Saturday Morning Breakfast

God has been faithful to show up for breakfast during this fast and today was especially epic.  I can't think of a time where Stacy, Faith and I ate breakfast together with our Bibles open and then shared what we each had been reading.  Usually we read the newspaper and catch up on what is happening in the media, so while Abbi was sleeping in her teenage slumber, we sought after God and enjoyed his Word.

The cool thing is the thread that spoke to me.  Can you see it?

I was reading in Matthew.  Matthew 16:24-26 says:

"Then Jesus said to his disciples, "if anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.  For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.  What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul?  Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?"
 

Today I've been thinking about that cross.  I may not be headed for death carrying a cross like Christ, but what are the things in my life that I'm needing to give up?  And I saw a picture of me taking papers and nailing them to the cross.  Each paper representing what?  What do I need to give up?  What do I need to sacrifice?

Then Faith read 1 Peter 3:13-17:

" Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good?  But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed.  Do not fear what they fear, do not be frightened.  But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord.  Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.  But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.  It is better, if it is God's will to suffer for doing good than for doing evil."
 

There's the "W" word again....

But I thought about the off chance that God asks us to adopt and decided that would be a HUGE life change that would most likely bring lots of questions and comments from other people.  And I thought, "What kind of answer would we give?  Would we impact others and point them to Christ with our answer?"  And even if it seems like we would suffer from a worldly point of view (ex.: starting all over in the middle of our lives with a "second chapter" family), wouldn't we be blessed by God if we were doing his will?

Then Stacy finished off with 1 John 2:15-17:

"Do not love the world or anything in the world.  If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.  For everything in the world - the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does - comes not from the Father but from the world.  The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever."
 

Are you serious? 

I'm not sure words are necessary.

So thank you God for showing up to the breakfast table.  Thank you for your Word and for the wisdom and instruction it brings to those who seek you. 

Candie