040725

 

Another <4 hour sleep night

MY PROBLEM WITH FOOD =
⭐"Many of the things we pursue on earth are an attempt to fill the natural human longing for God. Augustine famously said to God, "You have formed us for Yourself, and our hearts are restless till they find rest in You." This is part of what Jesus means by earthly water being only a temporary solution. Material things can never take the place of a relationship. Our ultimate purpose as created beings is to know, serve, and worship our Creator.
Looking at the Samaritan woman's history, it seems she was looking for comfort or security in relationships (John 4:17–18). Sadly, that quest led her into an immoral and unsatisfying life."

⭐[Her] comment also highlights two mistakes commonly made when someone is confronted with spiritual truth. One is to assume a physical, worldly interpretation of a spiritual point. This is a frequent mistake made by the Pharisees as they debate with Jesus in later chapters. The other mistake is responding with disbelief, instead of asking for more information directly. The woman's response suggests that she knows Jesus has some other meaning in mind. And yet, looking at her upcoming comments, she seems dismissive. She's not really seeking an answer, at least not yet. This helps to explain why Jesus responds to her as he does (John 4:17–18): by demonstrating His knowledge of her history and current sinful relationship.

‼️the woman now asks Jesus to provide her with the water about which He has been speaking. Jesus' reply (John 4:16) is critically important to understand for two reasons. First, even though she is asking for the "living water," Jesus initially refuses her request. Since she doesn't understand what He's speaking of, she's not ready for it (Matthew 13:20–21). The gospel wouldn't be able to grow roots in her, yet.
⭐‼️In Matthew 13:20–21, Jesus refers to soil which is too hard to allow seeds to grow roots. In the context of the gospel, and the woman with whom He speaks, her heart is still hardened and not open to spiritual truth. How does a person make hard soil better suited to seeds? By breaking it: digging past the surface to expose what's underneath. In a compassionate, but very forceful way, Jesus is about to break the hard soil of this woman's heart, by pointing out her sin and cultural shame.
⭐Jesus knew that she didn't understand the message yet and wasn't ready for the gospel. Like seeds on hard soil, something needed to break open before truth could take root (Matthew 13:20–21).
So, Christ has two reasons to ask this question. First is to expose the woman to her own sin and to acknowledge the cultural shame she bore, to make her aware of her need. The second is to point out that, despite knowing about her sin and destitution, God still seeks people like her.
⭐Jesus simply tells the woman what He already knows: that she has lived, and is living, an immoral life.
Christ's motivation for this is a basic principle of evangelism... One of the core principles involved in evangelism is the idea of "felt need." In short, a person can't act to correct a problem they don't know they have! Here, Jesus is introducing the woman to the fact that she has a spiritual thirst which needs to be satisfied... Those who don't know they have a need cannot respond to that need. Jesus has already explained the difference between literal water and "living water." Now, He exposes the fact that this woman is a sinner. Matthew 13:20–21 mentions that "seeds" of the gospel can't take root in a heart made of hardened "soil." Confronting a person with her specific sins is one way to make her understand her need for a Savior, and to break up that soil...
Jesus sought out this conversation, even though He knew that she was an immoral, outcast Samaritan woman. God seeks sinners, even though He knows exactly how depraved we really are. When Jesus says God is "seeking such people," that includes this woman, who has been an outcast among outcasts.

‼️When Jesus mentions her sin, she acknowledges His insight—then immediately tries to distract Him with a religious dilemma (John 4:20). And not just any dilemma, but one specifically related to the conflict between Jews and Samaritans. This is not the response of a fool, nor of someone who is stammering or struggling for words.
And yet, secondly, this is not the response of a person seeking truth. The attempted decoy is meant to steer Jesus away from her personal issues, and towards something unrelated. Those who participate in evangelism often see this tactic. Rather than discuss a single issue, some non-believers will try to run down all sorts of rabbit-holes, looking for an escape from the point at hand... When Jesus reveals that He knows exactly what she has done, she's clever enough to try a distraction... This is a common problem in evangelism and in debate. Rather than deal with the point at hand, those looking to duck the issue may try to divert conversation onto something else... it's a path, or a statement, which serves no immediate purpose other than drawing attention away from the current topic... While the question itself might have been worthwhile, it's not pertinent to what Jesus and the woman are discussing at that moment... Jesus has just confronted the woman about her immoral lifestyle. Her clever-minded response is to ask Jesus about a controversial spiritual question. Instead of taking the bait, Jesus simply deflects the question. The issue is simply not important as part of the conversation they are having. Instead of chasing a false trail, Jesus continues to explain the [truth, which is the] gospel... Jesus' response will draw on His prior statement about the woman's sin, as well as parrying her attempted distraction. Instead of letting her avoid the issue, Jesus will show how she needs to confront it: God knows, and He wants people like her anyway.
...Jesus is in the process of correcting the Samaritan woman's concept of God. Unlike Nicodemus, this woman was uneducated, poor, disrespected, outcast, [immoral, socially powerless,] and living in sin. And yet, those who worship God in spirit and truth are His: He wants those people to worship Him. This will be an incredibly uplifting message for a woman beaten up and thrown aside by the world. 
...Jesus clarifies that "true" worship of God is not tied to a location, but to the intent of one's heart. This is also important for what it says about the Samaritan woman. She has lived an immoral lifestyle, perhaps desperate, and seemingly bearing so much cultural shame that she has been cast out even among the outcast Samaritans. Nicodemus, the educated and powerful Pharisee, needed to be humbled to be opened to God. This woman needs to know that she is wanted, loved, and valued. As always, Jesus meets each person at the exact point of their need.
The Samaritan woman has been looking to quench her spiritual thirst with a series of relationships. At first she did not understand what Jesus meant by a spring of living water, leaving no more thirst (John 4:13–14). Based on what she says in the next verse, it seems she is beginning to understand what Jesus is really speaking of.
Jesus gave the Samaritan woman (John 4:23) a better explanation of what His offer of "living water" really is. This woman's greatest thirst seems to have been for acceptance or security through relationship. The kind of relationship she seeks can only be truly found in God, and only through Christ. So, Jesus explains to her that "true worship" of God does not require one to be Jewish, or Samaritan, or in the temple, or on the mountain. Rather, true worship requires spirit and truth, and God is seeking those who want Him in this way.

...Jesus moved directly to the need of the person He was speaking with. After making her acknowledge her need and her sin, He provided her with what He had previously promised: the water of eternal life. This, of course, was Christ Himself.

The woman had come to the well specifically to draw water. This was not a minor chore in an era without indoor plumbing. Her eagerness to tell others about Jesus was obviously boiling over. Leaving her water jar not only meant she'd forgotten her chore, but she'd left a valuable piece of her own property behind. Whether she intended all the time to come back and get it, we don't know.

According to this verse, the woman told more than one person about her experience. In the Greek, the term is anthrōpois, which literally means, "human beings," including both men and women. Interestingly, whatever social awkwardness she might have had over her past sins seems to be overcome. In the next verse, she uses her past as a reason for people to listen to Jesus: He knows all those things I've done!

⭐Yet again, this Samaritan woman shows her shrewd and clever mind. In Jesus' day, women were considered unreliable witnesses. Fair or not, the Samaritan woman knew that if she made any overt claims about Jesus, they'd be dismissed. In that culture, nobody would trust the word of a woman. So, just as she used clever tactics with Jesus (John 4:11, 15, 19–20), she uses them on the people of town.
The way she asks her question, "Can this be the Christ?" is intended to be given a negative answer. She might have said it as, "This isn't the Messiah, is He?" By referring to Jesus' amazing knowledge, and suggesting the idea of the Promised One, she sparks curiosity. As a result, she brings many people to Christ, both physically (John 4:35), and in terms of introducing them to their Savior (John 4:39–42).

⭐Jesus speaks with a Samaritan woman at a well near the town of Sychar (John 4:7). Not only is He willing to converse with her, but He also knows her shameful past and her spiritual struggles. While the disciples go into town and come back only with food, this Samaritan woman will convince others that they need to come and hear from Jesus themselves.
...This incident is a powerful object lesson for the disciples. Their true purpose, in Christ, is not about physical things. It's about bringing others to a knowledge of the Messiah...This underscores the purpose of discipleship and evangelism: teaching others about Christ, so they can do the same.

AND HERE IT IS=
⭐⭐⭐‼️‼️‼️"Food is meant to refresh and recharge the body. A body which does not consume the right kinds of food will be weak, ineffective, and sickly. On the other hand, eating a good meal provides the body with energy and strength. Spiritually speaking, the "food" of our spirit is the will of God. Jesus was tired and weary from a long journey (John 4:6). And yet, simply following the will of God gave Him a spiritual boost (John 4:31–33).
This makes sense when we consider the idea of God as the Creator. If we are created for a purpose, and that purpose is the will of God, then it makes sense that we feel best when we're accomplishing that purpose. Jesus quoted from Deuteronomy 8:3 when being tempted by Satan (Matthew 4:1–11). His comment then was that "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God'" (Matthew 4:4). There is more to our lives than simply keeping the physical body alive; we have a purpose beyond this world. We can't feel "right" unless we're living out that purpose. We can't help but feel refreshed when we've made progress on behalf of the One who created us."

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When those three things line up—your biggest talents, passions and mission—you get to live on purpose and do work you love... The best way to identify your God-given talents is to spend time thinking about what you do well.

Remember, your talents don't have to be super flashy or impressive to the world. Maybe you're a fantastic listener, patient with kids, or great at organizing things. These can be used to serve others and point them to Jesus!


• What do you like to do in your free time?

• What spiritual gifts do you possess?

• What’s a task or role that comes easily to me?

• What am I good at?

• Where did I excel in school?

• What’s something I don’t have to work to be good at because I just am good at it?

• What do my coworkers compliment me on most often?

• If someone asked my friends what I do really well, what would they say?

• What do I bring to a team?

• What are my biggest character strengths?

• What activities make you feel alive and energized?

• What do people often compliment you on or ask for your help with?

• What comes naturally to you that might be challenging for others?

• What were some of your favorite activities or hobbies as a child?

• If you could spend your days doing anything without worrying about money or other constraints, what would it be?

• How have you seen God work through you to bless others?

• What activities or tasks did you find yourself drawn to as a child? 

• What skills or knowledge do you possess that others often admire or seek your help with? 

• What kind of training or experience do you already have? 

• What did you enjoy or love doing in your education and work history? 

• What made you feel the most accomplished? 

• What feedback have you received on your job performance? 

• What small things do you do that you find extremely satisfying? 

Consider What Comes Naturally:

• What skills or tasks do you find easy or effortless to do? 

• What do you do better than others? 

• What do you pick up faster than others? 

• What are your strongest personality traits? 

• Which skill set do you gravitate toward? 

Seek External Feedback:

• What do people compliment you on? 

• What do people often ask you to help them with? 

• What are you known for? 

• What can people count on you for? 

Explore Your Interests:

• What do you enjoy or love doing? 

• How do you like to spend your free time? 

• What are you passionate about? 

• What are your biggest dreams? 

Think About Your Goals:

• What are your long-term career goals? 

• What kind of impact do you want to make? 

• If you could change the world, what problem would you solve? 

Consider Your Unique Gifts:

• What are your unique gifts? 

• What makes you special? 

Reflecting on Your Natural Abilities and Passions:

• What activities or tasks do you find yourself drawn to, even when not required? 

• What skills or abilities do you possess that others often admire or ask for help with? 

• What areas of study or work do you find yourself naturally excelling in? 

• What brings you a sense of joy, fulfillment, and peace when you engage in them? 

• What are your strengths and weaknesses? 

Considering Your Faith and Service to Others:

• How can you use your talents to serve others and build up the Church?

• How can you use your talents to share your faith and spread the Gospel?

• What are the needs of your community or parish, and how can your talents help address them?

• In what ways have you seen God bless you through using your talents?

• How can you use your talents to bring glory to God? 



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Seeking Guidance and Discernment:

• Spend time in prayer and reflection, asking God to reveal your talents and how you can use them for His glory. 

• Read scripture, particularly passages about talents and gifts, such as Matthew 25:14-30 and Luke 19:11-27. 

• Seek guidance from your confessor or spiritual director. 

• Talk to trusted friends or family members who know you well and can offer insights into your talents. 

• Consider taking a personality test or aptitude assessment to gain further insights into your strengths and areas for growth. 
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What can you do right now? With your time? With your talents? With your abilities? 

As different and unique as each one of us is, there are also certain things – particular and precious gifts – which are common to all of us as human beings: our time, our companionship, whether in person or virtual, via email, text message or phone call, our affection – that smile of yours is worth so much more than you realize, even with a mask on! Remember: the eyes are the windows of the soul! Nowadays, when the very real issues of mental well-being, loneliness, and isolation have become front and centre, the kindness, generosity, good humour, patience, and care we can show others have become so invaluable.

⭐⭐⭐Don’t lose your effectiveness; instead, trample on your selfishness. You think your life is for yourself? Your life is for God, for the good of all men, through your love for our Lord. Your buried talent, dig it up again! Make it yield, and you will taste the joy of knowing that in this supernatural business it does not matter if in this world the results are not wonders that men can admire. What really matters is to hand over all that we are and all that we have, striving to make our talent yield, and constantly exerting ourselves in order to produce good fruit.
God may have given us just one more year in which to serve him. Don't think of five, or even two. Just concentrate on this one year, that has just started. Give it to God, don't bury it! This is the resolution we ought to make.

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Everyone can point out how hard he or she works to develop his or her talents. But our talents came from God and must be developed to serve God. He is the focus, not us. His is the glory, not ours. We share in His Glory only to the extent that we have allowed Him to be seen in our efforts. Nothing that we do should be about us. All our gifts should be seen as just that, gifts from God. This is a message we need to convey to our children and Teens.
The Lord tells us in the parable that the Master will come for an accounting of how we used the particular talents He has given each of us. The first two servants in the parable returned more than they received, allowing the Master’s possessions to grow. God is calling us to develop what we are given to allow His Kingdom to grow.

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...you can reciprocate Gods’ love by loving Him back. The best way to do this is to be involved in the life of the Church: receive the Sacraments often, pray, study your faith, read the Bible, and grow in your faith.

God has given you gifts and talents that He has not given to anyone else. You have been “fearfully and wonderfully made” by Him (Psalm 139:14). You are unique... Prayerfully discern what your talents are. Even if you know what some of them are, pray and ask God to reveal them to you. He may show you more talents that you do not realize you had (or that you do not even think are talents since they come so easy to you) or show you a different way to use your talents that you never thought of before...
You may already be using your gifts and talents as God intends. Or, you may have no idea how to use the gifts and talents you know you have. Perhaps you have no idea what your gifts and talents are.
Do not fear. Just like a product comes with instructions on how to use it, God will give you the instructions on how to use the gifts and talents He has given you. He gave them to you for a reason. He will let you know how to use them.
If you are already using your gifts and talents as God intends, keep doing so. Stay prayerful, though. God may steer you in a direction you do not anticipate right now. In the future, He may reveal to you a new way to use your talent, or He may reveal a new talent to you that you do not realize you have.
If you have no idea how to use the gifts and talents you know you have, ask God to help you. He gave you your gifts and talents for a reason. He knows how, when, and where they can best be used. Pray about this and ask God to help and guide you to use your gifts and talents for the purposes for which He gave them to you... If you have no idea what your gifts and talents are, pray. God knows why He gave you the gifts and talents that He gave you. Trust in Him. Ask Him for help. He will let you know. Be patient, though! Sometimes He takes longer to answer than we like, but trust in Him; His timing is always perfect. 
He knows why He has given you the particular gifts He has given you. He wants you to use them for the purposes for which He has given them to you. He did not tell you to look at what everyone else is doing (or not doing). He wants you to be faithful to Him and use these great and wonderful gifts in the way He has designed for them to be used. He will help and guide you... God is pleased when we show Him our love and use well the gifts and talents He gives us. Take the time to discern what gifts and talents God has given you and ask Him to show you how He wants for you to use them.
God loves you. He created you in His own image. He gave you gifts and talents to use so you may love Him well and share His love with the world. Sometimes that world is the globe. Sometimes that world is your town. Sometimes that world is your family. Use your tailor-made gifts where you are right now. Don’t wait.

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