I have not been studying the bible all of my life and there are many times I am sure I do not completely understand each and every verse. It is very possible this is true with one of my favorite verses in Luke (v28:48). I often work to preach to my family that everything we have comes from the Lord and he provides it to us for HIS glory. It is not wrong to receive, but every time I am on the receiving end there is a part of me that shakes in my boots for it is now another blessing I need to give an account for.
This sums up the feeling I had today when Frank Conlon drove up our driveway with our new brick oven. Frank and his son Josh built the original brick oven (old world Pompeii style) which gave us our start in the bread and pizza business. We used that oven heartily-baking in it every week, even in the worst of weather. We completely enjoyed that oven for it allowed us to explore our craft and provided us with great food to share. It was a true Blessing from God for he provided us the means (both financial and physical) to have it built.
When time came to move down here we puzzled what to do about the oven which had become such a part of who we are as a family. It was cemented to a cinder block foundation and moving it would be an amazing feat. We knew we would have to make some sacrifices coming down and it looked as though the oven would be one. Just when we were ready to give it up-in stepped God (using Frank as the means). Frank had been working on a mobile pizza oven for his business and invited us over to see what he was creating. It was the perfect answer to our prayers. God even provided me with extra summer work to pay for the oven-He is perfect in every way.
It took Frank almost two months to build our new oven-and it is wonderful. Frank made some modifications to his original design and this oven outperforms the other one thus far. It has extra insulation which enabled us to bake pizza, bread, and even roast a chicken for dinner tomorrow night in our cast iron pot. When darkness came upon us tonight the oven was still running around 350 degrees.
When Frank pulled away today I had this rush of excitement filled with a rush of overwhelment (is that a word?) knowing now that we are back in business. God did not provide us this oven for our individual enjoyment only. He provided it for us so we can get back into the business of sharing His grace with others. This directly related to our Proverbs study this morning which directed us through Proverbs 6. Work is a blessing by God and we are to embrace it will all our heart. Of course I am speaking of the work God gives us which serves Him daily. This is not to say that we don't enjoy the oven (we love it and God is truly gracious) but I hope we always remember from Whom it came and for Who's purpose it is to serve.
If anyone needs some bread or pizza-we are open for business!
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