I'M NOT WHO I WAS

Songwriters: HEATH, BRANDON

I wish you could see me now
I wish I could show you how
I'm not who I was
I used to be mad at you
A little on the hurt side too
But I'm not who I was

I found my way around
To forgiving you
Some time ago
But I never got to tell you so

I found us in a photograph
I saw me and I had to laugh
You know, I'm not who I was
You were there, you were right above me
And I wonder if you ever loved me
Just for who I was

When the pain came back again
Like a bitter friend
It was all that I could do
To keep myself from blaming you

I reckon it's a funny thing
I figured out I can sing
Now I'm not who I was
I write about love and such
Maybe 'cause I want it so much
I'm not who I was

I was thinking maybe I
I should let you know
I am not the same
But I never did forget your name
Hello

Well the thing I find most amazing
In amazing grace
Is the chance to give it out
Maybe that's what love is all about

I wish you could see me now
I wish I could show you how
I'm not who I was

CONSEQUENCES REMAIN

There is a story told about a boy who didn’t behave
very well. In fact, this boy was a bully in every way –
constantly hurting others with words and with blows.
One day, his mother got advice and put it into action.
That day she told her son that every time he hurt
another person, she would put a nail in the wall of his
bedroom. At first the boy was pleased – what a
lenient punishment! But after time, as the wall grew
covered with ugly nails, he started to feel bad about
himself and his deeds.

What could he do to get those nails out, he asked
his mother. She explained that for every good thing
he did, such as apologies or kind deeds, she would
take one nail out of his wall. The boy began and was
encouraged as the nails slowly disappeared. Finally
the last nail came out.

But the boy was still sad. After all that hard work,
there were still holes in the wall. The nails could be
removed, but there was nothing to hide the holes
that remained.

The lesson of this story, is that while second chances
are nice, they are not always possible. Sometimes we
make poor choices that are irreversible. We can repent
and we can be forgiven, but consequences remain. So
count to ten when you get angry or find other ways to
vent your frustrations before lashing out. There are
things in life that we can change, but there are
consequences that we can’t.

With prayers for shalom, peace,
Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein

(excerpts taken from Holy Land Moments)

WHY BOTHER TO PRAY?

"The purpose of prayer is to bring us to an understanding
of the Fathers heart. Prayer does not always lead us to
an answer that satisfied our wants and desires, nor an
answer that solves our problems. But prayer does lead
us to except the fact that such answers are not necessary
to accept the vast and mysterious purpose of the Father.

"Prayer is absolutely necessary in the interchange of
one's heart with the Father. That is what of faith relationship
with the Father is all about. "This is what we all long for,
and Jesus has made it possible. Prayer is all about
fellowship with the Father--the true expression of a living
faith relationship. Without prayer, without talking to the
Father and listening to Him, what kind of relationship is it?
How can we claim to have faith in God while failing to
communicate with Him.

(Talking with My Father: Jesus Teaches on Prayer by
Ray C. Stedman)

BEFORE I PRAY

Scripture:

"He has saved us and called us to a holy life -
not because of anything we have done but because
of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given
us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time..."
- 2 Timothy 1:9


 "Before I pray, I have to reject that prayer, which is
a statement of a philosophy that I don't adhere to. I
don't think God sends AIDS, hunger, or punishment.
I think that the glory of God is not found in AIDS, loss,
or disease, but the glory of God is found when empty
stomachs are filled! The glory of God is found when
AIDS is healed! The glory of God is found when
suffering ends! The glory of God shines brightest in
the darkness. When people suffer and find themselves
in places from which they think they cannot escape,
God shines brighter than all of the darkness."

In the midst of suffering, we can grow and be happy
and be filled with joy, for God is bigger than all things.
In the end, Jesus saves everything.

Prayer:

Dear Lord, when darkness is all around, when hope
has dimmed, you shine your light on my life, and I am
filled with joy. Amen.

Reflection: Describe the darkest time you have
experienced in your life. How did the Lord lift you out
of that darkness and into the light?

Bobby Schuller

(excerpts from Positive Minute from Hour of Power)

CARETAKERS

Scripture:
Psalm 8
O Lord, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth!
    Your glory is higher than the heavens.
2 You have taught children and infants
    to tell of your strength,[b]
silencing your enemies
    and all who oppose you.
3 When I look at the night sky and see the work of your
fingers— the moon and the stars you set in place—
4 what are mere mortals that you should think about them,
    human beings that you should care for them?[c]
5 Yet you made them only a little lower than God[d]
    and crowned them[e] with glory and honor.
6 You gave them charge of everything you made,
    putting all things under their authority—
,    and all the wild animals,
8 the birds in the sky, the fish in the sea,
    and everything that swims the ocean currents.
9 O Lord, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth!

Reflection:

I've got to tell you that I really love this Psalm. I think one
of the reasons that I am so impressed by this Psalm is that
this same God, this magnificent God, this all-powerful God,
this creative God, is the same God that we pray to every day.
It is the same God that I trust, it is the same God that
protects me every day. It is this same God through all
creation LOVES ME.

This same God whose very name fills all the earth cares
about us. That is what's so wonderful about our faith, that the
God who created the world loves us. You know I like that
question in verse four that askes what are mere mortals that
you should think about them? And then verse five answers that
question. It tells us that we are just a little bit lower than God
and he crowned us with glory and honor. Now here's the
important thing that God did for us. He put us in charge of
everything He made. In other words He loves us so much and
He loves His creation so much that He made us His caretakers
of His creation. I got ask the question, "How are we doing as
God's caretakers".

This is quite a Psalm isn't it. This is why I love it so much
because what it tells us is that this Majestic God loves us
so much that He trusted us to be His caretakers.
Can you believe it, that this is the same God that we pray to
and communicate with every day!

Prayer:

Almighty God, God of heaven and earth, thank you for loving
me so much, thank you for trusting me that you crowned me
with glory and honor and you trusted me with your creation.
Lord give me the strength to do a better job. Amen

OUR HOME

Scripture:

15: ":But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you,
then choose for yourselves the day whom you will
serve, whether the gods you ancestors served
beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites,
in whose land you are living.  BUT AS FOR ME AND
MY HOUSEHOLD, WE WILL SERVE THE LORD."
(Joshua 24:15)

Reflection:

We must work to make our homes a place that, little
by little, can change the entire world for good. What
we share in our homes eventually makes its way out
into the world. The people who we love, shape, and
nurture in our homes go out to be the future parents
and leaders of the next generation.

Make your home a place where God’s Word is studied
and honored, a space where the culture is kindness.
Make your home warm, inviting, and comforting. Let
prayers be heard throughout our homes, day and night.
When we create homes that are filled with godliness
and goodness, eventually the world will be that way, too.

SPIRITUALITY

A recent study reporting on "Spirituality and Well-being
in Australia" claims that the drift towards a more secular
mindset among its citizens has been detrimental to their
health -- and happiness.

The report suggests that in some important areas, those
with a more secular outlook have lower levels of well-being
than those with a spiritual orientation. According to the
study, those with spiritual grounding "tend to have a greater
sense of purpose in life, a greater openness to personal
growth, and more optimism about life in general."

Perhaps not surprisingly, the study also found that those
with a spiritual orientation are more likely to contribute to
others -- whether informally in daily life, or more formally --
giving money to charities or doing voluntary service with
community groups. These findings indicate that the link
between spirituality and wellbeing may be important to a
healthy society.

Said one of the researchers, "it appears that religion and
spirituality provide important anchors for life." -2

When we are firmly anchored in God our Father -- in and
through the Lord Jesus Christ -- we can achieve our best
"spiritual condition." But apart from God, there is no
possibility of genuine growth, genuine happiness, genuine
peace, genuine security. Apart from God we lose the
ultimate anchor for our lives. In the Apostle Paul's words,
"“May the God of Peace make you perfect and holy; and
may you all be kept safe and blameless, spirit, soul and
body for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. God has
called you and He will not fail you"” (1 Thes. 5:23-24).

(excerpts from Sunday Sermons Online)

ONE GOD, TWO WORLDS

“As the eyes of slaves look to the hand of their master,
as the eyes of a female slave look to the hand of her
mistress, so our eyes look to the LORD our God,
till he shows us his mercy.”—Psalm 123:2

In Psalms 123, the psalmist writes: “As the eyes of
slaves look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of
a female slave look to the hand of her mistress, so our
eyes look to the LORD our God …” With these words,
the psalmist expresses his complete dependence on
God – and only God. Like a slave looks to his master
as the only person in the world who can provide for him,
protect him, and determine his fate, so too, do we look
upon God. Only God can help us, only He can save us,
and our destiny – both in this world and in the next –
lies in His hands.

It has been said that, “He who fears One, fears none,
but he who fears many, fears any.” When we are slaves
to God and fear only Him, we have nothing to fear – not
even an entire army of men. But when we are slaves to
many people and things, we will fear even the smallest
threat from a lowly individual.

Say these verses, and feel strengthened and empowered.
With God’s help, you can stand up to the greatest of
bullies and rest with the peace of mind that comes from
knowing that our only Master is God. It is He alone who
we serve and He alone who determines our destiny.

With prayers for shalom, peace,
Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein

(excerpts taken from Holy Land Moments)

A DIFFERENCE IN THE WAY WE LIVE

"If anyone wants to be a follower of mine, let him
renounce himself and take up his cross every day
and follow Me" (Luke 9:23).

In the words of one of the worlds's greatest
psychologists of the 20th century, "Whoever insists
on safety and security as primary conditions of life
cannot have faith."-1 Time and again, and in many
different ways, Jesus said, "You will recognize by
their fruits the persons whose faith and trust in God's
ways brings them into His Kingdom." You will know
them, He said, by the difference this faith and trust
has made in the way they live. And because their
faith and trust in God has made a difference in the
way they live, they are blest, they are happy.

ARE YOU HAPPY?

WE HAVE A CHOICE

Scripture:

Proverbs 18:8
The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go
down to the inmost parts.

We all have the choice to cut others down, or instead,
build ourselves and others up. While pushing others
down through gossip or the like may be tempting, it’s
only ourselves we are hurting. On the other hand, when
we make ourselves better, everyone benefits. Similarly,
when we bless others, we benefit from their blessings
as well.

The world will not become brighter by diminishing
someone else’s light. It’s only when we make our own
flame brighter or add light to someone else’s that the
world will become a brighter place for us all!

KING OF KINGS

Is it not reassuring to know that God is King of kings?

Scripture:

For the Lord is a great God, the great King above all
gods.Psalm 95:3 NLT

When the godly are in authority, the people rejoice.
But when the wicked are in power, they groan. A
just king gives stability to his nation…
Proverbs 29:2,4 NLT

Come, Thou Almighty King

Come, Thou Almighty King,
Help us Thy name to sing,
Help us to praise;
Father! all-glorious,
O'er all victorious,
Come, and reign over us,
Ancient of Days.
Come, Thou Almighty King (v1),
AUTHOR UNKNOWN

Presidents, kings, and other ruling officials should be
honored and prayed for. So wrote the apostles Peter
and Paul, who lived under the Roman emperors. But
we must never forget that the King of kings and Lord
of lords deserves our ultimate honor and complete
allegiance.

This hymn appeared anonymously in George Whitfield's
Hymn Book, published in 1757. It is usually attributed to
Charles Wesley, but was probably published
anonymously for a good reason. Scholars think Wesley
wrote this hymn as an imitation of the English national
anthem, "God Save Our Gracious King." The national
anthem had just been written, and it had become popular
throughout England. This hymn may have been Wesley's
way of keeping priorities straight.

Whether the author was trying to remind us that there is
an almighty Kind greater than any earthly ruler, or whether
he was simply writing it as a special hymn for Trinity
Sunday, it is a grand and noble hymn praising our
sovereign Lord.

(Adapted from The One Year® Book of Hymns by Mark
Norton and Robert Brown, Tyndale House Publishers
(1995), entry for February 24)

BUDS AND BLOSSOMS

Scritpure:

“The next day Moses entered the tent and saw that
Aaron’s staff, which represented the tribe of Levi,
had not only sprouted but had budded, blossomed
and produced almonds.”—Numbers 17:8

God wants us to realize that there is value not only
in the fruit, but also in the blossoms and buds that
come before it.

The fruit is the end product – the result of tilling the
land, sowing, watering, and harvesting. Normally, we
judge our success by the result – the fruits of our labor.
Yet, there is value in the process, too. The buds and
blossoms represent the process that goes into the act
of creating something. Their presence on Aaron’s
branch teaches us that our journey in life is just as
important as our destination.

Where are you on your journey? If you are like most of
us, you probably haven’t reached all of your goals yet.
Sometimes it can be frustrating to have come so far
and yet not get to where we want to be. Our lesson
today shows us that we need to appreciate where we
are right now. What we have right now is beautiful.
Who we are right now is valuable. We need to
appreciate our stage in life and our place on our spiritual
path. Let this bring us peace and give us strength to
continue working toward our goals.

With prayers for shalom, peace,
Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein

(excerpts taken from Holy Land Moments)

MAKING ALL THINGS RIGHT

Do you trust that God will make all things right even
if they've all gone wrong in the present? Do you trust
that even if things end in brokenness, God will raise
them in glory? Spend time imagining your own resurrection
and eternal life. How does it change your perspective
about today?

THE FIRST STEP

Most of us go to doctors who give us instructions
that we don’t always understand, or pills with
ingredients we haven’t heard of. But we take them
because we know that they will make us better.
Have you ever had a computer technician work on
your computer? Most of us haven’t a clue about
what they are doing. But whatever they do, it sure
seems to work (at least most of the time). In our
physical world, we let go of the need to understand
all of the time. We need to do the same in our
spiritual lives as well.

Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “Faith is taking
the first step even when you don’t see the whole
staircase.” We may not understand where our path
is leading us, or why there are so many twists and
turns. We don’t have to!  We don’t have to
understand God’s ways, but we do have to have
faith to obey and trust Him. It’s those things that we
can’t understand that ultimately give direction to our
lives.

WHERE ARE WE HEADED

There is a great quote from Lewis Carroll's "Alice in
Wonderland" with a profound message. Alice has
arrived at a crossroads and she doesn't know which
path to choose, so she asks advice from a Cheshire
cat sitting in the trees: "Which road do I take?" she
asks. "Where do you want to go?" the cat responds.
"I don't know," Alice answers." "Then it doesn't matter,
" says the cat.

And as often occurs in life today, when people have
no direction, they sometimes end up on roads that
lead them astray. If this poor soul had a destination
in mind when he “went out” perhaps he would have
passed by the fight that led him to curse God and he
might have lived. But once he got off track and made
a wrong turn, he started down a dangerous road and
was ultimately lost forever.

We need to be crystal clear about where we are
headed in life if we want to ensure that we stay on the
right track. Every decision we make and every step
that we take ought to be guided by our desired
destination. Wherever we go, let’s make sure that we
 are headed toward God.

With prayers for shalom, peace,
Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein

(excerpts taken from Holy Land Moments)

THE FOCUS OF MY DESIRES

Scripture:

Psalm 101:1-4

Reflection:

Brennan Manning says, to live by grace means
to acknowledge my whole life story, the light
side and the dark. In admitting my shadow side
I learn who I am and what God's grace means.
When I have experienced his grace, I humbly
sing songs of love and praise to God with all
 that I am.

I experience the grace most deeply when I have
acknowledged the shortcomings, temptations,
and desires that increase the distance between
me and God, instead of drawing me closer. I may
reject them, but the desire often lingers. The
psalmist recognizes the desires this world and
the ego holdes. I will be careful, while also crying
out to God for aid—His grace. That grace is
offered to each of us. It is offered to our shadow
side and light side. I will humbly bring us to our
knees in gratitude and praise.

Prayer:

Gracious God, I recognize my desires that put
distance between us. I cry out to you, and you
were there. I am yours. All of me. Amen

(The Covenant Home Alter, Daily Devotions,
author Jennifer Andersson)

THE FOCUS OF MY ADMIRATION

Scripture:

Philippians 3:17-4:1

Reflection:

Paul's caution to the Philippians is also force today.
Ask yourself, what is it that holds my focus? Where
do I find my identity? What am I hungry for? What do
I believe will satisfy that hunger? Foods? Shopping?
Money? Work? Electronics?

As we reflect on Jesus-His suffering leading up to His
resurrection-we are invited into a time of lessening
extremes in our life, perhaps even eliminating or fasting
from that I used a few fasting is something I desire
being taken away from me. Sometimes it felt more like
a punishment than anything else. What this spiritual
practice actually offers us is the opportunity each create
space in which God will meet us in our weakness. God
will fill that empty space with Himself, with His love and
grace. He reminds us that our identity is as His beloved
child, not in the short-lived things that our world values.
Let us create that space. See how God you.

Prayer:

I have created space for you, Lord. Fill it with you. Amen

(The Covenant Home Alter, Daily Devotions, author
Jennifer Andersson)

THE FOCUS OF MY SENSE OF SAFETY

Scripture:

Psalm 3

Reflection:

When I was a young girl, I discovered the
coolest hiding place underneath the role of
bushes that ran alongside my church across
the street. I would go there to be alone, to have
a place that was just my. I felt safe, secure,
protected, close to God.

The psalmist sings, "that you, old Lord, are a
shield around me" (v.3, NLT). Often, when I call
on God for protection, I picture Him putting a
force field around me, warding off danger. Other
times, I see God as my hiding place, like the
bushes around my church I am seeking the
comfort of His embrace. There I feel safe, secure,
protected, unafraid.

"I lay down and sleep, yet I woke up in safety, for
the Lord was watching over me. I am not afraid"
(vv. 5-6. NLT)

Prayer:

Lord, you are my hiding place. You fill my broken
heart with songs of deliverance. You see how the
weak or strong. You never meant for me to walk
alone. Amen

(The Covenant Home Alter, Daily Devotion, author Jennifer Andersson)

THE FOCUS ON MY FAITH

Scripture:

Genesis 15:1-6

Reflection:

I admit to periodic short-term memory loss. I may
recognize God's blessing in my life, celebrated, and
thank God wholeheartedly for it. But, not too long
later, I am back to ruminating on a challenge I'm
facing, or focusing on what someone else has that
I don't.

God's word reminds me that I'm not alone. In this
passage God promises Abraham that his reward will
be great. Yet despite this reassurance, Abraham is
more focused on what he does not have been what
he has been given and promised by God. Remarkably,
God does not take offense to Abraham's challenge.
Instead, God offers him grace and another opportunity.
He calmly takes Abraham outside to look at the stars
and help them gain perspective, promising him a son
and countless descendents. This time Abraham
believes the Lord, and God declares him righteous
because of his faith. Abraham was figuring out his faith.
God offers us the same grace as we work out our faith
with him.

Prayer:

Lord, help me remember and give thanks each day for
your activity in my life. Amen

(The Covenant Home Alter, Daily Devotions, author
Jennifer Andersson)

THE FOCUS OF MY HOPE

Scripture:

Psalm 39:4-7

Reflection:

Nearly every day I walk alongside individuals and
families who are knowingly facing their last days.
Some people, in the midst of their grief, sense
peace and hope. Others are consumed with anxiety
and fear. In the 20-plus years I've been a social
worker, I rarely hear what people did professionally,
how much money they made, how much stuff they
accumulated, or how many extravagant vacations
they took. What I hear about is her healthy or broken
relationships; how someone's presence and support
helps carry them, or how the void of a lost relationship
adds to the emotional and physical pain.

Our human existence is but a breath. Are you afraid
that what you do and have is the sum of your ultimate
worth? Does it prove God's love for you? What do you
focus on as your source of hope? This life is fleeting.
We are merely moving shadows. God offers Himself
freely as our source of life, value, worth, and hope.

Prayer:

Lord, remind me how brief my time on earth will be.
You are my hope now. You are my hope for ever:
Amen

(The Covenant Home Alter, Daily Devotions author
Jennifer Andersson)

THE FOCUS OF MY HEART

Scripture:

Psalm 27:7-14

"My heart has heard you say, ‘Come and talk with me.’
And my heart responds, ‘Lord I am coming’ " (v. 8, NLT)

Reflection:

16 years ago we went through a time of sudden and
significant loss of health and life among my in-laws and
parents. The rug felt pulled out from under us, and we had
landed on our heads. In the midst of my pain and confusion,
God whispered to me, "Come and talk with me." But my
response was to say, "Not yet.

A year later, my heart finally responded, "Lord, I am
coming." When I came, I didn't usually talk or listen to
God-I yelled. Yet in my core I knew God heard the cries of
my heart, patiently listening to my pain. God will not
abandon us. God hears our pleading. And God always
answers.

Wait patiently in the midst of God's own "not yet" for the
full answer. We for your" yes" or "no." Wait in the "maybe."
"Yet I am confident that I will see the Lords goodness"
(v.13. NLT)

Prayer:

Jesus, make your home in my heart. It could be messy,
but we'll create a place of real and honest relationship
together. Amen

(The Covenant Home Alter, Daily Devotions author Jennifer Andersson)

THE FOCUS OF WHEN, WHY, AND WILL

Scripture:

Psalm 27:1-6

Reflection:

I have a tendency to fill up my days with too many
things. More often than not, they are all "good" things.
The result? Too much to do. Not enough time. Stress
and anxiety. Dad mood. Seemingly no time to slow
down and buried. Loss of perspective, of what is really
important. And deep down we're.The psalmist reminds
us what is a given: "when evil….. When my enemies….
” There is no "if" there. We live in a broken world. We
are broken people.
Then the psalmist asks "Why should I be afraid?.....
Why should I tremble?" Have I lost my perspective?
My focus? In the midst of being surrounded by his
enemies--David reclaims his focus: "the thing I seek
the most is to live in the house of the Lord." "He will
conceal me…. He will hide me….. I will hold my head
high."

Prayer:

O God, my light, my sanctuary, may I recognize in
my moments of being overwhelmed that alongside my
fear is a longing to draw closer to you my source of
strength and comfort Amen.

(The Covenant Home Alter, Daily Devotions, Jennifer
Andersson author)

WHATS THE PURPOSE

"For Jesus, prayer was as necessary as breathing. If the
Son of God felt such a great need for contact with the
Father, how much more do we need?... Why do we need
to pray? Why do we need to tell Him what He already
knows?... We think the purpose of prayer is to give
information to God.

"No, the purpose of prayer is not to inform God about
our needs, but to conform us to His will. Prayer doesn't
change God. Prayer changes us. It changes are attitude
from complaint to praise. It enables us to participate in
God's eternal plan. It makes us aware of our total
inadequacy---in God's infinite sufficiency.

"The goal of faith is to bring us into direct, personal
fellowship with God. If we do not move deeper into our
fellowship with Him through prayer, we retreat from
fellowship with Him... You either pray your way to a
deeper relationship with God---or you lose heart and
ultimately give up on faith.

"That, as we shall see, is the first thing Jesus teaches
us about prayer."

(Ray G. Stedman, "Talking with My Father: Jesus Teaches on Prayer")

THE BAKING AND BREAKING OF BREAD

"They all ate as much as they wanted, and when the
scraps remaining were collected they filled twelve
baskets" (Luke 9:17).

Through the ages, the baking and breaking of bread
has been one of the most important activities known
to humankind. Nobody knows when bread was first
eaten, but archaeologists have discovered that the
Lake Dwellers of Switzerland had learned to make
bread as early as 10,000 years ago. They ground
wheat, barley or millet, mixed the flour with water,
rolled the dough into thin sheets and baked them on
hot stones. The ancient Egyptians are believed to be
the originators of modern bread loaves dating back
to 1500 B.C. And the Romans had a well-developed
bread business by 100 B.C. with more than 250
bakeries in the capital. Today, bread is of course a
 key component of the world's dining table providing
a low-cost, abundant food source, though of limited
nutritional value.

Recently, the makers of Wonder Bread -- that iconic
staple of American kitchens for nearly 100 years --
sold the much beloved loaf to a competing brand.
The fluffy white slices of goodness, which promised
to "build strong bodies twelve ways," provided
generations the perfect platform upon which to build
towering tributes to it's namesake (the 18th century
Earl of Sandwich) -- but offered little in terms of real,
nutritional value.

In today's Gospel Lesson, Jesus has been preaching
and healing all day and the hour is late. The Apostles
say to Him to "send the people away, so they can go
to the villages and farms around about to find lodging
and food; for we are in a lonely place here." But
Jesus has a better idea, which He puts in the form of
a special order to the Apostles. He says, "Give them
something to eat yourselves." The Apostles point out
that they "have only five loaves and two fish" -- hardly
enough to satisfy the hunger of over five thousand
people. Nevertheless, they soon discover that, as
usual, Jesus has another miracle left. Looking up to
heaven, Jesus takes the five loaves and the two fish
and He breaks them and gives the pieces to the
Apostles to distribute to the people. And every one
of those thousands gets enough to eat. "All ate, and
were satisfied," the Gospel tells us. (Lk. 9:12-14,17)

In today's lesson, and throughout the The Gospels,
we learn time and again, that God loves us so much
that He nourishes us -- not twelve ways -- but in every
way. In terms of genuine spiritual nutrition, through
His Loving Presence, He nourishes us at the deepest
center of our being.

(from the staff and editors of Sunday Sermons Online)

COMPASSION

Scripture:
"You, O Lord, are a God full of compassion... Abundant
in mercy and truth. (Psalm 86:15)

Reflections:

Did you know that the word, "compassion", comes from
two Latin words meaning "to suffer with".
Unfortunately suffering is common in our lives. We are
touched every day by pictures and images of people
destroyed by war, starvation, and all kinds of abuses. I
believe that people suffer other ways: loneliness, fear,
rejection, disability, grief, poverty, discrimination, addiction,
or a multitude of other problems.

But what has always been amazing to me is that God has
compassion on us, He actually suffers with us. I am
convinced that God knows what we are going through, as He
knew what the Israelites were going through in Egypt. He
cared for the Israelites and He cares for us. God
demonstrated the greatest act of compassion in human
history. He gave us His Son on the Cross, for there Christ
suffered for us. He endured sins penalty so we would not
have to endure it ourselves.

But this is not the end of the story, for God calls us to
have compassion on others, for His sake--to suffer with them,
and to show them the one suffered for them, Jesus Christ. I
really need to repeat that because there are so many people
that don't seem to understand, they call themselves Christians,
and don't realize that God calls them, all of us. to have
compassion on others, to suffer with them, and to let them
know that Jesus Christ suffered for them. Are you listening,
please are you listening, God Calls Us To Have Compassion!
If you are a Christian and you claim you believe this, THEN DO IT!

LOOK UP

Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, “The sky is the daily
bread of the eyes.” The sky inspires us, encouraging us
to believe in possibilities that “the sky is the limit.” The
sky is comforting, reminding us that from a higher
perspective, our problems seem oh-so-very small. The
sky reminds us that we are not alone, that there is a
heaven above and God watching over us. The sky is
food for the soul.

We have the sky for that, too. When you are weary,
look up. When you feel alone, look up. When you feel
down, look up. Look up to God and He will shine His
face down upon you!

(excerpts taken from Holy Land Moments)