A Photograph....

One of my favorite "photographs" of King Jesus from all four of the Gospels…

"So they all ate and were filled. And they took up twelve baskets full of fragments and of the fish."
Mark 6:42-43

The fact that Jesus took so LITTLE and made so much speaks to us. Where do we feel small and insufficient? Is it our lives, our resources, our future…ourselves? Let’s put whatever it is squarely and completely in His hands, stand back and watch the wonder...yes, just like the bread, He may need to "break" somethings up in our lives to bring multiplication...but, let’s not fear His tender touch.

I love that…everyone was FILLED. I spent so much of my life unsatisfied and frustrated. Ministry was more chore than overflow; lack of knowing God's will for my life was the norm; and struggling with habitual behaviors almost destroyed me…until Jesus cornered me and I found that in HIM ALONE was I satisfied, significant, and complete.

Last of all...Jesus doesn't WASTE a thing. There is nothing in our lives…even the months and years we regret…that He won't use for His glory...His grace not only extends to our present and our future, but His grace rolls up all the waste of our past…and He causes it to become part of our glorious story. No, nothing is wasted in Him. Truly.

How does this story speak to you? Why not take a few moments and talk to Lord Jesus about it...He's ready to begin a miracle…

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photo: Felicity via Flickr

I am sharing at a women’s conference this coming Saturday and one of the leading up verses…you know…it is not the main subject, but it will get us there…is this…

“For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding” Colossians 1:9

Paul tells us here that we can be “filled” with knowing His will… The original Greek word here (pleroo) means: complete, to the brim, to cause to abound, and full measure. If this was the only time Paul wrote this…well…it isn’t…so…God must want us to know His will for our lives.

So…here is short summation of knowing His will for you…

It is never brought about by fear. If you are doing something because of fear and not faith, it probably isn't His will. Likewise…if you feel backed into a corner with no other options…that probably isn't His will either. If you are pursuing a course of action without talking to those godly, safe, who love you to the moon and back people Jesus has brought into your life…red flags should be going off. If you are doing something that contradicts His Word…well FOR SURE you are not on the right course. Now for some more positive clues…

If you are having some really good quality (I didn't say quantity…though the minutes will scurry by while in His presence!) time with the Lord…alone…with Him…you will get familiar with His voice. If you are feasting daily…getting your spiritual meal…in His written Word…you will find yourself more and more on the right path…filled with more faith (His Word does that, you know!). Next start taking some steps in the direction you are feeling led to go…talk to your godly peeps…pray with your godly peeps. And, trust Jesus for the next step…not being so concerned about a few years from now.

That’s it. Let’s get filled with the knowledge of His will for lives. It will be good, it will be rich, and it will bear fruit for His glory alone.

photo: Crush Cul de Sac