Well, we finally made it to sunny Florida. Moving is a challenge. Moving to another state is a double challenge. When the movers came somehow the price we were quoted was $700 more...amazing but in a days time we had everything we owned loaded and ready for transport. I wonder if we will actually get our stuff from the movers. I guess if we don't, someone else needed it more than we do.
Moving is letting go of everything that has been familiar to you and casting yourself into the great unknown. Moving to a new state is interesting but being compliant to the new state's rules is not so interesting. Not that I'm complaining its just a huge adjustment. But God is faithful and he has so graciously supplied us with all we need and more.
Not having a job and moving to a new state is an even harder challenge...not that I'm whining, I'm just being realistic. I didn't expect it to be all roses. Matter of fact, I was willing to stay or go depending on what the Lord had for us...it didn't matter to me. Doors opened and we followed peace, that's about all you can do in this situation.
Even here in the circumstance in which we find ourselves; God's grace is sufficient. Last night, we had dinner at some friend's house in Sarasota and we had a wonderful meal and conversation salted with encouragement that God has been and will continue to be faithful. Oh how quickly I forget. It was good for me to be reminded.
I wonder if this is how Abraham and Sarai felt when they endeavored to follow the Lord's instructions to go to a land he would show them. I wonder if they had trouble getting Internet service or had to drag every piece of evidence that proved they existed to the license branch just to drive their camels :)
New chapters in life bring new challenges and more occasions to be patient and kind with people. I'm learning...we all are...how to persevere. But we are more blessed than Abraham and Sarai...at least we don't have to live in a tent!! And we have the constant presence of our Lord with us; he comforts us and brings us peace.
Lord, turn up the volume on your voice and mute the voices of naysayers and fear. Help us to walk in faith, trusting you for our very existence. I thank you for this opportunity to see you move on our behalf! I praise you! Thank you for a kind banker and insurance agent who worked patiently through her lunch to get us the best deal. Thank you for friends who feed us and encourage our hearts. Thank you for supporting and welcoming us here through kind neighbors and friends with food. Woo Hoo! You are so good to us!
Part the waters as we watch and lead our steps through on dry ground. We believe! Amen!
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Love is the Answer!
Recently, the Lord has been showing me how to stay with him continually. I’ve noticed in my reading time that how we treat others is highly important to God and why wouldn’t it be? He gave the life of his Son for all of humanity. I am so amazed; I have never made this connection before in this way.
In John chapter 15, Jesus is speaking and he his showing us how to remain in him and remain in his love. Did you ever wish that you could be consciously connected to God constantly? That’s a mouthful, I know, but it is the best way I can communicate this principle of the Kingdom of God. Let’s look into the word and find out.
John 15:4-5 & 7 “Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing…If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.”
Wow, so not only if we remain in him will be very fruitful for God but there is also a promise attached to this statement, that God will give us what we ask of him. If we remain in him and his word is in us we can’t ask amiss because he is in us! Our wishes have come from him who remains within us and why wouldn’t God grant his own desires through us? He wants to bring glory to himself so mankind will see him and know he’s real!
We had to have a place to begin, but how do we remain in him and in his love? Well, let’s read on…in verses 9-10, “As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love.”
We remain in him and in his love by being obedient to Jesus’ command. This makes it possible for us to stay in a place of continual alignment with the Father! What is the command? Ah, here we go this is where it gets good in John 15:12, “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.”
Ok, but what kind of “love” is he speaking about? How has he loved us? Again in verse 13, “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” This is what is called “Agape” love in the Greek and what that literally means according to the Strong’s Concordance is this… “To welcome, to entertain, to be fond of, to love dearly.”
This is a love that puts others before itself, that makes itself a servant to another and that is unconditional towards another.
This is the kind of love we are to have and if we are obedient and love others in this manner God says that he will keep us in Jesus and give us the things we ask him for. Have you been praying for something recently and can’t figure out why God won’t give it to you? Take a minute and ask yourself, how have I been treating others around me? My guess is that you will immediately know the answer.
This is not a way of manipulating God. This is walking in his ways and receiving the benefits of being obedient. I used to think that God had to give me this love but the scripture says we are to be obedient. This indicates to me that we have the love of God within us and we are disobedient when we choose not to love someone.
Our old nature would say, “You can’t love that person, look what they did to you.” In contrast, through the new nature that God has given us through Jesus we are to love them as he has loved us. He makes it clear that this is an issue of command and obedience and it is well within our ability to do because he has already extended his love to us. He showed us the way.
And now comes the test :) Pass it and be blessed!
In John chapter 15, Jesus is speaking and he his showing us how to remain in him and remain in his love. Did you ever wish that you could be consciously connected to God constantly? That’s a mouthful, I know, but it is the best way I can communicate this principle of the Kingdom of God. Let’s look into the word and find out.
John 15:4-5 & 7 “Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing…If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.”
Wow, so not only if we remain in him will be very fruitful for God but there is also a promise attached to this statement, that God will give us what we ask of him. If we remain in him and his word is in us we can’t ask amiss because he is in us! Our wishes have come from him who remains within us and why wouldn’t God grant his own desires through us? He wants to bring glory to himself so mankind will see him and know he’s real!
We had to have a place to begin, but how do we remain in him and in his love? Well, let’s read on…in verses 9-10, “As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love.”
We remain in him and in his love by being obedient to Jesus’ command. This makes it possible for us to stay in a place of continual alignment with the Father! What is the command? Ah, here we go this is where it gets good in John 15:12, “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.”
Ok, but what kind of “love” is he speaking about? How has he loved us? Again in verse 13, “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” This is what is called “Agape” love in the Greek and what that literally means according to the Strong’s Concordance is this… “To welcome, to entertain, to be fond of, to love dearly.”
This is a love that puts others before itself, that makes itself a servant to another and that is unconditional towards another.
This is the kind of love we are to have and if we are obedient and love others in this manner God says that he will keep us in Jesus and give us the things we ask him for. Have you been praying for something recently and can’t figure out why God won’t give it to you? Take a minute and ask yourself, how have I been treating others around me? My guess is that you will immediately know the answer.
This is not a way of manipulating God. This is walking in his ways and receiving the benefits of being obedient. I used to think that God had to give me this love but the scripture says we are to be obedient. This indicates to me that we have the love of God within us and we are disobedient when we choose not to love someone.
Our old nature would say, “You can’t love that person, look what they did to you.” In contrast, through the new nature that God has given us through Jesus we are to love them as he has loved us. He makes it clear that this is an issue of command and obedience and it is well within our ability to do because he has already extended his love to us. He showed us the way.
And now comes the test :) Pass it and be blessed!
Saturday, June 5, 2010
It's Super God!!
Faster than a speeding planet toward its just reward, more powerful than an evil adversary able to take us out, able to humble himself to die on a cross…it’s King Jesus Super God to the rescue!!!
These are the thoughts that came to my mind today as I read from my Complete Jewish Bible in Isaiah 59. Man, this is good stuff…help me Jesus! It is clearly explained to us why God turns and hides his face from us…listen to this:
“Adonai’s arm is not too short to save, nor is his ear too dull to hear. Rather, it is your own crimes that separate you from God; your sins have hidden his face from you so that he doesn’t hear. For your hands are stained with blood and your fingers with crime; your lips speak lies, your tongues utter wicked things." (Isaiah 59: 1-3)
This scripture goes on to talk about the reason why there is no justice in our courts saying that no one is honest and all that is said and done is worthless. Verse 9- says, “This is why justice is far from us, and righteousness doesn’t catch up with us; we look for light, but see only darkness, for brightness, but we walk in gloom…”
Going on God shows the prophet the condition of the people’s hearts in verse 13-14 it says this, “...And our sins, we know them well: rebelling and denying God (Adonai), turning away from following our God, talking about oppression and revolt, uttering lies which our hearts have conceived. THUS JUSTICE IS REPELLED, RIGHTEOUSNESS STANDS APART, AT A DISTANCE…”
I love the build of these verses you can almost see God watching us, watching all the unrighteous acts of everyone everywhere…you can see the darkness coming over the land engulfing everything in its path like a spill of oil contaminating all it comes in contact with and then the prophet continues…
Isaiah 59: 15-17, Here is where King Jesus, Super God comes on the scene, “…Adonai saw it, and it displeased him that there was no justice. He saw that there was no one, was amazed that no one interceded. Therefore his own arm brought him salvation, and his own righteousness sustained him.”
Hallelujah!!!! Here comes our hero to save us!!! “…He put on righteousness as his breastplate, salvation as a helmet on his head; he clothed himself with garments of vengeance and wrapped himself in a mantle of zeal.” Hallelujah!!! Hallelujah!!!
I can see Jesus taking up our cause and dressing himself with all these attributes rising from his throne and pleading with the Father to come to earth and I see the Father nod with approval, “This is my son in whom I am well pleased,” he says for everyone to hear. But let’s see the end of what the prophet prophesies….
Isaiah 59: 19-21 “…For he will come like a pent-up stream, impelled by the Spirit of Adonai. Then a Redeemer will come from Tziyon (Zion), to those in Ya’kov (Jacob) who turn from rebellion.” So says Adonai, “And as for me,” says Adonai, “this is my covenant with them: my Spirit, who rests on you, and my words which I put in your mouth will not depart from your mouth or from the mouth of your children, or from the mouth of your children’s children, now or ever,” says Adonai.”
Wooo Hooo!!!! That is something to get excited about!! Jesus (The Word) saw our plight and from heaven brought his righteousness to earth to redeem those of men who would turn from their rebellion and his COVENANT, (or forever, unbroken, constant, enduring promise) with us is that Jesus will be with us!
He has swooped down from heaven to save us! Our part is to turn from our rebellion towards God and receive his salvation!
I leave you with this thought….if Lois Lane where falling from a building to her certain death and Superman came to save her, would she say, “no thanks, I have this all under control?!” NO WAY!! She would let him save her and be grateful! There are those spiraling down to their emanate doom and every day they take in breath, Jesus gives them opportunity …he comes to save them.
What will be their decision, will they yield to his Almighty hand? Will they go to their doom? Or will they fall into the arms of their strong and powerful Savior, ask his forgiveness and receive his love for them.
My prayer is the latter…Don’t say to Jesus today, "I don't need you, I have it all under control," for you may be falling faster than you think.
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
The Amazing Gift...Life
Well, now we’ve done it…we are officially without a home. Last night we sold the house we have lived in for 10 years. I’m sitting in the remains of the dining room as we’ve emptied the house of unnecessary items. It’s calm and quiet with hints of light coming from the living room. I don’t think it will fully hit me until we’ve closed the door for the last time that this phase of my life has come to an end and a new chapter is beginning.
We’re on the adventure of a lifetime…or so it seems. We have made some plans but are waiting for the Lord to direct our steps. I am in awe at the whole experience. Most of our worldly possessions were packed into our garage, driveway and front porch last weekend and what didn’t sell for full price was sold at half price or given away.
We will be traveling light into the next paragraph of life and we are very excited to see what God will do. We are guaranteed to face some hardships as Jesus said they must come, but we are looking forward to the challenge.
Where will we live? How will we eat? How will we survive? Jesus said not to worry about these things for the Father knows we need them. Once again I am at a place where my faith is put to the test. Do I really believe the things I say I believe? I must or else I have wasted the better part of my life believing in a fairy tale. But it’s not a fairy tale….Jesus is reality.
Faith and action are about to join again and be worked out for the entire world to see…that is if they care to watch. The kids are excited but it’s hard to let go of everything familiar to them. I am confident that just as God has a plan and purpose for our lives he has one for theirs. I’m glad God has given us this grace and opportunity to show them that like Abraham, we can let go and follow God where ever he sends us. I want them to be brave and courageous so I must show them fearlessness.
I want them to be able to soar with God when it is their time to soar. I want to see them put their whole heart and soul into loving their God. May they set their face like flint to follow him no matter what the cost. We haven’t time to waste…life is short.
I’m also confident of the fact that we will learn much though these experiences and while moving to another area of the country is our plan; God may have other direction for our steps. Life can change at a moment’s notice when you least expect it and so we are keeping our focus on the Father and our ear attentive to his instruction.
What an amazing time. What an amazing gift. God isn’t a respecter of persons; he loves us all the same and he has placed amazing gifts in each of our lives. The only requirement in receiving the gift is trust.
Let go of things that hold you back today and cling to the Father, let him direct your path and ask him to show you the amazing gift he’s placed in your life, no matter what it may be.
We’re on the adventure of a lifetime…or so it seems. We have made some plans but are waiting for the Lord to direct our steps. I am in awe at the whole experience. Most of our worldly possessions were packed into our garage, driveway and front porch last weekend and what didn’t sell for full price was sold at half price or given away.
We will be traveling light into the next paragraph of life and we are very excited to see what God will do. We are guaranteed to face some hardships as Jesus said they must come, but we are looking forward to the challenge.
Where will we live? How will we eat? How will we survive? Jesus said not to worry about these things for the Father knows we need them. Once again I am at a place where my faith is put to the test. Do I really believe the things I say I believe? I must or else I have wasted the better part of my life believing in a fairy tale. But it’s not a fairy tale….Jesus is reality.
Faith and action are about to join again and be worked out for the entire world to see…that is if they care to watch. The kids are excited but it’s hard to let go of everything familiar to them. I am confident that just as God has a plan and purpose for our lives he has one for theirs. I’m glad God has given us this grace and opportunity to show them that like Abraham, we can let go and follow God where ever he sends us. I want them to be brave and courageous so I must show them fearlessness.
I want them to be able to soar with God when it is their time to soar. I want to see them put their whole heart and soul into loving their God. May they set their face like flint to follow him no matter what the cost. We haven’t time to waste…life is short.
I’m also confident of the fact that we will learn much though these experiences and while moving to another area of the country is our plan; God may have other direction for our steps. Life can change at a moment’s notice when you least expect it and so we are keeping our focus on the Father and our ear attentive to his instruction.
What an amazing time. What an amazing gift. God isn’t a respecter of persons; he loves us all the same and he has placed amazing gifts in each of our lives. The only requirement in receiving the gift is trust.
Let go of things that hold you back today and cling to the Father, let him direct your path and ask him to show you the amazing gift he’s placed in your life, no matter what it may be.
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
It's Done !
Here's a picture of my book. I just received it yesterday and I am thrilled! The book is based on the blog that I wrote during the time of my daughters battle with brain cancer. I've also included other things I remembered as I was reliving the events of this 10 month period as well as memories from Danni's childhood. If you would like to have a copy, the book is available for purchase at www.amazon.com in the book section under the title "Hug Life".
Sunday, May 16, 2010
What God Wants...
What a week! Moving furniture and preparing for a huge garage sale is a lot of work but man, did we have fun in the end! We had prayed that needs of people would be met and that God would sell everything! Our front drive was full, our big front porch was full and our garage was bubbling over with items we had accumulated over the years.
Where does this stuff all come from??? I ask this question with a grin because I know the answer. It was so much fun watch as God met the desires of people’s hearts with things that were just gathering dust in our home. What fun and joy was had by all when a lady came and had been praying for God to give her a book from a conference she had gone to years ago. She had loaned her book to a friend and then lost touch with the person and to her dismay the book she so loved.
I had been to the same conference when I was a teenager, some years ago and had kept the book all these years never even looking at it again. She had prayed for that book for a long time and when she saw it her eyes got big and she shouted for joy giving us all high fives!! What Fun!!! God is sooooo good! And to add to her joy, it was “Get done by Noon” day at our garage day so we were giving a lot of items away and that was one of our free items! I love to watch God at work, what a joy.
That wasn’t the only item or circumstance of the day; needs were met and people were blessed and now we don’t have to move anything more than our beds, clothes and a few small furniture and kitchen items….WOO HOO …thank you Jesus! What a freeing feeling to shed all that we’ve been hanging onto as we embark on this new adventure in our lives.
This morning as I was waiting upon the Lord, he took me to Matthew 25: 31-46. Now, with the sale of our home and other things, we are waiting to see what the next door will be and we are trying to discern what the will of God is for our lives. What does God want from us?
As I was reading this passage, verses 34-40(Complete Jewish Bible version) God says to his sheep, “…Come you whom my Father has blessed, take your inheritance, the Kingdom prepared for you from the founding of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you made me your guest, I needed clothes and you provided them, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.
Then the people who have done WHAT GOD WANTS will reply, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and make you our guest or needing clothes and provide them? When did we see you sick or in prison, and visit you?’
The King will say to them, ‘Yes! I tell you that whenever you did these things for one of the least important of these brothers of mine, you did it for me!’…”
Did you see it? WHAT GOD WANTS? I did this morning. We have been trying to determine where God wants us to live and what he wants us to do and here in plain English was what he wants from every one of his children. Heaven waits for those who see a need and simply meet it with what God has given them.
So many times I have heard people say, “Why does a good God allow bad things to happen?” I’m in no way saying that I have the complete answer to this question but I did have some thoughts about it this morning.
How would we fulfill what God wants without a need being present? How could anyone ever see the light of Jesus in us through our deeds to men without the darkness in which we live?
I learned something about myself and God’s desires for us through this week of preparation and the separation of my material things. It is so true what Jesus says, it is more blessed to give than to receive. Matter of fact, I think it is the most freeing feeling I have ever experienced apart from the salvation of my soul. I’m learning to let go and give all of me to the purposes of God. What fun!!
I’m not all there just yet, but the light is beginning to dawn and this new thing God is doing is beginning to shine brightly upon me.
Thank you, Jesus for your gentle grace, love and mercy for each one of us. Cause your people to rise up and meet the needs around them just as you rose up and met the need for every one of us. I love you, Jesus ….Amen.
Where does this stuff all come from??? I ask this question with a grin because I know the answer. It was so much fun watch as God met the desires of people’s hearts with things that were just gathering dust in our home. What fun and joy was had by all when a lady came and had been praying for God to give her a book from a conference she had gone to years ago. She had loaned her book to a friend and then lost touch with the person and to her dismay the book she so loved.
I had been to the same conference when I was a teenager, some years ago and had kept the book all these years never even looking at it again. She had prayed for that book for a long time and when she saw it her eyes got big and she shouted for joy giving us all high fives!! What Fun!!! God is sooooo good! And to add to her joy, it was “Get done by Noon” day at our garage day so we were giving a lot of items away and that was one of our free items! I love to watch God at work, what a joy.
That wasn’t the only item or circumstance of the day; needs were met and people were blessed and now we don’t have to move anything more than our beds, clothes and a few small furniture and kitchen items….WOO HOO …thank you Jesus! What a freeing feeling to shed all that we’ve been hanging onto as we embark on this new adventure in our lives.
This morning as I was waiting upon the Lord, he took me to Matthew 25: 31-46. Now, with the sale of our home and other things, we are waiting to see what the next door will be and we are trying to discern what the will of God is for our lives. What does God want from us?
As I was reading this passage, verses 34-40(Complete Jewish Bible version) God says to his sheep, “…Come you whom my Father has blessed, take your inheritance, the Kingdom prepared for you from the founding of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you made me your guest, I needed clothes and you provided them, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.
Then the people who have done WHAT GOD WANTS will reply, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and make you our guest or needing clothes and provide them? When did we see you sick or in prison, and visit you?’
The King will say to them, ‘Yes! I tell you that whenever you did these things for one of the least important of these brothers of mine, you did it for me!’…”
Did you see it? WHAT GOD WANTS? I did this morning. We have been trying to determine where God wants us to live and what he wants us to do and here in plain English was what he wants from every one of his children. Heaven waits for those who see a need and simply meet it with what God has given them.
So many times I have heard people say, “Why does a good God allow bad things to happen?” I’m in no way saying that I have the complete answer to this question but I did have some thoughts about it this morning.
How would we fulfill what God wants without a need being present? How could anyone ever see the light of Jesus in us through our deeds to men without the darkness in which we live?
I learned something about myself and God’s desires for us through this week of preparation and the separation of my material things. It is so true what Jesus says, it is more blessed to give than to receive. Matter of fact, I think it is the most freeing feeling I have ever experienced apart from the salvation of my soul. I’m learning to let go and give all of me to the purposes of God. What fun!!
I’m not all there just yet, but the light is beginning to dawn and this new thing God is doing is beginning to shine brightly upon me.
Thank you, Jesus for your gentle grace, love and mercy for each one of us. Cause your people to rise up and meet the needs around them just as you rose up and met the need for every one of us. I love you, Jesus ….Amen.
Friday, April 30, 2010
He Calls from the Shore...
It’s been a while since I’ve written. This is the busy time of year for my work and in the meantime I’ve been trying to review the text of my book so that it can have the final changes made and go to print. I’m really excited about that because it’s been a pretty big project.
Also, a sale is pending on our house and a world of opportunity is about to open to us. Not to mention the garage sale that I’m trying to organize. Needless to say life has been a little stressful but exciting at the same time. Change can be a challenge but it is good and we feel empowered to move on. Ask me if I’m still empowered three months from now :)
My thoughts are turning to Jesus now and how he spoke to his disciples on countless occasions of the “change” that was coming but they didn’t understand. When he died and didn’t fulfill their expectations as a reigning, conquering king, they went back to the only thing they knew.
In John 21:3 Peter says, “I’m going out to fish…” I wonder if he was thinking that would be a good way to clear his head. Sometimes when I’m trying to hear from the Lord or I have a burden on my heart I will do something menial to clear and calm my mind so I can hear him better. Or maybe he was sulking; Peter must have had the weight of the world on his shoulders knowing how he had betrayed the Lord.
I must say that I absolutely adore this story. It shows the heart of Jesus for his kids as he calls to them from the shore in John 21:5. “Friends…” he calls them. He knew their hearts. He is so gracious to them even knowing how they had completely deserted him in his time of need. There is no condemnation with him, only love for them.
Then Peter doesn’t waste any time jumping out of the boat when he realizes it is Jesus…he just had to make things right and here was his chance. To top it all off, Jesus blesses them with a huge haul of fish and fixes them breakfast! What a heart of love, what poise and grace considering the situation. Jesus then breaks the ice with Peter. I absolutely love the way the Lord convicts us when we’ve offended him. He is so gentle and kind but firm; he is a wonderful, faithful friend.
Jesus restores Peter expressing complete forgiveness and then gives him a mandate. He tells Peter to show his love, by feeding and caring for his sheep. So many times when we have blown it we think we could never do anything for God especially not teaching or speaking to anyone about his word. But when Jesus forgives us, it is as if the sin never happened and he puts us right back on track.
“Follow me!” Jesus adds in John 21:19. This is my encouragement to you today if you have fallen…get up, come to Jesus, repent and be restored. We haven’t any time to sulk and go back to our old ways of doing things. It’s time to rise, follow him and he will show us what to do because change is coming!
Also, a sale is pending on our house and a world of opportunity is about to open to us. Not to mention the garage sale that I’m trying to organize. Needless to say life has been a little stressful but exciting at the same time. Change can be a challenge but it is good and we feel empowered to move on. Ask me if I’m still empowered three months from now :)
My thoughts are turning to Jesus now and how he spoke to his disciples on countless occasions of the “change” that was coming but they didn’t understand. When he died and didn’t fulfill their expectations as a reigning, conquering king, they went back to the only thing they knew.
In John 21:3 Peter says, “I’m going out to fish…” I wonder if he was thinking that would be a good way to clear his head. Sometimes when I’m trying to hear from the Lord or I have a burden on my heart I will do something menial to clear and calm my mind so I can hear him better. Or maybe he was sulking; Peter must have had the weight of the world on his shoulders knowing how he had betrayed the Lord.
I must say that I absolutely adore this story. It shows the heart of Jesus for his kids as he calls to them from the shore in John 21:5. “Friends…” he calls them. He knew their hearts. He is so gracious to them even knowing how they had completely deserted him in his time of need. There is no condemnation with him, only love for them.
Then Peter doesn’t waste any time jumping out of the boat when he realizes it is Jesus…he just had to make things right and here was his chance. To top it all off, Jesus blesses them with a huge haul of fish and fixes them breakfast! What a heart of love, what poise and grace considering the situation. Jesus then breaks the ice with Peter. I absolutely love the way the Lord convicts us when we’ve offended him. He is so gentle and kind but firm; he is a wonderful, faithful friend.
Jesus restores Peter expressing complete forgiveness and then gives him a mandate. He tells Peter to show his love, by feeding and caring for his sheep. So many times when we have blown it we think we could never do anything for God especially not teaching or speaking to anyone about his word. But when Jesus forgives us, it is as if the sin never happened and he puts us right back on track.
“Follow me!” Jesus adds in John 21:19. This is my encouragement to you today if you have fallen…get up, come to Jesus, repent and be restored. We haven’t any time to sulk and go back to our old ways of doing things. It’s time to rise, follow him and he will show us what to do because change is coming!
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