Series: The Things We Say - Best Meal Ever - Martin Wiles

This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me. Luke 22:19 NLT

According to my wife, I eat some strange things.

My wife and I come from different regions of our state and have different eating habits. On one of our earlier dates, she was fixing my dinner plate. Out of habit, I said, “Make sure you put some liquor on my rice.” A saying and practice foreign to her (liquor being the juice in the pot with the cooked vegetables). Nor did she understand putting vegetables over white rice—until she spent a few years in the Lowcountry and was served white rice with every meal. And some of the things I had grown up putting together—such as grits and fried cubed steak—she had never experienced. Getting her to add vegetables to the gravy she had just put on her rice was out of the question.

Since I love to eat, I enjoy almost any meal. But I suppose the one Jesus served to his disciples was strange. Not the bread and wine, but what he told them about it. Eating the bread entailed eating his body, and drinking the wine involved drinking his blood. The practice led others to accuse early Christians of cannibalism. And some church traditions teach that the wine and bread become Jesus’ blood and body when consumed.

Early churches observed the Lord’s Supper every time they met. I’ve been more accustomed to churches that do so quarterly. Dad always gave the biblical warning to examine oneself before partaking of the elements. Paul said Jesus reminded them that they proclaimed the Lord’s death every time they observed the tradition.

So, what’s the big deal about Communion or the Lord’s Supper? Of all the meals we might enjoy, this should be the most pleasurable because of what it represents. Other meals merely fill our bellies, feed our muscles, and then leave our bodies. God’s meal, however, sticks to our ribs and gives us continual spiritual nourishment. Eating the bread reminds us that Jesus was our substitute. His body was broken as he paid for the sins we had committed, were committing, and would commit. Drinking the wine or juice reminds us of the blood he shed for our sins because, without the shedding of blood, no forgiveness exists.

Enjoy a good meal, but don’t neglect the best meal.

Father, thank you for allowing your Son to give his life so I might have life.

I invite you to try my book Hurt, Hope, and Healing in eBook or paperback. If you seek hope and healing because of the hurts you have faced, this book is for you. Click on the title above to order your copy. And thanks to all our faithful followers who share our posts on Facebook, Twitter, and Linkedin.

Spiritually Anorexic - Anita van der Elst

You have been believers so long now that you ought to be teaching others. Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things about God’s word. You are like babies who need milk and cannot eat solid food. Hebrews 5:12 NLT

Food is not something I’ve ever avoided, since my waistline amply advertises. But neither do I want to become spiritually anorexic. 

Church potlucks (especially the dessert table), family and holiday feasts, favorite restaurants, and the snack aisle at the grocery store all get my hearty approval and participation. I don’t drink milk, but I do indulge in its ice cream form. It goes down so easily, but without much nutritional benefit. Occasionally, I’ve gone the less-is-more route to gain better health, but still enjoyed good food while doing so.

I’ve noticed, however, that after being on one of those portion-controlled episodes, and I try to eat more, somehow, I just can’t shovel in as much as I used to. My stomach has shrunk.

A spiritual realization also occurred to me. In not attending church services for long stretches of time, I limit myself from receiving food that feeds my spirit. No wonder my faith falters and I feel weak. I’ve become spiritually anorexic. 

Once I’m back again and hearing solid teaching from God’s word, I find that it takes me a while to fully comprehend the messages. Staying away for months on end results in my spiritual stomach shrinking in size with no room to process. Thankfully, little by little, I can once again chew the hearty biblical meat offered in the sermons. 

Don’t limit your solid spiritual meals. Think of ways to get back on a healthier diet that feeds your soul.

Anita van der Elst finds joy in creating with words, believing God gifted her with the desire to do so. Married to her best friend, Edward, since 1976, she is a proud mom of four adult children and Oma to three of the most delightful grandchildren ever. Other joys in her life include bringing beauty to Facebook through photos she takes on her iPhone, exploring the state parks in the PNW, facilitating a small group of women, and participating in a Bible study. 

I invite you to try my newest book, Grits, Grace, and Grands, in eBook or paperback. If you are a grandparent or just want to hear grandparent stories, this book is for you. Click on the title above to order your copy. And thanks to all our faithful followers who share our posts on Facebook, Twitter, and Linkedin.

 

 

God Hunger - Martin Wiles

God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice, for they will be satisfied. Matthew 5:6 NLT

Appetite doesn’t always diminish with age. Nor should God hunger. 

At ninety-five, one would think she’d eat like a bird. But not this nursing home resident. She was one of our church’s shut-ins who had found herself in the hospital. As I walked in, her daughter-in-law was busy feeding her a liquid diet composed of apple juice, chicken broth, and Jell-O. None of that sounded appetizing to me, but I hadn’t been five days without food as she had. “Apple juice,” she called, and her daughter-in-law put it to her mouth. “Chicken broth.” And the same response. Then, “Jell-O.” She continued to demand food until she had eaten or drunk every last bite.

I’ve watched many older adults’ appetites change. Some who were healthy eaters now ate just enough to get by, or didn’t, and dehydrated. Others experienced a change of taste buds. Whereas they had once eaten healthy food, now they wanted sweets. However, this elderly lady wanted the good stuff. She ate everything—and anything--they served her at the nursing facility.

As I watched her demand food to satisfy her hunger, I thought of this verse. Jesus addressed hunger, but he wasn’t talking about physical hunger. Spiritual hunger was on his mind. Physical hunger, in the extreme, leads to death, but spiritual hunger can lead to death or a healthier life.

From the time we are old enough to distinguish right from wrong, God begins to create a spiritual hunger in our souls. This hunger explains why all people groups in history have worshipped something. It might have been the elements of nature or wooden or stone objects that represented their gods. Yet they worshipped.

What we do to satisfy this hunger is crucial. Turning to nature or artificial idols won’t satisfy my appetite. I have never constructed idols from stone or wood, but I have formed them in the shapes of sports, hobbies, work, and relationships. That was before I reached the point where I had a hunger for God, to know him better, to serve him fully. I discovered that no person, thing, or relationship could properly take his place. The ache in our belly can only be satisfied by loving God with all our heart, soul, spirit, and mind.

Let God, and God alone, satisfy your spiritual cravings.

Father, create in me a hunger that only you can satisfy.

I invite you to try my book Hurt, Hope, and Healing. No one escapes life's hurts, but we can move beyond them to hope and healing. Click on the title above to order your copy. And thanks to all our faithful followers who share our posts on Facebook, Twitter, and Linkedin.

Food for the Soul - Karen Huffaker

But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’” Matthew 4:4 NKJV

Before we left the breakfast table, my grandson asked, “Mom, what are we having for lunch?” This didn’t surprise me. After lunch and throughout the afternoon, he inquired about dinner until he had satisfactory answers about meals for the day. Doing this is a family ritual we’re familiar with and smile about. He anticipates good food—or negotiating a change in menu.

Food is not just necessary; it’s a huge industry and a great pastime. We spend enormous time planning, shopping, cooking, and collecting and sharing recipes. There are celebrations, feasts, and holiday fare. Vacations highlight new cuisines, teach gourmet skills, and test new restaurants. Food provides a wonderful social platform.

The Bible says to eat, drink, and be merry. So we do.

Jesus told Satan that we don’t live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from God’s mouth. After fasting for forty days in the mountains near Jericho, Jesus was tempted by Satan three times. But each time, Jesus responded with scripture to confirm that we should obey God’s Word.

Reading God’s Word feeds us and fills us spiritually. It guides us into wisdom, warns us, and teaches us about God’s ways and will. It comforts and warms our hearts. Most importantly, it explains how we find eternal life through Jesus Christ, our Savior.

My personal Bible study time constantly feeds and uplifts me. The Holy Spirit counsels and guides me and knows what I need then.

Seek the kind of food that only God gives in His Word, and trust that you will be filled and nourished in every way.

If you enjoyed this devotion, please share it with your friends. 

Karen Huffaker is a freelance Christian writer. She has taught children’s Sunday school and single mom’s Bible studies and written poetry. She is from the Deep South and loves reading Christian books, devotionals, genealogy adventures, fishing, and all things family. She is also passionate about her grandchildren’s sporting events. 

 

I invite you to try my newest book, Hurt, Hope, and Healing, in eBook or paperback. These 52 devotions will take you from hurt to hope to healing. And thanks to all our faithful followers who share our posts on Facebook, Twitter, and Linkedin.

Hungry for God - Martin Wiles

Oh, that you would burst from the heavens and come down! How the mountains would quake in your presence! Isaiah 64:1 NLT

Nothing satisfies like being hungry for God.

“You’re like a chipmunk.” A work associate was the first to say this, but others had implied it with various comments. And I do stay hungry most of the time. At any given time, I may walk or sit around with something in my mouth. My wife blames my incessant eating on a tapeworm. I’ve never been tested, but my appetite and weight maintenance make me a perfect candidate.

Until I reached my late thirties, I could eat as much as I wanted and never worry about rising numbers on the scale. Then things changed. I still eat often, but the amounts are smaller because the number on the scales will increase if I don’t.

Unfortunately, much of what I hunger for isn’t always healthy: Little Debbie snack cakes, fried foods, Krispy Kreme doughnuts, and potato chips. If I longed for more nutritious foods, the scales might remain steady—or move in the opposite direction.

Isaiah hungered for his people to turn back to God. He didn’t want to see them taken into captivity as punishment for their sins. He also hungered for God to act by righting the wrongs he witnessed around him. He yearned for the right things . . . godly things.

What we hunger for reveals our life philosophy, much like the foods we hanker after. When we crave and eat the wrong types of food, the chances of us having health-related issues increase. If we long for the bad things in life—things not in God’s will—our spiritual lives will suffer. We’ll miss opportunities God sends and make decisions that will take us down paths outside of his plan.

But when we hunger for God, we’ll seek him. Through prayer and worship, we’ll hunger for him to speak. 

Our prayer will be, “God, show me the right decisions to make,” or “God, how do you want me to use the gifts you’ve given me?”

How can you hunger for more of God in your life?

Prayer: Father, we long for Your presence to fill our souls so we’ll never hunger for anything else as a substitute. 

Tweetable: Are you hungry for God? 

Thanks to all our faithful followers who share our posts! We also invite you to follow and like us on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, and Instagram. Help us spread God's encouragement through His Love Lines.

Crockpot Chicken and Dressing

Ingredients

2 boxes Jiffy Cornbread Mix (cooked)

4 Biscuits (cooked)

2 Eggs

1 Onion

2 Cans Chicken Broth or the Broth from the Chicken

3 Boneless Breasts (Boiled)

2 Tablespoons Sage

2 Tablespoons Butter

Salt/pepper

2 cans Cream of Chicken Soup

Directions 

Mix cornbread, biscuits, eggs, sage, salt/pepper, and butter in a large bowl. Set aside.

Boil chicken and onion together. 

Once the chicken cools, pull it apart and place in a separate bowl.

Pour chicken broth into the cornbread mixture and mix. If needed, add broth from the chicken.

Grease crockpot and add one can of Chicken Soup. 

Add half of the dressing mixture, followed by the chicken, and then by the remainder of the dressing. 

Top with the other can of Cream of Chicken Soup.

Cook on Low for 3 to 4 hours. 

If needed sooner, cook on high for 1 hour.

Tweetable: Enjoy this delicious chicken and dressing recipe. 

We believe Good food and God's Word go well together. After you've enjoyed this dessert--or even as you enjoy it--why not hop over to our main page and enjoy one of our encouraging devotions. 

Thanks to all our faithful followers who share our posts! We also invite you to follow and like us on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, and Instagram. Help us spread God's encouragement through His Love Lines.

Junk Food Addict - Martin Wiles

Don’t let me share in the delicacies of those who do wrong. Psalm 141:4 NLT

She was a junk food addict.

My paternal grandmother loved junk—and didn’t mind sharing with her first-born grandchild. When I was young, she fed me silver bells (Hershey Kisses) to keep me quiet in church. She loved Little Debbie’s, pies, cakes, chocolate, and candy. Anything sweet.

When my grandmother was in her mid-eighties and confined to the nursing home, the nurses fussed because my aunt brought her junk food. I told her to eat what she wanted. At her age, it wasn’t going to make any difference. And she did until the day she died.

My grandmother’s example rubbed off on me. By the time I reached adolescence, I had a healthy appetite for junk food. Canned chili and beans, frozen pizza, Little Debbie’s, chocolate bars, silver bells, cakes, pies, candy. And my favorite? Barbecue potato chips.

Along about thirty-eight, my bad eating habits caught up with me. Not in health problems, but in weight gain. I also worried about future health issues if I didn’t change my eating habits. While I didn’t completely eliminate junk food from my diet, I did cut back, and I also began an exercise regimen. But occasionally … once a week on my cheat day … I still sit down with a bag of chips and a tall glass of milk. 

Evidently, I’m not the only one who eats unhealthy or doesn’t exercise enough. According to recent research, Americans are more obese than they’ve ever been. To the tune of 100 million people (March 2018 http://www.grubstreet.com/2018/03/americas-obesity-rate-hits-record-high.html.

As unhealthy as bad diets and low exercise rates are, something worse exists. According to the psalmist, it’s the delicacies of the wicked. Bad spiritual food. Crime. Stinking attitudes. Cursing. Anger. Unforgiveness. Selfishness. Misplaced priorities. Unbelief.

Anything that takes my interest away from loving God with all my heart and serving Him with the same is spiritual junk food and damages my spiritual health. Just as I had to take the initiative to curtail junk food from my diet and to exercise for good health, I have to do the same with my spiritual diet.

No one can force us to eat the right spiritual foods. Doing so is a choice we have to make, but one with far-reaching effects.

Don’t be a spiritual junk food addict. Digest the right stuff, and enjoy the life God created you to have.

Prayer: Father, hone our taste buds for the food that will satisfy our hunger presently and eternally.

Tweetable: What kind of addict are you?

Thanks to all our faithful followers who are "sharing" our posts--please keep it up! We also invite you to follow and like us on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, and Instagram. Help us spread God's encouragement through His Love Lines.

Change Thinking, Change Actions - Martin Wiles

Have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. Philippians 2:5-7 NIV

I would not return. My reputation was at stake.

I had patronized a local restaurant since it opened in our town. And most of the time I had experienced the same forms of poor customer service: I’m through eating when the server gets around to asking me if I want a refill, the kitchen takes an unusually long time to prepare the food, the food isn’t prepared as I ordered it, the food is cold, they don’t have what I want even though it’s on the menu, or I receive different stories from servers about what I can and can’t substitute.

If I thought long enough, I could probably think of some other misfortunes I’ve experienced. And each time I go, I end up with a bad attitude. Being human, I want to blame my attitude on the poor service I receive. Having studied human nature, I know that’s not true. But as I try my best to stay away from situations where I know temptation lies, I recently told my wife I would not eat there anymore unless someone offered to pay for my food.

Jesus had a better attitude than I often do. One of humility. One where He didn’t respond with anger or bad attitudes when things didn’t go His way. Rather, He gave up the glories of heaven—and His powerful position—to come to earth to die for folks with bad attitudes.

Having the same mindset as Christ involves controlling our thinking. The above-mentioned infringements made it easy for my attitude to deteriorate, but I knew I could control my thinking. Had I thought good thoughts while experiencing a bad situation, my attitude would have turned out differently.

If we don’t control our thinking, our attitudes will stink—as mine did. And so will our testimonies for Christ. The good news is that God gives us the ability to control our thinking. Which, by the way, is important since our thinking leads to actions. Events don’t make us angry or upset. The way we think about them is the culprit.

Paul’s advice in another place begs for our attention: “Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise” (Philippians 4:8).

Don’t let situations determine your attitude. Ask God to help you change the way you think.

Tweetable: Are situations giving you a bad attitude?

Prayer: Father, enable us to change the way we think about events so we can avoid attitudes that damage our testimony for You.

Looking for a wide selection of genres in inspirational books at discount prices? Click here to see selections.

Thanks to all our faithful followers who are "sharing" our posts--please keep it up! We also invite you to follow and like us on Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter. Help us spread God's encouragement through his love lines.

Flashback Friday - Savor the Flavor - Martin Wiles

Savor the Flavor

When the smell wafts through every crevice of our home and finally passes under my nostrils, my mouth waters. 

Fried chicken…southern style. There’s nothing like it. My wife knows how to season it just right. I could eat it every day. From a good health standpoint, I understand it’s probably not beneficial for me. The grease clogs my arteries, and the skin houses enough fat and grease to do a magnificent clogging job. But I savor the flavor and taste and plan to keep eating it on every occasion I can wrap my mouth around a juicy piece of it. Some things are worth dying for. Read more...

Tweetable: Are you savoring the flavor of time with God?

Looking for a wide selection of genres in inspirational books at discount prices? Click here to see selections.

Thanks to all our faithful followers who are "sharing" our posts--please keep it up! We also invite you to follow and like us on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, and Instagram. Help us spread God's Word.