Tag: sweeter than honey

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The Candy Cane

Have a cup of coffee with me this morning as I share “The Legend of the Candy Cane”. Every year I share the story in one fashion or another. Since so many of you are new readers this year I thought I should share it again.

Over thirty years ago I was given a little lapel pin at Christmas. It looked like a cute little candy cane. However, when I held it upside down it was in the shape of a “J”. It was attached to a little card which told the story of how it came to be.

“I am the good shepherd. I know my sheep, and they know me. 15 Just as the Father knows me, I know the Father, and I give up my life for my sheep. ” John 10:14-15 CEV

A few years later I was in a bookstore and found a wonderfully illustrated children’s book, “The Legend of the Candy Cane”. I bought it and it sits on our coffee table each year and I have read the story to our children and grandchildren. It’s a cute story of a confectioner who moves to a small town and sets up his shop. The winter is harsh and the town folks are feeling isolated and alone. The candy maker, with the help of a little girl from town, set out to do something to lift the spirits of their neighbors. They make candy canes. The confectioner tells the little girl the story behind his new candy as they work.

The story gave me an idea of how to share the message of Jesus with all I meet throughout the Christmas season. I have printed little cards, like the one picture above and attach each card to a candy cane with a red ribbon. I always have a supply of them in my purse or coat pocket and when I’m out and about I hand out candy canes to store clerks, waitresses, postal workers, anyone I have dealings with.

Handing out Candy Canes with this little message is a great way to share Jesus at Christmas. I even have a basket of them on the counter in our home to share with neighbors and friends who drop in.

Who doesn’t like candy at Christmas? The candy cane has been associated with Christmas for as long as I can remember. The story of the candy cane is one of Jesus and His saving grace. Find a way to have fun and share the love of Jesus with folks.

“His teachings are worth more than pure gold. They are sweeter than the best honey dripping from the honeycomb.May my words and thoughts please you. Lord, you are my Rock—the one who rescues me.” Psalm 19: 10 & 14 ERV

The story of Christmas is not only the greatest story ever told but it’s the sweetest!

(You can find a link to the book on my website page “I Like These”.)

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So Yummy!

The last few days we have been off on another adventure in our fifth wheel trailer. We are enjoying the change of scenery and weather. The mornings have been below freezing.

I’m very thankful for a good heater!

As I sat here this morning I began making a mental list of the baking that needs to be done. The change in weather prompts a desire to bake and to make warm dishes. There’s just something about the smell of cookies, banana bread and cinnamon rolls that make a home seem cozier.

Warm soup simmering on the stove and fresh bread in the oven are some of the best parts of autumn and winter. My most favorite part is sharing what I’ve made with family and friends. Feeding those I love brings me great joy.

I think I get that from my Father. He enjoys feeding people.

In the Garden of Eden He made sure Adam and Eve had every kind of fruit and vegetable their hearts desired. When there was a famine He sent Jacob and his family to Egypt where there was plenty to eat. When the Israelites complained that they didn’t have enough to eat in the desert He sent bread from heaven every morning and supplied them with an over abundance of quail.

Jesus fed over five thousand men and their families with a boy’s lunch and had leftovers. After his resurrection He had a morning meal of grilled fish waiting for his disciples on the seashore when they returned from a night’s work.

The Bible even tells us about a banquet that will be served at the end of the age called the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. It will be a feast like none other.

The Father provides for those He loves!

“For the angel of the Lord is a guard; he surrounds and defends all who fear him. 8 Taste and see that the Lord is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him! 9 Fear the Lord, you his godly people, for those who fear him will have all they need.” Psalm 34:7-9 NLV

King David said that God’s word is sweeter than honeycomb. I agree. My life with the Lord is so good. Nothing can compare with the joy, the peace, the unconditional love that the Father shares with me.

For those who are hungering for more in life I encourage you to come. Taste and see that the Lord is good! A life centered on Him is delicious!

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Eating Well

I love to cook and I love to eat! I’m not really a foodie; I don’t really like going too far outside my comfort zone to try to new foods but I like to eat well, not always healthy, but well.

Yesterday morning we went out for breakfast. Since we live in a small community there aren’t a lot of places to choose from so we normally end up going back to the same diner. Not yesterday. We went to a Mexican restaurant down at the bottom of the hill. Had to look it up on-line to see if they were even open for breakfast, they were. Couldn’t find an on-line menu but figured we would try it anyway.

Oh, my goodness!! Delicious!

Dave and I both ordered the Mexican omelette. It was amazing. My mouth is watering now as I’m telling you about it. It was so good and I savored every bite. There was one small problem; no matter how flavorful it was and how generous the portion I was hungry again before the day was done.

I cannot depend on the nutrients of that savory, mouth-watering dish to sustain me for the rest of this week. Nor can I depend on the powerful message that Pastor Robert preached yesterday morning to keep me supplied with spiritual strength for the rest of this week.

We need to eat well, physically and spiritually, each day to stay healthy and strong.

“But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Matthew 4:4 NLT

I understand eating healthy, however, we can be more religious about counting calories, cutting carbs, and staying on the right diet than we are about feeding from God’s word. We should be getting fat on the good news of the Gospel. We can never overeat when we are feasting from the word.

“The light of the eyes makes the heart glad. Good news puts fat on the bones.” Proverbs 15:30 NLT

“Those who are hungry and thirsty to be right with God are happy, because they will be filled.” Matthew 5:6 NLV

Feeding on a steady diet of God’s word will keep us strong and healthy. Eat well!

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No Sack Lunch for Me

Did you take a sack lunch to school? I did from time to time but our youngest daughter loved taking a sack lunch every day.

While filling a brown paper bag with a few favorite foods is nice, it certainly doesn’t please the palate like a gourmet meal or a lavish banquet.

I do remember sharing this story with you before but it came to mind again this morning. When we first moved here we frequented a local Mexican restaurant. The food is wonderful.

Something cute happened while we were there and as I lay awake thinking about it this morning the Lord turned it into a life lesson for me. Let me share…

Just as we arrived a family came in and sat at the next table. As they sat their waiting for the waitress to bring their drinks I noticed the little girl  brought in a sack from Wendy’s. As her parents ordered and enjoyed their chips and salsa, the little girl reached into the sack and took out her Frosty, fries and burger. I thought, how cute!

But now the life lesson. The Father has called us all to a banquet.

“16 Jesus said to him, “A man gave a big dinner. He invited many people. 17 When it was time to eat, he sent his servant to tell the guests, ‘Come. The food is ready.’ 18 But all the guests said they could not come. Each one made an excuse…’ 21 “So the servant returned and told his master what happened. The master was angry. He said, ‘Hurry! Go into the streets and alleys of the town. Bring me the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame.’ 22 “Later, the servant said to him, ‘Master, I did what you told me to do, but we still have places for more people.’ 23 The master said to the servant, ‘Go out to the highways and country roads. Tell the people there to come. I want my house to be full!” Luke 14:16-23 ERV

The Father doesn’t want our excuses as to why we can’t come and He doesn’t want us bringing our own lunch. He wants to lavish on us the things He has prepared for us.

He wants us to realize that He has promised to supply all our needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. He wants us to know that He has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places; He wants us to accept that He has made us priests and kings, we are a royal priesthood, a peculiar (unique) people.

So many times we come to the Father’s table with our own provision – Abraham and Sarah had God’s promise for a son but they made their own provision and Esau was born. Not a good thing…

We have allowed the tradition of religion to tell us that we can’t or shouldn’t expect God to bless us or to provide – excuses – we aren’t worthy or “God helps those who help themselves” and the focus gets placed on us and not on Him.

Our efforts are like bringing a sack lunch to a banquet!

We begin thinking like the prodigal son who said “the servants in my father’s house are eating well, I’ll just go be a servant”. But our Father doesn’t want servants, He wants sons!

He wants us to experience the joy of our salvation – the great and precious promises that He has provided for us through the death of His Son!

Maybe this life lesson was just for me. Maybe you’ve never come to the Father’s table with provisions of your own making but if you have, let me encourage you to drop your sack lunch in the receptacle at the door and come eat freely at the table the Father has prepared for you.

“My soul, praise the LORD! Every part of me, praise his holy name!
2 My soul, praise the LORD and never forget how kind he is! 3 He forgives all our sins and heals all our sicknesses. 4 He saves us from the grave, and he gives us love and compassion. 5 He gives us plenty of good things. He makes us young again, like an eagle that grows new feathers. 6 The LORD does what is fair. He brings justice to all who have been hurt by others. 7 He taught his laws to Moses. He let Israel see the powerful things he can do. 8 The LORD is kind and merciful. He is patient and full of love.” Psalm 103:1-8 ERV

The table of God’s plenty has been set and the food prepared. Come, eat and be filled with His goodness.

 

 

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