Missing Part…

Several years ago I decided to go super natural in food and beauty products. But…

I’m a bread lover – pretty much all the mass produced stuff is unhealthy – I had to find a way. I began with milling my own wheat. I bought a used mill from a friend – after much use it finally wore out. I ordered a new one but when I was ready to use it, an important part was missing.

Life is a lot like ‘brand new in the box with the factory seal on’. We open it but a part is missing. When my children were little they listened to the ‘Donut Man’ – songs about Jesus – he pointed out that without Jesus we’re like donuts: holes in the middle that we can’t seem to fill. “You have made known to me the paths of life; You will fill me with joy in Your presence.” (Psalm 16:11 NIV)

So many who ‘have it all’ (money, power, fame) – leave behind a suicide note. All that striving, making it to the top, only to find nothing was there and it didn’t fill their deepest need after all. He calls to each one of us – longing to fill us with joy.

And religion and rituals and traditions leave so many just as empty. When belief is founded on man’s ideas and ways, the longing is still unmet. And the result is often strife, division, confusion. Jesus saw this firsthand – the very people He came to bring salvation to were the most wrapped up in religion. The Bible tells us it brought Him to tears.

Jesus won’t force Himself on us – but He is oh so good and quick the moment we turn to Him to meet us wherever we are, whatever we’ve done.

Because what Jesus really wants is to have a heart connection that runs soul deep. “Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you; He rises to show you compassion.” (Isaiah 30:18 NIV)

And when we have that connection, His compassion pours over us like a waterfall, grace covers us like a blanket, and mercy shows us the way to be filled with what lasts forever – no missing parts.