John 10:39-42

John 10:39-42 Then Jesus went back across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing in the early days. Here he stayed and many people came to him. They said, “Though John never performed a miraculous sign, all that John said about this man was true.” And in that place many believed in Jesus.

Yes, we looked at this yesterday as we asked God to direct us away from inappropriate choices and unprofitable worldly activities to help us become more like his Son that we might touch the lives of others who look for light in the darkness and help to find their way. We would pray as Paul, that you might, Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life. (Philippians 2:14-15) As believers we have a powerful message from Christ who declared, I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty. (John 6:35)

That is our mission in serving these breakfasts. Yesterday, several responded with encouraging remarks that fed us: provided food for our souls, added insights that amplified the message. As we near the halfway mark in John, the point where Jesus prepares his disciples for his departure and prepares himself for complete surrender to his Father's will, this seems a good point to share some of the precious words that come our way. We selected a variety of remarks, revealing attitudes of the heart and a spiritual readiness to receive the Word with gladness and to act upon it. These are all in response to the gospel of John. We are sharing some today and will include some more tomorrow. These comments should encourage you as they did us. Blessings to each of you in Jesus our Lord and Savior! Love Dad and Mom

1. (In response to yesterday's message) Thank you for this word. I needed to step back into the river with Him as he crossed back over. The cool rushing and clensing waters of the word have that ability to clean my clothes, my flesh, and my thoughts of the world.

2. Thank you so much! I needed to hear this word today. I’m blessed with each breakfast you send! I am thirsty to see how God will speak to me each day with what he puts on your heart to share with others.

3. Thanks for the breakfast. You talking about Peter and his inability to follow through with his desire to follow Jesus even unto death is a good thing for us as believers to remember. Even the best of disciples, much better than us, couldn't follow Jesus on their own. But as followers of the Risen Lord, the one who died a sinless death and rose again, we now have the Holy Spirit to lead us, the one who was left for us at Pentecost, and then there is the mystery of us being hid in Christ as well. Everything changes when a risen Lord enters the scene and now the disciples are willing to go through incredible pain and suffering, even death, for the gospel of Christ. Now, we are hid in the one, Jesus, who did and will always do the Father's will. That amazes me and has sure given me the desire to reject the sin that tempts us. I know I still sin and go against the Father's will for my life, but to be honest, there are many more times that I don't sin because Jesus guides me in paths of righteousness, always closer to Him and to the will of the Father. It's a good thing to follow Jesus... it allows you to go walk through incredibly hard things because you know you are with the lover of your soul and we know that isn't just cliché but a reality in our lives. The lover of our soul is closer to us than a whisper. What joy, what wondrous joy!

4. "If you feel weak in yourself today or if your old nature seems to be raising its ugly head, consider who you are in Christ, seek his will and not yours, and He will lift you up into heavenly places as He empowers you with strength, courage, and faith to persevere and to follow him." (Taken from a breakfast) This is a great sentence of exhortation and encouragement and so it is my prayer this morning. Thanks, you two!

5. Hey Mom and Dad, I just wanted you guys to know that the last two days have been especially powerful for me. The words that God speaks in his Word and through you guys is so amazing. I feel so blessed to be able to read these things and to grow with them and the inspiration that his Word gives us is mind blowing. Thank you for your courage and continued dedication to these daily emails. (Writer gave other personal details concerning a challenging situation in his life and how God is giving him grace and mercy to forgive and to believe for miracles when previously in his life he would not have been able to do that.)

6. Thank you thank you, once more encouragement is spread abroad, my heart is glad as the truth is proclaimed, we are free :)

7. With tears of gratitude, I'm thanking God today for your spot-on message that is refreshment to my spirit. You've shared scriptures that I've grown up hearing , yet they are woven into such a beautiful tapestry in this devotional. As you two have taught me to say, "To God be the glory!" I am walking in a sort of Jerusalem of my own just now - I can only thank you again for so tenderly ministering these strengthening words from my dear Jesus. With gratitude and love.