Running To Jesus ~ Advent Day 5

Did you know that Bethlehem means “House of Bread”? In Hebrew, “Beth-lehem” is actually two words: “house” (Beth) and “bread” (lehem). And since the Hebrew language is read from right to left, Bethlehem is written like this:

בֵּית   לֶחֶם
bread house

~ shereadstruth.com

When I was diagnosed with Celiac's Disease August 2013, I was devastated. No more bread. At least not the light, sweet bread that I love. If I eat even a bite of bread now, I have severe stomach cramps that only a woman who has had labor pains would truly appreciate. For many months I cried. I loved my bread and my carbs made from the gluten that is so plentiful this time of year.

Then, I realized that I only needed one "bread" to really sustain me when I longed for the bread I couldn't have any more. Jesus. The giver of the Bread of Life. He broke bread. It has been hard to go through communion at times. I was confused for a while. Was it sacrilegious not to really eat the bread given to me during the communion offering? To eat something in replace of it? To only receive a blessing maybe? To even *gasp* fake it? Over the course of the year and several communions later, I realized couple things. 1) Jesus loved me for me. He died on the cross for me. ALL of me. Even the Celiac part of me. Communion is me showing my love and utmost respect for that moment He gave all for ME! His broken body for mine. It had nothing to do with bread or a cracker or even a blessing. It has to do with me giving all of me just like He gave all of Himself for me. End of story. 2) Jesus loves me for me. He knows my heart. If it comes in an attitude of worship. He knows. How many times have I taken communion and have had an unclean heart? I don't want to know because I think it would break my heart. 3) Jesus loves me for me. He doesn't want to see me suffer. He wants me to be fully me. He wants me to run my race with perseverance but He doesn't want to see me suffer. He has provided me several ways to come to obedience in the way of Communion. I don't have to suffer. It was not ever about me suffering. 4) Jesus loves me for me. Period. Communion is just an outward showing of my love and faithfulness to the beauty of my love to Him. I just love Him that much. 

So many times we put or want to put stipulations on things. This time of year it is so easy to do. So easy to say "If I do this, than this will happen" or "If I DON'T do this, this will happen or this won't happen." Jesus' mission was clear. Love others for who they were. The broken mess that they were. Then, He died on the cross for all the brokenness that there was. I cannot even begin to comprehend it all. Not even to this day. All I know is in all that I do...I will always strive to be second. 

Go to Him hungry, expectant that you will walk away full. He is enough. ~ Jesus is enough. He was enough as a baby. He lived 33 years giving us enough. He died on the cross giving us everything. Celiac's or not. He is enough.