Archive | September 2025

Chaplain’s Corner – I AM the Bread of Life

Sep23

“Taste and see that the Lord is good….” (Psalm 34:8).

God in his wisdom created man with a need for bread. Every nationality has different dietary customs, but I think each one has some equivalent of bread on the menu. It is universal. The first mention of bread in the Bible was when “…Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High… (Genesis 14:18). Shortly thereafter, in Genesis 18:6, “… Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah. ‘Quick,’ he said, ‘get three seahs (approx. 27 quarts) of the finest flour and knead it and bake some bread.’”

And we all know of how God provided manna (bread) for the entire Exodus journey from Mt. Sinai until they crossed over the Jordan River to the Promised Land (Exodus 16:35). God sustained Elijah and the widow of Zarephath for three and one-half years through the miraculous provision of oil and flour (1 Kings 17:13-14). Those are just a couple of the stories where bread plays a major part in the action.

Bread was even an element of the Old Testament sacrificial system. Grain offerings were to be baked into cakes of bread for the sacrificial fellowship or peace offerings as described in Leviticus 7:11-16. According to the website GotQuestions.org, “Most sacrifices in the Old Testament system were not eaten by worshipers, but the peace offering was meant to be eaten—only a portion of the animal or grain brought to the altar was burned; the rest was given back to the worshiper and to the poor and hungry. The beautiful picture here is of God’s provision for His people, both physically and spiritually. His grace and goodness are present throughout the offerings. In the peace offering, God was providing what we need: a way to thank Him for His goodness and physical sustenance.”

When we get to the New Testament, the best-known story about bread is when Jesus fed the five thousand with five small barley loaves and two fishes (John 6). And when the crowd of people followed him to the other side of the lake, Jesus challenged them saying that they were only following him because he had filled their bellies. He went on to tell them that they should be seeking food that would not spoil—food that would endure to eternal life. “What sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you? What will you do? Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written: ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’”

“Jesus said to them, ‘Very truly I tell you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.’‘Sir,’ they said, ‘always give us this bread.’”

Then, in verse 35, “Jesus declared, ‘I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.’”

As bread sustains physical life, so Christ offers and sustains spiritual life. He is nourishment for our soul, but we must partake to get the benefit. The bread on the shelves of the grocery store does us no good. The bread in our pantry does us no good either. It is not until we consume it that it nourishes us, that it saves our lives.

The breaking and eating of bread is especially good when we acknowledge the communal aspect. I admit that I used to eat far too many meals in my car (any is too many). It is not mindful, and the nutritionists will tell you that mindful eating is healthier. Food is meant to be enjoyed. We are meant to savor our food, to be aware of where it comes from. Jesus includes this acknowledgement of our Provider in his model prayer when he says “Give us the day our daily bread”. And during the Last Supper, Jesus models gratitude for his meal when he prays. “While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, ‘Take and eat; this is my body.’”

So, whether we are alone in our car or around the table with family or friends, let us use the actual act of eating to invite Jesus to join in the celebration of our meal, to commune with us. Let us use this time to remember that while we are dependent upon God and therefore thankful for our food, we are even more dependent upon the life-giving sacrifice of Jesus and therefore thankful for the spiritual nourishment that comes from our Savior.

Break Thou the Bread of Life

In Christ,

Judy

Chaplain’s Corner – Who Is God?

Sep17

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)

In the Book of Exodus, when Moses meets God at the burning bush, God states his own name for the first time. He is telling Moses that this is my name, and this is how you are to introduce me to my people. It is an all-inclusive name. It conveys eternity: He is in every time, past, present, and future. It conveys self-existence; He is dependent upon no one and nothing for his existence. God is the Creator, and everything other thing that has ever existed was created by him. Unfathomable, unsearchable, truly awesome.

Essential and foundational to our faith is knowing God. Yet what a challenge! God is so much more than our human minds can grasp. In Romans 11:33-34 (quoting from Isaiah 40;13) – Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! “Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?” This is the Apostle Paul speaking. If he is in awe of God, how much more should we be.

The best way to know about God is to read his Word to us in the Bible. We can read account after account of how God has accomplished great and good things; how he has made and kept his promises. Even Balaam, a pagan prophet, acknowledged that “God is not a man, so he does not lie. He is not human, so he does not change his mind. Has he ever spoken and failed to act? Has he ever promised and not carried it through?” (Numbers 23:19). I especially like how our CEO, Glenn Cranfield, puts it. “God is who he says he is, and he can do what he says he will do.”

In the New Testament, when the crowds challenged Jesus as to his identity, they referenced Abraham. “Are you greater than our father Abraham? He died, and so did the prophets. Who do you think you are?” (John 8:53). Jesus replied: “Very truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!” (John 8:58). With this statement, Jesus invoked his own divinity as the second person of the Trinity. In other chapters of the book of John, Jesus makes seven “I AM” statements of his own:

  1. “I am the bread of life.” (John 6:35, 41, 48, 51)
  1. “I am the light of the world.” (John 8:12)
  2. “I am the door.” (John 10:7)
  3. “I am the resurrection and the life.” (John 11:25)
  4. “I am the good shepherd.” (John 10:11, 14)
  5. “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” (John 14:6)
  6. “I am the true vine.” (John 15:1, 5)

Finally, three times in the Book of Revelation, Jesus tells John: “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End” (Revelation 22:13). In subsequent Chaplain Corner devotionals, we will explore these “I AM” statements of Jesus and how they relate to the message of the entire Bible of redemption and reconciliation.

The best way to know about God is to study His Word. The best way to know God is to believe what his Word says to us and to put that belief into practice. What does this mean for you and me? It makes all the difference to me when I pray. If I begin my prayer as Jesus instructed, “Our Father in Heaven, hallowed be your name,” and when I ponder who he is and how h has kept his promises throughout all time, then I can pray with confidence, “Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.” God is who he says he is, and he can do what he says he will do.

In Christ,

Judy

Chaplain’s Corner – Cleanliness and Godliness

Sep10

“For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love” (2 Peter 1:5-7).

Look closely at this this opening verse. It does not mention cleanliness in the list of godly aspirations, yet I’ve heard this all my life: “Cleanliness is next to godliness.” So why am I writing about it? For two completely opposite reasons.

Reason one: We must beware of taking as biblical any statement just because it sounds good. While this phrase is often attributed to the well-known preacher, John Wesley, you will not find it in the Bible. Supposedly, it was a reference to being pure, but that is not the intent whenever I hear it. It reminds me of so many other statements from culture or psychology that we have had ingrained in our lives as to think they are biblical, such as:
• God helps those who help themselves.
• God will not give you more than you can handle.
• God wants us to be happy.
• Bad things happen to good people.
• All good things come to those who wait.
• This too shall pass.
• Money is the root of all evil.
• Charity begins at home.
• The road to hell is paved with good intentions.
• When you die, God gains another angel.
• We all go to the same place when we die.
• To thine own self be true.

Sometimes, these sayings are a slight twist on Scripture, maybe they contain just a grain of truth; but they will throw us off track if we are not careful. Some of these sayings we as believers know to be false, but so many nonbelievers take them to heart. I am not going to explain each one; I encourage you to do your own research. In fact, I encourage you to listen with discernment to filter all you hear through the wisdom of the Bible. To do this, takes a diligent study of the Scriptures. Strive to be like the Bereans, who didn’t even take Paul on his word without thorough examination of the Scriptures: “Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true” (Acts 17:11).

Reason Two: While the state of cleanliness is never biblically said to be next to godliness, the Bible commends cleanliness in many ways:
• Cleanliness is an element of stewardship, which is a command given to all humankind, beginning in the Garden of Eden when God commanded Adam to “subdue the earth.”
• There are many biblical references to “clean” and “unclean.” These references are designations of acceptable and unacceptable elements to be used in worship. This could refer to types of food, certain animals, the condition of a person, etc. God made clear distinctions for what he considered to be clean, and for what we would say today is holy.
• Jesus used the idea of being clean to convey holiness. He condemned those who were hypocritical, just wanting to look good on the inside. Instead, we should work to be clean from the inside out. “Then the Lord said to him: ‘Now then, you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness’” (Luke 11:39).
• In this sense, we are exhorted to purity (spiritual cleanliness) throughout the Bible. The Psalmist wrote: “Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place? The one who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not trust in an idol or swear by a false god” (Psalm 24:3-4). Paul told Timothy: “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity” (1 Timothy 4:12).

I can’t leave this topic without making a distinction between being clean and the act of cleaning itself. Many of you are employed by the Mission in the ministry of cleaning. You are cleaning up for, and after, the least of these—in their sickness, in their addiction, in their helplessness, and sometimes just because. And you do it with a servant’s heart! It is clear that your effort in this work is based on your gratitude and love for Jesus and for those whom He loves. In so many ways, your work is the most powerful testimony of all. Thank you.

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving” (Colossians 3:23-24).

In Christ,
Judy
e does not mention cleanliness in the list of godly aspirations, yet I’ve heard this all my life: “Cleanliness is next to godliness.”  So why am I writing about it? For two completely opposite reasons.

Reason one: We must beware of taking as biblical any statement just because it sounds good. While this phrase is often attributed to the well-known preacher, John Wesley, you will not find it in the Bible. Supposedly, it was a reference to being pure, but that is not the intent whenever I hear it. It reminds me of so many other statements from culture or psychology that we have had so ingrained in our lives as to think they are biblical, such as:

  • God helps those who help themselves.
  • God will not give you more than you can handle.
  • God wants us to be happy.
  • Bad things happen to good people.
  • All good things come to those who wait.
  • This too shall pass.
  • Money is the root of all evil.
  • Charity begins at home.
  • The road to hell is paved with good intentions.
  • When you die, God gains another angel.
  • We all go to the same place when we die.
  • To thine own self be true.

Sometimes, these sayings are a slight twist on Scripture, maybe they contain just a grain of truth; but they will throw us off track if we are not careful. Some of these sayings we as believers know to be false, but so many nonbelievers take them to heart. I am not going to explain each one; I encourage you to do your own research. In fact, I encourage you to listen with discernment to filter all you hear through the wisdom of the Bible. To do this, takes a diligent study of the Scriptures. Strive to be like the Bereans, who didn’t even take Paul on his word without thorough examination of the Scriptures: “Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true” (Acts 17:11).

Reason Two: While the state of cleanliness is never biblically said to be next to godliness, the Bible commends cleanliness in many ways:

  • Cleanliness is an element of stewardship, which is a command given to all humankind, beginning in the Garden of Eden when God commanded Adam to “subdue the earth.”
  • There are many biblical references to “clean” and “unclean.” These references are designations of acceptable and unacceptable elements to be used in worship. This could refer to types of food, certain animals, the condition of a person, etc. God made clear distinctions for what he considered to be clean, and for what we would say today is holy.
  • Jesus used the idea of being clean to convey holiness. He condemned those who were hypocritical, just wanting to look good on the inside. Instead, we should work to be clean from the inside out. “Then the Lord said to him: ‘Now then, you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness’” (Luke 11:39).
  • In this sense, we are exhorted to purity (spiritual cleanliness) throughout the Bible. The Psalmist wrote: “Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place? The one who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not trust in an idol or swear by a false god” (Psalm 24:3-4). Paul told Timothy: “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity” (1 Timothy 4:12).

I can’t leave this topic without making a distinction between being clean and the act of cleaning itself. Many of you are employed by the Mission in the ministry of cleaning. You are cleaning up for, and after, the least of these—in their sickness, in their addiction, in their helplessness, and sometimes just because. And you do it with a servant’s heart! It is clear that your effort in this work is based on your gratitude and love for Jesus and for those whom He loves. In so many ways, your work is the most powerful testimony of all. Thank you.

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving” (Colossians 3:23-24).

In Christ,

Judy

Chaplain’s Corner – Prayer of the Tabernacle, pt 4

Sep3

“The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe” Proverbs 18:10).

We are finishing the Prayer of the Tabernacle, a suggestion for how to spend some intentional time with God in prayer, guided by how the OT Tabernacle/ Temple was set up. The setup of the tabernacle was intended to draw one into a worshipful experience, so it works well as a model of prayer.

Imagine walking through the temple gates and immediately experiencing the wonder and glory of God and His majesty, compelling us to “enter His gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise.” Then, recalling the sacrifice that Jesus made for our sins, we ask God to cleanse us from sin so that we can prepare our hearts to follow him. We are then reminded to call on the Holy Spirit as our counselor and comforter, and to call on Jesus as the Word and the bread of life. (Here’s a link to last week’s devotional in case you missed it.)

Now, as we have prepared our hearts to meet with God, we come to the Altar of Incense which stands at the entrance to the Holy of Holies where God’s presence dwelled. Here we worship the names of God. During this time of your prayer, thank God for making His presence available to you. Praise his names and worship Him specifically for who He is and how He has moved in your life. Here are some examples:

  • Jehovah-Rapha: My Healer
  • Jehovah-Jireh: My Provider
  • Jehovah-Shalom: My Peace
  • Jehovah-Shammah: My Present Help

And after acknowledging the power, mercy, and grace of God, we come to the Holy of Holies, the innermost place where God dwelled. Before Jesus died on the cross, only the High Priest was able to enter this place to make intercessory prayer. Because of Jesus’ atoning death, we look to Him as our Great High Priest; and with his Resurrection He lives to make intercession for us (Hebrews 7:24-25). And not only that, but we also share in this priestly role and are able to make intercession for others. What a privilege to come to God through Jesus in this way—to solicit prayers for us and for others (Ephesians 6:18).

However you choose to pray, along with your prayers throughout your day, it is well to also devote some intentional time to spend with God in confession, worship, thanksgiving, and intercession.

“I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession, and thanksgiving be made for all people— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth” (2 Timothy 2:1-4).

In Christ,

Judy