Fresh Bread March 14: Making Peace with Your Past

“…I will PAY you back for those years of trouble. Then you will have plenty…and be full. You will praise the name of the LORD your God, who has done miracles for you…Then you will know that I am among the people of Israel, that I am the LORD your God, and there is no other God. (Joel 2:25-27, New Century Version) The baby is screaming. You’ve tried feeding her, rocking her, walking her, playing her favorite music, and even making stupid faces and sounds for her. Nothing seems to work. You then put a small rubber object into her mouth. All of a sudden she’s quiet. The only sound you hear is a sucking sound soon followed by the sound of heavy breathing. She’s asleep! Every parent owes a debt of gratitude to the person who created that small rubber object we now call a “pacifier”. The word “PAY” is a word we usually associate with money. Yet it is interesting to find the original meanings of this word: “to appease, satisfy, or pacify.” It’s derived from the Latin word, “pax” which means “peace”. And thus the word “pacify” literally means “to make peace (calm, content, rest, hush)”. PRAYER: Lord, regrets from my past still trouble me. They’ve disturbed my calm, my contentment, and my rest. Let Your Spirit of Peace (Galatians 5:22) make the noise and voices from my past mistakes hush! This is the miracle I need from You today....
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Fresh Bread March 12: A God-Assisted Life

Wednesday, March 12, 2008 We are assured and know that [God being a partner in their labor] all things work together and are [fitting into a plan] for good to and for those who love God and are called according to [His] design and purpose. (Romans 8:28, Amplified Bible; see also Jeremiah 29:11) In the game of basketball, one of the most admired statistics is assists, which keeps a count of how many times a player has helped another player to score a basket for his team. Today’s Scripture tells us that God uses all things to assist us in scoring for our benefit and, more importantly, the benefit of His Kingdom. The word “WORK TOGETHER” is the Greek word “sun-erg-e-o” which means “to put forth power (God’s ability) together with (your ability) and thereby to assist (you).” (Italics are my addition). Prayer: “Lord, help me to know that I have ‘A God-Assisted Life’. Help me to know for a fact that no matter what happens to me, Your ability is put forth together with my ability and thereby the things happening to me, good or bad, will assistant toward my good...
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Fresh Bread March 10: Are You A God Wrestler?

Monday, March 10, 2008 But Jacob stayed behind by himself, and an Angel WRESTLED with him until daybreak. When the Angel saw that he couldn’t get the best of Jacob as they wrestled … The Angel said, “Let me go; it’s daybreak.” Jacob said, “I’m not letting you go ’til you bless me.” The Angel said, “What’s your name?” He answered, “Jacob.” The Angel said, “…No longer. Your name is no longer Jacob. From now on it’s Israel (God-Wrestler); you’ve wrestled with God and you’ve come through (you’ve won).” (Genesis 32:24-28, Message Bible) One of the definitions for the word “WRESTLE” is the word “Struggle”. There are three definitions for this word which left an impression on me: (1) To make a strenuous effort. (2) To progress with difficulty. (3) To contend for in the area of one’s faith (Jude verse 3). Jacob, your name is now Israel because you: • Made a strenuous effort with regards to your relationship with God. • Progressed but with difficulties in your relationship with God. • Contended and competed for a greater faith in God. And you’ve...
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Fresh Bread March 7: A Heart that Seeks Him

Friday, March 7, 2008 “Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice…and answer me. When You said, ” SEEK My face (presence),” My heart (Attitude) said to You, “Your face, Lord, I will SEEK.” (and when I decide to seek You in obedience during this consecration, please) Do not hide Your face from me…” (Psalm 27:7-9, KJV) The Hebrew definition for “SEEK” is “To search out by any method, specifically in worship or prayer.” The word “SEARCH” means “investigate, probe, inspect, quest, hunt, study, explore, pursue, track.” Lord, during this consecration I will search for Your Presence by any method. I’ll use sermons, books, prayer, reading the Bible, worship, listening to CD’s, etc. And, with a right attitude I will investigate, probe, inspect, go on a quest, hunt, study, explore, pursue, and track You down until I find You. But after obeying the directive to search for You, please don’t hide Your Presence from...
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Fresh Bread March 6: Not My Will

Thursday, March 6, 2008 He went on a little farther and bowed with his face to the ground, praying, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your WILL to be done, not mine.” (Matthew 26:39, New Living Translation) The Greek definitions for this word “WILL” are as follows: Choice, Purpose, Pleasure, Desire, Preference, Inclination, Wish, Intention, and Determination. Jesus prays, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet, I want Your Choice, Purpose, Pleasure, Desire, Preference, Inclination, Wish, Intention, and what You’ve Determined to be done in my life, not mine.” May we too go a little farther in our walk with God by making this same prayer the focus of our consecration to...
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