THE CARBOHYDRATE DIET
By Marion Smith
Mark 14:22 He took the bread, gave thanks and broke it. He gave it to
His disciples.
Diets, diets, diets… so many to choose from, so few afford long term
success. Should I go with a high protein diet, a fruit and vegetable
diet, a carbohydrate diet, or perhaps the Blimpie diet? Each author
of his diet book professes his particular diet will do the trick for
you, and you will retain lasting results.
I began to think about the high carbohydrate diet as the
minister gave his children’s sermon recently. He removed a variety of
breads from a grocery sack, discussing each one with the children.
There were hamburger buns, ritz crackers, white bread and ghramn
crackers. He discussed how often we eat these products daily, and tied
in the fact that Jesus said “I am the bread of life”. Perhaps we
should think of Jesus each time we eat these carbs. I began to think
further, recalling the variety and types of bread products available.
There are white, rye, whole grain, 7 grain, whole wheat, and
pumpernickel breads. There are crackers and rolls galore- the grocery
isle is full of them.
I began to think how Jesus said, I am the bread of life.
There are so many varieties of bread, so how does this correlate with
Jesus’ statement? I believe that Jesus lives in each Christian today,
and we are all in His body. The variety of types of breads reminds me
of the variety of denominations, the individual manner in which we
worship, the diversity skin colors, and ethnic values within this body
of Christ. God may use a person from one denomination or another to
speak to my heart, to awaken my spirit, or to light my spiritual
fire.
God also uses other means to feed us spiritually, and
those ways remind me of the buns and crackers I saw this morning.
Reading the Bible, attending worship services, going to Bible studies,
and praying are a few of these methods.
Jesus’ spiritual carbohydrate diet is the one I know which
will give us lasting sustenance. God is the author of this diet, and
His Word comes to us in Holy Scripture.
I hope my own personal spiritual carbohydrate diet is filled with a
variety of breads, rolls and crackers. I believe it is the way God
wants it to be.
I will never look at the bread isle of the grocery store or put a bite
in my mouth that I will not remember Jesus’ words… “I am the bread of
life.”
FRIENDSHIP
However strange or unique--
friends are given to us as gifts from God--
When a friend rejects a friend, they also reject the gift.
When we Thank God for a good friend--we ask him to guide us in that friendship.
Sometimes God sees fit to take some friends away for our own good and so they reject us ...losing a friend can be just as a scar from a sword or a burn--especially one dear to heart.
In my lifetime I have had many a friends but also many parted.
When a friend dies and passes on to Heaven we know that we will meet again.
A friend disposed of -- by meanness or hurt is never retrieved.
Those whom God has given the gift of friendship must thank him for that--whether short or long friends.
Many a friend I have thanked God for that I will never see again if they reject God and God's laws later in the future... there is absolutely nothing I can do about that but pray for them to return to God.
Better to lose a friend than to lose one's ticket to heaven.
The Jesus Prayer
O my Divine Savior, transform me into yourself.
May my hands be the hands of Jesus.
May my tongue be the tongue of Jesus,
Grant that every faculty of my body may serve only to glorify you.
Above all, transform my soul and all its powers,
that my memory, my will and my affections
may be the memory, the will and the affections of Jesus.
I pray you to destroy in me all that is not you.
Grant that I may live but in you and for you,
and that I may truly say with St. Paul:
"I live, now not I, but Christ lives in me" (Gal 2:20).
July 23 - Jesus Calling
I am the Light of the world. Men crawl through their lives cursing the darkness, but all the while I am shining brightly. I desire each of My followers to be a Light-bearer. The Holy Spirit who lives in you can shine from your face, making Me visible to people around you. Ask My Spirit to live through you, as you wind your way through this day. Hold My hand in joyful trust, for I never leave your side. The Light of My Presence is shining upon you. Brighten up the world by reflecting who I am.
When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
—John 8:12
“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”
—Matthew 5:14–16
And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
—2 Corinthians 3:18
God said to Moses, “I am who I am. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I am has sent me to you.’”
—Exodus 3:14
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