What sign can you do?

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John 6:30-35 If I wasn't in the same boat as these sinners following Jesus I would probably be laughing right in their face. I often wonder how Jesus kept from rolling on the grass laughing at what some people do. Today we hear the crowd ask Him, "What sign can you do, that we may see and believe in you? What can you do?..." Is this not the same crowd who in verse 2 we are told - "followed him, because they saw the signs he was performing on the sick ."? Are these not the same people who in verse 14 " when they saw the sign he had done, they said, "This is truly the Prophet, the one who is to come into the world."? Yet still they seek a sign. However, they are not seeking a sign so that they might believe, they are wanting to be fed. Jesus worked a "sign" with the loaves and the fishes and now they want Him to do it again. Wisely, Jesus is using their bellies to get to their hearts; He is using earthly things to move them,
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Living Like St. Francis

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Luke 9:57-62
 

I want the best of both worlds. I want to have a firm grip on salvation and a firm grip on the world. I cry out to God and profess my desire to live my life for Him yet the next minute I am willingly engaged in little vices that I have long ago excused.

Today Jesus reminds me that following Him requires total commitment. There is no holding back. If I hold back I will be left behind. His followers profess their desire to follow him wherever He goes. To this He replies with an interesting statement, "Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head." This is a warning to those who would chose to follow that they can no longer seek for rest in the things of this world. The decision to follow Him is like walking through a door that only opens towards Him, there is no way back.

For me to put my hand to the plow is a life changing event. I am choosing to work in and for the Kingdom and to never look back. To follow Christ means that all of my desires are with Him. Nothing that I have left behind can be worth more than dust compared to the treasure that lies ahead.

Lord Jesus, I am not worthy of the Kingdom. I often look "to what was left behind". I look to my past life and something inside yearns for those sins. Give me the strength to despise the comforts of this world. Help me to live a simple life, one detached from the world and lived only for Your glory.  Help me to live like St. Francis!

FROM THE SAINTS - "Above all the grace and the gifts that Christ gives to his beloved is that of overcoming self. " - Saint Francis of Assisi

My all time favorite book about St. Francis is The Perfect Joy of St. Francis by Felix Timmerman.  I first read this book when I was coming back into the Church after a 10 year hiatus.  It's easy to read and beautifully written and in my opinion the best book about St. Francis available.

Another great book on St. Francis is by my all-time favorite author Louis de Wohl.  De Wohl is a master at creating historical novels based on the lives of the saints.  All of them are great and his book The Joyful Beggar is also a great book about St. Francis.

If you are looking for help in developing a daily routine of prayer and conversation with the Lord I'd like to recommend my book 4 Simple Steps to Better Scripture Meditations.  This short but powerful book will help you develop great habits and great conversations with the Lord.  The newly revised edition includes updated materials and 31 days of workbook and journal pages.  It's a guide, workbook, and journal rolled into one.  It's what I use each day.


My new book of poetry, The Last Dragon and Other Poems is available now.

Click here to read more from James M. Hahn - Blog - Books 

Check out his ongoing memoir about life with his special-needs daughter.

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God bless you - Jim Hahn


* Contains affiliate links. No, that doesn't mean that the kids should leave the room. Rather, it means that if you click on a link, and if you purchase something, I may get some financial remuneration for that click and buy. All that means is that my kids will finally get to eat, just kidding but I may get something, just so you know...

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