Philippians 4:4-9 "Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again-rejoice. Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon. Don't worry about anything, instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done. Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you have learned and received from me-everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be will you."
Matthew 14:13-21
Lately I have felt my heart and thoughts being pulled in so many different directions...My prayer has simply been for this peace that passes my understanding. As I opened up the other day in Matthew I started to simply sit in this story of Jesus feeding the 5000. Do you ever feel like the disciples? Coming to Jesus saying, "Here's what's going on Jesus so let's do this." I often do this. I try to control the situations of my life...
But Jesus teaches us to bring our worries to the Father. He takes our weaknesses, what looks to the world like nothing of use (5 meager loaves and 2 fish), and offers them with thanks. It is then that God provides and feeds us, leaving us in complete satisfaction...a peace that passes our own understanding.
As Jesus broke the bread in thanks to God for the 5000 and later the 4000 before He died on the cross (the bread of life broken for us-John 6:25-35), I see it simply as another model of living in surrender and thanksgiving. So surrender the magnitude of your worries (5000?) to our King in thanksgiving and He will bring satisfaction and peace.
Hungry I come to you for I know you satisfy
I am empty but I know your love does not run dry
So I wait for you So I wait for you
I'm falling on my knees
Offering all of me
Jesus you're all this heart is living for
Broken I run to you for your arms are opened wide
I am weary but I know your touch restores my life
So I wait for you So I wait for you
I'm falling on my knees
Offering all of me
Jesus you're all this heart is living for
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Preparing the way...
Isaiah 45:2-3 "I will go before you and will level the mountains; I will break down gates of bronze and cut through bars of iron. I will give you the treasures of darkness, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the Lord, The God of Israel, who summons you by name."
Matthew 11:7-10 "What did you go out into the desert to see?..Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is the one about whom it is written: 'I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.
This second verse from Matthew is actually written about John the Baptist, who fulfilled the words said in Malachi 3.
A while back I had been ready from Isaiah and the this verse continued to give me hope. Hope that I am not in control, that God has went before me and prepared the way, and that I don't need to understand what He will bring out of the darkness (hard times or even a lack of clear vision) that is before me. God has summoned us as His children and He has prepared our lives that are before us...He's bigger than the small circumstances of school and future plans or the big things like trafficking and starving children.
So tonight as I opened up to Matthew where I had been reading and read this verse. I read it for the first time with a completely different outlook. The disciples go into the desert only to find a messager of Christ...a messenger for the man they are with!! The Spirit is walking with us through each and every day, but God is also before us working through weak vessels here on earth to prepare the way for Christ in us to bring out the treasures and riches...so that we may know that God has summoned us by name. God knows us and loves us.
I just need to stop getting lost in my questions...still ask them but remember that I the clay will never fully understand what my potter is making (Isaiah 45:9).
Isaiah 55:9-13 "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than our ways and my thought than your thoughts. As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth; It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. Instead of the thornbush will grow the pine tree, and instead of briers the myrtle will grow. This will be for the Lord's renown, for an everlasting sign, which will not be destroyed."
So go out in joy and peace knowing that God is with you and before you. Abide in Him for His name's renown...
Matthew 11:7-10 "What did you go out into the desert to see?..Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is the one about whom it is written: 'I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.
This second verse from Matthew is actually written about John the Baptist, who fulfilled the words said in Malachi 3.
A while back I had been ready from Isaiah and the this verse continued to give me hope. Hope that I am not in control, that God has went before me and prepared the way, and that I don't need to understand what He will bring out of the darkness (hard times or even a lack of clear vision) that is before me. God has summoned us as His children and He has prepared our lives that are before us...He's bigger than the small circumstances of school and future plans or the big things like trafficking and starving children.
So tonight as I opened up to Matthew where I had been reading and read this verse. I read it for the first time with a completely different outlook. The disciples go into the desert only to find a messager of Christ...a messenger for the man they are with!! The Spirit is walking with us through each and every day, but God is also before us working through weak vessels here on earth to prepare the way for Christ in us to bring out the treasures and riches...so that we may know that God has summoned us by name. God knows us and loves us.
I just need to stop getting lost in my questions...still ask them but remember that I the clay will never fully understand what my potter is making (Isaiah 45:9).
Isaiah 55:9-13 "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than our ways and my thought than your thoughts. As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth; It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. Instead of the thornbush will grow the pine tree, and instead of briers the myrtle will grow. This will be for the Lord's renown, for an everlasting sign, which will not be destroyed."
So go out in joy and peace knowing that God is with you and before you. Abide in Him for His name's renown...
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