Only one miracle is recorded in all four gospels authored by Jesus’ closest associates. The miracle of the five loaves and two fish is called a Creative Miracle.  Five thousand men and their wives and children were fed from a young boy’s lunch. When Jesus saw that His vast audience was hungry, He told His disciples to feed them. The perplexed disciples timidly offered the one creative idea before them—a young lad’s lunch. How do we cultivate the environment for a creative miracle?  Over the next two days we will look at 4 ideas to get you started:

#1 Cultivate your curiosity! How? Curiosity is defined as a desire to learn; a spirit of inquiry and an interest in others. I believe this miracle appears in all four Gospels for two reasons: first, a child with very little to offer took interest in others. Second, these gospel writers participated in the miracle themselves. As Jesus multiplied the lad’s lunch, their curiosity and interest compelled the disciples to participate in God’s creative miracle! Could it be that simple curiosity is the creative pathway to your miracle?

#2 Cultivate a lifestyle of participation. Allow yourself to get involved with God’s creative process. In this account, a seemingly insignificant child solved a crisis for 5,000 men plus their wives and children. A young boy with only his lunch! Could it be that this kingdom belongs to the children, as the Bible says, because children have the potential to receive all the possibilities that God offers?

Scripture:  Matthew 14:15-18, Mark 6:35-44, Luke 9:12-17, John 6:5-13

Discovery is a powerful word that opens up vast opportunity. Children have no limits on their curiosity or willingness to try out new things. In fact, their openness is so great that it could cause personal injury or peril. As we grow older, we seem to lose the ‘YES’ in life – words like routine, institution, insurance, protection, and safety become commonplace in our vocabulary.

I remember moving to Russia and finding a society that was based on the word “NO.” How could it be that this dynamic, creative society was cloaked in such negative expectation? Yet, for many of us today, regardless of our society, we allow the phrases “No, you can’t,” “No, you shouldn’t,” “No, that’s not right,” “No, it’s not possible,” to control our destinies!

Let’s realize today that Christ takes the parentheses off of life. He puts a plus on our future because He says, All things are possible, only believe!

Scriptures: Luke 8:50, Mark 10:27 (paraphrased)

Time has a way of dimming our expectation and lowering our forecast of good things in the future. God designed prayer to include the expectation of an answer. Jesus often mentions that our Father’s desire is to do good to His children.

In times of delay Jesus mentions to ask and you will receive, seek and you will find, knock and the door will be opened. It’s never too late!

When Jairus’ daughter died while Jesus was delayed, Jairus was told by Jesus to “only believe,” his daughter will live. Death may be final, but nothing is too late when Jesus is with you!

Jesus needed the faith of Jairus to work with. He knew the bad report would paralyze Jairus as it would us. Grief and sorrow would soon replace faith unless Jesus addressed it. Getting hold of our feelings is important! I believe Jesus was saying to Jairus: “Just stay open to your miracle. Do not shut down. I am bigger than any bad report!”

Friends, never quit and you will never lose!
Scripture: Luke 8:48-50

We find people today are looking for more than a job. They are looking for a life of meaning and a work they can commit themselves to. At a young age with a certain degree of success and friendship, I had a question in my mind: “Is this all there is?” What I found was beyond my wildest dreams! A life without limits was being offered to me! This same life is offered to every person. Today people are chasing after jobs and are glad to have one, but security is not satisfaction.

The good news is that every job is a joy if you see it tied to something bigger and significant for your quest of life. Jesus came into this earth from the Father and Creator of all things. He said you can have life like My Father and I have life. You can let go of your limitations and enter a place where the source of all things is not limited by economy or government or education or country.

Jesus opened the door when He said: “Have faith in God. I tell you the truth, you can say to this mountain, ‘May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and it will happen. But you must really believe it will happen and have no doubt in your heart.  I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you’ve received it, it will be yours.”  Mark 11:22 NLT

The possibility stands before you. Go for it!

It doesn’t matter where you are in life today, you can move forward because life itself declares that potential always exists. God always loves you and believes in you, so love yourself! Believe in yourself and get started!

Jesus was born in a manger, but He did not stay there. You might have been born in a poor family in a poor neighborhood, with poor neighbors and a poor education, but you do not have to stay there! There is no one limiting you. You are not a prisoner of your past, your neighborhood, your status or lack of education.

When Christ comes to live in you there is a new power in operation. You no longer live under a continuous, low-lying black cloud: A new power is in operation!

“For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.”

Even though you might be starting off in an obscure place, there is a place in the sun waiting for you! They said of Jesus, “Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?” The answer is, Yes, the Savior of the world! A good thing is coming out of your city – YOU – because you and Jesus are a dynamic duo that can’t be defeated!

Scripture: Romans 8:2 (NKJV)

Who is your neighbor? Who are you required to help in this world? Should you be involved in the business of rescuing others, or is it just better to sit by and watch people suffer?

A religious leader asked Jesus, “Who is my neighbor?” Jesus replied with a story about a man who was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes and beat him, leaving him almost dead.

A priest saw the injured man and quickly passed on the opposite side of the road. So did a second priest! Then a Samaritan man, considered lowlier than a dog but evidently having some wealth, took pity on the stranger, bandaged his wounds, put him in an inn and cared for him.

Jesus then posed this question, “Which of these three men was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hand of the robbers?” The religious leader responded, “The one who had mercy on him.”

In every human soul, there is a void—an emptiness, waiting to be filled. What will you pursue to fill that void? Success? Family? Prosperity? Education? Or are you willing to step out and set a different standard for your life? A standard that can make a difference?

When Jesus comes into a life He brings the world with Him. Suddenly, a person with limited motivation, expectation and imagination starts to dream of doing the impossible!  Dare to think limitless in some area of your life. Understand that there is more to you than meets the eye. Jesus sees the real person you are to become. He puts a vision in your heart that is bigger than what you can do without Him.

Scripture gives us an expectation of this new life that will ignite our passion for the adventures God is calling us to. Years ago, as we got out of a boat into the water off Bahol Island in the Philippines, the moonlight hit the water at just the right angle to reveal thousands of snakes in the water beneath us. We survived, and you will too, as you get out of the boat and take the risk of walking on water!

God will never give up on you. Never forget that. And that’s not all…as we throw open our doors to God, we discover at the same moment that He has already thrown open His door to us!

In the modern song entitled, “I Am a Friend of God”, the writer asks the question of God, “Who am I that you are mindful of me? That you hear me, when I call? Is it true that you are thinking of me?”

Mother Theresa said, “Loneliness and the feeling of being unwanted is the most terrible poverty.” You never have to be alone! The writer of “I am a Friend of God” concludes his song by stating of God, “You, God, call me, ‘friend’!”

Today I want you to know that you have a friend in God. For He said in His holy scriptures, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So go ahead and take His hand…He’s there, right now.  http://bit.ly/1E6nEg2

In his book, “The Message that Works,” Dr. TL Osborn includes a chapter about Friendship With God, in which he states that God declares, “You can trust Me, I will trust you!”

Have you ever considered that God trusts you? And therefore you can trust yourself? I believe this is the essence of God’s heart toward you today.

You and I were created for fellowship with God, for friendship with God. Our rightful place is at His side—not under His feet or under His thumb. He doesn’t carry a hammer or a whip, commanding obedience…no, our rightful place is standing arm-in-arm with the living, loving God.

There is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. What does a true friend offer? Unconditional Acceptance, Unwavering Commitment, Unswerving Loyalty.  And today, what does Jesus offer YOU? Uncompromising, unwavering Support when you don’t know where to turn.

If you would like to know more about friendship with God, contact us today. We are here to help you! http://bit.ly/1gmsroF

In the midst of his captivity, Patrick discovered a life-changing truth – a discovery that I am praying you will also make. YOU HAVE A FRIEND WITH GOD. A friend is one who knows you and loves you just the same.

Six years after Patrick’s kidnapping he had a dream.  In his sleep, he heard a voice say “Your hungers are rewarded: you are going home.” He sat up, startled, and the voice continued, “Look, your ship is ready.” So Patrick got up and began walking. 200 miles later, he arrived at the coast and saw a ship.

Now, no ship would ever give passage to a fugitive slave, and the captain told the young man to move on. But knowing this was his ship, Patrick spent some time in prayer. Before he had finished, a sailor approached him with the message that he could sail with them.

Have you ever asked the question, “How do I pray?” In Patrick’s 6 years of solitude, he found the answer: prayer is talking with God, your friend. It’s just a conversation between friends!

So, what’s holding you back today? The scripture says seek Me and you will find Me. You can seek Him right now!  How? Just ask Him to come into your heart and into your thoughts. Prayer is opening your heart to God’s thoughts and ways—He desires to open His heart to you, and He will answer you.

Out of young Patrick’s friendship with God grew one of Christianity’s most widely known figures. Today Patrick is known as St. Patrick, the patron Saint of Ireland.  And today – God offers you friendship!

If you have just opened your heart and your life to God and would like to know more about receiving God’s love, contact us today. We have resources to help you!   http://bit.ly/1h5jTCD 

Scripture: Jeremiah 29:13