Jesus serving breakfast!

Our neighbours brought us dinner last night .....we all enjoyed a wonderful meal together!  As I was thinking about it this morning, I was reminded of how Jesus would often come to His disciples and the first thing - He would prepare them a meal ...very real, practical, very loving.    

The beautiful pictures are taken by Helen Johnson as
she was taking a morning walk near her home.
http://www.helen-johnson.com

John 21: 1-3  After this, Jesus appeared again to the disciples, this time at the Tiberias Sea (the Sea of Galilee).  This is how He did it:  Simon Peter, Thomas, Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the brothers Zebedee, and two other disciples were together.  Simone Peter announced, "I'm going fishing."

3 - 4  The rest of them replied, "We are going with you."  They went out and got in the boat.  They caught nothing that night.  When the sun came up, Jesus was standing on the beach, but they didn't recognise Him.  Jesus spoke to them:  "Good morning!  Did you catch anything for breakfast?"  They answered, "No."

5 - 6  He said, "Throw the net off the right side of the boat and see what happens."  they did what He said.  All of a sudden there
were so many fish in it, they weren't strong enough to pull it in.

7 - 9  Then the disciple Jesus loved said to Peter, "it is the Master!"  When Simon Peter realised that it was the Master, he threw on some clothes, for he was stripped for work, and dove into the sea.  The other disciples came in by boat for they weren't far from land, a hundred yards or so, pulling along the net full of fish.  When they got out of the boat, they saw a fire laid, with fish and bread cooking on it.   

10 - 11  Jesus said, "Bring some of the fish you've just caught."  Simon Peter joined them and pulled the net to shore - 153 big fish!  And even with all those fish, the net didn't rip.  

12  Jesus said, "Breakfast is ready." 

If you continue to read this passage, Jesus asked Peter if he loved Him, 3 times and then tells him to feed His sheep.  

But look at this .....it is amazing to me.  Jesus took time to cook them breakfast  Seems like such a simple thing, a meal.  But this is Jesus, have you ever really meditated upon Jesus serving the disciples a meal?

Jesus loved them, Jesus showed them He loved them, before He asked Peter if he loved HIm.  He did ask Peter where his allegiance was and then Jesus gave Peter his vocation.  Jesus didn't even say anything about what Peter had done ....wow!

i believe when we know we are loved, we can respond in love.  We can love because He first loved us.  (1 John 4: 7 - 10)

I am continuing to meditate on this .....His love for humanity, for me ...and what does this mean in regard to me loving others.  

What do you think?

Conversation with GG

My wise, beautiful, charming and sometime silly daughter!!

GG:  "Mom, I know I cannot go with you to this masters intensive, but I believe I need to go with you when you teach in Budapest."

Mom:  "Why would you like to go with me, GG?"

GG:  "Mom, I can be your assistant, plus I can help you teach a little bit and be involved in the activities."

Mom:  "I would love that GG, but you know the school doesn't like for us to take you out and they might even fine us.  But I think it is a great idea."

GG:  "Well mom it could be an educational time, even more so than going to school."

Mom:  "Yes GG I think you are right."

GG:  "OK maybe not this time, but let's do it in the future.  Mom, pretty inspiring conversation!"

The little girl is wise beyond her years .......

You know having conversations with people is a great opportunity to hear their stories, their hearts, what is going on in their lives and how God would have you to participate with Him in their stories.  

Ask God to empower you to be so aware of His presence in the midst of the conversation, to give you His perspective, show you what He is doing in this person's life and listen to see if He wants you to participate with Him in some way.  

You might think is would be draining, but it is energising and we were created to give; in the midst of that you will be blessed beyond your expectations.  This is not why we do it, we do it because we are to enter into people's lives, just like God did with us in Jesus Christ.

Switzerland

I will miss coming to Switzerland, it is a beautiful country.  I have learned so much here with the master intensives.  As I walk through the hills I have come to see that God always wanted to be with us.  He created us to be with us.  If you look throughout the Old Testament God wanted to be with His creation; even after the fall, God went to look for Adam and Eve.  He could have just done away with humanity at that point.  If He was such an angry God, why didn't He do that?  Yes I think He was upset, sad and maybe even angry, but I think the reason for that was because He knew we would no longer be living the way He created us to live.  

Jesus, He entered into our world because God wanted to be with us.  Jesus' life was about many things, His death, burial and resurrection was about forgiveness, rescuing us from the evil one, but I believe all this was about God being with us.  It wasn't about just getting us into heaven.  It was part of His story, the story of Jesus, the Gospel, God's desire; to be with us now and forever. 

As I have walked around these mountains I sense His presence so strongly.  I am so aware of Him with me, with humanity.  When Jesus ascended into heaven, humanity was raised with Him; that is what it means that we are 'in Christ.'  

As I leave here, I may miss the mountains; but I will know His presence with me in this world.