Esther's Beauty • Esther 2

Hegai liked Esther and took a special interest in her. 

Right off he started her beauty treatments, 

ordered special food, assigned her seven personal maids 

from the palace, and put her and her maids 

in the best rooms in the harem. 

Esther didn't say anything about her family

and racial background because 

Mordecai had told her not to. 

Every day Mordecai strolled beside the court 

of the harem to find out how Esther was 

and get news of what she was doing. 

 

Esther 2:9-11

•

There was something about her.

Something more than a beautiful face, an alluring smile.

In the midst of thousands of the nation's Top Virgins
she stood out.

She was the one.

From deep within her beauty radiated forth
shining for all to see.

No health spa or oil treatments, 

sea weed wraps or hair extensions 

could make what she had possible.

 

•

The woman to be admired and praised 

is the woman who lives in the Fear-of-God.

 

Proverbs 31:30

 

•

Living in the Fear-of-God. That is where true beauty and worth is found.

Knowing who You are.

Giving back to You all that I am, all that You made me to be.

Following wherever You lead me.

Honoring You will all that I say and do.

Leaving behind self-seeking, self-centeredness, self.

I give my life to You.

Teach me to live in the Fear-of-God.

You are the beauty that I seek.

Castles of Sand • Esther 1

 

This is the story of something that happened 

in the time of Xerxes, the Xerxes who ruled 

from India to Ethiopia—127 provinces in all. 

 

Esther 1:1

 

For six months he put on exhibit 

the huge wealth of his empire and 

its stunningly beautiful royal splendors.

 

Esther 1:4

 

On the seventh day of the party, 

the king, high on the wine, ordered the seven eunuchs 

who were his personal servants 

(Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, 

Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas) 

to bring him Queen Vashti 

resplendent in her royal crown. 

He wanted to show off her beauty 

to the guests and officials. 

She was extremely good-looking.  

 

Esther 1:10-11

 

But Queen Vashti refused to come... 

 

Esther 1:12

•

According to the world, this king had everything!

Power, wealth, a beautiful wife.

He was seemingly generous
and knew how to throw a great party.

He was "god" in his own world.
All he commanded happened.

He could control everything and everyone.

Except his wife.

According to God, this man had nothing.

He relied on himself, a mere man.
He relied on his power, and military strength.
He relied on wine to make him happy
and the approval of his advisers for guidance.

Apart from You, we can do nothing that lasts.

Fear and intimidation and control
are used to force others to do what we want.

But only You, Lord, can change hearts and minds.
With You all things are possible.

When I separate myself from You
trying to create my own kingdom
where my word is law
I am setting up castles of sand that will
crumble and fall.

Help me to rely on You completely
for all things in my life.

Oh How He Loves Us • John 21

Simon Peter announced, "I'm going fishing."

The rest of them replied, "We're going with you." 

They went out and got in the boat. 

They caught nothing that night.

 

John 21:2b-4

•

Peter and the rest of the guys probably weren't 

in a very good place at this point. 

They might have felt forgotten, unsure of the future, 

let down, confused, overwhelmed... 

depression may have been setting in for a few of them.... 

Yes, they saw that Jesus was alive. 

But now He was gone again. 

What was going on?

So, they returned to what they knew best... fishing. 

I see no profound spiritual implications from this, 

I just see them returning to what they know, 

what was comfortable in this time of confusion.

•

Jesus spoke to them: "Good morning! 

Did you catch anything for breakfast?"
They answered, "No."
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.
Then the disciple Jesus loved said to Peter, 

"It's the Master!" 

 

John 21:5-9

Jesus said, "Breakfast is ready." 

Not one of the disciples dared ask,

"Who are you?" They knew it was the Master.
Jesus then took the bread and gave it to them. 

He did the same with the fish. 

 

John 21:12-14
•

Then, in the midst of their 

confusion, depression, neediness, 

Jesus shows up. 

And He not only shows up, 

He meets their needs in 

very real and practical ways.

It probably would have been 

more than enough to clear away 

all confusion and doubt and depression 

just for them to see and 

recognize Him standing there on that beach.

"He came back! Jesus is here!"

But He loved them so much 

and so He met their other needs --

their very real physical needs too.

The Word mentions that this 

was the third time Jesus had appeared to them 

since His resurrection. I wonder why 

He didn't just spend 

the whole time with them? 

Why did He leave and come back?

Maybe He wanted them to learn to live 

without His physical presence with them. 

But by coming back and meeting their needs 

He was reassuring them that He will truly 

never leave them. He will always be with them 

and will always be meeting their needs. 

He will not leave them alone. 

He loves them.

Thank you, Jesus, for the very real ways

that You reveal Yourself to me and 

show Your love for me. 

Thank You for caring about my needs, 

physical, emotional, mental, spiritual. 

Thank You for never leaving me, 

never letting me go.

Belief • John 20

Jesus provided far more God-revealing

signs than are written down in this book.

These are written down so you

will believe that Jesus is the Messiah, 

the Son of God, and in the act of believing,

have real and eternal life 

in the way He personally revealed it.

John 20:31

•

Jesus, Messiah, Son of God
Immanuel - God with us
You are the One all of history was waiting for.

You want all to see and believe that
You are the only One who can save them.

You reveal Yourself in so many ways,
showing anyone who will see
that You are who You say You are.

Believing takes action.
How we act reveals what we truly believe.
Either we believe or we don't.

As Jesus personally reveals Himself to us
we must choose to believe who He is, what He says.

When we believe in Jesus
we receive real and eternal life.
There is no other way.

Thank you, Jesus, that You have come 

to reveal Yourself to all. Thank You 

for showing us the way to eternal and real life. 

Thank You for wanting us to believe in You, 

for wanting us to be with You for eternity. 

Help me to reveal You to the people 

You bring into my life. I pray that 

You shine through me and that they see 

You and come to believe in You 

so that they, too, may have 

real and eternal life. 

Amen.

Looking Up

I look up to the mountains;

does my strength come from mountains?
   No, my strength comes from God,
      who made heaven, and earth, and mountains.
He won't let you stumble,
      your Guardian God won't fall asleep.
   Not on your life! Israel's
      Guardian will never doze or sleep. 

Psalm 121:1-4

Come to me. Get away with me

and you'll recover your life. 

I'll show you how to take a real rest. 

Walk with me and work with me—

watch how I do it. 

Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. 

I won't lay anything heavy 

or ill-fitting on you. 

Keep company with me 

and you'll learn to live 

freely and lightly.

Matthew 11:27-29 

•

Why would you ever complain, O Jacob,
   or, whine, Israel, saying,
"God has lost track of me.
   He doesn't care what happens to me"?
Don't you know anything? Haven't you been listening?
God doesn't come and go. God lasts.
   He's Creator of all you can see or imagine.
He doesn't get tired out, doesn't pause to catch his breath.
   And he knows everything, inside and out.
He energizes those who get tired,
   gives fresh strength to dropouts.
For even young people tire and drop out,
   young folk in their prime stumble and fall.
But those who wait upon God get fresh strength.
   They spread their wings and soar like eagles,
They run and don't get tired,
   they walk and don't lag behind.

Isaiah 40:27-31

•

Lord, I am so thankful that 

You want me to come to You.

You know right where I am. 

How I feel deep inside. 

You know what is getting in the way 

between You and I.

You see what I can't.

So, I come to You.

For some reason even though I seem

to be doing all the right things, 

I feel disconnected from You.

I don't feel the same joy and energy

I've been experiencing. 

Is it just hormones? 

Or lack of sleep?

Is it something more?

Please lift my chin,

clear my eyes.

Show me what only You 

can see. 

•

Investigate my life, O God,
      find out everything about me;
   Cross-examine and test me,
      get a clear picture of what I'm about;
   See for yourself whether I've done anything wrong—
      then guide me on the road to eternal life. 

Psalm 139:23-24

•

God, make a fresh start in me,
      shape a Genesis week from the chaos of my life.
   Don't throw me out with the trash,
      or fail to breathe holiness in me.
   Bring me back from gray exile,
      put a fresh wind in my sails! 

Psalm 51:10-12

•

My heart has heard You say, 

"Come and talk with Me."

And my heart responds, 

"Lord, I am coming."

Psalm 27:8

Remember Who You Are • John 19

 Pilate said, "You won't talk?

Don't you know that I have

the authority to pardon you,

and the authority to—crucify you?"

Jesus said, "You haven't 

a shred of authority over me except

what has been given you from heaven.

That's why the one who betrayed me

to you has committed a far greater fault." 

John 19:10-11 

•

Worldly positions, fought so hard 

to keep are paper palaces 

so easily torn to pieces.

Your position came not from this world –

the world You spoke into being.

Not won through political races or

popularity poles;

regardless of what Your own

people saw or believed,

Your authority is from Above.

 All You have comes from the Father.

All has been given to You, because 

of Who You are.

You are the One and Only.

You are the Spotless Lamb.

You are the Word made flesh.

You are the Lion of Judah.

You are the Good Shepherd.

You are the Great High Priest.

You are the Son of God.

Even when they whipped You, spit on You,

laughed at You and cursed at You,

You never forgot.

Your identity came not from man.

They did not decide who You were.

All You are came from the Father.

All You did was born out of love.

Sunday Psalm • Psalm 91:14-16

"If you'll hold on to me for dear life," says God,
      "I'll get you out of any trouble.
   I'll give you the best of care
      if you'll only get to know and trust me.
   Call me and I'll answer, be at your side in bad times;
      I'll rescue you, then throw you a party.
   I'll give you a long life,
      give you a long drink of salvation!" 

Psalm 91:14-16

Not the World's Kind of King • John 18

"My kingdom," said Jesus, 

"doesn't consist of what you see around you. 

If it did, my followers would fight 

so that I wouldn't be handed over to the Jews. 

But I'm not that kind of king, 

not the world's kind of king." 

Then Pilate said, "So, are you a king or not?" 

   Jesus answered, "You tell me. Because I am King,

I was born and entered the world 

so that I could witness to the truth. 

Everyone who cares for truth, 

who has any feeling for the truth, 

recognizes my voice." 

John 18:36-37

•

You weren't the king they expected.

No armies marched around You.

No trumpets announced Your arrival.

Truth. 

Love.

Mercy.

Grace.

Humility.

Dependence. 

King of the unseen kingdom.

Leading by serving.

Commanding by demonstration.

Living out what we are to become.

Hiding behind rules and systems they refused 

to see what that You were the fulfillment of 

all that was said to come.

Line by line Your life came from

words written long ago, the blueprints

for Your kingdom.

Those who have been burned by the Lie,

those who hunger for the truth

see who You are,

and are welcomed in to help build 

Your kingdom.

Real and Eternal Life • John 17

And this is the real and eternal life:
That they know You,
The one and only true God,
And Jesus Christ, whom You sent. 

 

John 17:3

•

I glorified You on earth
   By completing down to the last detail
   What You assigned Me to do. 

 

John 17:4 

•

And My life is on display in them.
   For I'm no longer going to be visible in the world;
   They'll continue in the world
   While I return to You. 

 

John 17:11 

 

I gave them Your word;
   The godless world hated them because of it,
   Because they didn't join the world's ways,
   Just as I didn't join the world's ways.
   I'm not asking that You take them out of the world
   But that You guard them from the Evil One.
   They are no more defined by the world
   Than I am defined by the world.
   Make them holy—consecrated—with the truth;
   Your word is consecrating truth. 

 

John 17: 14-17

•

The goal is for all of them 

to become one heart and mind—
   Just as You, Father, 

are in me and I in you,
   So they might be one 

heart and mind with us.
   Then the world might believe 

that You, in fact, sent Me. 

 

John 17:21-22

•

Righteous Father, 

the world has never known You,
   But I have known You, 

and these disciples know
   That you sent Me on this mission.
   I have made Your very being known to them—
   Who You are and what You do—
   And continue to make it known,
   So that Your love for Me
   Might be in them
   Exactly as I am in them. 

 

John 17:25-26 

 

 

 

To know the one and only true God

to know Jesus, my Lord and Savior – 

Real Life.

What is most important –

the goal I was made for,

the purpose wove into every cell –

is to know You.

Through earthen jars Your glory shines

drawing all who will come 

to You.

 

The way of obedience connects me

to You, making me a portal of 

Your glory-shine. 

Set me apart through the water of 

Your Word. Sprout and grow

fill all my cracks –

produce holy spirit born fruit.

God made flesh –

made known to flesh.

Knitting hearts and minds into one.

Revealing real life to all.

Unshakable and Assured • John 16

"This is what I want you to do:

Ask the Father for whatever is

keeping with the things I've revealed

to you. Ask in my name, according to my will,

and He'll most certainly give it to you. 

Your joy will be a river over flowing its banks!"

John 16:23-24

•

"Now we know that You know

everything – it all comes

together in You."

John 16:30

•

"I've told you all this so that trusting

me, you will be unshakable and assured,

deeply at peace. In this godless world

you will continue to experience

difficulties. But take heart!

I've conquered the world!"

John 16:33

You know me inside and out.

You have not left me to stumble around

in the dark, to find my own way.

You know everything. 

You illuminate my way with 

Your light and truth.

Deep inside the Counselor-Friend

translates Your way to my soul.

Life with You is not a guessing game.

It is not smoke and mirrors or 

pie in the sky.

 

Struggles and trials will come.

Mountains to climb and 

dark valleys to maneuver.

These are not a surprise.

You said they would be there. 

I am not alone in the midst of 

the deep water, the ground shaking,

the tempest, the fire-storm.

Trust in You 

makes me unshakable and assured.

Deep peace and joy unspeakable 

wells up as I release my grasp

on my life, this world – 

on what I see with these eyes made of dirt –

and place it all in the hands 

of the One who has overcome the world.

At Home • John 15

"Live in Me. Make your home in me just as I do in you."

John 15:4

•

"I am the Vine, you are the branches.

When you're joined with me and I with you, 

the relation intimate and organic,

the harvest is sure to be abundant. 

Separated, you can't produce a thing."

John 15:5 

"But if you make yourselves at home

with Me and My words are at home

in you, you can be sure that whatever 

you ask will be listened to 

and acted upon."

 John 15:7

 

"I've loved you the way 

My Father has loved Me. 

Make yourselves at home in My love.

If you keep my commands, 

you'll remain intimately

at home in My love.

That's what I've done – 

kept my Father's commands and

made Myself at home in His love."

John 15:9-10

•

Jesus, You are my true home.

You are the Source of all that is Living

and True and Right.

When I am living in You 

You are living in Me.

The sap of Your life runs through

my veins, pumping life –

pure and fertile.

You give me all I need

to live, to pass life on.

Your Words of life dwell not only

on a page, they have settled 

deep in my heart and mind.

Help me to listen, to hear, to do.

You give me the desire to do

and the energy to fulfill 

Your life-giving, love producing will.

 

Take the taste for death from my mouth.

Pull the roots of bitterness and pride.

Within me they crave destruction.

They blind my eyes to life and truth.

Clinging tight to You,

I will drink deep of the life You give.

Loved • John 14

"Don't let this throw you. 

You trust God, don't you? 

Trust Me." 

 

John 14:1

 

•

Jesus says this right after He tells Peter 

that he will deny Him three times 

before the next dawn.

I can almost see Him looking deeply 

at each one of the men sitting around Him.

I can almost see Him looking deeply at me.

His words speak to my very core.

It's like He's saying, "Yeah, you're going to deny me. 

I know that. You will fail again and again. 

Don't worry. I'm here. 

Don't trust yourself. 

Trust God – trust Me."

Thank you, Jesus, for knowing me 

through and through... for knowing that I am just dust. 

And yet You love me. 

You want me to live with You forever. 

Thank you that You give me all that I need. 

I choose to trust You.

Getting Up from the Table • John 13

 

 

Just before the Passover Feast, 

Jesus knew that the time had come

to leave this world to go to the Father.

Having loved His dear companions,

He continued to love them right to the end.

 

John 13:1

 

•

Jesus knew that the Father had

put Him in charge of everything,

that He came from God and

was on His way back to God.

So He got up from the supper table,

set aside His robe, and put on an apron.

Then He poured water into a basin

and began to wash the feet of the disciples,

drying them with His apron.

  

John 13:3-5

•

Jesus knew that His time on earth

was coming to an end. He was going to go back

to His rightful place with the Father.

He knew where He came from, 

He knew where He was going

and He knew the position

that the Father had given Him.

But He kept on. He kept on loving His companions.

He didn't forget about them. He didn't leave them behind

- even though they would leave Him. 

He continued to love them right until the end.

I love how the Bible puts it: "Jesus knew that the Father 

had put Him in complete charge of everything, 

that He came from God and was on His way back to God. 

SO, He got up from the supper table, 

set aside His robe and put on an apron."

He knew.  So.

It isn't "He knew. But, anyway."

To Jesus it was just what He needed to do next.

It made sense to Him. 

It was what He needed to do.

I think that I get too caught up in my position

as a mom (I want the respect, the obedience,

I want them to do the serving), 

and I miss out on the truth

that serving my family 

is what I need to do.

I think that I need to teach them

by telling them how, by making them do,

with lots of words and little action.

Jesus did just the opposite.

With no words He got up from the table

and just did what He needed to do.

He didn't stop and bang His wine goblet

with His fork to get their attention

and then in a loud voice explain

step-by-step what He was going to do.

He recognized what time it was, 

He got up, and humbly, quietly

began to wash their feet.

Later in verses 37 and 38 it says:

"Master," said Peter, "Why can't I follow now?

I'll lay down my life for You!"
"Really? You'll lay down your life for me?

The truth is that before the rooster crows, 

you'll deny me three times."

Oh how like Peter I can be!

Too often I think that I am so much more

committed to the Lord, so ready to do something

for Him, so ready to follow Him

and yet the truth is that I am not

where I am think I am. I'm not as committed

as I think I am. I am not as ready

for action as I think I am.

Jesus, thank You for teaching us by example.

Thank You for knowing me through and through

and not giving up on me,

thank You for not leaving me behind.

Thank You for loving me to the end.

Jesus, I like to think that I am ready

and willing to follow You where ever You go

and do what You want me to do.

But the truth is most of the time

I don't even make it out of the starting gate. 

I want to serve my family in love,

but too often I do it half-heartedly

or out of obligation or because no one else will.

Please forgive me, Lord. 

Please forgive me for wanting the position

of Mom, but not being willing to lead 

by serving as You taught us to.

Please help me to quietly get up from the table,

lay aside my robe, put on my apron

and wash my family's feet,

out of love for You and for them.

Thank you, Jesus. Amen.

My Perspective or Yours? • John 11

When Jesus got the message, He said,

"This sickness is not fatal.

It will become an occasion

to show God's glory 

by glorifying God's Son."

John 11:4

•

He said these things, and then announced,

"Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep.

I'm going to wake him up." 

Jesus was talking about death,

while his disciples thought

He was talking about taking a nap.

John 11:11, 13

•

How often, Lord, am I totally missing

what You are clearly saying to me?

How often am I so caught up with

what I think is going on

that I forget to stop

and get Your perspective on things?

You, who knows all things.

I can talk to You any time, any place.

You hear me when I call out to You.

You want me to come and 

talk with You. (Psalm 27:8)

You want to help me understand

and know what is going on.

(Jeremiah 33:3)

You are all powerful!

You are able to do way more 

than I could ever think or imagine!

(Ephesians 3:20)

And yet, too often, I wander around

stuck in my earthy perspective

seeing only dead ends, problems, 

sickness, death. 

(John 11:21, 32, 39b)

My solutions are temporary.

"A good nap will do the trick!"

(John 11:12-13)

Your solutions are eternal!

You are Life!

•

"You don't have to wait for the End.

I am, right now, Resurrection and Life.

The one who believes in Me,

even though he or she dies, will live.

and everyone who lives believing in Me

does not ultimately die at all. 

Do you believe this?"

John 11:25-26

Who Jesus Is • John 10

"I am the Gate. 

Anyone who goes through me 

will be cared for—will freely go in

and out, and find pasture."

John 10:9

•
 
I love knowing that Jesus cares for me.

With Him I have a safe place, always.

He is the Good Shepherd.

He leads me and guides me.

But I must choose to listen to His voice
and do what He says
and go where He leads.

I have to believe Him enough
to not only listen,
but follow and do what He says.

Lord, please help me
to do more than just hear.

Help me to listen, help me to follow,
help me to do what You want me to do.

•

"I am the Good Shepherd.

The Good Shepherd puts the sheep

before himself, 

sacrifices himself if necessary."

John 10:11

•

"I am the Good Shepherd.

I know my own sheep 

and my own sheep know me."

John 10:14

"This is why the Father loves me: 

because I freely lay down my life."

John 10:17

•

"I came so they can have real and eternal life,

more and better life than they ever dreamed of."

John 10:10

•

You gave all.

You provide all. 

You know me. 

Help me to know You. 

You are who You say You are.

There is no guessing, no wondering.

Simple trust is all I need. 

As I read Your Word and listen to 

Your voice, I come to know 

who You are. 

As I believe You, 

I will live in the abundance

You promise.

I will live in the safety 

and provision

You offer. 

You are my Shepherd

I am without need.

Bring the Clear Light of Day • John 9

"I came into the world

to bring everything

into the clear light of day,

making all the distinctions clear,

so  that those who have never seen

will see,

and those who have made

a great pretense of seeing

will be exposed as blind." 

John 9:39

•

Blindingly bright, it shines all around

but they refused to acknowledge it.

They refuse to acknowledge You.

Blindingly bright, it shines

exposing cardboard cutouts,

painted scenery,

whitewashed shacks. 

Your glory shines

and all that is becomes apparent. 

The darkness can no longer cover

what is so glaringly true.

Clinging to darkness

yet claiming clear sight.

Pointing out specks on others

while oozing with their own filth 

as it runs down their pointing finger.

In Your light

I look down and see it there

running down my arm.

It puddles at my feet

as I fall to my knees 

before You.

Beyond my Horizons • John 8

 

Jesus said, "You're tied down to the mundane;

I'm in touch with what is beyond your horizons.

You live in terms of what you see and touch.

I'm living on other terms. 

I told you that you were missing God in all this. 

You're at a dead end.

If you won't believe I am who I say I am,

you're at the dead end of sins.

You're missing God in your lives." 

 

John 8:23-24

•

Do I truly believe who You say You are?

 

Because I do live so much in terms of what I see and touch.

 

I so often am tied down to the mundane, Jesus.

 

Please help me to truly, fully believe in You.

 

Help me to see beyond what I can see and touch.

 

Help me to live by Your terms – 

 

trusting that You see the whole picture – 

 

which is so much more than what I can see.

 

Help me not to miss out on You today.

What's Real • John 7

"The world has nothing against you,

but it's up in arms against me.

It's against me because I expose

the evil behind its pretensions.

John 7:7

•

"A person making things up tries

to make himself look good. 

But someone trying to honor the one

who sent him sticks to the facts

and doesn't tamper with reality."

John 7:17

•

"Don't be nitpickers;

use your head – and heart! – 

to discern what is right, 

to test what is authentically right."

John 7:24

•

"My true origin is the One who sent me,

and you don't know Him at all.

I come from Him – 

that's how I know Him. 

He sent me here."

John 7:29 

"If anyone  thirsts, let him

come to me and drink.

Rivers of living water will brim

and spill out of the depths

of anyone who believes in me

this way, just as the Scripture says."

John 7:37-38

•

Lord, thank You that You are real. 

I don't have to question

if you are hiding or putting up a front.

You are Truth.

You are Light.

You want me to know You.

So you do not hide.

You reveal.

You are the source of Living Water.

You are the source of all that gives life.

Forgive me for nitpicking instead of trusting.

Thank you for patiently waiting for me

as I grow in faith and trust in You.

The Bread of Life • John 6

"Where can we buy bread to feed these people?"

John 6:5

•

Then Jesus took the bread and, 

having given thanks,

gave it to those who were seated.

He did the same with the fish.

All ate as much as they wanted. 

John 6:11

•

Jesus answered, "You've come looking for me

not because you saw God in my actions

but because I fed you,

filled your stomachs—and for free. 

John 6:26

•

Don't waste your energy striving

for perishable food like that.

Work for the food that sticks with you,

  food that nourishes your lasting life,

food the Son of Man provides.

He and what he does are

guaranteed by God the Father to last." 

To that they said, "Well, what do we do then

to get in on God's works?"

 Jesus said, "Throw your lot in with

the One that God has sent.

That kind of a commitment

gets you in on God's works." 

John 6:27-29

"The Bread of God came down out of heaven

and is giving life to the world." 

John 6:33

 •

Jesus said, "I am the Bread of Life.

The person who aligns with me

hungers no more and thirsts no more, ever. 

John 6:35

•

Every person the Father gives me

eventually comes running to me.

And once that person is with me,

I hold on and don't let go.

John 6:37

•

This is what my Father wants:

that anyone who sees the Son

and trusts who he is and what he doe

s and then aligns with him

will enter real life, eternal life. 

My part is to put them on their feet

alive and whole at the completion of time."

John 6:39-40

•

The Father who sent me is in charge.

He draws people to me—that's the only way you'll ever come.

Only then do I do my work, putting people together,

setting them on their feet, ready for the End. 

John 6:44

 Anyone eating this Bread will not die, ever.

I am the Bread—living Bread!—

who came down out of heaven. 

Anyone who eats this Bread will live

—and forever! 

John 6:51

•

"Whoever eats this Bread

will live always."

  John 6:58

•

The Spirit can make life.

Sheer muscle and willpower

don't make anything happen.

John 6:63

•

"This is why I told you earlier

that no one is capable of coming

to me on his own. You get to me only

as a gift from the Father."

John 6:65

In the same way that the little boy

took what little lunch he had

and gave it to Jesus

– and Jesus took that little lunch

and fed 5,000 people more than enough – 

when I take what little I have

and give it to Jesus,

when I "throw my lot in

with the One that God has sent",

I get in on God's works.  

Jesus, You are the Bread of Life.

Life – Real Life – comes only from You.

Do Your work in me,

put me together,

set me on my feet,

get me ready for the End. 

Take my little "lunch" and give it out.

Do Your work in me and through me.

Thank you for holding on to me

and never letting go.

Missing the Forest for the Trees • John 5

But Jesus defended Himself. "My Father is working 

straight through, even on the Sabbath. So am I."
 

John 5:17

• 

So Jesus explained Himself at length.

"I'm telling you this straight.

The Son can't independently do a thing,

only what He sees the Father doing.

What the Father does, the Son does.

The Father loves the Son and includes

Him in everything He is doing.

John 5:19-20

•

The Son gives life to anyone He chooses. Neither He nor the Father shuts anyone out.

John 5:21

•

"It's urgent that you listen carefully to this:

Anyone here who believes what I am saying right now

and aligns himself with the Father,

who has in fact put me in charge,

has at this very moment the real, lasting life

and is no longer condemned to be an outsider.

This person has taken a giant step from

the world of the dead to the world of the living."

John 5:24

•

"You have your head in your Bibles constantly

because you think you'll find eternal life there.

But you miss the forest for the trees.

These Scriptures are all about Me!

And here I am, standing right before you,

and you aren't willing to receive from me

the life you say you want."

John 5:39-40

Oh Jesus! How often do I miss seeing You?

How many times do I get caught up

on the tiny and the mundane only to miss out on

the fullness and joy that is only found in You?

Please help me to see through new eyes.

Help me to understand with a new mind

what this world, what my life is really all about. 

Please help me not to take what you intended for good

and for freedom and turn it into a tool for enslavement. 

Help me to keep my eyes fixed on You and what You are doing.

Hold out Your hand, Jesus. Let me grasp Your fingers and 

go where You go. I want to do only what I see You doing,

instead of what people think I should. 

I choose to receive the life You have for me.