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Posts Tagged ‘Bread of Life’

I Am the Dough You Need (Knead).

Posted in Devotional, Life Experiences, tagged , , , on September 18, 2019| Leave a Comment »

I received the following  from Angela Nagarajan from Mumbai, India and asked her permission to share it with you:

John 6:35 says, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.”

Photo by Harry Thaker on Unsplash

One of my daily chores is making Indian bread (Chapatis). One morning while I was taking the flour, adding the oil, salt, and water to make the dough, God spoke in His wisdom. He made me realize the symbolism of the ingredients which are added to make the Indian bread.

The wheat flour is Jesus, the oil is the anointing, the salt is us (we are the salt of the earth), and the water is the Holy Spirit.

I was amazed at this thought.

Later, as I kneaded the bread,  God also allowed me to comprehend that without the pressing and kneading I won’t get the dough I want. The same is true in our lives.  Yet through all of our experiences, He is faithful to be with us with the anointing and provides the Holy Spirit to guide us.

So no matter what you go through in life, He is with you in the moment and till the end of time. Press on to Him as He fills you with nourishment.

 

Father God I thank you for wisdom and your loving-kindness. It amazes me how you are with me, even though I may not be aware of your presence. Today help me to know that your purpose is higher than mine, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

 

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Mashed Potatoes?

Posted in Christian, Devotional, Life Experiences, tagged , , , , , , on November 14, 2017| 2 Comments »

Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Proverbs 30:8

I’ve watched way too much TV while laid up with health issues. I admit it. One thing I have noticed, though, is the trend to make foods deceptive.  Cauliflower cooked to resemble mashed potatoes or rice. Pasta from zucchini. Cream soups made healthy to fool the family into eating right because it tastes good. Even prepared diet foods that let you eat chocolate cake and still lose the pounds.

What’s wrong with that? Initially I was sucked in. I can eat the foods that were on my “no-no” list, as long as they are altered. Marie Antoinette was right after all. “Let them eat cake!”

The problem, as I see it, is that habits are not really being changed. People are not eating more healthy but stealth-y.

I see it in churches as well. Get ’em in the door anyway you can and then lay on the Gospel. But not to thick. Let them ease into it. Be tolerant. Let them wallow in sin and accept them. Don’t judge.

Like false mashed potatoes, it looks and tastes good. Agreed, people want to eat what they want to eat and believe what they want to believe.  I admit, there is truth in that evangelistic method. Jesus met people in their messes. We should as well.

But he pulled no punches when it came to doling out the truth. As a wise pastor I know one told me, “We need to love them enough as they are to help them change into who God calls them to be.”

While we have all fallen short of the glory of God and sinned (Romans 3:23) and we should examine the plank in our own eyes before we point out the speck in our neighbor’s (Matthew 7:3-5), if we wash down the message of salvation too much, we lose the reason for needing a Savior in the first place. That, my friends, to me is a DANGER:THIN ICE sign.

Perhaps it is best if we don’t try to fool them into eating mashed potatoes that is something else, and claim it is for their own good. Maybe we should be honest about “mashed potatoes’ nutritional value”  in the first place. Then offer them the Bread of Life.

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A Steady Diet of M&M…and M

Posted in Biblical, Devotional, tagged , , , , , , , on May 24, 2016| 2 Comments »

When I went through catechism, to discern if I would claim IMG_20131030_075636_787my parent’s faith as my own before God and the congregation, they taught us that Scripture should be read, marked and inwardly digested.

Jesus, according to John’s Gospel, is the Word, and He said He is the Bread of Life. We need a steady diet of the Bible in our lives. We need M&M, and M.

Mark – not just underline verses in different colored highlighters, but memorize them. Make them an important part of your thought process so at a moment’s notice if the devil is tapping on your shoulder you can respond by praying with Scripture. Let it leave a mark on your life.

Meditate – think on that verse and what the Holy Spirit is trying to tell you through it. What lesson is there in it for you, or an answer to prayer, or perhaps a head-thunk revelation? Truly learn it.

When we combine the two, then an amazing, positive, calming power envelops us and seeps through us, does it not?  Scripture comes alive, and we feel God’s hand gently upon our shoulder. The words are now personalized. We smile and whisper, “That is my verse. God wrote it for me.”

The final “M”? Masticate.  It means to chew. Chew on what has occurred, or continues to happen, in your life because of that verse. What has impacted you? How? Is there an action you should now take? Or maybe one you should not?

Mull it over for several days in prayer until you totally digest it inwardly. Let it flow through your system giving your spiritual nourishment. Feel God’s grace as it courses through your life.

MP900443254[1]_cropA steady diet of M&M, and M when it comes to God’s Word can do wonders for your health, your faith, and your attitude.  Try it.

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