Sunday Dinner

Sabbath Scripture
“My food,” said Jesus “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work”. John 4:34

Sabbath Reflection
As a child Sunday dinner was the biggest dinner of the week, it was more special than supper because extended family usually gathered at one of grandmother’s houses. Family traveled in from the city, brothers sisters, in-laws talked about the past weeks’ events and cousins played childhood games and bonded. The meal was not really important to us as long as there was enough when we were called to the dinner table. Our food on Sundays was the joy of being with family and unknown to us at the time, creating memories to share with our own kids one day. Our food was the comradeship of family, and love poured out by “big mama” and ”Papa”.

One day Jesus and the disciples had been traveling from Judea to Galilee, the disciples went into the village to get food; Jesus continued on until He reached a well where He sat down alone to rest as He was weary and tired. In spite of His tiredness Jesus saw a work needing to be completed as a thirsty and hungry spirit approached the well. Here He feed the spirit of a woman from Samaria. The Samaritan woman had been in need of some real nourishment for years. Her food had consisted of bad decisions, wrong choices, poor judgment, loneliness, hiding, and avoidance. Her life didn’t consist of Sunday dinners and when Jesus offered her a life time of fulfillment (Sunday dinners) she could only focus on the short term results, (supper) no longer having to put herself out there for ridicule and judgment. Because she couldn’t imagine her life as Sunday Dinner it took her a while to recognize the authentic food Jesus was offering. How long does it take us to recognize the true and lasting food Jesus offers? How often do we lower His Sunday dinner to supper? How often do we fail to recognize His poured out love as food for our very souls?

When the disciples arrived they were concerned about Jesus eating, knowing He must be hungry they tried to persuade him to eat and Jesus responded “My food,” said Jesus “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work”. Jesus teaches us to move beyond the cares of this world; the physical food (supper) for which we rely to a deeper place, to everlasting food (Sunday Dinner). Food which will quench all hunger, only what we do for the Father will last. Jesus was saying my nourishment comes from a different place; I am filled by my connection with the Father. It fills me to please the Father when I please Him my hunger is satiate. In fact I just ate, I just brought a woman lost, living in darkness to a woman found and running in the light. This is my food to save the lost, to take away condemnation, to show you the God of truth. Our food should be on the things God
has instructed us to do, completing the assignments He has given and following His words for living. When we incorporate Jesus’ attitude and beliefs into our lives our vision changes and we see beyond earthly needs and goals we reach into the spiritual, for God desires those who worship in spirit. Reaching into the spiritual I pray in the spirit seeking God’s truth. I spent time in God’s word gleaming His lessons and directions, than I find I am no longer satisfied by earthly food, it only fills for a little while; it is only when I am living God’s will, fulfilling His plans for my life am I truly filled. The world will continue to try and persuade me to eat its food (supper) and my response prayerfully will be my food is to do the will of my heavenly Father and complete His purpose and plans for my life (Sunday Dinner).

Deeper Personal Reflection
Am I still feasting on supper or have I move to Sunday Dinner
In the spiritual what is your food?

Deeper Personal Study
John 4

Sabbath Prayer
Father God may I always choose food which brings You glory. May I always choose food which will minister to others, planting seeds of love, showing others Your truth. Fill me with thy Holy Spirit and lead me in the way everlasting. In Jesus Name Amen

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Sabbath Rest- Gifts

Sabbath Rest Prayer
Heavenly Father, with much adoration and love, we give thanks for Christ the Messiah. We give thanks O Father for all Jesus has done for us. For this great gift we give you praise, glory and honor. We ask O Lord thy God for your guidance. Guide us in giving Jesus gifts worthy of our King; gifts which reflect our love and gratitude for life granted to us by Your Son, our Savior, Jesus the Christ. In His most holy and mighty name we pray. Amen.

Sabbath Rest Scripture
They entered the house and saw the child in the arms of Mary, his mother. Overcome, they kneeled and worshiped him. Then they opened their luggage and presented gifts: gold, frankincense, myrrh. Matthew 2:11


Sabbath Rest Reflections
The wise men travel a great distance seeking Jesus. We don’t have to travel very far to seek Him, yet we often fail in this task. He is very close by us waiting for us to come. God has also provided us a star, the Bible. We only need to open it and tenderly search the scriptures. Sometimes we have to dig deep, other time we can Him on the surface with no digging at all. In either case He promises if you seek me, you will find me. Just as the wise men saw Him when they entered the house, we will see Him when we enter the word.

Just as the wise men saw Jesus in Mary’s arms, we when wise often find ourselves in Jesus arms. Jesus has become our refuge and strength and He will hold us in His arms as long as needed.

As Jesus daily cares for you, become overcome by His grace and love. Stand in awe of His great care and concern for you and Kneel and worship. Bow down your life to Him, and bring gifts worthy of our God. As you move from Christmas Day move to the Spirit of Christmas presenting God with costly gifts, which cost you something, Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. Deuteronomy 6:5, and love your neighbor as yourself. Matthew 22:39. Loving God with everything we have, with our all and our neighbor as our self will lead us to giving gifts reflective of our Savior. To begin this process we must open our heart to Jesus, truly allowing Him to dwell in us and live through us. When we let Jesus do the God thing in and through us we give Him one of the greatest gifts we can offer. In essence we are saying I sacrifice myself to You Lord, use me, mold me, grow me, shaping me into what you would have me to be, work through me Lord . I have so little to give You, but me and I freely give to You, my body as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable.


In what ways do you identify with the Wise Men?
What other gifts can you bring to Jesus in the coming year?
Spend time with the wise men this week seeking truths you can apply to your life.



Prayer
Lord, we can’t thank you enough for Jesus. It appears we have so few gifts to give to you Lord that are worthy. We ask You today to guide us in giving gifts which are pleasing to you. Fill our heart with Your word, your truths and help us to live Your word, Your truth until we are truly living sacrifices, holy and acceptable to You. In Jesus Name we pray.

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Spiritual Sundays- Celebration

Today I am doing something different. I want us to remember not only do we celebrate the Birth of our Savior but we celebrate His life. There is no way I can bring Honor to His entire life here but prayerfully a few reminders we celebrate all Jesus is- Our Lord, our Savior, Our God. Let Your heart rest on His ministry, His life and His death and because of His obedience we have a relationship with God, we have become children of God, we have inherited a Kingdom and we have everlasting life through Christ; The Prince of Peace, Emmanuel God with us, our Wonderful Counselor. The Alpha and Omega-the Beginning and the End.

Somewhere this past week I read on another site (and I am sorry I can't give you credit I don't remember where but perhaps you are visiting today and can let us know) "Jesus is not a season, He is the "REASON" this has stayed with me this entire week and thus you have my tribute to the "Reason". It is my prayer I not only keep Jesus in my Christmas but that I make Him my Christmas. Without Him there would be not Reason. I pray I will carry Christmas in my heart everyday as I rest on and in His ministry of teaching, healing, humility, generosity, peace, gentleness, grace, mercy, compassion, obedience and most of all love. It was love which nail Him to the cross. It was love which kept Him on the cross. Let Love make Him your Christmas.

Happy Birthday Jesus, my Lord, my Savior, my God. All glory, honor, power and praise belongs to You.

I hope you enjoy the slide Show

Prayer
Father God, I pray blessings to all who share with me and Spiritual Sunday may their Christmas be joyous and filled with Your Love God the Everlasting Father, God the Son;the Everlasting Savior and God the Holy Spirit. In Jesus most precious, sweet and loving name I pray. Amen


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