5000+

Matthew 14

 13 As soon as Jesus heard the news (about John the Baptist's death), he left in a boat to a remote area to be alone. But the crowds heard where he was headed and followed on foot from many towns. 14 Jesus saw the huge crowd as he stepped from the boat, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick.

15 That evening the disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away so they can go to the villages and buy food for themselves.”

16 But Jesus said, “That isn’t necessary—you feed them.”

17 “But we have only five loaves of bread and two fish!” they answered.

18 “Bring them here,” he said. 19 Then he told the people to sit down on the grass. Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, looked up toward heaven, and blessed them. Then, breaking the loaves into pieces, he gave the bread to the disciples, who distributed it to the people. 20 They all ate as much as they wanted, and afterward, the disciples picked up twelve baskets of leftovers. 21 About 5,000 men were fed that day, in addition to all the women and children!

hmmmmmmm...

5000 men...

It also says plus women & children.

I've never been to a public religious meeting where there were more men than women, but for the sake of conversation, let's say there were 5000 women there too. That would make the total adults to be 10,000.

Now they didn't have day care back then, so the women had to bring their kids with them. We all know they had many children, due to the high mortality rate & the need for children who could work & contribute to the family income.

But for the sake of conversation, let's say the women brought 2 kids a piece. that would make it 10,000 children, & totaling the whole crowd to 20,000.

Hockey arenas, or basketball areas for pro teams or for college teams usually can hold around 20,000.

We've all seen the interiors of those arenas on TV, or maybe we've even been inside one. They are VAST spaces.

I went to a conference in Atlanta where there were 8000 people in attendance. Chik-fil-a brought up box lunches, in numerous trucks. It was a gargantuan undertaking, before, during, & after - Chik-fil-a pulled it off without a hitch. But it was a finely tuned & choreographed job for them.

Think about that, think about the logistics of getting the food out to that many people, & then the clean up afterward.

That's how many people Jesus & the 12 disciples fed that day.

encouragement

2 Timothy 1

7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, 

but of power, 

love, 

and self-discipline.

8 So never be ashamed to tell others about our Lord. 

And don’t be ashamed of me, either, even though I’m in prison for him. 

With the strength God gives you, 

be ready to suffer with me for the sake of the Good News. 

9 For God saved us 

and called us to live a holy life. 

He did this, 

not because we deserved it, 

but because that was his plan from before the beginning of time—

to show us his grace through Christ Jesus. 

10 And now he has made all of this plain to us 

by the appearing of Christ Jesus, our Savior. 

He broke the power of death 

and illuminated the way to life and immortality 

through the Good News. 

12 ...I know the one in whom I trust, 

and I am sure that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him 

until the day of his return.

13 Hold on to the pattern of wholesome teaching you learned from me—

a pattern shaped by the faith and love that you have in Christ Jesus. 

14 Through the power of the Holy Spirit who lives within us, 

carefully guard the precious truth that has been entrusted to you.

what to be or do

 Paul wrote this to Timothy, someone Paul considered to be his son...

1 Timothy 6

11 But you, Timothy, are a man of God; 

so run from all these evil things. 

Pursue righteousness 

and a godly life, 

along with faith, 

love, 

perseverance, 

and gentleness. 

12 Fight the good fight for the true faith. 

Hold tightly to the eternal life to which God has called you...

onefourthree

 Psalm 143:7-11

7 Come quickly, Lord, and answer me,
    for my depression deepens.
Don’t turn away from me,
    or I will die.
8 Let me hear of your unfailing love each morning,
    for I am trusting you.
Show me where to walk,
    for I give myself to you.
9 Rescue me from my enemies, Lord;
    I run to you to hide me.
10 Teach me to do your will,
    for you are my God.
May your gracious Spirit lead me forward
    on a firm footing.
11 For the glory of your name, O Lord, preserve my life.
    Because of your faithfulness, bring me out of this distress.

David in the cave

 

Psalm 142

A psalm of David, regarding his experience in the cave. A prayer.

1 I cry out to the Lord;
    I plead for the Lord’s mercy.
2 I pour out my complaints before him
    and tell him all my troubles.
3 When I am overwhelmed,
    you alone know the way I should turn.
Wherever I go,
    my enemies have set traps for me.
4 I look for someone to come and help me,
    but no one gives me a passing thought!
No one will help me;
    no one cares a bit what happens to me.
5 Then I pray to you, O Lord.
    I say, “You are my place of refuge.
    You are all I really want in life.
6 Hear my cry,
    for I am very low.
Rescue me from my persecutors,
    for they are too strong for me.
7 Bring me out of prison
    so I can thank you.
The godly will crowd around me,
    for you are good to me.”

calling

Matthew 9

 9 As Jesus was walking along, 

he saw a man named Matthew 

sitting at his tax collector’s booth. 

“Follow me and be my disciple,” 

Jesus said to him. 

So Matthew got up and followed him.

10 Later, Matthew invited Jesus and his disciples to his home as dinner guests, along with many tax collectors and other disreputable sinners. 11 But when the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with such scum?”

12 When Jesus heard this, he said, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do.” 13 Then he added, “Now go and learn the meaning of this Scripture: ‘I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.’ For I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.”

calming storms

Matthew 8

 23 Then Jesus got into the boat 

and started across the lake with his disciples. 

24 Suddenly, a fierce storm struck the lake, 

with waves breaking into the boat. 

But Jesus was sleeping. 

25 The disciples went and woke him up, 

shouting, 

“Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!”

26 Jesus responded, 

“Why are you afraid? 

You have so little faith!” 

Then he got up and rebuked the wind and waves, 

and suddenly there was a great calm.

27 The disciples were amazed. 

“Who is this man?” they asked. 

“Even the winds and waves obey him!”

I've often wondered what the conversation must have been after that initial response by the disciples at the end of that passage.

You know Jesus probably laid back down & went back to sleep.

And there were the disciples, soaking wet, sailing on a calm sea that Jesus had made happen.

What did they say to each other that night, or in the days afterward?

And I wonder want went through the minds of each disciples that night in the days following, things that they never shared with anyone, never spoke?

I wonder what they thought...?

What would you think if you were out on a big lake, a storm blew up, it looked like the boat was going to sink, & you wake up Jesus, & He just gets up & shuts the whole thing down.

What would you think?

onethreenine

 

Psalm 139

1 O Lord, you have examined my heart
    and know everything about me.
2 You know when I sit down or stand up.
    You know my thoughts even when I’m far away.
3 You see me when I travel
    and when I rest at home.
    You know everything I do.
4 You know what I am going to say
    even before I say it, Lord.
5 You go before me and follow me.
    You place your hand of blessing on my head.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
    too great for me to understand!

7 I can never escape from your Spirit!
    I can never get away from your presence!
8 If I go up to heaven, you are there;
    if I go down to the grave, you are there.
9 If I ride the wings of the morning,
    if I dwell by the farthest oceans,
10 even there your hand will guide me,
    and your strength will support me.
11 I could ask the darkness to hide me
    and the light around me to become night—
12     but even in darkness I cannot hide from you.
To you the night shines as bright as day.
    Darkness and light are the same to you.

13 You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body
    and knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!
    Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.
15 You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion,
    as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.
16 You saw me before I was born.
    Every day of my life was recorded in your book.
Every moment was laid out
    before a single day had passed.

17 How precious are your thoughts about me, O God.
    They cannot be numbered!
18 I can’t even count them;
    they outnumber the grains of sand!
And when I wake up,
    you are still with me!

19 O God, if only you would destroy the wicked!
    Get out of my life, you murderers!
20 They blaspheme you;
    your enemies misuse your name.
21 O Lord, shouldn’t I hate those who hate you?
    Shouldn’t I despise those who oppose you?
22 Yes, I hate them with total hatred,
    for your enemies are my enemies.

23 Search me, O God, and know my heart;
    test me and know my anxious thoughts.
24 Point out anything in me that offends you,
    and lead me along the path of everlasting life.

don't worry

Matthew 6 

25 “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—

whether you have enough food and drink, 

or enough clothes to wear. 

Isn’t life more than food, 

and your body more than clothing? 

26 Look at the birds. 

They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, 

for your heavenly Father feeds them. 

And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? 

27 Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?

28 “And why worry about your clothing? 

Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. 

They don’t work or make their clothing, 

29 yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. 

30 And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers 

that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, 

he will certainly care for you. 

Why do you have so little faith?

31 “So don’t worry about these things, saying, 

‘What will we eat? 

What will we drink? 

What will we wear?’ 

32 These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, 

but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. 

33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, 

and live righteously, 

and he will give you everything you need.

34 “So don’t worry about tomorrow, 

for tomorrow will bring its own worries. 

Today’s trouble is enough for today.

enemies

 Matthew 5

43 “You have heard the law that says, 

‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. 

44 But I say, 

love your enemies! 

Pray for those who persecute you! 

45 In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. 

For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, 

and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike. 

46 If you love only those who love you, 

what reward is there for that? 

Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. 

47 If you are kind only to your friends, 

how are you different from anyone else? 

Even pagans do that. 

48 But you are to be perfect, 

even as your Father in heaven is perfect.

twoseven

 

Psalm 27

1 The Lord is my light and my salvation—
    so why should I be afraid?
The Lord is my fortress, protecting me from danger,
    so why should I tremble?
2 When evil people come to devour me,
    when my enemies and foes attack me,
    they will stumble and fall.
3 Though a mighty army surrounds me,
    my heart will not be afraid.
Even if I am attacked,
    I will remain confident.

4 The one thing I ask of the Lord—
    the thing I seek most—
is to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,
    delighting in the Lord’s perfections
    and meditating in his Temple.
5 For he will conceal me there when troubles come;
    he will hide me in his sanctuary.
    He will place me out of reach on a high rock.
6 Then I will hold my head high
    above my enemies who surround me.
At his sanctuary I will offer sacrifices with shouts of joy,
    singing and praising the Lord with music.

7 Hear me as I pray, O Lord.
    Be merciful and answer me!
8 My heart has heard you say, “Come and talk with me.”
    And my heart responds, “Lord, I am coming.”
9 Do not turn your back on me.
    Do not reject your servant in anger.
    You have always been my helper.
Don’t leave me now; don’t abandon me,
    O God of my salvation!
10 Even if my father and mother abandon me,
    the Lord will hold me close.

11 Teach me how to live, O Lord.
    Lead me along the right path,
    for my enemies are waiting for me.
12 Do not let me fall into their hands.
    For they accuse me of things I’ve never done;
    with every breath they threaten me with violence.
13 Yet I am confident I will see the Lord’s goodness
    while I am here in the land of the living.

14 Wait patiently for the Lord.
    Be brave and courageous.
    Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.

Paul's final advice in 1 Thessalonians

1 Thessalonians 5

12 Dear brothers and sisters, 

honor those who are your leaders in the Lord’s work. 

They work hard among you 

and give you spiritual guidance. 

13 Show them great respect 

and wholehearted love 

because of their work. 

And live peacefully with each other.

14 Brothers and sisters, we urge you to warn those who are lazy. 

Encourage those who are timid. 

Take tender care of those who are weak. 

Be patient with everyone.

15 See that no one pays back evil for evil, 

but always try to do good to each other and to all people.

16 Always be joyful. 

17 Never stop praying. 

18 Be thankful in all circumstances, 

for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

19 Do not stifle the Holy Spirit. 

20 Do not scoff at prophecies, 

21 but test everything that is said. 

Hold on to what is good. 

22 Stay away from every kind of evil.

covid deaths

 Hundreds of people still are dying EACH DAY in America from Covid 19.

This psalm is for them & their families...

Psalm 23

1 The Lord is my shepherd;
    I have all that I need.
2 He lets me rest in green meadows;
    he leads me beside peaceful streams.
3     He renews my strength.
He guides me along right paths,
    bringing honor to his name.
4 Even when I walk
    through the darkest valley,[a]
I will not be afraid,
    for you are close beside me.
Your rod and your staff
    protect and comfort me.
5 You prepare a feast for me
    in the presence of my enemies.
You honor me by anointing my head with oil.
    My cup overflows with blessings.
6 Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me
    all the days of my life,
and I will live in the house of the Lord
    forever.

true vine

John 15 

1 “I am the true grapevine, 

and my Father is the gardener. 

2 He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, 

and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit 

so they will produce even more. 

3 You have already been pruned 

and purified 

by the message I have given you. 

4 Remain in me, 

and I will remain in you. 

For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, 

and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.

5 “Yes, I am the vine; 

you are the branches. 

Those who remain in me, 

and I in them, 

will produce much fruit. 

For apart from me you can do nothing. 

6 Anyone who does not remain in me 

is thrown away like a useless branch 

and withers. 

Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. 

7 But if you remain in me 

and my words remain in you, 

you may ask for anything you want, 

and it will be granted! 

8 When you produce much fruit, 

you are my true disciples. 

This brings great glory to my Father.

9 “I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. 

Remain in my love. 

10 When you obey my commandments, 

you remain in my love, 

just as I obey my Father’s commandments 

and remain in his love. 

11 I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. 

Yes, your joy will overflow! 

12 This is my commandment: 

Love each other 

in the same way I have loved you. 

13 There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 

14 You are my friends 

if you do what I command. 

15 I no longer call you slaves, 

because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. 

Now you are my friends, 

since I have told you everything the Father told me. 

16 You didn’t choose me. 

I chose you. 

I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, 

so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, 

using my name. 

17 This is my command: 

Love each other.