Looking for a Miracle? Mark 6:35-44

I wonder how often by acting from our logic we have stopped ourselves short of seeing a Miracle?

Remember in the Bible the story of the Feeding of the 5000? As I was reading it the other day there was a part that really stuck out at me:

Mark 6:35-36
35 When the day was now far spent, His disciples came to Him and said, "This is a deserted place, and already the hour is late. 36 Send them away, that they may go into the surrounding country and villages and buy themselves bread; for they have nothing to eat."

As I put myself in the role of the disciples I saw that they were operating out of logic. They were in God's Presence and did go to Him, but they didn't ask Him the best way to deal with the situation. They came up with a logical approach to the need that they saw for the people to be fed and told Him what needed to be done. Had He just let it go a mighty move of God might have been missed.

Mark 6:37-44
37 But He answered and said to them, "You give them something to eat." And they said to Him, "Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread and give them something to eat?" 38 But He said to them, "How many loaves do you have? Go and see." And when they found out they said, "Five, and two fish." 39 Then He commanded them to make them all sit down in groups on the green grass. 40 So they sat down in ranks, in hundreds and in fifties. 41 And when He had taken the five loaves and the two fish, He looked up to heaven, blessed and broke the loaves, and gave them to His disciples to set before them; and the two fish He divided among them all. 42 So they all ate and were filled. 

How often do we tell God what we're going to do without asking if it's what He thinks is the best thing to do? Do we even give Him time to get a Word in?

I think not only did Jesus want to teach the disciples and us about faith but I think He also wanted to teach about the benefits of seeking Him first before we act. I think He wants us to go to Him for His advice and if we do it His way we will see our needs met and sometimes in very miraculous ways. It may not be the way our logic says it should be done, which is how we know it's a move of God.

Miracle: is defined as a surprising and welcome event that is not explicable by natural or scientific laws and is therefore considered to be the work of a divine agency.

Do you need healing today? Do you need your bills to be paid? Do you need your spouses heart to be softened? Do you want to see a mighty move of God today?  The Lord is eager to help and has some great ideas, why not take some time to stop and seek Him for advice. He may speak in that still small Voice, or through reading His Word, a sermon at church or maybe through a trusted friend. He will speak, we just need to be quick to listen and slow to speak.

To meet your bills He may suggest that you give to meet the needs of others? If you're sick He may touch and heal you right then and there or He might say to go and serve others and before you know it the symptoms could be gone. We need to be open to His creative ways of meeting our needs. We need to be willing to step out in faith and act upon what we feel He is telling us to do.

There is a man I know who is going through some serious medical problems. He starts chemo soon. Though he is scared and dreading the treatment, he is not letting that stop him. He loves the Lord and knows God's has got his life in His hands. Instead of wallowing around in self pity, which so many of us would do, he is putting himself out there by actively serving with a joyous heart. When asked where are you finding your strength he responds by continually being in God's Word. This man radiates Jesus. He is glowing as the Spirit of the Living God is vibrantly moving through him to touch the lives of others.

Will God miraculously heal this man? I do not know. Will God provide for this man all that he needs to  go through all that he is about to face, ABSOLUTELY! Will God be glorified, YOU BET.

God has given us His Word and Godly council to check against if we have concerns about a direction we think is from Him. He will never tell you to do something that is contrary to His teaching or out of line with His character. 

Everyday we are confronted with opportunities to see God move; we just need to go to Him first, be open to His direction, thank Him for the outcome, step out in faith then open our arms and hearts to receive all that He has for us.

Matt 6:33
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.


Isa 30:21
And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, "This is the way, walk in it," when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left.

My Prayer: Jesus, please help me to pause before I act and seek Your guidance. Help me to be open to Your creative ways of approaching the situations in my life and give me the courage to step out in faith. Forgive me for those times when I have told You how I was going to approach something and then begged You to help get me out of a poor decision. I give You today Lord and all of the things I'm about to encounter and pray that my ears and eyes would be open to experience a miracle from You. To You be all of the Glory and Honor, Amen.

Jesus, is He the Lover of your soul? - Song of Songs 2:8-10

Today is Valentine’s day and around the world many people are giving gifts of love to each other. The gifts may be a card, chocolate, flowers or much more.


What are you giving to the Lover of your soul? To the One who really gets you. The only One that truly understands your motives and actions and loves you anyway. The One who always has your back. 


What can we give the One who has given us everything? Our love, devotion, obedience and time. Jesus longs to spend time with us. 


Have you ever been in a love relationship with someone? You think about them all of the time. You can’t wait to see them, to feel their touch. You want to know what makes them tick. You want to know what they like so you can make them happy.


I remember when I met my husband, I fell for him hard. God had given me such an unconditional love for him. In my eyes he could do no wrong. I wanted to know everything about him. We talked and talked and talked. I asked so many questions because I wanted to make sure that this man was the one I was to spend the rest of my life with. We would stay up till early in the morning just talking. When he’d go home, after just leaving me, he’d call and we'd keep talking. He'd write me letters of his undying love for me. I still have them, they are a treasure to me.


I loved to hear him say my name. Even to this day I love to hear him say my name. What is it about saying ones name that touches the core of our beings? When you are interacting with someone and you say their name you are narrowing down your focus to just that individual. You are connecting yourself with them. Then when you have the emotions of love running through you and you say their name, well it can almost bring you to tears. With just the mention of their name you are lining up all you know about that person; your memories, your hopes and your dreams.


When we whisper the name of Jesus, when we shout the name of Jesus, when we even just think His Name we are making that connection with the Lover of our soul. With the name of Jesus though we get so much more. In His name there is power. Demons have to flee at the mention of His Name. People are healed in the name of Jesus. It's not just His Name but it's the existence of His very being in connection with His Name and our belief in Who He is and what He can do, that can cause obstacles in our lives to crumble and a crooked way to be made straight.


He eagerly waits for you to seek Him out. To ask Him questions. To read His Words. To find out what makes him tick. To read His treasured Love letters to you. He has provided a way for you to find out what makes Him happy so you can give Him gifts of your love. He longs for you to sit at His feet so the two of you can exchange your deep love for one another. He wants to walk with you and help you with your work and decisions. You just need to keep that line of communication open to hear His Voice.


 8 Look! Listen! There's my lover! Do you see him coming? Vaulting the mountains, leaping the hills. 9 My lover is like a gazelle, graceful; like a young stag, virile. Look at him there, on tiptoe at the gate, all ears, all eyes - ready! 10 My lover has arrived and he's speaking to me! Get up, my dear friend, fair and beautiful lover - come to me!  Song of Songs (Solomon) 2:8-10 (MSG)

           

Is Jesus really the Lover of your soul? The greatest gift you can give Him today is your love. 


There is a great worship song that always brings a tear to my eye.


Jesus, Lover of my soul,
Jesus, I will never let you go
You’ve taken me from the miry clay
You've set my feet upon the Rock, and now i know


I love you, I need you,
Though my world may fall, I’ll never let you go
My Savior, my closest friend,
I will worship you until the very end


Love on Him today and let Him love on you. Whisper his Name and listen as He whispers yours back.

Peace, peace, peace... Phil 4:6-7

What does peace mean to you? 

When I think of peace I think of resting in that state of mind free from anxiety and distress. Isn't that something that we all long for? In this sometimes chaotic and often trial filled world we live in we desperately cry out for just a moments peace. Is there a way to actually live a peaceful life everyday, every moment of your life? I believe there is.


It starts with acknowledging that there is a Creator, God, who came in human form, Jesus, and gave His life for us so that we could be reconciled with Him now and for all eternity. Not only that, but He offers Himself through His Spirit to come and live within us bringing  comfort and teaching us how to get rid of the things that are holding us back from walking in victory everyday while we're on earth. Knowing I'm not alone to figure things out brings me peace.


When I think of Jesus one big quality comes to my mind is Peace, He exuded peace. Even at the most difficult times in His life He demonstrated peace. Before Jesus was about to die we read about His prayer time with the Father. 


Luke 22:42-44 (NKJ)


42 saying, "Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done." 43 Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him. 44 And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground. 45 When He rose up....


He knew that He was about to go through a most excruciating death yet He put His trust in His Father by surrendering His will for a Higher purpose, us! 


In knowing there was a plan for what He had to go through He was able to let go of His own desire to have things different. After His surrender He was provided comfort through an angel who came and encouraged Him. He left His cares at the alter and got up to approach what ever came next.


God offers that same comfort to us, that peace as we surrender to His purpose in our daily lives.


Phil 4:6-7 (NKJ)


 6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.


How do we have peace in our everyday lives? How do we face those hardest challenges with confidence in knowing that there is a plan in what we are about to go through? Here are a few steps that might help.


1. Spend time getting to know Jesus; through His Word and under sound Biblical teaching
2. Spend time sitting at His feet before the busyness of the day even starts, if possible
3. Offer up all of the decisions and situations of the day to Him and thank Him in advance for the outcome
4. Choose to trust Him that there is a plan for everything in your life because you are His and He loves you.
5. Surrender your need to understand the reason for everything you are about to go through
6. Take a deep breath and receive in His peace 
7. Move forward through your day 


You may need to repeat these steps several times through out the day. Even as you are about to face your next decision, consciously give it over to Him and He will bring you His Peace.


The follower's walk with Christ is a faith walk and as we put our hope and trust in the One whom we have given control over of our lives we can have His Peace in every situation. 


Receive Him now and receive His Peace.

Where is your New Car?

Is your relationship with Jesus making a difference in your everyday life or are you just trudging along waiting for that Glorious Day when you will see Him face to face?

5:10 If, when we were at our worst, we were put on friendly terms (forgiven of our sins) with God by the sacrificial death of his Son, now that we're at our best (washed clean, set right with God), just think of how our lives will expand and deepen by means of his resurrection life! 11 Now that we have actually received this amazing friendship with God, we are no longer content to simply say it in plodding prose (walking expressionless and slowly with heavy steps). We sing and shout our praises to God through Jesus, the Messiah! Rom 5:10-11 (MSG+)

Don't get me wrong I am so looking forward to that Wonderful Day and I can't wait, but Paul is talking about living life to it’s fullest in our current existence, NOW!

Let’s say your father surprises you with a brand new car—the car of your dreams. Your first reaction is probably disbelief. Maybe it is something you have been thinking and praying about for a long time. You don't deserve it, so why would you get it? But now you have it. Your dream has come true. So what are you going to do with it?

Are you going to exuberantly invite him to go for a ride, or are you going to cautiously pull a cover over your beautiful new car, respectfully thanking your father as you remind him of all the reasons why you don’t deserve it? You're so afraid of ruining your new car that you'll just leave it there unused. 

Have you chosen to just put a cover over your relationship with Jesus while life passes you by? Is your head hanging down while you somberly wait for that Glorious Day to arrive? Are you so afraid of making a mistake that you don't want to even try and step out in faith?

OR have you grabbed the keys, jumped into your New Life, pulled out the Manual (your Bible) eagerly searching to see and experience all that there is here for you NOW?

5:17  If death got the upper hand through one man's (Adam’s) wrongdoing, can you imagine the breathtaking recovery life makes, sovereign life, in those who grasp with both hands this wildly extravagant life-gift, this grand setting-everything-right, that the one man Jesus Christ provides?

You have a choice. You can get into the relationship you have chosen with Jesus now, letting Him navigate or you can continue to sit there and just wait for your journey here on earth to come to an end.

Don’t you think it’s time to crack open the Manual and get into your New Life with Jesus? Put the key in the ignition and start that engine. Put the car in gear and with both hands firmly on the wheel, step out in faith and accelerate into your new journey!

The ride through life is going to be scary at times, and there will definitely be bumps and turns in the road ahead, but with your Manual in hand and Jesus as your Navigator you will never be steered wrong.

He’s just waiting for you to buckle up because the ride is going to be AWESOME!!!