Paul's Imagine Prayer Ephesians 3:21

Remembering -- The Disciples Sea of Galilee Sunrise Surprise

Standing on the shore, I looked across the water

imagining Jesus on that early morning

 only days after his resurrection

as he watched disappointed disciples
 pull in empty nets yet again.

Calling to them across the water, 

Jesus made them face their fish-less fact:

"Friends, haven't you any fish?"

"No"

"Throw your net on the right side
 of the boat and you will find some."

Finding a net full of fish . . .

now that was far beyond anything
 they could imagine.

But then a few minutes later 

they embraced the new facts of life:

153 large fish filled their nets and

 breakfast with the Risen Christ!

While a full net of fish surely reminded them of 

that other surprise catch three years earlier

Greater yet - They were caught up his resurrection call:

to catch people in the net of Jesus' love.

As I remembered this scene--I remembered 

Paul's imagine prayer:

 a prayer for all our empty net moments

Now to Him who is able to do 

immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine,

 according to his power that is at work within us, 

to him be glory the church 
and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, 

forever and ever!  Amen.  (Ephesians 3:20-21)

Lent V - Jesus Institutes the New Order of Service

The Upper Room:  now a place where 

many wandering feet

come and go

and recall a time when Jesus 

came into a room (maybe this very one)

and established a new order of service

Not only a new Passover liturgy

where the body and blood of the Lamb of God

are served up for forgiveness

The Upper Room - the traditional site in Jerusalem

But He also establishes

 A new order of service - a liturgy of humility 

The King of kings and Lord of lords 

assumes the lowest place

doing a job no disciple would dare assume

because they all wanted position, edging out the other 

to sit in the place of power --

next to God

So what do you do

when the King of Kings

changes the orders of creation

and moves to the end of the line?

He's the first one to grab towel and bowl of water

Now watch as this First One

takes the lowest place in the room

and serves His created ones

Here is the new order of service

He changes the orders of creation

first is last 

last is first:

Love one another 

as

I have loved you

So now:  What do we do?

 Proud feet scramble to 

find their place --

next to the First One who now 

is in last place:

Servant of All!

It's in that place -- 

I find myself served

and learning a new order of service.

Lent 4 - Eyes of Hope

Why do bad things happen?

A question we've all asked

Punishment for something done wrong?

the disciples ask Jesus

 as they saw a man born blind.

Jesus opens their eyes to see hope!  

"This happened so that the work of God
 might be displayed in his life."

Walking down to the Pool of Siloam

The Pool of Siloam


Jesus spit on the ground
Made mud that he put on the man's eyes
and sent him to the Pool of Siloam
to wash up and eventually see Him!

Jesus uses everything--even the mud of life
to give us the ability to see with
eyes of hope

Lent II - Vulnerable to Holy Capture

In the darkness of a Jerusalem night 

Nicodemus was secretly captured.

The words and works of Jesus

surrounded His heart

and he lost himself

only to be found on Calvary,

in the shadows of the cross.

Cross at Church of the Holy Sepulchre - Jerusalem

 “This is how much God loved the world:

He gave His Son, 

His one and only Son. 

And this is why:

So that no one need be destroyed;

by believing in Him,

anyone can have 

a whole and lasting life.”

(The Message,  John 3:16)

Make my heart more vulnerable 

to Your holy capture, Jesus.  

Lent I - Spirit Strengthening Workout

The wilderness of Judea where Jesus'  temptation began

Disciples watch and learn as Jesus enters the wilderness struggle of Lenten temptation.  (Mt 4:1-11)

Forty days fasting left his body hungry and vulnerable for satanic attack . . . but could this be one of Satan's most miscalculated errors?  

Jesus' body was weakened by hunger. . .but the forgotten variable is His muscular spirit.  Time with His Father and Jesus' spirit was plugged in - charged-up!  

Jesus was ready to go the distance for us.  When the big test comes, He swats Satan like a fly!

Something lacking in my ability to follow Jesus up the steeper slopes due to a weak spirit?  Fasting, reading and meditation on God's Word, reconciliation, prayer . . .  .body and spirit workouts with Jesus make all the difference in my follower-ship during testing times.  

Epiphany Reflections on the Sea of Galilee

The night lights of Tiberias
reflect on the Sea of Galilee

Jesus stood on the hillside speaking to the crowds and said:

"You are the light of the world.  

A city on a hill cannot be hidden."     

(Matthew 5:14)

In a very dark world love shown in an intentional way is very bright.

Lord, brighten me up!   
Let me shine with Your love!