Daily Bread

Lost to us but Present with God!

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We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord 2 Corinthians 5:8

This week we said good-bye both physically and spiritually to my God Mother. My Aunt Helen was a blessing, a fixture, a must phone call at Christmas and a favorite of our family reunions. As the tears fell today, not from sorrow that she is gone as much as a sad recognition that this was never meant to be. God did not program death into His wonderful plan for us. We were the ones who have chosen our own way and yet he has worked an eternal greater good through the cross of Calvary. Through the dark suffering night of Jesus Christ on the horrible cross He gave to us a gift far greater than we will ever know while still here on this earth.

He suffered humiliation, rejection, abandonment and betrayal alone so Helen’s hope and our’s could be honor and acceptance, belonging and faithful love. What a loss I sense at losing my precious God Mom today but she is now found by God and experiencing the fruit of that eternal forgiveness freely offered to us by a the kindness and grace of Jesus Christ our Lord!

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Ready for Jesus

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Saying, “Go into the village in front of you, where on entering you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever yet sat. Untie it and bring it here. Luke 19:30 ESV

If we could ask this humble donkey  about that day he would give us some good advice. First No man had ever sat on his back before Jesus. In other words he was reserving his forces to be used only for God. He wasn’t doing nothing he was preparing himself for God for that day. Waiting for the call of Jesus actively is like a car that is warming up in front of the house and ready for the master’s use.

Secondly our friend was ready to go. He didn’t pull back, run away or struggle against the strangers who came to take him. He happily and wisely submitted to the challenge and change that God had planned.

Lastly he was delighted with the role which Jesus gave him to play. His was not the place of worship leader, palm branch cutter or gate keeper. His place was to carry Jesus in such a gentle way that every humble heart would see Jesus and rejoice! Are you ready for whatever Jesus has for you today? KIMG2029.jpg

 

Gone Fishing

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Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We are going with you also.” They went out and immediately got into the boat, and that night they caught nothing. But when the morning had now come, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. John 21:3-4

We used to live in a very small town. There was a store, a gas station, and a tiny post office. Moving there from the city was for us something of a culture shock. One of the most intriguing discoveries was to come to the store and find it closed during normal business hours. Usually there was a hand written sign with an explanation such as, “Open Monday, Tuesday and Thursday 12-3 PM: or “gone fishing”.

In the same way the when disciples didn’t know where to begin with what Jesus had called them to do they decided that going fishing was as good an idea as any. You might think that Jesus would show up and give them a long lecture. But instead of treating the disciples the way any “normal boss” would do He chose instead to show up and cook them all breakfast! Can you imagine the conversation around the breakfast table that morning?

The good news for us is that even when we like the disciples decide to go out fishing, Jesus comes to us with grace. He doesn’t wait for us to get everything just right. So why not remember to share His message of love with the same grace which he gave us when He waited all night for us to come home.

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