Being present is something I feel the Lord impressing on me lately. He’s Omnipresent and I’m made in His likeness. He calls me to be present in relationship with Him. Any future planning should always done with the understanding of “Lord willing” as we were taught in James, as He ultimately orders our steps. And, whatever the future “plan”, we aren’t to worry. Same for the flip side; the past is past, and while we desire to learn from it, we aren’t called to wallow in it. Worry for future and regret for the past are the two very best ways to blind yourself to your present.

Don’t I know it.

Once again, I realize much of my worry is tied to my fear of disappointing my Father. It’s tied to disappointing others. It’s tied to disappointing myself.

When I get into this seemingly unending rumination, I once again hear a still small voice calling me back into the present, reminding me it’s already finished. There’s no longer need for worry in Christ. There’s no future where He isn’t. He’s with me presently. I’ve screwed up, and I will screw up. I’ve done incredible things I’m proud of for the sake of my Father and His Christ. I will continue to do incredible things as I continue to pursue His heart.

It’s all in the mix. Good and, “bad”.

Even so, I feel my faith rising much like the loaves I watch my mother lovingly craft to this day. I’m being “kneaded” daily, receiving gentle promptings, intentional pushes, and high-pressure nudges depending on the topic and urgency. In this concoction is ALL my good and ALL my bad, past, present, and future….all kneaded together lovingly, creating the woman I am becoming, and ALL covered by His grace.

Do you feel it? Do you sense the spiritual food He’s creating in you, for you? For others? Like a well-created loaf, do you feel your faith rising?

It’s all here. In us. ALL of it. Right now. And ALL of it is covered by His eternal, sufficient grace.

He sees all the ingredients, He made them. He knew which ingredients would be soured by the evil one, yet He somehow saw all of them coming. He has and fully-baked plan to use the rancid to make the loaf more nutrient filled in the end, feeding more than we could ever ask, think, hope, or imagine.

We’re not God’s problem…we’re what He’s baking, as stated by Mr. Heath in today’s song,

Don’t let the rolling pin scare you. It simply a tool to remove the hollow places and make our bread better.