Bread of Angels

I am reading a Jan Karon book called These High, Green Hills which is fabulous.  In Chapter Two it talks about Bread of Angels.  Such a beautiful illustration of God's love.

Exodus 16 tells us about Moses, Aaron, and the Israelites making a trek through the wilderness from Egypt.  They had a need for food and God miraculously provided their needs, manna.  Every day, all they had to do was gather it.  Psalm 78:25 called it the bread of angels.  How beautiful are those words.

Jan Karon uses this scripture to describe and illustrate marriage.  Every day, with what seemed to be no effort at all on his part, he received God's extraordinary provision of contentment-there it was waiting for him at every dawn; all he had to do was gather it in.    

Those words hit me fresh.  A reminder to my soul that God HAS and WILL always provide for my needs.  Whether it be my physical or mental, He is always there.  I have His word available to me at my fingertips, I just need to pick it up to read it.  I can communicate with Him daily by just praying.  I can have His words engraved in my heart by my committing my thoughts to scripture memorization.  I can have sweet fellowship with Him by doing these things daily, refreshing myself in His love. 

The question for myself is why do I sometimes allow myself to get caught up in the daily grind and not always refresh myself with the bread of angels?  He longs to feed me. 

Lord, help me to long for Your living Word.  Help me to eat daily the bread of angels.  Help me to not get caught up in all that is going on around me, but rather help me to come to Your feet daily getting fed from Your Word.

Choosing to SEE: A Journey of Struggle and Hope ~ Mary Beth Chapman

In October I was able to attend the Women of Faith conference in Tampa Florida.  I was blessed by the speakers and music, and was brought to tears by the Chapman family.  For whatever reason God has chosen to take their daughter Maria home to Heaven much earlier than what ANY parent would imagine. Mary Beth was able to speak at the conference and share a little about the journey that God has taken them on while Steven Curtis sang a song from his new album while their sons performed.    I left the auditorium that day touched by the sincerity and raw emotion from this family. 
I bought her book and Steven's CD Beauty Will Rise from the convention, but you can purchase it from her website here. 

Choosing to SEE: A Journey of Struggle and Hope ~ Mary Beth Chapman.

I've told my kids for years that God doesn't make mistakes," writes Mary Beth Chapman, wife of Grammy award winning recording artist Steven Curtis Chapman. "Would I believe it now, when my whole world as I knew it came to an end?" Covering her courtship and marriage to Steven Curtis Chapman, struggles for emotional balance, and living with grief, Mary Beth's story is our story--wondering where God is when the worst happens. In Choosing to SEE, she shows how she wrestles with God even as she has allowed him to write her story--both during times of happiness and those of tragedy. Readers will hear firsthand about the loss of her daughter, the struggle to heal, and the unexpected path God has placed her on. Even as difficult as life can be, Mary Beth Chapman Chooses to SEE. Includes a 16-page full color photo insert.

I LOVED both the book and the CD.    Both are a beautiful testament of a family who is grounded, loves and lives for the Lord.  Mary Beth and Steven Curtis are so genuine in their writing and allowing the depth of their emotions to be expressed so honestly.  Mary Beth allowed me to SEE that God can and will use anything for His glory.  The book had me laughing from one moment and crying in the next.  This is a book that while reading I suggest having a box of tissues with you.

Since I have finished reading, my book has been passed on to three different friends who all agree with me that this is a book you will not want to pass on reading.  If you have not had the chance to read it, make the time  -- it will be well spent.