Tag Archives: Bread of Life

Prove ~Five Minute Friday

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“I tell you the truth, anyone who believes has eternal life. Yes, I am the bread of life!” John 6:47-48 (NLT)

The Perfect Loaf

I love homemade bread! And when I say I love it, I mean I’d choose another slice as my dessert rather than, well, dessert. Marrying into a farming family it seemed only natural to me that I would learn to make my own fragrant, tender, warm bread and so, I went to an expert, my new grandmother-in-love.

I was nervous and as the lesson began I realized I had reason to be.  Grandmother didn’t use a written recipe, she created her delectable loaves by memory and feel. As I tried to take notes she encouraged me to lay down the pencil and put my hands into the dough. Side by side we worked and with her guided help my first loaf of homemade bread baked up beautifully and tasted even better!

Fast forward to my own kitchen counter, flour covered and in disarray. As I stared at the glob in the bottom of the bread pan, my heart and hopes dropped.  I’d done my best to remember each step, to “feel” as Grandmother had taught me, and was sure to place the pan in a warm place to prove the dough like I was supposed to. But instead of rising many times it’s original size, there it was, just as flat and shapeless as when I’d put it in. Something or things had gone wrong that kept the yeast from helping the dough to rise to its full potential as a perfect loaf. I love homemade bread but…. not the kind I make on my own.

You know, sometimes I can feel like that lump of unrisen dough, not reaching my potential either.  Maybe you’ve felt that way too. At 66 years old it just seems to me that I should be further along in my spiritual life: trusting more, worrying less, giving more, slipping up less, studying the Word more, and fearing less. Instead I often feel like salt that’s lost its saltiness, a vine that doesn’t produce, and yes, dough that doesn’t prove. As I ponder this it occurs to me that like the failed loaf, maybe the problem is trying to do it on my own.

How often do I (or you) say, “I just need to try harder.” “If only I would….” “I can handle this.” “All I need to do is change….” I, I, I,I. It seems the more “I” work at rising to be who God wants me to become, the more I fall flat.

Isn’t it funny that I knew I couldn’t learn to make homemade bread without help, yet I attempt to “do what pleases him” on my own? Grandmother welcomed me to her kitchen and lead me step by step as she shared her recipe. She guided my hands and helped me experience the process of separate ingredients coming together to form something beautiful. God does the same thing for us, too.

“For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power
 to do what pleases him.”
Philippians 2:13 (NLT)

 I needed this reminder that we have Someone who works side by side and from the inside out to help us become more pleasing. The finished product may take being mixed up, kneaded vigorously, and stuck in the heat to prove. I don’t know about you, but it’s still a recipe that gives this 66 year old hope to keep going until finally one day I’ve become the “perfect loaf!” 

“And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you,
will continue his work until it is finally finished
on the day when Christ Jesus returns.”
Philippians 1:6 (NLT)

 

Joining with others at http://www.fiveminutefriday.com to write to the prompt, “Prove.” Click over to read more offerings.

Day 8/31: Hunger

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“The true bread of God is the one who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”
John 6:33(NLT)

Day 8: Hunger #writetogether31days

There are many things in the Bible I just don’t understand. You too? Recently I was on a quest to make sense of what the Word says about prayer as it related to situations in my life. I read commentaries, asked wise Christians whom I trust, went through a challenging 13 week study on prayer with a friend (without her I’d never had made it), and I actually prayed…a lot…that I’d finally get it.  I didn’t.

Don’t get me wrong, it wasn’t wasted time, but what I’ve come to realize is that I had a hunger for the wrong thing. My appetite was for food for thought rather than for my soul, I desired knowledge to clarify current life circumstances rather than craving the Truth and Bread of Life. 

“So don’t worry about these things saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.”
Matthew 6:31-33 (NLT)

I was worrying about getting it right and there’s a smorgasbord of information available: books with all the “answers” we are hungry for, experts willing to feed us what we think we want, videos, podcasts, other people (think of Job) who know the just perfect recipe to take off the edge. The problem is, and you probably know this, all that the world offers is only temporary and eventually leaves us just feeling empty again.

The lesson for me and maybe for you too is that while a diet of study is vital for our growth, it’s not necessary to understand everything before we believe. Having faith that God has a plan, that He is good, and that He provides all we need is the key ingredient to living a “full” life. Paul tells us in Philippians 4:19:

“And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.” (NLT)

When Jesus taught the disciples (and us) to pray he said, “Pray like this:….Give us this day our daily bread.” HE is the Bread we should savor daily. Trusting in Him satisfies like nothing else can. He makes sense when we lack understanding. Praise God!  I think I’m finally beginning to get it. How about you?

Nourish ~ Five Minute Friday

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“Give us today our daily bread.” Matthew 6:11

Nourish

There are few things I love more than homemade bread and it just so happens that one of the many perks of having my Mother-in-Love as a neighbor, is receiving a loaf straight from the oven every week. 

Answering the door, the fresh bread wrapped tightly in a tea towel is graciously placed into my waiting, open hands. I don’t know about you, but that first yeasty, whiff just smells of home to me, and biting into a warm slice? Well, it’s nothing but pure comfort, one that satisfies my hunger, filling the empty feeling I have deep within. What appears to be a simple loaf of bread is actually an unselfish gift her of time, thoughtfulness, ability, and love offered just for me to enjoy.  I don’t ever want to take even a single crumb for granted!

“Yes, I am the bread of life! Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, but they all died. Anyone who eats the bread from heaven, however, will never die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will live forever; and this bread, which I will offer so the world may live, is my flesh.” John 6:48-51 (NLT)

The world would have us trying to fill up on things that only leave us feeling empty and wanting more, so what better way for Jesus to describe Himself than Bread? After all, He is a fragrant offering leading us to our eternal Home (Eph. 5:2), the One who’s abounding in comfort (2 Corinth.1:5), and who nourishes the deepest longings of our souls. Sound good? Let’s “taste and see!”

Jesus is knocking. Will I, will you, answer with open hands ready to receive the Bread of Life that’s so graciously waiting? He tells us that if we do, we will never be hungry again.(John 6:35) He meets our needs, fills our voids, quiets our cravings. Jesus IS the unselfish Gift of love. His body, the Bread, was broken and offered just for you and me.(Luke 22:19) 

“He replied, ‘It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.’ ‘Yes it is, Lord,’ she said. ‘Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table. Then Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, you have great faith!’” Matthew 15:26-28a (NLT)

Let’s not ever take even a single “crumb” for granted.

Whole ~ Day 6 ~ 31 Day Writing Challenge

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“Open your mouth and taste, open your eyes and see-how good GOD is. Blessed are you who run to him.” Psalm 34:8 (The Message)

Whole

“I can’t believe I ate the whole thing!” That was a slogan for Alka Seltzer back in the 70’s and a catchy one at that. I remember people would be heard saying those words at restaurants, around dinner tables, and at the ice cream parlor. I’ve even said them once or twice myself as this picture proves! (The hair? Don’t ask!) Whether finishing an entire bag of potato chips in one sitting, munching through a four-serving bag of microwave popcorn by myself, eating way too much on my first trip to Pigeon Forge, TN (the picture again), or you add your own to the list,“the whole thing” can leave us feeling full – of food or whatever else we’ve partaken of- AND fuller of regret.

There’s one thing though we can never fill up too much on, and that’s God. The Psalmist puts it like this:

“God – you’re my God! I can’t get enough of you! I’ve worked up such hunger and thirst for God, traveling across dry and weary deserts. So here I am in the place of worship, eyes open, drinking in your strength and glory. In your generous love I am really living at last! My lips brim praises like fountains.” Psalm 63:1-3 (The Message)

I don’t know about you, but I often let myself desire chocolate chip cookies and a Dunkin Donuts Iced Coffee more than I hunger and thirst for God. That is of course, until life has me stumbling through a dry and weary place, it’s then I finally realize I’m actually starving for Him.

“Then, in your desperate condition, you called out to GOD. He got you out in the nick of time; He put your feet on a wonderful road that took you straight to a good place to live. So thank GOD for his marvelous love, for his miracle mercy to the children he loves. He poured great drafts of water down parched throats; the starved and hungry got plenty to eat.”
Psalm 107:6-9 (The Message)

When trying to fill up on our own, we can easily find ourselves in disbelief because we’ve messed up the whole thing, gotten the whole thing wrong, spent the whole thing, lost the whole thing, been consumed by, or consumed the whole thing. Thankfully Jesus, while in his own desert place, reminds us of what we truly need to really live.

“Jesus answered by quoting Deuteronomy: ‘It takes more than bread to stay alive. It takes a steady stream of words from God’s mouth.’” Matthew 4:4 (The Message)

It’s not in a fizzy liquid where we’ll find our relief, but in tasting the life-giving, life-nourishing Word of God, not just a bit, but the whole thing!  I’m believe that once we take it in, we won’t be able to get enough!

“You’re blessed when you’ve worked up a good appetite for God. He’s food and drink in the best meal you’ll ever eat.” Matthew 5:6 (The Message)