The Bread Of His Presence

November has arrived with its typical bright sunshine, daily scattering the early frosts of the new Fall season. Germs and viruses brought in on the breezes and critters of summer have succumbed to the icy frost and when the snow finally comes the earth and the air it flows through will be cleansed completely. It is an annual blessing from God and this year, here in the Virginia mountains, the season's first snow could be here in time for the traditional Thanksgiving trek to Grandma's house.

As Americans from all corners of this great country fill the highways and the skies to reach home in time for turkey day with their families, I will be heading to Baltimore to share the holiday with two of my middle-aged children and their families. They used to come to Grandmom's house when Grandmom lived in Maryland, but now Grandmom  goes to their house - and they do the cooking. Bonnie Payne of Kentucky will be joining me for this year's holiday trek that will include a fellowship visit with Jim and Cheryl Hegberg, founders of Harvest Ministries, International, based in Baltimore. We first met in the mid-1980s, some twenty-five years ago, and a friendship developed  that has grown to anchor strength.

I was there - just a phone call away - when the Lord assigned Cheryl to bake the "Bread Of His Presence." Cheryl, born without her right forearm, said in response, "Who - me??? Lord, you know I don't bake - I am not a baker." By her own admission Cheryl had previously baked Christmas cookies the dog wouldn't eat. But God made a baker of Cheryl, giving her the ingredients for the bread and instructions on how she was to handle it from the mixing to the wrapping and shipping. She was instructed on how the bread was to be administered and shared with  the world. Since then, God has sent the Bread to fifty-eight nations as of this day. 

Cheryl, who expected to be a missionary, was shocked at the vision of the bread. It was a responsibility that caused her to fear. A one handed woman, baking bread in obedience for God's people, watching as God healed, delivered, comforted and blessed those that received it with faith. Since then it has been made freely available to all who ask for it. It is not meant as a communion bread but many partake of it as such - including me. But it has not always been easy for the Hegbergs. It was from the beginning a strange revelation, unacceptable to those without understanding.

The ministry grew as God's loaves reached the faithful every month, and as the testimonies poured in of the amazing things God was doing through His Bread. This vision has brought to their ministry a different focus and understanding and level of obedience and faith. In addition, the Lord is strengthening them through their hardships, trials and rejections. He is truly teaching them to "count it all joy!" 

As a strong intercessor who abides in the secret place of the Most High, and a prophetess who takes no prisoners, Cheryl, her husband and their daughters continue to seek the face of God for their city, their country and their enemies. We share - we chat - we pray - we are there today as we were twenty-five years ago - holding each other up and enduring the oncoming persecutions together. Bonnie and I met with Cheryl in September for a private long weekend getaway in Virginia and are looking forward to meeting with the family again over the Thanksgiving holidays.

I want to be where God dwells - in the home or the church or the field of His manifest Presence. I want to be in the midst of His Grace, in the firing line of His blessings and in the scope of His leading with His eye. But mostly, I just want to be His adoring child, snuggling into His knees, smelling His sweetness and wallowing in His love. And I can be all that anytime, anywhere, because He lives in me - all the time - in all circumstances.

Today the Hegbergs continue in a multi-faceted ministry that includes the ministry of "The Bread Of His Presence." They continue as well to suffer persecution as all who live holy before the Lord will do. Many do not understand the assignment the Lord gave the Hegbergs so many years ago. I have seen more than a few reject the Bread and even condemn it - not realizing what they were doing. And I have seen the tears of countless others as they received joy and miracles from being in His presence.

It is the only Bread in this world - that I know of - that represents a risen savior - all others keep Him on the Cross where there is agony and death. Give to me the risen savior, the Christ that lives forever, that I may shout and share with all, the living and reigning King of kings and Lord of lords.

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