Hebrews 4:12
King James Version
12 For the word of God is quick,
and powerful,
and sharper than any twoedged sword,
piercing even to the dividing asunder
of soul and spirit,
and of the joints and marrow,
and is a discerner of the thoughts
and intents of the heart.
I don't know about you, but I've lost fixation with food.
For the longest time, really.
Sure, there was a time cooking was fun, eating out was an adventure, traveling was interesting, various cuisines were a curiosity, inexpensive, daily finds at stores, and supermarkets, were thrilling, but that's all done now.
I suppose that's what happens when JESUS has moved your mind to things spiritual.
Food then becomes just for gratitude, and sustenance.
You don't go ga-ga over recipes anymore.
Food has not become the focus of gatherings.
And my gatherings are usually one-on-one.
Where you're able to share an infrequent, and simple meal, with a few, close friends, and family.
Where you've become an oddity in this food-focused world.
Consider the tremendous food choices we have around.
Consider, too, the garbage resulting from all that.
Spoiled food, spent food, accompanying packaging and all.
And I thought to myself yesterday, how JESUS -- the Bread of Life -- is all I need.
How GOD -- the Living Waters -- nourishes me.
How the HOLY SPIRIT -- the Teacher of ALL Things GOD -- is our Best Friend today.
How, then, can earthly food excite me?
How can it not have its proper place as just daily sustenance?
It's possible I'm the happiest person praying the prayer of gratitude for each simple meal.
Remember this prayer?
"Bless us O Lord,
and these our gifts,
which we are about to receive,
from thy bounty,
through CHRIST,
our LORD.
Amen."
I was taught that in Catholic school early on.
And now that I've been born again for seven years now, it's taken on a new flavor.
Praying that gratitude-filled, simple prayer is a joy-filled moment.
My heart is jumping, my soul is elevated, and my spirit is thrilled to be thanking GOD for every meal, when in all probability, many people go hungry.
While others scoff at simple meals, I merely thank GOD I have a meal at all.
While others long for some exotic meal, or adventure, I merely thank GOD for giving me my family, for saving me, for giving me a writing ministry, for making me who I am, and for appointing me in His service.
All I am is a simple, happy, grateful child of GOD.
I am nothing else but that.
Always looking to JESUS for guidance.
Always waiting for Him to take us up.
To be part of the Rapture.
Where JESUS will appear in the clouds, and take His faithful up with Him.
Where, eventually, we'll come down with Him to make war on His enemy, as we are now clothed in white linen, following the LORD.
And one day, these beautiful things will happen:
Revelation 21:1-4King James Version
21 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth:
for the first heaven and the first earth
were passed away;
and there was no more sea.
2 And I John saw the holy city,
new Jerusalem,
coming down from God out of heaven,
prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying,
Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men,
and he will dwell with them,
and they shall be his people,
and God himself shall be with them,
and be their God.
4 And God shall wipe away
all tears from their eyes;
and there shall be no more death,
neither sorrow,
nor crying,
neither shall there be any more pain:
for the former things are passed away.
Revelation 21:5-7King James Version
5 And he that sat upon the throne said,
Behold, I make all things new.
And he said unto me, Write:
for these words are true and faithful.
6 And he said unto me, It is done.
I am Alpha and Omega,
the beginning and the end.
I will give unto him that is athirst
of the fountain of the water of life
freely.
7 He that overcometh
shall inherit all things;
and I will be his God,
and he shall be my son.
Revelation 21:21-27King James Version
21 And the twelve gates were twelve pearls:
every several gate was of one pearl:
and the street of the city was pure gold,
as it were transparent glass.
22 And I saw no temple therein:
for the Lord God Almighty
and the Lamb
are the temple of it.
23 And the city had no need of the sun,
neither of the moon, to shine in it:
for the glory of God did lighten it,
and the Lamb is the light thereof.
24 And the nations of them which are saved
shall walk in the light of it:
and the kings of the earth
do bring their glory and honour
into it.
25 And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day:
for there shall be no night there.
26 And they shall bring
the glory and honour of the nations
into it.
27 And there shall in no wise enter into it
any thing that defileth,
neither whatsoever worketh abomination,
or maketh a lie:
but they which are written
in the Lamb's book of life.
Revelation 22:1-5King James Version
22 And he shewed me a pure river
of water of life,
clear as crystal,
proceeding
out of the throne of God
and of the Lamb.
2 In the midst of the street of it,
and on either side of the river,
was there the tree of life,
which bare twelve manner of fruits,
and yielded her fruit every month:
and the leaves of the tree
were for the healing of the nations.
3 And there shall be no more curse:
but the throne of God
and of the Lamb
shall be in it;
and his servants shall serve him:
4 And they shall see his face;
and his name shall be in their foreheads.
5 And there shall be no night there;
and they need no candle,
neither light of the sun;
for the Lord God giveth them light:
and they shall reign for ever and ever.
These are the things I look forward do.
I hope you do, too.
In JESUS' Name.
Amen.
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