5 Lessons... Part 5!

Instead of recapping the whole story up unto this point, I think I am simply going to recap the first 4 lessons. Here we go...

Lesson 1~ Attitude

The first lesson we can learn from this miracle of Jesus is ATTITUDE. In order to be all you can be for Jesus you have to take on the right attitude. With God ALL things are possible. God has put us where we are for a purpose and He has placed large tasks in our lives. We have to take on the correct attitude in order for God to use us and conquer these big tasks.

LESSON 2~ Give it All

The second lesson we can learn is GIVING IT ALL. God has incredible things in store for our lives and He wants to use us beyond our comprehension, but in order to do so we have to give everything to him. Just as the young boy gave all of his lunch for Jesus to use, we have to give Jesus all of ourselves.

LESSON 3~ Keep On Keeping On.

The third lesson we can learn is that you have to KEEP ON KEEPING ON! It looks impossible sometimes, but with the right attitude, and when you give all you have, and keep on keeping on no matter what, God will use you and bless you far beyond your imagination. As you keep on, you daily have to come back to God in order for Him to "refill your basket" just as He had to do for the disciples. You cannot serve/feed others when you yourself have not been fed and refilled.

LESSON 4~ When it's all said and done: JESUS.

The fourth lesson we can learn is that whether it's a project at school or work, a lesson you teach, a group you lead, a task you complete, or the life you live, WHEN IT'S ALL SAID AND DONE let it be JESUS that they see and praise!

AND FINALLY, Drum roll please......

LESSON 5~ Unique and Special

The fifth lesson that I think we can take away from this Miracle of Jesus and help us to "be all we can be for is Jesus" is to understand that we are unique and special. You see, my favorite thing about this miracle is not lessons to be learned, it's not the little boy giving it all, it's not the disciples serving, it's not Jesus multiplying food to feed the thousands of people, but it's the fact that this is the only miracle that is recorded in all 4 gospels! I love that! Like I said in lesson 1, that makes this miracle special. I also think that this miracle is unique. Although there are several miracles of Jesus, even one where He feed 4,000, this one is still it's own unique miracle.

Just as the miracle is unique and special, you are unique and special. Created for a specific reason with incredible plans (Jeremiah 29:11). The Psalmist tells us in Psalms 139 that we are fearfully and wonderfully made and that we were woven together by God. WOW! God stopped and took the time to weave you into creation just the way He wanted you to be.

God spoke all of His creations into existence, except for humans. He created us and breathed life into us. He went on to leave His unique mark on us and even gave us our own unique and special marks, fingerprints. Just as this miracle is special and unique, you are special and unique. God loves you beyond your imagination and has plans and thoughts for you that are beyond what you can fathom (Isaiah 55:8-9). Your fingerprints distinguish you from the rest of the world, so be unique, don't conform, and live the special plans that God has for you! God has left His fingerprints on you, now go leave His fingerprints across the world...
I wrap this point up with lyrics to a song that came from a late night conversation with a friend and thought that were swimming in our heads over the course of a few months.

It's simply titled "Fingerprints"

As I look at the stars I can’t help but think about the
day you formed them into existence.

The moment you spoke the words the creation
in its perfect forms for me to enjoy and see

Each star and constellation a unique creation in itself
it’s like you left your fingerprints on the night sky

As I look in the mirror I can’t help but think about the
day you formed me into existence

The moment you created me in your perfect
image and Woven with beauty only by your grace

Given a specific purpose to impact this world

When I was created, your fingerprints were left on me

Just as a potter leaves his prints on the clay

God has left His fingerprints on me

If you are the potter then I am the clay.

I am a creation skillfully mastered by the master’s hands

Woven with beauty in the image of God

I can’t help but see the fingerprints you left on me

I am your creation, yours and yours alone

I am shaped and created to be what I am supposed to be

Get the right ATTITUDE, GIVE IT ALL to God, KEEP ON KEEPING ON, in the end WHEN IT'S ALL SAID AND DONE let everything you do and say point to JESUS, and be your UNIQUE and SPECIAL self that God created you to be and you will be all you can be for Jesus!

I hope that God has spoken to you just as much has He has spoken to me through this story...


John 3:30 He must become more important. I must become less important...

Pressing On.

Five Lessons... Part 4

Yeah, it's been a LONG time... Anyway, let's do a quick recap of lessons 1-3 then take care of 4 and then maybe 5 in the next day or two so I can move on in my ramblings!

Jesus had gone away with His disciples and the multitudes had followed. It was dinner time and Jesus took charge to feed all the people. In the first post I noted that the first lesson we can learn from this miracle of Jesus is ATTITUDE. In order to be all you can be for Jesus you have to take on the right attitude. With God ALL things are possible. God has put us where we are for a purpose and He has placed large tasks in our lives. We have to take on the correct attitude in order for God to use us and conquer these big tasks. In my second post I noted that the next lesson we can learn is GIVING IT ALL. God has incredible things in store for our lives and He wants to use us beyond our comprehension, but in order to do so we have to give everything to him. Just as the young boy gave all of his lunch for Jesus to use, we have to give Jesus all of ourselves. When you give it all sometimes you have to do things that you have no desire to do or things that look impossible, but as I noted in the last post the third lesson we can learn is that you have to KEEP ON KEEPING ON! It looks impossible sometimes, but with the right attitude, and when you give all you have, and keep on keeping on no matter what, God will use you and bless you far beyond your imagination. As you keep on, you daily have to come back to God in order for Him to "refill your basket" just as He had to do for the disciples. You cannot serve/feed others when you yourself have not been fed and refilled.

Whew... Awesome, let's jump into the scriptures and take on point 4! We're going to look at John 6:14-15

After the people saw the miraculous sign that Jesus did, they began to say, "Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world." Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself.

Everyone in the story had had a BIG day and the day was almost over, but yet I think there is still a lesson to be learned from these 2 verses. The people had come, the disciples attitudes had been seen, the little boy had given it all, Jesus had preformed a miracle, the people were fed, the disciples kept on keeping on, and they had received their "reward". WOW, could you imagine the conversations going on between the people in the crowd. Stories were made that day that would be past on for many generations to come... It had been an INCREDIBLE day.

The disciples could have received tons of recognition for serving the people food over and over again, but they didn't. The little boy could have been given recognition for giving his lunch to enable the process to happen, but he wasn't... Jesus spoke a few words, multiplied the food, and handed it to the disciples... He was the talk of the town.

LESSON 4~ When it's all said and done: JESUS.

When the amazing day was over, who did they see? They saw Jesus. They didn't talk about what the disciples did or what the little boy did, they recognized Jesus. They realized that He was the prophet they had been hearing about, He was the one. I must admit that these two scriptures hit me the hardest.

We, as servants of God, do a lot of cool and incredible things for God and on His behalf. I know when God calls and equips me to do things for Him, they usually turn out really good. Big things happen, people walk away changed, and God really moves, however a lot of times I want to take the credit. When all is said and done I want people to see Meredith and what Meredith did and how awesome it was because of what Meredith did... WOW, now that my friends is selfish and way wrong. When all is said and done JESUS should be the only person that the people see. When all is said and done people should walk away saying "WOW, look at God and what He did. Look how awesome He is and at the incredible things He has accomplished!"

In the end it should be all about Jesus. When your life is all said and done are people going to look at you and see what all you've done or are they going to see Jesus and all the things He did through you and all the lives of the people who were impacted because you were His vessel?

In Matthew 5: 14-16 Jesus says

"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."

Whether it's a project at school or work, a lesson you teach, a group you lead, a task you complete, or the life you live, WHEN IT'S ALL SAID AND DONE let it be JESUS that they see and praise!

I leave you with the lyrics to "Do They See Jesus in Me?" by Joy Williams. A friend gave this song to me a few months ago and I think it fits perfectly with this lesson...

Is the face that I see in the mirror the one I want others to see?
Do I show in the way that I walk in my life the love that you've given to me?
My heart's desire is to be like you in all that I do, all I am

CHORUS:
Do they see Jesus in me?
Do they recognize your face?
Do I communicate your love and your grace?
Do I reflect who you are in the way I choose to be?
Do they see Jesus, Jesus in me?

Well it's amazing that you'd ever use me, but use me the way you will
Help me to hold out heart of compassion and grace
A heart that your Spirit fills
May I show forgiveness and mercy the same way you've shown it to me

CHORUS

Well I want to show all the world that You are the reason I live and breathe
So You'll be the one that they see when they see me...

Pressing On.