A Different Blessing
“Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them ….” Romans 12:6
“A certain man placed a fountain by the wayside, and he hung up a cup near to it by a little chain. He was told some time after, that a great art-critic had found much fault with its design. “But,” said he, “do many thirsty persons drink at it?” Then they told him that thousands of poor people, men, women, and children, slaked their thirst at this fountain; and he smiled and said that he was little troubled by the critic’s observation, only he hoped that on some sultry summer’s day the critic himself might fill the cup, and refreshed, praise the name of the Lord.
Here is my fountain, and here is my cup: find fault if you please; but do drink of the water of life. I only care for this. I had rather bless the soul of the poorest crossing-sweeper, or rag-gatherer, than please a prince of the blood, and fail to convert him to God.”
(a story I’ve always loved, but never knew the SOURCE)
I want to take a moment to affirm the blessed diversity of the Bread writers (or, as we who manage the Bread refer to them, the Bread “Bakers.”). When the Holy Spirit opened the door for the “Bread” ministry to begin approximately ten years ago, there were only a couple of us writing these Breads. As time passed, the Spirit has spoken to various believers who have stepped to the plate volunteering to help continue this ministry. Currently, there are eight (8) “Bakers.” Our diversity is impressive: almost as though “Someone” greater than us planned it this way! Some have a rather cerebral approach to writing these devotions, others have a more “everyday real-world” approach. Some of us attend a church with a very formal “high” worship. Others of us participate in churches with a rather informal, more unstructured, worship approach. Sometimes a given writer feels led to focus on an academic, or indeed, scholarly, approach. Sometimes, we’ll feel led to speak from a daily experience we’ve recently encountered. What’s so refreshing, it seems to me, is that each week we are treated to a completely different devotional approach: never the “same ole, same ole!” What a great paradigm this is for our everyday living. We can choose to use our differences to divide us…or…we can choose to use our differences to deepen our understanding of the Loving Father of us all, to expand our insight, to solidify our bond in brotherly/sisterly love. It’s always our choice how we will deal with the differences between us, isn’t it?
Blessings Always in All Ways,
Steve
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“A certain man placed a fountain by the wayside, and he hung up a cup near to it by a little chain. He was told some time after, that a great art-critic had found much fault with its design. “But,” said he, “do many thirsty persons drink at it?” Then they told him that thousands of poor people, men, women, and children, slaked their thirst at this fountain; and he smiled and said that he was little troubled by the critic’s observation, only he hoped that on some sultry summer’s day the critic himself might fill the cup, and refreshed, praise the name of the Lord.
Here is my fountain, and here is my cup: find fault if you please; but do drink of the water of life. I only care for this. I had rather bless the soul of the poorest crossing-sweeper, or rag-gatherer, than please a prince of the blood, and fail to convert him to God.”
(a story I’ve always loved, but never knew the SOURCE)
I want to take a moment to affirm the blessed diversity of the Bread writers (or, as we who manage the Bread refer to them, the Bread “Bakers.”). When the Holy Spirit opened the door for the “Bread” ministry to begin approximately ten years ago, there were only a couple of us writing these Breads. As time passed, the Spirit has spoken to various believers who have stepped to the plate volunteering to help continue this ministry. Currently, there are eight (8) “Bakers.” Our diversity is impressive: almost as though “Someone” greater than us planned it this way! Some have a rather cerebral approach to writing these devotions, others have a more “everyday real-world” approach. Some of us attend a church with a very formal “high” worship. Others of us participate in churches with a rather informal, more unstructured, worship approach. Sometimes a given writer feels led to focus on an academic, or indeed, scholarly, approach. Sometimes, we’ll feel led to speak from a daily experience we’ve recently encountered. What’s so refreshing, it seems to me, is that each week we are treated to a completely different devotional approach: never the “same ole, same ole!” What a great paradigm this is for our everyday living. We can choose to use our differences to divide us…or…we can choose to use our differences to deepen our understanding of the Loving Father of us all, to expand our insight, to solidify our bond in brotherly/sisterly love. It’s always our choice how we will deal with the differences between us, isn’t it?
Blessings Always in All Ways,
Steve
<><
posted by BreadBakers at 12:11 PM
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