John 6

“From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him. “You do not want to leave too, do you?” Jesus asked the Twelve. Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.”

John 6:66-68 NIV

What a question! Do you want to leave too?  Bond my wandering heart to thee dear Lord!!!

One thing God constantly requires of us is a oneness with Jesus Christ. After being set apart through sanctification, we should discipline our lives spiritually to maintain this intimate oneness.

"Showing no concern for the uncertainties that lie ahead is the secret of walking with Jesus." - Oswald Chambers.  

Gal. 2:20

One of my favorite verses is Gal. 2:20 -

To become one with Jesus Christ, a person must be willing not only to give up sin, but also to surrender his whole way of looking at things!!!

 To surrender  my selfish ways, my pride , the way I think more highly of myself than I oaught to... .  This - is what stirs me, challenges me and ultimately changes me.  

I surrender all.

Hebrews 12:1-2

I drag myself to the gym or to the street to run most of the time my head voice is saying "not today...do it tomorrow, you don't have time, your good , you can skip it.." While my body says .."I'm comfortable!  What!??  Why?  This doesn't feel good why am I doing this?"...but once all that works out there's this place ..... A peaceful place that my mind and body finally accepts the fact that this is happening and we are gonna make it and how great we will feel after!!!  Lol 

So it is in my life.  I'm either in a storm , coming out of one or going into another so this advice from Hebrews 12 to -

1. Throw off everything that distracts me

2. Run my race with perseverance

3. Fix my eyes on Jesus 

Is what I lean into.  My race seems to be straight up a mountain right now, but his grace, his love , his favor is enough for me.  I will run the race and I will trust my God today.

How about you?

Nothing can separate!

I love that when truly considering God's word that nothing can separate me from His  love (Romans 8) that it means so much more than just Him loving me. While that is certainly enough it reminds me that as Paul said in this verse "in all things I am more than a conqueror"...that even in  tribulation, tough times and adversity I am loved and I have abundant  joy that is not affected by what's going on in my life. 

Oswald writes "Huge waves that would frighten an ordinary swimmer produce a tremendous thrill for the surfer who has ridden them. Let’s apply that to our own circumstances. The things we try to avoid and fight against—tribulation, suffering, and persecution—are the very things that produce abundant joy in us. “We are more than conquerors through Him” “in all these things”; not in spite of them, but in the midst of them."

Acts 20

It is easier to serve or work for God without a vision and without a call, because then you are not bothered by what He requires. Common sense, covered with a layer of Christian emotion, becomes your guide. You may be more prosperous and successful from the world’s perspective, and will have more leisure time, if you never acknowledge the call of God. But once you receive a commission from Jesus Christ, the memory of what God asks of you will always be there to prod you on to do His will. You will no longer be able to work for Him on the basis of common sense.

Feed my sheep!

We heard this verse at spring hill camp and then we came home to it in a 3 part Oswald Chambers Devo.  This happens to be Devins life verse so it's hitting him good right now.  

 And what kind of oneness did Jesus Christ have with the Father? He had such a oneness with the Father that He was obedient when His Father sent Him down here to be poured out for us. And He says to us, “As the Father has sent Me, I also send you” (John 20:21).

Pour yourself out. Don’t testify about how much you love Me and don’t talk about the wonderful revelation you have had, just ‘Feed My sheep.’” 

Do you love me?

"The Word of God inflicts hurt on us more than sin ever could, because sin dulls our senses. But this question of the Lord intensifies our sensitivities to the point that this hurt produced by Jesus is the most exquisite pain conceivable.  "- Oswald Chambers 

 

Gal. 16 - Gina

I listened to Francis Chan last night and he shared about a friend's church in China who had 5 values :

Prayer

Word of God 

Sharing Jesus with others

Expectancy

Embrace suffering 

I am captivated by these values.  

I sense a real life led by the Holy Spirit to express and keep these values.  Something I've missed ... Well a lot that I've missed ... as I've walked with Jesus is just the power and simplicity of the first two.  Prayer and His Word. Boy - we don't need much more than prayer and the Word of God !!! But add to it sharing it , expecting God to move and embracing suffering for the cause of Jesus and I'm inspired!!!

I want to please God with my life, not others.  I want to live a life that honors Him and causes others to want to do the same!!!! 

God - I'm making more room for you to move in these ways.... in my life today.  Consecrated Lord to Thee.  

Acts 26 - Oswald Chambers

This was so good to me - I thought I'd just copy and paste. Jesus. Not religion.  Love it.  

The vision Paul had on the road to Damascus was not a passing emotional experience, but a vision that had very clear and emphatic directions for him. And Paul stated, “I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision” (Acts 26:19). Our Lord said to Paul, in effect, “Your whole life is to be overpowered or subdued by Me; you are to have no end, no aim, and no purpose but Mine.” And the Lord also says to us, “You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go . . .” (John 15:16).

When we are born again, if we are spiritual at all, we have visions of what Jesus wants us to be. It is important that I learn not to be “disobedient to the heavenly vision”—not to doubt that it can be attained. It is not enough to give mental assent to the fact that God has redeemed the world, nor even to know that the Holy Spirit can make all that Jesus did a reality in my life. I must have the foundation of a personal relationship with Him. Paul was not given a message or a doctrine to proclaim. He was brought into a vivid, personal, overpowering relationship with Jesus Christ. Acts 26:16 is tremendously compelling “. . . to make you a minister and a witness . . . .” There would be nothing there without a personal relationship. Paul was devoted to a Person, not to a cause. He was absolutely Jesus Christ’s. He saw nothing else and he lived for nothing else. “For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:2).

Duet. 7 - Tim

I like that this scripture is encouraging us to KNOW that He is God.  Sounds a bit obvious but how often do we go about our days without really acknowledging who He is.  

"Keeping the covenant" - meaning He paid ransom for our sin through His blood shed on the cross. For all generations. 

What a beautiful thing as we love Him and keep His commands - He is faithful to us.   

Mark 6 - Devin

Crock pots are much better than microwaves!!!   Lol

We have a tendency to want to microwave our relationship with God.  We want it quick and all put together for us.   I'd like to suggest that we not rush in and out of  our quiet place .   The disciples were saturated with Jesus for the 3 years He was on earth....and even then after Jesus left they continued to meet and to seek His face.  

Hang out in the "crock pot" so that you experience all God has for you.  Stop microwaving!!!

Gen. 16- Gina

Beware of "so called good advice"!!!

(Consider Abraham and Sarah when Sarah suggest Hagar is their answer!) 

Especially in your time of darkness.  Wait on God's answer.  Never try to help God fulfill His Word.  Go beyond confidence in yourself and others and rely strictly on Gods Word.  

In thinking about a new year it's easy to get caught up in making goals and "what I'm gonna do this year" however let's beware of anything that competes with our loyalty to God.  

Keep your heart and mind focused on Jesus .  Just Jesus.  Not serving Jesus. Not the blessings of Jesus.  Jesus.