Have you ever eaten fish for breakfast? I have been teased for some of the things I’ve eaten for breakfast, usually something left over from a previous meal. My husband used to think me crazy for some of the things I would eat in the morning for breakfast, and when I read this scripture where Jesus had fish cooking on the fire and told the disciples to bring some of the fish they caught and have breakfast, I felt justified. LOL

Here is what the scripture says in John 21: “Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Galilee. It happened this way: ² Simon Peter, Thomas (also known as Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. ³ “I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. ⁴ Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. ⁵ He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?” “No,” they answered. ⁶ He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish. ⁷ Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. ⁸ The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards. ⁹ When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread. ¹⁰ Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.” ¹¹ So Simon Peter climbed back into the boat and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn. ¹² Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. ¹³ Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. ¹⁴ This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead.” NIV ~ Scripture accessed through BibleGateway.com

At that moment they knew for sure it was Jesus because of the miracle of so many fish, just like the last time he had performed this miracle for them, recorded in Luke 5: “⁴ When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.” ⁵ Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.” ⁶ When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. ⁷ So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.”NIV ~ Scripture accessed through BibleGateway.com

More than pointing out my feeling justified for sometimes eating leftover fish for breakfast, I want to remember the miracles Jesus performed for the disciples and how much they mean to us today. Jesus is still a miracle worker.

Do you need a miracle in your life, in your body, in your mind, in your finances? Seek Him!! Jesus is still a miracle worker today!

And by the way, have you ever eaten fish for breakfast?

Isolation – “various measures taken to prevent contagious diseases from being spread”~Wikipedia

Separation – “The act of disuniting two or more things, or the condition of being separated.”~Wikipedia

Hope – “The feeling of trust, confidence, belief or expectation that something wished for can or will happen.” “A person or thing that is a source of hope.“~Wikipedia

Are you tired of all this isolation during the COVID-19 quarantine? Feeling separated from those you love, those you want to see and spend time with again? Feeling cooped up, wanting to just get out and GO somewhere?

Have you been unable to work? Struggling to pay bills? Wondering when this all will end? Wondering if we’ll ever return to “normal”? Or wondering what this “new normal” will look like going forward?

I understand…and I want to encourage you today with the Hope we all have even in the midst of Isolation and Separation.

“What strength do I have, that I should still hope? What prospects, that I should be patient?”~Job 6:11

“You will be secure, because there is hope; you will look about you and take your rest in safety.”~Job 11:18

“But God will never forget the needy; the hope of the afflicted will never perish.”~Psalm 9:18

“Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord.”~Psalm 31:24

“We wait in hope for the Lord; he is our help and our shield.”~Psalm 33:20

“In his name the nations will put their hope.”~Matthew 12:21

I want to encourage you today to hang on to Hope as you hang on to Jesus!!

Do you know The Lord Jesus Christ? Is He your Savior and Lord? If so, you will know that there is always HOPE.

Don’t understand this hope? Don’t know Jesus in this way? TODAY can be your best day ever as you learn how Jesus can give YOU hope too! Click here to learn more. You won’t regret it!!

Psalm 23:1-3 “The Lord is MY Shepherd [to feed, guide, and shield me].  I shall not lack.  He makes me lie down in [fresh, tender] green pastures; He leads me beside the still and restful waters. He refreshes and restores my life (my self); He leads me in the paths of righteousness [uprightness and right standing with Him-not for my earning it, but] for His name’s sake.” AMP

Revelation 7:17 “For the Lamb Who is in the midst of the throne will be their Shepherd, and He will guide them to the springs of the waters of life; and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” AMP

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When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over.  Let nothing be wasted.”  So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten.” ~ John 6:12-13

Do you eat leftovers?  Leftovers are some of my favorite things to eat for breakfast or lunch.  I don’t like to waste food, and I usually don’t throw much away unless it goes bad.

Jesus was not wasteful.  Even while He did things in abundance, He was specific in this passage to instruct His disciples to “Let nothing be wasted.”

I love this!

Not only did Jesus feed over 5000 people with a boy’s 5 barley loaves and 2 fish (in abundance), He wanted to make sure they saved any leftovers so they were not wasted!

Do you ever feel like a leftover?  Have you gotten discouraged over something in life that left you feeling inferior, unloved, left out, or leftover?

Jesus loves people.  He wants everyone to come to him and be saved…have eternal life in Heaven with the Father.  No one is a leftover to Him.  Everyone is welcome.  Everyone is valued.  Everyone is loved.

When I think about the story of the woman caught in adultery and how the people of the town wanted to stone her for it, Jesus simply wrote in the sand and told the one who was without sin to cast the first stone.  This woman was a valuable leftover to Jesus, and He made sure she was not wasted.  He did not condemn her but instead instructed her to go and sin no more.

2 Peter 3:9 tells us that “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness.  He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”

Jesus came that we might have life and have it abundantly.  That includes the leftovers!  We only have leftovers when there has been abundance.  Have you given your life to Jesus?  Are you living in the abundance He alone can provide?

And while we’re talking about leftovers from the 5 loaves and 2 fish, I think it is interesting to note that there were only leftovers from the loaves.  I guess the people ate all the fish…just sayin’!!