Happy Winter Solstice! We celebrate the coming of longer days in the Far North. The darkness can be an added burden with regular snowstorms and sub-zero temps. Of more importance, however, is to celebrate the birth of our Savior, Jesus – The Bread of Life.
This winter I am taking my old sourdough starter to new heights; unexplored realms of making sourdough bread. I was seeking a new hobby for the cold darkened days ahead and ventured into bread-making. Little did I realize the complexities of sourdough bread-making techniques, but after several failures, my sourdough baking is improving. After another two freshly baked loaves met their future in the trash bin along with their malformed cousins, my daughter called. She listened to my baking woes and then offered,
“Why not try praying over the next batch of dough and play peaceful piano music while making the bread?”
That suggestion stopped me in my tracks!
"Why didn’t I think of that?” I thought, as I also felt incredibly proud of raising such a solution-oriented child.
“Fantastic! I’ll try it!” I agreed.
What better Person to help me with this problem than my Master Jesus, The Bread of Life?
Well, today the sourdough is progressing nicely and on the final proofing stage. Two shaped loaves are resting comfortably next to the best piano Christmas music to be found on You Tube with a fireplace background for ambience. The dough has been reverently prayed over, autolyzed, gently stretched and folded on schedule; and bulk-proofed throughout the night.
With only one hour to go before bake time, my hopes are high for impressive loaves. At least I feel terrific and blessed with the Lord by my side throughout the process.
Could I have picked a better new hobby? I don’t think so. After all, it is challenging and keeps me in the warm kitchen while the weather is frightfully cold outside. If I ever produce a decent loaf of sourdough bread, then Jesus gets the glory! It is already keeping me more reliant on Jesus, My Bread of Life, and that is a wonderful thing!
In Luke 11:2-4, we find The Lord’s Prayer; and the phrase, “Give us this day, our daily bread.”
Then further along in the Gospels, Jesus states, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst. All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. This is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise Him up at the last day.”
~ John 6:35,37,38,40 NKJV
Yes, Lord Jesus! Be my Heavenly Bread always!
Thank you for visiting The Fragrance of Christ blog. May your Christmas be bright, blessed, and filled with wonderment at the birth of Jesus, our Daily Bread of Life!
And Thank You, Jesus, for these heavenly loaves of bread!