Bread Machines and Relying on God
This week I was having a conversation with one of the leaders at our church and I realized that the model and instruments I assumed would always be in place at our church were shifting. New things were happening and they wouldn't look like I expected. It surprisingly discouraged me in the moment and had me contemplating every possible end point and result, all of which seemed harsh or too difficult. Then I took the kids to Chuck E. Cheese and had some healthy distraction.
Now, this is where I might get a little weird for some readers. I am going to talk about a dream and how I think the Lord was using it to teach me something about relying on him. So there I am catching winks and my mind goes to dreamland. As a bit of background, as a family we bake our own bread using a thrift store acquired bread machine. So there I am in the dream and what I remember of it is a couple had come to buy my machine; the lady had brown hair and the man wore a blue blazer (not that those details mean anything!). But as they took it I remember a feeling of dread. "How will I make bread?" was my refrain and I felt helpless as the bargain hunters took a vitally important tool.
Fast forward to my morning coffee. As I read Psalm 69 and was greatly comforted by God's Word, I realized, 'there is more than one way to bake bread.' You can bake bread without a bread machine. Profound, I know. But it hit me, God will build his church as he desires and with the instruments he wants to. So the bread machine dream, for me, it is about relying on Christ and his provision, his plan and his perfection.
I don't have to labor under the burden of my own strategy and strength alone. I don't have to have it all figured out. But I do get to rely on the faithfulness of God, on the gift of grace we have been given in the cross and the power of the Spirit in the life of a Christian.
What great hope this reliance engenders in me. Current circumstances and future realities are all the more purposeful and solved because Christ reigns. Now to walk in that truth and lean into the care of Christ!
Now, this is where I might get a little weird for some readers. I am going to talk about a dream and how I think the Lord was using it to teach me something about relying on him. So there I am catching winks and my mind goes to dreamland. As a bit of background, as a family we bake our own bread using a thrift store acquired bread machine. So there I am in the dream and what I remember of it is a couple had come to buy my machine; the lady had brown hair and the man wore a blue blazer (not that those details mean anything!). But as they took it I remember a feeling of dread. "How will I make bread?" was my refrain and I felt helpless as the bargain hunters took a vitally important tool.
Fast forward to my morning coffee. As I read Psalm 69 and was greatly comforted by God's Word, I realized, 'there is more than one way to bake bread.' You can bake bread without a bread machine. Profound, I know. But it hit me, God will build his church as he desires and with the instruments he wants to. So the bread machine dream, for me, it is about relying on Christ and his provision, his plan and his perfection.
I don't have to labor under the burden of my own strategy and strength alone. I don't have to have it all figured out. But I do get to rely on the faithfulness of God, on the gift of grace we have been given in the cross and the power of the Spirit in the life of a Christian.
What great hope this reliance engenders in me. Current circumstances and future realities are all the more purposeful and solved because Christ reigns. Now to walk in that truth and lean into the care of Christ!
Wow, Jonathan. The Lord lay this very topic on my heart to pray for you and the church this morning. Keep on keeping on and trusting HIs faithfulness and provision. He is Sovereign. "For I am sure of this, that He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ." Phil 1:6
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