He chose them….touched them and revealed Himself

 

“And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. 2And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light. 3And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. 4And Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.” 5He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son,[V] with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” 6When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and were terrified. 7But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Rise, and have no fear.” 8And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only. 9And as they were coming down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, “Tell no one the vision, until the Son of Man is raised from the dead.” 10And the disciples asked him, “Then why do the scribes say that first Elijah must come?” 11He answered, “Elijah does come, and he will restore all things. 12But I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but did to him whatever they pleased. So also the Son of Man will certainly suffer at their hands.” 13Then the disciples understood that he was speaking to them of John the Baptist.”

-Mattew 17:1-13 ESV

Follow me. That’s what He told them. He said to do so, he/we must give up all right to ourselves and take up our cross – our right to punishment, to exile, persecution – the act of being pursued for sake of ridicule at God the Father. He said to do these things and follow Him – His footsteps, His word – the life He calls us to. So, I am to follow Jesus. I am to take up the (my) cross, daily. Perhaps I could spend some time on what this means for me. Maybe you, too?

Then, a week later, Jesus chooses a few. He chose Peter, James and his brother, John. If I got invited to a hillside to be alone with Christ and my brother and my best friend….it would be one for the record books! I would be prep’d and ready to jot down my thoughts and live tweet my emotions, the view and the conversation topics. I would feel special. I would feel like I was IN. I think these disciples felt this way. Nontheless, Jesus chose them and revealed a portion of His Glory – the Glory of God the Father. These guys freaked out, ready to camp out and soak it in. The voice of the Father came booming and they dropped to the ground. They were scared and unsure of their response….Jesus then touched them. They saw the presence of the Lord, were in His presence, and viewed the presence of God’s Kingdom among them…and felt the touch of the Lord in all the midst of this divine presence of men who’d died many many years prior and of the Holy Father’s presence, Glory, voice and command…..for, God said to “listen to….” Jesus. I like this. God is there. Moses. Elijah. Disciples. A little hilltop secret pow wow to reveal truth. Jesus does his thing and displaces the fear. The men understand they are with the true God. They are with the Messiah. They are with Jesus and are to listen to Him.

Me, too. I am in the presence of the Lord. I am His. I am commanded to ‘listen to Him..” and for this I am grateful. Jesus, help me to listen to your words and your call on my life. I am called to be w/you….to walk with you and all things “other” will come out of this connection.

May I take up my cross and follow you, losing my life to gain what you paid for. LIfe eternal in your presence. All spiritual blessings in the heavenly realms: –Ephesians 1:3

Blessings,

-ao

Toast and Bacon with full-ness

Today, I got up up and made breakfast for the boys. I do this about every a.m. to ensure Wyatt has a good start to his day, a hearty breakfast! I think alot about the mornings for me growing up. I think about the oatmeal and toast, sausage biscuits, pop tarts, and conversations with my mom. I think about what it felt like to wake up early and have to get up...and how, when I smelled the food, things seemed to get better. My mom had food ready....and I would expect it....and appreciate it.

I am hoping my sons are appreciating their early meals and getting their fill to send them out for the day. I get mine.

There's something else. Do they see God in the mornings? Do they see the miracles of Jesus? Are they reminded of God's faithfulness?

This is my greater hope for them. My greater hope for myself.

Matthew 15:29-39 ESV

"Jesus went on from there and walked beside the Sea of Galilee. And he went up on the mountain and sat down there. And great crowds came to him, bringing with them the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute, and many others, and they put them at his feet, and he healed them, so that the crowd wondered, when they saw the mute speaking, the crippled healthy, the lame walking, and the blind seeing. And they glorified the God of Israel. Then Jesus called his disciples to him and said, "I have compassion on the crowd because they have been with me now three days and have nothing to eat. And I am unwilling to send them away hungry, lest they faint on the way." And the disciples said to him, "Where are we to get enough bread in such a desolate place to feed so great a crowd?" And Jesus said to them, "How many loaves do you have?" They said, "Seven, and a few small fish." And directing the crowd to sit down on the ground, he took the seven loaves and the fish, and having given thanks he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up seven baskets full of the broken pieces left over. Those who ate were four thousand men, besides women and children. And after sending away the crowds, he got into the boat and went to the region of Magadan."

The disciples were soaking in the moment..not taking notes  not necessarily paying detailed attention to what had happened previously or with whom was their company....they seemed to skip the part where they were with the Son of God! They had only recently seen Jesus feed five thousand and now they were into the hum-drum of their routine...not really looking for God to show up like that again, instead they doubted..again. That seems just like my habits...easily forgetting what God has done and looking to the flesh to try and do (or not) what only God can truly do.

I wonder what their reaction was! I wonder what it felt like to eat to the full from God's provision. Can we make it on the provision of God alone? Can we put our hearts and trust in Jesus with a faith like this?

What if we were watching for Jesus? Watching for God? His faithfulness and provision? His fulfilling our needs?

Would your toast and bacon be different? Would you drink you're coffee the same way?

"Where are we to get enough bread....in such a desolate place..such a crowd!?"

Well, let us give thanks to God! Trusting in Him with an internal connection that simply is pure.

Jesus feeds me daily. I can look to Him for my daily food....or I can not believe and go hungry.

My fill is in the breath of God; His word is my source and in His presence I will walk and live and trust.

I see the Lord in early morning breakfast.


Blessings,

-ao

(a mobile blog update)

A word from today....

Psalm 115:12-18 NIV84

The Lord remembers us and will bless us:

He will bless the house of Israel,

he will bless the house of Aaron,

he will bless those who fear the Lord—

small and great alike.

May the Lord make you increase,

both you and your children.

May you be blessed by the Lord,

the Maker of heaven and earth.

The highest heavens belong to the Lord,

but the earth he has given to man.

It is not the dead who praise the Lord,

those who go down to silence;

it is we who extol the Lord,

both now and forevermore.

Praise the Lord."

Lord, speak to our hearts....

Blessings,

-ao