Dogs spent much of the morning
outside, but as it is warming up they chose to come inside and lay down – still
some minor issues, but they are working them out – with guidance from Alpha.
Bit windy today, which does help
a bit in cooling things down. The rest
of the week is being promised to have warmer – read hot – weather. Work outside will have to be done early
morning or in the evening.
We just got a few blackberries
off our plants, the wild ones have been cut back so we won’t get any of those
until next year and the thornless ones are attracting the birds….not real bad,
but the hot weather will pretty much dry them out.
Hard to believe that it is June
and not August, but we will deal with it.
Mathew 14:13-14 When Jesus heard of
it, he departed thence by ship into a desert place apart: and when the people
had heard thereof, they followed him on foot out of the
cities.
14 And Jesus went forth,
and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he
healed their sick.
and was moved with compassion toward
them,
Jesus was tired, He had spent
days in teaching; He had just been told of the death by beheading of his cousin
and forbearer, John the Baptist. He
needed time to regather His strength. He
needed time to spend with God, the Father.
He needed God’s refreshing.
But the people followed Him.
He could not get away from them. Over 5000 of them. They needed Him.
There were many ways Jesus could
have responded. He obviously saw them
coming around on the shore line, so he could have remained in the middle of the
sea with His disciples. Thus avoiding
them for the time being and using this time to pray.
He could have slowed down the
boat, waited until the masses were on the other shore and then changed
direction, going back to avoid them.
He could have ordered the
direction to be changed to go farther up the coast line in hopes they would tire
and not follow.
He could have changed clothing
with one of the disciples that might have met His size, disguising Himself, and
while they were focusing on the disciple, mingled and melted away in the
crowd.
Upon landing, He could have told
the masses He needed time to rest and would get back to them tomorrow. Turned His back and walked away.
He could have explained that He
too, needed to pray with God and gather new insights to teach them; asking them
to give Him time alone.
He could have become angry and
yelled at them for not allowing Him to have time for Himself – time all people
need to just refuel their Spirit. “Can’t
you see I was trying to get away for a while?
What do you want with me? I am
tired, and you are too demanding. Give
me my space! Go! Leave me alone! Can’t you see I came over here to get away
from YOU!”
He could have run away from
them, instructing His disciples to block them from following Him.
But, He didn’t.
and was moved with compassion toward
them,
Instead, He had compassion and
ministered to them, eventually feeding them, all 5000 of them.
Why do we work for God? I mean WHY do we do the work?
Is it because we feel an
obligation and therefor it becomes our duty?
That is a true feeling, we do
have an obligation and we do have a duty to serve Him.
But is that all?
Do we serve Him because someone
has come up with an idea and we feel we must support it?
All good ideas need support –
nothing wrong with that.
Do we do it because it makes us
feel better about ourselves?
It is important that we feel
good about our service to God; we are encouraged and want to do more.
Is it, ‘I did this and this, one
two three, look at me?’
But the real question becomes,
do we do it out of compassion?
Out of compassion for God? Out of compassion for those in need of
God?
Do we see people as God sees
them, or as a means for us to fulfill our obligation to Him? Do we feel we should be working with a certain group
of people, but reject it for something that is more glamorous or
‘self-satisfying?’
Compassion. It is a big word. Do I truly have it towards people? People in need? People who can use my special gifts from
God?
Lord, I need to see people as
you see them. I need to understand the
compassion you have for them and have that same love for them you have.
I need your help.
Later, Dad :-)
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