Sourdough and Jesus

And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.” – John 6:35

Today, before I ate my breakfast; organic, free-range eggs, and sourdough bread with real butter, I prayed over my food that I was doing and would continue to do what I can to take care of my temple.

Steaming sourdough bread on wire rack with cast iron pot and oven mitt in background

The bread has always been, and likely always will be, my favorite part. We order ours from a company that uses fresh ingredients and ships frozen.  All I have to do is preheat the oven, pop it on the rack for 18 to 20 minutes and enjoy.

I can never wait to cut that first slice, the loaf is warm, its crust a deep crackled gold that shatters under the knife with a satisfying crunch.  A thin ribbon of steam escapes, carrying that unmistakable sourdough perfume.

The butter I generously apply melts quickly into the tender interior. That first bite gives a nice crunch, and my taste buds are not satisfied with the mere nibble.

The flavor deepens as I eat; nutty, faintly sweet, and with that signature sourdough flavor. A fresh slice isn’t just food; it’s a perfect moment of warmth and indulgence to me.

You may already know where I’m going with this.

Jesus called himself the bread of life.  He isn’t ordinary bread that leaves you hungry again, but the kind that nourishes to the very marrow.

My sourdough warm from the oven and glistening with butter is a fleeting beautiful shadow of that greater reality; daily bread made holy by gratitude, by presence, and by willingness to tear and share.

So, I eat. Slowly and reverently.

And for a moment, my kitchen table feels like holy ground. The loaf is a quiet reminder that life is given, broken, and received with open hands.

Looking Up

Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. – Hebrews 12:2

My husband loves to fish. He enjoys fishing from the shore, and here in Tennessee that often means navigating large rocks, boulders, and steep inclines just to reach the sweet spot.

The other day, while telling me about one of his latest adventures, he said, “I was looking down and lost my balance for a minute, but when I looked up, I found it again.”

Immediately, I could picture it — his footing becoming uncertain, the awareness that one wrong step could lead to a painful fall, and then the simple act of lifting his head. Somehow, looking up helped steady him again.

As soon as I heard it, I thought about how often the same thing happens spiritually.

Life can feel unsteady, uncertain, and unsafe. When my focus stays fixed on the obstacles beneath me, fear has a way of creeping in. But when I lift my eyes to Jesus, I find my footing again.

He steadies what feels shaky.

He quiets my fear.

He reminds me that I was never meant to navigate life alone.

Who Do You Look Like?

My cousin has an adorable little boy, Bennett, who looks just like his dad. Not long ago, at a family gathering, I overheard several people say things like, “He is the spitting image of his dad,” and “He sure does favor him.” We hear phrases like that often when a child strongly resembles a parent. […]

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Pointing Others to Joy

Curved road through green fields and flowering trees with hills in the background

“Don’t point.” We were taught this as children, and many of us have taught it to our own. I remember those tiny fingers and the excited, “Look, Mommy!” and the quiet hope that what they had spotted was a butterfly, a bird, or even the candy counter at the grocery store. Please, not another person. […]

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Seeing Clearly: Understanding 1 Corinthians 13:12

Eyeglasses resting on moss with small white flowers and green plants around in a forest

The author reflects on a morning spent outdoors without glasses, paralleling it to the spiritual concept of seeing “through a glass darkly.” Drawing from 1 Corinthians 13:12, they emphasize the limitations of understanding in life. However, there’s hope for clearer understanding in the future, highlighting love’s role in navigating uncertainty.

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Morning Glory: A Prayerful Journey of Heart and Soul

Today is a new morning, a new gift. Sitting on my back porch, the sunlight peeking through the trees from a serene blue sky, with a slight chill in the air, the day couldn’t be more peaceful or beautiful. The only sounds are birdsong and childish laughter from a nearby school playground. It’s a prayerful […]

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It’s Finished Again

There is something both familiar and entirely new about finishing a book. I remember the first time, the mix of excitement, uncertainty, and the quiet question in the back of my mind: Will this matter to anyone else the way it matters to me? And now, here I am again, holding something that began as […]

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An oldie, but good for the season

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What the River Knows

I sat upon the bank atop the mossy bed.Settling in, I watched it pass, while visions filled my head.What tales could old man River tell? The stories he must know.Of seasons, weather, work, and play; of people, friend or foe? The rains of spring that fall for weeks and raise his levels high,The welcome heat […]

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A Tranquil and Quiet Start

On this beautiful fall Saturday morning, I’m grateful. Looking out my window, the leaves are fluttering on the trees, and some are giving up their lifelong perch and floating gently down to a ground already covered with their neighbors. The sky is blue with a wisp of white here and there, and the app on […]

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