Introduction to Sliced, Diced and Mashed

In my hurry to start the short story devotions, I left off the introduction which is very important to understand where this title came from-- so I will place it here--enjoy

Working in the kitchen, one of my favorite places to be, I see fruit blended in the blender, chopped in the kitchen aid, diced, twirled or even mashed and cubed.  I place fruits in various dishes, from Jell-O salads, blueberry cream cheese pie, to glazes on ham at Thanksgiving.  There are upside down cakes with sliced pineapple, apple pie and cobblers, and of course homemade jellies. 

            New food varieties come into existence every year as county fair entries for best recipes are encouraged.  Contests are held for best recipes, encouraging the sale of various company products.  For breakfast a healthy way to start the day with the purist of ways to eat fruit, is raw, with nothing done to it.  This way, vitamins are best utilized for nutritional purposes, in our bodies.

            Have you ever felt like you have been sliced, diced or mashed?  Some of you have been bruised by others decisions and unkind acts.  Their rebellion has affected you and caused such turmoil in your life.  Hard isn’t it to give someone you’re angry with, to the Lord? We need Christ daily for a healthy connection with the Father.  Notice there is a connection, but it maybe is not as healthy as could be.  You may know Him as Savior, but not Lord of your life, if anger presides in your heart. 

If you are the one hurting others, or you choose not to pay attention to the Holy Spirit's directing, you may have to be sliced, diced or mashed a little for God to get your attention.  This of course is not the way of His choosing.  He prefers the gentle cycle.  But if you continue to ignore Him, you will be guaranteed to be different when Christ does the shaking.

Carol Levergood's blog: Sliced, Diced and Mashed

Carol Levergood's blog: Sliced, Diced and Mashed

Sliced, Diced and Mashed

Banana, the Rage

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.  Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

                                                                                                                                       ...Ephesians 6:10-11

Bananas are the "food" today and the rage being the high potassium content. Some say bananas come close to being the perfect fruit and even say this delectable is great brain food.  Being diabetic, I allow myself a banana, but being careful not to over do it, as bananas are high in carbohydrates.  I will eat a half of one then later eat the other half to not allow the sugar to rise to rapidly.  I have found no substitute for my favorite food.

Because of hard times during the war and during the great depression, recipes were thought up to help families enjoy what they had available to them.  Mock apple pies made with crackers came into being, and a homemade squash pie could fool anyone into thinking it was a good old pumpkin pie.  I found no mock banana pie in all the recipes I looked through. Nothing tastes as good as the real thing. 

Mocking also extends to other areas, from designer jeans to perfume, to videos reproduced through pirating methods, even stealing labels from garments in the stores, all to give the impression of the real thing. 

Some Christians leave people to think the way they are presenting themselves, is how Christians are to be.  Beware!  Make sure you are the true genuine article, or you might be sending the wrong message.  False labels will be common in the days the Lord is to return.  If people are reading you, what do they see?  Is it Christ, or is it your interpretation, not His.  How are you labeled?

            Just as younger Christians want to stay away from "old fashion," to present a "new generation of Christians," they must be very careful to let Christ be seen in how they present themselves.  Which is worse?  The person who wears an old fashion hair-do acting better than anyone else, a man with a sour attitude, or a young lady who wears next to nothing?  Christ surely isn’t seen in any of them. Have we missed the point, Christians?  I believe so!  

               If you are the real thing, help the world to see Jesus.  Don't use your desire to wear 200 earrings, tattoos, Amish clothing or hair buns either one be in the way of others seeing Jesus.  Many will find out, that they know nothing about what it truly is, to be Christ-like. 

Bananas may be the rage for our aging bodies, but being Christ-like is still the rage that Paul and other inspired writers tried to stress.  

Don't miss the point! There are no substitutes.  Don't be a mock Christian, or a self-invented imitation of what you think Christianity is.  Put on the Designer clothes (armor of God) and he will work in you to be what He wants you to be.

Fear Factor

Down

Fear Factor

Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the Lord our God.  They are brought down and fallen: but we are risen, and stand upright.

                                                                                                                ...Psalm 20: 7-8

            Did you hear me shout when I typed out this verse?  I shouted just as much as I would have, watching Formula 1 races with Ayrton Senna in poll position.  I felt like I was his number one fan.  My husband and I would come home Sunday afternoon and eat lunch while watching the Formula 1 race, in Brazil.  Senna's untimely death kept us from really getting into the races after that.

            Today, if it is not Nascar races, big wheel monster trucks, speedboats, or even driving a Harley Davidson motor cycle, it's driving a Hummer (Humvy).  All of these stand for power in their proper field.  Mechanical power is what seems to be important.  The more expensive toy, for some, means intimidation and more power in the appearance of finances. 

How many go into debt to try to make every one think "he has the power." With this comes a false sense of security from the one that believes he is all-powerful, Satan.  Satan, I am sure, does not like the book of Revelations that reveals his end.  He will try to make you think you have power in yourself to do anything you desire, with no real consequences.  Satan is powerful, yes powerful enough to steal your soul if you let him.

The only power that really counts is the power of God.  All the rest is melted like wax, holding no form.  Those trusting in chariots and horses, says David, will be brought down and will fall. Heightened senses, adrenaline rushes are what many live for. Scars will be present to prove your bravery, as well as broken limbs and blood spilled on the tracks.  But wasting away your life, to hold on to an adrenaline rush for a few moments, is a high-ticket price to pay for an eternity without Christ. 

The power of God is the true power that holds the greatest thrill ever to exist. This thrill is eternity with Jesus, free, paid with the blood that was spilled, yes, the blood of Jesus on the Cross for you.  The blood loss in your power search is a far cry from the blood spilled on Calvary.

The View

In

The View

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

                                                                                                …2 Corinthians 5:17                                                  

            A beautiful double-wide trailer home, with the setting of thick trees behind it caught my eyes.  The trailer home was brightly new, as if just placed on the lot.  One would be impressed at the setting for sure.  Walking in through the door, the carpet is new, and window fixings are starched and fresh appearing.  New appliances lined the kitchen wall, with snuggly fit oak cabinets; even the scent of baked cookies filled the air.

            The bay window in the living area was a delight.  Glancing out the open view, one would expect to see beautiful trees lining the wooded area through the draped windows.  But instead, there stood still erect, the awful sight of their previously owned trailer.

            The disappointing view, took away from the present attraction I had first laid my eyes on.  The siding of the old trailer was off, insulation hung everywhere, and a burnt odor lingered unavoidably so close to the newly placed home. Nothing was done to clear the burnt out frame and the clutter.  Each day glancing out the window was a reminder of the past.

            The burnt trailer reminded me of my sinful condition before I came to know the Lord.  Praise Him for saving me! I But to have to view the old nature everyday would be reminding me of my sin, and the world ways I left behind, or thought I did.  I am a new creature, with a new heavenly home waiting for me, why would I want to see ruins of my life instead of the wonderful things God has for me?  Those past mistakes should have been torn down and given to the Lord, besides the giving of my future. 

            The old nature lingers near for many, like they’re still holding on to something they can’t seem to let go of.  Their whole life they have missed what God intended for them to enjoy.  The scenery from the new home would have been refreshing, but instead they choose to continue looking out at their past. 

            Tare down the old shell of a life, throw the piles of junk away, and look to the trees, the shimmer of sunlight on the leaves, and the birds chirping.  What a more pleasant sight, don’t you think?  Don’t you need a new view?  Begin by giving that past to the Lord, no matter what awful sight it holds.

Father,

I give you my past, the one I held on to when I asked you to come live in my heart. You forgave me, but I selfishly hung on to the memories of the world, the part I thought I enjoyed.  I now allow You room to work and start anew in me.  Thank You Holy Spirit, for continuing to work,convicting me of holding back on God. How could I have traded this view of You for an old painful past. I praise You, in the name of your Son Jesus

Heavenly Cruise Control

Under

Heavenly Cruise Control

...And there is no new thing under the sun.

                   --Ecclesiastes 1:9

While Bill and I were living in Brazil, we drove a stick shift, so you can imagine how we enjoyed driving a car with air-conditioning, power steering, and automatic transmission.  I especially liked the cruise control and was quite impressed the first time I used it.  I thought I was so cool!   

Cruise control, however, might not be feasible in Brazil because of the numerous pot- holes and speed bumps referred to as “lombadas.”

In Ecclesiastes 1:9, we see there is “nothing new under the sun.”  Just imagine Elijah!  God controlled his chariot, and it was cruising.  Can you imagine heavenly cruise control?  Try that if an officer stops you for speeding.  That is when he would have to see our heavenly license and make us pay a not so heavenly fine.  Just imagine being lifted into Heaven.  Of course, the way some of us drive that is easy to imagine.  

            I cannot wait to hear Elijah’s story from his own lips.  He’d probably tell me, “Practice the power of God in your life if you really want to fly high.

Moved Away

Moved Away

Grounded Firm

If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister.

                                                                                    …Colossians 1:23

Most countries have a social barrier that exists between the rich and poor.  Rich can make anyone feel they have an “in” with God, as if their riches give them an open door to Him.  But I have also been around some very proud poor people with attitudes just as harmful.

Visiting homes of very poor Brazilians, they humbled at the fact a middle class American would visit them and they put out their best as I sat in un-intimidating surroundings. Coffee served in jelly jars seemed to taste extra “rich.” I felt privileged, like I was someone special. 

One Brazilian home I visited, the dirt floors were so packed and patted down, a natural shine appeared.  If the dirt floor became dusty, just a sprinkle of water would suffice. Too much water would make the floor muddy though. The woman swept the floors just as I swept my tiled floor. It was her home, dirt floor or not.

Dirt floor or speaking of your faith, they both must be established like a strong foundation, firm, and solid.  Paul speaks of dwelling and continuing in your faith, not being carried away from the hope of the gospel. Don’t let anything take you away from the hope and faith you have in Jesus Christ.  Be grounded firm!  No watering down and certainly no dust raised. Paul says to be settled, grounded, and firm. So settle in His Word, and firm in your trust and faith in God Almighty.

Father,

We are poor and needy especially in our showing our love to you.  Strengthen us, ground us in our trust and faith in you, when the world wants us to doubt you even exist.  Help us to not be moved away from the hope of your gospel.  In Jesus Name