While Cooking…

I was wondering what sides I should make with my fried and smoked ribs! Yes, I said fried ribs and they had a maple whiskey glaze!! My son said, “How about some macaroni and cheese?”

I was excited to make it for him. I started thinking about a few folks I needed to call to let them know it was being made. It’s famous you know! lol!

I made it and posted a pic of it on Facebook before putting it in the oven and wouldn’t you know it, I started getting compliments and questions!

“That looks good!”

“Can I come by and get a scoop?”

“I need the recipe!”

People who haven’t even tasted it before made comments! It made my heart feel good! There was wonder and excitement!

Meanwhile…

Back at my house, my family was busy doing chores. Cutting the grass, smoking the ribs, working on the computer…just doing their routine; not showing any excitement about the food I was cooking.

My cooking, and I don’t mean to brag, is good, but it has become commonplace in my home. No wonder! No excitement.

It’s just routine, expected…ordinary. I thought about the Israelites and how they grew “tired” of the manna that God provided them in the desert.

“Now the rabble that was among them had a strong craving. And the people of Israel also wept again and said, “Oh that we had meat to eat! We remember the fish we ate in Egypt that cost nothing, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic. But now our strength is dried up, and there is nothing at all but this manna to look at.””

Numbers 11:4-6 ESV

The manna that God was miraculously providing to the Israelites had become routine, expected…ordinary.

God laid on my heart…

Isn’t that how we treat the Word of God?

Isn’t that how we treat our relationship with God?

Isn’t that how we treat our service to God?

Ouch! All I could say was, “I am sorry Lord. Please forgive me. Reignite my flame and help me to keep it burning!

I pray that we would fall in love again with and stay excited about the Word of God. It is still speaking! It is still comforting! It is still answering questions! It is still providing hope! It is still protecting! It is still nourishing!

I pray that we would fall in love again and pursue our first love! God is still the lover of our soul! God is still providing everything we need! God is still a very present help in the time of trouble! God is still fighting our battles! God is still making ways out of no way! God is still healing us!

I pray that we would fall in love again and stay excited about using our gifts in service to God. He is still making room for us! He is still using our gifts to bring others to Him. He is still providing for the vision He gave you.

Don’t lose the wonder and excitement of God and his undeniable love for us!

Don’t lose the wonder and excitement of what Jesus did for us on the cross and his sacrificial love for us!

Don’t lose the wonder and excitement of the Holy Spirit residing in us and empowering us to do great and mighty things in Jesus name!

God is not ordinary!! He is beyond EXTRAORDINARY!