Peer Pressure

What do you think of first when I say, "Don't give in to peer pressure"?

Your first thought immediately goes to teenagers. Am I right?

Turns out, peer pressure might begin during our teenage years; but it CERTAINLY doesn't end there!

I learned years ago, through the wonders of Myers-Briggs, that my personality type is called ISTJ.  Should you desire, here is more about Myers-Briggs and more about this personality type:   Myers-Briggs ISTJ  I notice here that the ISTJ personality is called the Duty Fulfiller.  I also learn that I have a need to decide based on facts and EVIDENCE.

This precious season of my life, what I am facing right now, brings much peer pressure.  People who are PRECIOUS to me are making decisions that don't match my decisions.  They are making decisions using EVIDENCE that the Lord has simply NOT provided to me.  

It's important to say that those dear to me are not making BAD decisions; they're just feeling led to choose DIFFERENTLY.  Our paths diverge.

The temptation to decide as they have decided, and cling to them because they are precious, is tremendous and overwhelming. 

What is the over-riding voice of this temptation? 

What voice do I hear in my head?  

It sounds like this:  "They MUST know something you don't know!!  You NEED to find out what they know so that you can turn the same direction that they are turning...before it's too late!  Demand their EVIDENCE!"  

The voice carries with it two senses:  one of conspiracy and the other of urgency.  This voice is NOT the voice of my Lord.  Jesus doesn't speak to me this way.  There is an enemy to my soul, who continually lies to me, who speaks this way.

How easy it would be to give in to this voice!  Simple.  Quick.  And, sadly, there would be LOADS of loving support from those around me as I turned to join this small crowd.

But I choose, instead, the way set before me by Jesus Himself.  The difficult way.  Complex.  Slow.  And, sadly, many of those around me might find themselves confused.

This morning, during a short quiet time,  I was reminded why I must choose this way.

In Proverbs 3:3  (just before the famous 3:5 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart..."verse)  we find that Solomon, easily the richest and wisest man to walk the earth to this day (move over Bill Gates), providing this wisdom:

"Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thy heart."

You can read more about this verse here: Proverbs 3:3

My favorite part of the human commentary on this verse is when the commentary writer encourages us to "reckon it as your greatest honour, glory, and beauty, that you steadfastly adhere to these things"  and continues on to say that "nothing makes a believer look more lovely in conversation than a close regard to the truths of Christ, and a constant walking in his ordinances."

At our New Harvest Church there is a steel beam holding up the entrance to the lobby.  These words are cut into the metal of that beam:  Jesus Full of Grace and Truth.  

Hundreds of years after Solomon encourages us to wear grace and truth around our necks like a beautiful scarf for all to see and admire, Jesus arrives to say, "I AM the way and the truth and the life..." (John 14:6)  

Today, as I wrap myself in "mercy and truth" I ask Jesus to provide the determination that I will NOT look to the left or the right (Joshua 1:7) and I will fully depend on Him to provide every bit of EVIDENCE I need to make the decisions that HE ALONE wants me to make.  

All I've ever wanted is that my life would stand in testimony of His Goodness, Mercy and Truth and leave a legacy of loving and following Him.  

Even when those around me are making seemingly "good" decisions that tempt me to join; I will rely on Jesus to provide me with His BEST!

Dogged Determined Devotion

Yesterday and today, I've noticed that I've had more regular thoughts of gratitude about my dog Charley.  

I just love him.  He's special to me because he came to me after prayer as a delight to my heart.  

He's special to me because he once belonged to a friend and mentor, Rose MacAlpine.  

He's also special to me because, in so many ways, he's a good and faithful dog.

On Fridays, because my workweek begins on Sunday, I take Sabbath rest.   Today, I was curling up on the couch to have quiet time and, of course, Charley was absolutely thrilled that he would be able to curl up next to me.  

Then, I forgot my pen.  I got up and, although I told Charley to stay put, he was SO anxious to be wherever I was...he followed me.  After I got settled again and realized I forgot my iPhone.  Before you dismiss this as ridiculous (why does she need her iPhone during quiet time?) know that I subscribe to devotionals that are sent to my iPhone so I can hear the Word anywhere and anytime.  So I went downstairs and, although Charley really wanted to continue his cuddle time on the couch, he followed me...just in case I wasn't coming back.  When I returned, he hopped up ready again to snuggle and nap.  

So, I opened my journal and first asked God what He wanted me to consider today.  And, again, my mind focused on Charley as I felt wonderful gratitude for him.  

I worried that I might be horribly distracted; but then I realized then that it was Charley and Charley's attitude that God wanted me to consider in my heart and mind.

My friend Greg Swan encouraged me to read a favorite book of his, 'Dog and Cat Theology.'  The book contrasts how dogs and cats relate to their owners.   A dog says, 'You pet me, you feed me, you shelter me, you love me, you must be God.'  A cat says, 'You pet me, you feed me, you shelter me, you love me, I must be God.'  The authors Bob Sjogren and Gerald Robison encourage us to consider the God-given traits of cats ('you exist to serve me') and dogs ('I exist to serve you') to challenge our own attitudes about our relationship to God.

So here I am, telling God what I notice about Charley and observing the attitude that God is gently asking me to adopt and embrace.  

Charley is pretty much singularly focused.  He eats and drinks to survive and he does his level best to go outside to poop; (that's another story, entirely) but truly his world revolves around that next moment that he might get to spend with his master.  

Charley is not content to just know that his master exists and is somewhere in our home.  Charley MUST be WITH his master.  

Charley's ideal location is touching his master.  If I am sitting on the couch, Charley does everything possible to be lying next to me.  If I am using the computer, Charley hogs the chair so that he can be WITH me. (Here is a picture of Charley waiting for me to return to my computer time.)  If he gets too warm, he moves a further distance away; but remains where he can see me. 

This is a picture of dogged (yes, pun intended) determined devotion.  

And I must say as I sit here in my chair typing away I feel Charley's breaths become long and full and I observe that being with his master must be the place where Charley feels most peaceful.  I really do think his "joy is complete"  John 15:11

Charley's chief concern in life is abiding with his master.  And when our family is away at work and school, I imagine that he looks forward to the next moment he can abide.  

And now I realize why God would ask me to look closer at Charley.  

I find myself convicted that dogged determined devotion is not always the picture of my life.  

And I praise God that He is patient and kind and shows me these pictures of what my life can be by abiding.  

I remember that I spend a lot of time in "do-do".  Not Charley's kind, but the kind where I run around trying to please God by what I DO for Him instead of waiting for Him to show me where He is and simply being WITH Him.  (see John 15)

Wow.

And what about Charley's master?  What can be observed and recorded as I think about my relationship with Charley?  

I love Charley.  It's a deep love.  Pet owners understand this love.  Those who have not chosen to have pets generally don't understand the depth of this love.  And some who have not chosen to enter into this kind of relationship make fun of this love.  This makes me want to encourage more people to become pet owners.  

I want the best for Charley.  

I smile just thinking about him.  I talk about him.  My friend Jeanette and I trade stories about our Charley dogs (she has a small dog named Charley, too.

When Charley obeys, my smile widens and I say to him "good dog".   It's clear that when I call Charley "good dog" he feels greater contentment.  

When Charley does not obey, I feel disappointment.  I try to clean up the resulting mess. (There is almost always a mess associated with Charley's disobedience)  Sometimes the mess is un-fixable and it serves as a constant reminder of Charley's disobedience; but it doesn't change how deeply I love him.  

Instead, Charley's disobedience makes me want to spend more time teaching him how to behave, praising his obedience and pointing out the peace that results from his obedience. 

I'm grateful that He loves me (His love is DEEP and difficult for those who do not know Him to understand) and I realize how much He wants me to abide with him.  I realize how much I want EVERYONE to know and experience this love.  (see Romans 10:13)

He wants the best for me.  (see Jeremiah 29:11)

I think about how my breathing is short and shallow when I am in "do-do" mode and how I am at "perfect peace" (see Isaiah 26:3) when I am in super close proximity to where God is at work and I am focused on Him, ready to serve. 

And I think about the sweetness of someday being with Him and hearing Him say, "Well done, good and faithful servant!" (see Matthew 25:23)

The Game of Tag and Home Base

I was in prayer the other morning and a dear friend of mine, Kathy, was praying.  She was thanking God for the small children she leads in her small group.  She was describing their play while praying and I happily drifted into sweet pictures in my heart of children playing on a playground.

I thought back to the game most played at recess in the early years of school and saw these children playing tag.  I could sweetly hear the giggles and squeals of joy as they ran around on the grass and blacktop chasing one another.

I could feel the thrill of running just fast enough to avoid the tag of the friend who was "IT" and reaching "home base" (usually a big strong tree) touching it, and shouting "SAFE!"  At that, the person who was "IT", would run away to pursue someone else and I would have a break to plan where to run next.

At this point in my prayer experience, I heard a voice inside me say, "I'm Home Base, you know."

My first reaction?  I prayed, "Huh?"

Honestly, I can be slow and stubborn, more often than not.  I usually have to ask the voice to repeat Himself.

And the voice said, "I'm THE place to run to.  I'm Home Base!"

This made me think more deeply about the concept of "home base" and playing tag.

I remembered that, once we were upper graders, we wise-in-our-own-eyes children decided that "home base" was a crutch for the slow ones. We even decided that the game would be more fun played without a "home base". We decided we needed the excitement of running after one another without a safety net.  Yes, it was much more exciting this way; yet also SO MUCH more terrifying.

I also remember the year that I quit playing.  The other kids were faster than I was; and they knew that if they tagged me, I would remain "IT" for the entire recess.  It was thrilling for them; it was defeating for me.  I switched to jump rope.

These thoughts now caused me to think about growing up and becoming adults; and how so many of us deny one another (and ourselves) the wonderful, sweet safety of "Home Base".  I hear people say things like, "That's just not reality."  Or, "Life's just not that simple."  Yet, I also hear many of these same adults long for the days of their childhood. They long for rest, a slower pace, a break.

G.K. Chesterson said, the Christian life has not been tried and found wanting; it has been found difficult and not tried.

Jesus IS Home Base.  His protection and the assurance of an eternal life, love, joy and rest in Him is EXACTLY what we need!!

When we're out there "running around" and "going after" one another, trying to be "one step ahead" of the guy who's "IT", don't we long for a place we can run to...and touch...and call, "Safe"?  Many adults hang their hopes on finding this safe rest in a vacation.  And yet, those same adults return from their vacation tired, long-faced, and even more desperate, or even defeated, desiring just to quit.

Well, I can share in complete transparent honesty that "Home Base" is Real.  "Home Base" is Necessary.  Home Base is Available. And Home Base is the Warmest, Most Wonderful place I've ever been.  I've found life, love, joy and rest in the Christian life and being Jesus' disciple.

And my trips away from the base of that Tree have become fewer and fewer.  I prefer to stay close to the Tree and listen.  I respond.  I embrace. And I rest.  And I know that death is not final for me or for any in my sweet family.  I no longer have to look over my shoulder in sheer terror, wondering when I'll be tagged next and will run around feeling completely exhausted.  I'm SAFE.  

Are you SAFE?

Where have I been?

I got lost for a bit.

Thankfully, God shows us a picture (in Matthew 18:12) of how He will leave the 99 in search of the 1 that's lost to bring that one back.

The minute I saw Him I ran back!!

I discovered something important this week: I already knew the feeling of God's pleasure when I serve Him using my gifts. I live for that. What I didn't know was that I am lost from the feeling of His pleasure when I rest.

Does He want me to rest? You bet!! He says so in His Word. He says, (in Matthew 11:28) "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. He doesn't say, "Come to me and I'll give you more to do because I'm happiest when you're hard at work." There's no record of that in His Word anywhere.

I returned from our vacation spewing (good word, huh?) platitudes (wow, I'm on a roll!) about how God was not evident on our cruise ship or at the various ports of call and I felt homesick for Him. This oozed ridiculous religiousity.

Gratefully, He didn't allow me to continue with this line of thinking. Next thing I knew, He was asking me to confront my thinking and compare it to Him.

In case this feeling is foreign to you, it feels like the worst kind of dread when I encounter it. I pray that He will keep me close to Him and He does. So, when I run out from under His covering, I feel dreadful. That feeling of dread causes me to look immediately to the paths I've been most recently travelling and evaluate them in His Light.

I had coffee with my friend Dzovig. She's a sweet, faithful barracuda. If you don't have a friend like her, get one!! I spewed my platitudes to her; but she wasn't buying it for a minute. She asked something like, "If working with God feels good, why aren't you also feeling good resting with God?"

I walked around feeling dreadful for a bit longer, aware that Dzovig had touched on something, but still not knowing what to do. I walked into work after taking an extra day off and began to cry. The faces of my coworkers and the works that awaited me were tender and wonderful.

One precious coworker waited days and then asked me, "Hey friend, how are you doing?" It wasn't one of those times to say, "Fine, thanks." That's not the answer Kelly is looking for when he asks. I couldn't answer; instead, I just cried. We prayed together, asking the Spirit to reveal His message for me and, faithfully, the Spirit did not disappoint.

It is MY joy to rest WITH God...my job to look for him and stay close to Him wherever and whatever He has me doing. I didn't even realize that I saw rest as something you go away from God and do. How do you "do" rest anyway, right?

WOW! That seems like a simple truth; but it was not how I was living my life. Thanks to the 'Experiencing God' Bible study, I see God as Supreme and always at work. I see my privilege as one of joining Him in His work. What I didn't know is that I got lost thinking that when I needed a break, I needed to go away from Him.

What a putz!! Is that how you spell it? The dictionary didn't like it; but I'll bet you understand exactly what I'm saying.

I share this with you because you are precious to me and maybe this will bless you.

I shared this "place" I was in with my boss. Greg. He shared a section from a book I highly recommend, "Leadership Prayers" by Richard Kriegbaum. This book, with the wisdom embedded in prayers, will transform you! On page 54 there was a prayer calling out the phrase, "I tried to go beyond the strength you gave and I have exhausted myself."

Clearly, if God promises rest in His word, with the command "Come to me" it is wise to rest WITH Him so that He will give all the strength needed for the next (or continuing) journey.

Ah, lesson discovered! Now to pray for real-life application...

I've begun a more in depth search of the Word for truths I missed before. One truth that I love, that I quote often is from Solomon. After being the richest and smartest (watch out Bill Gates) man to have ever lived, Solomon shares his greatest truth. He says, "Above all else, keep a vigilant watch over your heart because that's where life starts." I share this with my children on a daily basis. There are so many unknowing people and situations being used by the Enemy to attack our sweet hearts. We must guard them!

Today, in my quest to read through the entire Bible in a year, I read through 1Peter.

And then (in 1Peter 4:8) Peter says, "Above all..." That got my attention immediately!

Peter's a man I can definitely relate to even more closely than to Solomon. Peter was a simple fisherman called by Jesus. Peter said, "Yes" and then made LOTS of recorded mistakes, all the while continuing in his desire to follow Jesus.

Here's what Peter said as he shared his "above all" truth.

"Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen."

I share this with you today after taking this morning to begin a new journey of discovering how it feels to rest WITH God feeling completely refreshed. Join me?

Proof of Blessing

Was reading yesterday about Thomas, the doubter. I like him. He was honest without being disrespectful.

He wanted PROOF that Christ had risen. While everyone was excitedly talking about seeing Jesus after being buried, Thomas asked specifically to put his hands where the nails had penetrated Jesus' hands. He even asked to put his hands INTO the wound in His side. Ew!

But honestly, I understand Thomas. I like proof, too.

But Jesus said something, after providing proof, that knocked me down yesterday as I read it.

After Jesus gives Thomas EXACTLY what he asked and Thomas has his proof, Jesus says, "You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me."

At first blush, I read this as Jesus scolding Thomas. But I grew up being scolded and scolding others, so I have to ask God to give me fresh new eyes to read these words so that I can see the Message from His perspective. Why did He make these specific Words a part of His Living Message?

After asking this, I read it all again and found myself focused anew on the word "BLESSED".

I noticed that I had been reading it like it was an old English word, Bless-ed. Like it was inconsequential. With new eyes, I see that this word is VERY consequential.

The consequences are these:

You decide that you will believe without seeing. You decide that you will believe without proof. You decide to stop demanding and, instead, give your life over to follow Jesus fully.

And, in this one sentence (one tiny sentence) Jesus promises that He will retroactively BLESS your life.

Okay, doubters., imagine this: Your grandmother pulls you aside for a sweet moment when you turn 16. She says she's looked forward to this moment since you were born. Your grandmother looks into your eyes and tells you that, on the day you were born, a King came to stand beside your cradle. She tells you about this King's majesty, handsome beauty and soft kindness. Then she tells you a surprising, but exciting truth. The King traveled all this way to speak a blessing over your life. And she describes to you all the things this King spoke. He spoke over you that your life would be marked with greatness; but not according to this puny world's standards. He spoke gifts into your life that you would touch others with kind inspiration. He spoke that you would encounter many obstacles and heartaches; but you would not only overcome those, you would use them to comfort others. And finally this King spoke over you that while many things and people would try to enslave you and dominate you; your life would be marked with freedom: a peace and contentedness that defied all explanation.

So the REAL question is this: How would we live our lives if we all knew that there had been a profound blessing upon us at birth? I know that, if I had heard and believed this at age 16, there would be MORE wonderful stories to tell and fewer instances of vultures circling the skies over roadkill created by my poor choices.

Here's the Truth: When you choose to follow Christ (the King), no matter what age, it's as if He retroactively appears at the side of your cradle, adopts you as His own, speaks a blessing over your life that NOTHING will be wasted and gives you freedom to live in peace and contentedness according to His blessings.

"Blessed are those who believe without seeing me"

I'm experiencing a season of my life where the "roadkill" is being redeemed...changed...do I dare say resurrected to a new life? I don't say this to minimize Christ's sacrifice and victory; I use this word to show that His death and resurrection are Ongoing...Living and Life-Restoring. I chose at age 31 to "believe without seeing" and I am just amazed to encounter regular moments where something that felt terribly bad in my past (that I prefer and try unsuccessfully to forget) is placed before me and I'm given the BLESSING to make a new choice and receive new freedom and peace.

I haven't had the luxury that Thomas had of seeing, feeling and experiencing scientific proof; but I'm living a daily life that is all the proof I need!!

The JOY of Reconciliation

What does Webster say about reconciliation?

Webster says it is the process of making consistent or compatible.

Nope. Once again, Webster fails at defining a word to match the effect it is causing in my heart right now.

I attended the Leadership Summit this year and heard Tim Keller speak about a topic that fascinates me. In his book, The Prodigal God, he unpacks the story of the Prodigal Son. I can't wait to read this book.

One of the things he said has stayed with me day to day, prayer to prayer. Tim Keller said that we often think of the prodigal son as the one who needs to repent of all his wrongdoing and return to the Father for forgiveness. But here's what got me: Tim Keller also said that we should also consider the older son and his need to repent of his rightdoing and return to the Father for forgiveness.

What?? Oh, now you're REALLY messing with everything I know to be "true"!!

The "truth" I was taught was: be good, do what's right all the time and things will work out and you'll have the best life.

So, "repent of my rightdoing" is like trying to speak German. I've tried. It hasn't worked well. They laugh at me. Really.

The light bulb went on the other day when school started again and I was faced with driving the boys to school. I am very proud of my good driving skills and my ability to follow directional arrows and interpret colors painted on curbs. This is not an area of pride, evidently, for many other Clovis North parents. Grace goes right out the window when I drive the "right" way in the drop-off pick-up zones. I had to really think about my motivations and admit that, at Clovis North (7:40am and 3:05pm) I would rather be "right" than gracious. That's NOT good!

And so I understand why God has placed this phrase front and center in my thoughts these days. There are many more joyful and triumphant rewards in being sensitive and grace-filled than in being in love with your "rightdoing". Wow.

In the last 5 days, I have witnessed (or been told about) BIG moves of God that each involve letting go of what's "right" and, instead, staying sensitive to His Holy Spirit.

I heard the story of a daughter who turned away from judging her mother's choices and, instead, dropped to her knees in prayer next to her sleeping mother and felt absolutely transformed. God did not transform the mother, He transformed the daughter and she repented of her "rightdoing".

I watched on Sunday morning as our church did baptism the "right" way. We baptized a woman at 9:00 and then two school-aged girls at 10:45. Each had thoughtfully prepared their testimony and it was shared with those who came to worship. It was beautiful, as always. But then our pastor, being sensitive to the Spirit of God, announced that ANYONE could now come and proclaim Christ for the first time, or they could come and be baptized as a proclamation of obedience as a Christ follower. What? In their street clothes? Where would they dry off? Would they go home dripping wet?

Seventy-nine people came forward on Sunday and, yes, in their street clothes stepped into the waters and were baptized.

Today, I called a precious woman who was once the best friend I had. She was the only one I think, besides my own mother, who was at both of my weddings. She held the left leg and Derek held the right leg as I gave birth to Blake. Precious.

It was her birthday yesterday. Today is the day after her birthday. Our hearts were knit together for so many years; but we'd drifted apart. I'm still not sure of all the reasons. We were united in so many different seasons of our lives. But, in the end, we had different philosophies about life and, maybe, had very little to talk about.

The "right" thing? Leave it alone! Why stir up old history? Your lives are different and full and no longer united. These are the "rightdoing" things that tried to kidnap my thinking. What did I do?

Well first, I went the "chicken" route. I decided to try to find her on Facebook again. I had tried before and never found her. She wasn't listed. Oh well.

Then, I had the feeling that I was not going to be able to concentrate on anything until I made the call. I looked her up on Zaba Search to be sure the phone number I had still matched. stalling.....

And then I called her. And it was busy. BUSY? Who has a busy signal anymore?

I called again a few minutes later. Still busy.

Then, I did the unexplainable. I called again. I can't tell you why except that I knew I was being sensitive to Someone Bigger than me. I also felt that my day was not going to come together until I did. Honestly, I thought I might leave a really lame (have you heard me leave messages?) day-late "Happy Birthday" message on her machine and call it "done".

But she answered. And it was SOOO great to hear her voice. I said something lame (I'm way better in writing than on the phone) and then she said the most amazing thing. She said, "This is a miracle. I'm facing a big battle in my life right now (cancer) and I have thought about you a lot. You know it's hard for me to say when I need something; but I need YOU and now [after maybe 10 years apart] you call. It's just a MIRACLE that you called."

We talked for a bit. Not long enough. We cried together and then I bawled like a baby after I hung up. She's going to call me again later today and I hope we'll talk more. If she needs me, I'm there!! No questions. No concerns about "rightdoing"

Oh yeah, I can't leave this part out of this amazing story. My friend became a follower of Christ about about twenty years ago. I was not Christian then. I had been born and raised Mormon and then had married Catholic and I was DONE with organized religion and people believing there's "more" to life. You've all heard this story.

Twenty years ago, when she shared her new love with me, I DID NOT support her. I mocked her and debated with her and when she stopped attending church due to something unfortunate and painful that happened associated with the church, I said, "I told you so!" And then I was fully supportive of her bitterness and disappointment.

Fast forward nearly a decade when I gave my life over to Christ. I told her about it. She was not excited. She didn't mock me and she wasn't rude; but she was clear that we had nothing in common in Christianity.

And then we drifted apart.

The best words I could ever imagine hearing today when I called her? As she was telling me about everything that had happened with her since we last talked, she said, "I'm back with the Lord."

God used me today (miracle that I can even be used) to show my friend that He is FAITHFUL to answer prayers and will provide everything we need and much of what we want when we align our wants with His will. What an honor!! My favorite thing to do is punch God's time clock and help in the work he doesn't even need me to help with!! And God showed me the miracle of how He brings even those, we think are the most unlikely, victoriously to Himself.

Reconciliation.

Being fussed over...

As a mom, I understand what it is to "fuss over" a precious little one. Are they too hot? Are they too cold? Are they hungry? Do they need a diaper change? Well, the diaper changes are more of a distant memory; but "fussing" is what moms do.

Interesting that this idea was made large this week as I read from the book of Matthew 15 about Jesus feeding the 4,000. I have read this story many times; but a Fresh Perspective came over me as I read it this week.

I saw, in this passage, what wasn't said and enjoyed the picture of Jesus fussing over ME!

The story paints a picture of 4000 people in the middle of the wilderness about to become hungry.

The disciples, logical thinkers that they were, counted the food they had and let Jesus know that there was no way they could feed them. The story goes on to the miracle of the loaves and fishes and the people ate all they wanted and there was food left over.

What I missed in earlier readings is this: The story mentions that Jesus was "feeling sorry" that they had been there 3 days and had nothing left to eat. Jesus was concerned that the people were hungry. The story doesn't say that the people were groaning, whining and complaining that they were hungry.

I see Jesus doing 2 important things that have become precious to me:

1. He was thinking about the need that was coming...anticipating their needs....even before the need was presented in living color. He KNOWS what we need before a single hunger pain arrives. He said, "I feel sorry for these people. They have been here with me for three days, and they have nothing left to eat. I don't want to send them away hungry, or they will faint along the way."

2. And, just like we parents who like to reward our children for good choices, He placed a high priority on providing (even through supernatural means) for the needs of those people based on his unconditional love for them and through their selfless choice to stay with Him, even though they didn't have enough food.

I hadn't thought about it in depth before my reading this week. These people chose to stop whatever they were doing in their "normal" life and follow Jesus into the wilderness to hear Him and just be with Him.

Long before the advent of cars and ice chests, they probably packed a basket with food. They had no idea how long they would be there, yet they continued to choose to stay even after their food supply had run out.

Every time I've read this passage before, I've marveled at another of Jesus' miracles. Today, I'm in awe of 4,000 people who decided to stay.

They were making a Kingdom choice that made no earthly sense. And Jesus "fussed over" them and loved them and, ultimately, displayed the Father's Glory by providing all they needed supernaturally.

He rewarded their great choice with love, care, provision, GLORY and grace.

Today, I'm motivated and challenging myself to think about my choices. The truth is, I think that if I were among those 4,000, I would've left early to "beat the crowds" as soon as my earthly food supply ran out.

Oh, what I would've missed!! All in an effort to protect my own provision and needs. This choice of "staying with Jesus regardless of the surrounding circumstances" goes against every "common sense" lesson my parents taught me.

And yet, the TRUTH propels me forward in new and exciting ways!!