Finding the Savior- By the Sea

       Jesus continued to appear to the disciples and teach them about himself during the 40 days between His Resurrection and His Ascension.  This passage from John will bring a smile to your face today as you picture the scene beside the Sea of Galilee.

“I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go with. you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.  He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?”  “No,” they answered.  He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.”  When they did they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.  Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!”  As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his outer garment around him(for the had taken it off) and jumped into the water.  The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about 100 yards.  When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread.  Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.”  Simon Peter climbed aboard and dragged the net ashore.  It was full of large fish, 153, but even with some nay the net was not torn.  Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord.  Jesus came , took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish  This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead.   John 21:3-14

       I love this tender story and would leave you with a few Lessons and Truths we can know from this passage:    1.  Jesus knows how things are going in my life, my disappointments and my joys.    2.  Jesus considers me His friend.    3.  Jesus can guide and provide for my needs.     4.  If I look, Jesus will reveal himself to me; He is always near.    5.  The strength and power of Jesus in my life is unbreakable.    6.  Jesus makes himself known to me.   7.  Jesus desires to commune with me.  

Which of these lessons and truths speak to you today?   James 4:8 tell us,  “Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.”   Meet Him today where ever you are, He will be there waiting for you.

May you meet Jesus today,
Linda

Below is a typical fishing boat used on the Sea of Galilee today for tourists and then the beach where Christ met with the disciples.

Appearance in the Upper Room

         For 40 days after His resurrection, Jesus appeared to the disciples and others to show them living proof that He was alive.  On Resurrection Sunday He met the women in the garden, and the two men walking on the Road to Emmaus.  In today’s passage, Jesus appeared to those disciples gathered in the Upper Room.

“While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, ‘Peace be with you.’  They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost.  He said to them, ‘Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds?  Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.’  When he had said them he showed them his hands and feet.  And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, ‘Do you have anything here to eat?’ They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate it in their presence.”   Luke 24:36-43

        What was their immediate concern?  Are you real or am I having a scary encounter?  What is your reaction when confronted by Jesus?   Do you doubt who Jesus is and question His reaching out to you?  Jesus reassured the disciples that He was a real living  being just as He promised.  He proved it to them by showing them His hands and feet- pierced for them, and eating.   How does Jesus make himself known to you?  Does He come to you in prayer, in the helping hands of others or through His Word?   Jesus can and does reveal himself to us if we are open and willing.  We too can be amazed and joyful at His presence.

Have a blessed day walking in His presence.

Linda

The disciples encountered Jesus in the upper room, where will you meet Him today?

 

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Note to Self....

   

NOTE TO SELF…..

God is faithful.  He is not just with me sometimes, He is with me always.  He doesn’t just occasionally hear my prayers, He hears each one.  God doesn’t randomly work things for my good, He works ALL things together for my good.  I can trust Him.  My heart is safe and secure in His hands.

I got this note from a friend.  It encouraged me today.  Hope it encourages you too.

Linda

Facing Fear with God

        Psalm 103 is one of my favorite Psalms and it speaks to me today as I prepare to give the Sunday morning message at the Yountville Veteran’s Home Protestant Service.  I am comforted by these words:

“The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.  He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.  For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west so far has he removed our transgressions from us.  As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him; for he knows how we are formed, he remembers  that we are dust.  As for man, his days are like grass, he flourishes like a flower of the field;  the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembered no more.   But from everlasting to everlasting the LORD’s love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children’s children-with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts.”      Psalm 103: 8, 10-18

        I know for certain the Lord loves, forgives, treats me with His compassion, knows my very being from beginning to end and that I can be used by Him.  Do I fear speaking this Sunday?  Yes, I am fearful of standing before others and speaking. But, No, I am confident that God will use me, my words and my testimony to His glory.  He is in control, not me.  I just need to trust Him for the results.  Isaiah 55:11 is the verse I claimed for my book Fearless Living and I am surely claiming it this Sunday too.  “so is my word that goes out from my mouth:  It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”    God is the one doing the work and His word will not come back without results.  What greater guarantee of success can I ever need?

May the words of this psalm give you hope, courage, knowledge and assurance of our Great God today!

Linda

This Sunday is a time for Fearless Living. Come join us at the 10:15 am service. All are welcome.

Food for thoughts- are you a jewel?

  

 

“The LORD their God will save them on that day as the flock of his people.  They will sparkle in his land like jewels in a crown.”  Zechariah 9:16

       The image given by Zechariah describing  believers as jewels that sparkle for the LORD is thought provoking.  Do you consider yourself as one who sparkles for the LORD?  Are you shining and on display for Him?  We know He considers us of great value as He sent His son Jesus to save us, John 3:16  “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”  But, what about our part-are we believing, walking in faith and showing and telling others about Jesus?  Consider how you are shining for God today?  He desires that believers sparkle.  Will you look for ways and opportunities to show Jesus to the world today with SPARKLE?

Desiring to be a jewel that SPARKLES for the Lord,

Linda

What does God desire of me?-Gentleness

        I was excited this morning to get back to my series -What does God desire of me?  Paul exhorts us to be filled with the fruit of the Spirit and then describes what this fruit would look like in our lives.  “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.”  Galatians 5:22-23

        I looked up gentleness in the dictionary and discovered this character trait involves, generosity, kindness, tameness, patience and courteousness.  Gentleness was a character trait that Christ possessed.  He entered Jerusalem …”See your king comes to you,  gentle and riding on a donkey.”   Matthew 21:5   Jesus described himself as gentle in Matthew 11:28-29  “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”  

        The New Testament is filled with references to gentleness of sprit and the apostles begged the new believers to treat one another with gentleness like Christ.   Paul writes in  Ephesians 4:1-2  “As a prisoner, for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.  Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.”    Again in 1 Timothy 6:11 he writes “But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurances and gentleness.”  Peter adds an additional dimension to this gentleness we are to exhibit as believers in 1 Peter 3:15 “But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord.  Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.  But do this with gentleness and respect.”     I saw this portrayed in the new movie God Is Not Dead 2.  It is about  a teacher who gives an answer to the hope that is within her.  She was asked, “Why does nothing seem to get you down?”  She answered with one word, “Jesus.”   She got into a lot of legal trouble because of that answer, but she was doing as Peter tells us.  She had a ready answer to the HOPE that was within her.   What about you?  What would your answer would you give to the Hope that is within you?

Be ready today with an answer and a gentle and quiet spirit,

Linda

A challenging and thought provoking movie about faith and our commitment to truth.

A Meeting on the Road

        After Jesus’ resurrection, he appeared many times over the next 40 days.  He appeared in human form to individuals and groups alike able to talk and eat with them.  Yet,  He had the ability to appear and disappear as He willed.  Jesus first appeared on Resurrection Sunday to the women at the tomb,  then to both Mary and Peter in the garden.  Later that Sunday was on the road to Emmaus,  two of the believers were walking along discussing the things that had happened.  I can imagine they were recounting Jesus’ death, their own sadness, Jesus’ resurrection appearance to the women in the garden and their hope that all of this was true and Jesus really was risen.



        Luke 24: 27-33  “And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.  As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus acted as if he were going farther.  But  they urged him strongly, ‘Stay with us, for it is near evening; the day is almost over.’  So he went in to stay with them.  When he was at the table with them, he took bread, give thanks, broke it and began to give it to them.  Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight.  They asked each other, ‘Were not you hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?’  They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem.”

       I like to think of their encounter with Jesus as a powerful reminder to me that Jesus can and does come to me as I live my daily life.  He meets me where and when I need him most.  He will bring His words, the Bible, to my remembrance, so that I might be strong and courageous as I walk through my day.    Also, encounters with Jesus stimulate my thinking and prod me to stretch my faith.  The response of these men on the road to Emmaus was to beg Jesus to stay with them,  and then they  rushed to tell others that He was alive.   What about you?  Do you ask Jesus to stay and walk with you each day?  Do you seek His presence and help?   Are you excited and motivated to tell others about our risen Lord?

        Consider all He has done for you and trust in all He will do for you as you walk away from the cross.  Has this season of Lent and the celebration of Easter drawn you closer to Him?  Does it excite and motivate you to tell others of our risen Lord?

Walk with Him today,

Linda