Shiloh Rose Archive

The houses is quiet all the kids are gone and its as if the sound of my typewriter is magnified! The quiet is much needed but feels so loud in this moment. I have an instrumental playing and I am just flowing into this post. I had planned to talk about the story of the walls of Jericho falling down, but I think I will just let the natural flow carry me. To me the unscripted thoughts can sometimes be the best. This week went by rather quickly! I hope you all are well!

Today as I was doing my Bible plan study with my prayer team, I was touched by a particular miracle that Jesus performed. The devotional that we are studying is about waiting. The space between what we are desiring from the Lord and the moment of fulfillment. The story in Matthew 14, when Jesus fed the five thousand. The devotional was comparing this moment to how we give God what we have and he multiplies it. For me, I was moved by Jesus’s great love, care and compassion for people.

Jesus was grieving the death of his friend, John The Baptist and he wanted nothing more than to get away from all the noise and spend time with his Father. John was Jesus’s cousin in fact and they were only six months apart in age. Jesus literally took a boat to a remote place just for a time of solitude. Jesus often went to these places to pray and think. The crowds would follow him because of his profound teachings and miraculous healings. So even in this moment of sorrow they pursue him. Have you ever felt like this? You desire greatly to find a place to be alone and cannot?

The crowd that follows him is no little crowd! It’s five thousand plus people, all of them needy and anxious to get to him. I can imagine Jesus is weary, tired, and deeply saddened by the beheading of John. This was the man who leapt in his mother’s womb, at the very presence of his cousin Jesus! John was filled with the Holy Spirit from the womb because he was a miracle baby. John had the privilege of baptizing Jesus in the Jordan River. Jesus of course was in no mood for this when all he was trying to do is have a moment to process!

If it was me, I probably would have been complaining and had an attitude. Even Jesus’s disciples are used to Jesus leaving them to go be with his Father alone. They see in this moment the weight of ministry. The heaviness of constantly pouring yourself out for others. These people have nothing to offer Jesus in return. The moment he lands on shore he sees the crowds and instead of dismiss them he has compassion on them. He sees their needs are great. His grief and pain still raw and yet his heart still open to the pain of others.

This kind of love and compassion is what our world needs! We all have stuff going on and yet we are still called to be the hands and feet of Jesus. This means that we are supposed to be looking for needs to meet, hands to hold, people to care for, words of encouragement to offer, etc. Jesus decided that despite his own weariness that they were more important in that moment. Have you ever had someone drop everything to be there for you? Can you feel the great sense of comfort that it gave you?

Jesus heals the sick within the crowds and those who are not sick are carrying those who are to the healer! This is brotherly love on display. Who are you carrying to Jesus today? Oh HELP ME LORD to see past myself! Give me eyes that blink through my tears and muster the strength to grab someone up. I’m sure you have seen the movie Forrest Gump, I am reminded of the scene where Forrest begins to save all the fallen soldiers around him. He could have easily just hid and stayed safe but instead he rescued several men. One man in particular, Lieutenant Dan, is extremely angry that Forrest saves him! You think “Geez, this guy is ungrateful!”

The problem with the Lieutenant is that he wanted to die as an act of bravery! He wanted to die alongside the other fallen soldiers from his troop because that seemed honorable. Friends, you don’t need to die on the battlefield to prove a point! Jesus desires to heal and save you! Sometimes I think we feel unworthy of Jesus’s sacrificial love. Have you ever had a friend of family member like this? If you do something nice for them, they automatically get offensive? They feel like they have to repay you back or they are down right uncomfortable with your gift of love. Many people are dying on the battlefield of life, too ashamed, too broken, too scared to ask for help!

After Jesus heals the people, he takes it a step further. He sees that it’s getting late, and in this isolated area it’s no place to buy any food. The disciples are over it and ask Jesus to send the hungry people away to go buy food, because they have been there all day with him. Jesus tells them not to send the people away. He says simply, “You give them something to eat.” I can imagine the disciples had a bit of the stank face! What do you mean feed them?! It’s over five thousand people, we barely even have enough for ourselves! How many times have you thought that when giving to others?

We all see things from a place of lack at times. Jesus never said anything about how much food they had, all he said was bring it to me! Bring me what you I have! The disciples bring him five loaves of bread and two fish. “BUT!” This is the word we all use so quickly with God! They tried it too and Jesus doesn’t stop to acknowledge their reasoning. All Jesus does is take the food and told the people to sit down and prepare to eat. Have you ever been without? How am I going to pay this bill, how will I have enough gas to make it to work, or how will we have enough to invite family over for dinner when money is tight?

Whatever we place in God’s hands he multiplies and whatever we give shall be given! Never let your mindset of lack, keep you from being generous! Jesus looks up to heaven and blessed the food. He began breaking it into pieces and giving it to the disciples to pass out to the crowd. I can imagine they’re holding the last piece thinking this must be the last of it, and yet it keeps multiplying. Not only did everyone eat until they were full there was twelve baskets of leftovers! Not only was it five thousand men, there were also women and children in the crowd as well that weren’t even numbered!

This story touches my heart on so many levels! I love that Jesus took the time for the people, and he taught his disciples to love and care for others too. He didn’t turn them away he nourished them! Many times I will sneak to my prayer closet for time alone with God. I will lay out all my worries, fears, and petitions and on good days remember to pray for others! In this season, my broken heart wants to lead. I have to submit it to God and remember that my destiny is tied to being about MY Father’s business. He very plainly says, “If you love me, feed my sheep.” Don’t get caught up in only yourself!

When we focus too heavily on our own needs we slowly become selfish. I understand we all have needs and some are great! I’m reminding you as I remind myself, that we need to focus on helping others too. The more we pour out we often think we will have nothing left to give, but God says the opposite. It’s when you refresh others that you will be refreshed! Trusting that God knows our needs we really don’t have to tell him so often! He loves our persistence but it’s not new knowledge.

Many times I will hear my children calling my name as I am in prayer. They are becoming accustomed to finding me there in the quiet. The other morning my daughter comes after she woke up. I often ask them to leave, but lately I stop and hold her tight. I remember that she matters in that moment just as much as my same prayers on repeat! Jesus was interrupted and he took time to care. I am learning to do the same, so what if I am anxious! My daughter needs to know she is important. I gather her up in my arms and I invite her into the moment. It is a sacred place, but with a cold heart it’s nothing more than a tomb.

I implore you today, make the time for someone. Listen, share a meal, send an encouraging text, pay for someone’s groceries, help the elderly to their car! Allow yourself to show up, slow down and give Jesus whatever you have in your hands to bless someone else! I promise you will not go without! You will be satisfied and they will be nourished and refreshed.

Happy Reading & God bless!

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