JESUS, the ANSWER - "BREAD for the Journey"

As I shared already in this post (my official 1st post of 2023) after announcing the 2023 New Year (which I actually did before Jan.1) that I would not be blogging until I completed my 21 days with prayer & fasting, I let you know that I was doing "52 Weeks with Jesus". This week begins Section Two - Jesus, the Answer!

I found the following (boxed) intro quite interesting; especially after completing a few 21 day Bible reading plans, one of which was "21 Days of the Great I Am" that I tagged along following a sister in Christ/friend. And in the beginning of that "I AM" plan (on the 2nd & 3rd day), we began, as this section does with 

"I AM  the Bread of Life"

"Like Hansel & Gretel, JESUS drops bread crumbs along the path to knowing Him."...

I enjoy every morsel of His Bread!

[credit: heartlight.org]

The rest of that paragraph in the Intro to "JESUS, the Answer" lets us know that JESUS "offers us symbols, images, pictures and clues to remind us that He is more ... than human... He is far different - better ..." which JESUS explains in the Gospel of John, with the use of the 7 "I AM" statements "to share the intricate folds of His personality and identity." These 7 "I AM statements" "help us understand not only who He is but also what He wants to be for us." 

There is another study currently being done with Faith Gateway by Kathy Lee Gifford & Rabbi Jason called "The God of the How and When" but this seems to say that JESUS is also the WHO and What, yet intricately woven throughout scripture, especially John 3:16, we, believers know that JESUS, more than anything, is the WHY as well. To me, that completes JESUS coming to earth (the Where) to be the complete Answer for humanity to be (at-one) with God once again for eternity. Just as "bread" nourishes the hunger in us, JESUS fills the people who are hungry. Just as bread fills our empty stomachs giving us life, JESUS came to give His own Life to give us eternal Life and He fills that empty place in our very life: 

"What food is to your body, I am to your soul" ~ JESUS

All this is to say that it makes sense that the first week in this section two is:

 BREAD FOR THE JOURNEY

week 4

John 6:22-40 and 40:59

"... JESUS reminds us that He is sustenance for all people in all places at all times."

This week the subtitles and some of the scripture readings are:

"Hungry People" - John 6:35,48 "Jesus, the Feeder" - John 6:26 "Look for the Spiritual, Not the Material" - John 6:28-29;30-31 "Live for the Eternal, Not the Temporal" "Bread that Satisfies"

also Exodus 16:1-21; Nehemiah 9:9-21; Psalm 78:17-25
I do each of the above parts - one subtitle a day (which is very brief, but much to munch on, along with God's Word). So that means for today, I am reading "Look for the Spiritual, Not the Material" but I am actually reading "Live for the Eternal, Not the Temporal" too. The first thing that caught my eye was "Jesus challenged them to quit working for the stuff that won't last & start focusing on the things that will" then the 2nd was "stuff is temporal, but your soul is eternal". Now that morsel alone is plenty for me to focus on JESUS, as my sole (soul) sustenance... the manna I need today. 

 

"Lord, Giver of all good gifts, teach me to hunger for bread that truly satisfies."

There is a story in the final day that I would like to find & share. I believe I received it in an email so I will add it below:

"After World War II, Europe was overwhelmed with a number of hungry, homeless children who had been orphaned by the conflict. These children were placed in large camps where they received sufficient food and care. But the caregivers noticed the children did not sleep well at night. They were anxious and fearful and restless.    The caregivers were stumped until a psychologist formulated a solution. He instructed the caregivers to give each child a piece of bread, not to eat, but to hold after they were put to bed.    The results astounded all. The children slept through the night because they knew they would have food the next day. Holding bread gave them a sense of security (they were safe), significance (somebody cared about them), and satisfaction (there will be more bread tomorrow). Those things are what those children needed—and what every person needs.    We are all born with this hunger, but our growling souls can be satisfied only by the Bread of Life" 52 Weeks ... James Merritt

"Resting with Bread"
and
I will be resting with the Bread of Life
- JESUS -
filled and full
secure, significant, satisfied
<>

* an interesting side note that I found is that when making fresh
BREAD
the dough needs to rest
here's an article that gives you 3 reasons why
I'm sure that you, like I, will see a spiritual correlation
I'm not a Bread maker, but my mother was - just like God is!
Heavenly Bread
:)
You and I
need
Bread for the Journey

... With JESUS

While I was away during these first 21 days of Prayer 2023 offline (at least social media; and since I don't do Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or know much about these or others; this is my social platform of sorts) but mainly writing here is my 'therapy' and the place I organize my life, which at times has been "MESS-y" and seemed like I was journeying in "MAZES" (round & round) yet this year, with JESUS - front and centered - focus will be different and better; my journey hopefully will be filled with a more spiritual purpose, plan, and destiny ... I began my 

52 Weeks With Jesus

Yes, it's another book (well, as you can see, actually 3; I only have one and a year's worth of emails) but for 2023 it is more than a book for me; it's my life journey continuing with JESUS as my One Word! The rest of the book's title is "... Fall in Love with the One Who Changed Everything" however I already fell and am in LOVE and I know JESUS is the One who Changed Everything for me in my life and every time that I have gotten off track, JESUS is the One who leads me back; JESUS is the One who has welcomed me back; JESUS is the One with the Holy Spirit who gently pursues me to guide me along life's journey - a transformational journey. 

In fact, while I was away, the very first section of the book is about:

 

... JESUS, the Transformer ...

which is the first three weeks

1. Just Like Us 2. A Misfit Among Misfits 3. A Messy Messiah

so this past week I read/studied/focused/reflected on
JESUS, a Messy Messiah
{this is a title I can relate with - maybe you can too}

"...In the genealogy of Jesus, God demonstrates that anyone can become a part of the greatest royal family of all - the family of just not a king, but the King of kings."~ "Of Royal Linage" "Who would not want to be a part of God's family? Who would not want to have a seat at His table? Who would not want to be a piece in His mosaic? God became a part of the human family so that we could become a part of His Heavenly family." ...

This Messy Messiah title for JESUS makes Him relate-able (relatable).
In Louie Giglio's book (and YV plan I mentioned here)RELAT(ABLE)
Louie Giglio explores what makes us relatable.Because God has gone to extraordinary lengths to relate to us,we can build incredible *relationships ...
*my 2022 One Word
but as you can see God continually builds and speaks to usfrom one mess to another to help us with our personal messagejust as JESUS our Messiah does
we all are invited to God's family - to be part of His royal lineagebecause Everyone is Included in God's Loveandwe are part of HisUnlikely MosaicsoGod can use who we areGod can change what we areGod can take us where we areNo Misfits from A Misfit among Misfitsno one is beyond His Gracethere are no namesno black sheepJESUSis/wasJust Like Usborn with a past and a historywe have been made to become like Him"God wants you to be a masterpiece of His Graceby living for His Glory and expressingHis goodness to others."(Ephesians 2:10 NLT)The Reason You AreWho You Are
His Tree is our (my) tree
God Oversees the FutureGod Overcomes the PastYou're in the Picture
*Much of what I have composed above here are inserts from the subtitles of the first three weeks 1, 2, and 3 of JESUS, the Transformer. The following box contains the Prayers for each of these:

1."Lord, thank You for including me in the rich lineage, which has made me a member of Your family. Equip me to share Your goodness so that more can be called Your children." 2."Lord, I thank You that no one is beyond Your super- natural grace and that You choose to work through imperfect human vessels. Use me to Your glory." 3."Lord, thank You for becoming part of the human family so that I could become part of Your heavenly family. {This means everything to me!} Teach me how to live for You, love You more and do Your will."

I do believe that
JESUS
has become and begun as
the Transformer
in me and my life already
Don't you love it when a book or prayers speak to you or your heart? I do believe that these "52 Weeks With Jesus" will transform me even more. 
I believe like the author states in his devotional book that this will be a "transformative year and my passion for Jesus will deepen"
💖
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... As I move into the next section of my 52 Weeks With JESUS this week:

Section Two

... JESUS, the ANSWER ...

I've always known thisbut most oftenbelieve thatJESUShad theANSWERyet by sharingJESUSwith othersI tell themJESUSistheANSWERbutyou can find moreanswers about Him and lifein His Wordthe Bible<>

I'll be finding out more in the next seven weeks with these:

4. Bread for the Journey 5. Light in a Dark Place 6. An Open Door 7. The Good Life 8. A Grave Buster 9. A One-Way Street 10. The Root of the Fruit

MoreWith JESUSto come
JESUSAlways...1st...

maybe you can tell that JESUS is my One Word for 2023 - and so far I have not decided whether it's "...with JESUS" or "JESUS 1st" or "JESUS Always", yet I'm certain of this - it is:
JESUS
(front and center)

What about you?What's your 2023 One Word?