ALL NEEDS MET

As I studied Matthew Chapter 14, I thought of the nature of our Lord Jesus Christ. I came to realize what a very long day He had in that chapter and how He dealt with the issues that arose. The day pretty much began with the news of His friend John's beheading by Herod the tetrarch. It tells us in verse 13 that, "When Jesus heard of it, He departed thence by ship into a desert place apart." I interpret His actions to be that He needed to get alone (or try) and process this heartbreak. Then began the healing of some 5,000 people, or at the very least, 2,000 of that number (as stated in verse 21). Then, the disciples suggest to Him that He end the day's activities because, "the time is now past," verse 15. But instead, Jesus differs with them and suggests that they feed the people with their own food supply. In verse 19 "...He blessed , and break, and gave the loaves to His disciples, and the disciples to the multitude." That's 5,000 people. Stop a moment and imagine that many. Now remember, in verse 14, "...He saw a great multitude and was moved with compassion toward them, and He healed their sick." So, now He's spent the time it took to heal the multitudes one by one, and feed them one by one. Finally, it tells us in verse 23, "He went up into a mountain apart to pray." So, now He's climbed a mountain. Mind you, that strength and energy comes from somewhere other than within Himself. I gave thought to the time it took to heal that many, then to feed that many, and all with the heavy heart of losing a friend and a brother. Fast forward and it says in verse 25, "In the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them (disciples)..." I figure the fourth watch to be around 3-6 a.m. Now, He's confronted with the ship's dilemma as it's being "..tossed with waves for the wind was contrary," verse 24. This is where I got the revelation of it all. The needs. The people and their needs and how He met them all, where they were, in the middle of the needs each had. There wasn't a "meeting place" or a special building. He was in the midst of it all as it happens and where it happens. Isn't that just like life? I don't wait until Sunday to have a dilemma so He can meet me there and resolve it. Or Saturday, whichever you prefer. So, in this chapter I count 3 obvious needs. Healing, hunger, deliverance. But there's underlying needs such as comfort, rest, peace of mind, the gift of love. To name a few. I like when the disciples tell Him to end His activities with the people so, "they can go into the villages and buy themselves victuals (supplies or food)" verse 15. However, Jesus insists on meeting their needs with His own supply. Note: Verse 20 says, "They did all eat and were filled: and they took up of the fragments that remained 12 baskets full." More than enough, as it says in Ephesians 3:20, "...Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think,..." What about the desperation and fear that Peter experiences as he began to sink from the surface of the water, which only happened when he took his eyes off of Jesus and began seeing the storm around him. This symbolizes us in this life. When we take our eyes off of Christ, we begin to sink. Notice however what Jesus did when Peter begins to cry out for Jesus to help him. Peter says, "Lord, save me," verse 30. It says, "And immediately Jesus stretched forth His hand, and caught him..." verse 31. Hallelujah!!!! If you cry out to Him today, now...expect the strongest hand to grab hold of your life and pull you from the dangerous waves. You'll find the prayer at the end of this page. I hope you'll go.

WE HAVE BROKEN HIS HEART

"Though He had commanded the clouds from above, and opened the doors of heaven, and had rained down manna upon them to eat, and had given them of the corn of heaven. Man did eat angels' food: He sent them meat to the full. He caused an east wind to blow in the heaven: and by His power He brought in the south wind. He rained flesh also upon them as dust, and feathered fowls like as the sand of the sea: And He let it fall in the midst of their camp, round about their habitations. So they did eat, and were well filled: for He gave them their own desire; They were not estranged from their lust. but while their meat was yet in their mouths, The wrath of God came upon them, and slew the fattest of them, and smote down the chosen men of Israel. For all this they sinned still, and believed not for His wondrous works. Therefore their days did He consume in vanity, and their years in trouble. When He slew them, then they sought Him: and they returned and inquired early after God. And they remembered that God was their rock, and the high God their redeemer. Nevertheless they did flatter Him with their mouth, and they lied unto Him with their tongues. For their heart was not right with Him, neither were they steadfast in His covenant. But He, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity and destroyed them not: yea, many a time turned He His anger away, and did not stir up all His wrath. For He remembered that they were but flesh; a wind that passes away, and comes not again." Psalm 78:23-39.
If ever I had credibility with my Father, daily I destroy that credibility. If He makes His face to shine upon me for His grace and mercy, daily I give Him reason to look away. If I have found any favor with Him, daily that favor lessens with my every failure to serve. If I make Him to smile at the thought of myself, His daughter, daily His smile is replaced with a frown. If His heart is warmed by my willing spirit, daily His heart would wax cold by my unwillingness. Can I make Him to love me any less? Can I please Him by my deeds? Is my presence in a church service the act He's waiting for me to perform? Can I earn any one ray of light? Are my words pleasing to His ear? Can I reach His Truth by stretching out my hand? Can I reach Him by my efforts? Oh God of my soul of my life and the light from within my spirit....forgive me that I have hurt you so, please forgive me Father. What wilt thou that I can do to amend my misdeeds? Can I find Favor with thee oh God by wishing it? Can I simply ask? Wilt thou hear me Father? Hear me, if I can beg that of thee Lord, I've opened this my prayer to the world, I've hurt you Father. I've broken your heart. As the children of Israel...I've broken your heart. I have no redeeming qualities that thou would want me but thy mercy endures forever and your grace is sufficient. Your strength is mine, your love is my health and existence. I breathe because you bless every breath. My heart is failing for fear and failing for sadness. I'm a woman of constant sorrow. You oh Lord, are my redeemer and will pluck my feet from the snare. How I love thee, I will serve you Father, all my days. I won't ask you why you've made me thus. I'll "only believe." I'll believe your word and your promises within. It's not by might but by your Spirit. Blessed be your name. Thank you Jesus! I have only my life. I own nothing. I can not add one cubit to my stature by speaking it. I am what you'd have me to be. I owe you my life such as it is. It's yours and for you it is meant to Glorify. I will remember Ecclesiastes 12:13 "...fear God and keep His commandments: for this is the whole duty of man." Thank you for forgiveness, mercy, grace, and the life I've been given. To you be the glory forever and forever, Amen.

THE WHOLE ARMOUR OF GOD

I have to give God praise for showing me the way. I find myself looking for the right path daily. Always, I ponder His will in it all. I could take any path I choose, but for those of us who've travelled our own path as well as that of the Father's, we know all too well what our wrong choices can lead to. It's truly a daily dilemma. I'm shocked at Satan's stamina. My goodness, that dude can persue and afflict and haunt for hours and hours and days and months and years. He doesn't run out of tools, nor tactics. There's no way, Christians, that we can get through this without asking God which way. Go ahead...try. I've spent more time back tracking in this life for thinking I could figure it out. Never ever second guess yourself if you know that you're in God's will for your life. That tiny "still" voice that says, "not good, don't do it," ya, that's Him. That instinct that says, "hm, this doesn't feel right," ya, that's Him. Follow it! Follow Him. He works so much harder than the enemy to deliver us. God's stamina is far beyond the devil's. I see, with my spiritual eyes, the deliverance daily. My natural eyes only see the surface of this world and that's what the enemy uses to confuse and dismay. He'll convince you that what you're seeing is what's happening to you and that there's no way out...as you can see. Then, God, like that mighty rushing wind, swoops in and scoops me right out of it. I always feel like the toddler looking over the back of my daddy's shoulder as he carries me off to safety....I'm looking back at where I was and seeing the enemy still standing there with that stupid look on his worthless face wondering how I got out from under him, while I stick my tongue out at him and say, " neener neener neener." Why does he even try with us? Oh ya, that's right, because there's those who will weaken and crumble. You know why? You're not armed. The Bible says, "Put on the whole armour of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore, take unto you the whole armour of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day and having done all to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:..." Ephesians 6:11-17. It's just this simple...if something afflicts you or vexes you, use the word of God, say "Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivers him out of them all." Psalm 34:19. See if hope and faith doesn't rise up inside of you (if you're saved and in the Lord Jesus Christ). If you aren't, go to the bottom of this page and say the prayer found at the bottom and invite Jesus in. Let Him deliver you out of all of your afflictions. I promise, He never fails. God bless you if you do and I'll meet you in paradise.

THE TOUCH OF THE MASTER'S HAND

'Twas battered and scarred, and the auctioneer
Thought it scarcely worth his while
To waste much time on the old violin,
But held it up with a smile.
"What am I bidden, good folks," he cried,
"Who'll start the bidding for me?"
"A dollar, a dollar;" then, "Two, only two?
Two dollars and who'll make it three?
Three dollars, once; three dollars twice;
Going for three.." but no,
From the room, far back, a grey-haired man
Came forward and picked up the bow;
Then, wiping the dust from the old violin,
And tightening the loose strings,
He played a melody pure and sweet
As a caroling angel sings.

The music ceased, and the auctioneer,
With a voice that was quiet and low,
Said, "What am I bid for the old violin?"
And he held it up with the bow.
"A thousand dollars, and who'll make it two?
Two thousand and who'll make it three?
Three thousand once, three thousand twice,
And going, and gone," said he.
The people cheered, but some of them cried,
"We do not quite understand,
What changed it's worth." Swift came the reply;
"The touch of the master's hand."

And many a man with life out of tune,
And battered and scarred with sin,
Are auctioned cheap to the thoughtless crowd,
Much like the old violin.
A hot needed meal, a glass of wine;
An event--and he travels on.
He is "going once, and going twice,"
He's "going and almost gone."
But the master comes, and the foolish crowd
Never quite understand
The worth of a soul and change that's wrought
By the touch of the Master's hand.

This is me. This was my life. Covered in the dust of sin, out of tune with the Father, His sweet melody long ago squelched and hindered from flowing from me. But, then He found me where I was, tucked in the case of life, never to be heard again from the place of melody's song. He wiped off the sin, tuned the strings of my heart and drew His love across my strings. The sound was sweet and pure and true and real and it touched those around me. All it took was His touch, the touch of the Master's hand.

GOD'S WORD IS TRUTH

I'm seeing on the news that Moammar Gadhafi has been dethroned. I'm not a person that watches the world news nor do I follow such things. I'm a "follower" of only One. Jesus Christ. But, I have seen and chose to watch the footage of his last moments on this earth. Horrible. Just terrifying to imagine. I don't feel a bit of compassion, sympathy, or any like emotion for a man that I'm understanding to be a tyrant and a dictator over his people. I don't believe that God sees their actions as righteous, necessarily, because they took his life with their hands. God would have seen to their earnest prayers had they asked Him to deal with it. But, all of that aside, I see the stories of his life, his past, his choices, his actions, his delusions of grandeur. I saw how he adorned himself as if he was a great and mighty king of some sort. I can only think of one thing in this regard and that's the Truth of God's Holy Word (yes I capitalized all of that) which says, "...for every one that exalts himself shall be abased;..." St. Luke 18:14. Why in this world do people think of themselves so highly? How can we? Look at us. Full of sin, mischief, misdeeds, evil thoughts, evil intentions of the heart, fornications, addictions, self-serving actions, apathy. The list is so extensive. I hope Momar is an example to the world of how God's Word comes to pass. If He says it shall be...then believe that it shall be. You just never know when, but it's coming. He keeps His word even if it breaks His heart to do so because, He's not like us. He is perfect and Holy and cannot lie. I imagine Him hanging His head in grief as He performs His Word as sworn and promised. Other times, He's elated to do so in certain regards, but we know that blessings can't govern our lives. It was Job who said, "...shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?" Job 2:10. How true my brother! It is Kelline that says, "behind every blessing I seem to experience a curse." Life of Kelline 0:0. But, that's o.k. I'm on my way out of here. I have no regrets, all of my sins have been confessed (daily with each new 1,2,3...). I'm right with Him by the power of His Spirit. As it says, "...Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts." Zechariah 4:6. What that verse means is...you can't work your way into righteousness. As it's written, "But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags..." Isaiah 64:6. So, I wait for Him with whom I have to do. Glory be to the One True Living God!!!