Daily Bread

Gift of Rest

/ pastorpete51 / Leave a comment

Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls Matthew 11:29

In all our hurry towards Christmas, it is easy for us to forget to rest for a moment at the manger. Remember how He waited the unhurried nine months in the waiting room of Mary’s womb. Then at His birth the shepherds were the first to know as they rested with their flocks.

For the next 30 quiet years Jesus lived in the tiny village of Nazareth. He didn’t burst forth with proclamations of greatness instead he worked in the back of Joseph’s carpenter shop. He had brothers and sisters with whom He shared a straw mattress on the floor and the same meals that Mary cooked for everyone. Never do we hear of a complaint an attitude of frustration.

He simply waited and rested in the place where God had put Him. It was there in Nazareth that He learned to give thanks for bread and fish. In the ordinary circumstances of His life He learned how to wash feet, celebrate weddings and how to handle wood and nails.

Whenever we feel the push to get into the holiday swing of things we need to stop and take a deep breath. Then in a moment of calm remember that the same Jesus who rested in the storm has also invited us to come and rest our souls in Him!

In His Image

/ pastorpete51 / Leave a comment

Gingerbread Man

Each Christmas my wife makes special cookies in the shape of ginger bread men or Christmas trees. Once the dough is soft she presses the form over it and cuts out the exact images over and over again. But what is good for cookies is not so great for our minds.

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:2

close up photography of gingerbread

Photo by Noelle Otto on Pexels.com

The apostle Paul appeals to us to give our bodies to God as living sacrifices, so that we will not be pressed into the world’s mold. As a part of real worship we lovingly give to God all that we have and all that we are. He is so worth everything

we could offer and more. When we yield to Him, God comes and liberates our minds. As our minds and hearts become open to Him the fresh wind of His Spirit can begin His work so we can experience the transforming freedom of his presence. We need each day and to ask ourselves: “Is there something that has pressed me back into the world’s mold?” Then stop and make a quiet choice to give yourself to God, and wait on Him to come. Only then, in that wonderful freedom, when we have been transformed by His presence can we begin to understand what He really wants in our life. He breaks the cookie cutter molds of this world when we choose to be His and His alone!!

 

He Never Played it Safe

/ pastorpete51 / Leave a comment

It is much safer to be feared than to be loved” Machiavelli

I am so glad that our Lord Jesus never played it safe. For His delivery room He chose the manger not the palace. As a man He touched lepers and was friends with notorious sinners. At the end of His life He traveled to Jerusalem even though He knew that there He would be arrested and beaten. As He ate His final meal He shared bread and wine with Judas all the while knowing He would be betrayed. He chose not to call on angels or men to defend Him and accepted the shame and agony of the cross. Thank God that our courageous Savior didn’t play it safe with His life. This Christmas we should remember as we exchange small gifts that He gave dangerously so that we could remain forever safe in His arms.

Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” And they divided His garments and cast lots. Luke 23:34 NKJV