Breakfast by the Sea New Beginnings 2010

We read in John 21:1
"After these things Jesus manifested Himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias, and He manifested Himself in this way." NASB
We have been talking about Observation. "Seeing". The word "manifest" in this verse means more than 'to appear'. Manifest has the idea of to make known what has been hidden or unknown; to become known, to be plainly recognized, thoroughly understood--who and what one is.
Let's look more closely at this story and how it relates to starting a new year.
Who? Peter and some of the disciples; Jesus
Where? sea of Galilee [Tiberias]; beach along Sea
When? following an all night fishing trip, early morning
What? Breakfast by the sea
Why? To help us understand relationship between 'being' and 'doing' from God's perspective

This story happens during the 40 days Jesus remained on earth after his death and resurrection from the dead. It was Peter who had persuaded some of the other disciples of Jesus to go fishing that night. Peter had answered Jesus' question, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” declared, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” [see Matthew chapter 16]. When Jesus called Simon to be his disciple, He gave him the name 'Peter' which means 'rock'. Jesus then declared that the 'rock' is the foundational truth that Jesus is the Son of God. The Holy Spirit had revealed this truth to Peter. The Kingdom of God was in their midst.
However now we see Peter is perhaps confused from the recent happenings. Jesus, the Messiah, had NOT liberated the Jews from the hated Roman rule. Yes, Jesus had died the shameful death of the worst criminal on the cross. Now Jesus was alive again, resurrected from the dead. But for what purpose? Why had He come and died?
Before and during the arrest and trial of Jesus, Peter had denied three times that he even knew Jesus. What shame filled Peter's heart at this memory. Perhaps a trip to the Sea would wash away this sense of shame at his betrayal of the One Peter had one time boldly declared: "Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You." [Matthew 26:35 NASB]
Or perhaps Peter thought to the days ahead.. A man needed to provide for his family. Best to go back to the work he knew and was reasonably successful at doing.
Peter recalled an earlier manifestation of Jesus to His disciples, where He shows the scars from His crucifixion that He wears on His new resurrected Body. Jesus gives this message in John 20:21: "As the Father has sent me [Jesus], I am sending you." NIV.
On this fishing trip, Peter realizes there was to be no overthrow of the hated Romans. Jesus would return to heaven and how ever was Peter to 'follow' Jesus? Sent to do what? Peter could envision following a living leader who would set things right. But what was His Kingdom and what part could Peter play in building the Kingdom where there is no visible King?

After a discouraging night of catching no fish, suddenly the seven men in the boat heard a stranger from shore call out to them: "Friends, haven't you any fish?" [John 21:5 NIV]. They yelled back, "NO."
What happened next was incredible. "Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some." said the Stranger. When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish. John, the disciple whom Jesus loved, realized this was the Lord. Peter immediately jumped into the sea and swam to shore. The others brought in the boat and the big catch of fish.
They found Jesus broiling some fish. He had brought along some bread. They all knew it was Jesus without asking. Jesus asked them to bring some of their recent miraculous catch to cook. Next Jesus fixed their breakfast.
I think Peter and the others must have been astounded to see Jesus there on the shore. After breakfast Jesus began speaking to Peter. He asks a most interesting question:

"Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?"

Do I love Jesus more than 'these'? What does 'these' mean? This 153 fish caught in one night was a small fortune to Peter. Love Jesus more than pursuits of material success? His friends and old ways of life? His career as a fisherman? Peter had implied that even though the others might desert Jesus before His death, Peter had boldly declared - NOT ME. I am more loyal to my beliefs than my friends. Perhaps Jesus was asking Peter if still thought he was better than the other disciples in light of the fact of Peter's thrice denial of even knowing Christ Jesus.
We need to look into the Amplified New Testament to study Jesus' question and Peter's response. John 21:15-17
¹⁵When they had eaten, Jesus said to Simon Peter, Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these [others do--with reasoning, intentional, spiritual devotion, as one loves the Father]? He said to Him, Yes, Lord, You know that I love You [that I have deep, instinctive, personal affection for You, as for a close friend]. He said to him, Feed My lambs.

¹⁶Again He said to him the second time, Simon, son of John, do you love Me [with reasoning, intentional, spiritual devotion, as one loves the Father]? He said to Him, Yes, Lord, You know that I love You [that I have a deep, instinctive, personal affection for You, as for a close friend]. He said to him, Shepherd (tend) My sheep.

¹⁷He said to him the third time, Simon, son of John, do you love Me [with a deep, instinctive, personal affection for Me, as for a close friend]? Peter was grieved (was saddened and hurt) that He should ask him the third time, Do you love Me? And he said to Him, Lord, You know everything; You know that I love You [that I have a deep, instinctive, personal affection for You, as for a close friend]. Jesus said to him, Feed My sheep.

Three times Peter had denied knowing Jesus. Three times Jesus asks Peter if Peter loves Jesus as Peter claims to love God the Father. Then Jesus gives Peter an opportunity for a new 'career path.'

This was a Moment of Truth for Peter.
Peter, do you love Me more than these? Are you willing to give up your profession and follow me and live in poverty and even as a fugitive, when you could be a respectable fisherman? You could live where others in your family and village would be proud of what you were doing. Safe.

Lest Peter not understand Jesus' commission to become a partner with Jesus in the Kingdom work of Jesus, He continues:

¹⁸ “I tell you the truth, when you were young, you were able to do as you liked; you dressed yourself and went wherever you wanted to go. But when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and others will dress you and take you where you don’t want to go.” ¹⁹ Jesus said this to let him know by what kind of death he would glorify God. Then Jesus told him, “Follow me.” NLT.

Peter learns a lot from that Breakfast by the Sea with Jesus. He not only learns, but He is a changed man. Jesus gives Peter a 'second chance'. Jesus fills Peter with a sense of how great the Father's love. Peter truly has seen the Lord. Peter no longer boasts about his love for Jesus nor that he is better than his friends. Instead Peter sees that he really does love Jesus and he needs Jesus. Even the life of a servant is acceptable as long as Jesus is the Master.

At this unforgettable breakfast on the beach, questions were finally answered and commitments were made. Peter's Moment of Truth resulted in him never turning back to the old life 'before Christ'. Peter was gloriously restored into perfect fellowship with the Son and the Father.

Peter was restored to 'being'.. Being right with God. Peter had done nothing to earn or deserve the forgiveness and reconciliation Jesus brought to the breakfast meal.

Then Peter came into realization and empowerment of 'doing'. Peter saw the truth of Philippians 2:13 in his life. ¹³ For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him. NLT

How about you this new year?

Are you facing your Moment of Truth? Who and What is Jesus Christ to you?

Are you feeling a tug on your heartstrings to call this Jesus 'Master', 'King'? Do you long for deeper meaning and purpose in life? Are you thirsting and hungering to know How Great the Father's Love for YOU?

I encourage you to pick up a New Testament. Read for yourself the Wonderful Words of Life. Have breakfast with Jesus. I plan on a regular scheduled appointment to have Breakfast with the King often during 2010. Please feel free to join me and share with me the marvelous things He speaks to you.

Mrs. B.

thanks and appreciation for the insights into John 21 I received from reading He Satisfies My Soul by Dr. Paul Brand.

Painting: The Appearance at the Sea of Tiberias by William Hole

New Year Goals? Consider "Observation Skills"

I hope I did not leave you behind somewhere on a dusty country road yesterday. Lest you think I view life as mostly passively sitting in a car watching the scenery go by, let me build upon what we last shared. We established that in our lives, someone is responsible for the direction we travel. In my case in the early years, my dad, who was wise and trustworthy was 'behind the wheel'.
However, this pleasurable time on the Sunday afternoon trip was one of intense learning and shaping of how I one day would assume responsibility over my own life. First, I would remember that in life I would not need to travel alone. I could have companions. My mom and brother and sister most often were also in the car. Next I realized that both from a perspective of safety and pleasure certain skills were needed.
A vital skill was what I call "Observation".
Both my mom and dad contributed to my keen sense of observation of things around me. I learned to 'see', 'hear', 'smell', 'taste' and 'feel'.
At birth the baby begins to learn about the 'outside' world as well as about himself. Did you ever see one of those gizmos attached to a crib that was suspended above the baby.. just out of reach of the fingers, but close enough for the baby's eyes to observe? It moved in a circle and often played music. There was color, design, shape, and absolute fascination for the baby. It seemed to provide entertainment and keep the baby quiet for a long time. I think the English word is "mobile". Only recently did I read that at birth there are essential underdeveloped neurological connections in the young baby. The brains sees. The eyes simply communicate messages to the brain, which interprets those messages as what we call "sight". The mobile provides not only fun for the baby, but apparently later in life the child and young adult will be able to visually process information that would not be possible without this type of visual training.
So on these country outings sometimes we would learn to notice. Take note of. Color. Smells. Perspective. Same/different. Size. Purpose. Let me give a simple example. Farms have houses and out buildings. Fields and animals. Water sources. Machinery needed on the farm. So I learned that people lived in the house, animals in the barn along with stored grain and farm machinery. Ponds often provided water. Barns and houses often needed painting or repairs. Seasons provided change of how everything looked on the farm. This is level one learning.
Level two required a closer look. Animals came in male and female. A horse or mule pulled a plow or wagon. It worked to help provide what the family needed. The human used the animal to turn dirt and seed into food and income for the family and provide for the animals he owned. Chickens provided food [eggs] as well as environmental control [ate bugs that would destroy the veggies in the garden]. Dogs and cats generally were considered part of the workings of the farm, not primarily as 'pets'. Cats kept the rodent population in check. This was very important to help preserve the harvest of both grain and root type veggies. Dogs were used to herd animals, keep away predators or mean humans. Function related to type. Horses pull plows or wagons; they do not eat rats or mice.


Level three. I realized that on the farm there was an order of authority. This is a level that requires more than the physiological seeing. Humans exercised dominion over both the land and the animals. Both the land and animals existed to serve the man. But there was a higher authority. God gave the rain and sunshine and life to the man, animals and plants. So the proper order of authority was God first, then humans, then the animals, plants, and soil of earth. Within the family an order mirrored the God who created all things. The family was husband, wife, and any children God gave them. The husband was the God appointed provider and protector for the home. Serving her husband, at his side, not under his feet, was his wife who honored her husband by living to complete what God saw was lacking in the man. She was to respect his decisions even when she did not agree. She lovingly submitted to his 'final say so' in decisions he needed to make. She also was the nurturer of life. In her body the seed of the man would unite with her seed and the child of this union would be loved and welcomed as part of the family. The wife by nature is a nurturer, a lover of beauty and art and color and harmony. She provides a place where her husband can safely entrust his dreams and visions for his family and the dominion God has given him. The wife joyfully embraced her duties and responsibilities over the dominion God had given her. Children are a blessing from God. They are to obey and honor their earthly father and mother that things go well for them and they have a long life.


Level four: I learned about God's design. Design is the purpose for which God, the creator of all things, made everything. Why am I here? What is the big picture? Did God make a world in complete harmony with Himself? How is God's creation supposed to relate to the One Who sits in the heavens and who dwells in light unapproachable? Exactly how does my relationship to the One Who created all things fit in with my day to day living?
Our next post will delve deeper into Level four observation. This will give you much to think about as you are perhaps formulating some goals for 2010. Interested in becoming a better person? Becoming a bit more concerned about the others around you? I think you will enjoy tomorrow's post. I will write it with my own life in mind.
Mrs. B.

Photos:
(c) realityimaging uk

Looking Ahead: 2010 Country Roads, Sunday Afternoons, GPS

As we look forward to entering 2010, many of us will want to chart a course and reach some new goals. As I reminisced today I remembered some times when my dad would take us out on Sunday afternoons for a drive in the car. Many times this was out some country road. We would just drive along, turn when we reached a fork in the road, continue on until it was time to head home. It was delightful seeing the sights and smelling the smells of the country. I was totally disoriented by so many turns, but Dad always got us home.
In many ways "life" reminds me of these trips into the country. Now we did not have a map or a GPS device in our car or anything like this. I guess we had the sun on a sunny day, but no compass or other instrument with which to navigate or chart our course. Our destination was "home". Home, that place where we would clean up, have a nice meal my mom prepared and talk over the things we had seen and experienced along the way.
I was never fearful that we would not reach home. I trusted Dad. He was my daddy. I was his daughter. Of course he would get me to a safe and happy place.

Many of you know that I am a follower of Jesus Christ. I have turned myself over to Him and He is the One who is guiding me to my final destination. I would like to share how exactly this has been working out the last thirty some years. First, we don't travel in the dark. I used to live in the kingdom of darkness. My final destination was not going to be a nice place like home. I was charting my own course and certainly did not consult God about His plan for my life. But in His mercy, my blind eyes were opened and I saw Grace and Truth. I knew from the Law of Moses, written on my heart, that I had done bad things. Things that I was ashamed of. But I had no idea how to change for the better. I tried to change myself. That failed. Then one day the Word of God reached my heart and I realized that Christ Jesus had died on the cross to take the penalty for all my sins. And to give me grace [grace is the desire and power to do God's will] and truth. Jesus Christ perfectly fulfilled God's Holy requirements found in the Law. He did that so I would not need to. Good thing, since no man can be right in God's eyes. No matter how hard we try. God counts what Jesus did as though I had also fully obeyed God's Holy Laws.
God also extended grace that covered all my past, present,and future wrong doings or sins. God accepted the willing sacrifice of the blood of Jesus Christ, put to death on a cross, as 'payment' in full for my sin debt. In addition, I repented.. had a change of mind regarding who God is, who I am and God's remedy for my helpless condition of rebellion and hatred toward God. This repentance was also a gift from God by way of His grace.
So how is life different in my new kingdom? I now sit in the heavenlies with Christ Jesus. I am in the kingdom of light. Even though I live in the body on planet earth, I am also born into a new kingdom. One of truth and love and grace and mercy. One that I am so happy to tell others about. It is called the Kingdom of God. I trust God, my heavenly Father to get me to His Home. He has given me His Guidebook, the Holy Bible. His Spirit is like headlights of a car along a dark road, illuminating passages in the Book that show me the Way. Sometimes I am not always sure of exactly where I am.. God has numbered my days and until He determines it is time to turn toward Home, I continue on His planned path on earth.
As I grow older I am so excited to note that some of the early country roads are getting connected with the current road we travel. Of course God saw the connection all along. A road that was designed to mature me into conformity with the Character of Jesus Christ.
One example is how 25 years ago I had a dream. In this dream I saw a woman and boy on their knees. They were praying. Asking God for food. Just basic needs. Bread. And I woke up. Wide awake. I had been asking God if He would answer a prayer. I wanted to know if there was a certain nation I should pray about that had not heard much about the Kingdom of Light. I thought the people looked Chinese. But I asked God if China was the right country, then please tell me the name of the province. I knew very little about China! This is many years before Wikipedia or Google Search or even personal computers! And China had not been "open" to the West for very many years. I heard in my head the word that sounded like "henan".. much to my surprise there actually was a henan..as well as hunan.. so I began to pray for China. God gave me a great love for the nation and the people. Resources became available where I could learn more about the 450 plus people groups who called China "home". I continued daily searches in
God's Book to find His Way of Truth. His Word provided not only 'food' for my spirit, but also correction and training in the right ways of God. It would do no good to have a desire to see good things happen, if I did not learn to wait and do what God wanted His Way and His Timing.

At this point I did not know a single Chinese person. Then several years ago, God opened a way for me to meet over Skype a young woman who lived in Hong Kong. How very exciting. God did a marvelous work of grace in her life and in spite of the fact that I speak no Chinese and she speaks limited English, she is a sister in Christ Jesus. The story does not stop. Father just kept taking new turns on that country road. I am involved with other Chinese women over skype, encouraging them in micro enterprise. I desire to see the rural Chinese women be able to keep their hand craft knowledge and young women stay in the home or near by until they marry. I have the privilege of praying with them as they seek out the Father's planned journey for their lives. Our God is incredible.
If you are looking for a change in 2010.. you are not so happy on your current road in life..
Consider Jesus Christ. If you have any questions about what I am saying please contact me.
I am not talking about religious stuff. I find religion very boring and harmful.
To whom will you look for direction and purpose in life? Will you reach life's end with a pile of regrets.. or with the excitement of a life spent well..
Christ Jesus pleased the Father always while on earth. How so? He always did only what He saw the Father doing. He submitted His will to be under the will of God the Father.
If you are a fellow pilgrim on His Way, keep looking to Jesus, the author and finisher of your faith walk. Ask for and receive His grace to press on. Take time to say a kind word to fellow travelers.
Simply trusting..
Mrs. B.

You Have the Words of Eternal Life

Ok, for my many friends, Please listen to this. Write me and let's dialogue about it, ok? God loves you and so do I.

Jesus... The Revolutionary.. Merry Christmas 2009

Have you been hearing the words to the familiar Christmas Carols as you finished up your Holiday buying? What is this holiday all about? What is the meaning of "Christmas" to you? Santa? Presents? Commercialism? People pretending to enjoy being with relatives they see only one time a year? I have experienced 62 times of the anniversary of an event that happened at least 2010 years ago!
"Christmas" is a shortened form of "Christ" plus "mass". "Mass" here is related to the celebration of the Eucharist among followers of Jesus Christ. "Christ" is not the surname or last name of Jesus; it is His title, meaning Messiah. "Messiah" means "anointed one". It refers to the expected Jewish king who was prophesied to come and deliver the Jews from their enemies. Jesus came however to undo the works of satan and to deliver man from his own sins. His is a kingdom of the heart, not a political kingdom.
"Eucharist" comes from a Greek word meaning to show favor, gratitude, grace.. to rejoice. Eucharist is celebrated as a time of communion. Each individual who participates in the communion celebration symbolically partakes of the Life of Jesus Christ. Collectively, each member is considered part of the Body of Christ. Christ is the "Head". His Body is also called the Church or Called Out Ones. We are speaking of life here, not buildings or statues or representation of early saints. The "church" often meets in buildings or homes. However, the building is NOT the church.
The symbols used in the Eucharist are generally a piece of bread and a small cup of juice of the grape. Communion is sharing; perhaps you know the word "communication". So what is shared in the communion time? How can that have anything to do with celebrating Christmas and the Title of this blog, Jesus as a Revolutionary?
Let's dig a little deeper into the Words of Jesus prior to His crucifixion death. The Gospel of John chapter 6 records how Jesus miraculously feeds 5000 men plus women and children from just 5 loaves of bread and two fish. Of course the people were thrilled and wished to make Jesus King right then! Everyone likes a "free lunch", yes? But strangely, Jesus withdrew. This was not the way He would rule as King. The next day Jesus gave perhaps the most revolutionary teaching any man had spoken. Let us hear the exact word of Jesus from the ESV Bible. John 6:22 to 69 says:
²²On the next day the crowd that remained on the other side of the sea saw that there had been only one boat there, and that Jesus had not entered the boat with his disciples, but that his disciples had gone away alone. ²³Other boats from Tiberias came near the place where they had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks. ²⁴ So when the crowd saw that Jesus was not there, nor his disciples, they themselves got into the boats and went to Capernaum, seeking Jesus.

²⁵When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, "Rabbi, when did you come here?" ²⁶Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. ²⁷ Do not labor for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal." ²⁸Then they said to him, "What must we do, to be doing the works of God?" ²⁹Jesus answered them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent." ³⁰So they said to him, "Then what sign do you do, that we may see and believe you? What work do you perform? ³¹ Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, 'He gave them bread from heaven to eat.'" ³²Jesus then said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. ³³For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world." ³⁴They said to him, "Sir, give us this bread always."

³⁵Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. ³⁶But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe. ³⁷ All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. ³⁸For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. ³⁹And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. ⁴⁰For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day."

⁴¹So the Jews grumbled about him, because he said, "I am the bread that came down from heaven." ⁴²They said, "Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How does he now say, 'I have come down from heaven'?" ⁴³Jesus answered them, "Do not grumble among yourselves. ⁴⁴No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day. ⁴⁵It is written in the Prophets, 'And they will all be taught by God.' Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me— ⁴⁶ not that anyone has seen the Father except he who is from God; he has seen the Father. ⁴⁷Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life. ⁴⁸ I am the bread of life. ⁴⁹ Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. ⁵⁰ This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. ⁵¹I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh."

⁵²The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?" ⁵³So Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. ⁵⁴Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. ⁵⁵For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. ⁵⁶Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him. ⁵⁷As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever feeds on me, he also will live because of me. ⁵⁸ This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like the bread the fathers ate and died. Whoever feeds on this bread will live forever." ⁵⁹Jesus said these things in the synagogue, as he taught at Capernaum.

The Words of Eternal Life

⁶⁰ When many of his disciples heard it, they said, "This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?" ⁶¹But Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples were grumbling about this, said to them, "Do you take offense at this? ⁶²Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? ⁶³ It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. ⁶⁴But there are some of you who do not believe." (For Jesus knew from the beginning who those were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray him.) ⁶⁵And he said, "This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father." ⁶⁶ After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him. ⁶⁷So Jesus said to the Twelve, "Do you want to go away as well?" ⁶⁸Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, ⁶⁹and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God."
I encourage you to study these words. There is some confusion in our world about who Jesus is. Many think He is a good teacher with similar words to Confucius and Buddha and Mohammed and Chief Seattle. But none of these men said we find life by "eating of their flesh and drinking their blood"!
What are the promises of Jesus in this part of the Word of God? First, no one can come to Jesus and receive life eternal unless God, the Father grants it. Second, whoever eats of His flesh and drinks of His blood, Jesus will raise up at the resurrection of the dead. Raised up with a new, imperishable body. Third, whoever eats of the flesh of Jesus and drinks of His blood abides in Jesus and Jesus abides in that person. Intimacy with God, relationship, not a bus ticket to heaven.
"Revolutionary" means that which brings about a major or fundamental change.
No matter who you think Jesus is, most acknowledge that He certainly brought about and continues to bring about a fundamental change. But Jesus changes the inside of a person. We are not talking about external ways to please God -- religious observances such as prayers, alms giving, fasting, pilgrimages, reading Holy Books or forms of self flagellation. Eternal life begins with the change that occurs inside the human heart, which the Word of God says is desperately wicked. Beyond man's attempts to clean and make good. Jesus brought not a sword with which to rule and conquer people. He brought His own flesh and blood body. A body which would be willingly put on a Roman cross of execution. Yes, Jesus went to the cross. Yes He died there. Yes, He is who He said He was--the only One who has seen the Father. Son of Man, Son of God. Son is talking about relationship. Jesus is NOT the son of Mary and Joseph. His miraculous birth made of Him a new man, a second Adam, the firstborn among many brothers. Jesus --perfect God, perfect Man--died as a substitute for all who will put their trust in His blood sacrifice and will repent of their sins.
Maybe you have been thinking about Jesus. Maybe deep in your heart you know you are not right with God. You know a Holy, Sinless God will not allow you into heaven when you die. You are faced with a decision. Accept God's way to become right with Him.. Unless you eat the flesh and drink His blood, you cannot enter the Kingdom of God. Or depend on your own good works and try and someway earn a place of favor with God.
Jesus is a revolutionary because He said that He is the ONLY way to the Father. The ONLY way to become right with God. The ONLY way into the Kingdom of God. But what could He mean that we get to God by "eating His flesh and drinking His blood"?
In Chapter Six Jesus prophesies His upcoming sacrifice on the cross. Remember, the Old Testament teaches that without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sins. Sin required a burnt offering of an animal as well as shed blood. For the life is in the blood. God's Words spoken to Noah. Jesus body would be broken but not burned. His blood would pour out in atonement for man's sins. Jesus, the Sinless Man, would take in His body the full wrath of God against man's sin. God would look upon the perfect, sinless blood of His Son and accept that as full payment for OUR sin debt. That is revolutionary, yes?
He gave His broken body and shed blood willingly as a sacrifice that man might have life eternal.
But Jesus is much more than this. He can become YOUR life now! Bread is called the "staff of life". Jesus called Himself both the Living Bread and the Bread of Life. Perhaps the dual meaning here means just as we eat food [bread] daily and our bodies digest and use it for energy and rebuilding our cells, we can be spiritually nourished by the Life of Christ who abides in each one who has by faith repented of sins and trusted in the shed blood of Jesus to atone for their sins. There is also a deeper meaning. In some mysterious way, God by His Spirit lives in each believer. We are still individual humans--retaining our own personalities. But God can abide and rule in our hearts and we are quite aware of this. If anyone abides in Christ Jesus, He becomes a new creation; the old ways of living pass away, a new way comes. Through the revolutionary new birth brought through the Spirit of God, a person has new desires, new direction, new ways of relating to God and man. There is a fundamental change in direction from being self absorbed to God focused. We become most satisfied with God Himself. Jesus gives life meaning and purpose. When we meet together with other believers in a time of corporate communion and share the broken bread and the cup, we celebrate not only the sacrifice of the broken body of our Lord Jesus Christ, but also the sustenance of His life provides me as well as the shared life we have with each and every believer world wide. Truly globally revolutionary. Part of a world wide family each member a part of one another through the sharing of the Body and Blood of Christ Jesus.
But what about "drinking blood"? "Eating flesh". Ugh.. Makes me think of the cannibals of the 1800s that John Paton encountered on the New Hebrides islands.
“Jesus said to them, ‘I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life … For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him … so the one who feeds on me will live because of me.’”
Thankfully, Jesus explains, “The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life.” Jesus specifically stated that His words are “spirit.” Jesus was using physical concepts, eating and drinking, to teach spiritual truth. Just as consuming physical food and drink sustains our physical bodies, so are our spiritual lives saved and built up by spiritually receiving Him, by grace through faith. Eating Jesus’ flesh and drinking His blood are symbols of fully and completely receiving Him in our lives. [thanks to www.GotQuestions.org for this explanation]
Author Dr. Paul Brand in his book He Satisfies My Soul adds the idea of the life giving properties of blood in a blood transfusion. Jewish law prohibited eating the meat with the blood in it or drinking blood, so obviously Jesus was not talking about a literal drinking of any blood. Just as a blood transfusion is a share life, a transferred life, so one by grace through faith appropriates the Life of Christ. What else does blood do in the human body? In addition to the energy we get as food is eaten and digested, blood also cleanses the human body. How we desperately need the cleansing power available only through appropriating the shed blood of Jesus which cleanses us from ALL unrighteosness. Hebrews 9:14 speaks of how the blood of Jesus cleanses us from dead works to serve the living God. Another exciting function of blood is it is a great fighter against invading enemies, such as germs which cause disease in our bodies. Revelation 12:11 speaks of how by the blood of the Lamb [another name for Jesus.. behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world] defeats the armies of satan, the enemy of God and mankind. The life of Jesus living in me also gives me power to resist temptations to do wrong. He suffered temptations so that He might help those who are being tempted. Truly there is "power in the blood."
So let's 'wrap this up.' Pun intended. I want to close by sharing a story from Paul Brand's Book He Satisfies My Soul. An Arabic Baptist church in Israel celebrates the communion of the Lord's Supper by each member bringing a handful of grain. Perhaps from his own farm. The grain is collectively put together, ground into flour and baked into a loaf. When taking of the bread, representing the broken body of Christ Jesus for the remission of sins, the group of believers experience a oneness of fellowship that they explain like this: As individual seeds of grain, we remain alone, isolated. After being mixed together and ground into flour and baked as one loaf we experience the life of one another. We experience full fellowship.
So we need daily to be broken and crushed of our sense of pride and self sufficiency and see the need we have for fellow believers.
So for my many other individual members of His Body, I wish you Merry Christmas; thank you for your many prayers for our family. My fellow members of Christ's Body, whether in China, the Philippines, Korea, Mongolia, Burma, Canada, Germany, Holland, the US, Brazil, Slovakia, Azerbaijan, Russia, Ukraine, Israel, Gaza Strip, Jordan, African countries--Egypt, South Africa, Uganda, Tunisia, Algeria, Ivory Coast; Romania, UK, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Malaysia, Japan, Hong Kong or Taiwan. Sorry if I forgot your country. In Christ we are one. In Christ, there is no separation. Take, eat, This is My Body, broken for you.. so we remember Him Who came to give us His Life. We also remember one another and the bond of fellowship we enjoy in Him. Let us look forward to the time when we together will rejoice around His throne.. peoples from every tongue, tribe, language group [ I want to be able to speak Chinese and Arabic. :) ] all gathered at the Marriage Feast of the Lamb.. oh what a Eucharist that will be!

Hearing and Listening: Evil and Suffering

Evil and Suffering are universal. This means no one is immune.

You may have heard:
"God whispers to us in our "good times". He SHOUTS at us in our afflictions or sufferings."

I believe what really happens is that in our time of suffering, we are more attentive to the voice of God.

I have been meditating on John chapter 10 from the Bible. Here we learn about a Shepherd and His flock. I want to share about the use of two words from this chapter. One word is "hear" or sometimes translated "listen". The other word is "know". Please listen to the entire chapter.
Here are some verses that talk about "hear" or "listen".
The original Greek language uses a word for hear, "akouo" which can include the idea of the following: considering what has been said, understanding, perceiving the sense of what has been said, comprehending, learning.
The Amplified Bible [quoted below] connects the "hearing" with "obedience" or "heeding".

"Hearing" is NOT always the same as "Listening".
A common complaint among married women is that her husband does not "hear" her. She means he does not understand her message. He hears the words but not the message.

John 10 Amplified Version
3The watchman opens the door for this man, and the sheep listen to his voice and heed it; and he calls his own sheep by name and brings (leads) them out.
4When he has brought his own sheep outside, he walks on before them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice.
5They will never [on any account] follow a stranger, but will run away from him because they do not know the voice of strangers or recognize their call.
8All others who came [as such] before Me are thieves and robbers, but the [true] sheep did not listen to and obey them.
16And I have other sheep [beside these] that are not of this fold. I must bring and impel those also; and they will listen to My voice and heed My call, and so there will be [they will become] one flock under one Shepherd.
27The sheep that are My own hear and are listening to My voice; and I know them, and they follow Me.

Let's look at verse 4 from the New King James Version
4 And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.

What does it mean to "know" his voice?

The Greek word is "eidon" which can mean: to see with the mind's eye, signifies a clear and purely mental perception; to perceive, notice, discern, discover; to see about something [to ascertain what must be done about it]; to have regard for one, cherish, pay attention to; to turn the eyes, the mind, the attention to anything.
We see this means much more than to just recognize the voice, such as one recognizes the voice of a close friend who calls on the phone.
The sheep expects to receive personal help and guidance in life from "knowing" the voice of the Shepherd.
So why did Jesus talk about Sheep and a Shepherd? Here is the main message.
John 10: 22-30 Amplified
22After this the Feast of Dedication [of the reconsecration of the temple] was taking place at Jerusalem. It was winter,
23And Jesus was walking in Solomon's Porch in the temple area.
24So the Jews surrounded Him and began asking Him, How long are You going to keep us in doubt and suspense? If You are really the Christ (the Messiah), tell us so plainly and openly.
25Jesus answered them, I have told you so, yet you do not believe Me [you do not trust Me and rely on Me]. The very works that I do by the power of My Father and in My Father's name bear witness concerning Me [they are My credentials and evidence in support of Me].
26But you do not believe and trust and rely on Me because you do not belong to My fold [you are no sheep of Mine].
27The sheep that are My own hear and are listening to My voice; and I know them, and they follow Me.
28And I give them eternal life, and they shall never lose it or perish throughout the ages. [To all eternity they shall never by any means be destroyed.] And no one is able to snatch them out of My hand.
29My Father, Who has given them to Me, is greater and mightier than all [else]; and no one is able to snatch [them] out of the Father's hand.
30I and the Father are One.

So why talk about a Shepherd, knowing and listening to His voice?
What does this have to do with evil and suffering?
Suffering will be served on each of our plates. We will all eat of it. But for those who have a personal relationship with the Shepherd, they will "hear" and "know" many truths from the Shepherd's heart .. if they have the proper attitude toward personal suffering. The Shepherd said He came to give life and life abundant. John 10:10 NASB: "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly."
Can a person have that "abundant life" in the MIDST of suffering? Absolutely! Yes!
The Apostle Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 NKJV:
9 And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

I have not personally suffered for the cause of Christ. But I have a deeper identification with my brothers and sisters who are suffering persecutions for the NAME. My prayer life is experiencing "life abundant".
I am one of His Sheep. I know His voice and follow Him. No one or thing or life circumstance can ever separate me from His love or snatch me from His hand.
I KNOW that my sins are forgiven and paid for in full. He chose me and gave me grace to trust in the all sufficient work of Jesus, Messiah, in his life, death as my substitute on the cross and resurrection from the dead. No matter the amount or length of my suffering, it lasts only as long as this life on earth. One day I will be resurrected with a new body which will never know suffering of any kind.
I bow in humble praise and adoration before My King, My Sovereign Lord and High Priest who makes intercession for me and gives me comfort in my sufferings. His ways are always goodness.

The Moment of Truth: Breakfast with Jesus

I want to thank all of you who have been praying for my health. I have learned much from the Lord during this time!
Several months ago I read a book by Dr. Paul Brand, a pioneer in the treatment and rehabilitation of leprosy patients of the last century. The title is "He Satisfies My Soul". Chapter 18 entitled "The Lord's Breakfast" focuses on the story of Peter and some other disciples going fishing one night.. after the resurrection of Jesus and His appearance to the disciples in His scarred, resurrected Body. John 20:21 records the new commission to His followers: "As the Father has sent Me, I am sending you." NIV.
So why did Peter go fishing? The author reflects that Peter must have been unclear on why Jesus did NOT set the Jewish people free from the rule of the cruel Romans. After all, this was the popular notion of what the Jewish Messiah was supposed to do when He came. Instead, Jesus died as a common criminal and brought disgrace and shame on His followers. Jesus even said those incredible words from the cross shortly before He died: "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do." see Luke 23:34. What kind of a King would speak such words of "weakness"?
The disciples had been arguing about who was the greatest at the Last Passover Supper.. dreaming of who would have which position in the New Kingdom of God on earth. But of course Jesus came to bring first an internal kingdom--one which requires a "new heart".
Jesus was returning to Heaven. There would be no coup against the Roman rule, no release from poverty, persecution, rejection and even possible death .. did Peter really WANT to continue to follow this kind of "leader"?
So Dr. Brand comments that perhaps Peter just needed some "time to think things through". What did "following Jesus" really mean?

This fishing trip was Peter's "MOMENT OF TRUTH". For three years Peter had committed his whole life to following Jesus. Was He willing to go forward with this commitment? Or should he go back to the old life and fish?

As you read the story in John chapter 20-21, you will notice that the men did not catch a single fish. Someone on the shore called to them and asked if they had caught any fish. They said "No", then this stranger said: Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some [fish]. As He had said, the net was so full, it was breaking! A record catch! Suddenly John the Apostle, recognized the Stranger as Jesus. It is the Lord! Impulsive Peter swam to shore, the others followed in the boat with the fish. On shore they noticed that there was a fire, some fish and some bread.. breakfast in the making! Must have looked good to tired, hungry fishermen. Jesus invited them to bring some of the 153 fish and join Him for breakfast.

After eating, Jesus then asks Peter a very strange question: "Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these?" John 21:15 NIV. Ever wonder what the "more than these" refers to? The author makes 3 suggestions. 1. Peter was the one who had boasted that even if ALL OTHERS deserted Jesus, Peter would be faithful. Of course, we know Peter denied even knowing Jesus 3 times and even cursed His Name. So more than the other disciples loved Jesus? Hmmm.. 2. More than Peter's old friends. Peter was seemingly trying to go back to his old lifestyle. 3. The big catch of fish was worth a substantial amount of money. Was Peter willing to abandon a lucrative business venture and choose a life of poverty, living as a fugitive, hand-to-mouth, depending wholly on the provision of God?
We know from the Book of Acts that Peter was changed by this Breakfast with Jesus. He no longer boasted about his love for the Lord or his courage or how he was better than anyone else. He received the commission from Jesus to "feed My sheep", "take care of My lambs". He knew following Jesus would require the power from God through the Holy Spirit which Jesus promised would come to indwell and empower His followers after He returned to heaven. Those things which may have crept into Peter's life that were competing loyalties to complete obedience and loyalty to Christ Jesus were exposed and removed from Peter's life. Peter's response would be "Yes, Lord". In fact to say "Lord" and to say NO at the same time is a spiritual oxymoron.
So at this Breakfast with Jesus, first loyalties were taken care of, priorities put into place and a wonderful time of fellowship and peace was enjoyed. Peter first acknowledged the Presence of Jesus and His Lordship. After severe testing, fellowship and love had been restored. A clear understanding of Peter's life work was given at the end of this wonderful meal.

If you are a child of God, you will face the MOMENT OF TRUTH . A time of testing of your loyalty to Christ and whether you will continue in surrender to His will in your life. You may be tested by other competing affections, or severe affliction, either physical or spiritual or emotional. You may have multiple Moments of Truth.

The author suggests that local believers should regularly meet together to celebrate a communal breakfast with Jesus-- the "Lord's Breakfast" where He meets with us as we renew our vows and share His presence and words of commission and encouragement and restoration.
I think this is a great idea. Write me and let me know what you think about John 21.

You can find "He Satisfies My Soul" by Dr. Paul Brand from http://www.dhp.org/.

UNDER CONSTRUCTION

We have been busy with various projects around the property. Some construction is going on as well as some landscape changes. Some tearing down and some planting and building up. The purpose of this work is that we might better display the glory of the One True God Who is the owner of where we live. We are His managers.
Today my husband and I read from God's Word something about God's work and our work as fellow workers of God. Jeremiah, the Old Testament prophet was chosen and commissioned by God and even though a young man, God tells Jeremiah he must tell others what God will speak. God promises to be with Jeremiah, to rescue him. God also puts His words in the mouth of Jeremiah so Jeremiah can speak God's words. God provides the power to carry out His commands. Jeremiah will tell of God's wrath against those who worship other gods. This is to tear down or uproot. Jeremiah also tells of God's desire to restore and plant. Jeremiah tells that one day God will one day make a New Covenant with man in order to give us a new heart so we might know God and keep His commands. There will be complete forgiveness of sins under this New Covenant.
The Apostle Paul in the New Testament also talked about building. Paul traveled over many parts of the known world planting "churches"; He did so as God's co-laborer--preaching the news of Christ Jesus and Him crucified so that all who repent of their sins and place their trust in the finished work of Christ Jesus, [the Righteous One, who died as our substitute for our sins, eternally triumphant over sin, death and the grave ] might have Life Everlasting and enjoy the presence of God and delight in Him forever. In 1 Corinthians 3 we read about building on a foundation; Ephesians 2 and Colossians 2 tell us more about how to build, and to make sure we build on the RIGHT foundation.

Let's take a closer look at the passage in Ephesians 2 NIV:
Ephesians 2

Made Alive in Christ

1As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature[a] and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. 4But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9not by works, so that no one can boast. 10For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

One in Christ

11Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called "uncircumcised" by those who call themselves "the circumcision" (that done in the body by the hands of men)— 12remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. 13But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.
14For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, 16and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. 17He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.
19Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household, 20built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.
Footnotes:
Ephesians 2:3 Or our flesh

How about you? Everyone is "building" their lives. On what foundation are you building? Do you long for the peace that God promises?

Faithful Women and Their Extraordinary God

Fixing our eyes on Jesus.. so says Hebrews 12:2.
We are living in turbulent times, yes?
Uprooting that comes with loss of jobs and homes, fear of the future, chaos and a desperate desire for "normalcy" are prevailing during this time of change.

I want to invite young women or even older ones to begin an online study with me of the book by Noel Piper called "Faithful Women and Their Extraordinary God". The book is free to download in pdf from the http://www.desiringgod.org/ website.

We will read aloud the book and discuss what we learn. Can we experience what these women did? An "extraordinary" God?

We will begin with the story of Lilias Trotter.

Check with me if interested for time and date of this continuing study.

Fuzzy Relaxation

This little guy stayed here for several minutes today, enjoying the warmth of the sun on a cold day.

Whiter than Snow

After a rare snowstorm in Central Arizona...

... a message...


... and a song!


If you don't see the embedded videos, click on "Whiter than Snow" above.