He Could Have...

      I LOVE FALL... It is the most beautiful time of the year. Yes, I love Spring, with beautiful flowers and wonderful, sweet smells and I love summer, sitting under a tree full of bright green leaves. And I do love a good snow in the winter, But Fall, Wow, how beautiful. I am amazed at all the different colors of the trees, red, orange, yellow, to dark colors, almost black. And I am amazed that one tree have so many colors. Like the tree in my in-laws yard. It is flaming red on the outside, and bright yellowish-orange on the inside. Just Beautiful.

I think God is so amazingly creative when it comes to fall. He really shows off. Fall is the time that the growing season ends and the trees begin to go dormant. Now this is all a part of God's plan for the life cycle of a tree. God could have just allowed the tree to go dormant, allowed the leaves to shrivel up and die. But no, He thrills us with a beautiful display of color. Crowds flock to the mountains to see the beauty. Droves of people travel to the New England states to see the patchwork of nature.

God could have designed the leaves to dry up and fall off the trees, He could have made the rain without the gentle sound, He could have made the ocean without the sand, He could have made the winter without snow. He could have made people as adults, not as cute little babies that grow. He could have made full grown dogs, not just puppies. But He chooses to thrill us with His creativity, to bless us with His beauty.

"For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities -- His eternal power and divine nature -- have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse."

ONLY 5 loaves and 2 fish....

     He was probably no more than 9 or 10, walking along, swinging that lunch basket with the noon meal tucked inside. The crowd on the hillside was buzzing with excitement to hear Jesus. Curious, as most boys are, he walked over to join them. Soon, several men comb the people, looking for something specific. When they spot his basket, they ask if they can use it. He wanted to be helpful,  and offers all that he has. What happens next is the biggest surprise of his life. Those men take his small offering and feed 5000 men. "What? Five Thousand men? How can that be?" The men said it would take 8 months wages to feed everyone. He gave an ordinary, common, everyday lunch. He gave the only thing he had in his possession. And Jesus used it for something great. Because of this miracle, there were many that believed this Man was the Prophet, the Messiah, that the scriptures had promised. This little boy certainly believed. And every time he looks at that empty lunch basket, he is reminded of what happened that day on that grassy hill.

   
     Five loaves of barley, two small fish, a small amount. No outstanding talent, just a voice willing to worship, a few good recipes you are willing to cook, a smile that makes people feel welcome. Sometimes we don't feel like we have much to offer, but the Lord can take whatever we are willing to share and multiply it five thousand times to be used for His Kingdom. No gift given is too small for Jesus to multiply. No talent too unworthy to share. He uses all that we are willing to sacrifice for His Glory.

"Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms." I Peter 4:10
   

Who's Thirsty?

Have you ever had a conversation with someone who only wanted to talk about themselves? It's human nature to want the lime-light, all the time. It's certainly a practice in self control to keep the conversation focused on the other person, caring for the needs of the other person.

Jesus begins the conversation at the well with the Samaritan woman by focusing on His physical need. He asks her for a simple drink of water. She replies by asking why would He ask her for a drink of water, after all, she feels she is not worthy to give him a drink. But Jesus, quickly turns the conversation to her. The One who deserves all the lime-light, all the attention, quickly turns the spotlight to shine on her. And He begins talking about her needs. "If you knew who you were talking to, you would have asked me for a drink. This conversation is really not about my needs, it's really about your needs." I can just hear The Lord adding, "Dear Woman, you are the one who's thirsty."

I love the tenderness of Jesus at the moment. A Jew by birth, confronting a Samaritan woman of less than noble birth, a woman of less than noble character, a woman who had been married 5 times and living with another man. He sees her spiritual needs and offers a drink of Living Water. He offers her salvation. Salvation that she accepts, and because of her belief and personal testimony, many others receive salvation as well. Jesus started this conversation for this very purpose. He started this conversation for her eternal needs.

Jesus sets an example for us, an example of using our conversations to encourage others and ultimately offer the same Living Water from Jesus. Our conversations should not be focused on ourselves, but on the well being of the other person. Believers can become discouraged. In our conversation, we can encourage our fellow believers to continue the work for the kingdom. A simple 'hello', 'I'm thinking about you', or 'I've missed you' can be a great encouragement to someone. Everyone, believers and non-believers, need a splash of the Living Water.

I encourage you to use your conversations wisely.

"If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him." -John 7:37-38