January 4, 2018 Thursday

9   When the master of ceremonies tasted the water that was now wine, not knowing where it had come from (though, of course, the servants knew), he called the bridegroom over. 10  “ A host always serves the best wine first,” he said. “Then, when everyone has had a lot to drink, he brings out the less expensive wine. But you have kept the best until now!” 11   This miraculous sign at Cana in Galilee was the first time Jesus revealed his glory. And his disciples believed in him. 12   After the wedding he went to Capernaum for a few days with his mother, his brothers, and his disciples.         John 2:9-12 NLT

           

            Like the host listed above we often do our best early on and later we get to where we are going through the motions.  We give enough to get by and hope others and especially God notices what we are doing rather than what we are not doing.

            We are warned that we may get weary in our well doing but it is impossible for us to not get weary as we share with those who do care, wait for the answer to our prayer and walk through those valleys of trouble and even death.

            So what is the answer?  How do we keep from offering lesser wine as we move along in our walk with Jesus?  For me this is very important.  After serving in the pastoral ministry for over 30 years I have become disabled and daily deal with pain and weariness.  How do I offer my Lord good “wine” in these days?

            The same way that the host did and ask Jesus to turn my water into fresh and beautiful wine.  Only by maintaining our relationship with Jesus and like Mary ask Jesus to turn our water into wine can we make it to the end of our race still honoring God.  For me it is not a day by day but a breath by breath.

            God breathed His breath and life into us in the first CPR in history and now we with each breath must renewed by God’s Spirit to become the wine God will use to bring others to Him and prepare them to become His bride for the great Marriage with the Bridegroom Jesus!

            As you breathe in call upon the Holy Spirit to renew you to become new wine and as you breathe out pray for God’s Spirit to flow out into all of creation! 

Be renewed and make God smile!

            Bad days make it very rough.  It is hard to keep my mind together and to do more than watch TV and read easy books.  Bonnie struggles thinking I spend too much time watching shows but it calms my mind and helps me recover my concentration.