Devotions By Jan

Category Archives: For Foodies


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Bone Marrow Dish

Scripture for Today: Proverbs 17:22 “A cheerful heart is good medicine but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.”

My meal choice at a restaurant in France was so unusual that I felt compelled to take a photo of it!  I understood the description but had never seen anyone eat it before.  In Europe, bone marrow is normally served on toasted bread and sprinkled with sea salt.  Here the presentation does not let one forget its source!  In older American recipes it was often used for making broth.  This spongy tissue is slightly sweet and its texture is smooth.  Although it is full of nutrients, I was a bit put off by the taste of its obviously high fat content!

Today’s verse uses the imagery of dried up bones to picture a crushed spirit.  Bones that are dried up and feeling empty are a perfect description for depression.  In contrast, a heart that is cheerful and joyful is a great medicine for whatever ails us.  The phrase, “laughter is the best medicine,” has been around a long time.  Research has shown there are many health benefits to laughter, including increased blood flow, better immune response, lowered blood sugar, and relaxation.

My cheerful heart is often in spite of and not because of my circumstances.  Joy is many times a choice.  Like Habakkuk, when everything is going wrong, I can “joy in the God of my salvation.” (Hab. 3:18)  I can still choose a joyful heart even when there is no evident reason for it.  That is because there is joy in the thought of His salvation and the future that awaits!  And joy is sure to return when I think about His unexplainable love for me!

Thank you Lord, for giving me a cheerful heart.

 

 

 

 


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Lactose Intolerant

Scripture for Today: Hebrews 5:13-14 “Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.”

 

Arne Hendriks

Can anyone be truly happy without dairy?  According to these sign-toting young people in Beijing the answer is Yes!  My half Chinese husband has this problem and is much more pleasant to be around when he uses the lactose free milk and sticks to sorbet.  Like many Asians (up to 90%) he lacks that all important enzyme, lactase, which is needed to break down and absorb the lactose, which is a sugar found in milk.  All I know is that I am very thankful not to have this problem as I enjoy my ice cream!

Today’s verse in no way discounts “milk.”  It is necessary and foundational for the new christian.  There are times for the mature christian as well to review the basics.  The problem comes when one has only milk and does not progress to “solid food.”  Being satisfied with just milk will result in a failure to distinguish good from evil.  Scripture is to be actually used in making decisions.  The more we rely on its wisdom and principles, the more we can recognize evil, hate it and cling to the good! (Romans 12:9)

There are times in approaching God’s Word that I just want something basic or familiar.   Maybe I feel rushed.  Or maybe I am feeling pretty good about myself.  No conviction today, please.  A promise would make me feel good.  Nothing wrong with that.  But to really distinguish between what masquerades as good and what truly is good, I need to spend more than a little time in His Word.

Lord, make me hungry for solid food!

 


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The Horn of Plenty

Scripture for Today: II Corinthians 4:15 “All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.”

The cornucopia or horn of plenty has long been a symbol of overflowing harvest especially on Thanksgiving.  The original idea was to have an abundance of flowers, fruit and corn overflowing from a goat’s horn.  Today, we are happy with just a basket in the shape of a horn!  But the symbolism is lost if the contents are not spilling out beyond the confines of the horn.  When it overflows we know we are blessed!

Today’s verse speaks of a thanksgiving that overflows!  The circumstances Paul was facing would normally not call for thanksgiving as he was repeatedly imprisoned and persecuted.  Yet, he understood that through his faithfulness, the grace of Christ was reaching more and more people.  It was that grace which was producing an overflow of thanksgiving.  Paul could see the undeserved favor and blessing that is grace, even in the middle of hard times.  Realizing God’s grace created in him a thankfulness that overflowed and gave glory to God.

It is easy to give thanks to God when everything is going smoothly and life is good.  It is quite another thing to be overflowing with thanksgiving when life is tough and there is hurt and disappointment.  And yet, when I look to the unseen (verse 17) I can overflow with thanksgiving!  I do not deserve even one tiny blessing from Him.  How amazing He is to have given me new birth, a living hope and an eternal inheritance! (I Peter 1:3-6)  Regardless of life’s ups and downs, I can always overflow with thanksgiving for His incredible grace to me!

Happy Thanksgiving to all my readers!


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Following the Recipe

Scripture for Today:  Psalm 119:137-138 “You are righteous, Lord, and Your laws are right. The statues You have laid down are righteous; they are fully trustworthy.”

I love following a good recipe that is tried and true.  And if I want a German dish to be authentic I would go to the trouble of translating those instructions (as well as converting the measurements).  I would not worry about all the verbs being in the command form.  It is a recipe after all.  I do not expect it to say, “please beat the eggs.”  Or “would you mind chopping the nuts.”  But I am not offended.  The directives are there to obtain a good, tasty result!

Today’s verse describes God’s directives.  Sometimes they can seem very blunt.  There is no softening of what God requires of us.  But His commands are always with a good goal.  They are always for our good and for our protection.  We know that because HE is good.  What He commands is fully trustworthy and an expression of His love and care.  This is why David could say that they are a joy to the heart and light to the eyes, sweeter than honey and more precious than gold! (Psalm 19)

If God’s commandments are really for my good, then why am I always trying to change the recipe?  Because that is in fact what I sometimes try to do.  I think I know better or that somehow I am an exception to the rule.  Maybe I can “sort of” follow the instructions but introduce a variation which makes it easier on me.  The result is never as good.  His way is always the best and I am the one who benefits when I carefully follow what He wants.

Lord, thank you for Your love expressed through your commands.


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Turkish Coffee

Scripture for Today: Romans 12:11 “Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.”

It is a careful multi-step process to make an authentic cup of Turkish coffee.  If there are not at least a few grounds in the bottom of the cup I would be suspicious!  The coffee is very finely ground, preferably in a brass grinder.  The cevre or metal long-handled pot can be brass or copper.  But just as important as the equipment is the process of boiling the coffee twice, building a foam and allowing the powder to settle before serving.  All I know is that the resulting caffeine high can last me the entire day!

Would that spiritual energy could be found in a simple drink!  Today’s verse encourages believers to be zealous in their service to the Lord.  We are to keep our spiritual fervor so as to persevere and not give up when the hard times come.  We are to keep fueled, tanked up, or aflame, not burning out.  That enthusiasm we started with is to continue pushing us forward.

How do I keep to that level of zeal?  When I do not see results from my service, I lose my enthusiasm.  When I do not see that it makes much difference, I can easily lose heart.  There is only one way to be refueled and rediscover that joy and motivation to serve Him.  And that is by the Spirit’s filling (Eph. 5:18).  His filling gives me strength to keep on keeping on!  His power provides that excitement and motivation to advance His agenda today.  His filling even helps me to face a mundane routine.  I do not need to fill up with coffee.  I need to fill up with His Spirit!

Thank you Lord, for being the Source of my zeal and fervor.