Wesley United Methodist Church, Orange TX

This is a sunset picture I took this evening. We have been blessed with many beautiful sunsets lately. Makes me wonder if Jesus was looking at this kind of sunset when He fed the five thousand.

Just a few thoughts about our lectionary scriptures from Matthew this week. Jesus feeds the multitudes and a miracle it truly is. He fed five thousand on the side of a hill and satisfied them. Hmmmm!!! Jesus is still feeding and satisfying today. His Holy word is full of hunger satisfying scriptures. You know the kind of hunger that just will not be satisfied until we commit our lives to His will and His way.

The hungry souls that are wandering this world are just waiting to be witnessed to by you and me. It truly is a responsibility that Jesus passed on to us. We must reach out to all who are hurting and in need so that Jesus is truly feeding the millions who are spiritually starving to death.

It was a miracle then and can be a miracle now. Are you filling the great commission of witnessing Jesus Christ to the world. It is good news to those who have never heard there is a God who loves them. Your witness could satisfy hungry souls wherever you are. Open your hearts and minds to the spirit and go out into the world you live in and feed those who are lost and hungry. It is the great commission.

Mat 14:16 But Jesus said to them, “They don’t need to go away. You give them something to eat.”

Mat 28:19 Therefore, as you go, disciple all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,
Mat 28:20 teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you each and every day until the end of the age.”

Have a great week full of God’s blessings and peace,

Randy

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Ever wonder what heaven is like. Jesus tries to give us some hints. In the Lectionary Readings from Matthew 13 Jesus gives us an idea. It is like finding a great treasure or a beautiful pearl. I found a great treasure in my daughter Tracie’s meal she fixed for us on Wednesday night of our vacation. It sure was good food and good for Jane and I to see our daughter who is showing more and more in her pregnancy. These two pictures give just a hint. Beautiful woman prepared a beautiful meal. Thanks to my son-in-law Jeremy for the prayer beads he brought back from Greece. It was his birthday on the 14th and Tracie had some special plans for him. We had a good time and Jane and I believe that Tracie and Jeremy have found great treasures in each other. Isn’t that what Jesus wants us to do, to find in this world, great treasures in each other. Love your neighbor as yourself and find many great treasures.

Peace and blessings to all,

Randy

In our lectionary reading from last week in Matthew we hear Jesus tell us that there will be useless people in our congregations. You know the weeds that grow among the wheat. Jesus is warning His disciples that the evil one would be planting useless people in amongst us. The trick is to keep out the evil one, not letting him plant those seeds. It is our thoughts and spiritual growth that keeps us all healthy and growing weed free.

We first need to look at ourselves and see if we are growing strong and producing good fruit. We then must look at others in our congregations and discern what we may do to turn them from being useless weeds and help them be the vibrant fruit bearing Christians God calls us all to be.

The picture below is of a sunset that we were blessed with on our vacation to Canyon Lake. Just like the scriptures that Jesus blesses us with, this sunset gives us pause to take a few moments to ponder this wonderful world we live in. Ponder the beauty in the world and ponder the beauty in the scriptures. They both can take our breath away with their beauty.

The next three Sunday’s Lectionary Gospel Readings are from the Gospel of Matthew.  Just like that beautiful sunset above (taken from my front yard with my BB) there is beauty in the scriptures.  Jesus gives the disciples some parables to ponder, he explains them and then gives them some more.   Doesn’t that sound like life as we know it.  Jesus explains something to us through the Holy Spirit and then something else comes up we have to struggle with until Jesus sees it is the right time for us to open our hearts and minds.

Hopefully we will always be trying to grow spiritually because our spiritual growth is what allows our hearts and minds to open to the possibilities that Jesus has for us.  The understandings that He can give us are what we need to make our lives the best they can be.  Our God wants that for us, the best He has to give us.  That is why it is so important for us to grow.  The more we grow the better our lives will be no matter what this old world throws at us.  Spiritual growth helps us to see the beauty in our world and to know this worlds creator.

Have a great weekend and remember going to church is a way to begin spiritual growth.  When we commit our lives to something bigger than we are we do begin to grow.  Are you ready to commit?

Randy

It is another hot dry week out there.  Want something to cool you off.  How about some Holy Spirit blowing through your soul.  This scripture is taken from the Lectionary Scriptures for the week:

11:29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in
heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  11:30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Does this overbearing heat seems to be wearing you down, weigh heavy on your soul?  Is it just one more hardship for you to bear?  Hear the words of Jesus and learn from Him.  This scripture promises us that if we take on the teachings of Jesus our lives will be better.  Living  your life with the yoke of Jesus Christ’s teachings of love, peace, hope and God’s will in your life can make all things better.  He works in our lives, yours and mine, in marvelous ways.  Try it, you’ll like it.  It’s a promise He keeps for me daily and can for you too.

His words are cool refreshing living water,

Randy