You give them something to eat.” 

Knowing Jesus would land somewhere along the opposite shore, the people rushed there expectantly in the hope of greeting Him.  As Jesus and His disciples approached the shore, they saw a crowd waiting.  Jesus had compassion on them because they were like shepherdless sheep.  The disciples appear to have had compassion for a very mundane reason – it was late in the day, and they were in a remote place.  These thousands of people would be hungry.  What would they eat?

The human thinking of the disciples said, “Send them away so they can go buy something to eat.’ How shocked they must have been when Jesus simply replied, “You give them something to eat.” This was God’s solution to the dilemma.  Jesus went on to explain what they were to do to accomplish the job.

How often do we, like the disciples, go to Jesus praying, “Lord, please help this person; they have a need,” when He intends for us to meet the need.  God often burdens us with a need in order to motivate us to meet it ourselves. Is this not how ministries begin?  God shows a need, lays it on a person’s heart, and in that passion, shows the person how to go about it – prison ministries, homeless shelters, campus ministries, unwed mothers, to name a few.

What is God telling each of us to “go and give”?

Father, in your grace you lay on my heart the needs of individuals and groups of people.  I desire to be open to your voice speaking to me.  Help me clearly discern what I am to do to obey and meet needs you have chosen for me.  Amen

Mary Barham

Picturing the love bestowed on Christmas, years ago.

Love and grace in equal parts,

Blown in drifts, banked in hearts,

Powdery prompts remind us of

The gentle gift from heaven above.

Karen Ritch

Throughout the Bible we see examples of God speaking to His people, especially through His prophets in the Old Testament.  When He spoke, it was naturally expected that the people would listen and obey.   Unfortunately, the Israelites frequently did not listen; therefore, they suffered consequences.  In the Gospel of John, Jesus tells us that He is the Good Shepherd, and He states further that His sheep hear His voice and follow Him.  In His days on earth, Jesus spoke God’s words with a human voice.  He now speaks to us through His Spirit residing within us and through the His printed words, the Bible.  A question to ask ourselves is, “Do I listen; do I hear?”   And, “Is there anything blocking the message?”

Recently I went to see a doctor because my hearing seemed muffled.  After he examined both ears, he informed me that I had an infection in each ear, stating that the eardrums were pushed outward, preventing the sound waves from effectively being transmitted from the eardrum to the small bones of the middle ear.

This physical problem can be compared to a spiritual hearing “disconnect,” in which, though God is speaking, we cannot hear because of an infection of sin, a frenetic schedule, or lack of focus on Him. May we see as our example the boy Samuel, when he replied to God’s call, “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.”

Dear Shepherd Jesus, 
I thank you that your are my Shepherd and Guide.  I love you and desire your constant presence.  I want to always be open to your voice and readily obedient to your words. 

 Amen

Mary Barham

As I stepped out the front door to check the mailbox, I glanced down and saw a bird lying on the concrete between the door and the wide and tall floor-up window.  Just to make sure, I gently nudged the bird with my foot – no response.  He was definitely dead, immobile, and with claws curled inward.

“Poor thing,”  I thought, “it flew into the window, not realizing there was a barrier there.”

Aren’t we sometimes like that bird, intent on hurrying along our way, but unmindful of
potential dangers?  We may not have submitted our path to the Lord in the first place or asked for clearly
open doors.  In addition to failing to ask God’s direction, another mistake we make is not considering consequences.  Then, like the bird, we assume all is well and take off on our flight, only to crash into unseen and unexpected barriers.

The bird, however, spoke not only a warning, but was also a lesson in God’s great love.  As I looked down at this fallen bird, I was reminded that God was also aware of  its demise and that His love for us far exceeds his love for His many creatures.  Not only is God so intimately knowledgeable about us as to know the number of hairs on our heads, but He designed us to be like Him and have fellowship with Him. It remains for us to simply respond to Him in loving obedience, worship and serve Him and enjoy Him all our days.

Mary Barham

One person may refer to another as “simple-minded”; this description invariably refers to a lack of intelligence or understanding.  However, we rarely, if ever, hear someone referred to as simple-hearted.  In the
passage above, the psalmist implies that he himself is simple-hearted.  Since God protects such a person, we would benefit from considering the characteristics that make a person simple-hearted.  The word simple refers to being uncomplicated, pure, and without many parts;  as a prefix, it adds the idea of lack of complexity and
singularity of focus.

In the case of our minds, we desire to have mental ability to consider complex ideas, but our hearts are a totally different matter.  They are to be simple and singular in focus – loving the Lord our God with our whole being – heart, soul, and mind.  It is then that we turn to Him, trusting Him with all our needs; as a result, we experience His protection and strength.  Isaiah 30:15b says, “in quietness and trust is your strength.”  Let us stay our minds on Him, adoring Him and focusing on Him.

     Father, help me as I look to you, desiring You alone and your work in my life.  You are my Hope, my Life, my Salvation.

Mary Barham

     How often do we look at circumstances in our world or our own personal lives and wonder what to do?  We may pray, yet feel abandoned by God because the problem looms large, and it seems unabated.

Yet God loves His people, and He is working out His purposes. After days of marching with their armies toward Moab, the kings of Judah, Israel, and Edom had no more water for themselves or their animals – a desperate situation!  When the prophet Elisha was called, he told them to dig the valley full of ditches, and without rain God would fill them.  “This is an easy thing in the eyes of the Lord,” Elisha told them, adding that they would defeat Moab.

Whatever situation we face – drought, flood, personal crisis – should be presented to our powerful God, and we should trust Him to take care of it in His way and in His time.  Then we can rest in Him because our faith is in Him, and He is always faithful.

Because of the severe drought in Texas and the resulting wildfires, I daily watch the weather report for predictions of rain. I know rain will come, and we will once again be blessed by life-giving showers, but they may come on a day when meteorologists don’t expect it.  Our God is able – it is an easy thing for Him.

Father, I come again asking you for abundant rains, soaking the ground, refilling lakes, ponds, and rivers.  I know that you will provide it in your time.  I also pray for an outpouring of your Spirit on the lives of people, so that they will turn to you in repentance and become part of your eternal family.  AMEN 

Jonah was a man running from God.  On board a ship headed to Tarshish, he and all aboard the ship  found themselves in a terrifying  storm that threatened their lives.

When the others on board threw Jonah overboard at Jonah’s own insistence, no one knew the outcome.  The men were distressed and apologetic; Jonah could only assume he would drown.  As Jonah sank into the dangerous wind-swept
waves, instead of experiencing physical death, he was provided by God with a place of safety – inside a large fish – not only safety, but also  time to reflect and pray.

In spite of Jonah’s rebellion, God had not given up on him,  but still had the same purpose for him to preach
repentance in Ninevah.        God’s grace and mercy were evident as He vividly got Jonah’s attention, redirected his
missteps, and then provided a place of refuge when he was fearful.  When we are struggling with our own issues in
life and fear engulfs us, it is time to “Be still and know He is God,” allowing Him to take over.  He Himself is our
Place of Safety, our Refuge.

Mary Barham

The summer of 2011 has been brutal in Texas, with high temperatures in triple digits daily for months. The lack of rain has brought on and compounded the problem, and wildfires have destroyed timber, forests, and grassland.

Vacationers intent on water sports are bypassing the rivers dependent on melting snow or rainfall; instead, they are flocking to spring-fed rivers. As we drive along the highway to visit our son in another city, rivers we cross are noticeably low; many are nothing more than a dry stream bed. Obviously, the water flow in physical rivers and streams fluctuates and cannot be counted on for a steady supply of water.

God’s word reminds us that He is the Supplier of water. It encouraging to remember that God will not only provide rain once again to fill the stream beds with flowing water, but He also fills us with living water. However, unlike the physical streams, His spiritual streams are always filled. We simply must avail ourselves continually of what He offers. Isaiah 55: 1 says, “Come, you who are thirsty, come to the waters.” As recorded in John 4, Jesus told the woman at the well, “Whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. . . it will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” This marvelous Spring of water is Jesus Christ Himself living within our hearts when we respond to Him in faith.

Dear Jesus,

Thank you for being my Savior. I thank you that your supply of love and grace to us is never dried up and that your Holy Spirit is always within, refreshing our souls from your endless supply.

Amen

Mary Barham

In Old Testament times people came to the tabernacle, and later the temple, to worship God.  When they came, they offered animals to be slaughtered – for
forgiveness of sin and restoration of fellowship. Sometimes other kinds of offerings were given to express love or devotion.  Fellowship offerings were given to express gratitude for the worshiper’s relationship with God.

In God’s instructions through Moses to the Israelites, He said, “No one is to come before me empty-handed,” and “Bring the best of the firstfruits.”  As we consider our own worship, it is helpful to ask ourselves what we have in our hands to offer Jesus as part of our worship, to show our love, obedience and desire to fellowship with Him.  As we approach God in worship, the first offering in our hands should be the tithe because it belongs to Him in the first place.
Additionally, we bring offerings for purposes which He has laid on our hearts.    Just as our hands are not to be empty, our hands and heads are not to be empty.  May we come to Him with pure hearts that are ready to enthusiastically engage emotionally in worship of our Lord and with minds that are clear and ready to focus ntently on Him  and who He is.

Lord, as I come into your presence, may I totally be yours, expressing my love for you materially, intellectually, and emotionally. Any may my voice never cease to praise you.

Mary Barham

I took a course on how to counsel the wealthy on investments.  I learned that when  a market segment such as this, you must assess needs, wants, and even fears. Interestingly enough, the class taught that the biggest fear of large investors, was not failure to get a substantial return, or to find innovative products. Their primary fear was simply losing what they already had. So, even though some investors accumulated riches by high risk, they would probably be risk averse in the future.

It is human nature to want to be safe.  If people don’t have money, they think that money will bring them security and peace of mind. When people have money, they re worried sick about losing it. This was the dilemma of the rich fool in the Bible (Mt. 12:13-21) who spent all his time worrying about saving his wealth. He built storage bins for his grain and then that very night his life was required of him.

If we can trust in the knowledge that our only true treasure lies in knowing Jesus Christ, then we can be free of the shackles of financial worry– either about having money or losing it. That is why Jesus constantly encouraged people to give up all they had and follow him.

I pray that I can stop worrying about finances and focus on God and His kingdom.

Dear Heavenly Father,

 Let wisdom be my gold,

And honor be my wealth,

Riches through suffering
born,

Renewed, refreshed,
restored.

Amen.