Fresh Bread July 30: Rest!
There remaineth therefore a REST to the people of God. For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. Let us labor therefore to enter into that rest… (Hebrews 4:9-11, King James Version) This is a strange Scripture. The writer of Hebrews tells us to labor (The Amplified Bible says, “exert ourselves and strive diligently”) to enter God’s REST. Labor, exert, strive to rest? This doesn’t make any sense unless we look a little deeper into what God knows about us. The word “rest” is derived from two Latin words: re meaning “back” and sto meaning “stand”. Rest simply means to “stand back”. In both Exodus 14:13–14 and 2 Chronicles 20:14-17, God’s people find themselves in dire circumstances. And yet, each time the Lord tells them to “stand still” (stand back) and experience His ability to rescue them. Like a mechanic fixing a broken car or a healthcare professional working on an emergency case, God needs us to get out of His way, give Him room, stop looking over His shoulder, and “stand back” so He can work His wonders. So why is it such an effort and labor for us to enter that place of rest where we stand back and let God work? It’s because most of us are “control freaks”! We find it difficult to get out of God’s way and let Him work out His plan His Way. PRAYER: Holy Spirit, I have to control everything! And yet I am stressed out because I realize that I control nothing. Help me! Give me Your strength to stand back, get out of Your way, and let You work out Your plan. Teach me and help me to enter into God’s place of REST....
read moreFresh Bread July 22: Simplify!
I’m asking God for one thing, only one thing: To live with Him in His House my whole life long. I’ll contemplate his beauty; I’ll study at his feet. (Psalm 27:4, The Message Bible) No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling (Philippians 3:13, NLT) Here we have two quotes made by two of the most effective men in the Bible. King David was considered the most effective king in Israel’s history and the Apostle Paul wrote almost half of the New Testament. What made these two men so successful in God’s eye? They SIMPLIFIED their lives. The word “simplify” is made up of two Latin words: simplus meaning “single”, which in the Latin language means “One”, and the suffix “fy” is derived from the Latin word “faceo”, which means “to do”. Thus, the word “simplify” means “to do the one thing.” When you and I stand before God, what is the one thing, one purpose for which we will have to give an account to Him (Matthew 25:21-23, NLT)? What is that “one thing” that you know God has created you to accomplish? PRAYER: Holy Spirit, You are the one who Jesus assigned to guide me into all truth (John 16:13). Show me the purpose for which God created me, and then daily remind me to stay focused on “doing that one thing”....
read moreFresh Bread July 15: Scandalized!
But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and immediately with joy receiveth it; Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is OFFENDED. (Matthew 13:20-21, King James Version) Nobody wants to be the subject of a scandal whether he/she is the one perpetrating the scandal or the one who is being scandalized. The word scandal speaks of: public disgrace, misconduct, exposed wrong doing, embarrassment, dishonor, shame, discredit, stain, stigma. This is what Satan (whose name means our “opponent”) tries to do whenever God speaks to us. Jesus told his disciples (learners) that people will receive his teachings with joy but they must understand that trouble and persecution will come [from Satan] because of that Word. And the sad thing is people will be “offended” because that Word from God will be the cause of so much trouble. The word “offended” is the Greek word “scandalidzo” which literally means: trapped with a springing device. It’s basically a mouse trap. Satan’s goal once we receive God’s word is to test us to the point that we go for “his bait” (cheese). He then springs the trap which results in our being disgraced, dishonored, and discredited. Esau was supposed to be the one whose name was turned into “Israel” not Jacob. But Esau was scandalized; trapped with Satan’s bait of Campbell’s Soup. (Hebrews 12:16, NLV) PRAYER: Holy Spirit, I enjoy when You speak God’s Word to me through a preacher, teacher, circumstance, or simply a friend’s wise counsel. Give me Your strength when that word is put to the test in my life. Help me not to be the subject of any scandal that would discredit (make me not believe) God’s Word to my...
read moreFresh Bread July 10: Choose to be a Sweetener!
Moses led Israel…to the Wilderness… They traveled for three days through the wilderness without finding any water. They got to Marah, but they couldn’t drink the water at Marah; it was bitter. That’s why they called the place Marah (Bitter). And the people complained to Moses, “So what are we supposed to drink?” So Moses cried out in prayer to GOD. GOD pointed him to a stick of wood. Moses threw it into the water and the water turned sweet. …GOD said, “If you listen, listen obediently to how GOD tells you to live in his presence…I won’t strike you with all the diseases that I inflicted on the Egyptians; I am GOD your healer.” (Exodus 15:22-26, Message Bible) During these hot days of summer, my mind often turns to a desire for two refreshing drinks: one is called “Iced Tea” (Sweet Tea to those of you from the South) and the other is a Caribbean Drink called “Mauby”. What I noticed about both drinks is that though they are refreshing during particularly hot, uncomfortable days, they both are also very bitter in taste. That’s why both sweet tea and mauby have sweeteners such as sugar, cinnamon, etc., which make their bitterness both palatable and pleasant. Life can deal some “bitter” blows both to us and those with whom we come in contact. God desires that we be the wood (tree: Psalms 1:3, NLV) that He can throw into bitter experiences. He wants to use us to change the bitterness of life into the sweet healing waters of His Presence, so that others can “taste and see that the Lord really is good.” (Psalms 34:8, NLV) PRAYER: Holy Spirit, though life at times will be extremely bitter, use me to be one of God’s sweeteners in the lives of hurting people for the sake of His Kingdom....
read moreFresh Bread March 22: Getting R.I.D. of Doubt
The Bakery has reopened! Please eat and enjoy! To whom also he showed himself alive after his passion by many INFALLIBLE PROOFS, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God. (Acts 1:3, KJV) Acts is part two of Luke’s book on the life and ministry of Jesus. He continues by reporting to Theophilus (whose name means: “One who exists in the love of God”) the act(ion)s of the apostles after Christ returned to His Father in Heaven. However, before Christ could send them out he had to show them infallible proof that He had indeed risen from the dead. The word infallible can be defined using the acronym “R.I.D.”. Infallible means “Reliable, Impeccable, and Dependable”. In order for Christ to convince his followers of his reality, he provided for them proof that was reliable, impeccable, and dependable. In other words, Jesus provided his followers with proof that would R.I.D them of their doubts. PRAYER: Lord, “…Show yourself alive…by many infallible proofs,” (that are able to be seen by others)… in Your Name we believe it is...
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