My son and I went to Costco yesterday to get cheese and crackers for our evening home group. While we were there, we picked up other groceries as well. My son really wanted ground beef so we could make cheese stuffed meatballs. His brother, apparently, is an expert at meatball making. I had my mind on chicken and dumplings, because my daughter in-law was talking about chicken and dumplings the other day and commented on how good it is. So, we bought the beef for the meat balls, something I probably won't be eating, and we got the chicken. I've never had chicken and dumplings, and I certainly haven't made them. So, I looked up the recipe, on my Iphone, of course, and I think I might actually be able to accomplish this task. The picture looks great, it sounds delicious, and it doesn't appear to be too complicated. So, between swimming lessons and the dentist today, I plan to embark on the big adventure of making chicken and dumplings.
Dumplings are cooked in the chicken mixture, they take on the flavor of the chicken and the gravy. They become immersed in the hot, creamy, chicken and vegies. Yup, my mind immediately went to Christ and being immersed in Him!
Am I? Do I immerse myself so deeply in Him that I take on His flavor? Is everything I do and think a reflection of Him? As I bury myself in His will, do I grow? When others get a taste of my character, do they see Jesus?
These are all questions that chicken and dumplings bring to my mind! And, whose it all about, really--the chicken or the dumplings? :-)
I read in 2 Corinthians 4 this morning. It's a great chapter on light again, and various things. It starts out by reminding me that God has generously let me in on what He is doing, and just because I may run into troublesome times, does not mean that I should throw up my hands and run. It makes it clear that I cannot wear a mask, or play games of any kind, or twist God's word to suit myself. On the Message side it says: "we keep everything we do and say out in the open, the whole truth on display, so that those who want to can judge for themselves the presence of God." And, he goes on to say: "light up the darkness! and our lives filled up with light as we saw and understood God in the face of Christ, all bright and beautiful."
Okay, so if my life is totally immersed IN Christ, I will be open and honest about who I am. The good and the bad, right? I won't hide in any darkness, but will allow His light to shine through me so others can see His presence.
This sounds a little frightening on a few levels. What if I get hurt? What if those around me don't like the open book? What if I am rejected, accused, abandoned? The chapter says near the end, "even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace." So, there's my answer! When I choose to be an open book before God and His Body, there may be times that I feel like it is all falling apart. But, He is working in me, creating new life everyday, growing me, immersing me IN Him. And, because of His boundless, endless grace, I will move through and reflect Him.
So, I choose to be a dumpling today, covered IN Him. I choose to take on His flavor, and grow In Him. It's about Him, not me. I'm just the dough In His life, for him to expand, teach, love, and give grace to. When He does all of that for me, others will witness His presence IN me, and that is good. I will be a testimony of who He is. Soaking In Him gives me power In His spirit!
Say That Again, Holy Jesus! Remind me to stay covered all day long.
Dumplings are cooked in the chicken mixture, they take on the flavor of the chicken and the gravy. They become immersed in the hot, creamy, chicken and vegies. Yup, my mind immediately went to Christ and being immersed in Him!
Am I? Do I immerse myself so deeply in Him that I take on His flavor? Is everything I do and think a reflection of Him? As I bury myself in His will, do I grow? When others get a taste of my character, do they see Jesus?
These are all questions that chicken and dumplings bring to my mind! And, whose it all about, really--the chicken or the dumplings? :-)
I read in 2 Corinthians 4 this morning. It's a great chapter on light again, and various things. It starts out by reminding me that God has generously let me in on what He is doing, and just because I may run into troublesome times, does not mean that I should throw up my hands and run. It makes it clear that I cannot wear a mask, or play games of any kind, or twist God's word to suit myself. On the Message side it says: "we keep everything we do and say out in the open, the whole truth on display, so that those who want to can judge for themselves the presence of God." And, he goes on to say: "light up the darkness! and our lives filled up with light as we saw and understood God in the face of Christ, all bright and beautiful."
Okay, so if my life is totally immersed IN Christ, I will be open and honest about who I am. The good and the bad, right? I won't hide in any darkness, but will allow His light to shine through me so others can see His presence.
This sounds a little frightening on a few levels. What if I get hurt? What if those around me don't like the open book? What if I am rejected, accused, abandoned? The chapter says near the end, "even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace." So, there's my answer! When I choose to be an open book before God and His Body, there may be times that I feel like it is all falling apart. But, He is working in me, creating new life everyday, growing me, immersing me IN Him. And, because of His boundless, endless grace, I will move through and reflect Him.
So, I choose to be a dumpling today, covered IN Him. I choose to take on His flavor, and grow In Him. It's about Him, not me. I'm just the dough In His life, for him to expand, teach, love, and give grace to. When He does all of that for me, others will witness His presence IN me, and that is good. I will be a testimony of who He is. Soaking In Him gives me power In His spirit!
Say That Again, Holy Jesus! Remind me to stay covered all day long.
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