Our Daily Bread...

Reflecting this Sabbath on the word of the Lord as meditated on by our pastor Bob Flayhart today, a new concept was presented to me that has plagued me most of the day. As Jesus instructed his disciples in Matthew 6 on "how to pray" (i.e. The Lord's Prayer) we are to corporately pray for our "daily bread." Not bread for next week, next year, the bread of retirement, or the bread that will get our children through college but what we need this day--today's bread. How much of my time is spent worrying whether we have adequately prepared for the future, whether we can "afford" to do X, Y, or Z in the future? Am I not much more valuable to the Father than the birds of the sky? Matt. 6: 25-27. Why then do I engage so often in such disobedient behavior by not trusting that manna will continue to flow each and EVERY day to fulfill my necessities. Further, will He not have the same favor on my children? Why do I feel as I am the ultimate authority for my child? In a few rare and silent moments of solitude, His grace directs me that the buck stops not with me but with HIM. Lastly, as I continue in my quest to yearn for "daily bread," I am awe struck by the question (posited by Bob) "what if all of our excess--i.e. everything we do not need for today--grew worms and stank" as did the manna from Heaven (Exodus 16:20)? I fear if such a scenario rang true, when I awoke tomorrow morning, the worms would take over and revolt against me.

I Hate Blogs

Let me begin by reiterating that I hate blogs. Or rather is it that I have just developed and maintained a strident disdain for most bloggers? Since learning of the rampant popularity of these cyber-placed personal yearbooks, I have found that many blogs are devoted to recounting everything about one's life and family for the general population to see and read on the World Wide Web. For those who refuse to place any restrictions on their blogs, mere acquaintances (and even strangers) will know as much of your life as you feel inclined to divulge. Consequently, with the rise of blogging popularity I have also seen a direct increase in "cyber-stalking" leading to terrible cases of "keeping up with the internet Joneses." For example: Planning your next vaca? Got a new car? Posted it on your blog? I bet your ninth grade boyfriend whose heart you broke at the homecoming dance when you made out with the JV football captain as the DJ serenaded you with GnR's "Patience" is now going to one-up-your new SUV purchase he learned about after reading it on your blog. Of course these problems inherently assume one vital piece of information: that anyone else cares about your life or reading it on your blog. Hence, I have been "reluctant" to jump on the "blog bandwagon."

That said, I have come to understand the value of many of the blogs I read (and/or skim) . It is a good way for family to keep in touch with grandchildren, nieces, nephews, etc. I have also been exceedingly encouraged and inspired by a few blogs--one by the mother of an extremely ill daughter which chronicles her prayerful journey for her daughter's recovery, and several introspective and thought provoking blogs which promote the exchange of intelligent (and some not-so) ideas. Thus, as I find myself with an idea now and then and few people to share them with during the day (since my five month old has yet to master vocabulary), I have succumbed and entered the blogging world as part of the pursuit of my Domestic Degree. I don't operate under the guise that this blog will be similar to those I find inspiring and well written, but I do hope it is informative, fun and at times thought provoking to those interested. I make only mild apologies for my tongue-and-cheek attitude and the likelihood that I will at some time offend every reader. Please know I am an equal opportunity offender and am much harder on myself than anyone else. And of course, I welcome comments (laudatory preferred). So for now...stay tuned...