March 4 (Adar 8) ~ Mark 6

Right Click here to open a new window play the worship song: Down At Your Feet

RETREAT

S - Scripture: Mark 6:1-56

"And he [Jesus] said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while ..." v.31



O - Observations:

After all the disciples had experienced on their mission trip Jesus calls them now to retreat ...

As a busy stay-at-home, pre-homeschooling mama of just two little active youngins' and a manager of my home that often seems filled with CHAOS (can't have anyone over syndrome) and a wife and self-employeed typist I often feeled compelled to find a desert place and rest ...

But as the story continues such is my life also, "Now many (my two littles ones in particular) saw them going ... and they ran there on foot ... and got there ahead of them." v.33

Too often our families see us leaving, even if it is just a room, and here they come trotting after us. Mothers reading this understand what I am talking about ... you can't get dressed or go to the bathroom it seems sometimes without an extra set of eyes or two right there with you ... you long for just 5 minutes of "coming apart (away from everyone else)" before you literally "come apart!" :)

Our (my) reaction is the human one, but what was Jesus' response? He "was moved with compassion toward them ... and he began to teach them many things". v.34

What was the disciples response? "And when the day was now far spent, his disciples came unto him, and said ... Send them away ..." v.35-36.

And because of Jesus' compassion and His power he was able then to perform one of the most infamous miracles, the feeding of the 5,000 men (not including the women and children) and with 12 baskets of leftovers to boot!

Finally when the day was long over the disciples go to rest on the sea in a boat while Jesus goes up the mountain to be alone and recoup His strength in prayer. But a storm came up and Jesus, keeping an ever close eye on His beloved disciples, sees them struggling and the natural laws of water and gravity are no match for Him and He walked right out onto the sea and got in the boat with them and the seas calmed ... of course this frightens His disciples, but He encourages them and lets them know it is He, but they can't see it right away, atleast not until they came to shore where Jesus continued His ministry of healing and making people whole.


A - Application for me today:

I understand this need to find time alone to be with God and I try and make it a point to daily get up early before the sun and the children rise to have that "desert place" ... even with that though sometimes by 9 a.m. I am like the disciples feeling the day "far spent" and ready to get away from it all (Calgon take me away!).

We need Jesus in our proverbial "boats" to calm the things that rise up around us ... we need the mountain to go up alone in and time to pray. We all need "desert places" to come alone to in order to rest.

The application for me today is to make a "desert place" a place that is off limits to the kids ... a place I can "stow away" and find peace ... and at the same time to "moved with compassion" with my children and family to be able to "teach them many things" and finally when I am feeling discombobulated (out of sorts) to take hold of the Great Physician to seek the wholeness only He can offer ...


P - Prayer in response:

Master of wholeness, I come to you bringing you this day already an hour off "my schedule" and I ask you to calm me like you did the seas that night with your disciples. Fill me with your compassion. Give me the things to teach my children. Work miracles in our lives today especially when the day seems "far spent". Thank you for this "desert place" to come and be alone with You and find rest for my weary soul!

In Jesus' mighty name I pray
Amen and Amen

Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke [is] easy, and my burden is light. Matthew 11:29-30


(Right) Click Here To Play Take Our Burdens Away


THE LOVE DARE CHALLENGE

Day 24: Love vs. Lust

The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever. —1 John 2:17

TODAY’S DARE

End it now. Identify every object of lust in your life and remove it. Single out every lie you’ve swallowed in pursuing forbidden pleasure and reject it. Lust cannot be allowed to live in a back bedroom. It must be killed and destroyed—today—and replaced with the sure promises of God and a heart filled with His perfect love.