Jesus

Jesus Loves the Little Children

/ pastorpete51 / 1 Comment

And he took a child and put him in the midst of them, and taking him in his arms, he said to them, “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me.” Mark 9:36-37 ESV

Several years ago there was a young family at church that my wife helped out by picking up the children from school and babysitting them for part of the afternoon. David, was about seven and his little sister Leticia maybe five. On Sunday mornings whenever I saw them I would smile and say “Hey guys so good to see you!” . David would wave and give me a big smile but Leticia always hid her face behind her mom. At that time I was working as a translator in our church so I was always seated in the back, speaking through a wireless headset for those who didn’t speak Portuguese. Week after week, I would smile and wave at Leticia and week after week the results were always the same. “I’m sorry pastor.” her mother would say Leticia is just so shy.”

“No problem. She’ll smile for me one day when she’s ready.” I always answered. But as months passed I figured that day would never come. Then Sunday, just as I was just getting comfortable in my seat, I noticed Leticia getting out of her pew and then she turned, looked at me with a huge smile and came running to the back and jumped up in my lap!

That scene reminded me of today’s verse. Jesus was walking down the road with his disciples who were having an argument about which one of them was the most important. And right in the middle of the action Jesus reaches out and takes a small child by the hand. we all know that kid do not hang out with people they don’t like or trust. You can lecture them all day about being polite to your guests but you can’t force them to be friendly. But Jesus always had children around him. Maybe they had heard how he raised a sick little girl from the dead, or about the boy with seizures who Jesus had healed. Then there was the day when a boy gave Jesus five loaves of bread and did a miracle. Children showed up almost everywhere Jesus went. Maybe they liked being around him not because of the miracles but because, they knew they mattered to Him. He noticed them, talked to them and on occasion even took them in His arms and blessed them. So if we need healing are lonely or even just need someone to talk to, remember that Jesus is not far away. We don’t need to convince Him that we are important. All children are important to Jesus ( no matter how old we are!) You can just run and jump up in his lap today if you’re ready. He is just waiting for you to come! I also hope you love this rendition of Jesus Loves the Little Children sung by the Wilson family. It made my day!!!

Not Lost in the Crowd

/ pastorpete51 / 1 Comment

When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things.  Mark 6:34 ESV

After this last year most of us are mentally and physically worn out. During the pandemic, many of us have lost friends and family to the virus and have gone through a time of isolation such as we have never known. Jesus had felt all of that and more after receiving the news that his cousin had been beheaded added to the fact that people were around him so much that we are told they did not even have a chance to eat. When Jesus suggested that they go somewhere to get away and rest I can picture the disciples doing a happy dance while shouting, “Amen!” But as Jesus stepped out of the boat at their getaway location he looked out and saw the crowd had followed them. You might think that He would see those people as a frustration or a burden. But, instead today’s verse says “He had compassion on them. because they were like sheep without a shepherd. ” He didn’t just see a crowd, He saw people – one by one. Considering that today there are 7.6 billion people in the crowd, aren’t you glad He knows you by name and wants to be your shepherd? And what does a shepherd do? – He makes sure the sheep get fed, and that is exactly what Jesus did next. Now back to the story. Remember that the disciples had not eaten since the day before and would have been delighted to see the crowds leave.  But instead, Jesus invited those 12 hungry guys to become part of a miracle bigger than they could imagine.

 But he answered them, “You give them something to eat.” And they said to him, “Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread and give it to them to eat?” Mark 6:37

See as our shepherd the first thing Jesus does is teach us to shepherd others. Of course he could have just said, “Give me a loaf of bread!” and presto! – multiply it all by himself. Instead, He asks us all to see people as He does. The people around us are always just a mob, when we are more interested in our needs than theirs. But when we see people for who they are to Jesus, we will discover a compassion that makes sure that not one hungry child will get lost in the crowd!

Are You Waiting?

/ pastorpete51 / 4 Comments 
 
 
 
 Will you spend time alone with Jesus
 Is His will what you’re looking for
 Is there a place He can go to meet with you
 To come in and then close the door?
  
 Is your heart like a freshly turned garden
 That is ready and prepared for seed
 A place where His word can take root
 And His plan is your deepest need?
  
 Then listen you’ll hear HIs footsteps
 It’s the Master now coming our way
 And He’s asking to sit here with you
 If you’re waiting for Him today-


  
  
  
 Are You Waiting?  by Peter Caligiuri 
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