~The Bread~ By Rheannon

Powerful Woman of God Blog

Encouraging, Empowering and Strengthening Women in Life, Love, Destiny and Faith.

~The Bread~ By Rheannon

My pastor, my friend and I have been doing a book study called “The Rock, the Road and the Rabbi” By Kathie Lee Gifford, with Rabbi Jason Sobel. It’s been such an amazing adventure, really. In just 6 sessions, I have had so many “aha/OMg” moments I can hardly believe it.

One of these moments caught me two weeks ago while studying what Jesus had to say about “the bread.”

(Photo Credit Alyona’s Cooking)

In Matthew 6:9-13, Jesus taught the disciples to pray saying, “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors…” (NIV)

Jesus connected ‘bread’ and ‘forgiveness’ here and at the last supper where He tells His disciples in Matthew 26:28, “Take, eat, this is my body,” and of the cup He says, “This is my blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for the forgiveness of sins.”

Earlier in the gospel of John, Jesus told the multitude of people following Him, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.”

Here’s where it hit me-

When we pray and ask God to give us our daily bread, we are literally praying that He will give us Jesus! WOAH! Jesus Himself IS the bread of life!!!

We need Christ daily in our lives. He is the only one through whom true forgiveness comes. His is the blood that is poured out for the forgiveness of the world! When we pray, “give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors,” we are asking God to give us Christ, who is the bread of life and the only one through whom we attain forgiveness for ourselves and others!

Jesus being our bread of life and the one through whom forgiveness is received is key to all of our lives. He gives us life and forgiveness. And our response to that incredible love is to forgive as we are forgiven.

Forgiveness is not merely a formality of our faith, it is fundamental to it! It is how we display that we belong to Christ. We are to forgive wholeheartedly and completely. When we do, it is like we are unlocking the chains that bind us to the past, as well as to the situation. We set ourselves and others free when we forgive, like we have given bread to a starving soul.

Incredible!

Who is it that we need to forgive? What do we need to ask forgiveness for? Ask Jesus, the bread of life, the forgiver of sins to speak to your heart and reveal these things to you. Then, forgive, and share in the communion of Christ.

It’s the real deal.

~Rheannon

Get the book “The Rock, the Road and the Rabbi” By Kathie Lee Gifford with Rabbi Jason Sobel here if you’re ready to have your mind blown-

https://www.christianbook.com/rock-road-and-rabbi-study-guide/kathie-gifford/9780310095019/pd/0095019?en=google&event=SHOP&kw=bible-studies-and-curriculum-0-20%7C0095019&p=1179710&dv=t&gclid=Cj0KCQiA_4jgBRDhARIsADezXcimw3KJm53fnHk_rASxM2BZNYACaE9i6Wx_g-T4I2cW7H9g9IzcYqsaAgDVEALw_wcB

Not Created to Laugh Alone~ By Sue

Powerful Woman of God Blog Encouraging, Empowering and Strengthening Women in Life, Love, Destiny and Faith

NOT CREATED TO LAUGH ALONE~ By Sue

Friends play such an important part in my life. I’ve been very blessed over the years. My friendships have been precious and ‘not’ few. Having the support of good friends has been invaluable in my growth as a female human.

There is an inner strength that occurs when you know that you have access to community. We were definitely not created to live life alone. That is a fact. We need to draw from their strength at times.

I recently had a minor surgery and one of my good friends brought me purple flowers to match my post-surgery bruises and made me laugh out loud more times than I can count.

I’ve had friends that have shared their innermost thoughts and trusted them with me. There is one who has been so patient with me while showing me how to applique (ornamental needlework) and we share the love of crime movies together. Then there is my friend who says yes at a moment’s notice when I suggest going to the movies or that neighborhood garage sale. Yet another who realizes my dietary needs and searches recipes to cook a unique, special dish just for me!

One of my friends has not had many friends in her life. She has not trusted many. I cherish our relationship because she has trusted me to be one of her few. We go into life deep together and I love when she comes to town! We are kindred spirits. Proverbs 17:17 – A friend loves at all times.

There are even some that I have not talked to in a while and when I pick up the phone to call, it’s like no time has passed between us at all. They are as excited to talk with me as I am with them..

I can go on and on…As each of their faces came to view, I came to the conclusion that I can’t count them all on one hand. I count that as one of the best gifts in my life.

These ladies have taught me how to be a better me. Their patience, love and caring is not fake. We pray for each other. We pray for each other’s families. Amazed at how God’s leading has given each of us, time and time again, what we need hear at a moment’s notice. Proverbs 27:17 “Iron sharpens iron, So one man sharpens another.”

As I thought over the core people in my life, I realized that all of my friendships have a common denominator. Each of them have a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. I believe that is why we work so well together. We are God-chasers. Daughters of a King living life together well, learning more about His plan for us and cheering each other on towards our goals. I hang out with some pretty wise women. Proverbs 13:20 “He who walks with wise men will be wise.”

Friends. It’s such a happy word. I cannot imagine how I would have gotten through some times in my life without them. Our footprints and hand prints have merged together. We understand that we were not created to laugh alone.  Leaving marks on each other’s lives. Family will always be first in my life, but these friends understand that desire, as I support family being first in their life, too.

My friends know me well. “A true friend is someone who sees the pain in your eyes, while everyone else just sees your smile.” I thank God for the friends who know me from the ‘inside out’. They are the ones that will tell me that I shouldn’t wear that dress, because it does not flatter me, that my lipstick is too orange and I should change the shade or that I need to change my shirt because you can definitely see through it.

They are also the ones that will sit with me when I need to cry, listen to me when I need to talk and tell me the truth whether I want to hear it or not! I feel safe with my friends. Thank you Lord for knowing and surrounding me with some of the good ones.

 

Creatively His,

Sue:)