I have a very simple thought to share with you today. My prayer is that it will touch your heart and put a visual image into your memory bank so you will always remember this little illustration I'm sharing today. Also, if you know someone who might benefit from reading this, or another post, on my blog, PLEASE help me spread the word. It's not about me, it's about using the talent of writing God has given me to encourage others and I need help sharing - so feel free to do so.
Bread...I was introduced to the world of sourdough a little over a year ago. I have to say I absolutely enjoy the entire process...all the way down to - and especially - consuming a fresh, warm slice slathered with butter. This weekend, I used almost two entire five-pound bags of flour in my kitchen! Yes, you read that right. I may need to win the King Arthur All Purpose and Bread flour lottery.
As I performed my stretch-and-folds, my mind drifted to how proud my Mamaw would be of me for having learned and somewhat mastered the process. Somehow the kitchen always brings her to mind; probably because she was always in hers and loving people through cooking for and feeding them. I guess I do the same! She's not the only one I thought about though. Jesus was. It kept going through my mind where He said, "I am the bread of life" and again in the Lord's prayer concerning "daily bread."
Now, I'm not interested in providing you with a deep, Biblical study on this...I just want to share a tid-bit...just a satisfying bite for your day.
In my kitchen this weekend, I made two jalapeno-cheddar boules, a double loaf of zucchini bread, two batches of soft, fluffy, sourdough, yeast rolls, and a blueberry-lemon boule. I didn't even get around to making the usual loaf of sandwich bread for the week ahead.
The point is sustenance and variety.
Jesus said He was the bread of life. (John 6:35)
Bread. The stuff that sustains us and that we enjoy partaking of.
My thoughts rambled and eventually prodded me to think about Jesus being the sustainer of our lives. Is He what sustains you? Or do we sometimes turn to other things? Do we enjoy or delight ourselves in Him or do we put Him on the back burner, so to speak, until we can find the time or have an emergency? The Lord's prayer says "Give us this day, our daily bread." (Matthew 6:11)
Okay, back to variety.
I made multiple "styles" of breads - loaf, boules, and rolls. I also made different flavors - zucchini, blueberry lemon, jalapeno cheddar and garlic butter. Yummy-ness! I might be drooling on my keyboard at the moment. Just kidding!
My point is, friend, whatever you need Jesus to be for you today, He can be that up close and personal. Do you need healing? There's a loaf for that. Are you in need of peace and rest? He can provide that as well. Just name what you need and I'm pretty sure, no I'm 100% certain that He can meet you right where you're at. Do you need direction? Answers? It's ALL in Him! Are you tired? Weak? Discouraged? Afraid? Not only is He able, He has the perfect flavor to meet your requests. He is a personal God. I'm not talking about the name it and claim it stuff. I'm speaking of a faithful One who loves us enough to be EVERYTHING we need to sustain this life of ours.
He doesn't give us one touch and expect us to make it through the week or month with just that dose of Him. His desire is to be our "daily" dose.
Sweet friend, know this - the Lord is able, available, and zealously desires to be exactly what you want and need from day to day. There's nothing that He cannot do, nothing that He cannot provide and nothing He cannot be for us. He IS our sustainer. The very breath we breathe is from Him, the very reason we can move our bodies today is because of Him, and the very fact that He loves us beyond our wildest dreams explains why He is so captivated by our wants and needs.
What "bread" type do you find yourself needing or desiring today? Have you partaken of your daily "Bread"? We must come to the Lord and allow Him to meet our needs and see us right where we are. Don't be ashamed or afraid to ask anything! He IS the bread of life - taste and see that the Lord is good.
I hope this has encouraged and blessed you today. May we never forget that He is for us and is always right on time. I may forget to set the timer on my oven, but He holds time in His hands. Amen!
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