Listen carefully to me, and eat what is good, enjoy the richest of feasts.” (Isaiah 55:2b, CEB)

It's said that smells can be powerful memory triggers to places and events that have emotional connections for us. I believe it!

When hit with the aroma of fresh-baked bread, immediately in my mind's eye I'm walking through the back door of the farmhouse I grew up in. Coming in from a long summer day of playing outside with my brothers or after finishing my chores on a cold winter evening, the smell of my mom's homemade bread in the air let me I know all would be well. Mmmm... I can taste now!

As good as a slice of freshly buttered, steamy “right out of the oven” slice of my mom's bread tasted, it was much more than that really! The smell, sight, and taste of that bread confirmed that I was invited to come in, loved and cared for deeply, and always welcomed home no matter what. And when I think of some of the mischief my brothers and I could get into, that's pretty amazing really!

It's the same way with God!

God invites us back to the rich banquet of life in God’s presence and grace. It doesn't matter who you are or aren't. It doesn't matter where you've been or not been. It doesn't matter what you've done or not done... the invitation is always there to seek God, call on God, abandon our ways, and return to God (Isaiah 55:6-7). God's invitation still stands! Click here to listen to more (March 14 sermon). 

My prayer is that you will make yourself fully available to God's invitation and say “yes!”

Your partner on the journey,

Pastor Steve