MAN, I am so pumped for tomorrow. The anticipation is awesome! I am SO READY to kick off this new series. I think the follow up in this series to our 21 series is gonna literally SET PEOPLE FREE to be who God created them to be. Our creative team knocked it out of the park with the set design. Worship is gonna be a little different tomorrow. I’m just ready. Flat out ready. Hope to see you there.
Anticipating,
Jeff
One of the things I look forward to every month is taking one of my kids to the Soup Kitchen. I’ll, be honest, I don’t always feel like going to serve. There are LOTS of excuses that come up each month. But I ALWAYS leave, grateful and thanful for what God has blessed us with. Since Makalah is in pre-school and gets out at 11:30 AM, I’m able to pick her up on the first Friday of each month and head to the Salvation Army soup kitchen to help serve lunch. Both the kids and I choose (I make them) to eat whatever is being served. I even ate fish a few months ago. YUCK! We go out among the people and sit down to eat our lunch after serving those in need. Yesterday, Makalah and I sat with a young couple with three little kids. I was SO THANKFUL for what God has given us. It is so easy to sit in my 4 bedroom house with my heat on, pantry and fridge stocked, closet full of clothes and bills all paid, only to find myself complaining about what I DON’T have. WOW, how much do we have? More than I need to be honest. I LOVE teaching my kids to serve, but also to teach them to be thankful for what we have. Here is a picture of my care bear serving by my side.
STILL learning,
Jeff
One week is almost completed in our 21 day quest. I hope you’ve stayed grounded, committed and true to what God has asked you to do. It’s not easy, but it’s the BEST! Today’s question was, “Am I making room for God’s blessings?”. Psalm 23 says “Your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me…” Sadly I think many times we don’t have room in our lives to receive it. We don’t set ourselves up to be successful in the valley’s and we don’t leave ANY room for God’s love and goodness. God’s goodness is our BEST!
John 6 is a lengthy chapter (71 verses total). There is some GREAT stuff here. The feeding of the 5,000. Jesus walking on water. Jesus as the Bread of Life. And then a section titled “Many Disciples Desert Jesus”. Early in the chapter it says “A HUGE crowd” was following Him everywhere. They LOVED the signs and wonders. The glitz and glamour. But something literally flipped a switch with them.
The majority of the chapter is Jesus teaching about being the Bread of Life. Then in verse 60 the followers say “This is very hard to understand. How can anyone accept it.” Another version says “This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?” Jesus then says “Does this offend you?” Basically saying, if THIS does, just wait. lol At that point MANY of his disciples turned away and deserted Him. Not many of His onlookers. Many of His fringe members. Many of His nominally committed followers. DISCIPLES!
EVERY TIME I read this I’m reminded of a phrase I once heard. I don’t know who to attribute it to but it says “The Gospel must first offend, before it can redeem!” Folks, the Gospel message is OFFENSIVE. It DEMANDS picking up our cross. It DEMANDS taking Christ AT HIS WORD! It DEMANDS fleeing the old life and pursuing the new. It DEMANDS a complete abandoning of EVERYTHING I’ve known. It IS a hard teaching. And still today, when the GOSPEL is preached, even disciples will desert it.
I LOVE what Peter says. Jesus turned to the 12 and asked “Are you going to leave too?” Peter said “Where else would we go? You alone have the words of eternal life.” REGARDLESS of how offensive, painful, or difficult Jesus’ words are to hear. HE ALONE has eternal life. We MUST follow! Where else would we go? Following Christ will offend, but it’s the ONLY thing that gives us Life.
Offended,
Jeff
