Someone asked me the other day how I get quiet before the Lord
and that question triggered this post.
While I was in the restaurant business we were taught that people eat with their eyes.
So finding new ways of presenting a food item was very important. A dinner special became
a sort of art creation. But we also had to find the words to lure the buyers since they could not see our creation. We spent quite a bit of time coming up with the proper wording.
Now if the wait staff used those words was another story.
But here is what one of our specials might have sounded like.
Three peppercorn seared center cut filet topped with jumbo lump crab meat in a smoked fennel beurre blanc served with roasted garlic mashed potatoes and bermuda onion crisps
Now this was a long time ago and trends in food have changed somewhat--but this could have been found on any Saturday night special.
I got used to cooking this way and sometimes that training came home with me.
Now the only problem with that is---my man is a plain meat and potato man. Not that he does not enjoy the fancy every once in awhile--but not every day.
Besides, if you ate that way everyday money and weight would become an issue. ;)
So I had to tone it down and learn that fancy fluff- was not always better.
Yesterday I was thinking about how I get quiet before the Lord-- God brought to mind the above. If you are like me you want to make sure you do your quiet time right.
Walk through any Christian book store and you will see all kinds of methods to getting down to the basics with God. A new trend will pop up and everyone will get on the band wagon. And they make it look so appetizing-- that the masses purchase their nicely presented presentations.
And as our bookshelves get full -our spiritual stomachs get bloated.
Or maybe I should say we end up with fat heads.
Now I am not saying that we should avoid all of the books that are being written.
There are some fantastic sources out there.
But..... if we are not careful we forget
that all we really need to do to be fed-- is to pick up our Bible.
The meat and potatoes
without all the fancy and flourish of someone else's opinions and thoughts.
I think that if we could really have a face to face with God-- alone--
He would tell us that is what He would prefer.
Us before Him quiet without any other sources.
Quiet and listening to the voice of the Spirit that was sent to be our teacher.
Imagine that.........we have a teacher that we don't have to pay. And He desires to teach us the secret things of God. He gives it freely!
Free without all the fluff.
Again, I am not saying that I think we should stay away from all outside sources. I love doing a good Beth Moore study. But, this is to come after I have been fed by God first.
He is a jealous God-----don't you think He looks forward to the times you will share when He will tell you about the marvelous things that will stand for eternity?
But........ we must get quiet--away from all the media--so that we hear His voice only.
I hope this makes sense-- it's just something I was thinking about yesterday.
meat and potatoes
and that question triggered this post.
While I was in the restaurant business we were taught that people eat with their eyes.
So finding new ways of presenting a food item was very important. A dinner special became
a sort of art creation. But we also had to find the words to lure the buyers since they could not see our creation. We spent quite a bit of time coming up with the proper wording.
Now if the wait staff used those words was another story.
But here is what one of our specials might have sounded like.
Three peppercorn seared center cut filet topped with jumbo lump crab meat in a smoked fennel beurre blanc served with roasted garlic mashed potatoes and bermuda onion crisps
Now this was a long time ago and trends in food have changed somewhat--but this could have been found on any Saturday night special.
I got used to cooking this way and sometimes that training came home with me.
Now the only problem with that is---my man is a plain meat and potato man. Not that he does not enjoy the fancy every once in awhile--but not every day.
Besides, if you ate that way everyday money and weight would become an issue. ;)
So I had to tone it down and learn that fancy fluff- was not always better.
Yesterday I was thinking about how I get quiet before the Lord-- God brought to mind the above. If you are like me you want to make sure you do your quiet time right.
Walk through any Christian book store and you will see all kinds of methods to getting down to the basics with God. A new trend will pop up and everyone will get on the band wagon. And they make it look so appetizing-- that the masses purchase their nicely presented presentations.
And as our bookshelves get full -our spiritual stomachs get bloated.
Or maybe I should say we end up with fat heads.
Now I am not saying that we should avoid all of the books that are being written.
There are some fantastic sources out there.
But..... if we are not careful we forget
that all we really need to do to be fed-- is to pick up our Bible.
The meat and potatoes
without all the fancy and flourish of someone else's opinions and thoughts.
I think that if we could really have a face to face with God-- alone--
He would tell us that is what He would prefer.
Us before Him quiet without any other sources.
Quiet and listening to the voice of the Spirit that was sent to be our teacher.
Imagine that.........we have a teacher that we don't have to pay. And He desires to teach us the secret things of God. He gives it freely!
Free without all the fluff.
Again, I am not saying that I think we should stay away from all outside sources. I love doing a good Beth Moore study. But, this is to come after I have been fed by God first.
He is a jealous God-----don't you think He looks forward to the times you will share when He will tell you about the marvelous things that will stand for eternity?
But........ we must get quiet--away from all the media--so that we hear His voice only.
I hope this makes sense-- it's just something I was thinking about yesterday.
meat and potatoes
10 comments:
Oh yeah, Oh yeah, Oh yeah...... Meat and potatoes for me...... I love this picture you have painted..I once got caught up in the fluff and ate only fluff and opened my bible far too seldom .. I turned to fluff with no stability... I know a few people that have book after book on self help and self awareness and self this and self that and their kids are out of control and their marriage is in ruins .... they have this huge family bible on the $1000 coffee table ..........
Pass the meat and potatoes and maybe add a small portion of
Three peppercorn seared center cut filet topped with jumbo lump crab meat in a smoked fennel beurre blanc served with roasted garlic mashed potatoes and bermuda onion crisps on the side....
We have the best teacher, the Holy Spirit.......... He will bring us into all truths!
Jhn 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, [that] shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
Great message! So much truth! How often do we week man's counsel, man's thoughts, more than God's. Thanks too for your thoughts and prayers for my friend and her family. The children are fairing okay. They have not seen their father so far upon advice of a counselor. God is giving little bits of hope each day...
I've always been a meat and potatoes person. I was brought up on the farm and meat and potatoes were the staple of every mea. For breakfast it was usually bacon and sausage with potatoes fried from dinner the night before.
I totally agree that the meat and potatoes of God's Word is what we need to focus on.
Blessings for sharing your wisdom.
Mary
I'm learning to NOT eat with my eyes! Ok I know that's not what the post was about it but that stuck out to me!
Another problem with all the fluff is that even after you eat, you are still hungry and instead of real food you go looking for more fluff.
I'm not a meat and potatoes eater....I can do without meat. Give me a plate of fried green tomatoes any day with ranch dressing to dip them in. I do love me a loaded baked potato though. Great post, as always.
That is so true. I also like you only have to carry one book around and you have all you need. I keep a small bible in my car for when I'm at appointments or waiting for for someone or something. I can just pull it out for a visit with my Lord.
Pass the meat and potatoes anytime, that is all I need.
Amen to that, Sharon. It totally makes sense. It took me a while to realize that I only need His Word, but I finally got there :)
I do like to read other thoughts, but I first want His food :)
Thank you for sharing...
Well said, my Sister!
Now my stomach is growling...really! I wish it would growl for hunger of the Word!!
Praying for some glimpses of hope to appear for you today in the realm of future things :)
Love,
holly
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