Time to Sway

This morning I was doing my devotions and listening to my praise music. I had laid down my Bible and was reflecting on the message the song I was listening to. Soon I found myself swaying while sitting cross-legged. As I swayed to-and-fro I couldn't help but smile. How difficult is it to explain the sensation of God's love residing in you and you knowing and believing it to be true? Not too simple. Now why am I chatting about swaying and God's love? Well I had to ask myself the same thing, what does swaying and love mean to me? It could mean something different to each and every one of us, but this is what I believe God told me.



He reminded me of my first days of a babysitter. What would I do to a young child who needed comfort from me? I'd scoop them in my arms and rock back and forth, whispering comfort to their ear. While I held them I could feel their little bodies relax and their tears stopped and soon they were smiling at me from their perch.



I remember in one of my CPR classes, or babysitting class one lady told us girls that a baby felt more comfortable in our arms because it reminded them of being in the womb. That's where they first started out, that was their first home. If you've ever had the chance to move to a new home does it feel foreign to you at first? Then slowly over time take the place of your old home? It does to me. And to the babies they haven't had time to get used to this new world or place, to be reminded of their first home is a comfort.



Now I ask you to use your imagination with me. Picture yourselves the crying baby, or young child in desperate need of comfort. Then here comes our Heavenly Father. His strong and loving arms enfold around us, scooping us off in the ground and into his embrace. We might be crying, we might be hurt but His gentle whispers come into our ears. Each whisper assures us of His undying affection towards US. When He sways us back and forth our cares and anxieties disappear as our focus turns from ourselves and onto HIM. We are being cradled in the arms of God! I'm getting excited just thinking about it! But here's the best part, we only needed to give one sigh and God is right there. He's always there! Ready to comfort, ready to support and give strength. He loves us so much! If you doubt this just ask our fellow heir, Jesus Christ. He will vouch the genuine love of our Heavenly Father.



Isaiah 40:11 has this to say about our Father: "He will tend his flock like a shepherd; he will father the lambs in his arms; he will carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young."

I personally love that picture.



When I sway during worship, or my personal devotions I can say that I believe God arms are around me. All the truth I was singing, or reading is true, and God has revealed a little more of Himself to me. I can feel the love swirling around me, bubbling over and spilling onto my being. Sort of like a jacuzzi. The main thing is though it's God's love I'm catching. His love is contagious! Well if you can get sick with God's love, I want to catch as many germs as I possibly can!



So now I'm lifting my hands to the Father in praise and worship. Sometimes our reactions need to be different. Submission to His will, casting our burdens on His shoulders, or praising his Holy Name. But God's arms never grow weary, He delights to be our strength and peace. He delights to be our Father!

Jesus Feeds The Thousands

Start off and read Mark 6:30 - 8:1-21. Cause if you read that, this summary of sorts will make more sense.

In Mark 6:30-44 describes when Jesus fed five thousand men(even more people then that since the account doesn't include women and children, which then could possibly make it double the amount or more ) with five loaves of bread and two fish. They ate till ALL were satisfied. Afterwards there was twelve whole baskets full of broken bread and fish.

After this miracle several other events occurred, read those too (you can't get enough Bible, right?!).

So next thing you know, in Mark 8:1-21, Jesus is stuck somewhat in the same position as before, only with four thousand men (and unaccounted women and children), instead of five thousand men(and unaccounted women and children). Even though Jesus was able to provide and satisfy the hunger of five thousand men and more earlier, it didn't dawn on His disciples that He could do it again. But Jesus did do it again. The people here also were satisfied. At the end of this impromptu picnic of sorts, they gathered up what was left of the multiplied and collected seven baskets full of the remnants of the meal.

Mark 8:16-21 is my third and final description of this passage of Scripture. While in a boat Jesus' disciples realize, "Hey, we don't have any bread".
And Jesus, aware of this, said to them, "Why are you discussing the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive or understand? Are your hearts hardened? Having eyes do you not see, and having ear do you not hear? And do you not remember? When I broke the five loaves for five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?" They said to him, "Twelve". "And the seven for the four thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?" And they said to Him, "Seven". And He said to them, "Do you not yet understand?". Mark 8:17-21

I love the disciples and Jesus in this. It kinda makes me chuckle when I read the events and the dialogue following them. Because here is the disciples, who have witnessed two GREAT miracles almost back to back that fulfilled a total nine thousand men and unaccounted women and childrens need for a meal, now in a boat with a merely twelve of them all worried about where their next meal will come from while sitting around with the Creator of food made Incarnate, Jesus.
Jesus points out the obvious to the oblivious disciples. It's hard to believe that they didn't see it themselves after the second go round but, Jesus provided not only enough but more than enough each time when they were in need of food. So the disciples were worrying about something they didn't need to worry about. If God was faithful then, why wouldn't He had been faithful then and now?

Think about this, twelve plus seven equals nineteen. NINETEEN baskets of food LEFTOVER.
God didn't skimp and doesn't skimp on what He blesses us with.