Weekend Words

 From Beside the Still Waters...

Jesus Said, "I Am the Bread of Life" - Read: John 6:30-58

"And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst." - John 6:35

Jesus stated in today's Bible reading that "the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven and giveth life unto the world."  Jesus is the one who came down, so He is our bread.  How can Jesus be bread for us?  Consider what bread does for our natural bodies.  It nourishes us and sustains our life when we take it in.  It strengthens us and becomes part of our body.  Jesus does the same in a spiritual sense.

The life that Jesus gives to the world is not the breath of natural life, but rather the new spiritual life that He breathes into our souls when we believe in Him as our Saviour.  The Holy Spirit also comes in to do His work in our life when we put our faith in Jesus.

Eating natural bread satisfies our natural hunger.  Jesus satisfies the hunger of our soul.  The devil tempts us to eat the bread of the world by indulging in the works of the flesh listed in Galatians 5:19-21.  However, that does not bring satisfaction to our soul as Jesus does.  We feel empty without Christ.  We feel guilty, condemned, and fearful.  But when we ingest the bread of life, Jesus, we feel loved and accepted by Him.

To eat the bread of Jesus, we need to take in His teachings in such a way that they become part of us and how we live.  This is done by studying the Word of God, memorizing it, and obeying it.  If we take the bread of Jesus into our soul as we take natural bread into our body, over and over again, we will have eternal life.

Joseph Sharp - Adams, NY

The sins of the flesh leave an unfulfilled hole;

The bread of Jesus gives peace to our soul.  

Jesus Said, "I am ... the Truth" - Read: John 8:12-18, 31-47

"And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." - John 8:32

Jesus Himself is the truth.  Therefore, Jesus is always faithful to His promises and does not change.  Hebrews 13:8 says, "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever."  We can be assured that what Jesus taught is true.  He is the only One who perfectly represents the heavenly Father.  If we become followers of Jesus, we will experience the blessings of obeying Him.  We can have our sins forgiven if we confess them (1 John 1:9).  We can live in victory when we are tempted (key verse).  We can trust His promises for eternal life (Revelation 2:7).  Jesus saves!  Jesus loves!  Jesus cares!

In today's Bible reading, Jesus clearly said that He came from His Father.  He also stated who He is and who the devil is.  The devil is a liar, which is the direct opposite of being the truth.  The devil cannot speak the truth; there is no truth in him.  He cannot save us, for he wants only to destroy.  He does not love us, for if he did, he would not try to deceive us and would not want us to be cast forever into hell.  In fact, the devil has no capacity for love, because that comes only from the Father.  He does not care if we have pain and misery, for he is a hard taskmaster.  His wages are death and destruction.

Romans 1:25 says that some people have actually changed the truth of God into a lie.  The succeeding verses describe the downward course of sin and debauchery followed by these people.  Let us rather follow truth, for it sets us free from sin and destruction.  Jesus is "full of grace and truth" (John 1:14).

Joseph Sharp - Adams, NY

For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. - John 1:17

From In Green Pastures...

The Peacemaker's Beatitude.

It is very easy, if you are talking to one who has a little distrust of another or a little bitterness against another, to say a word which will increase the distrust or add to the bitterness.  We like to approve and justify the one with whom we are speaking, and in doing so we are apt to confirm him in his bitterness or sense of wrong.  Let us be on our guard that we do not unintentionally widen little rifts into great breaches.  Let us seek ever to be peacemakers.  there is no other beatitude whose blessing is more radiant than that of the peacemaker - "they shall be called sons of God."

Weekend Words

From Beside the Still Waters...

Who Are the People of God? - Read: 1 Peter 2

"Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God" - 1 Peter 2:10

In today's key verse, do the people of God include all who profess to follow Christ?  Simply being zealously involved in religious activity does not make one a Christian.  Who then are God's people?  Here are some descriptions that we find in Scripture.

The people of God have been born again.  They give evidence of it by being so transformed that they "walk in newness of life" (Romans 6:4).  They turn away from sin and the ungodly world, are led by the Spirit of God, and have their focus on spiritual things.

The people of God accept the entire Bible as the inspired, infallible Word of God, to be believed and obeyed without reservation.  The Bible is their rule even when others are following "enlightened" thinkers.  They are fully convinced that God's Word will never change.  Living by faith, they are not overwhelmed by fear when things seem to spin out of control, but they have abiding peace and restful assurance that the secular world knows nothing of.

The people of God seek to follow Jesus' command to love - that we love one another, love our neighbor, and even love our enemies.  They show divine love by deeds of kindness, acts of compassion, and other practical ways.  God's people do not resort to physical force to gain what they want, whether it involves vengeful actions or political methods.

Have we surrendered our lives to the Lord Jesus Christ?  Are we living in the light of eternity and in readiness for our Lord's soon return?  If so, we can have the wonderful blessing of being assured that we are part of God's people.

Mark Kropf - Halsey, OR

The people of God are they ...

Who search the Scriptures and hasten to obey;

Who hear the Shepherd and follow Him all the way;

Who love the Lord and serve Him every day.

From Amish Peace... (I posted this back in 2021, but I thought it was worth revisiting)

Open Your Hands and Give

"Don't worry about these things, saying, "What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?"  These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. (Matthew 6:31-31)

Recession has hit our country in recent years.  Friends have lost their homes.  Others have whittled down their savings.  Many are out of jobs.  But the Amish are a segment of society that has hardly been touched with financial trouble.  When the world around us uses advertising and promotion to urge consumers to buy more, the Amish raise their children to get by with just enough. "Waste not, want not" is a common saying.  Amish are consumers, too, but they consume in different ways.  They don't purchase products to make them look good or to bring comfort, ease, or beauty to their lives.  They purchase food, clothing, tools, or other supplies because they have a specific need.

The Amish live by common sense, and they foster contentment with what they have.  They also open their hands and give to those who are in need.  Giving to others as a top money management technique may seem foolish, but the Amish received this advice from the One who owns everything.  Jesus said, "Give and you will receive.  Your gift will return to you in full - pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap.  The amount you give will determine the amount you get back" (Luke 6:38).

If you want to live in peace, throw away your long shopping list and learn to live with less.  Do you want to be unruffled and content?  Cease focusing on what you don't have, and instead consider what you can give to someone who has less.

Those who don't believe that God is there - and that He cares for them - have reason to worry and fret.  But our heavenly Father not only knows our needs but also brings others into our lives to help meet them.  He also brings people in need into our lives because He knows we will be blessed when we open our hands to give.

Dear heavenly Father, thank you for all You've provided - in unexpected ways and through the care of others.  Show me someone who needs something I have to offer.  I open my hands today.

From In Green Pastures...

As Thy Days

There is in the Bible no promise of grace in advance of the need.  God does not say he will put strength into our arm for the battle while we are in quiet peace and the battle is yet far off.  When the conflict is at hand the strength will be given.  He does not open the gates for us, nor roll away the stones, until we have come up to them.  He did not divide the Jordan's waters while the people were yet in their camps, nor even as they began to march towards the river.  The wild stream continued to flow as the host moved down the banks, even until the feet of the priests had been dipped in the water.  This is the constant law of divine help.  It is not given in advance.  As we come up to the need the supply is ready, but not before.  Yet many Christians worry because they cannot see the way opened and the needs supplied far in advance of their steps.  Shall we not let God provide and have faith in Him?

"Keep thou my feet; I do not ask to see

The distance scene; one step enough for me."

Weekend Words

 From In Green Pastures...

A Beautiful Life

A life need not be great to be beautiful.  There may be as much beauty in a tiny flower as in a majestic tree, in a little gem as in a great mountain, in the smallest creatures as in a mammoth.  A life may be very lovely and yet be insignificant in the world's eyes.  A beautiful life is one that fulfils its mission in this world, that is what God made it to be, and does what God made it to do.  Those with commonplace gifts are in danger of thinking that they cannot live a beautiful life, cannot be a blessing in this world.  But the smallest life that fills its place well is far lovelier in God's sight than the largest and most splendidly gifted that yet fails of its divine mission.

"Far better in its place the lowliest bird

should sing aright to Him the lowliest song,

Than that a seraph strayed should take the word

And sing his glory wrong."

From Our Daily Bread...

Five Good Things - Read: Psalm 107:1-9

"Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever." - Psalm 107:1

According to research, people who are intentionally grateful for what they have report better sleep, fewer symptoms of illness, and more happiness.  Those are impressive benefits.  Psychologists even suggest keeping a "gratitude journal" to improve our well-being, writing down five things we're grateful for each week.

Scripture has long promoted the practice of gratitude.  From meals and marriage (1 Timothy 4:3-5) to the beauties of creation (Psalm 104), the Bible has called us to see such things as gifts and to thank the Giver for them.  Psalm 107 lists 5 things Israel could be especially grateful for: their rescue from the desert (vv. 4-9), their release from captivity (vv. 10-16), healing from disease (vv. 18-22), safety at sea (vv. 23-32), and their flourishing in a barren land (vv. 33-42).  "Give thanks to the Lord," the psalm repeats, for these are all signs of God's "unfailing love" (vv. 8, 15, 21, 31).

Do you have a notepad handy?  Why not write down five good things you're grateful for now?  It might be the meal you just enjoyed, your marriage or, like Israel, God's rescue points in your life to date.  Give thanks for the birds singing outside, the smells in your kitchen, the comfort of your chair, the murmurs of loved ones.  Each is a gift and a sign of God's unfailing love.

- Sheridan Voysey

From Amish Peace...

Words Alone

"The Lord merely spoke, and the heavens were created.  He breathed the word, and all the stars were born.  He assigned the sea its boundaries and locked the ocean in vast reservoirs.  Let the whole world fear the Lord, and let everyone stand in awe of him" - Psalm 33:6-8

When I pull out my favorite Amish cookbook, I immediately read the ingredients.  Do I have everything I need?  It doesn't matter if I have the desire or the skill to make the recipe; if I don't have the right ingredients, I'm not going to get anywhere.

When an Amish wife cooks a meal, she turns to the pantry for supplies.  When Amish men prepare for a barn raising, they order supplies from the hardware store.  We understand how things come from other things, yet it's hard to wrap our minds around the fact that with God everything came from nothing at all.  Words created the world.  God's breath hung the stars:  "By faith we understand that the entire universe was formed at God's command, that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen" (Hebrews 11:3).

In our world, many put their trust in science and the knowledge of humanity.  They attempt to explain the world without figuring God into the equation.  They ignore the beauty of creation's design.  But everything is different when we see the world as the handiwork of a Creator.

"Peace is seeing a sunset and knowing whom to thank," the Amish say.  What do you see when you look at the world around you?  Whom do you thank?

Today when you step outside your door, look around and let your heart be filled with awe.  Take time to thank your Creator.  His Word, the Bible, is something you can stand on.  And the world, created by His words, is something to marvel at. 

Let us join together and stand in awe of Him.

Weekend Words (Easter)

 From Beside the Still Waters...

Good Friday - Read: Hebrews 7

"For such a high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens." - Hebrews 7:26

This is a day to reflect on the sacrifice of Jesus.  It is the historic date of His crucifixion and death.  We do well to remember this event.  But why did Jesus need to die?  Genesis 3 gives the account of Adam and Eve's sin.  They disobeyed God's command not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.  The result of disobedience would be death.  Ezekiel 18:20 states something similar: "The soul that sinneth, it shall die."  Romans 6:23 says, "The wages of sin is death."

So as humans we have something we don't want (sinfulness), and we need something we don't have (righteousness).  How can we get rid of our sin and become righteous before God?  Hebrews 9:22 says that without shedding of blood there is no remission of sins.  Jesus shed His blood on the cross, and Revelation 1:5 says that He has "washed us from our sins in his own blood."

On the cross Jesus cried, "It is finished!"  In Greek this expression is the single word tetelestai - a verb in the present perfect tense.  This word was used to indicate various things, of which three are significant here: that a task has been completed, that a debt has been paid in full, and that a sacrificial lamb has been found.

What must we do to be redeemed, justified, and saved?  If we put our faith in Christ, we are justified by faith; that is, our faith is counted as righteousness.  Then we are reconciled to God, and the death penalty for our sin is canceled.  "Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience" (Hebrews 10:22).

John Ropp - Dannebrog, NE

Easter and the Resurrection - Read: Romans 6 

"If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable." - 1 Corinthians 15:19

In an earthly kingdom, a king is ruler.  His law is upheld, enforced, obeyed.  When he dies, the next in succession takes his place.  As Christians we follow Christ our King.  His laws are upheld, honored, and obeyed.  One day our King was killed.  Who was His successor?  There was none.  He died, He was buried, and His tomb was sealed.  The evil forces rejoiced.  They thought God's plan for man's redemption was thwarted.  But wait, there is more to the story.

Praise God, Christ arose in triumph over the forces of evil!  That is the reason for rejoicing at Easter.  Christ is the perfect Lamb, slain as a sacrifice for our sins.  He had to suffer death so that He could defeat death by rising again.  By His resurrection power we can rise and walk in newness of life.  

So as the household of faith, let us draw near to God in assurance of eternal life, having our sins forgiven and being reconciled to God.  Our garments are no longer stained with sin, but washed white in the blood of the Lamb.  We know that Christ is sitting at God's right hand, interceding for us.

Being reconciled to God makes us love everybody.  "Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another" (1 John 4:11).  Words of instruction abound: walk circumspectly, redeem the time, speak to yourselves with songs, give thanks for all things, and submit to one another.  "For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure" (Philippians 2:13).  "If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth at the right hand of God" (Colossians 3:1)

John Ropp - Dannebrog, NE

Weekend Words

 From Beside the Still Waters...

Jesus Said, "I Am the Door" - Read: John 10:1-10

"Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." - Acts 4:12

What comes to your mind when you think of a door?  We use many doors.  We have house doors, car doors, garage doors, barn doors, cellar doors, and many more.  Doors are of different sizes and styles.  But they are used for one basic purpose: to enter or exit an enclosure.  Doors are also used to limit access to an area.

In today's Bible reading Jesus said, "I am the door of the sheep."  How is that true?  To come into Jesus' sheepfold and become part of the family of God, we must come through Jesus.  He does not merely control the door; He is the door.  Jesus' words "I am the door" are much like His words "I am the way."  It is our choice whether we will come through Jesus into the sheepfold of God.

In Matthew 7:13-14 we read of two gates, which are similar to doors.  The gate leading to life is "strait," which means narrow and restrictive.  The same is true of Jesus the door because He will not let things come into the sheepfold that would harm the sheep.  Revelation 22:17 says that "whosoever will" may come, but each person must meet Jesus' requirements.  Right will always be right, and wrong will always be wrong.

Jesus is the door because only through Him can we come to God.  He alone paid the ransom to deliver us from sins and then rose from the grave to defeat sin and death forever.  He is our Mediator, the one through whom we have access to God.  "No man cometh unto the Father, but by me" (John 14:6).

Joseph Sharp - Adams, NY

From Beside the Still Waters...

Jesus said, "I Am the Good Shepherd" - Read John 10:11-30

"He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arms, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young." - Isaiah 40:11

What picture comes to mind when you think of a shepherd?  I see a man on a hillside with a flock of sheep.  In the shepherd's hand is a staff that is longer than he is tall, and at the top of the staff is a large, rounded hook.  There is grass on the hillside, and below is a field with a creek in it.  Some parts of the creek are flowing swiftly, but there are portions that are deeper and flow gently and quietly.  The shepherd leads his sheep to the quiet water for a cool, refreshing drink.  When the sun is warm, he finds a tree that provides shade.

Jesus said, "I am the good shepherd" (John 10:11).  He will be our Shepherd if we will join His flock of sheep.  We must be willing to blend in with the flock and become part of it.  When we do that, we find peace and rest for our soul.

The Good Shepherd uses His staff to guide the sheep.  He uses the hook to rescue sheep that get caught in thorny bushes.  He also uses the staff to fight off enemies that would like to destroy the sheep.  He never uses the staff to beat the sheep, because He loves them.  When the path is narrow and dangerous, the Shepherd walks ahead to show His sheep the right way.  We can always trust the Good Shepherd.

Psalm 23:3 says, "He restoreth my soul."  You see, our soul has been damaged by sin.  The Good Shepherd is the healer of all injuries.   He leads us only in paths of righteousness.  Even when we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, He will walk alongside to guide and comfort us.

Joseph Sharp - Adams, NY

We do not need to fear the wolf when we are following the Good Shepherd!

Weekend Words

From Amish Peace...

Be Still

"Be still, and know that I am God!  I will be honored by every nation.  I will be honored throughout the world." - Psalm 46:10

There is nothing more wonderful than taking a walk along a quiet trail on a spring morning with the air still, one's mind still, and the world around still and at rest.  New buds cluster on previously dormant tree branches.  Spots of floral color can be seen within the light-green grass.  It's easy to feel God in such a place.

I've walked among Amish men, women, and children at a local auction and felt the same stillness - even in the midst of all the activities.  The air stirred slightly from their voices, but there was no loud uproar.  People moved, but not in anxious haste.  God was honored not only by their words but also by the contented way they interacted.

I don't feel the same way when I'm in a large city, walking down a high school corridor, or in the middle of a mall.  The blare of machinery or music fills the air.  Voices do too.  The hairstyles, clothes, and merchandise scream, "Notice me, notice me!"  The people's actions silently declare the same.  Each person wants to be noticed, to feel valued, to stand out.

As believers, we know we are special creations, unique and precious to God.  So why do we struggle with comparing our lives, our bodies, our children, our talents (or lack of talents) with others?  God didn't create the world to be exalted but to glorify Him.  The same goes for us.

Be still and know that He is God.  Be still.  Fight against the desire to create idols of man-made things.  Fight against your longing to be noticed and appreciated - to stand out in a crowd.

Isaiah 37:16 says, "O Lord of Heaven's Armies, God of Israel, you are enthroned between the mighty cherubim!  You alone are God of all the kingdoms of the earth.  You alone created the heavens and the earth."  May not only our words but also our "stillness" in everyday situations make such a declaration.

Dear heavenly Father, when I feel the urge rising to make myself known, I pray I might make You known.  When I feel the desire to gain attention, may I remember to be still and give You the glory.

From In Green Pastures...

Should the uncertainty of all human affairs sadden our lives?  No; God does not want us to bring tomorrow's possible clouds to shadow our todays.  He does not want us to be unhappy while the sun shines because by-and-by it will be dark.  He wants us to live in today and enjoy its blessings and do its work well, though tomorrow may well bring calamity.  How can we?  Only by calm, quiet, trustful faith in God and obedience to him at every step.  Then no troublesome tomorrow can ever bring us harm.  those who do God's will each day God will hide under his wings when the storm breaks.

News from home...

We are officially in autumn here, but it is still hot.  We've been having days in the high 20sC/80sF, so I'm glad for a cloudy day to go for my walks...

And some beautiful sunsets too...

A couple of weeks ago I went with Marnie and Tom to Tasmania Zoo.  Another very hot day (even the animals were seeking out a shady spot)... 

Still working on the 'colorful blanket'.  Have 4 of the 5 strips done...

But because I was getting 'color overload', I've put it aside for a bit to work on my 'calmer' crocheted blanket...

This is my 'Deloraine blanket'.  I bought the yarn a year ago, not long before I moved from Deloraine to Latrobe, in colors that reminded me of Deloraine: white (snow on the mountains and clouds), blues (river and sky), green (trees and grass/plants), greys (skies and mountains), brown (rocks and mountains).  The colors changed with the seasons, but it is always the colors of nature that draw me.

Picked up this delightful little book at the op shop recently...

makes me want to go out and buy a red geranium :)

And another op shop find, this bowl and jug ($9)...

which goes so well with my second-hand, old-fashioned wash stand (bought many years ago)

Had a lovely visit from two of the Mennonite ladies (and two of the young children), who brought me the books I had ordered from the Rod and Staff book publishers catalogue...

these should keep me going for a while :)

I recently finished re-reading Vera - The King's Daughter (previously read 2020)...

and have started From Wealth to Faith

I also received the head covering squares I had ordered from Michaela's Etsy store...

wore the brown one for church last Sunday

And Freya was not a happy cat, having cut the underneath of her paw and needing a trip to the vet (I was not happy either when I saw the bill!!) and bandage, so it could heal.  She also needed to stay inside for a few days which she definitely DID NOT LIKE!

She is all better now (but still not speaking to me), and is out exploring again...

And remember back in January I mentioned about my 'Bible Word for the Month' I was doing this year?  My January word being 'peace' (I found 29 verses); my February word was 'joy' (I found 42 verses); and my March word is 'trust' (so far, I've found 34 verses).  I'm sure there are many more, and it's been fun looking them up (in various concordances - KJV, NKJV and NIV) and writing them out.

Here are some 'trust verses'...

Psalm 9:10 And those who know Your name will put their trust in You; For You, Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You. (NKJV)

Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart,  And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. (NKJV)

Nahum 1:7 The Lord is good, A stronghold in the day of trouble; And He knows those who trust in Him. (NKJV)

"Lord, in your kindness, give me Yourself, for You are all I need." 

- Julian of Norwich (1342 - 1416)

Simply trusting every day;

Trusting through a stormy way;

Even when my faith is small,

Trusting Jesus, that is all.

Have a blessed week, and keep on trusting ...

xx