Fellowship 4/28/17

Phil. 1:3,5 "I thank my God . . . for your fellowship in the gospel . . ." 

I thank God for the fellowship with those who have been praying for Tony Callies. You have been a big encouragement to me and Tony. You have shown your love toward us. 

In the same way Paul depended on his friends in Philippi--for fellowship (Phil. 1:5). Paul knew, as a missionary, he could not go on without the prayers of his people. In his Epistles, Paul always thank God for his friends for supporting him with prayers, encouragements and for finances (4:16), and for care (4:18).  

May the Lord bless you today!

Dorothy 

If Any Man Series 4

09 April 2017 - If Any Man Series 4 – Manna by Dorothy Callies

John 6:51 Jesus said, “I am the living bread which came down from heaven: IF ANY MAN eat of this bread, he (you) shall live forever: and the bread that I will give is My flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.”

The story from John chapter six begins with five thousand men plus women and children being fed with fishes and breads. There were miracles when it was multiplied with only five loaves of barley bread and two little fish. Because of this people followed Jesus and expect Him to feed them with daily food just like the story that happened during Moses’ time and the people were fed with Manna that God had sent for 40 years. [The people said, “Sir, give us this bread always.” John 6:34].

There Jesus introduced Himself as the living Bread of Life and He explained clearly when He said, “I am the bread that gives life . . . Also I am the bread that comes down from heaven” (John 6:33, 41, 42).  Jesus meant that when people accepted Him as their personal Savior, it was the same idea that you “eat of this flesh” which is spiritually speaking just like you eat regular daily bread for your body’s need (John 6:53-56). 

From there people and the religious leaders complained against Jesus since they felt that His teaching was too hard to understand. Many left Him. Finally, He asked the disciples if they, too, wanted to leave Him. Bless Peter! He stayed on.  Peter said, “. . . You have the words that give eternal life. We believe and know that You are the Holy One from God” (John 6:68-69).

Jesus came down from heaven to give His life for the world. He is the Manna and if any man, meaning if any one open their hearts to Jesus and invite Him into their lives, they shall live forever. Hallelujah! The windows of heaven are open and God’s blessing are falling upon you right now.  God’s Word is our Manna and we are feasting on Manna, meaning we are reading and studying His Word into our souls daily.

Song: The Windows of Heaven are Open

The windows of heaven are open,

God’s blessing are falling tonight.

There’s joy, joy, joy in my heart,

Since Jesus made everything right.

I gave Him my old tattered garment,

He gave me a robe of pure white;

I’m feasting on Manna from heaven,

And that’s why I’m happy tonight.

(Inspiring Choruses, Author unknown)

May the Lord bless you richly!!!

Dorothy

If Any Man Series 3

06 April 2017 If Any Man Series 3 – Manna by Dorothy Callies

Mark 9:35 “And he sat down and called the twelve, and said to them, IF ANY MAN desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all.” [Desire to be first means want to be number one]

Jesus went through Galilee and came to Capernaum and went into the house.  Jesus asked, “What were you arguing about on the road?  The disciples did not answer because they were kind of embarrassed that they had argued who should be number one.

Why did the disciples do that?  The disciples knew that some day when Jesus takes over the future kingdom on earth, each of the disciples wanted to be number one. It means each disciple wanted to have a very important place with Jesus.

Then Jesus found a chair and sat down and He called twelve of His disciples to Him. He said, “Whoever wants to be the most important must be the last of all and servant of all” (Mark 9:35, NVC).  He took a small child and had him stand in the middle of twelve disciples.  

Jesus had taken the child in His arms and said to them, “Whoever accepts a child like this in My name accepts Me . . . (Mark 9:36 NCV).   In another word, to accept a child means whoever is willing to serve this child is the same way as you are being willing to serve Jesus. In many people’s view, serving a child seems to be the lowest position, but in Jesus’ view, you are serving Jesus.

I watched a classic movie called, Bonanza and they had a story about raising money for the orphanage children who have lost their parents and their families. It was during Christmas time, orphan children were invited to Ben Cartwright’s big ranch home. It was an excited time for the children to receive gifts from Santa Claus. It was also a time to announce how much they had raised money for the children’s needs.

What impressed me was how the people who were so willing to “serve the children” by providing their needs. They had a special singer to sing to the children and Ben would read Christmas story.  It was a great blessing to watch children’s face being lit up.

So Jesus is saying to all of us, “Do you want to be number one?  Then you become a servant of all.  A servant is the one that serve; helping others and meet their needs. Take notice when others need help.  There’s a song that goes with this verse, Mark 9:35.

Song: If You Would Be Great—

If you would be great in God’s kingdom,

then learn to be servant of all . . .

If you would be great in God’s kingdom,

then learn to be servant of all . . .

Learn to be servant of all . . .

Learn to be servant of all . . .

I’ll open up a river when thou art a giver

and learn to be servant of all . . .

[Author, unknown] 

May the Lord bless you today!

Dorothy 

 

If Any Man Series 2

04 April 2017 - If Any Man - Series 2 – Manna by Dorothy Callies

John 10:9 “I am the door: by Me IF ANY MAN enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.”

Who was Jesus speaking to? Reading from John 9:40-41, Jesus was talking to Pharisees.  From John 10:1-5, Jesus was using the parable about the example of a shepherd, sheep, a thief, a robber and a stranger. The Pharisees were upset because they did not understand what Jesus was talking about (John 10:6).

Jesus tried to make it clearer, “I am the door of the sheep” (John 10:7). “All that ever came before Me are thieves and robbers” (John 10:8), Jesus talked about false shepherds who tried to steal the sheep, but the sheep who do not recognize the false shepherd’s voice,  the sheep will not follow them  (John 10:8). The sheep who knows the voice of their own shepherd, the sheep will follow that shepherd (John 10:3-5).

From John 10:9-18, Jesus went on and explained who the true shepherd should be. Jesus said that the true shepherd is the one that is willing to lay down his life for the sheep.  For the shepherd should be the one who cares for the sheep and protect the sheep from the wolf.

Jesus emphasized strongly that He and His heavenly Father have a very strong intimate relationship together as a Father and Son. This made the religious leaders real mad and they wanted to stone Him (John 10:20; 31, 33).  When they tried to find Jesus so they could arrest Him, but Jesus escaped out of their hand (John 10:39).

Boy!  Those religious leaders were really blind to realize that Jesus is the Messiah, the true Shepherd. When He quoted, “I am the door: by Me if any man enter in, he (anyone) shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.” Find pasture? It means only in Jesus we find His Word to feed us. Like the sheep who eats fresh green grass.

Poem: “I Am the Shepherd” written by Dorothy Callies in 1980’s

I am the true Shepherd.

            The sheep go through the door.

I am the true Shepherd.

            The sheep listen to My voice more.

I am the true Shepherd.

            I called My sheep by name.

I am the true Shepherd.

            The sheep know I am the same.

I am the true Shepherd

            And of them, I walked ahead.

I am the true Shepherd.

            Among strangers, the sheep trust Me instead.

I am the true Shepherd

            And the sheep truly do know.

I am the true Shepherd.

            The sheep truly loves me so.

I am the true Shepherd

            And the sheep listen and obey.

I am the true Shepherd.

            The sheep follow Me every day.

May the Lord bless you.  

Dorothy 

 

If Any Man Series 1

01 April 2017 – If Any Man Serve Me– Manna by Dorothy Callies

Good morning. It is the first day of the month, April! Spring at last? Actually, the spring already started last March 20^th, 2017, but it sure doesn’t feel like it because we kept having cold weather in the area of Bloomington, Illinois and still do.  

Last March 30^th, the Doctor gave me “a clean bill of health” and expect the cough to last 2-3 weeks. The Doctor prescribed me another inhaler to help with my breathing easier.  So I am back to Manna whenever the Holy Spirit leads me. Thank You Lord for answering prayers. Thank you Lord for renewing my strength.

One morning, Holy Spirit quoted to me, “If any man . . .” I thought to check out the references and I was surprised to read many from Jesus’ quotes as well as Paul’s. I find it interesting to find out what exactly does this mean … if any man …? It usually means “mankind” which interprets “human race: all human beings” meaning men and women.

So I would like to start this verse because of the song that comes with it, “I Will Serve Thee.” John 12:26 IF ANY MAN serve Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: IF ANY MAN serve Me, him (you) will My Father honour.

Commentary from the Full Life Study Bible: IF ANY MAN SERVE ME.

“Faith in Jesus involves a personal commitment to follow Him, keep His teaching, and be where He is. Following Christ includes self-denial and taking up one’s cross.” [End]

The meaning of commitment to follow him quoted from Rhonda Barrett, “As we live our lives… THE LOVE WAY, THE SERVE WAY, LIKE JESUS DID … through the power of the Holy Spirit that lives within us—people’s lives are impacted; our loved ones’ lives are impacted.” 

The meaning of the word impacted is to have a strong influence on. In ASL we signed, “It’s a very powerful hit” or “it’s a very powerful influence.” The way Jesus loved His disciples during those three years and the way Jesus served His disciples, Jesus has given us a very powerful teaching for all of us is “to love one another and to serve one another.”

May the Holy Spirit bless us as we express our deep love and worship to our wonderful Savior and to our Lord Jesus Christ!

Song: I Will Serve Thee by William J. Gaither

I will serve Thee because I love Thee,

You have given life to me:

I was nothing before You found me,

You have given life to me.

Heart-aches, broken pieces,

Ruined lives are why you died on Calvary;

Your touch was what I longed for,

You have given life to me.

May the Lord truly bless you real good!

Dorothy