from the miraculous catch! To me, that symbolizes that God gathers these souls and keeps them in His sovereign power.
Of course, breakfast by the sea. We depend on Him to feed us and give us our daily bread. It is more than a physical need we have. We need to be fed by Him spiritually. Just look at how the disciples became ALIVE just by hearing His Voice across the water that morning! Love it!
Christ also meets Simon Peter at the place of his deepest need...his shame. Jesus did not put shame on Peter. He gave Peter three times to confess Him before these men. Whereas, Peter had denied Him three times before. How sweet to hear Jesus say these tender words to woo Peter back into the fold and reveal how great He loved him.
And then, He shares a prophetic word for how deep Peter will love Him, following Him to the death.
What about John, Peter asks. And Christ answers Peter to look at Him alone, not others. John's future would be as Christ ordained. Peter must look only at his own calling.
And so should we. Don't compare yourself to others. God has a unique calling on each one of our lives. One no greater than the other. All doing the work of the Lord...
Hope this makes sense. I just thought this was a beautiful and deeply suggestive reading today of the significance of God's Work in what was done and what was coming.
Thank you Annette, your words mean much to me. They are quite beautiful and profound. It is not about experience or even about a verse. It's about the Truth that has so invaded your life and you wear Him well.
ReplyDeleteAs we close the Gospel of our Beautiful Christ who wore us all on His Heart, may I say that the gift of each of you in my life is unbelievable. My deep gratitude, Bev
ReplyDeleteAs I have been reading along, I have stopped and thought, I have read this many times before, but all the little details are jumping off the page. I am excited for the fresh perspective.
ReplyDeleteI am thankful for Jesus' example as He dealt with the disciples during their time of grief and bewilderment. He cooked them breakfast and met a physical need. When I got so sick earlier this year, my church family brought us meals. It was a HUGE thing for me to be able rest and get well. I could hardly function at the time.
That part in 66LL that you quoted, is marked and I have written in the margins of my book. As I read it again last week when I was having a pity party, I once again was convicted that all I do needs to be done in love(I Cor 16:14)no matter the response I get in return.
Thank you Bev, for your faithfulness! Please don't fall off the table!
Love you,
--michele