Time for a fish fry? As a child my family with all my aunts, uncles, and cousins would go to Buffalo Lake staying in a lodge cabin together for the 4th of July. The men would get in the boats and fish past dark with a fire going on the bank which was enjoyed by all the kids and managed by the women waiting to cook the catch of the day. So the first time I read John 21, I could vividly picture the setting where Jesus was sitting by the fire cooking fish and calling to His disciples. When they got on land, they saw a charcoal fire already laid, and fish placed on it, and bread. “Jesus said to them, COME AND HAVE BREAKFAST None of the disciples ventured to question Him ‘Who are you?’ knowing that it was the LORD. Jesus came and took the bread, and gave them, and the fish likewise. This is now the third time that Jesus was manifested to the disciples after He was raised from the dead.” GOD LOVES YOU and ME and He wants our fellowship and to feed us. Jesus loves you, but He asked Simon Peter , “Do you love ME?” Have you answered His call to COME and be feed by our Savior?
from Barbara’s Bible
The LIVING GOD #SPIRIT
#Biographies have captured my attention from a very early age. Even today, as I observe the actions of others it is very revealing of ones character. We watch actors perform on large and small screens, but acts which have been written by the screen writers. As a child, I lived in Amarillo, Texas and on Saturdays we would go downtown to shop where I noticed people parked on the street just sitting in their car watching all the people pass by. (This was before TV) Naturally curious, I asked my mother, Why are they just sitting there? She replied, “Honey, they just like to be entertained by the crowd ” Sound familiar? Paul wrote in 11 Corinthians 3 about epistles, letters written to others – “You are a letter written in our hearts, known and read of all men, you are shown as a letter of Christ cared for by us, written not with ink, but with the SPIRIT OF THE LIVING GOD, not on tablets of stone but on fleshly tablets of the heart.” You may think no one notices you or you can hide by role playing; however, the veil has been taken away by Jesus Christ. “Now the LORD IS THAT SPIRIT: and where the SPIRIT OF THE LORD is there is LIBERTY. But we all, with open face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the SPIRIT OF THE LORD.” 17-19 What are you tweeting? What’s on your tablet?
The LIVING GOD #LORD
Are you thinking that you are the #lord of your #life? I see a #society that feels they are the #masters of their own #souls; thereby telling others who and what they have chosen to become, because they are their own lord. Ps.37:5 gives us good advice “Commit your way to the LORD.” Webster defines LORD as one who has power, authority, headship, and is master, ruler, keeper, guard, the Supreme Being; JEHOVAH, The Saviour, JESUS CHRIST. “Know today, and take it to your heart, that the LORD, HE IS GOD IN HEAVEN ABOVE AND ON THE EARTH BELOW; THERE IS NO OTHER.” Deut. 4:39 There are over 300 texts in the Bible ascribed to GOD AS LORD. Have you acknowledged The LORD as LORD, or have you become your own lord? Ps. 37 says, Do not fret because of evildoers –Trust in the LORD, –Wait on the LORD, –Rest in the LORD.. “Shall a man make gods unto himself, and they are no gods? ..I will cause them to know my hand and my might; and they shall know that MY NAME IS THE LORD.” Jer.16:20,21 I pray you are making Him LORD over your life now!
The LIVING GOD #TRUE #GOD
#Life has #breath. In this internet age, stagnant lifeless forms do not hold your attention; yet, what kind of images are you imprinting on your life? I am seeing more statues of idols as background props depicting serenity by association. “Every man is brutish in his knowledge: every founder is confounded by the graven image; for his molten image is falsehood and there is no breath in them.” Jer.10:14 “But the LORD IS THE TRUE GOD, HE IS THE LIVING GOD, and the everlasting king….the gods have not made the heavens and the earth, even they shall perish from the earth and from under these heavens. GOD has made the earth by His power, He established the world by His wisdom, and stretched out the heavens by His discretion.” Jer.10:10-12 “LORD GOD formed man of the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath off life; and man became a living soul.” Gen.2:7 “The spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty has given me life.” Job 33:4 Now that you have been given breath and life by the TRUE LIVING GOD for whom or what do you choose to live?
The LIVING GOD #EXERCISES
#Exercise is constantly mentioned for benefiting our #health, #strength, and #well-being. Whether we choose the latest strength developing gadgets, weights, stair climbers, treadmills or sport drinks, it seems they all work to stretch, extend, lunge. squat and hydrate. I had never equated the LORD with EXERCISE; however, as I was reading Jeremiah 10:24….”I AM THE LORD WHO EXERCISES LOVINGKINDNESS, JUSTICE, AND RIGHTEOUSNESS ON EARTH; for I delight in these things.’ declares the LORD.” Ps.36:5-9 “Thy LOVINGKINDNESS, O LORD extends to the heavens. Thy FAITHFULNESS reaches to the skies. Thy RIGHTEOUSNESS is like the mountains of God. Thy JUDGEMENTS are like a great deep. O Lord thou preservest man and beast how precious is Thy lovingkindness…They drink their fill of the abundance of Thy house; and Thou dost give them to drink of the river of Thy delights. For with Thee is the fountain of life in Thy light we see light. O continue Thy LOVINGKINDNESS to those who know Thee, and Thy RIGHTEOUSNESS to the upright in heart. Let not the foot of pride come upon me. And let not the hand of the wicked drive me away. There the doers of iniquity have fallen; They have been thrust down and cannot rise.” “Do you not know: Have you not heard? The Everlasting God the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth does not become weary or tired. . He gives strength to the weary, and to him who lacks might He increases power. Though youths grow weary and tired and stumble badly; yet those who wait for the LORD will gain new strength; “ Ps.40:28-31
The LIVING GOD #FEEDS
I have been privileged to have my college-aged grandson with me this week painting my deck! We have enjoyed eating and eating and sharing. Last weekend, I had my children, grandchildren, great grand, and sons-in-laws around farm tables dining together. This reminded me of the account of Jesus dining with Peter and the other disciples on fresh caught fish cooked on an open fire while enjoying the fellowship and wisdom of our Savior. “As soon as they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread….Jesus said to them, ‘COME AND DINE.‘ None of the disciples dared ask him, Who are you? knowing that it was the Lord. Jesus comes and takes bread and gives them and fish also. This is now the third time that Jesus showed Himself to his disciples, after He was risen from the dead. So when they had dined, Jesus said to Simon Peter, …lovest thou me? … Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time Lovest thou me? Peter said, Lord, knows all things; thou know that I love thee. Jesus said to him, ‘Feed my sheep‘ ‘Truly, I say to you, when you were younger you used to gird yourself and walk wherever you wished: but when you grow old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will gird you, and bring you where you do not wish to go’ This He said, signifying by what death he should glorify God, and when He had spoken this He said to him, ‘FOLLOW ME!” John 21:9-19
The LIVING GOD #SUPPLIES
#TRAGEDIES, #EARTHQUAKES, #STORMS, and #TERRORISTS are evident daily and a constant reminder that we need to send SUPPLIES to others in need. I often feel so inadequate in giving aid to those in need. Yes, we have many wonderful organizations that go to take food, materials, and help during disasters; however, I still see that vacant stare in the eyes of so many hurting people around the world. I feel only our LIVING GOD through His son, Jesus Christ can supply our needs by the Holy Spirit. 1Timothy 6:17 “Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the LIVING GOD, who gives us richly all things to enjoy” In Philippians 4:6 “in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God…19.my GOD SHALL SUPPLY all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus..20. Now unto God and our Father be glory for ever and ever”
The LIVING GOD #EVERLASTING
A #lifetime #warranty is rarely offered on anything today. As I am observing the behavior of this culture, I think most people believe everything is disposable from paper to people! What about GOD? In the very beginning, Gen.1:27 “So God created man in His own image, in the image of God created He him, male and female created He them.” Ps.90:2 “Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from EVERLASTING TO EVERLASTING THOU ART GOD.” Everlasting meaning enduring, perpetual, and eternal. Ps.136:2 “Give thanks to the God of gods, for His LOVINGKINDNESS IS EVERLASTING” We are not disposable items for God made us everlasting in His image! He also gave us the ability to make decisions and choices to honor and love our creator or to selfishly live for the moment of self gratification. Either way we have an eternal warranty with our Lord and Savior. Ps.139:23,24 “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts; and see if there be any wicked way in me, and LEAD ME IN THE WAY EVERLASTING” Will your warranty be redeemed in Heaven or Hell? John 3:16″For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have EVERLASTING LIFE.”