Comfort Food

My body and soul screamed for satisfaction. 

Driving home from church I kept getting urges and cravings. 

Coffee? Ice crème? Rhubarb pie? Every food place I passed called my name.

What was wrong with me I wondered? I had eaten a meal already.

I realized I was looking for something to satisfy me. And I wanted it NOW. 

Instant gratification. When I was almost home I realized that I was looking

for something that I already had.

I didn’t need comfort food. I had the Comforter. 

I decided to use the cravings for food, drink, and other distractions 

as a signal that I needed to spend time with HIM.

I began to worship and satisfy the hunger in my spirit. 

It took awhile for my spiritual food to process through the rest of my body and soul.  

But soon I was content. The Comforter was inside waiting for me to acknowledge Him.

As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God (Ps. 42:1NIV).

Prayer is not like a blind date.

During Christmas break of my freshman year at College I went home with Roberta to her northern Michigan home. Snow everywhere and lots of adventures awaited me. She talked me into a blind date with a guy named Cal. When we met He acted as uncomfortable as I felt.

We loaded up in Roberta's boyfriends car with Cal and I in the back seat and Ron and Roberta in the front. We didn't know anything about each other. It was awkward. So I asked him questions which He answered with 'Yes" or "No."

We had gone several miles down a rural road when the car began to chug and finally stopped. I'd been warned that boys sometimes ran out of gas to be alone with you. But this was not one of those times.
Cal and Ron got out and hiked to a service station two miles away for gas. Berta and I huddled together to keep warm.

When they came back it had "broken the ice" in my relationship with Cal as we looked at each other and began to laugh. He had on shoes that were not made for hiking in the snow. I told him to take them off, and I gave him my sweater to wrap around his feet until the car warmed us all up.

Sometimes I feel when I come to pray that I'm on a blind date. Awkward. Then I remember that God posted in Exodus who he was. He said in chapter 34 that He is merciful, gracious, patient, and full of goodness and truth. Next. I remember that He knows me. He knows the good, the bad, and the ugly, but he still loves me. And that NOTHING can separate me from his love. No, prayer is not like a blind date.

Is that your final answer, God?

"The subject is closed! If you ask me one more time I’m going to ground you.” I said this to one of my children when they asked to do something, again.

“I’m sorry Mom I can’t quit thinking about it.”

            I couldn’t imagine where this child got that persistent, determined, annoying, attitude. Then I looked in the mirror and smiled.

            My life was one quiet determination to not quit. Even God wasn’t excluded from my attitude. It’s a wonder He didn’t ground me several times when I came back and asked for something…again.

            At least I had good company from another who wouldn’t give up. Moses was a good example of wrestling with God.

The LORD said to Moses, “I have seen this people,

and behold, they are an obstinate people. “Now then let Me alone,

 that My anger may burn against them and that I may destroy them…” Exodus 32:9,10

 But Moses didn’t leave God alone. He reminded Jehovah of his promises to his people, appealed to God’s name and reputation, and appealed to God’s precedent like an experienced lawyer. God changed his mind.

You’ll never know God’s final answer until you ask more then once, or twice, or maybe three times. He said to me once. “I’ve told you and you won’t receive the answer.”  So, I asked Him again. He grounded me.

IT'S NOT TOO LATE

I cringed and wondered if he was too late.The older gentleman squeezed sideways between two automatic doors that were almost closed. They didn't crush him, but immediately the doors sensed he was there and opened. He walked through into the store and I followed behind him.

The verse that says our "calling makes room for us" had been in my mouth earlier that day. This gentleman illustrated that verse in front of my eyes.

Our "calling MAKING room for us" didn't mean walking unopposed into what God had created us to do. This man saw a small opening, a small opportunity almost closed and jumped into it. The doors that were almost closed detected his presence and opened.

When we were created God put a calling, a gifting into us. So whether your gift is to serve, to teach, exhort, give, lead, or show mercy, it's time to squeeze sideways into that doorway and see your destiny open and others will follow. (Romans 12:7-8. )

"For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevoccable." Romans 11:29

Roast Husband

 This made me laugh. It was a woman’s retreat. Four women were sitting at a table eating roast husband while an older lady and I sat there hearing their comments. We ate and did some polite chit chat, but she seemed in a hurry.

“He forgets our anniversary,” the first gal said.

“Well, mine gives me gifts, but all I want is more time with him.”

“My husband thinks washing dishes is women’s work. I would love to have him help me. But he sits in his chair while I cook, clean, and care for our kids.”

“Mine helps around the house, but he never talks. If he would just ask me how my day went, or tell me I did a good job.”

The older lady sat there with a twinkle in her eyes. When they finished she stood up to leave and spoke up.

“Well ladies, the way I see it, you can either switch husbands, or learn how to receive and give love to the one God gave you.” Later they walked into the auditorium together and realized she was the speaker for a retreat called: Learning to be Content.

But Godliness with contentment is great gain. 1Timothy 6:6