IT’S ME. IT’S ALL RIGHT.

Posted on November 5, 2017 by randscallawayffm

John, The Love of God

How much does God love us? There are many great examples of how God proves His love for us. He shows Himself to us daily if we stop and realize and embrace Him, leaving all fear behind.

I was driving home from doing a teacher training at a church in Pennsylvania. It was evening. It was early spring. I tried to plan those events when the weather was more calm, after the snow, so the driving would be less dangerous. But, as I was driving through the mountains I approached a blowing spring snow storm. It was not getting better. Traveling that road many times, I knew that there was sheer drop on my right that could be the end if I slid off.

The storm was so bad that the road was covered quickly. In minutes I couldn’t tell where the lanes were. I had the wipers turned to the max but still had trouble seeing what was ahead. There was nothing but darkness behind me. I seemed to be the only one on the road. I couldn’t stop because I was afraid of being hit from behind or getting stuck. I just prayed and kept cautiously driving through the storm.

Through the blinding snow, I suddenly saw the red lights of the back of a semi. He wasn’t slowing down. He seemed to know where the road was. So, I said out loud, “Lord, do I follow him?” We both agreed, it seemed. So I kept driving, stayed a safe distance, but followed the lights ahead of me. After what seemed like hours, but probably was only about 40 minutes, I saw the exit for my hotel for the night. I didn’t usually book a hotel so I could get back to my Indiana home in one evening, but something prompted me to do so earlier that week. Mm. God knew the storm would come. God guided me through it. My hope was God. God was my rescue.

All through life, this was not my only episode where God provided for me and my family through the storms of life. I love what Jesus says to frightened followers as He walks on the churning waters, “It’s Me. It’s all right. Don’t be afraid.” I thought of those words as I drove through my own storm that night. Jesus knows. God knows. His Holy Spirit guides us safely through the storms.

John 6, The Message
16-21 In the evening his disciples went down to the sea, got in the boat, and headed back across the water to Capernaum. It had grown quite dark and Jesus had not yet returned. A huge wind blew up, churning the sea. They were maybe three or four miles out when they saw Jesus walking on the sea, quite near the boat. They were scared senseless, but he reassured them, “It’s me. It’s all right. Don’t be afraid.” So they took him on board. In no time they reached land—the exact spot they were headed to.

John 6 Jesus storm

More thoughts…
–The disciples left, leaving Jesus behind. Why? Why didn’t they wait on Him?
–When they saw Him, fear was the first response. Why? Because they hadn’t seen anyone walk on water? Because they had gone on ahead of Him and didn’t wait for Him to come down from the mountain? They focused on the storm instead of the Rescue?
–Why did they not recognize Jesus? Mm, they were not looking for Him. All their attention focused on the storm.
–Jesus always comes to us in the storms of life. This is reminiscent of the words of God to Isaiah: “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you” (Isaiah 43:2).
–The Lord may not come at the time we think He should come, because He knows when we need Him the most. Jesus had waited until the boat was as far from land as possible, when all their hope was gone. In essence, Jesus was testing the disciples’ faith, and this meant removing every human prop.
–Why did Jesus walk on the water? To show His disciples that the very thing they feared, the raging, seething sea, was merely a set of steps for Him to come to them.
–Often we fear the difficult experiences of life such as illness, loss of loved ones, and financial hardships only to discover that these experiences can bring Jesus closer to us.  When the disciples’ focus shifted from the storm to Jesus, they worshiped Him.
–“In no time they reached land–the EXACT spot they were headed to.” Mm. We will get where God wants to go every time when we trust and obey.

Dear Heavenly Father, 
You are Creator of all. You are in all. You know all. Our trust is in You. We have You and it’s all right. You replace our fear in the storm to deeper faith because of the storm. Thank you for continually transforming our thinking and behaving.
In Jesus Name, Amen

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TABLE FOR FIVE….THOUSAND!

Posted on November 4, 2017 by randscallawayffm

John, The Love of God

There is no greater peace and joy than knowing that God is at work among His people. Our part is simply to listen to His directions and quickly do what He says. It seems His first question will often be, “What do you have?” To Moses, it was a stick in his hand. To the disciples on this day, it was a couple of small fish and 5 small loaves of bread that a little boy brought for lunch.

Jesus invited the disciples to help him in the miracle that was about to take place. He still invites us today. Jesus told the disciples to sit the people down. That probably took awhile with 5000 plus people! Then Jesus blessed the food by praying to God in thanksgiving for what they had to give. What little was given was blessed and passed out to others. They ate their fill! There were leftovers! Jesus then invited the disciples to participate in this miracle by instructing them to pick up the leftovers. This act resulted in 12 baskets of more food!

The key phase in this passage thrills my heart this morning…”The people realized that God was at work among them in what Jesus had just done.” Jesus did not want the crowd to gather steam in their enthusiasm and make Him king for there was much more work to be accomplished. His purpose was not to gain position but to seek and to save people. He came to serve not to be served. Oh what joy when we realize God is at work in our homes, churches, families, friends and in others.

This was only the tip of the iceberg, so to speak. Feeding five thousand plus people was significant but much more was to come! This act was small compared to the greatest sacrificial act of all…paying for the sin of mankind…bringing the lost back to God!

As we read these familiar stories we learned in Sunday School classes we must remember it is always about Jesus, from Creation to salvation. It is about God always at work. It’s not about us fitting into the story or changing the story to suit us. It is the Story of Truth in the Person of Jesus Christ who opens the curtains so that we might see God when we accept, believe and follow Him. This Truth is unchangeable and unstoppable.

John 6, The Message
Bread and Fish for All
6 1-4 After this, Jesus went across the Sea of Galilee (some call it Tiberias). A huge crowd followed him, attracted by the miracles they had seen him do among the sick. When he got to the other side, he climbed a hill and sat down, surrounded by his disciples. It was nearly time for the Feast of Passover, kept annually by the Jews.

5-6 When Jesus looked out and saw that a large crowd had arrived, he said to Philip, “Where can we buy bread to feed these people?” He said this to stretch Philip’s faith. He already knew what he was going to do.

7 Philip answered, “Two hundred silver pieces wouldn’t be enough to buy bread for each person to get a piece.”

8-9 One of the disciples—it was Andrew, brother to Simon Peter—said, “There’s a little boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish. But that’s a drop in the bucket for a crowd like this.”

10-11 Jesus said, “Make the people sit down.” There was a nice carpet of green grass in this place. They sat down, about five thousand of them. Then Jesus took the bread and, having given thanks, gave it to those who were seated. He did the same with the fish. All ate as much as they wanted.

12-13 When the people had eaten their fill, he said to his disciples, “Gather the leftovers so nothing is wasted.” They went to work and filled twelve large baskets with leftovers from the five barley loaves.

14-15 The people realized that God was at work among them in what Jesus had just done. They said, “This is the Prophet for sure, God’s Prophet right here in Galilee!” Jesus saw that in their enthusiasm, they were about to grab him and make him king, so he slipped off and went back up the mountain to be by himself.

John 6 kids lunch

Reflection…
Is God asking us, “What do you have?” What is our response today? He still invites us to His work. He doesn’t need us to accomplish His work but He invites us so that we will learn, grow and experience joy unspeakable and full of His glory. There are all kinds of works God will invite us to if we watch closely and listen intently as a servant waits for orders from the King.

Dear Heavenly Father, What I have is yours. Use it for Your glory, honor and praise. All that I am, all that you have given to me is Yours. Lord, I offer my life to You.
In Jesus Name, Amen

And I’m singing…

Lord, I offer my life to You
Everything I’ve been through
Use it for Your glory
Lord I offer my days to You
Lifting my praise to You
As a pleasing sacrifice

Lord I offer You my life
Things in the past
Things in the past
Things yet unseen
Wishes and dreams that are yet to come true
All of my hopes
And all of my planes
My heart and my hands are lifted to You

Lord, I offer my life to You
Everything I’ve been through
Use it for Your glory
Lord I offer my days to You
Lifting my praise to You
As a pleasing sacrifice
Lord I offer You my life

And Lord, I offer my life to You
Everything I’ve been through
Use it for Your glory
Lord I offer my days to You
Lifting my praise to You
As a pleasing sacrifice
Lord I offer You my life
Lord I offer You my life
Songwriters: Claire Cloninger / Claire D. Cloninger / Don Moen

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SO THAT YOU WILL BE SAVED

Posted on November 3, 2017 by randscallawayffm
John, The Love of God
 
There are many devoted ministry leaders with the right motivations to point the way to Jesus so others will be saved. You have to know, though, there will be some who will totally miss the point. You have probably figured that out. Please remember, there is nothing wrong with you. Don’t put yourself down and second guess God-led actions as the evil one would love for you to do. That stifles the work God is inviting you to do. If you listen to God and obey, then who you are and what you do is acceptable to Him. We are not out to please people or to “get their vote”, we are only doing what God asks in His timing and in the right Spirit. Our purpose, no matter what we are doing, is to help people find and follow Jesus, Our Lord.
 
Jesus shows up and they missed it…
There was a man who had been disabled for over 30 years. It is the Sabbath. Jesus shows up in the man’s life and asks, “Do you want to get well?” Jesus hears the man’s reasons for not getting into the “healing” pool of relief. He tells the man to get up, roll up your bedroll and start walking. The man obeys immediately.
 
The leaders see the man walking, carrying his bed roll. Instead of praising God for healing, they convict him of disobedience of one of the man-made rules of don’t carry anything on the Sabbath day. (Yeah, I know.) They are so self-absorbed in rule-keeping, judgement and conviction that they missed Jesus. Do we do that?
 
In my experience, there will always be a few who will miss the point of ministry and miss when Jesus shows up in the middle of it all. Don’t let a few, self-absorbed voices stop what God has asked you to accomplish so that others will be saved. It happened to Jesus. It will happen to us who follow Jesus. (He said this would happen, expect it, don’t be surprised by it and you will always be prepared to ignore it.)
 
SO, Jesus explains who He is, who He listen’s to and obeys, why He came and the mission for coming to earth. We can learn from Him. He is NOT out to get votes, secure His position or receive acclaims for His ministry. Just the opposite. “I’m speaking to you in this way so that you will be saved.” Bottom line. So that we will be saved.
 
Don’t miss the point while we study God’s word each day!
“You have your heads in your Bibles constantly because you think you’ll find eternal life there. But you miss the forest for the trees. These Scriptures are all about ME!” We read, listen, trust and obey then we get up, take up our lives and starting walking with Him in the lead!
John 5 what are you doing
John 5, The Message
Even on the Sabbath
 
1-6 Soon another Feast came around and Jesus was back in Jerusalem. Near the Sheep Gate in Jerusalem there was a pool, in Hebrew called Bethesda, with five alcoves. Hundreds of sick people—blind, crippled, paralyzed—were in these alcoves. One man had been an invalid there for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him stretched out by the pool and knew how long he had been there, he said, “Do you want to get well?”
 
7 The sick man said, “Sir, when the water is stirred, I don’t have anybody to put me in the pool. By the time I get there, somebody else is already in.”
 
8-9 Jesus said, “Get up, take your bedroll, start walking.” The man was healed on the spot. He picked up his bedroll and walked off.
 
9-10 That day happened to be the Sabbath. The Jews stopped the healed man and said, “It’s the Sabbath. You can’t carry your bedroll around. It’s against the rules.”
 
11 But he told them, “The man who made me well told me to. He said, ‘Take your bedroll and start walking.’”
 
12-13 They asked, “Who gave you the order to take it up and start walking?” But the healed man didn’t know, for Jesus had slipped away into the crowd.
 
14 A little later Jesus found him in the Temple and said, “You look wonderful! You’re well! Don’t return to a sinning life or something worse might happen.”
 
15-16 The man went back and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well. That is why the Jews were out to get Jesus—because he did this kind of thing on the Sabbath.
 
17 But Jesus defended himself. “My Father is working straight through, even on the Sabbath. So am I.”
 
18 That really set them off. The Jews were now not only out to expose him; they were out to kill him. Not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was calling God his own Father, putting himself on a level with God.
 
What the Father Does, the Son Does
19-20 So Jesus explained himself at length. “I’m telling you this straight. The Son can’t independently do a thing, only what he sees the Father doing. What the Father does, the Son does. The Father loves the Son and includes him in everything he is doing.
 
20-23 “But you haven’t seen the half of it yet, for in the same way that the Father raises the dead and creates life, so does the Son. The Son gives life to anyone he chooses. Neither he nor the Father shuts anyone out. The Father handed all authority to judge over to the Son so that the Son will be honored equally with the Father. Anyone who dishonors the Son, dishonors the Father, for it was the Father’s decision to put the Son in the place of honor.
 
24 “It’s urgent that you listen carefully to this: Anyone here who believes what I am saying right now and aligns himself with the Father, who has in fact put me in charge, has at this very moment the real, lasting life and is no longer condemned to be an outsider. This person has taken a giant step from the world of the dead to the world of the living.
 
25-27 “It’s urgent that you get this right: The time has arrived—I mean right now!—when dead men and women will hear the voice of the Son of God and, hearing, will come alive. Just as the Father has life in himself, he has conferred on the Son life in himself. And he has given him the authority, simply because he is the Son of Man, to decide and carry out matters of Judgment.
 
28-29 “Don’t act so surprised at all this. The time is coming when everyone dead and buried will hear his voice. Those who have lived the right way will walk out into a resurrection Life; those who have lived the wrong way, into a resurrection Judgment.
 
30-33 “I can’t do a solitary thing on my own: I listen, then I decide. You can trust my decision because I’m not out to get my own way but only to carry out orders. If I were simply speaking on my own account, it would be an empty, self-serving witness. But an independent witness confirms me, the most reliable Witness of all. Furthermore, you all saw and heard John, and he gave expert and reliable testimony about me, didn’t he?
 
34-38 “But my purpose is not to get your vote, and not to appeal to mere human testimony. I’m speaking to you this way so that you will be saved. John was a torch, blazing and bright, and you were glad enough to dance for an hour or so in his bright light. But the witness that really confirms me far exceeds John’s witness. It’s the work the Father gave me to complete. These very tasks, as I go about completing them, confirm that the Father, in fact, sent me. The Father who sent me, confirmed me. And you missed it. You never heard his voice, you never saw his appearance. There is nothing left in your memory of his Message because you do not take his Messenger seriously.
 
39-40 “You have your heads in your Bibles constantly because you think you’ll find eternal life there. But you miss the forest for the trees. These Scriptures are all about me! And here I am, standing right before you, and you aren’t willing to receive from me the life you say you want.
 
41-44 “I’m not interested in crowd approval. And do you know why? Because I know you and your crowds. I know that love, especially God’s love, is not on your working agenda. I came with the authority of my Father, and you either dismiss me or avoid me. If another came, acting self-important, you would welcome him with open arms. How do you expect to get anywhere with God when you spend all your time jockeying for position with each other, ranking your rivals and ignoring God?
 
45-47 “But don’t think I’m going to accuse you before my Father. Moses, in whom you put so much stock, is your accuser. If you believed, really believed, what Moses said, you would believe me. He wrote of me. If you won’t take seriously what he wrote, how can I expect you to take seriously what I speak?”
 
Think about it…
“Do you want to get well?”
 
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for saving us and being with us. All our trust is in You. We “get it”, Lord. Now help us get up and live it. We need you every hour. Lead and guide us, Holy Spirit.
In Jesus Name, Amen
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WHO OR WHAT IMPRESSES US?

Posted on November 2, 2017 by randscallawayffm
John, The Love of God
 
What impresses us most? Is it the good favors of others toward us? Is it a good deed done? Is it kindness expressed when we least expect it? Is the blessings that we have?
 
What impresses us about other people? Is it how they behave toward us? Is it what they have accomplished in life? Is it their wisdom and attitude? Is it the one who has the most technology toys? Is it people with great possessions?
 
Now consider WHO impresses us most. Is it a boss, a family member, a coworker, or somebody at church? Since we brought up church, are we impressed with Jesus? Why are we impressed? Here is the danger in this line of thinking, are we merely impressed with Jesus because of what He has done as Savior but hold back with our impression of WHO He is as Lord?
 
Our world isn’t any different in impressions as the world Jesus walked. In our story, He traveled back to his home turf. Jesus knew from experience that the hometown folks would not respect him. “They were impressed with what he had done in Jerusalem during the Passover Feast, not that they really had a clue about who he was or what he was up to.”
 
Question for today: Are we merely impressed with what Jesus does for us and teaches us? Do we realize WHO He is?
 
To be merely impressed with Jesus as Savior but not as Lord, King of kings, Son of God, Messiah and The One who is coming back again to claim His own, is shallow, dangerous living. When others talk about Him, can we say, “I know Him as my Savior and I follow Him as my Lord.”? There are many who attend churches across the country who are merely impressed with Jesus and His good works but still don’t know Who He is. Yikes!
 
In our passage that packs a punch, Jesus is approached by an important man in the community whose son is dying. He asks Jesus for help. Jesus wonders if this is just another person who is impressed with good acts and miracles or who really knows who Jesus is. Jesus “puts him off”. He says, “Unless you people are dazzled by a miracle, you refuse to believe.” They man revealed his faith. Because the man believed the mere word of Jesus, his son was healed. There is more than just impression by the man, he believes that Jesus is WHO He said He is. There is the difference.
 
Questions repeated for thought: Are we merely impressed with what Jesus taught and the miracles he performed or believe He is who He said He is? Have we thrown all our hope and trust on Him as Savior AND Lord? Do we need a sign before we believe?
John 4, The Message
43-45 After the two days he left for Galilee. Now, Jesus knew well from experience that a prophet is not respected in the place where he grew up. So when he arrived in Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him, but only because they were impressed with what he had done in Jerusalem during the Passover Feast, not that they really had a clue about who he was or what he was up to.
 
46-48 Now he was back in Cana of Galilee, the place where he made the water into wine. Meanwhile in Capernaum, there was a certain official from the king’s court whose son was sick. When he heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went and asked that he come down and heal his son, who was on the brink of death. Jesus put him off: “Unless you people are dazzled by a miracle, you refuse to believe.”
 
49 But the court official wouldn’t be put off. “Come down! It’s life or death for my son.”
 
50-51 Jesus simply replied, “Go home. Your son lives.”
 
The man believed the bare word Jesus spoke and headed home. On his way back, his servants intercepted him and announced, “Your son lives!”
 
52-53 He asked them what time he began to get better. They said, “The fever broke yesterday afternoon at one o’clock.” The father knew that that was the very moment Jesus had said, “Your son lives.”
 
53-54 That clinched it. Not only he but his entire household believed. This was now the second sign Jesus gave after having come from Judea into Galilee.
 
John 4 I am He
Dear Heavenly Father,
I love you, Lord, with all my heart, mind and soul. I may have been first impressed with what You did as I learned about you as a child, but now I believe in who you are as Lord. I believe You are the King of kings and Lord of lords. I believe you are everything to me. I believe nothing is impossible with You. Nothing is too hard for you. You are God and i am not. I will follow you all the rest of my days. Thank you for loving me and never letting go of that love. Love, that’s Who you are.
In Jesus Name, Amen.
 
“Do not fear, for I am with you; do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10
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THE SOWER, THE HARVESTER, TRIUMPHANT!

Posted on November 1, 2017 by randscallawayffm

John, The Love of God

It takes all kinds of people to reach all kinds of people. Some of us sow the seed of God’s love, some harvest the rewards of that seed sown. We must work together, to keep at it, to sow seeds of The Way back to God even when it seems useless. We never know where the seeds will fall, mature and grow. We just trust and obey.

There was a man who came to church where Randy was the pastor years ago. He was a good man but had not professed Christ as Savior and Lord. How did we know? He told us. He said he just wasn’t ready. But he continued to come to church every other Sunday. He helped with the yard work at church. He came to dinners. He loved the people. We loved Him. We loved on him. He loved us. After nine years, Randy and I left that ministry for another church. About two months after we left, the new pastor who took our place reaped the harvest of our beloved soul. Were we disappointed? NO, our friend was saved. His spiritual address was now changed forever!

The Sower, The Harvester, hand in hand are triumphant!

The witness of the Samaritan woman caused a whole village to hear it for themselves…”We’re no longer taking this on your say-so. We’ve heard it for ourselves and know it for sure. He’s the Savior of the world!”

harvest1

John 4, The Message
It’s Harvest Time

31 In the meantime, the disciples pressed him, “Rabbi, eat. Aren’t you going to eat?”

32 He told them, “I have food to eat you know nothing about.”

33 The disciples were puzzled. “Who could have brought him food?”

34-35 Jesus said, “The food that keeps me going is that I do the will of the One who sent me, finishing the work he started. As you look around right now, wouldn’t you say that in about four months it will be time to harvest? Well, I’m telling you to open your eyes and take a good look at what’s right in front of you. These Samaritan fields are ripe. It’s harvest time!

36-38 “The Harvester isn’t waiting. He’s taking his pay, gathering in this grain that’s ripe for eternal life. Now the Sower is arm in arm with the Harvester, triumphant. That’s the truth of the saying, ‘This one sows, that one harvests.’ I sent you to harvest a field you never worked. Without lifting a finger, you have walked in on a field worked long and hard by others.”

39-42 Many of the Samaritans from that village committed themselves to him because of the woman’s witness: “He knew all about the things I did. He knows me inside and out!” They asked him to stay on, so Jesus stayed two days. A lot more people entrusted their lives to him when they heard what he had to say. They said to the woman, “We’re no longer taking this on your say-so. We’ve heard it for ourselves and know it for sure. He’s the Savior of the world!”

Think about it…
–Some sow, others harvest. Both are triumphant!
–Many prophets had “tilled the soil” and sown the seeds of Truth.
–Jesus and his disciples were the harvesters in a field ripe and ready to accept and believe in the Savior of the world.
–Because of the woman’s witness…many believed.
–Keep sowing. Keep harvesting. Jesus saves.

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:9

Dear Heavenly Father,
Sometimes we feel we have said enough to loved ones who don’t care to know You. So we pray for others to come alongside them and say what we weren’t able to say. We pray for Your Holy Spirit to open their hearts. We pray for harvesters and sowers, working as a team to tell Your Story. We pray we never give up because you never gave up on us. To You be all glory, honor and praise! The harvest is now. There are so many who still need you.
In Jesus Name, Amen

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KEEPING SCORE OR BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS?

Posted on October 31, 2017 by randscallawayffm

John, The Love of God

We all still do it. It is the first thing most pastors are asked when approached by other church leaders, friends or other pastors. It is asked on paper by the organization of churches. It is most objective way mankind has decided to use to judge a ministry. Remember on the playground when the one who had the most marbles won? It’s kinda like that.

According to John’s gospel telling, John the Baptist’s disciples counted how many baptisms versus how many were done by Jesus. John’s crew were upset when team Jesus pulled ahead! That prompted John’s testimony and proclamation of Jesus as the Messiah. The competition heated up when Jesus disciples baptized more than John. The Pharisees LOVED getting in on this action, so they posted the score! How did Jesus feel about all this? He left.

On the way back to Galilee, he stopped. A Samaritan woman, who no respectable Jew would associate with, begins a conversation with the Son of God, the Messiah. She had heard of the Messiah and now she was in His Presence. He knew her. He related to her. He offered her what He offers to all of us…ALL of us…Living Water and a relationship with Him forever.

It is no wonder these two stories are together. Are we keeping count or building relationships? When emphasis is placed on the wrong goal, we fail the mission. Remember what happened when keeping score became the most talked about? Jesus left.

John 4 Jesus at the well

John 4, The Message
The Woman at the Well

1-3 Jesus realized that the Pharisees were keeping count of the baptisms that he and John performed (although his disciples, not Jesus, did the actual baptizing). They had posted the score that Jesus was ahead, turning him and John into rivals in the eyes of the people. So Jesus left the Judean countryside and went back to Galilee.

4-6 To get there, he had to pass through Samaria. He came into Sychar, a Samaritan village that bordered the field Jacob had given his son Joseph. Jacob’s well was still there. Jesus, worn out by the trip, sat down at the well. It was noon.

7-8 A woman, a Samaritan, came to draw water. Jesus said, “Would you give me a drink of water?” (His disciples had gone to the village to buy food for lunch.)

9 The Samaritan woman, taken aback, asked, “How come you, a Jew, are asking me, a Samaritan woman, for a drink?” (Jews in those days wouldn’t be caught dead talking to Samaritans.)

10 Jesus answered, “If you knew the generosity of God and who I am, you would be asking me for a drink, and I would give you fresh, living water.”

11-12 The woman said, “Sir, you don’t even have a bucket to draw with, and this well is deep. So how are you going to get this ‘living water’? Are you a better man than our ancestor Jacob, who dug this well and drank from it, he and his sons and livestock, and passed it down to us?”

13-14 Jesus said, “Everyone who drinks this water will get thirsty again and again. Anyone who drinks the water I give will never thirst—not ever. The water I give will be an artesian spring within, gushing fountains of endless life.”

15 The woman said, “Sir, give me this water so I won’t ever get thirsty, won’t ever have to come back to this well again!”

16 He said, “Go call your husband and then come back.”

17-18 “I have no husband,” she said.

“That’s nicely put: ‘I have no husband.’ You’ve had five husbands, and the man you’re living with now isn’t even your husband. You spoke the truth there, sure enough.”

19-20 “Oh, so you’re a prophet! Well, tell me this: Our ancestors worshiped God at this mountain, but you Jews insist that Jerusalem is the only place for worship, right?”

21-23 “Believe me, woman, the time is coming when you Samaritans will worship the Father neither here at this mountain nor there in Jerusalem. You worship guessing in the dark; we Jews worship in the clear light of day. God’s way of salvation is made available through the Jews. But the time is coming—it has, in fact, come—when what you’re called will not matter and where you go to worship will not matter.

23-24 “It’s who you are and the way you live that count before God. Your worship must engage your spirit in the pursuit of truth. That’s the kind of people the Father is out looking for: those who are simply and honestly themselves before him in their worship. God is sheer being itself—Spirit. Those who worship him must do it out of their very being, their spirits, their true selves, in adoration.”

25 The woman said, “I don’t know about that. I do know that the Messiah is coming. When he arrives, we’ll get the whole story.”

26 “I am he,” said Jesus. “You don’t have to wait any longer or look any further.”

27 Just then his disciples came back. They were shocked. They couldn’t believe he was talking with that kind of a woman. No one said what they were all thinking, but their faces showed it.

28-30 The woman took the hint and left. In her confusion she left her water pot. Back in the village she told the people, “Come see a man who knew all about the things I did, who knows me inside and out. Do you think this could be the Messiah?” And they went out to see for themselves.

What do we learn?
–Jesus teaches the woman and us what is most important and what God is looking for in all of us…”It’s who you are and the way you live that count before God. Your worship must engage your spirit in the pursuit of truth. That’s the kind of people the Father is out looking for: those who are simply and honestly themselves before him in their worship.” This is what counts!
–The woman left to tell everyone, “Come see!” Her new honest relationship prompted her to point the Way for others. “And they went out to see for themselves.” That’s what counts!

Dear Heavenly Father,
How we miss the point sometimes in our pursuit of building Your church! Sheer numbers are not what you require. Relationship is what matters to You. You have made that clear to us. We repent of those times when we reduce Who you are to keeping score of who comes to church. May we see others, not as numbers, but as you see them. We are all your creation, longing for true, honest relationships. Help us, Lord.
In Jesus Name, Amen

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THE BEST MAN

Posted on October 30, 2017 by randscallawayffm

John, The Love of God

The best man at a wedding celebration is not the one who marries the bride. The best man introduces the man who does marry the bride with terms of endearment at the celebration of relationship. The best man knows him well. He speaks truth about him. The best man tells of the groom’s attributes that will give life, hope and assurance to his bride. This is the work of the best man.

John (the Baptizer) is the best man. He does the work of “best man” well. He introduces the Groom, Jesus, as The One who will take away the sins of the world. The One who will shine Light in the dark places. Jesus is The One who is far greater than John. John knows his “place” in the salvation plan to fulfill God’s will and purpose. John is the proclaimer of The One, no more and no less. John is not in competition with the Groom at the wedding of relationship with the Bride. We are the Bride of Christ.

John 3, The Message
The Bridegroom’s Friend

22-26 After this conversation, Jesus went on with his disciples into the Judean countryside and relaxed with them there. He was also baptizing. At the same time, John was baptizing over at Aenon near Salim, where water was abundant. This was before John was thrown into jail. John’s disciples got into an argument with the establishment Jews over the nature of baptism. They came to John and said, “Rabbi, you know the one who was with you on the other side of the Jordan? The one you authorized with your witness? Well, he’s now competing with us. He’s baptizing, too, and everyone’s going to him instead of us.”

27-29 John answered, “It’s not possible for a person to succeed—I’m talking about eternal success—without heaven’s help. You yourselves were there when I made it public that I was not the Messiah but simply the one sent ahead of him to get things ready. The one who gets the bride is, by definition, the bridegroom. And the bridegroom’s friend, his ‘best man’—that’s me—in place at his side where he can hear every word, is genuinely happy. How could he be jealous when he knows that the wedding is finished and the marriage is off to a good start?

29-30 “That’s why my cup is running over. This is the assigned moment for him to move into the center, while I slip off to the sidelines.

31-33 “The One who comes from above is head and shoulders over other messengers from God. The earthborn is earthbound and speaks earth language; the heavenborn is in a league of his own. He sets out the evidence of what he saw and heard in heaven. No one wants to deal with these facts. But anyone who examines this evidence will come to stake his life on this: that God himself is the truth.

34-36 “The One that God sent speaks God’s words. And don’t think he rations out the Spirit in bits and pieces. The Father loves the Son extravagantly. He turned everything over to him so he could give it away—a lavish distribution of gifts. That is why whoever accepts and trusts the Son gets in on everything, life complete and forever! And that is also why the person who avoids and distrusts the Son is in the dark and doesn’t see life. All he experiences of God is darkness, and an angry darkness at that.”

John 3 Father's love

What do we learn?
–John knew his purpose well. He did not fall into pride for being popular with the crowd who followed him. He had impeccable timing, God’s timing, of when to shrink to the sidelines so the Messiah, the Bridegroom, The One who would pay for the sins of the world, to step forward and fulfill HIS mission. “How could he be jealous when he knows that the wedding is finished and the marriage is off to a good start?”
–John stepped back with JOY in his heart…”That’s why my cup is running over. This is the assigned moment for him to move into the center, while I slip off to the sidelines.”
–THE ONE that God sent speaks God’s words. Jesus reiterates this many more times, “I only say what the Father tells me to say.”
–Do we know our purpose on earth? Do we live a purpose driven life? John was a great example.
–Do we know when to pass the baton and move on to what God has next for us? This is a good time to evaluate our own lives who accept and believe in The One as Truth and is The One and Only who saves.
–Know our place. We are not The Light, we only reflect the Light. We are the moon, He is the Son. ; )

Dear Heavenly Father, 
Thank you for teaching us about You and your love for us. Your love is compared to the love of the Groom who adores his Bride. Your love for us is so great that sometimes we cannot wrap our minds around it. Thank you for loving us enough to die for us, defeat death, rise again, and prepare a place for us with You in heaven forever. Wow, just wow! May we reflect on that thought all day long. Help us to reflect Your Light well so others can find their way in the dark to Your Light, too.
In Jesus Name, Amen. I believe.

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LET ME SAY IT AGAIN…

Posted on October 29, 2017 by randscallawayffm

John, The Love of God

Have you ever been in a situation where you have just explained a complicated solution to a problem in simple terms but you could tell your child, grandchild, coworker, students, boss, friend, or family member might not be getting it because they stared at you with that deer in headlights look? Affirming your suspicions, they then answered, “Huh?” You emit a big sigh and begin again, if they let you, and try to explain the mystery in way they can understand. What’s worse, you realize they weren’t listening the first time. Frustrating, isn’t it?

That’s how God is with us. He sent His Son to explain to the world the Truth of His love for us. He sent His Son as the Way back to Him. He gave Life to all who believed. (And still does.)

Jesus explains…again to Nicodemus. “Let’s go over this again” because every time we read it we understand more because of the Spirit’s teaching revealed to us as we grow in Him. We will also understand more about the true crisis our world is in. How will we respond?

John 3, The Message
Born from Above

1-2 There was a man of the Pharisee sect, Nicodemus, a prominent leader among the Jews. Late one night he visited Jesus and said, “Rabbi, we all know you’re a teacher straight from God. No one could do all the God-pointing, God-revealing acts you do if God weren’t in on it.”

3 Jesus said, “You’re absolutely right. Take it from me: Unless a person is born from above, it’s not possible to see what I’m pointing to—to God’s kingdom.”

4 “How can anyone,” said Nicodemus, “be born who has already been born and grown up? You can’t re-enter your mother’s womb and be born again. What are you saying with this ‘born-from-above’ talk?”

5-6 Jesus said, “You’re not listening. Let me say it again. Unless a person submits to this original creation—the ‘wind-hovering-over-the-water’ creation, the invisible moving the visible, a baptism into a new life—it’s not possible to enter God’s kingdom. When you look at a baby, it’s just that: a body you can look at and touch. But the person who takes shape within is formed by something you can’t see and touch—the Spirit—and becomes a living spirit.

7-8 “So don’t be so surprised when I tell you that you have to be ‘born from above’—out of this world, so to speak. You know well enough how the wind blows this way and that. You hear it rustling through the trees, but you have no idea where it comes from or where it’s headed next. That’s the way it is with everyone ‘born from above’ by the wind of God, the Spirit of God.”

9 Nicodemus asked, “What do you mean by this? How does this happen?”

10-12 Jesus said, “You’re a respected teacher of Israel and you don’t know these basics? Listen carefully. I’m speaking sober truth to you. I speak only of what I know by experience; I give witness only to what I have seen with my own eyes. There is nothing secondhand here, no hearsay. Yet instead of facing the evidence and accepting it, you procrastinate with questions. If I tell you things that are plain as the hand before your face and you don’t believe me, what use is there in telling you of things you can’t see, the things of God?

13-15 “No one has ever gone up into the presence of God except the One who came down from that Presence, the Son of Man. In the same way that Moses lifted the serpent in the desert so people could have something to see and then believe, it is necessary for the Son of Man to be lifted up—and everyone who looks up to him, trusting and expectant, will gain a real life, eternal life.

16-18 “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. God didn’t go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again. Anyone who trusts in him is acquitted; anyone who refuses to trust him has long since been under the death sentence without knowing it. And why? Because of that person’s failure to believe in the one-of-a-kind Son of God when introduced to him.

19-21 “This is the crisis we’re in: God-light streamed into the world, but men and women everywhere ran for the darkness. They went for the darkness because they were not really interested in pleasing God. Everyone who makes a practice of doing evil, addicted to denial and illusion, hates God-light and won’t come near it, fearing a painful exposure. But anyone working and living in truth and reality welcomes God-light so the work can be seen for the God-work it is.”

John 3 cross

What do we learn?
–God so loved that He sent us His Son, His One and Only Son, to teach us how to come back to God.
–God so loved that world, all of us, that whoever believes in His Son, can have a whole and everlasting life with Him.
–God so loved the world that He allowed His Son to die a cruel death for our sin so that we who believe can see Him, worship Him freely, and live with Him forever.
–God so loved the world, that He sent His Son to correct all misunderstandings by the religious about his true desire…a right relationship with us.
–God so loved the world, the He sent His Son to show Who He really is and how to give glory where honor and praise is due.
–God so loved the world that He sent His Son so that the work can be seen for the God-work it is.
–Jesus is the Truth, The Way and The Life, in that order. He came to be Truth, show Truth, and live Truth so that we will know. Jesus shows us The Way back to God. Only then can we live the God-Life to the max, abundantly, freely forever.
–Are we listening?

Dear Heavenly Father,
The Story of Jesus explaining salvation to the intellect lifts our hearts, minds and souls to higher ground in our own thinking. We do believe. We are born of Your Spirit. Our bodies are only earthly tents that won’t last but Your Spirit abiding in us will last forever. That truth alone sheds Light on our daily lives and encourages us to live for You, the ONLY life worth living. Thank you for so loving the world. Thank you for loving me.
In Jesus Name, Amen. I believe.

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THE TEMPLE

Posted on October 28, 2017 by randscallawayffm

John, The Love of God

What we see and what God sees is very different. God knows what’s on our minds. He sees what is stored up in our hearts. He knows our very souls. He knows what we will say and do before we know it. He knew us before we were a twinkle in the eyes of our parents. See Psalm 139 for more about what God knows.

God gave directives about worship and celebration that would give Him glory, honor and praises….a way to love Him back for His love and care for us. Over the years this was distorted and humanized for gain and profit. Imagine then, the Son of God, walking up to The Temple, the place built for God and the worship of Him and see all the graft and greed going on in His courts.

Jesus is asked “what credentials” do you have to clear the courts like this? Jesus answers with prophecy about what they will do to Him in a period of three days from death to resurrection. If they think so little about the edifice of The Temple, they will not stop to crucify the Body of our Christ later. THAT is the issue here. Read and think beyond the words on the page…

John 2 His body

John 2, The Message
Tear Down This Temple . . .

13-14 When the Passover Feast, celebrated each spring by the Jews, was about to take place, Jesus traveled up to Jerusalem. He found the Temple teeming with people selling cattle and sheep and doves. The loan sharks were also there in full strength.

15-17 Jesus put together a whip out of strips of leather and chased them out of the Temple, stampeding the sheep and cattle, upending the tables of the loan sharks, spilling coins left and right. He told the dove merchants, “Get your things out of here! Stop turning my Father’s house into a shopping mall!” That’s when his disciples remembered the Scripture, “Zeal for your house consumes me.”

18-19 But the Jews were upset. They asked, “What credentials can you present to justify this?” Jesus answered, “Tear down this Temple and in three days I’ll put it back together.”

20-22 They were indignant: “It took forty-six years to build this Temple, and you’re going to rebuild it in three days?” But Jesus was talking about his body as the Temple. Later, after he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered he had said this. They then put two and two together and believed both what was written in Scripture and what Jesus had said.

23-25 During the time he was in Jerusalem, those days of the Passover Feast, many people noticed the signs he was displaying and, seeing they pointed straight to God, entrusted their lives to him. But Jesus didn’t entrust his life to them. He knew them inside and out, knew how untrustworthy they were. He didn’t need any help in seeing right through them.

Think about it…
–The disciples, simple men, remembered the Scripture. The Jews in charge did not.
–The disciples later, after His resurrection, put two and two together and figured out that The Temple He was talking about was His Body. The Jewish leaders did not.
–Jesus and His followers went the Temple to pray and give honor to God by observing the Passover. The Jewish leaders’ goal was to profit from the crowd gathered for the holidays. (Our world…Christmas and Easter? Mm.)
–Interesting to note…”many people noticed the signs he was displaying and seeing they pointed straight to God, entrusted their lives to Him. But, Jesus didn’t entrust his life to them. He knew them inside and out, knew how untrustworthy they were.” Jesus knew this same crowd would shout, “Crucify Him” before all was finished.
–Wow. See Jesus knows our every thought and action. He knows us from the inside out. Is this good or bad?
–Is this episode a hint of things to come?
–Repent and be saved by the Son of God who died and rose again for you and for me. Live redeemed! Others will notice.

Dear Heavenly Father, 
There is always more to the story than first appears. Your Holy Spirit enlightens us every day with a new look, a new perspective. It all about You. Always has been and always will be. Thank you for coming down to earth so that we might be lifted up with You! In Jesus Name, Amen

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WHATEVER HE TELLS YOU DO, DO IT!

Posted on October 27, 2017 by randscallawayffm

John, The Love of God

How many missed opportunities do we have in life when we hesitate, analyze too long, pull back, or stop in mid action because of lack of confidence in ourselves? Is it fear? Is it just too much work? Do we love our routines more than our possible adventures? God hasn’t stopped inviting people to His work. Many have just stopped responding. Many are missing out on the Marvelous.

I think about this as we read about a wedding reception where the wine is quickly becoming depleted. The mother of Jesus knows He can remedy the situation helping to avoid the embarrassment their host (and probably relatives) will have. Jesus tells her “This isn’t my time. Don’t push. But, it’s His mom and He obeys her. Love expressed.

Take note at the command (I’m hearing the directive Jewish mom come out in Mary) as she tells servants standing around Jesus, “Whatever he tells you, do it.” Mary doesn’t know how Jesus will solve the problem, but she knows He can and will. No fear. Just faith.

Yes, as Jesus said to His young, new believers three days ago, “You haven’t seen anything yet!” First sign. First glimpse of His glory.

John 2 do it

John 2, The Message
From Water to Wine

1-3 Three days later there was a wedding in the village of Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there. Jesus and his disciples were guests also. When they started running low on wine at the wedding banquet, Jesus’ mother told him, “They’re just about out of wine.”

4 Jesus said, “Is that any of our business, Mother—yours or mine? This isn’t my time. Don’t push me.”

5 She went ahead anyway, telling the servants, “Whatever he tells you, do it.”

6-7 Six stoneware water pots were there, used by the Jews for ritual washings. Each held twenty to thirty gallons. Jesus ordered the servants, “Fill the pots with water.” And they filled them to the brim.

8 “Now fill your pitchers and take them to the host,” Jesus said, and they did.

9-10 When the host tasted the water that had become wine (he didn’t know what had just happened but the servants, of course, knew), he called out to the bridegroom, “Everybody I know begins with their finest wines and after the guests have had their fill brings in the cheap stuff. But you’ve saved the best till now!”

11 This act in Cana of Galilee was the first sign Jesus gave, the first glimpse of his glory. And his disciples believed in him.

12 After this he went down to Capernaum along with his mother, brothers, and disciples, and stayed several days.

Think about it…
–Jesus obeyed his earthly mother. He loved her. He came as a servant. This first “act” showed the majesty in humbleness. Wow!
–His disciples believed Him even more because of this act.
–Are we ready to leave our routine, listen, and obey by doing whatever He tells us to do?
–Don’t hesitate, do what He tells you…if Jesus can transform water into wine, how will He transform us? Ooh. Think about it. Take all the time you need. I am.

Dear Heavenly Father,
You are God and we are not. You never sleep. You are always at work. You don’t need us to get your work accomplished yet you invite us to come along, learn, grow, and marvel at your majesty! Thank you, Lord. Continue to transform us into all you intended for us to be. 
In Jesus Name, Amen

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