“For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” “Sir,” they said, “always give us this bread.” Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe.” John 6:33-36
I want to share with you a few words from the book ‘A Love Worth Giving’ by Max Lucado; “You have a ticket to heaven no thief can take, an eternal home no divorce can break. Every sin of your life has been cast into the sea. Every mistake you’ve made is nailed to the tree. You are blood-bought and heaven-made. A child of God; forever saved. So be grateful, joyful; for isn’t it true? What you don’t have is much less than what you do!” I cannot recall many times when I cradled and cherished a meal like this girl attending the Lutheran school in Ouanaminthe is doing; it means so much to her. When kids in Haiti pray before receiving their lunch it is truly heartfelt and my simple mind can only imagine our Sovereign Lord smiling as they give Him thanks for their daily meal. What we have been abundantly blessed with is so very special and sadly too often we do live like we are not thankful and do not believe as we don’t give proper thanks. May we learn to slow down and focus on our many blessings at all times. I am closing today with the words from the hymn ‘I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say’ that were written by Horatius Bonar in 1846.
“I heard the voice of Jesus say, "Come unto Me and rest; lay down, thou weary one, lay down, Thy head upon My breast." I came to Jesus as I was, weary and worn and sad; I found in Him a resting-place, and He has made me glad. I heard the voice of Jesus say, "Behold, I freely give the living water; thirsty one, stoop down and drink and live." I came to Jesus, and I drank of that life giving stream. My thirst was quenched, my soul revived, and now I live in Him. I heard the voice of Jesus say, "I am this dark world's Light. Look unto Me; thy morn shall rise and all thy day be bright." I looked to Jesus, and I found in Him my Star, my Sun; and in that Light of Life I'll walk till traveling days are done.”
Dear Heavenly Father, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Amen.
May God be with you,
Jay